January 1 - 10, 2006

These are the scripts Joe Benson used on the air at 95.5 KLOS in Los Angeles. They all received final editing by Jan Benson, without whom the task would have been far too daunting. Remember to give credit where credit is due, and enjoy!

January 1, 2006

Super producer Tom Dowd, who worked with Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a hundred others, would have been 81.

On this date in 1953, Hank Williams Sr. died at the age of 29 — the first perfect Rock & Roll tragic ending.

On this day in 1972, the song "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" by T. Rex entered the charts.

How to Reduce Hangovers

1. Eat Before
Having a full stomach when you are drinking helps to slow down the effects of alcohol and reduce the severity of a hangover.

2. Hydrate
To counter alcohol's diuretic effect drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids, water or fruit juices. Do not drink coffee as that is also a diuretic.

3. Drinking Water at Bedtime
While this won't cure any hangover it should help to reduce the dehydration.

4. Exercise
Sweating it out the next day can help, but most people with a hangover are not in any condition to do strenuous exercise. But even a walk in fresh air can help.

5. Eat After
For those who are not feeling queasy eating plenty of food can help. Masochistic types say the bigger and heavier the breakfast the better. More sensitive types might prefer dry toast.

6. Mixing Drinks
Some think that this is the main cause hangovers, but there is little evidence to support that view. There is, however, some research that suggests not to mix drinks made from the grape and the grain, i.e.. don't drink wine and whisky.

New Year's Factoids

Who Started This?

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. That was one fun loving group!

Resolutions

Making a New Year's resolution is a tradition that dates back to the early Babylonians. While modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking, the early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. Maybe they weren't such a fun loving group.

New Year Baby

The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year began in Greece around 600 BC. It seems that the Grecians celebrated their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth, but the Greeks had better publicists.

The Song

The song "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at the stroke of midnight to bring in the New Year in almost every English-speaking country in the world. Based on an old Scottish tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days." The version we know was at least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, and was first published in 1796 after Burns' death.

January 2, 2006

On this date in 1969, filming began for The Beatles documentary "Let It Be" as the band rehearsed songs at London's Twickenham Studios.

On this date in 1969, Led Zeppelin began a four-day residency at the Whisky-A-Go-Go supporting Alice Cooper.

On this date in 1971, George Harrison became the first former Beatle to hit #1 on the U.S. album charts with his 3-disc collection "All Things Must Pass."

January 3, 2006

Beatles' producer George Martin is 80.
The extraordinary Stephen Stills is 61.
Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones is 60.

On this day in 1970, The Beatles recorded their last song together, George Harrison's "I Me Mine." The sad tune was inspired by a particularly nasty business meeting endured by the formerly Fab Four in late 1968. Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney were joined in that last session by keyboardist Billy Preston. John Lennon — who had more or less quit the band in September 1969 — was in Denmark with Yoko Ono at the time.

On this day in 1976, Queen's classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" entered the charts. Scaramoosh!

Bucks Up

Thanks in part to an average ticket price of $134, The Rolling Stones scored the highest grossing tour in North America last year, according to the venerable "Pollstar" magazine. Keith and the boys raked in $162 million from 42 shows. U2 followed in second place with $138.9 million from 78 sold-out concerts, while Paul McCartney ($77.3 million), the Eagles ($76.8 million) and Elton John ($65.8 million) also landed in the Top 10.

Pete's New Who Music

The Who's Pete Townshend says there will be new Who music available by the time the group embarks on its 2006 world tour, although it may not be an entire album's worth. "Who manager Bill Curbishley has come up with a great scheme that may circumvent the need for [the release of a full] CD," Townshend says. The Pete-ster hopes to offer The Who's upcoming shows to home viewers via "a mixture of pay-for-view and free special webcasts." He denied rumors that his girlfriend and sometime collaborator, Rachel Fuller, would open shows, instead suggesting that his brother Simon Townshend's band, Casbah Club, would be a better fit. Of his own new music, Townshend says, "I certainly don't give a flying f__ whether anything I write is a hit, or will get played on my beloved rock radio, or sell a million... What I care about is that Roger Daltrey feels comfortable with the songs I write so he can sing a few of them on stage — while I lunge around looking gorgeous and playing show-off guitar like a kid in a music shop. After 45 years of this crap, I've just started to enjoy it." Here's to many more years of curmudgeonly enjoyment Mr. T.!

Genesis' Condomania

Talk about a No-Win situation! The currently-on-hiatus Genesis has found itself in the midst of a real estate controversy. Hundreds of people have signed a petition against remodeling Parr Street Studios, the historic recording studio complex Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks own in Liverpool, into luxury apartments. A spokesman for Phil Collins' property company says that the converted 19th-century warehouse is in disrepair. Critics say the band applied to convert the studios into 41 luxury flats worth millions because of the property boom generated by Liverpool's status as the 2008 City of Culture. For the past 12 years the three-studio complex, the largest outside of London, has been used by Coldplay, Barry Manilow and Björk, among others. The local Liverpudlian town council has postponed a decision on the building's fate.

An All Bruce Cold Case

The entire soundtrack of the January 8th episode of CBS's "Cold Case" crime drama will be made up of Bruce Springsteen songs. Nine of the Boss' Eighties songs will be heard during the hour-long show.

Gene Makes More Money

KISS bassist/singer Gene Simmons will deliver a keynote speech at The Next Big Idea: The Future of Branded Entertainment conference on January 17th in Hollywood. Never one to waste a moment in the spotlight, the master entrepreneur's address will be filmed for his upcoming A&E reality series, "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels." Meanwhile, Simmons' new magazine, "Gene Simmons Game," and a new television network dubbed NG-TV will both be unleashed this Summer.

Thought For The Week: Normal Vs. Reality

Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Reflections

As we stumble into the New Year, I thought I'd pass along a few choice quotes people have sent in.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius

"Live simply so that others can simply live." - Gandhi

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein

"Fame is vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing. Only one thing endures and that is character." - Abraham Lincoln

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful." - Mae West

"I have had dreams, and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams." - Dr. Jonas Salk

"We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." - Lee Iacocca

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank

"Failure is the path of least persistence." - Anonymous

"The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time." - Abraham Lincoln

"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative." - Oscar Wilde

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

"Never argue with a fool. Someone watching may not be able to tell the difference." - Anonymous

"I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian." - Anonymous

"Some day you'll thank me for all this scary love." - Homer Simpson

January 4, 2006

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe is 46.

On this day in 1970, George Harrison recorded the second guitar solo for "Let It Be." It was the last Beatles recording session to feature Harrison, Paul McCartney and producer George Martin, as well as the last recording session of The Beatles as a band.

On this day in 1971, Pink Floyd began sessions for their "Meddle" album. Then, when director Stanley Kubrick inquired if he could use the band's previous album, "Atom Heart Mother," for the soundtrack to "A Clockwork Orange," the boys said no. Sharp business men, those Floydians.

On this day in 1973, the Allman Brothers Band announced that Lamar Williams had been hired as the replacement for Berry Oakley, who died in a motorcycle crash the previous October.

On this day in 1986, Thin Lizzy's bassist/singer Phil Lynott died in the intensive care unit of Salisbury Infirmary in England. His kidneys, liver and heart failed due to blood poisoning and multiple internal abscesses caused by drug abuse. At the age of 35, he certainly wasn't a hero.

Peakin' At Beacon Redux

The only sure things in life are death, taxes and the Allman Brothers Band's annual March residency at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. So far, the Brothers have 13 confirmed shows scheduled at the famous venue, performing legendary jams from March 9th through the 25th with nary a break. Tickets will go on sale shortly.

Jovi Playing For Jon's Team

Bon Jovi will perform during the halftime show of the "Super-Soul Sunday" Arena Football League game between the Philadelphia Soul and the Los Angeles Avengers. The big game will rock on February 5th in Philadelphia. The band is involved, no doubt, because frontman Jon Bon Jovi is a co-owner/co-CEO of the Soul.

Playing For ARF

Journey keyboardist/singer Jonathan Cain is among the celebrities who will perform at a January 15th benefit concert in St. Louis. You should expect Jon to play a medley of Journey songs at the "Stars to the Rescue" show to raise money for the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) organization, which was co-founded by St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. ARF's goal is to find homes for animals in need of shelter.

Guess Who Part Two

After years of backroom litigation, the Guess Who will finally release a remastered and expanded edition of their 1971 hits collection, "The Best of the Guess Who," on January 17th. The reworked album will feature three bonus tracks and new comprehensive liner notes. A supporting tour would be nice, but is quite unlikely at this point.

Stoned Alone Anthology

A retrospective of former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman's solo work, titled "Stoned Alone — The Solo Anthology," will be released in the U.S. on January 24th. The double-CD set will feature material from Wyman's various solo albums, his Eighties side project Willie & the Poor Boys and his post-Stones outfit the Rhythm Kings. "Stoned Alone" also will offer a booklet that will include interviews and rare pictures. A supporting tour is completely out of the question.

Morrison's Mom Passes

Clara Morrison, the mother of the late Doors singer Jim Morrison, died Thursday at age 86. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, George Stephen Morrison, and Jim's two siblings, Anne and Andy. Last year, Clara and her husband were involved in a lawsuit that resulted in two original Doors members being barred from using the band's name and logo after they had regrouped under the moniker, Doors of the 21st Century.

L.A. Auto Show

This Friday (January 6th), 2pm - 6pm: Unc Joe will broadcast live from the opening day of the L.A. Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Brand new car debuts from Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Pontiac, Volkswagen and more... So many toys to see!

Five Fresh Factoids For The New Year

1. You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

2. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

3. Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

4. Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

5. In this order, the three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola and Budweiser.

January 5, 2006

Chris Stein, Blondie guitarist/songwriter and one-time Debbie Harry squeeze, is 55.

On this day in 1973, Aerosmith's self-titled debut album and Bruce Springsteen's debut album, "Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ." were both released to lackluster sales.

On this day in 1998, Sonny Bono died after he skied into a tree in South Lake Tahoe.

A Stones Super Update

If you want to be on the field for The Rolling Stones Super Bowl halftime show, you'd better not be older than 45. The National Football League is offering 2,000 people the chance to watch Mick Jagger and the boys perform during the February 5th extravaganza, but there are some physical requirements that will require an age range of 18 - 45. First of all, volunteers must enter and exit the field quickly and be on their feet for long periods — they won't have seats and will have to wait in a tunnel under Detroit's Ford Field for most of the first half. Also, participants must attend up to five rehearsals that could last as long as seven hours each, which will require some serious bladder control. Finally, the chosen crowd will be expected to dance, sing and cheer like crazed fools during the Stones' set. The organizers evidently feel that's way beyond the capabilities of real Stones fans, so at least we'll have some pretty bodies to watch on TV!

A Tenacious Musical (Sort Of)

"Rock of Ages," a new musical inspired by the Eighties L.A. music scene, is debuting at the Vanguard Hollywood theater on January 26th. The musical is set on Hollywood's Sunset Strip circa 1986, and features recreations of songs like Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and Night Ranger's "Sister Christian." Because Kyle Gass (of Tenacious D) is one of the featured performers, you know there must be a serious sense of twisted humor in the show! You may find more info at RockofAgesMusical.com — then again, maybe not!

All Star Tribute To Nicolette

Performances by Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joe Walsh and Jackson Browne, among others, will be featured on the "Lotta Love Concert" CD, due out on February 14th. The performances come from two February 1998 shows paying tribute to the late singer, Nicolette Larson, who died of a cerebral edema at the age of 45 in December 1997. Proceeds from sales of the album will benefit the Nicolette Larson Pediatric Endowment Fund affiliated with Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA.

Delayed Leppard Is Rescheduled

Def Leppard's long-in-production covers album, "Yeah!," is now scheduled for an April release. While the boys plan to hit the road later this year to support the CD, singer Joe Elliott confirms the band is currently taking a break to recover from last year's tour. "We do a very athletic show and very athletic vocal performance, and it's physically demanding beyond belief," Mr. E says. "It's at the end of the tour when you really feel the pain." Hey Joe, it eventually catches up with all of us!

The Trick Expands (Sort Of)

Cheap Trick finally approved remastered/expanded editions of both their 1979 classic "Dream Police" and 1980 "All Shook Up" albums for a February 21st release.

January 6, 2006

Original Pink Floyd singer/guitarist Syd Barrett is an insane 60.
Guitarist Malcolm Young of AC/DC is 52.

On this day in 1968, The Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" album hit #1.

On this day in 1976, Peter Frampton released "Frampton Comes Alive," which rewrote the record books and spurred the release of many, many horribly inferior live albums for years to come.

On this day in 1993, bassist Bill Wyman officially left The Rolling Stones saying, "I really don't want to do it anymore." Keith Richards, who had been trying to convince Wyman to stay, could only say, "I did everything but hold him at gunpoint." Since then, Bill has only taken three airplane flights.

On this day in 2001, Fleetwood Mac performed at the White House at a goodbye party for President Bill Clinton. For whatever reason, Christine McVie skipped the reunion.

This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Rush as well as Joe's brand new conversation with guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/singer Geddy Lee.

Santana For Rio In Lisbon

Santana is the first confirmed act to play the second Rock in Rio – Lisbon festival. While the festival will run May 26th and 27th as well as June 2nd through the 4th, Carlos Santana and his band will only headline the June 2nd date. The massive event was staged in Brazil in 1985, 1991 and 2001 before moving last year to Portugal where over 100,000 attended each day. Yes, that move is a bit baffling, but as long as Carlos is cool with it...

Nancy/Heart/Critic's Choice

The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, airing live Monday evening from Santa Monica on the WB network, will feature some rock royalty. Heart guitarist/singer Nancy Wilson has been nominated in the Best Composer category for her work on the "Elizabethtown" soundtrack. In addition, the "Elizabethtown" tune "The Same in Any Language," which was co-written by Wilson and husband Cameron Crowe, is up for Best Song and the album received a Best Soundtrack nomination.

Lou Does The Olympics

This could get strange. Lou Reed will perform at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy on February 23rd. Stay tuned!

Tolman R.I.P.

Gerry Tolman, Crosby, Stills & Nash's manager for over 20 years, died Sunday at age 52 in an automobile crash near Los Angeles. Tolman also managed the solo careers of Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. In addition, he performed and recorded with CSN. "My heart is broken about the untimely death of my dear friend," Graham said in a statement. "He was a great, sensitive, caring and funny man." With that, I fully agree. Rest in peace, Gerry.

New Year, New Warnings

Now they're telling us that due to increasing product liability litigation, American liquor manufacturers have accepted the FDA's suggestion that the following 10 warning labels be placed immediately on all containers:

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers, resulting in you getting your ass kicked.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of inexplicable rug burns on the forehead, knees and lower back.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause a disturbance in the time-space continuum, whereby gaps of time may seem to literally disappear.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.

January 7, 2006

Singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins is 58.

On this day in 1978, Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" album entered the charts.

On this day in 1978, "Lay Down Sally" by Eric Clapton entered the singles charts.

On this day in 1984, "Wrapped Around Your Finger" by The Police entered the singles charts.

January 8, 2006

Bill Graham, the first Rock & Roll Super-Promoter, would have been 75.
Elvis "The King" Presley would have been 71.
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger is 60.
The one & only David Bowie is 59.

On this day in 1977, Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" entered the singles charts.

On this day in 1991, Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark overdosed on drugs and alcohol. A founding member of the young band, he was all of 30 when he died. What a waste.

January 9, 2006

Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin guitar god and the oldest of the Yardbirds "Holy Trinity" of guitarists, is 62.
Scat singing/swell playing Dave Matthews is 39.

On this day in 1967, The Beatles recorded the flutes, trumpets, piccolos and fluegelhorn for "Penny Lane."

On this day in 1971, Santana's "Black Magic Woman" peaked at #4 on the charts.

On this day in 1971, the U.S. Jaycees presented Elvis Presley with an award honoring him as one of the "ten outstanding young men of America." Kind of doubtful he was the only one who was stoned at the ceremony.

On this day in 1982, the song "Under Pressure" by Queen & David Bowie peaked at #29 on the charts.

Aero/Crue

Brace yourself for the official announcement that Motley Crue and Aerosmith will co-headline a tour of big venues later in the year, after the Crue open several European dates for The Rolling Stones this Summer. In the meantime, Motley Crue will begin recording a new studio album on May 1st with famed producer Bob Rock, who has worked with Metallica, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, as well as the Crue on their "Dr. Feelgood" and self-titled albums. An early 2007 release is expected, followed by extensive touring.

No Free Jovi For Jersey

The New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission has selected the Bon Jovi song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" for a proposed commercial to help promote the Garden State. However, even though Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora offered the use of their composition free of charge, it doesn't look like the State is willing to pay $250,000 to the song's label and publisher for rights fees. You gotta think that if they paid that money to tourists, they'd all come running!

Beatles Top Q's Top 20

The Brits finally got one of those darn polls right! The Beatles led all bands in the latest poll of the Best Albums Of All Time by Britain's "Q" magazine. "Revolver" landed at #4 in the reader survey, followed by "Abbey Road" at #14, the "White Album" at #17 and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at #19. Typical for a Brit poll of punters, Radiohead scored the top two albums with "OK Computer" and "The Bends," with their "Kid A" rolling in at #10. U2's "Achtung Baby" was #9 and "The Joshua Tree" #11. Others making the Top 20 list included Nirvana's "Nevermind" at #3, R.E.M.'s "Automatic For The People" at #7, Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" at #15 and the Clash's "London Calling" at #20. We're all still just a bit stunned that long time U.K. favorite Mariah Carey didn't make the list...

Really Cool Pseudo Who

The fourth (and likely final) in a series of bands assembled by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to pay tribute to the greatest live bands in the history of Rock & Roll will be playing three special shows in late May. The one-off band — Portnoy, former David Lee Roth/Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan, former Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert and former Van Halen/Extreme singer Gary Cherone — will debut their "Amazing Journey — A Tribute to The Who," at the Center Theater Stage at the Whittier Community Center on May 27th, then hit Chicago on May 30th and B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City on May 31st. Tickets are on sale now.

L.A. Auto Show

Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Friday, 2pm - 6pm: Unc Joe returns to once again broadcast live from the Chrysler/Jeep exhibition at the L.A. Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. So many toys to see!

Snoozing Through Meetings

According to a "New York Post" survey of big time executives and managers, office meetings really do tend to put people to sleep, particularly on the East Coast. Highlights of the poll include:

5% have colleagues page them out of meetings;

6% have faked illness to skip meetings;

7% play electronic games during meetings;

50% have witnessed at least one person falling asleep in a meeting;

West Coast firms tend to have better meetings than East Coast outfits because there are one-third fewer meetings out West;

One-third of workers believe meetings are a complete waste of time, while two-thirds say they avoid voicing honest criticism because of fear of dismissal;

About 55% say that one or two bullies dominate their meetings and that no important decisions ever get made.

January 10, 2006

Rod Stewart is 61 and somehow still fertile.
Drummer Aynsley Dunbar (who's worked with Zappa, Bowie, Journey, and the Jefferson Starship) is 60.
Donald Fagan, one-half of Steely Dan, is 58.
Songstress Pat Benatar is 53.

On this day in 1956, Elvis Presley began his first RCA recording session. By the end of the day, the finished songs included "I've Got A Woman" and "Heartbreak Hotel."

On this day in 1973, Aerosmith's "Dream On" reentered the singles charts for the second time in 18 months.

On this day in 1976, legendary bluesman Howlin' Wolf died of cancer at the age of 65.

A Motley Star

You could call it a stylish return to the scene of the crime. Motley Crue will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 25th in front of the Musician's Institute in Hollywood.

Perry's Second Take On The Bone Yard

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry garnered a lot of attention when he launched his Rock Your World Bone Yard Brew hot sauces in 2003. But this past Fall, when his original distribution contracts ran out, Joe pulled the sauces off the market. He says now that he and his partners are working on a new marketing campaign for the scorching sauces: "We're repackaging and we're putting out a new version, a new, updated version, new packaging, and then we're gonna start with other products." No word on when the expanded Bone Yard Brew product line will be back on the market, but you know we'll be on top of it!

Dennis Returns

Former Styx keyboardist/singer Dennis DeYoung will return to the Southland for a special Valentine's weekend Symphonic Rock Spectacular at the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. Dennis, his 5 piece band and full rock symphony will perform the music DeYoung wrote and sang with Styx in a 2.5 hour live concert event on February 11th. Tickets are on sale now.

Neil's Release Announced

Following its January 23rd premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, the Jonathan Demme directed Neil Young performance documentary "Heart of Gold" will open in select theaters on February 10th. You may now continue with your regularly scheduled life.

L.A. Auto Show

Today and Friday, 2pm - 6pm: Unc Joe returns to once again broadcast live from the Chrysler/Jeep exhibition at the L.A. Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. So many toys to see!