 March 11 - 20, 2007These 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! March 11, 2007
On this day in 1992, Eric Clapton recorded an episode of "MTV Unplugged." The resulting album, released over Slowhand's objection, became the best-selling album of his career. Lesson learned: Don't expect your guitar gods to know retail. On this day in 1997, former Beatle Paul McCartney became Sir Paul McCartney at the hand of his Queen. Shortly afterward, Ringo Starr and George Harrison began referring to their former bandmate as "His Holiness."  This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of The Allman Brothers Band and more of Joe's conversation with Gregg Allman, drummer Butch Trucks and guitarist Warren Haynes. 
Van Halen/Hall Update #6,498With the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony coming up in New York on Monday evening, let's check on how the Van Halen soap opera churns. Guitar god Edward Van Halen finally entered a rehab program Thursday. We wish him the best and hope he's healthy real soon! Then, as the Eddie-developments were still going down, original V.H. frontman David Lee Roth announced that he won't attend the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony because he won't be allowed to perform. You ask, "What kind of Hall of Fame won't let the inductees perform?" Follow along with me here. The Hall's event organizers arranged for Velvet Revolver to perform some Van Halen classics at the ceremony, just as Metallica played Black Sabbath songs last year while the feuding Sabbath boys watched from the audience. Suspecting that Eddie and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen, wouldn't make the show, the Hall faced the uncomfortable prospect of putting Roth on stage with original V.H. bassist Michael Anthony and second frontman Sammy Hagar, Dave's replacement and longtime foil. Roth decided to bail, saying: "It's just not an option for me to go and watch some other band — who are only performing because they have some new record coming out — do our music. I have nothing against Velvet Revolver — I'm not familiar with their music — but that was my 3 minutes and 22 seconds up there." Right so, Diamond Dave! What To Look For On MondayWith all of the Van Halen drama unfolding in the background, what should you be looking for on the "live" VH1 Classics broadcast of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on Monday evening? Watch how wonderfully the boys from R.E.M. still get along and how appreciative poetess Patti Smith is of the accolades. And watch how much fun Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony are having, knowing they were once part of one of the greatest, hardest rocking bands ever. Crosby BetterSounds like the worst is over. But David Crosby, who has been recovering from a nasty bout of pneumonia, is now scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery soon. The iconic singer/songwriter's health problems had recently forced the postponement of tours by both Crosby, Stills & Nash and his duo with Graham Nash. Neil Wins!Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" DVD won the Best New Concert award at the 3rd Annual Music DVD Awards Tuesday evening in West Hollywood. The "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" disc, which documented Chuck Berry's 60th birthday concert with all star performances by The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and Eric Clapton, won the Best Of Show honor. Coverdale's LegalWhitesnake leader David Coverdale has finally realized his long-time dream of becoming a U.S. citizen. Coverdale, a U.S. resident for over 20 years, says: "I am very happy to say that after a five-year process, I successfully applied for, and was granted, U.S. citizenship on March 1st, 2007. I still maintain my British citizenship, though I am proud to say I now have dual citizenship for both Great Britain and the United States Of America, and as it is most unlikely that my two countries will go to war against each other in the foreseeable future, there should be no conflict of interest!" Now with the April 15th tax deadline coming up, citizen Coverdale must get back to work on the new Whitesnake album! 
Six Late Winter FactoidsThe Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. The Liberty Bell was not made in the United States and it was not rung on the first Independence Day. It was cast in London in 1752, cracked in 1835, and was not named "Liberty" until the 1830s in memory of slaves seeking their freedom. It took Leonardo da Vinci 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips. It was the custom among men in ancient Rome, when swearing to tell the truth, to place one's right hand on one's testicles. The English word "testimony" is related to this custom. The distance between an alligator's eyes in inches, is directly proportional to the length of the alligator in feet. The opening to the cave in which a bear hibernates is always on the North Slope. March 12, 2007
Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane/Starship is 66.
On this day in 1969, Beatle Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman. At 9:30pm E.S.T. on this day in 1971, the Allman Brothers Band began recording their legendary "At the Fillmore East" album. On this day in 1974, John Lennon and fellow songwriter Harry Nilsson were thrown out of the Troubadour in West Hollywood for being far, far, far too drunk. The stories and photos in the press brought to a head Lennon's troubled life when he and Yoko Ono were separated. On this day in 1977, Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle" peaked at #2, Bob Seger's "Night Moves" peaked at #4, and Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" topped out at #10.
Brad Delp R.I.P.Friday afternoon, Boston singer Brad Delp was found dead in his home at the age of 55. Police immediately ruled out foul play, but said it will be later this week before details of their investigation will be released. Even though he possessed one of the greatest voices in Rock & Roll, Brad was truly one of the nicest, most ego-free people you could ever find. From the first time we met just after the band's debut album was released, Brad was always like a kid in a candy shop — so happy to be singing, living life and meeting fans. In all the years I knew him, there was never an autograph or photo that he refused to do for fans. He was always there to help people in anyway he could. As group leader Tom Scholz said on the Boston web site (http://bandboston.com), "We just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll." The family has asked that memorial donations be made in Delp's memory to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01710. Rest in peace, Bradley. What To Look For TonightWith all of the Van Halen drama unfolding in the background, perhaps you're wondering what you should be looking for on tonight's "live" VH1 Classics broadcast of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. Rather than obsess on 50-year-old millionaires behaving badly, I'd suggest watching how wonderfully the boys from R.E.M. still get along, and how appreciative poetess Patti Smith is of the accolades. And watch how much fun Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony are having, knowing they were once part of one of the greatest, hardest rocking bands ever. Gene & Paul This SaturdayKISS' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will participate in a panel discussion about their new KISS Comics Group this Saturday at the 2007 Wizard World Los Angeles comic-book convention. The two rockers will also sign autographs and leer at females — what a life! Autographed Guitars For CharityGuitars signed by Bruce Springsteen, The Who's Pete Townshend and Sting — as well as tickets to see The Police in New York — are among the items that will be up for bid at the 3rd Annual Musicians On Call Benefit Concert and Auction March 30th in New York. The event helps support the organization's program of entertaining hospital patients through live and recorded music. For more information, log on to: http://www.musiciansoncall.org/auction07.htm. Here Comes GenesisA humongous 12-disc box set called "Genesis: 1976-1981" will be released on April 24th. The collection will feature remastered versions of five of the group's albums (from the middle phase of their career) and a sixth CD of rarities, as well as six companion DVDs offering 5.1 Surround Sound mixes and video content. "Turn It On Again" indeed! Fogerty's Ready (Sort Of)John Fogerty says he'll begin recording his seventh solo studio album within the next few weeks. He's planning on releasing the as-yet-untitled disc this Fall. While the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman will be doing a Summer European tour, it sounds like we'll have to wait until the album is released for a U.S. tour.
 Richard Jeni R.I.P.Saturday morning, Richard Jeni died in what police say was an apparent suicide. The 49-year-old extremely popular standup comedian was one of the most featured comics ever on the KLOS Five O'Clock Funnies. Jeni had starred in several specials for both HBO and Showtime, and was also a frequent guest on NBC's "Tonight Show," beginning with the Johnny Carson era and continuing with Jay Leno. Whether it was at a small Westside club, one of the bigger Southland comedy venues or on the set of his HBO specials, Richard was always one of the nicest (and flat-out funniest) guys I've ever worked with. He always cracked us up, and everyone who listened to or hosted the Five O'Clock Funnies will miss him terribly. Please check out Elayne Boosler's goodbye to a friend. Rest in peace, Richard. March 13, 2007
Bassist Adam Clayton of U2 is a well-dressed 47.
On this day in 1852, Uncle Sam first appeared in a political cartoon. On this day in 1935, Donald Duck made his crotchety debut. On this day in 1965, Eric Clapton left The Yardbirds to play the blues with John Mayall. (Six months later he left Mayall's band.) On this day in 1965, The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting For You" entered the U.S. singles charts as The Beatles hit #1 with "Eight Days A Week." On this day in 1966, Pink Floyd played their first gig at London's legendary Marquee Club (previous home to The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and The Who). Remember how I mentioned yesterday that in 1970, the Allman Brothers Band began recording the gig that became their live "At the Fillmore East" album? It was around 3am on this day in 1970 that they finished playing. On this day in 1971, Emerson, Lake & Palmer's song "Lucky Man" entered the charts where, a few weeks later, it peaked at #48. On this day in 1976, the Eagles' "Take It To The Limit" peaked at #4 as "Love Hurts" by Nazareth topped out at #8 and Foghat's "Slow Ride" charted at #20.
Darn – No Fisticuffs At InductionFinally! An evening without any intra-band sniping (ala The Pretenders) or snubbing of a group's original members (ala Creedence Clearwater Revival). In fact, R.E.M. capped a long night of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions with a gracious salute by Michael Stipe to the other inductees: Van Halen, Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five and The Ronettes. Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony — the only members of Van Halen present, with Eddie Van Halen in rehab and both Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth declining to appear — were as classy as you'd expect. And of course they jammed with Velvet Revolver (something DLR rejected). Fighting back tears as she thought of family members, Patti Smith recalled how her late husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith, told her before he died that she would someday make the Rock Hall. "He asked me please to accept it like a lady and not to say any curse words," she said, "and make certain to salute new generations." With jewelry dangling from his hair, a mustachioed Keith Richards inducted The Ronettes by clearly saying: "They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound. They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then, and they touch it still." All in all, a good show. Rock on! Has Heather Settled?Tabloid newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic are saying that Heather Mills has agreed to end her bitter divorce battle with Paul McCartney by accepting a $56 million settlement. Mills dropped her demand for sole custody of the couple's daughter, Beatrice, in exchange for the cash and one of the former Beatle's homes. The 64-year-old McCartney and 39-year-old Mills married in June 2002 and announced their split last May. Mills will appear on the new season of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," and the online betting site Bodog.com is offering odds on whether her artificial leg will fall off during the competition. The show premieres March 19th. One Big Ass Guitar ShowcaseWith a name like the Holy Grail Guitar Exhibition, you know that the 30th Annual Dallas International Guitar Festival is going to be special. The event, which runs from April 20th through April 22nd, will feature a museum-type display of Eric Clapton's famous "Blackie" and "Brownie" Fender Stratocaster guitars, as well as instruments played by Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, among others. A variety of guitarists, including Rick Derringer, will also perform at the event. Selling Those Bowie/Bolan/Mercury ArtifactsThe Gibson guitar played by Marc Bolan on Top of the Pops is to go under the hammer in the next Christie's auction in London on April 26th. Bolan used the guitar, now estimated to be worth $90,000 to $150,000, to play "Get It On" with T. Rex in 1971. Also up for grabs is a costume worn by David Bowie for his last appearance as Ziggy Stardust at London's Marquee Club in 1973, valued at $12,000 to $18,000. A scarlet cloak worn by Freddie Mercury on Queen's 1986 European tour has the same valuation.
Quote Of The DayIt was the immortal Frank Zappa who said: "There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life." Four More Late Winter Factoids
1. No piece of paper can be folded more than seven times. March 14, 2007
Quincy Jones, a true musical genius, is 74.
On this day in 1964, as The Beatles' cover of "Twist And Shout" entered the charts, Billboard magazine reported that the Fab Four's records made up 60% of the singles market. On this day in 1981, Genesis singer/drummer Phil Collins' first solo album, "Face Value," entered the charts. It eventually sold over four million copies — more than any Genesis album to that date! On this day in 1981, Eric Clapton was admitted to a St. Paul, Minnesota hospital after a serious attack of bleeding ulcers. He was forced to cancel a 60-date U.S. tour and eventually quit drinking.
On Stage TonightEric Clapton will take to the stage at the Staples Center tonight. Macca FrappuccinoWord out of England says that Paul McCartney has left his longtime record company, Capitol/EMI, to become one of the first artists to sign with the newly launched label owned by Starbucks Coffee. Some people are even predicting that the former Beatle will release a new solo album on the Hear Music label as early as this Fall. Rock Camp GrowsFounded here in the States in 1998, the Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp is finally hitting jolly old England. The Camp gives paying attendees a chance to learn firsthand what goes into making a band. The London Fantasy Camp will take place at the Abbey Road Studios from May 24th through May 28th. Guest instructors so far include former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, bassist/singer Jack Bruce of Cream, singer Gary Brooker of Procol Harum and keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple. Back in the U.S., the next New York City edition of the Camp will run from August 31st through September 3rd. Guitarist/singer Paul Stanley of KISS and guitarist/professional hunter Ted Nugent will be among the Gotham instructors. No matter the location, you still have to wonder what the catering will be like! Tyler/Daltrey/Plant PSAsAerosmith's Steven Tyler, The Who's Roger Daltrey, former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, Ronnie James Dio, Judas Priest's Rob Halford and KISS' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are among the famous rockers who have recorded public service announcements that VH1 Classic will air during April as part of Autism Awareness Month. Right so! Fogerty Hits The BeachJohn Fogerty and The Reverend Al Green will headline the eclectic lineup of this year's Doheny Blues Festival. The two day festival — taking place on May 19th and May 20th at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point — will also feature The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday at all Ticketmaster outlets. As usual, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation. Lennon Tribute/Save Darfur CDR.E.M.'s original foursome (including drummer Bill Berry), Aerosmith, Green Day, Christina Aguilera and U2 are among the artists lending their talents to Instant Karma: The Campaign To Save Darfur, a star-studded benefit album featuring covers of songs by John Lennon. The June 12th release will support Amnesty International's campaign against the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. For more information, visit InstantKarma.org. New Cars Be BookingMaybe you thought you'd never hear from them again, but The New Cars are booking concert dates. The Todd Rundgren-fronted band has scheduled 10 gigs from a May 11th concert in Kinder, Louisiana through an August 7th show in Ridgefield, Washington.
Richard Jeni UpdateOne of our all-time favorite comedians, Richard Jeni, took his own life early Saturday morning. Now his family is speaking out in a statement posted on Jeni's website. They say that he had recently been suffering from severe clinical depression which included moments of "psychotic paranoia." Jeni's family wants to bring attention to his real-life struggles and end rumors that Jeni was upset over his career. They specifically state, "He was not down or blue, he was ill." Please check out Elayne Boosler's goodbye to a friend. Rest in peace, Richard. Quote Of The DayIt was Tom Waits who said: "The large print giveth, but the small print taketh away." March 15, 2007
The Ides Of March Rock & Roll B-day Boys
Blues guitar legend Lightnin' Hopkins would have been 95.
On this day in 1975, The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" hit #1 and ELO's "Can't Get It Out Of My Head" peaked at #9 as Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" broke into the Top 100 singles chart. On this day in 1980, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' "Refugee" peaked at #15 on the singles chart. On this day in 1986, The Rolling Stones' "Harlem Shuffle" and Van Halen's "Why Can't This Be Love" both broke into the Top 40. On this day in 1999, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel were among those inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On this day in 2004, the late George Harrison, Traffic, ZZ Top, Bob Seger and Jackson Browne were among the inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Led Zeppelin as well as conversation with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Delp UpdateThe family of Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, has announced that his death was a suicide. "He was a man who gave all he had to give to everyone around him, whether family, friends, fans or strangers," the family said in a statement. "He gave as long as he could, as best he could, and he was very tired. We take comfort in knowing that he is now, at last, at peace." The 55-year-old was discovered lifeless in the master bathroom of his home, where he died from an intentional overexposure to carbon monoxide. While Brad's funeral will be private, his family has said a public memorial is in the works. Full OzzFest AnnouncedOzzFest 2007 was scheduled to launch July 7th at the Hyundai Pavilion in Devore. But that gig got pushed back to Saturday July 21st as the full 24-date Ozzy Osbourne-headlined metal bash adjusted its schedule. The tour will now launch on July 12th in Auburn, Washington. Admission to this year's OzzFest will be free, with tickets being made available at special sponsor websites. So far, no acts besides Osbourne have been revealed, but someone is bound to eventually sign on. Queen + Paul Rodgers Still KickingQueen + Paul Rodgers has been working on new material for the past few months. Guitarist Brian May says, "I don't really feel it's right to get into too many details at this point, but, as things stand, in the recent Queen/Rodgers sessions, all three of us (May, Paul Rodgers, and drummer Roger Taylor) have played some bass! (me most of all). Whether the tracks will end up that way, I'm not sure — we may invite someone in at some point, but for the purposes of getting our heads together, and evolving not only songs, but ways of creating, it has worked out well just having the three of us, so far." No word on when the new material might surface, or when the group will tour again. But you know they will! Bob's Gonna Take BreakBob Seger is wrapping up his "Face The Promise" tour in his hometown of Detroit this week. After that, he's going to take it easy for a while. "I just want to take a deep breath and reunite with the family. I want to be home, really, for the kids. I miss them and I want to reconnect with them. I figure I'll take six or seven months (off) and just write and that's all, maybe a little bit of recording, nothing else. Then I'll just reassess in October and say, 'How do I feel?' Do I want to start another record and do the thing the following summer or the following fall?' or something. That's a good way to approach it, I think. I want to get away from it for awhile and see how much I miss it." Allmans/George/Dan Play MemphisThe Allman Brothers Band will headline the first day (May 4th) of the 2007 Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. Two other ABB side groups — Gov't Mule and the Derek Trucks Band — will also perform that day. Steely Dan and George Thorogood will play on the festival's second day (May 5th). The Counting Crows and Elvin Bishop will be part of the third day's line-up. Rock on! Parson's Rereleases/Mini-TourThree Alan Parsons Project albums are slated for reissue this month: 1975's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination," 1977's "I Robot," and 1982's "Eye in the Sky." By the end of the year, Parsons' entire back catalog is expected to be rereleased. To help promote the rereleases (or to just get out of the house this Summer), Alan is taking his latest "Project" on the road. So far he has booked nine Alan Parsons Live Project shows between April 28th and mid-October. No Southland dates yet, but you know he'll play here at some point!
Quote Of The DayIt was G. K. Chesterton who said: "You cannot grow a beard in a moment of passion." What Chicks Really Dig
Here are some interesting statistics from the latest issue of "Glamour" (and thanks to Jim Ladd for pointing them out!). March 16, 2007
Nancy Wilson of Heart is 53.
On this day in 1967, Pink Floyd began recording their debut album, "Piper at the Gates of Dawn," at Abbey Road studios. On this day in 1968, Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" hit #1 on the singles chart just over three months after his death in a plane crash. On this day in 1991, Van Halen's Eddie Van Halen and wife Valerie Bertinelli became parents to son Wolfgang. On this day in 1991, Styx's "Show Me The Way" peaked at #3 on the singles chart. This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Led Zeppelin as well as conversation with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
On Stage SaturdaySaturday night, Eric Clapton will take to the stage at the Honda Center just as Ian Hunter and The Zombies are playing down the street at The Grove of Anaheim. Macca's Money Deal BrewingThe British tabloids are saying that Paul McCartney's impending divorce is playing a role in his record label switch. As I reported earlier this week, the former Beatle is said to be close to signing with a new label backed by Starbucks. Word is that EMI/Capitol — Macca's label for more than 40 years — offered him an advance of over $48 million for his next four albums. If he were to accept that deal, he'd get the money up front and stand to lose half of it to estranged wife Heather Mills in their divorce. If Sir Paulie starts fresh with a new company and new contract, Mills wouldn't have any right to those earnings. Stay tuned! Gene & Paul/SaturdayRock legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will be on hand to debut their new comic book, KISS 4K this Saturday at the Wizard World comic book show at The Los Angeles Convention Center. In KISS 4K, Simmons, Stanley and other band members transform from rock stars to world-protecting warrior spirits. Kinda like Jim Ladd with less lifelike graphics. A New Singer For RidersBrett Scallions, the former frontman of the modern-rock band Fuel, is the new singer for Riders On The Storm — The Doors spin-off group of keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger. Brett is replacing Ian Astbury, who recently left to rejoin guitarist Billy Duffy in The Cult. Some Steely NewsSteely Dan have officially announced the first half of their Heavy Rollers 2007 tour, which will start in Memphis May 5th and end on June 10th in New York. Their Southland dates will come in the tour's second half. As for new Dan products, "The Donald Fagen Trilogy Collection" — a special set of Mr. Fagan's three solo albums — will arrive on May 22nd while the "The Best of Steely Dan: The Millennium Collection" is due out on October 2nd. Pete's MethodDuring his keynote address at the South by Southwest Music Festival Wednesday night, The Who's Pete Townshend discussed his new "Method." He described it as a service to give subscribers musical reflections of themselves, explaining, "You enter data about yourself, you share some stuff about how you feel, and you get back a piece of music." The composition could be "beautiful" or "terrible," but it will be "an authentic portrait." The subject would also own one-third of the copyright, for what that's worth. It's a concept Pete has been obsessing on since he began writing "Lifehouse," the project that became the 1971 "Who's Next" album. The formal launch of the Method will take place at a media event in London on April 25th. It could be "beautiful" or "terrible," but that's our Pete!
Factoid of the WeekendAntarctica is the only continent without reptiles or snakes. One could only assume that this indicates a total lack of commercial radio. St. Patty's FactoidsIn 461, St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, died. He was originally a pig farmer in England who was carried off to Ireland as a slave. Once there, he introduced Christianity to Ireland. The actual date of his death was uncertain. Historians knew it was either March 8th or 9th, so as a compromise, they added the dates together, making the 17th the official holiday date. Legend has it that Saint Patrick was responsible for driving out all the snakes from Ireland by beating on his drum, thereby banishing snakes forever from the country. Of course, since the snake was an important symbol of paganism, this might be a more figurative tale than what actually transpired, symbolizing Saint Patrick's mission of ridding Ireland of paganism. The truth is, St. Patrick wasn't Irish, he was British. And his color wasn't green, it was blue. Some historians think that there actually might have been TWO Saint Patricks, but neither of them looked like Bono or wore sunglasses like his. As they say in Dublin, right so and slainte (slan-cha)! March 17, 2007
Jefferson Airplane/Starship founding member/guitarist Paul Kantner is 66. Guitarist Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy is 56. (Note: The band was Irish, but Scott was from Santa Monica.) Guitarist/pseudo-singer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame is 40.
On this day in 1967, The Grateful Dead released its self-titled debut album but no one outside of San Francisco knew what to do with it. On this day in 1973, Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" album entered the American charts. Little did anyone know of the impact it would have. On this day in 1973, The Moody Blues' "I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band)" peaked at #12 on the pop singles chart. On this day in 1974, Bachman Turner Overdrive released the "Bachman Turner Overdrive 2" album featuring "Let It Roll" and "Takin' Care of Business." On this day in 1979, Bad Company released the song "Rock & Roll Fantasy" and Styx released "Renegade." On this day in 1990, former Traffic and Blind Faith bassist Rick Grech died of a drug overdose at the age of 43. March 18, 2007
Drummer John Hartman of the Doobie Brothers is 57.
On this day in 1965, a British gas station owner refused to let The Rolling Stones use his facilities. So the long-haired hooligans took the matter into their own hands, and were arrested for urinating in public. Well after the publicity died down, Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards and bassist Bill Wyman were fined $8 each. On this day in 1972, Neil Young topped the charts with "Heart of Gold," his only solo single to break into the Top 30. On this day in 1978, California Jam 2 drew an estimated 250,000 fans to the Ontario Motor Speedway (the site were the Ontario Mills Outlet Mall is now located). Santana, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent and Foreigner headlined, and a live double album was issued later that Fall. To further commemorate the event, the Inland Empire birth rate spiked in December 1978. March 19, 2007
On this day in 1974, the revamped Jefferson Airplane began their first tour under the name Jefferson Starship. The line-up included singer/guitarist Paul Kantner, singer Grace Slick, drummer Johnny Barbata, keyboardist David Freiberg, bassist Peter Kaukonen, guitarist Craig Chaquico and violinist Papa John Creach. On this day in 1976, Free guitarist Paul Kossoff died on a London-to-New York plane flight of a heart attack. The 26-year-old had been troubled with heart disease most of his life. On this day in 1982, 25-year-old Southern California guitar legend Randy Rhoads was killed in a plane crash while touring with Ozzy Osbourne. On this day in 1983, U2's album "War" made its first appearance on the American charts. But the Irish band had to wait until 1987 to score a major hit song in the U.S., when "With Or Without You" reached #1.
Jackson Headlines MalibuJackson Browne will headline the From Malibu With Love: A Concert For The Midnight Mission this Friday night at the Malibu Performing Arts Center. He'll be joined by Los Lobos, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, drummer Clem Burke of Blondie, guitarist Elliot Easton of The Cars and Doug Fieger, The Knack's frontman. The proceeds will benefit the Midnight Mission Skid Row homeless shelter. There are more details at http://malibuperformingartscenter.com/events.html. Spector Spectacle Begins TodayThe murder trial of famed rock producer Phil Spector begins today, more than four years after actress Lana Clarkson was found shot to death in his residence outside Los Angeles. The jury selection process will screen over 300 potential jurors, assessing how much media coverage of the case they have absorbed. The long awaited trial will be shown on live television, and is certainly the biggest celebrity trial since Michael Jackson's 2005 child molestation charges. Hopefully it won't be as ridiculous and overall icky! Another Who PostponementThat same bronchitis that's knocked down so many in the Southland over the last couple of months has forced The Who to postpone last Saturday's Mexico City concert and Tuesday night's San Antonio show. Frontman Roger Daltrey is still suffering from that wicked bronchial infection which also caused the postponement of the band's Tampa concert last Tuesday. Get well soon Roger! Zevon Release SetMay 1st is the official release date for a new double-CD and a memoir about the legendary Warren Zevon. "Preludes – Rare And Unreleased Recordings" will boast 16 songs, including six unreleased tracks, selected by Zevon's son, Jordan, from 126 unreleased outtakes and demos recorded before 1976. The memoir, called "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon," was compiled at his request by his former wife, Crystal Zevon, from the recollections of those close to Warren.
Quote Of The DayIt was Coach John Wooden who said: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." Life Without E-Mail?!?Have you ever lost access to your e-mail? Then you know the panic! An "Investor's Business Daily" survey found that 40% of U.S. workers can't live without e-mail. Another 25.8% claimed e-mail was "extremely important" for what they do at work. For those making $50,000 to $75,000 annually, 40% said they couldn't live without e-mail. Among those making $75,000 to $100,000, 44.4% couldn't live without it, and 52.2% of those earning over $100,000 said they couldn't do without it. March 20, 2007
Drumming legend Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer is 57.
On this day in 1964, John Lennon's first book, "In His Own Write," was published. On this day in 1968, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Richie Furay and Jim Messina were arrested at a private residence in Los Angeles and charged with "being in a place where it is suspected marijuana is being used." While the others had to pay small fines for the misdemeanor, Clapton (the world's reigning guitar god), was found innocent. On this day in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married at the Rock of Gibraltar. On this day in 1971, Janis Joplin's "Me And Bobby McGee" hit #1 on the pop singles chart. On this day in 1972, T. Rex released the "Electric Warrior" album, which included the hit "Bang A Gong (Get It On.)" On this day in 1982, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'N Roll" hit #1 on the pop singles charts for the first of seven weeks. On this day in 1991, Eric Clapton's four-year-old son, Conor, fell to his death from a 53rd story window in midtown Manhattan. The song "Tears in Heaven" was written in his memory. This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, in a special tribute show, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Boston as well as more of Joe's conversations with Brad Delp.
On Stage TonightRod Stewart is playing the first of two shows at the Staples Center tonight as Kenny Wayne Shepherd is rocking the House Of Blues in Anaheim. Seger May ContinueBob Seger certainly sounded sure of himself when he recently told me that he was going take the Summer off from touring. But just yesterday he said: "We got these really big offers in Calgary [Canada] and Milwaukee, and we had talked about a Canadian Summer tour anyway... We might build something around that. The Milwaukee Summerfest, Minnesota - probably Minneapolis. For some strange reason, it works, because it happens to coincide with Grand Funk's tour (featuring Seger drummer Don Brewer)... I'd say it's 50-50 at best, maybe 40-60." Wonder if he's followed NASCAR Superstar Mark Martin's three years of constant revisions for scheduling time off? U2 In 3DLeave it to U2. They actually shot their upcoming concert film entirely in 3D. The preview of the flick, featuring a portion of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," during the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas was a big hit. The flick, titled "U2 3D," was shot during the band's South American tour and is said to be the first live-action film shot, posted and exhibited utilizing 3D technology. "U2 3D" will reportedly play in 3D-capable theatres, like IMAX, and could premiere by the end of the year. Pagey TestifiesLed Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has agreed to testify against a Scottish bootlegger in an upcoming trial. The nefarious Robert Langley was arrested in Glasgow two years ago with over $50,000 worth of pirated CDs. Among the items seized were live Zeppelin shows that have never been released, including a legendary August 1979 Knebworth Festival show. A full service bootlegger, Langley is also alleged to have been selling unreleased material from The Beatles and Bob Dylan, among others. During the trial, prosecutors are expected to play songs including "Stairway To Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love" from the CDs that were seized. There's no word on how soon the trial will take place, but it sounds like it will be rockin'! New Jovi On American IdolBon Jovi will release its next album, "Lost Highway," on June 19th. You've probably heard the title song,which is featured in the trailer for the John Travolta comedy "Wild Hogs." Another track from the LP, "We Got It Going" featuring Big & Rich, is the theme song for ESPN's Arena Football League coverage. While a full scale tour is yet to be announced, Bon Jovi will perform "(You Want To) Make A Memory" on the upcoming 6th Annual CMT Awards broadcast on April 16th, as well as on American Idol on May 2nd. Do you think Simon Cowell will bitch slap the Jersey boys after they perform? Gene Loses JowlsGene Simmons of KISS and his partner Shannon Tweed underwent face lifts — while being filmed — back in November. In addition to taking care of his jowly jaw line, Simmons also had work done on his eyelids and liposuction done on his chest. But don't worry, post-operative pictures show the couple doesn't look drastically different. Of course, their experience will be included in the new season of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," which debuts on A&E on Sunday.
Quote Of The DayIt was baseball legend Joe Garagiola who said: "Oh well, half of one, six dozen of the other." |
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