August 21 - 31, 2008
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!
August 21, 2008
Bassist/singer Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple fame is 57.
Guitarist/singer Joe Strummer of The Clash would have been 57.
Former Journey drummer Steve Smith is 54.
On this day in 1954, Bill Haley & the Comets broke into the Top 40 with "Shake, Rattle and Roll." Music would never be the same.
On this day in 1965, The Rolling Stones' "Out Of Our Heads" album hit #1.
On this day in 1968, Cream's "Wheels Of Fire" album hit #1.
On this day in 2005, Robert A. Moog, one of the most influential innovators in the history of Rock & Roll and the guy whose self-named synthesizers turned electric currents into sound, passed away at the age of 71 at his home in Asheville, North Carolina.
This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of The Kinks as well as conversation with Ray and Dave Davies.
Woodie's Extended Stay
Word is that guitarist Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones has agreed to remain in rehab for at least four more months to continue his treatment for alcoholism. Wood and his wife Jo were reportedly told by doctors and counselors that he needs more time in the facility to stand a chance of staying clean. Keep it going Ronnie!
Dave's Tribute To LeRoi
Dave Matthews paid a touching tribute to his friend LeRoi Moore at Tuesday night's concert at the Staples Center. Just that afternoon the 46-year-old Moore unexpectedly died of complications from injuries sustained during an ATV crash back in June. In speaking of the saxophonist/founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, Dave told the crowd, "Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today and we will miss him forever... It's easier to leave than be left." Right so!
Simmons Challenging 5th Graders
While some would say he's always been a challenge, KISS bassist/singer Gene Simmons is set to appear on Jeff Foxworthy's "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" game show. The Fox TV program will kick off its new season on September 5th with a two-hour special. In other Simmons merchandising news, a four-DVD set featuring the third season of the A&E reality series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" will be released on November 14th.
Slash's Insight
Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash will be featured in the Guitar Center Sessions: An Evening of Dialogue and Insight With Slash on September 3rd. The free event at the Guitar Center in Northridge will feature Slash discussing music, demonstrating guitar technique and bestowing career advice on attendees. If any of the people there have half of a brain, they'll shut up and listen to what he has to say — the man has a lot of wisdom to share!
Gaines Tribute
It sure took someone quite a while to get around to it, but Lynyrd Skynyrd's Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines will finally be honored with commemorative markers in a park in their hometown of Miami, Oklahoma. The late guitarist and his sister, along with Skynyrd singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, were killed in the band's tragic 1977 plane crash.
A New Ratt
In case you were wondering, former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo is replacing John Corabi in Ratt on August 27th.
Quote Of The Day
It was Mark Twain who said: "Few things are harder to put up with than a good example."
Dinner With Joe
Thanks to all the KLOS Radiothon listeners who kicked in big time to help Think Cure — the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers — support critical cancer research at City of Hope and Children's Hospital Los Angeles last weekend!
But wait... the special KLOS Think Cure Auction actually continues until 9pm this Sunday! Sure, there's some great rock memorabilia, but how about that "Dinner With Joe Benson"!?! Great food and stories with yer Unc, and 100% of the money goes to support critical cancer research — right so!
August 22, 2008
Blues legend John Lee Hooker would have been 91.
Dale Hawkins, the guy who wrote "Susie-Q," is 70.
Former Grateful Dead singer Donna Godchaux is 61.
Singing sprite Tori Amos is 45.
Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley would have been 41.
On this day in 1964, The Beatles played the Hollywood Bowl. A live recording of the concert was finally released in 1977.
On this day in 1966, New York police managed to talk two teenagers down from a 22nd-floor ledge where they had threatened to commit suicide unless they met The Beatles. Instead, the girls were sent to Roosevelt Hospital to get their heads examined, then were charged with disturbing the peace. And all they really wanted was a little Beatle love!
On this day in 1968, a day before their sixth anniversary, John Lennon's wife, Cynthia, sued the Beatle for divorce after discovering Yoko Ono living in their London home. Definitely not the kind of anniversary gift or home accessorizing she had in mind.
On this day in 1969, The Beatles were together for the last time in one room. The four gathered at John Lennon's Tittenhurst Park home just outside of London for a photo shoot for the cover of the "Hey Jude" album.
On this day in 1970, Eric Clapton, under the guise of Derek & the Dominoes, began work on "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs."
On this day in 1970, Neil Young released his third solo album, "After The Gold Rush," just as Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Cosmo's Factory" album hit #1 for the first of a nine-week run.
On this day in 1979, Led Zeppelin released their final studio album, "In Through The Out Door."
On this day in 1981, Foreigner's "4" album hit #1.
On this day in 1981, "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones entered the singles chart.
On this day in 2006, Bruce Gary, the original drummer for The Knack, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 55. As a longtime L.A. session musician, he worked with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Cream's Jack Bruce and Robby Krieger of The Doors as well as blues masters Albert Collins and Albert King.
This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of The Kinks as well as conversation with Ray and Dave Davies.
On Stage Tonight
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Steve Winwood will be rocking the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater tonight.
Zeppelin Rocks Olympics (Sort Of)
The Olympics closing ceremony is traditionally a passing of the torch, so to speak, from the current host city to the city hosting the next Olympics. And with the 2012 Olympic Summer Games taking place in London, who better than Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page to perform "Whole Lotta Love" at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics? And as it turns out, without a Zeppelin reunion tour to distract him, Jimmy's schedule is wide open this weekend. He'll be joined on stage (or where ever they'll be playing) by Brit pop star Leona Lewis and a band that includes session musician/Pink Floyd sideman Guy Pratt. If only they could get those 2008 Chinese drummers from the opening ceremonies to back them up!
Ozzy's Kickin' Gig
Sure Ozzy Osbourne occasionally acts as if he's been kicked along side the head, but he'll actually be performing with his band at the Affliction: Day of Reckoning mixed martial arts contest in Las Vegas on October 11th. And the OzzMan's insightful quote about the gig? "Every performance needs a little blood... I look forward to seeing the fighters get roughed up a bit." He'd better hope that heavyweight contenders Andre Arlovski and Josh Barnett don't mutually decide to take out the singer!
Sammy's Rockin' Hot Benefit
Next week, Sammy Hagar and a handful of celebrities will perform at a benefit for Mill Valley's Throckmorton Theater, which was built in 1915. Proceeds from the A Rockin' Hot Benefit Bash will help renovate the old place with currently serves as a cultural center. Hagar and his Wabos will play on August 27th, the same night comedians Robin Williams and Robert Klein will take the stage.
Hendrix Tribute DVD
Sometimes it just takes longer than you think it should. A DVD focusing on a pair of 2002 all-star Jimi Hendrix tribute concerts has just been released. "Experience Hendrix" documents San Diego and Seattle performances by former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and former Hendrix bandmates Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Blues greats Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin also appear on the DVD.
J.Y.'s Health Scare
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Styx guitarist James "J.Y." Young's wife Suzie, who underwent emergency surgery for an aneurysm last week. J.Y. has been skipping gigs to be by her side, and he's not expected to perform with the group while she recovers. For those of you who always wondered, Suzie was the direct inspiration for J.Y.'s song "Lorelei."
A Thought For The Weekend
If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.
August 23, 2008
Rock drumming god Keith Moon of The Who would have been 61.
Singer/actor/heartthrob Rick Springfield is 59.
On this day in 1962, John Lennon married his first wife, Cynthia, almost six years to the day before she filed for divorce. The lucky couple's wedding night was spent with The Beatles playing Liverpool's Riverpark Ballroom.
On this day in 1968, Ringo Starr temporarily walked out on The Beatles during sessions for "The Beatles (White Album)."
On this day in 1969, The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" hit #1 Stateside.
On this day in 1974, Bruce Springsteen hired drummer Max Weinberg, completing the line-up for the most famous version of The E Street Band.
August 24, 2008
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, the bluesman whose "That's All Right Mama" was Elvis Presley's first single, would have been 103.
Uriah Heep singer/guitarist/keyboardist Ken Hensley is 63.
On this day in 1967, The Beatles had their first meeting with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Mick Jagger and his girlfriend Marianne Faithfull tagged along. John Lennon later said the experience was like "going somewhere without your trousers," a situation that Mick was very familiar with even then.
On this day in 1968, to celebrate his 21st birthday (which was actually the day before), Who drummer Keith Moon drove a Lincoln convertible into the pool of a Holiday Inn in Flint, Michigan. Rock & Roll!
On this day in 1979, The Cars played a free concert to an audience of 500,000 in New York's Central Park. No, they didn't really move around much on stage.
On this day in 1989, The Who performed their rock opera "Tommy" at the Universal Amphitheatre with an all-star cast that included Elton John, Billy Idol, Phil Collins and Patti LaBelle.
August 25, 2008
KISS frontman Gene Simmons is 59.
Judas Priest singer Rob Halford is 57.
Master songwriter Elvis Costello is 54.
On this day in 1970, Elton John played his first American concert at the Troubadour in West L.A. That week-long gig helped to break Sir Elty in America before he became a star in his British homeland.
On this day in 1970, Emerson, Lake & Palmer played their first-ever gig at the Plymouth Guild Hall in England.
On this day in 1973, The Allman Brothers Band's biggest single, "Ramblin' Man," entered the chart. It eventually peaked at #2.
On this day in 1979, The Knack scored two chart toppers in one day: their debut album, "Get The Knack," and their first single, "My Sharona," both hit #1. "My Sharona" stayed at #1 for five weeks.
On this day in 1994, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant recorded an episode of MTV Unplugged. The success of that show led to two albums and several tours by the duo.
On this day in 2000, producer Jack Nitzsche died in Los Angeles. As well as having worked closely with Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, Jack won an Oscar in 1982 for co-writing "Up Where We Belong" for the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman."
Zep Rumors Roiling
So Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page took part in last night's closing ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, adding thundering guitar to his song "Whole Lotta Love" sung by Brit pop star Leona Lewis. Elsewhere, singer Robert Plant has a few more concert dates with Bluegrass Super Star Alison Krauss (and may record another album with her post-haste). And Zep bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones has been... working on new material with Page and drummer Jason Bonham? That's what Jason said in announcing his departure from Foreigner as of August 31st, thus clearing the path to a September announcement of a Zep reunion tour. Well, he actually didn't say that last part, but you know...
The Allmans' Really Big One
The Allman Brothers Band's annual engagement at New York's Beacon Theater next March is going to be one big blow out! The shows will serve as the legendary jam band's 40th anniversary celebration, and Gregg Allman says, "We're planning a big one, man, a real big one. We're trying to get all the people we know that we've played with to come and sit in and play... Just think about all the people we've played with. We're shooting to get all of them."
Fresh Jimi Boots
A new "official bootleg" from the Jimi Hendrix Experience is due out tomorrow. "Live In Paris & Ottawa 1968" offers nine songs recorded at the French capital's L'Olympia Theatre and three previously unreleased live tracks from the Canadian gig. Bonus alert! Among the unheard tunes is a wild cover of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!" For you completists, the Paris performances were originally issued as part of the 1991 "Stages" box set.
Rush/Rock Band
Rush's classic 1981 album, "Moving Pictures," will be available as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game tomorrow. The classic album's seven songs join five other Rush tunes already offered for the game. Other full-length albums being made available for Rock Band tomorrow include Judas Priest's "Screaming for Vengeance" and The Cars' self-titled debut.
Doors Bucks Up
Hello Mr. Banker! The California Supreme Court refused to take up Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger's appeal of a lower court ruling, so they now owe millions for using The Doors' name and images during a 2003 tour. In fact, Manzarek and Krieger were ordered to pay over $5 million to drummer John Densmore and singer Jim Morrison's parents, as well as the parents of his late wife. Seeing as Ray and Robby still tour playing Doors tunes under the name Riders on the Storm, you can safely bet they'll be booking a whole lot more shows to raise some cash!
Quote Of The Day
It was Coach John Wooden who said: "It isn't what you do, but how you do it."
You Talking About Me?
According to research from the University of Pennsylvania, if you sleep 4 to 6 hours a night for 2 consecutive weeks, your brain will function about as well as it would if you had stayed up for 3 nights in a row. On top of that, men have more trouble coping with lack of sleep than women do. Yeah, it was a long weekend and I am really grouchy, so what's it to you?!?
August 26, 2008
On this day in 1967, The Beatles appeared with their new guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at a press conference where Paul McCartney announced that the bandmates had given up drugs. Yeah, sure.
On this day in 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience released the single "Purple Haze." No one said it wasn't about drugs.
On this day in 1970, Jimi Hendrix played his last live show at the Isle of Wight festival. Three weeks later, he was dead.
On this day in 1970, guitarist Duane Allman joined Eric Clapton's Derek & the Dominos sessions in Florida.
On this day in 1972, Rod Stewart released the song "You Wear It Well" as "Hold Your Head Up" by Argent peaked at #5.
On this day in 1989, Don Henley's song "The End Of The Innocence" peaked at #8 on the charts.
Jovi/Bruce/Obama
Sounds like Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen will both perform Thursday at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Jon is expected to play two acoustic tunes prior to Barack Obama's speech accepting his party's presidential nomination, while Bruce will deliver a solo set following the senator's appearance.
Dylan's Hohner
An extremely limited-edition line of Hohner Marine Band harmonicas endorsed and hand-signed by Bob Dylan is being produced by the Hohner company. Only 25 sets of the special package featuring seven instruments in different keys will be available, as will 100 copies of a single harmonica in the key of C. Those rare goodies will be sold exclusively through Sam Ash Music's website starting on October 29th. After that, less expensive, unsigned versions of the Dylan Hohners will be sold.
Farm Aid Additions
The Pretenders, Arlo Guthrie and Jerry Lee Lewis have been added to the 2008 Farm Aid concert line-up. The seven-hour benefit on September 20th will be broadcast live in high-definition on DirecTV (although hi-def pictures of some of the artists may be pretty darn scary!). Of course, Farm Aid co-founders Neil Young and John Mellencamp will be doing headline sets, and more artists will be added to the line-up as showtime approaches.
Sir Elty Photos
It's just what every Elton John fan needs! Beginning on September 24th, the Proud Camden gallery in London will host an exhibit featuring over 200 of photographer Terry O'Neill's photos of Sir Elty. The "Eltonography: A Life in Pictures" display will feature a large number of previously unseen photos, all of which will be included in a book of the same title which should be published about the same time.
A Rockin' Orchestra
Inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and featuring music from Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Deep Purple and many more, a new show kicks off its first U.S. tour tomorrow. Flashback — The Classic Rock Experience, as performed by the Mystical Orchestra, will combine rock and orchestral music with lasers, and pyrotechnics. Word is that the whole show should hit the Southland after the first of the year.
Little Feat Resurface
Little Feat is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new album called "Little Feat & Friends: Join the Band." Among those showing up on the new CD are Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, Vince Gill and Sonny Landreth. With the new album in stores today, you know the boys in the band will be playing the Southland soon!
New/Old Live Dead
A new live Grateful Dead CD/DVD set titled Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978 will be released on September 30th. The double CD features 18 performances — all but three previously unreleased — from three gigs the band played in Egypt near the Great Pyramid of Giza. The companion DVD contains footage of the Dead playing 13 songs, plus a film about the group's Egypt trip.
Quote Of The Day
It was Malcolm Forbes who said: "Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are."
Carl Edwards/Office Depot
This Thursday, 11am - 1pm: Join Uncle Joe and the KLOS Cool Patrol in welcoming famed NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards to the Office Depot at 8160 Day Creek Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga! Here are a couple of photos of the last time Carl and J.B. worked together.
August 27, 2008
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson is 55.
On this day in 1965, The Beatles spent four hours with Elvis Presley at his home in Bel-Air. It was the one and only time they ever met, and the King of Rock & Roll's first words were "Can I get you Beatles a drink?"
On this day in 1965, Bob Dylan released the album "Highway 61 Revisited." Folk purists were once again horrified to hear him using electric guitars, but the album's first single, "Like A Rolling Stone," became one of Dylan's best-loved songs.
On this day in 1967, The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, died at the age of 33 of a medication overdose.
On this day in 1977, "Just A Song Before I Go" by Crosby, Stills, & Nash peaked at #7 as "Give A Little Bit" by Supertramp topped out at #15 on the charts.
On this day in 1977, Jackson Browne recorded "Stay" and "Running On Empty" live in concert in Columbia, Maryland. Later, he said that was the only night they ever got both songs exactly right.
On this day in 1983, The Police released the song "King of Pain" as "China Girl" by David Bowie peaked at #10, "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top topped out at #56 and "One Thing Leads To Another" by The Fixx entered the charts.
On this day in 1990, guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan died at the age of 35 in a helicopter crash in dense fog following a gig with Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton in Wisconsin. All five people aboard the helicopter, including members of Eric Clapton's entourage, were killed.
All Hail Polar Floyd
Roger Waters and Nick Mason accepted the 2008 Swedish Polar Music Prize for Pink Floyd at a ceremony in Stockholm yesterday afternoon. Waters surprisingly admitted that the prize was "very important" to him, especially because the Floyd never won a GRAMMY Award. Nick said felt very honored, and that he and Roger, along with absent Floydians Richard Wright and David Gilmour, will split their $156,000 cash award between four different charities. Previous Polar Music Prize recipients include Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and Sir Elton John.
Partial Wolfgang Settlement
Remember when Carlos Santana, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead sued the Bill Graham Archive (aka Wolfgang's Vault) a few months back, accusing them of violating copyrights and trademarks by selling merchandise and offering free online recordings? Well Carlos and The Doors just settled with the Archive/Vault people. No word on the details of their settlements, nor has anyone commented on the Zep and Dead suits, but it seems like everything should be handled soon.
John 5/Skynyrd
Guitarists of every ilk are familiar with SoCal guitar wizard John 5 — a brilliant musician and pretty darn cool guy to hang with. But a lot of non-musicians will probably freak when they see the little man in white face paint playing with Lynyrd Skynyrd! The former Marilyn Manson/current Rob Zombie guitarist has actually spent much of the last year working with the Southern rockers. Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke says, "Everybody thought, 'My God, how are you going to write with this guy?' But this guy is really multitalented in all genres. I was surprised that he could sit down and play Glen Campbell and Roy Clark better than they do, and it blew my mind. And then he loves southern rock, the blues and country. He really blew us away." Rickey says the band has worked up dozens of songs, but the two that have them the most excited are the dark, anthemic "Floyd" and the up-tempo "Bang, Bang." Current plans call for Skynyrd to finish the album by the end of the year, then release it early next year. Sure hope John joins them on stage!
New Browne
Jackson Browne's new album, "Time the Conqueror," will be released September 23rd, and he says he was glad to return to the studio after releasing a pair of live acoustic discs. Jackson says, "I missed my band a lot. Getting to make an album where you're rehearsed and you have production... is a real pleasure for me." He also says that his recent copyright-infringement case against Republican presidential candidate John McCain is "pretty open and shut." But will there be a song about it?
New/Old Genesis
Five Peter Gabriel-era Genesis albums will be re-released in a 7-CD/6 DVD box set on November 11th. The tons of unreleased material in the package will include a complete 1972 Belgian TV performance and their 1973 "Midnight Special" American TV debut. The boys are also slipping in the holy grail for hardcore Genesis fans: four songs recorded in 1970 for a documentary about painter Mick Jackson. Those four previously unreleased songs — "Provocation," "Frustration," "Manipulation" and "Resignation" — were recorded a full year before Phil Collins joined the group on drums. Sure, the rhythms will be a lot less precise, but how cool is that?!
Quote Of The Day
It was John Lennon who said: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
August 28, 2008
Drummer Danny Seraphine of Chicago is 60.
On this day in 1964, The Beatles played the first of two concerts at New York's Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. After the show, the Fab Four met Bob Dylan, who immediately introduced them to marijuana. All of the giggling eventually led to an interesting relationship.
On this day in 1965, The Beach Boys' song "California Girls" peaked at #3 on the charts.
On this day in 1976, Peter Frampton's song "Baby, I Love Your Way" peaked at #12 on the charts.
On this day in 1986, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young and Mick Fleetwood performed in Long Beach at a concert billed "Get Tough on Toxics." Hmm... wonder if it worked?
This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Steve Miller Band as well as Joe's brand new conversation with Steve.
Jon Yes/Bruce No
Oops! Turns out that Bruce Springsteen won't be playing at the Democratic National Convention tonight. It was widely reported earlier this week that The Boss would take the stage after Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech. But if you're craving some singer/songwriter action, Jon Bon Jovi is still expected to play a two-song acoustic set before Obama speaks.
New AC/DC
Oh yeah! We started playing AC/DC's new single yesterday morning on KLOS! "Rock N Roll Train" is off of the band's upcoming album "Black Ice," due out on October 20th. Stay tuned for a chance to see the Aussie band's concert dress rehearsal!
Bootlegger Busted
Did you ever really wonder what would happen if someone posted a major band's unreleased music online without permission? Well 27-year-old Kevin Cogill found out yesterday morning when F.B.I. agents arrested him on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws after he posted nine unreleased Guns N' Roses songs on Antiquiet.com in June. Of course the songs brought so much traffic to Kevin's site that it crashed, and even though the songs were removed while the F.B.I was looking for Kevin, the G n' R tunes had already spread all across the Internet. In case you were wondering, Cogill's next stop is a Federal court hearing.
Macca To Tel Aviv
Sir Paul McCartney will play his first-ever concert in Israel on September 25th in Tel Aviv — 43 years after the Israeli government committee nixed a Beatles gig because they felt the band would corrupt the nation's youth. Macca says that he's "planning to have a great time and a great evening" at the First Friendship show, and that he and his band "can't wait to get out there and rock." Right so!
Matthews Benefit
Dave Matthews' gig at New York's Madison Square Garden on September 10th will feature some extra star power. The event benefitting Stand Up For A Cure will feature appearances by Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts as well as 300 9/11 first responders, some sick with cancer and lung diseases.
Quote Of The Day
It was the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus who said: "We should look for someone to eat and drink with before we look for something to eat and drink."
Carl Edwards Today!
Today! Today! Today! 11am - 1pm: Join Uncle Joe and the KLOS Cool Patrol in welcoming famed NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards to the Office Depot at 8160 Day Creek Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga! Here are a couple of photos of the last time Carl and J.B. worked together.
August 29, 2008
Jazz legend Charlie "The Bird" Parker would have been 88 (his nickname as a kid was "The Yardbird").
Pop icon Michael Jackson is 50.
On this day in 1895, the real Eleanor Rigby was born in Liverpool.
On this day in 1959, George Harrison recruited John Lennon and Paul McCartney to play a last minute gig as the Quarry Men at Liverpool's Casbah Coffee Club after the Les Stewart Quartet had an argument and refused to play. The Quarry Men's performance immediately secured them a regular Saturday-night show. Too bad for Les and his Quartet!
On this day in 1964, Roy Orbison released his classic "Oh Pretty Woman."
On this day in 1965, The Beatles performed at the Hollywood Bowl. The show was recorded for possible release, but Paul's microphone broke, making the recordings unusable. Isn't it interesting that through all the little girls' screams, no one in the crowd noticed that they couldn't hear Paul.
On this day in 1966 in San Francisco's Candlestick Park, The Beatles played their last concert. Of the 25,000 present, it's doubtful that anyone heard any of the 11 songs that the Fab Four played.
On this day in 1970 Neil Young released his "After The Gold Rush" album as The Kinks released their classic song "Lola."
On Stage Friday
Melissa Etheridge is playing the Greek Theatre tonight.
On Stage Saturday
Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell and Motorhead will be ripping it up as the Metal Masters Tour hits the San Manuel Amphitheater (formerly the Glen Helen Pavilion) on Saturday.
Big Ol' Harley Party
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are headlining Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday. Other rockers on board for 11-hour days of music on Friday and Saturday include Foghat, Peter Frampton, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sounds like a lot of great music, brats and beer to me!
Elty Says Bye Bye (Sort Of)
Elton John will pull the plug on his Red Piano concert series at Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas next April. Meanwhile, just in case anyone still cares, Sir Elty apparently ended his four-year feud with Madonna at her Nice, France gig on Wednesday. From all accounts, neither of the pop stars brandished knives when they embraced on stage.
Queen + Paul Book One
On September 12th, Queen + Paul Rodgers will kick off their 2008 European tour with a free outdoor concert in Kharkov, Ukraine to launch the Elena Franchuk ANTI AIDS Foundation's "On the Edge" campaign. As for their first U.S. concert date, we'll have to wait until next year.
NASCAR Under The Lights
This Friday - Sunday: As he has for every major race since the track opened in 1997, J.B. will spend the weekend announcing at the Auto Club Speedway. Starting with a Friday afternoon broadcast of his KLOS show, Unc will again be the Master of Ceremonies on The Fan Zone's big stage before switching to call the races from the announcers' booth after dark. Here's a glance at last year's event.
Jimmie Johnson Foundation
This Sunday, 11am - 11:30am: Once again Joe will be the Master of Ceremonies on The Party Zone's big stage for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Ticket Package Foundraiser for the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway this Labor Day Weekend. For $148 you'll receive a grandstand seat, one pit pass, a special limited edition commemorative gift, and access to an exclusive Q&A session with Jimmie Johnson and yer Uncle Joe. $48 dollars of each ticket will go directly to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to assist children and families in need. To purchase call 800-944-RACE or log onto autoclubspeedway.com. Here's a glance at last year's event.
August 30, 2008
On this day in 1965, Bob Dylan released his all-electric album "Highway 61 Revisited." Rock & Roll would never be the same.
On this day in 1969, the Chicago Transit Authority and Led Zeppelin headlined the Texas International Pop Festival at the Dallas International Motor Speedway. No matter what they say, no one who was there really remembers.
On this day in 1973, The Doors finally broke up, following Jim Morrison's death in July 1971.
August 31, 2008
Rock icon Van Morrison is 63.