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Returning After A HECKUVA Sickness ...

December 4th 2008 08:13
Okay ... since we've got our work cut out for us (gotta make up some time here), lemme just say that havin' viral meningitis and a nearly-busted back is not fun! (Yep ... that's what laid me low for a spell ...)

Now ... let's get back to action:

The news outta Rockville's gettin' a little wild: There've been reports of a big ego play goin' on in the music world, with hip-hopper Kanye West gettin' the props as the most egoic of all musical entertainers across the board! Others include Bono (Paul Hewson) of U2 (though I, personally, don't see it), Madonna (and who doesn't see that?), and the guy who looks good on any black-and-white set, Michael Jackson (or should I say Mikaeel? According to UK reports, the dude's already converted to Islam!)


Paul McCartney's hankerin' to see the President-elect and First Lady (c'mon ... 'fess up: she is already) and actually wants to serenade Mrs. Obama! The number he's chosen to do, should he be accepted (yep ... he's already asked)? What else?

"Michelle" ...

And, if ya go to The Eagles' website, you'll find out how you (yes, you!) can get a Takamine acoustic guitar that's been signed by the band! Now, they're priced-to-sell at $2,500 American, but the proceeds go to a good cause: To save Walden Woods (home of conservationalist and activist Henry David Thoreau and countless Doonesbury cartoons!). Makes an expensi ... er, great ... Christmas gift!

Oh ... and, in case ya haven't heard, The Rock Relic's not long for this cyberworld! He's givin' way to a new character -- one that was introduced to this writer back in 1988 (two years after I began literary jaw-jacking). Y'see, back then, I was also pullin' some hours as a teachers' aide for third-graders when one of 'em nicknamed me The Eagle.
Well, I made it my by-line in the syndicated Coffee Talk! column for the next six years -- and just a few days ago, I got an email from a guy who'd been readin' my blogs, found that I had the syndie column back then, and asked what happened to The Eagle?
And the writer was ... the very same schoolkid who gave me the avarian name twenty years ago!!

That bein' said, lemme introduce ya to the balding bird ... the one who mixes the rock, rhythm and blues with news you can use ... The Electric Eagle! He'll be in the air beginnin' next ish! With that ...

I'll see ya on the flip side!








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BEATLES vs. STONES (from 1964)

November 11th 2008 19:05
While the Relic is recuperating from a tough virus that's laid me low for awhile, lemme share this amazing comparison of the two biggest bands of the Sixties. It was written in 1964.

It was at the Civic Center auditorium in Philadelphia. Outside the immense building a long line of anxious fans waited, milling about as, one by one, those with tickets were admitted inside. Night had fallen and a cold wind was blowing. Straightening my collar about my neck, I turned my head for a moment and saw a big black limousine drive up toward the auditorium's side
stage entrance. Five straggly-looking monsters got out and hurried inside.
Gritting my teeth bravely, I walked up the same way and showed my pass to a guard. His nose was wrinkled up in a gesture of distaste. I soon found out why. Though The Stones were several yards away, the odor was unmistakable.
Obviously, none of them had been near a tub in quite some time. Brushing past the guard who quickly went outside to get some fresh air, I tried to introduce myself to Andrew Oldham, The Stones' manager. Just before I approached him, he'd been talking to two teenage girls, waving his big, smelly cigar. The mixture of Rolling Stones, Oldham and cigar smoke was unbelievable. The two girls were, by now, turning alternately green and red, the latter color because of the foul language and dirty jokes Oldham sprung on them. Shortly, though, after displaying his own brand of misspent chivalry, Oldham waved goodbye by saying, "See you soon, Chickies" and turned his attention (a double ugh for this!) to me.I presented my credentials, including a copy of the magazine I was writing for at the time, a copy which, by the way, had a huge picture of The Stones on the cover.
Oldham dismissed me with a contemptuous wave of his cigar and said, "I must get paid for my trouble. You pay--them you get the interview!" I turned promptly and left him standing there, cigar and all. Just before the show began, I managed to corner Charlie Watts, who was standing in one corner, looking at the world through blood-shot eyes. Digging what was probably a flea out of his hair, he said, "Go see Oldham." Then he grunted, mumbling something incoherently and walked away.

Now I'll tell you about my meeting with The Beatles. It was at a press conference in the Warwick Hotel in New York City.
I remember Paul most of all. Entering the packed room, he turned to face the savages and grinned confidently. ("Savages" is the only word to describe the jostling, scrambling, shouting, flash-bulb-popping, sweating, cursing newsmen who came suddenly to chaotic life as soon as The Beatles entered the room.) Ringo tried to be cheerful, George looked uncomfortable and John seemed totally bored.
But it was Paul, the best looking, who seemed to take the jungle-like conglomeration perfectly in stride. A nice little touch of his was a friendly handshake and smile which he gave to everyone nearby in the little hallway directly adjoining the press conference room. However, the main point that should be made is that The Beatles at least made an attempt to be polite and helpful, and Tony Barrow, their harried publicity manager, did his best to have as many questions as possible answered, though most were barely audible in the constant murmur that swallowed them up and made them incomprehensible. Afterward, the Mop-Top Four talked to individual members of the press and, despite the persistent din, they conducted themselves in a gentlemanly, dignified and thoroughly courteous manner.

So, you see, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are as different from each other as (pardon the cliché) night and day. If you still aren't convinced, let me relate the experience of an English friend of mine.
He spent a weekend covering The Stones for one of the most respected newspapers in Britain: (After which, he had to consume several Bromos, a bottle of aspirins and assorted brands of mouthwash to conquer the nausea, headache and bad taste the whole dreadful nightmare left him with) and emerged a shaken man! He was a witness to an appalling number in incidents that showed The Stones to be quick with obscenities and atrocious manners and to be crude and offensive.
Finally, unable to stomach them any longer, my friend left--right after planting a well-aimed fist in the middle of Mick Jagger's already repulsive-looking face!
I have talked to other individuals with similar stories to relate about The Stones. There is no doubt in my mind that they are indeed what they seem to be--slobs of the first order, inconsiderate morons whose respect for their elders, for members of the opposite sex and for reporters interested in according them some favorable publicity, is simply nonexistent. Nor is this an artificial facade erected for the sake of making headlines.
It is the way The Stones really are! They act the way they feel, and the way they feel is generally rebellious, inclined toward being vulgar in the most obnoxious way possible, and altogether disgusting.

Yardbirds, bear in mind that this was written 44 years ago. This was one reporter's view of the Fab Four and Bad Boys of Rock. Of course, time and circumstances can change things (and people) tremendously.
Today, John and George are gone. So is Brian. Wyman has retired from the Stones (he's now with the Rhythm Kings), and those remaining are in their late 60s.
That being said, you've GOTTA hope that Mick, Keith, Ron and Charlie have grown up a bit.
And as far as Ringo and Paul? Listen to their music. Check their charities. Over the years -- from Beatle days to Wings, Maureen to moves and Barbara, the lovely Linda to oratorios, they've invested in the "peace and love" they've advocated all these years.
And look at the returns they've provided on that investment!
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The Fore: Special Vid for Relic Fans!

November 1st 2008 08:19
Hey ... don't blame me -- The Relic was workin' on a special, Class-A rock project (which I'll unveil later)!
Over the past while, many of you have written in and asked about The Fore's drummer, Simon Thompson, and how he got that amazing triple-beat on their hit, Someone New (from the CD, Black and White)
So, just for you yardbirds, he's recorded a special vid to show ya!
But, first, let's take a look at the lads doin' the song live at a show in Shrewsbury, Shropshire:


Now ... IN ANSWER TO YOUR REQUESTS, here's Si showin' you how it was done:


Okay ... now here's an extra vid for ya: SIMON SINGS!! He's doin' some very Buddy Hollyish lead vocals on the popular Man Of Few Words:


Now, yer Uncle Relic'll be back in a few, so stay tuned!
 There's more to come ...

See ya on the flip side ....
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The Byrds: Eight Miles High

October 27th 2008 07:52
It was considered one of the first true psychedelic songs of the Sixties.
Yet, the song Eight Miles High by The Byrds (Jim [now Roger] McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, the late Gene Clark and the late Michael Clarke) wasn't inspired by drugs or orgies ...

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Andy, Opie and The Fonz

October 24th 2008 19:39
It's bound to be the best campaign video EVER!!

Y’see, Ron Howard, Andy Griffith and Henry WInkler reprised their roles as Opie, Sheriff Andy Taylor and The Fonz (hmph … as if ya didn’t know, right??) for an ad touting Sen. Barack Obama as the best Presidential candidate. If only for three minutes-and-change, we were taken back to Mayberry (okay, who doesn’t know where that is??) … and then to the leather-jacketed hero of Arnold’s, leanin’ against a ‘57 Chevy where Opie turned into Richie


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When Rock turned Aesthetic

October 21st 2008 18:27
Been away for a few days on other RockWork. Gladta be back. Now ... let's get down to bizness:

Yes, rock has a tremendously aesthetic side to it! It's not all crash!bang!wallop! (as Dave Clark used to call "his" sound), nor do the speakers haveta be up full blast for the music to soak in


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The Paul McCartney Death Hoax

October 17th 2008 08:50
In 1969, one of the most bizarre of all chapters in The Beatles story came to light. According to various radio reports, Paul McCartney was dead. The bassist we heard on subsequent recordings was actually WIlliam Campbell, who was already considered a Macca lookalike who not only sounded like Paul but also wrote like him!

The most popular story goes that, in November 1966, Paul crashed his Aston-Martin in a head-on as he ran through a stop light (one of the first "clues" were the first verses in the song A Day In The Life, which allegedly told what happened). Of course, there were many other "hidden clues" in songs, some of which one could "hear" when playing a track backward.
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Reasons for Ringo's Refusal?

October 14th 2008 19:46
By now, everybody who ever followed The Beatles or their illustrious, left-handed drummer are wondering, "What in xxxx is wrong with that guy?" With a vidclip in which his words seem almost slurred and flashes the peace sign like his fingers are gonna fall off (no "blisters" on 'em this time!), he said:

"It's (any autograph request) going to be tossed (beginning Oct. 20). I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail. Thank you, thank you. And no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love."
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James Dean: Accident or Suicide?

October 13th 2008 18:45
In the early afternoon hours of September 30, 1955, the now-legendary icon of teen rebellion, James Dean, was driving his Porsche (which he called Little Bastard) and mechanic Rolph Weutherich to an auto rally in Salinas, California.

As we all know, he didn't make it


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The Mysterious Curse of 27

October 11th 2008 07:43
It's one of the most mysterious topics of the classic-rock era: All of the legends you see on your left died at the age of 27. Even after Jimi, Jim, Pearl, Kurt, Brian and Tom, there've been others who've followed suit -- many by their own hand -- and at the same age.

But the question is: WHY?!? What's so significant about the "Curse of 27"? And, in fact, is it real?? After all, John Lennon remained alive for 13 years after; so did Mick Jagger and others


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