Captain Fantastic’s Brown Dirt Cowboy

Captain Fantastic’s Brown Dirt Cowboy

Images of the old American West and scenes of Southern country life have inspired countless British rock recordings through the years, none more so than the early albums of Elton John. And no wonder. His lyricist Bernie Taupin was in love with romantic visions of Americana…scenes of cornfields and cattle towns, frisky colts and fringed-front buggies, field bosses and chain gangs, Geronimo and gunslingers. All of Elton's songs began in the mind of Bernie, who turns 64 today. He wrote the lyrics that the pianist-showman set to music - creating vivid sound portraits of days gone by.

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Tony Sheridan and His Pre-Fab Beat Brothers

Tony Sheridan and His Pre-Fab Beat Brothers

In the early 1970s I was rounding out my collection of Beatles LPs, when I stumbled upon one called "The Beatles Featuring Tony Sheridan - In the Beginning, Circa 1960." I considered this a real find! I hadn't been aware of any pre-1963 Beatles recordings, and I had never known the boys to collaborate on vinyl with anyone. Who the heck was Tony Sheridan? Well, if you're a follower of Fab Four history, don't miss this chapter on one of The Beatles' early, influential mentors, who was born on this date in 1940.

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A L’il Bit o’ Lol – a 10cc Dose, That Is

A L’il Bit o’ Lol – a 10cc Dose, That Is

I didn't learn much about algebra in 9th grade, but I sure acquired a lot of knowledge during class time about a group called 10cc. And I have my friend Tony V. to thank -- for passing me a steady stream of notes containing "essential information" about that particular foursome, as well as loads of other British bands that never really broke big in America. (Of course, I was lost in 'math hell' forever after that class.) Anyway, today I'm wishing a happy 67th birthday to 10cc guitarist and keyboardist Laurence "Lol" Creme. He and his bandmates Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart and Kevin Godley were all mega-talented musicians, songwriters and lead vocalists who crafted beautifully layered songs that were often reminiscent of The Beatles.

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My Queen-Size Crush on Freddie Mercury

My Queen-Size Crush on Freddie Mercury

When I was 16 years old, Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury was the man I most wanted to meet. I didn't want to sleep with him, mind you. I wanted to BE him. Or at least go shopping with him. Seriously, he was one of the people who inspired me to get out of my tiny Pennsyltucky hometown. I figured that if I studied hard enough, I could go to college, get a good job, and afford to move to London and hobnob with him and my other Brit rock idols. As it turned out, I went to college, got a job, moved to Monroeville, and got to hobnob with Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Harold Denton in the backroom of Tivoli's Restaurant in Penn Hills. But that's another story.

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A Moonage Daydream – How Apollo 11 Inspired Bowie and Zowie’s Lunar Love

A Moonage Daydream – How Apollo 11 Inspired Bowie and Zowie’s Lunar Love

Forty-five years ago this month I was eating Pillsbury Space Food Sticks, building my own mini lunar module from a kit, and drinking Tang — the beverage of astronauts! Like the rest of the world, I was caught up in Apollo 11 moon-landing mania, as Neil Armstrong took that first giant step on July 20, 1969. The event spawned national pride, crackpot conspiracy theories, and countless innovative spinoff technologies. It also inspired an androgynous young British performer to release a song that would define his career.

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