Whatever Gets You to the Heights, S’Alright

Imagine there's no Billboard To measure record sales. No song's the winner, No song ever fails. Imagine all releases Treasured equally…. Imagine the most defining song of John Lennon's career NOT reaching the number one spot on the Billboard charts when it was released in October 1971. Surprisingly, John's iconic peace anthem, "Imagine," actually peaked at number three, which just goes to prove that chart position does not a legendary song make. John's only single to hit the number one spot during his lifetime was "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," which topped the U.S. charts in November 1974.

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Giving Thanks — To the Forces that Fueled Rock-n-Roll

Today, as I give thanks for all the people, events and opportunities that have enriched my life, I would also like to acknowledge my gratitude for the cosmic forces that came together in the 20th century to create the music that saved my soul: rock and roll. I am thankful...

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Drinking That Rock-n-Roll Kool-Aid with Stevie Van Zandt

"Turn the station to Letterman. That guy you like, the one who wears the do-rag, is on the show." That's my mom calling to tell me that Steven Van Zandt is sitting in the guest seat talking to Dave. Good ol' mom...always keeping me abreast of rock star sightings. She may not have remembered the name of that head-wrapped wonder, but she knows I've been infatuated with him for years - as far back as April 12, 1976, when I saw him at my first-ever rock concert. "Who's the sharpie?" I wondered, as I watched this nattily-dressed guy play guitar on stage with his boss Bruce Springsteen at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA. I hadn't seen his picture on any of Bruce's albums. I didn't even know his name. But I knew at that moment that we were going to be soul mates.

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Happy Rockin’ Velvet Revolution Day, Czechoslovakia!

Post-communist Czechoslovakia was a country reborn of the fire of rock and roll! Today is the 26th anniversary of the start of the Velvet Revolution, a peaceful student-led anti-government protest movement that led to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in December 1989. The name of the revolution stemmed directly from Lou Reed's Velvet Underground, the house band of Andy…

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Mr. DeMille, He’s Ready for his Close-up: Gram on Film

Honky tonk honey Gram Parsons loved being in the spotlight. Whether he was singing and strumming on stage or posing for the camera in fancy finery and eyeliner, he was always the most exotic cat in the room. With his pretty face, Southern charm, and puppy-dog charisma, I believe he might have been just as adept at acting as he…

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