Give me your music, your art, your huddled masses of words and rhythms yearning to breathe free.
Dana Spiardi 
It’s ironic that a tireless war protester like John Lennon would have ever accepted a film role as a soldier. But that’s just what he did back in 1966 when he appeared as Private Gripweed in Richard Lester’s movie “How I Won the War.” The film was an absurd black comedy about the misadventures of … Read more
“Hang on, Snoopy, Snoopy hang on.” At least that’s what I thought the band was singing until I bought that seminal 1965 single by The McCoys, and realized that Snoopy was actually Sloopy. But who the heck was THAT? Obviously not a beagle who sat on a doghouse wearing a WWI flying helmet. Legend has … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
“It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day…” I sing in the car. This is about as far as I get before my friends groan, “Okay, THAT’S enough.” They know what’s coming next: the entire five verses of Bobbie Gentry’s Southern gothic hit, “Ode to Billie Joe.” Yep, I’ve known the lyrics … Read more