Give me your music, your art, your huddled masses of words and rhythms yearning to breathe free.
The 1960s electric blues band The Yardbirds was the premier rock-n-roll incubator, cultivating three of the world’s most talented guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. But does anybody recall the name of the man who co-founded the British group and provided lead vocals and harmonica on its killer tracks, among them, “Heart Full … Read more
When you think about Irish rockers, who comes to mind? Prickly, ginger-haired Van Morrison, in a near-transcendental state, wailing G.L.O.R.I.A? Bono in his wrap-around spaceman shades, righteously pouring out arena anthems with his U2 mates? Sinead O’Connor ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live? Well, there’s more to Ireland’s … Read more
There have been more than 1,000 cover versions of “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” the debut single by British progressive-rock band Procol Harum. The hauntingly beautiful song with its Bach-like melody and trippy lyrics was a perfect soundtrack for the Summer of Love. It hit the #1 one spot on the U.K. charts on June … Read more
Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr was so determined that his eldest son NOT follow in his footsteps that he gave the kid but one drum lesson in his entire life. Zak Starkey, who turns 48 today, would have to master the skill all by himself…with a little help from his dad’s good mate, Keith Moon of … Read more
Oh that zany Keith Moon! His outrageous antics are legendary — from driving a Lincoln Continental into a Holiday Inn swimming pool, to flushing cherry bombs down hotel toilets. (He was eventually banned for life from all Holiday Inns, Sheraton and Hilton hotels, and many others.) But one of my favorite stories involves the night … Read more