On this day in 2004, the Bay Area band Green Day released its iconic American Idiot, which later won a Grammy Award for best rock album and was adapted into a rock opera.
We’re hoping for a new release titled Russian Idiot with which we will pair some fine French vodka. (BTW, Green Day cancelled their scheduled concert in Moscow this year.)
– Jet Cannon
Photos: Cheatsheet.com and stubhub.com
What do you call a Buzzed Boomer who remembers everything about Woodstock? A liar.
– Jet Cannon
Fifty years since what was arguably the best year ever in rock album releases. Machine Head, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Exile on Main St., Black Sabbath – Vol. 4, and Schools Out to name The Pick’s top 5. For the other 25 albums in their 30 greatest rock guitar albums, read here.
– Jet Cannon
When you’ve played on songs by Elvis, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, The Monkeys, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, The Righteous Brothers, The Carpenters, Simon & Garfunkel, The Tijuana Brass, The Mamas & The Papas, The Ventures and The 5th Dimension you’d think people might know your name. But for the majority of certain 1960’s studio musicians, known as The Wrecking Crew, we don’t recognize their names. Glen Campbell is the likely exception.
The Wrecking Crew guitarist Bill Pitman recently passed away at age 102. Watch this trailer to see a bit of a rockumentary about the amazing musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. Bill, Rest In Peace.
– Jet Cannon
Photo: NYtimes.com
Christopher Sandford wrote a great article in The Seattle Times about the band Heart. Worth reading.
“By and large , Heart avoided the temptation to trash their hotel rooms or succumb to the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, although there seems to have been an incident when a lawnmower somehow ended up in Holiday Inn swimming pool.”
If you’re a fan, check out the band Heart by Heart featuring founding bassist Norman Fossen and former drummer Mike Derosier. Tribute band on steroids.
– Jet Cannon
Photo: kexp.org
Elvis passed away 45 years ago today. His last big hit was “Burning Love” in 1972. It reached number two on the charts, surpassed only by Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-LIng”. Just a couple of hunka-hunka of burnin’ loves.
– Jet Cannon
Photo: independent.co.uk
On August 12th, dust off your favorite albums and celebrate the good old days when new releases were a really big deal and we listened to an entire album one side at a time. Gave them all away? Vinyl sales now outpace CD sales.
When a mellow Buzz just isn’t quite enough, try mixing boats and booze and Blue Angels. That’s Seafair!
– Jet Cannon
Photos: Komonews.com and Seafair.com
Boat: Courtesy of Maserati Mike
We love tribute bands. And we really love Zepparella. Zep done right!
Special shout out to Jim! Thanks for the Margaritas!! We owe you.
Blue Oyster Cult’s original member “Buck Dharma” plus long time member Eric Bloom are proving they’ve still got the Mojo during their current tour. They played the hits but also came to jam! Alas, no cowbell but otherwise, perfect!
Happy Birthday to Baby Boomer Linda Marie Ronstadt, born July 15, 1946.
Photo: bestlifeonline.com
It’s like Pavlov’s dog. When we hear the James Bond twangy guitar riff, we reach for a Martini. Monty Norman, who composed the theme, recently passed away at age 94. Here’s a BBC Proms performance which, by the way, credits John Barry who did not write the theme. Monty sued and won a few quid over that. Rest In Peace Monty.
– Jet Cannon
On July 10th, two talented musicians shared a birthday. Arlo Guthrie, known for songs such as The City of New Orleans, turned 75. Jerry Miller, formerly of San Francisco’s legendary Moby Grape, turned 79. Happy Belated Birthday to you both!
Arlo Photo Below: Shazam.com
We saw Brit Floyd again and it was comforting to remember that live music by our favorite bands like Pink Floyd can carry on even after the original band’s retirement (or worse). Roger Waters is touring but David Gilmour confirms a Pink Floyd reunion will never happen.
Talk about dedication to a craft. Brit Floyd brings perfection to the instruments, vocals, lighting, lasers, and ultra-imaginative video in a smaller venue than would be typical with the original band. They bring some deeper cuts not often heard on the radio. The production execution and sound are absolutely superb. Timeless, according to Maserati Mike. It took us all back to the many decades of Pink Floyd’s brilliance. Uncle Ray noted that Eva Avila nailed the humanly-impossible, incomparable solo on Great Gig in the Sky, one of the many outstanding Pink Floyd creations. See her solo here.
It was worth the three year Covid delay to see Brit Floyd again. We hope they continue, along with other tribute bands, to perform our favorite musical memories live and perfectly.
– Jet Cannon
