Grand Funk- Rock Patriot- Mark Farner coming to Clearwater

By Ray Shasho

Famed- classic rock guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner, has just announced a stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall on August 27th for the upcoming- Hippiefest Tour.

Mark Farner’s world turned upside- down recently after his 22 year old son Jesse’s near fatal- fracture to the C-5 vertebra in his neck. He remains paralyzed but is starting to show improvement by lifting his head off of the pillow. Farner is one of the 44- million Americans who don’t have health insurance and Jesse is faced with long- term medical care.

A Benefit concert was held for Jesse at B.B. King Blues Club in New York City on January 17th, the show featured Roger Daltrey, (the Who) Three Doors Down, (Kryptonite) Cliff Williams, (AC- DC) and Kip Winger (Alice Cooper).
Donations for Mark’s son Jesse can be made at the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Sweet Relief provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age -related problems. http://www.sweetrelief.org/

Mark Farner was the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of an unsigned- Flint Michigan garage band called Grand Funk Railroad, when they got their first big break performing at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in 1969. On the way to the concert their U-Haul trailer overturned ripping out wiring inside their equipment. The band had to get out their soldering gun and solder the wires back together before their performance.  

After an awe-inspiring performance they achieved instant recognition and were immediately signed to Capitol Records. Some of the big names to play at the Fourth of July weekend festival included, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Credence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Winter, Chicago Transit Authority, and Joe Cocker. An estimated 180,000 rock fans- jammed the Atlanta International Speedway to watch the two-day event.

Later in 1969 Grand Funk Railroad’s first album “On Time” was released. It was one of the first albums to be labeled “heavy metal.”

Two years later on July 9th, Grand Funk Railroad broke the Beatles attendance record for Shea Stadium by selling out in only- 72 hours. Farner described his helicopter flight to the Shea stadium concert,

“We took off from East River, and we were supposed to land in the parking lot, where a limo was going to pick us up, and when we got over the stadium, with Humble Pie already on stage, we could actually see the building bouncing up and down from the fans so excited from the music.”

The stage was set-up on second base in the infield. Mark’s inspirational- classic “I’m Your Captain” was the highlight of the Shea concert.
In an interview with http://www.classicbands.com/ Farner talked about writing “I’m Your Captain.” (940,034 views on You Tube)

I wrote "I'm Your Captain," that was the first song I wrote lyrics to prior to music. My Mother taught us how to pray - now I lay me down to sleep...I used to do that thinking that in case there is a God, in case there is a Hell, I didn't want to be there, so let me say this. I put a P.S. on the end of my prayer and said "God, would you please give me a song that will reach and touch the hearts of people that you want to touch." I got up in the middle of the night and wrote what I thought was poetry.”

The band became known for refusing individual band interviews (Because their manager- Terry Knight would personally conduct all the band- interviews himself) so they were slammed by critics and radio stations unwillingly gave them air-play.
But the power- trio of Grand Funk Railroad was a people’s band, and they captured a huge following of Funk- fans anyway through persistent touring and achieving platinum awards with five of their eight releases from ‘69 through ‘72. The rest went gold.

Farner wanted to keep the band as a trio but was out-voted in ‘72 and keyboardist Craig Frost was added to the lineup of Mark Farner- vocals and guitar, Don Brewer- vocals and drums and Mel Schacher -bass.

The band officially shortened their name to Grand Funk and hit number #1 status with their huge single “We’re an American Band,” and after they recruited the musical genius of Todd Rundgren as producer. Their next album- Shinin’ On had a 3D cover that could be viewed with special cutout glasses. The album produced yet another number #1 hit song, “Loco-motion” a remake of Little Eva’s classic tune.
In ‘74 they released the album -All The Girls in The World Beware, spawning the top 5- hits “Some Kind of Wonderful” and ”Bad Time.”

Grand Funk disbanded in 1983. The band sold over 50-million records worldwide.

Mark Farner accepted an invitation to play with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band in 1995. The line-up featured, Mark, Ringo and his son Zak, Randy Bachman, (the Guess Who, BTO) John Entwhistle, (the Who) Felix Caviliere (the Rascals) and Billy Preston.

In ’96 Grand Funk reunited and toured with the original line-up of Mark, Don and Mel. The reunited band produced a 2-CD live, greatest hits package from their sold-out Bosnia benefit concerts. Peter Frampton also joined the band on stage. The show featured the Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Letterman’s- Paul Shaffer.

In 1999 Mark was forced out of the band and Grand Funk continues to tour without him. But for some ungodly reason rock bands are allowed to dump their major stars and continue doing business with the original brand name.

Mark’s voice is as strong as ever on his most recent release “For the People.”

You can check back here to find out when tickets go on sale for Mark Farner’s show at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

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Joan Jett and the Blackhearts rock huge crowd In Tampa

By Ray Shasho

Thousands of fans watched an explosive performance by “The Queen of Rock and Roll” Joan Jett, and her band the Blackhearts, on Sunday evening in Busch Gardens. The concert was part of the Bands, Brew & BBQ- entertainment showcase at the Park.

The weather was impeccable, the sound system was perfect, the food was delicious, the crowd ecstatic, and the band was triumphant. It was a flawless late Afternoon/Evening at Busch Gardens.

The ageless Jett looked and sounded as she did in her heyday. It was a fantastic performance that will certainly embed a lasting impression on the exhilarated crowd.

Jett and the Blackhearts smoked the crowd immediately with her 1980- punker “Bad Reputation,” (A song she said was dedicated to the Baltimore Orioles and their 1979 season) and Runaways hit “Cherry Bomb.” 

The 52 year old Jett sang “Light of Day,” a song written especially for her by Bruce Springsteen. The song was also the title for a movie that starred Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett.
It seemed like everyone inside the park was attending the concert. Many of the Joan Jett-faithful came dressed like her and ready to rock-out!

Jett and the Blackhearts played “Androgynous” a Replacements- cover tune and “Change the World,” a song Jett explained to the crowd was, “A song about stability and moving forward in a gentler way.” Both tunes were from the band’s 2006-release “Sinner.”

Other songs played to their perfection on Sunday were “Backlash,” “The French Song,” And Runaways tunes- “You Drive Me Wild,” (which was the first- song that Jett ever wrote) and “I love Playing with Fire.”

The crowd seemed mesmerized by Jett and the Blackhearts performance. It was like Jett was kept in a state of suspended animation since 1982 and brought back to life for a Busch Gardens- Command Performance.

Jett, sometimes referred to as “the girl Elvis” played “Fake Friends” a tune in which she collaborates with longtime- musical partner and friend Kenny Laguna. (Laguna was on stage playing keyboards with the band during their performance)

Jett and Laguna formed the independent Blackheart records together in 1980. The label started after 28- record companies rejected Jett before her smash hit “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.” (Jett was the first woman to start her own record label) Laguna started pressing records and sold them out of the trunk of his car. Six of Joan Jett’s Top40 hits were released on the Blackheart label.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts gave the audience at Busch Gardens everything they came for and so much more. The show wound down with an explosive ending. A rendition of The Runaways “School Days,” “Fetish,” followed by one of the most successful cover songs in rock history “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” (Ranked #89 in Rolling Stone’s 100- greatest guitar songs of all-time)

Immediately followed by Tommy James and the Shondells classic “Crimson and Clover,” and “I Hate Myself For Loving You.” (The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989, “Best Rock Performance by a Group”)

After a huge standing ovation, the band came rocking- back with “AC- DC” and Sly and the Family Stone’s, “Everyday People.”  

It was truly a magnificent performance by Joan Jett and her tight-rockin’ band, consisting of Dougie Needles on lead guitar, Acey Slade on bass, and Thommy Price playing the drums.

Here are some of the many comments left on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts facebook page right after the concert and then- today.

"Just left your concert at Busch Gardens and you rocked it!!! Awesome!!!!!"
"Thanks for such a great show at Busch Gardens today! I was in the front row, sooo awesome!!!"
"You rocked at Busch Gardens yesterday!! Proud to say you were my first rock concert!!!"
"You are awesome! Sooooo beautiful! You are theQueen of rock!"

The security was extremely tight for the event so I couldn't reach "The Godmother of Punk" for a few comments.
Joan and I had a few things to talk about too. (She and I are only a few months apart in our ages)
Joan's an alumnus of Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. (I'm originally from Maryland and bought my very first electric guitar at Chuck Levin's in Wheaton)
Joan dedicated "Bad Reputation" to the Baltimore Orioles for their outstanding 1979 season. (I was a deejay covering the Orioles in the Playoffs and World Series in 1979 for WNAV radio in Annapolis)
Joan Jett played baseball at an Orioles Fantasy Camp in Sarasota called Dream Week in 1991. ( I played at that same Orioles fantasy camp a year before she did in 1990) and I really wanted to ask her how she played during the week?
Because if she played baseball anything like her concert on Sunday, then we're looking at the next Cal Ripken.

"Ironwoman?"
I do want to thank Kelly Heckinger-Marketing Communications for Busch Gardens, and the security by the front of the stage, for allowing me to shoot some unbelievable photos of the band.

http://joanjettbadrep.com/cgi-bin/fullStory.cgi?archive=201102&story=20110225-01examiner.htm  ...

... My article made front page of Joan Jett's Bad Reputation Nation

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Johnny Winter Live at the Capitol Theatre

By Ray Shasho

The Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater hosted a sold-out Johnny Winter concert last night.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of Bill Graham’s Fillmore East shows in New York City.

The Capitol first opened its doors in 1921, offering vaudeville and movie shows. Donald Roebling, the inventor of the amtrac (amphibious vehicle) was a frequent visitor there and had a double seat installed in the theater for his comfort.
The theatre was renovated in 1962, and over the years the theatre was owned and managed by various idealists.

 In 2009, the City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall joined forces to purchase the Royal Theatre and the adjacent Pat Lokey building after being in foreclosure, renaming it the Capitol Theatre.

The very first show at the new Capitol Theatre was pianist William Joseph. It was supposed to be classic rocker- Todd Rundgren but a city inspector found mold inside the building. Todd Rundgren played outside in front of the building on Cleveland Street instead.

The concert began at 7:30 with Tampa Bay natives- The Mojo Gurus.

After the Guru's finished their rocabilly set, Johnny Winter was escorted to a seat at the middle of the stage.  Winter's appearence looked as good as I had seen in years. He actually gained a few pounds. His voice sounded good too.

But Johnny Winter’s performance reminded me of the great Muhammad Ali in the boxing ring when he was just passed his prime. Ali would be a bit sluggish at first but then after five or six rounds he came to life, bouncing up and down around the ring, shuffling his feet, bobbing and weaving, the crowd would go wild. But later in the fight, Ali reverted into a conservative stance with fleeting moments of attempting to knockout his opponent. The champion still won the fight but not the way he did in his glory days.
And that’s what Johnny Winter was missing in his performance, “The knockout punch.”  He was still the “Champion of rock and roll” up on that stage, but he won by decision and not by a knockout.

His show started with a Freddie King- cover called “Hideaway.”  Then Winter complacently jammed through his setlist until he reached “Johnny B. Goode,” sparking the crowd.
His next song, Ray Charles “Blackjack” was the highlight of the evening. It was Johnny Winter, the champion of rock and roll, Mr. Johnny B. Goode at his finest. And the audience was reminded that there was a legend on stage just a few feet from where they sat.

Another Freddie King- cover called “Tore Down” followed.

Nearing the end of his set, Johnny Winter looked again for the knockout punch with the Jimi Hendrix twelve-bar structure cover- tune called “Red House.” And the crowd was again on their feet.

The show concluded before the encore with “Bony Moronie” from the Saints and Sinners album, and “It’s All Over Now” a Rolling Stones- cover song written by Bobby and Shirley Womack.

After only one encore the show ended with Bob Dylan’s penned- hit “Highway 61.”

Johnny Winter won the show but not with a knockout punch. Perhaps an encore of “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” or a rendition of Muddy Waters blues standard “Mannish Boy” would have knocked- out his audience. Or perhaps Johnny Winter cleverly left his audience wanting more.

Nevertheless, Johnny Winter is a rock and roll icon. There are very few musicians who have kept their roots in place without selling out to record companies and advertisers. And his Texas-sized reputation has kept him busy in the studio and on the road since 1969.

I want to thank the dedicated staff at the Capitol Theatre/Ruth Eckerd Hall for their wonderful hospitality. Katie Pedretty- Public Relations Manager, Pavlo Synadinos –Digital Media & Web Content Editor, James Raulerson- Capitol Theatre Manager, and especially Jeffrey Hartzog- Director of Operations.
Jeff filled me in on the entire history of the theatre and he’s very passionate about it. Jeff has worked for Ruth Eckerd Hall for about 14 years and at the USF Sun Dome in the 80’s. He started working as a stagehand in 1982.

The Capitol Theatre is an intimate venue with awesome acoustics, and if you wish to be transported to the days of Bill Graham's Fillmore- era than this venue is for you.
And Jeff was right; the best seat in the house was up on the balcony.

To buy tickets for upcoming shows at the Capitol Theatre, go to Ruth Eckerd Hall's website at http://www.rutheckerdhall.com/

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Golden Earring celebrates 50 years of rock and roll

By Ray Shasho

Golden Earring is one of the most enduring bands in classic rock history. They continue to tour in the Netherlands, and the band is the longest existing rock band in the world, as they were founded in 1961- one year before The Rolling Stones.
The Dutch rock group was formed by childhood friends, guitarist- George Kooymans and bassist- Rinus Gerritsen in The Hague Netherlands.
Unlike other popular Dutch bands like The Tee Set, The Bintangs, Focus, Trace, and The Shocking blue, Golden Earring  has kept the same- four- original band members together since 1970.

Barry Hay-vocals, George Kooymans- guitar, Rinus Gerritsen- bass and Cesar Zuiderwijk- on drums.

The band was originally called The Tornados, but they later discovered the name was already taken. The band then came up with the name Golden Earrings from a song originally sung by Marlene Dietrich in 1947, and it eventually became a hit in 1948 with Peggy Lee.

In 1965, “Please Go” was Golden Earrings first hit single reaching #9 on the music charts in the Netherlands.
After “Please Go”, seduced their manager Fred Haayen, believing he had found a Dutch- version of The Beatles, he rushed the Earrings into Pye studios in London to record their debut album "Just Ear-rings".
Lead singer Barry Hay joined The Earrings in 1967.

Their single "That Day", reached #2 on the Dutch charts. The single was beaten out of the #1 spot by The Beatles love ballad “Michelle.”

Golden Earring earned their first #1 hit in the Netherlands with the pop song “Dong- Dong- Diki- Digi -Dong". In 1969 they released a successful psychedelic album called “Eight Miles High,” originally a hit for The Byrds in 1966. The album featured a nineteen-minute version of the title track. Their on- stage version of the song lasted much longer, and was considered one of the most memorable jams on their US tour.

Progressing into hard rock, Golden Earring embarked on their first major US tour in 1969. The band performed with Led Zeppelin. Between 1969 and 1984, Golden Earring completed thirteen US tours. During that period, Golden Earring performed as the opening act for Santana, The Doobie Brothers, Rush and .38 Special.

The band enjoyed international superstardom in the Seventies with the hit single “Radar Love," from their critically acclaimed “Moontan” album. The album was a huge hit in both Europe and the USA.
With “Radar Love” reaching #13 in the US, Golden Earring became an opening act for KISS and Aerosmith.

Golden Earring again secured chart success in 1982 with the release of "Twilight Zone" and “When the Lady Smiles”.

Unfortunately the band would not maintain their popularity in the US so they continued their music efforts in Europe. Golden Earring has recorded over 30 gold and platinum albums and singles.

The bands best- selling albums were Moontan, which sold over 1- million copies worldwide, and the unplugged acoustic live CD/DVD- The Naked Truth in 1992, which sold over 500,000 copies in the Netherlands alone.

Their successful unplugged theater tours started in 1992 and continue to date. The album was followed by Naked II, and the trilogy was completed in 2005 with Naked III Live at The Panama.

Golden Earring's upcoming studio album will be recorded live at the famous Abbey Road Studios London in July this year. In August the Dutch post group TNT Post will honor the band with a Golden Earring commemorative stamp for its 50th anniversary and golden jubilee as a rock band.

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Jethro Tull celebrates 40th anniversary of Aqualung with USA tour

By Ray Shasho

Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode
And a cup of tea
Aqualung my friend
Don’t start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me.

Can you believe it’s been almost 40 years since we first heard Ian Anderson singing that whimsical verse while strumming his acoustic guitar? Jethro Tull released one of the greatest albums in classic rock history on March 19th in the UK and May 3rd of 1971 in the US.  It is the bands most commercially successful album ever- selling over seven- million copies.

The critics called it a concept album, but Anderson disagreed, he said the album was simply, “just a bunch of songs."

Anderson examined the plight of the downtrodden with tunes like “Aqualung,”  “Cross-Eyed Mary,” (A song about a prostitute) and “Up to me.”
Tull’s “Wind up,” and “Mother Goose” were about teenage anxiety and troubles with school.
“Cheap Day Return” was a song surrounding Anderson’s feelings as he visited his sick father.
“Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “My God,” “Cross-Eyed Mary,” and “Hymn 43,” are firmly cemented in classic rock- infamy.

The Aqualung- 40th Anniversary tour kicks off on June 8th at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison Colorado. Kansas will be opening for JethroTull there.
No Florida dates yet but there are still a lot of shows to be announced. You can check back here for possible Florida dates.

Ian Anderson’s latest album is called “Rupi’s Dance.”
Longtime Tull- guitarist Martin Barre’s latest solo effort is called “Stage Left.”
No news yet of a new Tull album.

Jethro Tull is still one of the most talented bands ever, and their style remains- untouched. Ian Anderson is a musical genius. But he also reminds us of what it was like to be cool. His onstage persona mesmerized us, as we wondered how cool it would be to be Ian.

I'm still wondering when they'll induct Jethro Tull into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I never write about the Grammy’s. But I’ll leave you with the winners for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental for the 31st Annual Grammy Awards in 1988.
And the winner is…Mettal- wait! It’s Jethro Tull for “Crest of a Knave.”

Got a classic rock story or suggestion? Email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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News Flash Buffalo Springfield plans to Reunite and Tour this Fall

By Ray Shasho

Twitter released a Rolling Stone statement- by David Crosby on Thursday evening announcing the unification of Buffalo Springfield. The band will tour again for the first time since calling it quits in 1968.
The classic rock mega- group only lasted three-years but left a string of classic hits. Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Original members Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay are set to tour this fall.

Crosby said of Stephen Stills...

"I think he is excited, and I’ve got to tell you, I didn’t get to see them live, but I watched clips and Richie Furay- I got to tell you man, he is so happy onstage and is such a joyful energy."

Then Crosby added...

“He really sparked that thing, and I think it was a very pleasant experience for Neil and Stephen both. I know they’re going to go out for at least some dates in the fall. Personally, I’d like to go watch. They’re one of my favorite bands.”

Richie Furay's manager David Spero also confirmed the reunion tour discussions with Rolling Stone. Spero remarked...

“There certainly are discussions to that effect.”

 

Buffalo Springfield reunited last year for The Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View California and there were rumors circling back then that they would tour.
At the Benefit concert, a reunited Springfield played their hits “For What It’s Worth,” “Rock and Roll Woman,”  “Mr. Soul”, “Burned,” and “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing.”   

David Crosby even hinted that he’d like to add his old band “The Byrds” to the tour. But he said ex frontman Roger McGuinn probably wouldn’t agree to it. The other original members Gene Clark and Michael Clarke have passed away.

And what about new- Buffalo Springfield material you say, well anything is possible. David Crosby wasn’t too optimistic in his Rolling Stone interview, but then again I remember when Stephen Stills formed Manassas during his stint with CSN.

I’ll have to contact my good friend Joe Lala in Tampa tomorrow. He was the percussionist for Stephen’s band- Manassas and Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
Hopefully, Joe will keep us informed.  

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The Steve Miller Band set to release their new album in April

By Ray Shasho

The Steve Miller Band will release their new album called “Let Your Hair Down” on April 19th. It will be released on Miller’s- own Space Cowboy Records.   http://www.stevemillerband.com/

Steve Miller will start his 2011 tour February 23rd at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas.

And more great news, he’s touring with legendary Frontman- Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band.
Florida dates have not yet been announced- so stay tuned. You can join Steve Miller's email list for the very latest updates.
Allman currently has a new release called “Gregg Allman- Low Country Blues” The album is produced by T- Bone Burnett.

Even better, On April 14th thru 16th is the Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak Florida.
The headliners this year are The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Robert Plant &The Band of Joy, The Steve Miller Band, and over thirty- five other top- performers.
http://www.waneefestival.com/
Its going to be a great year!

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Alice Cooper- “Elected” into rock and roll’s hall of fame on March 14th

By Ray Shasho

“We’re not worthy, We’re not worthy” 

  …Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from Wayne's World

Alice Cooper is truly a pioneer of glam and heavy metal- rock and roll.  In an interview with the East Valley Tribune in Phoenix Arizona, Alice’s hometown, Cooper said, Cooper procreated legendary fans like Peter Sellers, Groucho Marx, Mae West, Salvador Dali and Bob Dylan. He even helped shape the careers of Lady Gaga and Metallica.

"We brought theatrics to rock ‘n’ roll. We did it before Bowie; we did it before Kiss and before anybody. There was no show biz in rock ‘n’ roll before Alice Cooper. It was taboo and really looked down upon to call yourself showbiz. So when we came along, we went as far out on a limb as we possibly could. We did everything we could to annoy every parent in America, then backed it up with anthems that got played. We had 25 gold albums and sold 50 million records; it wasn’t a fluke."

The 63 year old rocker was the first to sell-out concerts by playing the role of a frightening fictitious character.  Cooper stated in an interview that his Alice character was inspired by the film Barbarella.  He said,

“When I saw Anita Pallenberg playing the Great Tyrant in that movie in 1968, wearing long black leather gloves with switchblades coming out of them, I thought, that’s what Alice should look like.”

I remember being nervous, afraid, and excited while waiting for Alice Cooper to appear on stage in the early 70’s. I’d hear all those rumors of what he would do on stage. And I wasn’t so sure if I really wanted to see him decapitate himself with a guillotine. But once his electrifying band led by guitarist Glen Buxton started to rock- out- I became hypnotized into one of his twisted disciples.

Alice Cooper definitely turned rock concerts into a theatrical experience.  Said Cooper...

"You just let your lower self go, and then it takes on all these aspects of the society-the city with horns blowing, the people yelling things at each other, and the all-in-all violence and chaos of the city. Put that on stage with music, and that’s what this is.”

Alice’s screams of rebellion were relentless in his single “I’m Eighteen” from the “Love It to Death” album , an anthem which reached number #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. The song epitomized the complicated transition of boy to man during adolescence.

Alice’s next rock and roll anthem “Schools Out” converted mild -mannered preteens into raving disobedient lunatics during their last week of school before the summer break. The song reached the Top 10 in the summer of 1972. It eventually made 21 on Billboard’s top 30 summer songs of all-time.

The “Billion Dollar Babies” album in 1973 became the band’s most successful album reaching number #1 in the US and UK. The album spawned the hits "Elected," "Hello Hooray," "Billion Dollar Babies," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy."

Wearing a top hat and cane, Alice hit the road again, but this time with his version of Broadway and the “Welcome to My Nightmare tour.”  The concept album produced another Top 20 hit with “Only Women Bleed.”

In 1989 Cooper released the “Trash” album that featured another Top Ten hit “Poison”.
In 1991 Alice Cooper released the popular “Hey Stoopid.” The album featured guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and members of Motley Crue.

By 2010 Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie collaborated on the  "Gruesome Twosome Tour.”

Alice and his longtime producer Bob Ezrin (Who worked with Pink Floyd, Kiss, Lou Reed, and Peter Gabriel to name just a few) are reported together again. Ezrin a partner with “Bigger Picture Group” will be working on a new album and elaborate stage show for an upcoming Alice Cooper tour.

Alice Cooper has been around since I can remember. And I’ll never forget those crazy grade school- rumors.  “Hey Ray, Did you know that Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver is actually Alice Cooper?"

Tampa bay area golfers should watch out for some golfing tips from Alice Cooper, or shall we just call him by his real name for the score card, Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice started playing golf years ago to help overcome his addiction to alcohol. He has a two- handicap and tries to play the game at least six days a week. He’s competed in several Pro-Am competitions and hosts his own charity golf tournament in Phoenix each April.
He's written a book called “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock ‘n’ Roller’s 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict."  http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Cooper-Golf-Monster-Becoming/dp/0307382656

In his hometown of Phoenix, Cooper raises about $150,000 each year for his Solid Rock Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help inner city kids stay out of gangs and away from guns and drugs.

On March 14th, Alice Cooper and his original band with Mike Bruce, Glen Buxton, (Died in 1997) Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith will Get Elected!  Alice’s graduating class will include Neil Diamond, Dr John, Darlene Love(The Blossoms and Crystals), Tom Waits, Jac Holzman, (Electra Records) Art Rupe,(Specialty Records) and Leon Russell.

And then “School’s Out”… but not forever!

Tell me about you classic rock stories or write a request at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Bob Seger to begin 2011- tour in March

By Ray Shasho

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band begin their first leg of a possible thirty-date tour on March 29th in Saginaw, Michigan. A close Seger representative told Rolling Stone that twenty to thirty additional dates were planned for the spring this year. Florida dates should be announced shortly. In between the tour, Seger hopes to finish his 17th studio album.

Check Bob Seger’s website right here for the band’s latest tour updates http://bobseger.com/index/home/

Seger was raised in Ann Arbor Michigan. The raspy rooted- rocker performed throughout the 60’s as the Bob Seger System. They released their debut album “The Bob Seger System” in 1969 with the hit single, Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man. (Eagles- founding member Glen Frey sang backing vocals)  The song reached #17 on the singles chart.

Bob Seger gained notoriety once again in 1976 with his Silver Bullet Band. The live album, “Live Bullet”, and studio album, “Night Moves” achieved Platinum status.
Seger and the Silver Bullet band released “Stranger in Town” in 1978.  Included on that album are many of his most recognizable hits, "Old Time Rock n' Roll," (a song that would enjoy additional success with the film Risky Business) and Top40 radio standards "Still the Same," “Hollywood Nights” and “We’ve got Tonight.”

Bob Seger also co-wrote the Eagles #1 hit “Heartache Tonight" from their 1979 album “The Long Run.” The collaboration resulted from Seger and Glenn Frey’s early days in Detroit together.
In 1980, Seger released “Against the Wind” with ex Grand Funk Railroad Keyboardist Craig Frost. It became his only #1 album on the Billboard charts.
After the release of “the Distance” in 1982, he added ex Grand Funk drummer Don Brewer.

The “Like a Rock” studio album arrived in 1986. The song was used as a Chevrolet ad campaign. (Seger chose to support the struggling American automobile workers in Detroit) Seger’s father was also a musician and a Ford plant worker.

Bob Seger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Seger’s longtime bassist is Sarasota resident Chris Campbell. His influences were: Motown, Tim Bogert, Rare Earth, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Chris says that his nickname is C-Note. "I got a modest inheritance from my father when he passed away. I had a little money -- I was not rich, but it was more than kids my name had, so I always had good equipment and they started calling me C-Note." 

In other classic rock music news...
The group“Yes” has also announced their U.S tour with a stop at Jannus Live on March 11th.
The band’s lineup remains the same. Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Alan White (drums), Oliver Wakeman (son of original keyboard player Rick Wakeman) and Benoit David (vocals). http://www.yesworld.com/

Meanwhile there are rumblings of a Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, and Trevor Rabin recording session with a tour later in 2011.

Do you have classic rock news to share? Email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Continue reading on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/classic-rock-music-2-in-st-petersburg/ray-shasho

An unplugged interview with the Silent- Giant of the music industry

By Ray Shasho

Tampa native Joe Lala has had a truly amazing music and acting career. He helped form the group Blues Image in 1966, and later scored a huge hit with “Ride Captain Ride” in 1970. He was also a member of Stephen Stills incredible band Manassas, and the blues rock band PG&E.   And that was just the beginning.
He then became a session percussionist and has been credited on such recordings as Jackson Browne’s, “Hold Out”, David Crosby, “Oh Yes I Can”, Crosby, Stills & Nash, “Daylight Again”, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, “American Dream”, Dave Mason, “Some Assembly Required”, McGuinn,Clark & Hillman, Poco, “Crazy Eyes”, The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band,  Rod Stewart, “A Night On The Town”, Stephen Stills, “Stephen Stills Live”;“Stills”; “Illegal Stills”; “Right You”, Stills and Young, “Long May You Run”, Joe Walsh, “The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get”, Dionne Warwick, “Heartbreaker” and  Bill Wyman, “Monkey Grip.”

This is just a partial list of studio credits.

Joe played with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, The Byrds, Chicago, The Eagles, The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, The Allman Brothers Band, Rod Stewart, Rick Derringer, Firefall, and so many other great artists.

Use the following link to see his entire musical credit list   http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-lala-p95775/credits

Lala has accumulated over 32 Gold records and 28 Platinum records.

Then Joe got into acting. Some of his film credits include "Active Stealth", “Sugar Hill”, “On Deadly Ground”, “Deep Sleep”, “Havana” with Robert Redford, “Out For Justice”, “Marked For Death” “Eyewitness To Murder” and “Born In East L. A.”
His TV credits include “Ali an American Hero”, “Miami Vice”, “For Love or Country” The Arturo Sandoval Story, “General Hospital”, “Melrose Place”, “Seinfeld”, “Hunter”, and “Who’s The Boss.”

Lala says,

“I have to check my ID every morning to see who I am.”

I spent a wonderful laid-back Friday afternoon with Joe Lala and his two Dachshunds inside his Tampa condo. He says,

"My dogs are great companions."

I felt comfortable hanging out with Joe. He’s one hundred percent Sicilian but speaks Spanish fluently. If you didn’t know about his Italian heritage you’d swear he was Cuban, but that may be because of his Ybor City roots.

So Joe, you really got your barbers license after you graduated from Jefferson high school?

“Yea, in 1966, I was playing music at night and cutting hair during the day. I went to Tampa Barber College.”

Then you, Mike Pinera, "Manny" Bertematti, and Malcolm Jones formed Blues Image in Tampa.

“Yes, then we ran into Frank “Skip” Konte in Norfolk Virginia, he was in a band called Blue Chip Stock.”

 http://pnwbands.com/bluechipstock.html

Your first keyboardist Emilio Garcia left the band to become a pilot, is that right?

“Yea, he works for Bacardi now.”

The band moved to Miami in 1967, what was that like?

"Our manager set us up in airplane hangar- type venues like “The World” on Biscayne Blvd."  

  http://www.miamibeachhigh1970.com/Remember_.html

“We opened for acts like the Doors and Janis Joplin. You know, all those big mothers. When we opened for Cream with Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds with Jimmy Page, they’d go to the promoter and say, how dare you book someone that good before us. (Referring to lead guitarist Mike Pinera of Blues Image) Pinera was intimidating to other guitar players. Clapton told the promoter and came that close to saying he wouldn’t go on after Pinera. Mike was at his probable best, he was a monster- guitar player.
Then Frank Zappa was staying at the Castaways and he told us to come to his room. He said you guys need to get out of here. (Meaning get out of Florida) So we saved our duckets and drove out to LA. When we got there we called Frank and said we’re here, okay now what? Later, The Animals manager Kevin Deverich signed us up with Atco records.”

You had your big hit “Ride Captain Ride” in 1970, and there was a lot of speculation about what the song was really about.

“Yea man, there were so many interviews that asked if it had anything to do with the Pueblo? Seventy three men on the Pueblo in North Korean waters, and then got busted. The song was about, you’re a great band, you have great talent, you’re fabulous, but we need a hit record, and we don’t hear the cash register. We need something commercial. But the song originated by staring at the seventy-three keys on Frank’s Fender Rhodes organ."
(Then Joe began singing…“Seventy-three men sailed up from the San Francisco Bay”)  Most everything we did was unrehearsed; it was a fabulous jam band.”

Tell me about the band in LA.

“We were the house band at a club called “The Experience” on the Sunset Strip."

Jimi Hendrix once said that Blues Image was "one of the best up and coming bands around". How well did you know Hendrix?

“I knew Hendrix quite a bit. Hendrix was a perfect gentleman, and one of the sweetest and nicest guys you ever want to meet. I mean, he was amazing. He didn’t want to be what he was made to be. He didn’t want a bone through his nose or burn his guitar. We’d have these massive jams at The Experience and everyone would show up. Guys like Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, and Jimi Hendrix. And all Jimi wanted to do is sit on his f-ing Marshall amp, he would not take center stage, he’d sit back there and put his cigarette between the guitar strings, when it was his turn to play he’d sit there and go man. Jimi had a style and a presence, how do you compare this guy with anybody he was amazing, and an incredibly cool guy.”

I brought up Robin Trower and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s similarities to Hendrix. 

“I was very good friends with Bill Graham, when I heard about that it just broke my heart.”

(Joe was immediately sent into a somber mood after remembering the helicopter crash that killed promoter Bill Graham)

So why did Blues Image break up?

“Mike was enticed by our former manager to leave the band and join Iron Butterfly. We all said, are you crazy? Then later we all went our separate ways.”

I heard Iron Butterfly missed an opportunity to play Woodstock because their helicopter never showed up.

“Blues image was supposed to be at Woodstock too, we took a gig at Binghamton instead. Our manager said there’s only one road in and it’s going to be raining, you don’t want to be there. We said, don’t you think it’ll be beneficial that we’re there?”

So you were living in LA, what did you do next?

"After I left Blues Image, I was with a band called PG & E. They did a song called “Are you ready” and we did a record for CBS. I worked as a session guy around LA and then I got a phone call. I was house-sitting for somebody. The phone rang and the conversation went like this, hi this is Stephen, I’m thinking of putting a band together. I said Stephen who?  Stills. I said yea right. We met at the cigarette machine at the Whiskey- a- Go- Go with Dallas, we talked for a minute. I’ve got this idea about putting a band together, come to my house in Colorado and let’s see what happens." 

http://www.wnew.com/2009/01/forgotten-fav-1.html

"The Colorado thing sounded good so we cut some stuff down in Miami. Then I went to Stephens’s house in England to rehearse before we hit the road. I was in England for about four months. I cooked for Jerry Wexler and for the band. I made homemade sausage balls, Chateaubriand, and these baby potatoes. We kept a low profile while we were there. That house in England was bought from Peter Sellers, and then Ringo Starr before that. It was built in the fifteenth century. When I first moved in I found a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor next to my bed. Peter Sellers was married to Britt Ekland at the time. She was insatiable. I found out that he would check himself with the blood pressure monitor after having sex with her."

I guess he left it there thinking that a bunch of rock stars could probably use it. Manassas was a great band. Did you and Stills know each other when you were both attending high school in Tampa?

“We did not know each other in Tampa. He went to Plant high school. He loved the Latin influence of Blues Image though. His dad worked for the CIA, and had a seafood plant in Costa Rica."

Here’s a quote from Stephen Stills about you, 

"Joe Lala was an answer to a prayer, I desperately wanted to find a 'Spanglish' a latin-cuban player, cause I was going absolutely crazy trying to play that kind of music with those Turkey white drummers. No matter how good they were, no white drummers could cut it, and my songs were getting more and more Spanish flavoured".   

http://www.suitelorraine.com/suitelorraine/Pages/sssounds1974.html 

Why did Manassas break up?

“There was lots of drama in the band. We were together for about two and half years. I went back to LA and did a lot of session work. Then I started getting calls from artist like The Bee Gees and Dan Fogelberg, and I never had to worry.”

Joe, I need a juicy classic rock story, something those rock and roll aficionados don’t already know.

“I had to throw Mick Jagger and three women out of my hotel room. We played Carnegie hall together when I was with Manassas and we had suites at the Carlyle in New York. There was Mick Jagger in my room with three little beauties. I told Mick okay party’s over. He said what’s that all about? Well, this is my room and I think I’m going to bed now, unless you’re going to share. The next day Bill Wyman said that Mick was furious with me.”  

“Then when I was touring with Crosby, Stills and Nash, we were at one of the hotels that looked like one of those round guys in circles. Graham Nash went to go take a pee in the middle of the night and walked out his front door buck naked without his key. He used a house phone in the hallway and called downstairs to the front desk. He said, I’ve locked myself out of my room can you send a man up to my room to let me back in, I’m naked. They sent a chick up there instead and he ended up having sex with her.”

“I consider myself really fortune to get to hang with these guys and play with them in the late 60’s and mid 70’s. Those were some day’s man, those were some days.”  

Now that the travel restrictions have been lifted, do you have any thoughts about going to Cuba?

“I was there in 1979 for the Havana Jam. It was at the Karl Marx Theater formerly known as the Teatro Blanquita. One night Fidel came to check us out. I had to pinch myself in the green room; I was there amongst all the greats like Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, and Weather Report. Woody Shaw and I became very close friends, and Stan Getz was a very funny guy. There were three hundred and fifty amazing players.”

Who were your biggest musical influences?

"I love Latin jazz, straight ahead mainstream jazz, Coltrane, Charlie parker. My favorite kind of music was the organ trio’s, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, you know that shuffle thing, when I listen to that man I wet my pants."

What was your favorite acting role?

“It was probably working with Robert Redford in “Havana.” The movie was almost Casablanca but fell short. I was nervous and Redford fed me my lines. He said, don’t worry I’m here for you man, come on. Working with Robert Redford was really something.
You know, I raised Christina Applegate, her mom and I was an item at one time. I’d hold little Christina on my lap while reciting lines to her, and she would read them back to me perfectly. She was great.”

Have you ever married?

"Yes, not to Christina’s mom but to Ginny McSwain my ex wife. We’re still close. She just won her third Emmy award for a show she walked off of. She’s a dialogue director."  http://www.ginnymcswain.com/

How was the Firefall reunion concert in 2008?

“The Firefall reunion was a gas. I was never a member of the band but I played on anything that ever happened. That concert was BAD man, Firefall is a fun band.”    http://www.firefall.com/reunion.asp

So you continue to play your gigs, you’re still getting auditions, and now you do private acting workshops.

 “Yea, I want to give back something to the city that gave me so much. I’ve been very blessed in what I’ve done.”  

What’s different about your music career versus your acting career?   

“When I do my acting thing I really have to do my homework, when I do music it comes natural man.  It just happens.”  http://www.joelala.com/index.htm

I thanked Joe Lala for the interview and he hugged me before I left. Joe still takes care of his mom who is in denial that she will become ninety- five years old in October. He’s an amazing man, with amazing accomplishments. A Silent- Giant of the music industry.

Do you have a classic rock story? Please email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Continue reading on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/classic-rock-music-2-in-st-petersburg/ray-shasho