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

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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

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Allman Brothers Band guitar legend Dickey Betts plays benefit in Sarasota

By Ray Shasho

Classic rock guitarist Dickey Betts and his band Great Southern played for two year old Emalynn Roberts Saturday night at Hershberger Property on Fruitville Road in Sarasota. The fundraiser was organized by “Sarasota’s Littlest Heroes”, a non-profit charity founded in 2008 by three Sarasota Sheriff’s deputies dedicated to helping the sick children of Law Enforcement Officers in the Southwest Florida Region. http://sarasotaslittlestheroes.org/

Two-year old Emalynn Roberts was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy last summer, and is on a ventilator. http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/chronic-inflammatory-polyneuropathy Her parents Deputy Sheriff James Roberts and Katie Roberts began to worry about a year ago when she was having trouble with her balance. Now the disease has moved into Emalynn's arms, and she has little use of them. It also settled in her upper respiratory system. Her parents desperately need help to pay for medical costs that their insurance won’t cover. She’s already had two treatments and the hope is for much better results on a third.

You can donate and help Emalynn Roberts by clicking on the Pay Pal button on the link below (it’s fast and safe) http://sarasotaslittlestheroes.org/?p=1
Or you can mail your donation to Sarasota’s Littlest Heroes Foundation (For Emalynn Roberts) 7515 Proctor Road Sarasota, Fl  34241. Please call Dave Clark at (941)375-1230 for further information.

The event itself seemed like a thousand neighbors coming together and having fun for a good cause. And Dickey Betts just happened to be one of their neighbors. It was an extremely cold night. Earlier in the day there was great barbecue. But when the sun disappeared everyone scrambled to the hot coffee tables.
At 9:35 pm, Betts walked out from a large motor coach and journeyed through an open field with his posse to a tent covered stage.

I reminisced with them earlier outside the vehicle about those infamous stories at the Oar House in Bradenton Beach in the late 70’s. There was lots of partying going on and the Allman Brothers Band playing into the wee hours. When the Oar House burned down, Gregg Allman still had an outstanding bar tab, but all was forgiven. http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/

Dickey Betts had some pretty stiff competition on stage with him on Saturday night. He was a young guitar slinger that mimicked many of Dickey’s famous licks and facial expressions. His name is Duane Betts, Dickey’s son, and a member of Great Southern. If you close your eyes, you’d have a hard time deciding who Papa Betts was. Duane is a truly amazing guitarist. And it’s good to know that the Betts southern rock legacy will continue to rock on. http://www.dickeybetts.com/

Betts played many of the crowd pleasers like Jessica, Blue Sky, One way out, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, and Ramblin’ Man. Betts can combine country, jazz, blues, and rock into one amazing sound.

Betts, a Bradenton native, had formed a band in Florida with bassist Berry Oakley. One night they jammed with another local group featuring Duane and Gregg Allman, and The Allman Brothers Band formed in 1969. After the death of Duane Allman in 1971, Betts became the bands sole guitarist.

Dickey Betts was inducted along with the rest of The Allman Brothers Band into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1995.  The 1995 Induction Ceremony

I spoke with Dave Clark one of the founders for “Sarasota’s Littlest Heroes” and he estimated that the event raised about thirty thousand dollars. But your donations are still needed.
Please help Emalynn Roberts. http://sarasotaslittlestheroes.org/?p=1

You can contact me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks open their co-headlined tour in Florida

By Ray Shasho

It’s a classic rock double billing starring Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks, and it premiers in Florida. “The Heart & Soul Tour”, will launch March 20th at the BankAtlantic Center http://www.bankatlanticcenter.com/index2.asp  in Fort Lauderdale and make a stop in Tampa at the St. Pete Times Forum on March 23rd.

According to Rod Stewarts website, tickets for the Heart & Soul Tour will go on sale this Friday, January 21st at 10 am.  http://www.rodstewart.com/us/home
Tickets for the Tampa show will go on sale this Saturday, January 22nd at 10 am. Ticket prices are $49.50, $75.00, $95.00 and $149.50. http://www.sptimesforum.com/

Stewart says,

“We haven’t yet begun rehearsals but I can already tell you this, with Stevie on board our audiences are in store for an evening of pure rock & roll music. I’m already thinking about which of my old favourites to bring back and vocally, I think we’ve both begun thinking about which songs might be great fun and well-suited for a duet or two."

Stevie Nicks will be releasing her first new material in a decade with a new CD called, In: Your Dreams on May 3rd.  Stevie’s new CD is available for fans to pre order at stevienicks.warnerreprise.com.
Nicks is now 62 years of age.
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974. The band was actually formed in 1967 in London. The only original member of the band that remains today is drummer Mick Fleetwood.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album won a Grammy award for the “Album of the year” in 1977. http://www.fleetwoodmac.com/

In 1981 Nicks released her first solo album Bella Donna. The album hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts and continues to be her best selling solo album of all-time. http://rockalittle.com/  the official Stevie Nicks website.
Stevie Nicks loves to draw angels. She started drawing after her best friend Robin Anderson died of Leukemia. http://www.inherownwords.com/art.htm

Rod Stewart finished 2010 at the top of the album and touring charts.
He turned 66 on January 10th.

Stewart is a longtime rocker. He was recruited in 1967 by ex Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck for a vocalist-front man position with the Jeff Beck Group. The band included Beck, Stewart, Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), and Aynsley Dunbar (John Lennon, David Bowie, Jefferson Starship, and Whitesnake) on drums. It was an all-star line-up that demised prematurely perhaps from all the bickering going on.

In 1969 Steve Marriott left the “Small Faces” to join Humble Pie, so Stewart and Wood left the Jeff Beck Group to join Ronnie Lane, Ian Mclagen, and Kenney Jones to form “Faces.”

In 1971 Stewart recorded the album Every Picture Tells a Story which featured the smash hit Maggie May. The album is considered one of the great classic rock albums of all time. It was ranked 172nd on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  The album also featured Rod’s songwriting talents. Stewart recorded with and without Faces.

In 1975 the band toured the US twice. During that year Ronnie Wood left to join the Rolling Stones. The band finally split up at the end of the year.
Then Stewart traded in his blue suede shoes for boogie shoes when he recorded the number one hit, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”  in 1978.

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Stewart remained a pop icon by singing slower tunes that became chart favorites, but leaving his “Rockin Rod” image behind.

Later Stewart underwent throat surgery to remove a benign cancerous node.

And now Stewart sings collections of American Classics in recordings called, The Great American Songbook. He’s set to release The Best of… The Great American Songbook which should be out in stores on February 1st.

Do you have a classic rock story that you want to share? Email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Peter Rivera is Rare Earth

By Ray Shasho

Do you ever get peeved about seeing your favorite classic rock bands touring and playing their original hits, but without the key original members of the group? I certainly do. And it seems like more imposter bands are getting away with it lately.

The last draw for me was when the group “Yes” went out on tour without original lead vocalist Jon Anderson. The band replaced him with Benoit David, a vocalist for a Yes- tribute band called, “Close to the Edge.” And please don’t tell me they got the idea from watching the movie “Rock Star.”
It was even reported for awhile that Aerosmith was going to replace Steven Tyler. This reporter’s opinion states that if the heart and soul of the band is no longer with the band, than call it quits! Don’t ruin a legacy for some extra cash; come up with a different name.

Mick Box, the only original member of Uriah Heep continues to tour with the Heep name, Ten Years After tours without legendary guitarist and frontman Alvin Lee, Journey continues to tour without Steve Perry, and their current lead vocalist is Arnel Pineda another cover band replacement, Mick Jones is the only original member left of Foreigner and still touring, Grand Funk is touring with a look- alike replacement for original guitarist and vocalist Mark Farner, The Beach Boys continue their touring ways with only Mike Love and Brian Johnston from the original band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd ridiculously tours with Gary Rossington as its only original member. What’s next a Beatles reunion tour with Paul and Ringo?

And don’t even get me started on the Motown bands. The Four Tops are touring without legendary leader Levi Stubbs, and the Temptations with its only surviving member Otis Williams. And speaking of Motown, Michiganians from the Bradenton-Sarasota area should remember a funky classic rock band from Detroit called Rare Earth. The group signed with Motown in 1969 and became the most successful all- white member band on the label.

The heart and soul of the band was drummer and lead vocalist Peter Rivera. The band scored numerous hits throughout the 70’s including “Get Ready”, "(I Know) I’m Losing You”, “Born to Wander”, “Hey Big Brother”, and “I Just Want to Celebrate.” Their albums “Get Ready” and the two- record set “Rare Earth in Concert” won double platinum. With Peter Rivera on drums and lead vocals, Rare Earth sold over twenty five million records. Rivera has been called the premier rock drummer/vocalist of the 70’s. I’d rank Rivera among the top ten drummers of all-time.

On August 13th of 1980, I attended a Rare Earth show at a small club in Waldorf, Maryland called the Stardust Inn. Sadly only a handful of Rare Earth faithful attended that night. They could have canceled the show for lack of attendance, but they decided to rock the house down instead. I hung out with all the members of Rare Earth that night after the show, and I clearly knew that Pete was the leader, and heart and soul of the band.

A few years earlier I witnessed Rare Earth headlining for the Funkadelic and Ohio Players to a sold-out Baltimore Civic Center of over 13,000 screaming fans. And in 1974 they were the opening act for the California Jam which attracted more than 200,000 people.

Without a doubt, the band’s driving force during their success was Peter Rivera.

Rare Earth continues to tour without Peter Rivera at the helm. Original member and saxophonist Gil Bridges now leads the band with Rare Earth’s most successful guitarist Ray Monette.

As for Peter Rivera, in 1990 he started touring with the Classic Rock All- Stars. A Supergroup that consisted of Peter on drums and vocals, Jerry Corbetta keyboardist from Sugarloaf, Mike Pinera lead singer of Blues Image and guitarist from Iron Butterfly, and guitarist Spencer Davis formally of the Spencer Davis Group. The most current lineup features Rivera, Pinera, Corbetta, and Larry Prentiss bassist from the Johnny Rivers band. http://www.classicrockallstars.com/flash.html

In 2007 Rivera formed another band called “Celebrate” with Peter Rivera, playing all the great Rare Earth tunes plus the timeless hits from Motown and other R&B dance favorites.

Peter Rivera has a great book out called, “Born to Wander.” He writes about his 30 year experience- before, during, and after Rare Earth. You can purchase Pete’s story at  http://www.peterrivera.com/book.html

Do you have a classic rock story? Email them to me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Lady Gaga reinvented by local heavy metal guitar wizard

By Ray Shasho

I finally caught up with the guy who had the fourth most watched music video in the world on You Tube. Eric Calderone’s explosive spin of Lady Gaga’s tune, “Bad Romance” made him an overnight sensation on the popular website. Eric has also added his metal mastery to Kesha's Tik Tok, Take it off, and Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up.
Pop artists add their own simple spin to classic rock songs and usually fail miserably. Eric Calderone took a simple silly popular pop song and made it sound intelligent and extremely cool. Eric is sort of a “Heavy Metal Einstein.”  The music industry should take notice; there is a new generation of artistic rock musicians, and you need to sign them.
Calderone recently graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in music. He also completed a degree in orchestration for film and television from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He’s also a gifted Illustrator, learning the trade by enrolling in art programs at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. Eric is 25, and although born in New York, he grew up in Bradenton.
I felt an obligation to write about Eric because he’s a gifted guitarist. And although my column is about classic rockers, I wanted to showcase a unique new rock talent, and wish him the best. Like raising a lighter up high at a rock concert, we need to keep that rock and roll flame burning before it dies out.
Here’s my interview with Eric Calderone after he arrived in Los Angeles yesterday.

You've been quite successful on You Tube with your Heavy Metal spin of Lady Gaga. Why do you like her music?

 “The main reason I like her is the reason I think the video got so much attention. Simply because even though her music is categorized as pop, it has like an aura about it that it could work in another genre, so when I hear her music I always think to myself wow this could totally be a rock tune. And also she's ridiculously talented as a pianist which when I heard her song writing ability, was hooked. She's very catchy and visually unique which is why I think a lot of people like her, including me.” 

If you could walk on stage tomorrow and play lead guitar for any band who would you choose and why?

“Oh wow great question, ha-ha. It would be a triple toss up for me. Sorry that's the best I can narrow it down for you. Ozzy - I have always loved ozzy's music and his albums had a big impact on why I picked up a guitar in the first place. Symphony X - I know not many people know of them but they are one of my favorite bands right now, intense rock and challenging music. And I would love to play with Gaga, her shows are incredible.”  

What bands got you hooked on playing metal? Are there any classic rock bands you like and why? Like Hendrix, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Sabbath, etc.

“Another great question, Metallica was the first one. They were in your face, fast, rugged. I would probably go as far as saying that Metallica is one of the most influential bands on the planet. As far as classic rock bands go, my favorite is Sabbath. They did something when they came out that changed music. They introduced different tunings, new lyrics, and a style that would develop what we know today as heavy metal.”  

So what are your intentions in Los Angeles, what do want to achieve while you’re out there, any connections in the music biz?

“To tell you the truth, I have never been out there and my main reason for going out is to feel it out. Everyone I know that has been there or lives there says it’s the center of the world for music. I just want to go see shows, at different places, and meet a lot of musicians. There's not many musicians in Tampa so I'm really excited to see what Cali has to offer. I personally don't have any contacts in the music biz but as they say in the movies, "I know people who know people," ha-ha” 

What kinds of equipment do you use, guitars, amps etc.?

“I'm very simple when it comes to that. Right now I play Guerilla guitars and play through Line 6 amps. I'm what a lot of musicians call a "simple setup". It's basically guitar + amp = me.” 

Good luck Eric, and keep that flame burning.

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More classic rock at the Van Wezel

By Ray Shasho

After moving to Bradenton in August 2003, I was somewhat disappointed over the lack of local concert venues. Then in November of that year it was reported that Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. (SMR) and DVA Sports LLC (DVA) had announced plans to construct a 7,400-seat multipurpose entertainment facility. It would be the home for an ECHL minor league hockey franchise, but more importantly the facility would bring concerts to the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

The news got even better; the facility would be built in Lakewood Ranch within walking distance from my residence.
But the project ended in disaster. The arena sat partially built for years because the owner ran into financial trouble. Then in October of 2009 it was finally demolished.

The only real concert venue in the Bradenton/Sarasota area was the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, locals still refer to it as “The Purple Cow.”  Since opening its doors in January of 1970, the Hall has booked high profiled performers like Ray Charles, Liberace, Ella Fitzgerald, Lucille Ball, and even Cary Grant. And this reporter has witnessed excellent shows at the Van Wezel like Ann Margaret, Engelbert Humperdink, and Paul Anca. By the way, Paul Anca’s drummer that night was Graham Lear. (Santana and Woodstock fame)

After witnessing a packed house rocking to a rare Doobie Brothers performance in 2005, there was a definite yearning for classic rock shows at Sarasota’s purple people eater. Over the years, the Van Wezel has catered to an older population. But now, classic rockers fit the mold of shows that should be performing live there.

Those overpriced rock stars of yesteryear are now affordable and willing to play the smaller venues. And a sold out classic rock show at the Van Wezel should generate decent revenues.
For the first time, Crosby, Stills & Nash played the Hall in September of 2010. The Van Wezel is nowhere close to showcasing classic rock artists like Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, but they are making an effort.
Kenny Loggins, REO Speedwagon, Three Dog Night, and Dennis Lambert with Mickey Thomas of the Starship will all be playing at the Van Wezel this season. http://www.vanwezel.org/boxOffice/eventCalendar.cfm

Contact me with your favorite classic rock stories at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Robin Trower coming to Jannus Live

By Ray Shasho

Robin Trower is a good illustration for the debate on why classic rock artist maintain their staying power. Since joining Procol Harum (“Whiter Shade of Pale”) in 1967 and then forming the Robin Trower band in 1973, Trower has released twenty nine albums and continues to tour worldwide. He doesn’t worry if his songs will be played on the radio and won’t worry about the music industry, he just likes playing music.

In an interview with Classic Rock Revisited for the promotion and release of “What Lies Beneath” Trower said,

“I feel like I was born with a gift. I’m blessed because ideas still keep on coming and the creativity is still there and of course my love for playing the guitar.”

What I found really interesting about that 2009 interview was when Trower revealed his spiritual side. He said ideas for his music were formed from,

“Christianity and the spiritual side of mans nature.”

So many classic rock artists are reluctant to reveal a spiritual side. They prefer to keep their views agnostic. I applaud Trower for breaking tradition. It may be one of the reasons why he’s been around so long.    
Trower gives a lot of credit to his longtime manager Derek Sutton. With his own record label V-12 records in play Trower remarked about Sutton,

“Whatever I want, he makes it all work.”

Referring to his freedom to musically create what he wants.

Music critics nicknamed Robin Trower back in the 70’s as “The White Hendrix.” When asked about the guitarist’s comparable style to Jimi Hendrix, Trower’s moderate response was

“I’ll be the first to admit that Jimi Hendrix created a whole new vocabulary for the electric guitar and I picked up on it.”

Robin Trower is a constant reminder that you can still hold on to your past and still rock out in the present. Trower has collaborated musically with James Dewar, lead singer and bassist for the British rock power trio Robin Trower band. Perhaps the most acclaimed album being the 1974 release, Bridge of Sighs. Trower stated that it took him months and months to write the lyrics for the Bridge of Sighs track. Trower said,

“I didn’t want to write a cliché blues song.”

In the early 1980’s, Trower collaborated with Cream bassist Jack Bruce, releasing two more albums. In 2007 he released a third album with Bruce, and in 2009 added a fourth called, Seven Moons Live recorded in Nijmejen, Holland. Trower has also produced several Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music) albums.
Robin Trower continues to rock with a brand new CD called, Playful Heart and the return of the power- trio.
For the first time, Trower included his current road band in the studio. Trower said about recording Playful Heart,

“I wanted to achieve something more raw and live feeling.”

Robin Trower will be performing live in concert on Saturday, January 29th at 8pm at the new Jannus Live in St. Petersburg.
It’s a great chance to watch one of classic rocks legendary guitarist at Tampa Bay’s best small concert venue.

Contact me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com to share your classic rock stories or provide suggestions.

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'Classic Rockers' in my backyard

By Ray Shasho

It seemed like yesterday when the only thing that mattered was buying tickets for the next rock concert. In my sophomore year, I’d sneak out of class and call for a taxi cab on the high school payphone to pick me up and drive me over to the nearest ticketron outlet so I could be first in line to purchase concert tickets. I even earned the nickname, “Rock Raymond” for my rock concert addiction.
But tickets were extremely affordable then, even for a fifteen year old kid. Believe it or not, standard ticket prices for a show in the mid 1970’s were $6.50, $5.50 and $4.50. Man, have times changed!

During high school, I landed a job at the Capital Centre in Largo, Maryland about twenty minutes from my home. Me and five other guys mopped the floors underneath each seat for the entire 18,756 capacity arena. I did it to be part of the concert experience. I even got to hang out with Lynyrd Skynyrd while they played their debut song, “Saturday Night Special” during a sound check.

Now I live in Bradenton, Florida and it’s the home of many of those same rock and roll legends that I desperately needed to see in concert back in high school.

Not far from my home lives “Classic Rocker” Rick Derringer. This legendary rocker is now 63 years old. The Ohio native was just 17 years old when he had his first hit with the McCoy’s called, “Hang on Sloopy.”That song actually knocked The Beatles “Yesterday” out of the top spot. But my high school memories were better served by his 1974 top 40 hit, “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” and his amazing guitar solo on the single version of Edgar Winter’s, “Free Ride.”

Rick established relationships with rock and roll greats like Jimi Hendrix and Alice Cooper. He’s a musician, songwriter, and record producer who have collaborated with Johnny and Edgar Winter, Steely Dan, Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, and Kiss, to name just a few.

Derringer finished up a tour with Ringo Starr’s 11th All-Starr band over the summer.

For the past ten years, Rick expanded his horizons by recording a Christian CD with his family called, “Aiming for Heaven” and also released his first solo venture into the world of smooth Jazz called, “Free Ride.” Rick’s wife Brenda Jean (Jenda Derringer Hall) is featured as a co-writer, arranger, and singer on the CD.

Rick’s latest CD “Knighted by the Blues” just proves Derringer is getting better with age. Jenda sang the title song and penned the top twenty hit, “Hot and Cool”.

Derringer is currently in production on a retrospective film about his life called, “Rick Derringer (All American Boy) Still Alive and Well.” For more information on Rick Derringer visit his website at http://www.rickderringer.com/

Other “Classic Rockers” in my backyard, well let’s see… there’s Dickey Betts the founding member of the Allman Brothers Band and Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Graeme Edge drummer and songwriter for The Moody Blues and The Graeme Edge Band, and just across the way in Sarasota is Brian Johnson, the lead singer for AC/ DC.

These are the rockers I can confirm. The ones I can’t are Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith. And there was that time when Mick Ralphs, the guitarist from Mott the Hoople, and Bad Company had his vintage guitar collection on display and for sale at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum. More to come!

What “classic rockers” are in your backyard? I’d love to hear about all your classic rock stories, contact me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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Keeping cool around your favorite rock stars

By Ray Shasho

Most people would love to meet their favorite rock stars. But most concert goers believe it’s an impossible task so why even try. It’s true, if you go about it like a crazed stalker or look like an overexcited fan wearing their band logos on every stitch of clothing you’re wearing, than the odds of you getting to meet anybody are probably slim to none. So play it cool and act like it’s no big deal.

One of my strategies is to schmooze with the security guards who are at the entrance to the backstage area as a technique to hang with the talent. You may have to start talking with them somewhere in the middle of the concert. Show a genuine interest in what they do and make a new friend. Then after gaining their confidence ask to take a tour backstage.

After being led backstage I shared a delicious food tray with Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers. (Ferry across the Mersey) Once you make it backstage then you can blend right in, but only if you act normal. My wife Sharon and I happened to be with him when some of the band members from the Troggs (Wild Thing) asked to party with them in their hotel room, but I  respectively declined. Never take a girlfriend or especially your wife into a rock bands hotel room.

In smaller venues, the band will travel by bus and it’s usually parked out in the back parking lot somewhere. If you bring an item for the band to sign like a guitar, the security guard will sometimes let you go back to their bus and meet the band. And you don’t have to be a knockout girl with big breasts either. Smaller venues are definitely the easiest way to meet with your favorite rock stars.

 I met with John Kay the lead singer of Steppenwolf on his tour bus. The security guard alerted the Steppenwolf star by walkie talkie, sending a message that a cool fan carrying a 1973 Fender Telecaster was on his way. Mr. Kay greeted me and signed the guitar with a silver marker. The marker exploded and Mr. Kay literally freaked out. He thought the guitar was ruined. He sincerely apologized as we diligently worked together to clean up the silvery mess. It just goes to show you that our rock and roll heroes are people too.

Those wild backstage party days of yesteryear are over. Classic rockers are laid back and very approachable. After all, most of them are grandparents now.

I struck up a conversation with an older man outside a smaller venue in Washington, DC. It so happened that the man was Alvin Lee’s tour manager. With that same Fender guitar in my hand, I ended up hanging out backstage with legends Alvin Lee, (Former Ten Years After- frontman and the hero of the original Woodstock) Eric Burdon, (Former lead singer of the Animals and Eric Burdon & War) and Aynsley Dunbar (Drummer for David Bowie, Whitesnake, Frank Zappa, and John Lennon to name just a few)

Alvin Lee even played my 1973 Fender backstage. I drove to the show in a white limousine and nearly gave Mr. Lee a ride back to his hotel, if it weren’t for his girlfriend wanting to eat on the tour bus.

Here’s another technique to meet your favorite rock stars. Be cool but sneaky. Like finding out what hotel they are staying at. After a little detective work, I  found out that the Doobie Brothers were staying at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota after their performance at the Van Wezel in October of 2005.
After the show, I drove out to the hotel and witnessed several members of the band hanging out at the lobby bar. After joining them for a few rounds, it came time to settle the bar tab and I graciously paid the bill. (A clear example of how easy it is to lose your cool around your favorite rock stars) And forgetting the fact that rock stars live big! Nevertheless, expensive Scotch meant an exorbitant bar tab. But the evening turned out quite interesting to say the least.

Two buddies and I spent the rest of the night inside Michael Hossack’s hotel room at the Ritz. Mike is the drummer for the Doobie Brothers. Wow hanging out inside a rock stars room. Can you imagine what went on in there?  I’ll tell you, Mike sat behind his laptop and for hours we tried to find out what state had the most beef cattle. Wild scene man!
By the way, Michael Hossack and the rest of the Doobie Brothers will be performing live at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City on March 10th.

Email your favorite classic rock stories to rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com  

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