Episodes

The Police signed their first recording deal with A&M Records 43 years ago today (March 22nd). The first album was Outlandos D’Amour and the song that launched them was Roxanne which peaked at number-32 on the Billboard Hot 100. When they first began, The Police thought of themselves as a punk band and their material reflected it. Drummer Stewart Copeland credits their manager, who happened to be his brother Miles, for seeing past the pose and finding the song that would kick-start their career.

There is talk of a Van Halen career-spanning box set.  The band’s original bassist Michael Anthony says, “I know Warner [Brothers] has brought up the question, would we like to do that… Obviously, it all happens after Eddie [Van Halen] passed, and it’s, like, ‘Hey, let’s cash in on this and that or whatever,’ which I don’t want any part of that…

Photo Credit- Reuters

50 years ago today (March 12th), The Allman Brothers Band recorded two shows in New York City for use on the album The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East. One of the highlights is “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” Guitarist Dickey Betts wrote a number of classic instrumentals while he was in The Allman Brothers Band, one of the most memorable being “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Betts tells what inspired him to write it and where he got the title.

Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark celebrates his 69th birthday today (March 5th). You've heard the story. Mark Knopfler in an appliance store listening to workers complaining about rock stars. That's where the  Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing" came from. Mark Knopfler wrote a character-driven song, then had to sing it as a character he doesn't like. ( Topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks) (How do you like it now). The words Mark Knopfler sings in "Money for Nothing" are as far from his own thoughts and beliefs as can be, . Knopfler explains why he wrote them and how he felt singing them.