Onetime Jefferson Starship drummer John Barbata was born on April 1st, 1945. He left the band just before they recorded "Jane." He'd previously been a member of both Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Turtles.Jefferson Starship: "Jane". He left then they lost both lead singers Grace Slick and Marty Balin. They were replaced with Mickey Thomas. John Barbata was replaced with ex-Journey stickman Aynsley Dunbar. Guitarist Craig Chaquico along with David Freiberg, Paul Kantner and Jim McPherson wrote the song Jane and credits that with saving the band. It peaked at number-14 on the Billboard Hot 100!
“That was the first song we came out with after we lost Marty [Balin]and Grace [Slick] and our drummer. The record company is kind of looking at us like, ‘Wait a minute. We signed this band and now they don’t have their lead singers and their drummer. What do we really have here?’ So we got Mickey [Thomas], and I co-wrote that song with David [Freiberg] and Paul [Kantner] and this lyricist that used to work for the Grateful Dead and stuff. It was a real departure for us, because it wasn’t ‘Miracles.’ It was way on the other side of ‘Miracles.’ And I’m so happy it got the response that it did.”
Angus Young was born on this day (March 31st) He turns 65 The A.C/DC album title "Back in Black" was meant as a tribute to the late Bon Scott but not everybody thought that title was a good idea. AC/DC guitarist Angus Young recalls that they really had to stick to their guns when it came to using "Back in Black" as a title for a song -- and an album -- that saluted their late singer Bon Scott.
“That was our way of saluting Bon’s thing. We didn’t want to drudge out a tragedy, so we figured that was the best tribute we could do. So we made it black as the mark of respect when somebody passes away. That was the idea of it. There was a lot of people, actually, at the time, when we first said what we wanted, y’know, they were all saying, ‘You can’t do that. People don’t like that. Black, it’s negative thing.’ But for us it meant something and that’s what we stuck by.”
Eric Clapton turns 75 today (March 30th) He had a song that was a hit twice, 20 years apart. Once with Derek and the Dominos the othe as solo and unplugged. The song: "Layla" It was on the albums Layla (and Other Assorted Love Songs) in 1971 and Unplugged in 1992. The Derek and the Dominos version peaked at number-51 on the Billboard Hot 100; Clapton's Unplugged version peaked at number-12 on the Hot 100 and number-nine on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.
Here's Eric Clapton on why "Layla" and the other Derek and Dominos songs hold up so well when played unplugged.
"It's simple music. Those songs were written out of a desire to play live, and they stand the test of time. They always feel good to play and it's like a small band dynamic, you know, so it can be elaborated on, but you can also strip it down and the songs hold up."
Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks turns 70 today (March 27) their song "Invisible Touch" came together spontaneously in one studio session and it made it to number 1! During the mid-1980s the band tended to write songs by jamming in the studio, without anyone bringing in ideas in advance. He says their 1986 chart-topper "Invisible Touch" is a perfect example.
“It’s a very spontaneous thing. Mike was just doodling along on the guitar, playing a couple of chords, and then Phil immediately started singing “invisible touch,” just the phrase. So we just played this chorus over and over again, developed it a bit. And then, obviously, we were looking for other chords for the verse, and we tried to sort of keep it fairly quite quick and spontaneous, so we just between us worked on a melody line. We knew it should be really simple and we wanted to maintain that feel. The only thing we felt we needed was at some point to get away from the song. So we just said, ‘Okay, let’s do eight bars in a different key and then come back to the original key and it’ll sound like an up.”
Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler was born on March 26th, 1948 making him 72 today. The song "Dream On" was transformed a classical piano song into the classic rock ballad. It peaked at number-59 on the Billboard Hot 100 when first issued as a single in an edited version in 1973. When the full album version was released as a single in 1976, it went all the way to number-six.
In 1972, the five members of Aerosmith moved into a house together outside Boston to work on some new material for their debut album. It was then that Steven Tyler remembered a classically based piece called "Dream On" he'd written about five years earlier on the piano at his parents' home in New Hampshire. Here is Steven to tell how he got the band to record his classical piece.
”There was a piano downstairs and sure enough I started playing it. And the guys said, ‘What is that?,’because in their musical repertoire there was no classical. So I thought, ‘Well, if I can transpose this piano stuff to guitar, well, we be cookin’’ And so I did. I got Joe to play the right hand and Brad to play the left hand and Tom to do a couple of classic moves on it. And I remember like it was yesterday, arranging it in that basement. It was so beautiful.”
Elton John turns 73 today (March 25, 1947) His song "Candle in the Wind" has had many lives. It was a single and on the albums Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Live in Australia With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the years 1973/1987/1997. The studio version, a hit in Britain, was set to be a single here, but was flipped over when the B-side "Bennie and the Jets" began to get airplay on black radio. The 1986 live version would peak at number-six on the Billboard Hot 100, and the reworked 1997 "Princess Diana" version would go to number-one. Here is Elton John:
“I’ve had three different hits with ‘Candle in the Wind.’ I’ve had the original recording, which was never released as a single in America, but was a huge hit everywhere else in the world. Then I had a live version from the Australian album with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which was a hit in America and then, of course, the tragic death of Princess Diana, which was, y’know, number one throughout the world. So that song’s had a kind of amazing life. It’s been a hit in three different forms.”
Remember when millionaires Metallica took down Napster because they didn't want to give away their songs? Well they are giving something away in light of the current pandemic. they are opening up their vault of concert videos to fans while the coronavirus has people self-quarantining at home.
They kicked off what they're calling #MetallicaMondays with a performance that was shot last June at Slane Castle in Ireland. They live-streamed the show for free on their YouTube channel and Facebook page at 8 p.m. ET., and will unveil another full concert each Monday for the foreseeable future.
They explained on their social media that, "While we're all doing our part and staying home, we find ourselves missing live music, so how about we dive back into a few of our favorite shows at a socially responsible distance? Not to sound too cheesy, but now more than ever, we're in this together, and staying connected is how we'll get through it. With that in mind, we're bringing a series of live Metallica shows right to your couch!"
They say that "Slane is just the beginning...," even though they realize that "it's not quite the same as the real deal."
ZZ Top was scheduled to start a five-night residency at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas last Friday, but, like most everything else, it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But singer and guitarist Billy Gibbons was already in town. He has a home there where he's hunkered down. With unplanned time on his hands, we asked him how he's passing the time.
BG: “Going a little stir crazy while remaining in touch with friends…carrier pigeon and smoke signals. By nature I’m a social animal — with an emphasis on ‘animal’ -- so this is a period of adjustment. We took to the road in advance of an appearance in Las Vegas recently and with an amp and a guitar in tow. Only upon arrival did reality set in with the discovery of the absence of the connecting cable...! Needless to say, we anxiously await the FedEx guy or gal with such a welcomed delivery "
Any long overdue projects you're finally going to tackle while waiting for the all clear?
BG: “Organizing the sock drawer?!? Most likely, as most folks, we're itching to get out there and play and drive home the cornerstone of them blues that have remained the mainstay for ZZ. We would humbly include the notion of driving a couple of our sweet, hot rod cars, which ain’t such a stretch during these unexpected times of uncertainty."
Is this pandemic making you think twice about how you will live your life after (and if) we're given the all-clear?
BG: “We’re social creatures, which underscores just how true that is. When our human interchange is clamped, it’s possible to get lost inside one’s own head…many times, not an optimal place to be. On the other hand, when it's over, we’re going to join the fray to get some beer drinkin’ and hell raisin’ accomplished in short order!”
Do you agree with the decision to postpone concerts, sporting events, etc.? Would you have done anything differently -- if so, what?
BG: “Hey, I’m not the doctor — nor do I play one on TV — so getting medical advice from a bewhiskered guitar slinger is on the outland. Meanwhile, let’s grin and bear it to stay safe."
Any words of advice to your fans during this difficult time?
BG: “You can’t loose with the blues! Get out those Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King and Muddy Waters sides and turn ‘em up. If ever there was a time to take solace in the grooves, this is it. Yes, the blues will see us through.”
Anything else you'd like to add?
BG: “We literally can’t wait — but will have to — to get out there and make some big noise for our fans and friends. Stay healthy and stay the course...!"
ZZ is scheduled to resume touring on April 22nd in El Paso, Texas.Can't Lose with the Blues
With the world basically coming to a standstill, we reached out to the ever punctual, cooperative and gentlemanly Graham Nash.
How are you passing the time at home?
GN: "Passing the time by making sure I’m prepared to socially distance myself, and that I have food and water."
Any long overdue projects you're finally going to tackle?
GN: "I’m always working on several projects at the same time. I have to keep busy creatively."
Is this pandemic making you think twice about how you'll live your life after (and if) we're given the all-clear?
GN: "I’m always trying to live my life in the best possible way."
Do you agree with the decision to postpone concerts, sporting events, etc? Would you have done anything differently -- if so, what?
GN: "The decision to stop my tour after five shows was for the safety of my audience, my crew and myself. It was the correct decision as far as I’m concerned."
Any words of advice to your fans during this difficult time?
GN: "The advice I would give is to be kind, to listen to the experts with real facts, to take care of yourself and the ones you love. Take a deep breath and know that we will overcome.
Anything else you'd like to add?
GN: "I did a three-song concert live and direct two days ago on Instagram, and I intend to keep doing it in an attempt to bring people together through music."
Queen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 19th, 2001, along with Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson and others. Their song "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" became the band's first # 1. Guitarist Brian May says they were completely unaware of the rockabilly revival that was brewing at the time they recorded it. The rockabilly revival led by The Stray Cats was the furthest thing from their minds when they recorded "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
“That’s curious. That’s another example of history just coming to a point at a certain time, because we were totally unaware that there were sort of revival rockabilly groups around at that time waiting to be discovered. We made the thing because we liked how Elvis sounded and it was fun to redo that kind of thing. And then when we put it out everyone said, ‘Hey, you’re spearheading the great rockabilly revival,’ and we were showed into the middle of something else that really wasn’t planned. We just made a record and liked the sound of it, that’s all.”
