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.”
Original Doobie Brothers drummer John Hartman was born on March 18th, 1950. He turns 70 today. There was a loose jam that got turned into an iconic Doobie Bros. song. It was "Rockin' Down the Highway" and it ended up on the album Toulouse Street in 1972. John Hartman, who drummed on all The Doobie Brothers' '70s recordings, credits producer Ted Templeman and engineer Donn Landee with turning "Rockin' Down the Highway" from an unstructured jam into a radio-ready track. He recalls how the song came about.
“Most of that stuff on Toulouse Street was basement songs. That means Tommy and I were down in the basement jamming these things and then coming up with some of the stuff. “Rockin’ Down the Highway”’s one of those songs and to see it go from a real rough cut basement jam song into a full-fledged production was a real neat experience.”
Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham celebrates his 69th birthday today (March 17th). Ironically, the American guitarist in the Irish band was the one born on St. Patrick's Day. One of their most popular songs "Jailbreak" was never a hit. It reminds guitarist Scott Gorham of strange coincidence during a contest to promote it. What comes to mind is a contest the band's label ran in connection with the song and album. As Gorham tells it, its winner was someone who was actually a prison inmate at the time. He picks up the story.
“They went through all this red tape getting this guy out of jail, so he could come and see the concert and meet us backstage and pictures taken. So they did it, the guy came back, had his picture taken, saw the concert and all that. We all met him. And we found out a week later that the guy had actually escaped custody on that trip, right? So he had a little jailbreak of his own there. I mean, it was, like, such a coincidental tie-in there. It sounds like a load of b.s., but it’s actually true.”
Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson was born on March 16th, 1954. She is the blond younger one. The song "Barracuda" despite its fishy title, makes Nancy Wilson think of a horse. the song peaked at number-11 on the Billboard Hot 100. here she is to explain:
“’Barracuda’ comes on the radio, I think ROCK! And I also think of galloping on a horse. The sound of the song is like riding a horse galloping and it feels like that on stage when you’re playing it. It’s like [sings riff]. It’s momentum. It blows your hair back.”
Here's what's NOT happening due to the Coronavirus. Mohegan Sun has postponed all live events through March 23rd. The Brit Floyd show at the Toyota Oakdale Theater has been postponed until August 8th. On a national level Live Nation and Aeg the biggest live event companies have postponed all major concert tours until at least April. More:
Styx have postponed the rest of their March concert schedule starting with tomorrow's (Friday) show in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The dates are currently being rescheduled and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Lynyrd Skynyrd rescheduled their shows in Fresno, California from tomorrow (Friday) to August 14th. Their show on Saturday in Reno has been moved to October 2nd. Their four additional March shows will also be rescheduled.
The Eagles March 17th performance at the American Airlines Center in Dallas has been postponed. It will be rescheduled.
Billy Joel's March 19th and April 10th shows at New York's Madison Square Garden have been postponed to September 26th and October 11th after New York State ordered no gatherings over 500 people.
Bob Weir and Wolf Brothers have postponed their current tour, which was to play Chicago tonight, to the fall -- October 7th in Aspen, Colorado through October 28th in Albany, New York. They say, “The health and well being of our live music community is of the utmost importance… In the meantime, be good to yourselves -- and to each other -- and please take preventative actions as recommended by the CDC and WHO.”
Phil Lesh's 80th birthday shows at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, slated for Friday through Sunday, have been postponed to the summer.
KISS pulled the plug on their final three shows this month in the spring leg of their End of the Road tour -- in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Lafayette, Louisiana. They have all been rescheduled for early October.
Kansas scrapped their shows for the remainder of March.
The Yes Cruise to the Edge -- of which they already jumped ship -- and Justin Hayward's On the Blue Cruise have been postponed and both will be rescheduled this year. Cruise to the Edge was was set to depart Miami on March 27th followed by On the Blue on April 1st.
Lollapalooza Argentina and Lollapalooza Chile, which were both set from March 27th through the 29th, have been postponed to the fall after local governments forbid large public gatherings to stop the spread of the virus. The festival lineups included Guns n’ Roses, The Strokes, Lana Del Rey and Gwen Stefani.
The Juno Awards, Canada's Grammys, will no longer be held Sunday night.
Sting's musical, The Last Ship, has been canceled in San Francisco through March 25th.
A documentary on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp was set to premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival in April, but the festival has been postponed. Same with New York's Tribeca Film Festival, which was to include screenings of documentaries on Ronnie Wood and Brian Wilson.
