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Tag Archives: 70’s
from the Hook to the Slender Man, scary things.
I am old enough to remember the tales of old told in the dark long ago. You know the urban legends I speak of. Bloody Mary, The vanishing hitchhiker, the killer in the backseat, the babysitter and the man in the house, humans can lick too, aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light, and the hook. We loved to scare each other and adapt the stories to our areas and situations. We all knew they were just stories but there was always that little bit of apprehension.
Now we have the internet taking the stories worldwide. There’s a new crop opened up to us and just recently it turned scary. The tales of the Slender Man have hit the news in a big way. It is interesting to note that what started out as an internet meme has grown into the sensation it has become. It is as if the internet has actually given life to this creature. Now we have two young girls who have attempted to impress this made up legend by harming a friend. What are we becoming? Thoughts everyone?
Scarily yours,
-the Hellion
Well now, thoughts anyone?
Here is a recent article on a BMI lawsuit I found interesting:
-the Hellion
Eric Clapton – my opinion
Sometime in my formative musical years (yeah the 70’s, I’m old) a friend brought over this record he had found by a band called Cream. The record was called Wheels Of Fire. From the second I heard “White Room” I was hooked. Who were these guys? And who was playing that fantastic guitar? Eric Clapton? Who was that?
Ever the music geek I had to know more about this guy. Given the limited resources back then I had to actually talk to people to find more. I found out he was English and had a very prolific musical background. The Yardbirds, Blind Faith, the Immediate All-stars, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Powerhouse, and Derek and the Dominos, all bands I came to know and love.
I found myself drawn into Eric’ s style of playing, his style, passion, and skill . “For Your Love” (Yardbirds), “White Room” “Badge” (Cream), “Can’t Find My Way Home” (Blind Faith), “Layla” (Derek and the Dominos), these were songs that amazed me. I had many discussions with friends and peers about him. Some called him G-d, others didn’t care for him at all, yet others said he was being held back by being in bands and that he should be a solo artist.
Here’s where I piss some people off, I think Eric Clapton is better as a part of a group. While he had a few solo songs that i really dig “Let it Rain” (1972), “Wonderful Tonight” (1978) his subsequent releases didn’t reach out to me as did his earlier works. I know musicians change and grow as their personal lives do. Drugs, family loss, just plain life in general. As the musician changes so do their fans from the same reasons I listed earlier, and that is ok. I just didn’t “feel” the music Eric was making by himself. Does that make him less of player, less talented, less of anything? I say no, it’s just that our musical tastes took us on different paths from each other.
I do believe that Eric has been over-hyped at times. I know people who claim that “Eric Clapton is the greatest guitar player ever” yet when you ask them about his body of work they come up lacking in knowledge. I think that is is a serious injustice to musicians to try and rate them as to who is better than who. How can that be done when each has an individual style and sound? Would it be better to ask who you prefer to listen to and why? Do we really need to create a division in the music world? The love of music binds us together and we should stand strong united. There is music that doesn’t reach me, but does that mean I should say it sucks? I think not, it simply means it doesn’t click for me. I took me a long time and many arguments to figure that out. I have come to admire and respect ANY musician who feels the spark of creativity blossom within them and nurtures it. Of course there are people in it for all of the wrong reasons and that shows in the music they create.
Eric Clapton is G-d?, Eric Clapton is the best guitarist ever?, maybe to some people. Eric Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time, now this I can get behind and agree with. If Eric inspired one, just one person to pick up a guitar and learn to make the music that lived inside them then yes, he is important and influential. Here’s the track that made me appreciate Eric “Slowhand” Clapton:
Here’s a bit of Eric Clapton trivia for ya: The nickname “Slowhand” was not, as is commonly thought, given to Clapton due to playing the guitar slowly. Rather, it was given to him because of audiences giving him a slow hand clap when he would replace guitar strings on stage. When most guitar players break a string on stage, a roady will typically bring them another guitar and fix the string on the old one off-stage. Clapton, on the other hand, had a practice of standing on stage and replacing and tuning the string in front of the audience. While he was doing this during one particular performance, the audience gave him a slow clap or a “slow hand” until he had fixed it and was ready to play again. This slow-clap ultimately became a common thing with Clapton, while with the Yardbirds, where whenever he’d break a string during a performance, the audience would give him a slow clap until he was finished replacing it. According to Eric Clapton, the guy that managed the Yardbirds, Giorgio Gomelsky, then gave him the nickname “Slowhand”: “He coined it as a good pun. He kept saying I was a fast player, so he put together the slow handclap phrase into Slowhand as a play on words.”
Thank you Eric Clapton for picking up a guitar and inspiring the guitarists everywhere. Although I left you years ago, I check in on you periodically and appreciate your dedication and the fact that you are still making music.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ERIC CLAPTON!!!
– the Hellion
What in the F@#K happened to radio?
Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s was a different musical experience than today. Radio was a magical and wonderful friend to many of us, to some it was our best friend. I remember that the “rock” radio stations would play all that fell in to that genre. You would hear it all from ABBA to ZZ Top, and everything in between. The experience was all encompassing and you were exposed to music you might have otherwise never had the chance to hear. I grew to know and love bands from those radio days, I also learned to appreciate a lot of music even though I might not have favored it.
Radio was a wonderful thing in that the diversity was much greater due to the creative control the DJ’s used to have. The DJ was your friend in music, they were your cool friend that had great music. I loved the fact that the DJ could introduce you to music that they were into. They were your friend that if you were having a bad day, good day, a whatever day, you could call them and request a song to match your mood and they would play it. I would stay up into the wee hours listening and discovering the joy of music and the tidbits of trivia the DJ’s would throw out at us.
The radio DJ of old was a larger than life character that people admired and envied. They talked to the musicians and sometimes you could call in with your questions as well. It was all about the music, not sports, not movie stars, not politics, there were talk radio stations for that. There giveaways and contests that were local, I remember winning the entire Queen library on vinyl one time in 1980. There was no “be the 100th national caller” to win.
Radio, not the internet, not satellite, mp3 players, was truly enjoyable. It was available freely everywhere. Cruising in your car , hanging by the pool, the lake, at a party, or whatever, the radio was a necessity.
You could hear local bands on the radio as well. It really was a time about the music and the love of it. Radio gave bands a chance to be heard and shared.
We need to put music back into the ears and lives of the people who love it. There are people out there who think like I do and I know it. I miss the radio stations with the DJ’s with cool names and cool music. I miss being able to listen to the radio and not hear the same 50 songs over and over. I miss the events that the radio stations used to have. I miss it being about the love of music.
To those DJ’s who were a part of those days, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-the Hellion
1979, Saxon, and me
It was summer of 1979 and I was an impressionable youth. Music was my best friend, music got me through the tough times. I used to hang out at the local record store pouring through the vinyl looking for new music and bands that would fill my ears and mind. I came across a record in the import section and the cover immediately grabbed my attention. A warrior with a bloody sword and shield, the band was called Saxon. I didn’t have enough money to buy it right out but I remember asking the guy there if I could give him a couple of bucks to hold it for me. I came up with the rest of the cash a few days later and ran home with my prize.
The music was powerful, loud, and glorious. Songs like “Big Teaser”, “Judgement Day”, “Stallions of the Highway”, and “Militia Guard” called to me. I knew then Saxon was destined for greatness and would be one of my favorite bands.
Saxon and their music carried me through the years giving us anthems to raise our fist high and shot at the top of our lungs. “Strong Arm Of The Law”, “Denim And Leather”, and many more.
Saxon never charted here in the US but there were plenty of us listening to them and we still do.
“Denim And Leather”
Where were you in ’79 when the dam began to burst?
Did you check us out down at the local show?
Were you wearing denim, wearing leather?
Did you run down to the front?
Did you queue for your ticket through the ice and snow?
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Did you read the music paper from the back and to the front?
Did you find out where to see your favorite band?
Did you listen to the radio every Friday night?
Did you hang around your local record store? Sing it
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
C’mon
It was you, you, you, you that set the spirit free
It was you, you, you, you that put us here today
It was you, you, you, you that filled the concert halls
It was you, you, you, you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and leather brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
It was you that set the spirit free
It was you that set the spirit free
It’s you, you, you, you
I was there in ’79 wearing Denim and Leather, and I’m still here today and still wearing Denim and Leather. Thank you Saxon, thank you for helping us to set our spirits free.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s SAXON!!!
-the Hellion
Sir Lord Baltimore – “The Godfathers of Stoner Rock”
From left: Louis Dambra, Gary Justin, and John Garner, c. 1971
Every now and then you run across a bit of music from your past that you haven’t heard in a while and you realize “Damn I forgot how good this was.” I have since forgotten who first turned me on to Sir Lord Baltimore but I remember being very young and enthralled by their music. One of the other cool things about this band is that they are notable for the fact that a 1971 review of their debut record, Kingdom Come, contained the first documented use of the term “heavy metal” to refer to a style of music.
Sir Lord Baltimore is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 1968 by lead vocalist/drummer John Garner, guitarist Louis Dambra, and bass player Gary Justin.
Their Debut album Kingdom Come was released in 1970 on Mercury Records. Heavy guitar, and bass distortion, and fast paced Rock N Roll, made this a standout record in that era of contemporary Rock music. some of the tracks,mixing, and overdubbing were done at Electric Lady Studios by Eddie Kramer. Rumor has it that Pink Floyd heard some of these sessions and were said to be impressed.
I am continuing my mission to bring you Rock N’ Roll music you should be listening to from the past, to the present, and all points in between. Check out the track “Kingdom Come” and tell me these guys didn’t Rock!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
the Hellion
One of my influential records: QUEEN LIVE KILLERS
Queen was a band that was always on the cutting edge. I fell in love with their music when I first heard “Now I’m Here” from 1974’s Sheer Heart Attack, I was 10 years old and hooked. I followed and enjoyed their music from then on. 1979 brought the fans a live album that with a good pair of headphones and the proper “mood enhancement” made you feel like you were at an actual live Queen show. The talent and showmanship put forth on this record is nothing short of stellar. The combination and chemistry between Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon gave us some of the most iconic music ever made.
1. “We Will Rock you (fast version)”
2. “Let Me Entertain You”
3. “Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To…)”
4. “Killer Queen”
5. “Bicycle Race”
6. “I’m In Love With My Car”
7. “Get Down, Make Love”
8. “You’re My Best Friend”
9. “Now I’m Here”
10. “Dreamer’s Ball”
11. “Love Of My Life”
12. “39”
13. “Keep Yourself Alive”
14. “Don’t Stop Me Now”
15. “Spread Your Wings”
16. “Brighton Rock”
17. “Bohemian Rhapsody”
18. “Tie Your Mother Down”
19. “Sheer Heart Attack”
20. “We Will Rock You”
21. “We Are The Champions”
22. “God Save The Queen”
These are the tracks that make up this jewel of an album. This is an album I will always cherish. If, after all of these years, you are new to Queen this is the album for you to get your feet wet. Check out the live version of “Don’t Stop Me Know” and feel the power of Queen.
We lost Freddie Mercury in 1991 and the world got a little dimmer and sadder. You will always live on in my heart and ears Freddie, thank you for all you have given us.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
the Hellion
New York Dolls celebrate 40th anniversary of their debut record
The New York Dolls are a far too overlooked band. The Dolls influenced many bands that we all know and love: Sex Pistols, Kiss, the Ramones, Guns N’ Roses, the Damned, the Smiths, it goes on and on. They began a movement which gave us the “spectacle” of rock. It was ok to glam it up and go to a show. It was ok to be over the top. The Dolls made us feel good about who we were. Today 07/27/13 marks the 40th anniversary of their debut studio album “New York Dolls” on Mercury Records. Produced by the legendary Todd Rundgren it is a record that I find still relevant to this day.
Thank you David Johansen, Arthur “Killer” Kane, Jerry Nolan, Sylvain Sylvain, and Johnny Thunders for making this wonderful record. Do yourself a favor and give it listen and see why the bands we love were influenced by them.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
the Hellion
Interview with Robert Sarzo about his new release AFTER THE STORM.
Every so often you run into someone who makes a positive impact on you. Robert Sarzo is one of those people. I was fortunate to meet him after a Queensryche show recently. He was extremely gracious to everyone he met and was genuine about it. That, my friends, is class. He recently released a solo record call After The Storm. Robert was kind enough to give me phone call and chat about his new record and music. Enjoy it right here:
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and go to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertsarzo1 and pick up After The Storm.
Thank you Robert, for everything!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
the Hellion Rocks 