A.A. RockBlog

Rock bands often end up pushing back tours or even cancelling them due to health issues. As of recently, Metalica's James Hetfield has entered a rehab facility yet again leading to the band having to push back their Oceania tour. In an open letter to fans, drummer Lars Urich, lead guitarist Kirk Emmet, and bass player Robert Trijullio wrote, and I quote " We are truly sorry to inform our fans and friends that we must postpone our upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. As most of you probably know, our brother James has been struggling with addiction on and off for many years. He has now, unfortunately, had to re-enter a treatment program to work on his recovery again.   We fully intend to make our way to your part of the world as soon as health and schedule permit. We’ll let you know as soon as we can. Once again, we are devastated that we have inconvenienced so many of you, especially our most loyal fans who travel great distances to experience our shows. We apprecia

There are many songs that have been inspired by politics, education, and many other things. However, it is by no coincidence that some songs really stand out and have massive impact on the masses. This has got to be one of the prime examples. Layla  by Clapton's short-lived blues-rock band Derek and the Dominoes from their one and only record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970). A word about the Band: Derek and the Dominoes began as Delaney Bonney & Friends, a band featuring Clapton and his former Blind Faith veteran Steve Winwood as well as Dave Mason who contributed to Derek and the Dominoes' early recordings and shows, Mason alongside Winwood both being of Traffic fame. Three of the members of the American soul band, drummer Jim Gordon, bass player Carl Radle, and keyboardist/additional vocalist Bobby Whitlock, backed Clapton on his self-titled debut solo album released 1970. Radle and Gordon also worked with Clapton off and on on some of his records in the

Today, Bruce Springsteen, known as the Boss, was born seventy years ago. Born Bruce Joseph Frederick Springsteen in Long Branch, NJ, he has grown to be one of music's most successful artists both as a solo artist and as a member of the E Street Band. In 1972, Springsteen got himself a deal with Columbia Records thanks to Clive Davis and got together with a few members: Garry Tallent on bass, the late great Clerance Clemmons on saxophon, keyboardists Danny Federici and David Sancious, and drummer Viny Lopez. The E Street Band has made a name for themselves not only as Springsteen's backing band, but also working with other prolific musicians. Most recently, in 2011, Clarence Clemmons has worked with Lady Gaga. His first album, 1973's Greetings from Ashbury Park, New Jersey , sold rather slowly due to his folky and poetic melodies and lyrics. His slow rise has been compared to Bob Dylan, but was quickly well received. The E Sreet Band and Bruce Springsteen made worldwide

In the history of modern rock music, there have been many cases of  misinterpreted songs . However, none have been anything so misinterpreted as the Bryan Adams 1985 smash hit, Summer of '69  of his fourth album, Reckless . Why is this song so misinterpreted? It is a knee-jerk reaction for many, myself included, to have thought that the song was  about the summer of 1969. After all, years in the 20th century and beyond usually did not have the 19 or 20 prefix written out, using an apostrophe, and the last two digits of the year.(ex. '08 for 2008). However, in a 2008 interview, Adams revealed that the song was about having sex in the summertime, a response to Bob Seger's 1975 hit, Night Moves . The number "69," refers to position 69 (where one's mouth is put on another one's genitals). Who were Jimmy and Jody?!?! Now this is a big one. In that same interview above, Adams said that Jimmy was the fictious name given to one of his early drummers, wh

Back in October of last year,  I made a post on how classic rock stations in and around the country are becoming repetitive. . It's been almost a year and it has begged me to explore one big question - is classic hip-hop becoming the new classic rock? A Brief Background: Way back in the late 1980s/early 90s when grunge and thrash metal (a la Metalica, Nirvana, Soundgarten, etc.) was becoming popular, there were many then 25-year-olds who said those bands were crap compared to what they were listening to growing up. It was such commentary that fueled the creation of oldies and classic rock stations as we know it. Classic rock, believe it or not, is a fairly NEW format being around since the mid to late 1980s. Oldies have had success playing 1959-1975ish hits, but by now, most of these stations have morphed into classic hits and feature a 60s-late 70s/early80s playlist. Classic hip hop has its origins in the 21st Century. It all started back in 2004 when 93.5, then airing a Ch

Let's face it, you've all heard many myths in your life. Break two drum sticks at the same time, get good luck, If your ear turns red, someone is talking about you, you know where we're going here. But on the subject of drums, however, there's been a myth I have heard a lot of moons ago, playing rock music during a thunderstorm is supposed to bring you bad luck. Is this really true? It may be tempting to think it is; however, I have tested, and re-tested this in the rare instances the area I live in has been hit by thunderstorms. Honestly, in all instances bad luck has not come my way. Thunderstorms can be dangerous,  but they are said to have brought happiness when the Greeks dreamed of them. It is said that Dr. Frankenstein was born with a strike of lightning. There are two particular songs I have tested with Rock You LIke a Hurricane  by the Scorpions, and everyone's favorite, Thunderstruck  by AC/DC. I have always listened to the latter more often in th

Singer Eddie Money has died at the age of 70 as the result of esophegeal cancer at his Los Angeles home. This comes some weeks after he had announced his diagnosis. He was born Edward Joseph Mahoney on March 21, 1949 in an Iris Catholic household. Like some of his family, Eddie Money went through the police academy and became a report processor for the NYPD. Two years later, however, he discovered that music was really his game and decided to move to Berkley, Calif. to pursue music. Being a musician Eddie Money made a name for himself with his 1977 hits Two Tickets to Paradise and Baby Hold On To Me  as well as Take me Home Tonight  in 1986 featuring Ronnie Spector meant as a tribute to the Ronnettes' classic 1963 hit, Be my Baby . A statement was made by his family, which read in part, and I quote "It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he'll live on forever through

The former Yugoslavia has been home to many successful bands - the biggest one being Bijelo Dugme (White Button) among many others. But the former Yugoslavia is also notorious for something else. There have been many rock and pop songs which are actual covers or interpolations of popular English-language songs (by British artists or otherwise). Crvena Jabuka "Svidja Mi Se Ova Stvar / The Beatles "Twist and Shout " Folks this has got to be the BIGGEST of all Ex-Yu covers. The Beatles were a huge influence on Crvena Jabuka (Red Apple) whose name is said to have originated as a tribute to Apple Records. Notice just how these two tracks are simillar Elektricni Orgazam "Bejbe ti Nisi Tu" / The Rolling Stones "Out of Time" Notice how the strings on the Stones version and the guitars on the Elektrichni Orgazam version play the same chords? Also the lyrics in the Elektrichni Orgazam version are interpolated. Now while we're at the Stones, THE

There's a popular adge that's been going around the past five decades, "everyone knows the Beatles." The Fab Four really did "shake the world," and took it by storm too. There couldn't possibly be a more modern incarnation of them...or could there? U2 vs The Beatles Let's take a quick look at how U2 and the Beatles compare. First, they both have four members (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrision, and Ringo Starr for the Beatles while U2 are comprised of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton), they both worked with a long-time producer (the Beatles with George Martin and Geoff Emerick/U2 with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanis since The Unforgettable Fire ), and they have really evolved musically and both even featured a touch of experimental in their music. Influentially speaking, the Beatles are rooted in American rock'n'roll of the late 1950s (a la Elvis), while U2 are rooted in the UK/US punk scene that was rampant when

The Netherlands have not really brought out many bands that have made a name for themselves around the world (Van Halen is NOT Dutch contrary to popular belief even though the Van Halen Brothers are from the Netherlands). However, there are two particular bands that brought success to the world. Focus They formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by singer/keyboardist/flute player Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman who are both responsible for writing the band's songs. In 1971 in Europe, and the in 1973 in the US and Canada, they had a MASSIVE success with the song  Hocus Pocus . The song is an interesting collage of Prog Rock and has informally been titled "The Yodeling Son." Just listen to the song, and you will see what I mean. (Good for irritating the neighbors too). Golden Earring: They formed in The Hague (the ADMINISTRATIVE Dutch capital, by the way) in 1961 as The Golden Earrings. They dropped the definitive in 1967, and then began singular form of earring two