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“In the Air Tonight”

17 Aug

Great interview with 59-year-old Phil Collins from Spinner today. When Collins was 14 he began his professional training at Barbara Speake Stage School in London. He played the artful dodger in a London production of “Oliver” and he even served as an extra in The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night.” Obviously, music attracted him more (specifically drums) than acting and after answering a classified ad for a drummer, “sensitive to acoustic music,” he won an audition and became the new drummer for Genesis. And, we know where he went from there. Yes, eventually into the ears of Mike Tyson.

Here are my favorite two questions from John Sellers’ interview:

1.) Who would win in a battle of singing drummers — you or Don Henley?
Well, like Don Henley, I can sing from behind the drums, but it just looks so shitty. That’s why you don’t get many singing drummers now. And, you know, I never wanted to be a singer. When Peter left Genesis and we couldn’t find another singer, I drew the short straw. So, in many ways, my career happened by accident. I just wanted to be a drummer.

Comment: I guess it’s a good thing that Peter Gabriel left. Collins has a great voice that would have been rather untapped if it wasn’t for Gabriel’s departure.

2.) Are you ever amazed that you got to play drums with Led Zeppelin?
It wasn’t amazing to be there, I have to say. They weren’t very good. And I was made to feel a little uncomfortable by the dribbling Jimmy Page. If I could have walked off, I would have — but then we’d be talking about why Phil Collins walked off from Led Zeppelin. So I just stayed there and bit my tongue.

Comment: Yeah, I know Phil, Zeppelin is just not very good. Most Overrated Band Ever to take a line from comic book guy. I prefer not to get completely into my stance on Zeppelin (at least not now), but, I am not their biggest fan.

Check out the rest of the interview: http://www.spin.com/articles/tough-questions-phil-collins

Runnin’ Down A Dream

16 Aug

During my search for blog content, I occasionally come across a wonderful story that just gives me goosebumps. It is generally an ode to a fallen rocker, or a fantastic profile on an obscure musician. But, this morning, an article from the Washington Post caught my eye. It was written by a 14-year-old named Griffin Black, of Virginia, and told his amazing story about his love for one particular guitar.

This "Red Dog" guitar...well, one that looks and feels very much like it

I'll trade you my lunch money for it

Music Court writer Josh Lampert and I often watch Youtube videos of famous guitarists playing their trademark guitars. Whether it’s Jimi Hendrix’s Fender 60’s Reverse Headstock Stratocaster or B.B. King’s black Gibson, Lucille, Josh and I like to stare at these guitars and go wow…I want that. Well, we don’t need Hendrix’s guitar because we both strum the guitar with our right hand, but still, that does not mean I would not take the guitar. These are the guitars of our idols and no one knows more about guitar idolatry than Griffin Black.

Black, a proud classic rock fan, is a blooming guitarist with a keen ear and skilled manufacturing skills. A Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan, and, more specifically, a huge fan of guitarist Mike Campbell, Black found himself watching Youtube videos of past performances. Oh, don’t we all. In watching these videos, he came across a package of Mike Campbell guitar bits and fell in love with, “a brilliant red ’60s Fender Telecaster around his neck.” That guitar was Campbell’s “Red Dog”

And, persistent Griffin decided he would not just settle with saying cool guitar. He would build his own and over a three month span that is what he did. And, what is the natural step after making a famous guitar. Have its originator sign it. So, with help from his Dad, he tracked down the band’s manager and impressed Campbell so much that the Heartbreaker’s guitarist invited them for a backstage visit before a show. And, you’ll never believe what happened next.

It is a great article depicting a 14-year-old’s success story and it definitely proves that classic rock is alive and well among the youth of the nation. Hey, like I say, there will always be interest in good music.

Check out the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081306140.html?hpid=artslot&sid=ST2010081306555

TomPetty.com: http://www.tompetty.com/news/title/runnin-down-a-dream-mike-campbell-meets-14-year-old-griffin-black

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Home from Italy

8 Aug

As you can tell by the picture above I am back in New York, New York.

Amanda and Josh are fabulous posters and friends. A big blogosphere round of applause for their awesome work since I left on a jet plane to Italia. Back to posting tomorrow folks and I can’t wait. For now, a catchy tune from one of the new goodies out there today:

“Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

Best Sellers in Stores…In 1940

27 Jul

In July of 1940, the first music popularity chart was calculated by Billboard magazine. Today, 70 years later, the leader of the current Hot 100 chart is Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie.” In “Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem writes, “Just gonna stand there, And hear me cry.”

Flashback to July 27, 1940. Frank Sinatra’s, supported by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, sings Ruth Lowe’s “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Sinatra croons, “For tears would fill my eyes.” BREAKING NEWS: Crying still exists in music.

Seriously though, Billboard charts have been around for a while and on July 27, 1940, “I’ll Never Smile Again” became the first ever #1 hit on the Billboard weekly Best Selling Singles chart.

Happy Anniversary Billboard charts.

Now, to some other news. For 10 days, fellow Music Court blogger, Amanda Grannis, will take over posting. I will be away from the blogosphere. But, I leave the Music Court in fantastic hands. Enjoy her great posts and have a fantastic number of days!

Happy Birthday Trebek

22 Jul

A big happy 70th birthday to Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek and I think I can speak for everyone when I say, “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you? What with your Diego mustache and your greasy hair!

Now, putting aside Celebrity Jeopardy skits on SNL, Jeopardy is one of the most watched television game shows and day after day its unique brand of corny humor combined with its contestants, the pedantic intelligentsia of our nation, and its either obsessed viewing public or those Jeopardy novices who like watching just in case a music category is included – that would be me – has made the show a huge success and Alex Trebek a household name, like Bob Barker.

B...B is for Barker

So, in honor of Jeopardy and Trebek, I thought we could answer a question that most people have about Jeopardy but never ask. Where does that catchy theme music come from?

Imagine this? The theme song that has become the anthem of thought, was composed to be a lullaby. Entitled, “A Time for Tony,” Merv Griffin, the show’s creator, wrote the piece for his son, Tony. It blossomed as the “Think” music that is as synonymous with the show as contestants having trouble with their buzzers. Best yet, Griffin estimates that the song has grossed $70-80 million in royalties. Think about that!

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGhvoekY44

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