Gary Moore's Blogma

And Cheech & Chong Were A Big "Hit" Here Too

2012-01-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a Murrayan. I grew up in Murray, Kentucky from age 3 until I left for college at 18. That's the same Murray as in Murray State the sports world is talking about. And for good reason: It's the greatest season ever for a tradition-rich program in a basketball-crazy part of the world. Their 13 year-old arena is filled to rafters, finally--kinda like the old days. But this was the arena I watched many an MSU game in. It began life as The Fieldhouse, then was renamed Racer Arena. From 1954-1998 it was where Murray State played its men's and women's basketball games and hosted many a concert (Diana Ross & Supremes, Billy Joel, 3 Dog Night, ELO, Kenny Rogers & 1st Edition, Sly & Family Stone--even Andy Williams--all played there). In 1971, Murray State hosted Western Kentucky when both were ranked in the top 20. See that long steel support beam in the front? The one that curves all the way over to the right press box, just above the word "volleyball?" I stood on top of that very press box and leaned on that very beam during that sold-out, SRO game in 1971. With memories like that still reverberating 41 years later I can only imagine what the big bang of this season will do for my hometown and its people--the best you'd hope to meet--for decades to come. Go Racers!

(BTW Justin Seeley took the photo above; here's his site for more great shots.)

"We Don't Give A Damn How Ya'll Do It Down South."--rest of America

2012-01-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Lowest-rated BCS title game ever. SEC becomes the first conference to simultaneously win and lose the BCS championship game. Dominating defense, ordinary-to-nonexistent offense.

Yes Virginia, there will be a playoff system, but not nearly soon enough.

2012-01-04T14:06:00.001-08:00

Having a #13 Michigan/#11 VaTech Equal/Splenda/Sugar-Substitute Bowl and a #15 Clemson/#23 West Virginny Sunny D Orange-Substitute follow a fantastic #5 Oregon/#10 Wisconsin Rose Bowl and a #3 Ok. State/#4 Stanford Fiesta Bowl is like seeing Bruce & E Street Band then Paul McCartney then trotting out as an encore Yanni and Vanilla Ice.

Same Guy Runs Both BCS AND Rock Hall Of Fame!

2011-12-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

Authorities confirmed today that just one person oversees both the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for college football and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The man (above), whose identity is being withheld pending further notification of next of kin, granted this reporter a brief interview before his deposition with the state mental health board. For our purposes, we'll just refer to him as "Massa Z."

Me: So why give Bama another chance to beat LSU after they blew it at home the first time?

MZ: Well, I've never been to England. But I've been to Oklahoma. They tell me I was born there.

Me: OK, but that doesn't explain--

MZ: Oh Alabama...banjos playing...and the skies are so blue.

Me: And why would you vote Stanford ahead of Oklahoma State if you're from there?

MZ: I heard Palo Alto means "Trust In Nick Saban." So, as I do every day, I followed his lead.

Me: Makes sense to you. Coupla quick questions about the rock hall of fame..

MZ: Shouldn't you capitalize Rock Hall Of Fame?

Me: No. Especially when you voted in Guns & Roses for basically one great album.

MZ: You didn't like The Spaghetti Incident? Who doesn't like pasta? Or Chuck Manson?

Me: You left out many more deserving artists & groups.

MZ: Name ten.

Me: Rush, Chicago, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Deep Purple, Yes, Moody Blues, Hall & Oates, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Todd Rundgren and Steve Miller for openers.

MZ: Rush is an oxycontin-poppin' pinhead. Time's up--gotta go find my Grammy ballot. Gabba gabba hey!

(apologies to Bill Griffith)

When The Wig Comes Down

2011-11-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm out drinking with Mick and Keef in '78. Some place in L.A., the memory's a little faded. "Hey, wanna be on a record cover?" Keef asked as round 7 of Wild Turkey shots arrived (I'd paid for 6 at this point). "We're gonna spoof some old movie stars, glam it up a bit," Mick added. "Me? But how? I'm just a college DJ using grant money to buy liquor for my heroes," I said. "Just trust us, mate. We'll even put ya between Mick and me. You'll wig when you see it."
And the rest, as they say....

Oddly enough, the new deluxe edition of Some Girls was just released.

In Rog & Robert & UCLA We Trust

2011-11-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant visited UCLA today to announce a new Teen Cancer Program modeled after the very successful Teenage Cancer Trust in the U.K. Roger, Robert and His Band of Joy, Dave Grohl and others are doing a benefit (more info here) to raise funds to keep the program up and running for a couple of years. But more help's needed. As Roger told me, "I've just started the fire. Now it's up to others to keep it going, keep the embers burning." Which means other artists will need to step up and help a cause that's so worthy. You can read more about what Roger and Robert had to say and what the program's about here.

Candy Store Rock

2011-11-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

If you've heard that you can meet some of the nicest folks with the most creative costumes in Austin, Texas on Halloween, it's true--and here's the proof. These kids thought it was just another house but instead a couple dressed up as Robert Plant and Patty Griffin came to the door with treats. Sweet!

Hey, Sports Genius--Do You Think....

2011-10-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

....the karma police have Vick & the Eagles in a choke hold?

....the greatest offensive player ever in the greatest college football conference (SEC) could be any worse than Kyle Orton?

....a certain Brewer should've waited until after their series with the Cardinals before popping off about a certain hot St. Louie pitcher who just shut out the phavored Phillies in Philly?

....there's an offense out there that's better than the Alabama defense?

....the Packers can go 16-0?

....adding Texas A&M and Missouri to the SEC makes more sense than inviting Georgia Tech and Florida State and their built-in rivalries with Georgia and Florida?

....going to minor league baseball and high school/college football games is more fun than emptying your wallet for the pros?

....it's time to ditch the black-for-black's-sake uniforms? The joke wasn't funny the first time.

....Hank Senior would've done it this way?

Repeat: College Super Conferences Suck

2011-09-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not looking for an exact date here, but when did university presidents become so nearsighted? It's like "Contagion" only the pandemic here is myopia.

College football & basketball--the revenue sugar daddies for athletic departments--have never in the history of EVER been more popular. March Madness & the flawed-but-fixable BCS games have put both enthusiastic exclamation points and bigger paydays at the end of those seasons. And yet, here you have one clueless Dean Wormer after another lining up to fix college sports? What's Latin for WTF?

There are presidents who were allegedly oblivious to major scandals in major sports at USC, Ohio State, Miami, North Carolina, and Tennessee, among others. (And we won't even get into the Larry Summers no-confidence debacle at Harvard and his conflicts of interest afterwards in the Obama Administration). And now these same geniuses who nodded off want to start "Super Conferences?" All for the love--no, lust--of money. Nothing else. Nice bunch of narcoleptics running these institutions of advanced learnin'.

Let's review: Nebraska--which had already blown off its annual rivalry with Oklahoma years ago--decides to bolt for the Big 10 and the excitement of Minnesota and Northwestern. Then Texas snags a big ol' TV network deal of their own, leaving Oklahoma and Texas A&M to yell "Eff you, we gone!" So the SEC and PAC-12 line up like capped-teeth boys on The Bachelorette, with all the same insincerity and false bravado. If all goes wrong, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and maybe even Texas join the PAC-12. And Texas A&M bolts for the SEC.

None of that is good for college sports, but A&M in the SEC? (Psssst--good ol' boys running the NFL & NBA farm clubs. DON'T mess with Texas. The schools/programs you really want are already in your back yards...)

Seeing as it's the Southeastern Conference, and you have ACC schools Georgia Tech and Florida State--conveniently located IN the southeast--who (a) have both won national championships in football since 1990 and (b) have killer SEC rivals built-in, with Georgia and Florida, wouldn't it make infinitely more sense to invite one or both? Tech has won four national championships, the last being a shared #1 with Colorado in 1990. Florida State has won two titles, in 1993 and 1999. A&M? One national championship, in 1939, before facemasks.

You want more tradition? The Heisman Trophy was named after a Georgia Tech coach, John Heisman. The Ramblin' Wreck. The Noles. The Allman Brothers recorded "Hot 'Lanta." Tyler and Aerosmith screamed "Take me back to a south Tallahassee" on "Rocks." College Station? Aggies? Meh.

They're asking "Why Pink Floyd?" in music circles lately. Well, why A & M?

Texas, A&M and a few others in the Big 12 were in a previous conference called "The Southwest Conference." Why? Because they're all permanently located IN THE SOUTHWEST! Not near the Pacific, not in Dixie, not by the Atlantic coast. The. Southwest. Period.

The things that make college sports special in the first place are rivalries and tradition. And tradition evolves from long-standing conferences. Example: My Western Kentucky Hilltoppers abandoned the Ohio Valley Conference for the Sun Belt. And since going 1-A in football, we no longer can play long-time rivals Murray State and Eastern Kentucky, which always packed the house. Instead, we're supposed to get all goosebumpy over Louisiana Laff-at-it or North Texas playing the 'Toppers. Double meh.

That said, it's still good for Western to be in big-time football. Only now it's all on the verge of becoming too large--so gordito that traditions and annual rivalry games may get pushed aside for the sake of dough. I have a theory that a few "Stupor Conferences" will form, then eventually splinter back into more traditional, fan-friendly ones after realizing the mess they've made and the fans they lost.

And how does college football blow off its fans? Kill the rivalries, add more uninteresting matchups and--especially--start charging more. The latter will start happening first as YOU (and me) soon will begin footing the changes via cable & satellite bills going up year after year, in addition to increased ticket prices. For this, we can thank any the bow-tied type running the U near you.

"The more money you throw at something, the more it gets ruined." Not sure who said it, but I'm pretty certain it wasn't a college president.

(And BTW, I like Maryland's unis. But WKU's new ones are the mack.)

Mad For It?

2011-06-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Banana Republic and the Mad Men TV series just announced a line of clothing inspired by the show that'll be available this August at BR stores. Some of the details are here and you'll find photos of the various items all over the net.

Now, I like Mad Men. And I used to like Banana Republic years ago, when stuff was marked up only 2-3 times over wholesale versus 30-35 times now.

Nowhere in ANY of the stories is there a mention of how much this MM line will retail for. Oh, they know all right. Men's suits will probably go for anywhere from $600 to a grand or better. And what's with the hats? In 2011? There's a big difference in a TV show set in the early sixties and your own life that's kind of now. Besides, as PJ O'Rourke wrote in Modern Manners: "A hat should be taken off when you greet a lady and left off for the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a hat...A hat should only be worn if you are employed as a baseball player or hunting ducks in the rain."

So, with legions of Mad Men junkies set to fork over entirely too much dough for clothes they could find at the Salvation Army or Goodwill not long ago--and were the real deals--I say the time has come for a true retro renaissance.

Bring back Robert Hall!

So THIS is what The Allmans at The Fillmore looked like

2011-06-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

June 2011 marks four decades since Bill Graham's Fillmore East closed its doors on 2nd Avenue at 6th Street in New York City. While Graham would continue his concert business until his death in 1991, there would never again be a venue--or a time--for live music quite like The Fillmore from 1968-71.

Think that's an exaggeration? On a given night you would've seen Sly & The Family Stone OPEN for Jimi Hendrix. Or Miles Davis OPEN for the Grateful Dead. Or Led Zeppelin OPEN for Iron Butterfly. (Obviously that arrangement didn't last long) Or The Dead play second fiddle to Janis Joplin.

It hardly stops there.

J. Geils on the same bill with Black Sabbath. Frank Zappa and The Mothers with some new opening act called Chicago. The Who with Chuck Berry. The Jeff Beck Group and Jethro Tull. Derek & The Dominoes with Humble Pie. And my vote for sickest lineup of all: Miles Davis (opening!) with The Steve Miller Band and Neil Young with Crazy Horse.

Then there were the times The Allman Brothers set up shop. Their first appearance at The Fillmore was December 26-28, 1969, third on the bill behind Appaloosa (good luck finding their stuff on iTunes) and Blood, Sweat & Tears. By the time the Brothers had returned to finally headline in March, 1971, they'd already played the Fillmore four times. And they'd play four shows on March 12th & 13th, having agreed like many artists to two performances each night--one at 8:oo p.m. and the next at 11:30. The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East double live album was taken from those shows and released four months later in July.

On June 27th, 1971, The Allman Brothers played the final show at The Fillmore, with guests J. Geils, Elvin Bishop and Albert King jamming until six the next morning. This isn't footage of that night--it's from nine months earlier--but it only recently surfaced via the folks at Wolfgang's Vault--Bill Graham's concert archives. You can see what the Allman Brothers at Fillmore East looked and sounded like here.

(Note: The other two videos have problems with Gregg's microphone audio, but not the instrumentation coming through the soundboard)

U Too Can Be An Eco-crite; Just Pay Everybody Off

2011-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Funny guy, this Edge of U2 (born David Evans). He's used his name & talents to raise money for human rights causes as well as help New Orleans after Katrina. Being from the Emerald Isle, you'd think he'd actually walk the green walk rather than just talk it, then turn around and rape Mother Nature by building McMansions in a coastal-view area of Malibu that needs neither development or his ilk. But that's exactly what we have here.

I reckon it was time to trade in the U2 CDs and DVDs, anyway. And shame on those who took the dough and looked the other way. Guess those unspoiled ocean views just had too much annoying charm.

Making Bets on Kentucky Derby Day?

2011-05-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend when everybody's high on a little bluegrass--Kentucky Derby Weekend!

May your horse(s) win, place or at least show....and may you enjoy this nugget from Derby Eve 1980. Long live the Run for the Roses and Dan.

2011-04-27T10:52:00.001-07:00

When Fleet Foxes released their self-titled album/cd/record/whateverthey'recallingitnow in 2008, it was--and still is--one of the finest collections of songs & vocals I've heard in the past 20 or 30 years. The influences and craftsmanship that went into it were rich and without peer. Now the band has completed "Helplessness Blues," which you can hear via NPR here. There's so much disposable, irrelevant stuff passing for music these days. It's nice to know that just the opposite exists with Fleet Foxes.

Passing thought: That mean ol' Obama ruined the Comb-Over's one-trick-act by producing the birth certificate, now forcing him to focus on such less important things like $4-a-gallon gas and the sputtering economy. Or maybe just picking a new celebrity to slam. Way to look presidential, DT.

ALISON K ON KLOS TONITE!

2011-04-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'd wager Alison Krauss has more talent in one of her hangnails than I do in my entire person--if she even has hangnails. That said, she's still gracious enough to come to our KLOS studio tonight for a live interview with friend & colleague Jim Ladd. Naturally the collaboration with Robert Plant is game, so here's a nice AK interpretation of one Robert has made fairly famous since 1971.

And in case you missed the whole story behind their coupling, check this out.

Join us tonite at 10 on 95-5 KLOS or 955klos.com.

2011-04-12T17:02:00.001-07:00

First, thank you to everyone who dropped off some cash or a check at Dodger Stadium yesterday. The gutless punks who cowardly attacked Giants fan Brian Stow have yet to pay, but they will.

Changing gears now....

The new Paul Simon album is now out. You can see Paul and his band play the first single, "The Afterlife" here. And if you're a fan of Simon AND Garfunkel, check this page out. It's track-by-track coverage of their brilliant "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album and its 40-year celebration. It's a tribute to all the artists involved how nicely the music has defied time and musical trends. Good stuff, thankfully, is still good stuff.

2011-04-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

This Monday, the Dodgers are co-hosting a fundraiser for Brian Stow, the injured Giants fan, at Dodger Stadium from 8am-3pm along with American Medical Response, where Stow is employed as a paramedic. Our sister station and the Dodgers' flagship station Talk Radio 790 KABC, KCAL9, Prime Ticket, the L.A. Times and Univision Radio are all helping out with the drive-thru.

Cash is best but checks made out to The Brian Stow Family. Donations are also accepted for those with a PayPal account using a credit card, logging in and selecting the "Send Money" option, personal, gift, with the recipient: stowdonations@gmail.com The fund is also accepting donations online at www.sfpcu.org.

The human excrement that cowardly beat this Giants fan will be found and flushed out of society soon. Until then, whatever you can do on Monday or the coming days with a few bucks will obviously be appreciated.

Buy These Before Eric Clapton Does!

2011-03-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

After Midnight. Cocaine. Call Me The Breeze. You've heard those J.J. Cale songs for decades now, and might even be a big fan of his work. How'd you like to own one of his own guitars and help out a wonderful cause? The Midnight Mission in downtown L.A. truly does the work of angels on earth. All the proceeds from this guitar and this banjo sold on ebay will benefit TMM and all their incredible work. I've seen what they do firsthand and can tell you without hesitation that they deserve your support for helping make our world a much better and more humane place to live. I hope you can help--thanks for checking them out.

This Is What Steve Is Into Now

2011-03-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

Other than Steve himself, I'm probably the only guy in southern California with a gold record on the wall for Steve Martin's "King Tut" single from 1978. When I was a music director at a top 40 station in Bowling Green, KY, during college, I made "Tut" a #1 song for a week. The folks at Warner Bros. (Steve's label back then) took note and soon thereafter my WB rep--Gene Dries--gave me the gold, which hangs in the pad today. Covers a nasty stain on the wall.

Point being, I'm a big Steve supporter. And from as far back as the mid-70's when a friend at Murray State--Ray Benton--told me to check out this comedian with Johnny & The Tonight Show who was saying silly things while folding balloons and playing the banjo. Not long after that, he began playing joints normally reserved for your Stones and Zeppelins, hosting Saturday Night Lives and The Oscars, starring in a few films, writing novels and so on. I even liked "The Steve Martin Brothers" album from 1980--not because of the comedy on side 1 (which wasn't so, uh, "comedic") but because of the banjo playin' on side 2.

Fast-forward to now. Steve's new CD on Rounder Records, "Rare Bird Alert," is out. (And thank God for Rounder Records and their dedication to bluegrass and Americana music over the years.) It's a tremendously good set of songs. And even if you don't care so much for bluegrass, you'll probably like this from the CD.

Steve and Steep Canyon Rangers will be on Letterman Wednesday, March 16, The View on the 17th and The Colbert Report next Monday the 21st.

2011-03-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Zep chat rooms are burning with rumors about something from the vaults being released this year. The O2 Arena show from '07 perhaps? Or a full Knebworth show? An entire Earl's Court collection? Dunno. But we do know this much Acapulco Gold smoke means a concert somewhere. Read about the latest here.

The Duke, The Big D & Me

2011-02-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

First, a salute to one of the all-time great Dodgers who passed away Sunday morning. I was lucky enough to have met the man--an L.A. native and a true class act. One can only imagine the amazing pick-up game now playing on that diamond in the sky.

Now to less weighty matters.

A few thoughts about the Oscars:

I have zero problems with The King's Speech winning. But I'd rather see True Grit again than King's. No offense.

Nice try, Annie and Jimmy. But this is a show in need of true seasoned presentation. Bring back Billy or Steve (with or without Alec).

And speaking of, teasing the audience with Billy & Bob Hope is like a radio format of all-new artists and songs, with a few classics sprinkled in. When Led Zep or the Beatles play, people perk up--and want more.

Roger Ebert was about the only person I've ever seen on the red carpet to regularly ask non-inane questions. It now gets more insipid every year, what little of it I can stand.

The show will always be long and overblown because it makes a crapload of money for ABC. It's what the market will bear and has since they started going 3 hours or more.

And there's a nice bi-partisan touch: Hollywood actors (unionized and traditionally liberal) making whatever the market will bear (traditionally a conservative notion).

See True Grit. But more importantly, read the book.

Happy 36th!

2011-02-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, was released February 24th, 1975, and it's arguably the band's finest. Double albums were--and to some degree still are--a badge of honor in the music world. Led Zep were quite late to the double-vinyl party, as all their contemporaries had already released double albums prior to 1975--some more than once. Bob Dylan probably started the trend--like many others--with Blonde on Blonde in 1966, which opened the sonic floodgates. Cream (Wheels of Fire), Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland) and The Beatles (White album) followed in 1968, The Who (Tommy) in 1969 (and also 1973 with Quadrophenia), George Harrison in 1970 (All Things Must Pass), Dylan again (Self Portrait) in 1970, Eric Clapton again only with Derek and The Dominoes (Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs) in 1971, Allman Brothers (Live at Fillmore East) in 1971, Rolling Stones (Exile on Main Street) in 1972, John & Yoko (Some Time in New York City) in 1972, Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) in 1973, Deep Purple (Made in Japan) in 1973, Yes (Tales from Topographic Oceans and triple-live Yessongs) in 1973, Genesis (Lamb Lies Down on Broadway) in 1974. And of course there were the first three Chicago studio albums and various double-live sets from everyone from The Band with Bob Dylan to Grand Funk.

Jimmy Page said after the initial sessions in late '73 and much of '74 they had enough material for an album and a half, so they went back and mined the vaults for leftovers from the Led Zep III sessions (Bron-Yr-Aur) in 1970, the Led Zep IV sessions (Night Flight, Down By The Seaside and Boogie With Stu) in 1971 and the Houses of the Holy sessions (Houses of the Holy, Black Country Woman, The Rover) in 1972. It's truly the band at their most varied, most complex and, at times, most stripped-down. The perfect alchemy of light and shade, as Jimmy has often described the band's music.

A few fellow Murray (Kentucky) High School heads and myself were fortunate enough to preview live a few tracks prior to PG's release. On February 16th, 1975, we witnessed Led Zeppelin in concert at the then-called Checkerdome, ye olde Arena, in St. Louis, Missouri. While Sick Again was kind of a "what the hell was that" number, I thought (wrongly) that Trampled Underfoot sounded too much like a Doobie Brothers song. But Kashmir? An instant classic. In My Time of Dying? A religious experience, indicative of the entire performance.

Eight days later, when we all got our copies of Graffiti from the Big K department store or the Murray State campus bookstore or Chuck's Music Center, the needle dropped on Custard Pie and the ante got upped. Not just for double albums, but for rock records, period. Song for song, has another rock album--double or otherwise--really topped it since? I'd love to read your take.

Post-Grammy Thoughts & Pop-Offs

2011-02-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

Ironic that the so-called "Forget You" song (sanitized from "$%#& You") up for a Grammy this year was the same message Grammy voters have been trying to tell the Eminems, Kanyes and Lil Waynes of the world the past several years. Supposed know-it-alls at the L.A. Times (among others) predicted yet again that a rap/hip-hop "artist" would win the best album and best record this year. Yet again, it didn't happen. I'm shocked, I tell you--shocked!

L.A. Times guy said to "forget" Arcade Fire winning the Best Album Grammy because it was

"significantly outgunned by the star power here." The Times' slide into bottomless irrelevancy shows no signs of abating.

It says here that Grammy voters will keep telling the Eminems of the world that it takes

significantly more talent to create an album with actual instruments, actual singing and actual

song construction than just attitude with beats and inane profanity. I can back that.

Eminem was nominated for 10--TEN!--Grammys and won two. I like the guy for standing up

for Detroit, but dude, your genre's done. Go reinvent. And lose the 24/7 scowl.

The WORST crime of the night was Muse winning over Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Neil

Young and Jeff Beck. Muse couldn't carry these guys' Fender cases. How the hell did THAT

happen?

Jeff Beck winning 3 out of 5 potential Grammys? Beyond well-deserved.

Led Zep bragging rights: John Paul Jones one Grammy with Them Crooked Vultures, Robert Plant zero. Percy's probably pissed.

Arcade Fire's "Suburbs" was a make-up call for Neon Bible, a much better album.

Glad to see Ray LaMontagne win at least once. Repo Man is/was the best groove of the year.\

Zimmy at shot voice is better than Bieber at full power.

2011-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Look, I'm not an American Idol fan, OK? It's primetime karaoke, which is only slightly less annoying than barroom karaoke. Maybe if the contestants were as inebriated as the ones I've had the pleasure of enduring post-happy hour, then I'd at least TiVo the show. And besides, the musical types I'm more interested in do more than just sing practically on-key--they also play these things called "instruments," as in "groups." And if you think about it, wouldn't the next Josh Groban already be signed to a major label rather than being sifted through that whole Idol gauntlet gleaning? (There ARE still major labels, right? Hello?)

So with all those disclaimers, it comes as no surprise that one of my all-time favorite bands--Aerosmith--is beginning to reap the rewards of Steven Tyler's face time on Idol. Sales of the band's music are up. Interest in the band, caused by his appearance on the show and/or band mate Joe Perry's public disdain of it, is greater now than a year ago. There's more attention being given to the new album in the works. And you can write it down now that the next time Aerosmith hits the road ticket demands in an otherwise sluggish concert industry will be higher than usual. All because of Steve TV. And that's a good thing.

The same would be true for The E Street Band if Bruce was a judge. Or for The Heartbreakers if Tom Petty was a judge. It's good to get younger music fans acquainted with a legendary rock band and understand the craft of writing and performing good songs, rather than just holding a mic and over-modulating somebody else's composition that was done right the first time.

I still won't watch any show with judges--not since the O.J. trial, anyway. But I'm one Aerosmith fan who doesn't have a problem with Steven doing the show. If it means more Idol worshippers get exposed to great albums like "Rocks," "Toys In The Attic," "Get Your Wings" and the like, how's that a negative? Answer: It's not.

What a concept: A little high-definition 52-inch leading to a big 10-inch....record.

True Grmltrzpkqbvlm

2011-01-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

With deserved congrats to all associated with True Grit and its 10 Oscar noms, here's a little help in understanding some of the film's dialogue. Grit, King's Speech and Social Network were--for me--the three best films of the year. How Black Swan got on the 10-best Oscar list--and not on the Razzies' top 5--is a conundrum that causes brain ache.

Golden Years for the Golden God

2011-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

Great article here about Robert Plant--where he's been and, more importantly, where his mind and craft are today. (Hint: Good places)

Calling All Stanford Faithful..

2010-12-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Hey folks--Here's a chance to own some football history and help out The Midnight Mission in Downtown L.A. Thanks for whatever you can do!

Here's where you can bid, and below is the description.

Listing:

Unique Cardinal Treasure

Signed by Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, the Woody Hayes Award winner as the top national football coach and Academic All-American Fullback/Linebacker Owen Marecic who was named one of three finalists for the Hornung Award (announcement on January 8) and Quarterback Andrew Luck, future first round pick, and runner-up to the 2010 Heisman Award; this is truly a one of kind Stanford Memorabilia treasure. Get it now in time for Christmas and have it on the mantle as you watch the Cardinal take on Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. This ball is the only one signed by these three Cardinal stand outs. It was donated for the exclusive use of The Midnight Mission for the express intent of raising money for this vital charity. Gain a piece of history and help people live better at the same time.

(The sale of this ball is in compliance with all NCAA regulations. Please contact Orlando Ward at oward@midnightmission.org with any questions or if you require more information.)

Proceeds of this auction will benefit The Midnight Mission, which is one of the oldest continuously operating human services organizations in the Los Angeles region. Centered in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, The Midnight Mission runs one of the most efficient direct service operations in the country. The Midnight Mission has been a consistent beacon of light for those with no where else to turn.

David Gilmour Has Sung About Dogs--So Help Him Save A Few

2010-12-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

What if you loved dogs, hated puppy mills and always wanted a guitar autographed by Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Brian May, Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Liam Gallagher and Gary Moore (the Thin Lizzy alum, not this lame DJ blog author)? Well, go here. But hurry--the auction ends Wednesday.

The Last Great Zep Souvenir?

2010-11-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

Wanna bid on a drum skin signed by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Bonzo's son Jason? They signed it after what may go down as the last Led Zeppelin concert, ever: The 2007 Reunion Concert in London. Proceeds go to Jason's sister's charity in England. Find out more--and see the skin--here.

See Robert. See Robert sing. Rock Robert, rock!

2010-10-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Since Robert Plant bypassed L.A. (and the entire west coast) on the brief summer tour promoting his new "Band of Joy" album, here's a sample of the new show. It's from a recent gig in London and we'll have more clips from The Guardian as they emerge.

Here's a clip of Robert and the band doing "Angel Dance," originally done by L.A.'s own Los Lobos.

Robert and Band of Joy played the Electric Proms in London last week--and got a 5-star review! Read it here.

And check out even more live Robert and Band of Joy here! Central Two-Oh-Nine is especially fine...

Finally, if you want to HEAR the band's entire performance from the BBC's Electric Proms, go here!

The latest from Plant and Pagey

2010-08-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Robert Plant has told me--and anyone who'd listen--he simply doesn't want to sing in gaping sports arenas or "some crazy cube which is going to be holding a car show the following week." Among other reasons for not reuniting with Jimmy, John Paul and Jason. I think a part of him always will want to, but a bigger part doesn't. If they hadn't been the dog's bollocks in '07, it might be easier for fans to live with. But dammit, they were at the top of their game. Read on here about why Robert chooses not to lead the Led any further.

UPDATE: Here's another interview with Robert from The Independent newspaper in London you may find even more intriguing.

UPDATE REDUX: Jimmy Page recently spoke with the New York Times regarding his new pictorial autobiography. Check it out here.

2010-06-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

Call me! 800-955-KLOS! Or, to quote Yes, LEAVE IT...and we'll do our best to play it. Tanx.

10 Things A Dad Was Right About

2010-05-25T10:17:00.001-07:00

With Father's Day fast approaching (often a nervous timeframe for recreational bachelors), I found this little gem from Real Simple magazine that I think you'll find rings rather true. Even the last one, my non-parenting playboy peeps...

A Nice Album To Scrape Your Shoes To

2010-05-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Blimey, the long-awaited re-release of The Stones' Exile On Main Street is here. Is this such a big deal because it's the favorite Stones album of so many, myself included? Or because it now boasts previously unheard and--until a few months ago--unfinished potential Stones gems? Or because the super-sized deluxe over-the-top edition has a DVD of Exile's making plus a book and other party favors? Or because I grew up ON Main Street (in the all-American college town of Murray, Kentucky) and the album is one of dozens of musical book-markers from those days before I was exiled off to college and thus a new, different real world? It's all of those, and the fact it's good to revisit and celebrate again a fine work of modern art, be it an exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein in London's Tate Modern or four sides--plus bonus tunes!--of high-grade rock music created under one very beneficial displacement.

Thanks, Pet Lovers!

2010-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to all fantastic KLOS listeners who not only came by the SPCA LA facility in Long Beach this past Saturday, but who also rescued a new dog or cat during Mark & Brian's Pet Adoption Day. The love these wonderful animals will bring to your home defies description. If you're already an owner, you know. So thank you, from the bottom of all our hearts. YOU rock!

And for those still considering a pet, please PLEASE go the rescue route. For a lot of reasons. Marie Hulett in the OC Register can explain why here in a story that might shock some--but in a good way.

2010-04-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

Got a favorite album/CD/8-track? I'll go with about 5 in a tie for first, including "Exile On Main Street" from The Rolling F$%*ing Stones. Exile gets the royal remastering/re-releasing treatment May 18th, with previously unreleased bonus tracks discovered by the boys whilst searching about in the vaults and in Keef's hair. (I think they found some old fishing lures from a 1973 tuna hunt in his coiff as well.) Mick says Exile is not one of his favorite albums, although he says the record "does have a particular feeling." That tends to happen when you record Charlie's drums in a wine cellar and sing about everything from getting your rocks off to scraping the "shit right off your shoes." Brill.

So.....what IS your all-time favorite el-pee? Just askin'.

Reading These Books Will Make You More Attractive, 2 Inches Taller AND A Better Dancer

2009-12-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

Rather than get on my high horse about a new video game or TV show or movie, I like to promote reading whenever I can. More books in your brain = smarter, better you. And here are my 5 favorites from 2009:

5) "Last Words" by George Carlin with Tony Hendra (Free Press)

For the last 15 years of his life, George Carlin and longtime friend/fellow humorist deluxe

Tony Hendra sat down and documented his life, literally from conception to their last day.

From page one paragraph one, it's the kind of relentlessly engaging read we would expect.

I've been a huge fan of George's work since the AM/FM lp that (a) really made comedy as hip

as all the rock music at the time and (b) poked fun at his DJ days without disowning the

medium in which I was just cutting my teeth (and still do, to some degree). I had the

pleasure of interviewing GC years ago in Louisville. When I told him I was trying to do a

bit of my own stand-up around town he couldn't have been more supportive and helpful.

He left us with so many, many funny and thoughtful moments--and much, much too soon.

4) "The Machine: A Hot Team, A Legendary Season and a Heart-Stopping World Series: The

Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds" by Joe Posnanski (William Morrow)

I'm proof you don't have to be a Reds fan to enjoy this great baseball read. Because they

weren't in the fishbowl of New York, their swagger wasn't was well known as other bigger-

market teams. But make no mistake, these guys walked it and talked it like no one else.

3) "Gridiron Gauntlet: The Story of the Men Who Integrated Pro Football, in Their Own

Words" by Andy Piascik (Taylor Trade Publishing)

The NFL, like Major League Baseball, has an ugly and unfortunate past regarding its

African-American athletes. The New York Giants began league play in 1925 but had no

black players until 1948. George Halas refused to sign a black player to the Bears for their

first 32 seasons. The Steelers were all-white from 1933 to 1952. The book's first-person

accounts from some of those courageous players are riveting and often beyond belief.

2) "The Book Of Genesis: Illustrated" by R. Crumb (Norton)

Come clean--you had a Keep On Truckin' sticker, patch or poster at the turn of the 70's, now

didn't you? Or a copy of "Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother and The Holding Company because

you dug the album art, for one. Or you saw "Fritz The Cat" a dozen times. You can thank R.

Crumb for all those creative gems as well as this, the most sacred book of the Old

Testament. Some of the drawings are quite graphic, as the subject matter dictates, but

without question this is one of the most visually intriguing reads you'll ever find--IF you

grew up with the Bible. If you didn't? It's still worth the time.

1) "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: The Illustrated Edition--An Indian History of the

American West" by Dee Brown (Sterling Innovation)

Clearly one of the most important American history books ever written. And this newly

illustrated edition, with some of the most remarkable photography of the era, makes the case

even stronger, if that was possible. There weren't enough words to describe the outrage I felt

years ago when I first read this, and still aren't. What the American government executed upon

its native people was nothing short of what is euphemistically now called "ethnic cleansing."

Or a holocaust, take your pick. Try and imagine invaders taking your house, your property,

your children, your culture....then forcing you to march in, say, heavy snow hundreds of

miles to your new, desolate "home". Pretty crystal-clear now who the real savages were. I'm

reminded of an old newspaper cartoon where an English settler is talking to a couple of

native Americans, asking "What did you call this place before we got here?" One replies

"OURS."

Me Vs. The OC Register's "So-Called Expert"

2009-10-15T15:15:00.001-07:00

Greetings Pigskin Pundits! I'm going to picking this Sunday's (10/18) NFL games against the Orange County Register's "So-Called Expert," Randy Youngman. The picks--which will be the same ones in this weekend's Mark & Brian Football Challenge at 955klos.com, btw--should be up on the website sometime Friday and in the paper-paper on Saturday. Read all about it!
(Editor's Note...Caution: Using Gary Moore's picks any week for any game in ANY sport may be hazardous to your financial and mental health. Side effects include--but are not limited to--dizziness, headaches, wallet-aches, neurosis, psychosis, lost of hair & lunch, vertigo, rickets, acne, bloating, colitis, flatus, IBS, nausea, severe depression and self-combustible rage. Thanks and enjoy the games.)

2009-09-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

235,000 remastered Beatles were sold last week. Not the entire week, mind you. That's just the total for TWO DAYS--last Wednesday and Thursday, according to SoundScan. Four of the albums debuted in the British top 10 and the same should happen here, once figures are released in the next day or so. Quality never goes out of style, even in this graceless Kanye-infected society.

2009-09-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Uh, decent week for Beatles fans, wouldn't you say? The band's been broken up for exactly 40 years now (we didn't know it until 1970, but they did) and yet the demand for their wares is refreshingly still "high." I like the remastered cds. They're not remixed, like the last batch of Doors cds were, bringing up vocals and instruments previously buried in the mix. But the sound IS vastly improved from the '87 versions that were DOA--disappointing on arrival. Personally, I prefer trying to play Fab favorites on a real guitar, but whatever it takes to expose their superior brand of songwriting and harmonizing to the masses, I'm all for.

Why thank you for those lovely sentiments!

2009-08-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hallefreakinlujah, I'm back. Weeknights 7-10p on 95-5 KLOS and 955klos.com. BEEEG thank yous to Bob Moore, Bob Buchmann and ALL youse guys who've emailed, texted, faxed, called, heckled and otherwise telepathically sent your wishes for my return to the new powers that be. I can't thank you all enough in this lifetime or the next one. Now, hop off yer arse and go request something already! 1-800-955-KLOS

OHWOWMAN

2009-08-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Forty years? Really? Seems like, uh, only 37 or something. Among everything else it's been hailed as, Woodstock was also THE biggest, most publicized example of illegal music sharing. Think about it: All those who didn't have tickets, who bum-rushed the farm anyway, bolting over fences and "stealing" music meant for those who paid for it. In 1969, we had vinyl albums with--more often than not--groovy artwork. Sometimes they'd have a poster or calendar or paper panties (see Chicago @ Carnegie Hall, Chicago V, Alice Cooper's Killer and School's Out). Some even came with iron-ons of the cover art and rolling papers (Chicago 8, Cheech & Chong Big Bambu). Nowadays? Just FBI warnings on overpriced cds. Hey, THANKS. And it all started 40 years ago this weekend. But to quote our friend Grace Slick, "It doesn't mean shit to a tree." Hope you caught her with Ladd on Friday and the rest of the Woodstock Weed-end on 95.5 KLOS, man.

Tonight! In Living Colors! On KCET!

2009-08-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight (Hump Night) on KCET-TV, Cynthia Fox and I (above, in HD where available) are proud to host the donor breaks for the Pete Seeger 90th Birthday Celebration. The concert happened in New York this past May, with a few folks you may have heard of performing: Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, among others. It's 8-11 p.m.--pull up the comfy chair and join us!

We All Need Someone We Can Bleed On....

2009-07-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

..and if ya wanna? You can bleed on....uh....well, for the American Red Cross this week. It's the 28th annual 95.5 KLOS Blood Drive at 19 locations throughout SoCal. Big change from the very first one in 1981--ONE location ONE day only! You can make an appointment (1-800-GIVE-LIFE) or show up at the spot nearest you. Or one furthest from you, we really don't care so long as you donate a pint--OF BLOOD (but do hang on to that glass of Stella for later). www.955klos.com has all the locations and times and who's gonna be where. Remember, no need to show up already bleeding or with the blood already out in a jelly jar--the Red Cross will professionally download it all. I'll be at the Long Beach Red Cross locale (3150 E. 29th St., just off the Redondo Ave. exit from the 405...and just west of the fwy) Wednesday afternoon, the 29th, as soon as I can drive from KLOS after 4pm! Hope to see you and your O+ (or whatever) there---and thank you.

60's Rock at Slacker.com

2009-07-20T18:12:00.001-07:00

Amid all the free music sites, one of my absolute favorites is the 60's Rock Station at Slacker.com. Simply put, it sounds exactly like what you'd hear if you turned on your Marantz FM tuner around the autumn of 1970. It's a fantastic alchemy of all the great albums and artists from, say, 1964 or so up to that turn-of-the-decade day. Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, CCR, Dylan, The Stones (up to Gimme Shelter), The Doors, Grateful Dead, Hendrix, Cream, Donovan, Steppenwolf, Zappa & The Mothers, Janis, Jefferson Airplane, etc, mixed in with Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake and countless others. How do I know it's such a killer mix? Because I've programmed it all. And I'd love to hear your thoughts. www.slacker.com
(go to "Rock" category and click on 60's Rock)

We're Talking Baseball...Dodgers Baseball, pal

2009-07-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

And so will you, if ya know what's good for yas. This Thursday (7/9) after the Mets-Dodgers game, Rita Wilde (Thing) and I e-vite you to join us for all things Dodger Blue on Talkradio 790 KABC-AM (www.kabc.com). And up until Thursday at 1pm Pacific Time try to vote for L.A. stars Matt Kemp and Chone Figgins as the last two--and certainly deserving--All Stars for next week's mid-summer classic in the greatest baseball city on earth, St. Louie. You can vote at www.mlb.com.

Thingy of the Week

2009-06-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is probably thingy of the year. Some battle-scarred radio folk have their panties in wad because, yet again, Apple refrained from putting an FM receiver in its latest iPhone. Of course, your bigger stations--like 95.5 KLOS--all have their on iPhone apps (or should). Content is king, as many in the old media world would tell you. And they're right. They just don't like it when YOU control that very c-word.

A Damn Fine Oh-Nine

2009-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Now here's a way to keep 2009 (and yer 'puter) rockin' nicely through the year--sign up for daily emails from www.damnfineday.com. It's a neat project I've been working on with Rhino Records that goes back into the vaults and highlights a different overlooked, outstanding tune every weekday. Rock, soul, jazz, country, pop--it's all repped. And if you like what you hear, you can buy/download it right then and there. Go dig on it--unless you enjoy hearing the same 200 burned-out songs on the radio over and over and over and.....

Welcome To Our Sole Kitchen

2008-12-10T22:41:00.000-08:00

KCET loved the friends Cynthia Fox, Robbie Krieger and I gathered on their thin-screen...so they're having a command repeat performance of our show this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Before you slip into unconsciousness, we'd like to have another passing chance at the bliss that is your KCET membership. Tell all the people and stuff....

Without Question, THE Best CD/Album/Download of 2008

2008-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Are there albums or songs that return you to a certain season? Music that literally sounded like summertime or autumn? I'm happy to report I've found as great a wintertime soundtrack as your senses could ever enjoy. "Fleet Foxes" (on Sub Pop), from the Seattle band of the same name, is as fresh and as crisp a collection of songs as the January air whisking through the Pacific firs along the Cascades. The Foxes are a group of close-knit friends who grew up on the music of their parents: The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, CSN&Y, Fairport Convention...and Bach! (Ed. note: THANK YOU, MOMS & DADS) In fact, the acappella-opening tune that initially intrigued me--"White Winter Hymnal"--could lead you to believe it was recorded in a bare tree forest, amid snow drifts and silvery skies. "We try to draw from the traditions of folk music, pop, choral music and gospel, baroque psychedelic, sacred harp singing, West coast music, traditional music from Ireland to Japan and film scores," Fleet Fox Robin Pecknold said. "We've succeeded for ourselves if we've made a song where every instrument is doing something interesting and melodic." When was the last time you heard an artist pledge anything like that? The album is worth the price alone for "Hymnal" and especially "Blue Ridge Mountain," the latter possessing a melodic cornucopia beyond adjectives. Like Goldfrapp's "Felt Mountain" in 2000, "Fleet Foxes" enhances the winter solstice. But, happily, this is a band for all seasons.

Finally, American (esp. Ohio) comes to its senses

2008-11-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who not only voted, but voted for Obama. How refreshing was it to elect someone not beholden to a base bent on divide-and-conquer idiocy? Barry Goldwater would be distraught that the GOP is now a party with a core "mentality" of fear, divisiveness and greed. I know, not every republican feels that way. But those who've guided the party these past few years certainly espouse it. And what has it made them in November 2008? Losers--with a finger-pointing party in shambles. Here's hoping President Obama (and what appears to be an equally competent staff) can quickly reverse the past 8 years' worth of incompetence and malice toward all. Go O!

An Independent For Change

2008-10-30T10:27:00.001-07:00

He wishes to unite our states, unlike his opponent's party. He offers real, tangible financial solutions to the mess the incompetent Bush-leaguer and his screw-the-nation greedmeisters have inflicted upon the country, unlike his opponent. He wants to remain out of the bedrooms and private lives of Americans, unlike his opponent and his party. He and his experienced, globally-respected running mate will (a) make finding and (hopefully) fatally punishing bin Laden and (b) restore America's cachet in the eyes of the world priorities, unlike his trigger-happy and hideously unprepared opponents. He is a new generation of leader that will take this country forward, not in reverse 120 mph. like his opponent's party has for the past 8 years. And finally, the guy wants to put a basketball court in the White House! Being from the golden buckle of the basketball belt--Kentucky--that alone is enough reason to endorse him, let alone those others I've listed and dozens more. I'M GARY MOORE, PROUD INDEPENDENT, AND I APPROVE BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Coolest T-Shirts Ever (unless you're a hater)

2008-10-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

Finally, somebody at Reebok or the NFL or both wised up and began making Baltimore Colts stuff again. Actually, the Reebok line is a nod to "The Greatest Game Ever," the NFL Championship in New York, 1958. The white shirt, from the Retro Sports peeps, is just a nice throwback. Now if we could get L.A. Rams (navy and white only, please) and St. Louis football Cardinals crap again, I'll sit back down. (What is it with my 3 all-time favorite NFL teams and their 3 greedy bastard owners? Why me, Lord?)

Palin Be Ailin'

2008-10-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Hope the above clears things up. Look, she's clearly qualified to be a student council president (oh yah!), hockey mom (you betcha she is, buster!) and a Lenscrafters spokesperson (darn tootin'!). But a governor? Of a state where moose are the majority? Much less assume the SECOND MOST POWERFUL OFFICE ON THE PLANET? Even George Will, who despises all entities non-republican, deemed Sarah UNqualified. We rest our air-tight case. (Editor's note: Due to the lameness of this template, not all of the flow chart made it. The whole chart is here.)

CUT ME SOME SLACK(er)!!

2008-09-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

You probably don't know this, but besides playing a mild-mannered, urbane air personality on 95.5 KLOS here in L.A., I also program two stations for Slacker. Slacker's both an on-line and portable music service made for anyone who (a) has iPod fatigue, burned out with the constant downloading and revising and/or (b) just wants more music variety in their lives--especially if they can create their own stations in the process. Slacker allows you to keep out songs you don't like, keep the ones you do and make your own station up with a little of everything. Or if you just want to lay back and let the "radio pros" (ahem) do all the heavy lifting for you, that's a go as well. Slacker just unveiled their new G2 player (above), so you can take several stations with you and refresh 'em via wi-fi and even load-in some of your own. I program the 60's ROCK and 70's HITS stations, and both are loaded with a motherlode of music. No 300-song playlists here. We're talking over 1300 tunes for 70's HITS and more than 800 for 60's ROCK (which only covers music from 63-70). Check 'em out and gimme some feedback, like if it's wack or mack or really lacks. Just look for 'em in the "rock" and "hits" section at www.slacker.com

Nu Grooves 4 U

2008-09-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

Just a few cool things I've seen/heard lately...thought you'd, like, dig:

Check the new Queen + Paul Rodgers song, "C-lebrity"--live, even!
Finally sounds like Queen actually morphs with Bad Co....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ovN40FwRI

Then there's these fabulous Foxes from Seattle. Too bad the video's
as dopey as the song is killer.

Dylan, from the forthcoming Tell Tale Signs--The Bootleg Series Vol. 8,
out Rocktober 7th. Frick.

Anyone needs lotsa good reasons to vote Republican? No problem--here's some
information you'll find most helpful. You mo' than welcome.

Nothing from the new Metallica because they sold out to American
Express. F them.

2008-08-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

Cynthia Fox and I return to KCET--co-riffing the pledge breaks--during an encore screening of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Monterey: American Landing" THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 10. They'll also rerun it at 1 a.m., just in case your senses get overloaded by this amazing, blistering, jaw-dropping performance. Not to mention what Jimi and the band do...

Tune In, Turn On, Rock Out Or Something

2008-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Ladies and genitaliamen! Join me on the 95-and-a-half KLOS this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8pm to 1am for the vacationing Jim Ladd! We'll have plenty of door prizes, party favors, sonic swag...and MINUS the usual Satanic virgin sacrifices Jim performs hourly each weeknight. (Quite frankly, it's not in my contract so we've put that on hold until Thursday)
Come on by and rock a spell, hear?

GIVE BLOOD

2008-08-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Not talking a gallon....a half-gallon....a quart....not even a liter, for you Euro types. Just a puny pint of yer scarlet sauce! You get the KLOS Kollectible shirt, a ticket voucher (while supplies last) for either ZZ TOP, METAL MASTERS TOUR or CRUEFEST and the good karma that shadows you for help save a life or two or three. Thanks for rolling up--have fun rockin' out!

The July 23 Klub

2008-07-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Big D
Harold "Pee Wee" Reese (The Little Colonel from Louisville)
Nomar Garciaparra
Slash
Woody Harrelson
Don (Sl)Imus

All born on July 23rd, like me! Cheers!

Hendrix, A (Cynthia) Foxey Lady & Me

2008-06-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday at 8pm (June 11) and Saturday (June 14, at 10pm) on KCET--L.A.'s ultra-groovy PBS affiliate--Cythinia Fox and I host the pledge breaks during a truly epic show: "The Jimi Hendrix Experience: American Landing," and we'd love to have you join us. This was the first time American audiences saw the guy who'd change rock music--and especially the electric guitar--forever. Cynthia and I are always proud to support the mission and the programming of KCET & PBS, but for me, this one takes on added meaning. The first album I ever purchased with my lawn-mowing/Grit newspaper sales dough was Jimi's "Axis: Bold As Love"--and kinda by accident. When I was in 4th grade, my best friend (Tommy Pasco, in Murray, Kentucky) had two older brothers who owned "Are You Experienced?" Not only did I think it was about the coolest-looking album (anyone remember the joy of LP artwork?) but "Fire" was THE baddest thing I'd ever heard. Well, after "Help!" and most everything else by The Beatles. So with accumulated cash, I schlepped over to Wallace's Bookstore on the Murray State campus to snag a copy. Apparently young, brilliant rock minds thought alike back then, because they were sold out. The only Hendrix titles that remained were "Electric Ladyland" (double lp; I didn't have enough $$) and "Axis," which I bought without knowing what lay inside. That album lit a--dare I say?--fire inside me that fueled a career in the mercurial rock radio business that still burns bright to this very millisecond. Like, tune in and DIG, man! (Or woman)...

"I got my own world to live though and I ain't gonna copy you....." --Jimi, from "If 6 Was 9"

O-blog-mas for Obama

2008-05-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, count me as one Moore for Obama for Prez. Nothing really against Hillary; she's actually come out of this cold, distant shell and appeared to be more personable than some ever thought she'd be. And should Barack choose her for a running mate, the ticket will be impossible to beat. It probably is already, so long as the donkey party keeps reminding people that if they want 8 more years of failed, outdated GOP ideas, McCain's their Titanic captain. Without question, BushLeague, his cronies and their alchemy of idiocy have set America back God knows how many years. We need a fresh, young, intelligent voice for the first time in eight years running this joint. If this country has any semblance of common sense left, it'll be President Obama come November. Once America goes Barack, thankfully, it won't go back.

Love is Love (except when it's new old Love)

2008-04-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

Despite college tries to physically travel back in time (irregardless of massive ingestions of lysergic acid dyethylamide) it's been impossible, save for mentally doing it. One particularly pleasant express trip you can book back to 1967 is an album called "Forever Changes" by L.A.'s own Love. Simply put, there's really no way you could recreate this recording today, whether it's the genius of the compositions, the lyrical pastiche that was a groovy representation of the Sunset Strip days or the phrasing of the singers. And Rhino has just released a deluxe edition, with bonus tracks and a complete other version that I didn't even know exist. Robert Plant probably didn't either (he's the guy who got me hooked on it). Thank God this album was even made. Because while you could point to The Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow or the debuts from The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors or Sgt. Pepper's as fitting representatives of the year and be perfectly credible, nothing--to me--sounds more like 1967 than Forever Changes. But Headquarters from The Monkees comes close...

From A Hilltopper To THE Greatest Bruin--Thank You

2008-04-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

The greatest college basketball player ever has some very nice--and very true--things to say about my alma mater in the L.A. Times. Thanks, Kareem. We Topper alums appreciate you.

115,000+ Baseball Fans Can't Be Wrong....Just Gridlocked

2008-03-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

KLOS is broadcasting live from the Coliseum on Saturday, noon-4pm, prior to the coolest game played in these parts since the Syringin' A's folded like an ironing board in the '88 Series. I was lucky enough to check out the stadium on Thursday, thought you'd dig on the shots. Talk about a field of countless dreams....

NY Times Gives WKU Props--For The Greatest Reason

2008-03-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

For showing courage, guts and humanity during a time when many in power had none. Pete Thamel's great story is here.

Phugly In Phoenix

2008-03-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

If WKU learned anything in the west regional Thursday night, it's that you can't spot a number-freaking-ONE seed 21 points and expect to win. Not while they've got Kevin Love. Not when they outrebound you 49-33. Not when you shoot 18% in the first half (and an anemic 34% for the game). Second half? Now those looked more like the true Toppers. So much so they made Love describe his team's overall effort as "Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable" afterwards. And he's probably right. Western outscored UCLA 58-47 in the second half, and even made star guard Darren Collison foul out for the first time all season. Instead of adding on and blowing out their seemingly-overmatched opponents, the Bruins came frightfully close to a collapse of epic proportions. Xavier probably won't be rattled by those four letters on the uniforms the way WKU was initially. And as good as UCLA's defense truly is, the X-men won't shoot 18% in the first half. A word of caution to Westwoodians: The potholes on the road to San Antone are much more treacherous than they appear.

ESPN "mystified" by The Blob...uh, I mean, Big Red

2008-03-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

The homepage at espn.go.com has a picture of Big Red, the obsequious Western Kentucky mascot, right at the top today. The Espin folks say they're "mystified" by him...her....it. Then you scroll all the way down here for more fascination with B.R., who, incidentally, did conquer anorexia.

Heralding The Underdawgs

2008-03-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Eons ago, before Al Gore invented this very internet you're soaking in, I worked for one of the top 3 college newspapers in America: The College Heights Herald at Western Kentucky University. In the interest of full disclosure, I don't recall it retaining that ranking while I toiled there....but it certainly regained that status after I left. A mere coincidence. But here's why the Herald has consistently been ranked as one of the top 10 college papers year after year. They cover our Toppers like the red fuzz on Big Red, the mascot...

"We really wanted UCLA bad...."

2008-03-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

The first and only time my Western Kentucky Hilltoppers made it to the final four was 1971, at the Astrodome in Houston, losing to Howard Porter and Villanova. Porter & 'Nova would then go on to lose to Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Steve Patterson, Kenny Booker, Henry Bibby and UCLA. WKU's all-everything that season was Jim McDaniels, who said they wanted the Bruins. No, really. 37 years later, 'Topper eyes are still focusing on Westwood's Whiz Kids...

March, When We're All A Little Nostradamus

2008-03-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hubert Davis of ESPN--and ex-Tar Heel--is predicting WKU will upset UCLA. I'll see his upset and raise him one better: WKU beats WVU in the West Regional Finals. Remember, you laughed at it here first.

Hilltopper Fever Sweeping Nation!

2008-03-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

And the best part? No cold sores! OK, second best. Obviously being part of a great run as either a student/alum/employee/fan of Western Kentucky University is reward aplently. The Toppers last made it to the Sweet 16 in 1993, beating Penny Hardaway & Memphis and #2 seed Seton Hall before falling to Sam Cassell, Bobby Sura and Florida State in OT. Do we have a chance? Absofreakin'lutely! Clamp down on the guards, collapse the D on #42, hope Shipp sails more bricks and put Mata-Real on the line if we're behind. Oh yeah, and score 1 more point while we're at it. GO TOPPERS!

How 'bout them Hilltoppers?

2008-03-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Now that's my kind of madness.
My alma mater, Western Kentucky University, finally did what it hadn't done all season: beat a higher-ranked team, Drake. And nice TIMING, dudes. Having grown up in western Kentucky (Murray), I couldn't be more proud of WKU's Ty Rogers (top photo, #5) who hails from nearby Eddyville, Ky. His bucket with no time remaining ranks right up there with the Clarence Glover shot in 1971. In that game against Jacksonville (and Artis Gilmore) Clarence faked tying his shoe, then jumped up from behind, caught the inbounds lob from Gary Sundmaker and scored the winning basket that helped the 1970-71 'Toppers reach the Final Four. Thanks for the trey, Ty--one of THE greatest shots for one of THE finest schools, in my anything but humble opinion. Who knows where it'll lead now?

2008-02-29T17:16:00.000-08:00

Now get this! Saturday (March 1) night at 9p Pacific/10 Mountain--KCET/L.A.--Cynthia Fox and me do the co-host thing for "The Clash Live: Revolution Rock." She'll have great stories about her meeting years ago with the late, great Joe Strummer, and me? I'll have, uh, the usual urbane personality and great face for radio. Just watch and phone in some dough, ok? Thanks.

10 Things I Learned About The Dope Opera Hearing

2008-02-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

____________________________________________________________

1) Clemens took the load off his fanny and put the weight on McNamee, Pettitte, Knoblauch, The Mitchell Report, his agent/lawyer, Dr. Taylor, Bud Selig, Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, his wife, his mother, his nanny, your wife, your mother, your nanny, The Band, Oliver Stone and whatever a vegan is.

2) Roger the dodger blamed everyone but himself for everything--except, of course, for "being too trusting....and too nice to everyone." Rog, hop off the cross--you're wasting good wood.

3) McNamee's no savior, either--an unctuous drug dealer who was looking out for his "friends" (aka clientele)--but he WAS cooler, calmer and more credible than a man who'd performed before millions for decades. How? (see #4)

4) The truth tends to relax people when they speak it.

5) Rog the dodge never took HGH but it was ok for his wife to grow a third ear from it.

6) Some republicans despise Henry Waxman so intensely that they'll side with a bloody-buttocked, ex-titan of baseball who was clearly perjuring himself....but did win those bitchin' 7 Cy Young Awards.

7) He did the committee a favor by contacting his long-lost nanny after years, had both himself and Team Clemens talk about those good ol' days of yore by the Canseco pool and then...uh....um....oh yeah--put her in touch with the committee three days later.

8) The Dodge seems to be a summa cume laude grad of the Pete Rose School of Denial and Hubris--a mail-order school?--where he majored in all-American fronts.

9) When asked by the Rep. Sycophant from Missouri which uniform he'd wear into the Hall of Fame--or as it stands now, which one he WOULD have worn--no one shouted out "San Quentin!"

10) Mark McGwire may have a new playpal in his Irvine gated-from-reality community.

Revelations of Genesis

2008-01-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

Calling all humans--especially you in yer home by the sea. We hear you're into Genesis; like, the "power trio years" from 1983-98? What an amazing coincidence--we just happen to have an hour-long radio special on 95.5 KLOS this Saturday night from 9-10pm on that very band and those exact years. The Lord (and us) sure work in mysterious ways. And yeah, I'll be hosting the festivities. But don't let that stop you--the band does most of the talkin' and (mercifully) ALL the singin' & playin'! Tune & crank accordingly Saturday night at 9, even if you're not west of PCH...

A Bloggy Day In Londontown.....

2007-12-22T13:59:00.001-08:00

Gare's London Ledblog

12.13.07

I went, I saw, I hailed.

Out of around a million who tried, yours truly was lucky enough to secure a golden ticket to the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute and the reunion—or resumption, as the band prefers to call it—of a lifetime.

I was there: London, the O2 Arena, Section 108, Row P, Seat 252, Monday, December 10^th, 2007.

More than 20,000+ Led loyalists were also in the house, though none more important than the four named Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham.

You may find yourself at the show for the ages, in the capital of Europe, on a frigid winter's night and think, "Well, how did I get here?"

I took the Jubilee Line of the London Underground—the tube—from Bond Street on the west end and rode beneath the Thames to the North Greenwich stop. From there you take the escalators up to arena level (sadly, no bootleg t-shirts) where you get your first glimpse of IT.

IT is the former white elephant once known as the Millennium Dome, which actually does resemble (appropriately enough) some kind of resting mothership. As the O2, it's been converted into a suite-enhanced tour stop not unlike Staples Center, only with a ring of restaurants and clubs lining its enclosed but unheated perimeter.

The sound wasn't bad for a barn. And after sets from ELP/Yes/Bad Co. members Keith Emerson, Chris Squire & Alan White and Simon Kirke, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Paul Rogers and Foreigner, it was 8:30 or so and the music stopped. No Ronnie Wood as advertised on even the t-shirts? Guess not.

9 p.m. was rapidly approaching. I was told the Led Zep set would be from 9 to 11 p.m. What was only a two-thirds-filled hall during most of the Tribute to that point now was packed. A closer inspection of the stage revealed Jimmy Page's custom Marshall stacks, one complete with "Zoso" logo, and Jason Bonham's drum kit, bearing the first album's Hindenburg on the bass cover. Definitely no Ronnie Wood performance now!

At 9:03, the house lights disappeared to a deafening approval.

On the large black video screen behind the drums and wall of amps (a la Knebworth) a sixties-era TV set appeared with news footage of Led Zeppelin arriving in Tampa in 1973. I think the reporter was talking about their record-breaking ticket sales and attendance, but I'm not sure; the 28 year's worth of cheering was drowning it all out beautifully.

For the record, I've never seen a better show—ever. I admit this after having overseen complete control of my faculties. I'm not a druggie, not a pothead and there were no pre-show "bracers" at the pub. We're talking Mitt Romney sober here.

Now, I could give you a couple of reasons why this Led Zeppelin O2 performance goes down as the greatest concert I've ever seen, but there are more than that—in fact, 17. Specifically:

1) GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES

Kind of a surprise opener but one that did jump-start a few Zeppelin concerts in late 1969—including their 10/17/69 show at New York's Carnegie Hall—when it was played in medley form with Communication Breakdown.

It seemed fitting that the band would begin again from album one, side one, cut one. But the sound crew stumbled out of the gate—the mix was horrific. It was all John Paul Jones' bludgeoning bass, Jason's booming drums and, fighting amongst the mike feedback, Robert's voice in a slightly lower register than the LP version. On my notes I wrote "Where's Jimmy's guitar??" As the song progressed to absolutely berserk approval, and with no improvement in the sound, a guy behind me said "Oh no! Don't let this happen! This is HORRIBLE!!" Other than that, it was electric. And beyond surreal to be sitting here, eight time zones away from L.A., watching Led Freaking Zeppelin. Surreal was 10 tube stops ago…

2) RAMBLE ON

"Who—or what—is mixing this?" I wrote. No noticeable mending of the sound from the opening. JPJ's muddy, plodding bass seemed to be the dominant instrument with Jimmy's Les Paul and Robert's voice fighting to be heard.

Everyone reeks of confidence, at least on the surface—especially Mr. Page. They're playing quite well right off.

And no requisite rock threads, either! Instead of, say, his famous embroidered dragon suit from 1975, Jimmy wore a simple black three-piece with long topcoat and aviator sunglasses complementing his side-parted ivory locks. John Paul went with a basic black, long-sleeved shirt and black slacks, as did Robert, who eschewed the wide-open blouses of the seventies for a top that remained buttoned all the way up to his sternum. Sorry, ladies. Jason went for the tight-but-loose black t-shirt and jeans with trainers. Someone tossed a bowler hat onstage in homage to his father late in the show, but we'll get to that later.

3) BLACK DOG

No "Out On The Tiles" intro. Shortly after Ramble On comes to a thunderous conclusion, Robert just launches into "Hey hey momma" without any opening salutations. I note that the mix is now getting better; Jimmy's guitar is coming through clearer. But man, they've got it cranked. Great version, Jimmy's animated and afterwards Robert finally greets the throng with "Good evening!" which we return with a rousing response of our own.

4) IN MY TIME OF DYING

Jimmy loses the topcoat and straps on a larger, cream-colored Gibson and a slide for his left ring finger. He then proceeds to helm the heaviest, nastiest, most diabolical version of IMTOD I've ever heard. John Paul has switched over to a vintage Fender bass and Robert's voice is now sufficiently warmed and up for the challenge of this Graffiti classic. When the song breaks down nicely and he begins to sing "Oh my Jesus", he starts softly then works up to a frenzied "Oh my JE-JE-JE-JE," standing next to and singing right at Jimmy. The entire piece is a goose bump moment, so good my eyes pool up. My favorite of the show—5 stars out of 5.

5) FOR YOUR LIFE

After the tour de force that had just assaulted our senses, Robert took a moment to say thanks and mention the "thousands and thousands of emotions that we've been going through for the last 6 weeks together and finally came to this point….for Ahmet….for bringing Jason in.." Huge cheers for the mentioning of both men, as the emotions away from the stage were just as significant. Robert then added that "this is one we've, uh, this is the first adventure with this song in public." Jason counts off the beat on his hi-hat then the band gives an explosive debut of the song from Presence. Jimmy's switched to his black Les Paul and Robert even does a mild Daltrey-esque mike swing before Jimmy's fine solo.

The video screen turns red with intersecting white lines, a slightly geometric play on the song's powdery references.

About Robert's voice on one my Led favorites, I wrote "AOK!" And it only gets better…

6) TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT

Robert Plant cited another Robert—Johnson—introducing this song, saying RJ wrote Terraplane Blues in 1936 and "it's appeared in a thousand different guises….but this is kind of Led Zeppelin's Terraplane Blues." A very tight, high-octane version with Jimmy returning to his show-opening Les Paul Sunburst and giving us an incendiary solo. During JPJ's clavinet solo, Robert drapes the microphone over his shoulder and casually strolls around back near Jason.

7) NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE

"This next song that's been immortalized by The Staples Singers, more recently by the Blind Boys of Alabama…and I think we must've heard this...we were in a church somewhere in Mississippi, in about 1932 when Blind Willie Johnson was just—just before he had his first shot." Jimmy's Les Paul sounds like a tank army recreating the Battle of the Bulge; like IMTOD, it's the heaviest version I've ever heard. The band is obviously well-rehearsed, very crisp and tight with Robert's harp work first-rate. The fog machine, however, is a tad trigger-happy; it kicks on near the song's beginning in advance of…..

8) NO QUARTER

NOW cue the fog the machine! As a light fixture resembling spider legs and illuminating blue lights descended from above the band, JPJ began the eerie opening. They didn't go overboard with the vocal effects, such as when Robert sang the lines "The winds of Thor are blowing cold…cold…cold…." As you'd expect, the solos from John Paul and Jimmy were as masterful as they were the last time you saw them. "On piano, John Paul Jones!" Robert said at its conclusion to a well-deserved ovation.

9) SINCE I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU

After three comparatively brisk openers, we're now gallows pole-deep into some sonically extended pieces. As has always been the case with SIBLY, it's mesmeric yet intense. There were some nice close-ups of Jimmy on the big screen as well as close-ups of John Paul's feet on the bass pedals while his hands worked the organ ivories. "Will they let us up for air after this?" I wondered.

10)DAZED AND CONFUSED

Uh, no—just breathe deeper.

You know it's not any garden variety rock show when a violin bow gets a rousing ovation. The second Jimmy whipped it out the crowd hooped it up. D&C began as deliberately and as menacingly as a fan could want. It felt like decades of pent-up ferocity were set to be released upon us, which thankfully they were. During Jimmy's foray with the bow, and after the green lasers had fired up, Robert began singing along with melody while John Paul stood near Jason's kit watching intently and awaiting Jimmy's command to release hell. When JPJ and Jason kicked into the nitro-fueled portion of the song, Jimmy unleashed a solo by which all other D&C solos should probably be judged. Robert began the song by saying "It's quite peculiar to imagine, trying to make a dynamic entity from 10 different albums….but there are certain songs that have to be included." Amen.

11) STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Speaking of certain songs that HAD to be included….

It was the first time these four had performed the song since the 1988 Atlantic Records 40^th Anniversary Show in New York. And even then Robert didn't want to do it. This time, everyone was apparently on the same, uh, page (sorry) and it was splendid. Robert refrained from any introduction and the inclusion of asking "Does anyone remember laughter?" after "the forests will echo with laughter." I think he was just glad to get it over and done with, finally. During "The Solo" on Jimmy's double-neck Gibson, I caught Robert and Jason smiling at each other. The vibes were like that throughout. Even Jimmy was smiling at the three by end. By far the most popular song captured via a ticketholder's cell phone.

12)THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME

Since he already had the majestic 1971 EDS-1275 red double-neck out (double red neck?), why not this one? Tight as usual, scorching as always, soaring like the heavens. The interplay and cohesion between Jimmy, JPJ and Jason here is further evidence they'd worked their arses off in rehearsal. Robert got more animated here, now freed—forever?—from the Stairway burden. But alas, no Rain Song to follow.

13)MISTY MOUNTAIN HOP

Just before ripping into MMH, Robert mentioned that Jason would begin the next number or something to that effect.

"We've been practicing this," he said. Jason then sang the opening a cappella line of "I Can't Quit You" much to the crowd's—and the band's—delight. Hop isn't one of my favorite Zeptunes, but it was done quite well with a precise, abrupt close and some retro, psychedelic images on the big screen. Jimmy was back to his Sunburst Les Paul, until….

14)KASHMIR

"Someone held up a sign that said 'Hammer of the Gods.' I can't imagine people coming out to see that so late in life," Robert said. Yeah, well, imagine going on tour—you'll really see the peeps queue up for a deified whacking, Percy. Other than Stairway, this is the one so many had been waiting for and, like all the rest, they nailed it. Jimmy, with smiles all around, switched to his candy apple red Les Paul. Robert hit all the stratospheric notes, those oooooos he himself blueprinted into the song. It wasn't a surprise, either; just days earlier, he'd told a reporter that in rehearsal he'd never sung Kashmir better. Somewhere during the song a bowler hat—the kind John Bonham wore on the '75 tour—was tossed onstage behind Jimmy. It remained there for a few minutes before Robert kicked it off to the side, oddly enough. This ended the initial set and the boys exited stage left to a cataclysmic roar not unlike that of F-16s scrambling for three minutes.

15) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE

After a few minutes' worth of cheering and stomping over what we'd just been blessed to witness, the reinvigorated and resuscitated Led Zeppelin returned for an encore. Most have heard that Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters fame has lobbied (ever)long and hard to somehow, some way, some day play drums for Page, Plant and Jones. Dave was at the show; I was walking by the "brew queue" and saw him with Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers holding court. Before kicking into WLL, Robert casually approached the mike and said "Whattya think, Dave?" Like, ouch.

Whole Lotta was its usual force of nature, with Jimmy's solid gold Les Paul his weapon of choice. Between the hellacious riffs, green lasers sent forth from the stage and special effects ranging from the visual onscreen to the aural via Jimmy's pedals and feedback toys, it felt like a music therapy session from Dante's Inferno.

It was apparently more than enough Led for some, as a few hundred or so began heading for the exits after it was over and the guys left the stage again. The tubes won't stop running for another hour, folks! It's been 28 years since they performed here in England—what's the rush? Sure enough, almost as many that booked after WLL, came streaming back in for the grand finale of…..

16) ROCK & ROLL

Some nice vintage footage of the band from the 60s and 70s was mixed with live shots on the big screen during R&R. Robert stretched out the "lonely-lonely-lonelys" and Jason finished the song just as his dad had both on record in countless times live. I wrote that somewhere up there Bonzo was looking down saying "That's my boy!" And I'm sure he was joined by a beaming Ahmet Ertegun as well as and equally proud Peter Grant, the Zep's original manager.

On their final bows, Jason jumped away from the three and fell to his knees before them in Wayne and Garth "we're not worthy" fashion. That lasted about a second as Robert motioned for him to cease that nonsense and get back to his rightful place. It has been official for some time: He is one of them. And he's more than worthy; he's family.

A white-hot LED ZEPPELIN in the band's trademark font glowed on the black screen as the band departed the stage for the final time that night, perhaps forever. No member of the band yelled "See ya next year" or "For more tour information go to ledzeppelin.com and sign up." That was that. My feet haven't quite rejoined the pavement and my mind keeps asking "Did it really happen?"

17) Oh yeah, that 17^th reason this

was the top concert in the history of Me? The stakes. They could not have been higher. Has any band of such myth and stature ever faced a greater challenge, a more courageous attempt at its glory days, even for one night? Everything was on the table. And for once, both the house and the players all won.

Final thoughts: The Zeppelin was as hot as my dollar was a 98 lb. weakling against the dollar. Will they do it again?

So don't be surprised if they do…or be terribly disappointed if they don't. Personally, I think they've got a few more shows in them for 2008. I mean, why restore a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda to mint condition then drive it only once? After all, Robert Plant did pen the words "Then, as it was, then again it will be."