Today’s rock-ish birthdays:
June 19, 1921, Louis Jordan
June 19, 1936, Tommy de Vito (Four Seasons)
June 19, 1936, Shirley Goodman (Shirley & Lee/Shirley & Co.)
June 19, 1942, “Spanky” McFarlane (Spanky & Our Gang)
June 19, 1950, Ann Wilson (Heart)
June 19, 1953, Larry Dunn (Earth Wind & Fire)
June 19, 1959, Mark DeBarge (DeBarge)
June 19, 1963, Paula Abdul
May not be too much to be proud of here BUT you are bookended by Paul McCartney, June 18 and Brian Wilson, June 20.
Wiley Publishing recently contacted The Back Office with a request that Rock Town Hall review their upcoming release of Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder and celebrity biographer Wendy Holden. Our request for an interview with Mr. Felder (we even told them we had a correspondent in Australia) was politely responded with an offer for a free review copy of the book. We don’t even have to return it!
RTH lurker, avid rock bio reader and spouse of The Back Office, took on the task of summing up this Topanga-tinged tome.
There is suffering even if you are a ’70s rock star …well, in a rock band in the ’70s…Don Felder was never really allowed to be the star of The Eagles because Don Henley and Glen Frey sucked all of the oxygen out of that jar.
Heaven and Hell is Felder’s co-written autobiography of his rise from dinky Florida house without air conditioning to Malibu Beach House and then back again to one-bedroom, post-divorce apartment. I’ve read almost every rock autobiography and biography that I come across, and many share the same cycle:
Don Felder got fired in 2001, though, after Hell Froze Over. His manager, who also managed all the other Eagles, let him know over the phone that his services wouldn’t be required anymore. Ewww…almost like he was temping at Manpower.
Life in the Eagles sounds like hell. They shoulda all been banking their massive paychecks and counting the days until retirement arrived. Various forms of anesthesia helped everyone through the moments they were required to spend together.
Felder says that a good home life with a wife and kids helped him gain something to return to when he wasn’t touring or recording, but I couldn’t help but imagine how independent a wife would have to be to raise four kids without him around. When he was at home it must have been like having a guest in the house. His wife got a life, so he called her and fired her over the phone. Ewww…almost like she was temping at Kelly Girl.
Continue reading »
AP: Gary Busey to Play Dual Roles in Upcoming Bo Diddley Biopic
By STEPHANIE ZACHAREK
Published: June 4, 2008
Only one day following the death of rock legend Bo Diddley, Universal Pictures has announced the production of a biopic tentatively entitled “Buddy Holly Stole My Pie.”
“Pie” is based on the life of Bo Diddley (real name Charles Hardin Holley) with a focus on the firm belief by some that Buddy Holly cynically conceived and patterned his product as a “white Bo Diddley”.
Indeed the similarities are remarkable:
•Both achieved success with the “Bo Diddley beat”
•Both wore large black glasses
•Both wore bow ties (on occasion)
•Both played an electric guitar
•Both were right handed
•Both names start with a “B” and end with a “Y”
•Bo Diddley had a chauffeur named Butler. Holly had a butler named Chauffeur.
Universal is reportedly in talks with Gary Busey to play the roles of both Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley. When contacted for comment Busey said:
New pilot series here on Rock Town Hall called “Bullshit On”. This is where we call it out or back it up. Plain and simple.
I’m calling bullshit on The Germs. I went through an LA Punk kick a few years back and splurged for the Complete Anthology of The Germs. Bullshit man. DIY doesn’t mean DI Should.
I will give them this:
But honestly I thought this was a Ramones song until I got this comp. Otherwise this sums up the rest:
My 14-year-old son found these on the internets and thought that “the guys on Rock Town Hall might like them.”
MAD PROPS TO MR. MODERATOR FOR PRACTICALLY NAILING IT.
Jah Wobble (bass: early PIL), and Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit (both from Can, bass & drums respectively) released the LP Full Circle in 1982.
The Mystery Date was a track called How Much Are They which was a European club hit at the time.
Another track after the fold.
Continue reading »
