The vitriol against U2 fascinates me. A recent article here in New Zealand about Bono being the biggest prat in music attracted pages and pages of comments, most of them agreeing. Here is arguably the most dominant band of the last 30 years, a musical outfit capable of rock, pop, soul, electronica, dance, rock ‘n’ roll,…
Category: Music
Amy Winehouse Dead At 27 – Is The 27 Club Real?
Amy Winehouse. This morning the news arrived that so many music fans had feared for years. Amy Winehouse is dead, found by paramedics in her North London home a few hours ago. It is uncomfirmed what killed her and though she had been suffering emphysema, her rampant drug and alcohol addicitions must have ultimately played a…
Did TLC Rip-off Paul McCartney?
Amidst all the excitement that the latest addition to the Beckham clan has the middle name Seven (Harper Seven Beckham), another equally historic piece of entertainment news has semi-slipped through the cracks. Rumour has it Paul McCartney will play a part in the 2012 London Olympics, be it the opening or closing ceremony, and will most…
Bruce Springsteen’s Spectacular Eulogy To Clarence Clemons
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the death of Clarence Clemons, the famous sax player who stood alongside Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band for 40 years. I analysed the friendship of Clarence and Bruce, one that Clarence had described as “the most passion without sex,” which is really as poignant as it is…
Barry Gibb & Michael Jackson – The Completed, Full Length Duet ‘All In Your Name’.
The Bee Gees with Michael Jackson in the mid 80s. Well, it is finally here in its entirety. All In Your Name, a nearly 10 year old duet between Barry Gibb and Michael Jackson is now complete and presented to the world on the second anniversary of Michael’s death. Barry had fed fans a couple…
“The Most Passion Without Sex” – Bruce Springsteen Explains His Friendship With Clarence Clemons
The Big Man, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band died over the weekend due to complications from a recent stroke – he was 69. He is the biggest of my musical heroes to pass away since Michael Jackson nearly two years ago and right now as I type, the iPod is set to…
Why People Convince Themselves Bob Dylan Is Good In Concert
They are the two worst concerts I’ve ever been to. And that’s OK, I am still a Bob Dylan fan. I can also admit the 70th birthday of one of the top 10 greatest songwriters of all time is probably not the best occasion to bemoan a compulsion to live bastardising of back-catalogue. However…. It’s…
Review Of Maroon 5 At Sydney’s Acer Arena
Maroon 5. According to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, I am one of the smartest men currently residing in Sydney. In front of a three-quarters full Acer Arena last night, Levine took a moment out from his cocky-rockstar-ladies-man schtick to reveal some rarely seen self-deprecation. Joking there were 17 guys to the 4000 girls in…
Why Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ Is The Old But New ‘Living On A Prayer’
It’s the new Living On A Prayer even though once upon a time, Living On A Prayer was the new “it”. About two years after the horse has bolted, I’ve finally decided to address the Don’t Stop Believing phenomenon, but more importantly to also take the liberty of introducing another equally magnificent-in-need-of-revival song by Journey….
New Zealand Broadcaster Kerry Smith Dies – A Hidden Gem From Cliff Richard
Kerry Smith. I just heard the sad news that New Zealand radio announcer / TV host / actress Kerry Smith has died. Like many, I didn’t even know she was sick but had read she was on leave from her 10am-2pm slot on radio station The Breeze. It turns out her leave was due to…
Rare Commodores Concert & Interview Footage From 1980
Here is some sensational footage from 1980 I’d never seen before where an interviewer spoke to each of the six Commodores in their homes in Tuskegee, Alabama. See my buddy Ronald LaPread (bass) from the 8 minute 30 second mark talk about how he can’t not dance while playing, despite the complex choreography. You also…
When U2 Teamed Up With Johnny Cash
U2. With news U2 have just beaten the Rolling Stones for the highest grossing concert tour of all time, (tipped to pass US $700 million) I felt compelled to go for a stroll around the Lindeman Island golf-course with my iPod set to nothing but Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry. And Johnny. I’ve always…
