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…
Tag: Music
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…
Michael Jackson’s Secret Duet With Barry Gibb Finally Revealed – ‘All In Your Name’
For years there has been talk amongst fans of Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees of several unreleased collaborations between these two giants of pop. I can even remember an interview back in the late 90s where the Gibbs were talking about recording an entire album with Michael with Babyface producing. While the album never…
Lionel Richie Back Onstage With His Old Commodores Buddies
Last night Lionel Richie reunited onstage in Auckland at Vector Arena with two former Commodores, Thomas McClary and Ronald LaPread. By all accounts, the concert was phenomenal mixture of the funk, the soul and the balladry that made these men superstars for the first time in the 70s and I’m gutted I couldn’t be there….
The Japanese Earthquake & The Real Origin Of Bruce Springsteen’s My City Of Ruins
Bruce Springsteen from the Born To Run shoot. A great friend of mine named John Budge, the man who got me started in radio back in the late 90s, sent me an email a couple of days ago reminding me of a Bruce Springsteen song I’d somehow forgotten about. It was a song Budgie –…
Enrique Iglesias Is An Idiot – Dropping F-Bombs In Popular Music
Tell me what you really think Enrique. A couple of weeks back a very prim and proper lady of probable Chinese descent came up to me at the Club Med disco and asked if she could request a song. As money dripped off her wrists and fingers, she pointed at my computer screen and commanded: “Tonight…
Bee Gee Maurice Gibb 8 Years On – Song Of The Week
Today marks eight years since Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees died while on the operating table in Miami after suffering from a twisted intestine. He was only 53 and as a lifelong fan of the brothers Gibb, I remember feeling extremely sad but also privileged that I was on the radio and could…
