8.31.2011

SCOTT MORGAN AT ART BEATS AND EATS!



SET LIST

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU 4 TOPS
FALLEN FOR YA WROTE ABOUT HIS MOM
SHE'S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN 8TH DAY
LUCY MAY
MISSISSIPPI DELTA
BOBBY GENTRY B SIDE TO ODE TO BIL;LIE JOE
DO I MOVE YOU NINA SIMONE

RATIONALS

LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOIN TO ME BABY
LEAVIN HERE
EDDIE HOLLAND DEMO FOR JACKIE WILSON
RESPECT OTIS REDDING
HOLD ON BABY SAM HAWKINS
NOT LIKE IT IS
ALBERT KING SONG LARRY WMS JOHNNY GUITAR WATKINS
TEMPTATION BOUT TO GET ME
KNIGHT BROTHERS
I NEED YOU
CAROLE KING/JERRY GOFFIN
PART TIME LOVE
LITTLE JOHNNY TAYLOR
GUITAR ARMY
RATIONALS
HIGH JACKIN LOVE
JOHNNY TAYLOR

In honor of this gig is one of the videos I made for Scott...



8.30.2011

GLEN CAMPBELL'S LAST TOUR DUE TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Glen Campbell

Country music legend Glen Campbell, known for hits like Rhinestone Cowboy and Gentle On My Mind, lives in Malibu with his wife of 30 years... Kim.

Their home in the hills overlooking the Pacific is close to the singer's local golf course, where he plays every day. After almost 30 years of marriage, Campbell's fourth wife has been by her husband's side during much of his hugely successful career. She has also endured some of the darker days caused by his Alzheimer's disease.


The 75-year-old singer is making final preparations for a farewell tour to say goodbye to his fans and release an album of new songs. Sitting in their living room, Kim helps to fill in some the gaps of her husband's failing short-term memory.


"I haven't been marred with this thing at all," says Glen. "I accept that I got, what's it called?" "Alzheimer's," says Kim Campbell. "Alzheimer's," Campbell repeats firmly. Full story on BBC News

We are so sorry to hear this about Glen... I loved him from the time I was in the 6th grade... He did have some addictions and wild girlfriends... But the world is slowly losing one of the most sparkling and talented musicians of all time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Glen and Kim...

IGGY POP AND THE STOOGES: THE DETROIT TAPES

Iggy and the Stooge's 1973 Rehearsal Tapes

All my friends that are big Iggy & The Stooges fans might like to know that The Detroit Tapes will be released on September 13, 2011. You can pre-order yours HERE

UK two CD collection containing the cream of Iggy and The Stooge's legendary 1973 rehearsal tapes. For the most part, the material stems from tapes that were recorded in preparation for a nationwide Iggy & the Stooges tour following the release of the David Bowie-produced Raw Power earlier that year.

Iggy Pop and guitarist James Williamson were spitting out memorable songs like machinegun bullets, so the band was basically rehearsing brand new songs; all prime material destined for a fourth Stooges album, one which unfortunately never came to be.

Track Listings
Disc 1
1. Tight Pants
2. I'm A Man
3. I Got A Right
4. Money (That's What I Want)
5. Scene Of The Crime
6. Gimme Some Skin
7. Rubber Legs
8. Open Up And Bleed
9. Johanna
Disc 2
1. Cock In My Pocket
2. I'm Sick Of You
3. Louie Louie
4. Head On
5. Cry For Me
6. She Creatures Of The Hollywood Hills
07. Born In A Trailer
7. Wild Love
8. Till The End Of The Night
9. Till the End of the Night

GIOVANNI GAMBINO: NEW REALITY SHOW "WISE MOVE"

Giovanni Gambino

Just got off the phone from chatting with Giovanni Gambino. We have a mutual friend here in Michigan and he hooked us up.

Giovanni came to the US when he was 11 years old (1985) with his father Francesco and mother Anna DiMaggio (distant relative of baseball legend Joe DiMaggio). Giovanni told me that the women in Italy keep their maiden names after they get married... Never knew that! His father Francesco Gambino went to prison for 30 years when Giovanni was just 13 years old and Gio was devastated ...


Giovanni has so much going on that I thought we should start with a new reality show Gio stars in called "Wise Move" Which as Gio says is like Entourage Meets the Sopranos!. This is reality tv at it's best. I am particularly excited about "Wise Move" because HBO took all my favorite shows off the air. Take a look at the trailer.... just so my readers know... it has adult content

The producers of "Wise Move" are shopping the show around to different networks but I think this show belongs on HBO...

"Wise Move" (R Rated trailer)



This a rough draft of the book cover....



Just a heads up... Gio has a book coming out in November called "Prince of Omerta". This is the fictional story of one of the most ruthless mob bosses in Sicily. Kind of like "The Godfather" on steroids! Stay tuned to RK for more news on Gio...

Gio has 2 screenplays in the works as well...

Mulberry to Rome... a comedy about present day mobsters going back in time to ancient Rome.

Mammalucco.... The story of a mob boss who goes to jail and has his son take over the family business... This is kind of like the movie "Birdcage" meets "Goodfellas"

TOM JONES HOSPITALIZED IN MONACO!


Tom Jones
Tom Jones was in hospital in Monaco on Sunday, officials said, but his website denied suggestions that he was suffering from heart trouble.

Officials in the tiny principality said the 71-year-old singer was undergoing treatment at the Princess Grace hospital but had left the emergency room as his "condition does not cause concern".

The singer's official website said he had been taken to hospital suffering from "severe dehydration," dismissing newspaper reports that he was suffering from heart problems.

"Sir Tom was ordered not to perform in Monte Carlo yesterday evening, due to severe dehydration. Some say it was a heart condition... Either way...GET WELL SOON SIR TOM!

Help Yourself is one of Kimmer's favorites.....


"This was extremely disappointing for Tom, the band and all connected with the tour. This was the last date of a very successful three month tour, where many of the shows were in locations that were in the throes of high summer heat. FULL STORY HERE

8.29.2011

DENIZ TEK AND THE GODOYS AND THE HURRICANE!


Hi all, Deniz here. We had a great time last night(Aug 26) but it's all over, due to fear of weather. Tonight and tomorrows shows were cancelled. We were so ready to let 'em have it, and Art, Steve (Godoy twins) and I are very disappointed, but we will be back. Wish to say special thanks to all who listened to the Thursday radio show on WFMU (still available on podcast), those who came to rock the Bell House Friday night, the great Keith Streng, and all who went out of their way to support us. See you next time! D

Deniz Tek at the Bell House.... photo Amy Verdon

What a giant drag to have flown all the way from Montana (Deniz) Van Couver CA (Art) and South California (Steve) just to have a giant hurricane huff and puff and blow the house down.... At least the guys got one show in at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. So enjoy these videos they are the best we have for now.....


Lucky for us we got some quick video to share.... Deniz told me that a really great videographer shot this shot and he will get links to me to share with my readers asap.

SCOTT MORGAN ON MICHIGAN ROCK N ROLL....


(Dear RK readers....Scott doesn't use caps.... :)

all of the michigan bands had a healthy sense of camaraderie. when i walked in to forsythe junior high ron asheton had just arrived from iowa. when i walked into pioneer high bob seger and deon jackson were walking out. literally.



when the detroit wheels came to ann arbor we were right there and when they needed a sound system to play the armory we got one from the prime movers. we were like joined at the hip. terry knight and the pack, dick wagner, grand funk, ? and the mysterians. all somehow connected.


so this brings me to my point. we not only shared camaraderie but it could get even more interesting. when i first saw the mc5 at plymouth high school i ended up talking with wayne kramer. he said fred smith was trying to get his hair as long as brian jones. well there's a light going off at that moment. both the five and the rationals were doing ramblin rose by ted taylor. wayne suggested we trade that song to them and we could have i put a spell on you by screaming jay hawkins.. Here have a listen at Sonic's Rendezvous' I Believe to my Soul


we did and it worked out well for both bands. but it didn't stop there. we ripped i believe to my soul from the five and tore it up pretty well. next at wayne's suggestion fred smith and i started a band that was to become a historical event. we hooked up with scott asheton, ron cooke, and gary rasmussen to clinch the deal. we had the wires so tangles up no one could figure it out but us. now that's just michigan. the rest of the world was now fair game. the who, beatles, stones, yardbirds, pretty things....i guess that's enough for now. SM

8.25.2011

ESTHER GORDY EDWARDS RIP


DETROIT (Reuters) - Esther Gordy Edwards, the sister of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. and the driving force behind the museum that continues to preserve the label's legacy, has died at age 91.

The Motown Historical Museum, which Gordy Edwards founded in 1985, announced her death on Thursday. Gordy Edwards, who died on Wednesday, held a number of positions in her brother's legendary company, including director of Motown's Artists Personal Management Division, where she helped guide the careers of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells. Full Story Here

In Ms Gordy's honor: her favorite Motown singer Marvin Gaye



8.23.2011

DENIZ TEK: STEEL BEACH/ MISS YOU TOO MUCH...


Deniz Tek Citadel Years 2 CD Set

From Deniz...

"I wrote Steel Beach while in the middle of the Indian Ocean in the mid 80's. On the aircraft carrier, they shut down flight ops and gave everyone a day off about once a month, usually on a Sunday. They cleared off an area of the deck, and set up BBQ's, made sliders, and sailors and airmen put their towels down and lie in the sun... they called it Steel Beach. I used that image, but of course took it in my own strange direction for the song lyrics. It's an electric blues in the classic sense." Deniz Tek

Download Steel Beach for free!


Deniz Tek and my favorite twin brothers the Godoy Twins (Art and Steve) are gearing up to play this weekend on the east coast. So wish I could be there but hopefully they will be here in Ann Arbor soon.. I have a ton of Deniz' music that he gave me or fans have sent in to me. Yesterday I clicked on "Steel Beach". It just haunted me for almost 48 hours.

I have played it over and over and each time I hear something new in Deniz' lyric and his gorgeous guitar. Steel beach, Deniz's song . I never sang it.I like that song too . Its refers to the ship an LST? Marine helicopter carrier.. equatorial hot, surrounded by water, but no swim. just steel.Sun on Steel must have been rather uncomfortable "Like a hammer from the sun's mind" Mark Sisto Here is a recent video Deniz Tek with Andy Newman , Steve and Art Godoy live @ the Patch , 3 April 2011 Wollongong , Australia ..OZ Tour 2011


Deniz Tek began his solo career in 1992 with the recording of the album Take It To The Vertical. The assembled studio band included Chris Masuak from Radio Birdman, Scott Asheton from the Stooges and Dust Peterson from Dust and the Rotorheads. The album was produced and financed by Deniz with Andy Mort Bradley engineering at the Sugar Hill studios in Houston, Texas.

The album was sold to Red Eye Records, a subsidiary arm of Polydor Australia. It marked the beginning of an ill starred relationship with the major label.
The band, with Bob Brown replacing Dust on bass, later toured Australia and then self destructed after experiencing artistic success on the one hand but a hideously mismanaged, near career destroying financial disaster on the other.

Madhatter Deniz and Mark Sisto

From the ashes of the conflagration emerged a stable line-up that featured Celibate Rifles' Kent Steedman on guitar and Nik Rieth on drums along with ex New Christs and Barracudas' bass player Jim Dickson. The new band rehearsed, recorded and began playing shows around Australia in mid 1993. This line-up was to become known as The Deniz Tek Group.
Early 1994 saw them release the hard rock album Outside on Red Eye. This release was followed by a national Australian tour, and then in 1995 a gruelling world tour encompassing Australia, Europe and the west coast of America. In early 1995, while in Australia, they recorded the EP 444 The Number Of The Beat, mislabeled by the Red Eye art department as 4-4. Perhaps ominous for looming trouble, the label didn't find it worth the effort to correct the error.

One of Deniz' most beautiful songs for me is "Miss You Too Much" with my friend Mark Sisto on vocals with The Visitors. The Visitors was a self-titled album from the band The Visitors released in 1983. The album was originally recorded under the Radio Birdman label Trafalgar Music, and the tapes were left to sit for four years with no interest bar the Phantom EP release.

Mark Sisto Deniz Tek

The insistence of Citadel to make the material available convinced Trafalgar into agreeing to allow Citadel to finance the remixes. Deniz was available for the remixes that were done at EMI 301's eight-track studio. However, he was not available to assist with the artwork, and the process ultimately took longer than expected.

Deniz and I first met in December 2009. He came to Ann Arbor to play in Chris Taylor's Ann Arbor Rock and Roll Revival. It was such fun to see Deniz when Madhatter walked into the green room at The Blind Pig... LOL

NICKOLAS ASHFORD PASSED AWAY...


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Songwriter Nickolas Ashford, who penned such rhythm and blues hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "I'm Every Woman" with his wife Valerie Simpson, died on Monday at age 70.


Ashford, who had been treated for cancer, died at a New York hospital with his family at his side, publicist Liz Rosenberg told Reuters.

A native of South Carolina, Ashford met Simpson in the early 1960s at White Rock Baptist Church in Harlem, after he moved to New York to pursue a career in entertainment and found himself homeless.


Simpson played the piano and sang in a church choir, which Ashford soon joined. The two began writing songs together and had their breakthrough hit in 1966 when Ray Charles released their composition "Let's Go Get Stoned." FULL STORY HERE

JOINT STATEMENT FROM LEGENDARY R&B PRODUCTION TEAM

KENNETH GAMBLE & LEON HUFF

ON THE PASSING OF NICK ASHFORD OF LEGENDARY MOTOWN SONGWRITING DUO ASHFORD & SIMPSON

Ashford produced Gamble & Huff smash “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” for Motown; Ashford & Simpson were key link between Motown Sound and Sound of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – “Nick Ashford was truly one of our favorite songwriting colleagues and producers. He and Valerie Simpson had a major impact on Gamble & Huff's songwriting career, as Nick was responsible for producing a song we wrote, ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,’ with Motown. Nick heard the song after we wrote it for Dee Dee Warwick and made it a major hit for Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations together. We also worked with Ashford & Simpson on ‘Is It Still Good to You,’ which they wrote for Teddy Pendergrass, and they did an excellent job. We’re longtime admirers of Ashford & Simpson as one of the greatest songwriting teams ever. Nick was a multi-talented artist, and he will be truly, truly missed by both of us.”

Gamble & Huff are among the most prolific professional songwriting teams of all time, having written and produced over 3,000 songs within 35 years, an output that rivals Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Leiber & Stoller and Holland-Dozier-Holland. Their message songs of peace, love, empowerment, social conscience and turmoil sold millions of records, as they fashioned the sweet, sexy, stirring, socially conscious Philly Sound at Philadelphia International Records (PIR).

www.gamble-huffmusic.com


Contact:

Randy Alexander / Randex Communications
856-596-1410 office / 609-280-6140 mobile
randex@randexpr.com
www.randexpr.com

8.22.2011

CSC FUNK BAND DEBUT THEIR NEW ALBUM TOMORROW!


This just in and I LOVE it! Play this MP3! Had Kimmer dancing around the office!

Brooklyn's CSC Funk Band will be releasing their debut album 'Things Are Getting Too Casual' tomorrow on Fat Beats Records on CD/Vinyl/Digital. The band that Time Out NY says, "Hectic '70s-style jams nodding to James Brown, Fela, and other icons of groove." will also be celebrating in NYC with 2 release parties.

In 2010 the group released two 7”s on drummer Jim Thomson’s Electric Cowbell Records: “Bad Banana Bread/Caneca” and a split with Stuart Bogie (Antibalas, Iron and Wine). Once the band’s Electric Cowbell 45’s caught the attention of Brooklyn’s legendary Fat Beats Records, the idea of a proper full-length release for 2011 began to take shape.

CSC FUNK BAND ON TWITTER CSC FUNK BAND ON FACEBOOK

The album balances slightly urgent and mildly aggressive tracks such as “Canaca” and “Fiesta” with more chill and casual tracks such as “Bad Banana Bread” and “Funk Shoppe.” Explains Jim, “The latter could be the soundtrack for when you’re searching for that spot in the grass to put your picnic blanket while the former tracks mentioned have that car chase under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway at the end-of-the-world-Mayan-calendar vibe.”


NEW MP3 TO POST "Bad Banana Bread" / Live in Providence at AS220

The band is hot on the heels of two sought after 45′s, an Official Record Store Day 2011 limited edition 7” featuring an exclusive remix of “A Troll’s Soiree” and a 7” single featuring a track from critically acclaimed Light in the Attic DVD “Wheedle’s Groove.” Two great collector tracks to keep you satisfied until the band’s debut drops. Things Are Getting Too Casual will be released via full-length vinyl, CD, and digitally.

8.19.2011

WEST MEMPHIS THREE SET FREE!


I have been watching this case for over a decade. Honestly I feel that these kids were railroaded. Particularly Damien Echols... Damien was "Goth" before Goth became the uniform for millions of American Teenagers. He read pagan books and had a dark demeanor as do a lot of rebellious teenagers. But because he was "different" they pinned this terrible murder of 3 Cub Scouts on Damien as the leader. After reading alot books, tv shows, and stories online, I feel like I know these kids. The 3 had a lot of celebrity support including Johnny Depp. I am glad they are free.

JONESBORO, Ark. - Three men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts and dumping their naked bodies in an Arkansas ditch have been allowed to change their pleas and will be freed after nearly two decades in prison.


The so-called West Memphis Three agreed to a legal maneuver that lets them maintain their innocence while acknowledging prosecutors likely have enough evidence to convict them.

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3

WM3 left prison with all belongings; source says they are not expected back

by Mara Leveritt on August 18, 2011


Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. have been taken from their cells in the Arkansas Department of Correction and are being transported to Jonesboro, for tomorrow’s hearing. An official of the ADC reported that they left with all their belongings, which is unusual and suggests that they are not expected back. This is the first time all three have left prison together.

8.17.2011

RETURN TO FOREVER IV


Return to Forever is a jazz fusion group founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Through its existence, the band has cycled through a number of different members, with the only consistent band mate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke (Stanley Clarke is my favorite Bass man of all time).

Along with Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever is often cited as one of the core groups of the jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Several musicians, including Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Al Di Meola, first came to prominence through their performances on Return to Forever's albums.


After playing on Miles Davis's groundbreaking jazz-fusion albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, Corea formed an avant-garde jazz band called Circle with Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton and Barry Altschul.

However in 1972, after having become a disciple of Scientology, Corea decided that he wanted to better "communicate" with the audience. This essentially translated into his performing a more popularly accessible style of music, since avant-garde jazz enjoyed a relatively small audience.

THIS FRIDAY: THE NINES AND THE MUGGS!!!

HEY GANG MEET ME IN YPSILANTI THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!

The NiNeS Reverbnation

This Friday we are going to hang out in Ypsilanti! with The MUGGS and the NINES....We haven't been to Woodruffs in a long time... It used to be the coolest bar in Ypsi and before that it was The Huron Hotel. I would like to see what the new remodeling looks like...

Our new friend Randy's son Kevin is in the NiNeS and Randy invited Kimmer and Lesley to come out... Should be fun!

Here is a bit bio from the NiNeS Facebook Page


Hard Blues, Garage and Psychedelic Rock
Members
Ian Kirwan
Kevin Bernard
Greg Ornazian

Hard Blues, Garage and Psychedelic Rock and Roll tossed into a blender and turned on high!
The NiNeS, formed in early 2010, have busted down the doors of the “New Generation” rock scene. The band layers Ian Kirwan's (Dangerous Pursuit) vintage “Dirty” guitar work and road-seasoned vocals with dynamic riffs and lyrical stories to create a genre defining sound chocked full of rock for a new generation of fans.

The band also features, Kevin Bernard (The Black Page) on the bottom end and Greg Ornazian's shotgun style on the kicks. This potent combination cranks out, blistering micro-anthems embodying that basic Rock and Roll steamroller aesthetic. Ultimately, it's “the NiNeS” live show that generates the most enthusiastic reviews. "Like your best friend's older brother's cool band . . . A kick ass show."

They perform without binding to convention, and without regard to perfection or even to the constraints of generic sound. Highs shriek, lows rumble, and no matter the size of the venue, rooms rattle. People stop what they’re doing and watch. In the end, “the NiNeS” consider themselves to be very simply…. a rock and roll band. They eschew convention and boundaries in favor of pushing the envelope. They enjoy the freedom of making rock music, and take full advantage of the inherent rights it gives the artist to do anything that they want. ..

8.12.2011

RETROKIMMER: IVAN JULIAN THE NAKED FLAME!!!

Ivan Julian

Deniz Tek and Ivan Julian are on the same bill at the end of this month... Ivan is very exciting... Wow!! Don't miss this show... Photographer Anne Laurent sent over some bio/photos/video of the handsome Ivan Julian to share with my readers.... Here my friends is IVAN JULIAN!


“I started playing in bands when I was 13 years old, and that’s when I decided that music would be my life,” states Ivan Julian. “It’s always been important to me to be what I do, and not leave it behind at 5 o’clock.

Although his new release The Naked Flame is his first album under his own name, Ivan Julian has been one of rock’s most celebrated players and most in-demand collaborators for more than three decades. The album, Julian’s first collection of his own songs in more than 20 years, finds the veteran guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer effortlessly stepping back into the role of frontman/bandleader. The Naked Flame features a dozen compelling new songs that benefit from Julian’s commanding performances as well as his seasoned studio skills, which give the tracks a timeless warmth and immediacy.


The Naked Flame draws upon Julian’s extensive musical background, while exploring some exciting new songwriting territory. Such rousing original compositions as “The Waves,” “Hardwired” and “A Young Man’s Money” combine raw-nerved electricity with adult lyrical insight, while the bittersweet “You Is Dead” (partially inspired by Julian’s friend and former bandmate, the late Robert Quine) meditates upon loss with warmth and humor.


In addition to Julian’s own compositions, The Naked Flame features a pair of inspired cover tunes: a haunting reworking of Lucinda Williams’ “Broken Butterflies,” and a bracing reading of “The Beat,” originally recorded by Alejandro Escovedo’s old new wave outfit the Nuns.

In 1977, Julian returned to the U.S. and settled in New York, just in time to become a key participant in the emerging punk rock movement. He became a founding member of the seminal Richard Hell and the Voidoids, playing alongside trend-setting punk poet Hell, fabled guitarist Robert Quine and drummer Marc Bell (a.k.a. Marky Ramone). Julian’s instrumental and songwriting contributions to the band’s classic album Blank Generation established him as one of the scene’s most acclaimed and influential axemen.

After the Voidoids disbanded in 1980, Julian stepped out front to form the Outsets as a vehicle for his own vocal and songwriting efforts. Incorporating rock, funk and African rhythms, the Outsets became a beloved fixture on New York’s burgeoning club scene, winning considerable critical acclaim for such releases as the debut single “I’m Searchin’ for You”/”Fever,” a self-titled Garland Jeffreys-produced EP and the posthumously released The Punk/Funk Voodoo Collection. Julian’s next band, the Lovelies, which teamed him with Bush Tetras singer Cynthia Sley, also won substantial local attention, releasing the acclaimed Mad Orphan in 1988.

8.11.2011

DICK WAGNER AND STEVE HUNTER! AMAZING GUITARISTS!!

Guitar Legends Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner

**UPDATE**

Dick Wagner has to reschedule his September dates for November 11. H is having a medical procedure and will recover fully in time to be at The Magic Bag with Donny Hartman!

Get well Soon My Dear Friend...

Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter have had amazing rock careers forever and continue on to this day. Dick as I wrote last week is coming to Detroit for 2 gigs in September and I am so geeked to finally meet him in person.... Check out the video Kimmer created for him last Saturday

Steve Hunter is currently on tour. Steve's lovely wife Karen Ann will be sending me photos and backstage stories for my readers.. Can't wait for those images to come in to RK.

Steve and Dick began playing together as a team with Lou Reed... They are just incredible as Alice Cooper describes in this part 1 series... Visit You Tube for the other parts of the series.

Steve and I were approached by my friend Jeremy Lanni,a film producer and director, who wanted us to do a full length documentary on our relationship. It was gonna be called "Rock n Roll Animals" and we could have a chance to tell the stories behind our gunslingin' days.

Steve and I actually sat down with Jeremy and conducted through the first half of the interview part of the documentary, live performance footage being the other half. I had written and recorded a soundtrack for one of Jeremy's earlier movies, so I knew him well, and trusted him. Steve soured on the idea and wouldn't really do anymore to advance the forward motion of this project, so what you see is all you get. "Rock and Roll Animals"...short but sweet.


Dick Wagner


Read More on RK

Dick Wagner is Coming to Detroit!

Dick Wagner's Top 10 Influences

Steve Hunter's Custom Gretsch Guitars


Karen Ann Hunter's New CD!

BRIAN VANDER ARK: ANTHEM FOR DETROIT!!

Brian Vander Ark

Tomorrow the fabulous Brian Vander Ark lead singer for The Verve Pipe and a solo artist as well will be on the air with Bob Bauer of UDetroit.com. Brian will be on between 4:00 /4:30 PM tomorrow.

Pumping Up the Volume on the positive side of Detroit...From the Detroiters who live here to the Red Wings, Tigers,and Lions we have a new anthem that shares our energy with the world.. Yes we are PROUD to be from Detroit!


Read More on RK

Brian Vander Ark's New Solo Cd Magazine

STEVE KOSTAN: W4 ROCKED FM DETROIT RADIO!


This is so cool... Jack Ashton sent me these photos and gave me a lot of behind the scenes info of Detroit Rocks radio station WWWW FM... W4 was my personal favorite of all the Detroit Radio Stations of the 70's.. Here is a bit of history of W4 FM...

Steve Kostan Jack Ashton

Steve Kostan was a DJ at W4 and just recently he was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame for broadcasting. Steve has been a fixture in Detroit radio forever and has been one of my personal favorites from the beginning..We are very happy for Steve... Kostan and Detroit Rock will be tied together in the history books...

W4 staff and DJ's

 Some of the staff from WWWW FM are from left to right... Jim Jefferson MD Jim McKean Karen Savelly Michael Benner and Jerry Lubin who I met at Flintstock last summer with the Madhatter...


What a great shot that captures the Detroit Rock back in the early 70's. Not sure who the guy on the far left is but we have a very young Mark McKuen from the CBS Early Show. Then we have Lynn Woodison, Steve Kostan, Doug Podell and not sure who the guy sitting on the floor is just yet.. I'll ask Steve and Doug they'll know.Doug says...Rick Waldecker was the man sitting down in the W4 Promo shot.

Jack with The Hello People

The Hello People ABC Records Party from left to right....Michael Benner, Jim Jefferson, PD Paul Sullivan, Dick Williams Regional Rep for ABC records, Steve Resnick National Promotion/LA ABC Records Jack Ashton Local (Detroit) Promotion/ABC records, other three guys are from the band Hello People.. Promotion party on a lake near Birmingham, Michigan

The Hello People Band were famous for recording Todd Rundgren's song "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference". Todd also produced the HP band. They wore stage makeup long before KISS.


JOHNNY BEE: THE UNFILTERED ART SHOW


Hi Kim, here's the card the announces The Unfiltered Art Show. A show of Outsider Art at The Funhouse Gallery which is at The Russell Industrial Center. The opening is on Saturday night August 20th 6:00PM till 9:00PM.



8.10.2011

GAVIN MCGRAW IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL..


Gavin DeGraw has been released from the hospital, following a violent attack on the singer in the early hours of Monday morning in New York City. DeGraw tweeted on Tuesday, "Hi my friends. Honestly, I don't remember much. I only know I can recover from here. I only know I can recover from here. Thank u for your genuine concern. I love u guys."

As reported yesterday, DeGraw suffered a concussion, a broken nose, black eyes, cuts and bruises, after being attacked early Monday morning on the street, just blocks from a bar he co-owns with his brother Joey. DeGraw later stumbled into the street, where he was reportedly hit by a cab.

Joey DeGraw told the New York Post that his brother was not drunk at the time of the incident and "had nothing but cranberry juice to drink" that night.

DeGraw has cancelled the rest of his concerts and appearances through at least this weekend. He has been on tour opening for Maroon 5 and Train, and will release a new album, Sweeter, on September 20.

SHARON TATE MURDER 44 YEARS AGO TODAY

Sharon Tate

In honor of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent who were murdered 44 years ago today... I am not going to mention any of their killers. I am just going to post videos of how beautiful these people were until that horrible and fateful day in 1969.




Read More on RK

SCOTT ASHETON REPLACED FOR SUMMER STOOGES TOUR...


Knoxville expatriate Larry Mullins (right) is replacing Stooges drummer Scott Asheton (left), who is ill, for the band’s summer tour.

Well it is official Rock Action is home and recuperating from an illness that affected him while on tour in Europe. Rock and family are back home in California and mutual friends say he is doing much better.




Now Mullins is touring with one of the most influential bands of all time, Iggy and the Stooges. With original drummer Scott Asheton sidelined with stomach problems, the Stooges needed a replacement fast to meet several high-profile festival commitments. So Mullins, who had already performed the Stooges repertoire hundreds of times with Iggy Pop, was the ideal candidate. The call came from none other than Iggy himself. Full Story from Metro Pulse

“It was just as surprising as the first time he called in 1990,” Mullins says. “It was his first call in 12 years, so I knew it was serious. Scotty had gone into the hospital the day before, and they had no time to think twice.”

I heard that Larry is doing a kick ass job sitting in for the legendary Rock last weekend in France... One of my best friends and Scott Asheton's Dennis Machinegun Thompson of the MC5 was back stage watching Larry with a very technical eye. MGT thought Larry did a phenomenal job at the kit. As the saying goes..."The Show Must Go On..."

We wish The Stooges all the best and our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott and his family.

I am so happy I got to see Rock in person at the Michigan Theater Stooges show this past April. I had such great seats and I really enjoyed watching him play... Thank you Heather and Natalie xxook

Scott Asheton Facebook
Rock Action Myspace
Stooges Forum Get Well Page
Scott Asheton /IggyPop

RETROKIMMER: OVER 1000 STORIES POSTED!!!


Well gang I woke up this morning and without realizing it I had cracked over 1004 stories posted on this blog! OMG that is 3 books!!! Anyone have a publisher for Kimmer??? Wow! I thought today I would tell the story of how Kimmer started going out to gigs with cameras and began the very coolest period of my life so far.....

Back in 2009 I began working with Dennis "Machinegun" Thompson the legendary drummer of the MC5. We collaborated on creating Machinegun's Blog and his MySpace/Facebook/Twitter etc...

One day Dennis received an invitation to sit in with The DoGs who were coming to Ann Arbor... He was happy to do it, but he had to cancel at the last minute. So after spending a lot of time talking to Loren Molinari about his band I decided to go see them play.

Took a few of my friends and 4 photographers from my friend Kirk's page the Motor City Blog... The DoGs were great and the show was such fun! I got home at 4 am!!! Beat but thrilled... So that gig started getting Kimmer invites to everything! Now I don't get out as much but I will always remember The DoGs!!!



8.09.2011

MITCH RYDER PRODUCED BY JOHN MELLENCAMP


John Mellencamp and Mitch Ryder

Jack Ashton: Here is the day it started. I took John to WLLZ for a Radio interview. He saw a photo of Mitch Ryder. John wanted to know how to get in touch with Mitch.


DJ Jerry Lubin doing an air shift at WLLZ at the time made the call to Mitch. The rest you can see is history.


The Album "Never Kick A Sleeping Dog" came out on Polygram the same label as John "Cougar" Mellencamp. The first single off the album was "When You Were Mine" John Produced the album.

ARTHUR CONLEY STORY...SWEET SOUL MUSIC

Entrance at the Vorden Cemetary, near Ruurloo

Everyone come to me, and I shall give you peace (Vorden General cemetery)

This is a great piece... After we posted photos of Jackie Wilson's resting place... Dennis Blom a friend from Facebook wrote in to tell me that Arthur Conley (the great soul singer of Sweet Soul Music and more)...was buried near his home in Zwolle, Netherlands. Dennis went out with his camera and shot some photos to share with my readers! How cool is that??

THANK YOU DENNIS...XXOOK


From Dennis:

After a rainy start of the day, the sun is starting to shine as I arrive at the cemetary where Arthur Conley has been laid to rest. After his success and the death of his idol (Otis Redding), Conley went to Europe in the 70's to disappear into anonymity.

First in Antwerp, then Amsterdam, in the multicultural Bijlmer. Then to the small town of Ruurlo. This was where he and his love Jos lived and worked, for Conley was a homosexual. In Ruurlo nobody thought strange about this relationship and they could live in peace. Conley by this time had almost nothing to do with music and the stardom he had in the years before.


He did do a single with a group from Amsterdam, under his alias Robert Lee (the first name of his mother). At the cemetary nothing will remind you that here lies a man who has world fame with his single 'Sweet soul music'. There are a couple of family tombs and a field for the ashes of the cremated. It's was a bit difficult to find his grave, luckily I had a photograph from another visitor, found on the internet.


And after a couple of rounds I found the grave. Not even a tombstone to remind us who lies here , but only a couple of flowers and plants. If it wasn't for the cd case on the grave, nobody would have known who has been laid there. As the keeper of the cemetery puts it: 'If they can't afford a gravestone, then we put the coffin in the ground and we put a small garden on top. ' Conley was buried here after he died from cancer at the age of 57, the people who knew him remember he was a gentle and kind man. And that's how he will be remembered.


Walking back to the gate there is a line from a local poet:
'Out of the night rises morning red, life out of death'

Read More about Arthur Conley's Life

Read More on RK
Otis Redding
Sam and Dave
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