Don’t you love George Harrison’s solo on “Here Comes the Sun?”  Oh that’s right, it was cut from the 1969 single!  However, the late guitarist’s son, Dhani (Pron: Dhanny), along with Beatles producer George Martin and his son, Giles, recently (more...)

Van Halen fans have been talking about how the music on the band’s upcoming album, A Different Kind of Truth, is old, and now, singer David Lee Roth is explaining where the guys got the tunes from.  The rocker told the L-A Times that some of the music on the record is indeed (more...)

ON FEBRUARY 1^ST…

In 1964…The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” started a seven-week run as the best-selling single in America.

 

In 1964…The governor of Indiana declared that the song “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen was pornographic. He requested that the state's radio stations not play the song.

 

In 1963…Neil Young, at age 17, performed his first professional date at a country club in Winnipeg, Canada.

  (more...)

Today (1/31), Ringo Starr released his latest solo album, Ringo 2012.  It’s the legendary drummer’s 17^th solo record so we asked him if anything has changed with songwriting for him over the years. “I don’t think it’s any different now.  You know, you (more...)

Last week, The Doors released the 40^th anniversary edition of their iconic album, L-A Woman.  Along with the original record, the re-issue includes a second disc of bonus footage including the newly discovered track “She Smells So Nice” plus eight never-before-heard versions of songs from the album.  So what did drummer John Densmore think when he was asked about releasing alternate versions?  He let us know. “Outtakes are supposed to be outtakes, what the hell is going on here?  But I’m a jazz buff and I have a Coltrane album with six takes (more...)

ON JANUARY 31^ST…

In 1964…In an interview with the Toronto Telegram, Bob Dylan said he was working on a novel and a play.

 

In 1964…Sales figures showed that The Beatles' "She Loves You" had sold 1.3-million copies in England, while "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had sold 1.5 million.

 

In 1967…At an antique shop in Kent, England, John Lennon, who was filming the promo clip for "Strawberry Fields Forever" nearby, purchased an 1843 circus poster reading "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

  (more...)

Today (1/30), Phil Collins turns 61 years old.  The drummer-turned singer knew at an early age he loved being behind the kit, but he also understood that he couldn’t be in a band as a teen, so he turned to acting, including a role in a London production of Oliver.  Phil told us about how that all came about. “I was playing drums when I was five so I really didn’t want to do anything other than that. But of course, back then, you couldn’t do that kind of thing, you couldn’t be a professional musician until you’ve been through college (more...)

ON JANUARY 27^TH…

In 1956…Elvis Presley released his first number-one single, "Heartbreak Hotel."

 

In 1964…The Rolling Stones appeared on British television's Juke Box Jury, where they passed judgment on that week's single releases.

 

In 1968…The Bee Gees made their U-S debut with a concert at the Anaheim Convention Center near L-A.

  (more...)