Reviews
The Yardbirds – Rams Head On Stage 9/11/11
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 by The Professor
Electrified British Blues
Keeping the stage stoked with five live Yardbirds
by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
September 11, 2011. The magic of music has the power to help in healing. The Yardbirds swopped into Annapolis, Maryland, on this most moving anniversary only a decade beyond that Tuesday ten years ago when four paasenger airplanes carrying American citizens were transformed into flying bombs by evil cowardly terrorists to attack unsuspecting targets in New York City and at the Pentagon. A fourth plane was scuttled over Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania. (more…)
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Top 10 Guitarists Most Influential on Rock n’ Roll #5
Friday, August 12th, 2011 by The Professor
I think we can all accept the basic premise that “Rock n’ Roll” began in the 1950′s. Yes, we can trace it’s roots back, and we can debate which songs were the ‘first’ and which artists did what at the very beginning all day long. What we cannot debate, (or at least you can but I will ignore you) is the singular importance of a beautician/guitar-slinger from St. Louis. He spent the end of his teenage years in reform school (how perfect a beginning for the rebellious teenage sound) and later worked at a GM factory while going to night school for cosmetology. His break came from a 1955 meeting with Leonard Chess (with an introduction by Muddy Waters no less) and Leonard’s love of a demo of a song then called “Ida May” (or “Ida Red”). Leonard renamed it, they cut a single, Leonard handed it to DJ Alan Freed (including a co-writing credit as a bribe) and suddenly “Maybellene” smashed the charts. (more…)
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Top 10 Guitarists Most Influential on Rock n’ Roll #4
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 by The Professor
Well this is a tough one, because I wanted to choose between 2 (of the many) huge influences from the Jazz world and that’s really hard. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Charlie Christian, and he’s frequently credited with being the guy that made the guitar a central focal point in Jazz bands, rather than the more common rhythm section instrument. Charlie’s playing was fantastic and he had a huge influence, particularly with the early electric guitar. Charlie’s amazing playing was unfortunately cut short at the young age of 23 by Tuberculosis (which likewise claimed country guitar great and list candidate Jimmie Rogers at 35).
But when no less a guitar genius than Jeff Beck says “By far the most astonishing guitar player ever has got to be Django Reinhardt.” or Les Paul says, “When I heard him, well, I might as well be selling shoes.” and when Chet Atkins placed Django #1 on his list of the greatest guitarists it pretty much sealed the deal. So… (more…)
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Top 10 Guitarists Most Influential on Rock n’ Roll #3
Monday, August 8th, 2011 by The Professor
How do you select which of the great early rock instrumentalists was the one that had the most influence? The first serious solid body electric guitars were new and everyone was starting to experiment. So many players left their mark. How do you not include Duane Eddy, whose “Rebel Rouser” and many other hits defined the early ‘twang’ of an electric guitar? Or do you include Link Wray, whose “Rumble” and leather and shades look brought the undercurrent of angry rebellion to Rock? Wray’s deep and dangerous sounds were hugely influential on the future development of the ‘metal’ sound and much of the late 60′s hard rock movement. These are both incredible pioneers but I have to go with the king of Surf for his extensive and lasting contributions to Rock. (more…)
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Top 10 Guitarists Most Influential on Rock n’ Roll #2
Saturday, August 6th, 2011 by The Professor
Choosing a Top 10 is almost impossible, and choosing which of the early Bluesmen to not include is even harder. Can you not include Bukka White, Skip James, Elmore James, Son House, Tampa Red or Charlie Patton? Each of them had a huge influence on early Blues players, and experienced a revival in the 60′s that was the very backbone of the ‘British Invasion’. Look at a list of the covers chosen by the early Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, etc… There is only one early Blues musician who simply MUST be on this list, no option. (more…)
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