versiunea 1.3. redux (incl. ROCKLAND & alinland)
George Harrison would've been 83 today....Living in the Material World...
When he died George was only 58....He became my hero in highschool with his hit album Cloud Nine (1987). I love most his stuff with The Travelling Willburys...
Now only Jeff Lynne and His Bobness still around here....
Albums:
1. The Waterboys -The Life and Death of Dennis Hopper
nothing gets closer to this. 5 stars out of Five !
If there ever was a musical biopic this is it...
Sad news before Xmas...
Chris Rea is no longer Driving Home for Christmas...
The English blues player and singer was 74.
Rea recorded 25 studio albums, two of which topped the UK Albums Chart, The Road to Hell in 1989 and its follow-up, Auberge, in 1991.
He did the music for La Passione in 1996, film he wrote and produced about racing cars and Ferrari, Rea being a racing driver himself.
He also had the lead in the pythonesque black comedy Parting Shots (1998, directed by Michael Winner), next to Ben Kingsley, Oliver Reed and John Cleese. The film can been on youtube, here.
He had an Italian father and Irish mother - his family were in the ice cream business.
Chris Rea had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 33, a lot of other health issues folllowing it, but he lived and played, album after album, gig after gig, until a stroke in 2016...
He played Bucharest's Sala Palatului, on February 6th 2010 -my memories and review here.
His last album was a compilation, The Christmas Album, released on October 17, 2025....
Obit on BBC here
Jack De Johnette was one of the greatests of Jazz. Brilliant drummer and pianist, played with Miles Davis (Bitches Brew and live LPs). He was 83.
Played in Romania at Sala Radio in Bucharest in 2016 as a trio with Ravi Coltrane on sax and Bill Garrison on bass. That same year he played also Garana Jazz Festival in the same lineup.
"I think playing with Miles, with Dave Holland, Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter was a very exciting period. We always couldn’t wait to get on the bandstand to see what kind of mischief we could get into.”
Rick Davies, the keyboardist of Supertramp (on Wurlitzer), and founding member in 1969, died on Sept. 6th 2025 at 81 :(
He stayed with the band after Roger Hodgson's departure, in 1983.
Supertramp was one of my favorite bands in the 80's, and in the 90's too, following my exposure to the vinyl of Breakfast in America (1979), which I kept and played to exhaustion. Then saw the vhs of Paris Live and later on I taped and then bought all their CD's, classic perios era. Saw only Roger Hodgson live in 2019 in Bucharest...
Rolling Stone obit here
....somehow weird and macabre that my last post was Back to the Beginning about OZZY and his celebration...now Ozzy has left the building...I think happier than before this last fantastic gig...
RIP Ozzy Osbourne, Sweet Prince (of Darkness also;), the Man, The Legend, the History of Heavy Metal Incarnate...saw him with Black Sabbath in Sofia and Solo in Bucharest. He was a good (and more than virtual friend of mine since 8th grade, faithful during his eighties excess (with a soft spot for the Randy Rhoades tragedy, the Alamo showdown, the Sharon incidents and the Bat kill) , his 90's comeback (No More Tears and Ozzmosis), and the 2000's Sabbath Reunions and peace agreements. I even watched some of The Osbournes, who made him really a star in the US. In my first Doc and Roll festival in Brasov back in 2014 we showed a great doc about him, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne –2011, after which screening even my mom liked him ;) (they were born the same day... )
...oddly just two days ago I was listening to his penultimatealbum, Ordinary Man . One of my Top albums of 2020. It's an album marked by death and loss, ike Sabbath's The End (2016). His last was Patient No. 9 in 2022, featuring the late now Jeff Beck.
End of an Era. Full Point.
As he was a fan of John Lennon, the Working Class Hero song would've suited him (Ozzy had a cover of Lennon's signature song on his cover album Under Cover from 2005)...
Just on my first day in Ireland, the evening of July 11th, while stopping on a gas station I got the X notice, from Keith Richards, "goodbye Brian Wilson"...Then the news and the social media were flooded, the next day's newspaper in Dublin had a one page obituary, all my facebook, even the radio played his songs...Took me 5 days to get to write this...(adapter/charger/chord problems plus 1 PIL & 1 NIN)
I saw Brian Wilson in Lyon in July 2017, at Théâtre Antique de Fourvière (Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, avec Toubib Mishu). I cam all the way from Grossmann Fest in Slovenia, via Zagreb and Milan, and left afterwards to Geneva for Sardegna. It was a detour and a stop I wanted to do and I am so happy I did. It was a magical, wonderful evening, filled with uplifting songs.
Here's the setlist , he played Beach Boys songs and then Pet Sounds live, ending it with Love and Mercy, the title of his biopic picture from 2014 (as Love & Mercy), where he was played by Paul Dano (young) and John Cusack (old). That film dealt with his recovering from psychosis and forced medication, a very dark long chapter in Brian Wilson's life. He was, as his song says, not a man on his times. The dark side of Genius. Cos' Wilson is one of the greatest genius in XXth century music, admired by his peers, McCartney, Lennon, Dylan, Neil Young, etc. If The Beach Boys wouldn't put out Pet Sounds in 1966 (and the lost 1967 Beach Boys unfinished album, updated and completed by BW in his master Opus, SMILE, in 2004), there wouldn't have been no Beatles' Revolver, then Sgt. Pepper, then no Their Satanic Majesties, and maybe no Tommy and no Dark Side of the Moon. God Only Knows ...
Good Bye Brian...it was an honor to see you live and I thank Uncut magazine for introducing me to your work, on Smile era.
The Revenge of Alice Cooper, the new album by Alice Cooper featuring his original group after more than 50 years off (Muscle of Love in 1973), will be out on July 25th 2025 !!! The 1st single was Black Mamba (out on youtube in April), fearturing Robby Krieger (The Doors).
Inspired by the iconic 1953 film The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the track captures the same defiant spirit that once shocked middle America and defined a generation. Reuniting five decades after their rise to fame, the band channels the chaos, danger, and cool of their early days, a time when rock was feared, eyeliner was scandalous, and every show felt like a revolution. "Wild Ones" is the sound of the Alice Cooper Group with their engines roaring, still loud, still dangerous, and still not asking for permission. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wild Ones We are the wild ones crashin' through the night Livin' in the shadows, hidden from the light Revving up our engines, sharpening our claws Cause baby when you're hungry, the jungle is the law Oh, runnin' with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Yeah, we're the wild ones, we live in every town We own the city streets, we rule the underground, There is no cagin' us, you'll suffer if you try We got the rage in us, cause it makes us feel alive Oh, runnin' with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones, wild ones Can you feel it, rolling thunder, Lose your mind and drag you under Can you see it, getting' higher Cause it's burning, burning like a fire We are the damned ones, this is the life we choose There's no redemption and nothin' left to lose. If you see us coming, you won't have time to pray When you hear the motors gunning, just get out of our way Yeah, runnin with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones, wild ones Can you feel it, rolling thunder, Lose your mind and drag you under Can you see it, getting' higher Cause it's burning, like a fire
Finally ! On April 4, the most expected album (in any sense, and for me in special) by Mike Scott's The Waterboys is out. I announced here on Jan. 8 2025.
Vignetes about Golf (Hooper's latter passion), The Last Movie (his doomed film), Andy (Warhol), Michelle (Phillips), Frank Booth (from Blue Velvet), Terry Southern (who wrote Easy Rider), etc. Including a fake trailer for a biker movie, "Freaks on Wheels", a la Tarantino's latest films.
Post-modern, cool, eclectic, funky, groovy, mad -as Sir Dennis was ;) A wonderful heartfelt tribute, about the times and of Wild Pop Americana and one of True Legends of the Movieland (und more).
Reviews here:
Uncut -4 stars
**** 1/2 out of FIVE.
Life, Death and Dennis Hopper Track List
(where there are links you find the videos).
Hollywood’55
Live In The Moment, Baby
Brooke / 1712 North Crescent Heights
The Tourist (featuring Barny Fletcher)
Freaks On Wheels
Blues For Terry Southern
Memories Of Monterey
Riding Down To Mardi Gras
Transcendental Peruvian Blues
Michelle (Always Stay)
Freakout At The Mud Palace
Daria
Ten Years Gone (featuring Bruce Springsteen)
Rock Bottom
Frank (Let’s Fu*k)
Katherine (featuring Anana Kaye)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper
Venice, California (Victoria)/The Passing Of Hopper
Aftermath
There was one doc about Tom Petty, Peter Bogdaovich's exhaustive 4 hrs. Running Down a Dream (2007). Now there's also Somewhere You Feel Free (2021), about the amking of his album Wildflowers. And now this Lost documentary about Tom Petty in 1983. And the Heartbreakers. Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party came out in US theaters in 2024 for a few days, ultra limited. It's the 1st film (lost too) of Cameron Crowe. Featuring the grand weird desert video of "You Got Lucky" from Long After Dark (1982). And the outtakes. And the making of a director - C.C. -
Rolling Stone article here.
David Johanson from The New York Dolls to his alter ego Buster Pointdexter is gone. He was 75 (born Jan. 9th 1950). No more "Personality Crisis"... Amazingly he lived to be 75 while his bandmates (Johnny Thunders, Sylvain Sylvain, Arthur Kane, Jerry Nolan, Bill Murcia) and the other tough & rough dudes of the era are long gone and buried. The Dolls reunion album (only Johanson and Sylvain) in 2006 was entitled prophetically, "One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This". , (which incidentally I found & bought at the time on CD in Romania !).
In film, he was the Ghost of the Christmas Past in Scrooged (1988), Bill Murray being a friend of his.
*
Martin Scorsese (with David Tedeschi) directed a rockumentary, more like a concert film, Personality Crisis: For one Night Only for Showtime, in 2023.
it's a one night allshow with Johanson singing, crosscut with archival footage, interviews- talking funny about his life, a sort of comedic one, as his sense of humor was absolutely great !
He is one of the BIG ONES, of the stature of Iggy and the last of its time, only Patti Smith is still here....unfortunately the world today (hah..what world ?) has forgotten those wild dayz and wild people. Cos it seems they only cahanged t for a while, changed themselves and some of us, and the rest still conformed and zombified. Can't put Your Arms Around a Memory, oh yes, you can !!!
1st excerpt from the upcoming album by Mike Scott's The Waterboys' Life, Death And Dennis Hopper. (out on April 4).
song of the day and til now song of the year ;)
love the lines, "Are you ready for the most creative generation in over 2000 years? "
also reminds me a lot of Tom Petty...
& here are my Top albums of last year (2023)
The The -Ensoulment (could easily be the album of the year for me, lyricswise it's brilliant, poetry and elegy / eulogy
Bruce Dickinson -The Mandrake Project (and a cancelled concert :((()
Elbow-Audio Vertigo
Judas Priest -Invisible Shield
Deep Purple =1
Another masterful Bob Ezrin production with DP, his fifth with the band (starting with Now What ?! " in 2013), an elegant classy album of a bans that had nothing more to prove a long time ago, and now it's just having fun !
The Black Crowes-Happiness Bastards
-great comeback, Rock'nRolla ! their first album since 2009 !
Mark Knopfler-One Deep River -just good old MK !
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2 Fiction (part 1, in 2023's top)
Bill Wyman-Drive My Car -Wyman is 87 !
Like the Nick Cave (Wild God), liked The Cure, but they ain't my bands.
A mention to the new David Gilmour -Luck and Strange, but can't say the album satisfied me.
Liked more the Body Count version of "Confortably Numb" , featuring David Gilmour.
Discovered a new great band, punk garage rockin' Australian:
Amyl and the Sniffers -Cartoon Darkness
found out Kasabian reunited: Happenings
COMPILATION:
Various Artists: The Power of the Heart- A Tribute to Lou Reed
-featuring Keith Richards' Waiting for the Man !
ARCHIVE:
The Michael Schenker Group - Is It Loud Enough (Michael Schenker Group 1980-1983) 6 discs
*and what could be the 'anthem" of the year, the unreleased instrumental Edward & Eddie Van Halen song, Unfinished
BLUES:
Slash -Orgy of the Dead
Luke Winslow-King -Flash-A-Magic
Walter Trout-Broken
This sounds great !!! I hope it will be so !
Udpate, It's out NOW !!!
https://www.facebook.com/WaterboysMusic
Bill Wyman put out an album at 87. Drive My Car, some wonderful covers (among which a nice rendition of Thunder on the Mountain from Bob Dylan's and 3 originals. Sounds a lot like J.J. Cale....
87? Eighty-Seven ? This is definitely the oldest rock musician's album yet.
Also Wyman (former Rolling Stones bass player and co-founder) is retired from over 30 years (1993). In 1997 he formed The Rhythm Kings aka Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, more of a club band. He joined the Stones for last year's Hackney Diamonds, playing the bass on the "Live By the Sword" song.
Surely on my Top albums of 2024. Made my Day (and what a Day :)
Review on Louder, here.
"....but drive it Slow !!!"
Today Ian Hunter is 84 ! LMA to the great Mott the Hoople man !
One year ago same date he had put out his great album Defiance Part One, one of my faved albums of 2023 !
now Defiance Part 2 is out.
and a new song 2day, People (with the help of his friend and follower, Joe Elliott)
Concertul de azi este ANULAT nu aminat.
comunicatul s-a dat aseara la ora 23, cu mai putin de 24 de ore pina la concert ...:(
dupa ce am promovat la greu timp de 13 editii de #rocklandradio2024 concertul, si aici si aici si pe blog...
sanse de a-l vedea pe The Bruce mai sunt pe 16 iuLie la Sofia sau inainte la Zagreb, sau la Istanbul, mai aprope de noi. Altfel, Necropolis...
https://www.themandrakeproject.com/live/
Unfortunately, for reasons beyond our control, the Bruce Dickinson show in Bucharest has been cancelled. 💔
Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase (iaBilet.ro or Entertix.ro), as per Emagic's T&C and each ticketer's procedures.
Read the official statement below ⬇️
With huge regret Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project show is cancelled tomorrow (June 3rd) at Arenele Romane in Bucharest, Romania.
Various members of the band and crew have been affected by a flu-like virus since the start of the European leg of the tour, and by the London show Bruce was also starting to get sick. He managed to complete the Paris show, but by Groningen was having difficulties being able to sing at the standard both he and the fans expect. During last night’s show in Budapest it became obvious that Bruce was seriously unwell and, following advice, he now has to rest completely in order to preserve both his health and protect the rest of the shows on the tour.
Sadly, this means fans in Romania will miss out on seeing Bruce & his band perform at this time.
Bruce Dickinson says, “I have been pushing my voice through a viral infection for the past few shows. I was hoping that the 2 days after the Dutch shows would have been enough vocal rest, but the Budapest show was a real struggle. The audiences have been fantastic, but I have a duty to the rest of the tour and a responsibility to look after my instrument....it’s the only one I’ve got!
With a very heavy heart I have had to make the decision to cancel tomorrow’s show in Bucharest. It was not the outcome I hoped for. I am seeing a throat specialist Doctor tomorrow to confirm the wisdom of my decision, but after 40 years of singing I know when things are not right and the voice has to take a temporary rest.
I am gutted for the fans in Bucharest. I can only say sorry and thank you for your support and understanding.”
The value of the tickets sold for the Bucharest concert will be refunded through the authorized ticketing platforms, iaBilet.ro and Entertix.ro
John Carpenter, his son Cody and nephew Daniel Davies are putting out LOST THEMES vol. IV: NOIR
here's Lost Themes vol. I (2015)
Last time i saw JC and heard about him in Studio 666 where he has a cool cameo.
last Halloween sucked and all in all except the original there were all unnecessary remakes and cash-ins. part II was kinda cool tho. But the Rob Zombie remakes and the reboots booted.
and this is the first release from the album: My Name is Death
nice black and white video too.
Keef honors Lou Reed. March 1st.
I'm Waiting for the Man is Velvet Underground song recorded for their debut album in 1967.
His Birthday being March 2nd.
“To me, Lou stood out. The real deal! Something important to American music and to ALL MUSIC! I miss him and his dog.” - Keith Richards
Communique:
The digital single & music video are out now and featured on the upcoming album The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, which includes newly recorded covers from Keith Richards, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Bobby Rush, Automatic, The Afghan Whigs, and Rosanne Cash. This special collection will be released by Light in the Attic Records and available on Vinyl & CD at fine independent record shops worldwide on Record Store Day (April 20th).
It goes without saying that the legendary Lou Reed was a true rock ’n’ roll pioneer. From The Velvet Underground’s debut in 1967 all the way through the end of his days, Reed sang truth from his heart. He lived life to the limit—and then some. The Power of the Heart is a tribute to Reed’s freedom of expression with covers spanning his groundbreaking years with the Velvets into his majestic solo career. Each track is a glorious extension of the Rock ’n’ Roll Animal’s soul, ever adventurous and avant-garde.
It's Out !!!
and all of it, songs with offical audio on you tube: inclusing Bruce's version of the Iron Maiden song If Eternity Should Fail as now by Bruce -Eternity has Failed ! and Many Doors to Hell, Resurrection Men, Fingers in the Wounds, Mistress of Mercy, Face in the Mirror, Shadow of the Gods & Sonata (Immortal Beloved).
After the two videos of Afterglow of Ragnarok (out on Dec. 1 2023) and Rain on the Graves (Jan. 24 2024)
here's the making of the album.
Bruce Dickinson will present the album The Mandrake Project LIVE in Bucharest, Romania, at Arenele Romane, June 3d 2024.
tickets here.
https://www.themandrakeproject.com
