Published inThe Riff·Nov 27After Fillmore East, N.F.E. Theater Rocked NYC. For a WhileFillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever Book Excerpt — After the final show at Fillmore East June 27, 1971, much of the rock concert scene moved north to the Academy of Music, renamed the Palladium in 1976. Promoter Barry Stuart tried to capture some of the Fillmore’s magic by reopening the hall Dec. 7, 1974 as the N.F.E. …Rock4 min readRock4 min read
Published inThe Haven·Nov 24Work Keeps Interfering with Working from Home‘Mom & Dad Are Dinosaurs!’ Book Excerpt Dad used to wear a suit and tie and commute to his office downtown. Dad said work was like Christmas. He did all the work and a fat guy with a suit got all the credit. Today Dad works from home. When he…Humor2 min readHumor2 min read
Published inThe Riff·Nov 24‘An Aid to the Enemy’: Barry McGuire’s ‘Eve of Destruction’‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs’ Book Excerpt — “Eve of Destruction,” written by P. F. Sloan, is a protest song that indicted the country for the Vietnam War abroad and racism at home. The song was offered to the Byrds, who turned it down, and then recorded by the Turtles for their 1965 debut album It Ain’t Me…Rock3 min readRock3 min read
Published inThe Riff·Nov 19What’s Your Rock IQ?60s & 70s Music Trivia Quiz — 1. It plays in the last minutes of the Breaking Bad finale A. “Blue Velvet” B. “Baby Blue” C. “Crystal Blue Persuasion” D. “Blue Moon” 2. The Tremeloes’ “Silence Is Golden” was first recorded by A. The Soul Survivors B. The Walker Brothers C. The Four Seasons D. The Drifters 3. He played the saxophone solo on Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street” A. Raphael Ravenscroft B. Bobby KeysRock1 min readRock1 min read
Published inThe Riff·Nov 17Songs About Crime So Good They’re Almost Criminal“You can imagine my embarrassment when I killed the wrong guy.”— Joe Valachi — “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by AC/DC “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” was the title track of AC/DC’s 1976 album but it was not released in the US until 1981, more than a year after lead singer Bon Scott’s death. …Rock12 min readRock12 min read
Published inThe Riff·Nov 11Member-onlyMark Volman of the Turtles Looks Back on Music With Zappa, Lennon & More in New Book: Interview‘Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures with the Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More’ — With their hits “It Ain’t Me Babe,” a Bob Dylan tune, and “Let Me Be,” the Turtles joined the long list of popular folk rock bands in 1965. A year later the Turtles made a successful shift to pop with “You Baby,” a Top 20 hit. …Rock9 min readRock9 min read
Published inThe Riff·Nov 5‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ Even Baffles Procol HarumBook Excerpt from ‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs’ — In 1967, Procol Harum released one of the few singles to sell 10 million copies worldwide: “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” The members who recorded the song — Gary Brooker (vocals and piano), Matthew Fisher (Hammond M-102 organ), David Knights (bass), Ray Royer (guitar), and session drummer Bill Eyden (later…Rock4 min readRock4 min read
Published inThe Riff·Oct 27Remembering Lou ReedThe Velvet Underground Guitarist and Singer Died Oct. 27, 2013 — In this excerpt from New York Groove: An Inside Look at the Stars, Shows, and Songs That Make NYC Rock, we look back on the formation of Lou Reed’s seminal band, the Velvet Underground, and the singer-guitarist’s biggest hit. The Velvet Underground Forms, 56 Ludlow Street The Velvet Underground came…Rock3 min readRock3 min read
Published inThe Riff·Oct 25Remembering Producer and Impresario Bill GrahamThe Rock Music Pioneer Died 32 Years Ago — Bill Graham, founder of the rock palaces Fillmore East and West among many accomplishments, died Oct. 25, 1991 in a helicopter crash. Here is an excerpt on Graham from the book New York Groove: An Inside Look at the Stars, Shows, and Songs That Make NYC Rock. Born Wolfgang Grajonca…Rock3 min readRock3 min read
Published inThe Riff·Oct 5‘At Seventeen’ Rescued Janis Ian’s Career200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs Book Excerpt — Enjoy this excerpt from the new eBook, 200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs. Janis Ian was 14 when she wrote her 1967 hit single “Society’s Child,” a controversial song about how social pressure doomed an interracial romance. …Rock4 min readRock4 min read
