Rock Of Ages

Benjy says...

Hi....... Of all the bands from the 'Summer of Love' Jefferson Airplane were perhaps the most successful from a commercial point of view as well as being a creative force in the burgeoning psychedelic movement of the late 60's. In terms of a lasting influence on rock music today, they are sadly ignored, pushed into second place by The Grateful Dead whose 'jamming' philosophy lives in the music of Gov't Mule, Phish, Widespread Panic and the like. What surprised me about last week's special was the amount of positive email that came in the day after, not only from committed fans but younger listeners who had only heard about the Jefferson Airplane ..... as the old timers say 'thar's gold in dem hills" - for beginners try the "Crown of creation" album ..... this coming Thursday is the last of the 'live' shows of the year as I am off on holiday on Friday 22nd until the second week of January. Not wanting to deprive you of your regular 4 hour dose of classic and new 'retro' rock, I have recorded the shows of the 28th December and 4th January ... news on the specials for these will be in next week's newsletter.

It has been a great year for rock and blues so this week the Special will feature tracks from Rock of Ages's Albums of 2006 - 60 minutes of the best in new music......

The Rock of Ages Special - Fave albums of 2006
....in no particular order.....

Derek Trucks Band - Songlines - This ex-Allman Brothers alumni is regarded as the best slide guitarist in the music world today and is highly regarded by fellow players; not only does he rock with the best of them but Trucks incorporates elements of blues, soul, free form jazz, country and world into his own unique heady stew. Songlines is his most multi hued to date, the playing on the raga soaked Sahib Teri Bandi has to be heard to be believed.

David Gilmour - On an island - On only his third solo album in 30 years Floyd helmsman Gilmour explores dreamy, languid aural soundscapes, his unmistakeable soaring guitar threading its way through a collection of chilled songs that underscore his reputation as one of rock's greatest players.

Jo Day - Princess - With her muscular, aggressive approach to modern rock Jo Day takes no prisoners on her new album - you either rock with her or you're a pussy! The riff on Going down is the best I've heard all year and when she kicks into the refrain 'LIAR'! you better believe that she is one of the best hard rock singers in the world today (world are you listening?) Princess? ... More like Empress!

Danko Jones - Sleep is the enemy - With American rock pretty much toeing the corporate angst/ 'punk'/ skate/ I'm-so-depressed line it has fallen to the colonies to provide real rock. This Canadian band pumps out fist-clenching epic rock songs that hearken back to the classic power trios of the early 70's fused with the drive and energy of the real punk rock ..... perfect for driving on a summer's day (or to piss the neighbours off).

The Answer - Rise - Although the critics have been hailing them as the reincarnation of Thin Lizzy meets Led Zeppelin, a potential kiss-of-death comparison if you ask me, Ireland's brightest rock hope for decades are very much their own men. Rise is without doubt one of the best rock albums of the last few years and, whilst there is more than a nod to the classic rock sound of the 70's, it is also fused with an energy and spirit that I haven't heard for years ... this band is having fun and you can hear it!

Lacuna Coil - Karmacode - I'm a fairly new convert to this Italian rock band having heard about them from my son. Mixing metal with hard rock and touches of prog the band's new album fairly bristles with menace ... One of the better new hard rock bands.

Glenn Hughes - Music for the divine - I've always been a huge Glenn Hughes fan, right back from his days with Trapeze and then Deep Purple through to his post addiction solo material. Not only is he an amazing bassist but is without question one of the most soulful rock vocalists in music today. Once again backed by guitarist JJ Marsh and Chili Peppers tub-thumper Chad Smith, he roars through a collection of hard hitting rockers tinged with elements of funk 'n soul.

Breed 77 - In my blood - Hard edged Hispanic rock with touches of flamenco make this debut album stand out from the majority of American rock releases this year.

John Mayer Trio – Try! - Live album from criminally underrated guitarist, backed by the best rhythm in music today: Steve Jordan - drums and Pino Palladino - bass. Wonderful version of Jimi's Wait until tomorrow.

Walter Trout and friends - Full circle - 35 years in the blues and still going strong ... guest appearances by John Mayall, Joe Bonamassa and Jeff Healey, a must for electric blues lovers!

PLUS ......... (reviews next week)

Audioslave - Revelations

The Mob - The Mob

Slamer - Nowhere Land

G3 - Live in Tokyo

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

BB King & Friends - 80th Birthday

Joe Bonamassa - You and me

Boulevard Blues Band - Live & Direct

Dan Patlansky - Real

The Mochines - Hire the losers

Pebbleman - The Red stone album

Duck & Cover - Duck & Cover

.... and more ................

Rock of Ages presents "Footstompin' Music"

"Footstompin' Music" will only be released in early 2007, more details to follow but here is the final tracklisting for you to drool over.... guaranteed to get any self respecting rock party hopping! As you can see we have tried to avoid the usual tracks by these timeless artists, hence no Free Bird, Smoke on the water, Paranoid, Mississippi Queen, etc. ... I hope you all rush out and buy it!

Grand Funk Railroad - Footstompin' Music
Deep Purple - Burn
Uriah Heep - Look at yourself
Black Sabbath - Sweat Leaf
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
Robin Trower - Too rolling stoned
Mountain - Never in my life
Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
Foghat - I just wanna make love to you
Budgie - Baby, please don't go
Santana - Toussaint l'Overture
Alice Cooper - Muscle of love
Nazareth - Go down fighting
Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & the Black
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme back my bullets
Free - The Hunter
Taste - What's goin' on

Keep the rock real ...

Benjy

Contact Rock of Ages

Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 53585, Kenilworth, 7745
Studio phones: 021-4342523 / 4342525

Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.

Rock Of Ages News

Atlantic Founder Dies
Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, has died at the age of 83. The son of a Turkish diplomat, he played a crucial role in the careers of such bands as Led Zeppelin, Cactus, Yes and Cream among others ...

The 3 Stooges return
Reunion albums are one thing. A Stooges reunion album is something else entirely. On March 20, 2007, the band that predated punk and helped make rock and roll dangerous will release their first studio album since 1973's seminal Raw Power. The Weirdness will feature three of the four original band members – singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton and drummer Scott Asheton -- along with ex-Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt and original Stooges sax player, Steve Mackay.

If any rock band deserved Hall of Fame kudos it's The Stooges, one of the most influential, powerful and explosive outfits ever to plug in a guitar. Formed in Ann Arbor in 1967, the Stooges were a forceful poke in the eye of commercial rock. Volatile and incendiary, the band wrote grimy psychedelic blues songs that grooved, droned and stomped in equal measure. Onstage, Iggy was commanding and menacing, cutting himself with glass, smearing his body with peanut butter and baiting the crowd out of its complacency.

The group's volcanic energy earned it a record deal in 1968 and a year later, the Stooges released their self-titled debut, which featured the proto-punk classics "I Wanna Be Your Dog," "No Fun" and "1969." In 1970, they followed with the heavier, more confrontational Fun House, which many consider the band's finest hour. Three years would pass between Fun House and Raw Power, a primal, powerful slab of gyrating clamor from a band on the verge of physical and psychological collapse.

By the end of 1973, the Stooges had broken up. In the decades that followed, Iggy established himself as a successful solo artist, releasing 15 studio albums between 1977 and 2003. One of the most eagerly anticipated albums of 2007, The Weirdness is destined to be as inspiring, unpredictable and undeniable as the three records that preceded it over three decades ago. The release of the album will be followed by a full world tour that will clearly display the energy, vitality and freshness of one of rock and roll's greatest success stories. In other words, the legacy continues ...

Friends of the Tree Famed guitarists Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Robert Fripp (King Crimson) are being lined up to guest on the new album from Porcupine Tree. As yet untitled, this should be released in the Spring by Roadrunner.

Short Cuts ... Saxon are to release new album 'The Inner Sanctum' through SPV in late March ..... Are AC/DC about to return? There are rumours that the band are negotiating to headline outdoor shows across Europe next Summer, including dates in Ireland and the UK. However, this is still unconfirmed as is any new album ... Rock of Ages waits in hope! ... Great White are planning a return to action next year, with an album and a tour. The band's line-up is expected to be Jack Russell (vocals), Mark Kendall (guitar), Michael Lardie (keyboards/rhythm guitar), Sean McNabb (bass) and Audie Desbrow (drums).

More Classic Rock?
I can highly recommend the About Classic Rock website run by Dave White. Not only does Dave host one of the most knowledgeable classic rock blogs on the Net but the site itself is very entertaining and informative. There are always great indepth stories on the artists and the rock quizzes are addictive. If you are like me, a classic rock fan, then the weekly About Classic Rock newletter is a must. Sign up at classicrock.about.com

More rock on R2K. .....
Suffering from Rock withdrawal symptoms on a Tuesday night? Well then tune the dial el pronto to Barney Simon's show between 8 and midnight every Tuesday on Radio 2000 (or R2K as Barney calls it) for the best in South African rock plus gig guide,albums reviews, demos, new releases, news from around the country and much more. ..... Unmissable!. ... Also don't forget to catch Michelle Constant between 1pm and 3pm Monday-Friday for news, music, interviews and loads of cool stuff. ... and of course. ... Mo G on the morning drive, weekdays 8-10am. .. Exclusively on Radio 2000.

Live Gigs

Boulevard Blues Band
23rd - Fogeys Railway House Restaurant, Muizenberg
31st - New Years gig at Berties Mooring Gordons Bay.

Farryl Purkiss and Nibs Van der Spuy
Sun 17 Dec Glass Castle - Durban

Farryl Purkiss and Simon van Gend
Wed 20 Dec Monrose - Knysna
Thur 21 Dec Tidals Pub - Mosselbay
Sat 23 Dec Independant Armchair - Observatory, Cape Town

4 X 4 TOUR (Dorp/ Cassette/ Love Jones/ Bed on Bricks)
17th Speak Easy, Scottburgh
18th Buccaneers, East London
19th Weldon Kaya, Plettenbergbay
20th Cotton Club - Bay Hotel, Port Elizabeth
21th Plush, George
22th Mercury Live, Cape Town
23th Embargo - Southernright Hotel, Glencairn

Karma
21 Dec Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town
22 Dec Zula Bar, Cape Town

Love Jones
17 Dec Speak Easy, Scottburgh (with Cassette and Dorp)
18 Dec Buccaneers, East London (with Cassette and Dorp)
19 Dec Weldon Kaye, Plett with (Cassette and Dorp)
20 Dec Cotton Club, PE (with Cassette and Dorp)
21 Dec Independent Armchair Theatre Cape Town
22 Dec Zula Sound Bar, Cape Town
31 Dec Sun-Coast Casino, Durban New Year's Bash

Mojo's, The Square, Durban
Classic rock every Friday night 8.30-midnight with Salty Dog

The Rock 'n Roll Circus (12th Avenue/ Autopilot/ Kings of Vegas)
19th – Bandit's Battle of the Bands Finals, Mercury Live, Cape Town
20th – Stones, Tableview, Cape Town
21st – Stones, Knysna, Garden Route
22nd – Stones, George, Garden Route
23rd - Town Square, Somerset West, Cape Town
30th - Cool Runnings, Observatory, Cape Town
31st - Corner Bar - New Year's Eve Party, Durbanville, Cape Town

Exit the Fall & Gravity Wins Again
17th December Amanzimtoti Methodist Church

The Parlotones/ Wonderboom/ Evolver
17 December Rocky Ridge Restaurant, Ramsgate
18 December The Workshop, St. Francis EC
20 December Plush, George
21 December Camelot, Mossel Bay
22 December Vodacom 5 o'clock @ the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
26 December The Deck, Gonubie EC
27 December The Station, Port Alfred
28 December Tapas Al Sol, Port Elizabeth

Prime Circle/ Bloodmoney/ Driverlane
17 December Tapas Al Sol, Port Elizabeth
19 December Vodacom 5 O_clock @ the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
20 December Camelot, Mossel Bay
21 December Plush, George
23 December Bushpig Events Bar, Kei Mouth EC
26 December Rocky Ridge Restaurant, Ramsgate
27 December Wavehouse, Umhlanga

Springbok Nude Girls/ The Finkelsteins/ Scarlet Box
18 December – EC - The Deck, East London
19 December – EC – The Station, Port Alfred
22 December – EC – Tapas Al Sol, Port Elizabeth
23 December – WC – The Workshop, ST Francis
27 December – WC- Plush, George
28 December – WC – Camelot, Mossel Bay
29 December – WC – The Finale Show in Somerset west (Venue TBC)

Stoned Goblin
23rd Dec – Gandalfs, Lower Main Rd, Observatory. 9pm, R20 Entry

Vinyl Junkies

I'm often asked by Rock of Ages listeners where they can find classic rock vinyl as well as South African rock and jazz records? Well there are two great stores in Cape Town who specialise in the above: Vibes Vinyl @ Stadium on Main, Claremont and Mabu Vinyl in Kloof Street. .. check them out, they know their stuff!

You say it's your birthday...

December 15
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus) (1946)
Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five) (1942)
Alan Freed (1922-1965)

December 16
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) (1949)

December 17
Paul Butterfield (1942-1987)
Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company) (1949)

December 18
Sam Andrew (Big Brother & the Holding Company)
Chas Chandler (The Animals) (1938-1996)
Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) (1943)

December 19
Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) (1944)

December 20
Bobby Colomby (Blood Sweat & Tears) (1944)
Peter Criss (Kiss) (1945)

December 21
Frank Zappa (Mothers Of Invention) (1940-1993)

December 22
James Gurley (Big Brother & the Holding Company)
Barry Jenkins (The Animals) (1944)
Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) (1946)

December 23
Ron Bushy (Iron Butterfly) (1945)
Luther Grosvenor (Mott the Hoople) (1946)
Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane) (1940)

December 24
Jan Akkerman (Focus) (1946)

December 25
Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) (1945-2003)

December 26
Phil Spector (1940)

December 27
Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf) (1948)
Mick Jones (Foreigner) (1944)
David Knopfler (Dire Straits) (1952)
Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) (1941)
Pete Quaife (The Kinks) (1943)

December 28
Alex Chilton (Box Tops) (1950)
Edgar Winter (Edgar Winter Group) (1946)

December 29
Cozy Powell (Black Sabbath) (1947-1998)
Marianne Faithfull (1946)
Ray Thomas (Moody Blues) (1941)

December 30
Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra) (1947)
Felix Pappalardi (Mountain) (1939-1983)

December 31
Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) (1947)
Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) (1951)
Andy Summers (Police) (1942)
George Thorogood (1951)

Courtesy of
About ClassicRock

Birthday Archives

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Your Host

Benjy Mudie

Then	Now

Benjy Mudie is a self confessed 'rockaholic' with little chance of recovery. .. a music obsessive whose entire life has been spent in search of the lost chord. .. from discovering Jimi's "Are you experienced" at 13, he has constantly devoured music through lp's, singles, tapes, cds, dvds, books, magazines, film, concerts, radio, tv and the internet. His entire working life has also been music related: from running a record store and later joining WEA Records in the mid 70's through to his 21 year A&R/Marketing stint at Tusk Music where he signed some of the biggest names in South African rock and pop. The last 8 years have been spent nurturing new talent at his indie label Fresh Music and reissuing classic albums as part of it's ongoing Retro series. ... To say that 'music is his first love' (to paraphrase John Miles's classic song) is somewhat understated.

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