Rock Of Ages

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Benjy Mudie talks to Ian Anderson (22MB)

You say it's your birthday...

November 22
Little Steven Van Zandt - E Street Band - 1950
Rod Price - Foghat - 1947 - 2005

November 23
Bruce Hornsby - 1954

November 24
Pete Best - Beatles- 1941

November 25
Roy Lynes - Status Quo - 1953
Bev Bevan - Electric Light Orchestra - 1946

November 26
John McVie - Fleetwood Mac - 1945
Tina Turner - 1939

November 27
Jimi Hendrix - 1942 - 1970

November 28
Beeb Birtles - Little River Band - 1948

November 29
John Mayall - Bluesbreakers - 1933
Denny Doherty - Mamas and the Papas - 1940
Felix Cavaliere - The Rascals - 1944 Ronnie Montrose - 1947
Barry Goudreau - Boston - 1954

November 30
Dick Clark - 1929
George McArdle - Little River Band - 1954
Leo Lyons - Ten Years After - 1944
Roger Glover - Deep Purple - 1945
Billy Idol - 1955

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Benjy says...

Greetings Rock of Ages listeners, subscribers, fans and rockers alike ....

The competition to win the Complete Bob Dylan Collection (50 CDs housed in a special metal carrycase) has unsurprisingly been the most successful in the show's history with thousands of entries so far and more pouring in every day. There are 5 days to go before the close of this particular competiton so you still have a chance to do so. The draw will be done by the sponsors of the prize via a draw from a box, Sony BMG, and the winner will be announced on the show of 6th December. We will publish a photo of the draw and the winner will be notified a.s.a.p. ... good luck! ... in the week or so I will be publishing my Top Rock Albums of the Year as well as the highs and lows of 2007. Speaking of the festive season ..... We still have copies of our limited edition classic rock compilation, Footstomping Music, for sale. Featuring 17 of the best tunes to rock your soul (and party) it includes gems by Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Santana, Budgie, Mountain, Thin Lizzy and many more ... the perfect Christmas gift!! To order please go to the ROA website at www.rock.co.za/rockofages and click on the link which will tell you how to go about it.

As always thanks for the many emails, calls and letters telling me how much you enjoy the show. Every so often I collect these into a overall email and send it to the Radio 2000 management to keep them up to date with listener feedback. Now here's what you can expect over the next of couple of weeks in terms of specials...

Upcoming specials

29th November... This week we will be paying tribute to one of rock's greatest labels: Vertigo Records. Formed in the late 60's this revolutionary record label was home to an eclectic artist roster that included Black Sabbath, Gentle Giant, Juicy Lucy, Beggars Opera, Manfred Mann, Patto and many others and unlike labels today saw nothing untoward in having folk, jazz, rock and experimental artists all on the same bill ..... be prepared for a cross section of 70's music like you've never heard!

6th December... In honour of the upcoming Led Zeppelin reunion gig in London and the release of the Mothership project we will be dedicating this week's special to the Mighty Gods of Rock! In addition to the obvious tracks I'll be dropping in some lesser known and more obscure LZ tracks as well.

Led Zeppelin

13th December... One of the most interesting bands to emerge from Canturbury, England was Caravan. Fronted by guitarist & vocalist Pye Hastings the band's eclectic mix of rock, jazz, music hall, classical, medieval and strange quirky pop has been a mainstay of prog rock for nearly 40 years and they are still going! If you enjoy your early 70's prog with a large dose of wacky humour and some intricate playing then Caravan should be just up your street.

Caravan

Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records was the name UK major Philips Records chose in the sixties for its record label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI (with Harvest Records) and Decca Records (with Deram Records). Some of the first artists to sign included Ian Matthews, Mike Absalom, Dr. Z, Catapilla, Cressida, Colosseum, Black Sabbath, Jade Warrior, Switzerland's Flame Dream (with Los Angeles guitarist Dale Hauskins), Nirvana (no not that one!), Kraftwerk, Ben, Keith Tippett Group, Tudor Lodge and Magna Carta. After Philips Records was renamed to Phonogram Records, major artists like Status Quo, Thin Lizzy and Tears for Fears (in Canada and briefly in Europe) joined Vertigo too. Now part of the Universal Music Group, Vertigo is a division of Mercury Records and distributes, Razorlight, Metallica (outside the US, Canada, and Japan) and Dire Straits (except the US). More recent signings include The Rapture, The Killers (UK/Éire), One Night Only and the Noisettes. However much of the label's famed 70's progressive rock output has been licensed out to independent labels around the world, most notably Germany's great Repertoire Records and the UK's Sanctuary Music Group. This has ensured that rock legends like Juicy Lucy, Uriah Heep, Gentle Giant and Patto has been kept alive.

Vertigo

The Vertigo logo appears as a piece of op art visible in the record shop in Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange (1971).

Partial discography

Colosseum - Valentyne Suite
Juicy Lucy - Juicy Lucy
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath *
Cressida - Cressida
Magna Carta - Seasons
Affinity - Affinity
Uriah Heep - Very 'eavy, Very 'umble *
May Blitz - May Blitz *
Manfred Mann - Chapter Three Volume
Warhorse - Warhorse *
Patto - Hold Your Fire *
Beggars Opera - Act One *
Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant
Gravy Train - Gravy Train *
Keith Tippett - Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening
Nucleus - We'll Talk About It Later
Catapilla - Catapilla
Jade Warrior - Jade Warrior *
Daddy Longlegs - Oakdown Farm
Ramases - Space Hymns LP
Ian Matthews - Tigers Will Survive
Alex Harvey - Framed
Status Quo - Piledriver *
V/A - Vertigo Annual 1970
Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley
Aphrodite's Child - 666 *
Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around with Jim
Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk
Atlantis - Atlantis *

* Recommended listening

Rock Of Ages Recommends

AC/DC

Released just in time for Xmas, and an absolute must for AC/DC fans, is the "Plug me in" dvd (Sony BMG) *****. It's a 3 disc set and comes complete with a poster, stickers, replica backstage passes and tickets plus a great booklet. Disc 1 concentrates on the Bon Scott years (1975-1979) and comprises of electrifying live performances and some hilarious tv appearances; Disc 2 naturally covers the Brian Johnson era (1981-2003) with the same combo of live and promo clips including the band's jam with The Stones whilst Disc 3 contains some rarities and unreleased material across the years. STAY TUNED FOR A COMPETITION TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOX SET.

Ratings:
***** Volcanic....not to be missed.
**** Seismic....highly recommended...buy it!
*** Aftershock....solid effort.
** Damp squib really!
* Do I need to explain this?

Rock Of Ages News

Zeppelin On Vinyl
Expect a four-record vinyl edition of the new 'Mothership' compilation from Led Zeppelin. This is due in March. In the meantime let the stories begin… It's being reported that Led Zeppelin are in talks to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival or Isle Of Wight Festival. But this is no more than unsubstantiated rumour.

Led Zeppelin

Sir Paul McCartney's signed 10ft Guitar Sells For £60,000 at Auction
The Gibson Guitartown London Charity Auction took place 20th November at a special charity auction event held at The O2's IndigO2 club. A 10ft tall hand-painted Gibson Les Paul replica guitar signed by Sir Paul McCartney became the star attraction of the night. After a competitive bidding war the giant guitar was eventually auctioned off for an amazing £60,000.

Gibson Guitartown London is a charity-inspired campaign, bringing the power of music together with art to raise money for Nordoff–Robbins Music Therapy, The Prince's Trust and Teenage Cancer Trust. Over £200,000 was raised from the sale of the 62 hand painted and signed Gibson guitars which will be split equally between the three charities.

Paul McCartney said, "I'm really amazed and very happy that the guitar went for so much and for such a great cause." Paul's guitar beat the second highest bid of the night by an incredible £49,000.

Ronnie Wood's guitar went for £11,000, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters signed (The Wall themed guitar designed by Gerald Scarfe, designer responsible for The Wall artwork) went for £10,500, Slash's Gibson SG guitar went for £8,500 and Paul Weller's 10 foot Gibson Les Paul replica guitar (designed by Sir Peter Blake) reached £8,000.

Doctor Brian I presume?
Queen stringman Brian May is now known officially as Doctor Brian May. The astronomy mad 60 year old guitarist has been awarded a doctorate by Imperial College of London for completing a PHD thesis on the subject of 'Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud',some 37 years after he started it ... I kid you not!!!!

Dangerous Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are to play the whole of their classic 'Live And Dangerous' album, in sequence, on their upcoming UK tour. This is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its recording at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.

Captain Bruce to the rescue
Vocalist Bruce Dickenson is to pilot the other members of Iron Maiden, their 60 strong crew and over 12,000 tons of equiptment for 50,000 miles on the next leg of the Maiden tour called Somewhere back in time. El Bruco is of course a fully qualified airline pilot.

Chilis Sue TV Show
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are suing the makers of US TV show 'Californication', claiming that the use of this title is a breach of copyright. The band insist 'Californication' are the signature song and album of their career, and they want the TV programme to change its name, and also to hand over any profits so far from the series.

Now this is getting silly!
In a move bordering on parody, Journey are rumoured to have offered one, Arnel Pineda, frontman of a Filipino covers outfit called The Zoo Band, the chance to replace Jeff Scott Soto as their singer! Apparently guitarist Neal Schon and company were impressed by footage of Pineda performing Journey cover versions on YouTube.

Kiss Race To Australia
Kiss are to play a special show on the circuit after next year's Formula One race in Melbourne. This happens on March 16.

Lordi help us! Lordi have just recorded two new songs: 'Beast Loose In Paradise' and 'Studs And Leather'. One is to be used in the band's upcoming horror movie 'Dark Floors'.

Priest Mix Nostra Album
Judas Priest have just started mixing new album, a concept based around Nostradamus. And the band have also said they might do occasional shows next year, where they perform the record in its entirety.

Cover Ryche
In a move that so many bands are taking these days, and in ROA's opinion a most pointless one at that, Queensryche release a covers album this month. In additions to reworkings of Queen's Innuendo', The Sabs 'Neon Nights', Pink Floyd's 'Welcome to the machine' and Peter Gabriel's 'Red Rain' they have also covered songs by U2, The Police and Buffalo Springfield.

Crue's Dirty New Album
Motley Crue look set to start recording a new studio early next year. The record, the due in the Summer, has the working title of 'The Dirt', and, according to vocalist Vince Neil, the drummer will be ... Tommy Lee.

Ex-Skynyrd Drummer Arrested
Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artemus Pyle was arrested earlier this week in Florida, for failing to register as a sex offender in the state. Although he was subsequently released on $10,000 bail. Pyle pleaded guilty in 1993 to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 12 and principal to lewd and lascivious on a child younger than 16. He was sentenced to eight years on probation and designated as a sex offender.

Short Cuts… What's this? Celine Dion's admitted she's a metalhead! True. The Canadian diva claims to love the genre, and likes nothing better than warming up during soundchecks with AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck'. Next: Britney admits a secret desire to duet with Dani Filth??...3 Inches Of Blood will never forget Hard Rock Hell. They arrived intact, only for drummer Alexei Rodriguez to lose the plot, allegedly thump Saxon's Nigel Glockler, and then get forcibly ejected from the Butlin's site in Minehead. Result? One injured Canadian drummer looking for a new gig ... We have a question for that nice man Slash? You've just co-written your autobiography, with Anthony Bozza. But, given how much you 'enjoyed yourself' during the golden years of Guns n' Roses, how the hell do you remember ANYTHING? ... Queens Of The Stone Age were invited to play a set for patients at a rehab facility in California. So, what did they open with? 'Feel Good Hit Of The Summer', the lyrics for which are just a list of drugs - legal and otherwise. Amazingly, that was the end of the performance … Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine now has his own coffee brew available. It's called Legends Cup Coffee. For further info, go to www.legendscupcoffee.com ... Seems Madonna Wayne Gacy really does have it in for ex-bandmate Marilyn Manson. The keyboard player is claiming that the singer wasted the band's money on buying such delightful purchases as African masks made of human skin, a full skeleton of a four-year-old Chinese girl that Manson allegedly turned into a chandelier, and another skeleton of a man in a wheelchair. All these items are illegal in America, which means Mazza might face a jail sentence. Not the kind of nice we like ... Meanwhile Marilyn Manson himself is collaborating with the French distillery Matter-Luginbuehl to produce his own brand of absinthe called .... Mansinthe! .... Axl Rose is to contest allegations that he kicked a security guard in the head at a Guns 'n Roses show in California in May 2006 (yawn yawn).

Live Gigs

Woodstock 9
29th Nov-2nd December Harrismith

Southern Gypsy Queen
3rd January - Kunskafee, Durbanville.
4th - Berties Moorings, Gordon's Bay.
5th - Cape 2 Cuba, Kalk Bay.
6th - V & A Waterfront, Amphitheatre, Cape Town.

Boulevard Blues Band
28th Boulevard Blues Acoustic Berties Mooring

Chromium
29 February 2008 - RAM Festival

Hannepoot & the Biggish Band
2 December: Obs Festival, Observatory
9 December: Somerset West Botanical Gardens

Josie Field, Sitter, Shy Guevaras and Love Jones
December 6 Krakatoa at Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom, Durban

Thunder Road Rock Diner, Durban
1st Dec Star Player
8th Sippy Blues Band
10th Southern Gypsy Queen
13th Exit The Falls / Gravity wins again
15th AK Massive
21st Cubic Inch
22nd Habit To
28th Thirty Three
29th Squeal

More rock (and reggae) on your radio...

Tune in to the many other great music shows on RADIO 2000 ..... Wake up every morning with Ray White and Nichole de Silva on the funky, vibey Breakfast Show (6-9am) - news, weather, 2010 updates, comedy, competitions and tons of cool tunes - no 'superstar dj ego bull..' just fabulously entertaining radio ..... Women on the Move with Carol (9-noon) features interesting issues, guest interviews and more of the music that you like to hear ..... From 12 to 3pm it's the Empress of Cool Radio - Michelle Constant and The Lucky Packet - a daily dose of unmissable radio, a virtual melting pot of entertainment, interviews, documentary stuff, news, cultural issues, addictive music and much more ... lots of fun, fun, fun ... Tuesday nights 8 to midnight get ready to crank it up with the mighty Barney Simon on the SA Rock Show - wall to wall music, news, demos, gear reviews and some straight talking from the rock radio legend ... Join Doug Anderson on Saturdays for the Request show 1-3pm where you can request your fave rock records.... Sundays it's skanking time on Bongolution between 1-3pm with da man Bongani who spins the finest in roots reggae. Later you can chill with host Eric Allan's Jazz Rendezvous between 5 and 8pm where he spins the cream of classic and smooth jazz as well as some interesting fusion music.....

Rock of Ages presents "Footstomping Music"

Order this album directly from the Rock of Ages website.
Click on www.rock.co.za/rockofages for details.

click to buy this CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages Presents Footstomping Music

Track List

Grand Funk Railroad - Footstomping 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

Buy this 'Footstomping Music' CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Keep the rock real...

Benjy

Contact Rock of Ages

Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 782022, Sandton 2146
Studio phone: 089-1102003

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.

Stay tuned every Thursday 8-12pm for the best in classic rock on RADIO 2000.

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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