Truth About Rock Myths

Listen ... we know there are always rumors, half-truths and downright lies that constantly fly around. Some are so outrageous that they’ve taken on a life of their own.
Well, I've included some of the more recent rock myths that've been flying around. Did they actually happen, or was someone's imagination in overdrive?? You'll find out as we investigate:

Bon Scott (late of AC/DC) demoed some Back In Black songs – No such demo exists.

Cliff Burton’s (pictured) death saved Lars Ulrich from being sacked by Metallica – Now, we might be onto something here! It's just possible the band was thinking about a change. Did Burton’s death actually save their Danish drummer? Quite possibly ...

King Diamond has no electric lights in his house, because they scare away the spirits. – True! But, then again, it's not uncommon, especially in some parts of the Appalachians (he was from Copenhagen).

Jimi Hendrix was gonna join Emerson, Lake and Palmer – Yep. True. Actually, HELP (as it could have been called) nearly did happen. Sadly, Hendrix died before they could get together.

KISS mixed their own blood in with the printing ink for the first of their Marvel Comics special. Well, that one's almost true. They did put their own blood into the ink, but it was ... er, misplaced (true story) -- and used in a edition of Sports Illustrated!

Syd Barrett unexpectedly turned up in the studio while Pink Floyd was recording Shine On You Crazy Diamond. It might sound like some sensationalistic nonsense, but there appears to be a photo in Nick Mason’s book (Inside Out: A Personal History Of Pink Floyd) that confirms it really did happen!
On the road, Van Halen used to demand bowls of M&Ms with the brown ones removed. This one's true -- and the reason's pure genius. David Lee Roth always claimed that this was put in to see whether promoters actually read the contracts. See what I mean??

Now, there are loads of other myths (some that go back even farther -- like "Sam The Sham" of "Pharaohs" fame actually becoming a dockside preacher [yep!] or The Rock Relic co-writing a Congressional proposition [true!]), but we'll get to those a little later ...)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

More than just the title of Ol' Blue Eyes' song, this city is nothing short of amazing when it comes to beauty, bounty and bouncing nightlife! The opportunities for just about every sort of enjoyment can be found in the "Big Apple".
Now, if you want to visit or tour (and I'd highly recommend it. From restaurants to TV tapings, parks to the hallowed area they call "Ground Zero", it will be the most memorable vacation of your life!), you'll want to book your rooms through the people who'll get you into the best hotels in new york -- and save you plenty of money in doing so!
But, by clicking on that link you just passed, you'll also find some invaluable travel guides, articles and promotions that'll make your visit perfect.
So click there now and get packing! A fabulous and wonderful adventure awaits you in New York!

Daltrey Speechless?

The Who's Roger Daltrey has been using his voice for almost a month now and, on Tuesday night at the House of Blues in Cleveland, he lost it!

Now, he's had occasional problems throughout the tour and had changed up the order of his set to allow his voice to warm up before tackling the big songs. But nothing he did Tuesday could alleviate the roughness in his voice which John Soeder of the Cleveland Plain Dealer called "a frustrating rasp." Daltrey told the crowd at the end of the show, "I sound terrible. I had a very bad night's sleep last night. This is what I woke up with."

In addition, he abandoned two songs towards the end of the set (a Johnny Cash medley and Blue, Red & Grey) before ending the show after just ninety minutes with CCR's Born on the Bayou.

"We can only play for two hours. You know it gets to be, for me personally and my voice, two hours is enough singing the way I sing. It's not an easy number these songs. They're very, very challenging. They demand the kind of energy that the voice needs to give it."

BACKING IT UP

If you work on a computer for any length of time, you know it can crash at any given time (and, of course, we never know when it's going to happen!). Files are lost, tempers become frayed and it seems like all is hopeless ...
unless you have some great online backup that you can turn to as a "fail-safe".
The problem is that there are so many back-up systems offered on the web that we don't know which one is best. But if you click the link you just passed a moment ago, you'll find some fine folks who not only have taken the time to compare the top online systems, but also share some invaluable articles on storage and backup with you!
So, in order to keep your files safe and sound, make a point to check out that link first ... and you'll soon find your confidence as secure as your files will be!

Rock Responsibly

Sometimes, rock fans take things just a little too far, IMHO ...

For example, take that pic on your left. For those of you who are diehard Beatle fans, you recognize it as the entrance to the Dakota Building, where John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono lived -- and where John was brutally gunned down by a maniac.

Now, there's a sign showing where the legend was murdered -- but, unfortunately, in this pic, it has some tourist having her photo taken at the spot.

Y'know, there are some places that should remain "hallowed ground", people -- and that spot is one of them. Of course, you'll have those who'll want to see the spot -- even perhaps bow their heads in silent remembrance of the musical giant who fell to six bullets by the killer Chapman.

But to have your picture taken there?? It's like having your photo taken at the spot that Kennedy was killed, or where the plane crashed into the Pentagon. Now, don't get me wrong: If she wanted to visit the site, or was doing a documentary or report, it wouldn't be so bad. The fact, though, seems to be that she was having her photo taken for tourist value -- to show friends back home that she actually went there (WOW!).

Look ... it's bad enough that we use songs by The Beatles to promote cars and computers; that we use Rolling Stones hits to push food items; or that one of Elvis' songs was actually used (with title modification) for a ... sex pill!
Let's not make it worse, okay??

If we're gonna dig the rock, let's do it responsibly, shall we??

The 411 on Skynyrd

With the recent return of Southern rockers (and, yes, it is with a capital "S"! Anything else is sacrilege ...) Lynyrd Skynyrd to the charts, I thought maybe now would be a good time to shed some extra light on these never-say-die guitar heroes:

1) Previous names for the band included the Noble Five, My Backyard and One Percent.

2) The band finally got their name from the basketball coach at their Jacksonville High School, Forby Leonard Skinner, after he sent them to the Principle's office for having hair that was too long. At first they spelt it, Leonard Skinnerd, which then changed to their more distinctive spelling on their first album.

3) They established their trademark three guitar attack on their first big hit Free Bird which was a tribute to the recently deceased Allman Brothers guitarist Duane Allman.

4) The band's female backup singers were known as the Honkettes.

5) They supported the Who on their 1973 Quadraphenia tour.

6) 1974 hit Sweet Home Alabama was written as a tribute to the celebrated R& B studios Muscle Shoals, but after Neil Young's criticisms of the South in his songs Alabama and Southern Man they rewrote the third verse to rebuke him. But the band and Young were on good terms and the Canadian originally wrote Powderfinger for Lynryrd Skynyrd although they never recorded it.

7) Gimme Back My Bullets was a reference to Rolling Stone magazine's rating system. They had to stop playing it live because fans threw real bullets on stage.

8) Aerosmith had previously rejected the plane that crashed in 1977 and destroyed half the band at its peak for not being safe.

9) The cover of their sixth album, Street Survivors, released three days before the crash, which pictured the band surrounded by flames, had to be pulled.

10) The band reunited in 1987 with Johnny Van Zandt, brother of original singer Ronnie and were made honorary colonels in the Alabama State Militia.

THE VALUE OF ELLIPTICALS

In today's world, more and more people are turning to physical fitness regimens to live longer and healthier lives. One of the most popular exercise devices used in that regimen is the elliptical machine (one that's used to simulate walking or running). They not only provide a way to tone up those leg and abdominal muscles without having to deal with traffic or inclement weather, but also have various tensions to help you.
Now, if you buy one of these in a local sports store, you just might find your
wallet becoming a lot thinner due to the cost. Also, you might not find one that's just the right style for your exercise interests.
But by following the link I'm about to give you, you'll find the best selection of ellipticals on the market today -- and at prices you can afford! Whether they're rear or front drive, designed to work out your upper or lower body or have different resistance levels, you're bound to find one that's just right for you!
So click on that link now, and find out more about these machines; you'll certainly be amazed at what you find!

Michael's "Thriller" Nearly Nixed?

Look ... whether you liked him or not, you've got to admit that Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers and showmen of all time!

But a recently-discovered interview revealed that Jackson had some doubts about his top-selling album Thriller prior to its release in 1982. What finally brought it alive again was a handful of school children.

According to News of the World (a British based entertainment tab), he told interviewers that he intended to scrap the entire album upon listening to it for the first time.

“Thriller sounded so crap. The mixes sucked. When we listened to the whole album, there were tears…I just cried like a baby,” Jackson said. “I stormed out of the room and said, ‘We’re not releasing this. Call [record company] CBS and tell them they are not getting this album. We are not releasing this.’”

Hoping to ease his mind and find new inspiration, Jackson went to a public school and watched children play (now, wait ... that's innocent, okay?? Nothing wrong with that ...).
“One of the maintenance crew in the studio had a bicycle and so I took it and rode up to the schoolyard,” he said. “I just watched the children play. When I came back I was ready to rule the world. I went into the studio and I turned them songs out.”

To some, that might still sound a bit weird ... but, for any of us who've raised children/been teachers or both, we know that you can derive a certain energy from watching these optimistic, kinetic tykes.
And that's probably why Michael got his groove back and produced the most amazing album of the decade ...

SHOPPING FOR THE RIGHT RUGS

Have you ever shopped for rugs to enhance your office or home, just to find limited selection, high prices and salespeople that are always too busy (or scarce) to help?
Wouldn't you like a wide selection of quality rugs that are not only priced right but also have helpful, accommodating salespeople to help you?
Well, when you click on the following link, you'll find the premier showplace for rugs ... and the folks who'll go "all out" to help you find just the right one for you!
But they'll do more than that. In fact, you'll not only find an amazing selection of all sizes and colors (you can shop by those qualities there!), but also beautiful rugs that you can buy for under $100! And, if you want to learn more about rugs, they have a number of good articles to enlighten you!
Add fantastic service and great prices -- and you've got the best place to find that special rug to enhance your floors!
So why not take a moment and click there now? Soon, you'll be standing ono a beautiful rug that's just your style!

Does U2 Envy The Beatles??

Last month’s release of The Beatles: Rock Band inspired more than just renewed interest in the Fab Four’s storied legacy; it also left the Irish superstars U2 wondering how they let a promising opportunity to sell out yet again slip through their fingers.

According to USA Today, Bono and company were approached last year by video game publisher Electronic Arts to produce a U2 video game, but feared technology had not advanced enough to fully capture the band at its best.

"What the Beatles have done, where the animation is much more representative of them, is what we're interested in, rather than the one-size-fits-all animation," bassist Adam Clayton said. "We didn’t want to be caricatured."

Although the foursome were quick to dismiss EA’s proposal, Clayton hinted that U2 wouldn’t be as hesitant the second time around.

"We definitely would like to be in there," he said. "But we felt some of the compromises weren't what we wanted. That could change. I love the idea that that's where people are getting music and we'd love to be in that world. We'll figure something out."

WORK IS TILING UP ...

If you've ever tried to re-tile your kitchen, bathroom or even your patio, you know that most places only stock a specific number of styles, and those that do interest you are too expensive. It can be a bit frustrating.

But there's one place that not only stocks over thirty thousand tiles, but will even ship glass tiles to you for free (with a $150 order)!
You save money, time and frustration -- and you'll be extremely pleased with the service you'll receive.

And all you have to do is just click on the link you saw in the last paragraph, and be ready to enter a world of beauty and creativity! Believe me, your newly-tiled area will look superb ... and you'll be pleased with both the product and the money you've saved. So check them out today!

Metallica Rocked The House

Yep ... they've still got it.

But for the Rock Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary bash -- held at Madison Square Garden this past Friday -- Metallica was joined by Ozzy Osbourne, The Kinks' Ray Davies and Lou Reed.

Ozzy – the legendary Black Sabbath front man who was introduced by James Hetfield as "the crazy guy who epitomizes the rock ‘n’ roll singer" – teamed up with Metallica for Sabbath classics Iron Man and Paranoid.

Then, Lou Reed sat in with the band to grind out the biggest hits of his former troupe, Velvet Underground: Sweet Jane and White Light/White Heat.

Next up: Hetfield's turn to intro Ray Davies. "We got completely schooled on early, early riff-rock by this man and his band, The Kinks," he said, as Ray came on and tore into the Kinks klassics You Really Got Me and All The Day And All Of The Night.

All told, Metallica did eleven songs, but only three of them were their hits. Here's what they played:

1. For Whom The Bell Tolls
2. One
3. Turn The Page
4. Sweet Jane
5. White Light/White Heat
6. Iron Man
7. Paranoid
8. You Really Got Me
9. All The Day And All Of The Night
10. Stone Cold Crazy

The set -- as the night surrounding it -- was very fitting as it not only fused three generations of rock together, but paid homage to each one and showed why our genre will forever be timeless!

PLAYIN' IT SAFE

If you or a friend work in a field such as construction, electrical, etc., you obviously want to be as safety-conscious as possible, right? That means gearing up with hard-hats, safety goggles, work gloves and anything else needed to keep you safe from injury or worse.
Now, there are lots of places to find safety items -- and, often, you'll find selection limited, prices too high or, worse, substandard quality!
But now you can buy the best safety products just by clicking that link you just passed. When you do, you'll find something reassuring: people who actually care about your safety and well-being on the job.
They do more than just provide the best products, though. You'll also find safety articles, links and tips, clearance items -- and, for the sports fan, there are even products themed to your favorite team!
So, before your next job, be sure to click on that link for the very best quality safety items from the people who really do have your satisfaction in mind. From selection to service, product to payment, they definitely aim to please!