Another uncle Greg story;
My uncle also met Janis Joplin. He was at Blossom Music Center, basically this concert venue with some pavilion, as well as lawn, seating, for a concert. The pavilion part has these huge supports that come out into the lawn, and for whatever reason, probably just because he was bored before the concert, he decided that he should climb on them. Of course he got caught, and then kicked out.
But he came back the next night, to see Janis Joplin, and while wondering around before the concert he sees the same security guard that had kicked him out the night before. He went over to apologize for his behavior the night before, and they started talking. The guard asked Greg if he wanted to go backstage, and meet Janis, of course he did, and got her to autograph his program from that night. She signed it; "To Greg; keep on rocking."
Years later when Janis Joplin's sister wrote a book about Janis, Greg met her as well and had her sign the book with the same inscription.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Rock & Roll Trivia Part V Answers
1) Ellas Bates is better known as Bo Diddley, which is a one-string African Guitar
2) Grand Funk Railroad got their name from a Michigan landmark "The Grand Trunk Railroad"
3) The Hollies where named in honor of Buddy Holly, one of the three artists killed in the plane crash in 1959, and forever immortalized in the song American Pie, by Don McLean.
2) Grand Funk Railroad got their name from a Michigan landmark "The Grand Trunk Railroad"
3) The Hollies where named in honor of Buddy Holly, one of the three artists killed in the plane crash in 1959, and forever immortalized in the song American Pie, by Don McLean.
Rock & Roll Trivia Part V
1) You probably don't know who Ellas Bates is, but you might know him by his more popular stage name, what is it and where did it come from?
2) Where did the band Grand Funk Railroad get their name from?
3) Where did Graham Nash's band The Hollies get their name?
2) Where did the band Grand Funk Railroad get their name from?
3) Where did Graham Nash's band The Hollies get their name?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The James Gang
Any story about Greg is inevitably better when it includes his best friend Doug.
When they were both in high school they were walking around Summit Mall, the local mall, and saw a little group known as the James Gang performing in the center of the mall. They both really liked the sound of this new group and decided to see if they would play at one of the dances the high school had on Friday nights.
Doug had a contract in his pocket, not exactly sure what he was doing walking around with a contract, but nevertheless they signed the James Gang to play two shows at Copley High School. a school near the bands native Akron Ohio. One show was to be in 1969 and the next in 1970.
In the year in between the shows the James Gang exploded into huge rock legends. but they had a contract and still came back to play this little high school show. Their limo pulled right up to the main doors, where there is a little half circle of parking and the group got out.
Joe Walsh was amazingly cool, he hung out and talked with the students when the band took a break. Jim Fox on the other hand was not quite as cool, as he walked into the school with a girl on each arm and alcohol in his hand, and was not happy when he was told he couldn't bring alcohol into a high school. He also told Greg and Doug "you know, we make a few grand per show now." Not missing a beat Doug looked him in the eye and replied "well tonight you're making 800"
When they were both in high school they were walking around Summit Mall, the local mall, and saw a little group known as the James Gang performing in the center of the mall. They both really liked the sound of this new group and decided to see if they would play at one of the dances the high school had on Friday nights.
Doug had a contract in his pocket, not exactly sure what he was doing walking around with a contract, but nevertheless they signed the James Gang to play two shows at Copley High School. a school near the bands native Akron Ohio. One show was to be in 1969 and the next in 1970.
In the year in between the shows the James Gang exploded into huge rock legends. but they had a contract and still came back to play this little high school show. Their limo pulled right up to the main doors, where there is a little half circle of parking and the group got out.
Joe Walsh was amazingly cool, he hung out and talked with the students when the band took a break. Jim Fox on the other hand was not quite as cool, as he walked into the school with a girl on each arm and alcohol in his hand, and was not happy when he was told he couldn't bring alcohol into a high school. He also told Greg and Doug "you know, we make a few grand per show now." Not missing a beat Doug looked him in the eye and replied "well tonight you're making 800"
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Rock & Roll Trivia Part IV Answers
1) Yesterday by The Beatles, over 2500 versions exist.
2) Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."
3) Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" with 1285 nonconsecutive weeks on the charts. The next longest is James Taylor's 'Greatest Hits" with 573 weeks.
2) Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."
3) Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" with 1285 nonconsecutive weeks on the charts. The next longest is James Taylor's 'Greatest Hits" with 573 weeks.
Rock & Roll Trivia Part IV
1) What is the most recorded song in history?
2) What was the first CD pressed in the US for commercial release?
3) What is the longest an album has spent on the Billboard charts?
2) What was the first CD pressed in the US for commercial release?
3) What is the longest an album has spent on the Billboard charts?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Neil Young
"Well, I heard Neil Young singing about her
Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down.
Well, I hope Neil Yong will remember,
a southern man don't need him around anyhow"
These famous words from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama" have helped to fuel one of the longest running celebrity feuds in history.
It all started when Young wrote the songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama" both were anti-racist and anti-cross burning. The southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd took great offense to the songs and decided that Alabama needed a more redeeming song and thus they wrote "Sweet Home Alabama."
Especially because of the lines quoted above many people assumed that the two groups were fighting with each other but in actuality they both had a great deal of respect for each other. While he was still alive, Ronnie Van Zant was often seen wearing Neil Young t-shirts, and there is a rumor that when he was killed in a plane crash he was buried in a Neil Young shirt.
Despite what their music says, the two groups were actually great friends and respected each other both professionally and socially as well.
Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down.
Well, I hope Neil Yong will remember,
a southern man don't need him around anyhow"
These famous words from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama" have helped to fuel one of the longest running celebrity feuds in history.
It all started when Young wrote the songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama" both were anti-racist and anti-cross burning. The southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd took great offense to the songs and decided that Alabama needed a more redeeming song and thus they wrote "Sweet Home Alabama."
Especially because of the lines quoted above many people assumed that the two groups were fighting with each other but in actuality they both had a great deal of respect for each other. While he was still alive, Ronnie Van Zant was often seen wearing Neil Young t-shirts, and there is a rumor that when he was killed in a plane crash he was buried in a Neil Young shirt.
Despite what their music says, the two groups were actually great friends and respected each other both professionally and socially as well.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Jimi Hendrix
For as long as i can remember i have been interested in music, a good deal of this obsession probably comes from my uncle greg. he is constantly telling me stories of all the great concerts he has been to, and all the famous musicians he has met. he probably knows more about music, at least the music he likes, than anyone else i know. anyway, because i dont have any exciting music stories of my own yet, i will now share a few of gregs stories that i have heard countless times.
When greg and his friends were in high school Jimi Hendrix came to cleveland, of course they had to go. On the way to the concert they heard Jimi doing a radio interview/promotion for the concert. They quickly persuaded the dad that was driving them to make a short detour to the radio station and preceded to block the limo in the parking lot. Jimis limo driver starts freaking out and yelling at them to move. Then Jimi Hendrix himself rolls down his window to talk to the awestruck teenagers, during the whole conversation none of whom thought to ask for an autograph. For reasons still unclear to me greg and his friends had thought it would be cool to wear their jeans inside out to the concert and to this day he is still slightly embarrassed that he was dressed like that when he met Jimi. As Jimi was talking to them for a few minutes, asking them if theyre going to the concert and whatnot, he threw a cigarette on the ground and one of the guys picked it up. Im pretty sure greg still has it today.
When greg and his friends were in high school Jimi Hendrix came to cleveland, of course they had to go. On the way to the concert they heard Jimi doing a radio interview/promotion for the concert. They quickly persuaded the dad that was driving them to make a short detour to the radio station and preceded to block the limo in the parking lot. Jimis limo driver starts freaking out and yelling at them to move. Then Jimi Hendrix himself rolls down his window to talk to the awestruck teenagers, during the whole conversation none of whom thought to ask for an autograph. For reasons still unclear to me greg and his friends had thought it would be cool to wear their jeans inside out to the concert and to this day he is still slightly embarrassed that he was dressed like that when he met Jimi. As Jimi was talking to them for a few minutes, asking them if theyre going to the concert and whatnot, he threw a cigarette on the ground and one of the guys picked it up. Im pretty sure greg still has it today.
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