I recently ran acrossed an article about the recent music event in Scotland called “RockNess”. I am always curious about these Woodstock wannabees and how they come off, but it seems this one is getting a bit of a dark history already in it’s few short years of existence.

It seems an 18 year old died at this years event which took place this last weekend which happens at an area on the Banks of Loch Ness no less. What’s unusual is that someone else died last year at this event too. The authorities haven’t released the details of the 18 year old’s death yet, but I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t natural causes.

Last year’s unfortunate party apparently died of a Heroin overdose in his car, but the circumstances of both deaths seem to be a little strange to say the least. Ever since the Fiasco at Altimont, these large rock festivals have been places of both pleasure and peril and the peril could come from the Hell’s Angels or perhaps the Loch Ness Monster.

Anyway, Here’s a link to the story I found, read at your convenience, but attend any future RockNess event at your own RISK!

This song had it all, a great beat, killer solo, great lyrics and singing by Bill Haley and a classic ending. To me it totally defined what rock-and-roll was, if this doesn’t get your feet moving – Nothing Will!

Sadly of course, Bill Haley himself is no longer with us, but his music lives on and keeps getting re-discovered and revisited.

Although I’ve heard many versions of this song by many different “Bill Haley and His Comets” lineups, this one is truly my favorite and the Best of them – enjoy:

I can’t let the passing of Bo Diddley go without giving him a proper tribute. He was an innovator, gun slinger and certainly one of the Great Influencers of all in Rock, Rockabilly and Blues.

With that trademark “Twang Machine” and killer rhythm chops, his influence can be heard as far back as  groups like the Yardbirds and Rolling Stones to more contemporary artists like George Thorogood with remakes of songs like “Who do You Love” a Bo original.

His signature song “Bo Diddley” was a classic in his original shuffle like rhythm style. Also penning such greats as “I’m a Man”, “Love is Strange” and “Gun Slinger”.

Old Bo also worked with many a great artist in collaboration such as his sessions with Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.

Bo was also in the Movies, as he played a tough haggling Pawn Broker who would only give Dan Akroyd 50 bucks for a rolex watch which his line was “in Philadelphia, it’s worth 50 bucks” a true classic line.

He toured all the way up to 2006 in which he did a benefit concert for the residents of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, victims of Katrina.

He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, as well as being inducted into musical halls of fame in Washington, Mississippi, North Florida as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame too.

Bo Diddley packed alot into his 79 years and his music and influence will live on for many generations to come. RIP Bo!

Alrighty then, here we go with the highly anticipated Top 5 Live Albums of All Time - Hold on to your hats:

Number 5: Jimi Plays Monterey (Jimi Hendrix): This album was released in 1986 and I remember I had it on LP and just about wore the grooves out on this one. He starts with an incredible version of “Killing Floor” that plain has one of the greatest ending’s to a song I ever heard. He works his way through a searing version of “Foxy Lady” and then through some raw covers of “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Rock Me Baby”. The song I still think I like most by Jimi and he never disappointed with was “Hey Joe” it’s just such a sweet song, with so much emotion. Like every great artist he adds a new little flair to every song with each different performance. Although not visible on the end of this album I believe this is the performance where he lights his guitar on fire at the end (during “Wild Thing”) and then sprays lighter fluid on it to make the flames go higher. He really pulled all the stops on this performance (playing behind the back and picking with his teeth) and it is a golden one.

Number 4: Wheels of Fire (Disc 2 - Cream): Although this was a combo studio/live album, the entire second disc was live and what a recording it was. Released in 1968 and starting out with ”Crossroads”, maybe one of the most recognized, copied, influential and inspiring cover’s ever, it sure starts out on a good note here. Amazingly of course Eric Clapton himself has denounced this re-working of Robert Johnson’s classic as a version he really didn’t like, but he must be the only one in the world that thinks so. I really thought this was some of both his and Cream’s finest work. It epitomizes the raw, driving, blues/rock fusion that Cream was so great at. As, what I consider the first real “Power Trio” they just had an incredible chemistry with each other and this song showcases it. It moves on with a lights out version of “Spoonful” and climaxes with a supercharged 16 minute long version of ”Toad” by Ginger. Very, very stirring stuff!

Number 3: The Song Remains the Same (Led Zepplin): What kid growing up in the 70’s didn’t at least hum “Stairway to Heaven” at some point. This album was actually released in 1976 I never actually heard this album until the early 80’s while in college. All I had heard to that point were the studio versions of most the songs. Of course, at that time, we didn’t have YouTube, Napster, etc..and the recording medium of choice was cassette tape for audio and in the mid 80’s the advent of recordable VHS video tapes. Cable was becoming the big thing for viewing and I think it was either VH1 or MTV that had the Video version of this and I did tape it. It just mesmerized me. As if the awesome versions of “Dazed and Confused”, “The Rain Song”, “Moby Dick”, “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway to Heaven” weren’t enough, I was really in a daze listening to “The Song Remains the Same”. What a great song and great arrangement by Jimmy and company. This album left me with incredible imagery in my mind for years to come.

Number 2: Frampton Comes Alive (Peter Frampton): What is there to say, this one has been voted by many to be THE NUMBER 1 Live album of all time and I have a hard time totally disagreeing with that, but I do have reasons for putting it in the Number 2 Slot. I can listen to this album start to finish any time. It is a gem of an album with some truly timeless music. This album really had an influence on me in my teen years and even since then. It became synonomous with partying and having a good time. All you really have to do is listen to “Do You Feel Like We Do” to get the atmosphere that surrounds it. It’s more of a mood than anything else I think.

and here it is, what you’ve all been wating for:

Number 1: Woodstock - the original Soundtrack (Various Artists): Setting - 1969, the last summer of love, Yasgur’s Farm. Some of the soon to be Greatest Rock Acts ever: Santana, Mountain, the Grateful Dead, CCR, Jefferson Airplane, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Band, Canned Heat, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, incredible artists, incredibly diverse music with such a spontaneous and original almost surreal real life story line that went along with it, truly the music, magic and feeling will never be captured again. Among all that diversity, there still were I believe 2 performances which really defined and etched Woodstock into stone forever - Ten Years After and Jimi Hendrix. Alvin Lee made himself a household name with the supercharged “I’m Going Home” and became synonomous with speed and feedback, while Jimi took what crowd remained into the stratosphere with his signature version of the “Star Spangled Banner”, rocked us to the bone with “Purple Haze” and cut deeply with his strange and melodic instrumentals to end the festival. Although it was a shame that almost nobody was there to see it live, luckily it was recorded for the rest of us. Well, there you have it, the number 1 live album had diversity, controversy and some of the greatest Marquee performances of the last century - enjoy!!

Here we go with another Top 10 list. This time it is the Top 10 Live Albums of all time. Here are Numbers 6-10 in descending order, just to keep the suspense up.

Number 10: Not Necessarily Acoustic (Steve Howe): This may seem like an unusual selection to kick it off with, but knowing Steve Howe’s all around talent in almost any musical style, his one man show from 1994, is really something to see, hear and experience. I was fortunate to catch his one man act a few years ago and will never forget it. In this all acoustic tour-de-force, he melds classical, jazz, rockabilly, rock, progressive with his incredible sense of style and taste. Really this one is worth listening to again and again. It’s easy to see why he was the driving force behind “Yes” for so many years.

Number 9: 5 Live Yardbirds (the Yardbirds): from 1964 and recorded at the Marquee Club, the Yardbirds and the Rolling Stones pretty much made up the early British R&B scene at locations like this and the Crawdaddy Club. Up tempo songs like “Too Much Monkey Business” and “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” along with Bo Diddley Staples like “I’m a Man” and “Here Tis” keep your foot tapping throughout. The real meat comes out in their cover of Howlin Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning” though and Clapton shines here. Every so often I just get the urge to listen to these great old numbers that started it all…

Number 8: Johnny Winter - Captured Live: This was the first Johnny Winter Album I ever got. It totally blew me away. I was amazed at the pure energy that came out of that Gibson Firebird of his. This 1976 recording is a true showcase of Johnny Winter and Floyd Radford trading licks throughout. High energy versions of “Bony Moronie”, “Rock and Roll People” and “It’s all Over Now” (a song the Rolling Stones had made famous years before) are followed by an incredible slide driven version of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” and the album closes out with an unbelievable version of “Sweet Papa John” with an intro that just about knocks your eyeballs out of their sockets. I know it sounds crazy, but I just get tired out listening to this one because of the energy you spend listening!

Number 7: One More from the Road (Lynyrd Skynyrd): Not much more needs to be said about this one - just good old fashioned hard Southern Rock with the classic versions of “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Freebird” along with great covers of JJ Cale’s “Call Me the Breeze” and Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads”. I really think this one is just about as American as Apple Pie.

and

Number 6: Deep Purple “Made in Japan”: This album is so full of energy, it’s hard not get excited just thinking about it. The Greatest Deep Purple Lineup (Blackmore, Gillan, Paice, Lord and Glover) at their absolute peak released in the US in 1973 and the follow up tour to “Machine Head” this features supercharged versions of “Highway Star”, “Lazy” (awsome!) and “Space Truckin” as well as maybe the definitive version of “Smoke on the Water” which sounds just other-worldly. Truly one of the Greatest Rock Bands Ever totally at their Peak - not to be missed.

Well that’s the first five for today, tune in tomorrow on the same Bat Channel for the Top 5 Live albums of all time.

Just a quick note, as I am pressed for time today, but wanted to let you know about my newest Top 10 list which will be coming - the Top 10 Live Albums in Rock History. Keep your eyes open for this one

OK, finally down to the last tours for the summer/fall this year. Here goes-

Ted Nugent: The Motor City Madman will always be in rare form starting June 10, through September 27, in California, Nevada, British Columbia, Washington State, Missouri, Texas, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The Guess Who: This band had such great classic’s like “American Woman”, “These Eyes”, etc… Unfortunately, neither Burton Cummings nor Randy Bachman are in the current lineup, but they’re touring on June 6 and August 28 in Ohio and Colorado, respectively.

The Police: Sting and Andy Summers team up after two decades apart and are joined on tour with Elvis Costello and the Imposters starting from July 11, through August 5 in Washington State, California, Utah, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusets, New York and New Jersey.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: A band that has been around for more than 30 Years, they’re no runaways on this tour beginning May 31, through August 29 in Michigan, Toronto, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusets, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, California, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Manitoba, Alberta, Washington State, Arizona and Texas.

Van Halen: Never my favorite, but plenty of people love them, and David Lee Roth is at the vocal helm on this one engagement tour on June 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

War: This blast from the past will be “low-riding” into one engagement in September 19 in Westbury, New York.

Yes: This is their 40th anniversary tour and includes - Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson and Alan White and they put on a fantastic show starting July 13, through August 22 in Toronto, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusets, New York, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Colorado, British Columbia, Washington State and California.

ZZ Top: That little old band from Texas will be sporting cheap sunglasses when the start touring June 7, through August 30 in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Illinois, Vermont, Utah and Wisconsin.

There you have it this summers concert series A-Z, enjoy!

It’s starting to get wound down now. If you don’t see your favorite artist in these lists, go to the Stubhub button in the right sidebar to search and see if there are any shows upcoming for them.

Pearl Jam: One of the godfather’s of “Grunge”, by the way is Grunge still alive? Oh well, they’re touring from June 11, through June 30 in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Washington DC, New York, Connecticut and Massachusets.

Peter Frampton: The king of live albums (the original “Frampton Comes Alive” will always be the greatest to me) is back on tour starting July 15, through August 15 in California, British Columbia, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

R.E.M.: Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and the boys will be on tour beginning May 31, through June 21 in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Toronto, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusets, New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

REO Speedwagon: A real blast from the past especially if your into tuning fish. They’re on tour on June 29,  July 31 and October 3 in Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada respectively.

Ringo Starr: Wish I still had my “Oh My MY/Photograph” 45 from way back. Don’t know whatever happened to it. Anyway Ringo is touring starting June 19, through August 2, in Ontario, New York, Connecticut, Massachusets, New Jersey, Florida, Tennesee, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Rod Stewart: Another classic act touring from July 30, through August 28 in California, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Montreal, Massachusets, Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.

Rush: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart (the professor of percussion) are one of the only remaining power trios left, don’t miss this one - they’re touring from May 31, through July 22 in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Montreal, Pennsylvania, Massachusets, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Toronto, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

Santana: Want to infuse a little soul into your music, this is just the act to do it. He’s touring from September 6, through October 12 in Washington State, British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and California.

Steely Dan: One of the most unique rock bands ever and they are on tour from June 8, through August 9 in Florida, Georgia, New York, Massachusets, Connecticut, New Jersey, Montreal, Ontario, Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington State.

Steve Miller Band: His shows are living on in America with dates from May 30, through August 17 in Texas, California, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Illionis, New York, Pennsylvania, Toronto, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusets, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington State and Nevada.

Steve Winwood: He was the heart and soul of such bands as Traffic, Blind Faith and the Spencer Davis Group, not to mention his own solo music and has limited engagements on June 15, 19 and August 19 in New York, New Jersey and California, respectively.

The next one should wrap up this summer/fall’s concert tours. enjoy.

As a kid I listened to many artists and songs, from Neil Diamond to ZZ Top, but certainly from the earliest age that I can remember being influenced by music, the original driving force for me that shaped my musical taste was without a doubt - The Beatles.

Before I was into much heavier stuff like the Cream’s, Deep Purple’s, Jimi Hendrix’s, Led Zepplin’s and so on I was weaned on the Beatles and then their solo works as well. The first album of theirs, which I played on an old Zenith Hi-Fi Turntable was the first compilation album of theirs - the “1962 to 1966″ album.

This got me turned on to Rock and Roll mainly as it had all of their great oldies like “I wan’t to hold your hand” and “Eight Days a Week”, etc… After that I craved everything of theirs I could get my hands on and by the Time I got to “Abbey Road”, I thought I had really struck the motherlode.

Through Listening to their albums in a sort of chronological fashion, “Rubber Soul”, “Revolver”, “Sgt. Peppers”, “Magical Mystery Tour”… I felt I got to know them almost more as people than as a band. Each album seemed to separate the four of them a bit more and by the time it got to the “White Album” it was almost like each one was working on solo projects and then splicing them together to make an album. Even though every song by either Paul or John had to have (by contractual arrangement) both names Lennon-McCartney on them they were clearly either Just John’s or Just Paul’s creations, style and taste.

Now I’m not knocking the music on any of these albums, but it just sort of saddened me to see the large creative gaps in what was once the most cohesive pop band ever. Speed ahead to 1969 and “Abbey Road”, which I believe to be my all time favorite Beatles album. My reasons are two-fold; first the music on it was superb and timeless, but secondly and perhaps most importantly, it was a sort of coming back together creatively for them.

While the First side almost seems like a continuation of previous individual works like the “White Album”, the second side began a continuous theme starting with “Here Comes the Sun” and ending with “Her Majesty” and in between it seemed that one song was carefully crafted to lead into the next and keep building up a story and layering one great melody on top of another.

A great example of this is the transition from “Mean Mister Mustard” to “Polythene Pam” to “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” they just seem to fit together so perfectly, but they are all completely different sounding and in the same was as “Golden Slumbers” (my favorite on the album), “Carry That Weight” and “The End”.

Not only were these a great collaboration of songwriting, but in playing as well as you hear some great collaborative soloing on the guitar just before “The End”.

The ”Let it Be”  album which was their last had a few good collaborations on songs like “Get Back”, but as whole did not capture the closeness and togetherness of “Abbey Road”.  All in all because this was more of a true “Beatles” album than almost any other since “Revolver” it will always be more special and besides that - it has a totally cool Album Cover…