The Rolling Stones
November 27th, 2009 by fts1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
2. Only Rock ‘n Roll
3. Get Off My Cloud
4. She’s A Rainbow
5. Under My Thumb
6. It’s All Over Now
7. Don’t Stop
8. Happy
9. The Last Time
1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Mere days after their release of “Beggar’s Banquet” in 1968, the band pulled together a real-life circus of a show. Designed as a television spectacle consisting of real circus performers, and some top rock acts of the day. Jethro Tull, The Who and Eric Clapton were in attendance, as were lions, trapeze artists, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The kind of show you might only now see on the very best of David Letterman.
The idea was to produce a unique showcase, but the footage was eventually shelved and hidden away for nearly 3 decades due to what was deemed sub-standard performances. It was not shown publicly for 27 years, except for brief excerpts in home videos. The Who’s performance of “A Quick One” was used in their own film/career documentary, “The Kids Are Alright”. The true landmark of the show for The Rolling Stones was it was Brian Jones’ last performance with the band.
2. Only Rock ‘n Roll
Before the Rolling Stones had galvanized their name as the World Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the late ’60s, they had already laid a handsome claim to the title. The Beatles had paved the way for the British Invasion, but the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, hard-pounding blues-infused rock and roll that now defines the genre. Mick Jagger might be a tiny little man by many standards, but with no question he is the biggest front man to ever grace a rock stage. Wild. Macho. Campy. Sexy. He created the role of the rockstar.
3. Get Off My Cloud
To nightcap their hugely successful 1969 North American tour, the band planned a large, free concert in San Francisco similar to a successful concert they had done in London’s Hyde Park earlier that summer. But between permit denials, greed and a last-minute change of venue, the event spiraled from what was potentially a West Coast Woodstock to a jumbled chaotic mess.
Things turned for the worse with their bad choice of security, the biker gang the “Hell’s Angels”, contributing to a day-long sideshow of brutal violence and truly bad vibes. By the time the Stones took the stage that evening, things had already come undone with a dramatic stabbing of spectator by one of the Hell’s Angels. The stabbing was captured on film in the documentary, “Gimme Shelter”.
4. She’s A Rainbow
The band’s longtime acquaintance with law enforcement started with an infamous ‘pissing’ incident in March of 1965. Bill Wyman needed to use the restroom at a gas station, but was refused admittance and told to promptly vacate the premises. Mick Jagger and Brian Jones joined Bill in pissing against a wall, and the Rolling Stones’ image as bad boys was firmly established. In a remarkable show of solidarity and opportunism, which was not to be repeated, all five-band members showed up at court, several weeks later.
5. Under My Thumb
How can you be the next Keith Richards? Well, asides from several obvious personal decisions, to get his legendary sound, first you’re going to need to go out and get yourself a Fender Telecaster. Keith plays in open G tuning with his own customized 5-string version. Take your low E string off the guitar and then tune it low to high as GDGBD. You can always tune the low E string to D as well if you’re not into removing the sixth string. Keith sums up his approach with a simple phrase that only he could truly relate, “5 strings, 3 fingers, and one ***hole.” There’s no one like Keith Richards.
6. It’s All Over Now
The famous tongue and lip design and countless variations of such has graced countless official and unofficial Rolling Stones memorabilia and products since it first appeared when the band formed “Rolling Stones Records” in 1971. Credit for the creation of the original design has been mistakenly given to several people over the years. Many have stated that Andy Warhol was the originator. He did design two album covers for the band, but not the tongue design. In 1995, Billboard Magazine printed that it was from the mind of Ruby Mazur. Discovering their mistake, they later corrected their statement, identifying Mazur as the designer of the first official variation of the tongue design. With further research later that year, Billboard definitely uncovered that the original classic design came from John Pasch. Two years later, Mick Jagger confirmed that Pasch was the originator of the fabled logo.
7. Don’t Stop
Rolling Stones museum, anyone? Former Rolling Stones member, Bill Wyman operates a restaurant entitled, “Sticky Fingers” in the well-to-do Kensington section of London. The food is nothing to write home about, unless you consider the cuisine at the Hard Rock Café something to die for. The prices are so-so, no more than the one-two punch inflicted by Planet Hollywood fare.
What’s special here is that the whole place is a shrine the legendary rockers. Jam-packed with posters, magazine covers, guitars, gold discs and the like. Most of time, as you might imagine, you’ll be enjoying the soothing sounds of Stones tune while you munch your fish and chips.
8. Happy
If you never get a chance to stand live in the crowd and soak the sound waves as they emit straight from the wall of loud speakers, then the next best chance at the excitement is one many films made from their various shows. Perhaps the most famous is from their 1972 North American tour. Titled, “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones”, unfortunately the screening of it can prove difficult. Originally released in Quadraphonic sound, the original soundtrack, record as it is on the film in an unusual manner requires considerable labor to view properly. The effort is occasionally undertaken, as it was done in a September 1996 screening at New York’s Lincoln Center. Hmmm, maybe it would be easier to just see them live after all.
9. The Last Time
Is this their last world tour? They’ve been fielding that question ever since they were first asked it way back in 1966. Mick Jagger turned 59 this past July 26th and Keith Richards turns 59 on December 18th. Jagger will be 60 by the time they wrap up their European tour, perhaps that’s old enough to retire, but we’re betting that they’ll be back as long as they’re around. Why stop now?
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Superstars Sign Big US Record Deals
July 28th, 2009 by ftsThis year’s concert is set to be a hit with the local community as Leona Lewis’ popularity has literally gone through the roof.
The concert will also feature Kelly Clarkson and Miley Cyrus who is returning after a five year absence in the music industry. VH1 are reportedly interested in developing local music interest in neighbouring communities which is something they have always been looking into helping.
The show is a fundraiser for the ‘Save the Music Foundation’ which will be live on the music channel in the US on 17th September. The VH1 concert was initially created to help support the local music scene for kids in school. The entire event takes place at Brooklyn Academy of Music and local kids from school get free entry.
Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Cher have all performed at this event in the past. It is a very exciting time for Leona Lewis. She recently won the notorious hit music TV program, X-Factor and since then her popularity has really gone out of control (in a good way).
The local VH1 concert has been a regular contributor of musical instruments to local schools which has been fantastic for the younger kids.3m have been donated to 1,600 schools in over 100 cities. Anything from Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars and Classic Guitar.
Many schools across the world have always benefited from this concert and people have since developed a lot of interest in the yearly show. This year is going to be slightly different now that two British girls, Adele and Leona Lewis will be playing.
This has always been a big event for any rising music super star and it is a fantastic way to help raise awareness for schools and the younger generations passion for music.