Remembering Tommy Allsup

Today I learned of the passing of guitar great Tommy Allsup at the age of 85. Although not a household name he is most known for his work with Buddy Holly. He was Hollies guitar player after his breakup from the Crickets. He played on the infamous Winter Dance Party tour along with Waylon Jennings as Hollies other guitar player. It was on this tour during a stop in Clear Lake that Holly chartered a plane to the next stop in Moorehead. Both Allsup and Jennings were to fly with Holly. But when co-headliner The Big Bopper got sick Waylon gave him his seat and the plane. Ritchie Valens one of the tours other stars also wanted a seat on the plane and flipped a coin for the seat with Allsup. Thankfully for Allsup he lost the toss because the plane would crash later that evening just a mile from the airport killing all on board. I was lucky enough to see Allsup during one of the Winter Dance Party tributes in 2012. Above is a video from that night. I was also able to meet him and get his autograph along with others who were there that night.

Nazereth- Kentucky Fried Blues

Happy 69th Brian

Great evening of blues with Guitar Shorty.

Happy 80th Birthday Buddy Guy

In Memory of Lonnie Mack. 1941-2016

While largely over shadowed by the death of Prince the same day it is important to remember Lonnie. I first heard of him through Stevie Ray Vaughan who was heavily influenced by him. Mack is credited with helping to create the blues-rock genre. I don't think he got the credit he deserved for his contributions to blues and rock 'n' roll. Below is his pioneering album The Wham of that Memphis Man!

2016 the death of the rock band

Looks like this may the finale nail in the coffin of my favorite band.Everyone including myself thought last year would be their the end with Malcolm's dementia and then Phil's arrest. But they showed their strength as a band by replacing Malcolm with his cousin Stevie and Phil with former drummer Chris Slade who played on The Razors Edge and AC/DC Live.They went on a small stadium of North America and I took the bus to see them in Chicago thinking it was the end. I was wrong again. They would go on to announce an arena tour in 2016. Because they had a stop in St. Paul and it was early in the tour I would get to see them again. Sadly this would not be the case for those on later dates. Today it was announced that Brian Johnson would have to stop tour or he would have permanent hearing loss. The band has talked about getting a guest vocalist to fill in for the last ten U.S. dates but I personally don't think the tour could go on without Brian. They had a good run.

The demise of the rock band started in December of 2015 which December 31st being the last concert of Motley Crue before their breakup. I caught them on this tour for the first time on their last Minnesota show. Although Crue's demise had been in the works for a while it was the news of the sudden death of Lemmy from cancer which really hit me hard. I had wanted to see Motorhead the last time they were in town but was not yet of age to get in to the venue they were playing. Lemmy was the only original member left in the band and with the death of original drummer Phil Taylor leaves only Eddie Clark the only survivor of the classic lineup. The death of Lemmy meant the death of yet another classic band. 

Then 2016 rolled around and that meant more bands ending. Black Sabbath had announced their final tour in August of last year so I decided to get a ticket. This was due to guitarist Tony Iommi being diagnosed with lymphoma back in 2013.They had the chance to do what few bands of the 70's could. Tour as the original band with all it's members. But due to Health problems and conflict drummer Bill was not part of the line-up.

Then came the end of one of my favorite bands Eagles. We lost Glenn Frey at the age of 67 from a chronic condition. I am still in shock over his passing. They were supposed to be honored at the Kennedy Center honors but Frey was to sick. I am glad I got to see them in 2013.