Happy Birthday to the late great Alvin Lee

R.I.P Smokin Joe Kubek 1958-2015

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees-The Hits and Misses

Recently the Rock Hall released the nominees to be inducted in 2016. The list includes a who's who of rock, rap, disco, R&B and soul.The nominees The Cars, ‪‎Chic‬, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Janet Jackson, The J.B.’s, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, Steve Miller, Nine Inch Nails, N.W.A , The Smiths, The Spinners and Yes.

Of course there the obvious ones who shouldn't get in like N.W.A and Janet Jackson.Then there are the ones who should have been inducted long ago like Deep Purple and Yes. But since the hall is not to big on progressive rock Yes will be waiting a long time to get in much like Rush did. I'm also super excited that other great rockers are finally getting a shot like Chicago, Steve Miller and The Cars. Other newer rock groups who were nominated like Los Lobos, Nine Inch Nails and The Smiths. While I have nothing against these groups I don't think they should be getting in before Yes, Chicago or Deep Purple. And even those three should not be getting in before pioneers like Dick Dale, Link Wray and Danny and the Juniors.


But those three pioneers won't get in because the no longer cares about the pioneers because they aren't popular like Janet Jackson or Madonna. It's now just a popularity contest. But of course you have the fake rock fans who think Janet Jackson is rock. I went to her Wikipedia page and was able to put any question of her being a rock artist to rest. Under the genre category the three genre's listed are pop, R&B and dance. Nowhere is rock  listed. These rock posers only seem to be-able name one Janet Jackson song in defense of her being inducted. That song is Black Cat and it seems to be her only rock sounding song.

Should Willie Nelson get in because did one song with Carl Perkins? Absolutely not. Doing one duet with a rock artist or having one rock sounding song does not make you a rock artist. You rock posers should just go back to your R&B and leave rock 'n' roll to the real rock fans.  I enjoy the music of Chaka Khan and The Spinners but their music isn't rock and that is why they shouldn't get in. Neither should N.W.A who is a hip hop group. Rock is not listed on their Wikipedia page under the genre section. But sadly I don't see Yes or Deep Purple getting in since they've been nominated many times before and haven't won.   

Happy 80th birthday Jerry Lee Lewis

Lou Gramm at The State Fair

Last night I got the chance to see the Lou who was the lead singer of Foreigner. He had suffered a brain tumor in the late 90's and the surgery caused damage to his voice. Although he couldn't hit the highs on songs like Juke Box Hero he still sounded pretty good. This was one of the free shows at the Minnesota State Fair. It was at the the Leinenkugel Loge. This was the second time I had been to this venue. The last time I'd seen a show there was Blue Oyster Cult back in 2013. Although when he talked it was hard to hear because of all the noisy drunks. But thankfully the music was able to drown them out. This is much better then Foreigner aka Mick Jones and friends. although these free shows aren't very long he. was able to pack in many of foreingers greatest songs. Some of the songs he sang were I Want To Know What Love Is, Double Vision, Hot Blooded, Cold as Ice,Head Games and Urgent. He also sang his big solo hit Mightnight Blue. After the show I went to get a record and tape signed that I brought. He was nice enough to sign both. I liked that he put a limit on the number of things you could get signed. Then I was able to get a picture with the man himself. I had a great time overall. It is still surreal to know that I got to see live for free and meet the voice behind some of classic rock's greatest hits.

One more for the King