I'm still a huge fan of Charlie Daniels' early work but I'm not much on him changing the lyrics to his old songs in concert due to his newfound Christianity or am I none too fond of some of his political views.

I don't know about Van Halen and Aerosmith "owning the 80s". I guess it's up to everyone's individual perspectives but Van Halen sort of lost it towards the end with David Lee Roth and their return with Sammy Hagar didn't do a whole lot for me. I like some of it but for the most part their Hagar era stuff pales in comparison to the Diamond Dave material. In regards to Aerosmith, with very few exceptions their "comeback" records don't even begin to hold a candle to their early records. Still a very kickass live band though. I don't know, I guess when I think about the 80s I have a tendency to think more of the artists that grew out of the post punk movement such as R.E.M. and U2 and not so much of bands like Aerosmith and Van Halen. It was also a very good time for reggae (despite the passing of Marley) and Stevie Ray Vaughan helped kickstart a blues revival that was much needed during a time when "hair" bands were ruling the roost.

Oh, I'm sure he does and believe you me, I've heard enough of his music to form an opinion, I just don't care for the majority of what I've heard whether it be his "lighter" side or his "whiskey bent and hellbound" side, it's mostly just not my cup of tea. I like Hank, Sr. and Hank III much better. In regards to his Rocky Mt accident, you should check out the Yayhoos' song Monkey With A Gun if you've never heard it.

I would have loved to have seen Waylon and Neil on the same bill. Thankfully I did see Waylon (one of my absolute favorites) once. He played out in the woods at a place called Hugo outside of Kinston, NC back in the 80s. I think the Super Grit Cowboy Band or some other local act (maybe Sutter's Gold Streak?) were also on the bill. Just before Waylon came out The Crickets took the stage and then Waylon joined them. It was during The Crickets' set that I learned one of them was the composer of The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme as they played it that day. Waylon only turned in an hour set but it was the only time I ever saw him in concert so I can't bitch too much.

Swede is right, they're independent stores. Still, some are chains like The Record Exchange and Schoolkids (of which there's only two left) but you'll find the staff to usually be much more knowledgeable in these type of stores than you're likely to encounter in places like Best Buy or Circuit Shitty where the music clerks don't seem to know their asses from a hole in the ground. I don't think there's such a thing as "indie" music but there are artists that record for independent labels. "Indie" can also be used as sort of a catch all phrase to describe music made by artists in the "alternative" vein. In fact, it pretty much replaced that term a number of years ago but like the word alternative, it largely lost all meaning pretty quickly.

I certainly get the Skynyrd influence on Hank, Jr.'s music and even like a tune or two but overall I prefer his Daddy's music. Same for Hank III. Hank, Jr. just comes off a little too cartoony for me to ever take seriously. Give me Hank, Sr. or Hank III any day of the week.

Just the one, at least that I'm aware of. What, you got some Air Supply hidden away in your collection? I know I have at least one 45 by Elton John and one by the Bee Gees in mine.

If the surviving members are "abusing" the name Queen then so are Led Zeppelin by going under that name with Jason Bonham, Little Feat without Lowell George, AC/DC without Bon Scott, the Allman Brothers Band without Duane Allman, Foghat without "Lonesome" Dave, Lynyrd Skynyrd without Ronnie Van Zant and every other band on the planet that decided to carry on without key members.

My how time flies, Johnny looks so fucking young there. I also saw this tour. Pretty sure it was the same year. Blackfoot were touring in support of Maruader, Def Leppard had just released High n' Dry and also on the bill were the Johnny Van Zant Band who were touring behind their second record, Round Two. Yet another tour I attended except it was 1987 in Charlotte. I probably saw the reunited Skynyrd at least 4 or 5 times after that as well, including the tours for their 1991 album and The Last Rebel. Unfortunately I never did see them with the lineup that included Hughie from the Outlaws and Rickey Medlocke. Some other Southern Rock shows I've seen over the years: Blackfoot (2x) The first time was at the show mentioned up, the second was at Roadies in Goldsboro in support of their Siogo album when Ken Hensley from Uriah Heep was part of the line up. This was their last ever show with Charlie Hargett. Rossington With Skynyrd on the Tribute Tour .38 Special (w/ Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels) Ed King had injured his finger in a fight with Johnny Van Zant during their European tour so they had Greg Martin from the Kentucky Headhunters filling in on slide guitar The Allman Brothers Band (4x) Several different lineups from the Dickey years up until Derek Trucks this past summer. Gregg Allman Band The Outlaws (2x) First time was on a bill with Foghat and Derringer in the mid to late 70s. Foghat was listed as the headlining band and were the most well known at the time but the Outlaws closed. The second time they were on a bill with Van Halen, Boston and Poco in 1979 at June Jam at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Van Halen was the headliner but the Outlaws closed. The Marshall Tucker Band Saw them in the late 90s on a bill with local band Nantucket at Atlantic Beach, NC. At this time there were only two or three original members of the band left but it still wasn't a bad show. Still a far cry from the original Marshall Tucker Band with Toy Caldwell though. Molly Hatchet (3x) I saw them several times over the years but never in the early years. However, every time I did see them it was with Danny Joe Brown. Doc Holiday I'm not sure how many times I saw these guys but I know I caught a few of their shows at Roadies and saw 'em at least once at Plantation Music Park outside of Trenton, NC back in the early 80s on a bill with the Super Grit Cowboy Band and Molly Hatchet. Unfortunately Molly Hatchet only got one song in before the heavens opened up and drenched us with rain which ended the show right then and there. ZZ Top (w/Ted Nugent and Kenny Wayne Shepherd) Tres Hombres was one of the first albums I ever owned but I never saw them in concert until just a few years ago when they were touring in support of Mescalero. Atlanta Rhythm Section I was never a huge fan but they played Roadies in Goldsboro, NC quite often so I went most every time they played. They were not only an impressive studio band but one hell of a live band to boot. If you ever get a chance to see the Drive-By Truckers Patterson Hood has a hell of a story to tell about Paul Goddard as a lead-in to their song Road Cases. Not sure I'd classify these as Southern Rock in the classic sense but for the sake of the thread: Drivin' n' Cryin' (4x) On a bill with Skynyrd, also saw 'em in a club back when Fly Me Courageous was new) and opening for R.E.M. on the Green World Tour in Chapel Hill. Kevn Kinney (of Drivin' n' Cryin') As part of the Tres Tangled Truckers II line up (Kevn [sun Tangled Angel Revival], Caitlin Cary [Tres Chicas] & Jason Isbell [Drive-By Truckers] at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago. Mother's Finest (6x) One of the best live shows I've ever seen, hands down. Probably saw them a half dozen times a club in Goldsboro, NC called Roadies. Nantucket I've seen them more times than I care to remember. Since they were a NC band and I grew up in NC I had ample opportunity to see them and did, many, many times. Oddly enough my first ever show was when they were on a bill with Cheap Trick (who opened) and AC/DC in Fayetteville, NC. Nantucket were riding high on the success of their first album on Epic and were at the top of their game. I would never see them in such a huge venue again. Black Crowes (3-4x) I first saw them on the tour for Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. In the years since I've seen them on both the HORDE and Furthur Festival tours. Widespread Panic (3-4x) First show as at the now defunct Attic in Greenville, NC. I saw 'em on the HORDE at least a couple times in the years following. Drive-By Truckers I lost count of how many times I've seen them a very long time ago. First show was at Honky Tonk Arama at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill back in 2000. A photo of that show graces the back of their now out of print live album, Alabama Ass Whuppin'.

When we left around midnight they were still playing Whippin' Post.

Women and Children First totally slipped my mind, probably my favorite Van Halen album. As for the 80s, there was lots of good stuff then: U2, R.E.M. the Itals, Waylon, Willie, the Blasters, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, the Cure, the Replacements, the Long Ryders, Lone Justice, Guadalcanal Diary, Los Lobos, the Alarm, 10,000 Maniacs and tons more. Can't say that I agree that the 90s (or any one particular music decade for that matter) sucked as there were lots of good artists then too: Pearl Jam, Fury in the Slaughterhouse, John Prine, P.J. Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Cry of Love, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, World Party, U2, Soundgarden, the Men, 10,000 Maniacs, Widespread Panic and many, many others.

I'm going with The Legend of Wooley Swamp but you're right, 1980 had some mighty slim pickin's... http://www.tophitsonline.com/polls/1980s/b...pollresults.htm

http://www.gooseonthelake.com

Since this thread has come this far and I don't think this album has been mentioned yet, I'm gonna go ahead and throw it out there: The Truckers may not be for everybody but this record tells the story of Skynyrd's tragic tale with a bit of mythmaking thrown in....

Anyone that recently signed up (like myself) at the Plant/Krauss website would have been fucked when it came time to buy tix because they never sent out a pre-sale password. Yes, I got through thanks to a very kind soul here but that doesn't excuse whoever is responsible at the Plant/Krauss site from not sending out the presale password as promised.

I have a stub from this same tour, in fact it was my first concert (my first big one anyway). The Allmans played in Savannah, GA with their roadies as the opening act.

Since you quoted the Pitchfork article I thought you were referring to the exclusives mentioned in that particular article and not Record Store Day in general. In regards to the rest of your post, I don't think the indie stores are asking for any favors. The way things are going they won't be around for much longer anyway. I purchase from them whenever I can but that is not always possible since there aren't any in my area. In regards to prices, I usually pay less (or at least comparable) prices at the local indies. And, if I have to pay two or three dollars more for a hard to find release I really don't mind. It beats the shit out of the big box stores where all they normally stock are greatest hits compilations. And God forbid you should have to ask for some help in some place like Best Buy or Circuit Shitty. I'm never encountered more of a bunch of clueless fucks (in most cases) in my life than at the big box stores. At least at the majority of indie stores I frequent the people there actually know something about the music they sell. People may bitch about paying a dollar or two more now for some records but wait until they're gone altogether, the irreplaceable experience of shopping in an actual record store is going to disappear along with them. To those that don't know any better because all they know is digital only it won't be such a big deal but for those (like myself) raised on the record store shopping experience they will be very sorely missed. So fucking what if I have to play a couple dollars more. I don't feel like they owe me anything.

These guys don't have a damn thing to do with Skynyrd or Artimus Pyle but I've always admired their band name: ...and here's a local band I've never actually heard but they're heavily endorsed by Tommy Redd (formerly of Nantucket):

I suggest reading the Pitchfork article. Not to be a smartass but it pretty much spells everything out pretty clearly.

From Pitchfork: Death Cab, R.E.M., Built to Spill, Black Keys Celebrate Record Store Day With Exclusive Singles The sheer number of artists participating in Record Store Day-- including Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, and Vampire Weekend, to name just a few-- almost makes all these special events and exclusive releases seem a little less than extraordinary, like we should expect such goodies to come our way every day. That's not true, of course (record stores are an endangered species!), which means the announcement of four more participating bands still has us giddy. The April 19 celebration of independent music retail now includes the release of exclusive limited edition 7"s by Built to Spill, R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, and the Black Keys. The tracklist for each one is after the jump. The Black Keys: 01 Strange Times 02 Something on Your Mind [previously unreleased] Built to Spill: 01 Don't Try [live, previously unreleased] 02 The Source [live, previously unreleased] Death Cab for Cutie: 01 I Will Possess Your Heart (10" Mix) 02 I Will Possess Your Heart (7" Mix) R.E.M.: 01 Supernatural Superserious 02 Airliner [non-LP B-side]

From Billboard.com: Details are still scant at deadline, but Emmylou Harris will on June 10 release a new album, All I Intended To Be. The Nonesuch set is her first of newly recorded material since 2003's Stumble Into Grace. Harris will also be inducted April 27 into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Harris told Billboard.com last summer she has secured assistance for the new album from the McGarrigle sisters and Seldom Scene lead singer John Starling. Harris duets with the latter on "Old Five and Dimers" ("I finally decided that I was old enough to cut that song, reaching the grand ole age of 60," she said). "It's kind of a combination of some of my own songs, some songs that I've wanted to record for a long time and some new things that I came across," Harris said. "You'll get both Emmylou the interpreter and Emmylou the songwriter." -- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

I guess you know what they say about "assume"? Plus, I said some of the bass players named not all so I didn't miss shit. In fact, aside from Stanley Clarke (who's primarily known as a jazz bassist) the two other bass players I mentioned were Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Jimmy Smith (the Gourds). Hell, I may as well throw Mike Mills in there too as he is also one of my favorite bassists. As for this being a "classic rock" website, not everyone here even agrees on the meaning of that term, much less the assumpation that everyone here likes old rock n' roll the most. I know I sure as hell don't. Does it form a great deal of the music I listen to? Of course, but it's not the be all and end all for me like it may be for some people. I love music from many different time periods, music worthy of my attention didn't suddenly stop being made at the end of 1979.

From remhq.com: EDITORS FRONT STRONG CAST OF SUPPORT FOR EUROPE Support for R.E.M.'s summer tour of Europe is bolstered by a host of strong acts including UK band Editors who are on board for a total of 16 dates. Other acts include Elbow, Modern Skirts, Ludeal, Duke Spirit, The Disciplines, and Guillemots. Locarno support remains TBA. Please see the dates below for specific support slots: JULY WED-2-AMSTERDAM, WESTERPARK - MODERN SKIRTS TUE-8-LYON, THEATRE ANTIQUE - LUDEAL WED-9-NICE, THEATRE DE VERDURE - LUDEAL TUE-15-DRESDEN, ELBUFER - EDITORS WED-16-BERLIN, WALDBUHNE - EDITORS FRI-18-LOCARNO, CITY SQUARE - TBA SUN-20-PERUGIA, PARCO GUILIANA - EDITORS MON-21-VERONA, ARENA - EDITORS WED-23-NAPLES, OSTRA D'OLTREMARE - EDITORS THU-24-UDINE, VILLA MANIN - EDITORS SAT-26-MILAN, ARENA CIVICA - EDITORS AUGUST SUN-17-PRAGUE, SLAVIA STADIUM - DUKE SPIRIT TUE-19-STUTTGART, EHRENHOF - ELBOW WED-20-LORELEY, FREILICHTBUHNE - ELBOW FRI-22-WURZBURG, MARIENFESTE - ELBOW SUN-24-MANCHESTER, L.C.C.C. - EDITORS + GUILLEMOTS MON-25-CARDIFF, MILLENNIUM STADIUM - EDITORS + GUILLEMOTS WED-27-SOUTHAMPTON, ROSEBOWL - EDITORS + GUILLEMOTS SAT-30-LONDON, TWICKENHAM STADIUM - EDITORS + GUILLEMOTS SEPTEMBER WED-3-OSLO, ULEVAAL STADIUM - EDITORS + THE DISCIPLINES THU-4-BERGEN, KOENGEN STADIUM - EDITORS + THE DISCIPLINES SAT-6-COPENHAGEN, PARKEN STADIUM - EDITORS + THE DISCIPLINES SUN-7-STOCKHOLM, STADIUM - EDITORS + THE DISCIPLINES TUE-9-HELSINKI, FINNAIR STADIUM - EDITORS + THE DISCIPLINES

Back in the 70s several Southern Rock artists such as the Charlie Daniels Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band and the Allman Brothers Band all played some shows in support of Jimmy Carter for President. These days Charlie Daniels and most of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd are stringent Republican supporters (makes you wonder if Ronnie Van Zant would have also changed his ways). A couple of years ago a book came out about the subject called Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music that gets more in depth. Though not completely politically oriented, I also highly recommend the book Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, And New Beginnings in a New South that features a very revealing interview with Charlie Daniels regarding his stance on race relations (as well as a few other things).