Happy Birthday Jimmy.

Happy Birthday John Paul.

True story... I was having a hard time falling asleep the other night. So I put on vh1classic. Luckily, they were showing a recent Eric Clapton concert. Even with the amazing Steve Gadd on drums, I was nodding off in a matter of minutes.. Slept like a baby. They should put his DVD's next to the ambien at CVS.. Slowhand the #1 cure for insomnia.

Rest In Peace actor Robert Loggia age 85. probably best known for playing Frank Lopez in Scarface. Also appeared in Big The Sopranos, Jagged Edge..

thank you. I'm trying to refrain from commenting on religious, political and controversial topics out of respect for what was requested by our web host.. I will say this sucks and is happening way too often. My deepest sympathies to these people and their loved ones.

Scott Weiland was definitely a great Vocalist and a true Rock Star. In his prime, he commanded the stage as well as anyone before or since. A Big Big loss. Rest In Peace.

But, John Bonham would have never quit on his band. Bill Ward left Black Sabbath in 1980, 1983, & 1984, he turned down invites in 1987, & 1991, he joined and left in 1994. He threatened to back out in 99, backed out of Heaven and Hell in 2007 and again on Sabbath in 2011. He's unreliable ... and I'm not even counting times his health prevented him from touring... there was a loyalty P P J and B had that you don't find in most other bands.

i respect your opinion but disagree. Heaven and Hell gave Sabbath a kick in the ass and Ozzy launched a very good solo career. It was a win win.

I respect Zeppelin and their decision as well. But, Bill Ward made his own bed. He's not involved by his own choice. He wasn't going to make the same money as iommi or Ozzy and frankly doesn't deserve it. Even still he mentioned he was only going to get paid $80,000 for a festival show. I have a hard time feeling bad for someone who turns his back on EIGHTY Grand for 2 hours work.. Ward has quit Black Sabbath countless times over the years. He's backed out in mid tour, he's backed out before studio sessions repeatedly.I would like him to be there as well, but it's his own doing. He wasn't practicing when he wasn't with the band and his chops were way down. Ward maintains he was in studio shape, but not touring shape. There's only one shape and that's playing shape. Sabbath's situation and Zeppelin's were totally different. Ozzy was a non functioning member since 77. Finally the band had to do something in mid to late 79. Zeppelin were in a different spot. They were much bigger, had much better management and more control. Sabbath owed their label more music. Sabbath's changes in 79 weren't bought about due to anybody dying either..

Peter Grant said Robert approached him about a solo album once..Paraphrasing.. Peter asked him. "Well who would you get for a drummer?" R "I suppose I'd ask Bonzo" P "and Bass?' R "Jonsey" P "Guitar" .... R "It'd have to be Pagey".. So there's the evidence. Grant said it never went any further.

Possible. But You have zero proof that Led Zeppelin and Richard Pryor ever did coke together.... Let alone freebased it. Why even "put money" on something you imagined. This is how unbased rumors get out there. That's where the stretch comes in. Maybe Pryor and Robert went out for a cheeseburger. My guess is as good as yours.

kind of a stretch king.

Phil... imagine a Genesis reunion. The Genesis reunion.. Steve Hackett and Peter Gabriel come back for one show only.. and surprise.. Jimmy Page is going to sit in! Just flew over on the Concorde, sat in with Sting, Eric Clapton and did a solo set at both locations.. You know damn well he doesn't know the Genesis material. I'm sure you'd make him feel uncomfortable..

Thank you Sean. I never met Gail Zappa, but have always admired her for many reasons. It must be tough at times to live with a driven workaholic musical genius like Frank Zappa. She, from what I gather supported him unconditionally. I'm glad you got to meet her and confirm what a wonderful person she was. I saw ZPZ for the second time this past July. I kept thinking she was sitting off by the side of the stage. Turns out it wasn't her. The first time I saw ZPZ. the opening act was footage (about 45 minutes) of The Roxy show. This was really cool because Napoleon Murphy Brock was in the film and in Zappa Plays Zappa.

Rest in Peace Gail Zappa, age 70 to lung cancer. The rock that gave her genius husband, Frank the space and freedom to express his limitless creative musical vision. Gail also kept his brilliant music alive by running the Zappa Family Trust, releasing over 30 recordings Frank had ready in the vaults before his untimely passing in late 1993... which furthermore proved FZ as possibly the most prolific composer of the last 50 years. Wishing peace to Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva Zappa.

Exactly.. as far as his personal life goes, he owes them ... and us, no explaination.

He can't please everyone.. There's some very cool stuff.. Some I agree might not be necessary, but I'd rather have it than not have it.. if Jennings Farm blues is a 2 track cassette or if the Master tape is messed up, there's no way in hell Page would release it.. The only real surprises that I have about what wasn't included was the extended All My Love and Swan Song.. I'm not going to lose sleep over either one..

I didn't see this thread last night.. We've been on vacation at Myrtle Beach, so I haven't checked in as much this week. Anyhow, I hope you had a Happy 53rd Birthday Strider. You're one ahead of me.. Best wishes. Chris.

One of the great bad guys. I'll never forget him beating the crap out of fall guy Frankie Williams on one of his Piper's Pit interviews. "As soon as they think they know the answers, I change the questions!" I lost interest in Pro Wrestling shortly after this era, but "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was a definite highlight. Rest in Peace.

Thanks LIVIN. I messed up one of the quotes a little. I was going by memory.. "He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time! Players couldn't get a drink at the table. What's the matter with you"? There. That's better.. Was also in Get Shorty, The Friends Of Eddie Coyle, and did a lot of voice work.

Rest in Peace great character actor, Alex Rocco - aged 79. Best known as Moe Greene in The Godfather... "The Corleone Family wants to buy me out!!?No! I buy you out"!!! "He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time! Customer's couldn't get a drink! What the hell's the matter with you?" He also played (among many other great roles,) Saul Siler, the head of the Playtone Galaxy in That Thing You Do!! "Andy!! What in the bloody hell is this!? Auditions during my lunchtime? Yeah, Like I got time on my hands! You want to get Fabian away from me..?" And many other great quotable lines. PS..I hate auto correct.....

fair enough...Jimmy was occasionally butchering EVERYTHING in 77-80. The issue I was responding to was if it was boring or not. I saw Steve Howe play them back to back live and countless times on video. I saw him play Clap with Asia in 82. He played it / both flawlessly.. It was kind of boring to me .. very predictable and safe. WS/BMS was a brilliant way to mellow people out then stomp their guts out straight into Kashmir. For that purpose, it seemed to have worked quite well. Maybe by 80 the surprise element was gone because most everyone knew Kashmir was coming after, but it definitely worked in 77.

I don't get it either. First of all, it wasn't played at all in 71 72 73 or 75. It was bought back in 77 and was used with great effect before Kashmir. Could it have been shorter? Of course, but it just made Kashmir that much more powerful. Light and shade to the max. Mood for A Day and Clap are more difficult to play, but they bored me to tears when Howe played them live. I love Steve Howe, but he is capable of so much more.

Yes a lot going on at times, but also spaces where they were trying to not step on each others toes and wound up not doing much. It was kind of weird at times and times where it clicked real well. Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin were on fire this night. Steve Howe was great but seemed to be playing it safe. Alan White and Bill Bruford seemed to have things worked out well where White was the drum muscle on a mostly acoustic kit and Bruford was more the enhancer on an all electronic kit. I still remember Bruford playing only cymbals on Heart Of The Sunrise. Tony Kaye was his safe solid self and Jon Anderson was the new agey master of ceremonies standing in the center of the round. And last but most.... Chris Squire looked like he was having the time of his life even from where I was sitting. This was at The Centrum in Worcester Mass (now known as the DCU Center) and it was in the round.. I'll be honest the round was a little distracting at times.. I remember during Lift Me Up, Tony Kaye looked like he was hanging on for dear life.

I only saw Yes once on the Union tour. I think it was 1991. 8 PC lineup Chris Squire Jon Anderson Steve Howe Trevor Rabin Bill Bruford Alan White Tony Kaye Rick Wakeman The Union album was pretty lame, but the live show was awesome. Highlight was Awaken. Perfect. Bad point was there was almost too much talent up there.. If that makes sense.