October 30 Celebrity Rocktober Birthday Celebration Day!

Rocktober is winding down on my blog. Since there are a lot of celebraty birthday's on October 30 I thought I would do one giant celebration. Some of rockers, some are actors, maybe a little Motown cool thrown in. Of course the celebration will be done Rocktober style so sit back and enjoy.

Henry Winkler

Let's start with going Retro-cool! Henry Winkler played the Fonz on "Happy Days" and looking back to my childhood he was probably the one who introduced me to cool! Today he turns 71.

Here is he Rockin' opener to the classic show..

Below are some of his highlights from the show...

Gavin Rossdale

I highlighted Gavin Rossdale last year for his 50th birthday. You can revisit that post here. I'm including him for his 51st birthday. The Bush frontman adds a much needed Rock to this Rocktober post.

Bush "Come Down"

Otis Williams

Otis Williams the last surviving member of The Temptations certainly brings the Motown cool to my post. Love it when a post opens with cool and ends with cool. He qualifies for Rocktober by being a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Before The Temptations there was Otis Williams and the Charms "Heart of Stone"

The Temptations " I Wish it Would Rain"

Thanks for visiting and I will be back soon with a new post! Hopefully you will find it cool too!

Happy Birthday Brad Paisley

Today we are going Country on this fine Rocktober day! I am  willing to invite Brad Paisley to the party. I was thinking about blogging about him since i read his book this month. Today being Brad's birthday just pushed me over the edge.

He is a "Celebrity" you know..

His book was a fun read "Diary of a Player." It was a unique twist to the music biography as Brad tips his hats to musical friends and influence who made him into the guitar player he is today.



Here is his latest single "Today"...

Brad and Keith Urban "Start a Band"...

A little guitar geek piece thrown in..

"Mud on the Tires"

Hope you enjoyed your visit! I'll be back soon with a new post!

Rocktober Tribute: R.I.P Bobby Vee

Bobby Vee who has been called a pop hero of the 60s passed away yesterday at the age of 73.

Here is his 1961 hit "Take Good Care of My Baby"...

Vee is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame the above song was his number one hit but he had several to 10 songs. Below is a live version of "Sharing You"...

Obviously it a loss for music fans and his family. However, he won't suffer anymore. Closing with "More Than I Can Say"....

Rocktober Birthday: Happy 80th Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman turns 80 years young today. He became a legend by being the bass player for The Rolling Stones. He decided to retire from the Stones in the 90s and pursue his own band and other projects.


Here is a track from his recent release called "Running Back to You"

A vintage clip from The Rolling Stones "Rocks Off" circa 1972...

MTV's clip about Bill Wyman leaving...

A one off return...

Bill and his Rhythm Kings "Melody"

Well I hope you enjoyed the celebration and I will be back soon with another post!

Battle of the Bands: Results for Rocktober Fun!

I'll start with a confession. The idea of this song being chosen for my Battle of the Bands came from another cover of the song. I didn't use that version because they left an outburst from the artist which included some foul language. I'm sure most of my readers could have handled it, I am sure I would have put a disclaimer or warning up. I still like the version I just went in a different direction.

Interesting fact: Both vocalists in my Battles have passed away.



Poor Sam Kinison, with all the big name rockers appearing on the video and he still lost badly. The video I used left off the Rodney Dangerfield and Jon Bon Jovi  introduction. Adding Steven Tyler and Joe Perry didn't help. Slash, Steven Adler and Richie Sambora didn't help. Tommy Lee, C.C. DeVille, Billy Idol and more didn't save him.

The votes came in 9 to 2 in favor of The Divinyls!

We celebrate winners and today is know exception.

This song was named one of the top 30 Australian Songs of All Time..

This song was their biggest hit...

The above clip was from the Arsenio Hall Show. A fun show I enjoyed in my youthful years!

I will leave you with "Pleasure and Pain"

Thanks for visiting!  I will have some more Rocktober posts up soon. My next Battle will be November 1 which will be a new month. So visit then to see what I come up with.

Roctober Birthday: Chuck Berry's 90th

Perhaps the most fitting Roctober birthday is Chuck Berry's.  Mr. Berry celebrates his 90th birthday today and of course I am going to celebrate it on my blog! A true pioneer of Rock and Roll who is set to release his first studio album in 38 years next year. He has been awarded a Lifetime Grammy Award and is a Kennedy Center Honoree. Chuck Berry was among the first acts to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I could go on an on. His influence on Rock and Roll is overwhelming.

But enough writing and rambling let's get this party started!

"Roll over Beethoven"

"Johnny B Goode"

Chuck performing "Nadine" with Keith Richards

Well that's a party! I will be back with a new post soon!

Rocktober Birthday: Bob Weir

Bob Weir could fit into so many categories and since it is my blog I will squeeze him into my Roctober birthdays. He just released his album "Blue Mountain" which I will probably buy. I've heard the release described as being influenced by "cowboy music." This intrigues me because the first music I was drawn to as a child was cowboy music. Why? I don't know I was born in Southeastern Virginia not exactly cowboy lands. Since then my musical tastes have zigzagged across an ever growing musical spectrum. That spectrum included Bob Weir and his band The Grateful Dead.

It has been three years since the last time I celebrated Bob's birthday. You can revisit that post here. I think it is certainly time to celebrate again.

The title track of his new album performed live..

Here he is with the latest Grateful Dead spin-off Dead and Company "I Know You Rider"

I couldn't forget Ratdog with "Money for Gasoline"..

I'll leave you with another new track "Gonesville"..

Hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for a new post sometime.

Rocktober Battle of the Bands: Gets Wild

Rocktober rolls on at my blog. Time for another Battle of the Bands. I pick a song,  match up two competitors and then you pick the winner by your comments.

The 15th is coming to an end, there is a full moon, and it is time to get Wild.

The song is "Wild Thing" by The Troggs...

Contestant One: Sam Kinison

Contestant Two: Divinyls

Get wild and vote in the comments! If you like this battle check out the other ones. This site has the best list. See you in a week or so with results! 

A Rocktober Nobel Prize

Rocktober continues as Bob Dylan has just won the Nobel Prize for literature.  I suddenly feel better read now that I have listened to his music. Bob Dylan is the first songwriter to win the Nobel Prize. He certainly has written some masterpieces which have been successful for him and the artists who have covered him. As a music fan I find him winning this award very exciting. I wonder which songwriters could be next to win the award.

Today is Bob's day and we salute him..."The Times They Are A Changin'"

"Tangled Up in Blue"..

 

"Don't Think Twice"...

I'm sure I might spotlight a song of his somewhere down the line on a Battle of the Bands. Right now it is just a quick celebration.

Battle of the Bands Results: Motley Crue

Welcome back to Rocktober! I am back a few days late with the results from the first Rocktober Battle of the Bands. The recipe was simple take a rocking song from one of the greatest bands to ever perform. Add two Rocking bands tackling a classic song and the winner is decided by my audience.



Motley Crue versus Aerosmith created a battle that rocked. The voting was close but Motley Crue was the winner 5 to 3!

We celebrate the victors with music! Turn up the volume and enjoy!


Let's "Kickstart My Heart" with a little help from the local flyboys the Blue Angels...

Ah "Home Sweet Home" is a nice place to be...

"Dr. Feelgood" has the cure..

Just a few days and I'll have a brand new battle!

Happy Birthday Roctober 7 John Mellencamp

Rocktober continues on my blog as we celebrate John Mellencamp's birthday.
When  I was in seventh grade top 40 radio rocked a lot more than it does today. At that time John Mellencamp was huge on the radio and in my music world. Some how he was put on my musical back burner. Probably the results of being exposed to a ton of music over three decades. However, October 7, 2016 marks the singers 64th birthday. I'm wowed by how he aged so much and by reflecting back on his music.

Back then I was living in "Small Town"...

But this is my story not "Jack and Diane"...

Because "Your Life is Now"...

and we all need "A Hand to Hold on To"...

I hope he enjoys his birthday. If you have a special John Mellencamp memory or song feel free to share in the comments.I'll be back with another Rocktober post soon.

Rocktober Birthday: 10.5 Steve Miller

Steve Miller turned 73 today October 5, 2016.  It has been a while since I celebrated a birthday on my blog and since it is Rocktober it just sames right.

The first time I saw Steve Miller was on a magical night. The Steve Miller Band was opening for The Grateful Dead at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. It was also my first Grateful Dead concert. I was able to see him again at a festival 19 years later but it was not the same.

Starting our celebration with "Rock N' Me"..

                                         "Fly Like an Eagle"

                                             "The Joker"

So many great songs. Do you have any Steve Miller memories? What is your favorite Steve Miller song? Feel free to share in the comments.