Bill Graham presents Rocktober Music Fest at The Fillmore Cyberspace

On this day in 1991 Bill Graham the famous Rock and Roll promotor died in a helicopter crash. The cyber webs have been dosed, time and space have been altered.

                                                Video of posters for your trip..

Here he is New Year's Eve 1987

Go to the Fillmore East Janis Joplin "Maybe"...

The Doors "Light My Fire" Winterland 1967

The Grateful Dead "Brokedown Palace" at the SF Auditorium..

Something from the Trips Festival

Hope you enjoy the show. Was it a break from reality? He was one of the greatest promotors in rock history with so many legendary shows with giants of classic rock.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs with Numbers in the Title

Welcome to another Monday. Monday's are better with music! Today's Monday's Music Moves Me theme is songs with numbers in the title.

Let's start with "One" by Harry Nilsson...

Robert Plant "Thru with the Two Step"

Bob Marley "Three Little Birds"

Howlin' Wolf "Forty Four"

The Doors "Five to One"

That's a good start! Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next Monday!

Monday's Music Moves Me:Breakfast

This week's theme is a freebie, so I went with Breakfast. It is important to start your day with a bowl full of nutritious Rock and Roll!

Robert Plant "Tie Dye on the Highway"

Supertramp "Breakfast in America"

If your not driving The Doors provides some breakfast options in "Roadhouse Blues"

We could just go to Tiffany's...

Thank you Deep Blue Something for the suggestion! Well welcome to Rocktober! Thanks for joining me for breakfast and stay tuned for some more posts!

Battle of the Bands: The Doors win but results closer then you think!

The Doors were the bigger name and the clear favorite to win my Battle of the Bands. Sometimes these Battles look like they are going to be blowouts before I even push publish. Sometimes battles I think will be close end up being shutouts.

Stephen thought the results of my Battle of the Bands would be "a slam-dunk for THE DOORS!."  Battles The Battle ended up being a 4 to 3 nail biter with Quicksilver Messenger Service hanging tough.

"Celebration of the Lizard" (very long)

But I celebrate winners on BOTB result posts. It's "Love Street"

Bringing it back to my Black History Month Theme..The Doors with the great John Lee Hooker..

I think the real winner is Howlin' Wolf ...

Stay tuned for my next Battle on the 15th....

Battle of the Bands: Black History, Blues and Rock

Today is February and it is Black History month. I will celebrate by incorporating it into my theme. Imagine today's music without the  black contribution, imagine the music of the last century without the black contribution. The truth is we pay tribute to black musicians without even realizing it every month when we do these Battle of the Bands. Black culture and black musicians have created some outstanding music, creative musical genres, and have influence musicians of many races.

I will start with the Blues. I got into the Blues by travelling the musical influence of my Rock and Roll music. I was a huge Led Zeppelin fan (still am), Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. The roots of this music was easy to find and follow.

I'm going to pick a song written by Willie Dixon and performed by Howlin' Wolf. I love Dixon's songs and could (and have) listened to Howlin' Wolf sing the blues for hours. Wolf died in 1976 so I didn't get to see him perform, but I did get a chance to see and meet his guitarist Hubert Sumlin which was a thrill.  The song is "Backdoor Man" was written in 1960 and recorded in 1961. This version by Howlin' Wolf.

My contenders are going to be from he Rock world to show an example of Blues and black musicians helped shape and influence it.

Contender One: The Doors

Contender Two: Quicksilver Messenger Service

In the end it turns into a fun rocking battle. Who gets your vote? Vote in the comments and we will have a winner soon! Please check out the other contestants links should be up here.

R.I.P Scott Weiland

His career flirted with fame and trouble. In the end it appears the trouble side took Scott Weiland's life at the age of 18. Below Scott fronting The Doors below...

Scott's claim to fame came fronting the Stone Temple Pilots...

He also fronted theSupergroup Velvet Revolver..

He was touring with his band when he passed away...

His band was called the Wildabouts. He will be missed.

The Doors Winner of the Battle of the Bands

In a close Battle of the Bands The Doors edged out The Shadow of the Knight 8 to 6.  The song was "Gloria" by Them featuring Van Morrison. When I saw the votes were keeping it close I was hoping The Shadow of the Knight would pull it out since I have never blogged about them.

Here is a live version of The Doors performing "Gloria",,,

The WASP....spinning another song on "Texas Radio and the Big Beat"

"Riders on the Storm"...

Hope everything is fine on "Love Street"..

I'll be back soon with a new post. On the 15th I will have a new Battle of the Band. For now the music is over..

Battle of the Bands: Gloria

I'm back for another Battle of the Bands. I decided to change gears this time around and go for some classic rock and roll,

Please check out the other battles:

The list of Battle of the Bands participants..

 I snagged it from STMcC Presents 'Battle of the Bands': 

@ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE. 

I pit two versions of the songs together and you vote by your comments. I will be back six days later with the winner on September 7.

I found my inspiration from yesterday being Van Morrison's birthday so I decided to stay with him or in this case Them.

Here is the original "Gloria"

Challenger One: The Doors 

Challenger Two: The Shadows of Knight

A song by a legendary artist Van Morrison with the band Them gives a great song for the battle. Then we have contestant one another Morrison, Jim and The Doors against a classic, perhaps forgotten band called The Shadows of Knight. I wonder who you will vote for in the comments.

Jim Morrison and John Lennon

December 8 marks what would have been Jim Morrison's 70 birthday and today marks the anniversary of John Lennon's death. Both died early one by the excesses of being The Lizard King and one by a bullet. Both were great poets. That is where the comparison should end.Lennon had more musical talents, while Morrison was more The Shaman of Rock and Roll. Both left us with a great musical legacy.

Let the Celebration proceed..The Doors "Light My Fire"

Let's travel "Across the Universe" with John and The Beatles..

Jim's thoughts on the future of music was he right?

The Doors "Indian Summer"

John Lennon "Watching The Wheels Go By"

Thoughts on a reunion..

Another great song..

What do we do now "When The Music's Over"

"Celebration of the Lizard"

"Instant Kharma"

The songs could go on but I "Imagine" I will wrap this post up..

"This Is the End"

Happy Birthday Willie Dixon!

Today is the 98th birthday of one of the greatest blues men, the late Willie Dixon. Not only was he an important blues man his songs were important links between the blues and rock as other artists recorded his songs. Artists such as Led Zeppelin, Cream, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead, Canned Heat, The Doors, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Gary Moore, Steve Miller, Jimi Hendrix and many more.Let's celebrate his birthday with music!

Willie Dixon built for comfort...

The Doors "Backdoor Man"...

The Rolling Stones "Little Red Rooster"..

Led Zeppelin "I Can't Quit You, Baby"

Willie Dixon "My Babe"

Cream "Spoonful"

Willie Dixon "I'm Nervous"

Happy Birthday Willie Dixon! I hope you enjoy with an artist like Willie Dixon we could go on and on..

R.I.P. Ray Manzarek

This song is so appropriate for today...

My heart goes out to the victims in Oklahoma adfter the terrible storm there. My blog post today pays tribute to Ray Manzarak who past away due to cancer at the age of 74.Below Ray jams out with Robby Krieger on The Doors L.A. Woman earlier this year in March...

Ray's organ sound was so important as the Doors rarely used a bass player. So Ray would cover the low end and when needed the high end as well.Here he performs with another project Roy Rogers enjoy...

Here Ray perfroms "Crystal Ship" solo...

Here Ray perfroms a solo...

He will be missed. The world lost a talented musician. Perhaps he will rejoin Jim Morrison in the after world. May he rest in peace..

February Reads: Riders on the Storm

The third music bio I have read this year...



Different from "No One Here Gets Out Alive"  and perhaps not as entertaining. However, the insight and perspective is quite different and very interesting. IT was neat to read what John thought about being in a band with Jim Morrison. Thoughts on drugs, thoughts on how "straights" viewed long hairs back then. Also interesting to read about his struggles in life.

Interesting video below I thought would add to the post..

Like I stated earlier the year is starting off with me reading a lot of books. I'm a manic reader I will read a lot then I won't pick up a book for a long time. So, stay tuned and I will share another read soon.

Happy Birthday Ray Manzarek

Ray Manzarek will always be known as the keyboardist for The Doors. Today was his 74th Birthday. He is also a writer. He wrote a bio about his time with The Doors and he has written two novels. He has continued to be a musician touring with Robbie Krieger also of The Doors, releasing solo albums, and working with a group called Nite City. He also did a blues album with Roy Rogers. Let's break on trough to a new year celebrating some of his past music.

Here he performs a solo song called "Solar Boat"

Here he performs "Hurricane" with Roy Rogers...

Here he performs "Light My Fire" with Robbie Krieger..

Here are The Doors performing on "Touch Me" on the Smothers Brothers Show..

I'll be back with a new post soon! 

Happy Birthday Jim Morrison

Today is Jim Morrison's birthday. The poet, the front man, the singer for The Doors. He was called The Lizard King. One could call him a rebel. In the end he died before his time at 27. His musical legacy lives on. His influence, his myth and legend is also very much alive.

The Doors on the Ed Sullivan Song..the band was no stranger to controversy and were asked to change a word in this song...

Jim Morrison's take on the future of music..

Here the Doors perform on the Smother Brothers Comedy Hour

Celebrate the music! Happy Birthday Jim Morrison! I will be back with a new post soon...

Happy Birthday Robbie Krieger

Today is guitarist Robbie Krieger's 66th birthday. Robbie is famous for being the guitarist in The Doors. He was an important member of the band and wrote some of the bands best songs.

Here is Robbie Krieger and the Doors performing "Light My Fire"

Here is Robbie with Ray performing "L.A. Woman"

Here is a solo song called "Event Horizon"

Thanks for the music Robbie and keep it coming!

I have to end with this Doors song,,,