Happy Halloween Rawkers.....

Happy Halloween Rawkers..... Let's go to hell and enjoy the ride with the deliciously evil sounds of none other than the Superbeast himself, Rob Zombie!!!! The scariest and coolest of all rockers. Forget about Alice Cooper, KISS, King Diamond or anyone else who likes to parade around in "scary" makeup. The Zombie brings the real scary stuff.

And if you're not sure, check out his movies, including "House of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects" and a remake of John Carpenter's "Halloween".

If you haven't seen him live, you've missed out. Saw him open for Ozzy a couple years back and he is flat out great. Don't dismiss him as a cartoon. Great rock.

So who's you're favorite scary or shock rocker? Who gets the "scary as hell" crown?

I wanna know.

Go in pieces....

G.O.T.

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!

Blues Traveler -- sux.....

Good evening Rawkers. Does anyone agree that Blues Traveler is one of the WORST bands of all TIME?? Can i getta witness?

John Popper may be the most annoying front man ever. What's with the ammo belts of harmonicas?? Buddy, it's NOT very COOL, despite what your bros told you over (too many) beers one night. And the masturbation on your instrument, trying to play as many notes as possible ALL THE FREAKING TIME?? Sometimes, John, slower is better.... Fewer is better.... A true master learns from those who came before. And you, my friend, have a lot to learn.....

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

The infamous list of suckage....

Good morning Rawkers. We've spent a few days talking about some seriously heavy outfits that make you beg for the rock and then bring it -- Deep Purple, Cream, AC/DC, Motorhead.... Tasty stuff indeed.

Now it's time to creep to the edge of the wuss cliff, peer over and take a long look down at the wreckage of some bands that TRIED to rock but just flat out sucked. That's why this post is titled, "THE INFAMOUS LIST OF SUCKAGE". I've got a few nominations, three of which are included here. But i'd really like to hear some of your nominations and WHY they deserve the crown of rock suckage.

TVW, you've already tagged Bon Jovi so no rehash of that position. And for the sake of consistency, because I've already covered REO Wusswagon and Poison, i'll let those previous comments stand.

So here are a few of the goody-two-shoes that gingerly tip-toed onto rock's stage and should have quickly been given the hook:

The Moody Blues -- This is a band that's fun to hate. The most pretentious band ever assembled that so desperately wants to be taken seriously.... WAY too seriously! You know you suck when one of your most famous cuts has a spoken word poem at the end. While the Moody's ALMOST redeem themselve with "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)", it's the lone cool cut in a forest of cheese. I had to actually buy the long version of "Nights in White Satin" on itunes to hear the poem. Remember this?

"Breathe deep, the gathering gloom. Watch lights fade from every room...."

and

"Impassioned lovers, wrestle as one. Lonely man cries for love, and has none."

Urp, hurl....spit, spit, cough... Yuck. Only thing they need is a mini Stonehenge and some dwarves....

Phil Collins and Genesis -- Lowest common denominator stuff for boys who want to appear sensitive and deep to girls. One of the reasons (along with Madonna) that the 80s are so easily and unfairly dismissed musically. Have you EVER seen a Phil Collins bumper sticker? Didn't think so.

At least Genesis was a little bit interesting with the weirdness of Peter Gabriel. Phil may be a great drummer, but as a singer, songwriter and band leader? And shirtless? Weak sauce. Pure suckage.

Stryper -- Just look at the picture. Not even God himself can save these guys from suckage..... One of the lamest acts of the 80s that -- again -- tried way to hard to be taken seriously.

So, there you have a few of my thoughts. Let's hear your's. Let's hear that giant sucking sound!

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Motorhead wants to beat up every other band in the world....

Good afternoon Rawkers. Well, most of you aren't keeping up, so maybe i should slow the pace down a bit. Maybe just a quickie this afternoon.

I'll offer a few short comments about the raunchiest, loudest (apologies to DP), most distorted band in metal, those nasty no-goodniks from England, who -- in their words -- if they moved in next door your lawn would die, those purveyors of pestilence, the mighty and misunderstood MOTORHEAD!!!! Hell yeah! Get the t-shirt people. All the cool kids own one.

These bad boys will steal the lunch money from your favorite band and push 'em into a puddle just for fun.... Lemmy makes Kevin Cronin cry. Kevin's his bitch. He pushes Kevin off the wuss cliff. And his name is Kevin, which isn't very "rawking". Nice parrot.

In my opinion, the coolest opening to ANY metal song is the rapid-fire bass pedaling Lemmy offers up to intro "Ace of Spades". His 'Rick is overdriven and totally legendary. Taken with a fifth of Jack Daniels it's been known to be a direct source of all sorts of communicable diseases. Truly a miracle of classic rock and medicine. Denitely not suited to everyone's tastes, so tread carefully. But if you have a place in your black heart for Motorhead, you've got serious metal cred. Wave the flag proudly. And lose the parrot.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Robin Trower -- simply amazing.

Good evening Rawkers. You love guitar? Let's talk about one of the best to pick up a Fender Strat, the amazing, the inimitable, the one and only, ROBIN TROWER. Few define the instrument in the same way, and he enjoys the rarified company of the Strat gods -- Hendrix and SRV.

I've seen him only twice, but jeezus he lays it down like no one's business. And there's only one album that matters, 1974's Bridge of Sighs. Let's break down key tracks....

Day of the Eagle. One of the best set openers of all time. As someone who has covered that song, it just flat out rocks. Fun to play, fun to hear. And to hear the master? Fuhgehtaboutiht....

Bridge of Sighs. The title cut features more atmosphere than a foggy day in San Francisco. Very tasty tune that is ALL about tone, touch and feel. Wonderful vocals by James Dewar (also on bass), who invokes the feel of David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears. A fantastic song.

In This Place. More perfect Strat work by the man who KNOWS the strat. The atmosphere just moves throughout the whole album, including this track.

Too Rolling Stoned. Other than a GREAT title, what else do you need? An absolute album highlight. You know Stevie Ray checked out this track while learning the Strat. This cut live is somethin' else....

If you haven't yet, give Trower a listen. The cat has earned it. You'll be glad you did.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

What more is there to say than... AC/DC

Good evening Rawkers, and welcome to hell! Pretty gritty stuff, talking about Australia's AC/DC. It's about as visceral, basic and rawking as it gets. And i am a fan of BOTH iterations -- Bon Scott's AC and Brian Johnson's DC.

I've given thought as to which singer i prefer, and to be honest i can't pick a favorite among the two. Consider the following tunes from both singer's catelogues, which offer a pretty compelling point-counter-point rarely seen from two singers of the same outfit:

Bon Scott's premier offerings:

1. Shot Down in Flames

2. Highway to Hell

3. Whole Lotta Rosie

4. Problem Child

5. Live Wire

6. Let There Be Rock

7. It's A Long Way to the Top

Compared with Brian Johnson's best:

1. Back In Black

2. Hells Bells

3. You Shook Me All Night Long

4. Rock n' Roll Train

5. Thunderstruck

6. Rock and Roll Aint Noise Pollution

7. For Those About to Rock

I don't know about you, but i am hard pressed to say that one is better than the other. Bottom line is that AC/DC simply brings hard-assed, working class rock and roll, and it rarely gets better than what these boys have offered up over the past 35 years...regardless of who is on the lead mic.

Would love to hear if Rawkers have opinions about who was the better vocalist..... I honestly can't make a pick.

Regarding the rest of the band, lead guitarist Angus Young and his brother, rhythm guitarist Malcolm, pretty much set the standard for how two guitars work together. And bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd (my favorite incarnation) lay down a rock-solid, simple groove that helped define AC/DC's straight-forward take on heavy metal. As a team, they all pushed the ball farther up field than most bands that had twice the talent.

One of my favorite bands from high school. If you haven't heard 'em in a while, give the boys another listen. You'll likely find that they can kick your ass as much, or more, than you remember.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

The Purple is sooooo Deep....

Good evening Rawkers. Shall we stay heavy? Yes, let's....

So who are the kings? -- Black sabbath, led zeppelin and....DEEP PURPLE .
Fact is, these mothers play some of the heaviest, coolest music ever layed on vinyl. I remember getting the album "Made in Japan" for Christmas in 7th grade, and the family wanted to hear the music i was in to. But it was so heavy that they had to take it off the turntable (remember those?). And that was SO COOL

The band has been through a number of iterations, with various singers, guitar players and bass players. Personally, my fave line up included Ian Gillan on vocals, Richie Blackmore on guitar and Roger Glover on bass. A lot of argument can be made for David Coverdale's vocals and Tommy Bolin on guitar (and Glenn Hughes on bass), but to me, they just don't hold up to the classic line up.
Those changes aside, the steadfast Ian Paice on drums and Jon Lord on organ laid down such a wicked, bad ass groove that the band could not be denied. Jon's organ intro to "Lazy" is a lesson in cool. If you hate organ in rock, you'll hate Deep Purple. But if you love it (as you should), these lads bring the shit in a big way.

Best albums, in my view, are "In Rock", Machine Head", "Burn" and "Fireball". Others are great, but these are the albums with the band at the height of its powers.

And check out "Made in Japan". One of the best live albums EVER made....

Would love to hear what Rawkers think about the Purple ones....

Go in peace.

G.O.T.

The Cream is always on top....

Good evening Rawkers. Felt inspired to spend a few minutes talking about the single greatest rock trio ever to pick up and plug in -- none other than (as the BBC famously announced) "The Cream".

At the time, three of the most exceptional and interesting musicians on their respective instruments, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton joined forces in 1966 to form the supergroup forever to be known as Cream. And what a blessing it was.

They were done as a unit by 1968, but in those two years the lads delivered several of the most enduring rock tunes ever, including "Sunshine of Your Love", "Crossroads", "White Room" and "Strange Brew" among others.

Much has been said and written about the group's bona fides -- Clapton's massive blues guitar cred from the Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers ("Clapton is God"), and the serious jazz chops of Bruce and Baker (who played together and separately and had a fairly incindiary relationship). Together, the three combined to create a volcano of musical force and excitement that made it seem as if Cream had been on the scene for YEARS, rather than about 24 months. These guys could do ANYthing and it sounded great.

The cool thing about a trio is the ability to FILL space and to ALLOW space. I think trios lend themselves to incredibly interesting explorations when the musicians are dialed in to one another at the deepest levels. Cream did this at a level unmatched by ANY other trio, with the arguable exception being the Jimi Hendrix Experience (although I would side with Cream in this argument based on the ability of each member of the group, not just on the talent of a singular genius). Listen to the jam portion of "Spoonful" and you'll get an idea of the sublime heights to which they were capable.

If you love rock and roll, odds are extremely high that your heroes were heavily influenced by the Cream.

Now, I happen to be a huge Clapton fan, and actually prefer his voice to that of Jack Bruce (who did most of the Cream vocals). A great Clapton vocal with Cream is "Outside Woman Blues". Dig it. Along with the aforementioned "Crossroads".

My personal favorite Cream tune is "White Room" (sung by Bruce). As someone who has performed the song in a band, the cut just rips. It's lyrics paint exceptionally strange and vivid pictures and the song's chord changes, while simple, are simplisticly amazing and powerful. Just a great, great song that few others match.

Another fantastic song is "I Feel Free" off their debut album, Fresh Cream.

Listening to these songs as i write this blog, you can actually HEAR that the boys KNEW how good they were and how important their music was. I can only imagine how that must have felt. I wonder if they felt the same energy when they reunited in 2005 at Royal Albert Hall. Opening with the appropriate "I'm Glad", the concert showcases three giants whose shoes are still bigger than most could hope for. Watching the DVD of the '05 concert, it appears that they are truly happy, not only for the past successes they enjoyed, but that they are all still around to do it one more time and to be -- as they say -- making beautiful music together.

It brings a smile to my cynical face. Hope it does to your's as well.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

pre-suck Aerosmith?

Good evening Rawkers. Can we please talk? Can someone please tell me what ever happened to one of the best rocking bands of all time, Aerosmith? What transformed them from a nastily awesome mega rock outfit into a lame turd fest of over-the-hill AM radio mediocrity?

Compare Dream On to Janie's Got a Gun. Compare Lord of the Thighs to Love in an Elevator. Compare Toys in the Attic to Ragdoll. Compare Mama Kin to Dude (Looks Like a Lady). Compare Sweet Emotion to Amazing. Makes a fan shake his head and walk THIS way... the opposite direction. What a classic case of observing how far the mighty have fallen.

And while i'll be the first to admit that doing Walk This Way with Run DMC probably earned the band a huge crossover audience, who thought THAT was a good idea?? Talk about leaving your rawk cred at the door and selling out to the lowest common denominator.... In THIS blogger's view, that was complete and total sell out in order to sell albums. Very sad.

That's why fans tend to categorize them into Pre-suck and Post-suck Aerosmith.

Pre-suck is basically anything prior to 1978's Live! Bootleg (which included the fantastic Chip Away at the Stone, famously covered by Salem-based Lamp). 1977's album Draw the Line was the last decent studio Aerosmith album.

I don't think i've ever met someone who didn't LIKE Aerosmith. But i've sure met a lot of people who do not differentiate between Pre and Post suck 'Smith. And that's a big deal to me.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Can Bon Jovi PLEASE get some rawker respect??

Good evening rawkers. Sorry for missing a few days....

I'm quite sure i'll get some negative reaction to this post, but i have to give props where they are due and defend my tastes rather than hide from them. And my tastes very definitely include one of the best fun-rawking bands of all time, BON JOVI. You won't find me aplogizing for this as a guilty pleasure. No, i am unashamed in my appreciation of the lads and their musical spin on hot chicks, life on the road, partying with your bros and struggling to make a good life.

Say what you will about these New Jersey boys and their pop metal, but they simply write great songs -- great lyrics, great hooks, great melodies -- played by extremely talented musicians. They just LOOK like rock stars, and for a time they were as big as it gets.

If you have attitude about Bon Jovi, please give another honest listen to songs like Livin' on a Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive, You Give Love a Band Name and Bad Medicine. Yeah, these are the "hits" and they have been overplayed on flash-back radio. But if you can get PAST the fact that they are BON JOVI songs, i think you'll recognize that they were amazingly crafted songs that stand up to the test of time. These were not flash-in-the-pan tunes, and the band features unbelievably talented musicians with actual musical pedigrees, rather than being high school drinking buddies of the lead singer and band namesake.

Unlike so many of their "Hair Metal" peers, Jon and his Bon Jovi's put out great material in the height of the genre's flowering, yet were able to remain vital and interesting in the years following the very welcome demise of their contemporaries.

I saw Bon Jovi in Portland, Oregon a couple of years ago and i'm here to tell you that they kicked ass. They were GREAT performers who put on a well-executed and fresh show, and they absolutely rawked the House. Can't say the same about other bands i have seen in recent years (e.g., Poison opening for Kiss sucked....an embarrassment).

So, agree or disagree, but i say Bon Jovi is the real deal and likely the BEST survivor of the Hair Metal wars. And they continue to make music that makes every party at least a few degrees hotter....

Go in peace.

G.O.T.

Rush hour.....

Evening Rawkers. FYI, i'll be out of touch over next few days, so posting a blog a day early. Will be back up Sunday night.

I KNOW this post is going to bug certain people who hate the band (Rockin' Jerry). However, i have had a request for my perspective on Rush. And because i happen to LIKE these guys, i am going to oblige.

Now, i know my good friend from Tishamingo, Okla. would rather shove an ice pick in his ear than listen to Geddy Lee sing (and he would probably dispute that it's singing at all....). But there is a LOT to like about Rush, even if you don't care for Geddy's vocals. And i'll be the first to admit that he is something of an "acquired taste".

First, the band happens to feature three exceptional musicians who know their instruments better than most. Geddy is an unbelievable bass player, and has influenced a whole generation of hard rock bass players (along with Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden). On the six-string axe, Alex Lifeson keeps the band in play with tasty guitar work in the fashion of all of the BEST rock trios, including Cream (future post on them later -- HUGE fan of their work).

And Neil Peart deserves his own paragraph, as the cat is one of the best musicians/percussionists to ever pick up drumsticks. Worth noting that he was not Rush's first drummer, as the skins first belonged to John Rutsey, who played on the tremendous debut album titled simply, Rush. One of my favorite rock songs of all time is on this album -- "Working Man". Peart's first album with Rush was Fly By Night, and Peart is credited with doing most of the band's lyrics ever since.

I will be the first to admit that listening to Geddy sing can grow a bit tiresome. And i know that many find his vocals to be far more screeching than singing. Personally, i can't take listening to more than 6-7 songs in a row. As said above, the only thing i can say is that he is an acquired taste, and he certainly is not for everyone. But for those who don't mind the vocal so much, Rush has an incredibly rich catelogue of rock that can challenge even the most jaded rock fan with their intelligence, complexity, depth and muscial nuance.

Three key cuts for the unitiated are "Working Man" (as already stated), "YYZ" off the Moving Pictures album, and "Limelight" off the Permanent Waves album.

One of my favorite concerts was Rush in Seattle on the Permanent Waves tour. Absolutely fantastic.

Go ahead and take shots at me for this opinion, but i'll defend Rush -- not as one of the greatest bands of all time, but certainly one that deserves very serious homage as a group of musician's musicians. Bottom line is: not everyone gets it. But for those who do, it's a full meal deal.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

That Li'l Ol' Band from Tejas....

You ready for ZZ Top? G*d D*mn it you better be!!

Man, there's almost nothin' i love more than those tres hombres, the greasiest, coolest cowboys ever to serve up a boogie riff southern fried and country-fied -- the Li'l Ol' Band from Texas: Ladies and gents, the fantastic, ZZ Top!

Don't be thrown by the schtick of matching beards, and kinda cheesy videos that are the band's trademark for the past 20 years. These boys' boogie will KILL you. No lie. No one rocks it harder or simpler than Billy, Dusty and Frank.

Fandango! (largely a live album and "pre-facial hair) was one of the first rock records i ever fell in love with, and the love continues to this day.

If the only ZZ Top you know is "Cheap Sunglasses" and "Legs" (which are great songs, btw), do yourself a favor and check out the following cuts off the following albums:

First Album -- "Brown Sugar", "Backdoor Love Affair"

Rio Grande Mud -- "Just Got Paid", "Whiskey'n Mama"

Tres Hombres -- "Waitin' for the Bus", "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers"

Fandango! -- "Thunderbird", "Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings"

Of course, there's been a rusty pickup truck load full of great material from the 'Top since these albums, but these first four are just about my favorite four consecutive albums from ANY band (tying Zeppelin's first four, in my mind). If these don't get under your skin make you tap your toe and start to crave some wet bbq and a little tequila with a cervesa back, then the boogie just ain't in ya, pards....

And speaking of the Boogie, the driving force behind the 'Top's nastiness is the tasty guitar work of the great, the Reverend, Billy Gibbons. The cat is a tone monster with more licks than 10 fingers covered in bbq sauce. One of the reasons is his pick -- while most players use plastic or some other synthetic material for the picks, Billy G uses an actual Mexican peso, ground to the shape of a guitar pick. That's partially how he gets his bad-ass tone, including those screaming pinch harmonics. Plus, the Rev just knows how to play it tasty....

So go git ya some ZZ Top. It's good for ya....

Hope you agree. Go in peace....

G.O.T.

A day with Green Day is a Good Day....

Good afternoon rawkers. I covered some heavy topics lately -- how bad Madonna and REO Lamewagon are, and how cool Pantera and Black Sabbath are..... Very deep stuff that requires serious frontal lobe work. So let's take a break, sit back and enjoy some ear candy from one of the best bands to come along in 20 years, GREEN DAY.

While I usually focus on older music, I DID promise to focus occasionally on a few newer bands that were worthy of the Rawker moniker, and these kids definitely have IT. I just love 'em.

I have to admit to not wanting to like them at first. But they have grown on me and I just keep liking them more and more. Personal fave cuts include:

Almost everything off almost every album.

They are just an unbelievably fun band -- great musical chops, great songwriting, great vocals, great timing.... The list goes on. This is a band that has learned the best lessons in punk sensibility and simplicity from the Ramones and the Clash, as well as the best melodic lessons from Lennon/McCartney and Van Morrison. Am I exaggerating? Just give a listen to a variety of cuts (not ONLY the hits) and tell me it doesn't have all of the above. If you don't think Green Day is a GREAT band, my view is that you either a) haven't given them enough of a listen, or

b)you are a closed-minded dunderhead. The first can be fixed. The second, well....

Go in peace.

G.O.T.

What this blog is NOT about....

Well, i've been asked by a well-placed fan to do a post on Madonna, her personal favorite from the 80s. However, she also knows full well what she's in for with this. So here goes.... Apologies in advance.

First off, i'm going flat out here Brenda.... I love wheelies, but i have no intention of giving Madonna "rawk" credibility by discussing her in this blog. Her music is not rock. Instead, it is among the worst of Pop music (Michael Jackson totally kicked her firm little ass in the music and dance categories). And Pop music is not necessarily rock. And while i give nods and props to appropriately rawking Pop music, I cannot condone the use or misuse of Pop music recordings except by trained professionals. And Madonna is not one of these....

But because i made a promise, here are my thoughts on Ms. Ciccone.

10 reasons i don't like Madonna Veronica:


1. She can't sing. Her voice is really more of a helium induced squeek than a singing vocal. She sounds like she would be better leading Madonna and the Chipmunks. But not even "Dave" could get them a paying gig.... She and Cyndi Lauper are having a multi-decade race to the bottom.


2. I'm not sure real instruments play on her albums. To qualify as a legit "rawker" you should have GUITARS. And you should have a BASS. And real DRUMS. Near as I can tell, it's all keyboards and a drum machine. And if that's all you got, you should at LEAST have a great singer. So refer back to #1.


3. Despite her apologists' claims to the contrary, she is not the flag-waiving siren of feminism and the right of women everywhere to rock, to be overtly sexual and to aggressively market themselves. Yes, she has been a marketing genius, but that does not -- in itself -- qualify you as a "queen rock diva". You gotta have CHOPS for that girl -- so see #1 again. And go watch Tina Turner or Janis Joplin for serious chops. And what about Billie Holiday and her sexually suggestive stuff? Long before the "Material Hurl" starting humping the scene....badly.


4. Calling her a "marketing genius" is probably too generous, in all honesty. It's probably more accurate and appropriate to call her self-absorbed. And she has very successfully applied her narcissim to a career in Pop music. Again, that is all very different than being an Artist for the Ages. Although Axl Rose may have her beat in the self-absorbtion category, at least he could SING and he could ROCK.


5. Yes, she can dance. Sort of. So did Gene Kelly. But he was not a rocker. Skills in one set does not qualify one for classification as a leader in the other.


6. Yes, she has a great body. But the girl looks like crap in her goofy outfits. She's a clown with pointy t*ts. Seriously.

7. Yes, she is a "power" woman in a man's biz who knows what she wants and goes to get it. That's not always a good thing. See #3 above....


8. She's a horrible actress. Have you actually WATCHED her movies??


9. She invented that stupid -- i can't even describe it -- "dance" where she bends over and hops back and forth. Gimme a break. It's videos from Like A Virgin. Yeah right....Like she ever was....

10. So you adopted a kid. You want a medal for it? So have lots of people. It's a beautiful thing. But still does not qualify you to be one of the greatest Pop artists of all time, Rolling Stone. See #1 again. It's all about the voice. Unless you can write..... Think Neil Young, Van Morrison and Jimmy Buffett (who i have slammed before, but who is miles beyond Ms. Ciccone).

So, there you have it. I'll pay for it later. Would love to hear what YOU think....

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Let's celebrate Ladies' Night....

Good evening rawkers. Tonight's blog is dedicated to the small but powerful number of female front persons, whose pipes wail as much or more than most men. And they just happen to often be much more pleasant to look at, as well as to hear, than their male counterparts.

We're talking about "chick rawkers", the gals with the balls to mix it up with the boys. The ones who fry it up in the pan, but never let you forget they're a woman....

I'm really only going to talk about female singers from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Singers such as Amy Lee (Evanescene), great as they are, are not the subject of this post. Why? Just cuz. My favorites happen to be from those eras and it's my blog, so there.

However, I DO intend to cover newer singers -- male and female -- from the 90s and the 00s, so you'll get my thoughts then. Be patient my little padawans.

If you ask anyone knowledgeable about female rock vocalists, you'll probably get a list that includes most of the following (only intending to cover my favorites, as well as the most likely "also-rans" that would result in people being pissed if i failed to include them....).

Tina Turner (Ike & Tina Turner)

Bonnie Raitt (solo)

Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)

Janis Joplin (Big Brother & the Holding Company)

Exene Cervenka (X)

Pat Benatar (solo)

Joan Jett (the Blackhearts)

Ann Wilson (Heart)

Siouxsie Sioux (the Banshees)

Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)

Debbie Harry (Blondie)

Patti Smith (solo)

Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)

Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders)

Martha Davis (Motels)

I think it's sometimes hard for women to get a fair shake in the rock genre, which is so typically testosterone laden. Consequently, "rougher" females struggle to find an identity that is effectively communicable through rock music. That's not a judgment, just a reality as I see it. But every now and then, a female singer comes along that has ALL the tools.

That's why my personal favorite is ANN WILSON of Heart. Very sexy (sorry, i'm a dude) and just flat out rocks your socks off. The songwriting, playing and singing chops are simply amazing and allow objective listeners to simply enjoy the exceptionally high quality of her music. And i'll be damned if it doesn't just wail!

I know many Rawkers will howl, "how could you not see the obvious superiority of Janis Joplin". Well, i respect her music and the power of her voice. And she certainly represents the dangerous self-destructive rock sensibility that made similarly tragic males into figures for the ages -- Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, etc. However, I just don't find her music as compelling as that of others. Sorry. I appreciate it tons, but can't call it my favorite.

So bottom line, let's offer a rousing Rawker "Thank you" to these women for blazing the trail for the female rock singers who are talented enough and ballsy enough to be heard in the 90s and up to today.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Thin Lizzy -- "She knows music...i know music too, you see...."

Good evening Rawkers. Two words: Thin Lizzy.

If you don't know who i'm talking about, forget it. Go to another blog. If you do, here are my thoughts:

"Jailbreak" is one of the best rock songs of all time.... Don't even argue with it because it makes you lame and you're wrong.

One of their best cuts is one of their slowest cuts... "Still in Love With You". It's a beautiful mix of tight, sparse drums, searing leads, great writing and moving vocals that make for a great rock ballad.

Vocalist, bassist and chief writer Phil Lynott was none other than the real freakin' deal rock star. Ridiculously talented, sexy, smart and usually high, this bass player/singer knew what to do with rock and how to work it on stage.

Major guitar credibility with Gary Moore, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and John Sykes variously sharing six-string duties.

And check out "Cold Sweat" from Lizzy's Thunder and Lightening album -- as heavy and cool as anything else from the genre and the decade.

Bottom line, if you don't know Thin Lizzy you don't know rock. But argue with me if you feel so compelled. But you'd be wrong.....

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Let's dig some roots -- the 50's

Mornin' Cats and Kittens! let's take a quick step back to appreciate some of the gents who helped give us rock and roll.

Have just put together a pretty cool play list of Gene Vincent, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Chuck Berry. Pretty tough not to tap your toe with this stuff rockin' the speakers.

With the proper nods to early jazz, country, gospel and delta blues, it's easy to forget how new and controversial this stuff was, coming from both black and white musicians. Also easy to recognize so many of the riffs, beats and grooves that continue to make up rock and roll to this very day. Even the heaviest Pantera and Sabbath cuts owe debts to these cats.

After all, how early Beatles tunes were actually covers of Little Richard, Berry, Holly, Perkins, etc. And the Fab Four certainly has laid their share of rock's foundation.

My personal favorites on the playlist? "Be-Bop-a-Lula" by Gene Vincent (guitar work by Cliff Gallup) and "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles.

Would love to hear your thoughts/opinions/stories about the brilliant mono records that feature these greats.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Pantera -- do we DARE get this heavy?

Holy crap, rawkers. Got a divine inspiration this morning over coffee, looking through my ipod lists and came across one of my fave bands that i hadn't listened to in a while. And i just had to share!

None other than the iconic groove-heavy sludge metal masters, Pantera!

Walk on home, boy!!

This is some crazy stuff. And if you have NOT listened to it and have ANY taste at all for the heavier side of life you OWE it to yourself to check out the Cowboys from Hell. Flat out tasty. While the entire "Cowboys from Hell" is instant classic, make a point of checking out the title cut, followed by "Cemetary Gates". The infection is permanent. No cure. Be grateful.

For fans, it is tragic understatement to say that the band's lowest point was the 2004 on-stage shooting and killing of guitarist Dimebag Darrell in Columbus, Ohio. Never more to be a Pantera without Dime, the rest of the band (including Dime's brother, drummer Vinnie Paul) went on to other projects.

A sad day and a sad end to an outrageous band. RIP, Dime. The God of Thunder salutes you and all who loved your music.... Still "F*ckin' Hostile".....

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

There's someone in my head, but it's not me....

Does it seem trite or overdone to say that Dark Side of the Moon is one of rock's best all time achievements, along with the White Album, Exile on Mainstreet, Black Sabbath #1, Zeppelin IV and Highway 61 Revisited? I don't think so. And when compared alongside the rest of this band's catelogue (personal fave albums are Wish You Were Here, Meddle and The Final Cut) one has to conclude that PINK FLOYD is ONE of the best bands to be produced by rock and roll.

There is a very small number of bands/artists whose recorded work just keeps getting better and better with every listen, even stretching over many years. David Bowie is one such artist. So are Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Simon & Garfunkel. Similarly, Pink Floyd's timeless cuts keep growing stronger and stronger, at least to this blogger's ears.

Thanks in large part to the self-taught guitar genius of David Gilmour and the gloriously paranoid and introspective lyrics of Roger Waters, Pink's music struck straight at the heart of the disenfranchised and the detached. And of course, having three distinct and wonderfully expressive voices -- Syd Barrett, David Gilmour and Roger Waters -- doesn't hurt any. This was psychodelic pop that, at the time, blew everyone's mind who was not otherwise preoccupied with the status quo. (listen to the song "Pow R. Toc H" off of the album Piper at the Gates of Dawn..... flat out freaky. How does someone come UP with that??).

Anyone who has had psychological issues or a feeling that they were "not quite right" found a personal soundtrack in Pink Floyd. This blogger included.

These boys made a mint marketing "madness music" to the masses..... And the result was simutaneously some of the most pretentious, beautiful, interesting music ever to grace vinyl.

Shine on Syd. You were the soul of the band. And farewell to keyboardist Richard Wright. Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Motown is Hitsville, USA...and loved by Rawkers!

It may be time for the God of Thunder to tap an entirely different musical vein by digging into that rich catelogue offered by none other than Motown and classic rhythm and blues. What a mine!

Who's number one? No contest. The "tempting" Temptations.

Gimme the edge of David Ruffin, paired with the gorgeous tenor of Eddie Kendricks, to sing their best melodies (My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, I Wish it Would Rain, I Know I'm Losing You).

That greatness notwithstanding, Dennis Edwards (formerly with the Contours) did a great job taking over the lead vocals after Ruffin was canned (Edwards singing lead on Cloud Nine, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, I Can't Get Next to You, Ball of Confusion, etc.).

For the uninitiated, the 1998 movie "The Temptations" (directed by Allan Arkush) is a FANTASTIC overview of their career and music. If you love Motown, the film will not disappoint.

Other great Motown acts? Of course, there are many, with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & the Supremes, and the Jackson 5 being four of the brightest stars. Also love the Four Tops, the Spinners, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, and later, the Commodores and Lionel Richie.

I never cared for Smokey too much, even though he wrote a number of the hits for the Tempts. Something about his voice just rubs me the wrong way. No denying his talent though.

Anyway, one of my favorite play lists is all Tempts, and includes some of the solo offerings of Ruffin (My Whole World Ended, I Don't Want To Be Right) and Kendricks (Boogie Down, Up In Smoke, Keep On Truckin').

With band founder Otis Williams as the only surviving original member, the classic lineup will never be seen again. But the music lives on, brother. And it's still wonderful.

Go in peace....

God of Thunder

Your personal theme song.... make it rawk!

Why is it so freakin' cool in the movies when someone walks in a room and a certain song starts to play that perfectly captures their vibe, their essence, their mojo? Like John Shaft, it's always cooool. ( I know you got that Isaac Hayes riff burning through your head right now.....).

Who hasn't thought that it would be great if we could have a theme song play when we everyday Joes walk into a room? At least I have, and i suspect some of you rawkers have as well. We might require different tunes for different occasions, such as:

Entering the board room to give a report at work: "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica. You OWN this presentation, man....

Strutting into a bar on Friday night: "Walk this Way" by Aerosmith. Was a high school loser but i made it with the ladies....

When you settle in with your best "shmoopy" for a romantic evening: "Get it On" by Marvin Gaye. Trite, perhaps, but amazing to get your love on with....

Anyway, you get the idea. But if you had to pick just ONE song to cover the multitude of scenarios you walk into during the course of daily life, what would that ONE song be?

Mine just MIGHT be "Let it Rock" by Bon Jovi. Work with me here.... the long piano intro would be me GETTING THERE, prior to the ACTUAL arrival on the scene. Driving, walking, whatever. My timing will have to be pretty good, folks....Wait for it....

Favorite line, "it's alright (alright) if you have a good time. it's alright (alright) if you wanna cross that line. Break on through to the other side."

But more likely my theme song will be "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" by ZZ Top. The little ole' band from Texas has this laid back groove thing happening on this cut that fits me like Lucky Jeans under a Mario's jacket.

"With my New York brim and my gold tooth displayed, no one gives me trouble cuz they know i got it made". Smooth boys, tres smooth....

Food for thought and discussion.... What cranks up in your head when you step into the room? Help us understand the music that fits your joie de vivre.

Go in peace..... (cue exit theme song)

G.O.T.

KISS!!!

"You wanted the best, and you got it...."

Kicking off the famous '75 album Alive!, those legendary words introduced to many of us the hottest band in the land, KISS!!!

Tons of us rawkers had our taste for rock shoved down our throats by this awesome foursome. Think what you want, these were not a bunch of cartoons who picked up electric instruments. They were/are serious rockers with EXPERT marketing sensibility, who happen to make rock and roll a complete flame-throwing, blood-spitting, chick-digging, hard-rocking spectacle -- all while jamming some of the coolest tunes ever penned. These lads did one thing and one thing very well... they always went FLAT OUT (props to DD)!

I said in a previous blog that rock and roll is about communicating emotion. The muse Kiss seems to have selected as a priority, and which worked to a perfect T & A, is....: Teen Angst (what did YOU think i was going to say?). Emotion indeed!

And to see them live? Whoo boy. An experience like no other.

Those of us who grew up in the 70s and had forgotten slightly what is was all about were reminded with the perfectly executed film "Detroit Rock City", with a prominently and appropriately placed final sequence of Kiss in concert.

Of course, they have had their line-up challenges and changes on the drum throne and on the Lead Les Paul. But at their core, these guys have maintained true to their roots and their fan base and have churned out absolute ANTHEMS to sex, partying and good time rock and roll.

My Fave Cuts?

Cold Gin

Black Diamond

Parasite

She

Detroit Rock City

Firehouse

and of course...God of Thunder!

If you haven't given them a chance to rawk ya, give em' a shot. You won't be sorry.

Join the Kiss army, baby!

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

And for those feeling on the lighter side....

Here's one for those of you who find yourselves on the other side of the musical spectrum and prefer to stay out of the bloody metal wars.

TOPIC: Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon is one of the worst vocalists of all time, in one of the worst bands ever. Along with Brett Michaels (Poison). Please discuss.

Although i'm pretty sure that Brett would totally spank Kevin in a cage match..... ick.

Go in peace....

G.O.T.

Feelin' heavy...?

Any of my Rawkers feeling heavy out there? As in, feeling the need for a dark adreneline rush of molten metal that feeds your screaming inner demons?

Thought so. Me too.

No one better to feed its gnawing ache then my two favorite heavy bands, Black Sabbath and Metallica. (With Motorhead frantically galloping in at a close third).

(For the record, i'm not going to entertain hair-splittings over various sub-genres of metal -- black, death, thrash, speed, etc. For this purpose: if it's heavy, it's metal.)

And for my money, there really ISN'T original heavy music after Sabbath, and until Metallica.

Just gave a listen to the self-named first cut on the Sabbath self-titled 1970 album, Black Sabbath. If the sinister rain and the tolling bell doesn't give you goosebumps, go find an REO Speedwagon cassette tape. And go away.

And there's been damn precious little cool stuff since Metallica burst on the scene, exploding like a hellfire missile and leaving deliriously devoted fans in its wake. Personal preferences are the albums Kill 'Em All and Master of Puppets (would you expect the GOT to pick any others?).

Wanna hear from you Rawkers. Who thrashes the heaviest? Who best guards the entrance to hell with flaming guitars, and bone-breaking drums? I wanna know.... Rawk On!!!

G.O.T