Regular viewers of this page will be aware of my fondness for chicks who play rock'n'roll. Imagine how excited I am today after watching a couple of videos of The Runaways.
"Who are the Runaways?", I hear some musical nerd whimper from the back row. Well, you pathetic pomperoneous peckerhead! The Runaways were the first all-girl rock band. I'm talking heavy, kick-arse, heart-thumping, bone crushing rock and or roll. They formed back in 1975 and released about four albums between '76 and '79. Due to the fact that they were only 15, they were pinned with the nickname 'Jailbait Rockers'. The main line-up was:Cherie Currie - Vocals, Joan Jett - Guitar & Vocals, Lita Ford - Guitar & Vocals, Jackie Fox - Bass, *RIP* Sandy West - Drums, Vocals. Not only could they rock out, but they were babes. These chicks forged the way not only for sisters of rock, but also pop and R&B. They did it all before Madonna and Pink and they did it better. One of the vids below is The Runaways performing their monster hit, 'Cherry Bomb'. From this 2 mins 23 secs you will: 1.Be entertained, 2. See real rock chicks, 3. Have to take a cold shower.
Hey Ho Rock Voyagers,
Hope Santa was kind to all of you. Don’t forget to rock out this New Year’s Eve cos there is nothing better than a live band to blast you into the next decade. Thanks for all your letters and support over the past year, we appreciate the feedback. Stick around for the next 12 months, cos we have some extra-special interviews, reviews and pics/vids to share with you.
T’was On This Day for December 28
1937 - Mae West performs Adam and Eve skit that gets her banned from NBC radio. All I can say here is, what a woman! Forget Pink and Madonna, this hot tamale was doing it all before any of 'em.
1968 - The three day, Miami Pop festival took place. It was the first major rock festival held on the East Coast of the US. Ironically, one of the bands on the bill was, Three Dog Night.
1978 - Chris Bell, guitarist with Big Star, was killed after his car crashed into a telephone pole, he was 27. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. Big Star was founded by Alex Chilton who was celebrating his birthday on this day. Spooky or what?
1983 - After a heavy day's drinking, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson drowned while swimming from his boat moored in Marina Del Rey, California. With the help of President Reagan, he was given a burial at sea, normally reserved for Navel personnel. While watching the televised ceremony, most Americans were secretly wishing it was the famous Beach Boy sending off their ageing President.
2003 - 50 Cent's debut album, 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' was named the biggest selling album in the US in 2003 with the album going platinum six times over. Record executives were given no option but to give the album continuous radio airplay, as the disturbed young rapper had strapped a beat box to his chest and threatened to play the cd to them 'all day' if his demands weren’t carried out.
2005 - Pink Floyd were voted the greatest rock stars ever, in a survey of 58,000 listeners from UK radio station Planet Rock. It was found the 58, 000 listeners also answered “yes” to a question regarding smoking marijuana.
Birthdays
1921 - Johnny Otis
1941 - Michael Pinder (Moody Blues)
1941 - Leslie Maguire (Gerry and Pacemakers)
1943 - Dave Rowberry (Animals)
1944 - Mick Jones (Foreigner)
1947 - Peter Criss (Kiss)
1947 - Dick Diamonde (The Easybeats)
1950 - Alex Chilton (Big Star)
Saludos rockers, wherever you are on the planet. We at Rock Voyage are excited to profile our first real metal band. High fives all round. The band in question hails from Geelong in Australia, and let me tell you, this gritty 3 piece kicks ass! With Ozzy on guitar, Johnny on bass and Brett on drums, Dirge deliver a heavy, but dynamic rhythm punctuated by ripping vocals. The best way to describe their sound is to, " imagine a morph of Monster Magnet or Rollins Band with Corrosion Of Conformity", explains guitarist, Ozzy. Having seen them live, I can testify that these guys are metal freaks. They are loud, they are heavy and they are a polished unit. They were on a supporting slot last time I caught them and easily blew the headline band off-stage, just by their huge sound and sheer brilliance of their craft. Personally, I am more of a punk guy than a metal head, but I could not turn my body away from the awesome power that is Dirge. I am now a fan. Dirge have just released a new cd, their second offering. Check out their myspace page for details. www.myspace.com/dirgeaustralia Dirge play the Barwon Club in Geelong on November 20, so get there and be hammered by the Dirge.
August 27th 2009
T’was on this day in 1889, Charles G Conn received a patent for the metal clarinet. This was unsuccessfully preceded by the rubber clarinet and the paper clarinet.
Oh worshippers of the mighty ALL, when I was growing up, I had a dream of becoming the bass master general. Why, you ask? Simply because of a guy named Karl Alvarez, who tore shreds on the bass for surf/ pop/punk band, The Descendents.
The Descendents were formed way back in '79 by powerhouse drummer/songwriter/engineer, Bill Stevenson. Over several years and a couple of line-up changes, the Descendents have endured since '87 with Karl on bass, Bill on drums, Stephen Egerton on guitar and the most famous nerd in rock'n'roll on vocals, Milo Aukerman. Not only was this caffeinated four piece around at the beginning of the punk movement in California, Bill actually played drums for the infamous, Black Flag, at the time Mr Rollins took over from Des on vocals. How cool is that?
Where's My Silly Girl?
Over the years, Descendents songs have become iconic among their legions of fans, even to the extent that bands such as NOFX and Blink 182, have covered Descendents songs on tour. Back here in Oz, Bodyjar always did a rockin' version of 'Coolidge'.
Saludos rockers, I have probably stated this before, but nothing gets my amp buzzing more than chicks who play rock’n’roll. If they happen to be wearing black micro minis and black vamp boots and singing about teenage werewolves, then I’m sure to blow a fuse. Today’s RockVoyage pays homage to the spookily sexy girls of rockabilly / psychobilly music. First up is Ghouls Night Out , a tidy three piece from MA in the US (ironically, where they used to burn witches). GNO features Myra-guitar/vocals, Vampira-bass/vocals and Lily-drums.
GNO
Don't be fooled by the creepy cuteness of these vivacious vamps because their sound is a raw fusion of 60's garage with Misfit's style punk/horror. Songs like: Bully, Demons Are a Ghouls Best Friend and Pleatherface are fast becoming cult classics among their legion of followers. GNO are just the kind of nightmares I enjoy
Thought it was about time to do a tribute piece on a band who is fast rising to the top of the independent scene. Forming from the ashes of another trully great rock/punk band, The Lillingtons, Teenage Bottlerocket are shredding all competition in their wake. With the release of their second CD, Warning Device, about a year ago, this full-on four piece from Wyoming in the US, are conquering the planet. Their cool, melodic riffs and ass-kicking chords work magic on the ears. The old favourite, Blood Bath at Burger King is now a cult favourite amongst fans. Not only are these guys cool for taking the three chord formula to new heights, but they recorded their stuff at the Blasting Room, Fort Collins CO, home to legends of punk, ALL/Descendents. To the nerds out there who have not had the pleasure, here are a couple of vids to educate and entertain. To fans of TB - enjoy
I have a diverse and broad taste in music but two singers guarenteed to uplift my mood are Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I will also add Kate Miller-Heidke and The Ramones. Ha ha told you my taste is broad.
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