Redbeard’s Blog
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Lynyrd Skynyrd- One More From the Road 50th Anniversary- the late Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson

In September 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Atlanta's venerable Fox Theater each needed a minor miracle. Performing over three hundred shows on 1975's notorious "Torture Tour" had original Lynyrd Skynyrd members dropping like flies. Three things were evident: America's hyped bicentennial was entering the history books even as the wrecking ball was heading for the Fox Theater; a live "best of" discounted price double album by Peter Frampton earlier that year was re-writing the record books; and Lynyrd Skynyrd was selling more concert tickets than copies of their diminished ranks studio album "Gimme Back My Bullets". The band needed a stop-gap recording that could capture their lightning in a bottle live show, and the Fox Theater needed a lightning rod which could make saving it a cause celebre. Original co-founder the late guitarist Gary Rossington joined me here In the Studio for the tale behind "One More from the Road".

Rolling Stones- When the Whip Comes Down(Charlie Watts up)- Chicago 1981

Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Watts accompanied by the Rolling Stones on "When the Whip Comes Down"!

Kansas- The Prelude Implicit- Phil Ehart, Rich Williams, Ronnie Platt, David Ragsdale

Five years ago the first new original studio album in sixteen years, "The Prelude Implicit",  from all-American progressive rockers Kansas, was one of the most pleasant musical surprises in 2016...like discovering the "lost"  album which would have fit naturally between early mid-Seventies efforts "Song for America"  and "Masque". Lifers drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Richard Williams are joined here In the Studio  by violinist David Ragsdale and impressive veteran lead singer Ronnie Platt.

Styx- Mr Roboto- Bossier City LA 2-21-20

Styx was one of the last bands to come off the road when the COVID-19 lockdown silenced the live music industry in early 2020, and Styx was among the very first to re-emerge back in early June 2021. I simply love what the group does live these days with the AI-themed "Mr. Roboto".

Metallica- Wherever I May Roam- San Francisico 2-6-16

For the Super Bowl 50 halftime entertainment hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area, the NFL really fumbled the ball when they passed on homies Metallica as "too heavy for halftime". So the band threw their own party the night before in Golden Gate Park, from where this terrific performance of "Wherever I May Roam" comes, shared just ahead of the "Black Album"  thirtieth anniversary.

The Who- Baba O’Riley- Toronto 12-17-82

Pete Townshend returns In the Studio for the 50th anniversary of the timeless "Who's Next". Here is The Who with Kenney Jones on drums in Toronto December 1982 with a spirited "Baba O'Riley".

ZZ TOP- El Loco- Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard

ZZ Top "El Loco" fortieth anniversary interview with Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, & Frank Beard "In the Studio".

Bruce Springsteen- Youngstown- 12-9-95

...ultra-rare  acoustic performance by Bruce Springsteen of  "Youngstown"  on 12/9/95 in Philadelphia's Tower Theater.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers-Mary Jane’s Last Dance- San Francisco 2-97

Here is a rare recorded concert performance of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers doing the one-off "Mary Jane's Last Dance" which did not quite make the 1991 album Into the Great Wide Open  and instead was a surprise hit on their Greatest Hits…

Van Halen- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge- Eddie, Alex, Michael, Sammy

For Van Halen " For Unlawful Carnal  Knowledge" , we present an ultra-rare "fly on the wall" listen to the biggest hard rock band in America in 1991. The late Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex, Michael Anthony, and Sammy Hagar had the #1-selling album on the Billboard  chart containing "Poundcake","Judgment Day, "Runaround", "Right Now", and "Top of the World" when we had this lively conversation. This complete interview with all four members has never been heard, & it is now quite historic with the leaving of Sammy Hagar about five years later, & the passing of Eddie Van Halen in 2020.