Redbeard’s Blog

John Mellencamp- Whenever We Wanted 35th Anniversary

By the time John Mellencamp released October 1991's "Whenever We Wanted" , containing the hits "Get a Leg Up" and "Again Tonight", his record-making not only made him one of the Eighties' most popular singer/ songwriters, he had already influenced the sound of his peers...twice. John Mellencamp is my guest In the Studio.

John Mellencamp- Get a Leg Up- garage 12-91

Before arenas and stadiums, even the most popular bands in history started in someone's garage, carport, or basement. Some of today's biggest Hall of Famers, such as John Mellencamp and his excellent band, still rehearse there, as I found out one snowy Christmas season in 1991. "Get a Leg Up" comes straight off the garage floor, no overdubs.

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"!

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.