Chance McClain (formerly of SportsRadio 610 KILT and 1560 The Game) has been throwing a live concert series that is benefiting the Texas musicians that are playing.
It's called Live From The QZ.
Watch out for an appearance by McClain's former colleague Raheel Ramzanali as host too!
I reached out to McClain for more info and he sent back this nice email that explains it all:
As soon as the coronavirus shutdown started becoming real I, along with half the country, recognized a certain level of stir craziness was forthcoming. At my company, I primarily film people from 70-100 years old so I knew I would be shelved for a good while. So I talked with my buddy Patrick Brogdon about putting "something" together. I have friends in the music world and friends in the comedy world and my office is on my 8-acres in the middle of nowhere. And I built a stage for the hell of it years ago. And together with Patrick, we have a ton of high end equipment...cameras, mics, professional streaming gear, lights... All of these "ands" pointed towards putting together a variety show safely tucked away in the Magnolia woods.
The first show we did, I had three bands booked, two comedians, and a host. But this was Tuesday, March 24th, very early in the "shutdown." Over the course of that day, bands began dropping over sensitivity towards the virus. Then the comedians bowed out. Even the host, Raheel Ramzanali, out of an abundance of caution, decided to play it safe. Two hours before the show, I had nothing. No talent, no host. Just a stage, gear, Patrick, and my small work crew. Then I got a call from Josh Fuller, the lead singer and titular character of The Josh Fuller Band, and he said the band's not coming but I am.
Joah showed up and played for about 3 hours of covers and original music. It was glorious. It was such a needed diversion, and it was totally safe. We took our guidance from the CDC and State of Texas websites and played it by the rules. Keep in mind, everything was 100% volunteer. We had no expectation of any money. By the end of the night people had sent over $600 to my venmo. I distributed it to the guys and it was a fun, memorable night.
Since then, we have had five Live from the QZ shows. We've enhanced the little stage, and have enjoyed the talents of The Josh Fuller Band, Caleb and the Homegrown Tomatoes, and Shane Temple play the stage. Different iterations of those same talented folks have played our "side stage" to give the band a break. We set up a separate area by my fire pit. Raheel has hosted several of the shows bringing his unique talent, personality, and perspective to what we still consider a healthy diversion during stressful times.
It's very laid back. Very laid back. My dogs usually end up being a part of the show. As the restrictions ebb and flow, we have been having guests come to watch the show live, each in their little clusters around the stage, always sensitive to social distancing, but happy to have a sense of community.
Each show, people send money to venmo and the people that perform or work get some running money. These musicians don't have venues for the time being so I hope this lark is providing them an opportunity to unwind, perform, and expend some of the artistic angst that builds up. Their stresses are alleviated by Dillon Benoit, our audio engineer. They've all worked with him before and they are able to focus on their performance knowing that he will mix a great show.
We close every show with Amazing Grace as a tip of the hat to Michael Berry, who lost The RCC to the financial constraints of the coronavirus.
We plan to keep the shows going every week or two until society renormalizes. Whether it's the old normal or a new normal is immaterial. We want the shows to look better and run smoother each week. We want the artists to feel appreciated and we want the audience to realize that, despite the madness, we will be ok. And a little diversion every now and then helps.
KSAT 5, 6 and 10pm anchor Steve Spriester featured in Rapper Future's latest album “High Off Life"
KSAT San Antonio reports its own 5, 6 and 10pm anchor Steve Spriester is sampled in Future's newly releasedd album “High Off Life” in a song called “Ridin Strikers."
Spriester said he found out about the surprise collaboration on Twitter and tweeted he is flattered.
The station says its anchors voice can be heard in the sample:
“The police need your help in tracking down a suspect in a bank robbery this morning on the city’s north side. According to police, the suspect walked into the bank about nine this morning, went straight to one of the tellers, handed over a note that said ‘put money in bag.’”
That led Spriester to be called "Mr. Put Money in Bag” by his kids.
The whole event had Twitter users trying to come up with other hip-hop names like A$AP Spreezy or Hairspré 3000, Young $preezy, MC Spree, or Cold Open (TV news staffers might vote for this one).
Besides Spriester's, other voices you will hear on “High Off Life" include Drake, Meek Mill, DaBaby and Young Thug.
This all got me thinking about other Texas TV news stations and rappers.
I worked in Los Angeles before moving to Houston. Apparently, when U2 was laying down tracks in a Hollywood Recording studio for one of their 80's albums, and unbeknownst to me, they lifted my voice from one of my newscasts and included it on their "Desire-Hollywood remix." Not being a U2 fan, I didn't know about it. Someone in the KTLA control room told me they heard my voice on a Bono album. I actually don't remember who told me. Regardless, it's my voice on the Desire track and that's my other claim to fame...even though it's just a few seconds reading about another L-A crime story..."shot him in the shoulder."
The teenager buried down inside of me is very excited to hear that news that former MTV Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman is bringing the legendary show back...at least on YouTube.
He announced live last night that he has a stack of near master quality VHS tapes with his original Ball episodes and he is uploading the best stuff online.
Now he can't play music videos because he would get the nasty YouTube strike, but it sounds like we will see the great interviews and moments like Alice In Chains at Action Park NJ.
If you were a fan of the Ball, then go check out Rachtman's two podcasts, Cathouse Hollywood Podcast and The Triple R.
The Smashing Pumpkins returned to Houston July 17, 2018, this time at the Toyota Center, for its somewhat reunited lineup for the "And Oh So Bright Tour." Bassist D'arcy Wretzky did not sign back up for this trek.
And no doubt, that Tuesday, longtime fans said, "Today is the greatest day I've ever known."
Based on the length of the show, it was the summer solstice. The Pumpkins set clocked in around three hours much to the chagrin of the Houston Press.
Front man and fearless band leader, Billy Corgan, started the show off on the stage alone with an acoustic guitar strapped on to sing Disarm. That type of song is not a band's usual opener as it is not a big rocker.
Unfortunately I missed the latest L.A. GUNS with a reunited Tracii Guns And Phil Lewis show in Houston at Proof Rooftop Lounge Midtown.
Still true to my rocking ways, I missed it because I was working on the Rock 101 KLOL documentary. A good excuse if you ask me.
There is a YouTuber named Carlos Melendez who is always bringing us clips of Houston rock shows on his channel. He lets me vicariously be at Bayou City rock shows. Here is some of what he captured at LA Guns this week...including a new song called "Speed" off the bands upcoming album.
Houston has a classic rocker (106.9/107.5 The Eagle) and alternative rocker (94.5 The Buzz) but no rocker like 101 KLOL anymore. Even though, the Bayou City still loves Metallica.
The Mighty Met was in town last Sunday, and not only filled NRG Stadium, but were heavily featured in the local media! And from what I hear, a lot of the members of the local media were in attendance too.
Who says Houston is not a rock town?
We found out that drummer Lars Ulrich likes to visit the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel when in town.
As you can see above, Metallica even sent out a video crew to film Houston!
REVIEW Metal masters Metallica crush NRG Stadium
By Craig Hlavaty
Metallica returned to Houston Sunday night for the first time since late 2008, making good on months of hype and a week's worth of fan excitement over the monolithic metal act's visit to the Bayou City.
94.5 The Buzz's Theresa Rockface interviews James Hetfield
Houston Life theme song 'It's So You' was recorded by country singer Lorrie Morgan's music production service
Derrick Shore and Jennifer Broome host Houston Life.
NASHVILLE, TN (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 08, 2016 - While Country Music icon, Lorrie Morgan, has been busy garnering 4 new Grammy nominations for her newest album, Letting Go Slow, her red hot music production service has been chalking up major victories with a growing account list for its commercial music division. Top markets nationwide have discovered Music City in general, and RedHot Jingles in particular, for original music solutions for film, television and commercial use. RedHot Jingles is co-owned by Lorrie with her brother, Marty Morgan.
In the latest win for RedHot Nashville, Houston’s NBC affiliate, KPRC TV added a new high energy lifestyle show to its lineup, requiring upscale theme music to set the tone for the daytime talk/entertainment series. Executive Producer, Don Graham, and KPRC Creative Director, Michael Guerrieri, turned to Nashville’s music scene and tapped RedHot Jingles for an original theme song. The result is a hip and inventive piece of music called “It’s So You” that punctuates the KPRC vision for the “Houston Life” TV show.
“We feel really fortunate to have partnered with a jingle production company like RedHot on this project,” KPRC’s Graham says. “They definitely over-deliver and they’re great at execution on every level. We couldn’t be happier the way they translated our conceptual direction into a brilliant musical execution. Marty is a real pro and the music they produce is sonically outstanding and in every way compelling.”
Since its founding in 2010 by seasoned ad man and voice over artist, Marty Morgan, and his sister, Lorrie, RedHot Jingles has quickly become an established music resource for entertainment and marketing. After landing its first national account with Liberty Tax Service, the jingle company has been awarded jingle projects for a variety of clients in varied industries, including retail, home repair, travel, legal, medical and more.
“This city is becoming more and more a go-to market for all things musical,” Lorrie Morgan says. “Just look at the number of TV, film and documentary scores produced in Nashville and you will see that when it comes to music these days, Nashville has become far more than its tradition reputation as a Country Music market. We have the talent, the technology and the production infrastructure to support and create anything musically.”
For the “Houston Life” project, RedHot’s Senior Creative Director, Marty Morgan called in Australian singer/songwriter, Katrina Burgoyne, to collaborate on “It’s So You.” The tv theme song has a modern, techno-pop groove with a driving drum beat and synth-driven feel reminiscent of the pop sound of the '90’s which has gained popularity again in media and commercials.
Country/Pop newcomer, Mandy Brooke, provided the lead vocals with her dynamic range and high soulful energy. The team created a main theme and numerous promotional cuts and bumpers, plus over 15 seasonal and holiday versions for KPRC in different musical genres.
In addition to Burgoyne and Brooke, RedHot brought in Nashville composer/arranger, Geoff Koch, to spearhead arrangements on the final music production, along with former Black River Entertainment engineer, Austin Kursave, to produce the original television theme track which ultimately won out over competing music shops.
“Houston has the 4th largest population of U.S. cities, and is a Top 10 DMA [Designated Market Area] with a huge audience,(Editor note: Houston now 8th TV DMA)” Mary Morgan notes. “I’m thrilled to have been awarded this project. After providing two developmental compositions and demos, we learned that RedHot Jingles had been chosen. It’s a real feather in our cap and I’m proud of my team’s effort, energy and originality; everything that went into creating the theme package for KPRC’s new show.”
Lorrie Morgan is receiving great accolades for her latest album, produced by Richard Landis, including recent Grammy nods. RedHot Jingles continues to grow, owing in large part to the Morgan’s decades of combined creative experience in songwriting, studio work and advertising. They have earned a reputation for crafting clever lyrical “hooks” and vibrant melodies for regional, local and national clients that have included America West Airlines, Wind River Casinos, Friendship Auto Group, Cellular One Phones, and many more national, regional and local clients.
RedHot Jingles has also recently produced music for nationally syndicated automotive talk show, Car Pro USA, a stadium fight song for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and numerous automotive music projects including its first all-Spanish productions for Moffett Productions, a leading Houston video service.
Additionally, the siblings are busy laying the ground work for their first Broadway musical which is moving into early production.
About RedHot Jingle Company
Founded in 2010 by brother and sister team Lorrie and Marty Morgan, Red Hot Jingles writes and produces custom jingles and original music for television, radio, film, sports and entertainment.
As children of Country Music Hall of Fame member George Morgan — whose hit song Candy Kisses elevated him to national fame as well membership to Grand Ole Opry in 1948 – music is truly in their genes.
Multi-platinum recording artist Lorrie Morgan is a 4-time recipient of “Female Vocalist of the Year” in TNN’s Music City News Awards and has charted more than 30 Billboard singles, including three No. 1 songs.
Marty Morgan is a veteran of the advertising community, where he worked as a copywriter and creative director for ad agencies in Birmingham, Dallas, Kansas City and Nashville. He serves as senior producer and lead writer for the RedHot creative team.
Mix 96.5 Celebrates the Holidays with A Not So Silent Night Concert on Thursday, Dec. 15 at Revention Music Center
Featuring Performances By Train, Fitz and the Tantrums and The Strumbellas Benefitting The University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital
Houston, Texas – November 3rd , 2016 – CBS RADIO Houston’s Mix 96.5 and The Dave, Mahoney and DK Morning Show are pleased to announce the lineup for this year’s Not So Silent Night featuring performances by Train, Fitz and the Tantrums and The Strumbellas. The second annual show will take place on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 at Revention Music Center.
A portion of the proceeds from the show will benefit MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with Bands like Train and Fitz and the Tantrums who continue to give back to the fans on a local level, while at the same time, rocking our worlds,” said Charese Fruge, VP of Programming for CBS Radio Houston and Program director of KHMX. “They are two of the most exciting live bands out there, and the Strumbellas will bring a fresh new vibe to this year’s annual holiday show.”
“Can’t wait to throw down for Not So Silent Night. H Town here we come! Get ready to Wreck the Halls for an amazing cause with us and Mix 96.5,” said lead singer Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums.
“We love coming back to Houston and tearing it up with Mix 96.5. Especially around the holidays! Get ready to ‘Deck the Halls’ and help raise money for MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. It will be a night we won’t forget,” added Train singer Pat Monahan.
Tickets for Not So Silent Night go on sale Friday, Nov. 4 through livenation.com. All month long leading up to the show Mix 96.5 will be giving away tickets on air. Listeners can tune in to win tickets over-the-air, online at www.mix965houston.com and through the Radio.com app for mobile devices.
“We are grateful for the support of our patients,” said Lisa Hafemeister, division administrator for the Children’s Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson. “Every dollar counts and funds are used to support important childhood cancer research and patient programs.”
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)
The largest single day country music event in Houston
Houston, Texas – November 1st, 2016 – On Monday, December 5th at House of Blues Houston, 100.3 The Bull presents “Ten Man Jam” featuring Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, The Band Perry, Jon Pardi, Dan+Shay, David Nail Brett Young PLUS a surprise guest and a huge after party concert with one of the hottest new bands in the country!
The stars this year have a combined 49 #1 songs, 86 top 10 songs, 35 Country Music Association Awards, 34 Academy of Country Music Awards and have won a combined 6 Grammy Awards.
At the show, 100.3 The Bull will host a silent and live auction with all proceeds benefiting the Lone Survivor Foundation. The Lone Survivor Foundation restores, empowers, and renews hope for wounded service members and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support. The Foundation continues to help America's wounded service members and their families adjust to the effects of their experiences and helps them transition into what may be viewed as their 'new normal' – providing an understanding and acceptance of who they are as a person, a family, and a community.
You can’t buy tickets to the concert; you can only win them by listening to Houston’s Country Concert Station, 100.3 The Bull.
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)
In first ever rock talk “Sets, Frets & Cigarettes," KLOL icon Dayna Steele interviews John Lennon and David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick
This past weekend in downtown Houston’s time-warping Majestic Metro Theatre, the past and present collided as rock royalty took the stage.
In Dayna Steele’s new music talk series “Sets, Frets & Cigarettes,” the former 101 KLOL icon took the stage with guitarist Earl Slick, best known as the axeman for John Lennon and David Bowie.
What followed was conversation on stage about rock stars, music, success, failure, drugs and a lot more. It was a very casual, no holds barred conversation, because the two have been friends since Steele was 19 years old. They first met when she was was a young jock at 104.1 KRBE.
With acoustic and electric guitars at the ready, Slick played some legendary riffs in the middle of the conversation.
It was in the early 1970's when Slick joined David Bowie's world.
"I used to call him boss, but that wasn’t the case, we worked together," Slick told the audience.
Slick replaced Mick Ronson on the Diamond Dogs tour in 1974. He stayed to play on David Live, Young Americans (1975) and Station to Station (1976).
Years later, when Slick rejoined Bowie on the road in 2000, the guitarist says he got tired of playing "Let's Dance" and got The White Duke to pull the song from the set list. He noticed there were no complaints from Bowie at the time thinking the singer was probably sick of the song too after so many performances.
The hits didn't stop for Slick. Later on, he got a call from acclaimed music producer Jack Douglas. Douglas, famous for working on albums by Aerosmith, told him on the phone it was an artist, not a band, who was looking for a guitarist. That ruled out Steven Tyler and "The Bad Boys from Boston." The artist Douglas was working with was none other than former Beatle John Lennon.
That call led Slick to play lead guitar on Lennon's final studio album Double Fantasy (1980). The record was a collaboration between Lennon and wife, Yoko Ono.
"[Ono] is a wonderful lady," Slick told us.
Lennon had his songs and Ono had her songs on the album. But as harmonious and peace loving as the couple appeared in the media, Slick said when Oko would try to tell Lennon how to write his songs, the entire studio would hear the former Beatle say, "Mother...shut up. It will be your turn later."
Slick told the audience he was in Los Angeles when he heard the news of Lennon's murder. He got a call minutes before the media onslaught. Lennon would have turned 76 on October 9, 2016.
Now what we just covered were the highest of the highs for Slick. It wasn't all bright lights and legendary gigs for the guitarist. There were the bands he started that didn't end up working. Slick says he'd rather be broke than living a lie and learned from the failures.
And even in the high times there were other factors getting him even higher. Slick says in his line of work drugs are accepted. In fact, when Bowie would take a break and talk to the audience for a moment during concerts, Slick says he would walk behind his amps where lines would be cut and ready for him to snort.
Then there was the time he lost his greatest love of all - music.
"I promised myself if I lost the passion I was done," Slick admitted.
Lennon famously had his lost weekend which actually lasted more than a year. Steele joked Slick had his "lost weekend" where Slick left the stage and tried to go corporate. The musician said he needed help fixing up his resume by translating his rock skills to the real world.
"What was I gonna put on there? Former bosses, David Bowie and John Lennon," an amused Slick asked.
But instead of recording and partying like Lennon, Slick's "lost weekend" involved the less glamorous task of selling time shares at Lake Tahoe.
Luckily for Slick, Bowie came calling once again, and the guitarist rejoined with the man behind Ziggy Stardust.
In the Q&A portion of the talk, Slick's advice (in the middle of playing a great acoustic blues jam, which the audience begged for an encore) for young musicians is to play, play, and play. Slick says he plays his guitar seven days a week and revolves his world around music.
"Never had a plan B, still don't," Slick admitted. "Kind of speaks for itself."
Her hope is to take “Sets, Frets & Cigarettes” to professional conferences, college campuses and ultimately around the world.
"Slick would like to take it to the Cavern Club in Liverpool (The Beatles played the original club) which if I do this in the Cavern Club in Liverpool my life is done," Steele told mikemcguff.com. "I don't need to do it anywhere else."
Houston's so-called "First Lady of Rock ‘n Roll" has interviewed everyone from Mick Jagger to David Crosby. In her KLOL days, she loved the music, but interviewing was her favorite part of the job.
"I've spent ten years telling their stories and I want them to come tell their stories with me," Steele told me. "So Slick was brave enough to say, 'yeah I'll do it," and he's always been there for me."
Up next for the rock interview series, Steele is hoping to interview former Sammy Hagar and Boston guitarist Gary Pihl. In fact you can watch a YouTube series with Pihl and Steele below.
Also in her future sights are Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson and Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis.
The production was orchestrated by former KLOL promotions director Doug Harris through Ovation Speakers and Talent, benefiting TexasMusicHistory.org and its efforts to establish the Texas Music Hall of Fame program in Houston.
The following text is from Lovett's Beatles chapter:
The Beatles Have Landed
...They twist, they shout, kids knock themselves out...
August 19, 1965. I am here for the scoop, and to help scoop up The Beatles. The Beatles are on Texas soil, arriving in the middle of a muggy night at Hobby Airport in Houston. It is the fourth stop, and the only one in Texas, on a ten-city tour that began in front of 55,000 frenzied fanatics at Shea Stadium in New York. They arrive from Atlanta, where they had performed a few hours earlier in a brand new outdoor stadium (one day to become a parking lot).
I work for KILT radio. My assignment from the news director is to "get your butt out to Hobby and report on the big event.” Our station is sponsoring their two concerts at the Sam Houston Coliseum.
I am not impressed. Elvis is my man, who, along with Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison, had received more play than these four kids from across the pond in the U.K. I don’t see what the fuss is all about; but I do see the fuss.
Much will be written over the coming years about The Beatles’ visit to Houston. The most popular story has the late Dickie Rosenfeld being the man responsible for getting them to the Bayou City. That is partially true. Rosenfeld, at the time, is the General Sales Manager at KILT. He is instrumental in promoting and coordinating The Beatles’ two shows in Houston.
In reality, it is Bill Weaver, then General Manager of KILT, who’d been given the green light, and I mean green, from station owner Gordon McLendon, to see to it that KILT is the station bringing “the boys” to Texas.
Dallas was one of the stops on their inaugural tour of the U.S. a year earlier. Prior to their concert in Big “D,” in mid-September of 1964, there was an open date in late August for them to play in Houston. However, Bayou City teenagers would only learn years later that it never happened. The teens of the ’60s, who are now in their sixties, may never have known why. Until now.
The Beatles opened their 1964 North American Tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on August 19, 1964, followed by shows in Las Vegas, Seattle, Vancouver and Hollywood. August 26 was the open date. Paul Berlin, the most well-known Top 40 disc jockey in Houston in those days, had received a call from his contact with The Beatles. He asked if Paul, who was on KNUZ, the rival rock station to KILT, would like to promote a concert by The Beatles in Houston on August 26.
Berlin jumped at the opportunity, only to check his calendar and discover a major conflict. Paul had already booked Sonny and Cher for that date in 1964. He convinced his contact not to bring The Beatles to town and kill his booking. Thus, Houston got Sonny and Cher, while The Beatles twisted and shouted that night at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver.
Capitol Records is the American subsidiary of London-based Electric & Musical Industries, which owns the rights to all of The Beatles’ recordings. In 1963, as the group was creating a sensation across the pond, Capitol had no desire to release their records in the U.S., where British artists were considered to be pale imitators of the authentic, homegrown stuff. EMI farmed out single releases to two small, independent distributors: Vee-Jay, a black-owned R&B label out of Chicago; and Swan, a Philly-based outfit once co-owned by Dick Clark of American Bandstand.
Vee-Jay releases in February (“Please Please Me”) and May (“From Me To You”) quickly disappeared with little fanfare. In September it was Swan’s turn. They released “She Loves You” and sent promoters to radio trying to create a buzz among the most influential music marketers of the day. Murray the “K” played it for the first time in New York City on WINS radio. His former cohorts at Swan thought Dick Clark would give them a boost, but he showed little interest. Clark spun it one afternoon during his “Rate-A-Record” segment. The response was weak. Reportedly, the American teens in the studio giggled when shown a picture of the mop-topped lads. The song just wasn’t that popular. What remains The Beatles’ best-selling U.K. single of all-time failed to even chart on Billboard in the U.S. back in ’63.
In Houston, Arch Yancy, of KNUZ, received a copy of “She Loves You” from Wayne Schuler, the regional rep for Capitol Records. Yancy said he played it at a sock hop one Friday night at Mount Carmel High School and the kids didn’t much care for it. He played it the next day on his KNUZ radio show and got much the same lack of response.
Of course, the apathy soon turned into near-apoplexy after teens began seeing film clips of British Beatlemania on prime time TV. By the time “the boys” landed in New York the following February, the disease had already infected a growing legion of stateside youths. After three iconic appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, followed months later by the ’64 tour, the fever was inescapable. Houston’s teens were not immune.
Gordon McLendon, not to be outdone when it came to mining promotional gold, gave Weaver a blank check and told him to get on a plane and fly to New York City, where the group’s manager, Brian Epstein, was making plans for the 1965 tour. Weaver was told to cut a deal. He pulled it off. Epstein filled in the check for $100,000. KILT received clear rights to promote the hottest group in the world at the time, with the added bonus of shutting out archrival KNUZ, which was in no position to suddenly stop playing The Beatles’ records and pretend they didn’t exist.
Yancy, the first D.J. to play a Beatles record in Houston, told me Dave Morris, owner of KNUZ, didn’t want any part of The Beatles. Morris wouldn’t have parted with any money to bring them to Houston, anyway. Certainly not a hundred grand!
To establish my presence on the scene, I make my initial call to the KILT newsroom from a pay phone on the Gulf Freeway. I am killing time waiting to tell Houston the British invasion is coming, like a modern-day Paul Revere. It is a raucous spectacle at Hobby. The only time I would see anything quite like it again in Houston would be the rowdy weekend crowds at Gilley’s in Pasadena, a joyful beer joint owned by singer Mickey Gilley. When you walked into Gilley’s, you had to be ready to ride a mechanical bull and geared up to party.
This is, however, the wee hours of a Thursday morning. No bar.
At around 2:00 a.m., a four-engine Electra taxies in with The Beatles and their entourage on board. I can see them peering through the small windows on the big bird.
A screaming pack of hysterical teens storms the tarmac as the plane slowly comes to a stop. The challenge is now to extricate the four lads who are recognized throughout the music world. “The boys” will not be able to disembark down the air-stairs, as they had famously done when they first arrived at JFK Airport on February 7, 1964, waving to the loonies who had been safely barricaded out of harm’s way.
They probably thought their arrival was to have been a secret. But this very moment might be the first time you will see the words “secret” and “radio promotion” in the same sentence. Other than my regular over-the-air “news” bulletins, how would 5,000 screaming teenagers know when to show up at Hobby to swarm their plane, break through police barriers and almost climb the wings to get a glimpse of their idols? I never saw anything like that at Gilley’s.
Rosenfeld has it all under control. It doesn’t bother him that thousands of chaotic kids are clogging the tarmac. Dickie, in fact,
probably orchestrated the entire scene. He is a master at pulling off big events in Houston.
What to do?
Rosenfeld had previously made arrangements to have an airport food truck available to dolly up to the plane and unload The Beatles by way of its elevated scoop. For that to happen, the pilot taxies the plane away from the mob and toward a remote hanger at Hobby. The kids are crushed as the plane begins to pull away. Emotionally crushed, that is, although, with the lack of security, it would not have been a surprise if a few of them had been flattened as they chased after the plane with reckless abandon.
With the teenyboppers at bay below, the service truck’s scoop is elevated so The Beatles can walk onto it. I become more involved at this point by helping Paul, John, George and Ringo get off the plane. It is quite fun actually. The Beatles are enjoying it, too. Lennon and McCartney yuk it up as they wave and shout to the throbbing throng below them. It is a routine of which they will soon grow weary; their very last concert tour will end in San Francisco in just 375 more manic days.
The truck begins to lower the cargo bed without the group’s manager, Brian Epstein, who is still attempting to disembark. With one foot in the plane and the other in the air, Epstein tries to leap to the lift as it moves away. He plunges about sixteen-feet and lands on his back. He is taken to a hospital by taxi. Sadly, Epstein would die two years later from an accidental drug overdose.
The Beatles are transported to a Brinks armored truck, which takes the mop-tops (with me as their station chaperone) to the loading dock at the Sheraton Hotel. The conversation on the trip downtown is pleasant enough, it seems. With their thick Liverpudlian accents and consistent use of slang, I have no idea what they are talking about most of the time.
The King Curtis Band, Cannibal and the Head Hunters and Sounds Incorporated perform as the warm-up acts for the Fab Four at both shows, at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Beatles play the same twelve songs at each performance. They open with “Twist and Shout,” but they don’t play “She Loves You.” Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Some 12,000 kids, paying five bucks each, are jammed into the 5,000-seat arena for both performances. KILT is paying 150 police officers to keep the bedlam from turning into a complete riot.
Rental cost for the Sam Houston Coliseum is $1,500. Police security costs $2,500. KILT also donates almost $15,000 to the Houston Farm and Ranch Club, a social organization of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, for which the Coliseum had originally been built.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ Russ Knight, “The Weird Beard,” and the nighttime jock on KILT, emcees both shows and makes the historic introductions. He threatens to cancel the afternoon show if the rowdy fans in the first few rows can’t get a grip on their overwrought passions.
Chuck Dunaway, known as the “Round Mound of Sound” on his KILT morning show, is also part of the big party. I am there, too, with a backstage press pass as one of the station’s newsmen. I reluctantly observe the event as The Beatles holler their way through two thirty-five-minute performances in the old building. These are short concerts by latter-day standards, but to me it seems like the noise will never end. I’m not being critical of the music. I can barely hear it. Shrieking teens, primarily female, generate enough decibels to put a double “L” in the word; my ears are still ringing.
Chuck Dunaway, another early icon of rock and roll radio, is the only Houston DJ to be invited aboard The Beatles’ plane prior to its departure from Houston. Malcolm Evans, The Beatles’ close friend and tour manager, takes Dunaway aboard the Electra as it idles on the runway awaiting lift off from Hobby.
Inside, sitting alongside McCartney and Starr, Dunaway is getting some final comments from “the boys” before it is time to go.
They autograph a program for Dunaway, who, years later, gives it to his son, who in turn sells it to a collector in England.
With far less fanfare than their arrival, they depart for their next stop on the tour, Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Many years later I will fully realize what had taken place in August of 1965 in Houston. Although, as the Brits might say, they were not my “cup of tea,” one cannot ignore their mark on music history.
Yes, as the AC/DC camera guys scanned the crowd for some of Houston's finest during "You Shook Me All Night Long," KHOU 11 morning meteorologist Chita Johnson appeared on the band's giant screens on stage. Well, I was totally "Thunderstruck" by this.
So before I was "Shot Down in Flames" by the social media crowd, I had to tweet the big news.
Seriously though, AC/DC brought it. It was my first time seeing the Australian group and I was not disappointed.
Here is a concert review by Nathan Smith of The Houston Press.
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Back in 1992 when Houston embraced the Astrodome, the Republican National Convention had just wrapped up weeks before, and on September 4, the Eighth Wonder of the World was home to the mighty Metallica and Guns N' Roses tour with opener Faith No More!
I believe the 1992 Astrodome show was the last one "the original" GNR played in Houston.
Dayna Steele of 101 KLOL was there introducing the bands!
This was a time when the media covered rock music (outside of Eddie Trunk) and KTRK abc13 was on the case. Then anchor Shara Fryer tossed to a live report from Chris Adams at the scene for a story on all of the rock and roll mayhem and excess.
"In the audience, it looks like a riot, but it's just dancing," Adams reported. "All in all, a headbangers paradise."
According to the channel 13 story, 45,000 people attended the seven-and-a-half-hour show. More than 50 concertgoers were treated for "health-related problems" and about two dozen were arrested.
"The bulk of the arrests made were for public intoxication," Adams said. "A number of people had to be treated or even carried out, but it was not as bad as it might have been."
I remember sitting at Lamar High School that day and seeing a much emptier campus than normal. Faith No More went on in the afternoon so fans, including my school-mates, had to get there early.
My mom wouldn't let me go back then even though I was obsessed with Axl Rose and crew. She also wouldn't let me go to the last Houston Nirvana show in 1993 at the Astro Arena, God rest her and Kurt Cobain's souls.
In the early 90s, I studied GNR lyrics, read books and magazines about them, and taped photos from them on my closet door. Has that obsession really waned? Is anyone still reading this blog from the early days when practically every other post was about Guns N' Roses and the upcoming Chinese Democracy?
I was attracted to the music. After all, Appetite for Destruction is considered one of the best rock albums ever by many music fans, and think, that was the debut album! And the band certainly knew how to cultivate that dangerous edge. Although even I needed a break from them by the time the Sympathy for the Devil cover was released.
While I never saw an original era Guns N' Roses show, I would later go on to see an Axl Rose only fronted version in 2006 at the Hard Rock Hotel's The Joint in Las Vegas. Saw most of the same lineup later in Houston at The Toyota Center in 2011. Then witnessed one of the alleged best shows (Axl's vocals) on the 2016 tour at NRG Stadium with the reunited Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan.
Here is the Guns N' Roses setlist from the Houston Astrodome show according to Wikipedia:
(Taken from the Houston, Texas Astrodome show on September 4, 1992)
"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Mr. Brownstone"
"Live and Let Die" (originally performed by Paul McCartney)
"Attitude" (originally performed by the Misfits)
"Nightrain"
"Bad Obsession"
"It's So Easy"
"Wild Horses" (originally performed by The Rolling Stones)
"Patience"
"Double Talkin' Jive"
"Civil War"
"It's Alright" (originally performed by Black Sabbath)
"November Rain"
"You Could Be Mine"
"Sweet Child o' Mine"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (originally performed by Bob Dylan)
"Don't Cry" (Original)
"Paradise City"
(Taken from the Houston, Texas Astrodome show on September 4, 1992)
"Creeping Death"
"Harvester of Sorrow"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"Sad but True"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Of Wolf and Man"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"The Unforgiven"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Fade to Black"
"Master of Puppets"
"Seek & Destroy"
"Whiplash"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Am I Evil?" (originally performed by Diamond Head)
"Last Caress" (originally performed by the Misfits)
"One"
"Enter Sandman"
*Post updated after Guns N' Roses lineup with Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan reunited.
Event to Benefit The Rose, Raise Awareness and Support for Breast Cancer Research
UPDATE OCTOBER 25, 2015
After sending a press release on Saturday that said this event would go on rain or shine, 100.3 The Bull posted on its Facebook page that it has now been rescheduled due to rain.
We are sad to say we have to reschedule tonight's #Pinktober event. The dangerous weather situations our city is facing...
In honor of breast cancer awareness month, 100.3 The Bull (KILT), Hard Rock Café and PODS of Houston have teamed up for the 16th Annual Pinktober concert benefiting The Rose. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 25th with performances by multi-award nominated artists, Kelsea Ballerini and CAM.
As the presenting sponsor for PINKTOBER, PODS of Houston has also joined forces with 100.3 The Bull to host the 1st annual Survivors dinner. Throughout the last month, 100.3 THE BULL on air personalities asked listeners to share their stories of survival. 5 lucky winners (+ a guest) were selected to have an exclusive VIP dinner with Kelsea Ballerini and Cam.
Artist Kelsea Ballerini said of the upcoming event and Survivors Dinner, “I really believe in getting involved in great causes like this even as a brand new Artist, and Breast Cancer is something that affects everyone, whether it be someone close to you, or a friend of a friend. I'm so excited to be a part of this night with Cam and KILT to raise awareness and celebrate survivors.”
PODS® of Houston is placing a special PODS® Container, completely wrapped in pink, outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Houston beginning on Friday, October 23, 2015. The PODS® Container will feature breast cancer prevention tips and be a space for survivors and their families to share their stories.
To kick off the event, Hard Rock Cafe Houston will be doing a pink balloon release, where guests will be able to purchase a card and place it inside a balloon for the release. Additional pink products will be available for purchase during the event. All proceeds will benefit The Rose, an organization that helps reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing access to screening, diagnosis and treatment services to any woman regardless of her ability to pay.
Tickets are still available for $15, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting The Rose. Purchase tickets at www.Ticketfly.com.
(This post taken from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)
'The Drones World Tour' will see Muse perform for the first time "in the round" from the middle of the arena
Today Muse announced more cities of the US Leg of their Drones Tour in support of their critically and commercially acclaimed album Drones.
'The Drones World Tour' will see the band perform for the first time "in the round" from the middle of the arena. The band are known for pushing boundaries in terms of their stage production and the Drones World Tour will be no exception. This stage design and configuration will give fans a true 360 degree audio/visual sensory experience. Muse's tours have been described by the international press as "epic", "amazing" "ambitious" and this time will be no exception. The band has just completed a spectacular Summer European Festival run which saw some of the best reviews of their career.
In select markets the band will be supported by X Ambassadors (X) and in other select markets Phantogram (P)
What the Press Say about Muse Live:
"Thunderous and visually dazzling" - The Guardian , 4*
"Muse captured the spirit of Download better than anyone else" - The Times
"an endless buildup, heading for one peak after another - is what a Muse concert sets out to deliver by every means available, musical and visual. - THE NEW YORK TIMES
Fan club presales will begin on October 21st and general on sale is October 23rd.
Since their debut in 1994, Muse have released seven studio albums selling upwards of 17 million albums worldwide. Drones, the group's seventh album, topped the UK charts for two weeks in June, whilst simultaneously topping the charts in the USA, a first for the band. In total the album reached No 1 in a staggering 23 countries including France, Japan, Australia, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Tour dates announced today are:
December 1 Houston, TX Toyota Center with Phantogram
December 2 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center with Phantogram
December 6 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay with Phantogram
December 12 Seattle, WA Key Arena with Phantogram
January 14 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena with X Ambassadors
January 16 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre with X Ambassadors
January 20 Montreal, QU Centre Bell with X Ambassadors
January 25 Boston, MA TD Garden with X Ambassadors
January 27 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center with X Ambassadors
January 31 Philadelphia, PA Well Fargo Center with X Ambassadors
February 1 Washington DC Verizon Center with X Ambassadors
Previously announced dates:
December 10 Vancouver BC Rogers Arena
December 13 Portland, OR Moda Center
December 15 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
December 16 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
December 18 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
December 19 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
January 23 Quebec City, QU Le Centre Videotron
Please stay tuned to muse.mu for information on further dates and announcements.
(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by BB Gun Press)
Raw footage of Madonna's Vogue & Britney Spears' Oops! I Did It Again
Madonna's Vogue is now an iconic music video for the MTV generation. And recently leaked to YouTube, is the raw footage from the song's film shoot. You can watch Madonna and her dancers in their quest for the perfect take and you become even more appreciative of their efforts.
As a media geek, I love to see final performances de-constructed. I was always the kid watching behind-the-scenes-movies-shows that were a staple of 80s television.
The so-called "Material Girl" starts looking tired in some of the sequences take after take. Madonna even lets her guard down after striking a pose. Look for the times she appears less than thrilled with the dances.
A cool learning project for video editors would be to take the video and re-cut it in a new way. Here is the actual video if you want to compare.
Next up, is one of the biggest female pop stars post-Madonna's original run, Britney Spears. This is the raw footage from one sequence in the Oops! I Did It Again uncut video. Spears learned an entire dance that appears only seconds in the final cut. Like Madonna, Spears breaks character for a moment and makes a face about the whole thing. Even for a pop star, wearing a red leather/rubber? suit in front of dancing flames while a camera is filming you is probably an odd experience.
Garbage to release special 20th anniversary edition of self-titled album; plus upcoming tour with Texas dates
Garbage announced they will release a special 20th Anniversary Edition of their critically acclaimed self-titled album in celebration of its historical debut. The new version will be re-mastered from the original analog tapes and feature all of the remixes and previously unreleased tracks from the lauded album.
Fans who pre-order the Digital Super Deluxe Edition on iTunes will receive an instant download of the previously unreleased track "Subhuman (Supersize Mix)".
"This is a very special occasion for all of us in garbage. We are particularly excited about the upcoming tour - the intent of which is pretty much the celebration of a 20 year long affair between us and those who have loved us." - SHIRLEY MANSON
Garbage released their genre defying, groundbreaking debut on August 15, 1995 at a time when grunge music dominated the airwaves and mainstream culture. Their distinctive approach to songwriting and production - blending elements of rock, pop and electronic music - captured the attention of critics and fans all over the world. The album spawned multiple hits including: "Vow," "Queer," "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains." It spent more than a year on both the U.S. and U.K. charts, received multi-platinum certifications around the world and was nominated for GRAMMY
® Awards including Best New Artist and Best Rock Song ("Stupid Girl"). The album went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide.
To celebrate 20 years as a band, this October Garbage will embark on a special U.S. and European Anniversary Tour. Christened the 20 Years Queer Tour, the band will play their debut album in its entirety for the first time. A full list of dates can be found below.
Tickets are available for purchase now. Check Garbage.com for additional ticketing information. Torres will support on their U.S. dates and Dutch Uncles will support in Europe. The band will offer VIP experience packages for the U.S. tour through Adventures in Wonderland. Offers will include premium seating, sound check access, meet and greets, soundboard viewing, and exclusive merchandise.
October 6, 2015 San Diego, CA Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay
October 7, 2015 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
October 8, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
October 10, 2015 Las Vegas, NV Blvd Pool @ Cosmopolitan Hotel October 13, 2015 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center
October 14, 2015 Austin, TX Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
October 15, 2015 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
October 17, 2015 Chicago, IL The Riviera Theatre
October 18, 2015 Madison, WI Orpheum
October 19, 2015 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Theater
October 21, 2015 Boston, MA Orpheum
October 23, 2015 Westbury, NY The Space @ Westbury
October 24, 2015 Brooklyn, NY Kings Theater
October 26, 2015 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
October 28, 2015 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
October 29, 2015 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
(Taken from a press release sent to me by BB Gun Press)
Motley Crue is playing the Toyota Center Saturday night on the band's final tour and singer Vince Neil and bassist/band head Nikki Sixx's clothes will be designed by Houstonian Tod Waters of Junker Designs.
"I have been working with Mötley Crüe since the Carnival of Sins tour in 2006 and every tour after," Waters said. "During the Vegas shows Vince had some wild ideas and we experimented with foiling and lights to add shine to that costume. On this tour we tried the same techniques to create the dirty duty look Vince demanded."
Some of Neil's former outfits are now on display at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe in with other Junker costumes.
To get the metal-dystopian look, Waters says he over dyes, paints, mutates, buries, or otherwise ravages each and every edgy, rocker-chic piece.
While the look of heavy guitars and drums most resemble what Waters is known for, he also has made clothes for the likes of Britney Spears and Shakira.
Waters knows what rockers want to wear because deep down inside he is one. His band Spunk was a big part of the 90s Houston music scene as featured in the documentary When We Ruled H-Town.
After working in Los Angeles, for a good decade, Waters is looking to return to his hometown. Good news for Houston rockers or those who just want to look like them.
Houston's Untapped Festival is September 12th at Discovery Green
After a near death bus accident while on tour last April, Twin Shadow (aka George Lewis Jr.) is back on tour and about to play the Untapped Festival at Houston's Discovery Green, September 12th.
He is slated to appear with Cold War Kids, Deer Tick, Fat Tony, Sarah Jaffe and more.
Before the show, you can check out the Twin Shadow Night Rally Mixtape of demos from 2010-2014, which will be available in cassette form sold exclusively at merch tables on tour. See tapes are making a comeback just like vinyl. Or you can download it for free here.
After the Houston show, Untapped Dallas is happening in November with The Flaming Lips, Dr. Dog, Cloud Nothings, Elle King, The Pharcyde, The Mowgli’s, Steve Gunn and more.
Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler drops by 93Q KKBQ and 107.5/106.9 The Eagle KGLK
Rock royalty and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is in Houston today...because of country music?
Yes, half of the former Toxic Twins, is waving his microphone scarves for the Nashville crowd [hear his new song here]. But let's face it, there were some 90s Aerosmith tunes that kind of veered in that direction anyway.
With added twang in his voice, Tyler was here to meet 93Q KKBQ program director Johnny Chiang and music director Christi Brooks, plus sit down with the Q Morning Zoo to talk about his move into country music.
A Cox Media Group representative tells mikemcguff.com that Tyler was incredibly nice and even brought his two dogs with him.
And being that this is the lead singer of one of America's greatest rock bands, Tyler did stop in to talk with Dean & Rog over at classic rocker 107.5/106.9 The Eagle KGLK.
UPDATE
Kelly pointed out that after his radio appearances, Steven Tyler headed over to Cafe Express in Uptown Park.
This is totally going to be my Christmas card the year....#MerryChristmasFromTheTylersSteven Tyler, I <3 u!<3 The Fabulous Jennifer Tyler
Posted by Houston's Eagle on Friday, August 28, 2015
