It would be great enough if Eric Clapton had say, just been in Cream and the Yardbirds. He'd surely be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But his career has had so many phases it's hard for the average person to keep track.
So, on the occasion of Clapton's 67th birthday, I present a timeline for you. And I promise I'm doing this without the aid of wikipedia or google, so there's a chance some of this may not even be right. But it's close enough for rock and roll.
1960's
Clapton plays guitar with John Mayall's Blues Breakers, the Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith. He sets up a future "ironic" tag when he quits the Yardbirds because they're getting too commercial and straying too far away from the blues.
1970's
Clapton records with Delaney and Bonnie, forms Derek and the Dominos, and starts a solo career (I believe all before the year 1970 is over!) He marries George Harrison's wife Patti Boyd, does a lot of drugs, has some huge hits including one that does well on the country charts (Lay Down Sally).
1980's
Clapton gets sober, continues to tour and maintain his image as one of the best guitar players ever.
1990's
Clapton has new success, sadly following the death of his son Conor with the song "Tears in Heaven" re-records Layla as a slow ballad and wins a Grammy for song of the year.
2000's and beyond
Clapton throws his energy into his Crossroads Rehab Center in Antigua, selling off a bunch of his iconic guitars for the cause. Also holds several big Crossroads Guitar Festivals, including one that I got to attend in Chicago in 2010!
Speaking of that great show in Chicago, here's a video from one of the first performances of the day, when Clapton played with some one he introduced as his "hero" Sonny Landreth. I thought Eric looked a little non-rock-star like in those shorts and sandals, but in his defense, it was around 90 degrees that day.
Do you love bacon to death? Do you love it so much you want to be buried in it?
You're in luck my friend! From the company that brought us Baconnaisse, the new Bacon Coffin is now available for the low low price of just $2,999.99.
Now the email I got from J & D Foods touted "the world's first bacon wrapped coffin." Intriguing! Taste-tempting, even.
Well, not so much. Reading the email further I found out what's really going on. "Bacon Coffins are finished with a painted Bacon and Pork shading and accented with gold stationary handles." The casket does include a "bacon memorial tube," which I assume gives you the opportunity to rest eternally with bacon by your side, and not stain your shroud, or whatever people are being buried in these days.
As creative as this idea seems, I think I'll go with a less cholestorol-laden resting place.
Maybe something along the lines of a kumquat or tangerine. What do you think?
Find out more about this crazy company and its other offerings..from MMMvelopes to lip balm here.
Give the people what they want. And by "what they want" I apparently mean news stories about dogs.
An analysis of the New York Times shows that paper is going crazy when it comes to reporting dog stories. The Columbia Journalism Review found 337 references to dogs in the highly esteemed paper in the four months since a new editor took over. That compares to just 230 dog references in the same period a year ago!
Now this could be that the new editor is just a dog person, and can't resist the lure of a wagging tail and puppy-dog eyes (which are by definition hard to resist).
Or it could be that dogs are just doing more newsworthy things!
Consider the case of THE WORLD'S SMALLEST DOG. This story is huge (sorry for the oxymoron). Every one is reporting on it. Apparently this dog is so small he can fit on top of an iPhone! In case you have been off the internet for the past 2 days, here is a link to the story.
The dog is remarkably cute. And its name is Beyonce. But I'm not entirely certain that it's not really a beanie baby.
That's because I'm a journalist who's a dog person, and just a little big cynical.
For those of us that remember the duo Lowen & Navarro, it was not unexpected but sad news that came out this weekend. Eric Lowen died of complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) on Friday.
According to their website, Eric peacefully ended his battle with the disease "surrounded by family and awash in love, gratitude and beautiful music."
Lowen & Navarro had early success, writing songs for others back in the 1980s, most notably the huge hit "We Belong" for Pat Benatar. In the 1990's they started performing and recording their own music, and that's when I found out about them.
I got to see and meet Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro several times, loved their music, and found them to be very personable, friendly guys. (Even when I traipsed backstage at the Crystal Corner Bar, uninvited, to chat with them).
My favorite album of theirs was "Walking on a Wire" which was re-released in 1994 with bonus tracks. I think I'm going to have to dig that out and throw it on the CD player today.
(Pictured above, Dan Navarro, Kitty Dunn, Eric Lowen, at the Crystal Corner Bar, 1998).
There's something booming in Clintonville, WI, and it might not be an earthquake.
The usually quiet little town in Northeast Wisconsin doesn't make the news much, but did this week when residents starting reporting loud booms and shaking in the middle of the night.
At first, geophysicists said there was no evidence of an earthquake, but later revised that and reported that a 1.5 magnitude earthquake happened Tuesday at around midnight, and earthquakes sometimes come with booming sounds.
Sounds like a coverup to me. I've got some other ideas.
1. Bugs Bunny is having a wild party in his underground burrow. Things really got out of control when the Tasmanian Devil showed up.
2. Football starved women are trying to dig their way to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers in nearby Green Bay. Their plot was seemingly foiled when they got to some extra stubborn granite near Clintonvilled, and now they're really angry.
The first time I saw the Beatles animated movie Yellow Submarine, I was in grade school and it was a free movie to thank safety cadets (aka crossing guards) for their service.
I loved it! I didn't know at the time that the Beatles weren't providing the voices, and it didn't matter to me that the story was nonsensical and pointless. I was in a movie theatre filled with other kids my age and apparently just got caught up in the moment. I picked up a used copy on VHS and tried to watch it a few years ago and lost patience with it after around 20 minutes.
Even though I don't really like the movie, and I don't even really like the song "Yellow Submarine," the Blu-Ray might be worth buying when it comes out May 29th in North America. That's because it will include 5.1 DTS sound, and it will be cool to hear a lot of the songs in glorious 5.1 surround. The animation has been restored by hand as well, so it should look good on the flat-screen TV.
In addition to coming out on Blu-ray and DVD, they're also going to release a movie songtrack, including more songs from the movie, leaving out the orchestral soundtrack stuff that was included on the original "Yellow Submarine" album. You had to pay full price for a record that was was really only half a Beatles record!
More info on the re-release including the CD tracklisting and DVD bonus features here.
Now "Two and a Half Men" has never been high brow comedy. But I think that to call it low brow would not be quite descriptive enough.
With Ashton Kutcher added to the cast following the not so graceful exit of Charlie Sheen, the writers have been going even crazier with the double entendres and references to the length of certain male anatomical parts. I still watch the show, but rarely laugh.
Now producer Chuck Lorre says Charlie Harper is coming back, as a ghost. And he won't be played by Sheen, but by Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates.
What?? Rosie O'Donnell wasn't available?
Seriously, I can't imagine a scenario where this wouldn't be just downright stupid. Mind bogglingly stupid.
I can't believe this show is taking such a strange turn. This show has given us such great comedy, like
Rose: What's the name of that hemorrhoid cream again?
Charlie: Fire in the Hole.
Why can't we go back to hilarity like that, instead of resorting to stunts?
If the show really wanted to make a great statement, they should hire Henry Winkler to play Charlie Harper's ghost. And then the end credits could say, "Yeah, we jumped the shark, but we got another year of episodes for syndication, and I'm laughing all the way to the bank."
The Hunger Games movie comes out on Friday, and I might be just a little bit too excited.
I read all three books by Suzanne Collins, and usually am more of a book person than a movie person. But the trailer makes it look excellent! I know I'm setting myself up for disappointment if the movie doesn't live up to my expectations, but I can't help myself.
I remember the first couple of movies that came out based on books I read as a kid. I was superstoked for Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which came out in 1971, and for Escape To Witch Mountain, which came out in 1975. BOth of those movies paled in comparison with the books.
So I guess I have experience in that area. So at least I won't be surprised by my disappointment!
It was 13 years ago today that Jonathan and I started doing our little morning radio show here at Triple M.
All I can say to that..is Holy Crap!
Oh wait..and one more thing.
Thank you to all of you who have put up with this during that time! I hope we'll be around a while longer so we can keep on annoying entertaining you the best way we know how.
The picture above is from a Flower Power lunch sometime in the 2000s. Below is Jonathan and I at our very first appearance together, the 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on State Street in 1999. With Radio Free Madison's Rick Murphy.
Jumpin' Jack Flash! Have the stones run out of gas, gas gas?
Rolling Stone is reporting that there won't be a 50th anniversary tour for the Rolling Stones this year. The magazine conducted separate interviews with Keith Richards and MIck Jagger, who both basically said they're not ready.
That's raised some questions about Keith's health, but no specific information on what's going on with him has been released.
It's not like the Stones won't be busy though. They're reportedly going into the studio to record a new album.
What was that? Did I hear the whole world just yawn simultaneously? I think most Stones fans love their old material and won't exactly be clamoring for a new record. I'm pretty certain it won't be an album of standards like that hideous thing Paul McCartney released last month, but it probably won't exactly be on par with Exile on Main Street or Sticky Fingers either.
I am however interested to see a new documentary expected later this year, which traces the band's 50 year history in narrative form, and promises lots of never-before-seen footage.
That oughta hold me over until next year and the Stones 51st anniversary tour.
I turned 50 a month ago, and now I've crossed another hurdle of old age.
I admitted my eyesight was no longer as good as it was, and I got bifocals.
Okay, I actually knew this was coming since last May when I got my new prescription for glasses, but after a little mishap with my contact lenses earlier this year I thought it was a good idea to have glasses with the updated prescription.
I haven't quite gotten the hang of using their supermagical dual vision powers yet. In fact, they kind of give me a headache.
And I feel like I look a little like Buffy's doll Mrs. Beasley from Family Affair.
All i've got to do is get the blue and white polka dotted dress.
As a former Girl Scout, I congratulate the Girl Scouts on their 100th birthday!
A long time ago, believe it or not, I was a Girl Scout, and a Brownie. I really liked being a Brownie. Meetings were held after school in the gym at Jefferson School in Stevens Point. Our leader was Mrs. Sackman. She always came up with fun activities for us, but the main thing I remember from Brownies was singing. And as I recall, some of the songs were not exactly politically correct.
I don't remember the name of it, but it included these lines:
I live-ee in--ee very biggee housey, I live-ee on-ee 31st floor.
I takey in-ee very biggee washy, rufffles on the petticoats, ten cents more.
When I got to Girl Scouts, it was not quite as much fun. I was in 4th grade and went to public school, but for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to join the troop at the Catholic school across the street. (My neighbor Joan was very convincing.)
The main thing I remember from that experience is going to a weekend camp, and getting injured during a particularly violent game of Red Rover. I seem to recall a bigger, older girl barreling at me at the speed of light. Next thing I knew I was lying flat on the ground and my head hurt like crazy.
Due to the possibility of a concussion, I was not allowed to go on the nature hike. But the girl who sent me hurdling into the air was free to roam the trails filled with pussy willows and butterflies.
Are you as excited as I am that the State Senate has given final approval to a resolution declaring 12/12/12 Aaron Rodgers Day in the state of Wisconsin?
We all love Aaron (except you Jonathan Suttin), but I'm not sure what we're supposed to do to honor him on that particular Wednesday in December.
I think the celebration should go further than just wearing your Aaron Rodgers #12 jersey on that day. During the football season, most Packer fans wear those 95 percent of the time anyway.
I did manage to come up with a few ideas:
Color Aaron Rodgers eggs, and hide them around the house for a fun and festive activity. It might be hard to find egg dye in December, so I recommend you stock up now. Green and yellow only.
Send out Aaron Rodgers greeting cards to your friends. They could have catchy sayings like "Hi, I'm glad we both like Aaron Rodgers. He is so awesome." SOMEBODY CALL HALLMARK!
Sing Aaron Rodgers carols. Like this one I just made up. (To the tune of America the Beatiful) Oh beautiful, our quarterback, for moves of strength and grace, for green and gold uniforms, on that Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers, you shed your grace on me...)
Okay, that's all I've got so far. But I've got 278 more days to plan. Click here to see the semi-official 12/12/12 countdown clock.
New in the Barack Obama campaign store--an I Shamrock O'Bama t-shirt.
Now that's cute. Add a hyphen and suddenly Obama is an Irish name! That's hilarious!! And instead of I Heart Obama with a Heart there's a little shamrock.
What do you suppose the verb to shamrock means? To get really wasted on green beer? To offer an Irish blessing? To wave your shillelagh incessantly? To throw a box of Lucky Charms in some one's general direction?
I'm not sure I'm ready to fork out $30 to advance the use of that verb in the English language. But one thing I know I'm not buying is this Obama dog sweater. Dogs are usually pretty closed-snouted about their political beliefs.
Today little girls all over America should be crying their eyes out. Today is teen heartthrob Justin Bieber's 18th birthday. So that means the millions of girls who have his picture on their pillowcases are now just jailbait to Justin.
So sad.
And to me, it's sad for another reason. When the Biebs was born, I was already working here at Triple M. For almost two years.
What was going on in 1994?
Tonya Harding's bodyguard attacked figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, clubbing her in the leg. "Why me?" was her famous cry.
Kurt Cobain died.
Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley.
Counting Crows released "August and Everything After"
Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones played Camp Randall
Funny. To me it seems like those things happened just a couple years ago!
Afterthought--in 50 years or so when Justin Bieber dies will everybody be mourning him on Facebook like they were for Davy Jones?
If you believe the hashtag, #johnmayerisback!
His first tour since his vocal cord troubles cleared up kicks off on the 4th of July, and includes a stop at Milwaukee's Summerfest on July 6th.
In addition to preparing for a tour, he's been...
Are kids today over-photographed?
Now that everybody has a camera on their phone, and now that Facebook is a greedy beast that must be fed, it seems parents take WAY more pictures of their kids than was the case back in the 1960s and 1970s. It...
People have been wondering why Billie Joe jumped off the bridge since this song came out and made it to number 1 in 1967. Singer Bobby Gentry says people always asked what was thrown over the bridge and why did Billie Joe jump. She never would give a...
Happy birthday to the Cute Beatle, SIr Paul McCartney! He turns 71 today.
One of the rules for Beatles fans is that you must memorize tidbits of Beatle trivia to try and impress other Beatle fans. This is not that easy to do....as things like...
In 1968, Jeannie C. Riley topped both the pop and country charts with "Harper Valley PTA". She was the first female singer to accomplish that feat and it wasn't repeated until Dolly Parton did it in 1981 with the song "9 to 5". The song was...
This week we're doing story songs on the World's Worst iPod. We start with the story of Billy who really wanted to be a hero. He was a hero, but didn't live to see it and his girlfriend was pretty angry. The song was originally done by...
This week' s Gabby's Pick is another track from emerging artist ZZ Ward's debut album , called "365 Days."
In addition to all the radio airplay " Put The Gun Down" has received, you may also have heard her music on several television...
Apparently Oreo flavored Oreos are not sufficient.
Nabisco is continuing its trend of introducing special limited edition flavors for its Oreo cookies. Last year, the internet was all abuzz about candy corn Oreos, which supposedly didn't really...
If you believe the hashtag, #johnmayerisback!
His first tour since his vocal cord troubles cleared up kicks off on the 4th of July, and includes a stop at Milwaukee's Summerfest on July 6th.
In addition to preparing for a tour, he's been...
Are kids today over-photographed?
Now that everybody has a camera on their phone, and now that Facebook is a greedy beast that must be fed, it seems parents take WAY more pictures of their kids than was the case back in the 1960s and 1970s. It...
People have been wondering why Billie Joe jumped off the bridge since this song came out and made it to number 1 in 1967. Singer Bobby Gentry says people always asked what was thrown over the bridge and why did Billie Joe jump. She never would give a...
Happy birthday to the Cute Beatle, SIr Paul McCartney! He turns 71 today.
One of the rules for Beatles fans is that you must memorize tidbits of Beatle trivia to try and impress other Beatle fans. This is not that easy to do....as things like...
In 1968, Jeannie C. Riley topped both the pop and country charts with "Harper Valley PTA". She was the first female singer to accomplish that feat and it wasn't repeated until Dolly Parton did it in 1981 with the song "9 to 5". The song was...
This week we're doing story songs on the World's Worst iPod. We start with the story of Billy who really wanted to be a hero. He was a hero, but didn't live to see it and his girlfriend was pretty angry. The song was originally done by...
This week' s Gabby's Pick is another track from emerging artist ZZ Ward's debut album , called "365 Days."
In addition to all the radio airplay " Put The Gun Down" has received, you may also have heard her music on several television...
Apparently Oreo flavored Oreos are not sufficient.
Nabisco is continuing its trend of introducing special limited edition flavors for its Oreo cookies. Last year, the internet was all abuzz about candy corn Oreos, which supposedly didn't really...
The Irish are known for their blarney, and for their many heartfelt Irish blessings.
