Happy Rock & Roll birthday to the splendiferous Pete Townshend!

A true rock & roll legend, Pete is a founding member of The Who, perhaps the greatest live band ever. He is an extraordinary songwriter and composer, as well as one of rock’s most underrated vocalists.

Pete wrote most of the material recorded by The Who, including two brilliant rock operas, Tommy and Quadrophenia.

Additionally, he has had an amazing solo career. I’ve always thought the Desert Island Disc Rough Mix, Pete’s spectacular album with Ronnie Lane, is one of the finest recordings ever made.

Happy birthday to the fantastically groovy Bob Seger!

From the Bob Seger System through the Silver Bullet Band, this roots rocker has delighted us with a slew of classic songs and Desert Island Discs. I distinctly remember when “Night Moves” came out and he catapulted up the charts to become an international superstar. A spectacular run of albums continued with “Stranger in Town,” “Against the Wind” and the outstanding live record, “Nine Tonight.” By this time Seger had firmly cemented his status as one of my all-time favorite rockers!

As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the birth of the phenomenal Carole King, it’s time for me to commit Rock & Roll Heresy.

My all-time favorite Carole King Desert Island Disc is “Simple Things.”

Yes, I adore “Tapestry,” and it was an incredible treat to see her and Sweet Baby James play nine of the twelve songs live a couple years ago.

That said, I’m ready to accept my flogging…just meet me at the “Hard Rock Cafe.”

Happy Birthday to the splendiferous Marty Balin!

Marty is the silky smooth vocalist who co-founded of the Jefferson Airplane and helped to define the San Francisco sound. I fell in love with Marty’s voice the first time I heard him sing “Today” from Surrealistic Pillow, the Airplane’s second album. In the seventies there were a ton of hits as the Jefferson Starship that featured his beautiful voice. My personal favorites from that era include “Caroline,” “Miracles” and “Tumblin.’”

I was a little too young and never got to see the Airplane, but my most memorable Jefferson Starship concert was a grand event in 1978 at Milwaukee County Stadium right after they released the album Earth. The opening act was Bob Welch, the year after he released his terrific solo album French Kiss…and he was outstanding. Starship was absitively  phenomenal that night, opening with a kick-ass “Ride the Tiger.”

Feels like yesterday…sorta.

George Harrison’s lovely song, “My Sweet Lord,” from the Desert Island Disc All Things Must Pass, was released in the UK 40 years ago today.

Synchronistically, that was the same day John Lennon wrote and recorded “Instant Karma.”

Enjoy the video and have fun!

Happy Birthday again to the phantabulous David Bowie!

Here’s a groovy video of David performing the title track from the Desert Island Disc “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.”

Happy 65th birthday to the inimitable David Bowie, Rock & Roll’s total package. I did this birthday tribute video two years ago, and everything I said is still applicable

Enjoy the video and have fun!

Happy Rock & Roll Birthday to the most excellent Stephen Stills.

With or without his buddies, Stephen is a true classic as both a songwriter and guitarist.

One of the grooviest albums of the last few years is Stills’ Just Roll Tape. It’s full of stuff he laid down alone with his guitar right after a Judy Collins recording session in 1968. Since that was before the first CSN album, there are fantastic early incarnations of “Change Partners,” “Suite Judy Blue Eyes,” “Helplessly Hoping” and “Wooden Ships.” The quality of the recording is not particularly good (ok, some of it actually sucks), but that doesn’t take away from the beauty of the work.

My all-time favorite Stills lyric comes from the song “Treetop Flyer” which is, coincidentally, on Just Roll Tape. “I don’t do business that don’t make me smile.” That’s a basic tenet of my Rock and Roll Philosophy…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy birthday to the very groovy Grace Slick.

Gracie is one of my favorite female vocalists of all time. After performing with her then husband Darby in The Great Society, she fronted the outstanding 1960s San Francisco band  Jefferson Airplane and, later, the Jefferson Starship.

The legendary rocker brought a couple of  classic songs with her to the Airplane, most notably “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” Both of those tunes  appeared on the band’s second album, the brilliant Desert Island Disc Surrealistic Pillow.

Gracie is also fortunate to share a birthday with my phenomenal, beautiful & brilliant twin daughters, Alex & Rachel. Happy 16th birthday, girls!

Happy 61st birthday to the very groovy Tom Petty.

I love Tom Petty. I love his work with the Heartbreakers, the Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch, as well as his solo stuff.

I remember vividly when he exploded onto the scene with Damn the Torpedos 31 years ago. Although the Heartbreakers already had two excellent albums out, this is the one that catapulted them to superstardom. I’ve always felt this one was almost a greatest hits, with a slew of classic tunes including “Refugee,” “Here Comes My Girl,” “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Even the Losers.”

Petty is one of those cats that I’ve seen a slew of times, and it has always been a stone groove.