05.28: On this day in 1976, the Allman Brothers called it quits. But not for good. The group reformed in 1978 with a few new members and released Enlightened Rogues. And, still, to this day, they continue to rip up venues all over the world, having been reinvented, yet again, with the additions of Derek Trucks (the nephew of drummer Butch Trucks) and Warren Haynes, two phenomenally talented musicians.
05.30: On this day in 1987, Ireland took over the US charts. U2 was No. 1 with “With or Without You” and Chris de Burgh scored one for every guy that’s met some girl at a bar and woke up the next morning wondering why she was in his bed with “Lady in Red”. Two very different songs, yet both very much of the ’80s. Can you guess which one is our more favoritest? Yeah, we’re big on that Bono guy. He’s dreamy.
05.30: On this day in 1964, Tom Morello was born. Does that name ring a bell for you? It should, as Mr. Morello has emerged, for good reason, as one of the most versatile, talented, and intense guitar players of the last 20 years. First leading the funk/metal/hip-hop guitar attack on the mainstream that was Rage Against The Machine, then joining the mainstream, yet still retaining his awesomeness, with the hard rock supergroup Audioslave, and, recently, turning everything on its head by putting out folk albums under the name The Nightwatchman, Morello has always been his own distinct man. Happy birthday, Tom. You absolutely rock.
05.31: On this day in 1948, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was born. One of the most incredible drummers in the world, across all genres of music, Bonham banged the hell out of his drums, but wasn’t afraid to get quiet and subtle on his way toward rhythmic nirvana, which invariably happened at all Led Zeppelin shows. Bonham’s death in 1980, at the ripe old age of 33, meant the end of Zeppelin. How could they go on without him? They couldn’t, and so ended one of most vibrant and storied bands in the history of rock. Today, however, we celebrate John’s birth and his life. John, you rock our world.
06.02: On this day in 1941, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts was born. Probably the jazziest drummer ever to pound the skins for a ginormous rock ‘n’ roll band, Charlie is one cool cat.
06.03: On this day in 1991, Willie Nelson released The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?. The album’s profits went straight to Uncle Sam to help pay off the $16.7 million Nelson owed the IRS in back taxes. Oops! We guess Willie forgot that we pay taxes in this country. We kid him because we love him. The Red-Headed Stranger is the man. He always has and will always rock.