The Taxman

Well, it's tax day once again here in the US. And once again, your cousin Ryo had to write out a check to the government. It's bad enough they take money out of every paycheck, but now I have to write them a check in addition to everything they took. I need to move out of New Jersey.

In honor of paying (yet again), here's a video of from the Beatles cartoon of yesteryear. They too had to pay the taxman, only they paid him a lot more than I.

Remember, taxes are due by midnight tonight.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - September 11th Remembered

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the most tragic event that I ever lived through. It was a horrendous day in the annals of American history, but from these violent attacks birthed a new hope. The American people collectively gathered together and had ideas and plans for the future. We did not let this senseless act defeat us and we did not let it destroy and end America as we know it. Instead, we grew stronger, more united, and bonded tighter than ever, which is the American way. Let’s take a moment today to remember those who passed away, the men and women that gave their lives trying to save others, and the American spirit that helped pull everyone through.

Here’s what rocked this week:
Bands That Covered The Beatles
The Beatles were obviously a hot topic of conversation this week with the release of all their remastered albums and Rock Band video game. This was an interesting post reflecting on how many times Beatles songs have been covered by various artists. Some of them I knew well, others I had no idea were ever done. Definitely a fun read.

The Voodoo Experience
As the summer concert festivals have drawn to a close, the fall festivals are heating up. The Voodoo Experience, taking place in New Orleans over Halloween weekend, has announced their lineup and it looks pretty darned exciting to me. Check out the website for all the information.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live Anthology
In an announcement that got me rather excited, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are releasing a live anthology box set that will contain 4 discs and 48 tracks of live material culled over their illustrious history. No release date has been set yet, but it’s safe to say that this set will be available in time for the holidays.

All American Rejects and Taking Back Sunday
And finally, there’s this gem. The All American Rejects and Taking Back Sunday are teaming up to go out on tour this fall. Up and coming rockers Anberlin will man the opening slot. The Guru just may have to travel to Atlantic City or Connecticut to see this one.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Labor Day Weekend Edition

Another summer season has come and gone. It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the summer. This one flew by (as most do) and I didn’t accomplish nearly as much as I wanted to. The Rock and Roll Guru is definitely headed in the right direction, but I’m not where I want to be. That’s all right, we have all fall to straighten these things out.

Be sure to tune in next week when I post about the summer concerts and festivals. Which ones were great, which ones let us down, and what my favorites were. As always, I look forward to your comments and debates. And even though the summer concerts are over, the fall tours are right around the corner.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Behind The Music Returns Next Week
Nothing excited me more this week than reading this report. Behind the Music was one of my favorite shows back in VH1’s heyday, and to hear the show is returning is just plain blissful. Artists set to be profiled include Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Bret Michaels. Let’s hope VH1 plans on keeping this show around for a few more years. Tune into the season premiere on Thursday, September 10th.

Brian Jones' Death To Be Reexamined
40 years after his death, police have new evidence that may force a reopening in the case of Brian Jones’ death. This is a very interesting conundrum. On the one hand, it would be nice to have full closure on the death of this legend, as there has always been speculation that he was murdered. On the other hand, it was 40 years ago, and sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Other Deaths That Should Be Reexamined
Keeping with the theme of reexamining mysterious death cases, this is an excellent article that explores other musician deaths that should get a second look.

Oasis Split Up... Again
Not really a big shock here. The Gallagher brothers haven’t gotten along since the day they started making music together. I’m sure this is not the last that we’ve heard of Oasis.

09/09/09 - The Day Of The Beatles
Wednesday will be a big day in rock and roll history. Not only is The Beatles Rock Band video game coming out, it’s also the first day of release for the remastered Beatles catalog. While I own most of The Beatles albums already, I know that I will be out picking up my favorites next week in all their remastered glory. I’ll be spending a lot of quality time with Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, and Revolver.

The Beatles Make The Cover of Rolling Stone ... Again

I just finished reading the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine (issue 1086) which features The Beatles on the cover for an unprecedented 33rd time. The reason for their cover appearance is a new article by Mikal Gilmore that looks at the breakup of arguably the greatest band ever from a new angle.

Most people are quick to joke (or really believe) that Yoko Ono was the reason for the Beatles demise. And while it is well known that the other Beatles resented her presence in the studio and her input into the bands’ recordings (as if she were an actual member), she is not the reason that The Beatles called it a day. There was so much more going on behind the scenes that forced the end of this “little band” (to paraphrase John Lennon).

Gilmore takes an in depth look at these other outside forces that factored into the groups breakup and the end result is simply amazing. This is some of the best music journalism that I’ve read in quite some time. With a 13 page spread devoted to this cover story, Why the Beatles Broke Up reads more like a mini-novel than a Rolling Stone article. Packed with details, in sight, and emotional remembrances of these brilliant musicians, the cover story of the latest Rolling Stone is simply put, a masterpiece.

This is required reading for any fan of The Beatles or any fan of true rock and roll drama. When the story first released earlier this week, there were comments on Rolling Stone.com that it was time to put it to rest, it happened 40 years ago, no one cares, etc. I have to disagree with all of those statements. Gilmore’s article is brilliant, and with the entire Beatles catalog being released in remastered format on September 9th, the article is current and relevant to what is happening in the world of The Beatles today. We are blessed with an opportunity to look back at the end of their career while enjoying their entire body of work in an updated audio quality format. Not to mention that Rock Band: The Beatles video game comes out that same day. The Beatles are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago when they broke up, and if writers like Gilmore continue to churn out masterpieces about the band, their legacy will likely live on for another 40 years (or longer).

With excellent photos that accompany the time period being captured, and a nice sidebar discussing the upcoming remastered CD releases, Why the Beatles Broke Up, is a brilliant piece of writing sure to be enjoyed by any fan of the band. I was mesmerized from the opening paragraph, and I know that I will be spending some time later this week (and probably next week as well) re-reading this article and enjoying it with as much enthusiasm all over again.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.