Where the Action Is, baby

Today in rock history, in 1965, Dick Clark's latest rock n' roll variety show, Where The Action Is, premieres on ABC-TV, featuring performances by Jan & Dean, Dee Dee Sharp and Linda Scott, (and lots of kids in swim trunks and bikinis) and also introducing a new house band called Paul Revere and the Raiders. This clip shows what a bunch of clowns these guys were, and how they made a joke out of the lip-syncing they were obviously doing and weren’t trying to hide. And, BTW, RIP, World’s Oldest Teen-Ager…Thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/Today-In-Oldies-Music-History-June-28.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’!

Sir Lew Who?

Today in rock history, in 1975, John Lennon makes what would prove to be his last TV appearance, performing "Imagine" and a cover of Little Richard's "Slippin' And Slidin'" on the ABC special A Salute To Sir Lew Grade. Ok, I’ve never seen this one before, and, well, make of it what you will…but, geez, this one is weirdsville for sure. Thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/june13.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’!

http://youtu.be/wT6tm5BSY1M

P.S. Sorry, no thumbnail – embedding has been disabled or whatever, but you get the idea…

Hey Grandma..

… or perhaps they were actually thinking of someone a bit younger… today in rock history, in 1967, cementing the promising hippie-folk band's downfall, three members of Moby Grape are arrested for allegedly "consorting" with underage schoolgirls. Happens to the best of us, I guess. I didn’t even know they were at Monterey, but it figures…here’s some live tunes from that historic festival. Thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/june7.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’, but carefully and legally!

The Kids Are Alright…

… or not…Today in rock history, in 1976, The Who secures its place as the World's Loudest Rock Band with a 120-decibel, 76,000-watt blast of a performance at Charlton Athletic Grounds in London. The record would stand for nearly a decade. Huh? What did you say? This could be one of the reasons Pete Townsend (and me, for that matter), can’t hear squat these days. Let’s enjoy a vid from Pete and the boys from that gig, thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/may31.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’!

6 Days on the Road...

... and I'm gonna make it home tonight...some of my constant readers may know of my retirement plan to hit the road again drivin' those big rigs. To that end, after attending a 16 hour refresher course at a local driving school, I secured my "Class A" CDL on 5-9. I am ready to roll now, for when retirement time is right. So in honor of my achievement, I thought I'd find a unique cover of the ol' Dave Dudley song, and here is Steve Earle and the Dukes beltin' out this tune back in '87. Keep on rockin' and of course, keep on truckin'!

… Didn’t You?...

On this date in rock history, in 1966, Bob Dylan, who had recently "gone electric" and added rock and roll instruments to his folk music, appears at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England; just before he begins a version of his latest hit, "Like A Rolling Stone," a member of the audience, a folk purist angry at the move to rock, shouts out, "Judas!" Dylan responds with "I don't believe you," adding, "You're a liar!" Then proceeds to tell the band to play the song "f****** loud." Or did it really happen that way? Here’s another view…Thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/may17.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’!

It Was His Cross to Bear…

On this date in rock history, in 1975, Cher's new boyfriend, rocker Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers, appears as a guest on her CBS-TV show Cher. Here’s the “softer” side of Greg with Cher before things went “south.” You can also read all about it in excerpts from Gregg’s new biography “My Cross to Bear:” http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-book-excerpt-gregg-allmans-my-cross-to-bear-20120427. Thanks to http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/may11.htm for the info, and keep on rockin’!