I recently had the honor of interviewing one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock, Don Felder. For 27 years he was a member of one of the most influential and popular rock groups of all time, the Eagles. During his tenure with the band, Felder wrote the music for “Hotel California” and applied his signature sound to countless hits, including “Victim of Love,” “One of These Nights” and “New Kid in Town.”
Below is the second part of my two-part interview with the lead singer and bassist of Night Ranger, Jack Blades. Read part one of this interview here and check out my review of Night Ranger’s new album, High Road.
While summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, the rock concert touring season kicked off on May 14 when Foreigner, Styx and Don Felder embarked on what’s being billed as “The Soundtrack of Summer” tour. I don’t know about you, but I love the music of Foreigner, Styx and the Eagles, so I’m looking forward to when this hits-filled show comes to my neck of the woods.
Below is the first part of my two-part interview with the lead singer and bassist of Night Ranger, Jack Blades. You can read part two here and check out my review of Night Ranger’s new album, High Road.
Night Ranger’s 11th studio album, High Road, comes out June 10 and I’ve been listening to an advance copy for the past couple days. I’m happy to report that Night Ranger fans, and those who enjoy great rock music, will love this album. In addition to having a gorgeous album cover, High Road is full of upbeat, guitar-driven rock songs, along with a few ballads and an instrumental track for good measure.
Raspy rocker Michael Des Barres just released Hot ‘n Sticky Live, an album showcasing a blistering performance he gave at the Viper Room in Hollywood, CA. In addition to tracks from Des Barres’ excellent studio recording, Carnaby Street, this live album includes interpretations of classic rock and pop songs, as well as material from the singer’s previous musical endeavors. It’s an all-killer-no-filler affair that’s short, sweet and packs a punch. The band is tight and Des Barres’ soulful vocals bring the infectious melodies to life in a way that’ll have you singing the songs long after they’ve stopped playing. In a day and age where popular music is overproduced and underdeveloped, Hot ‘n Sticky Live is a raw and gritty reminder that rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well.
You can buy the album here: http://tinyurl.com/kydxfg3.
For your listening pleasure, below are a three of my favorite songs from the album:
I just finished Rod Stewart’s autobiography, and it was a fascinating look into the life of one of my favorite singers. The book covers all eras of his storied career, and it features multiple sub-chapters that are referred to as “digressions.” I learned about Rod’s love for model railroads, bluesy rock and fine art. I was also delighted to read about the creation of his most famous albums, numerous romantic relationships and legendary musical collaborations. My only complaint is that it didn’t delve deeply into Rod’s albums from the 1980s; instead, it simply touched on them and talked about how he wasn’t giving it his all until Out of Order. That said, I highly recommend Rod Stewart fans and those who enjoy classic rock give Rod: The Autobiography a read. Its written in a refreshingly humble tone, peppered with humor and filled with stories that’ll keep your interest from cover to cover.
Last night, I saw the incomparable Dennis DeYoung at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood, N.J. For those that are unaware, DeYoung is famous for having been the lead singer of the classic rock band Styx for many years. During that time, the band sold millions of albums and charted hit after hit, including: “Lady,” “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “The Best of Times,” and “Mr. Roboto.” For two hours, DeYoung performed all of these songs and more, and the crowd ate it up.
At 65, his voice is as powerful as ever and DeYoung still knows how to work a crowd. Two of the best performances were “Show Me the Way” and “Suite Madam Blue.” Below are two videos showing his rendition of these songs, earlier this year, in Chicago. If Dennis DeYoung comes to your area, I highly recommend you go; you won’t be disappointed.