Rockblog

The Rockblog would like to wish all its readers a Happy Thanksgiving and take this chance to list some of the things the Rockblog has been thnkful for over the past twelve months.

The first thing to be thankful for is the Norton Records release of the Dictators collection Every Day is Saturday. I’m not usually into collections of rarities and alternate versions, but Dictators releases are too rare as it is. It helps that the alternate version of “Sleeping With the TV On” from the Manifest Destiny album pisses all over the original release and most of the Bloodbrothers album that is included sounds great as well. Throw in some very early Dictators songs including the best song ever written about an episode of the original 1950’s Superman TV series, “Fireman’s Friend”, and you’re on to a winner.

Sticking with the Dictators, the Rockblog is not only thankful, but eternally grateful, for the Spanish tour the band did in October and easyjet for providing cheap flights to Spain. The Barcelona show was easily one of the best I’ve ever been to and it was a pleasure meeting Ross the Boss, Handsome Dick Manitoba, and Andy Shernoff after the show.

The Rockblog is also thankful for getting to see Neil Young again at the Hammersmith Apollo and Ace Frehley at the Astoria. Hell, I enjoyed seeing Ace more as a solo artist then I did when I saw him with KISS in 1996.

I’m thankful I got the chance to catch up with old friends in the Grateful Dead tribute band the Cosmic Charlies. It’s a shame the UK market for a Dead tribute band is so small because these guys are good. Hopefully it won’t be so long between shows the next time I see them.

I’m thankful AC/DC added a second date at the O2 in London. I was still trying to buy tickets for the sold out first gig when Ticketmaster notified me tickets were on sale for another date at the arena.

And speaking of the O2, I’m thankful to Metallica for the £5 tickets to their Death Magnetic release party gig held at the arena.

I’m thankful Guns N Roses finally released Chinese Democracy. I may not like the album, but the coverage in the music press became almost as tedious as that of the Presidential election and should die out within the next couple of weeks. I’m also glad Dr Pepper screwed up on their free soda deal. Why should us in the UK not be able to get a free Dr Pepper?

And that brings me to some things I’m thankful to look forward to in 2009. A new album from the New York Dolls. Tours from George Thorogood and Lynyrd Skynyrd. And hopefully a tour from Alice Cooper with a full stage production of his latest album Along Came A Spider.

I almost forgot, I’m also thankful to Today.com for providing beer money to blog about something I really love. Check them out, you too could earn some extra cash blogging about something dear to your heart.

Have a happy and rockin’ Thanksgiving.

KISS bass player Gene Simmons commented on the band’s exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fith annual Billboard Touring Conference held at the Roosevelt hotel in New York.

According to Billboard, Gene said “There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it’s OK.”

I think Gene may have a point. KISS has 24 albums that have been certified at least Gold, with 10 of those going on to be Platinum or Multi-Platinum.

And more important, they are a rock band. Which is what you would think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be about. But many of the acts being inducted, or at least nominated, in recent years means the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should think about changing its name to the Popular Music Hall of Fame. Either that or the “We’ve Got Our Heads Up Our Asses and Wouldn’t Know a Rock and Roll Band If One Came Up and Busted their Guitars Over Our Hunched Backs” Hall of Fame.

A stupid concept to begin with, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has now proven its incompetence at running that stupid concept.

I don’t find myself agreeing with much of what Gene Simmons says. But if you are going to run a “Rock and Roll” Hall of Fame, how can you seriosly induct Madonna and Grand Master Flash while bands that actually play rock and roll like KISS, Alice Cooper, Rush, and countless other ROCK bands do not get considered?