Last year, our beloved Beacon run was postponed due to your health issues. This upcoming year’s Beacon shows will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band. Through it all you somehow always manage to persevere and come out stronger in the end. I hope that 2008 doesn’t spell the retirement of the Allman Brothers Band, you guys are hitting on all cylinders with Warren & Derek as one of the most talented and powerful guitar duos in rock history on the same stage night after night.
Thanks for all of the great years of live shows, vinyl, 8 tracks, cassettes and cd’s that are in my collection. Please keep the music coming for years to come!
Gregg Allman – Come And Go Blues (Solo Acoustic)
Gregg Allman, Dave Matthews & Warren Haynes – Melissa (Farm Aid 9.9.07)
Gregg Allman – Trouble No More (Charlie Musslewhite on Harmonica)
The Allman Brothers Band – You Don’t Love (Live on David Letterman)
On September 25th, 1980, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham passed away at the way too young age of 32 when he accidentally asphyxiated in his sleep after a prolonged drinking session during rehearsals which ended at Jimmy Page’s Old Mill House, Windsor property. (via Billboard, October 4, 1980)
Widely acclaimed as the greatest rock drummer ever, Bonham’s unique sound would have been difficult to replace and the remaining members, having met at London’s Savoy Hotel to discuss future plans, eventually announced the band’s dissolution and the cancellation of a US tour, on December 4, 1980.
Official Swan Song press release:
“We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were.”
Jimmy Page – Stairway to Heaven (Instrumental) December 8th 1983
Ronnie Lane A.R.M.S. Benefit Madison Square Garden NYC
With Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck
SAN FRANCISCO – Blockbuster Inc. will begin selling concert tickets at about 500 of its video rental stores, bolstering its effort to create a one-stop shop for entertainment.
Under a three-year agreement announced Tuesday, Blockbuster‘s stores next month will become the primary brick-and-mortar sales outlet for music concerts staged by promoter Live Nation Inc. in the United States.
Dallas-based Blockbuster will supplant a hodgepodge of department stores, supermarkets and other retailers that Live Nation had been relying upon as part of an unraveling partnership with Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc.
Beverly Hills-based Live Nation is breaking away from Ticketmaster to build its own ticketing channel. Ticketmaster will continue to handle some of Live Nation’s sales until contracts covering several concert venues expire.
With most consumers buying their tickets online, Blockbuster is expected to account for less than 10 percent of the more than 10 million tickets that Live Nation anticipates selling in the United States next year.
Still, the Live Nation relationship will provide Blockbuster with a new way to lure people into its stores as more consumers rent movies through DVD-by-mail vendors like Netflix Inc. or buy entertainment through Internet downloading services and “on-demand” features bundled into cable-television subscriptions.
So this is Xmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Xmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Xmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Xmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let’s stop all the fight
A very Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Xmas
And what have we done
Another year over
A new one just begun
And so happy Xmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
War is over, if you want it
War is over now
On November 26, 1968, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker took the stage for the final time as Cream at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It is amazing to think that Cream only recorded and played together for 24 months (2 years).
The setlist for that day’s show was:
01. Sunshine Of Your Love
02. White Room
03. Crossroads
04. Politician
05. Stepping Out
06. Sitting On Top Of The World
07. Toad
08. I’m So Glad
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for relief of 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure, and released by Band Aid on November 29, 1984.[1]
In late 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired highlighting the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer Bob Geldof had seen the report and was a social person to raise money. Aware that he could do little on his own, he called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.[1]
Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject.
Geldof put together a group called Band Aid, consisting of leading Irish and British musicians who were among the most popular and recognised of this era.
The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):
* Adam Clayton (U2)
* Phil Collins (Genesis, solo)
* Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
* Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
* Chris Cross (Ultravox)
* John Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Paul Young
* Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
* Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
* Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
* Simon Crowe (Boomtown Rats)
* Marilyn
* Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
* Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
* Jody Watley (Shalamar)
* Bono (U2)
* Paul Weller (The Style Council)
* James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
* George Michael (Wham!)
* Midge Ure (Ultravox)
* Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
* John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
* Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
* Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
* Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
* Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats)
* Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
* Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang)
* Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
* Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Jon Moss (Culture Club)
* Sting (The Police)
* Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
* Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
* Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
* David Bowie
* Boy George (Culture Club)
* Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
* Paul McCartney (Former member of The Beatles)
* Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
* Bruce Watson (Big Country)
* Tony Butler (Big Country)
* Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)
Donald “Duck” Dunn is one of the most well known and influential bass players in music history. For starters he was part of the rhythm section of the Stax/Volt Records “House Band” Booker T & The MG’s.
Booker T. Jones (organ, piano)
Steve Cropper (guitar)
Donald “Duck” Dunn (bass)
Al Jackson Jr. (drums) (1935-1975)
As the house band for the Stax/Volt labels, Booker T. and the MG’s helped define the spare, punchy sound of Memphis soul music. By contrast to Motown’s orchestrated, pop-soul records, the Stax approach was lean, economical and deeply groove-oriented. Between 1963 and 1968, Booker T. and the MGs appeared on more than 600 Stax/Volt recordings, including classics by such artists as Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor and William Bell. As a result of Stax’s affiliation with Atlantic Records, the group also worked with Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, and Albert King. Moreover, Booker T. and the MGs were a successful recording group in their own right, cutting ten albums and fourteen instrumental hits, including “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High,” “Time Is Tight” and “Soul-Limbo.”
In addition to that he became very well known for his participation in the Blues Brothers Band. He was one of the original members of that band which included (info via wikipedia):
“Joliet” Jake E. Blues – vocals Elwood J. Blues – harmonica, vocals Steve “The Colonel” Cropper – lead and rhythm guitar (former Booker T & the M.G.’s) Donald “Duck” Dunn – bass guitar (former Booker T & the M.G.’s) Murphy Dunne – keyboards (brought in to act in the film due to Paul Shaffer’s commitment to perform with Gilda Radner in Gilda Live!, Toured with the band in the summer of 1980) Willie “Too Big” Hall – drums, percussion (formerly of the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes’ band, appears in the movie) Steve “Getdwa” Jordan – drums, percussion (Saturday Night Live Band, appears only on the albums) Tom “Bones” Malone – trombone, trumpet, saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band) “Blue” Lou Marini – saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band) Matt “Guitar” Murphy – lead and rhythm guitar (Howlin’ Wolf, other artists) Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin – trumpet (Saturday Night Live Band) Paul “The Shiv” Shaffer – keyboards, arranger Tom “Triple Scale” Scott – saxophone (doesn’t appear in the movie, though his saxophone can still be heard on the soundtrack)
Duane Allman was born Howard Duane Allman on November 20, 1946. Although your time on this planet was brief, the musical contributions will live on forever. The music you made with the Allman Brothers, Derek & The Dominoes, Delaney & Bonnie and countless sessions has withstood the test of time. There are some who play in a similar fashion to you but there will never be anyone quite like you anytime soon. There is a reason why Rolling Stone Magazine named you #2 on the list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time!
As we approach the 40th anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band, just remember that Warren & Derek’s slide playing will always be Duane’s licks!
R.I.P. Brother Duane, the road goes on forever……
The Allman Brothers with Duane – Live at The Fillmore East
On November 19th 1993, Nirvana records an MTV unplugged concert in New York. The show is shot in one take – imperfections and all – and is aired one month later. Sadly it was one of the last times Kurt Cobain performed in front of a live audience.
The band played 14 songs, 12 of which were aired for MTV:
About a Girl
Come as You Are
Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam (The Vaselines cover)
The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie cover)
Pennyroyal Tea
Dumb
Polly
On a Plain
Something in the Way*
Sweet Home Alabama* (Lynyrd Skynyrd tease – not played in entirety)
Plateau (Meat Puppets cover)
Oh Me* (Meat Puppets cover)
Lake of Fire” (Meat Puppets cover)
All Apologies
Where Did You Sleep Last Night (trad., Arranged by Leadbelly).
(Note: * denotes cut for MTV broadcast)
Nirvana – MTV Unplugged In New York (Complete Show)
Runaway Dinosaur 