HARDY

I had no idea who this guy was.

After conversing with Ebie in the business office of Staples/The Crypt, I entered the outer ring, backstage but not a dressing room, where the hangers-on hang out. And this guy started talking to me. He looked like a guy I'd hang out with in college. His big black spectacles were noticeable, but he had no attitude, no airs. I figured he was just another member of the entourage.

But then he told me he was an artist. Had written a number of hits.

Yeah, right.

And I ask him where he's from and he says...Philadelphia.

Makes sense to me, except he's talking about Philadelphia, Mississippi. I've actually been to Mississippi, it's Memphis adjacent, but I can't say I've ever known anybody from Mississippi. It's a parallel universe. Where they keep trying to keep the Blacks down. High poverty rate. Low standards of educational achievement.

It was cognitive dissonance, this guy was anything but hick.

So I ask him about his journey. He's telling me about a relative in Nashville and how he goes there to try his hand at songwriting and it was all so casual that it just didn't square. If you were such a big swinging dick why have I never heard of you? I mean this guy is even talking about awards.

But these days someone can have a number one and not only have you never heard of them, you've never heard the record.

Just another wannabe.

But he told me he was performing that night, he'd written with Morgan Wallen, he was the middle act. And he ultimately took the stage and it was so loud and in-your-face that not only did it not sound like country, it was just a wash of noise, I didn't get it.

But recently this guy has gotten a slew of press far outstripping his status in the business. I wouldn't say he's everywhere, but he's getting featured in outlets that seem like they'd keep him at arm's length, like the "New Yorker."

I saw they did a story on him. I was too busy to read the story online. I waited for the magazine to come. And today after reading periodical after periodical I dove into the "New Yorker," and read about the death of the humanities at colleges and HARDY.

That humanities article deserves its own screed. Did you know the state only pays 9% of ASU's budget? These state universities... They're so far from free. And if you're gonna end up with a ton of debt you might as well study something practical, so you can pay it back and live your life, get married, buy a house and have children.

And then I read about HARDY.

And the content was interesting, although it was overwritten with no zest, no pizzazz, rock is supposed to electrify your body, excite you, enable you to transcend everyday life. And the writer said that half of HARDY's album was rock. You know, the dying format.

There's Active Rock, which is loud and fast and the singer screams and shouts and it's a niche. And then there are a ton of imitations of what once was. They're retreads, not new.

So the article said the first half of HARDY'S new album was country, and the second half was rock.

I was stretching and I just pulled up "the mockingbird & THE CROW" on Spotify.

The first cut was "beer." Actually, I remembered this from the live show. Not that it's hard to remember a song about beer.

The next cut featured Morgan Wallen.

Okay, this was country, what about the second half of the LP, the rock half?

Not that the country songs were unpalatable. Actually, they had the essence of Morgan Wallen, as in they were catchy.

So the first truly rock song is "SOLD OUT." And I'm listening and I hear echoes of Kid Rock. Sans the hip-hop. But with the intensity, which you know if you've ever seen Bob live.

Okay, I've got it. I click to the next track, "JACK," which is from the perspective of the whiskey itself.

And the first thing I notice is the guitar figure. It's electric, but it's simple, it hooks you, no effort is required to get it.

"Hey kid, let me introduce myself
I'm a friend of your dad's when he had no one else
I'll put the party in your life boy, you know I can
Have you ever wanted to feel like Superman"

Speaking of college... I went in the dark era, when there was no internet, not even DVDs, not even TV in this hamlet in Vermont. And at the end of freshman year they changed the state's policy, you could drink at 18, and we did, we threw away our dope (well, not literally) and went down to the Alibi, which resembled a malt shop, albeit with alcohol, and got drunk and had fun. Dope put you to sleep, alcohol livened you up, you might have the best night of your life. And if you were down in the dumps, maybe the drink would help.

The following song was "TRUCK BED," a concept that immediately puts you off, but there's that hypnotic guitar and...then it occurs to me. Wait a second, this stuff is DIFFERENT!

It takes forever to get into most new albums, but every cut resonates.

And I'm thinking back to that conversation at Staples/the Crypt and I remember, HARDY radiated intelligence. And that's rare in today's mainstream music world. Sure, there are complaining alternative acts that are smart, but their music is unpalatable.

But HARDY definitely sounds like he's from the south. And this is not the Allman Brothers. Which is actually good, HARDY is just not repeating a formula. There's definitely a wise sensibility emanating from the tracks, the lyrics are not pablum...

Well, there's that shout like Kid Rock, guitar figures akin to "Don't Fear the Reaper," like so many rock records, but it still sounds new. And there are changes. Yes, these are songs.

And then I start thinking of the audience. Youngsters are alienated. They need something to relate to. Especially those who are not cool, who are not on the football team, are not number one in their class, who are not influencers, who is speaking to them? NOBODY! They're a forgotten generation. But you could be at home and put on HARDY and think someone was on your team. Not someone trying to become a brand (not yet, anyway), who was not pandering like in all those country songs written by committee about babies, pickups, religion... They try to be broad and appeal to everybody, but really they appeal to nobody, because they're not authentic, not specific. Which is why Chris Stapleton is the most revered act in Nashville. He's talented and uncompromised. And HARDY is not making the same music and certainly is not appealing to the same audience...

I ask you, are you angry? Do you remember when music was your religion, when you put it on and felt all powerful, when it made you happy, when it was more than rhythm...

Well, that's HARDY, check him out.

P.S. My favorite cut is "I AIN'T IN THE COUNTRY NO MORE." If you're a rocker, if you wince and then smile when you hear a power chord, this might be right up your alley.


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Taylor Swift Tickets Available!

Wanna go?

You'll have no problem getting a ticket. Why doesn't Congress utter a mea culpa, admit it knows nothing about ticketing.

Next Friday night Taylor Swift is performing in Glendale, Arizona.

Want to sit in the very first section, closest to the stage?

That's available. Not cheap, in the neighborhood of $500 apiece, but for a once in a lifetime event, or at least your kids have convinced you of this, you can pony up.

But let's say you just want to be in the building, which is half the fun.

You can sit in the upper deck from $168. Those are behind the stage, but for $201 you can sit in the center on the side.

Of course you won't find these tickets on Ticketmaster. But wait you say, TICKETMASTER IS ALSO A RESALE SITE! Yes, look up most shows, the primary sale may be over, but the act will allow you to post available seats, as long as they're no cheaper than the original price.

So why can't I buy Taylor Swift tickets on Ticketmaster? BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO!

There you have it folks. The act is in control of ticketing, Ticketmaster just takes the heat.

Now if you want to go to the show on Saturday, ticket prices are a bit more.

But expect them to go down. As they will for Friday night. Because as you get closer to the date...people don't want to take a total loss.

And let's be clear, most of the upper deck tickets were purchased by consumers caught up in the mania. They bought to two to use and two to sell, believing the hype. But in truth demand has been satiated, they'll have to lower the price of the ducats to incentivize people to go.

So this is a Ticketmaster problem, right?

WRONG!

I still maintain Taylor Swift made a mistake by putting all her tour tickets on sale at the same time.

Then again, maybe this was a genius move. There was mania. And few facts. People got caught up in the hype. You couldn't get tickets...you'd better buy them now, even more than you need, because they're so valuable!

What is the true demand for Taylor Swift? If tickets were sold market by market we might have found out it was less than perceived. Maybe not. But by selling all the tickets at once the question never came up!

As for tickets to see Bruce... So far people have had no problem getting them. I know people who turned them down in Denver, where even more were made available.

Now if the price was lower...would more people be incentivized to go? But we only have so much time, a precious commodity, there are acts I won't go to see even if they paid me.

And although this was a national story, the Taylor Swift ticketing fiasco... Taylor Swift has less market and mindshare than she ever has. This has nothing to do with her music, it's the competition in the field, the alternative diversions, not only in music, but television, video games, the opportunities are endless!

So what we have with so many of these ticketing "fiascos" is a small number of fans caught up in the hysteria, complaining. To the point the rest of us take notice, but we still have no intention of going. Sure, there are hard core Springsteen fans out there who need to be in the building, but this is not 1985, Bruce's glory days, when he was on MTV endlessly and everybody not only knew his name, but his music.

Sure, it's harder to get a ticket for a smaller building.

But once you get to arenas, certainly stadiums... They're hard to fill.

But that's part of the mystery of the business. It's one of the few mysteries left. Generally, mystery is history. Everybody is online, their dirty laundry is aired, and if you don't play online it's like you don't even exist.

But when it comes to ticketing... It's like a black box, only insiders know what is going on. And even those who do know what is going on complain. Yes, I heard from a manager complaining about the fees. But managers and agents are fully aware of the fees. And in many cases can negotiate them.

As for the economics of the business, I point you to Peter Shapiro's comments in response to Jamie Lee Curtis's rant that acts should play matinees:

"We Asked the Experts Why Jamie Lee Curtis Can't See Coldplay at Noon": https://bit.ly/3T8xbl4

Money quote:

"Shapiro says with the majority of ticket revenue and service fees going to the band (and ticketing agencies), the headliners take home most of the night's haul, leaving the venue to live off ancillary revenue, most of which comes from the bar."

But Ticketmaster and Live Nation and the promoters are evil.

What the acts want is to commission the fees too, or not have them exist. So how is the promoter going to make any money? Never mind taking all the risk, happens all the time, what is predicted to be an instant sellout is not. Upside? 5%. Downside? The whole enchilada.

Live Nation's recent quarterly report said it paid $9.6 billion on "investments in artists," which made it "the largest Financial Supporter of Musicians." Never mind AEG and other promoters. The acts make their money on the road. And they've got leverage. Believe me, when you can sell out, you write your own terms, you squeeze the promoter mercilessly. But this is all hidden by Ticketmaster. Acts point the finger at Ticketmaster, which is paid to take the heat.

Could there be more transparency?

Of course.

Could there be all-in ticketing? Sure, a good number of managers and talent agencies are signatories to the FAIR Ticketing Act, but not everybody, and we need everybody to sign on to make change. But it's a dirty business, and not everybody wants to commit, because ultimately they like the lack of transparency. Just blame the ticketing company for high fees. Don't let the public understand where the money goes.

Now if you're interested in buying Taylor Swift tickets...

You'll have no problem. Just remember that prices fall as the date approaches.

For a good appraisal of availability just go here:

https://bit.ly/3JxkxZE

That's a secondary market/scalper site. But on one hand the industry loves scalpers, they purchase inventory and they do their best to fill the building, otherwise seats are empty and the act doesn't like it.

It's a complicated business.


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Your Favorite Concerts-SiriusXM This Week

Tune in Saturday March 11th, to Faction Talk, channel 103, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West.

Phone #: 844-686-5863 

Twitter: @lefsetz

If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app. Search: Lefsetz 

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Silicon Valley Bank

"Silicon Valley Bank Fails After Run on Deposits": https://nyti.ms/3Jc9PXr

I've been avoiding this story all day long.

You see it was the headline on the NYT, the WaPo, the WSJ, everywhere but the LAT, which was eclipsed in its blizzard reporting by the NYT. That's like Celine Dion making the best rap record. Unfathomable.

So if you're addicted to the news apps...

Well, maybe you're not. Good for you. As long as you're not testifying as to the truth. Because you've got to read 'em all, constantly, to get a feel for the pulse of the country, which no one seems to have anymore.

And to do this, you must read the mainstream publications, which you must pay for. Too many lefties deride the "Times' and burrow down into the hole of self-described truthsters with blogs. Ditto on the right. Everybody needs to scan the Fox News site to get a feel for what is titillating the right, what is left out. As for its veracity... If this were the sixties, if this were any time before the internet era, Tucker Carlson would be the new Joe McCarthy. History. As for Rupert Murdoch, he does this again and again and remains unscathed. Remember the phone-hacking scandal in England? You might be the only one. And the sacrificial lamb, Rebekah Brooks? Rupert rehired her. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Anyway, the headline, the #1 story on the news apps, usually refreshes as the day goes on. And especially in the evening, when the physical paper is put to bed. That's right, unless there's an earthquake or a terrorist attack, there's not much news overnight, because on the east coast, where the news is minted, everybody is asleep. But it's a rare night when the morning's headline is still the evening's headline. God, school shootings can be displaced faster than the story with Silicon Valley Bank. What's up?

Well, I've never heard of Silicon Valley Bank. I figured it was a small institution. But it's not. It had about $200 billion in assets. And...

What you've got to understand is the federal government only guarantees 250k in deposits. That might sound like an extreme amount to you, but then you don't realize that America is inundated with millionaires, because of their real estate if nothing else.

And then there are those with nothing.

Today the WSJ featured this article:

"Fear Over Social Security's Future Leads Some to Claim Retirement Benefits Early - Filing for benefits before full retirement age is a gamble, say economists and financial advisers": https://on.wsj.com/3YMK6KY

That's a free link, and if you're interested in the timing of taking Social Security you should definitely read it. Then again, don't. Rely on your friends, because they know more than the experts. Isn't that the scourge of America?

And people aren't concerned with getting Covid... But when it comes to money, they don't want to lose theirs!

Now the banks rely on you being fearful and lazy. If you're not sophisticated, if you don't have a financial advisor, you're probably not moving all your money around to get the best return. For over a decade, returns on checking and savings accounts at commercial banks have been nearly infinitesimal. But over the past year, especially the past six months, rates have skyrocketed elsewhere. Insiders know this, those with real money know this and...

They're not going to leave their money in low-interest accounts.

You can get close to 5% easily. That's about four points more than your standard bank is paying, and you're still losing money to inflation.

So, the sophisticated investors, those with far in excess of 250k, are pulling their money from low-interest paying banks.

Which means the banks have to have the cash to pay them.

Which means the banks have to sell assets to get the cash.

And if the assets are bonds, the return keeps going up, so your old bonds have to be liquidated at a loss. And Silicon Valley Bank lost $2 billion trying to satisfy withdrawals.

But it still wasn't enough. The bank crashed. The government took it over. Which means if you had less than 250k in your account, you're good. If you had more... You get a piece of paper saying you will get...hopefully 100%, but it depends on the liquidation of the bank. Last time around, the 2008 crisis, with IndyMac, you got 50 cents on the dollar.

So if you've got money in one of these banks, that is not diversified, like First Republic...withdraw your money tonight!

But if you think I'm writing about banking...

The point is we can no longer rely on institutions. As for the experts, they seem to be in it for themselves. And the public? They're looking for trouble. That's the new paradigm. No one wants to accept the truth, especially when it's uttered by the elite. It can't be true. You do know the Covid vaccine doesn't work. It kills you. Stop taking all your vaccines. Like the Christian Scientists. You don't need no stinking medicine.

But it's like those people stuck inside their homes in the San Bernardino Mountains. I've lived in the hinterlands, you don't think there's not enough infrastructure to ensure your safety. But not in the San Berdoos.

That's what we've learned in the past decade, certainly the past few years, that the government we thought we could rely on, we oftentimes can't.

And both parties are guilty, but the Republicans are far more guilty. Because their goal is to minimize the government.

Which is how we got into this mess. Trump got rid of Dodd-Frank, which would have prevented the Silicon Valley Bank crash, via a stress test at least.

And as far as no more regulations...

Regulations can be burdensome, but most are there to protect you, the public. Sarah Huckabee Sanders making it easier to hire minors? God, if she read the exposé on child labor in the NYT, she never would have done this. But if you're a Republican...you can't hew to the NYT. You can't hew to science, or history. Cut taxes and the poor will get wealthier and the deficit will disappear. How many times do they have to try this until they admit it never works?

And those footing the bill?

You. You're paying that 250k above. You're getting fewer services. Seemingly everyone is getting rich but you.

And you get enticed by scams. Turns out that's what crypto was, a giant casino, and never forget the house always has an edge.

And that internet GameStop run-up, and the one re AMC... Retail stores selling physical gaming software? See an Egghead store around the corner? Software went virtual nearly two decades ago, on the surface this makes no sense. As for AMC.. Statistics tell us fewer people are going to the movie theatre, why should its business improve dramatically?

But everybody is a mark.

That's one thing about losses. Somebody suffers. You think it's all paper, but it's not.

I mean how stupid was Silicon Valley Bank to not diversify its holdings? It was in the start-up business, lending for new companies. It'd be like a movie studio only investing in brand new filmmakers, not making any sequels... Odds are gonna run out at some point.

But in the interim, a whole bunch of people are getting rich.

And the odds of your local bank failing, which is probably a national bank anyway, are low, but once consumer confidence fades...you've got no idea what might happen.

So the moral of this story is...

You can't count on anyone but yourself these days.

Which does not mean you should be ignorant. No, gain as much information as you can and then make a decision, an educated decision.

And be wary of listening to your friends, people you run into. Most people are not sophisticated, and full of sh*t anyway. And they want to make themselves look good. And some are convincing salesmen...

Which means you should look to the experts, the traditional outlets listed above, like the NYT, WaPo and WSJ.

But these three have been denigrated to the point where if you mention their names people laugh.

But the joke is on them.

We live in an information economy. Which means those with the most information win. It's true in each and every business. Even ticketing. Those in the industry were laughing at the Congresspeople at that hearing... Because they didn't know what they were talking about.

And in the internet age there's a plethora of information online.

And yes, there are those proffering misinformation. You've got to separate the wheat from the chaff. But in our hobbled educational system people don't learn how to do that. And they're taught everybody is treated equally in this country and nobody is homosexual or trans and if you live in Florida, you start out a step behind and never catch up.

As for DeSantis talking about all the people leaving California for Florida... The number is de minimis. Even worse, it's older people with little wealth.

Hell, the statistics were in the LAT.

As for statistics, the facts that jumped out of that WSJ article regarding Social Security above were:

"The program provides 37% of men and 42% of women with half or more of their income, according to the Social Security Administration."

Which means that almost half the country is broke, or close to it.

You can't live on that amount of money.

And some never made enough money, which is why the minimum wage needs to be raised dramatically.

And then there are those who are financially unsophisticated, the NYT just printed an article stating re Lisa Marie Presley:

"'Sadly, since inheriting her father's estate in 1993, Lisa has twice squandered it,' they wrote. 'She now has only herself to blame for her financial and personal misfortunes.'": https://nyti.ms/3mD6Uz7

Forget sex education, first we must teach financial literacy in our schools. Then some people will realize they can't afford to have kids and will ultimately be better with birth control.

Maybe not, we do need sex education too.

But if you think someone is looking out for you and your money, that it will all work out, that that investment your buddy next door said was foolproof is...

You've got another think coming.

You need to educate yourself.

After all, the execs at Silicon Valley Bank got paid, they always do.

As for the depositors... The savvy with the most information got their money out. The rest?


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Noa Tishby-This Week's Podcast

Actor, singer, producer Noa Tishby is the author of the must-read book "Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth." We start off talking about Israel and antisemitism, but we ultimately delve into Noa's upbringing in Israel, her move to Los Angeles and the events that made her decide to become an activist. Get the story straight from someone who has lived the experience and does not shy away from confrontation.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/noa-tishby-110232051/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/noa-tishby/id1316200737?i=1000603431460

https://open.spotify.com/episode/79RANpwG9h8Ok8lOrootfG?si=ES1EU69RSieAeBptet50Ig

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/56752031-b3ae-464f-95b4-0057cf5751cb/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-noa-tishby

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast/episode/noa-tishby-300356574

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Mailbag-Rossington/Maher/Nile/Kooper/Ticketing/Smith/Raitt

GARY ROSSINGTON/LYNYRD SKYNYRD

In April of 1987 I was working with Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon promoting concerts in Atlanta and still doing a little management. My old friend Gary Rossington and his wife Dale Krantz Rossington called me to say Amber Ertegun suggested they talk to me  about me managing their band Rossington. We had a Kansas show at the Fox Theatre and Rossington was the one artist to put that show over the top. They were added to the bill and the show sold out. Night of show two strangers Gary Dale & I had not seen in a while show up and all of a sudden Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson are on stage with the Rossington Band and doing Sweet Home Alabama.... the place explodes and now it's 2:45am in a bar in who the hell knows where and Billy and Leon say " we should do a tribute show on Oct 20 to honor 10 years after the plane crash ... Gary says don't do it ... Dale says should we and what was to be one show turned into 32 shows turned into 1987 and the music carried on ....
God Bless and RIP Gary Rossington 

Charlie Brusco

_____________________________________

Sorry I'm late on this but it's been such a weird time with so many of my friends and heroes leaving us of late. I had the good luck to go write songs with Lynyrd Skynyrd a few years ago, one of them ended up on their "Vicious Cycle" album. At that time Gary Rossington and Billy Powell were the only originals left I think, but the group was funny and great to work with, not seeming to care that I'm an old Jewish punk rocker. I remember  Rickey Medlocke was really on top of things, a very sharp writer- but I really bonded with Gary. He left the session for a few minutes saying "I gotta talk to Elvis" which was his code for blowing some weed. Hysterical. Gary and I and his wife Dale got together a while after that to write what was the title track for their next album "Take It On Faith" and I was struck by how deeply they were in love- just a very respectful relationship that was kind of amazing just to be around. They ended up doing a stunning version of our song, Dale's vocal has made me cry many times…. but then the video! Oh man. It just kind of shows his whole thing, living with the loss and the memories and continuing to make music. I'll never forget our time together, both of them made a deep impression on me. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkECK1LbQwQ

Thanks for bringing everyone together to mark these occasions, it's important. Or at least it is to me. 

Kevin Bowe

_____________________________________

I had the pleasure of writing some songs with Gary and his wife for a side project. One day when we were writing, someone stopped by my house to deliver him a beautiful flamed out Les Paul. We marveled over what a great instrument it was, and at some point I said I wonder if they can make one of these in white, just joking around about my Whitey Johnson thing. He said you know they can do anything at that custom shop. A few months later Barbara and I returned from a trip to India to find many messages from the Gibson custom shop saying they had something there for me from Gary Rossington. When I got there the guys told me that the beautiful white Les Paul that Gary was gifting me had been personally gone over by Gary. They said the neck came from Memphis and the body was from Nashville, and that he had tried various pickups before he was satisfied. There was a gold engraved "Whitey" on the head stock. it is a wonderful instrument that has served me well on many gigs through the years. I thanked him over and over, and he always acted like it was no big deal, but it was very special to me. That kind of generosity is rare. What a treasure of a fellow he was he will be missed by so many. RIP brother

Gary Nicholson

_____________________________________

I was saddened to hear of Gary Rossington's passing.  

The first session I ever worked on was Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1990 at Ardent Studios in Memphis.  Tom Dowd producing.  It was their first studio album after the crash.  I was just a kid and my first task was assisting Dallas Schoo in getting their gear set-up.  Setting up guitars and diming-in amps.   Tom Dowd had Dallas flown-in during a break in U2's Achtung Baby sessions.  Much of Skynyrd's gear had been in a warehouse since the crash.  So it needed help.

A few days later the band came in.  It was clearly Gary's band at that point.  And when the band kicked-in it sounded like the original gangsters.  He was quiet whenever I was around them but you could see the wheels were always turning.  And now he's carried home to see his kin.

Steve Wiggins 
Memphis TN

PS. The other thing I clearly remember about that session is we had to remove the Steinway and exchange it for a Yamaha because Billy Powell was hitting the strings so hard it was flattening them out and the studio was having to tune it everyday. He had forearms like Popeye!

_____________________________________

In 1972 I shared a dorm room at Ga Tech with two of Gary and Allen's high school buddies - Jeff Carlisi (38 special) and Dave Webb who were also great musicians - their two sets of double stacked Marshall amps, a vintage reverse Firebird and an SG among other gear made for a pretty awesome if crowded 3 man dorm room. It was not unusual to meet the band members at Junior's Grill on North Avenue for a late breakfast. Compared to the mostly clean cut Tech clientele, these guys were absolutely scary looking! At the time Skynard regularly played gigs in Atlanta and they would show up to hang with Jeff and Dave from time to time. One evening Gary and Allen came by with a new tune they were working on -  Freebird. I happened to have a vintage (60s) Guild 12 string in the room and suggested that to help build the dynamics, they use an acoustic under the slide solo at the beginning of the song. When they recorded the song in 73 they borrowed that guitar for the studio version. Listen carefully after the organ intro stops and Gary begins to wail on slide. That's Allen on the 12 string. 

Rip

William Ripley Ballou

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I grew up in Miami where Skynyrd was a staple act.

I remember seeing them headline in March of 1975 at the Miami Marine Stadium, when I was still in high school.  Bad bootleg seconals were going around that week, and someone had printed and sold a ton of counterfeit tickets for the show.  Hundreds of ticket holding fans were stuck outside because the arena was already at capacity, and they rushed the gates and swarmed inside ignoring security.  Overheated, angry fans jostled for space and occasional fights broke out while the band played a hyper-energized set.  

By the time they got to the Free Bird finale, you could sense things were about to go haywire.  Down in the water, between the mainland grand stand and the floating stage, where dinghies, row boats and inner tubes held a couple of thousand sunburned, drunk/stoned fans, some fool tried to walk across someone else's inflatable boat and the owner swung a wooden oar at him and knocked him off onto another boat... and all hell broke loose.  The water foamed up like a shark feeding frenzy as the fight spread like fire in a pile dry pile of leaves.  Soon innocents were climbing onto the narrow walkway/bridge from shore to stage, until the entire railing collapsed sending 50 or so people back into the watery melee.  At the peak of the never ending guitar chorus, some poor soul tried to climb up the front edge of the stage to escape the carnage.  I'll never forget how casually skinny little Gary Rossington, dressed all in white, stepped to the edge of the stage and drop-kicked the guy in the head, sending him flying backward where he disappeared into the chaos.  Gary was wailing in mid-solo at the time, and he never even missed a note.  It was the most surreal and chaotic moment I've ever experienced.

The band gave the big finish to the song that they liked to do when they performed it live, and the crazy energy waned in the crowd.  Everyone picked up their wounded and headed for the doors, satiated and satisfied as they could be. 

Just a couple of years later. I had moved to Boston for college, and went out to my local bar one night proudly wearing the black and white "Lynyrd Skynyrd's Old Florida Whiskey" tee shirt patterned after the Jack Daniels label.  On my walk from the front door to front of the bar, at least five people stopped me to tell me the band had been in a horrible plane crash just hours earlier and most if not all of them were dead.  We drank toasts to our fallen heroes until closing time and still seemed to stagger home sober from the sad news.  For me it was my "day the music died."  

God rest your soul Gary Rossington.  I like to think you are reunited with your brothers and that the band in heaven just got better once again.

Marc A. Von Arx  

_____________________________________

I had forgotten for many years this episode that happened in early 1976, but it came back to me a couple years ago and I began to tell the story from time to time.  

I had graduated from a North Country NYS college in 1975 with a BA in studio art and possessed no marketable skills.  A high school buddy convinced me to join him in moving to Birmingham Alabama as his dad was moving there having lost his wife to cancer.  With no other prospects, it sounded like a great adventure.  
 
After bouncing around a few temporary living arrangements supplied by my friend's relatives in Birmingham, we found an apartment in a cool part of the South Side and my friend hit it off with the young woman Denise that lived across the hall.  So now it's mid-February 1976 and my buddy, the girl next door, her sister and I are planning to head down to the sisters' family cabin at Gulf Shores for the President's day long weekend.  Her sister is a couple years older, married with a couple young boys.  As we're picking her up for the trip, she hugged her boys and kissed her husband goodbye.  He said "hold on", and gave her a handgun, saying "just in case!"
 
A few miles down the road, the sisters decided to stop for some groceries to bring along.  The two of them went into store and my buddy and I stayed in the car.  Neither of us were comfortable with a loaded gun in the car so we took the bullets out and put them in one of the side door pockets.  10 minutes later the girls came out, we squeezed the groceries into the trunk and Denise started the car.   The radio came on and it was playing a new song we had never heard before.    Can you Guess????
Yup!   GIMME BACK MY BULLETS !!!

M Sull

_____________________________________

Probably my all time favorite band… saw them at least 10 times…the Day On The Green that's all over you tube was my last time seeing the original lineup…I remember seeing them in Santa Barbara… Gary had been in a car wreck and wasn't gonna perform …they hit the stage and there's Gary…they tore it up…how lucky was I to see this? Gary passing though not unexpected is a crusher… Lynyrd Skynyrd is gone… all of em…I'm having a hard time…

Tom Clark 

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_____________________________________

BILL MAHER

I have been hoping for a few years now that karma would strike and Bill would get a bad case of Covid. Unfortunately, no luck yet. Also the bs study of the emotional impact vs physical in children is just that bs. We have no idea how many more kids would have had mis-c or long Covid in the early days of the pandemic if not for lockdowns and school shut downs not to mention all of the older adults those kids could have passed the virus along to and killed. People like Maher pretend everyone was wrong and overreacted to Covid while showing complete ignorance to how bad covid was until the virus got weaker when omnicron came along. We didn't just learn to "live with the virus" it mutated to a weaker form of itself allowing us to live with it (not to say it still can't be deadly in extreme cases). You know this of course but so many like Maher still don't get it: As for where it's from the bottom line is the CCP has been doing major coverup work since the earliest days of the pandemic and if China wasn't such an economic power the world would not be giving them such an easy pass for their complete lack of transparency. 

Jarred Arfa

_____________________________________

I would like Bill to have an ICU nurse on his show sometime to talk about how COVID was a hoax and overblown.

Sara Joseph

_____________________________________

Bill Maher is an old, crotchety man that has lost the ears of the next generation. While I wouldn't outright "cancel" the guy, I think it's time for him to STFU and let someone else speak. His comments and rhetoric are just plain ignorant and selfish.  He has no children, thinks the thought of marriage is appalling, but we should listen to him because he knows EVERYTHING?  Eff that, he's not omniscient and has moved over from the middle to someplace else I do not recognize, nor care to appreciate.
 
Eww. Just ewww.
 
Khila L. Khani

_____________________________________

You know, I find it curious that doubters still say covid isn't real/really a threat. I just saw this morning that 5 residents died in a Massachusetts nursing home from a covid outbreak.  I suppose to many, that demographic isn't relevant. Yippee, our world is about demographic categories instead of humanity - go us. 

Trumpers claimed it wasn't real, even though Trump himself got it!  That just shows you how beyond-help a segment of conspiracy theory believers are.  The Republicans downplayed covid while Trump was in office, and let Fox fictionalize the news all they wanted. Now that they won the House, they want to investigate the origins of covid?  Oh, right, then they get to play the anti-China card, a page out of the 1800s playbook.  That will be curious - 1.5 billion people are a bigger target than their current cross-hairs (and yes, it recognize that metaphor and literal combination) of the small number of US trans people*.  What will they do when Xi plays Putin in Taiwan, try and weaponized blame of covid and they inflate it's damage?  What data do they already have on covid, will they trickle facts or fiction to turn their base on China and blame it for the pandemic that was previously a Liberal fiction?  It really makes a thinking person's head spin. Unbelievable there are so many that just avoid thinking and questioning.

Bill Maher has always been I'm-smarter-than-you smug. At least I always thought so. Haven't watched him since the 90s. He liked to stir things up and start conversations, regardless of his opinion of the matter, I appreciated that then, but now, he just strikes me as the personification of white noise. He hasn't been relevant in years.  I'd much rather watch John Oliver. I miss Jon Stewart. Trevor Noah, too.

Mary Holland

P.S. As an aside, what on earth will the GOP come up with after they run out of "morality" legislation passed?  When they've done what they can to ban anything deemed remotely liberal?

_____________________________________

I have voted dem since 1984 without reservation and I'm done.  

Mahr is right. 

This whole thing is a farce. Some of us have the luxury of sitting behind desks and spouting things for a living and telling people to do this and do that and they do it from our our armchairs. 

The rest of us actually work. Not getting famous. Not influencing. Not taking money from people in the electric industry to wipe out the competition in the gas industry.

Not banning a company from doing business in your state because they simply obey laws in other states, like we all should…

I'm a musician for a living and it's a blue-collar job. It involves physical work, mental work, bookkeeping, accounting, marketing, traveling, loading and unloading, practicing, and I'm sick of hearing all of this rhetoric from people who can sit in chairs and at least this guy is calling out the bullsh*t in real time.

Biden is a full on white supremacist racist who doesn't believe people of color can do anything without the white man's help.

There are people out there who think if some people are hurt than everybody else on the entire planet has to adjust.

Now the US government is trying to hold an entire country in Africa accountable for not allowing gay marriage and completely disrespecting their traditions and cultures. I guess black lives only matter if they support LGBT. As if there are not LGBT racists in the world.

We watch one man assault and battery another man on national TV and people make excuses for this violence when he should've been handcuffed and taking straight to jail.  Like you and me. 

It isn't white privilege.  

It's liberal privilege.  

Jimmy Becker
www.jimmybecker.com
Instagram @rockingjimmybecker

_____________________________________

So you're mad that you were duped and he's calling you out because guess what you were scared and you fell for it and the writing is on the wall it was one big racketeering scandal. The masks were bullsh*t, so are the vaccines and boosters make it worse. You were had. Just like Neil. Sad but you're old and scared. 

Bill is right and you're woke. 

Andrew Hunter

_____________________________________

Like millions of us who strive to make this a more just world, I enjoy and appreciate Bill Maher's comedy, as well as his articulate commentaries. If your blog is going to promote ridicule and one ideology to the exclusion of independent-mindedness , then please remove me from your list. Otherwise, carry on, rock on, etc.
 
Regards,
GW

_____________________________________

No fun trying to be objective today, you must stay in your lane and don't dare challenge the narrative...  I love Bill Maher...and much like Tucker, I don't agree with them on most things, but they are the only two that are challenging their parties narrative...and when they do, the skies falls down on their heads...

Stay informed, humble and safe.

Edmund J. Kelly

_____________________________________

I had Covid with my family

My doc said natural immunity was better or equal and my family has zero comorbidities

Zero

My kids don't get sick
We have enough money to eat amazingly well and take care of ourselves

I was cancelled by all left friends for my views on June on 2020

I said it was possible this came from a lab and that my doctor said we didn't need the vaccine

I was ridiculed

Now - what I was saying was true

Do yo remember free speech?

Do you remember a woman's right to choose?

Do you not find it interesting lefties were triggered to be on a moral high ground with incorrect data

Did anyone come back and tell me they were sorry or give me a friend request?

Haha 
No

Lefties have done the same thing righties did in the 80's and 90's and into 2000's…..

They claimed to be correct and had the moral high ground to call the others out

Lefties used not a moral religious high ground…. They used a scientific high ground 

And just like righties - they are wrong 

"I can't watch Maher anymore….he challenges my belief system to much…. With words…. And words hurt…. "

So sad 

Billy Zero

_____________________________________

Brand's brand is constantly morphing..
Like Rogan, he WANTS to be in the biz, but lacks any discernable skills..They're not gonna' let a little thing like THAT stop em'..
So they throw various things at the wall, to see what, if anything, sticks..Comedy, wrestling, game show host, recovery expert, etc..
Brand DOES invoke laughter..But we're laughing AT him..An aging 70s rocker wanna' be, who eloquently speaks the Queen's English.. Incongruous and often hilarious..
Disruption for disruption's sake..
THAT was the meme, circa 2016, that gave us Trump and Brexit..Let's just throw out all babies and bathwater, and see what happens.
Who needs our institutions? Let's just listen to random podcasts and piece together a society of sorts..All platitudes and no solutions..
That's Brand's career du jour..There IS an audience for that..
Of course YouTube videos popped up.
"Russell Brand destroys MNBC anchor's (Hileman) career!" 
 SMH...

James Spencer

_____________________________________

Can we stop arguing about "the liberals were wrong about Covid" bullsh*t? Nobody f*cking knew anything the first half of 2020. Yes, maybe some things could've opened up a bit sooner, sure. Hindsight is 2020 my dude. It was better to error on the side of caution. Republicans only and always only care about money, not people. Don't forget that. And lest we forget, Bill Maher's character in the 1987 horror comedy "House II" was most likely a mirror of his actual self. 

Danny Jay

_____________________________________

Bob, as always, so grateful for all your posts. I stopped caring about Bill Maher when I realized he is a hypocrite and a fat bigot. 

Linda Arroz

_____________________________________

Bill Maher does not give a sh*t. He never had kids does he have to worry about the future. No. 

livewireranch

_____________________________________

Why not make fun of Bill's hair?

Jimmy Wachtel

_____________________________________

He lost me with his remarks about Muslims. He's a dick! I stopped watching.

Steve Ferrone


_____________________________________
_____________________________________

WILLIE NILE

Bob, Your interview with Willie Nile has to rate as one of the finest podcasts you've offered over the last few months. It was probably one of your easiest, too, as Willie is quite the story teller in his own right. His stories about his family, growing up in Buffalo, his college days, and the music business, with zero pretense, and absolute honesty prove he's a survivor and salt of the earth kind of guy. 

Willie Nile is typical of so many famous people from Buffalo who don't act famous and don't act like their sh*tzel doesn't stink; guys like bassist Billy Sheehan, the Goo Goo Dolls, among others. His words about being with his 105 year old father in a sub-freezing Buffalo blizzard without electric power were riveting. A lot of Buffalo people were in the same predicament. Like Willie, they just made it work and survived one day at a time. His stories about his experiences in the music business were unvarnished ... and funny (working at the post office, proofreading, his Showtime days ...  and Huey Rosinbag?! Bwahhh-hahhh! ) 

The guy was never one to put on airs. I met him at a local radio station concert  in the early 90s. He'd just come off the stage after a rollicking performance in front of 15 hundred fans who loved every song he played. He stopped and talked to dozens of people as if they were family. I hope Willie stays healthy, vibrant and strong for many years to come. And although he has no quest for fame, I do hope he strikes it rich. Yeah, that he can take ... and he deserves it.

Jim Mandrew

_____________________________________

The 5'4" Willie Nile is a giant who espouses the true sprit of Rock n Roll. The only thing bigger than his talent is his heart of gold.  I did many events and interviews with him and he graciously cut some jingles for WRNR that turned out to be some of the best production the station ever aired. Once, he invited me on stage to sing "Satisfaction" and did not give a f*ck that I couldn't sing at all. It was all about a genuine moment of shared love.

The Pope of Greenwich Village?

Please. It's Willie Nile.

Bob Waugh

_____________________________________

Thank you for featuring Willie Nile. This guy is the real deal. We hadn't heard of him in Canada but we took a chance and he blew to doors off our place. Here's a video we shot that shows the energy that Willie puts into every show. This guy should be a superstar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT5OC_Ipbks

Kelly Breaks
bluefrogstudios.ca

Canada's Hottest Live Recording Theatre

_____________________________________

We've been friends bordering on family since the eighties when we asked him to get us over the lyrical hump on a Hooters song we'd been struggling with. Willie is a force of nature and I want to be him when I grow up. 

Eric Bazilian

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

AL KOOPER

I saw an old interview with Ray Manzarek recently, and for the song L. A. Woman, he thought he would give a musical shout out to his friend Al Kooper by stealing a piano lick from "house in the country". I always thought it sounded the same, but I thought those five notes were just a bit of unconscious imitation, but there's Ray admitting to paying homage to Al. 

Mitch  Horowitz 

_____________________________________

With all this talk of Al & BST I feel like a very important person has been left out-Jim f*ckin' Fielder. Jim was the first true link to Jazz bass playing for a lot of us "Low-Enders" in Pop music. Al has gigantic "ears" no doubt. One of the  many nice things Al did during his tenure here in Nashville was invite Jim down here to survey the music scene. Even though I'm a singing bassist I encouraged Jim (through Al) to play some local gigs with us with Jim playing bass. He was quiet, unassuming, kinda shy, and of course, played his ass off.
Last time I visited Al we spent the better part of an afternoon talking about and listening to Herbie Flowers (in my opinion the UK's version of James Jamerson) and Harvey Brooks.
Anyhoozie's, am REALLY digging your podcast.
Thanks Bob,
John Cowan

_____________________________________

If you worked at Tower Records on Sunset you have plenty of celebrity stories.
Al Kooper may not have been the most notable shopper...
But he was the most frequent.
He would slowly and methodically make his way through the albums.
Always appeared to be on some sort of  research project...
And listening to the many musical varied styles from any of his great solo albums...
He was.
Al Kooper---a listener, a learner, and a leader of the band.

Marty Bender 

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

TICKETING

Well, we should all be thankful that we aren't buying tickets the old Grateful Dead way. Pulling out our hair over the 3x5 index card tour ticket madness. I spent more time on those cards than I did on some college projects. Triple checking the info, making sure the money order was perfect, decorating the envelope. As frustrated as I get with the ticket buying process these days, it's still less stressful than that process. Meanwhile, I anxiously wait to see if I got Phish and Tedeschi Trucks Band tickets for their summer tours. A lot of people want a few tickets!

Heidi Jones

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

BRENT SMITH

We had Shinedown at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts back in 2019. Brent went from office to office backstage, to personally thank every single person he encountered for having him at the venue and to shake their hand. In my 10+ years in the business, I've never encountered ANYONE doing this, let alone a headliner/front man. This is the type of stuff that sticks with you as a standout for the rest of your career.

Julie Kaufman
Senior Director of Programming
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

_____________________________________

It's often the episodes I almost skip that turn out to be the best. I'm so glad I stayed with this one. Not sure if my taste will ever expand to include true appreciation for Shinedown's music, but I have so much respect for Brent Smith based on this interview.

Just an utterly decent and genuine human being, from the sounds of it. I believe him. And so much truth about what it really takes to make it. Tenacity being the most critical element. I wish I had this interview to listen to 20 years ago. Glad to know it's out there for youngsters looking for direction in today's biz.

And thanks for the brief detour into AmEx chat. Love to hear about the money stuff!

Matt Kollock

_____________________________________

I listened interestedly to the Brent Smith podcast even though I was completely unfamiliar with him and with his band Shinedown (mea culpa for that).

I am compelled to write because I was made very angry when he described his life, i.e. no home ownership/no car ownership, as being akin to that of a gypsy.    'I am the definition of a modern day gypsy.   I don't steal though' being his exact words.   He followed this abuse and defamation of a much oppressed ethnic minority with a jocular, laughing 'I love you, gypsies.'

His brazen labelling is not acceptable and I sincerely hope that, with hindsight, he will find a way to re-educate himself about the massive history and culture of gypsy/roma/travelling people, including the horrific exterminations they suffered, like the Jewish people, during the Second World War and the ongoing racism to which they are subjected in locations all over the world including my own country of Ireland which continues to display shameful behaviour to travelling people.

Thank you for allowing me to express these opinion.

Fachtna O Ceallaigh

P.S. Just to add, my misgivings (euphemism) re his branding of gypsies are completely separate to my respect for the long term commitment he and his band mates are showing to suicide prevention.

Thing is, in my country (ireland) the highest rates of suicide, the shortest life expectancy, the highest infant mortality rate, the greatest difficulty in accessing education and employment, in all of these tables the travelling community, what Brent refers to as 'gypsies' is number one.
There is a proven link between the blazé stereotyping of ethnic groups and the terrible racism of people worldwide towards them.

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

BONNIE RAITT

When I think of records I wish I had made "I Can't Make You Love Me" is at the top of the list. Perfect in every way.

Russ Titelman

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Re-Bill Maher

Thank you for calling out Bill Maher and his nonsense.  Over the years he has gone from modestly funny to an old man screaming at a cloud, ranting constantly about "wokeness" being the thing that will destroy our culture, while mostly giving the people who are actively trying to destroy democracy a pass.  Sure, some of those in the "woke" crowd can be obnoxious, but a few random whiners on Twitter are not the same as Ron DeSantis, a legitimate fascist who has no problem with using his power to harm others.  The two are not comparable, and I'm through both-sidesing this B.S.
 
Apparently, Bill has no problem both-sidesing it, because it's good for ratings.  Maher is a smug, insufferable horse's ass and a terrible interviewer; the only part of his show that is even remotely watchable anymore is his overtime segment where the guests do most of the talking.  And Maher is supposedly a liberal.  With friends like this, what the hell do we need the Republicans for?
 
Always love reading your stuff.
 
Wes R. Benash

____________________________________

Bill Maher can't decide whether he's a Clinton-era liberal (that despicable kind of Democrat that effectively lost the working class to the GOP, the "coastal elite") or on the Joe Rogan-bandwagon. 

Maher speaks with such pompous assurance that to your point he's a uniquely dangerous pundit for mostly boomer-aged "moderate liberal" types, you know, the ones who thought Nancy Pelosi was a master legislator?

He also gets big stars on his podcast, and it's truly remarkable how he's so detached yet persistent in his everyday strong opinions. I don't give a sh*t about being "politically incorrect." I care about having pundits of influence on the left that actually care about meaningful policies, instead of battling the never-ending culture war and indulging in their own celebrity. 

Dylan Muhlberg

____________________________________

As for Bill, he's a dipsh*t.  Even on air he can't help but be smug and self-congratulatory.  What a pompous douche.  Back in the 90's I was at a private gathering at Arianna Huffington's house which had a quite the guest bathroom, with stalls.  I stood next to him at one of the sinks washing up and asked him a forgotten question pertinent to a politico event.  He didn't look at me or make a sound, as if he was alone, and then headed to the door.  That says it all.  

John Brodey

____________________________________

When I lived in NYC, when the elevator opened, Bill Maher was on it. I told him how much I admired him and had recently enjoyed his appearance on some cooking show.  He basically told me to F*ck Off and don't bother him. 

Bill Berger

____________________________________

I appreciate your candor re: the covid years, which are of course still raging.  They 'were' traumatic for my family and we were ultra careful throughout.  That doesn't always work, we found out.   It was some frightening sh*t, especially early on when nobody knew what they were dealing with and half the country was in denial.  It cost em, too! Motherf*ckers died along with their conspiracy theories and  "Jesus Saves"cards.  I don't miss em.  I don't care.  Idiots roasting in hell with Ronald Reagan.  

Maher comes across as a self entitled knowitall asshole.  Maybe he always did.  I haven't always thought that.  Something changed.  Maybe me. Jesus. He gets so high while doing his podcast that his guests don't get to talk.  I only listened to a few minutes of one, tho, and he wouldn't shut up and it was annoying so, whateverthef*ck……I'm not necessarily qualified to critique.  

Bill Nelson

____________________________________

Gave up watching Bill Maher a few years ago.  His ego doesn't let anyone else get a word in - they're merely his chorus.  Compare him to Howard Stern, whose ego is even bigger, yet in all his recent interviews, I've learned something from his guests, even when I'm not a fan. I was riveted to everything Gene Simmons had to say last week and who isn't sick of hearing from him?!   Gene kept trying to open the topic of Wokism but Stern didn't bite. Instead we hear Gene admit what a dick he was all those years - the irony of Gene becoming woke about Gene was amazing.   

wolfereeno

____________________________________

Nothing a liberal hates more than a leftist who is willing to challenge parts of leftist ideology. He made a point and it appears you missed it - which is that left-leaning and mainstream media outlets are not just hesitant but almost refuse to acknowledge any science or findings that stray from the leftist orthodoxy - and I say this a Biden voter and someone who hasn't voted for a republican for a statewide or national office since the 90's. His point is 100% valid - why haven't news organizations publicized the study? Or the ones showing that there is a very real argument that the isolation of children during the pandemic was as bad for their health as the risk presented by covid? Look, I think most gov't entities and public health bureaucracies did their best with what they knew and had at their disposal at the time. Science isn't perfect. But the only way to improve responses and outcomes next time something like this happens is to take a very critical look and analysis at what worked, what didn't and what lays somewhere in between. 

Craig Davis

____________________________________

On the money about Bill Maher and his Covid baloney. Yes, natural immunity is as effective as vaccine. And natural immunity is so easy, just accept whatever number of millions need to die so we can have it! And Russell Brand! What a rude, stupid jerk he was on Maher's  show. He even (inadvertently) made Bill admit there was a need for vaccine, and BTW, Affordable Health Care, but Russell's main concern was keeping everyone but him from talking.

Cheers 
Joseph Henderson
Yonkers NY

____________________________________

Why make fun of Bill's hair?

Thank you,

George James Ghiz

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Re-Gary Rossington/Lynyrd Skynyrd

RIP Gary Rossington.

Lynyrd Skynyrd have always been a favourite with me.

After The John and Tony Smith business broke up they were the very first band I promoted in January 1976.

One of the best and most memorable was when they played the Rainbow in Finsbury Park.

It was their first show in London and the audience went ballistic with joy.
When they finally finished Free Bird followed by Sweet Home Alabama it was the audience who were exhausted from cheering.

The band were on a real high so Bill Curbishley and I decided to take them out to dinner and chose a favourite Greek Restaurant.

At first the band were a bit sheepish until they saw the manager bring a stack of plates to the next table for the guests to smash to great music and bottles of Retsina which was the Greek custom.

When the manager of the restaurant then came to our table the bands eyes nearly popped out.

They had clearly never seen the spectacle before and proceeded to smash every single plate in the restaurant and drank nearly the total cellar of Retsina's.

It was one of those nights that I will never forget…. Nor will my Bank Manager !!!!

Without doubt one of the most exciting bands ever on stage

Harvey Goldsmith.

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My favorite Skynyrd story. Fey and I put together a stadium show co bill of Skynyrd and Marshall Tucker at Mile High Stadium in the mid 70's. The bands did not get a long and fought over who would close. We came up with idea of one band closing the afternoon part then a break then the other band closed the evening part. Other bands on the show were Atlanta Rhythm Section, Foreigner, Heart and Outlaws among others. The radio spot had to be total equal billing. Skynyrd was bigger then so we made them bigger in the spots (promoters could get away with a lot of stuff then). One of Tucker's friends living in Boulder heard the spot and called their manager. The manager called really upset and I said not true and I would fly the next morning with the radio spots to play him in person. Had my spot guy stay up all night making new spots and I flew to Spartanburg to play him the phony spots which he was fine with of course after he heard them. Crazy times in early rock and roll.

Chuck Morris - Chairman Emeritus
AEG PRESENTS

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In the mid-70s I was on the staff of UK music weekly Sounds and assigned to do a story on Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I joined them in Glasgow at the Albany Hotel (the only place musicians stayed). We were the only people sitting in the dining lounge. At the end of the room was a low stage and a keyboard and mics. After awhile a guy and girl combo climbed on to the stage and started to play in a very Carpenters style. Not brilliant, not terrible, an ordinary hotel band.

As soon as they started Ronnie Van Zandt and Gary Rossington paid attention and listened to them and at the end of each song applauded. Then the record company lady made a disparaging comment about the playing. Instantly Ronnie spun on her and with real anger said, "They're musicians. They're working. You show them respect."

It was a really eye opening comment and one I have tried to follow to this day.

All the best,

John Ingham

________________________________________


I was the tour accountant for Southern rock artists Molly Hatchet in the 80s. We had the honor of opening or sharing bills for many of the bands idols and heroes including Lynyrd Skynyrd , Rossington Collins Band , Allman Brothers Band, Outlaws , Charlie Daniels Band , 38 Special as well as other many others. I spent much time in their home base of Jacksonville , Florida . What I learned is that their creed was to not only play hard and live hard but also work hard .

These musicians were the sons of the returning veterans of World War II and brought with them a work ethic that included always giving everything you had and your band mates and crew were your brothers . Quitting or not going on and giving the best show you could to the people who bought tickets was never an option . They lived by a code . It's hard to see it now but when you look back at the career Gary Rossington had and how he sustained , always came back and succeeded over all these years it's easy to see how and why . RIP Gary.

Stephen Mr Magoo Grossman
San Antonio TX

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My two Lynyrd Skynyrd stories:

I moved to Atlanta in 1971 and lived in the heart of the infamous Peachtree Strip during its peak years. There was a club down the street called Funochios where a band called Lynyrd Skynyrd played nightly.

So the band Focus comes to town to perform at the Omni. The arena fills up, and at showtime, the house lights are still on - and there's NO equipment on the stage. An announcer finally comes on and says that Focus' truck broke down in Tennessee and that they wouldn't be making it to the show. However, they said everyone will receive a refund and can also stay and watch the opening act for free! The opening act was that band that could be seen 5 nights a week at that club on Peachtree - Lynyrd Skynyrd. Everyone groaned and left. Nobody stayed.

My other encounter with Lynyrd Skynyrd was way cooler. I didn't have a car at the time, and like many others in those days, I hitchhiked everywhere. I had my guitar with me, case in hand, and was hitchhiking home on Peachtree when this van full of longhairs picked me up. I got in the side door and sat on the floor in the back. Up front was the band - Lynyrd Skynyrd! They said they picked me up because they wanted to see my guitar (my 335), which I took out of the case and passed it up front and which they played.

I still have that guitar.

RIP Gary Rossington.

Mark Towns

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Years ago, I wrote and directed a sketch starring the fellas from Skynyrd for a show called "The Soup". Gary was out of his comfort zone, but he settled in and had a blast (and was hilarious to boot). Here's the clip if anyone's interested in seeing a different side of him. May he rest in peace.

https://vimeo.com/136871265

Lee Farber

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Re: Gary Rossington: I grew up in 1970's Florida - Skynyrd was to us what Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey!

Vince Welsh
President
Teacher Education Institute, Inc.

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Pronounced 'Leh-'Nerd 'Skin-'Nerd was the first record I ever bought (at Strawberries Records). Pretty sure it was my older sisters Prom song in '73. I was hooked - the Allmans were the cool guys and LS were the bad ass version. And they were LOUD. I saw them open for The Who at the Boston Garden and left after their set. How could anything beat that? Saw the original band five times. When Street Survivors was released on a Tuesday, I hitchhiked home from college in Vermont to buy it. Two days later it was all over. I continued to follow the survivors and like the RC Band and while they were really good, it was not the same. A good friend took me to see Bad Company and LS in New Hampshire a few years ago (I really like Paul Rogers and had never seen him live - he still belts it out). They were good and we left early. Not the same.

You were spot on re losing our heroes at a very uncomfortable pace. At least I still have my original vinyl.

Thanks again for another stellar history trip.

Mike Colbourn

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Thanks for all your amazing work, Bob. I've enjoyed it through the years. Decades ago, not long before the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, I went on the road with the band to write about them for, of all publications, 'TEEN Magazine.

Besides being a brilliant musician, Gary Rossington was a super-cool guy who invited me in and kept an eye on me. I was grateful to him, am so sad to learn of his passing. The guy had a beautiful heart and soul.

A few months ago I performed an account of my time with Gary, Ronnie, and the rest of the band and thought I'd share it with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Oa42TzzjiTc

Kind regards,
Marina Muhlfriedel

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Being from Alabama, I like to tell people that Sweet Home Alabama is the unofficial national anthem. You can be practically anywhere in the world, and not even be from Alabama, but when it comes on in a bar you'll sing along.

Peter Gilbert

________________________________________


I worked with Lynrd skynyrd when I was pr director at mca - they were rowdy but great to deal with - respectful and professional with me - I am sad - carol Ross

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My first concert was Firefall, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Doobie Brothers at the Nassau Coliseum, before the plane crash. Even though the Doobies were headlining, you couldn't walk 50 feet in my school at the time without hearing Freebird.

Everyone was there to see Skynyrd, and they delivered. I was lucky to have such a great first concert. After Skynyrd, the Doobies were a bit of a let-down, and we left in the middle of their set, along with half the crowd.

In retrospect, it seems a little weird that a bunch of middle-class suburban kids on Long Island loved Southern rock so much, but Skynyrd rocked their asses off, which is all that matters when you're in high school. We also loved (and saw live) Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, The Outlaws, and of course The Allman Brothers. We loved all kinds of rock, from Aerosmith to Zep, but Southern rock was a big part of it. What a great time to grow up.

Best,
Perry Resnick

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Recall gong to see Rossington Collins band in Binghamton in summer between my freshman and sophomore year at Syracuse Uni. Had a girlfriend at Uni that lived there. Told me she was pregnant when I got there after drive from my parents house in Long Island.. . Won't forget that trip! Thank God she decided to exercise her Roe v Wade rights or I would have a 42 year old kid now, probably be a grandfather too. But no way I could have dealt with being a dad at 19!

Brian Barry Esq.

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Hey Bob, The time I saw Skynyrd playing the Santa Monica Civic during the early or mid 70's was maybe my most favorite concert ever. I told my friend I went with before hand about the 3 lead guitar players with one being better than the other. They did not disappoint. I can still visualize myself there taking it all in.

Please note, Before the Santa Monica Civic show I saw Skynyrd's last few songs as I walked into the forum on a rainy Thanksgiving night. They were the opening act for The Who. I said to myself, these guys are good! That was the beginning of my love affair with them. I still remember the night hearing the News of the plane crash and the feeling of being crushed.

Besides their records still being available there are also various videos on YouTube available. They were one Bad Band!

Tracy Weber

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In 20 years, just about all of them will be dead. Jagger, Elton John, McCartney, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, you name it. So many of the rock stars and musicians that burst onto the scene in the 60s and early 70s, we're all about the same age give or take. The list is going to be staggering.

That said, Lynyrd Skynyrd was the first concert I ever went to. December 31, 1976 in Oakland.

Journey opened up… When journey was a hard rock band with incredible musical sensibilities. Before that whiny Pop singer guy joined them.

Anyway, the Skynyrd crowd was hard-core. Rowdy, ready to party, and the band was exciting on stage. Not in a Rolling Stones k I'mmd of way but the anticipation of free Bird and the songs flat out rocked.

As I got older I learned to appreciate them not so much as a southern rock band but it has a rhythm and blues band, very much like the Rolling Stones

If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?

We will until we can remember no more
Jimmy Becker

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Probably because the manager of the reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Brusco, was from Pittsburgh, we became a hotspot here for the late 1980s rebirth of the live band. Charile is what we call a Yinzer. You can take a Yinzer of out of Pittsburgh but you can't take the Pittsburgh out of the Yinzer. Charlie knew "The Burg" and he figured it was a good launch point.

We sold out shows at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena that I managed and then when I went to run Star Lake Amphitheater outside of town, we did many sellouts there, capped by the LYVE FROM STEEL TOWN double record in 1997. We also helped Charlie with secondary market shows in rust towns like Wheeling and Johnstown.

Maybe it was because we were so close to West Virginia (you could practically walk to Weirton from the amphitheater). Maybe it was because WDVE was so powerful if it got behind something, it would sell well (witness Steve Miller sellouts when he wasn't doing any of that kind of business anywhere). The guys who ran WDVE were smart; Pittsburgh was an aging market and better to accent classic rock bands than to be too reliant on new music. Maybe it was the revisionist pre-woke things where shows like THE DUKES OF HAZZARD and movies like SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT romanticized the old South and Skynyrd with the gigantic Rebel flag unfurling as they hit the stage fed off of that. Maybe it was because the music was so good and we left 'what if-ing' in terms of what they had left to share with us.

If I might a personal note, my 15-year-old son at the time, Josh, idolized the band. Couldn't get enough. One weekday night in Wheeling, he begged to go the show. His mom said no. School night. We made a deal. Homework would be done in catering. Josh was too wound up. Gary Rossington and Johnny Van Zandt got wind. Gary came to Josh's table. "Josh, your dad won't let us go on 'til you finish that homework…what kind of damn math is that anyway?" Josh got it done and the band played on.

Tom Rooney

________________________________________


I had the pleasure of working with Skynyrd four times, producing three TV concerts and a live King Biscuit CD – which is a story in and of itself. While to me Gary had a bad boy exterior, I found him to be a gentle and kind soul when I worked with him. He was a true gentleman to me.

As a side gig, I am the co-owner of a bar in Long Island where I book the mostly classic rock bands on the weekends. Whenever a band rips into a Skynyrd song, the place lights up. No one dares touch Freebird, but they light up the house with Alabama, Gimme, That Smell, Simple Man. Their music still sounds fresh, I think it will always be vital to our music landscape.

Barry Ehrmann
Enliven Entertainment

________________________________________


Gary Rossington was a real Rock Star giant when I first started playing guitar at 13. His cool hair, cool jackets, and smoldering slow-hand Les Paul bends full of swagger taught me to play guitar. I dropped the record player needle 10,000+ times learning those early Lynyrd Skynyrd records. Even my first amp, that I bought while working at a car wash at 14, was a Peavey Mace with a 412 cab, just like the amps on the cover photo of One More From The Road.

During high school my denim blue notebook had Lynyrd Skynyrd scrawled in ink pen across the front as I cried walking to school the day of their plane crash. Never saw the original band but was able to see the Rossington Collins Band melt the stage in Mobile AL. From 16, 17, 18 years of age I'm playing my Les Paul Custom plugged into my Peavey Mace turned up loud rockin' Skynyrd tunes in the FL panhandle. Every night the endless clubs and biker bars were filled with patrons roaring with applause (plus endless shots sent to the stage!) hearing Sweet Home Alabama, Simple Man, Gimme Three Steps, Call Me The Breeze, Needle and The Spoon, and Free Bird.

Those late 70's musical moments and songs carried me to my future touring with Ronnie Montrose, Buddy Miles, Double Trouble, Colin Hay + others. Gary Rossington gave me so much and now his musical influence lives on forever in my heart and soul. And so tonight, in his honor, I touch my fingertips to the strings and like always there's a sparkling flash as Gary Rossington's souful swagger jets across the universe. I can feel it, I can hear it, and I want to Turn It Up!

Greg Vorobiov

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Good on ya Bob
Skynyrd was the stuff
My friend Chris Rugulo has been their stage tech for decades.
Can we get a shout out to a true rock and roll war dog?
Chris Rugulo is one of the best and a beautiful kind heart at that!
And yes Bob you are el correcto, The band was the epitome of justall of us in the 70s trying to make it.

Robert Xeno

________________________________________


I was there. For history. I was at the launch party for Al's Sounds of the South label, at Richard's in Atlanta, where Mose Jones opened with a gritty set, followed by Elijah (not memorable), and then...Skynyrd, whom none of us had ever heard or heard of. One by one, song by song, table by table, everyone stopped eating, stopped, drinking, stopped talking and by the end of their set everyone was standing on their chairs or even tables, watching something we all knew was special. We all knew.

I saw them many more times, got to know them a bit, and, miraculously, was hired to be their indie PR for the "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "One More From The Road" albums and tours. "Bullets" wasn't their best work, following Ed King's and Al Kooper's departure, but it has aged surprisingly well. That live album, recorded at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, is a tour de force, showing a band really coming into it's own and featuring new third guitarist Steve Gaines (who I'd known previously when he was with Mitch Ryder's Detroit, having replaced Steve Hunter). His sister Cassie was one of the Skynyrd backing singers, the Honkettes, and she and I both lobbied to get Steve an audition with the band. I'm sure Cassie's lobbying was taken far more seriously than mine. But Steve fit in incredibly well instantaneously, despite not being from Jacksonville.

This was not a "southern rock band." They were a real rock band, with influences from far and wide, including especially the guitar-driven British blues-rock bands. They were exactly what you saw - no artifice. I have so many great memories of time spent with them. Ronnie asked me once why I didn't drink with them, and I replied "someone has to be sober enough to write it all down after the fighting stops." I got them a Kirshner Rock Awards award for helping preserve that legendary Fox Theatre, and Leon Wilkeson sang his acceptance remarks. Watching those three guitars soar and their interplay was magical.

I was driving into Chicago after seeing Talking Heads at the B.Ginnings club out in the suburbs late one night when I heard the plane crash news on the radio and nearly drove off the road. I spent the night helping field press inquiries and getting no sleep, postponing my meeting the following day over at Mercury Records. Not just Ronnie, but Steve AND Cassie, and road manager Dean Kilpatrick.

I went to their one real reunion tour after the crash, at Universal Amphitheatre, where they ended with an instrumental version of "Free Bird." And it was really haunting. I didn't even go backstage to see them, it was just too much to handle, really.

Second drummer Artimus Pyle, who was there for all the glory days and walked away from the plane crash, is still with us, on his own and long-exiled from the band; I was really happy to visit with him on a classic rock cruise several years ago.

I saw the "If I Leave Her Tomorrow" documentary the night it premiered on Showtime, and, wow, it's really good. No talking heads of any managers, agents, etc. Just the voices of the band and Ronnie's widow Judy, and featuring Gary throughout, taking us all on a tour of their Jacksonville roots. If you haven't seen it, you really should.

Gary's heart problems were ongoing and well-documented these past few years, and so I made a special trip to Las Vegas a few years ago to see them and to see him before an iHeart Radio Festival show there, and our visit was short, but, to me, so meaningful.

I really felt attached to that band and those guys. A little part of me died with Gary last night when I heard the news.

I've worked with other artists who've died - Billy Murcia, the original NY Dolls drummer, when I was working with them before they signed to Mercury. Sandy West, the Runaways' drummer, long after the band had broken up. And John Lennon. That night was brutal too, so completely shockingly unexpected.

We knew Gary was living on borrowed time, with his weakening heart.. They all had been, the survivors of that plane crash, and one by one, we've lost them all (except Artimus); yes, others survived including tour manager Ron Eckerman and sister Honkette Leslie Hawkins (who I had a major crush on). But the finality hearing the news yesterday hit hard. How could it not?

Toby Mamis
ALIVE ENTERPRISES


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History Of The World, Pt. II

Are you watching this? It's so STUPID!

Which is why it's so great.

The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" takeoff is genius. Even down to the staring contest between Judas and the Roman soldier.

The original "History of the World," you know, "Pt. 1," was uneven. It's hard to do comedy, it's hard to be consistent. Mel Brooks's best work was "The Producers," and "Blazing Saddles." But it looked like he was losing his touch, but "Part II" Shows he has not.

The Jews in the shtetl doing a musical, even down to the "Fiddler on the Roof" parody...

And the Romanov stuff, where the daughter is an influencer.

They don't make this kind of comedy anymore. Somehow it faded out. You know, the offensive stuff you can get away with. Stuff where the conception is key. You know, left field stuff, stuff so out there, that you cannot help but laugh to the point where you cry.

Hitler on ice? With the Olympic commentators? I'm laughing just thinking about it.

Before "Part II" we watched this week's John Oliver, where he did his best to nail DeSantis. Does any right-winger watch John Oliver? Furthermore, if I do say so myself, somehow John didn't put the stake in DeSantis's heart. We knew most of the material, at least I did, we were looking for the unknown delivered in such a delicious way that no one could vote for Ron.

But politics is scary. It's like we're living in the Russia of the 50s and 60s, you know, with mind control, where you didn't learn anything, couldn't learn anything, whole swaths of information were excised. Did you see that "Times" article about the right wing outlets which didn't cover the Dominion suit, how Fox knew what they were saying was false? Probably not. Here it is:

"Conservative Media Pay Little Attention to Revelations About Fox News - Even in today's highly partisan media world, experts said, the lack of coverage about the private comments of Fox's top executives and hosts stands out.": https://nyti.ms/3F4cIIp

Ah, you won't read it, either you know all this or don't want to. Ain't that America.

And speaking of TV, did you watch Bill Maher on Friday night? First and foremost I'm sick of Bill and his Covid B.S. He said the other week that natural immunity is as good as the vaccine. Yes, the study said this, IF YOU HAD COVID! If you did not, it's open season. I hate that people are so narrow-minded that they are limited by their own experience. I don't think Bill knows anybody who died. I know plenty. I can't get over Lisa's father passing, he was the rock of their family. This was before the vaccine. Hey, take all the risk you want. You think you're immune, you're not. I know too many people who don't know someone who died. And their narrow view would have you believe that Covid was nothing. As for whether it came from a lab or not, WHO CARES! I mean we'd like to know, but what does that change? Covid was a big deal, I'm still recovering mentally, from the years locked down. That ain't gonna change no matter where it came from, even if Fred Flintstone cooked it up between strings at the bowling alley.

But even worse was Russell Brand. An uninformed nincompoop who hogged all the time on "Real Time" so no one else could speak truth. He was busy making a tzimmes because he's promoting a new movie. God, even when you blow the whistle on Bill he refuses to acknowledge it. I got e-mail from people who've run into Chris Rock and he was nice. Can't imagine Bill giving people the time of day. Whenever you see him around town he's still wearing a damn suit. And Bill, we know you had a hair transplant too, who else would wear that combed-back hairstyle. I'm trashing you because too many people get your news from you, it should at least be fair and balanced, and I'm not talking about Fox.

Which is why "Part II" is so great. It takes you away from today's world where you feel powerless, observe insanity and don't know what to do. You see "History of the World, Pt. II" is insane, even down to the vomiting on the boat on the way to Omaha Beach, an homage to the farting scene in "Blazing Saddles."

No, every joke doesn't work, but this nonagenarian takes more risks and hits more bullseyes than all those comedians on TikTok, trying to blow themselves up.

Mel Brooks coming back is like Paul McCartney cutting a new "Band on the Run," or Bob Dylan cutting a new "Blood on the Tracks." Completely surprising, completely unfathomable.

I don't want to overhype you. Then again, I can't. Like I said, this show works mostly because it's so stupid, the conceptions are so whacked. You'll laugh in a way you haven't for decades...

WATCH IT!

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