A great compilation of Tommy Ramone’s live performances by Alli Patton at American Songwriter. Including, this excerpt: In 1977, the band made an appearance on the music variety show, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, playing another fiery set for television audiences. The drummer can be glimpsed in the back, delivering a durable beat to songs like “Sheena is a Punk Rocker,” “Loudmouth,” and “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment.”
Tyler Golsen at Farout Magazine highlights the moment that Don Kirshner invited Alice Cooper to be the first band to appear when the new show launched on ABC in November of 1972. Check out this great post, including this excerpt: Within a few minutes, a rerun of the 1960s western Rawhide was being shown instead. The station manager undoubtedly thought he was saving a whole city from the devilish antics of Alice Cooper, but what he didn’t realise was how popular the group had become by 1972, especially in the midwest of the United States. The censorship stirred local controversy, which also allegedly included a bomb threat against the station for pulling the Alice Cooper performance. Kirshner wanted a response, and boy, did he get one.
All of us at Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert would like to congratulate the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2014:
Cat Stevens was one of the most popular singer-songwriters of the ‘60s and ‘70s, responsible for hits such as “Wild World,” “Father and Son,” and “Peace Train.” In the 80s he dropped out of the music business after a public conversion to the Muslim faith and changed is name to Yusuf Islam. For the next several years he would focus on recording devotional music and only recently has he performed and recorded secular tunes.
Daryl Hall and John Oates were the most successful recording duo of their era. With a long string of hits such as “She’s Gone” and “Man Eater,” they released 13 albums that went either gold or platinum. They were even pronounced the most successful rock duo of all time by Billboard Magazine. With their laid back, easy going style, they had long, successful careers that continue to this day.
Nirvana was at once the 90s greatest success story and its greatest tragedy. Led by their inscrutable frontman Kurt Cobain, the band’s music spoke to the youthful angst of Generation X. One of the most successful acts of the Seattle grunge scene, the band achieved massive fame following the release of their 1991 album Nevermind and its smash hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” After releasing just 3 studio albums, the band dissolved following the shocking death of Kurt Cobain in April of 1994. Surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic released the live recording of their MTV Unplugged session, featuring hauntingly restrained renditions of several Nirvana songs as well as covers of some of Cobain’s favorite artists.
Linda Ronstadt was without a doubt one of the top female solo artists of the 70s. She wrote and recorded in a diverse array of styles such as rock, folk, jazz, and country. Her highly successful solo career earned a plethora of accolades including 11 Grammy awards.
KISS changed the perception of what a rock band could be with their trademark makeup, explosive live shows, and their die-hard fans dubbed the KISS Army. The band was founded by Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss in the early 70s and grew into one of the decade’s most iconic groups. Their affinity for pyrotechnics, body armor, and space-age sets secured their place as one of rock’s top spectacles. In addition, with their own brand of action figures, lunch boxes, and comic books, they become one of the most well marketed bands in rock history since The Beatles.
Peter Gabriel first came to prominence as the lead singer of the popular progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving the group to start a solo career, Gabriel initially struggled to carry on the success he had with his former band. After releasing four self-titled albums, he recorded So, the best selling record of his career. Among several hits was the song “In Your Eyes,” which was immortalized by its use in the signature scene of the 1989 film Say Anything. In addition, Gabriel found great success among the MTV generation with his innovative use of the music video, which conveyed the experimentalism that had always been present in his music. The video for the song “Sledgehammer” won nine MTV Video Music Awards, a record that stands to this day, and is the most played video in the network’s history. In addition to his music, Gabriel has spent much of his career involved in humanitarian efforts such as Amnesty International and the campaign against apartheid in South Africa. Genesis was inducted into the Hall in 2010, making Gabriel a two-time inductee.
Though a talented group in their own right, The E-Street Band will be forever linked through their work with Bruce Springsteen. Born out of the music scene of Asbury Park, New Jersey, the band was founded by saxophonist Clarence Clemons, bassist Garry Tallent, and keyboardist Danny Federici. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt, keyboardist Roy Bittan, and drummer Max Weinberg would later join to form the classic lineup that would back Springsteen on his first seven studio albums. The band’s big sound would play a major role in shaping some of the Boss’ most memorable albums such as Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Born in the USA.
Brian Epstein is perhaps the most important manager in rock history. In 1961, during a visit to Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Epstein discovered a local foursome named The Beatles. Epstein saw great potential in the group and signed on to represent them. Through the use of his business savvy he was able to successfully market The Beatles’ natural talent and charm, which led to them becoming the UK’s most popular band. Epstein was also instrumental in arranging the group’s first visit to the United States in order to make their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, sparking Beatlemania. Epstein would continue as The Beatles manager and confidant until his unexpected death in 1967 at the age of 32.
Andrew Loog Oldham started off as a publicist working on promoting acts such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan, which led to him crossing paths with a burgeoning London rhythm and blues band called the Rollin’ Stones. Though only 19, he was signed on to be their manager. Under his advice, they altered their name to The Rolling Stones and obtained a recording contract with Decca Records, who were still reeling from their failure to sign The Beatles. He is also widely credited with promoting the Stones’ bad boy image, which was a marked contrast from many of the other “clean cut” bands of the subsequent “British Invasion.”
Few bands that came out of the 1960s San Francisco rock scene had the staying power and influence of the Grateful Dead. Known for their musical virtuosity, extended jams, and their loyal fans lovingly called “Deadheads,” the Grateful Dead were one of America’s most successful live acts for decades.
Founded in the Bay Area in the mid-60s by guitar player Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead utilized a unique blend of traditional country, blues, jazz, and rock. Garcia, joined by fellow guitarist Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, multi-instrumentalist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and percussionist Mickey Hart would make up the group’s classic lineup.
While they would record several acclaimed and commercially successful studio albums, the widely recognized core of the Grateful Dead experience was their live concerts. Renowned for their group improvisations, the band would stretch out, or jam, with their wide repertoire of standards and originals to the point where some songs reached 20 minutes or more in length. They were also celebrated for their “segues:” seamlessly transitioning to the next song without breaking. The popularity of their live performances were spread through the trading of bootleg tapes, a practice encouraged by the band. These characteristics can be seen in numerous groups active today, such as Phish and Dave Matthews Band.
After building a solid fan base in California, the Dead took their act across the country, beginning their journey to becoming one of the most toured bands in music history. This would include a stop at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969 and a tour of Europe in 1972. This string of success was not without some serious challenges. In early 1970, the group’s hotel room in New Orleans was raided by the police, which resulted in drug possession charges. A couple months later, Lenny Hart, Mickey’s father, who managed the Grateful Dead, skipped town with the band’s money. This conflict would lead to Mickey Hart briefly leaving the group before returning in the mid-70s. Most tragically was the death of keyboard and harmonica player Ron “Pigpen” McKernan in 1973 to liver disease.
However, thanks to a rotating series of musicians, a highly devoted fanbase, and a constant touring schedule, the Grateful Dead maintained their success throughout the decades. In 1977, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert featured excerpts from the newly released Grateful Dead Movie. The movie was a concert film documenting the Grateful Dead live experience.
Unfortunately, tragedy would strike the band again in 1995 when Jerry Garcia, long considered the heart and soul of the Grateful Dead, passed away after some years of declining health. The group would survive in various incarnations over the years, including The Other Ones and The Dead. Bob Weir and Phil Lesh still perform the music of the Grateful Dead with their band Furthur.
In 1994 the band was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Grateful Dead’s impact on music goes without question. Throughout their 30 year run, few bands did as much to elevate the status of the rock concert from mere entertainment to an experience of collective spirituality.