My daughter Jennifer thought it would be a great idea to set up a music blog for me as I have spent both my kids’ inheritance on rock and roll and concerts of all musical persuasions. My first musical gift, the album Meet the Beetles, was given to me as a birthday gift by my Aunt Pat. We all watched The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and wondered how the Rolling Stones would counter their every move. My next musical memory is being in a Mustang with one of my mother’s friends and hearing the Mamas and the Papas’ California Dreamin’ and a Sergeant Pepper tune on an FM radio for the first time. Now this was cool and something completely different than the top 40 radio that I was used to up to that point and the Frank Sinatra and Big Band music my parents enjoyed.
Flushing, Queens, New York in the 1960’s- The long hair teenagers that were older than I was would get drafted or enlist then return with shaved heads- a shocking transformation and visual image imbedded in our collective memories. Some came back heroes and at least one was floating around the neighborhood after going on leave and not returning. Through it all there was a musical soundtrack to our lives. I bought all the top singles and checked off the list in the Sunday papers. When I got to high school I bought my first album- Jethro Tull’s Warchild. The long haired flautist with the wild eyes became an early musical obsession. I worked at a butcher shop delivering meat on Saturdays and I would end each day going to Korvettes department store to buy an album for $2.99 and the record collection I have to this day grew.
My first rock concert was Queen at Madison Square Garden with Thin Lizzy opening. Rock and Roll theatrics at it’s finest and I was hooked. By the end of high school Steve Howe was the greatest guitarist and the music and tours of Yes were a focal point. Then came Neil Young and Crazy Horse with Rust Never Sleeps and things were never quite the same again.
Punk rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Country- I love it all. I have attended over 500 shows thus far and have most of the ticket stubs to prove it; I still attend about two shows a week which in the New York City area is not that hard to do. My family thinks I am insane but the music is my passion.
Hey Hey My My.
In this blog I hope to let you know where I’ve been and where I’m going.
Perhaps we’ve already crossed paths as it is an increasingly small world.
Rock On!
GQ