Archive for December, 2011
On September 28 I wrote about the artists who were nominated for the 2012 Rock & Roll of Fame. To refresh your memory here is the list of nominees:
Beastie Boys
The Cure
Donovan
Eric B. & Rakim
Guns N Roses
Heart
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
Freddie King
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Small Faces/The Faces
The Spinners
Donna Summer
War
So now that the powers that be at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have made their decisions here are the 2012 inductees:
Beastie Boys – YEAH!
Donovan
Guns N Roses – YEAH!
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers – YEAH!
The Small Faces/The Faces
Freddie King
While I’m disappointed that Joan Jett didn’t make the cut I am so pleased that Guns N Roses, the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are in! I feel fortunate that I’ve seen Guns and the Beasties live and that I will have the opportunity to see the Chili Peppers next spring.
In the meantime, I can’t wait to see what happens at the April 14, 2012 ceremony in Cleveland. Will there be a Guns reunion? Will the Beasties write and perform a song called “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Be Inducted!)”? Will Anthony Kiedis and Flea go old school and perform wearing only tube socks? Who knows what’s in store but tither way I’ll be watching…and you should too!
There is no question that 2011 has been The Year of Adele – she has the best selling album of the year (21) which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. She is also now part of the Guinness Book Of World Records because in the US the album has spent a total of 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, the longest an album has held the top position since 1998. As of this month, Adele has sold 18 million albums worldwide.
Here are her nominations in the major categories:
Record of the Year – “Rolling In The Deep”
Album of the Year – 21
Song of the Year – “Rolling In The Deep”
Best Pop Solo Performance – “Someone Like You”
Best Pop Vocal Album – 21
So basically Adele is nominated for every major category that she is eligible for and I’m predicting right now that she is going to win at least three Grammys. Maybe more. Her biggest competitors are the Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga and Rihanna and for the categories that don’t apply to her, I predict Foo Fighters take home the prize.
Record of the Year – Adele will win this one for sure because Katy Perry and Bruno Mars aren’t even in her league and I think “Rolling In The Deep” is a much better song than Mumford and Sons’ “The Cave” and the Bon Iver’s “Holocene.”
Album of the Year – This category is a bit more competitive as the list includes Lady Gaga, Foo Fighters and Rihanna. Adele is clearly in very good company but there is no denying how ubiquitous 21 was this year.
Song of the Year – Done deal. She should start preparing her speech now.
Best Pop Solo Performance – She may not have this one locked down because Lady Gaga’s “You and I” is awesome and people love Katy Perry’s “Firework” song (who knows why).
Best Pop Vocal Album – This category could go either way since once again Adele is in great company. This was a big year for Cee Lo Green as his song “Fuck You” was on the radio as much as “Rolling In The Deep” and people loved him as a judge on The Voice. And, as I said earlier, people love Gaga and Rihanna who are both nominated as well.
All and all I think this will be Adele’s show but the Foo Fighters should also do well as they are nominated for five major category awards:
Album of the Year – Wasting Light
Best Rock Performance – “Walk”
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance – “White Limo”
Best Rock Song – “Walk”
Best Rock Album – Wasting Light
See you February 12th for music’s (and Adele’s) biggest night!
Now that I’ve seen Axl Rose live (yeah!!!) I thought it was time to make a list of the top ten rock & roll front men I’ve seen in concert. This is not a list of the best front men of all time (because if it was Robert Plant and Bruce Springsteen would clearly be on the list), just my list of the top ten front men I’ve seen.
Side note #1: When I saw Prince and Eric Clapton they were not technically part of a band but they had bands backing them so I consider them front men. Plus, they were so good that it would be a crime to keep them off this list.
Side note #2: Putting these guys in order was extremely difficult so I would love to hear your opinion and see your list.
Here we go:
10) Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver) – Unfortunately, when most people hear the name Scott Weiland, what most likely comes to mind first is the fact that he is a severe drug addict. That’s a shame since Weiland is one hell of a singer. Clad in leather pants and his signature police officer hat and aviators, Weiland put on quite a show back in 2005 when he was singing for Velvet Revolver and sharing a mic with Slash. I will never forget that show as Weiland and Slash were a force to be reckoned with.
9) Eric Clapton (former band was The Yardbirds and Cream, among others) – An epic show that included some serious instrumentals from a man who is top ten on so many lists its ridiculous. Clapton has 17 Grammys and it showed that night at Pepsi Center eight years ago – he is brilliant.
Prince (former band was The Revolution) – Although Axl Rose is notorious for his behavior, Prince is definitely in the same realm. Remember when he asked people not to address him by anything other than a symbol? Get a grip. But Prince is an amazing performer as he grinds on his guitar and/or mic stand while dancing around in his glittery heels. It’s a sight to see for sure.
7) Tom Petty (The Heartbreakers) – I love that not only is Petty not afraid to play his hits, he also plays them like it’s the first time. I’ve seen him in all kinds of venues – Red Rocks, Mile High Music Festival, etc. – and he never ever disappoints. He’s always excited and the crowd follows his lead.
6) Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones) – One of the most famous bands in rock & roll history did not disappoint. 1997’s Bridges to Babylon tour at the old Orange Bowl stadium was a night I will never forget. The way Jagger moved across the enormous stage was incredible and of course his synergy with Keith Richards was extraordinary.
5) Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) – That screech paired with his harmonica playing skills and the scarves on his mic stand set Tyler apart from so many front men. Like Jagger and Richards, Tyler and Joe Perry were meant to be. That being said too many people bring up Jagger comparisons rather than seeing Tyler for who he is – the epitome of what it means to be an American rock & roll singer.
4) David Lee Roth (Van Halen) – “Diamond Dave” could also be called “Acrobatic Dave” as he bounced around that stage like a man on a mission. He was in constant motion – dancing, jumping, jiving and flipping. It was like rock & roll Cirque du Soleil. Every time I thought I’d seen the best move he brought another one – oh yeah and Eddie Van Halen was there too. What a show.
3) Dave Grohl (The Foo Fighters) – You know someone is a great front man when they could do the whole show by themselves; that is Grohl in a nutshell. Whether he’s playing Red Rocks or the Pepsi Center he bleeds the best combination of all: charisma, talent and rock & roll.
2) Brian Johnson (AC/DC) –When does replacing the lead singer of a band ever work? When you’re Brian Johnson and you sing for AC/DC. After original singer Bon Scott died in 1980, Johnson took over and the transition was so seamless it was like nothing ever happened. Just like I’m sure Scott did, Johnson brings so much vigor to his shows it’s unbelievable. And with an unmistakable voice like that he will always be unstoppable.
1) Axl Rose (Guns N Roses) – Say what you want about his antics including, but not limited to, his inability to arrive anywhere on time, his prima donna attitude and inability to get along with Slash. None of it matters because Axl Rose can put on a rock & roll show. I’m happy to report he left his bullshit at the door on December 11, 2011 as he was on time, played an epic three-hour show, brought unstoppable energy and featured a wardrobe I wanted to steal. Three hours of awesome I will never forget from the best rock & roll front man of all time.