Main Menu
Classic Rock News And Views
Browse: Classic Rock Gear Classic Rock Ringtones Classic Rock Posters
March 17, 2010
Caffeine Catches Up With Dave Grohl
Much has been said throughout history about “too much of a good thing,” and for Them Crooked Vultures drummer Dave Grohl, the “good thing” of choice is coffee.
Whether coffee is good or bad for you is something best left to doctors and nutritionists to debate, but Grohl’s reported five-pot-a-day intake pushed his body a bit past its ability to deal with that much caffeine. Who the heck wouldn’t be bouncing off the walls, or perhaps ceilings with that much caffeine in them?
Being the fun-loving and crazy guys that rock stars tend to be, the guys from the Vultures put together a little video recently that featured a caffeine-crazed Grohl screaming for “fresh pots,” hammering away at lightning speed on his drum kit, and playing some kind of 4-stringed instrument that looks like it may be some variation of the mandolin or something.
The video is amusing, and probably the kind of thing you would expect from crazy rock musician types. Hey, who doesn’t like to have a little fun once in a while and act a bit silly in the process?
Apparently things went from silly to decidedly more serious when Grohl had to be rushed to the doctor after suffering from the effects of too much caffeine. The incident unfolded just two weeks after the video was shot.
According to a few quick tidbits dredged up on the web, too much caffeine can lead to symptoms such as nervousness, gastrointestinal disturbance (ouch!), muscle twitching, rambling flow of thought and speech, and rapid heartbeat.
It is also said that caffeine overdoes can be fatal in some cases, but Grohl was probably nowhere near the level it would take to actually kill him. Let’s hope so, anyway!
The video entitled “Fresh Pots!” can be enjoyed below, and we’re glad to hear that Grohl came through his ordeal just fine and has reduced his intake of coffee as a result.
March 1, 2010
Would You Believe ‘Contemporary Classic Rock?’
Those of us who are old enough to remember the television series Get Smart will recognize where I stole part of that headline from. I can remember watching that program regularly as a kid.
Regular readers know that I keep the focus on classic rock here, but do stray a bit from time to time when something interesting shows up on my radar that isn’t quite classic rock in its purest form, but may be of interest to fans of the classic rock genre. From now on, I am going to refer to these artists as “contemporary classic rock” artists.
Please note that I’m not staking a claim as the one who coined that term, and for all I know, it has been used a million times by others. It just happens to be what popped into my head when I searched for a way to classify artists like this. Hopefully, it is not something the artists themselves will find disagreeable.
I believe it started when I ran across an article about Grace Potter and The Nocturnals a couple of years ago. I liked the fact that they had a “classic” sound – something that could have come out of the 70’s, but clearly they are a contemporary group.
I decided that they were too good to ignore and thought that other classic rock fans might appreciate their work as much as I do. Therefore I decided to sneak them in here alongside the great bands of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
These exceptions will be rare, and totally according to whether I like a particular act or not. There are probably a lot of contemporary groups out there that are going for a “classic” sound, but only a few of them really catch my attention in a way that makes me want to help to spread the word about them in some small way.
It makes me wonder if some classic rock radio stations might be interested in mixing things up a little with some of these new groups that have a solid, classic sound. If there’s one criticism I hear about classic rock radio, it’s that they play the same songs over and over again. I realize radio stations are businesses that base their decisions on the bottom line, but it would be interesting to see what the audience reaction would be to showcasing a few select contemporary groups that have the “right” sound.
Speaking of Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, they’ve recently released a new video which showcases the group as they cover the Jefferson Airplane classic “White Rabbit.” As a fan, I may be biased, but I think they pulled it off brilliantly.
I’m told that more Grace Potter and The Nocturnals news will be coming soon.
November 12, 2009
Steven Tyler: I’m Not Leaving Aerosmith
After weeks of speculation about the future of Aerosmith, Steven Tyler took to the stage with the the Joe Perry Project on Tuesday night at New York City’s Fillmore. As Perry was wrapping up his set with his band, Tyler surprised the crowd by appearing for a rendition of Aerosmith favorite “Walk This Way.”
Before cutting lose with the legendary hit, Tyler took a few seconds to address the audience and announce that he is not planning to leave Aerosmith. “New York I want you to know I am not leaving Aerosmith,” Tyler proclaimed. He then went on to refer to Joe Perry as “a man of many colors,” and to himself as a “rainbow.” I suppose it’s left to fans to figure out the meaning behind those words.
Perhaps Tyler is simply planning on some side projects, just as Joe Perry has been doing with his Joe Perry Project. Whatever his future plans are, the recent proliferation of rumors about his departure from Aerosmith seems to have prompted him to reassure fans that he plans to continue as a member of the group.
What actually went on behind the scenes between Tyler and the rest of the group is not known, but it apparently all came to a head following Tyler’s infamous fall from the stage during Aerosmith’s tour with ZZ Top this past summer. Speculation surfaced questioning Tyler’s sobriety, and was further fueled by a fan photograph of him inside a Massachusetts liquor store.
With the tour scrubbed due to Tyler’s injuries, other members – particularly Perry – spoke publicly about their disappointment over the cancellation of the tour, and hinted at disappointment with Tyler himself. Recent comments attributed to Tyler about his next project being all about “Brand Tyler” made it appear that he was further distancing himself from his Aerosmith band mates.
As of Tuesday night, all appears to be well in the world of Aerosmith again. Perhaps this will allow them to resume work on the new album that was planned for release next year, and who knows? Maybe another tour will follow and help patch things up a bit with disappointed fans.
October 21, 2009
Aerosmith Rocks Oahu’s Blaisdell
Earlier speculation regarding the potential discomfort that might result from basically being forced to put on a show for fans in Hawaii may have been off the mark. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Aerosmith fell easily back into their live routine without missing a beat.
Talk of a rift between frontman Steven Tyler and the rest of the group had led to rumors that the band was headed for a break-up. Guitarist Joe Perry has been seen as Tyler’s most vocal critic, hinting in a recent Billboard interview that the 61-year-old singer need to “get together,” which we can probably safely assume is synonymous with “get his act together.”
“If there was any discomfort between the two, or any of the band, it didn’t show on stage or in the music,” according to the paper. After decades playing together the group may well have the ability to successfully hide signs of any bad blood within the ranks, but on the other hand, maybe they have buried the hatchet and decided to move on. We all have our moments, and in it’s probably not the first time a bit of in-fighting has erupted within the group. Most of us forgive, forget and get on with life.
With regard to getting his act together, that’s exactly what Tyler did. At least for the show at the Blaisdell Arena Sunday night where he was reported to be in great form. It’s been a little over two months since Tyler had a nasty fall off the stage during a show at the Sturgis motorcycle rally and has either healed quite well or has the ability to please a crowd even while suffering from pain or other lingering complications.
Tyler seemed to make a special effort to show that he and Perry were still on good terms by taking “every opportunity to sidle up next to Perry, his longtime bandmate and friend who has openly criticized him for his continued rock-star lifestyle, and declared he ‘loved’ the guys in the band.”
Overall, the first of the two shows scheduled sounded as if it could not have gone any better. The group was reported to be enjoying the show as much as the fans were. If that reflects the true feelings experienced by the guys on stage, it certainly sounds like a promising development where the future of Aerosmith is concerned.
October 13, 2009
Speculation Regarding Aerosmith Rift Continues
It wasn’t long after Steven Tyler’s famous fall off the stage at the Sturgis motorcycle rally before speculation about the relationship between Tyler and the rest of the group started. As is usually the case in these situations, there were doubts about Tyler’s sobriety, something he addressed not long after being photographed making a purchase inside a Massachusetts liquor store.
Of all the other members of the group, Joe Perry seems to be the one with the most to say about the current state of the band and has not held back a whole lot when he talks about the cancelled tour.
Most recently, Perry – busy doing the rounds as he promotes his new album – is making statements that are fueling speculation that himself, and perhaps the rest of the group are estranged from Tyler. His chat with Billboard (video below) seems to confirm the rift that has opened up between Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith, although Perry seems to be the only one inclined to speak his mind on the issue so far.
Although Perry does not name Tyler specifically, his reference to the “5th band member” and how he needs to “get together” and come join the rest of the group again, makes it easy to read between the lines. And can we possibly not wonder about the state of Tyler’s sobriety after a comment like that?
Perry comes across as well-grounded, and does not hesitate to acknowledge that it’s the fans that are responsible for the band’s success. The fans appear to be the main source of his frustration over the cancelled tour because he feels they have been taken for granted by that unnamed “5th member.”
It’s clear that Joe Perry is not the kind of guy that will be sitting around watching Seinfeld reruns while he waits for the group to work out its differences. With regard to what he might be doing with his solo project on the road, he says he may even do a few Aerosmith songs that he feels belong more to him than the group.
Drummer Joey Kramer has also kept busy by promoting his new book which chronicles his own struggles with depression and substance abuse. Something he seems to have risen above and learned how to put behind him.
Once again, the future of Aerosmith seems uncertain, but it’s not the first time. The group has endured more than their share of trials and tribulations over their decades-long career and has always bounced back. Proving that they are still able to take to the stage and pull off a respectable show, it’s more than likely that many fans are hoping for at least one more comeback, offering the opportunity to see the “Bad Boys From Boston” at least one more time.
