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Boomerocity.com

 

Watch current interviews with music and entertainment icons and influencers of the baby boomer generation as well as rising stars in music.

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  • Home
  • Interviews
  • BUZZ!
  • News
  • New Releases
  • Concert Reviews
  • Contributors
    • Bob Gruen's Studio
    • Bob Heimall - Cover Stories
    • Jim Kroemer - Album Art
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • 2022.01 Boomerocity Buzz

     

    WKRP in Cincinnati”s ‘Dr. Johnny Fever’ Howard Hesseman Dead

    HowardHessman 31Jan2022

     

    SLASH To Perform On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' This Wednesday (February 2nd)

    slashconspiratorsjuly2021 638

     

    Neil Young Couldn’t Remove His Music From Spotify On His Own. Here’s Why.

    Spotify CCO

     

    Steve Vai Postponed Tour Due to ‘Stupid’ Pizza-Making Injury

    attachment Steve Vai

     

    JIMI HENDRIX IN MAUI GETS GLOBAL THEATRICAL RELEASE IN FEBRUARY FROM ABRAMORAMA

    Hendrix Maui

     

    America’s Gerry Beckley recalls band’s “rocket ship” ride that began with debut album’s release 50 years ago

    M AmericaAmerica630 012622

     

    Flashback: Dan Peek’s Last Interview Exclusively On Boomerocity (Two Parts) Here and Here

     

    ‘IRL’ Concert Platform Fever Raises $227 Million in Goldman-Led Round, Touts Demand For ‘Thrilling and Well-Curated’ Events
    Fever, an eight-year-old “global live-entertainment discovery platform,” has officially raised $227 million in a funding round led by Goldman Sachs.

     

    Peter Robbins, Original Charlie Brown Voice Actor, Dead at 65

    charlie brown

     

    Van Morrison Postpones Florida Concerts From February To April Because of COVID Surge

    Van Morrison 26Jan2022

     

    Elvis Costello Inks ‘Exclusive’ Administration Deal With BMG as Catalog Sales Rush Continues

    binary comment

     

    What Happened To The Actors From “Dukes Of Hazzard?”

    dukes 735x413

     

    Flashbock 1: The 1st Boomerocity Interview With John Scheider

     

    Flashbock 2: The 2nd Boomerocity Interview With John Scheider

     

    World Premiere: Hear Bryan Adams’ Punchy New Song ‘Never Gonna Rain’

     

    Randy Travis “More Life” Documentary Sets Premier

     

    Following UMPG Publishing Deal, Bob Dylan Sells Recorded Catalog to Sony Music

     

    2022 State of Music: Is TikTok the New SoundCloud?

     

    VENTURES GUITARIST DON WILSON DEAD AT 88

    attachment wilson

     

    Daryl Hall Announces Spring 2022 U.S. Tour With Todd Rundgren

    attachment daryl hall todd rundgren

     

    Clapton Speaks: The Real Music Observer

     

    KISS’ PAUL STANLEY REFLECTS ON TURNING 70

    attachment paul stanley in front of kiss sign pointing at the camera

     

    A New ‘Guitar Hero’ Video Game Could Be Coming

    attachment guitar hero controller

     

    TikTok Testing Support for Paid Subscriptions to Creators

     

    Queen’s Brian May to Make His Acting Debut on British Children’s Show

    brian may queen 2019

     

    GRETA VAN FLEET's JAKE KISZKA Celebrates 61st Anniversary Of GIBSON's Iconic SG Guitar

    jakekiszkagibson2022 638

     

    World Premiere: Listen to Joe Satriani’s Groovy New Single ‘Sahara’

     

    Garth Brooks Reschedules Gillette Stadium Concert

    GarthBrooks 20Jan2022

     

    The Enduring Mystery of “Magic Alex”

    Magic Alex lennon mccartney alamy

     

    Chris Daughtry Confirms Stepdaughter’s Cause of Death

    Chris Daughtry2jpg

     

    Kenny Chesney sells music catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management

    Chesney 20Jan2022

     

    Sound Credit Unleashes Version 4 — A Quantum Leap for Eliminating $1.4 Billion In Annual Missing Royalties

     

    Marty Roberts of Iconic Los Angeles Lounge Act “Marty & Elayne” at The Dresden Dies at the Age of 89

    marty and elayne the dresden loz feliz marty roberts

     

    DAVID ELLEFSON And JEFF SCOTT SOTO Have 'Something Brewing'

    jeffscottsotodavidellefsonjan2022 638

     

    Who Are the Richest Musicians? Here’s a 2021 Year-End Ranking

    who are the richest musicians in 2021 article

     

    TwinsTheNewTrend Discover Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall ( Acapella with Backing Vocals Complete )

     

    John Mellencamp Likes the Effect Smoking Has Had on His Voice

    attachment mellencamp 18Jan2022

     

    Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Mourns the Death of His Longtime Manager Ernest Chapman

    Iommi 18Jan2022

     

    Country Legend Dallas Frazier Dead, Writer of Oak Ridge Boys Hit ‘Elvira’ Was 82

    frazier

     

    World Premiere: “Big Dreams and Faded Jeans” - Now Streaming - Listen to the first track off the companion album to Dolly’s
    upcoming novel co-authored with James Patterson

     

    Boomerocity Coulda Told You This: What Year is It? Nearly a Third of the iTunes Top 100 Taken By Oldies, New Releases Not Catching On

    Creedence Clearwater Revival

     

    55 Years Ago: Hippies ‘Turn on, Tune in, Drop out’ at Human Be-In

    HumanBeIn

     

    World Premiere: New Alex Lifeson Project “Envy Of None” Releases First Single

     

    ROGER TAYLOR DEFENDS ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ TIMELINE CHANGE

    attachment taylor

     

    A 1964 Porsche 904 GTS Once Owned by Robert Redford Could Fetch $1.7 Million at Auction
    The gorgeous racer is one of the just 100 road-legal examples ever made

    redford904gts

     

    PIMCO, ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST INVESTMENT FIRMS, TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO MUSIC RIGHTS

     

    Primary Wave Acquires Stake in America’s (the group) Catalog, ‘Certain Name and Likeness Rights’

    America Main

     

    50 ALBUMS TURNING 50 IN 2022

    attachment 1972 collage

     

    World Premiere: JETHRO TULL Releases Video For Title Track Of First Album In Over 18 Years, 'The Zealot Gene'

     

    Elvis Costello Says He Won’t Perform “Oliver’s Army” Anymore, Tells Radio Stations Not to Play It
    The song contains the line "One more widow, one less white n*****"

    elvis costello wont play olivers army

     

    Releasing Music Is Easy, Marketing Music Is Hard. Here’s How Chartmetric Is Leveraging Data to Make Marketing a Lot Easier

     

    Bob Dylan Fires Back Against Sexual Assault Allegations: ‘A Brazen Shakedown Masquerading As a Lawsuit’

     

    Nita Strauss Makes History as First Active Rock Solo Female Chart-Topper

    attachment attachment nita strauss 2021 1

     

    Calvin Simon, Former Singer for Parliament-Funkadelic, Dead at 79

    calvinsimon

     

    World Premiere: See Previously Unreleased Footage of Rolling Stones at Altamont

    attachment Stones Altamont

     

    Sidney Poitier, Beloved Legend And First Black Best Actor Oscar Winner, Dead At 94

    sidney 4

     

    Catalog Releases Now Account for 75% of U.S. Music Consumption — With 89% of Baby Boomers Streaming Songs

    2021 Report Main

     

    Bon Jovi Announce Spring 2022 North American Tour

    Jon Bon Jovi1

     

    World Premiere: Hear Edgar Winter Cover ‘Johnny B. Goode’ Featuring Joe Walsh

     

    Watch The Beatles’ Rooftop Gig in IMAX Theaters on 1/30 as a Special One-Night-Only Engagement

    the beatles get back imax

     

    Fender CEO Andy Mooney “Not Optimistic” That Guitar And Amp Supply Chain Struggles Will Improve Any Time Soon

    fender supply chain

     

    British Recorded Music Industry Eeks a Modest 2021 Gain as 1,918 Artists Surpass 10 Million Domestic Streams

     

    With Get Back, Paul McCartney Became the Most Interesting TV Character of 2021

    Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison in THE BEATLES: GET BACK. Photo courtesy of Apple Corps Ltd.

     

    World Premiere: Chuck Berry Live from Blueberry Hill

     

    Cruise Control? The Iconic Porsche 928 From ‘Risky Business’ Can Now Be Yours
    Cruise like Cruise himself in this legendary vehicle-- which was also the star of its own documentary

    Porsche Risky Business4

     

    Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Officially Responds to Neil Young’s Pullout — Here’s His Complete Statement

    Daniel Ek750400

     

    Joni Mitchell Wants Songs Off Spotify In Covid Row

    Joni Mitchell 31Jan2022

     

    Keith Moon Biopic to Start Shooting in Summer

    KeithMoon 31Jan2022

     

    Wayne's World AMC Pacer 'Mirthmobile' Auctioned for Record Amount

    amcpacer

     

    THE BEATLES AND INDIA - DOCUMENTARY TO STREAM EXCLUSIVELY ON BRITBOX IN NORTH AMERICA STARTING FEBRUARY 15, 2022 ~ SILVA SCREEN RECORDS RELEASES COMPANION ALBUM THE BEATLES AND INDIA: SONGS INSPIRED BY THE FILM

    BeatlesandIndia

     

    Young Slash Wouldn’t Have Believed Guns N’ Roses’ Pandemic Tour

    Slash 27Jan2022

     

    The Zombies add North American summer leg to Life Is a Merry-Go-Round Tour

    the zombies 2022 tour

     

    Home of the Week: Inside the Spectacular $85 Million Beverly Hills Mansion That ‘Full House’ Built

    Cielo2

     

    Julian Lennon Is Selling The Beatles Memorabilia As NFTs

    john lennon 01

     

    Brian May Helps Reunite 8-Year-Old Boy With Lost Guitar

    Brian May 25Jan2022

     

    Elton John Postpones Dallas Shows Of Restarted Tour After Testing Positive For Covid

    elton john dallas 25Jan2022

     

    Neil Young Demands Spotify Remove His Music Over ‘False Information About Vaccines’
    “They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young,” Neil Young wrote in a letter to his manager and label. “Not both”

    neil young pulls music from spotify

     

    Is Old Music Killing New Music?
    Old songs now represent 70 percent of the U.S. music market. Even worse: The new-music market is actually shrinking

     

    Find Your Lane as a Musician. Ignore Everything Else.

     

    Meat Loaf’s Daughter Pens Touching Tributes To Late Singer

    meatloaf daughter 02

     

    Adele Cancels Entire Las Vegas Residency Due to COVID

    adele cancels las vegas residency article

     

    Graham Nash Condemns Anti-Vaxxer For Co-opting His Song ‘Chicago’

    attachment nash

     

    Ozzy Osbourne’s CryptoBatz Project Shares Scam Link — Thousands Stolen From Unsuspecting Fans

    ozzy crypto batz scam article

     

    Meat Loaf, Rock Legend and ‘Bat Out of Hell’ Singer, Dead at 74

    meat loaf dead 09

     

    World Premiere: Dee Snider Covers ‘Theme for an Imaginary Western’ for Upcoming Leslie West Tribute Album

     

    Indie Venues Face a Surging Concert No-Show Rate — 50% of Ticketholders Are Staying Home

     

    Steve Vai Postpones 2022 Tour from January to September; Needs Surgical Procedure

    steve vai tour 2022 crop

     

    Jimi Hendrix Experience Estates in Dispute Over Royalties

    Jimi Hendrix Experience

     

    Rocky Dijon: The Spicy Percussion Master

    sticky fingers cover

     

    Ozzy Osbourne Bit the Head Off a Live Bat 40 Years Ago Today
    He’ll never live down the infamous moment, even though the whole thing was a complete accident

    ozzy osbourne 20Jan2022

     

    Catalog Appraiser Massarsky Consulting Sells to Citrin Cooperman as Music IP Sales Rush Continues

     

    ‘Payola Is Illegal’: Lawsuit Revives Pay-for-Play Accusations in Radio Industry
    Independent radio promoter Steve Zap made more than 130 payments totaling over $300,000 to help cover bills for a West Coast radio company, according to court docs

     

    Peloton’s New David Bowie Workouts Include Exclusive Remixes

    david bowie peloton

     

    U2’s Bono Feels “Embarrassed” Hearing His Voice On The Radio

    Bono 19Jan2022

     

    Recording Academy Reschedules the 2022 Grammys For April, Moves Ceremony to Las Vegas

    when are the grammys article

     

    Microsoft Buys Activision in $69 Billion Deal – Will It Revive Guitar Hero?

    microsoft activision who owns guitar hero article

     

    Digital Burnout Fears: ‘It’s a lot we’re asking of artists’

     

    Jewel-Box Heroes: Why the CD Revival Is Finally Here
    Compact discs never had the romance of vinyl or the convenience of MP3s. But they’re still the ideal format for getting lost inside your music collection

     

    World Premiere: Loverboy’s New Song, “Release”

     

    25 Years Ago: John Deacon Plays His Final Queen Show

    attachment John Deacon Brian May Queen

     

    Fred Parris Dies: Singer On ‘In The Still Of The Night’ By The Five Satins Was 85

    Fred Parris

     

    World Premiere: ROLLING STONES UNRELEASED: ‘LOW DOWN’ (alt. version, Keith on vocals, 1997)

     

    MLK Day Finally Arrives As Paid Day Off For Most Hollywood Workers

    Martin Luther King Jr D.C. 1963

     

    40 Years Ago: A Rejected Babys Song Becomes Journey’s Signature Ballad

     

    World Premiere: Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators ‘Call Off the Dogs’ on Red-Hot New Song

     

    How Ronnie Spector Helped Eddie Money Score His Biggest Hit

    attachment ronnie spector eddie money

     

    ROUND HILL MUSIC BUYS CATALOG FROM WHITE SNAKE’S DAVID COVERDALE, STRIKES DEAL WITH NANCY WILSON FROM HEART

    David Coverdale 1 e1642166241596 418x236

     

    He Used Plastic Surgery to Raise Rock Stars From the Dead - Decades before hologram tours, one rogue '70s promoter found another way to put Elvis, Janis, Jim Morrison, and other late icons back onstage

    PlasticSurgeon 14Jan2022

     

    Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell Items for Auction

    attachment richards

     

    Ronnie Spector, Rock Icon Behind ‘Be My Baby’ and Ex of Phil Spector, Dead At 78

    ronnie spector

     

    DAVID LEE ROTH Addresses COVID-Related Cancelations In Latest Artwork

    davidleerothmay2021 638

     

    Burke Shelley, Singer and Bassist for Budgie, Dead at 71

    attachment Burke Budgie

     

    World Premiere: Saxon Unmasks New Single, “Remember The Fallen”, From Their Upcoming Album, “Carpe Diem”

     

    Woodstock Organizer Michael Lang Dies At 77

    attachment michael lang woodstock death

     

    World Mourns Death Of Comedy Icon Bob Saget: “Wasn’t A Kinder Person In Hollywood”

    bobsagetdeath

     

    Elton John Guitarist Davey Johnstone Says Elton’s Upcoming Shows Will Feature A Moment “You Wouldn’t Expect”

    DaveyJohnstone 10Jan2022

     

    Google Infringed On Multiple Sonos Patents, U.S. International Trade Commission Rules

     

    Peter Bogdanovich Dies: 'The Last Picture Show', 'Paper Moon' & 'What's Up, Doc?' Director Was 82

    Peter Bogdanovich dies

     

    Lollapalooza Co-Founder Ted Gardner Has Passed Away – Aged 74

    ted gardner lollapalooza founder passes article

     

    The Eagles Announce 2022 Hotel California Extended Tour Dates

    eagles tour additions 07jan2022

     

    TwinsTheNewTrend Discover Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode'

     

    Live Nation and Ticketmaster Face Class-Action Antitrust Lawsuit Over ‘Blatant, Anti-Consumer Behavior’

     

    Country Songwriter Tom T. Hall’s Death Ruled a Suicide
    The Country Music Hall of Fame member known for songs like “Harper Valley PTA” and “Homecoming” died last summer

    tomthall suicide

     

    David Bowie Estate Sells Icon’s Catalog to Warner Chappell for $250M

    david bowie press 2015

     

    Take A Peek Inside: Adele Gets a ‘Steal’ on Sylvester Stallone’s Beverly Park Mansion

    adele house

     

    The Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Lawsuit Has Been Dismissed By a Judge

    nirvana nevermind crop

     

    DEEN CASTRONOVO's Absence From JOURNEY's New Year's Eve Performance Explained

    deencastronovonov 03jan2022

     

    Steve McQueen’s Beloved Husqvarna Viking 360 Motorcycle Is Heading to Auction
    It's widely considered one of the most important Huskies of the 20th century

    McQueen Viking 360 10

     

     

    Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins, Legendary Keyboardist Who Played on Albums by Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Dead at 84
    Blind after an accident at age 3, Robbins learned to play piano with a distinct sense of feel, which made him a go-to Nashville session musician

    HargusPigRobbins

     

    World Premiere: Listen to Jimi Hendrix Jam Two Days Before His Death

     

    Joe Rogan Officially Responds to Neil Young’s Spotify Pullout — Here’s His Complete Statement

    rogan spotify statement 1200

     

    Burt Reynolds’s Iconic ‘77 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Is Heading to Auction
    The retro gem will be offered without reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction this weekend

    BurtReynolds Pontiac

     

    SiriusXM Relaunches ‘Neil Young Radio’ Following Spotify Takedown

    Neil Young taunts Trump

     

    Beatles’ Full Rooftop Concert Headed to Streaming Services

    attachment beatles rooftop concert

     

    Not To Be: Spotify to Remove Neil Young’s Music Following Ultimatum: ‘We Regret Neil’s Decision’

    neil young spotify 27Jan2022

     

    Lefsetz Says: “Spotify is at the bleeding edge of the civil war.”

     

    Sammy Hagar Teams up With George Thorogood for Summer 2022 Tour

    Haggar Thorogood Tour

     

    To Be or Not To Be: Neil Young Reportedly Fights Spotify Over Rogan and COVID
    In a now-deleted letter, the rocker demanded Spotify pull his music from its platform unless they removed Joe Rogan's podcast, which has spread COVID misinformation

    Neil Young 26Jan2022

     

    Reservoir Acquires Publishing & Recorded Music Catalog of Country Star Travis Tritt

    reservoir travis tritt catalog deal article

     

    Kid Rock Recruits Foreigner and Grand Funk Railroad for U.S. Tour

    attachment kid rock foreigner grand funk railroad tour1

     

    Keith Richards Announces Reissue of ‘Main Offender’ Solo LP

    attachment Keith Richards Box Set

     

    Clapton Speaks, Part 2: The Real Music Observer

     

    The Music Industry Saved Songwriter Hugh Prestwood From Homelessness.

    Is It Also Responsible for His Plight?
    Prestwood wrote hits for Randy Travis and Trisha Yearwood in the Nineties, but at 79 he was forced to launch a GoFundMe campaign when he and his wife could no longer afford rent

    Hugh Prestonwood 25Jan2022

     

    Flashback: The Boomerocity Interview With Pearl Aday

    PearlAday

     

    World Premiere: Listen to Foo Fighters’ New ‘Fraggle Rock’ Theme Song

     

    The Temptations At 60: Still On Cloud 9

    temptations wiki

     

    Quite A . . . Heady Appetite: Ozzy Osbourne Bit a Third Dove’s Head Off on Same Day

    ozzy 3rd dove head

     

    Playboy Bunnies Blast ‘Predator’ Hiugh Hefner’s Bestiality, ‘Cult’ Sex and Worse

    hugh hefner 2

     

    Louie Anderson Dies: Comedian & Emmy Winner Was 68

    louie anderson

     

    John Mellencamp’s New Album, ‘Strictly a One-Eyed Jack,’ Arrives Featuring Three Springsteen Collabs

     

    Bet It Hurt His D String: Man Steals $8,000 Guitar by Stuffing It Down His Pants

    stolen guitar

     

    The New Boomerocity Interview With Steve Vai

    Inviolate final

     

    Elton John Resumes Yellow Brick Road Tour: Set List and Photos

    EltonJohn 20Jan2022

     

    The Funny Way Van Halen, Blackmore and Gary Moore First Met Each Other

    Eddie Van Halen 3

     

    Brittany Aldean Helps a Woman in El Salvador Keep Her House With a $10,000 Gift

    attachment BrittanyAldean1

     

    An Italian Castle That Starred in One of the ‘Godfather’ Movies Just Listed for $6.8 Million
    Make an offer that the owner can't refuse

    ItalySothebysRealtyAcireale3

     

    Neil Young & Crazy Horse ‘Barn’ Documentary Coming To YouTube
    The 73-minute film provides a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary band recording their latest studio album

     

    STAIND's AARON LEWIS Passes Kidney Stone Less Than Week After Having His Appendix Removed

    aaronlewisappendnew 638

     

    Daniel Radcliffe Cast as ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in Upcoming Biopic

    attachment weird al

     

    Rosa Lee Hawkins, Singer of The Dixie Cups, Dies at 76
    The New Orleans girl group's "Chapel of Love" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964

     

    Elvis Costello Thinks Rock Has Lost Its ‘Roll’

    costello1

     

    Prince Estate Valued at $156.4 Million In Settlement of Years-Long IRS Dispute

    prince estate undervalued irs article

     

    Following KKR Catalog Agreement, BMG Partners With Pimco to Buy Additional Music IP

     

    Ralph Emery Dies: Country Music DJ & TV Host Was 88

    Emery Ralph

     

    World Premiere: HEART's ANN WILSON Releases Music Video For Her Cover Version Of ALICE IN CHAINS' 'Rooster'

     

    Joe Walsh to Guest on ‘The Conners’ This Week

    attachment walsh

     

    Flashback: TwinsTheNewTrend Discover Journey’s “Open Arms” (& Talks About Perry’s Tight Jeans)

     

    Jimmy Buffett to Make a Guest Appearance on ‘Blue Bloods’

    attachment jimmy buffett blue blodds

     

    MELISSA ETHERIDGE ANNOUNCES ‘HEARTSTRINGS’ GRAPHIC NOVEL

    attachment Etheridge cover

     

    SIRIUSXM ACQUIRES MUSIC FOR BUSINESS SERVICE CLOUD COVER MEDIA

    sxm 14jan2022

     

    World Premiere: STEVE VAI Releases Visualizer For New Song 'Zeus In Chains'

     

    Music Industry Is ‘Criminal Enterprise’ Says Jay Jay French

    attachment french

     

     

    MAMMOTH WVH And DIRTY HONEY Postpone Launch Of 'Young Guns' Tour

    wolfgangdirtyhoney 638

     

    The Rolling Stones Are Getting Their Own Stamps Courtesy of the U.K.’s Royal Mail

    rolling stones stamps

     

    American Radio Stations Weigh Conditional Settlement Offer From Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights

     

    World Premiere: Elvis Costello & The Imposters Say Goodbye With New Single, “Farewell, OK”

     

    COVID-Sniffing Dogs Are Keeping Concerts on Track In 2022

    covid sniffing dogs concerts article

     

    Dwayne Hickman Dies: ‘The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis’ Star Was 87

    DwayneHickman300 e1641751326914

     

    Dick Carson Dies: Director Of ‘The Tonight Show’ And Brother Of Johnny Was 92

    Dick Carson Obituary

     

    China Prohibits All Music Platforms From Inking Exclusive Copyright Deals Following Tencent Music Crackdown

     

    Warner Records CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, Gene Simmons, Daniel Glass, Others Protest Artist Boycott of Sydney Festival

     

    Hollywood Remembers “Champion Of Cinema” Peter Bogdanovich: Francis Ford Coppola, Jeff Bridges, Barbra Streisand & More Weigh In

     

    The Grammys Are Officially Postponed Due to Omicron — Recording Academy Releases Statement

    grammy awards postponed article

     

    Blues Legend Walter Trout Postpones UK/EU Tour

    walter trout tour cancellation 07jan2022

     

    Valerie Bertinelli Reveals Eddie Van Halen’s Final Words

    EVH Valerie Jan072022

     

    Right on Cue, SiriusXM Launches a Dedicated David Bowie Channel

    sirius xm launches dedicated david bowie channel article

     

    Paul McCartney: The “Unknown Beatle”

    paul mccartney unknown

     

    PRS Confirms Launch Date, Specs of John Mayer Signature SE Silver Sky

    PRS Mayer Sig Guitar

     

    TwinsTheNewTrend Discover Otis Redding's 'Try A Little Tenderness'

     

    Beatles Film Producer Denis O’Dell Dead at 98

    attachment BeatlesMovies

     

    GENE SIMMONS's New Year's Resolutions: 'I'd Like To Be A Better, Kinder, Better-Looking And Richer Guy'

    genesimmonsinvictussept2018 638

     

    Paul McCartney Tells Why Good Things Always Happen After Bad Moments

    Paul McCartney 03jan2022

     

  • Alice Cooper and Salvador Dali 1973

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    Alice Cooper and Salvador Dali with 'Brain of A Popstar' in NYC. February 25, 1973. © Bob Gruen/www.bobgruen.com Please contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.com Image #: R-88

    Before Marilyn Manson. Before Slip Knot. Heck, before Kiss, there was Alice Cooper.

    Not since Johnny Cash sang, "A Boy Name Sue," did we hear about a man with a woman's name. One would have thought that that alone would generate enough controversial attention. Yet, that was just the beginning.

    Mascara. Thigh high boots. An electric chair. Gallows. A guillotine. A boa constrictor that was quite long and quite real. All of that and more was integrated into a band - which later became the man - Alice Cooper.

    As Alice's fame grew, so did the size of the crowd of celebrities who wanted to be seen - and get to know - the founder of Shock Rock.

    From the beginning, our friend, Bob Gruen, was there, snapping images of this phenomenon; images that became as iconic as Cooper did.

    In the video on the right of this page, Bob shares exclusively with Boomerocity followers his history with Alice Cooper, his relationship with him, and the story behind this month's featured photo that he shot.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Bob Gruen's Studio - Labelle-1972-and-Vicki-Wickham-OBE

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    (L-R) Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Patti LaBelle of Labelle on stage at Lincoln Center in New York City. October 6, 1974. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: websitemail01@aol.com phone: 212-691-0391

    As Boomerocity viewers and readers already know, we not only like to cover the icons from back in the days of our youths but the influencers as well. We get a huge kick out of covering the movers and shakers that helped shape the culture of our times. This monthly feature exhibits that thrill by featuring the work of a legendary man behind the camera that shot some of the most iconic photos in rock and roll.

    This month’s featured photo by our friend, Bob Gruen, is about both the artist and the people behind them. In this case, Labelle and their legendary manager, Vicki Wickham.

    I won’t steal Bob’s thunder. You’ll want to hear and see it for yourself by watching the video to the right. I only want to accentuate that Ms. Wickham’s work with the British TV show, Ready Steady Go! is the stuff of legends - ReadySteadyGoCoverClick Above To Order Your Copyespecially in a male-dominated industry. So much so, that Bob speaks glowingly about her in this video as well as provided a link to a playlist tied to the show (here). There’s also a great book about Ready Steady Go! that references Vicki a lot.


    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Bob Gruen's Studio - New York Dolls - Japan 1973

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    The New Yorks Dolls photographed at Studio 29, NYC. November 1973. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.com Image #: C-53

    Before the punk and glam metal things started in the early ’70s, there were the New York Dolls. Their influence was - and is - far-reaching and phenomenal. According to Wikipedia, “They influenced rock groups such as the Sex Pistols, Kiss, the Ramones, Guns N’ Roses, the Damned, and The Smiths, whose frontman Morrissey organized a reunion show for the New York Dolls’ surviving members in 2004.” (Click here to go to read all that Wikipedia has to say about them).

    As we’ve learned long ago, our friend Bob Gruen was Johnny On The Spot and met the New York Dolls before they developed a cult-like following during their short but influential career. Believe it or not (actually, it is QUITE believable), Bob connected with the New York Dolls via his association with his good friend, John Lennon.

    How cool is that?

    Bob's featured photo for this month is from a photoshoot in Japan that he did with the New York Dolls. In the exclusive video on the right side of this page, Bob tells Boomerocity viewers his story of his relationship with the band and provides some deep insight into the band and Bob’s relationship with them.

    Bob's featured photo for this month is his iconic photo of The Clash with the New York City skyline as their back drop. In the exclusive video on the right side of this page, Bob tells Boomerocity viewers his story of his relationship with The Clash and especially with Joe Strummer as well as the story behind this photo.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Bob Gruen's Studio - Sly Stone at NYC's Madison Squaare Garden 1973

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    Sly Stone of Sly and The Family Stone on stage at The Schaefer Festival in Central Park, NYC. August 1, 1973. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.comImage #: R-326

    Sly and the Family Stone was - and to a certain extent, still is - a diverse (racially) band who are known for their huge hits like "Dance to the Music" and “Everyday People" in1968; "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" and "I Want to Take You Higher" the following year; Family Affair" a couple of years after that, and 1973’s "If You Want Me to Stay.”. The band also made history by performing at the first Woodstock and the Summer of Soul concerts.

    Our friend, legendary rock photographer, Bob Gruen, first saw Sly Stone during that legendary Woodstock performance as a fan and participant. In the years since, Bob photographed him professionally, including the photo featured this month that was taken in 1973 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The video to the right is Bob’s story behind this month's picture as well as his history with Sly Stone. it is shared exclusively here on Boomerocity.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Chrissie Hynde 1979

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London, England. December 1979. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: websitemail01@aol.com phone: 212-691-0391

    As the seventies were ending, a little band was formed in London. The band’s name was inspired by an R&B hit that Sam Cooke covered titled, “The Great Pretender.” Thus, The Pretenders were born.

    The band went on to record such hits as Brass In Pocket, Back On The Chain Gang, I’ll Stand By You, My City Was Gone (which, oddly enough, was used as the theme song for the Rush Limbaugh Show), Talk of the Town, Precious, Middle of the Road, Don’t Get Me Wrong, 2,000 Miles, and Boots of Chinese Plastic.

    Those hits were the foundation for the band to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The Pretenders are still cranking out music with the band having released their latest album, Hate For Sale, last year.

    Chrissie Hynde, lead singer and front-person for the band, is the only remaining original member of the Pretenders. As has often been the case in his storied career, legendary rock photographer and Boomerocity friend, Bob Gruen, was photographing the band before they were a huge musical influence. This month’s featured photo, a 1979 image of Chrissie Hynde, is evidence of that.

    In the video on the right of this page, Bob shares exclusively with Boomerocity followers his history in following The Pretenders and his relationship with them.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Chuck Leavell Interview 2011

    Posted January/February, 2011

    chuck trees6The Allman Brothers. Don McLean. Bonnie Bramlett. Marshall Tucker Band. Charlie Daniels. Sea Level. Aretha Franklin. Chuck Berry. Dion. Gov't Mule. The Black Crowes.  Eric Clapton. Larry Carlton. George Harrison. Rolling Stones.

    How would you feel if those names were on your resume in some form or fashion?  I can tell you that if my resume had those names, my head would swell to twice the size of Texas.

    Chuck Leavell’s resume includes those names and many, many more. When you add to that the credentials of an expert forester, conservationist, author, husband, father, and grandfather and you get an idea of who the man really is.  All of that and, yet, his head retains its normal size and shape.

    How does he do it?  I don’t know but my head did swell just a little bit when I had the good fortune of posing a few questions to the legendary keyboardist.  I pursued an interview with Leavell after reading his 2004 book, Between Rock and a Home Place. As a huge Rolling Stones fan, I, of course, knew about of Chuck’s monumental work with the band and with his own band, Sea Level.  I just wasn’t aware of the huge volume of other work he’s associated with.

    I was also aware of his conservation work – especially at his beautiful home, the family tree farm known as Charlane Plantation. The plantation, in the family since 1932, was inherited by Chuck’s lovely wife of 37 year, Rose Lane, after the passing of her grandmother.   After working their way out of onerous inheritance taxes, Rose Lane and Chuck have developed a thriving, successful tree farm that also hosts hunting and other kinds of retreats.

    It was about Charlane Plantation that I opened the discussion with Leavell, asking about what were the latest developments at the farm.

    “We are always working on our place. My wife, Rose Lane, says it means ‘job security’ for me as I will never get done! Currently we have a good bit of maintenance going on. We’ve just started renovating the exterior of our horse barn, the upstairs of which serves as Rose Lane’s art studio. We built the barn some 18 years ago using lumber that was taken from our own trees . . . mostly ones that were dead or dying… and it’s time to polish it up some.

    “We also just finished renovating an old tenant house into a nice guesthouse. We’ve built most all of our structures out of our own wood, and most of the renovations we’ve done to our existing structures as well. It’s quite a good and special feeling to look at them, walk through them and say… ‘yeah, that came from our own grounds’ . . . and to think that our grandchildren and future generations will be saying ‘our grandparents (or great-grandparents) built that back in 1990’, or whenever we built or renovated any particular structure on our place.

    “Of course, we’re always working in the woods, too. We did some light thinning of a few areas last year that had yet to be chuckandmiles2Chuck Leavell With Grandson, Miles

    Courtesy of Chuck Leavellthinned - sort of like weeding the garden. We probably touched on 150 acres or so, opening the stands up to a slightly wider spacing, which will help the trees left standing grow much better and faster. It also helps encourage natural grasses, weeds and legumes to grow better underneath the stands, making it more attractive for wildlife.

    “We are in the middle of our hunting season, and January and February are booked pretty solid with our traditional southern quail hunts. I’ve been working some new dogs, which I love doing…so there has been quite a lot going on.”

    When I asked if he was the Ted Nugent of Georgia, Chuck’s response polite but direct.

    “With all due respect to Nugent, he’s an ethical and expert outdoorsman, but he’s a bit radical for me. I try to take a more gentle and gentlemanly approach to our hunting. As far as what we offer the public, it’s again, the traditional southern quail hunts, from November through the end of February. We have the jeeps, dogs, excellent guides and have a top notch and top class operation. We have several comfortable accommodations. Our lodge was built about 8 years ago, again, with our own resources and we renovated a historic 1830’s home back in the early 90’s that we use as well.

    “Rose Lane directs our staff in terms of the food, etc. and we have lots of repeat clients year after year. During the off season, we offer ‘retreats’ from time to time. Since Rose Lane is an excellent artist, some of these are centered around art. But some folks like to come just to be in the country, take a tour, walk our nature trail and such. We enjoy sharing our place and meeting new people, helping them to understand and appreciate nature and conservation issues. It makes for a good balance with our ‘other life’ of rock and roll.”

    Leavell wrote in his book, Between Rock and a Home Place, that, because of the predatory nature of our rich Uncle Sam’s inheritance tax code, he and Rose Lane had to sell off a big chunk of the original plantation.  In the seven years since that book was published, I asked if they were able to re-purchase the property.

    “No, that property was in another county, about 50 miles from us. It was about 300 acres of land that Rose Lane’s grandfather had passed on down. It was heartbreaking and really hurt to have to sell it, but we didn’t see any other way out at the time. While we’ve never recovered that tract, the good news is that through the years we have been able to acquire more land, much of which was adjacent to us. Rose Lane inherited about 1100 acres back in 1981 and we now have about 2500 acres, 1800 that is contiguous to her inheritance.”

    Before shifting my questioning to his other conservation endeavors, I asked Leavell what their long term plans for Charlane were.

    “We will continue to manage it as best we know how, and to share it with others through our hunts and retreats. Of course, I would love to continue to expand it, but it’s getting really hard to do because of how expensive land is. While the housing market across America has been hit hard as we all know - and prices for normal housing has dipped - that has not been the case for most timberlands, agricultural lands and recreational lands. It takes a lot of resources to purchase these kinds of lands and to maintain them. But I’m always hopeful that we can find select opportunities. We all know that old phrase, ‘land rich and cash poor’. That applies to a lot of landowners I know. I don’t think anyone would be impressed with our bank account but I’d rather have the land than bits of paper.”

    Chuck is a self-taught forestry expert, having begun his studies while touring with The Fabulous Thunderbirds.  Since then, he’s gained much respect and notoriety as an expert in forestry and conservation, having been award many awards and acknowledgements.  He’s also written two books on the subject with a third on the way.

    Before venturing into the finer points of this field of his expertise, I swallowed my pride and asked Leavell what the difference was between a conservationist and an environmentalist.

    “It’s a good question. I like to think that we are both. The definition of conservation is, in part, ‘The action of conserving something, in particular protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife; the preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of archaeological, historical, and cultural sites and artifacts; and the prevention of excessive or wasteful use of a resource.

    leavellandstones1“In a nutshell, I think it means to be wise and careful with the resources that you have - to practice a sort of sustainability. I tell people that trees are an organic, natural and renewable resource. We all use things that come from trees every day of our lives - wood furniture, our homes, musical instruments, books, and so many other things. As a conservationist, I want to use this resource for these many fine things but I want to make sure that I am doing it in a way that is conserving the resource - that is, in a way that will assure me it will always be there.

    “As for the word ‘environmentalist’, the definition in part is: A person who is concerned with or advocates the protection of the environment . . . who considers that environment, as opposed to heredity, has the primary influence on the development of a person or group.

    “This can get a bit complicated, and the ‘catch’ is how far you take the second part of the above definition. I certainly care deeply about our environment and want to keep it healthy and vibrant. But when it comes to making certain decisions about what to do with our lands and how that affects us as humans, hard choices have to be made from time to time. We all have to have places to live, to work, for our kids to go to school, etc. So, while it might not be the best thing for our environment to build such structures, or to build more highways, rail systems, expand airports and such, it’s inevitable that we are going to do it. We have to make compromises.

    “Actually, this is the subject of my new book, Growing A Better America, that will be out in mid March of this year. It’s about making careful and thoughtful choices about how we are going to grow. We have 310 million people in our country now, and predictions are that we’ll have 400 million around 2040. There are about 6.8 billion on the planet, and predictions are to have 9 billion by 2045. We are going to have to make some critical choices about accommodating that kind of growth, and how that will affect our environment.

    “My book talks about ‘smart growth’, and looks at positive models of community design, community expansion and such. I get in to energy issues; transportation issues; keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible; preserving natural areas when possible; the importance of green spaces in our metropolitan areas and much, much more.

    “I know that’s a long answer, but I think it’s important that people have an understanding of these things.”

    As a direct result of Chuck’s incredible accomplishments in conservation and forestry, he co-founded The Mother Nature Network and serves as its the Director of Environmental Affairs.  When I asked what the latest developments are at MNN, he answers with the same kind of pride as he does when speaking of Charlane or his musical work.

    “MNN has been a phenomenal journey for me. My partner, Joel Babbit, had the idea to build the site and asked me to participate. He has had a life long successful career in public relations and advertising, serving really big clients like Coca-Cola, Dell Computer and others. We’ve been friends for a while, and he came to me one day saying that his clients wanted to get out to the public over the Internet all the things they were doing to “green” their businesses. And by the way, these companies and all the companies that are sponsors with MNN are doing some great things in that regard.

    “Anyway, Joel did not feel comfortable with any of the existing environmental sites in terms of placing ads and getting messages out on behalf of his clients. After discussing it in depth and doing a lot of research, we looked at each other and sort of said at the same time: ‘should we build it?’ So, we did.

    “Through Joel’s connections, we raised commitments of up to ten million dollars to get started. He resigned his position as CEO of GCI, a huge firm he was heading up, and we went to work. We hired really talented and dedicated enviro-journalists, website developers and other staff and opened our offices in Atlanta. We launched in January of 2008 on a wing and a prayer. Since then we have grown from a ranking of something like number 7,200 on the list of environmental websites to be the number one most visited independent environmental site in the world.

    “I have to give credit to our incredible staff.  We have really great folks - about 25 at present - working for us. Joel and I are elated with the progress. The last numbers I had are that we are getting over 2 million unique visits a month, and about 12 million page views per month and still climbing each month. We actually became profitable towards the end of last year, which is quite amazing for any website in 2 years time. We thought it would take at least 5 years to get into the black, so we’re thrilled.”

    With public discourse often dominated by subjects to protecting and preserving the environment, I asked if there is anything that keeps him awake at night from a conservation perspective.

    “There are a lot of things that I’m concerned about. I described some of that in talking about my new book, but in terms of forestry alone, I have many worries. One is that we have seen a great deal of our industry move offshore in the past 10 years or so. This is for many reasons. Like so many other industries, companies find that labor is cheaper in other countries; there is less regulation in other countries; less cost for construction, cheaper land and so forth.

    “I’m not suggesting that we should do the same thing some of these countries are doing, because some of their practices are not good for the environment and somewhat suppressive on their labor force. But any way you look at it, it has caused a huge drop in US forestry markets. What people have to understand about this is that to a degree, it’s ‘use it or lose it’. In other words, if folks like me and so many other family forest landowners don’t have a decent market, there is no good reason for us to keep our lands in trees. So when that happens, families begin to sell their lands. They can’t afford to pay the taxes, the upkeep, etc. and they are backed up against a wall. I’m not saying it’s that bad at the moment, but if the markets for wood keep going down it will definitely get that bad.

    “Other concerns include that tax structure for forest lands, the uncertainty of biomass and carbon markets, the pressures of growth and development, outbreak of diseases and insects, severe weather events and more.”

    Before moving my questions to music related subjects, I asked Leavell what homeowners, or those who don’t even own a home, can do to green up America and the world from a forestry perspective.

    “Anyone can plant a tree. There are many programs around the country where they give out trees to people. Plant a tree in your yard, your neighborhood, your school, your church. I also encourage people to conserve. Turn out the lights when not in use, set the thermostat at a reasonable temperature, drive less when you can and walk or bike to work. Talk to your neighbors about keeping your parks in good shape. Consider buying Energy Star appliances when you need to replace your refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, whatever. I give a lot of these and much, much more in Growing A Better America.

    Chuck Leavell has played keyboard for the Rolling Stones for almost 30 years. As I said at the beginning of this interview, he has also played with other of the biggest names in rock. What many people may not know is that he has also produced several solo albums and is working on a new solo project. I asked Chuck about the album.

    “The working title is Back To The Woods and it is a tribute to pioneering blues piano players from the 30s/40s/50s era. Most of the songs come from artists that are little known: Little Brother Montgomery, Skip James, Leroy Carr, Jesse James and others. I did do a very early Ray Charles track called Losing Hand, and an Otis Spann tune called Boots and Shoes, but those would be the two best-known names.

    “I’ve been recording it up in Athens, Georgia, at Jim Hawkins’ studio. Jim was a principal engineer at Capricorn Studios back in the 70’s and actually built Capricorn in part. He has a nice, comfortable space in Athens now. I used Chris Enghauser on stand up bass and Louis Romanos on drums - both live in Athens and are great players. So far I have Danny Barnes (renown banjo player and guitarist), (guitarist) Bruce Hampton and Randall Bramblett (Sea Level, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm and Bonnie Raitt, among others) as guest artists, and have some commitments from others, including Keith Richards. I’m about 80% done with it and hope to finish it by March. No release date yet, but probably May or June.

    In describing his solo work, Leavell says, “Well, I am first and foremost a piano player. That’s what most of my own CDs center around. I might throw in a bit of Hammond B-3 or Wurlitzer now and again, but it’s mostly piano. In terms of style, I’ve been influenced by a wide range of great players, and I think my style reflects that. You’ll hear tinges of blues, rock, jazz, and country, but hopefully you’ll say ‘that sounds like Chuck’.

    “It takes a long time to develop your own sound and style as a player, and hopefully I’ve done that. I don’t think of myself as some ‘master’ player - just an honest one. I do my best to paint pictures with the notes I play - to project emotion, color, and feeling. That’s about the best I can do to describe myself. Perhaps descriptions are best left to others.

    Early in his book, Between Rock and a Home Place, Chuck shared how his late mom talked to him about how he played his music, leading him towards how to inject various feelings into the sounds he produced on the piano. When I asked Leavell if he still feels that she still “speaks” to him today in how he plays today, his reply was short, sweet and from the depths of his heart.

    "Every day, in every note I play."

    From a fan’s perspective, it’s hard for me to think that, with the musical resume that Chuck has, there would be anything left that he hasn’t done musically. However, I had to ask him what he hasn’t done that he would still like to do.

    “Fortunately, I’m still getting calls to work with other artists. I still love working with those I’ve worked with in the past, but also like the challenge of working with those I haven’t. Recently I recorded with John Mayer in NY for a week. Fantastic session, fantastic artist. I hope I get another round with John some time this year. Next week I record for about 10 days with Martina McBride. So, I just take it one day at a time and hope the phone keeps ringing! Of course I’ll continue to do my own stuff as well. I know the Stones have been contemplating their options, but they have not come to any final decisions, so we’ll all have to wait on that. I can tell you that I’m ready when they are.”

    Later, Chuck said about his contribution to the Mayer disc, “It was mostly Hammond B-3, but I did play a bit of Whurly and a pump organ on a couple of things. John is an amazing talent. He wrote three of the songs we did right on the spot. He’s got tremendous and infectious energy.”

    I don’t know what on earth possessed me to do this, but I dropped some names from Chuck’s musical past and asked him to chuck pianoshare what comes to mind regarding his thoughts about the following musical greats:

     Ray Charles: “The MASTER. Probably my main influence.”

     George Harrison: “One of the sweetest guys on the planet. Truly as great a humanitarian as he was a singer/songwriter/performer.”

     Duane Allman: “Changed the direction of the electric guitar with his slide playing. Never got to know him personally, but always admired him and heard him play many times. Unquestioned and unbridled passion in his playing.”

     Eric Clapton: “Well, he’s Eric Clapton, isn’t he?! Eric likes exploring, changing, experimenting and I have always appreciated him for that. He doesn’t rest on his laurels and isn’t afraid to try things.”

     Gregg Allman: “In the top five of the greatest blues singers ever. A good friend. A survivor.”

     Ronnie Wood: “Effervescent, fun, diversely and multi-talented. Made me feel at home when I came into the Stones, for which I’m forever grateful.”

     When asked if there is any talent that is commanding his attention, Leavell shares that, “I’ve been listening a bit to Grace Potter (and the Nocturnals) and like her stuff. Not complicated, but with deep soul.  I like that. I honestly haven’t been to many concerts in the last couple of years, so can’t say much about live performances I’ve heard. I played with Keith Urban on the Jimmy Fallon show, and have come to really admire his artistry. I’m trying to learn a bit of mandolin, and have been listening to some bluegrass players. Love Chris Thele, Doyle Lawson, Sam Bush. I don’t listen too much to contemporary radio much these days, so I’m not the best person to ask about hits on radio.”

    Since he’s seen a lot of changes in the music business, I asked Chuck what he thought it was going to take to save the business.

    “Man, that’s too deep for me to get into, but I will say that if something isn’t done to improve how musicians and artists are paid for downloads and preventing illegal downloads, it’s going to be a tough future. The genie is out of the bottle, and I don’t know if it will ever be back in. We’ve lost a lot of control over how our recorded music is sold.”

    Wrapping up my time with Chuck, I asked if we were going to see him on the road with anyone any time soon.  While I wasn’t hinting for some advanced info about a Rolling Stones tour, he does comment about it at the end of his answer: “I have very few select solo shows booked - playing Macon at the Cox Capitol Theater Jan 22nd with the Randall Bramblett Band, and a gig at the Wheeler Opera House on March 12th. Other than that, I’ll be promoting my book and finishing my CD as well as doing the sessions I have booked. Nothing to report at present on Stones activity.”

    After the interview was over, I reflected on the vast, rich body of work that Chuck has.  From his iconic keyboard work on the landmark Allman Brothers tune, Jessica, to the Stones, Clapton and many others, I just ran the music through my mind and smiled.  Like the beautiful trees of Charlane Plantation, Chuck Leavell’s work shades our entire musical landscape with the beauty of his work.

    You can find out more about Chuck, his music, his books, and his conservation work at the following websites:



    www.chuckleavell.com      www.charlane.com      www.mnn.com

     

  • Elvis Costello 1977

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    Elvis Costello leaning on a pole at the 100 Club in London, England. November 1977. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.comImage #: R-146


    Two years ago, when Bob Gruen first started contributing a monthly featured photo of his work, he started with Elvis his iconic photo of Elvis Presley.

    For two years, Bob has shared what he called some of his "greatest hits" of his work over his storied career. This will be the last installment of Bob's contribution to Boomerocity as he would like to give it a rest for now.

    How poetic that he closes his run with Boomerocity with a photo of another Elvis: Elvis Costello.

    As has been the case throughout Bob's career, he was "there" before Costello rocketed to international fame. In Bob's signature style, he spotted the star power in Costello and became a fan of his from the git go.

    In the video on the right of this page, Bob shares exclusively with Boomerocity followers the story behind this month's featured photo that he shot.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

     

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • John Lennon and the Mobster 1976

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    John Lennon testifying in federal court, NYC. 1976. © Bob Gruen/www.bobgruen.com Please contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: websitemail01@aol.com phone: 212-691-0391


    Just when you thought you saw and heard everything to do with the Beatles, we are treated to something – not necessarily new – but just now seeing the light of day in minute detail.

    What on earth could that be?

    It is the story of the court case, Big Seven Music Corp. (who was pretty much the notorious Marvin Levy that took place in 1976 in New York City. That story has now been chronicled in book form by John and Yoko Lennon’s lead attorney, Jay Bergen, in his new book, “Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer – The Untold Story.” Jay is good friends with our good friend, Bob Gruen.

    During that trial, Bob was in the gallery and, with his trusty camera under his coat, clandestinely took two photos during the trial.

    Boomerocity interviewed Mr. Bergen (here) and Bob Gruen thought it would be a good idea to photo one of those photos this month.

    In the video on the right of this page, Bob shares exclusively with Boomerocity followers the story behind this month's featured photo that he shot.

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

    While you're at it, watch the interview with Jay Bergen and order his book!

     

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

  • Kiss Dressed To Kill 1974

     

    About Bob Gruen

    Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen ever since his initial work with Ike and Tina Turner back in 1970. Since that time, Bob has not only photographed some of the most iconic people in rock music, many of his photos have become iconic, as well.

    Bob has been a friend to Boomerocity since 2010 when we first interviewed him (here). The interview was so well received that none other than his dear friend, Yoko Ono, posted it on her website (here). It only seems natural to feature some of his work here on Boomerocity. Whether the images are those you have seen countless times or ones that have rarely been seen by the public, Bob’s photos presented here on Boomerocity will bring back memories and smiles.

    You can own your own authorized copy of these and other images by visiting BobGruen.com.

    You can also read our other interviews with Bob here and here as well as read more about his accomplishments here.


    (L-R) Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss 'Dressed To Kill' album cover shoot at West 23rd Street and 8th Avenue in NYC. October 26, 1974. © Bob Gruen / www.bobgruen.comPlease contact Bob Gruen's studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.comImage #: R-181


    Teens in the seventies were hit with some pretty mind blowing rock and roll acts. Our parents had Elvis whose shaking hips were all the scandalous rage. Then, our older siblings as teens in the sixties had the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with their own controversies.

    The seventies had to outdo all of that . . . and it did.

    First, we had the outer-worldliness of David Bowie. Then the shock rock of Alice Cooper. On the heels of those ground-breaking acts came Kiss.

    With the band members' true identity hidden behind kabuki style make up that transformed them into a demon, two space aliens, and a cat, Kiss catapulted to fame. Their looks and music was only part of the band's appeal. Kiss had a stage show unlike anyone with pyrotechnics, fire-breathing, and blood-spitting such the world has never seen. All of that and more allowed the band to ride a perpetual wave of publicity, controversy, and notoriety that has last to this very day.

    While Kiss's music has often been panned by music critics over the years, there is no denying that the band has made their indelible mark of the soundtrack of baby boomers during their youth.

    Case in point: Kiss's anthem, "Rock and Roll All Nite" from the band's third album, Dressed To Kill. The album's iconic cover photo was shot by our dear friend and monthly contributor, Bob Gruen.

    dressedtokillcoverClick Above To Order Your Copy of the Remastered CD

    Not surprisingly, Bob was right there when Kiss began to make the New York City music scene. He's traveled with them and shot lots of photos of them. But it's this "Dressed To Kill" photo that so clearly shows the contrast, mystique, and fun that makes Kiss one of the bands for the ages.

    In the video on the right of this page, Bob shares exclusively with Boomerocity followers the story behind this month's featured photo that he shot.

     

    Watch it. Tell your friends about it. After watching it, please consider ordering your own official copy of this historic photo directly from Bob by clicking here.

     

    Click On The Video Below To Listen To Bob's Story Behind This Iconic Photo!  

     

    Click On The Lower Right Corner To Enlarge This Video

    You Are At The Right Place With Bob Gruen & Boomerocity!

    rightplacerighttimecoverThe foundation of most successful people is being at the right place at the right time. That is certainly the case with our dear friend and renowned rock photographer, Bob Gruen. For over fifty years he has photographically documented the music scene with photographs that have become as iconic as the legendary artists in them.

    Over the years, Bob has shared his photographs in a variety of books and Boomerocity is proud to have most of them in its own library. Naturally, with word of yet another amazing book being released by Gruen, we are stoked!

    The book is entitled, "Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer" (Abrams Press; October 20, 2020). It is Bob’s “first memoir of his winding, adventure-filled journey.” In it he shares with us such stories as his intimate visits to John and Yoko’s apartment in New York City; having backstage access with KISS; being there in the early days with Blondie’s Debbie Harry; being on the bus with the during the ill-fated US tour of the Sex Pistols; being on the road with Ike and Tina Turner; inside CBGB and many other amazing stories.

    Of course, no book by Bob Gruen would be complete without him sharing some of his amazing photographs. He does exactly that with some iconic and never-before-published images that offer a unique peek into the last five decades of the evolution of American music culture.

    Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what some of Bob’s friends have to say about this book:

    “Bob has seen it all, lived the life, and he doesn’t hold back in this book.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

    “Bob catches those explosive, signature moments that every photographer hopes to get.” —Debbie Harry

    “Bob Gruen has been a witness to many of the greatest moments in rock and roll’s history.” —Jakob Dylan

    “Bob is the guy behind the camera who you actually like! He brings out your best cool.” —Iggy Pop

    You can order your copy by clicking on the photo of the book at the top. With the holidays just right around the corner, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer is the perfect gift for that music nut or photography buff on your gift list so go ahead and order extra copies.

     

     

     

     

     

     Click Below To Order

    SeeHearYoko

      Click Below To Order

    RockSeenCover

     

Latest from Bob Gruen's Studio

You’ve seen Bob Gruen’s work in galleries, books, and on the official John Lennon stamp by the U.S. Post Office. You can now see some of his choice work each month here on Boomerocity.com!

Elvis Costello 1977

Elvis Costello 1977

  About Bob Gruen Baby boomers have seen and admired the work of Bob Gruen…
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