07.09: “It’s a long way to the top, if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll!” Man, what an awesome lyric from an awesome band. Along that path, on this day in 1946, former AC/DC frontman, Bon Scott, was born. It would be a good 30 years before Bon would growl those lyrics and it’s been nearly that long since he last sang them, but they rocked then and they rock now and they will always rock, thanks to Bon and the boys. Happy birthday, Bon. We miss ya’, kid.
07.09: On this day in 1975, Jack White was born. Bringing his Detroit rock pedigree to bear on his immense love for the blues, White has, with the help of his cohort Meg White and others, seemingly overnight, brought 1 back to the airwaves, back to the fore of many music minds, and shown the world that rock is, in fact, NOT dead, that rock still has room for amazement, and that rock can be true and popular without sacrificing quality (unlike a lot of the “rock” that crowds radio station playlists with their overly simple and highly derivative musicianship and lyrics). We love Jack White, in all of his iterations. From 1 to 1 to 1to his incredible production on Loretta Lynn’s 1, Jack is filled to the brim with talent, drive, and an intense love for music. Happy birthday, Jack. You most definitely rock.
07.09: On this day in 1995, The Grateful Dead played their last concert with 1, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Garcia passed away a month later, at the very young age of 53. That’s what 15 years of heroin addiction can do to a person, even one as down-to-earth and insanely talented as Jerry. He died while in rehab, his unhealthy body unable to adapt to not having the drug in its system. That’s pretty messed up and an incredible waste of life. Jerry helped usher in the psychedelic rock movement that sprang from San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district in the mid-’60s. The Dead, along with The Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother & The Holding Company, heralded a new tweak on the rock sound, when they dropped acid and played what they saw and felt, which, often times, in playing and tripping, lasted hour upon hour upon neverending hour. That the Grateful Dead would emerge as one of the biggest touring bands of all time and put out two of the most amazing American albums of all time, 1 and 1, is thanks in no small part to the immensity of Jerry’s talent. It didn’t hurt that he was surrounded by great musicians, but Jerry is, was, and forever shall be the face of the Grateful Dead. Sorry, Bobby.
07.13: The world rocked all at the same time for charity, today in 1985. Live Aid took place simultaneously at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London, raising millions of dollars for the needy in Ethiopia. Among the notable acts that played: The Who, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, U2, Madonna, and a 1 by the incomparable Queen. Organized by Boomtown Rats lead singer Bob Geldof (of the one hit wonder 1 and the role of “Pink” in the film 1), Live Aid proved to be much bigger than anyone ever suspected it could be. It had been initially hoped that the shows would raise over a million dollars, but, when all was said and done, it raised over 150 million dollars. Not bad, Bob Geldof, not bad.
07.15: Pop-punk songstress Avril Lavigne is married to sweetheart Deryck Whibley (who swiftly stole the crown of “1” from 1) of Sum 41 in Montecito, CA, on this day in 2006. But this ended as most musician/musician (or musician/celebrity or musician/supermodel) marriages end, in a bitter and acrimonious divorce, forever reaffirming our faith in the rock ‘n’ roll credo of “use ’em and lose ’em.” Without faith, we wouldn’t know how to rock.
