Well Keith, No Blue Plaque For You Mate

From The Who's web site:

NO BLUE PLAQUE FOR KEITH MOON?

The homes of famous people who have lived in England are awarded a high-status Blue Plaque. English heritage, who decide who gets the blue treatment and who doesn’t, have deemed The Who’s legendary drummer as unworthy.

‘I’m sure the 1860s screw propeller engineer Sir Francis Pettit thoroughly deserves his recently awarded Blue Plaque’, says Rob Lee, editor of thewho.com, ‘ and screw propeller afficionados all over the world will be thrilled. But why turn down Keith Moon, the undisputed greatest rock drummer of all time? It’s not as if English Heritage don’t have at least some rock fans on their panel: Jimi Hendrix was recognised with a Blue Plaque a few years back. Maybe you're only eligible if you smash guitars rather than drums.’

Keith is in good company for his rejection by the panel. Legendary writer Arthur Koestler has also just been turned down too. A case of 'Darkness at Moon'?

For more, CLICK HERE .


Come on now. Keith Moon was good people, right?

The Who - "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Chicago And Doobie Brothers 2008 Summer Tour

Two very American bands have merged their 2008 summer tour schedules. Chicago and the Doobie Brothers are set to co-headline a total of 23 concerts. They hooked up in Phoenix, AZ on June 3rd and will entertain 22 towns and cities accross the US, ending with a show in Uncasville, CT on July 4th.

Co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons front the Doobie Brothers, which is currently made up mostly of longtime bandmates. These guys from out west had most of their big hits and multi-platinum records in the 1970's, but seem to have plenty of steam left. They're mostly classic American rock and roll, with a little country flavor mixed in here and there.

Chicago has a very wide range of American musical styles included in their sound, from rock and roll to jazz, to the blues. This band from the country's heartland had most of their 20 top ten hits, gold and platinum records in the same time period as the Doobies. They are also currently made up of the classic bandmates, including Robert Lamm and James Pankow. The "lost" Chicago album "Stone Of Sisyphus" is due to be released on June 17, 2008.

They won't be visiting any venues in Maryland or Washington, DC. If you are from these parts you might try to get tickets to the show at Hershey Park, in Hershey, PA on June 18, 2008. Check them out while you still can. Fill all your senses with real music for a change.

Not Much Yet, But We're Gettin' There

The Baltimore / Washington concert scene is a little thin right now. However, it's starting to heat up. There are a some good bands on the schedule this summer, and a few more will likely be added. With the price of tickets these days, most can't afford to hit too many shows anyway.

Right now I'm just going to look at this June. In the Baltimore area we have ... uh ... Well there's ... uh ... Right. Well, the hot ticket price wise may be the June 22nd ZZ Top concert at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Harford County. Opening for them will be Blind Melon and Blackberry Smoke. For $25.00, you might want to travel over here to my neck of the woods. It's not far off of I-95. If you'd rather catch up with a hot rock chick instead, visit Rams Head Live! on the 24th and see Pat Benatar.

June 2008 isn't looking too hot at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, VA (a.k.a. Washington, DC) either. They had Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers along with Steve Winwood yesterday, but that's about the only thing worth mentioning.

Don't worry though. The calender starts looking much better just a little further into the summer. As I said before, a few more shows may be added as well.

Pat Benatar - "Promises In The Dark"

05/05/2008 Brian May Interview On 95.5 KLOS FM

The following audio is Brian May being interviewed on 95.5 KLOS FM Radio by Cynthia Fox and Jim Ladd on May 5, 2008. He was in Los Angeles, CA promoting his book - "Bang! The Complete History Of The Universe". The six part audio (mp3 downloads) can be found in the archives of May's web site, along with the complete transcript.

Part 1: Astrophysics PHD, Sir Patrick Moore, Book, Chancellorship

Part 2: Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday, AIDS, Freddie Mercury

Part 3: Astronomy, "Bang! The Complete History Of The Universe"

Part 4: Al Murray, Queen + Paul Rodgers, "The Cosmos Rocks" (new album)

Part 5: Takes calls from listeners, Talks about book signing

Part 6: "We Will Rock You" musical still playing worldwide, etc.

Cheap Trick, Heart, Journey 2008 Summer Tour

In case you haven't heard yet, there's another multi band tour I've been meaning to tell you about. This may be the only one in the USA this summer that rivals the Metal Masters Tour for me. They're not metal, but they sure are rockin'. Most of the concerts will include (in order of appearance) Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey. The tour starts in Denver, CO on July 9, 2008 and ends in Albuquerque, NM on October 4, 2008. If you're in the Mid Atlantic area like me, you'll get a couple chances to see them in August. They will be at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, VA (a.k.a. Washington, DC) on the 27th and Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey, PA on the 28th.

Cheap Trick - "I Want You To Want Me"


Heart - "Barracuda"


Journey with Arnel Pineda - "Open Arms"

Don't Cry, Hockey Doesn't End This Week

Right! The NHL's 2008 Stanley Cup Final will become final when the Detroit Red Wings are awarded the world of sports' most coveted championship trophy either tonight or after a Game 7 on Saturday. That's absolutely true. Sorry Pittsburgh Penguins fans. OK, so I'm not really sorry. My point is that there is so much more to come.

There's the NHL Awards Show in Toronto on June 12, 2008. New season ticket holders for the 2008-2009 season can enjoy the show while picking out their Verizon Center seats at the Washington Capitals Open House that same evening. Of course, Alex Ovechkin is expected to receive another award or two. After already claiming the Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Art Ross Trophies for leading the league with 65 goals and 112 points, he's up for a couple MVP awards as well. We will find out if he got the votes he deserved for the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy on the 12th. Keep in mind that Nicklas Backstrom may take the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, and Bruce Boudreau should get the Jack Adams Award for coaching the team from the cellar to the playoffs.

The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Ottawa June 20 - 21. According to the NHL, 107 of the best draft eligible players arrived in Toronto last week for the Draft Combine. What do you think the Capitals will be looking for this year? General Manager George McPhee has done very well at the past few Drafts. Will he be as successful this time? It's a very exciting time for serious hockey fans.

On July 1st, hockey continues with the Unrestricted Free Agents hitting the open market. Although it's a more expensive route in acquiring veteran players, McPhee has also fared pretty well with this avenue. However, trades are where you usually get better value for your money. It'll be interesting to see who Washington is able to resign, who we might lose, and who George decides to bring to the team.

Another thing to look forward to is the Capitals Development Camp. Many of the young prospects will attend July 7th - 12th. Coaches and management get a better idea of what they have in the pipeline during this camp.

There really isn't that much down time. Sure, there will be a few weeks in the second half of the summer where things really slow down until training camp starts. But, there's plenty going on for a while yet.

Trophy Photos - NHL, Young Guns Photo/Graphic - Washingtoncaps.com

Radio On My Mind

Reading about Brian May's recent efforts to save the UK's number 1 classic rock radio station got me to thinking about another one. Although they could never reach the same standards as the award winning Planet Rock, I still have a place in my heart for a fictional station known as WKRP In Cincinnati.

WKRP In Cincinnati - Pilot: Part 1

WKRP In Cincinnati - Pilot: Part 2

IIHF Hall Of Fame 2008 Inductions

The IIHF inducted seven new members into their Hall Of Fame last week. These were of course internationally known hockey people. You should recognise some of the names, if you've been following the sport for any amount of time. Igor Larionov and Mario Lemieux were among the male players. Three women were also inducted, including Tony Granato's sister Cammi Granato. Cammi is the all time leading scorer of women's international ice hockey. It's nice to see some women finally get recognised for their contributions.

Rest In Peace Jon Pertwee

In remembrance of one of the great Doctors - Jon Pertwee, who died on this day, in 1996.

From Wikipedia:

John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919[1] – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge. He also hosted the murder mystery quiz programme Whodunnit! between 1974 and 1978 for Thames Television. Pertwee also voiced the character of "Spotty" in the 1980s cartoon series SuperTed.

Death announcement via Australian (?) TV news



YouTube Tribute by Andrew Webb


Thanks for entertaining us Jon!

Russia Wins Gold At 2008 World Championship

For the first time in 15 years, Russia won the IIHF World Championship. Congratulations to Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and their fellow countrymen for a brilliant achievement. Russia and Washington Capitals fans are very proud. It's nice to see some of our Cap's enjoying a championship win before going on holiday. That's got to make the time between now and the start of the NHL's 2008-2009 season a little bit happier and easier. They've got a lot to celebrate right now. Let's hope we get to celebrate a different kind of championship next spring. Winning at the Worlds might just add some experience that could be very helpful in that effort.

Say Goodbye To Olie Kolzig

It looks like goaltender Olie Kolzig will not be playing for the Washington Capitals anymore. After 19 years of mostly excellent service to the organization that drafted him, it appears he will be playing elsewhere if at all next season. The Washington Post's Tarik El-Bashir was first to break the news. Comcast SportsNet's Jill Sorenson has since interviewed Kolzig as well. You can watch the video on Washington Post Live tonight. Also, Mike Vogel's article on the end of the fantastic Kolzig era is a must read.

The news is a little hard to take for many of us, although we all probably knew it was coming. You can't carry three goalies forever, even if all three are good. Kolzig wasn't at his best for much of the season, but don't forget that his teammates weren't much help early on. Around the time of the trade deadline, when the Cap's picked up netminder Cristobal Huet, Olie's play really picked up. Huet played as well as he has ever played in his entire career, though some of his wins came with a good bit of help from his teammates, especially in the playoffs. I'm being serious when I say that Kolzig was just as good as Huet down the stretch. However, I agree that Kolzig's effectiveness is never going to be as consistent as it used to be. At 38 years of age, you've got to expect that.

It's heartbreaking to think about how Olie stuck around through the hard times, and when the Capitals finally raise the Stanley Cup sometime within the next couple seasons, he won't be around to share in what he has rightfully earned. There have been many other great hockey players who never won the cup, and there will be plenty more. When Huet faltered in the playoffs and Kolzig wasn't even given the chance to play in one game, it became very clear that his time in Washington was over. Sad that it had to end this way, but it's "Time To Say Goodbye".

Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman - "Time To Say Goodbye"

Skid Row - "I Remember You"

Thank You Olie!

Happy 60th Birthday Bill Ward

Happy 60th birthday to one of rock's finest drummers, Bill Ward. Bill is my personal favorite heavy metal drummer of all time. He has done some great solo work, but he will always be remembered for his many years playing for the greatest heavy metal band - Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath - "Fairies Wear Boots" (Paris 1970)


Black Sabbath - "Children Of The Grave" (Reunion Rel: 1998)

Brian May To Be On 95.5 KLOS FM 05/05/2008

Listen Live to the Brian May interview on Los Angeles radio station 95.5 KLOS FM via their web site at 11:00 PM EDT.

Dr Brian May Speaks For Dr Francisco Sanchez

ASTRONOMERS VIEW ROCK STAR UP CLOSE

GAINESVILLE SUN
By Karen Voyles
Sun staff writer
May 4, 2008

Photo by Brandon Kruse/The Gainesville Sun

Queen guitarist Dr. Brian May speaks Saturday afternoon at Pugh Hall on the University of Florida campus during a ceremony for Dr. Francisco Sanchez, who received an honorary doctorate from the Department of Astronomy.

Rock fans around the world know Brian May as the star guitarist of the rock group Queen. Astronomy fans inside Pugh Hall at the University of Florida Saturday know Brian May as a professor with a keen interest in, and understanding of, the motion of dust in the solar system.

"My dad used to say to me 'It's nice that you're playing music but one day you're going to need a proper job,' " May said "I just thought 'It's never going to happen.' "

The guitarist's visit was among the highlights of a weekend of commencement ceremonies that continue today. About 6,200 students - of the 8,675 set to graduate this semester - will participate in their commencement ceremonies throughout the month, most of which were slated for this weekend, depending on the college.

With more than 2,000 students receiving bachelor's degrees, the College of Liberal Arts and Science's two ceremonies Saturday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center were by far the university's largest.

May, who completed his doctorate in England last fall after a 30-year break in his studies, is still touring with Queen. He flew to Gainesville Saturday to see his mentor and close friend, astronomer Francisco Sanchez, receive the first honorary degree ever bestowed by the Department of Astronomy.

May had been working on his doctorate with guidance from Sanchez in the mid-1970s when May's rock career took off and he set his studies aside.

VIDEO link

While introducing May to the audience Saturday, Stanley Dermott, professor and astronomy department chair, noted how pleased his own 90-year-old mother-in-law in England had been when May received his degree last fall.

"When she heard on BBC that Brian May had received his Ph.D. she said 'Oh good. That will give him something to fall back on,' " Dermott said.

Despite the years rolling by after May left school, Sanchez would encourage him not to give up on his research, serving as what May said was his primary inspiration to eventually complete his doctorate.

"Every time I saw (Sanchez) he said, 'You can still do it,' " May told the audience of astronomers and undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. "Over the years I would talk to him and feel guilty and I said to him that I felt like a bit of a fraud because I hadn't been an astronomer in 30 years. Then he told me he hadn't been doing astronomy for 30 years either - that he'd been doing administration."

Sanchez received his honorary degree in part for the work he has done to make Spain and the observatories on the Canary Islands major players in the world of astronomy.

When Sanchez began his work, Spain had a handful of astronomers. Today that country is home to between 300 and 400 astronomers, drawing more than two dozen countries who have built observing facilities on the islands of Tenerife and La Palma.

Sanchez is also credited for spearheading construction of the world's largest optical telescope. The University of Florida is a 5 percent owner and partner in the $190 million Gran Telescopio Canarias.

May has agreed to write a special piece of music to be performed with Queen when the telescope opens.

Commencement for students receiving professional degrees are scheduled for later this month.

The Levin College of Law's ceremony will take place on May 9, the College of Medicine's on May 17 and the College of Dentistry's on May 16.

The university's final spring ceremony, for graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine, is set for May 24.

Goalies Gone Wild

Here are some wild moments for NHL goalies a few years back. Remember these?

Happy 58th Lou Gramm

Just wanted to wish a great 58th birthday to a great singer and song writer, Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico), who is best known for his time with the band Foreigner. But "That Was Yesterday".

Foreigner - "That Was Yesterday"