Live Music Videos

Tom Severino

2 years ago

Sweet initially walked the line between hard rock, glam, and bubblegum like pop, racking up a series of hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the early seventies. Their career was divided into two distinct periods. Most of their hit singles were released while they were under the control of songwriters/managers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman in the early seventies. These songs dominated the music charts in England and Europe and were unlike anything else out there at the time. They contained catchy choruses and juvenile lyrics that mostly dealt indirectly with sex, all of which was surrounded by heavy metal like guitar work and driving rhythms. They were dangerously close to a strange form of glam rock bubblegum but were enormously successful. At one point, Sweet released fourteen straight singles that made the British top 41, with nine of them cracking the top ten. Bizarrely, eight of these songs were not part of any album.

During this period, the band was known for their flamboyant clothes, use of make-up, and gender bending appearance that even impressed David Bowie and Marc Bolan. They were also true hell raising rock and rollers, with copious use of drugs and alcohol that resulted in exploits that matched Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and the Stones, as well as future bands like Motley Crue. While their A sides were adored worldwide, the B sides of the same singles, all written by the band members themselves, told a different story. They were hard rock based, with a bite that matched Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and the harder material from Zeppelin. When they finally freed themselves from the management contract with Chinn and Chapman in 1974, they turned into a hard rock machine with the predictable loss in popularity but gains in reputation.

During their career, the band placed eighteen singles and five albums on the British pop charts. Fifteen of their eighteen chart singles made the British top forty, with ten cracking the top ten. They also were stars in Australia. While the band was not as popular in the United States, they still did very well. They placed six albums on the American pop albums chart, with one of them certified gold. They also released nine U.S. pop chart singles, with five hitting the top forty. This video showcases “Ballroom Blitz” (#5-1975), which was released in North America in the summer of 1975 and became a massive hit. It entered the U.S. pop singles top forty in early August and rose to number 5 during a fourteen week top forty chart run. It also topped the Canadian pop singles chart. The song had been released in Europe two years earlier and peaked at number two in England and in the top five throughout Europe. Incredibly a version of Sweet, which is led by their original guitarist, is still active as of 2022. Read all about The Sweet on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

From the creation of Devo in 1973, they have made their mark on music. Their early music was dissonant and featured odd rhythmic signatures performed mostly on synthetic percussion instruments. It is difficult to tell if it was all an elaborate inside joke or a legitimate attempt to push music boundaries. Whether they thought it would become influential or not, it did influence an entire generation of new wave, industrial, and alternative rock bands. In the early eighties, the band members began to play more approachable new wave music and had some success, particularly with their top fifteen U.S. single, “Whip It” (#14-1980), and their platinum selling associated album, Freedom Of Choice (#22-1980).

In the end, Devo placed eight albums on the American pop albums chart along with two EPs. They also placed three singles on the U.S. pop singles. They even established a strong fan base in England, where they charted six albums and six singles. In the end, they are now considered to be one of the more significant new wave bands of the late seventies and early eighties, video pioneers, and introduced a combination of weird science fiction themes, surrealistic humor, and highly satirical stances on political and social issues. The band has been nominated for induction into the Rock And Roll Of Fame in 2018, 2021, and 2022. This video captures a live performance filmed in 1980 just as "Whip It" was climbed the charts. It entered the U. S. top forty pop singles chart on October 4 and rose to number 14 during a fifteen week top forty chart run. It also reached number 51 in England, number 11 in Canada, and number 77 in Australia. The song passed the one million sales mark in the U.S. in December, 1980. The original video was a huge hit on the then new MTV despite criticism that it was misogynistic.

The song was written Gerry Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh. Like many of the band’s songs, it was based on a series of influences. The seemingly nonsensical lyrics actually had a strong foundation. Casale was writing about America’s unfailing optimism and intended it to be a subtle pep talk for President Carter, who was then running for re-election against Ronald Reagan. Casale was inspired by communist propaganda and Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. Mothersbaugh has hinted that the song became a hit because many mistakingly thought it was about masturbation and sadomasochism. The original video is famous for introducing the now iconic power dome hats, which looked like upside down flowerpots. Read all about Devo on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

One of rock’s most distinctive singers, Robert Palmer stormed the charts in the seventies and eighties with his unique brand of white soul, laced with reggae, hard rock, and later, new wave electronics. He first appeared on the scene in the mid-seventies with his unique form of blue-eyed soul and pure rock. Then, he reinvented himself in the mid-eighties with his new wave band. During this period, he was immediately recognized for his unique appearance, which included slicked back hair and tailored suits, and his creative videos, which featured the Palmer Girls, identically dressed, stoned faced, heavily made-up model types who appeared as his backing band.

Overall, Palmer had an extremely successful career on both sides of the Atlantic. He charted 13 albums in the U.S., with three of them certified platinum. He also placed 18 singles on the U.S. pop singles chart, with nine cracking the top forty. He was even more popular in England, where he charted 15 albums and 30 singles. He also won two Grammy Awards and was one of music most successful touring artists. Palmer died from a heart attack on September 26, 2003 at the age of 54. This performance of “Addicted To Love” (#1-1985) from 1997 with the Max Weinberg 7 backing him is terrific. He had initially planned to record the song, which he had written, as a duet with Chaka Khan. However, Chaka’s then label would not give her permission to work on Palmer’s label, Island Records, and he recorded the song without her.

The single was released in early 1986 and soared up the U.S. pop singles chart, propelled by one of the iconic videos of the eighties. It was directed by British photographer Terence Donovan and showed Palmer performing with five female models with pale skin, heavy makeup, dark short-cropped hair, blood red lipstick, black clothes, and mannequin like expressions. Their look and demeanor were inspired by women from paintings by Patrick Nagel. The models included Julie Pankhurst (keyboards), Patty Kelly (guitar), Mak Gilchrist (bass), Julia Bolino (guitar), and Kathy Davis (drums). None of them had a clue as to how to play any instrument and a musician hired to teach them to mimic playing gave up after an hour. The models also moved out of synch with each other and the music. Nevertheless, everything worked perfectly.

They were visually stunning and their emotionless, blank expressions captured something that was sexy and appealing. MTV played the video constantly and the single shot up the charts. It entered the U.S. pop singles top forty in early March and went all the way to number one, where it remained for one week during a fourteen-week top forty chart run. It would eventually pass the 500,000 sales mark in the U.S. in January 1989. In addition to its massive success in the States, it also peaked at number 5 in England, number 4 in Canada, and topped the Australian pop singles chart. It was Palmer’s first Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

Mr. Mister surged to the top of the American pop albums chart and the pop singles chart in 1985/1986 with their platinum selling album, Welcome To The Real World (1985), and their two number one pop chart singles, “Broken Wings” and “Kyrie”. They also had a top ten pop single in late 1986 and another top forty single in late 1987 and are one of the few artists in music history to have two number one singles come from a number one album. However, sales plummeted seemingly overnight and things got so bad so quickly that their label would not even release their fourth studio album. The band was a cross between Duran Duran and eighties era Genesis, with elements of British new romantic music and light progressive rock. They initially broke up in 1990 and never really reunited, although their long lost fourth studio album finally surfaced in 2010 and an expanded edition was released in 2019.

"Kyrie" was the second of their U.S. pop chart number one singles from their number one U.S. album, Welcome To The Real World" “Kyrie” (1-1986), entered the U.S. pop singles top forty chart in the middle of January, 1986. It also reached number one, where it stayed for two weeks during a thirteen week top forty chart run. It also hit number 11 in England and Australia, and number one in Canada. The song is essentially a prayer that was inspired by the saying, “Kyrie, eleison”, a Greek term that means “Lord, have mercy”. It was written by Page, George, and Lang. It wound up having a long afterlife and has appeared in U.S. television/Netflix series like Miami Vice, The Goldbergs, Stranger Things, and GLOW. This video captures a particularly strong performance at the Ritz in NYC that took place in December, 1985 at the height of their career. It was filmed for MTV and later became part of the King Biscuit Flower Hour. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

Missing Persons, fronted by pink haired Dale Bozzio, was one of new wave’s most interesting bands. The band is mostly remembered for the ex-Playboy bunny’s quirky vocals and campy look, which included sci-fi based outfits complete with Plexiglas bras. Not surprisingly, they were a MTV favorite. However, the band was much more than some visual gimmicks. Bozzio’s husband Terry is one of music’s most renowned drummers. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo played with Frank Zappa and Duran Duran and bassist Patrick O’Hearn also played with Zappa. The band placed all three studio albums and their one EP on the American pop albums chart. One of the albums was certified gold. They also placed five singles on the U.S. pop singles chart. While the original lineup ultimately did not last, Dale Bozzio has used the band name for various projects all the way up to 2000, even though she is the only original member involved. Her vocal style and fashion sense have influenced a series of modern day singers.

The attached video was recorded on May 30, 1983 at the US Festival in California, where the band played to an estimated audience of over 600,000 people. The is their first U.S. pop chart single, "Words", which reached number 42. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

No performer since the Beatles cast more of a shadow over pop music than Michael Jackson. Aside from selling 89 million albums in the U.S. alone, Jackson placed 51 singles on the U.S. pop singles chart. They included 38 top forty singles, with 27 of those cracking the top ten. Thirteen of his singles topped the chart. Twenty seven of these were top ten hits, with 13 hitting number one. Jackson placed 30 albums on the American pop albums chart, with one certified Diamond, eight certified multi-platinum, four certified platinum, and two certified gold. In addition to be elected to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1997, he was also inducted as a solo performer in 2001. He also has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, the Dance Hall Of Fame, the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall Of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame.

Michael won 15 Grammys, including the Grammy Legend Award. He also won six Brit Awards and a Golden Globe Award. He was honored by Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Clinton, donated millions of dollars to charity, and forever changed the concept of music videos. His talent as a dancer, songwriter, and singer was unquestioned, yet his personal eccentricities and scandals destroyed his credibility, reputation, and tarnished his legacy. During the last years of his life, no one was surprised at anything he did and few took him seriously, a sad statement when you consider that he was one of the most talented musicians in music history. However, the facts speak for themselves. No one artist has had more of an impact on pop music and pop culture in the last 50 years than this man.

This performance, perhaps more than other, launched him into superstar status. It was taped for the television special, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which was taped at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on March 25, 1983. Reportedly, Jackson was upset at his performance and had to be convinced after leaving the stage that it was a game changer. In the end, it may have been the most signature performance of his career. Read all about Michael on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

The story of the Strawberry Alarm Clock is one of those things that only could have happened in the sixties. They are known for their chart topping single, “Incense And Peppermints” (#1-1967), a song that is associated with the Summer Of Love as any song released. However, the million seller never was supposed to have been written, was sung by someone who never was a member of the band, and was released as a B-side to a novelty song. For years, many music fans didn’t even know if this was a real band or one of the many “made for the moment” groups of the sixties. But, Strawberry Alarm Clock was very much real. They would release four albums, one other top forty single, and one of their members would become a principal member of a legendary band. The group is still active today.

The evolution of "Incense And Peppermints" is fascinating. It was originally intended to be the B side of a single, contained lyrics that were written behind the band members' backs, was sung by a sixteen year old teen who never was a member of the band, and only credited to one of the three songwriters. In addition to all of this, it was released four different times under two band names and two labels. The band's keyboardist, Mark Weitz, and lead guitarist, Ed King, wrote the song's chords and bridge, yet never received a cent in songwriter's royalties After attempting to record it three times with various band members, the final vocal was provided by Greg Munford, a friend of the band and lead singer in a group called Shapes Of Sound who happened to be the studio at the time. It was initially released on a small label called All American Records in the summer of 1967 under the band name, Thee Sixpence. As planned, it was first printed as the B side.. Shortly after releasing it, their manager decided that there were too many other groups with names similar to Thee Sixpence and asked the band members to come up with a new name, which turned out to be Strawberry Alarm Clock, That required All American to reprint a new version with the new band name. However, when disc jockeys started playing the B side only, All American had to release a third version with the Incense And Peppermints now listed as the A side.

When demand for the single soon outstripped All-American’s limited distribution capability, Uni Records came to their rescue. They heard the single and loved it and signed on as the single’s national distributer. That forced a fourth reprinting with Uni now listed as the label. With the power of Uni's parent, MCA Records, the single began to sweep all the major markets throughout the United States. It entered the U.S. pop singles top forty in the middle of October and reached number one in November, where it remained for one week during a fourteen week chart run. It sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone, generating a ton of royalties for only one third of the actual songwriters. This video appears to be from late 1969 or 1970 and seems to have been recorded live, but one can never be sure about television appearances. I do have a true live version of the song in my collection.
Read all about Strawberry Alarm Clock on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

2 years ago

I feel a little silly today so I have decided to post this sixties novelty song. Known for their top five gold selling novelty smash, “Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron” (#2-1966), the Royal Guardsmen came storming out of Ocala, Florida in the mid sixties. Playing off the Snoopy theme, the band charted three of their four albums on the American pop albums chart and managed to place six singles on the U.S. pop singles chart. Three of those cracked the top forty and another has become a million selling Holiday classic. Unlike other novelty groups, the Royal Guardsmen were a real band. They played all their own instruments, sang all their own songs, and toured frequently. While they were never able to escape the Snoopy connection, they did chart three non Snoopy themed singles and lasted nearly four years. Incredibly, they reformed in 2004 and have remained active since then. The band now includes three original members and continues to tour on a yearly basis.

The story behind "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" is fascinating. While planning a live show, the band was approached by producer Phil Gernhard, who worked on Maurice Williams & The Zodiac’s number one single, “Stay”. He handed them the lyrics to a new song he had written with Dick Holler. It was based on a Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip character named Snoopy and his recurring fantasy of taking on the Red Baron in an aerial dogfight. Gernhard’s only instructions were to record it with a military type cadence. The band members decided to give Gernhard’s song a try in hopes that he would help them with their career. They put “Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron” together in one of their members' garage and played it for Gernhard. They did not think the producer would like their intentionally cheesy version and were shocked when he told them he wanted to record a demo.

Before it could be released on Laurie Records, the label had to get the permission of Charles Schulz. At one point, negotiations were going so badly that the label had the band record a secondary version of the song that removed any Schultz character references. It was called “Squeaky Vs. The Black Knight”. This version of the song was released in Canada and got some airplay. Copies of the single are rare but can still be found. Once they got permission from Schultz to release the single, it was sent to disc jockeys the week before Thanksgiving. The B side was “I Needed You”, which has since become a great trivia question. A Chicago station, WLS, started playing the song and the band became overnight sensations. By December, 1966, it had nearly topped the singles chart in America, peaking at number two. It also cracked the top ten in England and sold four million copies worldwide. It was quicky certified gold in America, where it sold 1.5 million copies. Read all about the Royal Guardsmen remarkable story on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

With the possible exception of the Rolling Stones, The Animals were the most frightening of the initial wave of British Invasion bands. A blues band in the traditional sense, the group smashed their way onto the British and American charts with “House Of The Rising Sun”, which topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1964. Heavily influenced by traditional blues artists like John Lee Hooker and the r&b of Bo Diddley, the Animals were an uncompromising band that built a loyal following based on their music instead of their image. Along with the Stones, the Animals did more to revitalize American blues music than any act in the early sixties, influencing countless others who quickly followed.

Their first incarnation was their most famous, charting ten singles in England and twelve in the United States. This lineup was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994. The second incarnation of the group charted seven singles in England and the U.S.. This version is more associated with the San Francisco psychedelic movement than the blues. Overall, they have placed 13 albums on the American pop albums chart and 4 in England. This video captures their explosive first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in October, 1964 when they played their most iconic song, "House Of The Rising Son" (#1-1964). The single was a reworking of the traditional blues song and was released in August, 1964 in the United States. While opening for Chuck Berry during a British tour, they included it in their set list for the first time and the reaction was overwhelming.. The group transposed the narrative of the song from the point of view of a woman led into a life of degradation to that of a man whose father was a drunken gambler. Valentine added the famous opening A minor chord arpeggio, which he had taken from the chord sequence Bob Dylan used when he recorded the song in 1961 for his debut album. Price added the distinctive organ riff and solo and Burdon took the song to another level with his other worldly howl, which was as deep and gravelly as humanly possible.

The single sound up topping the pop charts in the U.S., England, Canada, and Sweden. It was featured on their American top ten debut album, The Animals (#-7-1964), which was released in September, 1964. Despite the millions of singles sold throughout the world, only one band member really profited from royalties. While there is no doubt that the reworking of the song was a group effort, their manager told them that there wasn’t enough room on the record label to list all five members as arrangers. He suggested that only Price be listed and a deal would be worked out between the five members to share any future royalties. The band members agreed and in the end, Price was the only member of the group to receive publishing royalties as he refused to share them with the rest of the band. That decision cost the other four members millions of dollars. Read all about the Animals on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

Booker T. & The M.G.’s were the principle architects of what came to be known as the Memphis Sound. As the house band for Stax Records, they backed such Stax stars as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Albert King, Eddie Floyd, and Rufus and Carla Thomas. While this might have been enough to land them in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, they also carved out a very successful career as an independent band. They have placed twelve albums on the American pop albums chart and seventeen singles on the U.S. pop singles chart. Seven of these singles cracked the top forty.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992, the Musicians Hall Of Fame and Museum in 2008, the Memphis Hall Of Fame in 2012, and the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2019. In 2007, they won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were one of the first racially integrated rock bands of their time and were instrumental in the development and acceptance of southern soul music. Rolling Stone Magazine has ranked the band at number 93 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. On top of all this, the individual members like Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., and Donald “Duck” Dunn are legends in their own right. While the band broke up and reformed many times, they have not played under their name since 2012, when Dunn passed away.

This video was taken from a 1967 television show recorded in Finland. It features "Green Onions" and the latter day lineup of Jones, Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr. The song was initially written as the B side for their very recording, "Behave Yourself" by the original foursome, which included bassist Stewie Polk Steinberg. Once the single was pressed, Jim Stewart , who owned Stax Records, wanted to release it with “Behave Yourself” as the A side. However, Cropper thought that “Green Onions” was the stronger song. In order to settle the impasse, Cropper took the still not released pressing to Memphis radio station, WLOK, and they began to play it. Call in listeners leaned heavily to “Green Onions” so it was made the A side, with “Behave Yourself” in the B slot when it was released nationally in May, 1962. Stewart decided to release it on his newly formed subsidiary, Volt Records. It first entered the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart in August and the top forty in early September. It rose all the way to number 3 during a twelve week top forty chart run, peaking at the position by the end of the month. It has generated sales of over one million copies in the United States. It also topped the r&b singles chart for four weeks.

The song is now ranked at number 181 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time and is in the Grammy Hall Of Fame. In 2012, it was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library Of Congress and was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2018 in the Classic of Blues Recording (Song) category. All four band members at the time are credited as songwriters. There remains different versions as to how the band came up with the name of the song. Some say that it was inspired by the name of a cat in the Green Badger comic strip. However, Jones has also stated that he called it “Green Onions” because it was the nastiest food he could think of and it perfectly captured the mood of the song. Read all about Booker T. & The M.G.s on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

The Average White Band’s version of blue eyed soul/funk was a sensation in the mid-seventies. While it seems incongruous that six white guys from Scotland could pull this off, the band was years ahead of its time in its ability to cross color lines and markets with its infectious music. The group was successful on both sides of the Atlantic. They charted ten albums in America and seven albums in England. They also placed seven singles on the U.S. pop singles chart, with five of them cracking the top forty. They also had nine British chart singles. The band also had chart success in Canada and Australia.

The group’s initial run lasted from 1972 until 1983. They reformed in 1989 and have become a fixture on the oldies circuit to this very day. The band has been sampled extensively over the years by artists like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, TLC, Too Short, Ice Cube, Eric B. & Rakim, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, and Arrested Development. In fact, they are the 15th most sampled artist in music history. As of September, 2021, they continue to tour.

This video captures them at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977 performing their signature song, "Pick Up The Pieces". The song was released in England in July, 1974 and was a funk based instrumental with some shouts. Surprisingly, it initially did not chart. However, the new album, AWB (#1-1974), was released in August and entered the American pop albums chart in late September. When U.S. radio stations began to play “Pick Up The Pieces” (#1-1974) in the fall, it entered the U.S. pop singles chart, cracking the top forty in December and soaring all the way to number one, where it remained for one week during a thirteen week million selling top forty chart run. The single finally began to pick up steam in England after the start of the new year. It entered the British pop singles chart in late February, 1975, then peaked at number six. The single wound up winning a Grammy Award and reached number 4 in Canada and number 38 in Australia. Read all about the Average White Band on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

R.E.M. has parlayed their unique combination of ringing guitar hooks, mumbled mystical lyrics, and folk/garage/indie rock to become one of rock’s true legendary bands. They may have single handedly invented alternative rock, taking post punk into an entirely new direction. Their early music evoked the jangly sounds of the sixties as well as folk styled vocals. That set the tone for Sonic Youth, the Replacements, and Butthole Surfers, who realized that you could still sell records and still be cool. As they became more successful, the spawned an entire generation of alternative and grunge rockers. Members of Pavement, Radiohead, Cold play, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Live, Stone Temple Pilots, Collective Soul, Alice In Chains, and Hootie and the Blowfish all acknowledge their influence.

All of this translated to incredible record sales. In total, they have sold 85 million records worldwide, second only to U2 during this timeframe. All fifteen of their studio albums cracked the top forty on the American pop albums chart, with twelve certified either platinum or gold. All of them also charted in England, with seven reaching number one. Nine other albums also charted in America. They also placed 22 singles on the U.S. pop singles chart, with nine cracking the top forty. They have also charted 38 singles in England. During the late eighties and nineties, they were one of the bestselling road bands. Their music videos were also among the bestselling and most inventive in music history.

R.E.M. was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. They have also won three Grammy Awards, twelve MTV Video Awards, four NME Awards, six Q Awards, and one Pollstar Concert Industry Award. They disbanded in 2011 and unlike many other groups, have not reunited, leaving behind their music to speak for itself. This video of "Man On The Moon" from their 1996 movie Road Trip, showcases everything that was great about this band even though it is slighly truncated. Michael Stipe gives an incredible performance, the band sounds great, and the song is outstanding. It reached number 30 on the U.S. pop singles chart in 1992, while also hitting number 18 in England, number 3 in Canada, and number 39 in Australia. Read all about R.E.M. on liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

Out of all the bands that came out of the British punk scene of the late seventies, the Clash had the longest, most productive, and most influential career. The band had a direct effect on punk, post-punk, and new wave music because of their willingness to combine punk, reggae, dub, ska, funk, and rockabilly into a four minute pop song structure. Their music was openly political, reflecting left wing philosophies with some songs bordering on socialism. Like many of their punk counterparts, they were against the monarchy and British aristocracy, but rejected the dominant punk ideals of not getting involved in any movement of any kind. They were active in various liberation movements and were particularly active in regard to anti-racism.

Their music directly appealed to the plight of the lower classes, including disaffected white youths, low-paid workers, inner city poverty, and the lack of opportunities throughout England. These views were a precursor to Thatcherism. They strongly believed that the under privileged had to stand up for themselves, especially against totalitarian regimes. Their socialist views were even reflective in their own profit motives. They consistently charged their audience less to see them than their counterparts and even gave up royalties and concert fees with the labels to lower the prices of their albums.

During their primary reign, the band placed eleven albums on the American pop albums chart, with three certified platinum and another two certified gold. They also placed three songs on the U.S. pop singles chart, including one two top forty hits. They did even better in England, with fourteen pop chart albums and twenty two chart singles. Sixteen of them cracked the British top forty. However, the band imploded just as they were exploding commercially due to internal conflicts and the influence of one of their managers. They fired Mick Jones, their guitarist and co-songwriter, right at the height of their fame and were never the same. The group has been featured in various documentaries, including The Rise And Fall Of The Clash (2012), which detail how they ultimately were their own worse enemy.

The Clash are one of the most honored bands of their period. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003 and are listed by Rolling Stone Magazine at number 28 on their 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time list. Rolling Stone also lists three of their albums on the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time and five of their singles made their 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time ranking. Bono has called them the “greatest rock band and the group that kick started a thousand garage bands across Ireland and the U.K.” This video is from their first American television appearance on the short lived Fridays show. They perform two of their classics, "London Calling" with Joe Strummer on lead vocals and "Train In Vain (Stand By Me)", with Mick Jones on lead vocals. Read all about The Clash on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

RIP Don Everly (8/21/2021)

It is easy to underestimate the importance of this duo. While the brothers released the vast majority of their hit songs in the early sixties, the Everly Brothers wrote the book on how to sing close two part harmonies. They also were one of the first acts to link rock and roll with country music. Their influence on other bands is profound, with everyone from the Beatles to the Hollies to Simon and Garfunkel to Neil Young to a whole slew of country rockers directly copying their style. They were charter members of the 1986 class of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, are members of the Country Music Hall Of Fame (2001), the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame (2004), and the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks them number 33 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. They were also awarded a Lifetime Grammy Achievement Award.

The brothers placed 36 singles on the U.S. pop singles chart, with 26 reaching the top forty and 15 hitting the top ten. Four of their singles reached number one in the U.S. and five sold over one million copies in America alone. They were nearly as successful in England, with 33 of their 34 British chart singles cracking the top forty, and six reaching number one. Ten of their albums have made the American pop albums chart, with five charting in England. One of their U.S. albums was certified gold. All together, they have sold over 40 million records and completed their last tour in 2005.

While the two brothers broke up and pursued solo careers for a time, they were always strongest together. When Phil Everly died from complications from COPD on January 3, 2014, Don grieved his brother every day until he passed away on August 21, 2021 at the age of 84. This live performance of their number one worldwide hit, "Cathy's Clown", dates back to 1960. The song was written by Don Everly and is ranked number 149 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. Read all about this remarkable duo on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

Born Declan McManus, Elvis Costello is widely considered to be the most literate songwriter of the late seventies punk movement. With an ability to write complicated, intelligent lyrics and set them to likable pop melodies, Costello was the darling of critics and a hit with the record buying public. He has been one of rock's most adventurous musicians, experimenting with everything from punk and new wave to classical music and pop standards. Costello remains a commercial force up to the present and is generally regarded as the best pure songwriter to come out of the British new wave/punk scene. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003 with the Attractions and is ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine at number 80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Costello was also one of the most commercially successful artists of his era. He has placed 43 singles on the British pop singles chart along with 34 albums. While he only placed three singles on the U.S. pop singles chart, he had placed 32 albums on the American pop albums chart. Two of those albums were certified platinum while another three reached gold U.S. sales. This video captures a riveting performance of one of his earliest songs, "Watching The Detectives", which was released in 1977. It was his first chart hit in England, reaching number 15 but did not crack the U.S. top one hundred, stalling at number 108. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the song at number 363 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. He is accompanied by the Attractions, who included Steve Nieve on organ, Bruce Thomas on bass, and Pete Thomas (no relation) on drums. This recording was made in 1978 for the German live rock television series, Rockpalast. Read all about Costello and the Attractions on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

RIP Charlie Watts (8/24/2021)

Charlie Watts was one of the unspoken drum heroes of his generation. Both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have said that he was the foundation of the band, laying down an unerring bottom end which propelled all their music. He was also the one member of the band who could mediate between the two when they were fighting. The Rolling Stones have lost other members before but this one will be extremely hard to deal with. Steve Jordan will replace Charlie for the upcoming live shows in the U.S. and while he is excellent, it will not be the same. Read about Watts and the Rolling Stones on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

RIP Dusty Hill (July 28, 2021)

ZZ Top has defined Texas blues rock for over fifty years, becoming one of the most successful rock bands in history. During the seventies, the group combined straight blues with boogie based rock on a series of gold and platinum albums. They also established themselves as one of the touring giants of their era. Despite this success, they decided to update their sound in 1983. While they retained Billy Gibbons’ trademark guitar work, they added a propulsive dance oriented beat and decided to focus more on marketing themselves. Through a series of innovative videos that dominated MTV, their then new album, Eliminator, became an international hit and sold over ten million copies in the U.S. alone. They continued this run with a series of hit albums and have continued to chart albums through 2016.

Their overall resume includes 19 American chart albums and 17 U.S. chart singles. One of their albums was certified diamond, six others were certified platinum, and another four were certified gold. Eight of their chart singles cracked the top forty. The band also charted 14 singles in England, along with 10 albums. Their estimated worldwide album sales exceed 50 million copies. They also were consistently one of the top grossing live acts nearly every year.

In 2004, the trio was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The band celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2019 by releasing a new compilation, Goin’ 50, and touring in support. Their 2020 documentary, That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Film. They resumed touring in late April, 2021 but that tour was interrupted when their bass player, Dusty Hill, had to return to Texas to address a hip injury. He subsequently passed away on July 28, 2021 while sleeping at his home in Houston, Texas. With sixty more shows booked through the end of 2021, and twelve more scheduled in 2022, the band is likely to finish the tour and then decide their future.

This video from a 1983 British television broadcast features two songs from their ten million U.S. selling megahit album, Eliminator (#9-1983). It features killer performances of "Got Me Under Pressure" and "Gimme Some Lovin'", which became a a top forty hit in the U.S. and reached number 10 in England. Along with "La Grange", "Tush", "Cheap Sunglasses", "Pearl Necklace" and countless other songs, they are two classic that capture everything that was special about the band. Read all about this remarkable band on www.liveartisrs.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

For a time during the seventies, Cat Stevens was the most successful singer/songwriter in pop music. His accomplishments included five platinum albums, with another six certified gold, and eleven top forty singles. Unlike other singer/songwriters who emerged from the folk scene, Stevens was one of the first to effectively bridge the gap between folk and pop. However, Stevens always seemed to be uncomfortable with his stardom and was troubled by the excesses of the music business, so it came as no surprise when he completely abandoned music in the late seventies to pursue his religious beliefs. He converted to Islam, renamed himself Yusef Islam, and has remained a devout Muslim ever since.

While he has occasionally made headlines, especially in the late eighties when he supposedly endorsed a Salman Rushdie death degree, he has largely stayed out of the limelight. In the late nineties, he participated in a series of interviews in connection with the reissue of his catalog and held concerts that featured his children’s music. In 2003, Stevens re-recorded “Peace Train” and “Angel Of War” as a protest against the war in Iraq. He returned to secular music with a new album in 2006, followed by another in 2009. He toured in support of the latter. In 2014, the singer was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and released another new studio album, Tell 'Em I'm Gone, which was a worldwide top twenty five hit. Since then, he has maintained a relatively high profile, with two more studio albums and associated tours. He now presents himself as Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

One of my favorite songs from Cat Stevens’ initial run is "Wild World", which reached number 11 in the U.S., number 14 in Canada, and number 31 in Australia, all in 1971. It would later chart in England in 2007 and has sold over 400,000 copies in that country alone. This version was recorded in 1976 during the same year that he went through his religious conversion. Read all about Cat Stevens on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less

Tom Severino

3 years ago

Humble Pie initially came together as a would be British supergroup, but quickly established themselves as one of the hardest rocking band of their era. Through a career that only lasted a little over ten years, they placed eight albums on the American pop albums chart along with four singles. They were not received as well in their home country, only charting four albums and one single. The band is best known for the antics and talent of their lead singer, Steve Marriott, and as being the launching pad for Peter Frampton. During their career, the broke up and reformed frequently and a version of the band with original drummer Jerry Shirley still tours as of 2021.

This 1973 rare video showcases the second version of the band, which includes original members Steve Marriott (guitar, vocals), Jerry Shirley (drums), Greg Ridley (bass, vocals), and Frampton's replacement, Clem Clempson (guitar, vocals), performing one of their classic songs, "I Don't Need No Doctor". While the song only reached number 73 on the U.S. pop singles chart, it is one of the hardest rocking songs recorded in the early seventies. It is a cover of a song originally released by Ray Charles in 1966. Read all about Humble Pie on www.liveartists.net. ... See MoreSee Less