Painted by muralist Rip Cronk, this likeness of a microphone-holding, shirtless Jim Morrison can be seen on the side of a three-story building located at 1811 Speedway and 18th Place in Venice Beach, CA. Originally painted in 1991, Cronk touched up the painting in the Summer of 2012, creating a vibrant orange background over what had previously been both a darker blue color, and the building’s natural white brick. The mural is a must-see for Doors fans if you happen to be in the area.
On This Date, January 8th, in 1991: Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy drinking and prescription drug consumption. He was 30 years old. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as an overdose of codeine combined with Valium, morphine and alcohol. In 2007, Clark was posthumously ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine’s 100 Wildest Guitar Heroes. What a waste. RIP, Steve.
This week, Hair Metal balladeers FireHouse join the ranks of Taylor Dayne, Asia and White Lion for my assessment of the cheese factor in their 1991 monster hit power ballad, “Love of a Lifetime.” Enjoy the video here, but click over to East Portland Blog for my provocative and insightful commentary from all the way back in the year 2000!
On this Date, September 24th, in 1991: Nirvana released its sophomore album, Nevermind — a record that was inarguably responsible for bringing alternative rock into the mainstream. Nevermind would enter the Billboard 200 album chart at 144, peaking at Number 1 in January of 1992.
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ vocalist Anthony Kiedis was born on this day, November 1st in 1962! When I think of the RHCPs – which, trust me, is not often – I remember that one really great album they put out back in 1991, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (which is all about boning and taking drugs, so how could it not be awesome?), and how, when I saw them live on tour in support of that album, the support bands were… Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Ah, memories. Happy Birthday, Anthony!
