Robin, Bun E, Tom and Rick Circa 1979
Robin Zander, lead singer for Cheap Trick was born on this day, January 23rd in 1953! In just a couple of days I’ll be seeing Cheap Trick play live here in NYC with opening band, Jellyfish! Yay! Happy Birthday Robin!
Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos (born Brad Carlson) was born on this day, June 12th, in 1951. Bun E. currently also plays drums with the all-star rock project Tinted Windows, featuring Hanson singer Taylor Hanson, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger. Their debut album was released in April, 2009. Happy Birthday, Bun!
The Ramones Standing Outside CBGB in 1975, Photo By Bob Gruen. Worth a Thousand Words, at Least
This past Sunday night, a few of my more rock-savvy friends went downtown to the place where Bleecker Street meets The Bowery for the final concert performance at CBGB before that legendary club closed for good. While I’m not generally a huge supporter of people who don’t pay their rent (and think they can get away with it), it’s a shame that club owner Hilly Kristal made the tragic mistake of thinking he’d be bullet proof to eviction in a town where real estate is more precious than gold or diamonds. But that’s hardly the point anymore. Continue reading The End of An Era: CBGB Closes Its Doors