LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 25, 2019…36 YEARS AGO METALLICA RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM ‘KILL EM ALL’

SOME FUN FACTS CONCERNING ‘KILL ‘EM ALL’

-THE ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE CALLED ‘METAL UP YOUR ASS’

-THE ARTWORK WAS GOING TO FEATURE A HAND STICKING OUT OF A TOILET CLUTCHING A DAGGER. THE GROUP’S RECORD COMPANY AND RECORD DISTRIBUTORS REFUSED TO PUT OUT THE ALBUM WITH THE COVER CALLING IT OBSCENE.

- CLIFF BURTON CAME UP WITH THE TITLE ‘KILL ‘EM ALL’ AFTER BEING UPSET WITH THE PUSSY RECORD DISTRIBUTORS

-DAVE MUSTAINE WAS KICKED OUT OF METALLICA A MONTH BEFORE THE BAND RECORDED THIS ALBUM

-KIRK HAMMETT HAD A MONTH TO REWORK MUSTAINE’S SOLOS

-TOTAL DOWNLOADS AND ALBUM SALES OF ‘KILL ‘EM ALL’ IS JUST UNDER 10 MILLION COPIES.

-SINCE 2003 METALLICA HAS CLOSED ALMOST EVERY SHOW WITH ‘SEEK AND DESTROY’

-WHEN THE BAND PLAYED AT THE FILLMORE FOR THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY,

THE BAND INVITED ORIGINAL GUITARIST DAVE MUSTAINE AND ORIGINAL BASSIST RON MCGOVNEY ONSTAGE TO JAM ON SOME ‘KILL ‘EM ALL

HERE’S AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF ‘SEEK AND DESTROY’

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 25, 2019…ON THIS DATE 39 YEARS AGO AC/DC RELEASED THE ALBUM ‘BACK IN BLACK.’ DEPENDING ON WHO IS DOING THE MATH, THIS IS THE BIGGEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL-TIME.

BACK IN BLACK HAS SOLD THE EQUIVALENT OF OVER 58 MILLION COPIES WORLD WIDE. IT IS ARGUABLY THE GREATEST HARD ROCK ALBUM OF ALL-TIME.

WITH THIS RECORD, AC/DC BOUNCED BACK FROM THE DEATH OF THEIR LEAD SINGER BON SCOTT. SCOTT DIED OF ALCOHOL POISONING JUST FIVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THIS ALBUM.(THE CORONER OFFICIALLY RULED HIS PASSING AS “DEATH BY MISADVENTURE”)

HERE ARE SOME QUICK BITS OF TRIVIA ON ‘BACK IN BLACK’

-At 58,224,000 equivalent album sales, Back In Black is the most successful Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album of all-time

-At 58,224,000 equivalent album sales, Back In Black is the third most successful album from the 80s.

-Back In Black is one of the two studio albums from the 80s with over 300 weeks charted(303 weeks) inside the US BB200 Album Chart.

-Worldwide, Back in Black ranks #1 in sales in actual album sales

-It never went to #1 in the US. Despite selling a monumental number of copies and staying in the Billboard Chart for 131 weeks on its initial release, it has never reached Number One. Instead, every time it’s been reissued, it has peaked at Number Four every time.

-Despite the album never going to # 1 in the U.S. Atlantic Records issued the group’s 1976 album Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap stateside at the same time the album was on the charts. Atlantic had originally passed on handling Dirty Deeds. This was a direct money grab by the record company and pissed off AC/DC who were trying to establish Brian Johnson as the new lead singer.

-In May 1981, Dirty Deeds beat out Back in Black on the Billboard chart by landing at #3.

-In the U.S., Back in Black is the sixth biggest seller of all time, behind Their Greatest Hits by the Eagles; Thriller;Hotel California by the Eagles; Led Zeppelin IV; and The Wall by Pink Floyd.

-Deciding to record in the Bahamas for the tax breaks very nearly backfired. AC/DC recorded Back in Black at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas over seven weeks from April to May 1980. They hit the island just in time for tropical storm season, causing regular power cuts. The weather is referenced in Johnson’s lyrics: “I’m rolling thunder, pourin’ rain. I’m comin’ on like a hurricane. My lightning’s flashing across the sky. You’re only young but you’re gonna die.”

-At one point, a crab wandered into the studio’s drum booth from the beach, momentarily disrupting recording and busting up everyone involved. According to Brian Johnson“It was cracking its claws like castanets!”

- The crab wasn’t the only distraction. “It was hardly any kind of studio,” Malcolm Young once said. “We were in these little concrete cells… you had a bed and a chair. And this big old black lady ran the whole place. Oh, she was fearsome. She ruled that place with a rod of iron. We had to lock the doors at night because she’d warned us about these Haitians who’d come down at night and rob the place. So she bought us all these six-foot fishing spears to keep at the f—ing door!”

-When they weren’t avoiding crabs that wandered into the recording rooms from the beach, they were plagued by flocks of birds.

-They had to make their own bell for Hells Bells. While trying to record the chime of bells from a nearby church, the recording were ruined by a flock of birds flying away every time the bell struck. In the end, the band resorted to their original plan of having their own bell made for recording. The two-ton bell turned up perfectly tuned, and became a fixture of the band’s live shows.

-Back in Black produced four singles. In order of release, they were “You Shook Me All Night Long” “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” “Hells Bells” and “Back in Black.”

- It could have been some more black. The original plan for the album was to have the sleeve entirely back as a sign of mourning for Bon Scott. Their label Atlantic objected and a compromise was made wherein the AC/DC logo was bordered in grey.

-It’s a sonic industry standard. The sound engineering is considered so perfect is tthat Motorhead uses the record to tune their sound systems and several studios in Nashville use it to check the acoustics of a room.

-An unknown number of “You Shook Me All Night Long” singles that were pressed incorrectly were sold to the public. The record instead plays the song “Shake a Leg.” Copies of those singles are among the very most sought-after AC/DC collector’s items.

-Two music videos for “You Shook Me All Night Long” exist. One, released in 1980, showcases the band playing live. The second was created in 1986 for Who Made Who, AC/DC’s combination greatest-hits and soundtrack album for the Stephen King cult movie, Maximum Overdrive. The Who Made Who video is a major comedic production starring Johnson and buxom British Page 3 model and Benny Hill Show starlet, Corinne Russell.

-“Shoot to Thrill” is one of the most widely used rock songs in movies, TV, and video games. Among the productions that have employed the song are Iron Man 2, Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, The Dukes of Hazzard, xXx: State of the Union, Red 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

-The iconic opening riff from the title track was something that Malcom Young had in his head and it was driving him crazy. According to Angus Young “Malcolm had that riff for about three weeks. He came in one night and said, ‘You got your cassette here? Can I put this down? It’s been driving me mad. I won’t be getting any sleep until I put it on cassette.’ He sat down and played it all. The funniest thing is he said to me, ‘What do you think? I don’t know if it’s crap or not.’”

OUT OF TRAGEDY CAME TRIUMPH, IT IS THE GREATEST TURN-AROUND ALBUM IN ROCK HISTORY. HERE’S THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR THE TITLE TRACK OF 'BACK IN BLACK'

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 24, 2019…JULY 24, 1977 SAW LED ZEPPELIN PERFORM THEIR LAST CONCERT IN AMERICA AT OAKLAND’S “DAY ON THE GREEN.” BUT IT WAS A SHOW THAT ALMOST DIDN’T HAPPEN. THE NIGHT BEFORE LED ZEPPELIN PLAYED AT THE COLISEUM AND AN INCIDENT OCCURED WHEN JOHN BONHAM AND THREE MEMBERS OF THE BAND’S MANAGEMENT TEAM BEAT THE LIVING SNOT OUT OF A MEMBER OF THE BAND’S SECURITY TEAM.

ONLY BILL GRAHAM’S LEGAL WRANGLING ALLOWED THE EVENT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE BAND’S MANAGEMENT WANTED GRAHAM TO SIGN A LETTER OF INDEMNIFICATION ABSOLVING LED ZEPPELIN FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EVENT OR THE BAND WOULDN’T TAKE THE STAGE. BILL SIGNED THE LETTER. HOWEVER, GRAHAM REFUSED TO HONOR THE LETTER AND ASSAULT CHARGES WERE LAID AGAINST BONHAM AND THE THREE MEMBERS OF ZEP’S MANAGEMENT TEAM WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK AT THEIR HOTEL AFTER THE SHOW. THE FOUR RECEIVED BAIL, AND A SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THEM FOR 2 MILLION DOLLARS. ALL FOUR BARGAINED DOWN TO MISDEMEANORS, PLEAD GUILTY, AND EVENTUALLY PAID A COMBINED 2 MILLION DOLLARS.

THEN AFTER THE SHOW, LED ZEPPELIN CANCELLED THE LAST 7 SEVEN SHOWS OF THEIR AMERICAN TOUR AFTER ROBERT PLANT LEARNED THAT HIS 6 YEAR OLD SON DIED OF A RESPIRATORY VIRUS.THE SHOW IN OAKLAND PROVED TO BE THEIR FINAL SHOW IN AMERICA.

HERE’S GREAT FOOTAGE OF LED ZEPPELIN IN SEATTLE A WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL SHOW IN OAKLAND

youtube.com/watch?v=enILR5KUgd0

HERE’S FOOTAGE OF THE DAY ON THE GREEN IN OAKLAND( VERY GRAINY)

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 24, 2019…ON THIS DATE 4 YEARS AGO ERIC CLAPTON RELEASED HIS 2ND SOLO ALBUM ‘461 OCEAN BOULEVARD.’

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WAS CLAPTON’S COMEBACK ALBUM. 461 MARKED THE RETURN TO RECORDING FOR CLAPTON AFTER RECOVERING FROM A THREE YEAR ADDICTION TO HEROIN. THE ALBUM IS ONE OF CLAPTON’S MORE SUCCESSFUL RELEASES COMMERCIALLY, GOING ON TO SELL OVER 2 MILLION COPIES. THE ALBUM TITLE REFERS TO THE ADDRESS ON OCEAN BOULEVARD IN GOLDEN BEACH, FLORIDA WHERE CLAPTON LIVED WHILE RECORDING THE ALBUM. THE BEE GEES LATER LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE.

EVENTUALLY THE STREET ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE WAS CHANGED AFTER THE RECORD’S RELEASE DUE TO FANS FLOCKING TO THE PROPERTY. THE HOUSE HAS LONG SINCE BEEN REBUILT, AND THE STREET ADDRESS RESTORED.

THE ALBUM WAS POWERED BY TRACKS LIKE ‘GET READY’ ( A CO-WRITE WITH YVONNE ELLIMAN WHO CLAPTON HIRED TO BE PART OF THE BAND)

‘LET IT GROW’ ( A SONG ABOUT CLAPTON’S BATTLE WITH HEROIN ADDICTION) AND THE # 1 SINGLE ‘I SHOT THE SHERIFF’ (A COVER OF BOB MARLEY’S SONG).

HERE’S CLAPTON PERFORMING ‘I SHOT THE SHERIFF’ ON A TV SHOW IN 1977

Boris Johnson and Jeff Daniels? Or how about Boris Johnson and Donald Trump?

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 23, 2019…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST GUITARISTS, SLASH. HE ROSE TO GLOBAL FAME WITH GUNS N’ ROSES. HIS SIGNATURE TOP HAT, BIG BLACK CURLS AND WICKED GUITAR LICKS ARE LEGENDARY. OVER THE YEARS HE’S PROVEN HIMSELF A WORKAHOLIC PLAYING WITH GUNS N’ ROSES, MICHAEL JACKSON, LENNY KRAVITZ, AND HIS OWN PROJECTS LIKE SLASH’S SNAKEPIT, VELVET REVOLVER AND SLASH WITH MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS.

IT ALMOST CAME TO A CRASHING END IN 2005. AT THE AGE OF 35, SLASH WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CARDIOMYOPATHY, CAUSED BY YEARS OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.HE WAS GIVEN JUST WEEKS TO LIVE, BUT HE HAD A DEFIBRILLATOR IMPLANTED, AND BEATING THE ODDS, WENT ON TO SURVIVE. HE HAS BEEN SOBER SINCE 2006 , AND THREW HIMSELF BACK INTO HIS MUSIC.

HE’S CURRENTLY ON TOUR WITH MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, AND WILL CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY TONIGHT IN MY OLD HOMETOWN OF WINNIPEG, CANADA.

THEN IT’S BACK TO THE STUDIO WITH GUNS N’ ROSES BEFORE THE GROUP EMBARKS ON A TOUR OF EUROPE AND THEN SOUTH AMERICA.

HERE’S SLASH WITH VELVET REVOLVER

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO OF SOME GREAT SLASH MOMENTS

photo thanks-superstar photoman jim sheehan https://www.facebook.com/jimmyosheehan/

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 23, 2019…I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD HERE AND NOW AS SAYING THAT BILL GRAHAM MIGHT BE THE GREATEST FREAKING GUY IN THE HISTORY OF BAY AREA ROCK. HE INTRODUCED THE EPIC ‘DAY ON THE GREEN’ CONCERT SERIES IN 1973 AND THE CONCERT SERIES CONTINUED UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1991. ON JULY 23,1978 ANOTHER ONE OF THE MEGA CONCERTS TOOK PLACE AT THE OAKLAND STADIUM. IT FEATURED AEROSMITH, FOREIGNER, PAT TRAVERS, VAN HALEN, AND AC/DC.

TICKETS WERE 11 BUCKS !!( $12.50 IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE A CHANCE AND GET THEM AT THE DOOR)

TO GIVE YOU A SAMPLE OF WHAT THE SHOW WAS LIKE, THIS IS LIVE

AEROSMITH FROM 1978 AT A SHOW THAT TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER.

FOREIGNER, ALSO FROM THE SAME FESTIVAL IN 1978

HERE’S EARLY PAT TRAVERS

AC/DC CIRCA 1978

AND LIVE AC/DC SIN CITY FROM 1978 ( VERY GRAINY VIDEO)

AND FOOTAGE OF VAN HALEN PLAYING A DAY ON THE GREEN 3 YEARS LATER

buyprint@print@wolfgangshttps://www.wolfgangs.com/photography/van-halen/vintage-print/ZZZ032015.html

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 23, 2019… THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY SOME PEOPLE SINGLE OUT SPECIFIC ‘DAY ON THE GREEN’ SHOWS AS THE BIGGEST OR BEST, BUT DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SHOW, I’D SAY IT’S DEFINITELY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF 2 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS OF THE LED ZEPPELIN ‘DAY ON THE GREEN’ SHOWS. AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, THESE WERE ALSO THE LAST TWO SHOWS LED ZEPPELIN WOULD EVER PLAY IN AMERICA.

IT ALL STARTED OFF WITH SOME BACKSTAGE DRAMA AT THIS SHOW AS WELL. AFTER THE SHOW, DRUMMER JOHN BONHAM ALLEGEDLY SAW A MEMBER OF BILL GRAHAM’S SECURITY TEAM SLAP LED ZEPPELIN’S BAND MANAGER’S SON FOR ONCE AGAIN, ALLEGEDLY, STEALING A DRESSING ROOM SIGN. RUH ROH !!! BONHAM, THEN ALLEGEDLY KICKED THE EMPLOYEE. BONHAM THEN TOLD HIS MANAGER PETER GRANT. GRANT AFTER THE SHOW WENT INTO THE EMPLOYEES TRAILER WITH THE TOUR SECURITY DIRECTOR JOHN BINDON AND HAD TOUR MANAGER RICHARD COLE GUARD THE DOOR.

THEY THEN THE LIVING HELL OUT OF THE EMPLOYEE.

BONHAM, GRANT, BINDON AND COLE WERE ALL ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT.

THIS ALL LEAD TO THE NEXT NIGHT ALMOST NOT TAKING PLACE. ONLY SOME LEGAL WRANGLING ON BILL GRAHAM’S PART RESULTED IN THE SECOND SHOW ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

HERE’S SOME RARE FOOTAGE FROM THE JULY 23RD SHOW. THIS PERFORMANCE WOULD BE THEIR SECOND TO LAST SHOW IN AMERICA.

Friend of the show, comedian Jo Koy called Lamont & Tonelli to make the exclusive announcement that he is returning to the Bay Area to perform at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland on Friday, November 22nd.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 26th at 10am PT through his website: www.jokoy.com

.Jo Koy's new Netflix special "Comin' In Hot" is streaming now.

Listen to Lamont and Tonelli's interview with Jo Koy below.

Watch the promo for Comin' In Hot below.

Follow Jo Koy here.

LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 22, 2019…TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO THE INCREDIBLE STP PLAYED THE FILLMORE. THE SHOW WAS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SECOND ALBUM ‘PURPLE’

PERSONALLY I REMEMBER THIS SHOW LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY BECAUSE EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON, STP DROPPED BY THE KSJO AND PLAYED IN THE PARKING LOT !!!

HERE’S THE SET THEY PLAYED AT THE FILLMORE:

Vasoline

Silvergun Superman

Crackerman

Lounge Fly

Meatplow

Still Remains

The Gypsy Davy

Pretty Penny

Creep

Andy Warhol

Army Ants

Big Empty

Interstate Love Song

Plush

Unglued

Encore:

Dead & Bloated

Sex Type Thing

THIS IS AN AMAZING STP CONCERT FROM 2001...ENJOY

buyposter @ wolfgang’s https://www.wolfgangs.com/search.html?t=july&pg=2