Didja Know …??
One of the most popular segments of this show has been something the Relic calls Didja Know …?? It’s where we sift through the archives for the littlest-known (and sometimes surprising) facts of rock and its acts.
For example, didja know that Jefferson Airplane got its name from a “roach”-holder (an’ I ain’t talkin’ bugs here!) made out of a paper match? Incidentally, of the group, one’s obviously still gonzo: Paul Kantner (he’s the one on the right with the specs) ranted to a high-school audience recently about the Pope bein’ an “ex-Nazi”, the Democrats as having a “fascist nanny syndrome” and the Bible being written by “old Jewish men who wanted to kill lesbians and … homosexuals.”
I’ve got a feelin’ that this “old American man who wanted to kill a really good lecture” isn’t gonna be invited back anytime soon.
Didja know that one of the sweetest songbirds (at least from the Relic’s view) from the UK actually got her stage name by mistake? Yup … a newspaper reporter was doin’ an article on her, and listed her name as Cilla Black. When informed of his mistake, he just replied that he knew it was some kinda color. Her real name? Priscilla White.
And didja know that Chad Stuart — the harmonious one of legendary British folk-duo Chad & Jeremy — went on (after their initial split) to become the musical director of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour? Or that Jeremy Clyde is the great-great-grandson (mebbe shoulda thrown in an extra “great”, I dunno …) of the famed Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo? (Oh, yeah … C&J are back together again, sounding as fresh as always. The photo of the LP signing is recent ..)
Didja know that there were two versions of three Beatle hits? The UK and US versions of “I’m Down,” “Penny Lane” and “Love Me Do” were different: “I’m Down” had the UK lyrics of “keep your hands to yourself” while, in America, it was sung “keep your hearts to yourself”; “Penny Lane” had the flugelhorn repeating the first notes of its bridge at the end, whereas, in the states, the record had a clean ending after the word “Lane”; “Love Me Do” had two different drummers. On the stateside version, ya had session drummer Andy White on drums (at first, George Martin wasn’t too keen on using Ringo!), with Starr on tambourine. In the UK, the version with Ringo at the drums (and no Andy White) was released. (btw, White only received the standard 7 pounds for his work (and no royalties!); it wasn’t even enough to buy a copy of the record!).
Or that, when the late Jim Croce wrote and sang You Don’t Mess Around With Jim and Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, he was singing about two real people? “Big” Jim Walker was actually a “pool-shootin’ son-of-a-gun” from south Philly, and Leroy Brown was Croce’s fellow National Guardsman from the “southside of Chicago” who went AWOL.
WE’RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS IN THE NEXT POST (ALONG WITH A QUIZ, SO TELL YER FRIENDS!) … BUT, FOR NOW:
A NEW UPDATE ON PETE DINTINO. As you know by now, “Shadow” has been fighting leukemia at Strong Memorial Hospita in Rochester, NY. His story has been nothing short of miraculous as, with the prayers and well-wishes of friends, family and Rockaholics across the globe, the amazing support and love of his family (including his angel-daughter, Lin, who’s kept the journal up), great doctors, the Man Upstairs, and, of course, his own rockin’ energy, he’s beaten the odds! Here’s the latest from Lin:
“Hello everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know how well dad is doing today. He not only is almost completely lucid but he is anxious to get home. He ate almost a serving of Ramen Noodle, half of a cookie, dried apricots and he’s hoping to eat a meatball sub tonight! His appetite is back and that’s the best sign we’ve had so far. He misses everyone and sayd he finally feels like he’s out of the fog. All of his counts look good and they are trying a new medicine to substitute the Tacro. Hopefully this will work effectively without disturbing his cognitive state. The doctors are amazed at his turn around. I hope to have some new pictures of him up on the website. Hope he gets his Meatball Sub down! Love Lin”
DYNAMITE news!! What we’re seein’ from Pete is a miracle; what the medical profession is seein’ is a breakthrough!!
Now … I’ll have more on the Fore-Front, Pete, Ron Ryan — and a few more Didja Know ? segments … and a quiz for you to take! But for now, gonna hit the sack to ‘inspect the insides of my eyelids’ for about six. So, until later today (Thursday), remember:
Keep yer eyes on the skies, yer feet on the ground, yer heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side!
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POSTED IN: 60's rock, British Invasion, Ron Ryan, The Fore, classic rock, influences, personalities, rock heroes, rock news
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