Along with the Specials, the Selector, Madness, and Bad Manners, the English Beat excelled at putting a British stamp on Jamaican ska and reggae in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The name was tagged with their nationality to differentiate them from an American outfit also dubbed the Beat, but…
Who said you can’t go home again? Certainly not Tears for Fears. The band’s trajectory has technically been intact for the past 28 years — although its two principals, Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith, parted after peaking in the early ’90s. While Orzabel carried on with the band’s branding, Smith…
Natalie Merchant sounds exactly like one might expect. With her clipped tones, old-world accent, and a stoic yet reserved demeanor, she clearly inhabits her persona as pop’s foremost folk princess, a role she first assumed nearly 30 years ago at the helm of 10,000 Maniacs. At age 46, she still…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week: First impressions and mistaken identities. It’s funny, but for as long as I can remember, people have insisted that I resemble one rock star or…
Natalie Merchant’s latest foray into South Florida comes at a particularly opportune time. Currently, she’s riding the release of Leave Your Sleep, an ambitious opus that finds her turning the lyrics, lullabies, and nursery rhymes of classic literary authors into a varied hybrid of pop, folk, jazz, zydeco, reggae, and…
What other tune better baited disco devotees with the promise of pure nocturnal desire than Donna Summer’s throbbing orgasmic anthem “Love to Love You Baby”? Trained as an opera singer but born again as a daringly sensual diva, Summer hit her stride after partnering with producer Giorgio Moroder and creating…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week, his sons join the fun.It’s hardly surprising that I got my two sons involved in my backstage exploits at a young age. Natalie Merchant’s upcoming…
What other tune better baited disco devotees with the promise of pure nocturnal desire than Donna Summer’s throbbing orgasmic anthem “Love to Love You Baby”? Trained as an opera singer but born again as a daringly sensual diva, Summer hit her stride after partnering with producer Giorgio Moroder and creating…
Last August marked the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival, the most celebrated concert in rock music history. One year later, the Seminole Casino is offering the public a collective flashback of sorts and spreading the good vibes to those who may not have inhaled the first time around…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week: Up close and personal with a pair of show biz icons. My day job is working at a television station, and I’ve relished meeting television…
After succumbing to practically every rock ‘n’ roll vice — drugs, infighting, and unfortunate artistic choices — Aerosmith amazingly remains intact 40 years on, and just as amazing, all its members are still alive. Last year alone, various maladies created a crippling series of setbacks that nearly did the band…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week, Lee witnesses the nearly next big thing and has a fling! Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel of Big Star, the great Teddy Pendergrass, the sweet…
Happy Together 25th Anniversary With the Turtles, Micky Dolenz, Mark Lindsay, the Grassroots, and the Buckinghams Hard Rock Live, Hollywood Thursday, July 29, 2010Those involved in the “Happy Together” assemblage coast along on memories alone. For the headlining Turtles, it actually represents phase two in a continuing courtship of Baby…
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the Happy Together tour for that other annual oldies trek known as Hippie Fest. It boasts one of the same headliners in the Turtles, whose onstage antics under the aegis of their original frontmen Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (AKA Flo and Eddie)…
Thanks to their rebirth in 2007, it’s nice to find Crowded House fully occupied once again. Formed from the ashes of a quirky combo from New Zealand that cleverly dubbed itself Split Enz, Crowded House was Neil Finn’s attempt to strip away the theatrics and further the Enz’ more melodic…
Despite their geographical disparity, Carlos Santana and Steve Winwood hold quite a bit in common. When Santana gained fame in San Francisco during the Summer of Love and Winwood built his reputation in the beat clubs of Birmingham, England, both men pursued a similar muse in the blues. Santana’s searing…
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the Happy Together tour for that other annual oldies trek known as Hippie Fest. It boasts one of the same headliners in the Turtles, whose onstage antics under the aegis of their original frontmen Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (AKA Flo and Eddie)…
There may be no better image to represent the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll than Robert Plant, flailing away full-throttle at the helm of Led Zeppelin. With his tousled blond locks, bare chest, and wailing, upper-register vocals, Plant was the quintessential frontman of the quintessential hard rock band. Led Zep…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week: Sharing quality time with Stan Lee, Marvel Comics’ mastermind, and Tom Dowd, one of music’s most prolific producers. When I have crossed paths with that…
Any attempt at actually narrowing down the sound of the Providence, Rhode Island,-based quartet Deer Tick ultimately comes up short. The fact the foursome often falls back on an alt-country approach may enter the equation, but equally important are elements of punk, grunge, and, on occasion, sheer, unapologetic sentiment. Deer…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week, it wasn’t my party, but I can still sigh if I want to! Birthdays are always momentous occasions, but being the celebrity junkie that I…
Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band Seminole Hard Rock HollywoodThursday, May 15, 2010 Since the late ’80s, Ringo Starr has assembled an ever-shifting combo of retro rock veterans, and last night’s show at the Hard Rock suggests the formula is still intact.But for anyone who’s seen the Ringo revue more…
