#15: Initially I had a bit of trouble with the song until I realized the final strike in the measure was Colin Blunstone singing "Pah!"

I was formally taught how to play the piano and trumpet, but I taught myself the drums, so I had to listen carefully and figure out out all the nuances of the songs in the pre-internet era. Playing Police songs was fun, but unravelling the mighty Stewart Copeland was a challenge. BTW: One of our gigs was on a USCG facility last century, not a USO show like your band performed.

#16: I was pissed seeing scores of people leaving right before Ozzy was set to go on.
Wow. I hope they all regret it today.

#20: Saw Sabbath in 1979 and they sucked. Ozzy could barely keep himself upright hanging on to the mic stand. Fortunately, the opening band was a new outfit I had never heard of called Van Halen. Guess which t-shirt I bought?
I remember hearing stories about Black Sabbath's tour when you saw them. Poor Ozzy was addled with booze and/or drugs from what I recall hearing. I forget if that was the same year he bit off a dead bird or a bat's head.

#24: Hi American Unity. That is unbelievable. I was the trumpet player in a wedding band when the drummer had a family emergency and had to leave. The guys in the band said my part can be filled by the synthesizer and guitar, so get on the drums "Ringo." This way the rehearsal time wouldn't be wasted. I did the best I could that long afternoon and afterwards the guitarist said to me quietly, "let's start our own rock band." And we did. I lived in a small apartment with my folks in high school and early college, so I practiced on a drum pad and furniture in-between access to a real kit in the expensive studios in NYC. Out went Schubert and in went the Clash.

#26 and 27: Great stuff and thanks for sharing. I went to the kitchen to cook my wife's dinner and coincidentally my music app was playing Schubert's 9th Symphony in C major ("The Great'). Watching the video, my suspicion is this Texas drummer was formally trained, which he then morphed into imitating the immortal Dino Danelli --- Liberace. I noticed his bass drums didn't creep forward with all of that inefficient kinetic action. About your lips, this is why I didn't learn to box like a lot of my neighborhood friends because as musicians we have to protect our lips and fingers, so I took Japanese ju-jitsu lessons.

I'm glad to read you made a career out of music. My bands didn't make it, but some of the guys did alright. Several decades ago my parents received a postcard(!) for me which they had kept like my other mail since I had moved out. The postcard was a photo of a band and one of the members was circled with a Sharpie. "Good on ya!" I happily said out loud.

#31: Don Kirshner's Rock Concerts in the 1970s was one of the free TV shows that showcased great bands.

#32: US military music bands and choirs are excellent. This is one of the few places where you must already be a musician to join and then improve and learn. Too bad your friend couldn't make it to 20 years with the US Army and earn retirement pay, but his wife and he landed on their feet anyway. Yeah, the postcard was damned cool, like out of the Shawshank Redemption.

Two historic notes:

#34: I believe you. Two of my bestest buddies over 27 years in the US Army and joint operations were Marines (and both Irish-American too by coincidence). They would be APPALLED at how the USMC is being abused by this deranged sexual predator occupying the White House.

"He who hath no music in him, is fit for stratagems, treasons, and spoils."
The Merchant of Venice

#37: Those were the days. Baseball games were free and every Saturday afternoon ABC aired professional boxing. I watched Greg Haugen et al fight for free. WOR-TV televised roller derby matches. We went to one a few years ago.

#39: Got it. Pashtunistan was not a fun place to be. I hope the Dotard's tariffs aren't hurting your friend's business as I imagine most of their supplies come from China.

#41: Glad to hear it. I trust you enjoyed listening to Love You To. George Harrison only had a few months to master the sitar under Ravi Shankar. Imagine this Englishman tuning all the Indian instruments before rehearsal. Genius.

#47 | Posted by cbob
70's radio had a really diverse musical spectrum. James Taylor to Led Zeppelin.

#53: Good info, Snoofy, thanks. You certainly remember Air America radio then.