Tom Petty Fans Were Right to Hate The Replacements - Jeff Hassler

In honor of tonight's Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers sold-out Value City Arena show, Pencilstorm re-presents this Jeff Hassler offering from our archives.......  

The reunited and better-sounding Replacements are coming to Columbus this week and needless to say Colin, Greg and Ricki C. are just gushing about their greatness everyday at the Pencilstorm office. Brian Phillips is the worst of the bunch and since we co-manage a fantasy baseball  team together there is NO escaping his CD1025 elitism. I like The Replacements OK, but one of the best bands ever? please... I thought "Don't Tell a Soul" had some good stuff on it. And the video for "When It Began" was pretty cool with the claymation and Tommy and Paul playing an accordion and banjo. Nice to see them maturing musically and not just falling back into a safe "Hootenany." But seriously? Those early records sound I like I recorded them on a Sony walkman. Totally amateur. Just saying!

I accept the fact the 'Mats have long roots around the 614. Hell, even Ricki himself got offerred a chance to roadie for them. People love to idolize how they showed up, got messed up, couldn't sober up and then the show was disaster. But since it's the holy Replacements, all is forgiven. Colin always makes fun of me for liking Bon Jovi but the bottom line is that bands like The Replacements and - I hate to say it - Watershed just never really had any mainstream success. Is it sour grapes or jealousy or the same thing? (No offense, CG, still love ya.)

Anyway, one of the more popular "old wives" tales is how the Replacements got their big break by opening for Tom Petty on his wildly successful Full Moon Fever tour but were too cool to even bother trying to win over Petty's fans, drawing boo's and catcalls until the 'Mats eventually quit the tour with their tails between their legs. To hang around Pencilstorm, you would think The Replacements were like the next ELO, and Petty's fans were just too stupid to appreciate them. That is FALSE.

Let me tell you, I was at the Petty / Mats show at Pine Knob in Michigan and the Mats deserved the cool reception they received. First of all, they came on ten minutes late and when they finally started playing the sound was really rough. To quote Slim, "not half bad, but ain't exactly good." And apparently they were too cool to hire a keyboard player to help out, so the songs from Don't Tell a Soul sounded really different from the record. I mean, a record company spends all that money printing and promoting your record and then when they finally get you in front a big crowd the songs sound different? That's just bad business. No wonder The Replacements always had trouble moving product.

Even worse, they made NO attempt to win over the Petty fans who were paying attention, if not enthusiastic. Hell, it was so loud you had to notice. There were no sing-along sections and I'm pretty sure they didn't even say "Hello Cleveland" or anything funny like that. I thought these guys were supposed to be funny. Sure, there weren't many people in their seats yet and I only counted around ten standing and clapping, but they could have tried a LITTLE harder. There were THOUSANDS hitting beach balls on the lawn seats. Way bigger than playing Staches. Just saying!

Anyway, the set mercifully ended and my future and now ex-wife Kim and I headed backstage for a meet & greet with Tom Petty himself. SCORE! A fraternity buddy of mine had an internship with Petty's record company and the fact that he was also Kim's ex-boyfriend didn't hurt either. Anyway, we are hanging around the green room with about thirty other people and in walks Tom Petty himself! Wearing a top hat and smelling a little…you know.. green…AND acting TOTALLY professional: "Hey folks, thanks for coming." Just as Kim and I were set to have him sign our cassette of Full Moon Fever, Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson lurches into the room, grabs our cassette out of Kim's hands and scrawls "TOM PETTY IS MY DAD" right across the cover. RUINED.

He pulls the beer out of my hand and chugs the WHOLE THING. Let me tell you, he didn't need any more alcohol. Listen, I'm not a teetotaler by a long shot. Just the previous spring break me and my frat brothers from Sigma Ki went to Panama City, Florida and let's just say Club La Vela was NEVER the same. Kim wasn't pleased. (Long story!) And big deal if Petty smokes some weed before a show. No cops backstage that I saw anyway.

But Stinson, he was SO drunk he kind of fell into Kim, put his head on her shoulder and started talking about how lonely he had been since his brother had been kicked out of the band. Pathetic, really. Kim, back before our divorce and the lawyers and hooking up with Russ, used to be very nice. She used to always take care of people. She used to be so kind-hearted. Writing this story now, I wonder why she changed. Anyway, she helped him up and asked, "Tell me Tommy, why did they kick your brother out of Tom Petty?" 

"Because he wouldn't play… Free Falling……" He started to tear up and asked Kim, "Could you help me back to find the tour bus, I need to take my allergy medicine or my eyes will get all red. I should take a shower too. Please?"

I gently grabbed Kim by the shoulder and said, "Kim, I think he has had too much to drink and he isn't even in Tom Petty, that's Tommy Stinson from the Replacements."

She pushed my arm away and said, "DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE, JEFF"

I protested, "I'm not trying to start a fight. I just don't think its a great idea you going back to the tour bus. Besides Tom Petty is about to start."

"Why are you having a cow? Tony always said you were like this but I never believed him. Now, I am starting to think I was wrong to leave him. Especially now that he is a starting a successful career in the music business and you are STILL working at Subway."

"But Kim, I was just....."

"But.. But.. But.. Jeff, I am going to help Tommy back to his bus for some pills and a shower and then I will meet you back at our seats. Be a gentleman and grab me a large Bud light OK? I'll see you in thirty minutes."

"Ok, but I still don't....."

It was too late. Tommy and Kim walked out of the back of the green room. I felt really bad because I was kind of a dick. Here is Kim, just being the kind soul and me, getting all jealous. I knew I had to chill out or I was going to mess this thing up. I started humming "If You Love Somebody, Set them Free" by Sting as I headed off to the concession stand. I got back to our seats by the third song, "Listen to Her Heart." I just knew this would be the song Kim would return to. She would "Listen to Her Heart" and re-appear. 

She didn't. BUT the next song was "Free Fallin'" and I was sure she wouldn't miss that one. It was her ALL TIME FAVORITE TOM PETTY song. She loved the line about Elvis and horses. She used to always sing that in the car when we would drive to G.D. Ritzy's between class. She wasn't a bad singer, really.

But she didn't come back. I was starting to get really worried by the time I finished off hers and mine 38 oz draft beers when suddenly I didn't feel very good. I tried to walk around by the tour buses out back to get some air. I started yelling, "KIM! KIM! It's Jeff! Where are you? Kim!"

Around that time a couple of big guys wearing shirts that said "Security" grabbed me and pushed me over the top of a chain-link fence and I landed rough on the gravel of the main parking lot. I don't know how long I laid there but when I finally collected my wits and rubbed the gravel out of my hair, the parking lot was empty except for maybe 25 cars where there had once been thousands.

Kim was standing by my blue Toyota Celica disheveled and noticeably upset. 

"JEFF! It's almost three fucking thirty in the morning! Where have you been? The concert ended at eleven and I have been waiting here since 2:50. What the fuck have YOU been doing?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that I got us both beers and when you didn't come back I must have drank them both and I don't really remember what happened after "Even the Losers"  Wait, you just got back to the car at 2:50? Where did you get those red boots?"

"At this point, after the way you have treated me, I don't feel like talking but if you must know, Tommy Stinson from Tom Petty gave them to me."

"But why did you get back so late? I don't under...."

Kim cut me off, "Don"t be an asshole Jeff" Just drive me home, I have aerobics class tomorrow at 9 am at Larkins. If we leave right now we can make it. You drive since I need to sleep."

"Okay."

To read previous Jeff Hassler stories please click here 

Anyway,  this is Jeff again, TOTALLY not pro… Watch this show opening for TOM PETTY with a striptease. Kim thought Tommy looked cute but I just didn't see the point. 

FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C.

Colin Gawel's 2016 Election Day Manifesto. (How I Am Voting and Why)

As you know, Pencilstorm stays away from political content. We have way more fun talking about all the good stuff in life. Well, except for the Browns. And besides, why should anybody listen to us anyway? If you want horse race politics, just visit 538 every fifteen minutes like I do. 

Still, every four years, against my better judgement, I go public with how I am voting and my reasoning behind it. (click here for my 2012 manifesto)  Before you completely lose your mind and blow up my comment section explaining all the ways I am wrong, which you are welcome to do, let's establish some ground rules:

1) I'm not telling you how to vote. Do what you want, I'm totally cool with it. That's called Democracy. It's not personal, it's just politics. Some people prefer Cheap Trick In Color, some prefer The Doctor. Variety is the spice of life.  

2) If you emotionally can't handle an opinion different than yours or this might potentially ruin your day, you have the option to just stop reading. You can STOP RIGHT HERE.  

Cool? Let's proceed.

In the choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I feel really good about voting for Hillary Clinton.

My thinking is primarily two fold. As a small business owner, things have never been better for me than right now. I like the path we are on. I can say without question that my life and business are in much better shape than they were four, and especially eight, years ago. Hillary Clinton's resume is beyond compare and her broad knowledge on such a wide range of issues always leaves me impressed. Most importantly, I like her ability to remain calm and level-headed when under fire. I'll be the first to admit, I have no real understanding of how the global economy works, but I do worry a little about the bottom falling out of the economy on Wednesday November 8th if Donald Trump is elected. That's just my situation though.

As a parent, I often look at things through the prism of "Would I want my child to act that way on the playground?" or "Would I want Owen to see me act that way?" I agree with Charles Barkley that athletes shouldn't be role models, but I believe the President of the United States SHOULD be held to a higher standard than say, Cam Newton, when speaking in public. There have been numerous times this election when Donald Trump acted or said certain things about different people that I found especially mean-spirited and/or disturbing. I tried to imagine Owen watching me say or do the same thing. Or him saying the same thing about a girl or disabled person on the playground. I just can't get past it. Once again, I'm not telling you how to vote, Trump just isn't my guy.

However, in the spirit of being positive, I'll throw you Trump supporters a couple of bones.  My Dad taught me to always find three things you like about anything or anybody.  It helps you learn.

Three things I like about Trump even though I'm not voting for him.

1) For most of his life Trump was a liberal New York City Democrat and has been on record as supporting a single payer heath care system and how invading Iraq was a huge mistake. He also said during the primary debates that Planned Parenthood provides many valuable services. Since he seems to have no real core beliefs, I think he may be surprisingly flexible if elected.

2) He won't be preaching from the Oval Office. I'm a big fan of separation of church and state and the only three times Trump has stepped foot in church are the three times he has gotten married.

3) His core supporters are less-educated and under-employed white males. If he is truly going to "make America great again", he is going to have to convince a highly hostile Republican Congress to loosen up the purse strings and finally invest in the infrastructure update this country needs so badly. It would be a good thing if he could somehow pull this off.

Bonus reason: Being a casino guy, I bet Trump would make a push to legalize sports gambling nationwide. I could get behind that. 

Final vote: Clinton

Grading myself this election cycle. 

This is the first Presidential election where social media has truly been part of it from day one. Like most people, I would guess, I struggle with how and when to engage in the never ending online debate. On one hand, just to ignore it all and listen to The Hives is probably the wisest choice. What can I really do anyway? I'm just one dude with one lousy vote. On the other hand, by disengaging, am I just taking the easy way out and conceding the discussion to the hordes of cyber-bullies trolling the internet night and day?

(Before going further, a little background about my upbringing. My grandfather on my Mother's side was the Democratic house minority leader for the state of Illinois. Growing up, my mother (RIP) and myself would constantly argue politics around the dinner table. It was completely normal for us to raise voices at each other but it was never personal. We just liked to debate. I know we would drive my Dad and sister crazy and many times they would tell us to please just shut up. So I'm used to a heated exchange and then...... moving on. To this day I drive my wife and son a little crazy around the election spoiling for a fight. If she were looking down, I'm sure Mom would be itching to join in and remind me to "engage brain before putting mouth in motion.") 

So, when I do post politics online, I try to deal exclusively in facts and by sharing information I find interesting from reputable writers and sources. I don't believe in conspiracy theories or rigged elections. I don't share that stuff. I believe man walked on the moon, Elvis is really dead, and that climate change was caused by a combination of Bigfoot and the Chinese. You know, normal stuff that can be easily proven. Word to the wise,  "mainstream media" doesn't cover crazy shit because if it's not true, they would get sued. The rest of us "bloggers" don't have to worry about that because we don't have any money worth pursuing in court. 

Lastly and most importantly,  I do my best to stay positive and respectful of differing opinions, and be a good example for others. I don't want to get drawn into the mud-pit. Many times I write a response to something I find offensive and then just delete before I post. This makes me feel better and I don't run the risk of doing something I would later regret. I hope I haven't lost any friends. I never intended too. (real friends)

It should be noted that as a coffee shop owner who sees a hundred or so real people everyday, I rarely, if ever engage in political talk. Folks are just trying to get on the with their life and don't need an earful from the local coffee guy. I will occasionally ask for a source if somebody keeps repeating an especially ignorant comment but that is about it. The source is invariably "I read it online." 

Overall, I would give myself a B-. I could probably shut up a little more. If I could do it it all over again, that would be my goal. In fact, you could probably put that on my tombstone, Colin Gawel R.I.P.  "Nice guy, but he could have shut up a little more." 

Ohio Senate Race: Portman vs Strickland

I don't know. I guess I'm happy Portman finally got around to joining Governor Kasich in withdrawing support for Trump but was disappointed it took the ill-fated words from Donald, "I just grab 'em by the pussy and they can't stop me" to get Senator Portman to stand up and do the right thing. Unlike Senator Brown, Portman seems to blow whichever way the polls are going. I guess there are worse things.

Still, it's hard to endorse a candidate like Strickland who folded his campaign before it even started. 

Final vote: Portman has this thing won so do what you want.

Other Issues I Barely Understand and Candidates I Don't Know.

I don't know who Cathy Johnson is, but somebody is running a world class smear campaign against her. "Cathy Johnson....hates schools, and kids and puppies...". Obviously, some very powerful lobby or corporation has something to fear from Cathy. 

I'm voting for Cathy Johnson

I'm voting against incumbents in the Ohio state house races because both Hughes and Kunze hit term limits and now are just swapping offices to avoid them. That's not really the spirit of the law. I may have to run for one of those offices next time with a promise to only try re-election once and then moving on. 

Locally I'm voting for Susan Ralph for Upper Arlington City Council. I don't know the in's and out's of the issues but I have two good friends that speak very highly of her on a personal level. That's good enough for me. 

Isn't there some Library thing too? I'll vote for that. Books get you learned.

Alright, I better get back to serving customers. Best of luck to all you Democracy lovers. I hope your lines move fast and the sun shines bright. I'm hoping to spend election day doing some hiking in Hocking Hills myself. 

Colin Gawel owns Colin's Coffee and plays in the band Watershed. You can read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. He lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife and 7th grade son. You can see him in his latest video by clicking here. He once ranked every single Cheap Trick song.  

Whenever I get stressed about politics, I just watch The Hives. It's brings me peace.

Come On! - 00:00:00 Main Offender - 00:01:42 Walk Idiot Walk - 00:03:50 My Time Is Coming - 00:07:50 Hate To Say I Told You So - 00:10:21 Wait A Minute - 00:14:36 Go Right Ahead - 00:17:48 Tick Tick Boom - 00:20:30

The Old Man at the Rock N Roll Show - by JCE

Who the hell am I, and how did I end up here on Pencilstorm anyways? I’m just a regular guy with a wife and a daughter, a lot of skateboards, a lot of books and a whole lot more music than anything else. I am a Watershed fan who somehow began trading emails with Ricki C and from there I found Pencilstorm. Then Colin made the mistake of inviting me to write some posts. That’s probably all you need to know.  Oh yeah, and I live in Virginia, about an hour south of D.C. – JCE

THE OLD MAN AT THE ROCK N ROLL SHOW

So when I was about mid-thirties, I quit drinking.  Stayed that way for a pretty long time (over a decade), and really, I’m happy that I did.  My wife and I did it together and we managed fine.  We had our daughter during that time and raised her through her earliest years with not a drop of alcohol.  At some point though, I took up drinking a beer now and again, and my wife went back to her occasional glass of wine.  That inevitably led to the visitation of a bar once in a while and the obvious desire to start going to see bands again. 

I’ve seen hundreds upon hundreds of bands in grungy clubs and I’m happy to say that I’m still adding ticket stubs to my collection. Now that I’m going to shows, I’ve observed that I’m usually the oldest guy there, except for the all ages shows where there are parents in attendance.  They are there as chaperones and not for the music.  I have actually been asked, “Which kid is yours?”  That was at a Good Charlotte show at the 9:30 Club in D.C. which was jam packed with teeny boppers.  It was the worst show I’ve seen in recent years.  One show, Everclear, at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville, VA, this teenaged blonde comes up to me all casual and says, “Do you have any weed?”  Uh, no darlin’, I do not.  I guess an old dude in a leather jacket looks like he should be carrying some dope.  (editors' note: So let's get this straight, JCE, you DON'T have any weed?  Damn!)   

Other shows, like X at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA and any of the three Social Distortion shows I’ve gone to seem to have an older crowd where I blend right in.  It’s very hit and miss on whether the crowd is going to make me feel ancient.  I will say that all of my friends and family insist that I do not look anywhere near my age, so that probably helps.  One last observation from an old guy at club shows:  I must be the last guy in the world that loves music and skateboards and doesn’t have a tattoo.  Don’t get me wrong, I dig tattoos on young, good looking people.  They look cool on most guys and sexy on some girls, but when they get old, they’re mostly gonna look like crap.

I was looking at a few ticket stubs of shows I’ve been to recently.  When I look at them, it’s a nice bit of music.  I’ve seen Gaslight Anthem, the Hold Steady, Catfish & the Bottlemen, The Struts, and other artists I really like.  I’ve also seen aging bands like Social Distortion, X, Cheap Trick who are still great.  But compared to shows I saw years ago--  The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, The Professionals, Dead Kennedys, Ramones, Johnny Thunders, Dead Boys, The Neighborhoods, The Outlets….. I miss the music of my youth.  Or maybe I just miss my youth. 

JCE

JCE is our newest rock writer, and Ricki C. brought him into our little Pencilstorm family.  Ricki knows him as John, but damn if JCE isn't a cool pen-name.  

Tuesdays With Ricki - week one / Rock & Roll Stars Selling Their Songs (and Souls) in Commercials

When I first came up with the idea for Tuesdays With Ricki – in which I will endeavor to entertain and/or bother the Pencilstorm readership with a semi-regular Tuesday column – I ran the title “Tuesdays With Ricki” past my lovely wife Debbie, saying, “It's a play on Tuesdays With Morrie, that John Steinbeck travelogue book.”  (Steinbeck is one of my three favorite authors.)  Debbie just looked over and said, “John Steinbeck didn’t write Tuesdays With Morrie.  That book was about a sports writer visiting his old professor.”  “Uhhh, I don’t think so,” I replied, “I’m pretty sure it was Steinbeck.”

It didn’t take Google long to straighten me out that I was thinking of Travels With Charley by Steinbeck, and the professor in Tuesdays With Morrie is losing his memory, so I’m probably definitely closer to Morrie than Steinbeck.

Anyway, Tuesdays With Ricki will be a hodge-podge of topics – my late-night TV rundown (literally), some music, some books (the Springsteen auto-b comes out September 27th, I’m hyped for that), movies, rock stars selling their asses to the highest bidder to get their songs into commercials (obviously a continuing boil on the skin of my universe), some Ricki C. rock & roll stories, etc. – whatever I feel like babbling about that week.  Let’s see how many Tuesdays I can get in before I drop the ball or Colin decides he’s had enough of my guff.

Rock & roll stars selling their songs (and souls) in commercials.

It’s getting so I can’t get through a single evening of television viewing without being confronted with my favorite rock & rollers selling out their birthright to the Lowest Common Denominator of network commercials.  Actually, in the case of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” being used by fucking PETSMART for God’s sake, we’ve actually found a way to go BELOW the Lowest Common Denominator – something my fifth-grade math back at St. Aloysius tells me is impossible, but here we are.

I fully realize I’ve bored readers with this subject before, but now it’s not just alt-rockers & pop stars peddling their asses to the Highest Bidder, it’s the BIG THREE of bands I formerly loved – The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Clash – offering up their tunes on the altar of the Big Bucks.  Of course this is nothing new, Pete Townshend has been selling out The Who tunes for DECADES (and, in fact, called an album The Who Sell Out back in 1967, but back then he was being all arty & ironic, it's only now we realize he was merely peering into his future).  Just last night in the course of one evening of TV I caught “Eminence Front,” “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” being trotted out to sell Disposables to The Masses.  Even by Pete’s rather dubious commercial standards, this might be approaching overkill.

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” was formerly my FAVORITE rock & roll song of all time.  I find now I can’t even listen to it when it comes on oldies radio in the car, let alone put it on my stereo at home.  And I fully realize that many Pencilstorm readers will say, “Jeeez, Ricki, it’s just a commercial.  It’s only rock & roll.  Lighten up.”  But I find as I grow older I find I CAN’T lighten up on this topic.  It’s hard to explain to regular people just HOW MUCH these songs once meant to me, and HOW HARD it is to hear them being used to sell dog food.  “Sympathy For The Devil” for Petsmart?  HOW BADLY could Mick Jagger & Keith Richards have needed that money?  It’s one thing for Mick & Keith to sell “Satisfaction” to whatever commercial that’s in, it’s quite another to peddle their paean to The Prince of Darkness to Petsmart.  What do cute cartoon puppies, “The Secret Life of Pets” and Satan have in common?  How many millions is too many millions?     

Which brings us to the next point: I’m thinking that all of a sudden we’re hearing Clash tunes – “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “London Calling,” etc. – in commercials because Mick Jones and whichever widow of Joe Strummer’s has control of his publishing have finally signed on the dotted line.  I still have a problem with The Clash – who actually BACKED UP their early radical political leanings with action, the Rock Against Racism shows & such – being used as fodder for hotel reservations, but someone who married Joe Strummer probably still has his kids to raise, so maybe that woman gets a pass.  Do I believe we would have heard these songs on commercials if Joe Strummer were still alive?  Lord God Jesus, I hope not.  

Okay, one of my self-imposed limits on Tuesdays With Ricki is that no post will go over 750 words and we’re coming perilously close that barrier so let me just say two things: 1) Artists are fully entitled to do whatever they want with their creations, but just don’t come crying to me for my Concert Buck after you do.  You made your money, you lost my respect, I guess we’re even.  2) The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Clash all used to believe in something – the righteous power of rock & roll – and now they don’t.  I still do.  How quaint.  – Ricki C. / September 4, 2016.

It's Memorial Day Weekend, Stop Staring at Screens and Ask Yourself, "What Would Mungo Jerry Do?" - by Colin G.

Ah yes, summer is here and the Memorial Day weekend weather is shaping up to be damn near perfect. Though we run a pretty tight ship here at Pencilstorm, let's face it, our hearts aren't really in it right now. We are all just sitting around the office staring out the windows counting the seconds until happy hour. So I'm making an executive decision, everybody can get out of here. Pencilstorm is closed this holiday weekend.  Go have some fun. Even you, Hassler. It's time to disconnect from the electronics and get serious about some old school Ch-Ch-Chillin'. Sure, I could sneak in a plug the new Watershed Kickstarter pre-order HERE, but I won't. 

So no updates at Pencilstorm this Holiday weekend. Turn off those computers & phones and get a little sunshine, why don't you? If you find yourself lost without your imaginary digital friends, remember WWMJD? Mungo Jerry rocked the summertime harder than anybody and he didn't even have a Myspace page. Be like Mungo. Thanks for checking out Pencilstorm and see all of you suckers next week. CG.............is...............................................................................................................................OUT!

(cue beercan cracking open)

This video clip was made in 1970, and is the original Mungo Jerry line up that recorded In The Summertime, this is not to be confused with the version that has been posted by AMIMEDIA.

Let's Go Crazy. The Best of Prince. Shows, Clips, Stories, Concerts, Everything. Enjoy.

There have been a ton of great postings about Prince since his untimely and tragic death two weeks ago. Ricki and myself chimed in with a couple thoughts ourselves, but here is a shortcut guide to some of the best of the rest. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did putting it together. R.I.P. Prince.

Now.... Let's Go Crazy - Colin G

Prince was so amazing, I proposed that he just be given the Super Bowl halftime show as a regular gig. In fact, I suggested the whole event be renamed "Prince's Annual TV Blowout with Special Guest Football Game." 

Super Bowl halftime shows are almost always worthless. A few pop stars who capture the current pop-music mood lip sync their hits, and two days later we barely remember the game, let alone the uninspired halftime show. But not the Super Bowl XLI halftime show, in 2007.

And then there is this too..

Prince - Baby I'm A Star (live, 1984) Rest in Peace, Prince!

The Replacements Paul Westerberg remembers Prince.  

Chuck Klosterman and Wesley Morris remember Prince on Bill Simmons new podcast The Ringer. 

fair use for ... well ... just to know how spaced out people work ... and a good laugh for the masses.

Bob Mould's eulogy for Prince

The Day Prince's Guitar Wept the Loudest - New York Times

Ok, the previous story was behind the scenes of Prince's famous solo during the George Harrison tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Three things before we post the clip. 

1) Without the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this moment never happens. So pipe down rock hall haters.

2) Before Youtube, the ONLY place you could see this was at the actual Rock and Roll Museum. I know because they had this continuous loop of induction ceremony highlights playing and suddenly this clip popped up. I was flabbergasted by it's greatness. I gathered everybody up and said, "You HAVE to check out this clip of Prince playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps." We waited patiently the 30 minutes or so for the clip to come up again and it was better than the first time I saw it. We waited the loop one more time to see it again. 

3) Even before Prince passed away, if you googled "World's Best Guitar Solo," this is what would come up first.

4) Hell, let's make it an even four. The red hat looks bad ass with that Telecaster.

Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and others perform "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the 2004 Hall of Fame Inductions. http://rockhall.com/ ⁍ Buy "While My Guitar Gently Weeps": https://goo.gl/8sEuNp ⁍ Buy the Rock Hall of Fame Vinyl: http://goo.gl/fVR2Go ⁍ Buy the Rock Hall of Fame 3 DVD set: http://goo.gl/W7mKXa Visit us!

FULL SHOW from First Avenue 1983.

Perhaps the most significant time capsule of all live shows, the legendary August 3, 1983 benefit gig at First Avenue was the first time anybody on the planet would hear several soon to be career defining staples all at once.

Prince covering "Creep" at Coachella.

Featured in Time Magazine: http://time.com/4140876/prince-radioh..., The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/8/9873886/prince-creep-radiohead-cover-coachella-youtube, Fuse.tv: http://www.fuse.tv/2015/12/prince-rad..., Music.Mic: http://mic.com/articles/130011/you-ca..., Slate: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2..., Entertainment Weekly: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/08/..., US Weekly: http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainme..., Esquire: http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/..., Billboard: http://www.billboard.com/articles/new..., and countless others. STATEMENT FROM RADIOHEAD: "Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our ... song."

We were recording at The Loft with Watershed in 2014 when Biggie said, "You guys have to take a break to check out Prince on SNL. I taped it." Needless to say, it was way beyond what normal people do. The point being, I remember exactly where I was when I watched this. Like 9/11, but groovier. I really liked the records he put out around this time.

Farewell to a great musician and artist who has left us too soon. Just one of his many great performances over the years. Instead of doing the usual two songs on SNL, Prince did a single 8 minute set. Enjoy. This is a TRIBUTE post.

This interview with Larry King is classic. "So when did you start referring to yourself as the artist formerly known as Prince?" "Uh, Larry, I don't refer to myself that way. Others do."

Prince appeared on a December 10, 1999 episode of CNN's Larry King Live and talked about his career, his new album and why he changed his name.

Eleven songs you didn't know were written by Prince.

FULL Concert Lovesexy Tour 88. Amazing. (Duh)

Tremendous concert back then. I visited the show in Dortmund, Sept. ,9th 1988, when it started to change my life forever. In heartful remembrance to PRINCE, who left us much too soon. .... enjoy it, friends. "until the end of time"! ##### due to blocking I had to cut out the PurpleRain sequence at aprox.

And last but not least, the artist kills it on the Muppet Show

Uploaded by VampyreBarbieDoll on 2016-04-21.