The Plastic Ono Band Revisited

John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band Live In Toronto ’69 is a rare look at one of the world’s most influential popular artists at a pivotal moment in his career. Filmed on the eve of the release of the Abbey Road LP — the last Beatles album to be recorded — this is the only performance ever caught on film of John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band. It had been three years since Lennon had performed onstage with The Beatles. Seemingly on a whim, John and wife Yoko Ono hopped on a plane with guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White to travel to the Toronto Rock ’N’ Roll Revival festival showcasing some of Lennon’s early musical heroes — among them Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. As it turned out, Lennon and the newly formed Plastic Ono Band played an equally significant role that night in the history of rock ’n’ roll, as it is widely believed this concert foreshadowed the official end of The Beatles.
DVD available HERE

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon took to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall last week for a performance with the group 'the Plastic Ono Band' she started with her late husband John in 1969.
more HERE

Yoko Ono - MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award - Tribute Film HERE

Rock Icon Delaney Bramlett Died

Singer-songwriter-producer Delaney Bramlett, who penned such classic rock songs as "Let it Rain" and worked with musicians George Harrison and Eric Clapton, has died. He was 69. Bramlett died Saturday as a result of complications from gallbladder surgery.
Born in Mississippi, Bramlett enjoyed a career in the music business that spanned 50 years. With his then-wife Bonnie Lynn, he created the Southern blues-rock band Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. The group opened for Blind Faith, which featured British guitarist Clapton, in 1969.
He is perhaps best known for standards such as "Superstar," co-written with Leon Russell, which was recorded by Usher, Luther Vandross, Bette Midler, The Carpenters and most recently, Sonic Youth, in a version featured on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the movie "Juno."
He co-wrote "Let it Rain" with Clapton, who also recorded it, and "Never Ending Song of Love," which was recorded by more than 100 artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Patty Loveless and Dwight Yoakam.
During his career, he performed, co-wrote or recorded with stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, the Everly Brothers and Mac Davis. He also produced artists including Etta James and Elvin Bishop.
He recently released an album, "A New Kind of Blues," on independent label Magnolia Gold Records.
obit HERE
official website HERE

Home Grown

The Jackson Five in Encino, CA

Photos from the archives of LIFE magazine, giving readers a peek inside the homes of the parents/grandparents of some of the most influential musical artists from the 1970's, including the likes of Frank Zappa , Grace Slick, The Jackson Five [above], Elton John, Eric Clapton and many more...
see HERE

12.3.1983 - The Cow Palace - San Francisco

A.R.M.S. stood for Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a debilitating muscle disease that afflicted legendary Faces bassist Ronnie Lane, for whom the benefit concert was formed. Unfortunately Ronnie Lane passed away on June, 4 1997.
Standing behind Lane on the Cow Palace stage was the most regal reunion of rockers since the Band's Last Waltz in 1976. Among them: former Led Zeppelinist Jimmy Page (making his first U.S. appearance in six years), guitarists Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, singer Joe Cocker, drummer Kenney Jones of The Who, Rolling Stones Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. more HERE
photos HERE
Albert Hall performance DVD available HERE

Rock Royalty

John, Keith & Eric

Remembering Bill Graham...

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Bill Graham's death in a helicopter accident in Northern California....
No one cared about a music fan the way Bill did and no one ever threw a party the way he did either...
Some fond memories...
The Rolling Stones shows on Mick Jaggers birthday and one on Halloween; Led Zeppelin's final US performance; Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page performing on stage together at The Cow Palace; the New Years Eve shows; the 'Day on the Green' shows; The Grateful Dead for 15 nights in 20 days at The Warfield; and Santana performing for free in Golden Gate Park the weekend before Bill's tragic accident are just a few of the special moments he offered to the San Francisco Bay Area...there were 100's of others...
Every live musical experience is better today because of Bill Graham...

We will never forget the good times he created out of thin air...

Journey at the Bill Graham Memorial

Bill Graham Interview PT 1
Bill Graham Interview PT 2
Bill Graham at the Fillmore
Bill Graham Estate

John Lennon 1969

Willie Nelson and Eric Clapton