Beating a Dead Roadie

Just had an hour of flashback fun.  The Brak Show, Space Ghost Coast 2 Coast, Harvey Birdman Attorney At Law and SeaLab 2021 on Cartoon Network.  Didn't realize how badly I've missed these old friends.  And now I'm ready for a few episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Then maybe Airplane!

Guess I should put Spaceballs on the watchlist, I've not seen it in months either.  I have begun watching some of my vast collection of concert DVDs again and need to re-watch everything I have with Ronnie James Dio singing on it.  Yeah, got some Rainbow, Dio and Heaven & Hell on video.  Saw Dio a few times, he was a monster.  Great visual show with great music and Ronnie James roaring like Godzilla.  He is definitely in my Top 10 All Time Vocalists.

Never actually thought about who I'd consider the best 10 today, but I do recall some of the ones I used to enjoy.  Who would have thought a "favorite" singer list would have included the gravel-voiced Jim "Dandy" Mangrum of Black Oak Arkansas.  Got a few great memories with Jim Dandy.  John Kay of Steppenwolf has a unique voice that no one else has ever duplicated, and yeah, Steppenwolf are grand-parents of today's metal music, along with Judas Priest.

Yup.  Seen Priest a dozen times over the years maybe.  Last time was 2004 Ozzfest and it was the first time Karen had seen Halford.  On the trip home she told me I should have told her how great he was.  I'm thinking, "I play it all the time in the car, didn't you notice?"  She decided after one time seeing Halford that "Ripper" Tim Owens was merely a tribute to Halford.

Back on the strange singers list, Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir was downright nasty-sounding and very evil looking.  Dude I worked with at A.S.S. liked to tell me he sounded like Popeye when I was blasting "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" in the shop when the owner was out of town.  Funny.  He DOES sound a little like Popeye!

Always dug Noddy Holder, the lead singer for Slade.  You know, the Brit band that wrote most of Quiet Riot's hits 20 years before they arrived (Cum On Feel The Noiz, Mama Weer All Crazee Now).  Kevin Dubrow had nothing on Noddy, who I actually saw open once for Kiss in Greensboro, but he gave it out good.  

How about this?  No politics!  Aliens have hacked my brain!

Of course, this is history, but I'm old.  First actual concert in an arena was Grand Funk Railroad.  I was about 14 or 15 and my mother took me, my brother and a friend.  First road concert was Kiss in '74, a two-car convoy road trip to Fayetteville, riding with Tim Maners and Tommy Smith and witnessing the unknown trio Rush and the Atlanta Rhythm Section opening for the fire-breathing monster that is Kiss.  I've seen Kiss in concert at least 35 times, always the original four in makeup.  Never saw Eric Carr, a mistake.  

Best concert?  Pink Floyd.  Both times.  Biggest freaking production I've ever witnessed in an outdoor sports arena that seats 90,000 (both times) and the best sounding live show ever.  Despite 11+ musicians and singers on stage at once, it was like listening to the album with headphones.  I almost didn't go to see Floyd the first time and after witnessing them live, I jumped at the chance to see them again just a few years later.  Memories there, both trips, both concerts were unique and incredible.  

Honorable Mentions for Best Concert:  Rush (numerous concerts), the Who (BIG production, all star band), Judas Priest (numerous concerts - if you get the chance, see Rob Halford perform while you can), Ozzy Osbourne (if you catch him on a night he wasn't slurring), Kamelot (with Roy Khan singing), Yes (personally seen about 4 different lineups, including the reunion troupe), Iron Maiden (Big production, big loud sound, and Bruce Dickenson).

Regrets?  Missed out on the Beatles (Karen saw them) and Hendrix.  I've also never seen Clapton on stage.  Stopping this one now or I'll sit here typing all night, ya'll.  See ya next time.