Seen in Print

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[E7]

B.O.C. Blue Oyster Cult. A rock band mentioned by Rufus.

I thought: Bunch of Crap

That band scared me to death...

New album last year and they were on tour.

Those guys gotta be as old as US!

New single: "Don't fear the walker"

[up148]

Not sure if it was mentioned here or not, but Jeff Beck passed on the 10th of this month. Yardbirds and beyond.....what a guitar player.

He was an avid hot rodder and muscle car collector too.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I thought: Bunch of Crap

That band scared me to death...

New album last year and they were on tour.

Those guys gotta be as old as US!

New single: "Don't fear the walker"

Yeah, and their still going.....so is Deep Purple!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Not sure if it was mentioned here or not, but Jeff Beck passed on the 10th of this month. Yardbirds and beyond.....what a guitar player.

One of the greatest.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[Mitch]

Funny thing. Just last night I was channel surfing and came across the 2015 WHO 50 year concert on local PBS. It was horrible and I could only stand it for 15 minutes. Roger and Pete couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, so far off key 'cause they just couldn't hit the notes that it was almost painful! This versus many of the DooWop groups that are 70 to 85 plus years old that still sound good with perfect harmony? Sometimes ya got it, other times you don't.

[up148]

Agree on the DooWop groups. We've got some DVD's from some PBS concerts fund raisers and they're a lot of fun. They might still do it, I don't know.

But, seeing Gene Chandler strut into the auditorium from the back in a top hat, cape and cane singing "Duke of Earl" (dubbed I think) was chilling. Most of the groups were live with many of the originals and sounded even better. When an 80 can still hit the high notes and sound almost as good as he did when a kid, that is fantastic. You can just feel the passion they have for their musical careers. It also makes you really appreciate what they did back in their day......and the prejudices they had to overcome.......just outstanding.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Funny thing. Just last night I was channel surfing and came across the 2015 WHO 50 year concert on local PBS. It was horrible and I could only stand it for 15 minutes. Roger and Pete couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, so far off key 'cause they just couldn't hit the notes that it was almost painful! This versus many of the DooWop groups that are 70 to 85 plus years old that still sound good with perfect harmony? Sometimes ya got it, other times you don't.

Roger and Pete are both pretty seriously hearing impaired. I remember that the one studio they had in the 70's had such sound quality that Pete blew out a person's eardrums....insane volume.

I'm amazed that any of these people can hear enough to carry on a conversation.

Their last album was pretty good, but rather different.

[Mitch]

Even at 72, when I'm in my truck by myself, and Pinball Wizard comes on, I crank the volume way up. Just love the intro which comes through on the front and left door speakers, then Pete comes in on the right speaker with that BA WOOOOMM! It's still awesome to me. I've always had a bit of a hearing problem, but it's a wonder I didn't blow my own eardrums out when I'd crank the volume on my Pioneer SX6000, and four CS88A speakers would vibrate the room.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

...CS88A speakers....

I still have a pair of those,

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[up148]

Yeah, concerts and loud music did a number to my hearing. I actually think it was Uriah Heep who put the icing on the cake. The only time at a concert I had to put my fingers in my ears due to pain and even that didn't help that much.

Really miss the subtle high notes I used to enjoy.

[healey36]

My first live rock concert was The Who back in '72, probably seven or eight rows back from the stage. I still remember the sensation of Townsend's power chords bouncing off my chest. It's pretty easy to understand how he's rendered himself virtually deaf. That said, I'd love to close out my concert career with a final Who date at a decent venue. Love them, or what's left of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBVz7ADoJcU

Hope I die before I get old...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I still remember the sensation of Townsend's power chords bouncing off my chest.

I remember that feeling from when I saw King Crimson at the Tower back in the early 80's. Was loud and then Levin's bass kicked and you felt like you got kicked in the chest back into your seat.....and we had seats in the back 1/3 of the theater.

Sadly, Entwhistle was even more affected with deafness even earlier than the rest of the band - those bass notes really harm the hearing....