Rock On, Sistahs!

RIP Whitney Houston

2012-02-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) who passed away this past weekend.

2012-01-20T08:48:00.001-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to Sistah of Rock pioneer Etta James who passed away today.

Mikey Welsh RIP

2011-10-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to musician and artist Mikey Welsh (April 20, 1971 – October 8, 2011).

Adele, "Our Tainted Nature's Solitary Boast," To Borrow A Phrase

2011-10-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

This blog post is long overdue. Let me clarify, a post on Adele on this blog is embarrassingly overdue but better late than never, right?! Adele. Wow! Where do I begin? She marks the return of true talent, which has been in frighteningly short supply in the '00s and '10s. Hearing that magnificent voice for the first time in her song Chasing Pavements from her album 19 literally made the hairs on my neck stand to attention and put a lump in my throat. Sonically, it was the equivalent of watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. Overreaction? Hell no! You know how dreadfully fake and gimmicky the music of the new millennium has been and I don't even have to name the names of repeat offenders. Following the path paved by fellow Brit the late Amy Winehouse, Adele brought back real music and folks took notice and embraced her. This woman can saang! With the release of her second album 21 and the songs Someone Like You and the masterpiece Rolling In the Deep, Adele became a phenomena. These songs, which she wrote about a breakup, have become THE anthems for the brokenhearted - Sorry Since You've Been Gone, LOL. With the power of her angel-kissed pipes, Adele did something pretty miraculous: she got me listening to the radio again. Sistah Adele brought me out of my cocoon of retro Rock and classic R&B and Adele has restored my faith in today's music. May she continue to bless us with her talent, which is truly music for the heart and soul.

Because one tune from Adele is never enough, here is her masterpiece, Rolling In the Deep.

The Remarkable Billy Preston

2011-10-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Remember Billy Preston? A lot of folks do not. If you don't here are the facts: He was a child prodigy, lighting up the world since age 10 with his signature gap-tooth smile. He was the Fifth Beatle, who played on their landmark final album Let It Be. He released three albums on the Fab Four's Apple record label. During the '70's, he toured with the Rolling Stones and George Harrison while wearing the freakiest 'fro wig this side of Sly Stone and dropped such classics as Will It Go Round In Circles and Nothing from Nothing. He appeared with the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton in 1976 classic film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the 80's, he brought his magic to the lovely ballad, With You I'm Born Again, the lovely duet that features him with the beautiful R&B soprano Syretta. Unfortunately, the 90's brought Preston more time in the courtroom than on the music charts due to drug charges. But it is his talent and his musical collaborations that endears Brother Billy to music fans. If you love music, Brother Billy will live in your heart forever.

The Beatles with Billy Preston performing the legendary song, Long and Winding Road.

Billy Preston and Syretta singing With You I'm Born Again.

Happy Birthday John and Sean Lennon!

2011-10-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! wishes a Happy Birthday to John and Sean Lennon!

Sylvia Robinson RIP

2011-09-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to Sylvia Robinson (March 6, 1936 – September 29, 2011). Sistah Sylvia was not only a bonafide Rock 'N' Roll goddess with her hit song "Love Is Strange"...

...She will forever be known as the Mother of Hip Hop who produced the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight."

Amy Winehouse RIP

2011-07-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs pays tribute to Amy Winehouse (September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011) who passed away this weekend.

Clarence Clemons RIP

2011-06-20T13:37:00.001-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to "The Big Man," Clarence Clemons (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011). His talent and joyful spirit will be missed.

Phoebe Snow RIP

2011-04-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to Phoebe Snow (1952-2011), a beautiful soul with a beautiful voice, who will be sorely missed.

Gerald Smith RIP

2011-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to TV on the Radio's bassist Gerald Smith (1975-2011).

Mike Starr RIP

2011-03-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

Rock On Sistahs! pays tribute to Mike Starr of Alice In Chains (April 4, 1966 – March 8, 2011).

Charlie Sheen: Rock Star or Tragic Loser?

2011-03-07T15:13:00.000-08:00

"Winning!" - Charlie Sheen

Well fam, I had to write something about Charlie Sheen cuz I wasn't going anywhere near that new Lady Gaga song. (*Cough* "Express Yourself" ripoff) If you think about it, Charlie is tailor-made for a rock blog. He is a self-proclaimed "rock star" afterall. But is he a rock star or a tragic loser? There is definitely evidence of both recorded in every stripe of media. In an attempt to comprehend the Charlie Sheen phenomena and exorcise myself of all things Charlie Sheen-related, I submit the following two blog posts to illustrate these sides of Charlie Sheen. Rock Star or Tragic Loser? You decide.

Charlie Sheen: Rock Star

2011-03-07T11:54:00.001-08:00

"Winning!" - Charlie Sheen

Is Charlie Sheen "winning"? Fucking-A right he is! As far as rock stars of old go -- your Keith Moon, your John Bonham, your Keith Richards circa 1967 to about the early 80's, -- Charlie is definitely representing old school style. Somewhere in sunny California, David Crosby is watching the latest Charlie Sheen televised post-bacchanal boast and weeping. To quote Andrew W.K., when movie and TV star Charlie Sheen "parties he parties HARD." (I wouldn't be surprised if the song is his ringtone.) To quote Charlie, he's "narly." In Charlie's eyes he's the narliest Narl in Narltown with his million-dollar home and duo of live-in "goddesses," one a model and the other a popular, now "retired," porn star. To use another colorful Charlie Sheen quote -- and there are so many God bless him -- he "struck the tri-state lotto" with these ladies. Before Charlie settled down in domestic bliss with his goddesses, he enjoyed the company of numerous porn stars and prostitutes, whom he paid upwards of $30,000 a pop for their, ahem, attention. Charlie has entertained so many women that Tiger Woods is smacking himself and Wilt Chamberlin is probably breakdancing in his grave. Charlie's infamously "epic" ingestion of narcotics is public record. One party guest and survivor of his latest binger that ended when paramedics came to his house described his cocaine use as "worse than Scarface." What makes Charlie most like a rock star is his defiant embrace of his vices. He does not apologize for being a bad boy at all. He celebrates it. In a recent interview with Howard Stern, Sheen summed up his high-risk lifestyle with a quote from a Clint Eastwood movie, "a man must know his limitations. Maybe it's his "tiger blood" or his "Adonis DNA" but Charlie Sheen is a man with no limits. In rock star terms, he's defintely "winning."

Charlie Sheen: Tragic Loser

2011-03-07T11:43:00.001-08:00

"Winning!" - Charlie Sheen

Is Charlie Sheen "winning"? Far from it. Unhinged? Most definitely. Self-destructing? Duh! Watching a public figure like Sheen fall from grace is as much popular entertainment as it is heartbreaking tragedy. More heartbreaking because it is unfolding in high definition. Turn on your television and it's saturated with the latest Charlie Sheen reality-challenged rant. It's Charlie Sheen's public relations war against the "trolls" that includes Charlie bragging about his "tiger blood" and "Adonis DNA" and flipping off Middle America by defending his Dionysian lifestyle of porn stars, prostitutes, sycophants and enablers. Earlier this week, his twin sons were removed from his home by the authorities. As of today he's down one "goddess" (Rachel Oberlin a.k.a. porn star Bree Olson left him.) and he's unemployed. CBS has officially fired Sheen from his TV show "Two And A Half Men." How does Charlie react to his recent misfortunes? He takes a defensive stance while he rants like a neuron-fried maniac. To be honest, it's pretty fucking sad. Is Charlie Sheen winning despite his rants to the contrary? I'll put it like this: It looks like the SS Charlie Sheen has crashed into an iceberg and everyone knows it but him.

The Best Rock 'N' Roll Covers Ever Made: Volume 2

2011-03-04T15:09:00.001-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! presents another heaping batch of the best Rock 'N' Roll covers ever made and we're definitely bringing the awesome! :-)

The Troggs' "Wild Thing" is a frisky, flirty garage rock hit that scored on the charts and with the ladies!

2011-03-04T15:08:00.001-08:00

I can describe Jimi Hendrix's cover of "Wild Thing" with one word: Brilliant. And another word: Transcendent. And one more: Sex. Other than those his cover of this song and his performance of it at the Monterey Pop Festival leave me speechless.

2011-03-04T14:48:00.002-08:00

Tommy James and The Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" is a psychedelic work of art that never charted on the UK charts when it was originally released.

2011-03-04T14:48:00.001-08:00

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts remade this song twenty years later and - let's be honest - gave it some balls! :-)

2011-03-04T14:36:00.001-08:00

Simon and Garfunkel's song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is an endearing ode to friendship that is as poignant as it is majestic.

2011-03-04T14:33:00.001-08:00

Aretha Franklin took this magnificent song to new heights and made it an epic hymn.

In Memorium

2011-03-02T17:05:00.001-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! pays tribute to those we have recently lost who made an impact on this beloved artform we call Rock 'N' Roll.

Eddie Serrato, (December 5, 1945 - February 24, 2011 Drummer for Question Mark and The Mysterians.

2011-03-02T17:04:00.001-08:00

Suze Rotolo, (November 20, 1943 – February 25, 2011) Artist and Muse.

2011-03-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

Gary Moore, (April 4, 1952 – February 6, 2011) Guitarist for Thin Lizzy.

Don Kirshner RIP (1934-2011)

2011-01-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs remembers songwriter and producer Don Kirshner. His TV show "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" was a showcase for the top musical acts of the 1970's and the early 1980's. Thanks for the memories Brother Don! :-)

Rock Movies I Love: The U. S. Vs. John Lennon

2011-01-17T10:49:00.001-08:00

In the wake of the Tuscon tragedy and to commemorate the King holiday, I feel compelled to shine a light on the brilliant rock documentary The U.S. Vs. John Lennon. This movie is not a rock doc in the traditional The-Song-Remains-The-Same-This-Is-It sense. It documents through extensively researched archival footage and interviews with his musical and political contemporaries how one of the most respected and beloved musician-humanitarians of the latter twentieth century was harassed, persecuted and killed in the country he affectionately considered his adopted homeland. The film does an extraordinary job in recreating the violent generational conflicts of the time as crystallized by the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and the riots that marred the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. It is this violence, as the movie notes, that Lennon protested against through his music and acts of vocal but non-violent dissent. Unfortunately, it was these acts of non-violent protest that caught the attention and ire of the Nixon Administration and J. Edgar Hoover's F.B.I., which kept him under surveillance and a file on his activities. The U.S. government's harassment of Lennon culminated in his four-year fight against deportation by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. The film chronicles Lennon's exhaustive but victorious fight that resulted in his getting his green card, which allowed him to stay in the United States and start a family with his wife Yoko Ono. Sadly, three years later Lennon would be killed by a madman's gun in the country he loved. Lennon, like MLK, was a champion of social change through intelligent, non-violent means despite his violent death. To quote King, Lennon was a "drum major for peace." Viewing The U.S. Vs. John Lennon is a wonderful way to honor the courageous spirit of Lennon and King. Moreover, I hope that this movie does for you what it did for me. It amplifies the message that violence, especially gun violence, never solves problems and peace is needed now more than ever. Peace and love! :-)

Remembering the King and His Dream: Happy MLK Day!

2011-01-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! wishes everyone a Happy MLK Day!

The Best Rock 'N' Roll Covers Ever Made

2011-01-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

They say there is nothing new under the sun and I'm sure that applies to covers, remakes of previously performed songs. Here's a sampling of the best Rock 'N' Roll covers ever made as compiled by Rock On, Sistahs! Enjoy!

The 90's masterpiece "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails is as powerful as a punch to the stomach.

2011-01-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

This cover by Johnny Cash has the power to make me weep openly and deeply. Bravo, Sir!

2011-01-15T08:23:00.001-08:00

Bob Dylan legendary "Knocking on Heaven's Door" puts a lump in my throat every time I hear it.

2011-01-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Guns 'N' Roses does proper justice to the song with their cover at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert that features an electrifying guitar solo by Slash. Wow! Look at Axel Rose B.C. (Before Cornrows):-)

2011-01-15T08:00:00.001-08:00

There's Roy Orbinson's melancholy and soulful "Pretty Woman" that made the ladies swoon.

2011-01-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Pretty Woman was given the Van Halen makeover in the 80's that is as epic as it is memorable. Let's be honest, this intro kicks major ass!

Gerry Rafferty RIP

2011-01-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sisthas! pays tribute to Gerry Rafferty who "went home to Baker Street."

Happy New Year!!!!

2011-01-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs! wishes you and yours a safe and prosperous new year!

Captain Beefheart RIP

2010-12-18T14:33:00.001-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs pays tribute to the great musician/composer Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) who passed away. This great artist definitely chose the road less traveled and I am thankful that he did.

DADT Overturned, Rock On, Sistahs Celebrates

2010-12-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs celebrates the end to this discriminatory ban! We are all champions!!!

Happy Birthday Bjork!

2010-11-21T06:57:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs wishes a very special Happy Birthday to the magical, mystical and mad-capped Bjork.

Favorite Albums Of the 60's Volume 3: Bob Dylan Edition

2010-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Oh Brotha Bob. The Poet. America's Conscience. He's truly Da Man. Without him, music and society would be completely different. As a treat, Rock On Sistahs presents our version of I'm Not There by giving you our favorite Bob Dylan album covers from the 1960's. Enjoy!

Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan. This self-titled album is where it all began. He's so young and chubby here. It's adorable.

2010-10-10T10:06:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan. Freewheelin Bob Dylan. Here is Brotha Bob as ladies' man. Nope, that's not Joan Baez!

2010-10-10T10:05:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan. Blonde On Blonde. This album cover is my personal favorite. That pout. That fro. Nice.

2010-10-10T09:52:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan. John Wesley Harding. This amazing cover shows a rustic and quirky Dylan. Gotta love it.

Happy Birthday Brotha John!

2010-10-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs proudly remembers John Lennon on what would have been his 70th birthday!

Favorite Album Covers of the 60's: Volume 2

2010-10-01T15:05:00.001-07:00

Before these were great CD covers or those pretty pixels on your ipod screen, these were fantastic album covers. Rock On, Sistahs presents our favorite album covers of the 1960's. Enjoy!

Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin I. The greatness began with this album and its controversial album cover. Still great and still controversial after all these years.

2010-10-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

The Doors. This is the hotness right here. Jim Morrison and some other dudes.

2010-10-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Cheap Thrills. Big Brother And The Holding Company. This album cover, drawn by the great Robert Crumb, used to give me the creeps when I was younger. Now I see it's simply magnficent.

A Letter Of Love And Rememberance To GG Allin

2010-09-30T16:56:00.001-07:00

Dearest GG,

It's been over a decade since you passed from the large intestine of life and you are sorely missed, well by me at least. You were way more hardcore than Henry Rollins or Iggy. Marilyn Manson is a poser. You were the real deal. You were Alice Cooper's younger brother who escaped from the mental institution by chewing threw the straight jacket and the iron bars. Before Lady Gaga and her "Little Monsters" there was you. GG, you were scarier in your torn jeans, tats, bare chest and shaved head than any haute couture nightmare La Gaga could hope to wear. GG, you were the true Madman of Rock and Roll. A title that you wore proudly, along with the blood and feces. In five simple words: You. Didn't Give. A. Fuck. Oh GG, I remember the first time I saw you. Not in person. I read about you in some pulpy Rolling Stone-Spin wannabe rag. The article read like a police blotter, detailing your most recent performance and the carnage that ensued. I've never heard of a performer who would take a crap on stage until you. Spitting is one thing but shitting is a totally different animal. I'll admit I was pretty shocked by your antics but also extremely intrigued. Later that night, all I could do was talk about you to my family and friends. These conversations usually ended when I got to the crapping part, but you and your antics blazed a big hole in my mind and heart. GG, I truly admire that you had the balls to do some truly crazy, deranged fucked-up shit (pun intended) in the name of Rock and Roll. You've said that Rock and Roll is about freedom and it is. Freedom to sing about war and peace. Freedom to sing about God and the Devil. Freedom to sing about that person you want to screw or the person who screwed you over. Freedom to take a crap on stage. More importantly, Rock and Roll is supposed to be dangerous - the reason why Elvis was shown on TV from the waist up. GG, I get it, which probably makes me crazy too. But like you, I. Don't. Give. A. Fuck. Since you've been gone, With music acts like Nickelback and Panic at the Disco, Rock and Roll is as dangerous as a toothless eunuch. Some folks are relieved that you are not around but I'm not. If you ask me, you were our last chance at putting the shock back into Rock.

RIP GG,

Love,
K-R

They're Baaaaaaaaack! Favorite Album Covers of the 1960's Volume 1

2010-09-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well fam, it's been a while since I've done the album cover thing. I've missed posting them as much as you probably missed seeing them. Now without further ado, here are my favorite albums this time from the 1960's.

Van Morrison. Astral Weeks.The wonderful album cover for this masterpiece captures the wonderfulness that is Van Morrison. Moody. Melancholy. Beautiful.

2010-09-27T10:05:00.001-07:00

The Beach Boys. Pet Sounds. This deceitfully simple album cover masks the brilliance that lies within.

2010-09-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Velvet Undergound and Nico. This self-titled album cover, designed the Andy Warhol, features the most famous banana in music history. Having this album is like owning a piece of art.

Robert Johnson, The True King of Rock and Roll

2010-09-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

Before, Elvis, Hell, before Little Richard, there was Robert Johnson, the true originator and pioneer of this thing we call Rock and Roll. Before Jim, Jimi, and Janis, Gram, and Brian, Robert Johnson was the first Rock and Roll casualty. He died at the painfully young age of 26. There is the Faustian legend that he sold his soul to death in exchange for his talent but before Tupac and Biggie and the "No Snitching" Movement, Johnson was the first musician to die under suspicious
circumstances. Allegedly, Johnson was poisoned by a jealous man whose wife as fooling around with Johnson. From the Mississippi Delta mud, Johnson dug deep and created art that pierces the soul. With his acoustic guitar and haunting voice, Johnson crafted a catalogue of music that generations of musicians are still emulating. Before Jimi gave Rock it's psychedelic colors and shot it out of the stratosphere, Robert Johnson constructed Rock's template. For all this, I proclaim Robert Johnson the true king of Rock and Roll. I hope present and future Rock and Roll fans will continue to pay homage to this great man!

Battle of the California Girls! Whose Version PWNS Katy's or Dave's? You Decide!

2010-09-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

As y'all know, Katy Perry is representing for the girls from Cali with her hit song and candyland-on-acid-video California Girls. However, I can't help but be reminded of "Diamond" David Lee Roth's epicly campy cover of the Beach Boys' ode to the West Coast girls and his video that was just as eyepopping, which begs the question: Whose version of California Girls PWNS Katy's or Dave's? Feel free to chime in!

Me and DADT Lady Gaga

2010-09-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

I've said before that I am not a big fan of Lady Gaga. I went as far as calling her the George W. Bush of music out of frustration with her stale dance tunes and gimmicky need to shock for the sake of shock, which she recently demonstrated with that um meat dress she wore at last Sunday's MTV Video Awards. However, La Gaga won major points with me with her rally in Maine to support the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that is attached to a military spending bill scheduled for a vote in the Senate tomorrow. I am a feverent supporter of equal rights for all Americans, which includes same sex marriage and the right for homosexuals to serve openly in the military. On this issue, I stand in total agreement with her and I applaud her courage in speaking out against blatant discrimination. This courageous act impressed me more than the most outrageous outfit in La Gaga's wardrobe. However, I'm still working up the nerve to buy The Fame Monster. I'll keep y'all posted when I do...right after I purchase my copy of The Mars Volta Rock Band video game.

Hail Hail These Sistahs of Rock!

2010-08-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! proudly shines a light on the following courageous Sistahs who have boldly ventured beyond the confines of today's R&B music and dared to embrace their Rock and Roll birthright.

Fefe Dobson
Oh Canada! Our neighbor to the North has blessed us with many gifts: beer, bacon, The Kids In the Hall, The McKenzie Brothers, David Cronenberg, Seth Rogen, Neil Young, Broken Social Scene, Rush, Anvil. I can now add Fefe Dobson to this list of my favorite Canadian things. Sistah Dobson, whose music has been described as "groovy Punk" adds the spice - and kerosene - to Toronto's vibrant music scene. Think of her as a Black Alanis Morrisette but better. Her latest album Joy is on the Island Def Jam label.

Being a rapid Anglophile, I thought I'd include not one but two Sistahs from the British Isles who are keeping Rock sexy, novel and alive.

Magenta of Queen Tantrum

Liverpool's Queen Tantrum is fronted by Magenta whose mighty roar can pierce your heart or set it ablaze. Sistah Magenta is the engine that propels this awesome quintet into the stratosphere and beyond. All hail the Queen. Visit Queen Tantrum at www.facebook.com/queentantrum.

VV Brown

First name VV. Surname Brown. This Northhampton-born and London-based Sistah has been described as Kanye West meets Bjork but she defies such trite description. Sistah Brown's originality is exactly what is needed to rescue Rock from its present plastic, soulless, mindnumbing incarnation. See Nickelback. Her debut album Travelling Like The Light is on the Capitol label.

Songs of Summer Volume 2: Summertime Blues Edition

2010-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

It still being summer - and a hot one at that - I thought I'd pay homage to all the different versions of the classic Summertime Blues. There are as many versions as there are snowflakes and like snowflakes each one is special and distinctive. Enjoy!

Rock Movies I Love: Um....Jennifer's Body

2010-07-21T11:15:00.001-07:00

I'll be the first to admit that it is highly unusual for me to be in awe of a Megan Fox movie, but Jennifer's Body is a lot more than that. It's a horror movie, specifically a horror-comedy written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody, the screenwriter who brought the world the movie Juno. I know! A horror movie review in a rock music blog? Hear me out, tho! Now I've written about horror movies here before - See my blog post about The Phantom of the Paradise. Like The Phantom, Jennifer's Body offers a delicious satire of the music industry in the guise of a horror movie. What The Phantom did with the over-the-top, theatrical outrageousness of 1970's Glam Rock, Jennifer's Body does with the hair-moosed, eye-liner and skinny-jean-wearing, self-important Alt-Emo-Pop Rock bands of the early 21st century. The premise of the movie is simple enough: Struggling indie group Low Shoulder, tired of working in coffee shops during the day and performing in no-count dives at night, offer a human sacrifice to Satan in exchange for international stardom. Who do they sacrifice? Jennifer Check, a beauty queen-cum-high school cheerleader, played by Fox, who is more than willing to be a groupie to the band when they play at a bar in her "shitty" town of Devil's Kettle. But because Jennifer is not a virgin as the sacrifice dictates, she does not die but is transformed into a flesh-eating succubus. Bloody carnage ensues, of course, with Jennifer eviscerating innocent teenage males to sustain her new diet of human flesh while Low Shoulder rises to the top of the album charts. It's up to Jennifer's best friend Needy to save her town's young men, including her boyfriend, from Jen's bloody wrath and save the world from the mind-numbing pop stylings of Low Shoulder, who are now high-voltage rock stars. Viewers are treated to Needy's bloody revenge on the band in crime-scene photos shown during the movie's final credits. (And if you didn't get it the first time - cuz I sure didn't - the movie got it's title from the Hole song of the same name.) What I absolutely love about Jennifer's Body is that it offers commentary on the mindset of today's aspiring musicians. Long, long gone and few and far between do we find musicians as freedom-fighters who use their music to speak out against society's ills. (Bono circa 1979 to 1987) These folks have been replaced by the celebrity musicians who care more about their 5-star, pimp suites. (Bono circa 1987 to Present) In short, it's style vs. substance and style has won time and time again. I totally believe that Fall Out Boy and other disposable musical acts of the past decade - Your Killers, Your Jimmy Eats World, Your Dashboard Confessional, Your Panic At The Disco - sold their souls to the Devil for stardom. How else can you explain their success cuz their music is bland, soulless crap. So I couldn't help but smile when Needy escapes from the mental hospital in order to track down Low Shoulder not only to bring bloody comeuppance to that despicable band but in her twisted, homocidal way save the world from Emo. If you like your horror with blood, guts and a satirical wink - and a brief lesbian make-out scene to keep the fellas interested - I highly recommend Jennifer's Body.

The Curious Case of Gram Parsons Or How A Rich, Long-Haired Singer-Songwriter Who Loved Country Music Died And Became A Beloved Alt-Country Music Icon

2010-07-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

Alex, I'll take Rock and Roll Drug Casualites for $400. Answer: This son of Orange Juice Heiress Avis Snively and WWII War Hero Ingram Cecil "Coon" Connor II was a member of The Byrds, founded The Flying Burrito Brothers, discovered country music goddess Emmylou Harris and rose to prominence with his mix of country and roots music that he called "Cosmic American music" died of a morphine and alcohol overdose at the age of 26 and was cremated in Joshua Tree National Park. Question: Who is Gram Parsons? These are the basic, Wikipedian facts of Parsons' tragically short life. The following are my slightly skewed impressions of this trailblazing icon. Gram was pretty boy. Yep, he was definitely pleasant to the eye. His looks and his down-home-aw-shucks Southern charm made him an absolute lady-killer, as documented in numerous biographies, most recently and superbly in David Mayer's excellent biography Twenty Thousand Roads. Believe it or not, my Parsonian attraction is more than skin deep. He was a rebel, baby, and I utterly adore rebels. Parsons dared to merge country and rock and roll. He was a country-western singer in a rock and roll world who played Altamont and hung out backstage with Keef in various states of altered conciousness. He was also a rock and roller in a country-western world, performing at the Grand Ole Opry with The Byrds to the jeers of outraged patrons who didn't take kindly to long-haired hippies polluting the hallowed Opry stage. But Parsons, no doubt heavily medicated, braved the boo's, insults, hurled bottles, and death threats to bring his mix of country and roots music to the masses. As a result, Parsons created a new musical artform, a country and rock hybrid, that is still enjoyed today. One can easily trace groups like Son Volt and Wilco to Parsons' grand experiment of country rock. Parsons' vision and courage makes him a much beloved musical icon.

Whoo....Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just Some Songs of Summer?!

2010-07-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hot enough for y'all? Summer is in full effect. To help you ward off the "summertime blues," here are some tune to put a smile on your face as you try to beat the heat!

Guess Who Turned 52 Today?

2010-06-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

Yepper, it's Prince Rogers Nelson's B-Day today. Rock On, Sistahs! would like to wish him a very happy one!

In Defense of Patti Smith's "Rock 'N' Roll Nigger"

2010-05-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

This post may be offensive to some and I mean no disrespect to those who find the N-word repellent. It is with good reason that this word elicits such a strong reaction. When racists say this word, it is the verbal equivalent of a sledgehammer to the head. In fact, use of the N-word has led to physical confrontations and deaths. The word is derogatory, repugnant, and hurtful. And then there's Patti Smith's song "Rock 'N' Roll Nigger."

When I first heard this song, it was on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. This song literally knocked me off my feet. Of course, my first reaction was to ask "Did she say what I think she said?" Yepper. In fact, Patti says the N-word 12 times in this song. (At one point she says it 7 times in a row.) I played the song a few more times. And a few more times. And a few more. Like a Grand Cyclops at a Klan rally, I found myself getting more amped with each listen. How can it be that this Black woman is so enamored with the song "Rock 'N' Roll Nigger, a song written by (gasp!) a White woman?"

Consider the context in which the word is used - that is, if you're still reading this post. Smith is not being racist when she says nigger in this song. Crazy but true. When she uses the N-word - because Rock N' Roll Peckerwood or Rock N' Roll White Trash doesn't have as much bite, I suppose - she is using it to refer to the undesirables in society. The nonconformists. The "Other." What more effective way to illustrate this point than to use the ugliest word in the English language. Taken in this context, the artists ("Jackson Pollock") are niggers. Rock musicians ("Jimi Hendrix") are niggers - although her use of the N-word here can be taken literally as well as figuratively. Hell, she even calls Jesus Christ and what sounds like her "Grandma" niggers. The chorus of the song is "Outside of society/Is where I want to be." With lyrics like these, Smith is using the N-word not to degrade but to empower. This song is meant to be a fist-pumping anthem. She's praising the "Other" in society and giving them the sonic power to transcend the word or to wear it as a badge of honor. It is the same reasoning behind African-American men and rappers calling each other "my Nigga." These men, like Patti, are taking the hate out of the word. For them, the N-word is a term of endearment. Still, use of the N-word is a slippery slope and one should do so with extreme caution - and thought - if at all. Strangely, it is because of this song that I became a Patti Smith fan and bought her album Easter, which features this song. It is also because of this song that I can call Patti Smith not only a fucking goddess but a Sistah and a Nigger. ;-D

Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!

2010-05-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs! wishes a very Happy Birthday to Robert Allen Zimmerman who signs his checks as Bob Dylan. Rock and Roll would be extremely different and the world would be a darker place without you!

Ronnie James Dio (1942 – 2010)

2010-05-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

The world lossed another music pioneer when Ronnie James Dio passed away last week. Rest In Peace, Sir and Thank You! (Put your Devil Horns in the air!)

Hey Ya'll, Rock On, Sistahs Is A Year Old! Howl If You Hear Me!

2010-05-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, my Rock On, Sistahs Fam, this wee blog is a year old. In the span of said year, I have produced 264 posts - this one is my 265th - and have amassed 9 KICKASS followers, whom I love with all my heart and soul. I love ya'll because ya'll know that Rock music is not just music to be enjoyed by a some but all, especially the Sistahs. I created this blog because I was sick of reading Rock music articles and blog posts written by mostly White men. Now, I have nothing against White men - being engaged to one and all - but they aren't the only ones who dig Rock music or have an opinion about it. Rock, On Sistahs is my chance to represent and encourage other Sistahs to proclaim their love of Rock music from their corner of the world. After all, Women of Color were Rock's pioneers and continue to contribute to this style of music. Personally, when I attempt to engage in a substantial conversation about Rock Music with Sistahs in my neck of the woods - particularly the ones in my family - I'm met with looks of disbelief, bewilderment, and borederline disgust. Being a lover of Rock music has made me a freak of nature, a lone wolf of sorts without anyone to discuss my fondness for this particular brand of music. With Rock, On Sistahs, I'm letting my freak flag fly - to borrow a phrase. And to all the other lone (she)wolves out there, you are not alone. A full moon has ascended. Let's howl as the branches quiver and break.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience Rock Band Game....Hell To The No!

2010-04-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

My Rock On, Sistahs family knows that I have a very short shit list of things that I find, well, shitty. Yep, Lady Gaga is still on the list. But sharing the number one spot are the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games. I find these games abhorrent because they are the couch potato's way to music education. Fans of these games would argue that they are entertaining learning tools that teach today's youth about their parents' favorite musicians. Well, I can think of another learning tool....a book. There's also what our former president affectionately called "the Internets," where one can find video clips of Hendrix on You Tube and music blogs:-). Case in point. To coincide with the release of Valleys of Neptune, an album of unearthed Jimi Hendrix songs, the Hendrix estate has given its blessings to the creation of the Jimi Hendrix Experience Rock Band game. It's official: NOTHING'S SACRED, especially in a world where a former Hitler youth is pope. I'm all for today's youth learning about the greatest guitarist of all time but not with a fucking video game. The game trivializes and bastardizes Hendrix and his legacy. Worse, the game may promote delusional thinking among kids that they can play guitar as good as or (gasp) better than Hendrix, which is a claim Hendrix's contemporaries like Pete Townsend and Neil Young never ever made. I wish today's children and teenagers would learn about Hendrix the old fashioned way: by picking up a music book and a guitar. Or like how I did by watching the documentary Jimi Hendrix and discovering that a man brown like me turned chords and feedback into sonic works of art. Hendrix is more than a video game. Hendrix is an experience to be cherished and savored not played for points.

Happy Easter Everyone!

2010-04-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

To my Rock On, Sistahs family, I wish you all a Happy Easter!

Yoko Ono Kicks Ass

2010-04-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

I got nothing but props for Yoko. Hell, she's earned it. She went from being the most reviled woman in rock and roll, blamed for breaking up the most popular group in music history, to recognized as a respected musician, artist and activist. She was John Lennon's muse as well as the mother figure he deparately needed. As his widow, she channeled her pain into moving, breathtaking art. (Check out "Season of Broken Glass.") Hers and John's love story is one of my all-time favorites. Their union not only produced their beloved son, Sean, but the Plastic Ono Band, whose body of music still enchants. Their anti-war stance made them enemies in the eyes of the U.S. Government, which tried in vain to deport them. Although their physical union was ended tragically by a mad man's bullet, their love lives on through their art. Yoko is the keeper of John's flame, and this sistah is eternally grateful and in awe of her.

The Runaways Hit the Big Screen!

2010-03-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

A movie about the all girl group The Runaways. Fucking A! It's as if the rock gods and Hollywood heard my wails for an interesting rock pic. Although reviews have been mixed,I think the film's producers get gold stars for at least committing to celluloid the story of how these trailblazing ladies showed the world - at least Japan - that underaged Cali girls with sonic power, grit - and camel toe - rocked harder than the guys who wanted to - let's say - oogle them. And all The Runaways are represented. Joan Jett. Check. Lita Ford. Check. Sandy West. Check. Jackie Fox. Check. And of course the Che-Che-Che-Che-Che Cherry Bomb herself Cherie Currie. Playing Jett and Currie are Kirstin Stewart and Dakota Fanning, barely legals actresses who are wining points from the dirty-old-men crowd. Of course, this movie is not going to win any Oscars but it's my hope that it will inspire women of all ages and colors to realize that they too can rrrrrrrrrrrock this planet.

Best Albums To Play When You're In Love: Volume 2

2010-02-14T18:16:00.001-08:00

Well today is the big day: V DAY! Here are a few more albums to help you christen the day with that special someone.

"Imagine Our Love" Lavender Diamond. This wonderful album is even better when you play it with the one you love.

2010-02-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

"Escape" Journey. This one is a natural because this is the Journey album that contains the song "Open Arms."

2010-02-14T17:43:00.000-08:00

"Bat Out Of Hell" Meatloaf. I know what you're thinking, WTF? But seriously, this is a great album for lovers. Play "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" for that special someone. You'll thank me later.

Is Lady Gaga the George W. Bush of Music?

2010-02-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Is Lady Gaga the George W. Bush of Music? I know that is an extreme statement, but Lady Gaga is all about extremes, particularly about doing extreme things - correction wearing extreme things - to get a reaction. I wouldn't say that Lady Gaga is as reviled as Dubya, but I'm definitely not a fan of either person. I just don't get her. To me, she is a poor imitation of other trailblazing musician-cum-artists. For example, she's supposed to be this agent provocateur-fashion icon-sex symbol-iconoclast-gay-rights advocate, right? Um, wasn't that Madonna's gig for the past 25 years? And if you ask me Mama Madonna did a far better job. Maybe, she's supposed to be the twenty-first century Ziggy Stardust, the female Marilyn Manson or the white Grace Jones? To me, Gaga is nothing more than a pretentiously untalented art student in a G-string. Gaga is not so much the poster child of originality as she is the mascot of today's faltering music industry, which is relying on titillation, sensationalism and gimmickry to sell units. Perhaps, she's in on the joke that she is simply more product to be heaped upon the masses by greedy music industry robber barons. Whatever this Lady Gaga phenomena is could someone please wake me when her fifteen minutes are up.

God Save John Lydon!

2010-01-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

In a world that's becoming more plastic and less genuine with each passing day, it is important to give props to those authentic souls who keep it balls-to-the-wall real in the face of overwhelming shallowness and mediocrity. One such person is John Joseph Lydon. Here is a man who does not censor himself or makes compromises. Sell-out is not in his vocabulary. Remember when he and the surviving Sex Pistols appeared at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You don't? That's because they didn't go. He and the other Pistols boycotted the event, calling the ceremony a "piss stain" and viewing such accolades as false, pretentious and sanctimonious drivel. Those familiar with Lydon's history - back when he was known to the world as Johnny Rotten or as the lead singer of Public Image Limited - know that he never shrinks from telling the truth no matter the consequences. Whether it was his repeating the "rude word" on the Bill Grumby talk show that caused the Pistols to be dropped from their EMI record label or his proclaiming to the world that he was an "antichrist" to the shock and dismay of religious leaders over the pond and in the States, Lydon welcomed the controversy that resulted from his actions, as he thought it would promote dialogue between thinking people. Instead his actions were mocked and sensationalized particularly by the British tabloid press. On a few occasions, he was met with violence - Once he was attacked was with a switchblade by a group of thugs. But Lydon stayed honest then and he still is. Here's hoping that today's artists will follow Lydon's example of honesty and courage because artists like Lydon are needed now more than ever.

Best Albums To Play When You're In Love

2010-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

You found that special someone. There's a joy in your heart that you can't contain. You're in love. (I know it's not Valentine's Day, but to me love - especially the expression of love - is a 365-day thing.) Here is a list of albums that will provide the perfect soundtrack for you while you're in this blessed condition.

"Axis: Bold As Love" Jimi Hendrix. This album is tailor fit for lovebirds everywhere. All tracks are a joy to behold and share with that special someone. I couldn't decide on just one to include from this amazing album so I selected two very special tunes.

2010-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

"Revolver" The Beatles. This album - The Beatles' best in my opinion - is simply divine. And if you're in love you'll find yourself listening to it over and over and over....

2010-01-04T08:09:00.001-08:00

"Fulfillingness' First Finale" Stevie Wonder. This album is not only my favorite by Stevie Wonder but has the ideal songs to serenade and seduce your beloved.

Happy New Year!!!!!

2010-01-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs wishes everyone a prosperous, safe and Rockin New Year!!!!

Merry Christmas To You And Yours!

2009-12-24T19:21:00.000-08:00

Rock On, Sistahs would like wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Please enjoy these yule time treats!

Is Jay-Z The New Face of Rock and Roll?

2009-12-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Is Jay-Z The New Face of Rock and Roll? A better question is Why Not? It may seem initially like a bit of a stretch, but think about. Hova fits the criteria of a rock and roll superstar. He's raw. He's real. He's rauchous. (Hell, he's anti-autotune.) He has sold out Madison Square Garden. Twice. His music can scare the bejesus out of parents, especially the ones in red states. His autobiographical rhymes of his drug-dealing past are every bit as compelling as Bob Dylan's tales of heartache and yearning. He can mesmerize a crowd with the cockiness of Jagger and the righteousness of Bono. Songs like the Rick Ruben-produced "99 Problems" and "Run This Town" carry the same sonic intensity as anything by Zeppelin or AC/DC. Most recently, the self-proclaimed "new Sinatra" has already pushed Bloomberg out as the new mayor of New York with his anthemic "Empire State of Mind." Now it looks like Jay armed with his backing band of screaming guitars - and his 10-year, multi-million dollar deal with Live Nation - is aiming to conquer rock and roll. Welcome to Roc Nation. What's Up?

And Then There's Jeff Motherfuckin Beck

2009-11-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

Jeff Beck. Where do I begin? There's Jeff Beck of The Yardbirds. Playing British Blues not only out of respect for the American pioneers of the form but out of love of the music. If fellow Yardbird Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton are guitar gods, then Beck is Zeus in leather pants and boots showing the posers and amateurs how it's done. Did you catch his performance on HBO's Rock & Roll Hall of 25th Anniversary Concert? His rendition of "A Day In The Life" was breathtakingly beautiful. A sonic work of art. Earlier in the concert, he reunited with Stevie Wonder to play the famous guitar riff on "Superstition." (Did you know that Stevie wrote the song for him?) As far as I'm concerned Beck owned the show and earned his stripes as a Rock journeyman. Of course, Beck gets my eternal props for having Tal Wilkenfeld on bass!!!!!

Speaking of My List of All-Time British Groups I'd Be A Groupie For, Here It Is.....

2009-11-29T14:17:00.001-08:00

1. Led Zeppelin.

D'uh!

2009-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

2. The Rolling Stones.

Well, I'd definitely be more interested in a younger Mick and Keith but they get points for still plugging into the amps.

2009-11-29T14:03:00.000-08:00

3. The Who.

Yes, even though Keith Moon would scare the hell out of me, I'm down.

2009-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

4. The Police.

Although only two-thirds of this group are British, they are all nice to look at - even the short one!

2009-11-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

5. Radiohead.

They speak to the intellectual raver in me. Thom Yorke is not a pretty boy but he has passion. Johnny Greenwood has a geeky hotness if that's even possible.

Hey, Let Me Tell You How Great The Who Is

2009-11-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

I know you don't need me to tell you how great The Who is. I'm sure you've witnessed their sonic glory in video clips - and the very lucky experienced it in person at live performances. No doubt, you have heard or read the stories and tributes of this legendary rock group from rock journalists, die-hard fans, and of course the band itself. Of how they revolutionized the rock music game over 40 years ago. Of the antics both onstage and off of their late, lascivious, psychotic and hillarious drummer Keith "The Loon" Moon. He was proof that it takes a mad man to play the drums like well, a mad man. Of how John Enwistle who died in 2002 was not only an impressive singer and songwriter but also broke the constraints of what the bass not only sounds like; he also brilliantly demonstrated that if played properly the bass can make you both outplay and outshine the guitar player a.k.a. be a BAD MOTHERFUCKER. (Did you know that he gave the group Led Zeppelin its name? ) Of how Roger Daltrey brought the sleek, athletic fitness and prowess (and hotness) of a U.K. football player to the stage as their lead singer. AND GOD HELP YOU IF YOU GOT HIT BY HIS TWIRLING MICROPHONE! And then there is Pete Townsend. The man with the blue eyes that can stop you in your tracks and a nose as big as his ego. The guitarist as force of nature. The composer of rock operas big and small, including the one about a deaf-dumb-and-blind kid with a pinball jones. The man who penned "Substitute," "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again." Townsend, Enwistle, Daltrey and Moon. This quartet was edgier than The Fab Four. (You have to admit that one group's drummer was scarier than the other.) About as naughty as The Rolling Stones. And like The Beatles and The Stones, they did their part in making popular music more interesting. They are number 3 on my list of All-Time British Groups I'd Be A Groupie For.

The Venerable Ben Harper

2009-09-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

Oh Ben. With the strum of your guitar, you can move mountains, inform the ignorant, comfort the vulnerable, tickle the soul, and raise consciousness. You are truly a sage, revealing "white lies for dark times" to quote the title of one of your remarkable albums. Hell, you're a national treasure. You're as American as apple pie and Afro Sheen. It was not too long ago that I had a very different opinion of you. I once pegged you as a Lenny Kravitz clone. Another Nubian rock and cock god shaking his ass in a Gap commerical when you're not sitting front row in a fashion week tent. How silly was I? But like the song Amazing Grace, "I was blind but now I see." And I see plenty. I see your soul in the gorgeous, Grammy-winning hymns you sang with the Blind Boys of Alabama. I also see your fighting spirit as you , whether with the Innocent Criminals or the Relentless 7, raise your voice against bigotry and social injustice with your albums Fight For Your Mind and Welcome to the Cruel World. Yes, Ben, I see all the beautiful colors of your rainbow when I close my eyes and listen to your music. Continue to bless this world with your razor-sharp insight and rock on until the walls of Jericho come a'tumbling down.

Tribute: Jimi Hendrix 1943-1970

2009-09-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

Rock On, Sistahs pays tribute to the original guitar hero Johnny Allen Hendrix who left this dimension 38 years ago today.

A Call to Amps Part 2: Do It For Kurt

2009-09-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I read an old Rolling Stone book review of Journals, a collection of Kurt Cobain's rants, raves and lyrics that was published almost a decade after his suicide. A statement from one particular journal entry of Kurt's that the reviewer recounts hit me like a lightening bolt. "I like the comfort," Cobain writes, "in knowing that women are the only future in rock and roll." Upon reading this, I let out a scream that probably injured a few dogs nearby and made the following proclaimation: Kurt got it. He freely acknowledged that women can rock just as hard - and in many cases harder than men. Cobain, who is remembered as one of the greatest musicians of the last 25 years and as an icon of 90's music, was a fan of several notable female rockers, including the groups Bikini Kill, Shonen Knife and L7, and was generous with his praise and support of these musicians. My question is if Kurt got it why doesn't anybody else? More importantly, where are today's female rockers to answer Kurt's call? Cobain has been in the ground for fifteen years. Today's satellite and terrestrial radio airwaves are populated not with the raw, groudbreaking, trendsetting, genre-breaking musicians that Cobain championed but with plastic, stale, gimmicky, autotone-spewing ones. (Exhibit A: Lady Gaga) So invoking the memory of Kurt Cobain, who gives his blessing from the great beyond, I implore my Sistahs of all races to RRRRRRRRROCK this fucking planet. If there was a time for some ass-kicking, ball-busting rock by some ass-kicking and ball-busting ladies it is right now.

Behind The Music: More Than Mere Entertainment But A Public Service

2009-09-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

The television show Behind The Music returns to VH1 on Thursday, September 10 and no one could be more happier than me. I always found that this show was more than idol worship of popular musicians. It went beyond mere entertainment. BTM was a public service. For example, BTM gave free financial advice as it did with the episode on the group TLC in which the late Lisa Left-Eye Lopes revealed how it was possible to sell millions of records and "still be broke." Every episode was a cautionary tale that consisted of the following formula: (Sing along if you know the words) 1)Childhood buddies/friends around the way decide to form Band X 2) Band X cuts demo. 3) Band X gets a record deal. 4) Band X hits the big time complete with #1 songs and gold and platnium albums. 5) Band X overindulges in sex, drugs, booze 6) Band X breaks up due to aforementioned excesses 7) Band X reunites and releases new album that sucks. But no matter how formulaic and predictable the shows got toward the end of its first run Behind the Music still was able to grab my attention. Behind The Music was required viewing for music fans as well as for those who want to break into the music business. More importantly, BTM captures the human drama of the rags to riches (and back to rags in some cases) phenomena and brilliantly illustrates that all that glitters is not gold.

Why Led Zeppelin Gets Me Hot

2009-09-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

Why does Led Zeppelin get me hot? Well, it starts with Robert Plant's camel toe in their concert movie The Song Remains The Same and hovers about around the time he wails that he wants to be my "backdoor man" in the song "Whole Lotta Love." I'd gladly give up the booty for him. Pass the tartar sauce. (Google Led Zeppelin Mud Shark Rumor) Actually, it starts with John Bonham's bombastic drumming. Loud. Funky. Raunchy. Proof of Bonham's brute power can be found on the songs "D'yer Maker," "Four Sticks," "When The Levee Breaks" and "Moby Dick." There's Jimmy Page, of course. Mystic. Rock Diety. A True Guitar Hero. His virtuoso guitar work can break your heart in songs like "That's The Way," and he can give you goosebumps with the epic "Achilles Last Stand," the sublime "Kashmir," the otherwordly "No Quarter," and the majestic "Immigrant Song." Lest we forget bassist John Paul Jones. He's one hell of a wingman. He took up the producing slack on the group's later albums while Page was nursing a debilitating heroin habit. The brilliance of this group has been praised and disputed for almost forty years now. However, fans and foes cannot deny that Led Zeppelin continues to have a major presence in rock music and casts a mighty long shadow, influencing generations of musicians and spawning the creation of several musical genres. For all these reasons, Led Zeppelin makes me cream my panties. No tartar sauce needed.

Woodstock.....Wow It Was 40 Years Ago This Weekend

2009-08-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, Rock On Sistahs presents our favorite acts.

"Helplessly Hoping" and "Long time gone" Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Woodstock was the debut performance of this supergroup.

"Soul Sacrifice" Santana
Behold this magnificent mescaline-influenced performance!

"Higher" Sly and the Family Stone
This is truly an amazing performance. Soulful and sublime.

"With a Little Help From My Friends" Joe Cocker
I challenge you to name a Beatles cover better than this one. Epic!

"Foxy Lady" Jimi Hendrix
I saved the best for last. The interstellar brilliance of Sir Jimi.

Favorite 70's Album Covers: Volume 17 Post-Beatles Edition Part 2

2009-08-08T17:41:00.001-07:00

After the Beatles broke up - and before Cirque du Soleil and Rock Band came aknocking - each member went on to solo projects that produced some of the most exciting and memorable music of the 70's. Rock, On Sistahs remembers the post-Beatles glory of John, Paul, Ringo and George by spotlighting our favorite post-Beatles albums and album covers of course.

"Band on the Run" Paul McCartney and Wings

This wonderfully quirky cover features the group as - well - a "band on the run."

2009-08-08T16:27:00.002-07:00

"Imagine" John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

This ethereal and otherworldly portrait of Brother John is mindblowingly beautiful.

2009-08-08T16:27:00.001-07:00

"Dark Horse" George Harrison

This far-out cover displays George's love and reverence for Eastern religion.

2009-08-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

"Goodnight Vienna" Ringo Starr

This hillarious spoof of the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is an absolute hoot!

Favorite 70's Album Covers: Volume 16 Post-Beatles Edition Part 1

2009-08-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

"Back to the Egg" Paul McCartney and Wings

A deliciously freaky cover from Wings.

2009-08-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

"Plastic Ono Band" John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

A gorgeous and serene cover of John and Yoko.

2009-08-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

"Living in the Material World" George Harrison

This cover features a particularly groovy thermo handprint. Deep!

2009-08-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

"Beaucoups of Blues" Ringo Starr

Who was Ringo trying to fool with this cover? He's a friggin millionaire. Just how blue can he be?

Favorite 70's Album Covers: Volume 15 Grateful Dead Edition

2009-08-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Certainly one of the most memorable album covers that came out of the 70's were those of the Grateful Dead. Rock, On Sistahs spotlights our favorite Dead covers.

"Workingman's Dead"

Here's a very rustic cover, showing the group's country and western flavor. Very Sam Peckinpah. (Google it!)