Random Thoughts for October 20, 2005

Y'know, I was just sitting here listening to the station.... and for those who've wondered if it's possible for someone who-- over the course of a two-decade radio career plus five additional years in internet radio-- has listened to every single track in a given music library umpteen times to be amazed at something he hears and/or have an epiphany of sorts while listening, the answer is a definitive "yes."

Tonight's observations-- (1) some of the killer artists I loved from the 80s, I loved for very good reason... because they hold up over time so much better than most of the gunk that's polluted radio airwaves in the last decade. (2) sometimes you get overshadowed by your own creations. (3) the internet's great danger is that it's a place where some very narrow-minded opinions can be tossed about and passed off as some sort of gospel.

Case in point-- a person I consider one of the greatest rock singers of our generation, Graham Bonnet. I thought about this as "Island In The Sun" (Alcatrazz, 1983, "No Parole From Rock and Roll" album) was playing on PZ. The album was one of my favorites virtually from the day it was released, and I was thankful as all getout that a small independent label bought rights to it from Rocshire Records and re-released it as a CD in 1989. That's where the statutorily licensed copy of Alcatrazz's music you hear on PLANET ZEB! comes from-- a joyously accidental find in a mall record store somewhere in Athens, Georgia circa 1990! Anyway, so once again as so many times before, I was amazed at how good the track still sounded. Decided to do a little digging and find out what Graham was doing these days. Found his "official" website, which I think is quite nicely done, and relived a little glory from some of my favorite rock albums of the period, which included this one and Rainbow's "Down to Earth" LP-- another classic featuring vocals by Graham (I've also always been a Blackmore and Glover fan, and had the pleasure of meeting Don Airey and Bob Daisley before, other Rainbow alumni-- Don was a particularly cool guy, and as a bassist myself, meeting Bob was really a trip!).

So anyway, I read with interest an interview with Graham in which he noted that Yngwie Malmsteen, heavy metal Swedish guitar god, came in and "took over" Alcatrazz, despite the fact that it was Graham's creation. Graciously, Graham notes that Yngwie is just that sort of talented personality, and deserved all of the success he found in and post-Alcatrazz. But "wow," I thought... imagine putting together that kind of musical lineup and cutting some magnificent rock tracks (and attracting the likes of Steve Vai after Yngwie's departure... or as the beloved Georgine, a dear friend from Georgia would have said, YNNNNGGG-veeeyyyyyy..... I adored Georgine (chuckle)), and you get so little credit for the creation because you got overshadowed by one of the people you found and brought into the fold." Then I realized that it happens to a lot of people on a daily basis, and there's not much, usually, they can do about it. So this one's for you, oh poor unlucky bastards who come up with something great only to have it co-opted or taken out from under you!!! I sympathize and proudly hold up multiple cases of my own with which to join your ranks. :)

And finally, there's the comment I saw on a newsgroup that said "without Yngwie," (or YYNNNNGGG-veeeyyyy, my dear Georgine!) "Alcatrazz would have been nothing." POOH. PAH. HARUMPH (give the governor a "harumph." And watch your ass). Nothing... NOTHING? Oh, dear.... all I could imagine was this comment was left by some poor SOB that used to be first in line to pay for overpriced concert tickets just so he could hold up his lighter and shout "Freebird!" at rock concerts. Even after people told him it wasn't a Skynyrd show. :)

Truth is, admittedly in my opinion (but that's my referent for "Truth," which would have blown Plato out of the water, admittedly), Alcatrazz was SO much more than Malmsteen. That's not to take away from the talented lead guitarist or his talents-- I like Yngwie, too. But Alcatrazz was one of those bands that had solid musicians all the way around. And while Yngwie surpassed "solid" and went into "truly great," I think Graham Bonnet qualifies for that adjective too with his own instrument-- a ripper rock-and-roll voice that can go from hammering lows to tuned, sustained highs in less than a heartbeat, a voice that is perfect for "melodic screaming" in rock music.... you know.... better than just having a singer yell at the top of his lungs, but definitely more intense than just a loud note held by the human voice. Graham SINGS his screams... and does so better than almost anyone else out there (clearly in the company of Dio in that regard. No wonder Graham was offered the post-Ozzy Black Sabbath vocal slot and turned it down before Ronnie James... who is probably by a hair my FAVORITE metal vocalist of all time... took it).

So here I am, scouring a bunch of old albums looking for more great Graham Bonnet tracks to get onto the air on a limited basis. Alcatrazz's stuff is a starting point, and my favortite tracks from Rainbow's "Down to Earth" are already playing. Time to pull out MSG's "Assault Attack" again... but then again, you're also hearing tracks from IT, too, on PLANET ZEB! I love that disc. Reminds me to scout out what's going on with Michael (Scorpions, UFO, MSG) and Rudolf (Scorps) Schenker too. Now if you're truly rock 'n' roll "old school," you'll trade two or three Yngwies for one Michael Schenker and a Rudolf guitar pick. Crap. Now I'm thinking Scorpions, which means after I consider how great Graham, Ronnie James, Michael, Rudolf and yes, even Yngwie are and how they've held up over time, I gotta get back to the drawing board about those plans to get Klaus Meine to Raleigh/Durham for a live interview. :)

Sequel idea to "Tommy Lee Goes to College"-- I call it "Udo Dirkschneider (Accept) Goes To College And Leaves Every Building On Campus A Smoldering Wreck Through Random Acts of Violence." Watch the Damned... God Bless Ya!

And yes, this is how free-form thinking turns dangerous and results in no sleep (laugh). Graham, this one's for you. Thanks for being such an important part of rock 'n' roll and my life. And PLANET ZEB! :)

'Til the November 1st update... cheers, y'all!



Zeb