MINI MONKEE REUNION AT ROCKERS ON BROADWAY
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Micky Dolenz |
A CORNER EXCLUSIVE --- We heard the rumors, but yesterday Rockers On Broadway’s director Donnie Kehr called and confirmed to us exclusively to that Monkee-Peter Tork will indeed be a special guest for their upcoming November 17 event here in new York, joining mate-Micky Dolenz on stage for several songs, and the presentation to Dolenz of his Lifetime Achievement Award. So, basically we’re having a mini-Monkee reunion here in Manhattan. The event will take place at Le Poisson Rouge in the Village. Check out their site here for more info:
JERRY MEETS MARTY --- The Grateful Dead will celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary with an authorized feature documentary that will be directed by Amir Bar-Lev, helmer of the terrfici films The Tillman Story and most recently the Penn State football scandal Happy Valley. Martin Scorsese, whose own rock docus have provided the template for how to make these kinds of movies, will be executive producer. Longtime Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux will serve as the film’s music supervisor.
The makers say their as-yet-untitled film will include never-before-seen footage of performances and backstage stuff involving the band, as well as new interviews with surviving members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, as well as many other characters and pranksters (and, they are legend) from the Dead universe.
The film will go back to the band’s formation in the Bay Area amid the rise of the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960’s. They continued to record albums and conduct tours where Deadhead fans would follow them all over the country for lengthy rave-like jam sessions. The good times came to an end when band leader Jerry Garcia died in 1995, though surviving members have done their best to carry on. There have been numerous attempts to mount a narrative feature on the band, but this docu is clearly on the fast track.
The band issued this statement: “Millions of stories have been told about the Grateful Dead over the years. With our 50th Anniversary coming up, we thought it might just be time to tell one ourselves and Amir is the perfect guy to help us do it. Needless to say, we are humbled to be collaborating with Martin Scorsese. From The Last Waltz to George Harrison: Living In The Material World, from Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones, he has made some of the greatest music documentaries ever with some of our favorite artists and we are honored to have him involved. The 50th will be another monumental milestone to celebrate with our fans and we cannot wait to share this film with them,” said surviving members Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, and Weir.
Scorsese said: “The Grateful Dead were more than just a band. They were their own planet, populated by millions of devoted fans. I’m very happy that this picture is being made and proud to be involved.”
CHILLER --- Another successful Chiller Theatre Expo event in the quaint laurel of Parsippany, New Jersey this past weekend. Spotted were Butch Patrick from TV’s The Munster’s; Debbie Gibson; Jimmy Hart; Terri Garr; Hulk Hogan; Brit Brashear; Henry Winkler, Jacqueline Boyd; paparazzo-Bobby Bank; Dawn Wells from Gilligan’s Island; Tony Orlando; Chuck Ziti; Lita Ford (Runaways); May Pang; Joyce Randolph: and, PR-pasha David Salidor.
And, if that wasn't enough, there was a Saturday night concert featuring The Cowsills and The Smithereens!
JACK BRUCE PASSES --- One of the premiere bassists in rock, Jack Bruce, has died over the weekend at 71 of liver disease.
Bruce was bassist in the 1960's supergroup Cream which also boasted Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, and are now considered one of the most important bands in rock history. Selling 35 million albums in just over two years they were awarded the first ever platinum disc for Wheels of Fire. Bruce penned and took on vocal duties on most of the songs, including “I Feel Free” and “Sunshine Of Your Love.”
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (May 14, 1943 - October 25, 2014) was the founding member of Cream, in the late 1960's.
He maintained a solo career that spanned several decades, and also participated in several critically acclaimed musical ensembles. Known as a memorable vocalist and pioneering bass guitarist, Bruce was also an accomplished songwriter. His first solo album Songs For A Tailor was released in 1969 and his most recent, Silver Rails released earlier this year. His albums were a rather distinct departure from that music of Cream; thoughtful, provocative, intricately arranged and performed, they were nothing short of brilliant.
Bruce was trained as a classical cellist, and he considered himself a jazz musician, although much of his catalog of compositions and recordings tended toward blues and rock and roll. He also played in Alexis Korner's Blues Inc, the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann.
Bruce's death was revealed through his official website, and confirmed by his publicist Claire Singers who said "He died today at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family."
A statement from his family said:
It is with great sadness that we, Jack's family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father and granddad and all-round legend.
The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.
CLOSING NOTES --- Despite scrambling to post its Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer a week early after a leaked version went viral last Wednesday, Marvel broke viewing records with the first peek at its 2015 summer blockbuster. The company said Friday the Avengers 2 trailer notched 34.3 million views globally in its first 24 hours. Over 26.7 million of those came after the initial leak when Marvel responded by posting a high-resolution HD version to its official YouTube channel. Makes you wonder if this all wasn’t part of a carefully-crafted promo campaign. Me, I'm quite sure it was. Going viral is where it’s at these days …
SIGHTINGS --- Micky Dolenz drummer Rich Dart and friends at B. B. King’s catching legend Jerry Lee Lewis; Rocket’s Tony King on Manhattan’s Highline with friends last week; Chrissy Teigen at Casamigos Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta hosted by Bobby Flay during the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival.
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