Gangsta?

There are far too many musical fakers today. "You either are or you are not, hard." That's what I always say. Peter Tosh was hard. Period. His message was plain as day in songs like "Stepping Razor" and "I Am That I Am". Unlike many high-profile artists, he never pulled punches. He often said the wrong thing at the wrong time because that was what was really on his mind. He seemingly had no fear. Pete was even intimidating in interviews.

Obviously, I knew about Tosh from listening to the Wailers, but my first exposure to Pete's solo career was when a college friend bought Equal Rights on vinyl. We went back to his house to listen to it and I was in awe. I had long been a fan of reggae, but this was something else!

The record opens with "Get Up, Stand Up", which the Wailers had recorded nearly a decade before this album was released in 1977. It seemed like it was always meant to be Pete's song. The original never sounded the same again!

He is the type of singer that has the ability to have a conversation with his audience while he sings. The song "Brand New Secondhand" is that kind of song. But, I knew that about Pete from way back.

The Wailers' debut album, Catch A Fire, showcases Pete's talent on "400 Years" and "Stop That Train". These songs are tough. They are quite different from the songs Bob sings. Pete has an edge that is impossible to fake. The man is a singular talent and yesterday would have been his birthday.

Unfortunately, Jamaican thugs murdered Pete on September 11th, 1987. R.I.P, brotha!

The Darker the Berry, the Sweeter the Juice!

Charles Edward Anderson Berry.

His songs have been covered by almost everyone you can think of... and there's a reason for that! He redefined all notions of popular music.

Dig this list: Elvis, Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Sex Pistols, Peter Tosh, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buck Owens, Judas Priest, The Beatles, Johnny Winter... that's just who's covered the song "Johnny B. Goode".

Anyone who spouts off about the importance of Elvis is probably a white person trying to give him credit for rock n' roll. There is no Elvis without Chuck Berry. Most of the British Invasion bands would never have arrived either. They had been listening to raw country blues (acoustic) and trying really hard to imitate something that did not explain their existence. Once they heard Chuck Berry plug his guitar in and shred the blues and R&B they dug, they plugged in. Not vice versa.

The man did the Duck Walk! Forget gyrating white hips. Forget hair metal bands and glam rock! Chuck Berry is it! If you want to know what the desperate teenagers living in the Age of Conformity turned to for excitement (and danger!), go buy the compilation The Great Twenty-Eight! All the classics are there as well as some hidden gems.

Nobody got down like Chuck. Several late 50s rock n rollers picked up what he was into, but no one could get down like the original!

Happy 86th Birthday, Chuck!

This Mystic Decade!

Hot Snakes. Five short years was all the time this killer band was together. But, in that short time they hammered through several great albums. Their music is filled with so much intensity and power that it is impossible to turn off.

I was introduced to them through a record store employee/acquaintance of mine in college. He was standing near me when I picked up their second album Suicide Invoice. He very excitedly informed me how badly I needed to buy it. It was a self-released album from former members of Drive Like Jehu (Rick Froberg) and Rocket From the Crypt (John Reis), so I figured it was probably worth it.

I put it in the CD player in my car as I left and... it was more than worth it. From the first bouncing, manic, scathing guitar riffs to the final drum beat this record creates its own place in the world of music. I left it in the player for weeks. Unfortunately, I never came across another of their records until years later.

In fact, I was in Flagstaff, Arizona when I found their Peel Sessions. This is the most fabulous angst-ridden 9:08 you'll ever hear! If you do nothing else today... buy it!