Free McCartney Download

There's a tasty version of Macca banging out Wings' "Let Me Roll It" available for free at http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/randomize-me/d1f2ebc1d8a6464b807e9dacb925b168
Click on the link or cut and paste. There's also quite a nice free video of "Highway" too.

Aerosmith: The Rise, Fall, Rise, Fall and Rise Again?

I still have a soft spot for Aerosmith. I think part of it is due to the fact that they were so inaccessible to young British rockers in the late 70's and early 80's. This made them feel exotic to those of us who had a penchant for all things American. In fact the band played only 5 shows in the UK from their formation through to their "comeback" in 1988. Being so huge in the US, they didn't need to play Europe.
Anyway, the word on the street is that Steven Tyler is to focus on "Brand Tyler" rather than his band which hasn't recorded a new album since 2001. I don't really want them to put out a new record anyway. You'd struggle to put together an EP of decent tracks from recordings they've released since 89's wonderful Pump album. That said, they are still one of the greatest live acts of all time. Without Tyler, they are not Aerosmith. Journey have proved you can survive with other singers at the helm, so the question is, can the Boys From Boston do the same?
Here's The Stoat's prediction. They'll part ways, realize the error and get back together in a few years. In the meantime Tyler will work on a solo record that will receive lukewarm reveiws from the critics and dabble in movie or TV projects the same way that Roger Daltrey has done. He'll then get bored and rethink his career.
Joe Perry will tour with his Project which will prove to be something only the real fans "get", making it commercially challenging, but great for us JPP fans all the same. But by doing this, he'll be able to groom his new young German Project vocalist, Hagen Grohe, for the job of Aerosmith frontman. Hagen hasn't quite got his frontman chops down yet, but he's certainly got the vocal dexterity and can even outscream Tyler. Hagen will join Aerosmith under Joe's mentorship and they'll tour the US next Summer. But the fans won't be as supportive as Journey's more mainstream Wal-Mart following.
And so in 2011, the Toxic Twins will reform, write some half decent songs, put out an exclusive through Target and make a fortune through the "Back In The Saddle '11" Tour.
Anyone fancy a wager?
The Stoat

Bad Company - (Almost) Rockin' Steady In London

My pal and fellow 70's rock nutter, Ziggy, saw Paul Rodgers play at Hammersmith last week, and got more than he expected. Here's his report live from London...


When I arrived, Paul Rodgers had already been on stage for ten minutes. Neither the dreadful weather nor Friday evening traffic was stopping anyone from attending this London “one-off” that had been promoted by Classic Rock magazine.
I entered during a stunning version of Ride On Pony, and then, for the first time live on stage Soon I Will Be Gone followed by The Stealer. The mention of “a new song written with Queen” had the female element of the audience screaming away. The song, which sounded as if it was called Take A Chance On Your Love doesn’t seem familiar, nor does it appear on The Cosmos Rocks, so this must have also been a first. Pretty much the rest of the set ran like a brilliantly performed Best of Free, with the exception of The Firm’s Satisfaction Guaranteed, You Are My Saving Grace and an incredible version of Run With The Pack.

Surprise of the Night Number One was a duet with a blonde lady (PR did mention her name twice but I didn’t get it) on Be My Friend that transformed the original plea of a lonely man into a sexually charged commitment to be a little more the just one’s friend.  Once again, the girls in the audience were screaming for more, including a seemingly out of place girl with a mohican in the front row.

A storming version of All Right Now signalled the end of the main set, and then Surprise of the Night Number Two; a guest appearance by Mick Ralphs. Given that Simon Kirke was drumming, this was the first time that a UK audience would have seen Bad Company on stage in around 20 years. Those who had seen Mott The Hoople’s incredible return to the stage at this very same venue barely a month ago will not be surprised to hear that Ralphs is in great form, as witnessed on the most incredible version of Can’t Get Enough. A final reading of Hendrix’s Angel left the audience wanting more, but probably wanting too much more, and unfortunately there were some boos when the house lights went on……I guess it did seem early at a few minutes before ten.

As always, Paul Rodgers delivers brilliantly, his voice is in perfect shape! As with the Mott shows the concert was recorded for a limited edition live album that can be ordered online (unlike the Mott show it wasn’t available for sale at the gig). It was such a great show I’m more then likely to order it.

Ziggy Rokita