LRRC EP869: Elvin Bishop, Neil Geraldo, Blackstar Amps, more NAMM

Jesse’s Girl Solo, Adapting Rolling In The Deep, cheating the Fooled Around and Fell In Love Solo, more NAMM gear that actually looks cool (blackstar Artist FR, Bad Pure Path), getting a “good” Fender or Gibson, The Basement

 

Feature: Guess Who Sang/Played On This Song?

 

Pittsburgh Kevin:

 

Film Corner: Megan, The French Connection,

 

SEG2:

 

New & Notable:

 

This Week In Rock History:

🎸 January 31 – Rock History Highlights

Album release

• Roy Orbison – Mystery Girl (posthumous studio album; includes hits like “You Got It” and “She’s a Mystery To Me”) was released on January 31, 1989. (Wikipedia)
  🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Girl

Notable birthdays (rock/rock-related)

• Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols frontman) – Jan 31, 1956 – influential punk rocker. (This Day In Music)
• Jeff Hanneman (Slayer guitarist) – Jan 31, 1964 – thrash metal pioneer. (This Day In Music)
• Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music guitarist) – Jan 31, 1947 – art rock innovator. (This Day In Music)
• Terry Kath (Chicago guitarist/vocalist) – (associated with this date) died in 1978; his influence on jazz-rock/pop is significant. (This Day In Music)

Other music events

• The Jackson 5 hit #1 on Billboard with “I Want You Back” (1970), a pop/rock/R&B crossover moment. (This Day In Music)
• Blondie’s “The Tide Is High” topped charts in 1981, spotlighting new wave’s impact on rock radio. (This Day In Music)

📌 Why this matters for classic rock fans: Orbison’s Mystery Girl represents the late-’80s resurgence of a rock pioneer and his influence on songwriters across genres.

🎶 February 1 – Rock Milestones

Album/Hit milestones

• Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies was released in 1973 and became his only U.S. #1 album featuring rock staples like “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” (92KQRS.com | KQRS-FM)
• The Replacements – Don’t Tell a Soul (1989) bridged underground rock and mainstream airplay. (92KQRS.com | KQRS-FM)
• Neil Young recorded Harvey in 1972 — his best-selling album with “Heart of Gold” — marking a peak in country-rock fusion. (92KQRS.com | KQRS-FM)

Birthdays

• Tomoyasu Hotei (Japanese rock guitarist) – Feb 1, 1962. (Wikipedia)

📅 February 2 – Rock History

Historic shows & milestones

• The Beatles played their first professional gig outside Liverpool at The Oasis Club (1962). (This Day In Music)
• Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols bassist, key punk rock figure) died from an overdose on Feb 2, 1979. (This Day In Music)

Births

• Graham Nash (The Hollies; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) – Feb 2, 1942. (This Day In Music)
• Ross Valory (Journey bassist) – Feb 2, 1949. (This Day In Music)

💀 February 3 – The Day the Music Died (1959)

Tragedy & Legacy

• Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash following their Winter Dance Party tour. This event, later memorialized in Don McLean’s “American Pie,” is a foundational moment in rock history. (People.com)
  🔗 https://people.com/what-really-happened-on-the-day-the-music-died-11898397

Births

• Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) – Feb 3, 1956; influential in alternative rock. (Harmony Central)
• Arthur Kane (New York Dolls) – Feb 3, 1949; early punk rock progenitor. (Harmony Central)

Story idea for your show: You can connect the anniversary to how that crash reshaped rock’s evolution, influencing later artists in punk, alternative, and even mainstream rock.

🎸 February 4 – Album Love

Classic and modern rock releases that share this date:

• Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977) — one of the best-selling rock albums of all time. (Reddit)
• Ramones – End of the Century (1980) — major punk/rock crossover LP. (Reddit)
• Queen – Innuendo (1991) — classic rock band at their late-era peak. (Reddit)

🎤 February 5 – Birthdays & Legends

Birthdays

• Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses frontman) – Feb 6, 1962. (Wikipedia)

📌 Axl’s birthday is one of the most eagerly celebrated rock birthdays each year — great for social media or fan engagement bits.

🎵 February 7 – Rock History & Birthdays

Chart & Album Milestones

• Led Zeppelin II hit UK #1 on Feb 7, 1970 — one of the most influential heavy blues-rock albums ever. (This Day In Music)

Important historical events

• The Who recorded Pinball Wizard (1969) — a rock opera staple. (classicbands.com)
• Little Richard recorded Long Tall Sally (1956), later becoming a rock ’n’ roll classic and huge influence on the Beatles and others. (classicbands.com)

Birthdays

• David Bryan (Bon Jovi keyboardist) – Feb 7, 1962. (This Day In Music)
• Garth Brooks – Feb 7, 1962 (more country than rock, but crossover appeal and influence worth noting). (This Day In Music)

Memorial events

• Buddy Holly & Ritchie Valens were buried on this date in 1959, with large public ceremonies marking “The Day the Music Died.” (top5000-rocketman5000.blogspot.com)

📌 Show Notes & Podcast Story Ideas

Based on the above dates you could include segments like these:

• “Mystery Girl & The Last Great Roy Orbison Album” — discuss the album’s impact and collaborators like Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Bono & The Edge. (Wikipedia)
• “The Day the Music Died, Part II” — explore the larger cultural impact of the Feb 3, 1959 crash and its echoes in rock storytelling. (People.com)
• “Led Zeppelin’s First UK Number 1” — unpack how Led Zeppelin II influenced hard rock/heavy metal. (This Day In Music)

“Birthdays Rock!” — spotlight Axl Rose, David Bryan, Johnny Rotten, and others with short clips/tributes. (This Day In Music)