Roots Report: Rock & Roll Heaven

Okee dokee folks… In 1974 I bought the “45” (remember those?) of the pop hit, “Rock and Roll Heaven” by The Righteous Brothers, a song written by Alan O’Day and Johnny Stevenson. I still have it … somewhere. That song popped into my head today with the passing of Kris Kristofferson. The chorus of that song, “If you believe in forever, then life is just a one-night stand. If there’s a rock n’ roll heaven, well you know they’ve got a hell of a band.” It plays in my head every time a great music legend dies.

Rock & Roll Heaven Backstory

The song was originally released by a band called Climax (“Precious and Few”) in 1973 and the only performers mentioned at that time were Jimi, Janis, Otis Redding, and Jim Morrison. By the time The Righteous Brothers had recorded it, verses were added for Bobby Darin and Jim Croce.

If that song was updated now there would be a LOT of additional verses. The sad part is that in the coming years we are going to lose many of the greatest songwriters and musicians of all time. It’s just a fact of life. You get old and die, though some sadly die prematurely.

I am happy that I have been alive during the Golden Age of music and have been fortunate to see many great performers live. Unfortunately, The Golden Age fades more with every legend’s passing. I doubt this type of time period will ever be duplicated. The music business has changed so much that I don’t even think it is possible. Arena rock and mega-stars, with a few exceptions, are a thing of the past.

Rock and Roll Heaven Musicians

Though it wasn’t in an arena, I did see Kris Kristofferson perform. No, it wasn’t at the Newport Folk Festival where a few fortunate folks were able to catch that rare appearance. It was at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston a few years back. It was just Kristofferson and a guitar. It was a treat. I did try to interview Kristofferson back then, but we just couldn’t make it happen. I tend to prefer to talk to the “aging” artists. They have the stories and the history. I am sure that Kris had a lot of stories to tell about the amazing life he lived.

The upside to all this is that the music of these “Rock and Roll Heaven” musicians will live on indefinitely so whenever we miss them we can just play the songs. And because they were so good it will endure for generations. At least I hope so. Read on… 

Upcoming Events and the Roots Report Podcast

Over the big, ole Braga Bridge is where a few great shows are this month. The Narrows Center for the Arts will present The Matthew Sweet Acoustic Trio on Tuesday, October 15. Sweet recorded one of the best CDs of the 90’s with his platinum-selling, breakout record, Girlfriend in 1991. Back then, this one was in heavy rotation inside my laser player. I spoke with Sweet a couple of years ago ahead of his last show at The Narrows and have him scheduled for my Roots Report Podcast where I will also feature some of his newer music. One of my favorite people to talk to is comedian Paula Poundstone. We have chatted many times over the years and those conversations are always fun. She regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, and is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me. This time around we talked about air travel, space travel, TV, sleep, Columbo and lots of other random things that Paula always makes funny. Please check out my Roots Report Podcast with Paula! Poundstone will be at Narrows Center for the Arts on Oct 18. For more, find out “What Matters” at: www.narrowscenter.org

Ok, this is the spooky time of the year when people pull out their 12 foot Home Depot skeletons and set them up in the front yard. If had one of those $300 skeletons I would leave it up year round! Folks are always looking for something Halloween-themed and boy do I have something for you! Guitarist and singer, Paul Bielatowicz, will be bringing his “Nosferatu” show to The Vault in New Bedford on November 2. Yes, it’s little after Halloween but you can make it a post holiday, spooky weekend plan! This is an amazing piece of work by Bielatowicz. He composed a modern score for the classic, 1922, silent, horror film, “Nosferatu”. I have been to this show, twice, and it is very, very good. The 3rd Annual Nosferatu Halloween Spooktacular features a LIVE BAND with Bielatowicz, who is the guitarist in Carl Palmer’s (Emerson, Lake, and Palmer) Legacy band and has been on the road with him all month. In addition other players include Michael Dutko (Gary Hoey) on bass and Leah Bluestein (Eagles of Death Metal) on drums, and they’ve invited some very special guests as well. This multimedia production is further enhanced with virtual all-star guest appearances on three video screens including: Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater ); Arthur Brown ( Crazy World of Arthur Brown ); Dave Bainbridge ( Strawbs, Iona); Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns ‘n Roses, Sons of Apollo, Asia); Peter Zay (New Bedford Symphony Orchestra); and Simon Fitzpatrick (ELP Legacy). You don’t want to miss this one! For more, Count Orlok over to: vaultnb.com

This will be my last warning that VOTING BLUE is the ONLY SANE OPTION on November 5. I sincerely hope that the orange stain, the blatant LIES that he and the cult tell and believe as well as the total insanity that this country has had to endure will all end and disappear forever. I just saw a meme on Facebook. It’s perfect. “End the grift on November 5th! Be SMART, people! The FUTURE of this country is at stake.

That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com.