Okee dokee folks… So, I am EXTREMELY angry. This disastrous regime has been assaulting immigrants as well as US citizens and making some disappear. That in itself is disgusting and enraging, as we are a nation of immigrants, but they have gone way too far with their xenophobic crackdown on people trying to enter the country for legitimate reasons. Case in point: Yusuf/Cat Stevens. He was supposed to have begun a US concert tour a couple of weeks ago. He just released a memoir: Cat, On The Road To Find Out. Just days before the first show he had to postpone the entire tour because they could not obtain the visas required to enter this country. I saw chatter on websites saying, “He should have applied sooner,” or “This is what he gets for being a Muslim.” First of all, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has traveled and still travels the world for music and humanitarian reasons so I would think that he and his team know what they are doing. Being Muslim is not a crime nor is it a reason to deny or hold up someone’s visa application. A lot of UNINFORMED people hold negative views of Yusuf/Cat Stevens because of misinterpreted responses to Muslim-related issues many years ago. He was misrepresented in the media and unfortunately a lot of people still cling to those erroneous reports. Now I am not a believer in any religion and to me Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or any other religions are all the same, but when one religion demonizes another it just makes the whole subject even more ridiculous. Holding up the visa of the musician who wrote “Peace Train” because he is a Muslim and was wrongly placed on a “list” years ago is foolish. Just like the waves of ICE raids are taking its toll on farmers, the postponement/cancellation of the Yusuf/Cat Stevens shows will have an impact on businesses as well as individuals. Tickets for the shows went on sale over 6 months ago. People/businesses made plans. Changes in these plans have cost money. As for myself, I have tickets to the show and have been waiting 50 years to see Cat Stevens. Yusuf/Cat posted on his web site, “Meanwhile, tour delays should not affect the book, which you’ll still be able to enjoy… the obvious benefit of it being — books don’t need visas!” Who knows if or when the shows will be rescheduled. As if I needed another reason to hate the mango moron and what he has done to this country. Read on…
John Bonham is one of the most famous drummers in rock history. He kept the beat for Led Zeppelin until his death in 1980. Unlike other bands that simply replaced a member after they passed, the members of Led Zeppelin decided to not continue without Bonham. Over the years the members have gotten together and played occasional shows and when they needed a drummer they looked to the most obvious place — John Bonham’s son, Jason. He has been playing drums since his single digit days and can even be seen in the film The Song Remains the Same, playing drums with his father. Bonham grew up with Led Zeppelin. Now, being the substitute drummer for Led Zep isn’t his only claim to fame; he has played with other artists such as Jeff Beck, Sammy Hagar, Ann & Nancy Wilson, as well as being a member of Foreigner, and UFO, in addition to having his own bands. Jason Bonham will be bringing his Evening of Led Zeppelin, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album Physical Graffiti, to Veterans Memorial Auditorium on November 12. I chatted with Jason Bonham for my Roots Report podcast. Give it a listen. For more about the show, “Night Flight” over to thevetsri.com.
I am thrilled that I have more protest songs to share with you. One is by Johnny Juxo & Francesca Ortiz called, “Begins With Me.” It’s about achieving peace and was written for the Intention Fest 2025 at Ninigret Park in Charlestown. Juxo sings, “It begins when we’re not afraid of change for the better, step into the light of a new day, make a choice, raise your voice in song, not in anger, today, it begins with me.” Listen here: youtube.com/watch?v=GL6zY31YRjE
Another song, actually two, comes from Lindsay Munroe of Medford, MA. In “We Do Believe” she sings, “I do believe, We will not back away, I do believe, The storm will pass one day, I do believe, Our love will light the way, Do you believe? We do believe.” Hear this one here: tiktok.com/t/ZTMU5QVR9. Her next contribution is “Standing Together.” “We rise up for justice, we rise up for peace, We rise up together till all are released, With love as our reason, And hope as our song, We stand with each other, We all belong.” Listen to this one here: tiktok.com/t/ZTMUa6gnj. PLEASE keep writing them and sharing them with me! Music can and will send the message! Send the songs with a public link to listen along with the lyrics to: RISongwriters@yahoo.com
On Sunday, November 2 at 5pm there will be a benefit concert for Rick Norman who ran the Church St Coffeehouse as well as other music events in Warren. He has been battling cancer and needs the support. Local musicians Jan Luby and Eric Behr are just putting this together and many performers are expected to lend their performances for the cause. Donations will be accepted. For more, contact: janluby.com
RIP Ace Frehley. Yes, at one point in my life I was a KISS fan and even donned the make-up for the concert and Halloween, back in my teens. I chatted with Ace for my Roots Report podcast last year. He was a cool and funny guy. The rock world has sadly lost another legend.
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.