CATFISH:DETROIT'S CANNED HEAT

From Roscoe Helco

CATFISH – I saw this band play at the Fillmore and later at Keystone Korners, where Janis Joplin got up out of the audience and jammed with them. Clockwise from the left: Jimmy Optner (drums), Bob "Catfish" Hodge (lead vocals), Mark Manko (guitar), Harry Phillips (organ) and R Cooke (bass). They recorded two album for the Epic label. Harry was from my old neighborhood. He and Ron Cooke would eventually join Mitch Ryder in the band Detroit. Bob Hodge had a successful solo career and recorded the hit album, "The Boogieman Is Gonna Get You," for Westbound Records. Catfish could be discribed as Detroit's Canned Heat

DETROIT BLUES SOCIETY HONORS LIVING LEGEND: JIM MCCARTY

Jim McCarty
Lifetime Achievement Honor by Detroit Blues Society

James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train.

In an August 2006 interview on VH1 Classic, Ted Nugent remarked "I'm the only guy in rock'n'roll that plays that hollow body jazz guitar and it's because in 1960 I saw Jimmy McCarty creating those big fat full chords like I do on "Stranglehold"; I learned that from Jimmy McCarty. Remember the name Jimmy McCarty. He is as important as Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry and Les Paul...a god on guitar."FULL STORY HERE

ROD STEWART: FRANK PETTIS PHOTOS

Detroit photographer Frank Pettis was always on the scene whenever Rod Stewart and the Faces were in town. Frank said the band was really friendly back then and the fans would often party after the gig.

I wound up singing on stage with Rod Stewart & The Faces on April 18, 1970 at the Birmingham Palladium. Here’s how it happened. The Faces came to perform at the Eastown Theatre on April 3th & 4th, 1970, as I was the official Eastown Staff Photographer I had backstage access.

Upon my first meeting with Rod Stewart and the guys, I really enjoyed their music and we hit it off really good, not to mention that Ronnie Wood & I share the same birthday June 1st, so Rod invited me to a party the 2nd night at the local Holiday Inn where the Faces partied with their fans.

Since I was a photographer I made sure Rod had copies of the photos I took of them. The Faces came back to Detroit two weeks later, so I called up their manager Billy Gaff and he arranged for me to go down to the show at the Pallidium. I welcomed the guys back to town and they invited me to join them on stage. I was really excited and the big moment finally came when I joined the Faces on stage to sing .

Some of the songs covered that night were “Wicked Messenger”, “Flying”, “Three Button Hand Me Down” and my personal favorite when Ronnie Wood plays slide guitar on “Around The Plynth.” The Faces played 7 more times that year including the November 7th concert at Olympia where 3 Dog Night opened the show. By the way because I always gave Rod copies of the Photos I took I was awarded the honor of having the group photo I took of them at the Holiday Inn used on the poster that was included in their 3rd album “A Nod Is A Good Wink…to a Blind Horse…

The Faces were finally inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012, I was there but unfortunately Rod had the flu and didn’t make it. Thank you Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane (R.I.P.), Kenny Jones, Ronnie Wood and Happy Birthday to you Rod Stewart. Those fans looking for the ultimate box set I recommend the 4 disk CD set “Five Guys Walk Into A Bar” on WB/Rhino. FP

DON'T MISS DAVID WINANS' PI FRIDAY JAN 24 8PM!

For more info msg David Winans II

DKT/MC5 PRIMAL SCREAM CONCERT DVD/CD/LP

• The complete performances by two of the world’s best and most renowned rock n roll bands captured on film using a 5 camera shoot and ‘surround sound’ performing in front of one audience. Shows like this rarely happen in rock n roll history but we caught this one and this is the documentative evidence of one the most explosive rock n roll gigs to be seen in decades!

• The cover artwork is a painting by MC5 bassist Mike Davis (RIP) based on a sketch that was done whilst on the road in the sixties then redone exclusively for this release.

• The legendary DKT/MC5 Davis Kramer Thompson played their final show in July 2011 this being the only show they have done since this concert. Primal Scream have their profile higher now than it has been for ten years with the re issue and world tour of their seminal album “Screamadelica”!

• The set list is pulsating with classic rock tracks such as ‘ Ramblin’ Rose’, ‘ Kick out the Jams’, ‘Looking at You’ , ‘Movin on up’ , ‘Accelerator’ , ‘Rocks’ ‘Sister Anne’, ‘Shoot Speed Kill Light ‘ and the encore sees BOTH bands on stage together for half an hour with guest and former MC5 manager John Sinclair. Handling lead vocals for the MC5 on this night was William Duvall ( Alice in Chains)

Order your limited edition red LP! 

• The Special package includes a 2xCD set of the complete show, plus a substantial booklet featuring photos from the concert and extensive liner notes by Primal Scream confidante Kris Needs including interviews with Bobby Gillespie and Mike Davis. This will also be housed in a de luxe package of 3 gatefold card sleeves with the booklet inside a specially designed box

 

TRACKS ON CD/ LP

FALLEN ANGEL STORY: KJ KNIGHT AND SCOTT RICHARDSON

Scott Richardson

Hey gang! Got a really cool email today from Drummer KJ Knight and he sent me a song from the band The Fallen Angels... So when Scott R called today I got his take on the song "Big River" and KJ was so kind to give us some background on this band. Take a listen... I really like these tunes. Thanks KJ and Scott! xxooK From Scott Richardson.. Fallen Angels was band we put together after hanging around London 73-74. Had the great Kj on drums, I don't remember where we recorded it but am happy to find out KJ had a copy of it.

I recorded Big River written by Bob Seger because I think it is one of his best songs. There is something about that song that really moves me. I have always loved it. The song sounds as good to me today as when he wrote it. Thanks KJ for sending this in...

SR Big River Life is like a big river sinkin' or swim, depends on you you can take or you can be a giver if you got love you're gonna get through once, a good woman loved me I was kinda cruel, and she left me one day now I'm cryin', she loves another gotta go alone the rest of the way take, the advice of a loser who's been livin' too long alone follow your heart follow your rainbow and one day you'll find you are not alone Bob Seger

From KJ Knight

This session was done at ABC Recording Studios, Inc at 8255 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, California in I believe 1975.We recorded three songs, "Big River," "Ride The Wind," and "Someone Like You." The Fallen Angels was a great band and loaded with talent!!!

The group featured Scott Richardson on vocals. Other members included: Richard Haddad Michaels on bass, Mike Nardone on guitar, and me, KJ Knight on drums. Scott Thurston, who later joined Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, played keyboards on a couple of these tracks. Email me for tracks

Original post is from Retrokimmer.com 

JOHN VARVATOS NEW BOOK: ROCK IN FASHION

 

Designer John Varvatos is from Allen Park originally...he is one of the very biggest supporters of DETROIT ROCKNROLL...We are buying his book today!

John's fashion designs THINK RATIONAL....

In John Varvatos, the legendary designer reveals his perspective on how rock & roll music and style have influenced his own designs and fashion worldwide. Varvatos’s personally curated collection of more than 250 images are some of the most provocative ever shot by top rock photographers from the late 1960s to today, from the Rolling Stones to the Kings of Leon.

The featured photographers are among the world’s finest, including Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, Elliott Landy, Danny Clinch, Lynn Goldsmith, and more. Also included are select images from Varvatos’s own advertising campaigns, featuring artists such as Slash, Iggy Pop, Scott Weiland, and Miles Kane.

Varvatos’s captions and incisive commentary on the artist and his or her look accompany each image. Every chapter also contains numerous quotes from the musicians themselves, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Jack White, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, and Patti Smith.

An extraordinary anthology of some of the finest images in rock & roll and the most influential rock looks in fashion and popular culture, this volume will delight music lovers, and fans of music photography, fashion, and fashion history.