Bruuuuuce Turns 60

Happy 60th Birthday to the Boss! Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band are currently touring the U.S. in support of Working On a Dream. On October 29, Bruce & Co. will join Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends, and Stevie Wonder at Madison Square Garden to take part in night one of the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Benefit Concerts. A week later, he and the E Street Band will return to the Garden for a pair of shows on November 7th & 8th.

Cheers to Nick Cave

I know I just praised the man for his entertaining book reading at Barnes & Noble, but I must wish Nicholas Edward Cave a very happy 52nd birthday.

Star Witness

Cheers to Neko Case, who turns 39 today. The Virginia native is currently touring the UK in support of her latest album stunner, Middle Cyclone. She'll return to the U.S. in November ... who's going to the Beacon Theatre show on Monday, November 16th?

[Photo by Jason Creps]

She's Special, So Special

Happy Birthday to Chrissie Hynde, who is 58 years young today. The Pretenders frontwoman remains the coolest rock'n'roll female on the planet, ever.

Birthday Wishes for Andy

Happy Birthday Andy Warhol! He would have turned 81 today.


"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."

-- Andy Warhol

Celebrating JC

Happy Birthday to the dear Jim Carroll, who turns 60 today. Fingers are crossed that the legendary poet and writer will finally release a follow up to his last book, 1998's Void of Course.

Birthday Wishes for KT

Happy 51st Birthday to Kate Bush!

Guitarzzz ...

Happy Birthday to the Gibson electric guitar! Seventy-two years ago today, the Gibson electric guitar was patented in the United States. Gibson's general manager, Guy Hart, was awarded this patent. Rock 'n' roll.

"Gibson’s electric guitar wasn’t not the first to market, but its pickup design was superior to competing models — especially after guitar-makers begin dropping them into their new, innovative designs over a decade later.

Guitarists have a reputation for coaxing as much volume as possible out of their instruments — whether it’s advisable or not. But guitarists playing in dance bands, larger combos and jazz orchestras in the early 1930s certainly needed the volume boost. They were often playing in situations where they were straining to be heard over the drums, brass and audience chatter.

The newest, loudest design of the era was the resonator guitar. Usually made of metal, it had a series of aluminum resonators built into the body. The resonators amplified the acoustic instrument and gave players an edge they couldn’t get out of the common acoustic guitar.

But of course, the ax-slingers were always asking for more volume, so inventors of the day were constantly experimenting with crude electronic-amplification systems.

The first viable electric guitar was designed by guitarist George Beauchamp, who began manufacturing them along with Swiss-born engineer Adolph Rickenbacker. The guitars made by Beauchamp and Rickenbacker were of the “lap steel” variety, which the player holds flat in the lap and slides a metal bar up and down the strings to play different notes."

[Thanks Wired]

Birthday Wishes for the Banana Split Lady

Happy Birthday to Miss Siouxsie Sioux. She turns a fabulous 52 years today. The former Banshees frontwoman recently issued Finale: The Last Mantaray and More Show. The DVD set captures Siouxsie's gig at London's KOKO (September 29, 2008), which was also the last show of the Mantaray and More Tour.

In true Siouxsie fashion, she offers a healthy batch of Banshees classics with Creatures tunes and new songs from her latest solo LP, Mantaray. Miss Sioux also delivers cover versions of the Doors' "Hello, I Love You" and Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'") as well as Basement Jaxx's "Cish Cash," a smashing dance track which Siouxsie co-composed and sang on in 2003.

Finale: The Last Mantaray and More Show

1. They Follow You
2. About to Happen
3. Hong Kong Garden
4. Dear Prudence
5. Right Now
6. Sea of Tranquility
7. Christine
8. Happy House
9. One Mile Below
10. Into a Swan
11. Israel
12. Arabian Knights
13. Here Comes That Day
14. Hello, I Love You
15. If It Doesn't Kill You
16. Night Shift
17. Loveless
18. These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
19. Spellbound
20. Nicotine Stain
21. Cish Cash
22. Swansway/Reprise

Click here to view my 2007 interview with Siouxsie via SPIN.com.

I must include the video for "Dazzle." I still absolutely adore this song and Siouxsie looks fantastic! I wish Budgie was in it a bit more, but you have to love Steve Severin striking a pose near the end of the clip.

Steven Patrick Morrissey Turns 50

Happy (Unhappy?) Birthday to my favorite handsome devil, Morrissey, who turns the big 5-0 today. Tonight, he'll celebrate with a few special gigs in England, including one at the Manchester Apollo.

Mozzer to NME on growing old: “Age shouldn't affect you. You're either marvelous or you're boring, regardless of your age.

In the NYC, there are a bunch of shindigs going on to honor the former Smiths frontman, including The Music Slut's Trash party at The Studio in Webster Hall. Also, Kaki King is playing a special set at Glasslands in Brooklyn. Bodega Girls, the Stationary Set, and Beta Beta are also slated to perform.

Also, to commemorate Morrissey's big birthday The Music Slut has issued the digital LP, TMS Hearts Moz. This 19-song set features Morrissey or Smiths covers from the likes of digital LP features artists like Chris Garneau, Exit Clov, The Glass, Laura Palmer, Mixel Pixel, Pattern Is Movement, Sharon Van Etten, and more. Each afternoon at 4pm, TMS debuts a new mp3 for free download and will continue to do so through May 28th. Hot stuff!

Click here to send the Mozzer some birthday wishes.

Happy Birthday Joey Ramone

Happy Birthday to the coolest punk that ever lived, Joey Ramone. He would have turned 58 today. For those looking to raise a glass to the late Ramones frontman, head over to the Fillmore at Irving Plaza for the 9th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (read more about it here).

Also, check out Worn Free for special Joey Ramone tees. Worn Free has recreated some of those famous t-shirts once worn by Joey Ramone and includes everything from the hilarious "I'm Not Joey Ramone" shirt he wore in 1977 to the famous Capitol Theatre shirt he wore in 1976. I love love love the NYC shirt Between now and May 31st, get 20% off all Joey-themed shirts with the coupon code NOTJOEY at checkout. Hey ho! Let's Go!

The Ramones - "Baby, I Love You" (Top of the Pops, 1980)



Joey Ramone, we miss you!

Happy Birthday Miss Ella

Today marks the 92nd birthday of the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald. Born in Newport News, Virginia, but raised in Yonkers, New York, Fitzgerald made her singing debut at 17 at the Harlem Opera House. She went on to collaborate with other influential jazz artists like Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington and won 13 Grammys, for a career spanning 59 years. She is one of the truly great artists of the 20th century, one of pure, original talent and one of my very favorites. Fitzgerald passed away in 1996.

Yonkers paid tribute to Fitzgerald with a statue located south of the main entrance to the Amtrak/Metro-North Railroad station. Pictures are included below. Happy Birthday Miss Ella!

Iggy Pop Still Knocking 'Em Down

Happy Birthday to the coolest rocker on the planet and my favorite Detroiter, the godfather of punk Iggy Pop. The Stooges frontman turns a 62 years young today.

Pop is also prepping for the release of his 15th solo album, Préliminaires, out May 18th. Set for only 6,000 copies worldwide, this special box set includes the full album and a collector "Les Feuilles Mortes"/"King of the Dogs" seven-inch. Iranian-French author and illustrator Marjane Satrapi, best known for her book Persepolis, designed the album sleeve and contributed drawings to the album's 28-page book.

On his blog, Iggy says Préliminaires is less rock, more jazz and inspired by Michel Houellebecq's novel, The Possibility of an Island. Iggy even sings "Les Feuilles Mortes" (aka "Autumn Leaves") in French. J'adore Iggy Pop!

Pop also gives a shout out to my alma mater, Michigan State University (GO STATE)! The Detroit Free Press announced today that Pop supports MSU's decision to ban animal circuses from campus in the coming year, but is hoping the university will make it permanent.

In a letter addressed to the MSU Board of Trustees, and written on behalf of PETA, Pop stated:

"As students who are concerned about animal welfare have told you, performing animals are deprived of everything that is natural to them, including the ability to roam, forage and form families and friendships ... The circus industry is big, wealthy and powerful, and I'm sure that its leaders are encouraging you to reverse your decision."

Also, The Cure's Robert Smith turns the big 5-0 today. Yikes, Bob is THAT old? That make ME old, too, I suppose? For more on what The Cure -- who just played Coachella over the weekend -- is up to, check out the Cure blog ... Robert rambles on about free music, etc.

Still Dancing the 'Jig of Life'

My earliest memory of hearing Kate Bush was around 1985. I caught a snippet of the "Running Up That Hill" video (posted below) on MTV. For an eight year old kid, I found her incredibly odd, but interesting. As a teen, she was the only female artist that mattered to me (well she and Siouxsie Sioux, of course)...way before Tori Amos, before Sinéad O'Connor, before Björk, before any of 'em. Her 1983 LP, The Dreaming, is a personal favorite, while The Hounds of Love (1985) and The Sensual World (1989) are equally brilliant. So cheers to Kate Bush a.k.a. K.T., who turns a graceful 50 years old today. BBC News remembered!

Since issuing Aerial in 2005 -- her first recording since 1993's The Red Shoes -- Bush continues to live a normal family life in southwestern England with her son Albert (Bertie) and her husband/guitarist Danny McIntosh.



[Photo by Trevor Leighton]

She's a Carnival

Happy 51st Birthday to the ultimate punk priestess, Siouxsie Sioux. The former Banshees frontman is prepping to hit the European festival circuit this summer in support of her latest solo offering, Siouxsie. I had the chance to catch her tour opener in February and the lady looked fantastic. She still makes it all look easy. Looking 51 years young, m'dear.



Additional birthday wishes go out to Crowded House's Neil Finn, who also turns 51 today.

[Siouxsie image by Eric Nowels]

Good Looking Man About Town

Ah yes, it's today ... the 49th birthday of Morrissey, my favorite star. Still a charming man (heh), the former Smiths frontman is readying the release of "All You Need is Me," the second single -- out June 2nd according to morrissey-solo -- from his latest Greatest Hits collection. Mozzer, you don't look too shabby.

Supermellow Man

Happy Birthday to Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch. The Liverpudlian-born rocker was born 49 years ago today. This year, Mac and Co. will be playing a host of shows in support of their 30 years as a band and celebrating their epic LP, Ocean Rain. I'll be at the Radio City Music Hall show October 1st.

Bowie's Golden Years

Happy Birthday to rock's resident thin white duke, David Bowie, who turns 60 today.

Live Wire Birthday

Happy Birthday to my favorite hair metal rocker, Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, who turns 48 today.

He's Still Blaine to Me

Happy Birthday to my favorite Brat Packer, Andrew McCarthy, who turns 44 today.

Birthday Shakedown

Happy Birthday to the crazy and loveable rock & roll genius, Ryan Adams, who turns 32 today.

The Hotness That Is LMJ

Happy Birthday to U2's Larry Mullen Jr., who turns 45 today!
*Thanks to Alyssa for reminding me!

Birthday Time!

Thanks to the Music Slut for posting this! I had to post this since I'm such an Anglophile!

What Was The #1 UK Single The Day You Were Born?

Mine is: Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" ... I can live with that!

Happy Birthday John Lennon

Today, John Lennon was born 66 years ago in Liverpool. Happy Birthday to a legend.