it's a long way to the top of rock and roll

Kiss, despite their recent induction into the Rock And Roll Blah Blah Blah, have continued a steady stream of bickereing, back stabbing and general bitchiness about each other (and anyone else they don't think are being "respectful") to just about anyone or object that stands still long enough to listen to them.
Unfortunately the media will always lap this soap crap up, but you also have to wonder by now whether this is just some 'C' plan for self promotion. Although the dimwits probably think it's a great master-plan to sell an upcoming album. You don't have to be cynical to think that just a realist about the appalling state of the present day music business.

Meanwhile, putting that whole ridiculous fiasco into sharp relief comes the recent and most saddening news that AC/DC's guitarist Malcolm Young has been hit with a stroke leaving him in a critical state of health. It means he'll not be performing live or even recording ever again. Also rumoured is the possibility the band will announce their retirement as a result, although that's not been officially announced.
But well you know old rockers.. after a period of reflection they might change their minds. Many have done similar in the past when losing a long time band mate to illness or worse. The thing is most of these guys who've been rolling on through world tours and continual work for years don't know any other way of life. Young is 61, and has reached that age which does for a lot of those that still had to or need the rock and roll lifestyle. (And a few out there might just be a bit more cheerful they're still around and shut their gobs).

From their early days performing incendiary gigs at the Chalk Farm Roundhouse and The Marquee in London, bringing a completely new energy to all out hard rock, to the heights of their success on world stages Michael Young and AC/DC gave nothing less than their all to their audiences. Off duty they remained private and uncontroversial.
Lets hope Michael has a rested retirement.
Rock and Roll can be a tough life, and the band tell you that themselves in this track from a live show at The Marquee in 1976. Sounds like it was recorded for radio broadcast.

Band update : “AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.”

original report via Hennemusic

weekend gig : stones at the marquee

12th July 1962 and the Rolling Stones played their first gig at The Marquee Club in Wardour St, Soho.
Jagger and Charlie Watts were interviewed by all news channels in the UK about the event. No great insights, as Jagger said it was "difficult to remember the exact gig", the Stones were to play there many times in their early days, but he thought "it was with a different drummer while they persuaded Charlie to play with the band". Charlie was up until then playing with Alexis Korner and Blues Incorporated. Of course there's no footage of them at the Marquee then but less than 10 years later they did return for one last time in 1971. Brian Jones now gone. Mick Taylor the guitarist who replaced him. The site of The Marquee is now a Santander Bank... mmm.
Here's the complete video.

he blew his mind out in a car

"He blew his mind out in car,
he didn’t notice that the lights had changed."

"Lennon and McCartney lyrics from The Beatles 'A Day in the Life' (Sgt Pepper LP), which immortalised the death of sixties socialite Tara Browne.
On the night of December 18th 1966, Browne, together with his girlfriend, Suki Potier, drove through the streets of South Kensington in his Lotus Elan.
At 1am in the morning Browne sped through a red light at the corner of Redcliffe Square and Redcliffe Gardens. As he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, Browne crashed his car into a parked van. His last minute actions saved Potier from certain death, but left Browne fatally injured, and he died in hospital the following day."
Browne was 21-years-of-age, a member of the Irish aristocratic family Oranmore and Browne, and heir to the Guinness fortune. He was said to be barely literate - having walked out of a dozen schools, lived with his mother Oonagh Guinness and her boyfriend “show designer” Miguel Ferreras, drank Bloody Marys for breakfast, smoked Menthol cigarettes, and according to his friend Hugo Williams lived the life of a “Little Lord Fauntleroy, Beau Brummell, Peter Pan, Terence Stamp in the film 'Billy Budd' or David Hemmings in 'Blow-Up'.”
via Dangerous Minds.

Here's rare 1966 film footage of this near mythical character seen driving around the city and generally hanging out. With shots of Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithfull, the Marquee Club with pop hopeful Gary Farr & the T-bones on stage (they folded in 1967), gallery owner Robert Fraser, and the Carnaby Street in-crowd. Browne drones on in Francais (obviously filmed for french TV) and although there's no English subtitles you'll get the idea.
It captures London at it's swinging 60's peak and how it not just set the trends of the time but attracted the wealthy and privileged with plenty of doe and time to spare. The London fashion/music scene was never so gregarious or as fashionable to the likes again. Within a few months of the film the young Browne was gone.

File under pop culture archaeology.

the marquee

On 1st December 1964, The Who began a residency at the Marquee Club, Wardour St, London playing every Tuesday night until April 1965.
The attendance at the club on this cold and rainy night in December was very poor but over the following months they were to build a following that would make the band and the club legendary. The now famous poster (above) would be a bi product of the residency and in itself obtain iconic status.
The first artist to perform at the inauguration of the Marquee club at 90 Wardour Street on the 13th of February, 1964 were the supporting act the Yardbirds. They were followed by Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men and Sonny Boy Williamson.
The Yardbirds would be playing on other nights of the week during the Who's residency along with other regulars Manfred Mann.
The Marquee had become the most important venue for the emerging British scene and witnessed the birth and rise of some of the most important artists around.
The years from 1965, saw Jimi Hendrix (who appeared four times), Pink Floyd, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Free, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull. Later in the late 70's although not a punk club entirely (that reputation would go to the Roxy Club and The Vortex) the Sex Pistols played there along with Adam and The Ants and others. As the 1980's came the new Metal bands found a home in the Marquee. Iron Maiden cutting a live album at the club.
In 1988, the Wardour Street site was sold for redevelopment and although the name carried on in various other venues it never regained it's popularity or it's reputation and ceased to trade in 2007. There are currently no further plans to resurrect the name.
The upshot of that is the British music scene no longer has a club with the heritage or reputation for giving young groups and artists the opportunity to learn and develop their music. The Marquee helped launch the careers of many bands who are still around today. The fact that there is no club in the UK to approach the influence of the Marquee says much about the contemporary rock scene and the state of live music today.

Here is Iron Maiden - I've Got The Fire - Live at the Marquee Club in 1980