FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. GOD BLESS AMERICA
2. DO YOU WANNA TOUCH JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS?
3. THE FIRST LADY OF ROCK AND ROLL, RONNIE SPECTOR
4. YOU'VE HEARD HIS DRUMMING, NOW SEE BUDDY MILES
5. WHO'S THAT WOMAN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR CLARENCE CLEMONS?
6. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
There is no correct way to react to the events of the past week. When faced with an unprecedented tragedy, the best anyone can do is to try and get through. The emotions, feelings and reactions are limitless. For those who are personally affected, or who are still waiting for news, nothing can ever express what you are going through. The rest of us will struggle to understand, accept that we have been changed forever, and try to return to "normal" life.
I am proud to live in country where volunteers have to be turned away from rescue efforts, and wait on line to try again tomorrow. A country where police, fire and medical personnel react so quickly, and heroically, to this epic event, as they react to hundreds of smaller events every day. A country where an event such as this hits us so hard because we are not used to being afraid and feeling vulnerable. A country where we are not helpless. We have the financial, political, diplomatic and military means to help the victims, rebuild the damage, make us more secure in the future and, ultimately, punish those responsible.
The sight of our Congress singing "God Bless America" on the steps of the Capitol, and our President standing in the middle of the rescue workers at the World Trade Center are images that should shape our country for years to come.
The reaction from people around the world has been overwhelming. Friends from many other nations have made countless expressions of concern and support. America, a nation, a people and an ideal, are welcomed and thought of as friends.
Let us remember these images, and all of the inspirational sights and sounds of the past few days, for as long as we remember all of the images and events from that tragic Tuesday morning.
Singer, guitarist, songwriter and actress Joan Jett returns to the Pony stage with The Blackhearts on Friday evening, September 21st, a follow-up to her reunion show with the Blackhearts that took place at the club this past April. Jett initially made her mark on the music world as part of the seminal all-girl rock group, The Runaways, which rode hits such as "Cherry Bomb" to fame from 1976 to 1979. Shortly thereafter, and not wanting to repeat the all-girl formula, Jett posted an ad looking for "three good men" and formed the Blackhearts in 1980. That band, which has been a part of rock radio and video ever since, has produced hits such as "I Love Rock N Roll" (the #28 song of all-time), "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" and "I Hate Myself For Loving You." The best part of this story is that all of her greatest fame and success came after 23 labels refused to give her a record contract, which caused Jett to become the first woman to create and own her record label. No longer worried about finding a means to showcase her latest projects, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are currently touring to promote a new live home video/DVD, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Live (2001) (BMG Special Projects), and a special five-song EP Unfinished Business (Blackheart Records). In recent years, Ms. Jett has branched out into other creative outlets, including acting in films ("Light of Day"), television ("Highlander") and Broadway ("The Rocky Horror Show"), but her fans will be looking for the young girl that dreamed of playing rock and roll music to take over the Pony's stage and rock out in the way that has made her live concerts popular around the country. Tons of great information about Joan Jett and her music, including interviews, guitar tabs, merchandise and tour dates, can be found on her official web site, www.joanjett.com.
Rent the Pony for your event! Call (732) 502-0600 and press option 9.
The newsletter would like to issue two corrections to our last issue. The date of Nils Lofgren's last show at the club was incorrectly listed as April 18. It should have read August 18. Also, Mr. Lofgren was incorrectly referred to as a "West Orange, NJ native". Nils was actually born in Chicago, IL and currently lives in suburban Washington, DC.
The Stone Pony Cafe: Good food and drink from 11:30 am daily!
Four decades of wonderful music and a fascinating life have cemented Ronnie Spector's place in the pages of rock and roll history. Ronnie Spector first set foot on the world stage in the early 1960's, at age thirteen, as part of the Ronettes, the ultimate girl group that helped to define the sound of the era. The Ronettes has such huge hits with songs like "Be My Baby", "Walking in the Rain" and "Baby I Love You", that they were able to tour with, and often headline for, such acts as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, and as special guests for The Beatles on their last American tour. Her Christmas songs with the Ronettes, including "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", are American classics. After the Ronettes final performance in 1966, Ronnie embarked on a solo career that will bring her beautifully sexy voice to The Stone Pony stage on September 22nd. Ronnie's personal life has also been the subject of great interest, especially her abusive relationship with producer-turned-ex-husband Phil Spector, who barely gave Ronnie a cent of the royalties she earned from her music and tried to erase her name from the history of rock. That injustice led to a fifteen-year legal battle (the longest in rock history) that finally concluded last year, with Ronnie winning a $2.6 million settlement and bringing about new laws to protect recording artists. Musically, Ronnie is the only American vocalist to have worked with all four Beatles, and has engaged in countless high-profile projects with performers ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Alice Cooper to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. She took the time out to write an internationally best-selling autobiography Be My Baby, How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness (Crown Publishers) and continues to tour, record and undertake other musical endeavors. A complete biography, her latest CD Something's Gonna Happen, a discography and more about this fascinating performer, as well as a touching tribute to her friend Joey Ramone, can be found on her official web site, www.ronniespector.com. Be sure to check out the wonderful Lenny Kaye article from Gadfly magazine in the "Press" section of the site. In that article, Spector states, "I say to myself, Ronnie, you've got kids now, you're living in Connecticut, why not just hang up your rock and roll shoes? But I can't. It's those three little words. I love it." Come to the Pony and see why her fans love her back just as much.
For news and information about Asbury Park, New Jersey, visit asburypark.net
He has played music with Carlos Santana, Muddy Waters and Otis Redding. He joined his good friend Jimi Hendrix on two tracks on Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (MCA) LP and later joined the legendary Hendrix Band of Gypsys project recording Live At the Fillmore East (EMD/Capitol), New Year's Eve 1970. These credits showcase highlights in a stellar career by funk and soul drummer and guitarist, Buddy Miles, who returns to The Stone Pony to headline on Sunday, September 23rd. Buddy began his career drumming in jazz bands, notably The Electric Flag, and later with his own Buddy Miles Express. The Buddy Miles Express toured with many notable acts of the late 1960's, including The Jimi Hendrix Experience, who's leader also produced a couple of albums for the band. After the demise of the Experience, Miles joined bassist Billy Cox for the Band of Gypsys recording, a bluesy departure from the showmanship that Hendrix felt was beginning to detract from his music. After Jimi's untimely death, Buddy continued his own career, reforming The Buddy Miles Express and collaborating with other artists, including Neil Young and Santana. His relationship with Carlos Santana eventually led to an extended stint as the guitarist's lead singer from 1979 through 1983. Miles continues to record and collaborate, including recording the music for the California Raisins television commercials and albums of the late 1980's, which were some of the most successful commercial projects in history. While Miles is best-known for his funk and soul drumming, he has also been acclaimed for his wicked guitar-playing, which he partakes in Hendrix-like fashion ... left-handed and upside-down. Miles' shows have often be filled with combinations of new materials, classic Miles songs, and his own interpretations of songs from the countless performers with whom he admired and/or crossed paths with over the years. His willingness to play, and interpret in his own way, music by performers like Cream, Hendrix and Marvin Gaye is definitely reminiscent of the late 1960's, when artists often covered ... and bettered ... each other's works. He continues to tour extensively in support of his recent recordings, including 1998's Miles Away From Home (Hip-O/Universal). More details about Miles' career, including a discography of his work, can be found at www.buddymiles.com.
During Clarence Clemons' wonderful performances at The Stone Pony on Labor Day weekend, many of the fans in attendance took special note of an attractive, high-energy red-headed woman that was playing violin and sharing vocal duties with The Big Man. Her style and passion on the stage had the crowd buzzing and several people were asking me what I knew about her. Since our mission at the newsletter is to educate as well as entertain, I was able to come up with some information about this talented and entertaining performer, Randi Fishenfeld. Randi, who is classically trained in the violin, had a legal practice in Buffalo for six years, specializing in bankruptcy cases (how's that for a great angle for an article?) Tired of the constraints of the legal system, she left Buffalo for sunny Florida, and a career with her beloved violin. She plays with the Blue Fire Band in South Florida, and caught a "big" break when tapped for special performances with Clarence Clemons' band, a professional relationship that has lasted about three years. In fact, Bruce Springsteen was considering her for a spot on the last E Street Band tour and supporters feel that she will find her own spot on the national stage in due time. Her playing is described as both passionate and energetic, ranging from high-energy rock to almost erotic sensitivity. Fans who are fortunate enough to see the Clarence Clemons Band perform may be seeing the first lights of a future star on the rise.
Coming Soon: An Exclusive Newsletter Q&A With Robin Trower.
Bounce Is Back! The Ultimate Dance Party with DJ Matrix and MC BJ, 20-oz. $1 drafts and $1 tube shots all night long, ladies free until 11, free with Monmouth University ID, 18 & up for everyone with two forms of ID, doors at 9:30.
