Author Archives: Bob Ruggiero
Who is He? The Silent, Stoic Bassist’s Story is Finally Told
The Ox: The Authorized Biography of John Entwistle by Paul Rees 384 pp., $30, Hatchette Books Every member of the Who has been the subject of a number of biographies and autobiographies save one: bassist John Entwistle. Known as “The … Continue reading
Ted Templeman’s Tales: Doobies, Van Halen, and…Frank Sinatra??
Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music by Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff 450 pp., $19.95, ECW As an introduction to the often misunderstood art of record production, young Ted Templeman could not have found a better … Continue reading
Dennis DeYoung Goes Back to Where It All Began
Like all musicians of varying ages, genres, and stages in their career during the Age of Coronavirus, Dennis DeYoung is stuck at home. He’s got a new solo record coming out, but has had to put a planned tour on … Continue reading
DVD Review: ZZ Top – That Little Ol’ Band from Texas
ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas 125 mins./DVD + Blu-Ray, $29.98, Eagle Rock Entertainment Last year, the three members of ZZ Top – singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons, singer/bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard – celebrated 50 years together, … Continue reading
How Kansas Returned to “The Point of Know Return”
Kansas guitarist Rich Williams vividly remembers a certain day in 1977 that still has an impact on his life and career in 2019. His band had just finished playing a show in Chicago when they headed for a studio which … Continue reading
Janis Joplin Finally Gets the Book She Deserves
Janis: Her Life and Music By Holly George-Warren 400 pp., Simon & Schuster, $28.99 Rock’s first female superstar has already been the subject of a numerous biographies, memoirs by those who loved and worked with her, documentaries, and even a … Continue reading
Simon Kirke’s Good Music with Bad Company
It was the middle of 1973, and drummer Simon Kirke’s band was in complete and utter disarray. Though Free had only scored one hit in the U.S. (“All Right Now”) they were a popular concert attraction. But the group had … Continue reading
Authors Offer a Texas Flood on the Life and Music of Stevie Ray Vaughan
It’s October 3rd, 2019 when Alan Paul and Andy Aledort – co-authors of the new bio Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan – are on the phone. The date is appropriate because it would have been the … Continue reading
The Continuing Voyage of Pablo Cruise
One of the more interesting aspects of pop culture is when a musician or band whose songs have not graced the charts in years (sometimes decades), suddenly has an unexpected resurgence. It could be from a song well-placed on a … Continue reading
