Author Archives: Bob Ruggiero

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About Bob Ruggiero

I am a passionate fan of classic rock (and related music) with 35 years experience writing about it for daily/weekly newspapers and magazines. I am also the author of the interview anthology "The Classic Rock Bob Reader" and "Slippin' Out of Darkness: The Story of WAR." Both available on Amazon!

Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers is Still All Right Now

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

As Bad Company is currently on the road with Lynyrd Skynyrd to celebrate the 40th anniversary of both bands, vocalist Paul Rodgers spoke with me for The Houston Press about the group’s history, his thoughts on being excluded from the … Continue reading →

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Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron on His Bullfrog Buddy

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

An excerpt from my interview with former Three Dog Night singer Chuck Negron for The Houston Press. Read Part I and Part II. “JEREMIAH WAS A BULLFROG!” That odd, simple and urgent declarative sentence from Three Dog Night’s “Joy to … Continue reading →

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Classic Rock Treasures from Faraway Lands at Nearby Locations

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

Two of my favorite places in the world (other than a live concert venue) are used book stores and used record stores. So here in Houston, Texas I spend a lot of time poring over the shelves and bins at … Continue reading →

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A Classic Rock Happy Father’s Day!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

It is every generation’s right to detest the music of their parents and…then later…detest the music of their children even more! However, more than any other genre, classic rock seems to bridge this sonic divide. And no group is a … Continue reading →

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The Turtles’ Howard Kaylan on “Happy Together”

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

If Turtles are supposed to move slow – especially as they get older – than nobody told that to Howard Kaylan, lead vocalist for the ’60s band of the same name who had a string of hits with pop rock … Continue reading →

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Rush and Heart Lead Classic Rock Charge in Hall of Fame Ceremony

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

I finally had the chance to catch HBO’s highlight show from the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Now, I don’t need to raise my blood pressure by pondering why Donna Summer got in before Deep Purple, … Continue reading →

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Ray Manzarek – R.I.P.

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

A quick note about the passing this week of Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for The Doors at age 74 from the just awful-sounding ailment of bile duct cancer. For most Jim Morrison was and is the face/spirit/manifestation of the group with … Continue reading →

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Rock and Roll Hall of…Shame?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

I have not yet had the chance to watch HBO’s two-hour highlight show of the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Rush, Heart, Donna Summer, Public Enemy, and Randy Newman, so that will be a separate … Continue reading →

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Rediscovering Some Old Friends…and Family Ties

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

It’s been an exciting week at Classic Rock Household with the arrival of the first new stereo system in more than a decade. What’s really cool about my $299 all-in-one contraption ordered online from Target is that I can finally … Continue reading →

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The Wall of Sound a Bit Crumbly for HBO’s “Phil Spector”

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Bob Ruggiero

It seemed like a good idea on paper. A TV movie about the Phil Spector murder trial penned by David Mamet with Al Pacino as the mercurial producer and Helen Mirren as his defense attorney. How could it miss? Well, … Continue reading →

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