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!

Cows, Pigs and Prisms: Doc Tells the Graphic Story of Hipgnosis

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

If you were a rock performer or band in the late ‘60s and ‘70s and wanted a cover for your record that was mysterious, arty, and a bit jarring all at the same time, then Hipgnosis was you go-to graphic … Continue reading →

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The Allman Brothers & Their Family Ways

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

In the fall of 1972, the Allman Brothers Band found themselves at a crossroads—one with more ominousness and uncertainty than the one Robert Johnson went down to. A year earlier, they had lost Duane Allman, the group’s founder, leader and … Continue reading →

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Kenny Loggins Says “This Is It” for Touring

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

When musicians start planning farewell tours, it’s time to get creative with names, which often reference song titles. Elton John proffered “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” and Ozzy Osbourne promised “No More Tours” while the O’Jays put on the brakes with … Continue reading →

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New Documentary Explores Syd Barrett and the Seeds of Pink Floyd

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Though he identified primarily as a punk rocker, as a young man Roddy Bogawa did have an affinity for the music of Pink Floyd. After all, his very first concert was seeing the group on the 1977 Animals tour. Later, … Continue reading →

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The Mamas and the Papas’ Book of Dreamin’

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

The Mamas and the Papas were the epitome of California-based sunshine hippie pop and folk-rock, blending their voices to create two huge anthems of the ‘60s in “California Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday.” They also had a string of other hits … Continue reading →

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Book Spotlights Women the Stones Rolled With—and Sometimes Over

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

In their music of the ’60s and ‘70s, the Rolling Stones weren’t exactly paragons for promoting gender equality and women’s issues. Songs like “Under My Thumb,” “Mother’s Little Helper,” “Stupid Girl,” “Brown Sugar,” “She’s So Cold,” and “Bitch” were rife … Continue reading →

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Al Stewart: Of Zodiac Cats, Succulent Grapes and the Genius of Chuck Berry

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

It’s an enviable position for any musician to find him or herself in: You have enough disposable income to need something to spend it on. But instead of drugs, flashy cars or shady offshore investment situations, in the early 1970s … Continue reading →

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A Fab Four Foto Fest

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

It was July 1, 1963 and Terry O’Neill was just one of dozens of staff and freelance photographers who worked for the ultra-competitive “Fleet Street” newspapers in London. But he was also one of—if not the—youngest shutterbugs. So when his … Continue reading →

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John Ford Coley’s Tales of Texas, “England Dan,” and the Torah

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Analyzing misheard lyrics in rock have provided music nerds endless hours of fun (and even been the subject of a series of books). Needless to say, the actual words to some famous tunes were not “Hold me closer, Tony Danza” … Continue reading →

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Doug Sahm: The Texas Tornado Spins Again

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

It wasn’t quite subterfuge, and it wasn’t exactly a scam. But during the mid-‘60s—any band that smacked of the British Invasion was hot and sure to get attention. So, a number of, um, decidedly American groups tried to adapt a … Continue reading →

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