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!

DVD Collects Three Rare Rock Docs on the San Francisco ’60s Music Scene

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

He was more than a generation older than the original hippies, had short hair, smoked a pipe, and mostly covered jazz. But San Francisco Chronicle music writer Ralph J. Gleason knew that the new rock music coming out the city’s … Continue reading →

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Steely Dan’s Rogues Gallery Holds a Dysfunctional Family Reunion

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Take the body of work of any Classic Rock band—or that of any other genre—and you’d be hard pressed to name a group with more characters of note than in the lyrics than Steely Dan. Dr. Wu. Mr. La Page, … Continue reading →

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JD Souther’s Road of Well-Traveled Hits, Eagles & Linda, and Some Jazzy Detours

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

In 1979, JD Souther released the lush, plaintive ballad “You’re Only Lonely,” which hit #7 on the Billboard Top 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts. But it wasn’t on these shores that he first realized he had a … Continue reading →

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Journalist Steve Rosen Pens Titanic Tome on His Long Odyssey with Edward Van Halen

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

It was the early evening of December 30, 1978, and Steve Rosen figured he had blown it big time. Big Time. As a music listener, he was enthralled and captured by the guitar playing of one Edward Van Halen, member … Continue reading →

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The Spacey Life and Times of Leon Russell

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Sometimes we tend to forget that even musical heroes have musical heroes. When Elton John came to these shores to play his first highly-anticipated run of shows at L.A.’s Troubadour Club in 1970 he was ecstatic to meet one of … Continue reading →

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Rod Argent on the Zombies Continued Resurrection, New Album, & Tour

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

When I last spoke with Rod Argent way back in 2004, the keyboardist and his vocalist bandmate Colin Blunstone were only a few years past resurrecting the Zombies. The highly influential (but short-lived) 1960’s British Invasion band hit U.S. charts … Continue reading →

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Feedspot Names ClassicRockBob.com as a Top Classic Rock Blog or Website!

Posted on July 1, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

I was both excited and honored to learn that Feedspot has named this blog as one of the Top 30 Classic Rock Blogs (comin’ in at #19!). Thanks to Anuj Agarwal for delivering the news. The complete list is here: … Continue reading →

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My New Classic Rock Book is Out Now!

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

I am very, very excited to announce the publication of my second book! The Classic Rock Bob Reader: Selected Interviews 1989-2023 collects 130 of my best talks over the years with Classic Rock musicians ranging from A-List Rock and Roll … Continue reading →

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A Golden Anniversary for the Wheat State Band

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

During the initial flush of worldwide Beatlemania, Ringo Starr was asked by on camera what he planned on doing when the bubble eventually burst in a couple of years. With utter sincerity, he told the reporter that he planned on … Continue reading →

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It’s Columbus Day Every Day for Little Feat

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

According to The 1970s Rock Rulebook, every performer or band was required to release a double live record album. For some acts, it broke them out in terms of popularity and recognition (KISS, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick). For others, it … Continue reading →

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