Captain’s (b)Log Stardate 16022009 it’s pretty damned quiet in space, no one can hear you scream either, apparently! If only Captain James T Kirk’s ‘T’ stood for trivia, that’d be a good link, but sadly it stands for Tiberius, so these words are completely random. But to bring it back to music, have you ever heard William Shatner’s version of Pulp’s “Common People“? Do you want to? yes? well just click on the song title and tell me what you think!
Hair today, gone tomorrow - anyone seen my syrup?
So boldly onto birthdays now, starting with Sonny Bono. He would have been 74 today but sadly he died in a skiing accident in January 1998 aged 62. He is perhaps most famous for being the singing partner and husband of Cherilyn Sarkasian La Pier (more commonly know as Cher) but he also became a US Congressman in 1994. Here he is with Cher in a mildly amusing skit introducing the Jackson 5 singing “Looking Through The Windows” on the Sonny and Cher Show in the early 70’s. Apparently the All Saints song “Never Ever” was dedicated to the memory of Mr Bono, who incidentally is no relation of the short Irish chap who fronts U2.
Sonny with his second wife Cher
The second and final birthday for today is that of Andy Taylor guitarist off of Duran Duran and the Power Station. Happy 48th today Mr T. Andy was one of three unrelated Taylors in Duran Duran. The other two were John Taylor (Bass) and Roger Taylor (drums). Just to confuse things further Roger Taylor was also the name of Queen’s drummer! Perhaps they should have called themselves Taylor Taylor! They actually took their name from an oft used phrase from the 60’s Jane Fonda movie “Barbarella” that phrase was “I am looking for Duran Duran” I believe the Duran in the movie was played by Miles O’Shea. Coincidentally in their early days the band played quite a few gigs at Barbarellas in Birmingham! Andy joined the band after answering an ad in the Melody Maker for a live wire guitarist! Shocking! Here is a very underrated song in my view, this is Andy Taylor with the Power Station and “Some Like It Hot” featuring the late great (did you miss those good ‘ole l n’ g’s?) Robert Palmer on vocals.
A rather unflattering shot of Andy Taylor
On this day in 1974 the three members of Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP) were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah after swimming naked in their hotel pool whilst on a US tour. They were each fined $75. They were primarily an albums band and in fact when they released “Brain Salad Surgery” as a single in advance of the album of the same name in December 1973 it failed to chart in the UK. The album and single were released on the bands recently formed own label ‘Manticore’ The name comes from the name of a supposedly mythical beast that battled the armoured armadillo called Tarkus on the album, “Tarkus”. They did have one massively successful single though, it was their interpretation of the American composer Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare For The Common Man” which reached number 2 in the UK charts in July 1977. That was pretty damned good for a bunch of ‘old farts’ at the height of punk!
"ELP I need somebody...." Emerson Lake and Palmer on stage in 1973
On this day in 1991 the Simpsons were number one in the UK singles chart with “Do The Bartman” lyrics provide by one Michael Jackson! They never had a number one hit in the UK again (well so far anyway) but the marvellous “Spider Pig” reached the top 30 in 2007.
Doing the Bartman
And finally on this day in 2002 thieves broke into George Michael’s London house and made off in his £80,000 Aston Martin DB7 with £100,000s worth of paintings, jewelery and designer clothes. They also caused more than £200,000s worth of damage to his home. I don’t know who they were, but the must have been “Bad Boys” <groan!!!!> Incidentally the song was a number two UK hit for George and Andrew in 1983. I’m not sure who the lass in the fat suit in the video is though, any ideas?
George obviously very camp but not so obviously out and gay in the 80s
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With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 