Category Archives: Shows

Shows

#10 – Joe & Arif Mardin – All My Friends Are Here

Arif Mardin - All My Friends Are Here

Legendary producer Arif Mardin was responsible for the success of so many artists, from Aretha’s “Respect” and the Rascals’ “Good Lovin’,” to “Nights on Broadway” by the Bee Gees and “She’s Gone” from Hall and Oates, Arif lent his magic to countless hit records over the years.  He also produced the Grammy-sweeping Come Away with Me by Norah Jones.  Arif was working on a unique project called All My Friends Are Here when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The disc featured many of the artists that Arif worked with over the years, including the Bee Gees, Norah Jones, Hall & Oates, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, and Bette Midler.  Sadly, he passed away before completing the project.  However, his son, Joe Mardin, did finish the disc, and he talks to Icon Fetch about the process and his dad’s legacy in music.

Shows

#9 – Gary Wright – Connected



Keyboardist Gary Wright had a pair of monster hits in 1976 with “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive.”  He’s just released his first rock-oriented album in 20 years called Connected.  It’s a star-studded affair, with appearances by Ringo Starr on drums, and Joe Walsh & Jeff “Skunk” Baxter on guitar.  The deluxe edition of Gary’s CD contains some unreleased footage from George Harrison.  Icon Fetch talks with Gary about his new disc, his friendship with two ex-Beatles, and what drew him to keyboard technology.

Find out more about Gary Wright by visiting his official site.

 

Shows

#8 – Elvin Bishop – Red Dog Speaks

Elvin Bishop

Veteran blues guitarist Elvin Bishop returns with a new CD “Red Dog Speaks,” on June 15th.  The title refers to his favorite stringed instrument, a 1959 Gibson hollow body.  Bishop’s storied career includes a stint in the acclaimed Butterfield Blues Band in the mid 1960’s.  In ’68, he went solo and played a series of stellar co-headlining shows with the Allman Brothers Band at the Fillmore East.  Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” hit #3 in 1976 and is still a staple at classic rock stations around the country.  He was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Blues Album for 2008’s star-studded “The Blues Rolls On.”  You can order Elvin’s CD by going directly to his record label’s site or at amazon.com as well.

You can find out more about Elvin, by going to his official site

 

Shows

#7 – Creed Bratton of “The Office” – Bounce Back



Creed Bratton plays himself on the NBC hit comedy “The Office.”  The true part of his character is that he was the lead guitarist of the sixties band the Grass Roots, who had hits with “Let’s Live For Today,” “Midnight Confessions,” and “Things I Should’ve Said.”  He’s just released a new solo disc, appropriately titled Bounce Back.  Icon Fetch talks to him about his dual career as actor and musician.

Shows

#6 – Justin Currie – The Great War



Justin Currie hit the top ten as lead singer of Del Amitri with 1995’s “Roll to Me.”  That 2 1/2 minute Beatles knock-off merely scratched the surface of his talent.  Currie is a prolific songwriter who has a gift for writing incredibly melodic songs that refuse to leave your head.  He’s just released his second solo set called The Great War (Rykodisc). Currie talks with Icon Fetch from his home in Scotland on the eve of a tour of the US.  He talks about his new CD, how he almost drowned shooting the underwater front cover, and also gives his feelings on the social networking craze.

Shows

#5 – Bobby Blotzer of Ratt – Infestation



Hard rockers Ratt have just released “Infestation,” their first new CD in 11 years.  The band, whose hits include “Round and Round,” “Lay it Down,” “You’re in Love,” and “Way Cool Jr,” recently put the original lineup back together and have hit the road.  With singer Stephen Pearcy back in the fold after a hiatus, the band sounds re-energized and the new CD is proof.  Infestation is full of crunching guitars and memorable hooks straight out of 1984.  Icon Fetch talks with drummer and founding member Bobby Blotzer about the reunion, new album, and his new book, “Tales of a RATT: Things You Shouldn’t Know.”

Shows

#4 – Solomon Burke – Nothing’s Impossible & Robert Rodriguez – Fab Four FAQ 2.0

He is the King of Rock and Soul, Mr. Solomon Burke, and he’s just released his latest CD, “Nothing’s Impossible.” We’ll talk to Solomon about recording the new record with legendary producer Willie Mitchell, who weeks after wrapping up the sessions, passed away of heart failure. Mitchell was responsible for most of Al Green’s big hits and lends that same style to Burke’s disc.

Solomon had a great string of R&B hits in the mid-60’s, but is probably best known for “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” a song covered by the Rolling Stones and featured prominently in the Blues Brothers movie.  Burke’s other film credits include working alongside Dennis Quaid in “The Big Easy.”  He won a Grammy in 2002 for his album “Don’t Give Up On Me.”  Click below for the Solomon Burke interview.  {mp3}show4solomonburke{/mp3}  {enclose show4solomonburke.mp3}

For more information on Solomon Burke, visit his official site (www.thekingsolomonburke.com)

Also on the show is Robert Rodriguez, author of “Fab Four FAQ 2.0“.  He talks to Icon Fetch about his new Beatles book, covering the solo years 1970-1980.  Robert’s interview is at the end of our show with Solomon Burke.  Click below for the Robert Rodriguez Beatles interview.

Robert’s official site is: www.fabfourfaq2.com

Shows

#3 – George Klein – Elvis: My Best Man

George Klein

George Klein is author of a new book “Elvis: My Best Man.” Klein met Presley when they were both in high school and were close friends right up until Elvis’ untimely death. Presley actually stood at the altar in Klein’s wedding as his best man. Klein was part of Presley’s tight inner circle, known as the “Memphis Mafia.” He also hosts a weekly show on the Elvis channel on Sirius/XM.  He talks with Icon Fetch about some of his great experiences with the King of Rock n’ Roll.

For more on George Klein, visit the Elvis Channel page at www.sirius.com

Shows

#2 – Darlene Love – Fame the Musical

Darlene Love

Singer is unsung hero of rock

She’s one of the greatest singers in the history of music. Darlene Love has lent her voice to countless hit singles over the years, including “He’s a Rebel” by the Crystals, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by the Righteous Brothers, and her own holiday classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”.She’s also had the opportunity to sing with many legends of music including Elvis,Sam Cooke, Aretha, Marvin Gaye, Cher, and even Cheech & Chong! Many others will remember her as Danny Glover’s wife in the Lethal Weapon movies. Darlene is currently gearing up for a run of “Fame the Musical” in Australia, where she stars as Miss Sherman, a no-nonsense teacher at the school for the arts. We’ll also discuss the new DVD release of “The T.A.M.I. Show”, which Darlene was a part of.

You can find out more about Darlene, by going to her official site, www.darleneloveworld.com

Singer Darlene Love has lent her voice to literally hundreds of recordings over the years.  We’ve assembled a list of some of her “Greatest Hits”

  • “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love – One of Darlene’s greatest moments.  A stone-cold holiday classic from Phil Spector’s A Christmas Gift to You.  You can close your eyes and feel the snow falling on you.
  • “He’s a Rebel” – credited to the Crystals, but it’s actually Darlene on lead vocals.  Her first #1 hit.
  • “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans – Darlene sings on this Disney classic turned inside-out.  Extra points for Billy Strange’s guitar solo that sounds like it’s coming from another planet.
  • “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” – Darlene Love – One of the few Spector tracks to actually sport Miss D’s name.  Darlene reaches back to her days in the gospel choir for a gutty performance.  Imagine her preaching to the congregation about her good news.
  • “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” – Betty Everett – Darlene and the Blossoms do the question-asking, like “Is it in his eyes”?  sharing the lead vocalis with Betty.  The vocal ascending that they do when Betty sings “Kiss him / and squeeze him tight” will send shivers.
  • “Poor Side of Town” – Johnny Rivers – Darlene & the Blossoms show off their gentler side as they echo Johnny’s verses with sweet sophistication.
  • “The Right Time” – Bobby Darin – Darlene duets with Bobby on this under-appreciated cut from a lost Darin LP called Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles
  • “Brown-Eyed Woman” – Bill Medley – The deep-voiced half of the Righteous Brothers testifies his love for Darlene, while she and her sisters turn up the heat.
  • “Basketball Jones – Cheech and Chong – Showing that she truly is one of the most versatile of vocalists, Darlene lends her talents to C&C’s parody of the Brighter Side of Darkness “Love Jones.”
Shows

#1 – Tommy James – Me, the Mob & the Music

Legendary ICON Tommy James, the man behind such hits as “Mony Mony,” “Crimson & Clover,” and “Hanky Panky,” has just written a book entitled “Me, the Mob and the Music: One Helluva Ride With Tommy James & the Shondells.” The book chronicles his career from his humble beginnings in Niles, Michigan, to a regional sensation in Pittsburgh, to a worldwide star. Running parallel with this fame was James’ crazy, often times scary dealings with label exec Morris Levy, who didn’t just have mob connections, he was running dealings right out of his company office. Tommy James talks with Icon Fetch about his new book, new 2-CD “40th Anniversary Singles Collection” and upcoming book signings and gigs.