Dave's Classic Rock Blog

Once again, a McCain campaign musical selection has rubbed the performing artist the wrong way. A spokesman for Van Halen says the band doesn't endorse candidates, and that's precisely why they're upset that when McCain running mate Sarah Palin was introduced at a rally last week (8/29) it was to the strains of VH's "Right Now." Get in line, guys. Already on McCain's case are Jackson Browne and John Mellencamp for similarly having their music associated with his presidential aspirations. Back during the primaries, Tom Scholz let loose on Republican Mike Huckabee for appropriating Boston's "More Than A Feeling."

Polar Pink
How many former members of Pink Floyd does it take to get a standing ovation? Two, if the occasion is the awarding of Sweden's annual Polar Music Award. Roger Waters and Nick Mason accepted for Floyd, in recognition of the band's contribution to pop culture. The Brits split the award with American opera diva Renee Fleming.

How Much for the Lips?
So struck was a young art student by the size of Mick Jagger's mouth, he created the now iconic lips-and-tongue logo that first appeared on the cover of the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album in 1971. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has paid $95,000 for the original art for the logo, which a museum spokesperson says is "arguably the world's most famous rock logo."

It would be hard to overstate the influence Les Paul has had on rock music.

He literally invented the solid body electric guitar in 1941. Gibson's Les Paul model first appeared in 1952. It has been embraced by virtually every classic rock guitar god you can think of.

He also invented a playing style that made the most of the electric guitar's unique sound. He gave a then-five-year-old Steve Miller his first guitar lesson.

Les Paul also fathered the concept of recording and combining multiple, separate tracks that became a recording industry standard shortly after his first multitrack recording was released in 1947.

On November 10, Paul will receive the American Music Masters award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in recognition of the ways in which he has changed America's culture through music.

Paul, who at age 93 still performs regularly at a New York City jazz club, hopes to attend the event. Watch for a group of A-list artists (not yet announced) performing at a tribute concert during a week of events in and around the Rock Hall in Cleveland.

^{Photo by Scott WIntrow / Getty Images}

Since the demise of Toto earlier this year, founder Steve Lukather has concentrated on his solo career, with a new album and a tour that is scheduled to run through 2009.

By design, Lukather is honing his act first in smaller, more intimate venues. The resulting chemistry, combined with a loyal fan base and a highly talented backup band, makes for a powerful live concert presence.

Reviewer Alun Williams gives us an inside look at Steve Lukather in concert.

^{Photo © Alun Williams, licensed to About.com}

Paul McCartney confirmed in a news release today (8/27) that he will perform in Tel Aviv on September 25.

Macca characterized the concert as coming "43 years after being banned by the Israeli government" and assured his Israeli fans that he would give them "the night they have been waiting decades for."

McCartney's reference was to a 1965 Beatles tour of Israel that never happened, because the band's visas were canceled.

On the strength of Israeli media reports, fans have already been buying up tickets that range from $140 to $430, even before the artist's appearance was confirmed.

Israel is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and had earlier invited both McCartney and Ringo Starr to participate in the celebration. "Israel missed a chance to learn from the most influential musicians of the decade," wrote Israeli's ambassador to England, "and the Beatles missed an opportunity to reach out to one of the most passionate audiences in the world."

^{Photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images}

Think you have a pretty decent record collection, do you?

Not so fast! Take a look at this video, then see how yours compares.

Advisory: this is a compelling story, but it does not have a happy ending.

Thanks yet again to the eagle-eyed John Quincy, who always finds the best stuff on YouTube.

Wanted: drummer for rock band. Experience required. Being the son of a rock legend preferred.

Jason Bonham (third from the left in the photo) is packing up his kit and leaving Foreigner at the end of this month. The son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham says it's just time to spend more time with his family (a frequent euphemism for, "I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you") after four years with the band.

Of course, this only serves to fuel rumors, speculation and high hopes of another re-formation of Zep, since Bonham was anointed as his father's replacement when the band reunited for a one-off performance in London last December.

Bonham told Detroit's 94.7 WCSX last week that he has traveled to London a couple of times recently to "have fun with some new material" with guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones, but he says it's "too early to tell" whether another reunion (including possible new album) may be forthcoming.

^{Photo courtesy William Morris Agency}

Some Led Zeppelin fans were upset that Olympics officials required a "family friendly" version of "Whole Lotta Love" before they would allow it to be performed at the closing ceremony.

Ringo Starr refused to perform a song from his most recent album when a syndicated TV show producer ordered it to be substantially shortened.

What do you think? Was Jimmy Page right when he agreed to perform an altered version of a song? Or was Ringo right when he left the building rather than shortening his song? Or is it not a simple yes or no proposition?

Cast your vote and post your comments on the question of whether artists should be required to edit their songs as a condition of performing them?

Jimmy Page played in front of some pretty big audiences during his Led Zeppelin days, but I dare say that none came close to the millions who watched as he accompanied fellow Brit Leona Lewis on her version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" during the closing ceremony at the Olympics.

This was the G-rated version of the band's breakthrough single, minus the moans, groans and anatomical references of the original. This was a family show, after all, and, as Ms. Lewis herself pointed out prior to the performance, the more graphic anatomical references that worked for Robert Plant would be rather out of place coming from a female performer.

The Page-Lewis performance was part of the ceremonial handover of the Summer Olympics from Beijing to 2012 host city, London.

^{Photo by Jeff Gross / Getty Images}

And now, let's meet today's contestants. The "Riders" team of Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger are going up against John Densmore and the family of the late Jim Morrison, in today's edition of "Who Gets To Be The Doors?"

Shortly after Manzarek and Krieger went on tour in 2002 as The Doors of the 21st Century, Densmore (who politely declined their invitation to come along) and the Morrisons filed suit, saying that all the parties had not agreed that the band's name could be used, as specified in a 1970 agreement.

After a series of hearings, judgments and appeals, the court now says that Krieger and Manzarek will have to pay $3.2 million to Densmore, Morrison's parents, and the parents of Morrison's late wife, Pam Courson.

Still to be decided is whether Krieger and Manzarek (who, by the way, now tour as Riders On The Storm) will also have to pay another $2-million in legal costs.

^{Photo (l-r: Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger) by Matthew Peyton / Getty Images}

You know that feeling you get when you run into an old friend, enjoy a few minutes of catching up, then wonder why you don't get together more often, like you used to?

That's the feeling I got after listening to The Moody Blues Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival. Recorded at the 1970 festival (the one that broke the attendance record set a year earlier at Woodstock) this live set captures the energy and imagination of a band just beginning to make big waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

So, let's catch up with an old friend, as we cue up a few fond memories from The Moody Blues Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival.

^{Image courtesy Eagle Rock Entertainment}