11th Day of Birthday rock month. (Yeah, I'm a day behind). A band that formed in the late 60's helped define Heavy Metal. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality (1971).And their vocalist, although fired in 1979 (because of drug/alcohol use, still releases solo music and touring), this group had some great music over the years. Black Sabbath is an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Several songs I like, including Paranoid and Iron Man, but this song got my attention hearing it on Rock 106 years ago. War Pigs is a great arrangement of vocals between blazing guitar riffs.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=K3b6SGoN6dA&fbcl id=IwAR2XGm_f1fJTs69 q3-1wU4lUfft27O

12th Day of Birthday rock month. (I've always said I'm into the modern rock genres). Another pioneer of Grunge Rock from Seattle rose up: Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, They were the first grunge band to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana.
Lead by Chris Cornell, they achieved success with songs such as Outshined, Burden in My Hand, and Fell on Black Days. Even though the band broke up in 1997, they reunited for more great music in 2010. Even with Cornell's success with them, with another band Audioslave, and solo efforts, he unfortunately decided to leave this world in 2017. One of my favorites has a great drum solo, something you don't hear on songs too often.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=qLorEjyRGdk

@DennisinMH : Name that cover tune:

@mypeez : oh yeah, I've heard this song. A cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, but more acoustical. Not a bad job on it.

13th Day of Birthday rock month. This Canadian trio starting rocking in the early 70's, but they developed a different sound. Rush is known for its musicianship, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy. The band's musical style has changed several times over the years, from a blues-inspired hard rock beginning, later moving into progressive rock, and including a period marked by heavy use of synthesizers. In the early 1990s, Rush returned to a guitar-driven hard rock sound, which continued for the rest of their career. Their drummer, Neal Peart, recently passed away last month. Some hits include Tom Sawyer, Fly By Night, Subdivisions, The Spirit of Radio, and YYZ, But my favorite song, never released as a single, is on their 1st Album. Great instrumental solo in the middle. A new box set is due for a March, 2020 release, but not sure if any new music will be on it. This live clip is from 2015. 1st time I actually heard their music was at some Burger King employee parties in the late 70's. The smell of pot, the taste of beer, and the sounds of Rush seemed to go together, lol. www.youtube.com/watc h?v=BHJ_wJu7QFE

14th Day of Birthday rock month. Today (yesterday, actually) is a shout-out to the Ladies who also have great rock stuff. Starting with 70's rock band featuring sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson & others forming "Heart". Who can remember the neat acoustical guitar intro, then suddenly transition into a heavy guitar riffs on "Crazy On You"? Other songs include "Barracuda", "Even It Up", "Straight On For You", and some cool ballads like "Dog and Butterfly". They've broke up, reunited, and are still touring. "Magic Man" is my favorite.Also, there is Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who broke out in 1981 with a great rock anthem, "I Love Rock & Roll". "Bad Reputation", "Do Ya Wanna Touch" are also among her hits.But in 2010, another female-led band came up, The Pretty Reckless, with Taylor Momsen on lead vocals. Hit singles include "Make Me Wanna Die", "Heaven Knows", and "Take Me Down"www.youtube.com/watc h?v=OZuW6BH_Vak

15th Day of Birthday rock month. Another Seattle Grunge band from the 90's that got my attention hearing their songs on the radio on business trips: Alice in Chains. The band's sound incorporates heavy metal elements. The band is known for its distinctive vocal style,which often included the harmonized vocals between Layne Staley & Jerry Cantrell.Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with other Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s, selling over 30 million records worldwide. Other songs include "Rooster", "I Stay Away", "Down in A Hole", and "Heaven Beside You." Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity from 1996 onward, due to Staley's substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002. The band reunited in 2005, toured in 2006 with William DuVall taking over as lead vocalist full-time."Check My Brain", became the first Alice in Chains song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 92. But this song is one favorite that reminds me being on the road in the 90's and 2000's for work.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=r80HF68KM8g

16th Day of Birthday rock month. Another 90's band whose music I love to listen too. Stone Temple Pilots (STP) are an American rock band from San Diego that originally consisted of Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Dean DeLeo (guitar) and Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals), and Eric Kretz (drums).While initially rising to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, further releases from the band expressed a variety of influences, including psychedelic rock, bossa nova and classic rock. Weiland was fired in 2013 because of his drug addictions, and was found dead on a tour bus in 2015 while touring with another band. But their debut album "Core" is their best selling album with singles such as "Creep" and Plush". Other hits include "Vasoline", "Interstate Love Song", "Lady Picture Show. Every song has different melodies, instrumentals, nothing is copied from another song. My favorite is this one:www.youtube.com/watc h?v=cUcHjCypvJ4

17th Day of Birthday rock month. I've been focusing on bands, but today it's a solo artist who also had success being part of a band. Sammy Hagar, also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, musician, & entrepreneur. Hagar came to prominence the hard rock band Montrose. He then launched a successful solo career, scoring an enduring hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55". Other solo hits include "Heavy Metal", "There's Only One Way to Rock", "3 Lock Box", & more. He enjoyed commercial success when he replaced David Lee Roth as the lead singer of Van Halen in 1985, but left in 1996. His musical style primarily consists of hard rock and heavy metal.Sammy has also been lead singer of Chickenfoot and The Circle. These days, he's busy with a weekly radio show, and Cable TV show, and his Cabo Wabo Tequila brand and restaurant chain. He also did tunes for movies, like Top Gun "Highway into the Danger Zone", and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" title track. But you can't help loving this one:www.youtube.com/watc h?v=RvV3nn_de2k

18th Day of Birthday rock month. Time to head down to "Sweet Home Alabama" for some good Southern Rock & Roll. Lynyrd Skynyrd fit the bill when that hit came out, along with other hits like "Free Bird", "What's That Smell", "Saturday Night Special", "What's Your Name" & too many more to name. Their 2nd album, "Second Helping" propelled them to star status.Actually, they formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, comprised of Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass guitar) and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent five years touring small venues under a variety of different names and with several lineup changes before finally deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1969. The band released their first album in 1973. But the band abruptly ceased when Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines were killed in an airplane crash on October 20, 1977, but reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Ronnie's brother, Johnny Van Zant, as its lead vocalist. One of my favorites is the live version of "Free Bird", but this song is great too.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=lTgd5MWGtHA

19th Day of Birthday Rock Month. This English band is considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Many albums, hits, and a ground-breaking rock opera are part of their history. Even with losing their original drummer in 1978, and their bass player in 2002, The Who, with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, are still touring, and even released an album in 2019. The Who's major contributions to rock music include use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon's lead playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.With classics like "Who Are You", "Pinball Wizard" (From Tommy), "I Can See For Miles", "Baba O'Reilly", "My Generation", just to name a few. But the synthesizer is prominent in this song, one of my favorites, from Live Aid 1985www.youtube.com/watc h?v=RDVdomcsjBA

20th Day of Birthday Rock Month. This time featuring a favorite rock band from Illinois, REO Speedwagon formed in Champaign in 1967, & after various changes in members, included lead guitarist Gary Richrath, from East Peoria. They achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Hi Infidelity in 1980 contained four US Top 40 hits and is the group's best-selling album, with over 10 million copies sold.
"Ridin' The Storm Out" and "Time for Me to Fly" were early hits.Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted 13 Top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity waned in the late 1980s, but the band remains a popular live act. Even after Richrath left in 1989, but he reunited at times, including a 2013 benefit concert in Bloomington for towns hit by the tornadoes, which included Washington. While the band continued some success and hits, they still tour, but unfortunately, Richrath passed in 2015 while in surgery.This is one of my favorite songs, one I love hearing when on the road.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=HR8CnXn8LY0

21st Day of Birthday Rock Month. Another Illinois based band, this time from Rockford. Cheap Trick formed in 1973 with the classic lineup consisting of frontman Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, and drummer Bun E. Carlos. This rock band is one I have seen 3 times in concert, but waaay back in 1979-1982. (There's a pop singer I've seen 5 times, but that's an other story, lol)Cheap Trick released its debut album in 1977 and first found success in Japan with the release of its second album, In Color, later that year. The band would achieve mainstream popularity in the United States in 1979 with its breakthrough album Cheap Trick at Budokan. Cheap Trick reached the Top 10 in the U.S. charts in 1979 with the Budokan live version of "I Want You to Want Me" and topped the charts in 1988 with "The Flame".Cheap Trick has performed live more than 5,000 times[4] and has sold more than 20 million albums.[5] Over the course of its career, Cheap Trick has experienced several resurgences of popularity.They continue to record albums and tour, having been in Peoria for the Red, White, & Boom days celebrating the 4th of July. Cheap Trick was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.This song is one that I don't think was a single, but is one of my favorites, with great guitar work by Rick Nielsen:www.youtube.com/watc h?v=2K9AyTvXA90

Time to catch up a little. 22nd Day of Birthday Rock Month. This 90's group was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of Nirvana after the suicide of Kurt Cobain. Before the release of Foo Fighters' 1995 debut album Foo Fighters, Grohl was listed as the only official member. And many here know the rest of the story. 4 Grammy wins for Best Rock Album. Foo Fighters have been described as grunge, alternative rock, post-grunge and hard rock. Hits include "Everlong", "Learning To Fly", "Monkey Wrench", "Rope", "These Days', and many more. Too many favorites for me to choose from, so I'll go with this rocker:www.youtube.com/watc h?v=KvrN6f95GOw

23rd Day of Birthday Rock Month. This hard rocker rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which he adopted the nickname "The Prince of Darkness". Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 due to alcohol and drug problems, but he went on to have a successful solo career, releasing twelve studio albums, the first seven of which were all awarded multi-platinum certifications in the United States. And this year, he's releasing another new album, "Ordinary Man", and had planned to tour again, but has cancelled due to health issues. His hits include "Crazy Train", "Mr. Crowley", "Bark at The Moon", "Flying High Again", "See You On the Other Side", and a current hit "Under the Graveyard". But one of my favorites is a slower road song, especially when I'm heading home from a long client video shoot trip.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=K0siYUjV9UM