24th Day of Birthday Rock Month. You love them or hate them, but their 1st album was phenomenal. After that, well, some of their music wasn't bad. The group is named from the town they came from: Boston is considered by most to be hard rock and arena rock,while combining elements of progressive rock into its music. This sound is characterized by multiple lead and blended harmonies guitar work (usually harmonized in thirds), often alternating between and then mixing electric and acoustic guitars.The debut album, Boston, released in August, 1976, ranks as one of the best-selling debut albums in U.S. history with over 17 million copies sold. Unfortunately their lead singer, Brad Delp died in 2007. But they're still out there touring. This song wasn't a single from their debut album, but I love the rockin' instrumental bridge in it, with Tommy DeCarlo doing the lead vocals from 2008www.youtube.com/watc h?v=341emHqj72I

25th Day of Birthday Rock Month. I wondered what kind of new rock (hard or metal) would come out in the late 90's, early 2000's. Didn't have to wait too long. Godsmack has had three consecutive number-one albums, and also 25 top ten rock radio hits, including 18 songs in the top five. Godsmack has been described as nu metal, heavy metal,post-grunge, hard rock, and alternative metal. The band's primary influences include Aerosmith, Alice in Chains, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Pantera and Rush. Songs like "Voodoo" (actually a low-key song), "Whatever", "Greed", "Straight Out of Line", and most recently, "When Legends Rise". Many bands do covers; not many covers are done well. But Godsmack did a good job with one of their musical influences: Led Zeppelin.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=0pXxVm-hdEo

26th Day of Birthday Rock Month. First time I heard this band of 3 brothers plus a drummer, I swear they were Led Zeppelin reborn. Greta Van Fleet is often compared to Led Zeppelin. One member related that he "... went through a year of really intensely studying what [Jimmy] Page did to the point I knew how he thought," but he has studied other classic rock guitarists in a similar manner, specifically mentioning Pete Townshend. Likewise, on his voice being compared to Robert Plant's, Josh said that Plant has certainly been an influence, "though it's not what I was going for. They formed in 2012 in Michigan, It consists of brothers vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka; and drummer Danny Wagner. The band released their debut studio EP, Black Smoke Rising. Their debut single, "Highway Tune", topped the Billboard US Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in September 2017 for four weeks in a row.Their second EP, From the Fires, containing the four songs from Black Smoke Rising and four new songs, was released on November 10, 2017, alongside a second single, "Safari Song". That EP won a Best Rock Album Grammy in 2019. Oh, and these guys are between ages 22 and 25.Their debut full-length studio album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, was released on October 19, 2018, and topped the Billboard Rock Album charts in the first week after its release. If you've never heard this song, listen now.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=VCSayVA_3Cc

27th Day of Birthday Rock Month. I first heard of this band while at PCHS West Campus Leeway standing next to the Jukebox after lunch. Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining a following as a psychedelic rock group, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential bands in popular music history. Members included Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), and The Final Cut (1983). The band also composed several film scores. The songs "See Emily Play" (1967) and "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" (1979) were their only top 10 singles in either territory. By 2013, they had sold more than 250 million records worldwide, with The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall two of the best-selling albums of all time. Other favorites of mine include Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Time, and Young Lust. But this song will always remind me of that Jukebox in the Leeway, a live 2005 video reuniting the members of the band for 1st time in 24 years.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=Kjgwjh4H7wg

Just saw where Lita Ford and Alice Cooper are touring together this year. If you go to her FB page, you will find their schedule dates/places. I saw Lita perform at the Second Chance in Peoria quite a few years ago. Luv her.

28th Day of Birthday Rock Month. With the mid-60's came the British Invasion. Pop and rock groups such as the Beatles, the Kinks, the Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, the Zombies, and the Animals were part of the "invasion". However, the Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the United States in 1964 and were identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, the band started out playing covers but found more success with their own material; songs such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Paint It Black". Other big hits including "Honky Tonk Woman", "Ruby Tuesday", "Brown Sugar", "Miss You", among many others, kept the Stones rocking and touring, including a stop in St. Louis in June..in 2020! I remember when they announced a tour in 1981, I thought I needed to see them, thinking it could be their last! Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman (until 1993), Charlie Watts, and others have made this band seem immortal. While they've also done creative music like "Sympathy for the Devil", and "You Can't always get What You Want", playing blues their way produced one of my favorites to hear on the road:www.youtube.com/watc h?v=exdhHzLRI0Q

29th and last day of Birthday Rock month. Many of us remember that night on TV in February, 1964, with Ed Sullivan's intro, "Ladies & Gentlemen, the BEATLES!". We only need their first names: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Regarded as the most influential band of all time. The group were integral to the development of 1960's counterculture and popular music's recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950's rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the group revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era's youth and sociocultural movements. Classic albums include A Hard Day's Night, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"), and Abbey Road. The Beatles also were successful at making films.After their breakup in 1970, all four members enjoyed successful solo careers. But John was shot & killed in 1980 in New York City, and George passed away from lung cancer in 2001. Paul is still out there touring, and Ringo is still performing music, and both sometimes perform together.Lots of great songs, too many to mention here, but favorites include "Come Together", "Revolution", "Paperback Writer", "Please Please Me", "Helter Skelter". I wanted to link a video of their famous Rooftop concert version of "Get Back", but couldn't find a clean version. But this song is a good one as well.www.youtube.com/watc h?v=NCtzkaL2t_Y