Tag Archives: rock and roll

Zappa Remembered

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Five hundred years from now when music historians study the music of the twentieth century they will probably compare Zappa to Bach and Mozart of previous centuries. He was a consummate guitarist but more importantly an excellent composer. He composed “songs” but what sets him apart was his ability to compose complex music in the tradition of the old masters. “The Big Swifty” is an example of this which he played at the Syria Masque decades ago. Buy a print or T-Shirt and see other images at my music gallery by clicking here.

© Richard Burke 1973-2012

Zappa Jams Pittsburgh

Blast from the Past

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I was looking through old concert images to see if I there were still some undiscovered gems and I came across this one. Not at all a good photo but as I looked at it I thought how different arena shows are today. This is at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in 1973. Anybody could just walk up on stage and at this show and someone did during the set break. He went to the microphone and spoke real acid gibberish as security gently escorted him away. Today the stage would be much higher and barricaded and have a line of security people in front of the stage. This is why I like to go to small venues today and tend to avoid arena shows. You can see other images and my quality concert prints at my commercial site by clicking here.

Grateful Dead at Pittsburgh Civic Arena

Dino Valenti–Caught in the Act

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It was 1973 and I only had one lens for my new Nikon F3 camera. We were sitting in the stands at a rock festival at the University of Pittsburgh stadium when I noticed Dino Valenti from Quicksilver Messenger Service sitting in the stands right behind me. They were scheduled to go on later in the day and were watching and listening to Billy Preston as we were. I turned and snapped this picture which was the first photojournalistic image I ever took. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

Dino Valenti of Quicksilver Messenger Service

Caught in The Act

Rockette Morton

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One reader pointed out to me that I had misspelled the name of Rockette Morton on my T-Shirt, indeed I had, much to my dismay. Just as bad, I had flopped the image and made him left handed! Well everybody needs and editor, so I stuffed my pride and made the corrections. Here is the new T-Shirt which you can buy at my online store by clicking here.

Rockette Morton T-Shirt and Hoodie

The Magic Band

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Captain Beefheart’s best known band was called the Magic band. It was filled with great and conventional musicians like the Captain himself and his high school buddy, Frank Zappa. To be fair, Zappa was only a “guest” but Rockette Morton and Zoothorn Rollo were permeant members of this great ensemble. Click here to buy a Rockette Morton T-Shirt.

Captain Beefheart's Magic Band

Jethro Tull

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Ian Anderson is currently touring again. He is without a doubt the best rock and roll flutist ever and a great songwriter and singer. I am sure his new show is wonderful and worth seeing but don’t think it can match Jethro Tull playing “As Thick as A Brick” in 1973. This shot was taken at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. You can purchase a print of this image at my commercial site by clicking here.

Jethro Tull at Civic Arena 1973

Zappa and Jean Luc

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Jean Luc Ponty is a musical genius and has played with both Return to Forever and Frank Zappa. So when Return to Forever and Zappa Plays Zappa were at the Beacon Theater it was natural that Jean Luc came on stage to play a tune before playing the entire set with Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea. You can buy a t-shirt of Jean Luc on my commercial site by clicking here.

Dweezil Zappa and Jean Luc Ponty at the Beacon Theater in 2011

Jethro Tull

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Currently they are dismantling the old Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. It is kind of sad for me, I saw so many great concerts there and also, of course, The Pittsburgh Penguins. I only saw Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull play once and it was at the civic arena. I remember after the warm up band, all these roadies cam out dressed in British Trench Coats and set up the equipment for Tull. It was great concert from the Thick as a Brick Tour. You can buy a copy of this print in my commercial gallery by clicking here.

Jethro Tull at Pittsburgh Civic Arena

Phil Lesh

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Phil Lesh is arguably one of the best pick bassists of all time. He is very musical and like all the other great bass guitar players uses the whole fret board and exchanges leads with the other players. What keeps off the all time best list in my opinion is that he always plays with a pick and never plays finger style or slap bass. Here he is with the Grateful Dead in a concert at Madison Square Garden in 1993.

Phil Lesch at Madison Square Garden 1993