Unruly, angry, drunk and incredibly obnoxious fans welcome The Rolling Stones to Boston. Gotta love that dirty water.

Maybe it was because the Bruins were in the playoffs.

Maybe it was because we’ve had a couple of very, very difficult and painful months here.

Maybe we all needed to blow off a little steam.

Whatever it was, it was nothing short of disgraceful.

I’ve been to my share of Stones shows. Both the old Boston Garden, and TD Garden as it is now known. Fenway Paaaaahk for the Bigger Bang kickoff tour. And of course Foxboro. I have never seen or experienced a crowd like I did on June 12th 2013, the first show of the Stones “5o and Counting” Tour that hit Beantown. Frankly, I was beyond excited to be there. Which quickly turned into embarrassed to be there.

Drunk.

Disorderly.

Angry.

Did I mention drunk?

And from what I’ve been told, this behavior was widespread throughout the Garden that night. There was no security to speak of attempting to manage these Massholes either. Crazy…TD Garden needs a lesson in making sure these drop-dead drunks don’t even get into the venue, let alone continuing to serve these freakin’ losers.

Whew…. Ok enough venting.

On with the show….

I had incredible seats. Loge 13, Row 10.

A perfect view of the left side of the stage.

They started off rocky in the first three numbers, finding their groove.

“It’s Only Rock and Roll” was a bit rough…but by the time they hit “Gimme Shelter” all hell broke loose, yup they found it.

Lisa killed it as usual on “Gimme Shelter.” Here she is doing her thang.

Their special guest was Gary Clark Jr. The song was “Goin Down.”

Ronnie was on fire. As was Gary Clark.

“Honky Tonk Women” brought the crowd to it’s feet singing with a great animated pieces projected on stage.

Keith did his acoustic thing for “You Got The Silver” while Mick rested a bit, and had a wardrobe change.

Then back to his Micawber for “Before They Make Me Run.”

The highlight for me was seeing Mick Taylor on stage with the boys.

If I could hear the Stones play only one song, it would be “Midnight Rambler.” I did and they didn’t disappoint.

Unfortunately I got hit in the face and missed the next two songs, ironically it was “Miss You” and “Start Me Up.”

I spent them crawling around on the beer soaked floor looking for my eyeglasses that were knocked of my face by the drunk next to me.

Awesome right!?

Aaaah not really.

Mick was in fine form throughout the night. As was the rest of the band. Charlie holding the backbeat as Keith and Ronnie ripped off riffs and solos.

All in all a great show despite the crowd. Which as you know can kill a show as well as make one.

Encore was great. Choir and all for You Can’t Always….

But given my night I would have renamed this show, “No Security- Part Two.”

Peace.

Gary Rocks.

The Rolling Stones “50 Years of Satisfaction” Exhibit. Day Two, Rounding third…..

Day Two…..I spare the chatter and just show the pics. I’m kicking myself now for not shooting enough.

This is stupid cool. The original artwork for the cover of the greatest Stones album ever recorded, “Exile on Main Street.” From the collection of Jeff Gold of Recordmecca.

Original artwork by Charlie Watts.

I can’t say enough about the displays. So well done. Even the font they used for all the signage was created by hand. It’s the “Exile On Main Street” typeface. Which of course was done in Mick’s hand, so it doesn’t exist.

That was until the designers at the RNR HOF decided they wanted it. They just re-created the entire alphabet. Pretty cool I must say. Pretty cool.

Peace,

Gary Rocks

Rolling Stones “50 Years of Satisfaction.” I have two days to take it all in. Day One.

Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Satisfaction will be the Museum’s first ever major exhibition capturing the band’s legendary career spanning more than 50 years.  It will include personal items and extraordinary collections that have never been seen before by the public. The exhibit will be open till March 2014.

“The Rolling Stones are the epitome of rock and roll,” said Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “This first-ever exhibit gives us an opportunity to tell the story of one of the definitive rock and roll bands. The experience should be on every music fan’s destination list this summer.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum presents Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Satisfaction will be a comprehensive retrospective exhibit that chronicles the band from the mid-1960s until today.  The exhibit, which takes up two-and-a-half floors of the Museum, will celebrate the Rolling Stones’ incredible contribution to popular music from their earliest days playing small clubs, to their era-defining recordings such as “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint It Black,” “Jumping Jack Flash,” “Tumbling Dice,” “It’s Only Rock And Roll” and sold-out global tours. Through the use of artifacts, film, text and interactive technology, generations of music fans will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with rare items from nearly every aspect of the Stones’ astonishing five decades at the top.

Throughout the exhibition’s run, the Museum will host a range of free public programs that explore the significance and legacy of the Rolling Stones, including interviews, films, and special lectures.

For the first time, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will launch a fan-generated interactive exhibition, inviting people from all over the world to share their photos of memorabilia, artwork, Rolling Stones concerts and more that will populate a multimedia display in the Museum’s Rolling Stones exhibit as well as online.

Fans are encouraged to upload their original images to Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #rockhallsatisfaction to contribute to the submission feed. Images uploaded will be available to be viewed in the exhibit as well as online through the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Facebook page throughout the duration of the exhibit!

……..I had no idea of what to expect when I showed up to see the new Stones exhibit.

I had never been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I had never even been to Cleveland.

For a rock and roll memorabilia junkie like me, it was the “Stairway To Heaven.” I must admit it was a bit overwhelming. You need a solid two days. Maybe three to take it all in. I was able to do the Stones exhibit in about 3 hours and I feel like I saw it all.

You enter the exhibit by walking up a staircase, where you enter the exhibit through a giant lips and tongue.

It was kind of a shock to see my name on the exhibition display thanking the supporters. Wait is that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts on there?

The bottom floor was dedicated to the early years. And I mean early….The collection was mind blowing. The artifacts were grouped by era. Large plexiglass displays with early posters and handbills that serve as the backdrop to the rarities, that held several and sometimes dozens of pieces of memorabilia. Here’s a few photos.

Everybody knows this baby, Brian’s Teardrop….

Keith’s “High Tide and Green Grass” leather jacket.

What’s crazy is that some of this stuff exists. You wonder first, who the hell does it belong to, (which of course is labeled for all to see,) but then, how the hell did it survive?

I can’t say enough about the displays. They were beautifully designed and conceived. Bravo Howard and Company!

One of the highlights for me was seeing Mick’s Jumpsuit from the 1972 tour, designed by Ossie Clark. Donated by guess who, yup, Mick himself.

Let’s head upstairs….

Upstairs has displays on the years 1973-2006, The Bigger Bang Tour.

This is the floor where all my items were displayed. The above item is killer. The original art for the “It’s Only Rock And Roll” album cover by Guy Peelaert, 1974.

My Keith Richards Bobby Lee guitar strap from the Tour of the Americas, 1975 was in a display with the famous Charlie Watts mariachi shirt from the same tour.

Next, I found my Keith Richards leather jacket, “Tattoo You” marketing notes, and single picks for “Tattoo You,” all written by Mick…1981.

Here’s my Keith linen pirate shirt in the 1978 “Some Girls” era display.

And a few more. My Mick handwritten rehearsal set list for the secret Sir Morgan’s Cove show in 1981, and Cockroaches ticket for the show on Blue Sunday.

The Hall of Fame knows how to do it right.

They ask for only scans and copies of all rare handwritten items and labeled them on the displays as reproductions. The originals safely in the hands of the owners.

I will post a Day Two with more photos soon….

Peace,

Gary Rocks

Rare Love You Live record store display. Only two known to exist.

I have been fortunate to have just picked up this rarity. To the best of my knowledge, I am aware of only two that exist. And it took a bite out of my wallet.

Ok, enough with the bad puns….

This record store display promotes the Stones 1977 live album, “Love You Live.” Artwork by the famed pop artist Andy Warhol. Stones collectors are more than familiar with this album and the promotional items produced for it. They are some of the most sought after collectibles ever produced by the Stones. They also have a strong cross over interest to Warhol and pop art collectors as well.

It is well know Warhol was less than pleased with how Mick and the Stones used his art in designing the materials to promote the album.

He in fact has stated publicly he hates Mick’s handwritten treatment of “Love You Live” that appears as the typography on the cover design. As he puts it, ruining the beautiful image and art he created.

This display holds an actual album that sits and is help supported by Mick’s teeth. The “biting” was a theme that was used in all the materials Warhol designed.

Here are a few other items that shows Andy’s obsession with teeth…

Andy and Mick hanging out at the release party for the album at Trax in NYC in 1977. The album Mick is holding is my signed album from the Art Collins collection. Art is standing in the background patiently waiting for the photographer to snap the picture, so he can get his album back.

The album.

Happy Hunting.

Gary Rocks.

Rare original art produced for a billboard promoting The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed found.

The Rolling Stones are certainly not strangers when it comes to the art of self promotion.

They rule. Plain and simple.

There has been no other band in the history of rock n’ roll that knows how to stir up controversy and buzz over what they are doing or about to do, better than Mick and company.

And Sunset Blvd in LA is where we saw a lot of their ideas come to life.

Shown here are several examples of billboard advertising, an all but dying medium these days, where the Stones strutted their stuff.

Usually the Stones used billboard advertising to promote a new album.

The LA scene is where you can find about every artist during the 70′s and 80′s using this larger than life opportunity to deliver their message.

And as we know the Stones didn’t shy away from imagery that would infuriate and disturb anyone who looked at it. The infamous “Black and Blue” board whose image of a bound and beaten woman eventually had to be pulled down.

Even in announcing their upcoming “50 And Counting” tour, the Stones took to the streets to create anticipation and buzz around the announcement.

The above original art was recently found looks to be created to promote the Stones new London album “Let It Bleed.” It is unknown if in fact the art was ever used or made it’s way to a billboard. This is first major introduction of Mick Taylor as well.

As you can see from the recognizable clothing, Mick is his iconic omega shirt and scarf, this is clearly from the 1969 Ya Ya’s period.

I’m thrilled to now own this incredible never before seen rarity, coming from my good friend Jeff Gold of Recordmecca.

Thanks Jeff.

This one is a keeper.

Happy Hunting.

Gary Rocks

The Rolling Stones autographs. The “real deals” are there, you just have to do your homework.

Probably the one question I’m asked constantly by those who know I collect or have seen my collection is, “How do you know it’s real?”
My answer is usually, “I just know.”
As easy as that sounds, it’s not that easy.
But with a little work you will know, and you can protect yourself and your collection.

Start with the simple notion that 95% of autographs sold on eBay and through memorabilia sites are fakes.
Yup, 95%.
Why is that?
Easy.
These alleged reputable dealers are looking for people who don’t know what they’re are looking at.
People that want to believe at that price, it’s too good to be true.
Want to believe that the dealer is reputable.
And to borrow a quote, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Check out this link to find out who really said this.

http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html

So how do you know if a set of signatures you’re buying is fake?
If there’s a certificate of authenticity offered, it’s fake.

Any a-hole can print up a impressive looking “certificate”, sign it, offer a lifetime guarantee, and sell pretty much anything.
People think this is their protection.
Sorry, it don’t mean shit.
You need to know your stuff. Buy from the right people. Get knowledgeable.
Read up.
Study.
It’s work.
But like anything else, you want to make good decisions, you do your homework.
I own many signed Stones items.
Frankly it’s easier to buy a legit set of vintage autographs from the Brian Jones era, than a set from today.

Begin at the beginning.
Familiarize yourself with the earliest signatures of the band.
What did they sign like in the 60′s say. Gather images you find online and through eBay and compare them.
Try to think of the circumstances in which they might have signed these items, how much time they had, what they were signing. A card, paper, magazine.
All bands in the 60′s signed in ballpoint pen.
There were no sharpies.
Study how their styles changed throughout the years.
Usually over the years, not unlike us all, our signatures deteriorate and get sloppy.
We get lazy.
No different for rock stars.
Look at Charlie Watts today, barely understandable or readable.
A large C and B.
Stands for “Charlie Boy”, the way he used to originally sign his name back in the 60′s.
A signature reduced to letters.

I found on eBay a year or so ago a signed album.
It was a “Get your Ya Ya’s Out,” signed by all the original Stones, including Brian Jones.
The album as recorded in 1969 and released in September of 1970.
See where I’m going with this?
How could this be signed by Brian Jones if he died in July of 69 and the album was released in 1970?
This is the kind of crap that goes on all the time.

Of course it came with a certificate of authenticity.

Buy from reputable dealers. If you do your homework and ask around you can find them.
I buy from Recordmecca in LA, and Tracks in the UK.
These guys know their shit.
They give a lifetime guarantee and it means something.

Some examples I own are shown here. Bought from the dealers listed above.

Beautiful exmaple from Recordmecca

1966 The Rolling Stones Tour of Britain. And another great signed program.

The Rolling Stones‘ 1966 British Tour was a concert tour by the band. The tour commenced on September 23 and concluded on October 9, 1966.

I’ve been fortunate to have been able to pick up my second signed program from the 1966 tour, the first being the American tour seen below.

The newest is from the 1966 British tour with a beautiful clean set of signatures on the “A Biography By Charlie Watts” page inside the program. Artwork by of course, Charlie Watts.

I usually end up buying another program to frame up with the one I have signed. I was attracted to this set and example because of the page they decided to sign on. The signatures are large and super clean.

It’s hard to find items from the early days signed on white background, lighter paper or album. Most of the Stones early album covers were all pretty much dark and black making it difficult for them to sign in pen on the covers. It was also hard to sign over the dark photos.

So most of the early signed Stones albums you see are usually signed on the back.

Depending on much text was on the reverse of the album, usually a lot, will often effects how appealing the signatures are and how clean they appear to be. This can also be a huge factor in determining value. It’s why signed albums are the most rare of all signed items. Really great ones are just super hard to find.

Remember, there were no sharpies in the 60′s.

Peace and happy hunting.

Gary Rocks

“Welcome To My Jungle.” Some rare Guns N’ Roses memorabilia.

I’ve been fortunate in my years in advertising to have met some pretty cool people.

Like say, Slash for instance.
I’ve always been a HUGE Guns N’ Roses and Slash fan.
Their critically acclaimed debut album “Appetite for Destruction” is still one of my top five favorite rock albums.
Most if not all critics agree it set the bar for heavy metal rock in the 80′s.

I just finished up a TV campaign for the L.A. Zoo promoting a new exhibit called The Lair in which Slash and the venerable wise cracking octogenarian, Betty White starred.
We shot 5 different TV spots over the course of a day at the zoo.
They were both a joy to work with.

And Slash is the real deal.
The rock icon you would expect him to be.
But down to earth and soft spoken.
A true gentleman.

I was completely beside myself.

I happened to have a few rare GNR items in my collection, one I brought along to the TV shoot to have Slash sign for me.
An original ticket and flyer, circa 80′s, from one of their gigs at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood.
The band’s stomping ground and where they played several of their most memorable performances.

Here are a few pictures from the shoot, as well as some other rare items from my collection.

 

More rarities from the 1972 STP tour, simply the best Rolling Stones tour hands down.

This is an original concert tour handbill flyer for the Rolling Stones 1972 American Tour live LP that was never released.
The artist was Don Wilson.
The artwork is stunning. Reminiscent of the art deco style seen in the early jazz posters from the 1920′s-30′s.
Often referred to as “The Great Lost Live Album.”
There was also a flyer of Stevie Wonder from the back cover.
This is from the few ever printed only to be used in the photograph on the front cover of the LP.
Measures 10″ x 6.75″ printed in black on thin newsprint.

*from the collection of Gary Rocks

…..fast forward two years in 1974 and this concert and tour can be seen on the big screen in “Ladies and Gentleman: The Rolling Stones.”
Recently released on DVD.

The Stones being the ultimate showmen promoted the film in typical flashy Stones style.
With elaborate posters and giveaways at the theaters.

The concert film is Mick and the boys at their dirty and grittiest best.
Mick Taylor’s solos and slide guitar is nothing short of inspired and the band couldn’t be any tighter.
Full horn section with Bobby Keys and Jim Price…
“Midnight Rambler” is worth the price of the DVD if you haven’t already picked it up.
Mick slithering and squirming around like a snake, whipping the stage with his silk scarf.

A note to Exile designer John Van Hamersveld, from photographer Norman Seeff who shot the postcards for the album, on the back of a printer’s proof of the cards. He was less than pleased with the printing.

You can see a somewhat similar style used in
the art for the cover of the sheet music for “Tumbling Dice.”

Recently on eBay a backstage pass from the Madison Square Garden show was offered for $3000.
And if your inclined to spend a little more, you could have bought Mick Jagger’s authentic jump suit worn 7/26/1972, designed by Ossie Clark for MICK’S’ 29th birthday.
It was offered on eBay for an opening price, with a reserve for $25,000.

Check out this link too, interesting cuts and info on this infamous never to be released album.

http://www.rollingstonesnet.com/StonesOfficial72Live.html

The TAMI Show afterparty….Mick Jagger’s glass? Bill Wyman’s cigarette?

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN THIS POST ARE FOR SALE. Contact me at ggae55@gmail.com

L to R standing: Ron Armstrong, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Earl Steely (Misfits), Mick Jagger, Joey Paige (“Shindig” regular), Charlie Watts, Bob Mosley and Eddie Dunn (both Misfits).”“L to R kneeling: Joel Scott Hill, (later Canned Heat and Flying Burrito Brothers), unknown press photographer, Harold Kirby (Joel’s bassist, now deceased; by the way, Willie Kellogg played with Joel but was packing his drums).

On Nov. 1, 1964, the Rolling Stones, fresh off of taping “The T.A.M.I. Show” (where the upstart Brits were upstaged by James Brown), made their first San Diego appearance, at Balboa Bowl (now Starlight Bowl).
Also performing that night were locals Joel Scott Hill & the Invaders (also known as the Strangers), The Misfits and Rosie and the Originals. Downtown record-shop owner Danny Milsap, who promoted the concert, paid the Stones $400, he recalled in a 1998 retrospective in the San Diego Reader: “I remember paying Rosie and the Originals $500!”
Hitmaker (“Angel Baby”) and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rosie Hamlin and company didn’t stick around for the backstage photo, but Misfits drummer Ron Armstrong identifies who did.

In honor of the release of The TAMI Show on DVD, some rare and never seen collectibles from the after party.
Mick Jagger’s glass scoffed up by this fan as well as a cigarette bummed from Bill Wyman.
Both labeled the night of the party by him packed away in a box and just recently unearthed and purchased by me. The letter from the original owner can be seen below.

I wonder how long DNA hangs around?

I should know having watched enough CSI and Law and Order
marathons with my girls.

The T.A.M.I. Show is a 1964 concert film, released by American International Pictures. It includes performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and England. It was shot with TV cameras by director Steve Binder and his crew from The Steve Allen Show, and was the second of a small handful of productions to be recorded in Electronovision – one of the first high-definition video cameras that captured somewhere between 1000-1100 lines at 25fps. Then, via kinescope recording, it was converted to film with sufficient enhanced resolution to allow big-screen enlargement.

The concert was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 28 and 29, 1964. Free tickets were distributed to local high school students. Jan and Dean emceed the event and performed its theme song, “Here They Come (From All Over the World)”. Jack Nitzsche was the show’s music director. The acronym “T.A.M.I.” was used inconsistently in the show’s publicity to mean both Teenage Awards Music International and Teen Age Music International. The best footage from each of the two concert dates was edited into the film, which was released on December 29, 1964.

The T.A.M.I. Show is particularly well known for James Brown’s performance, which features his legendary dance moves and remarkable energy. In interviews, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones has claimed that choosing to follow Brown & The Famous Flames was the biggest mistake of their careers, because no matter how well they performed, they could not top him. In a web-published interview,

Binder takes credit for persuading the Stones to follow James Brown, and serve as the centerpiece for the grand finale where all the performers dance together onstage. In addition, throughout the film, were numerous go-go dancers in the background or beside the performers. Among them were a very young Toni Basil and Teri Garr. It also featured The Supremes performing three back-to-back #1 singles, signaling their reign as the most successful girl group of that era. Diana Ross would go on to work with the director Steve Binder on several of her television specials including her first solo television special and more importantly her iconic Central Park concert, Live from New York Worldwide: For One and for All.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_T.A.M.I._Show

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-12-03/concerts-music-clubs/misfits-rolling-stones-snapshot-provides-glimpse-into-san-diegos-rock-n-roll-roots#ixzz0j8AOxdsD

The film was shown unedited and in its entirety on cable television in Canada in 1984 (20th anniversary of its release), on the First Choice Network. However, there has never been an authorized home video release of the film in any format until the authorized DVD release in March 2010, though bootlegs have abounded. (A DVD release of the complete film by First Look Studios was planned for 2007, but subsequently withdrawn.) Also, because of a rights dispute, the footage of The Beach Boys’ performance was deleted from all prints made after the movie’s brief initial theatrical run, and is therefore absent from most of the bootlegs. All of the four Beach Boys tunes eventually surfaced on DVD in Sights and Sounds of Summer, a special CD/DVD edition of Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys.

In 2006, The T.A.M.I. Show was named to the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress. Dick Clark Productions acquired ownership of the concert film. On March 23 2010, Shout! Factory released the full show on a restored, digitally remastered and fully authorized DVD.

A sequel, 1966′s The Big T.N.T. Show, was produced by the same executive producer, Henry G. Saperstein.

Here’s a rare ticket from that show both front and back.

Mick Jagger stands by himself while everyone rush the food table.