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The singer's soulful tenor was a signature of the Airplane and Starship's sound.

Marty Balin, a co-founder of Jefferson Airplane and a member of its later incarnation Jefferson Starship, whose high and soulful voice defined many of both groups’ songs, died Thursday, his rep confirmed. He was 76; the cause of death was not announced.

His wife, Susan Joy Balin, was “by his side,” according to the announcement.

Although Balin had his greatest impact as one of the architects of the musical counterculture during his 1965-71 tenure in Jefferson Airplane, he had his greatest commercial success when he rejoined the remnants of that group a few years later in Jefferson Starship, as the sole lead singer on both of that band’s singles to reach the top 10, “Miracles” in 1975 and “Count on Me” in 1978.

Marty Balin, a co-founder of Jefferson Airplane and a member of its later incarnation Jefferson Starship, whose high and soulful voice defined many of both groups’ songs, died Thursday, his rep confirmed. He was 76; the cause of death was not announced.

His wife, Susan Joy Balin, was “by his side,” according to the announcement.

Although Balin had his greatest impact as one of the architects of the musical counterculture during his 1965-71 tenure in Jefferson Airplane, he had his greatest commercial success when he rejoined the uremnants of that group a few years later in Jefferson Starship, as the sole lead singer on both of that band’s singles to reach the top 10, “Miracles” in 1975 and “Count on Me” in 1978.

Legendary guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top will be releasing his second-ever solo CD, The Big Bad Blues on September 21, 2018, via Concord Records! This is the follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 Afro-Cuban-flavored solo CD, Perfectamundo.

The Big Bad Blues focuses on Billy’s lifelong love of the blues and Rock and Roll, showcasing the blues-influenced vocals and guitar licks that have together served as the foundation for his numerous hits over the past five decades. The CD features 11 tracks balanced with smoldering versions of classics like “Rollin’ and Tumblin'” and “Standing Around Crying,” along with some brand new blues originals.

The Big Bad Blues has an intimate and atmospheric feel to it; like you are sitting in a smoke-filled bar watching Billy perform. He sings the blues with sincerity and passion where you feel every word. As you would expect the CD is also filled with rich and dirty guitar tones that would make any fan of the guitar or blues stand-up and take notice. It’s a diverse array of musical influences with superb singing and guitar playing. Long live the king of guitar tone!

Billy will be on his solo tour from mid-September through December and pre-orders/exclusive bundles for The Big Bad Blues can be obtained throughhttps://billygibbons.com

I had the honor of interviewing the guitar legend to discuss the creation of his new CD while gaining some insights into his blues playing and instantly recognizable guitar tone! Interview : Robert Cavuoto

Following a three-set super show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Friday, Gov’t Mule has announced their Mule Year’s run! On December 28th, Gov’t Mule will perform at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania with special guests Oteil & Friends. Then, Gov’t Mule will return to The Beacon Theatre in New York, NY for their annual celebration on December 29th and 31st. Positioned in the heart of New York City, the band traditionally welcomes a bevy of special guests and themes during their NYE throw down. More details to come.

Celebrate! - Blaine Cartwright is willing to part with his Beer Drinking Hat from Pleased To Eat Europe 2018 Tour (Part 1). This hat was brand new just one month ago and has now entertained 1000's of the Pussy Posse across Europe!! Also featured in our new unseen videos for 'She Keeps Me Coming' and 'Go Home And Die'. Autographed by the whole band of course! Pleased To Drink out of You!! The auction for this piece of current Nashville Pussy History will be held right here, this Friday from 3 PM European time, until midnight (9 PM EST) on Facebook! with Auction Master Raoul Nizzoli! PM accepted.

Ed King, the Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist who joined the band in 1972 to give the Southern rock group its iconic three-guitar sound, died Wednesday in Nashville. He was 68. A cause of death was not specified, though King had been battling lung cancer and had recently been hospitalized for the disease.

A message on King’s Facebookconfirmed his death: “It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.”

A California native, King was a founding member of the psychedelic Sixties band Strawberry Alarm Clock, known for their hit “Incense and Peppermints.” He offered to join Skynyrd when, opening for the band at the Jacksonville, Florida, bar the Comic Book Club in 1968, he heard them rehearsing the song “Need All My Friends.” It wasn’t until 1972, however, when King would sign on with Skynyrd, temporarily replacing bassist Leon Wilkeson and then sign on with Skynyrd, temporarily replacing bassist Leon Wilkeson and then becoming a full-fledged member as third guitarist. See full story here:  https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/lynyrd-skynyrd-guitarist-ed-king-dead-at-68-714847/amp/

Officially, “Respect” is a relationship song. That’s how Otis Redding wrote it. But love wasn’t what Aretha Franklin was interested in. The opening line is “What you want, baby, I got it.” But her “what” is a punch in the face. So Ms. Franklin’s rearrangement was about power. She had the right to be respected — by some dude, perhaps by her country. Just a little bit. What did love have to do with that?

Depending on the house you grew up in and how old you are, “Respect” is probably a song you learned early. The spelling lesson toward the end helps. So do the turret blasts of “sock it to me” that show up here and there. But, really, the reason you learn “Respect” is the way “Respect” is sung. Redding made it a burning plea. Ms. Franklin turned the plea into the most empowering popular recording ever made.

Ms. Franklin died on Thursday, at 76, which means “Respect” is going to be an even more prominent part of your life than usual. The next time you hear it, notice what you do with your hands. They’re going to point — at a person, a car or a carrot. They’ll rest on your hips. Your neck might roll. Your waist will do a thing. You’ll snarl. Odds are high that you’ll feel better than great. You’re guaranteed to feel indestructible.  

"What you wrote before, or what you did before, doesn't mean shit because it's done. You're not gonna redo it. Songwriting always starts the same way, you're starting with an absolute zero."

These are the words of Jerry Cantrell, founder and songwriter of Alice in Chains, the alternative-metal hybrid group that rose to prominence as part of the Nineties' Seattle-based musical movement marketed by media outlets and record labels as "grunge rock." This counterculture upheaval — led by bands like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana — killed the poofy-haired, spandex-laden, pop-infused antics of Eighties glam rock, and filled the radio waves with raw sounds and emotions that were mostly kept hush from mainstream audiences by the major-label corporate machine.

Though most Seattle bands found distaste in the "grunge" moniker — as soon as the powers that be got wise to the genre's profitability and began to commodify the hell out of it, signing a legion of watered-down soundalike latecomers — there's no denying that the movement as a whole inspired a cultural and musical revolution, sparking a flame that would ignite edgier content across all facets of entertainment. But that was then — and Alice in Chains are not the same band they were in the Nineties, nor do they want to be.  

Matt "Guitar" Murphy, guitarist for the Blues Brothers and noted sideman for blues legends like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Memphis Slim, died Friday at the age of 88.  Murphy's death was first announced in by his nephew Floyd Murphy Jr, who performed alongside his uncle. "He was a strong man that lived a long long fruitful life that poured his heart out in every guitar solo he took," Floyd Jr. wrote of Matt Murphy in a Facebook post (via Deadline). No cause of death was provided. In 2002, Murphy suffered a stroke that forced the guitarist into semi-retirement.

A veteran of the legendary Chicago blues scene of the Forties and Fifties, Murphy worked alongside artists ranging from Ike Turner (as members of Junior Parker's Blue Flames) and Etta James to blues musicians like James Cotton, Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson. 

Murphy is best remembered as the indispensable guitarist in the 1980 comedy classic The Blues Brothers; in the film, soul food chef Murphy and his waitress wife Aretha Franklin have a disagreement about him reuniting with the Blues Brothers, resulting in Franklin's iconic "Think" performance: See the full story at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/blues-brothers-guitarist-matt-guitar-murphy-dead-at-88-w521611

Eric Moore & The Gods, Vol. 3 Gotta Keep A Runnin'. Thanks for the acknowledgement, Eric and John! - Mark After Dark

In 2008, "The Easy Outs" were formed by Lead singer/songwriter Bruce Ferguson who released their first self titled album in 2009. Their debut album was followed by "Desolate Row" in 2015. They are busting into 2018 with "Hot Mess," their 3rd release on Dead Walker Records. Although members have changed, the intense in your face 70s rock feel is the same. From influences such as The New York Dolls, The Stooges and numerous others that can be heard in each song while adding their own twist.  “Superb rock band keeping it old school but with a modern twist. If you like good old full on rock as it should be then these guys are spot on, no strangers to the music business they know how to write, perform, and be rock stars, which they do extremely well. Full of highs, lows and melodic at times accompanied with some cool vibrant lyrics and fantastic guitar solos really puts these guys in a league of there own. Vocally superb, Lyrically supreme and the music kicks ass big time” 

— Scotty Salter, Roockbandom   May 15, 2015