10.20: October 20th is the birthdate of two electric music superstars. Tom Petty (1953) and Snoop Dogg (1972) were both born today. On first glance, you might think these two fellas are about as different from one another as two musicians could possibly be. Both, however, represented their respective towns better than any other residents before them. Petty, straight out of Gainesville, Florida, took garage rock out of the garage and into the arena, leading a charge against the rock bombast that dominated the airwaves of the day. Snoop Dog, straight out of the LBC, Long Beach, California, brought one of the most laid-back and recognizable flows ever heard to hip-hop, lending even more credence to California's burgeoning scene. These guys are both representin', for sure.
10.21: This day in 1977 saw one of the most devastating plane crashes in rock history, as the chartered plane of Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed into a Mississippi swamp, killing lead vocalist and songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, as well as guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, back-up singer Cassie Gaines. Establishing mainstream acceptance of southern rock at the same time they transcended it, Lynyrd Skynyrd's success owed much to Ronnie Van Zant. Without him, it could not continue. Yeah, the band reformed in 1987 with Jimmy, Ronnie's brother, up front, but that incarnation proved, and still proves, to be more of a tribute band than anything else. Ronnie's beautifully gruff voice and down-to-earth lyrics formed the foundations for Lynyrd Skynrd's biggest hits, such as "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," as well as their simply flat-out amazing songs, such as "Tuesday's Gone" and "The Ballad of Curtis Loew."
10.21: Coffee houses and open mic poetry nights owe a debt of gratitude to Jack Kerouac. The beatnik writer died today in 1969. He was 47. Author of On The Road and The Dharma Bums, Kerouac influenced an entire generation of writers, thinkers, and musicians, such as The Beatles, The Doors, Death Cab For Cutie, The Hold Steady, and Tom Waits. Kerouac's writing was itself heavily influenced by music, especially bebop jazz, with its free-flowing ideas and unconventional structures. A singular voice amongst a movement (the Beat Generation), Kerouac's death came from an internal hemorrhage brought about by years of heavy drinking.
10.23: On this day in 1956, honky-tonk music found a new hero when Dwight Yoakam strolled into this world, ready to kick country in the ass and remind it from whence it came. Embracing the renegade country music he grew up on (think Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams), Yoakam didn't play by Nashville's rules and refused to bow to the mainstream pop-country that began to dominate the charts in the '80s. His music saw more embrace from rock and alternative audiences than country, and he played clubs that regularly hosted punk and hardcore bands, yet he still charted many songs on the country charts. This is why we love Dwight and why he rocks so very hard.
10.24: On this day in 1978, Keith Richards was found guilty of drug possession when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police found heroin and cocaine on his person. Richards received a suspended sentence and was ordered to play a benefit concert for the blind in Oshawa, Ontario. Because, ya know, blind people love Keith, too, or something like that. We don't really understand this suspended sentence. We're just amazed that Keith got caught with 22 grams of heroin and pretty much just had to play a concert as punishment. So, remember, if you get caught with 22 grams of heroin in Canada in 1978, all you'll be punished with is having to do what you do every day. Party time!