Tune into Hell's Kitchen Radio, with John Hell, every Monday night 8-10PM (Pacific), on Radio Valencia (https://radiovalencia.fm) in San Francisco. You can find my playlists and links to the podcasts right here.
So Ozzy died last week. Did anyone think he would live as long as he did? Not that I had a bet going, but I would have lost, had I. I turned onto Black Sabbath in my teens, back in the 80s, as would be appropriate. They were the darkest band I had ever heard up to that point, and probably still are since I don't listen to any Norwegian Death Metal.
I never saw Ozzy of Black Sabbath in concert. I can only imagine the energy of the crowd. I'm sure I had plenty of opportunities, but I didn't want to see his solo shows. Only Black Sabbath would do, and they didn't come around that often. There was that show in San Jose a few years back I could have tried to get to. What's up with that? I'm quick to buy tickets to a good show. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the bootlegs, of which I have many.
Speaking of Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Tuesday night I'm playing what has to be my all time favorite Black Sabbath show on my Live Bootleg Bonanza on Radio Valencia, starting at 8pm Pacific. August 06, 1975 from Asbury Park, New Jersey is Sabbath firing on all cylinders. What an incredible show! Tune in.
For tonight's show I pay tribute to Ozzy in the second hour, though I do give you a tease of the awesomeness of the live show right out of the block. The second hour is a lot of great Black Sabbath covers you may have never heard.
For the first hour it's a lot of drunken garage rock. I was at the Rock and Roll Flea Market at Faction Brewing on Saturday and I bought a lot of 7"s as well as the Estrus Records book, which inspired the first hour.
I'm certain the rock tributes will continue considering the number of rockers who are 75+ years of age, and did plenty of excessive partying in their day. Who is on your bingo card?
Enjoy and please share.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Since there isn't a holiday for Hell Day...yet, I figured I should pay tribute to all the great laborers out there who never get the appreciation they deserve.
I've hosted a lot of Labor Day shows over the years, and I think it's my favorite holiday to celebrate. I've been a union member for most of my working career, being a teacher, and before that in the grocery industry. At the age of 21, I was a shop steward at a grocery store I worked at. I was a member of the Union Building Committee at the school I teach at for nine years, meeting weekly with the administration, keeping them true to the contract.
I have never had a hard time speaking truth to power. If I have learned anything it's how to finesse how I articulate the message that's needed to be said; all of which in support of the workers.
I will never cross a picket line.
The music tonight is all in celebration of the workers, most of whom are paid far below their value.
I shared a lot of worker history during the show as well. I'm guessing you aren't aware of a lot of the what I spoke about.
Don't like the way you're treated at work, then join a union.
Below I share the song "Rich Men Earning North of a Million, by Billy Bragg, which was a song he wrote in response to the song "Rich Men North of Richmond, by Oliver Anthony. I encourage you to listen to both (Anthony's first), to understand why Bragg felt the need to write his version.
Enjoy and please share.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Heartbeat of America: Billy Strings Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out: Nina Simone
Work Song: The Animals You Gotta Go Down and Join the Union: Woody Guthrie Nine Pound Hammer: Johnny Cash
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol: Bob Dylan Run Devil, Run/The Big Guns: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore: John Prine Career Opportunities: The Clash Let's Lynch the Landlord: Faith No More
Mansion on the Hill: Bruce Sprinsteen Do You Want New Wave, or Do Want the Truth: Minutemen Crazy Baldhead: Bob Marley
Hey Joe: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo This is Not a Song, It's an Outburst (or Establishment Blues): Rodriguez War Pigs: Black Sabbath
Get Behind the Mule: Tom Waits In The Pines: Fantastic Negrito
Inner City Blues: Gil Scott Heron Wild and Free: Curtis Mayfield
Get Back in Line: The Kinks Cumberland Blues: Grateful Dead
This Land is Your Land: Woody Guthrie What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
It's that time once again when I get to indulge my inner Dave Morey and focus my show on one special year. This is my seventh annual Annual Annual, and this year it's all about 1992. I turned 22 in late September and was deeply involved at KFJC as well as attending countless live shows around the Bay Area.
As for the music, the indie scene was at a peak since Nirvana went super duper platinum (is that a ranking?) the previous fall with Nevermind. Major labels were doing everything they could to swipe up the next big thing. Some really horrible knockoff bands were popping up on commercial radio during this time. Some things never change.
I was hosting the 6-10AM morning show on Wednesday's at KFJC. The music below feels like I took it straight from one of my playlists from that time. It's possible I did. Granted we weren't allowed, by FCC rules, to play any music with naughty language, so there are a few tracks on here that I would have loved to have played back then, but could not. Count yourself lucky for the advent of internet radio!
Take a walk down memory lane for the next two hours and enjoy 1992 like it never left us.