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.
Every May 3rd I head back down to the Wave of the West, KFJC, to host four hours of the 24+ James Brown birthday party. This was the 9th year that we took the time to celebrate the life of the Hardest Working Man in Show Business. James would have been 83 years old on this day.
Though I am a huge fan of the 66-76 era, which is the funkiest of the bunch, there really isn't much JB that I don't enjoy.
KFJC posts their show archives for only two weeks, so you only have a short amount of time to listen and grab these. Follow the links.
Hour one: Mostly JB from the 80s
Which is so damn good, but too many people ignore this era of his.
Hour two: Instrumentals
I share the story of what drove him to record so many instrumental tracks in the mid-60s for Smash Records. It's a story you probably don't know.
Hour three: Funky Drummer set Funky Drummer is the most sampled song of all time. I play tunes from other people using the great Clyde Stubblefield beat. You'll be surprised to hear who has used it.
Hour four: Live and family
I play tracks from each of the Live at the Apollo LPs as well as a number of tunes from the JB family of musicians.
You can stream each hour by clicking on the links, and then download them to your iTunes.
KFJC is in the first week of its month-long Month of Mayhem. It's at least one special a day on this special radio station. Check out the Mayhem calendar and enjoy some great specials from some wonderful DJs. Radio at its finest.
Stream FUNK/METAL/AMBIENT/DRONE, HERE! Download the GROOVE HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Today is a day of celebration! May 3rd is the birthday of the Godfather of Soul, the HARDEST working man in show business (when he was still alive), Mr. Please Please Please, Mr. I Feel Good, Mr. Sex Machine: JAMES BROWN!
And to celebrate what would have been his 83rd birthday, I'm doing the only thing that I can: play one full hour of JB and JB related tunes. Specifically I'm playing some tracks you don't hear much on the radio, as well as a "Funky Drummer" set, as that tune is the most sampled tune in the history of music. I personally believe that drummer Clyde Stubblefield deserves a royalty each time his sick rhythm is copped.
To continue the party join me on KFJC Tuesday night, 6-10, where I host the prime time slot of the annual "Doin' It To Death" 28 hour James Brown birthday party!
In the second hour of tonight's show I feature two of my favorite bands, both of which are coming to town this week: Boris (playing New Parish in Oakland on Thursday, May 5th) and Melvins, featuring Steve McDonald of Redd Kross/OFF on bass (playing Slims on Thursday, May 5th, and Friday, May 6th along with Melt Banana and Napalm Death). You get 30 minutes of Melvins, followed by 30 minutes of Boris.
I'm going to both, but am having a hard time understanding why Boris would opt to play on the same night as the Melvins (Thursday), when they owe their existence (actually just their name) to them? It feels sacrilegious.
This is quite possibly the strangest themed show I have ever done. Maybe not.
Did you miss my Prince tribute show from last week? What a time that was. You can catch it by clicking here.
Remember to tune into KFJC all day May 3rd for the James Brown birthday extravaganza "Doin' It To Death". I'm hosting the prime time slot tonight, 6-10 (PDST). Spread the word.
Stream yet another TRIBUTE, HERE! Download the essence of PRINCE HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Aw man, really? Not cool, universe. Not cool. This has been one shitty year for music legends. I can kind of understand how Lemmy went. Bowie? That one hurt, but OK, fuck cancer and all that. But Prince? 57 years old. And now we're hearing that it may be a "Michael-Jackson's-doctor-kinda-thing". Do the JWs have something against meds? He was raised a Seventh-Day Adventist. We're they against meds? Or is it the other way around, and he was on too many meds? DAMN!
This one hurts, because he didn't stop being so damn prolific throughout the years. I read a great article about six months ago about how he could and would often record entire records in a matter of hours; overdubs and all. He has a vault of nearly complete releases that he just wasn't ready to release. I have to wonder when, if ever, those recordings will be released.
I first listened to Prince when Purple Rain came out in the summer of 1984. I was just shy of 14, and it was huge almost immediately upon release. The film came out a few months later, and that quickly changed the attire of many of my high school classmates. I was not into the fashion, but his guitar work quickly caught my attention. So many of my friends were metal-heads, and Deadheads, who wouldn't give him the time of day, but when I would play the guitar solo from "When Doves Cry" even they had to admit this guy was on his own level. Though Jimi has been dubbed the number 1 guitar GOD by too many critics (and who am I to disagree?), Prince is a very close second, in my opinion.
My father actually sold a ring to him during Prince's visit to SF in 1985, when he played a sold out Cow Palace. My father was the manager for Granat Brothers Jewelers on Grant and Geary in downtown San Francisco at the time. Prince walked in with his bodyguard, "Big Chick" who was this HUGE white former wrestler with long white hair. Prince sat down in a chair, and the bodyguard asked for the manager. My father approached, and the bodyguard looked at my dad, pointed to Prince and growled "Do you know who that is?". My dad said "no". The bodyguard replied "that's Prince. He's going to be the biggest music star in the world!". He then asked to see a number of rings. My father presented them to Prince, who chose a beautiful diamond, ruby, sapphire ring. They paid in cash and walked out. True story.
Now Prince is dead. Prince is dead, and my father ended up going to see him perform at the Cow Palace for that show, which was the Purple Rain tour. I wonder where that ring is today?
I was a mobile and club DJ for many years between 1988-2002. Prince was always in the mix. ALWAYS. How couldn't he be? Prince made the cut in every club DJs set. And if you're a wedding DJ then you have no choice either.
One good thing that may come from his passing, is this may have kicked MTV into actually playing music videos again!
Prince, I hope wherever you are it bathed in purple, with your pick of lovers and guitars. I can imagine a very long receiving line for you, and you not disappointing anyone in attendance.
So for tonight I offer you a showcase of some of my favorite Prince from over the years, as well as a few favorite covers; many of which you would never expect.
You may fade from the scene, but you will never fade from our soul.
RIP Prince Rogers Nelson. You left us all way too soon, but not without plenty to keep your memory alive.
(The image above was created by my friend Joe Mangrum, a sand artist, who you can see almost daily in Washington Square Park, in NYC. The original photo came from Theo Wargo)
Creep: Prince (Live 2008 Coachella)
Get On The Good Foot/Rockhard In A Funky Place: TJ Kirk
When Doves Cry: Patti Smith
How Come you Don't Call Me: Alicia Keys
Erotic City: George Clinton and P-Funk All Stars
I Would Die For You: Prince
1999: Gary Numan
If I Was Your Girlfriend: TLC
Little Red Corvette: Prince (Orange Bowl - April 7, 1985 - Miami, FL)
Track 5: Nelson (Prince) - Cymone - Rivkin
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: Petty, Lynn, Winwood, Prince (RRHOF 2004)
Let's Go Crazy: Prince (Saturday Night Live - 40th Anniversary After Party)
Let's Pretend We're Married: Tina Turner
Raspberry Beret: Warren Zevon (Live November 20, 1990)
Movie Star: Miles Davis (Live at Montreux July 7, 1988)
Can I Play With U? Prince and Miles Davis
Kiss: Richard Thompson
Whenever anyone asks me about the greatest guitar solo, I always show them this video. It's the all-star jam following the posthumous induction of George Harrison into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, featuring Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, and Prince. You have to watch the solo all the way to the end. Really, do not miss what he does at the end. DAMN!
Stream the Heat, HERE! Download the Aural Workout HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Hot times in the ol' studio tonight! Radio as the premier aural artform. Some classic covers on this night, some deeply hidden live tracks, some jazzy goodness, perfect for the hot night that it was. Plenty of witty banter that will tickle your funny bone as well as clue you in to the back story of many of these timeless tunes.
Have you tuned into the "new" KFOG? And I thought they were bad before! Seriously, it does not appear that they have evolved into anything fresh and new! Good job, Cumulus. You fired DJs who cared about the local listeners, all the while playing crappy, lowest-common-denominator pablum, that they had no choice over. I swear I would LOVE for any GM to call me up and ask me to program a station for just one day. ONE DAY! There is too much quality music that KFOG has continuously passed by. Father John Misty? Jenny Lewis? Dave Alvin? COME ON! Lame KFOG has just proved once again why you NEED Radio Valencia. You already knew that though.
Let's start a petition to get KFOG to hire John Hell for one day to do its music programming. If they hate it then I'll quietly leave. If they love it, then I'll have my lawyers call theirs.
Next Monday you just know I'm going to have a lot of rare Prince to play for you. RIP Purple One.
Stream the Resurrection, HERE! Download the miracle HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Ok, alright, I know that I told you that I was going to die, and you would no longer have dear old John Hell to kick around anymore. Well, it appears that my orthopedic surgeon actually does know his ass from a hole in the ground, and I'm back to tell the tale.
On March 16th I underwent ACL and meniscus reconstruction. That was
fun. Laying on my ass for three weeks was not. My God it was so damn boring. Too much time on the couch. Too much Trailer Park Boys. Actually, there can never be too much Trailer Park Boys. Ricky is such a dick. Bubbles on the other hand is quite brilliant. I watched my share of movies, read a few great books and comics, and caught up on a few records that have been sitting in the stack for too long. But the sitting really took its toll. I have also come to the conclusion that ICE is my best friend.
I have never wanted to get back on the air as much in my life. And let me tell you by the end of my show tonight I was in some serious pain. Look what I do for my art.
There's a good mash up of genres tonight, and a small tribute to the late Merle Haggard, who died last week on his 79th birthday. I've got some new Melvins for you, music from the first Charles Moothart (CFM) solo effort (he's Ty Segall's guitarist in Fuzz and the Ty Segall Band), along with some soon-to-be-released Zig Zags!!! There are some oddball choices tonight, as I've had a few weeks to consider what to play for you. The next few shows ought to be pretty fun too.
Tell you friends and my enemies that John Hell is back on the air.
Shit Luck: Modest Mouse
Two Headed Dog: Roky Erikson
Strange: Wire
The Bottle Let Me Down: Merle Haggard
The Bell: First Aid Kit
Shot By Both Sides: Magazine
A Friend In Need Is A Friend You Don't Need/Lifestyle Hammer: Mike and the Melvins
Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun: Pink Floyd
***Set of the Week***
Street Car History: Charles Moothart (CFM)
Revolution Part 2: Butthole Surfers
Sweet Loafed: Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston
Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan
Moonlight in Glory: Brian Eno and David Byrne
Dancing Barefoot: Patti Smith
Dollar Days: David Bowie
They Came For Us: Zig Zags
Double-Crossing Time: John Mayall's Blues Breakers
Stop Start: Lee Morgan
Poison Apple: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
Out of Touch: Lucinda Williams
I Must Have Been Blind: Eugene Chadbourne
Cold In Effect: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Oh, here's a classic that I enjoyed while laying on the couch: "Heavy Metal Parking Lot". This totally reminds me of hanging out in the Cow Palace or Oakland Coliseum lots before metal shows back in the 90s. Ah, the fucked up memories. It's only about 17 minutes long.
KFJC posts their show archives for only two weeks, so you only have a short amount of time to listen and grab these. Follow the links.
