The demo was also in the Temple of the Dog sessions. Footsteps is also Time of Trouble - one of the better songs on that record.

Best theory about Yellow Leadbetter I've heard. The band was jamming over Little Wing and Vedder wanted to write some lyrics to it. It sounded like he had a rough sketch of what he was trying to say (military notifying the family of a wartime death) and a few choice phrases and the rest was vocal improv to get ideas.…

I find it is best to end the song by saying Hail Satan.

I think the Ticketmaster battle was sincere. I'm sure they were aware of the benefit to having their names in the news for fighting the good fight. Truth is there were a lot of smaller bands and venues fighting Ticketmaster, Pearl Jam was able to give their argument more exposure.

I have to give Pearl Jam credit for complaining about their over exposure and then making efforts to tone it down while maintaining a respectable career. The quality of the music may be a different story, but, any group that can build a loyal fan base and record and tour (for the most part) on their own terms is all…

Henry Winkler: Secrets becomes That Guy who Played the Unemployed Greaser from the Show Set In the Fifties Admits Disturbing Hidden Truths About His Personal Life for Your Unease or Entertainment Depending On How Perverse Your Frame of Mind Is

@FidelAstro The Boston market's big 3 rock stations were WBCN, WAAF and WFNX.

@flavawheel I see a lot of different movements in rock music right now but nothing that is going to resurrect rock as a mainstream style. There are some great bands doing some amazing things right now, but, of the rock radio stations that are left they are focusing on hits from the 90s and some of the weaker acts…

@Poopship so glad you listened to the music being played in heavy rotation on MTV and rock radio while emulating the fashion style of those bands. Truth is calling the new guard of rock "alternative" was a marketing ploy.

The alternative rock format is unoffically the non baby boomer classic rock station. In the 90s, classic rock was music from 20-30 years ago and oldies was 30-40 years ago. If marketing labels shifted with these definitions, Classic Rock is now Oldies and Alternative Rock is now Classic Rock and there is no New Rock…

@flavawheel I don't see any artists bringing mainstream rock in a new direction right now. Sure there's great music out there but everything is so fragmented that there is no core movement anymore. Partially because the rock music apparatus was jettisoned as record cos started to lose profits. Its easier to control…

Great line and there's some truth to it. With Slayer, you know what you're getting- really if they show a sensitive side or well reasoned political views that can take you by surprise. With GnR they draw you in with a decent pop song (Paradise City) or a syrupy power (Sweet Child o Mine) ballad only to knock you over…

Do you now celebrate Michael Bolton's entire catalog?

@FastZombie You're right Cobain's songs translate well through different arrangements and styles because of strong melodies and sometimes creative if not accidental harmonic choices. (I remember having a music theory discussion with my guitar teacher about the changes to Teen Spirit making a case that its an altered…

@FastZombie Think of Repeater, Steady Diet or Kill Taker being produced by Butch Vig. He has a way of polishing a raw sound to something appealing to the masses while leaving enough grit to make it seem dangerous. Compared with Bleach, In Utero, and a variety of 7 inches, Nevermind was an anomaly in their catalog.

Both Nirvana and Fugazi have stories about record companies wooing them with big contracts. I always suspected that if Fugazi bit, we would be talking about DC as the "birthplace of grunge". From a marketing perspective, Nirvana was just dysfunctional enough to start a feud and keep their names in the magazines.

@theFlyinHawaiian Totally agree, the hype machine was in full force for Nirvana and many of the Seattle bands. The thing I loved about Nirvana was they advocated browsing the your local record store and picking up albums from some of their favorites or take a chance on something different. There were a ton of bands…

I know! There's a folk singer in my town who makes amazing illustrations for his gigs and my wife and I always take his fliers after his shows. Don't know if he'll ever get famous but his work is great. The music is great too.

So Mark, how's your sex life?

Cool and Attainable Auction Items
13th Floor Elevators concert poster w/ Quicksilver Messenger Service - Not the best of the Family Dog Productions flier artwork but still a cool piece.