Author: admin

One of the things I’m trying to do as a teacher is to get my high school students to land part time jobs.  These kids (and all teens) are at the age where they should be exposed to real world experiences that they’ll have as adults.  Not that these are spoiled kiddos but they need to see what it’s like to show up to a job as expected, follow directions from a boss and score the pride of ownership in the ways of a job completed and of course, a paycheck. 

Some students tell me, “I won’t work fast food” or “I refuse to work weekends,” etc. I always tell them these jobs are NOT what you’ll be doing for the rest of your life but it’s vital to push yourself a bit to do plain old regular work. 

And as far as ‘work’ goes, I’ve had a few of those jobs and they’re not always pleasant.  Yet, they were worth doing.

From age 16 thru age 18 & I worked at the White Castle in Lombard. 

Working the occasional weekend late hours of 11pm til 7am, known as the “Graveyard Shift”, I got a glimpse of what adult party life was like. White Castle was open 24/7 and the local bars & clubs would stop serving booze by 2:00 a.m. Minutes after the bars closed, we’d have lines out the door til about 4 a.m. Just ask Harold & Kumar about the joys of late-night sliders when you’re high or liquored up or both. Working those weekend graveyard shifts exposed me to a heavy stream of drinkers and stoners. Customers’’ slurring their words and laughing loud at just about anything said was the norm for those hours.  Some of these sloshed folks were pretty funny and while serving them food we used to take notice of who came through our doors with the worst cases of bloodshot eyes. 

Cleaning the men’s room on that shift was the worst. Drunks pissed in the sink, on the floor, walls, toilet paper rolls and once in a while these slobs even managed to squirt a little in the toilet bowl.

So many times, I went to take out garbage to the parking lot dumpsters in the middle of the night and found drunken Castle patrons passed out in their idling cars. Oftentimes, they had their door open and bagged food still sitting on the hood or roof. I would reach in, turn off the ignition and let the pooped partiers sleep it off. They’d later wake up to cold burgers and fries which may have been a great hangover cure. 

Working at White Castle wasn’t to be my lifelong career but it sure taught me that sometimes you have to deal with nasty and strange stuff just to get by. While glad I don’t have to do that kind of work now, I’m still grateful for the experience to see just what it sometimes takes to make a buck.

 WORKING AT WHITE CASTLE EXPOSED ME TO THE DIRTIER SIDE OF A JOB.

Upon graduating college in May of 1984, I spent that summer working day maintenance at Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates.

The morning after concerts, our job was to clean up the entire concert facility.  Everything was picked up and maintained to look brand new. This included the parking lots, the plaza, seating area, the expansive lawn, backstage dressing rooms and all the restrooms.

One odd trend was cleaning those restrooms the morning after concerts. The men’s johns would have a little trash on the floor and small puddles of spilled suds but that was about it. However, the women’s restrooms? Whoa! They looked like those retail stores that get looted during race riots. Most of the time, we found ourselves knee deep in paper towels and toilet paper with lakes of sticky wine coolers and beer on the floor.  The toilet stalls were such a disgusting sight they made me pine for the urine covered men’s room walls from my days at White Castle.  Even after mellow concerts by Air Supply or Herb Alpert we’d clean up awful messes. I’d find bras and ladies panties stuffed in the metal boxes meant to store used feminine hygiene products.  Apparently, some liquored up ladies decided “I’m sick of wearing this bra and rather than stash it in my purse, I’ll just leave it here.” I found the whole thing to be pretty funny and a little gross too.  

Working such a sweaty and at times unpleasant job as this wasn’t exactly what a recent college grad should’ve been doing.  Still, the pay was good and the hours I logged covered my financial needs for the summer of 1984 and for a time beyond that as well.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF POPLAR CREEK MUSIC THEATER. LOOKS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE FROM UP HERE, BUT THOSE WOMEN’S RESTROOMS WERE A DIFFERENT STORY!

The Poplar Creek gig was the last of my dirty jobs and things eventually got better in my employment.  Still, I’m glad I soldiered on through those less than stellar tasks and recall them with fondness and relief that they’re in my past.  Jobs well done!

Next Blog- Recalling a rough Memorial Day weekend.

I may have been the only person I know who wasn’t at one of the three John Mellencamp concerts he played last weekend at the Chicago Theater.  However, I have a favorite Mellencamp concert memory to share.

John Mellencamp doing his thing in concert.

Since 1985 I’ve seen John Mellencamp in concert many times.  In arenas, outdoor venues, football stadiums, at Farm Aid, radio studios, you name it, I’ve been there.  Yet my favorite Mellencamp memory was when he was the warm-up act for the up & coming Chicago based power pop trio called Material Issue. John and Material Issue were label mates on Mercury Records, and the show happened on October 11^th 1991. (Let me backtrack a bit)

I was producing the Murphy in the Morning show at WKQX, Q-101 FM and Mellencamp was booked to come on with us and promote his new album “Whenever We Wanted” which hit stores three days earlier. We were already playing the lead single “Get a Leg Up.”  His visit went fine, we were warned not to ask John to sing that early in the morning but Murf coaxed the Indiana rocker to take a turn on his Gibson ‘Songbird’ guitar and John obliged with a verse of “Small Town” and then a verse of the John Prine song “Dear Abby.” Murf knew that song too and joined in on the warbling.  After a quick visit to our sales staff in the conference room we walked John and his people out. Yet, I wasn’t done seeing him that day.

Here’s the Hoosier rocker and yours truly posing in the Q-101 studios.

Unbeknownst to some, Mellencamp and his band were set to make an un-announced concert appearance in some towns where they did radio to promote the new music and this Friday night would be no different. The afore mentioned Material Issue was already booked to headline a show at the Riviera Theatre and now Mr. “Hurts So Good” and his players would be the opening act.  I was put on the guest list and got to sit in my favorite reserved seating area; the first row of the Riviera balcony.  I always referred to this locale as being the “Abe Lincoln Seats” because we had a similar vantage point Abe & Mary Todd had that fateful night at Ford’s Theatre.  Sitting behind me that night I was happy to see my longtime friend and record promoter Dave Ross who was in town from L.A. and made it to the show.

The place was well filled, the house lights drop and the band, save for Mellencamp took their places onstage.  Drummer Kenny Aronoff rapped on a cowbell a couple of times and I’m thinking “That sounds like the opening to ‘Honky Tonk Woman’.”  It was, and with some twang from guitarist David Grissom and fiddle player Lisa Germano sawing away with her bow, we were getting a country version of the Rolling Stones classic.  As the intro almost wraps up, out walked John, lit cigarette in hand and he took to the microphone to sing “I met a gin soaked barroom queen in Memphis, she tried to take me upstairs for a ride.”  This was one of the cooler ways to start a show and the Mellencamp group really sent up that Stones classic in a fun and novel way.

The Riviera crowd went insane, a surprise cover to an iconic song and seeing this guy who normally plays hockey arenas in such an intimate place that holds just 2,500 people?  This was a special night.  Mellencamp and his band played their new single, rocked out “Hurts So Good” as the crowd took over singing the first verse, then there was also a visit with “Jack and Diane”, “Small Town”, “Lonely Ole Night” and my favorite of his tunes, “Minutes to Memories.”

The album cover for the 1991 album “Whenever We Wanted.” The woman on the left is model Elaine Irwin who would go on to become Mellencamp’s 3rd wife. Not sure why she needed to be in bare feet during this photo and video shoot.

The band wasn’t finished with their covers as they took on Free’s “Alright Now” and John forgot a few of the words mid-song but that didn’t matter. The whole set lasted about forty minutes as it wrapped with a rousing version of “Pink Houses.”  John and his band took their bows and were done with the surprise appearance.

I stuck around for Material Issue’s following set. After a couple of songs played back to back they stopped down for a quick greeting to their fans. Lead singer and guitarist Jim Ellison (rest in peace) then asked, “What did you think of that opening act?”  The crowd cheered out their approval and Jim dryly responded with something along the lines of, ‘Yeah, that guy’s pretty good.  He might make it someday. I’ll have to put in a good word for him.”  Everyone laughed and then went on to enjoy the rest of Material Issue’s set of power pop songs.

Leaving that night and heading to my car I saw a couple of long white passenger vans pulling out from the back alley of the Riviera. The vans approached the corner where I was standing and inside were members of John Mellencamp’s band.  I gave a quick wave and they waved back then took off into the cool fall Chicago night.

This short but hits packed John Mellencamp performance was my favorite of his for a couple of reasons. One, it was rare to see the guy perform in such a small room with great acoustics. Two, as well as they played, this was a ‘let’s have fun and cut loose’ type of show.  That’s the best kind of concert to see and hear. 

Next Blog:  Work is Work.

Last week there was a designated “National Prom Day.”  This means prom season is in full bloom.  A couple of my students are making plans for attending the proms at their home schools and I’m hearing plenty of talk about those events

I went to two proms, in my mid-twenties. No, I was not a designated chaperone or a creepy stalker.  I was part of the hired entertainment for the dances.  This was back when me, my college radio pal Jim Turano and our young assistant Magic Alan Hawes had a profitable D.J. business going. 

Both proms were for Fenton High School in Bensenville.  We’d done other dances for them and they paid handsomely for our services.  Proms are a big money deal and when they asked me how much we charged for that special night, I answered “How much you got?”

Spinning records at proms, I never did run into Andie and Duckie.

My own high school proms for junior and senior years at York High School happened in the Springs of 1978 and 1979.  This was when going to these shindigs was more formal in social structure. By that I mean everyone was coupled up, nobody went to the prom stag or in groups of guys and groups of girls like kids have been doing for the past twenty years or so. I often wish our era was as casual as it is today which is more inclusive and fun.  I also wish I would’ve had the stones to ask a girl to either one of those proms back in the day.

The night of the dance in 1978 found me at the home of a female classmate who had some friends over for beers and hanging out.  It was a low-key night but it seemed like everywhere I turned there was a girl or two who would be quietly crying; hurt that nobody asked them to prom.  I felt so bad for them and hoped they’d get asked by somebody the next year.

My senior year prom was a real downer for me.  Earlier that spring, there was a girl a year younger than me who I liked as more than a friend.  She knew this and was liking on me too.  However, I waited too long to ask her out on a date and she linked up with a real dweeb.  By the time York’s prom came, this girl and the dweeb had been dating a couple months. That ship had sailed. 

In the early evening of my senior prom, I drove to that girl’s house to see the dweeb’s car parked in the driveway.  Just as I rolled by the happy couple came out, all dressed up and set to pose for photos taken by her parents.  Ugh!  Talk about a major belly drop!

Jeez, even Napoleon Dynamite made it to a prom!

From there I went to my pal Gordy Carlson’s house. Gordy always hosted the best beer bashes and I stopped by to join others who weren’t going to the York prom.  I could only have a couple of beers because I was slated to work the 11pm til 7 am shift that night at White Castle.  I figured why not make a few bucks instead of getting piss drunk at a party and feeling miserable the next day?

My graveyard shift at White Castle was a busy one.  The time flew by as we fed the late night drunks and stoners. Things slowed down at four a.m.  Then, as I was mopping the Castle’s dining room floor, in came several couples from the York prom; still dressed to the nines and partying it up!

I forget who the kids were but I knew some of them and they knew me too.  Those classmates were out having the times of their lives and here I was slinging a smelly wet mop on a dirty floor. Standing there among my peers in their tuxedos and gowns, I suddenly realized that not making an effort to go to prom left me missing out on one of the special rites of teen life. The regret hit me like a punch to the gut. In my high school days, I rarely felt low or depressed but at that moment in the White Castle dining room, I never felt more like a loser. 

Prom night & the morning after and I was working at White Castle.

If there was any bright spot to this whole lousy experience, it was to happen a year later when I did date that girl who I liked and she liked me.  It didn’t last too long but at least I scored some redemption for my being too shy or chickenshit to pull the trigger earlier.  Lesson learned.  As hockey great Wayne Gretzky always said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”  Duly noted!

Happy Prom Season!

NEXT BLOG- Remembering a favorite concert I went to.

It’s been a little over a month since I posted a blog. First off, once again the kindness and concern shown to me by so many people after my ‘Trouble’ passed away was amazing and so appreciated. It’s taking some time getting used to being the lone soul in my house. When the time and situation is right, I’ll adopt a kitty and hopefully two so they can keep each other company.

The recent Super Bowl provided the opportunity to place my first ever legal bets. I went to the Crazy Pour Sports Book in Villa Park and won both my wagers. I took the Chiefs and the points and also bet on more than 50 and a half points being scored in the game. Being right on both those bets earned me $50.00 total. I’m not exactly Mr. Vegas but when the time is right I’ll find another pro or college sports game to place some money on.

On the subject of money, I just learned what I’ll be getting back in tax refund money from the Federal and State government. My guy John B at H&R Block is a great help and well worth the fee I pay to have my tax forms taken care of. I’m not sure what to do with my refund money but Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners would recommend spending it on a fishing vacation.

Looking at the calendar, we’re 3 months away from East End Pool from opening for the season. Recently, I’ve been getting in swim laps in at the Courts Plus and hope to make it more than just a Saturday and Sunday thing. It’s fun running into former classmates and other friends at the Courts pool and the dry sauna too.

Come St. Patrick’s Day, my school is holding our annual Student/Staff Talent Show. This year I’m gonna do karaoke to my favorite Elvis song. “Little Sister.” Right before that track is played, I’ll warble the opening verse to the Eagles “Seven Bridges Road” acapella like I always do. Students are working up dance routines and we have some aspiring rappers too. The trick is to get the rappers to keep their lyrics on the clean side. That is a challenge!

On the subject of music, I’ve been on a Sam Cooke listening kick lately. I always loved the late great Sam’s voice and also the fact that he wrote his own hits. “Another Saturday Night,” “Bring it on Home to Me”, “Cupid,” “Chain Gang”, “Having a Party”, “Twisting the Night Away” and the greatest of all “A Change is Gonna Come.” That’s an impressive list!

ONE MORE THING– Good movies are still a challenge to find in theaters these days. So here’s a recommendation for one to order On Demand or whatever other streaming service you have. Check out the 2004 English drug caper movie “Layer Cake.” Daniel Craig plays a drug lord trying to get out of the business after one last deal. Craig is so cool in this role that not long after this film he was cast as the next James Bond. Many people thought he wouldn’t make a good 007 but after seeing “Layer Cake” I knew he’d do fine as Bond. The movie co-stars Sienna Miller who smolders as a temptress and the great Michael Gambon who delivers as a dirty money guy. Gambon also has a great scene where he explains what the “Layer Cake” actually is. Try this one out, you won’t regret it!

NEXT BLOG- Not sure what it’ll be on. Stay tuned.

Before I start Trouble’s tribute; since his passing let me say the outpouring of kind words, support and messages I’ve gotten from dear friends has been INCREDIBLE!  I’m overwhelmed and it shows how many special people are in my life. Good folks who aren’t afraid to show their caring for both me and my departed pal.  Several friends have offered to help when I’m ready to adopt another kitty or two. I will definitely keep those offers in mind when the time is right for me.

In late July of 2006 my mother and I adopted a shy one year old neutered domestic short haired cat.  We found him at the Du page Animal Shelter where his name was ‘Chase.’  It was a Saturday when we took in this fella and thanks to a senior citizen’s special that day, the adoption fee my mom paid was only one dollar.  I noticed the shelter’s staff seemed really giddy and happily surprised that their feline found a new family to live with.  The buzz around the place was “Chase is going home!  Chase is going home!”

We got the soon to be re-named kitty home and he quickly hid for the next day and a half. There was no sight of him until I lifted up our loveseat and discovered the little guy hiding up in the ticking of the couch!  I gently pulled our rescue kitty out of there, then hugged and kissed him. With that he seemed to relax and realize we meant him no harm. 

A minute later ‘Chase’ earned his new name by jumping on a shelf and knocking over a clock encased in glass. The timepiece smashed shards all over the place and the noise scared him enough to run atop the dining room table where he knocked over a coffee cup and a bunch of papers.  I turned to my mom and said, “This one’s gonna be trouble.”  We looked at each other and knew “Trouble” would be his new name.Truth be told, he never was much trouble after that.

All other cats we ever owned loved to spend time in our backyard but Trouble was more than content to sit on a window sill and look outside.  In the warm weather he liked to push his face against the window screens and try to mimic the chirp of birds in our front yard trees.  He was so cute doing that. 

Trouble had no problem getting along with the other cat in our house, our nine-year-old pure white kitty named Dudley.  On occasion, they would sit together on a desk and look out our front window.  When Dudley would go outside for short spells, Trouble would always watch him from the back bedroom window but never wanted to join his housemate in the yard.

After Dudley died in 2010, (and my mom passed the year before) it was just me and Trouble.  Trouble ate like the king of the house that he was.  I spoiled this guy with freshly grilled bacon, chicken, burger patties and when I cooked myself salmon, guess who got about half of that fish?  Trouble!

When I’d come home from being at school all day, Trouble would run to the back door to greet me and meow for a snack. He almost always got a treat.  I’ve often said our pets don’t live long lives so let’s make them good lives.  In the summers or the weekends, when I’d take a nap, I’d often wake to find Trouble nuzzled between my shoulder and neck.  He’d be happily snoozing away.

In the fall of this past year, my furry friend started to slow down.  He slept more and was less active as arthritis came into play.  Still, Trubs ALWAYS loved having under his chin rubbed and could purr for days while I petted him. 

As I’ve been through the decline of health in other pets over the years, I knew when it was time to help Trouble cross the Rainbow Bridge. I may have even waited a couple days too long.  Trubs was calm, quiet and at peace as he passed and my heart broke.  The help and support Trouble and I got from the Elmhurst Animal Care Center was nothing short of amazing.  Those folks are true angels! 

Right now, is the first time in 58 years that I do not have a dog or cat living in my house. Will I get another kitty in the future?  Yes.  I might look to adopt two at once so they can be pals.  But for now, I just need to absorb this hurt and be grateful for the 16 ½ years I had with the sweetest little fella I could ask for.

So long Trouble.  I love you and will never forget all the joy and companionship you brought me.  And I hope the food at the Rainbow Bridge is as good as you deserve!

The festive holidays are in our rearview mirror but here’s a little extra gift. It’s something to spark your interest in my upcoming media memoir “Raised on the Radio.” 

Setting up this excerpt: It’s a recollection of some of the perks I experienced when producing major market radio shows in Chicago.  Lots of fun was had and at little expense to me…

EXTRAS, FREEBIES AND GUESTLISTS Seeing movies, concerts and ballgames was how most of my free time away from radio was spent. The money I paid out for newspapers, books, magazines, cable TV and cell-phone bills all got written off as tax deductions because they were related to my job as a radio producer. Carefully tracking expenditures throughout my time in radio, I used to joke that my whole life was one giant tax write-off. 

Good seats at concerts were regularly available and rare was the time I had to pay for my tickets.  I got friends of mine and ladies I dated into plenty of big shows.  One of the best parts about seeing these shows was enjoying the reactions from whoever I took to the show with me.  Sitting 5^th row center for free at a Rolling Stones concert was wild and my good buddy Bobbo got as big a thrill out of it as I did.  There was the time I treated my friend Bernie to special lounge suite seats with drink service for a Moody Blues concert at Poplar Creek.  He was a longtime fan of the band and when they launched into “Tuesday Afternoon” Bernie had tears in his eyes as he thanked me for such a memorable happening.

My favorite places to see concerts in Chicago were the smaller venues like the Riviera, The Vic, Park West and House of Blues. These theatres had the best sound and sightlines. I was often able to get what I called ‘The Lincoln Seats’ in these places. Those were the ones on the raised level to the side of the stage in a private box.  I’m just glad I never encountered a bitter John Wilkes Booth at those shows. One time at a Wang Chung concert at the Riviera, I saw some attractive models sitting in a nearby balcony box. They were REALLY hot.  In fact, these women were so hot they tore off their bras from under their tops and slingshot them onto Wang Chung’s stage.  Next, these ladies flashed their bare breasts to the band. I thought to tell them this was not Mardi Gras in New Orleans and there were no cheap plastic beads to earn, but why spoil their fun?   

The “He’s So Cool” factor for concert freebies might be the kick for some people but I appreciated the convenience. No standing in line or going online for tickets, plus VIP parking made life much easier. For me, sitting in skyboxes or other preferred areas never got old. And if a freebie that I wanted wasn’t offered, a quick phone call would be made and usually it was, “Yes, we can put you on that guest list.  No problem. See you there!”

Looking back on all the extras that were there for the taking, I think of Ray Liotta talking about the gangster life in “Good Fellas” when he said, “For us, to live any other way was nuts.” 

That was my life in radio for a long time and I loved every minute of it!

2022 is wrapping up and 2023 approaches. So, here’s my personal look back and a look ahead.

SCHOOL– This year was the usual adventure at our therapeutic day school as we saw two more of my seniors graduate in May and three students transitioned to improved placements.  For 2023, I have three more seniors set to graduate and another kiddo who can be done after summer school.  Our new principal has been fantastic and while the first semester of this school year was chippy (with some rowdy fighting students) all is getting better within the population.  And our staff, especially my assistant Miss Cat, is aces up.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS- Adding to my freshly built front steps, I had a new walkway to the steps installed and a new all white vanity brightened up the bathroom. My landscaper did a great job keeping my yard looking good and I appreciated his hard work.  For 2023 I’m getting new back steps, a new side door to the garage and I’ll patch up and re-seal my driveway.

MOVIES- There wasn’t a lot to see on the big screen in 2022 but I did enjoy “Top Gun 2: Maverick”, “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “Elvis” to name a few.  “Elvis” got me to fully appreciate what a great and important song “If I Can Dream” was and remains.  For 2023 one movie of interest would be “Cocaine Bear” and for a goof maybe the “Barbie” film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will be worth seeing next July. 

SONG PARODIES– Al Flash and I had several more music videos played on the Channel 9 Morning News, with all of them being were very well received.  Robin Baumgarten’s engagement to Mr. X proved to be fertile ground for us to exploit.  Robin is aware we know the identity of Mr. X but until she reveals who the guy is to the world, we still have one final tune and video on hold but ready to air.  2023 will start off with another of our year in review videos done to the melody of Lil Nax X’s “Old Town Road.” 

DENTAL FIX-UPS- An eleven year absence from a dentist’s chair yielded five cavities in my pie hole. Even my dentist was impressed my teeth didn’t have more issues.  For 2023, I learned my lesson and will see Dr. Fornatto, every six months.  My next appointment is in mid-March.

WAKE-UP CALL- The deaths of five men I knew (four of whom were former classmates) was a stunner.  Three of them were in what was believed to be in very good health yet they dropped dead from heart attacks.  My summer physical showed improvements in my own health but I can do better and am working on it now and for 2023.  Summer swimming was great as I got up to over a mile a day in laps at East End Pool. Getting back into the water at the Courts last month has been a small beginning to better health.  Like I said, I can do much better and need to do much better. 

BOOK IT! I know you’ve heard this before but my media memoir, “Raised on the Radio” has gone through its final, final edit!  Jim Libovicz, a very astute literary man and my friend for 55 years, did a great going over on the eighty-one thousand word manuscript.  Now I need to line up some photos, get a cover and roll it on to Amazon as an E-book.  I hope to get it out by May.  Maybe “Raised on the Radio” will be the beach read for the summer. 

So that wraps up 2022.  It was a pretty decent year for me, no, make that a damn fine year with more blessings and good things than I can count and that’s a lot.

 I wish all of you a Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year to all!

NEXT BLOG- Not sure when (mid-January?) and about what. Stay tuned!

When talking about music with others, on occasion the question will come up, ‘Which do you like better the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?”  My answer is always The Who.  Yep, The Who, without question.

As a fan since 1970, I first saw the band in concert back in 1979 (minus the late Keith Moon) then again in 1980.  So, when Pete Townsend and company announced their 1982 “Farewell Tour”, I was all in to see them live.  I saw all three shows they played at the Rosemont Horizon with the best of those concerts being the final Chicago area gig on December 8^th.

But the band wasn’t done with their farewell road run.  The final gig was set for Friday December 17^th at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens.  It was a pay per view event that would be simulcast on radio stations across the U.S.

Needless to say, me and some close pals, also fellow Who fans, Bobbo, Marko, Willie, Pross and some others wanted to watch this concert from good ole Elmhurst Illinois.  Bobbo got his father, who was always tinkering with electronics, to come up with an unscrambling device so we could watch the pay per view event without paying.  Don’t ask me how that gadget was put together because I barely know how a can opener works.

Since the concert was to be simulcast on one of Chicago’s local rock radio stations Bobbo asked me to bring my kick ass stereo (with great Klipsch Heresy speakers) to his house so we could blast up the sound while watching the show.  That afternoon I hauled over all the audio gear and we set it up in his house’s rec room. I brought along my stereo cassette recorder with two new ninety minute Maxell high quality tapes so we’d have an audio keepsake from the concert.

That night the guys came over to Bobbo’s. There were cold beers to drink and as showtime approached we tuned in to a TV test pattern, nervously waiting to see if Bobbo’s dad’s video thievery gadget would work. It did and the show was on! We slipped through the technological cracks. We hijacked The Who! Way to go Mr. C!

Opening with “My Generation” and rocking for twenty-four more songs, The Who was in fine form, probably relieved that their cross-country long goodbye was wrapping up that night. Townsend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and drummer Kenny Jones even played one of my favorite lesser known Who songs, “Naked Eye” along with the fun and rousing “Squeeze Box.”  The encore closed out with Entwistle howling out the rock n roll oldie “Twist and Shout” and I remember all of us singing along at the top of our lungs to it too. 

It was such a fun night. We were all care free as the start of our college winter vacation kicked off in proper rocking fashion.  After the concert ended, we went to Elmhurst’s popular watering hole Oscar’s for more drinks.  I brought along the freshly recorded cassettes of the show and got the bar staff to play a bunch of cuts on their house sound system.  I still have those audio cassette tapes and they still sound great.

That pay per view (without paying) night with the hi-jacked Who happened forty years ago.  Forty years ago, we were all so young, full of hopes and dreams of what would happen to us through the rest of college and beyond.  The good news is Bobbo, Marko, Willie, me and the others on hand that night are still around; healthy, happy, some of whom are retired.  You can’t ask for much more than that.

Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey are what remains of the original four band members. While The Who so famously sang, “Hope I die before I get old”, they got old but they’re still touring.  Thanks for all the music guys and some great memories too!

NEXT BLOG- A personal review of 2022 and a look ahead to 2023.

5:30 – 8:00 a.m. I woke up at 5:30 a.m. (that’s my usual time) fed Trouble some roast chicken and fixed myself a bowl of Cheerios with milk and blueberries.  Ate that while online checking emails and updating my Facebook post for the day.  Next, I watched the first 90 minutes of CBS Saturday Morning. Saw a cool feature on a wild animal preserve with beautiful lions, tigers and other big cats who’ve been abandoned by assholes. Also, an interesting interview with director Darren Aronofsky whose new film “The Whale” comes out next Friday.  I look forward to seeing that one, featuring Brendan Fraser in a comeback role.

8:00 – 12:30 a.m.  Headed to the Courts Plus for a swim but saw the parking lot was packed and decided to delay that and gas up my car for the week.  I used a rewards card from BP Amoco and filled up at the station in Villa Park.  After that my car went dead!  No power, no revving, nothing! This problem came out of nowhere. The towing service I called didn’t answer but there was a tow & repair place right next to this gas station.  One of the guys came over and gave my car a needed jump for 40 bucks.  (Saved me on a pricey towing fee) I brought my ride over to JMS Auto in Elmhurst, owned by my friend Jeff Durante.  That’s where I always get my car worked on and it turns out my dying battery was still under warranty so in 15 minutes time Jeff and his crew loaded me up with a new battery (no charge) and I was out of there.  Jeff refused any money for the labor work.  He’s the best!

I swung back to the Courts Plus and the early work-out people were leaving in droves. Got a great parking spot then hit the pool for a thirty-lap swim. Thirty laps are my minimum in the pool, with more laps to come.

 Next, I spent time in the dry sauna having an interesting chat with a woman named Olga from Ukraine as we talked about diets and exercise.  She’s married with her husband often away since he works for the U.S. Department of Defense.  Olga shared the benefits of what a vegan diet has done for her, her son and her husband. She wasn’t pushing this animal product free eating plan on me (some vegans annoy others doing that) but it was interesting to hear how she thrives on that daily diet.  Yet, I have friends who are total 180’s as they live healthy lives eating beef, eggs, whole milk and other animal products. 

A hot shower followed and I got home to make a supplement drink. Then watched what I saved on my DVR including “My 600 Pound Life” and NBC Today Show Saturday which had a wild report on a ten year old Picasso-like artist who’s selling his paintings for 6 figures!  That feature will be shown to my students on Monday.

Sorry soccer fans but I missed the U.S. loss in the FIFA Tournament.  (Soccer is not my thing)

 12:30 – 6:30 Spent time on my PC editing the annual year end wrap-up parody song Al Flash and I send to the Channel 9 Morning News.  Each year we do it to the melody of the Lil Nas X hit “Old Town Road.” The 2022 review tune looks to be a fun one.  

Next, I started reading and outlining notes for “Winter’s Bone,” a book we’ll be reading in English class come January.  I know the story well and hope to show the film when we finish reading that 200 page book.  “Winter’s Bone” is one of my favorite movies from the last 20 years.

6:30 – 11:00 p.m.  Cooked two lean meat burgers with pickles for dinner and wrote up quiz questions for the first half of “Winter’s Bone.”  Had “Gone Girl” on TV while I worked.  I also chatted on Facebook instant messenger with a couple of friends. Last, I swept & mopped the kitchen before tuning in to SNL and hitting the sack. 

I know what you’re thinking; “What a wild and carefree life of excitement you lead.”  Well, somebody’s gotta do it, why not me?

NEXT BLOG- The night we hijacked The Who.

Lots of thoughts rolling around my coconut so let’s crack it open and let em out.

THE RECENT CMA AWARDS- This year’s show was a damn good one with a healthy return to more traditional twangy country songs led by up and coming star Lainey Wilson.  The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award went to Alan Jackson with the musical medley well played.  Alan’s part of that stretch of songs was great and his acceptance speech was heartfelt and perfect. 

THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY– That 4 hour commercial free event is running on HBO right now.  Lots to take in.  The influence of MTV was apparent with the inductions of early video stars Duran Duran, Pat Benatar & husband Neil Giraldo and Eurhythmics. Forget the pretty boy tag Duran squared got labeled with years ago, the music still holds up.  A personal favorite of mine would be their early 90’s comeback song “Ordinary World.” Benatar sings at a lower pitch nowadays but still sounded great.  Plus, she wears gray hair well. Giraldo’s acceptance speech was full of grace and great advice to young people.  Eurythmics (Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart) have not recorded or toured in over 20 years but they didn’t miss a beat.  Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp honored the late Jerry Lee Lewis with “Great Balls of Fire” which was well framed by E Street piano ace Roy Bittan shining bright on the keys.  “Great Balls” is a rowdy crowd pleaser but bear in mind John Lennon used to say the greatest rock n roll song of all time was Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On.”

ON THE SUBJECT OF AWARDS-  In the past week, two of my dear pals were nominated for special honors.  Jim Turano has been given a nom as Best Performer in a Play in the recent Invictus Theatre production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”  Voting for that honor closes out on 12/31/22.  You can cast a vote at this website. https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/voteregion.cfm

And my longtime US*99 compadre Trish Biondo has been nominated to become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame!  This is due to Trish’s long years in the country genre and although she’s no longer on the radio, Trish remains a well respected and admired figure in country music.  We’ll find out if she gets in come next year.

GO DUKES!  The York High School varsity football Dukes deserve big props for their magical season of twelve wins and just one loss.  They fell one game short of going to the championship match-up but captured the hearts and attention of not only their classmates but alumni from years ago.  It was fun this year driving by York Stadium during home games and seeing the stands packed guts to butts with fans on hand to watch these young men play football.

LOSS AND NEAR LOSS– I was stunned to learn of the unexpected passing of my old college radio station manager and classmate Mark Gruhlke.  Mark died on October 31st from an undetected heart issue.  Strangely enough I was actually THINKING of Mark on Halloween this year as I recalled a fun time I had at a costume party he held at his parents house 40 years ago.  I’ll share more thoughts on Mark in a future blog. 

Former “Friends” star Matthew Perry was interviewed by Bill Maher this week as he talked up the best selling book about his years long and near fatal drug addiction.  The guy’s colon exploded and he was given less than a 5% chance to survive.  As Maher pointed out, it’s so easy to die and yet the human body can also show such remarkable resilience.  Thinking of Mark Gruhlke and Matthew Perry, that sure is true.

MISC. STUFF-

*I have a confession to make.  I cannot tell the difference between actresses Olivia Wilde, Olivia Munn and Olivia Culpo.   There, I feel better saying that.

**Season 2 of “The White Lotus” is fun to follow but something nutty better be happening in this social satire series between Harper played by Aubrey Plaza and Cameron played by Theo James. 

***The popularity of the Netflix series based on cannibal killer Jeffrey Dahmer makes perfect timing for the new film “Bones and All” which comes out this week.  This movie is about two cannibalistic lovers.  I’ll pass.  When it comes to humans eating humans, my plate is full.  Pun intended.

****One movie I am interested in is the reported comeback of actor Brendan Fraser in “The Whale.”  Fraser plays an obese and reclusive English teacher trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.  “The Whale” swims into theaters on December 9^th. 

Here’s a murky yet intriguing preview of that movie.

Here comes actor Brendan Fraser’s comeback movie.

NEXT BLOG– I’m not sure what’s next. Stay tuned.