Birthdays, Deaths and other announcements

Happy 66th Birthday, Mr. Jones! Your music contributed to the soundtrack of my life. In 1984-5 in L.A., you befriended a mutual mate of ours, Carleton (R.I.P.), who still lived in Glendale with his mom he was so young, but also so streetwise, he showed you the ropes while you were in town. How do I know? It was all he could talk about for weeks, bragging about running here & there for/with his new buddy, Steve. You might not remember him, but he never forgot you. From one old punk to another, here's to a smashing great day, & many more to come. Cheers! Sharon in CA.

Happy 75th birthday to the inimitable Loudon Wainwright III! When I was a child, you were my father's favorite singer/songwriter featured on local radio, with your heady hit, "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road," & as an adult, I rediscovered your unique musical offerings, developing a whole new appreciation for songs that had yrs prior flown right over my naive little head, like "Strange Weirdos," "Red Guitar," & "Unrequited to the Nth Degree," as sincerely (chortle, guffaw) performed by you on SNL's 1st season when I was 12 yrs old. In late 2018, I won tix to Rufus @ the Masonic in S.F. Dateless but content, I gave 1 ticket to a stranger, utilizing the other myself. This amazing gig turned me on to yet another aspect of your family's genius: talented musical offspring doing their own creative thing! So please, enjoy your blessed day secure in the knowledge that strange weirdos around the globe adore you & yours, without ever having met you in person. In other words, you done good, my man! Many happy returns, sharonthedyslexicmess in NorCal.

Happy belated 73rd Birthday to Detroit's finest, Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson! Not being born until 1963, it took me a little while to catch on to your butt-kicking drumming with MC5 (1964–1972, 1992? & 2003–2012), as well as with the great Ron Asheton (R.I.P.) of Stooges fame - sonic guitarist extraordinaire - in The New Order (1975-1976). But it was bound to happen sooner or later, & the evening my bandmates & I crashed a houseparty & took control over D.J. duties, it was basically non-stop Stooges & MC5 for the rest of the night. When some Mr. Smartypants suggested we mix it up a bit by playing other bands, we gladly offerred to do so if he could find something better. He could not & so relented. I didn't arrive in L.A. until 1984 & would later discover The New Order's 1989 release, "Victim of Circumstance."  But I found "The New Order" L.P. in 1977 prior to leaving my hometown once the demos were released under the same title, & would much later hear about the subsequent renamed reissues. I hope you had a blast on your birthday, & continue to "Kick Out the Jams" via many happy returns! Take care now, SRW in NorCal.

Hee-hee: Happy Birthday Ben Folds 55...progressed from band to orchestra overnight. Movin' on up, Son!