ROCK & ROLL RENEWED (signed..sealed & delivered!)

The 25th Anniversary Show celebrating the ROCK & ROLL Hall of Fame was shown on HBO last night. Recorded from 2 shows at Madison Square Gardens over a month ago, the show runs 4 hours and includes many great musicians. From Folk to Blues to Motown it was all there! Mick JaggerMick Jagger, Bono, David Crosby, Stevie WonderStevie Wonder, Bonnie RaittBonnie Raitt, James TaylorJames Taylor...Well, where does one begin? It's a looooong list of Rock & Roll All-stars. And..my favourite Rock Icon..Mr. Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen was there..centre stage and sweatin' out some nostalgic hits like "Jungleland" and Born to Run". He did a sweet NY Serenade with Billy JoelBilly Joel and a gut-wrenching "Ghost of Tom Joad" with Tom Morellos (my IWW idol) The band was fantastic...from Roy's tender piano to Clarence's bluesy sax and Stevie's axe...they were in top form. Bruce's voice seemed a bit hoarse..well..Hell's Bells..he's been touring for the better part of a year now! Not too shabby for an old fart! Er..make that a elder Rock Statesman!

They aired the show twice on HBO last night..I laid in bed half dozing through the rerun...waking at odd and memorable times. I wrote a short ditty for the occasion this morning. Enjoy;

ROCK & ROLL HEART

Well...Boston's got beans...London's got queens
and Philly's got a bell with a crack
We know Frisco is hilly...Montreal is too chilly
and Baghdad is too close to Iraq

Each Ville and each town
has a claim to reknown
BUT only Cleveland has a
Rock & Roll heart

As a kid from the Fifties
who's approachin' his Sixties
the show helped me to forget strife
As the bands strummed and strutted
I sang along and remembered how
the music was part of my life

Now the years have seemed long
with my long hair most gone
and the booze has got most of my liver
BUT..put some amps and guitars
on a stage with some Stars and
my sense's they go all a'quiver

When I watched the BOSS rage
on that big New York stage
an old beat stirred in my veins
and from bebop to Blues
I felt my Rock & Roll shoes
twitch with each chord and refrain

So you can keep your Great Towers
your old bridges and gardens
I'll take some backbeat with drums
And I've learned thru the years
filled with song and some tears
I'm just a soul that was "Born to Run"!

Each Ville and each Town has
some claim to reknown but Cleveland
has a Rock & Roll Heart!

(Andy Mathisen Nov 30/2009)

Writer and Springsteen Chronicler extraordinaire Lawrence Kirsch has a new book out in time for Christmas. His last collection of fan anecdotes, concert memories etc "For You" sold out fast. "Light in Darkness" promises the same eclectic collection of photos, memory and reflection as the first. You can link to this fascinating book at the site below.

http://www.thelightindarkness.com/home/

Here's a look at the Finale of the Anniversary show. Rock & Roll is here to stay...bring it on! Higher,,,and Higher!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpdmVhGVg2k