The Loudini Rock and Roll Circus

LRRC EP853: Them vs Jimmy Page, Thomas Dolby, GE Smith, Why Modern Music Sucks

On This week's show we do a deep dive on the issues plaguing modern music. We talk objective facts that are actually hurting the industry as well as the listener. We also tell you about the crazy recording session of "Baby Please Don't Go" and a really touching story about GE Smith's beloved 1952 Telecaster. All this and much more!

 

Loudini: the real crazy recording of the song “baby please don’t go” by Them(Freewheeling), How Thomas Dolby was blinded by science(why this song), GE Smith’s telecaster(premiere guitar), facts about the film Amadeus(golden flicker), did richie blackmore invent shred(deep purple), nurse messy scandal? Worst guitar buying experience

 

why your music sucks(wasteful media), 

1. Homogenized… length, style tempo & tambre
2. Accessible but disposable
3. Over saturated,, too much of the same
4. Over simplified for mass conception
5. Consumability over creativity
6. Algorithm creates Musical echo chamber
7. Artists become slave to algorithm
8. A.I. making situation worse
9. Pressure to keep it between 100 to 110 BPM
10. “Loudness war” eliminates dynamics… reduces impair cognitive function, creates noise fatigue,
11.  Over sameness keeps music from “hitting” like it used to.
12. “Industry plants”
13. Prioritizes standardization over individuality
14. Band camp and patreon can help

Pittsburgh Kevin: tik tok friend disappeared, guitar myths, 

 

Film Corner: The Home, The Monster Inside, Super Store(TV series),

Your Week In Rock:

Key Anniversaries & “On This Day” Events

Date	Event	Notes
Sept. 15	Elvis Presley is presented with a gold record for Don’t Be Cruel, which just overtook Hound Dog as his best‐selling single. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 15	Group from Hawthorne, California (The Pendletones) record "Surfin’" – one of the early Beach Boys tracks. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 15	This Day in Music lists: birthdays of modern/rock musicians such as Zach Filkins (OneRepublic), Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand) etc. (This Day In Music)
Sept. 16	“She Loves You” / “I’ll Get You” by The Beatles is released in the US via Swan Records; important in Beatles/rock history. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 16	Johnny Burnette records “You’re 16”, which later becomes a hit in various versions. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 16	First package rock & roll tour by Dick Clark & Irvin Feld: Paul Anka / Lloyd Price / Coasters / Duane Eddy / etc. This is an early example of packaged rock/R&B/“pop” shows. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 16	Deaths: Marc Bolan (T. Rex) in 1977, car accident. (on-this-day.com) Also, Jimi Hendrix’s final public appearance (with Eric Burdon) in 1970 at Ronnie Scott’s in London. (This Day In Music)
Sept. 18	Jimi Hendrix died in London (1970) at age 27. (Wikipedia)
Sept. 20	Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen died in a plane crash after a concert in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1973. (Classic Bands) Also on Sept. 20: Sarah Dash (member of Labelle, session/work with Rolling Stones etc.) died in 2021. (This Day In Music)
Sept. 20	Bay City Rollers performed on Saturday Night Variety Show with their then new “Saturday Night”‐record, which later becomes a #1 hit in US. (Classic Bands)

Birthdays (Rock / Related Genres) During This Week

Here are some musician / rock artist birthdays in September 15-21:

Date	Artist	What they’re known for / band
Sept. 16	B.B. King (1925-…) – Blues legend. (This Day In Music)
Sept. 16	Bernie Calvert (The Hollies) (This Day In Music)
Sept. 20	Chuck Panozzo (Styx) (This Day In Music)
Sept. 20	Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden) (AP News)
Sept. 20	Gunnar & Matthew Nelson (Nelson) (This Day In Music)

If you want, I can pull a full list (including less famous ones) for the whole week of rock artists.

Deaths

Date	Person	Band / Contribution	Notes
Sept. 15	Richard Wright (Pink Floyd) died in 2008. (Ultimate Classic Rock)
Sept. 16	Marc Bolan (T. Rex) died in 1977 (car accident) at age 29. (on-this-day.com)
Sept. 18	Jimi Hendrix died in 1970. (Wikipedia)
Sept. 20	Jim Croce & Maury Muehleisen died in plane crash in 1973. (Classic Bands)
Sept. 20	Sarah Dash (Labelle etc.) died in 2021. (This Day In Music)

LRRC EP852: Rob Chapman, John Paul Jones, Charlie Kirk, Spotify Trick, Debbie Gibson Ozzy's Revolving Guitar Door

It was a KRAY-ZEE week! On this week's podcast we touch on lot of topics from current world events to what's new in music. All this and Debbie Gibson too!

 

Loudini: current event recap, we’re back, your amp might get you “cancelled” Rob Chapman, sneaky trick musician’s can do to actually leverage spotify(that’s nice), why the Ozzy revolving door for guitarists?(john hanson guitar), you favorite singers loosing there voices(JPearlTV), , zeppelin slaps John Paul Jones in the face (vinyl secrets), the end of TV(snarky j and critical drinker), remember Debbie Gibson? She has a new song!(debbie gibson), 

Kevin: pittsburgh kevin origin story, 9 days a week, working with Alex  Lifeson neighbor, david lee roth punking the world, spinal tap retrospective podcast, kirstie alley

Film Corner: The God Father I & II, Lords of Salem

This week in Rock:

Classic Rock & Modern Rock Highlights: Sept 7–13, 2025

September 7

• Live debut of Led Zeppelin (as “The New Yardbirds”) at the Gladsaxe Teen Club near Copenhagen (1968), playing “Dazed and Confused,” “Communication Breakdown” (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Death of Keith Moon (The Who drummer) at age 32 (1978) (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Death of Warren Zevon (singer-songwriter, “Werewolves of London”) at age 56 (2003) (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Fleetwood Mac hit No. 1 on Billboard with their reunion live album The Dance, featuring “Landslide,” “The Chain,” “Silver Springs” (1997) (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Michael Jackson reunites with Jackson Five at Madison Square Garden, featuring Eminem, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, and more (2001) (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Bowie & Jagger score UK No. 1 with “Dancing in the Street” duet (1985) (This Day In Music).
  
  
• Birthdays: Buddy Holly (1936), Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders (1951), LeRoi Moore (Dave Matthews Band) (1961), Eazy-E (N.W.A.) (1964) (This Day In Music).
  
  

September 8

• The Who perform at the Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, adding “I’m a Boy” to their repertoire (1966) (InternetFM).
  
  
• Pink Floyd cancels a Belgian festival appearance due to work permit issues; fans reacted violently, but other bands (incl. The Kinks) performed (1968) (InternetFM).
  
  

September 10

• Elvis Presley returns to The Ed Sullivan Show (1956, second appearance) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• Led Zeppelin’s name debut, performing under it for the first time (1968) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• The Who release Who’s Next in the U.S. (1971) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• David Bowie releases “Heroes” single (1977) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hits major U.S. radio (1991) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• Album releases on this date:
  
  
  • Hey Jude (US compilation) by The Beatles (1968)
    
    
  • Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye (1973)
    
    
  • The Unforgettable Fire by U2 (1984) (Noise11.com).
    
    
• Birthdays: Joe Perry (Aerosmith) (1950), José Feliciano (1945), Don Powell (Slade drummer) (1950), Gerry Beckley (America) (1952) (Noise11.com).
  
  
• Deaths: Claude Thornhill (pianist) (1965), Benjamin Orr (Cars bassist/vocalist) (2000) (Noise11.com).
  
  

September 12

• New album – The End Continues by Spinal Tap (fictional comedy-rock band), releasing Sept 12, with re-recordings (like “Stonehenge” feat. Elton John), plus new tracks featuring Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood (Wikipedia).
  
  
• Compilation – From the Beginning by Mötley Crüe launching Sept 12: includes their hits plus a Dolly Parton duet on “Home Sweet Home” remix (Wikipedia).
  
  
• Liquid Mike releases Hell Is an Airport (studio album) on Sept 12 (Wikipedia).
  
  

September 5–8 (Releases slightly before but relevant)

• Suede’s Antidepressants released on Sept 5: gothic/post-punk rock, their 10th album, second in a trilogy (Wikipedia).
  
  
• Dark Angel’s Extinction Level Event came out Sept 5: first studio album since 1991, tribute to late guitarist Jim Durkin (Wikipedia).
  
  

Upcoming near-week (beyond 13th) but worth previewing

• Biffy Clyro’s Futique slated Sept 19 (Wikipedia).
  
  
• Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham reissuing Buckingham Nicks (first time on CD & digital) set for release Sept 19 (AP News).
  
  
• Psychic Salamander Festival (Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips, Built to Spill, Sleater-Kinney) scheduled Sept 13–14 in Carnation, Washington – Flaming Lips play The Soft Bulletin in full (Pitchfork).
  
  

Other Notable News This Week

• Bruce Springsteen announces electric version of Nebraska in a five-disc expanded edition releasing Oct 17 (The Guardian).
  
  
• Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the MTV VMAs on Sept 7: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Nuno Bettencourt performed hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home” (Pitchfork).
  
  
• Rick Davies (Supertramp) passed away at 81; keyboardist and vocalist behind “Logical Song,” Breakfast in America; a major loss for prog-rock fans (People.com).
  
  
• Sigur Rós reissue – Takk… (20th Anniversary Remaster) released now digitally, physical out Sept 26, with unreleased rarities (Pitchfork).
  
  

Summary Table for Easy Reference

Date	Event Type	Details
Sep 7	Births / Deaths / Debuts	Led Zeppelin debut; deaths; retention of hits, etc.
Sep 8	Performances	The Who UK gig; Pink Floyd cancellation
Sep 10	Releases & Events	Albums/singles by Bowie, Beatles, U2; birthdays & deaths; chart news
Sep 12	Album Releases	Spinal Tap, Mötley Crüe, Liquid Mike
Sep 5–8	Recent Albums	Suede, Dark Angel (Antidepressants, Extinction Level Event)
Sep 13–14	Festivals	Psychic Salamander Festival details
This week	Tributes & Reissues	Springsteen, Ozzy tribute, Rick Davies death, Sigur Rós edition

Suggestions for Podcast Segments

• Historical Nostalgia:
  
  
  • Led Zeppelin’s first live show and debut under their new name.
    
    
  • The Who’s milestone shows on these dates — a UK gem, and the U.S. iconic album release (“Who’s Next”).
    
    
  • Bowie’s “Heroes,” Elvis on Sullivan, Nirvana’s radio breakthrough — unpack their cultural moments.
    
    
• Album Deep Dives:
  
  
  • Suede’s Antidepressants, thematically dark and modern gothic.
    
    
  • Spinal Tap’s humor-laden new release (great comedic interlude).
    
    
  • Mötley Crüe’s career-spanning compilation with Dolly Parton twist.
    
    
  • Liquid Mike’s new album and creative process.
    
    
• Legacy & Tributes:
  
  
  • Rick Davies' passing — a reflection on Supertramp’s influence.
    
    
  • Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the VMAs — performative resonance across generations.
    
    
  • Sigur Rós reissue—what makes Takk… evergreen?
    
    
• Events & Festivals:
  
  
  • Psychic Salamander Festival line-up—modern indie/rock vs. classic roots (Flaming Lips’ full album performance).
    
    
• Upcoming to Watch (brief teasers):
  
  
  • Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham reissue.
    
    
  • Biffy Clyro’s upcoming release.

LRRC EP851: Glyn Johns, Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth, Dweezil Zappa, Rick Beato

Loudini: Sammy & Dave can relate without feuding(rock feed), Dweezil and the Family Business, correcting smoke on the water, turning up the bass on your amp, amps vs modelers, Meeting Eddie and more (Andertons Music Co.), UMG trying to silence Rick Beato(Rick Beato and Jared Dines), The Brains of Guitarists(pyschology of rock), Gyn Johns(capturing a performance; the beatles, the who, led zeppelin)(rick beato),

Riff of the week: Smoke on the Water the “RIGHT WAY”

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: tiktok guy, michael Mc Donald, drunk spending, blondie’s hanging on the telephone, cheeze story

 

 

Film Corner: Weapons, Fantastic 4, what nobody says about Marvel, the “boy problem”

LRRC EP850: David Lee Roth, Jimmy Page's Favorite Guitar Solo, The History of The 8 Track Tape

Loudini: remember that time that David Lee Roth had his own radio show?(rock and roll true stories), Jimmy Pages’ favorite guitar solo(Mark Zabel), What happened to the 8 track tape? + William Powell Lear(tech review guy), The Science of guitar practice (Andre Fludd Music), 

 

Riff of The Week: Loudini’s Magic Man Journey

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: mustang, 

So bad it’s good: wesley willis; liz phair

Film Corner: Shaman, MouseHunt, To Live & Die In LA

LRRC EP849: 70's Guitar Solos That Need More Love, The "Problem" with PRS Guitars, The Jesus Music Documentary

Loudini: The Jesus Music,10 70’s Guitar Solos that deserve more love(Rock n rewind) Steve Hunter Sweet Jane (lou reed) live, Terry Kath, 25 or 6 to 4 (chicago), Buck Dharma (BOC) Astronomy, Martin Barre , No Lullaby and Aqua Lung)(jethro tull. Ricky Medlock(the outlaws) Highway Song, Steve Hackett(Genesis) Firth of Fifth, Steve Howe(Yes) Starship Trooper, Mick Ronson(David Bowie) Width of a Circle, Jimmy Page(Led Zeppelin) AChillies last stand, Terry Reid RIP(music in second segment), Moments Humanity Absolutely Nailed It(chill dude light mode), The “problem” with PRS guitars(Landon Bailey)

 

Riff of the week: More Magic Man

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: 

So bad it’s good: it’s my life cover, it’s been a rough week, kevin cronin, industry compression, david lee roth

LRRC EP848: Lefty Guitarists, Andrew Dice Clay Banned from MTV, Magic Man by Heart explored pt 1

Loudini: lefty guitarists, Burning Butthole(andy rehfelt’s variety show), How & Why Dice got banned from MTV(PowerJRE), Liz Phair Story about “selling out”(the moth), Cory Wong, fantastic 4 tanks, naked gun looks good, shane gillis lazer tag story

 

Riff of the Week: magic man

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: ruprecht, michael j, fox, 50’s songs, david lee roth

 So bad it’s Good: Bridgett and the Nameless

Film Corner: Extremities, U2 360, The Burbs,

LRRC EP847: Most Used Songs in TV & Movies, Banned Rock Anthems, Billy Joel on Bill Marr, Red Barchetta Story

Loudini: Most used songs in movies and TV, Banned Rock Anthems(Professor of Rock), Tony Carey on his time with Rainbow(VRP Rocks), The Story Behind Rumplestiltskin(the resurrectionists), Bill Marr interviews Billy Joel, from the mind of Loudini, Jeff Beck didn’t know what he was doing,

Riff of the Week: NO MORE SCALES!

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: the story of red barchetta,

So bad it’s good: Japanese Enka; Wonderwall

Film Corner: Happy Gilmour 2, Thunderbolts

LRRC EP846: Special Needs Rockers, Judas Priest Live? April Wine's Brian Greenway, Norm's Rare Guitars

A Salute to Special Needs Rockers: 

1. Stevie Wonder

Condition: Blind (congenital)
Bio: Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in 1950, Stevie Wonder was blind shortly after birth due to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. He signed with Motown at age 11 and became a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer.
Known For:

• "Superstition"
  
  
• "Isn't She Lovely"
  
  
• "Sir Duke"
  
  
• "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
  
  

2. Ray Charles

Condition: Blind (developed in early childhood)
Bio: Ray Charles Robinson lost his sight at age 7 due to glaucoma. He pioneered the soul genre by combining blues, gospel, and jazz.
Known For:

• "Georgia on My Mind"
  
  
• "Hit the Road Jack"
  
  
• "I Got a Woman"
  
  

3. Ludwig van Beethoven

Condition: Deaf (progressive hearing loss)
Bio: One of the greatest classical composers, Beethoven began to lose his hearing in his late 20s and was completely deaf by the time he composed some of his most renowned works.
Known For:

• Symphony No. 9 ("Ode to Joy")
  
  
• Symphony No. 5
  
  
• Moonlight Sonata
  
  

4. Rick Allen

Condition: Amputee (left arm)
Bio: The drummer for Def Leppard, Allen lost his left arm in a car crash in 1984. He continued to drum using a custom kit and adapted techniques.
Known For (with Def Leppard):

• "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
  
  
• "Photograph"
  
  
• "Hysteria"
  
  

5. Tony Iommi

Condition: Partial amputee (fingertips)
Bio: The Black Sabbath guitarist lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in an industrial accident. He made custom thimbles and detuned his guitar to play.
Known For (with Black Sabbath):

• "Iron Man"
  
  
• "Paranoid"
  
  
• "War Pigs"
  
  

6. Evelyn Glennie

Condition: Deaf
Bio: A Scottish percussionist who became profoundly deaf at age 12, Glennie plays barefoot to feel the vibrations. She is a world-renowned solo percussionist.
Known For:

• Avant-garde percussion pieces, collaborations with orchestras and composers
  
  
• "The Sugar Factory"
  
  
• "Touch the Sound" (documentary soundtrack)
  
  

7. Mel Tillis

Condition: Stutter
Bio: A country music legend who had a speech impediment (stutter) that disappeared when he sang. He embraced it as part of his personality.
Known For:

• "Coca-Cola Cowboy"
  
  
• "I Ain’t Never"
  
  
• "Good Woman Blues"
  
  

8. Jason Becker

Condition: ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Bio: A virtuoso guitarist, Becker was diagnosed with ALS at age 20. Though he lost the ability to play or speak, he continues to compose music using eye movement technology.
Known For:

• "Perpetual Burn" (solo album)
  
  
• Work with David Lee Roth ("A Little Ain’t Enough")
  
  

9. Hikari Ōe

Condition: Autism and developmental disabilities
Bio: A Japanese composer born with a brain hernia and severe developmental challenges. Encouraged by his Nobel Prize-winning father Kenzaburō Ōe, Hikari became a successful classical composer.
Known For:

• Music of Hikari Ōe (album)
  
  
• Piano and chamber works performed globally
  
  

10. Ian Dury

Condition: Polio survivor (mobility impairment)
Bio: British singer-songwriter and frontman of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. He contracted polio as a child, resulting in a withered leg and partial paralysis.
Known For:

• "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"
  
  
• "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll"
  
  

11. Wyclef Jean

Condition: Dyslexia
Bio: Haitian-American rapper and producer, formerly of the Fugees. Jean has been open about his dyslexia, which made traditional schooling difficult.
Known For:

• "Gone Till November"
  
  
• "911" (feat. Mary J. Blige)
  
  
• Fugees: "Killing Me Softly", "Ready or Not"

 

Judas Priest’s New Video(Metal Pilgrim), Ozzy’s Vocals at BTTB(Wings of Pegasus), Have you ever bought gear from somebody famous? Addicted to Gear’s Brian Greenway story(Addicted to Metal), Rick, Justin & The Proff take on the music business and YouTube, Why Issac Hayes left South Park

Riff of the Week: Heartbreaker (Pat Benetar)

Pittsburgh Kevin: so bad it’s good, favorite covers, silence of the lambs, norm’s rare guitars, marcus malone, malcolm jamal

Film Corner: Twixt, Time AFter Time, Heavy Metal in Bagdad,

LRRC EP845: Live Retrospective, Oasis vs REM, Simon Phillips Talks Iconic Performances, Great White Buffalo

Loudini: being shamed on Facebook over Back to the Beginning and Capos LOL!, 40th anniversary of LIVE AID, 10 Iconic LIVE AID performances, Contemporary Art is a Cult(Remant777) + story from book I am reading, Oasis vs REM Slane Castle Gig(james hargreaves guitar) lad culture vs new man culture, Simon Phillips reacts to some of his most iconic performances(drumeo), 

 

Riff of The Week: Great White Buffalo; Ted Nugent

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: middle school weezer cover goes horribly wrong, LIVE AID U2, Lily V. Sixx, christian rock rabbit hole, why are people dicks online

Film Corner: Tightrope, 

LRRC EP843: Back To The Beginning Review, The Verve Vindicated, Famous Stolen Guitars

Loudini: second rehearsal with Spectrum and gigs! The Verve vindicated- andrew oldam, the last time(david hartley), Top Stolen Guitars(five watt world), are christian metal bands fake?(pastor brad rocks), what books got burned?(zoomer historian), Back To The Beginning thoughts …tool, ozzy, sabbath, lizzy, draiman, nuno, slash, jake, zakk, gojira, axle, yungblood, sammy hagar

Pittsburgh Kevin:

So bad it’s good: the worst cover of a beatles song ever; let it be

Film Corner: Bring Her Back, My Blue Heaven, Dreamscape, The Jacket, there’s something wrong with aunt diane,  sound city