When Indiana Tried To Get “Louie, Louie” Off The Radio (Cool Weird Awesome 1178)

Today in 1964, Billboard Magazine reported that the governor of Indiana had called on the state’s broadcasters to stop playing the song “Louie, Louie” by the Kingsmen because of its allegedly dirty lyrics.

By |2024-02-01T09:57:16-05:00February 1, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

To Get Out Of A Record Contract, Van Morrison Made A Malicious Compliance Album (Cool Weird Awesome 1077)

Today in 1945, the birthday of singer/songwriter Van Morrison. His biggest fans and his loudest critics can agree that the guy does not like being told what to do, and he proved it by recording one of the strangest albums in the history of music. 

By |2023-08-31T08:47:05-04:00August 31, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Among Other “Pranks,” Black Sabbath Once Set Their Drummer On Fire (Cruel Weird Awful 8)

Rock bands are known for excess. Just ask Bill Ward, who, while drumming for Black Sabbath, got set on fire, poisoned (repeatedly) and knocked off the side of a hill. Because pranks.

By |2023-07-23T12:43:49-04:00July 22, 2023|Categories: Cruel Weird Awful, Podcasts|Tags: , , |

A Newspaper Called The Recycler Helped Bring Together Some Of The Biggest Rock Bands Of All Time (Cool Weird Awesome 1039)

This month in 1973, a newspaper in California known as The Recycler started publishing. It was mostly a list of classified ads, but those ads have had a pretty big impact on music. 

When ALS Stopped Jason Becker’s Guitar Playing, He Became An Accomplished Composer (Cool Weird Awesome 899)

Today in 2018, the release of the album “Triumphant Hearts” by guitarist Jason Becker. Not many people in music know as much about triumph over adversity as Jason Becker, who found new ways to create and share music decades after being diagnosed with ALS.

By |2023-12-07T21:24:07-05:00December 7, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

A 10 Month Old Kitten Once Climbed The Matterhorn… Somehow (Cool Weird Awesome 844)

Today in 1950, the Coshocton, Ohio Tribune carried a news story with one heck of a headline: “Kitten Scales Matterhorn: Veteran Mountain Climbers Are Astonished”! Here's how the cat, later nicknamed Matt, got there.

By |2022-09-07T08:45:15-04:00September 7, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Two Tennis Greats Played A Match On A Half-Grass, Half-Clay Court (Cool Weird Awesome 762)

Today in 2007, the king of grass court tennis, Roger Federer, played an exhibition match against his rival, clay court great Rafael Nadal. Not their only matchup, but for this one, the court was half grass and half clay, making it a so-called "battle of the surfaces."

One Of Aerosmith’s Biggest Hits Happened Partly Because Of A Mel Brooks Movie (Cool Weird Awesome 751)

Today in 1975, Aerosmith released the landmark album “Toys In The Attic.” One of the biggest hits from that album got its name from an unusual source - the Mel Brooks movie "Young Frankenstein." Plus: this weekend in New Mexico it's the Las Cruces Space Festival. 

By |2022-04-08T08:39:23-04:00April 8, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

How The Beatles Stitched Two Takes Of “Strawberry Fields Forever” Into A Rock Classic (Cool Weird Awesome 677)

Today in 1966, the Beatles were trying to make one great take of their new song “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and with help from producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, they ended up making that one great take out of two half takes.

By |2023-12-22T10:44:27-05:00December 22, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |
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