Axl Rose before Guns N' Roses

Before Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose was in the band Hollywood Rose with Izzy Stradlin. Before that, Axl Rose was in a band called Rapidfire. Below you can hear almost a full minute of Axl Rose singing a song called "Ready To Rumble", recorded by Rapidfire on May 25, 1983. If you want to hear more, there is a campaign for the tapes to be released - read all the details here.

Safe Sax in the ‘80s

There was no other decade that loved on the saxophone than the ‘80s! In this series, we present the evidence…

One of the most interesting collaborations in '80s music history - we have the mighty pipes of the late Clarence Clemons on the sax as well as the vocals, which he shares with songwriting genius Jackson Browne, and finally we have the "Splash" actress Daryl Hannah on backing vocals! All three of them are featured in the music video. The song came out in 1985, the stand out cut from Clemons' "Hero" album, made after Bruce Springsteen decided to forego the use of the E Street Band for his follow-up to "Born in the USA". Why was Daryl Hannah involved? She was Jackson's girlfriend at the time. The song climbed to #18 on the Billboard charts and remains a popular buddy anthem to this day.

You Were Robbed – Kim Mitchell

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

When most people think about a Canadian rock star that hit it big in the US during the ‘80s, their mind goes to Bryan Adams. But if there was any other Canadian musician who deserved the same magnitude of success, it would be Kim Mitchell. Mitchell cut his teeth in another less known outfit called Max Webster, but began his solo career with a self-titled debut in 1982 featuring the song “Chain of Events”. You can hear his entire debut EP below, with “Chain of Events” appearing at 15:30.

 

Mitchell’s thirst for fame was satiated somewhat with the modest hit, “Go For Soda”, from his album “Akimbo Alogo”. Predictably, this song was used by a soda company (Mr. Pibb) and went on to earn Mitchell “one hit wonder” status in the US.

 

Unjustifiably, Mitchell fizzled out in the US after “Go For Soda”, but he found greater success in Canada with his 1986 follow-up record, “Shakin' Like a Human Being”. This album contained his most successful track in Canada, “Patio Lanterns”.

 

“Shakin' Like a Human Being” also spawned the excellent mid-tempo rocker, "Easy to Tame".

 

Mitchell has released a greatest hits compilation, which is a fine introduction to this underrated rocker. But there are lots of gems buried throughout his entire discography, so check them all out!

Hear Prince's demo of "Manic Monday" before the Bangles made it famous

"Manic Monday" catapulted The Bangles into the limelight - with their trademark harmonies and girl next door style, they struck a chord with music fans and Monday haters everywhere. While the Bangles are fine songwriters in their own right, they did not write this big hit - it was penned by none other than Prince. Follow this link and you can listen to a rare 1984 demo of "Manic Monday", performed by Prince and Apollonia 6.

For comparison:

This ain't no party...this ain't no disco...

Music always runs in cycles. When one scene takes over for another, a lot of acts love to jump the bandwagon, usually with mixed success. At the end of the 70s, as disco completed its musical world takeover, a lot of rockers decided to get a little funky.

Though a little early in the disco era, Wild Cherry was there first.

 

The song that probably made it safe for rockers to go disco.

 

 In probably the most infamous example of rockers going disco was Kiss.

 

Like every disco song of the era, you had to have strings.

 

Sometimes it's all about the beat.

 

The Stones were so steeped in "black" music, it was only natural they would give disco a shot.

 

While not really considered disco, there's no denying that danceable beat.

 

Probably the biggest of all the rockers going disco songs, this one hit #1 on the pop, dance and black music charts.

 

The reverse of all this was, some disco artists tried their hands at rock.

 

Finally, what's old is new again. Daft Punk is trying to bring back disco some 30 years on.

 

One hit wonders: Electronic "Getting Away With It"

Electronic - "Getting Away With It"

Electronic was a new wave "super group" of sorts that emerged in the late eighties with their only big hit barely cracking the US top 40, peaking at #38 in March of 1990. Many people mistook these guys for the Psychedelic Furs, but Electronic was fronted by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. Rounding out the line-up was guitarist Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and Bernard Sumner (New Order). Marr claims the song pokes fun at misery magnet Morrissey, his ex-partner from The Smiths.

Safe Sax in the ‘80s

There was no other decade that loved on the saxophone than the ‘80s! In this series, we present the evidence…



Most people remember the Pure Prairie League as a country rock group from the '70s, best known for the radio friendly hit "Amie". But in 1979 soon-to-be country superstar Vince Gill took over lead vocals and earned the band this hit, which surpassed "Amie" as the band's biggest by reaching #10 on the Billboard charts. The sax-laced song was the lead off single from the band's ninth studio album, "Firin' Up". On the sax is none other than David Sanborn.