Tygers of Pan Tang - Plug Me In
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Bruce Willis - Devil Woman (circa 2007-08?)
Today is Bruce Willis’ birthday. He’s turning 71. The man had talent for more than acting!
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When Mick Taylor left The Rolling Stones at the end of 1974, they were one guitarist short and were looking for a new member to the band. About a week and a half ago I said Happy Birthday to Harvey Mandel, who was one of the candidates for this gig.
Now it’s time to take a closer look at another candidate for the vacant guitar position in the Stones. Sadly. this time the context is the opposite of a birthday. The American guitarist Wayne Perkins passed away Monday this week, at he age of 75. He was an in demand session musician, who recorded/played live with among others The Wailers (Catch A Fire), Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark), Leon Russell, Joe Cocker and Stevie Winwood.
After being asked to join Lynyrd Skynyrd, which he declined, Wayne Perkins went on to form the band Smith Perkins Smith. The band was short lived, but got to do quite a bit of touring in England with among others Free, Fairport Convention and Uriah Heep. The band’s sole album is by no means a classic, but still has some decent tunes on it.
Smith Perkins Smith - Save Me (1972)
You have to go to YouTube to watch this. Check it out anyway, it’s a fine tune. Trust me 
After “what could have been” with Skynyrd, Wayne Perkins’ next chance for even bigger fame came in 1975,when he was part of the recording sessions for the next Stones album Black and Blue. He got along well with the Stones, and Keith is quoted saying they considered asking him to join. Wayne plays on three track on the album, namely Fool To Cry, Memory Motel and the solo on…
The Rolling Stones - Hand of Fate (1976)
Well, Ron Wood eventually got the gig with the Stones, but that did not leave Wayne Perkins out of work. He got busy with more session work, band projects and solo albums. He’s also been involved in film music, the best known here is co-writing one track on the soundtrack to Karate Kid II.
During the Black and Blue sessions, another track was recorded with Wayne Perkins’ guitar solo on it. However, this track wasn’t released until a few years later on Tattoo You.
The Rolling Stones - Worried About You (1981)
So it’s a fine musician who left us four days ago. Thank you for the music Wayne, may you be remembered 
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Thank you GladNGrumpy for that insight into the history of the Rolling Stones. I think that Ronnie Wood gave the Stones a more stable platform to perform in while Mick Taylor was a more technical musician who enjoyed playing long guitar solo’s. 
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Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
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Your very welcome, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed these rants from me 
Although Ronnie is the least technically skilled of the guitarists mentioned in my post, he was probably the best choice to replace Mick Taylor. The guy looked like a Stone already back then. And he can play!
An interesting thought just popped up in my head now. Imagine if it had been Ron Wood replacing Brian Jones in 1969. He was “just” playing bass in the Jeff Beck’s band at the time, so he could have been available. What would the Stones have become if this scenario had come through? 
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I completely agree with your comments. Ronnie Wood was invited to join the Stones in 1969 but as Ronnie Wood was forming the Faces with Ronnie Lane he declined the invitation at that time. As the Faces were breaking up later on he then accepted the invitation to join the Stones. It is a case of What if’s. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood do complement each other,
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It’s time for some old blues, because 124 years ago today a guy by the name of Edward James House Jr. was born. He is better known as Son House, and he is one of the original bluesmen who got to experience and benefit from the blues/folk revival in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Son House started perfoming in the mid 1920’s. During these first years he befriended Charley Patton, who was the big star in delta blues at the time. This led to a few recordings in 1930. The rest of the 30’s he spent playing concerts or working as a tractor driver. Son House got to do a couple of sessions again in the early 1940’s, before he faded into obscurity.
Turn the clock forward to 1964 and the blues revival going on then, Son House was “found” working at a train station. This led to a decade of recording and touring, both in the US and in Europe. So Son House at least got some due recognition for his music during those years. However, ill health forced him to retire from music in 1974. Still, he lived for 14 years after that, until he passed away from cancer in 1988, at the age of 86.
This old blues may sound a little awkward to modern listeners. However, we have to remember, the music of Son House and his contemporaries are important roots to much of the rock music we are listening to today. So here’s to the memory of a great bluesman. To Son House
Son House - Scary Delta Blues (live 1966)
Time and time again I get fascinated by the guitar technique of these old bluesmen.
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Please accept my profound apologies for my emoji regarding your post about Bluesmen. I should have double checked as I meant to give the post a heart. I have the utmost respect of those legendary guitarists.
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Apology accepted. It was honest slip-up. And since we was discussing Keith and Ronnie yesterday, I think they share our utmost respect for these old bluesmen 
While we’re at it, here’s another example, this time with Lightnin’ Hopkins (1912-1982)
Lightnin’ Hopkins - Baby Please Don’t Go (ca. 1965-70?)
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Happy Birthday to guitarist Harry Vanda, who is turning 80 today! He is the only surviving member of the Australian band The Easybeats, who had some considerable success in the latter part of the 1960’s. Several of their singles charted, mostly in Australia and New Zeeland, but they did visit the charts in the US and Europe too.
The Easybeats signature song has been posted before in the topic, but today there’s no escaping a reprise of this classic song. Happy Birthday to Harry Vanda
The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind (live on German TV 1967, Harry Vanda on the left)
When The Easybeats split in 1969, Harry Vanda formed the producer duo Vanda/Young, together with his fellow Easybeat George Young (1946-2017, the older brother of Malcolm and Angus of AC/DC). The duo produced all of AC/DC’s albums up until Highway To Hell. They also produced all of John Paul Young’s hits.
In addition to all this, Harry Vanda formed the band Flash & The Pan in the mid 1970’s, once again together with George Young. This band had quite a bit of success in the 70’s and 80’s with their new wave inspired pop songs. They made it to the top 10 in Australia, as well as in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.
Flash & The Pan - Down Among the Dead (1978)
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