A 9/11 Tribute I did in 2001

September 11, 2001...Within one hour after the second plane struck the World Trade Center, everybody in the world knew it was a terrorist attack on the United States. Everybody was angry, and there were many different reactions. Most noticeably was the congress singing God Bless America on the steps of the capitol building. Even though we all knew the 'unity' that was shown there would only last another 20 minutes, it was still cool to see, even if certain politicians were only doing it for a photo op. Other people wrote parody songs. I was living in Clarksville, TN at the time, which is near Ft. Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne Division. One of the songs I remember was from the Nashville rock station was a parody of AC/DC's For Those About to Rock, We Salute You called For Those About to Fight, We Salute You. In that town, everyone knew what was about to happen, and spirits were high. The soldiers knew a deployment was coming, and they were excited to go.

Within 5 days of the attacks, I had written a parody of Queen's We Will Rock You/ We Are the Champions called We Will Bomb You/ We Are Americans. I scheduled time in a friend's recording studio for 2 weeks later. I started practicing and learning my lyrics. They aren't simply a new set of lyrics written over the music. These lyrics fit and flow the way the lyrics do in the original song. You'll notice this when you listen to it.

So, the day arrived when I was going to go into the studio and record my tribute, but I got sick! Strep throat! I talked to my friend, and he told me to go ahead and try it, and if I couldn't do it, he would schedule me another time after I got over the strep throat. I agreed, and we went in, and I started recording. After a warm up and a few beers, I didn't notice my throat as much, or maybe I didn't care. Who knows? Anyway, once I warmed up, I was okay and did the song in 2 takes. I did it well enough not to need to do it again after I was over the strep throat.

We burned about 10 copies, and took them to bars and a couple radio stations. It was played on the Clarksville rock station as well as the Nashville rock station. People started requesting copies, and we started burning them with a label that I designed. We then started handing them out at bars. We handed out between 150 and 200 CDs. The majority of CDs were grabbed by soldiers about to deploy. I know for a fact that the song was played in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention Germany and Korea, and wherever else the US has a base.

It felt good to know that something I did served to lend morale to our troops. So, here it is. For the first time since 2001-2002, in memory of those lost, and those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom, We Will Bomb You/ We Are Americans. Words written and sung by yours truly. Enjoy it. Its a little out dated, but you get the point.

Here is the song, along with a slideshow I put together. (watch it on YouTube. Bigger screen.)

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Stairway to Humdrum, Highway to...HEADACHES!!!

I get it, ok??? I get that Led Zeppelin is a founder of hard rock, and heavy metal. I really do. I understand. I know this to be true. I realize that Led Zeppelin is a LEGENDARY band. I understand that I am a moron if I do not worship at the altar in front of the 'Houses of the Holy.'

When is enough enough? In the town that I reluctantly live in and am stuck in, there is a rock station called 'BAD DOG.' They play a mix of 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000s, and current music. You would think that would be a good format right? Play enough variety of rock to please everybody, right?

You're wrong.

This radio station might as well be called 'BLACK DOG.' Every single hour, you will hear one Led Zeppelin song, one AC/DC song, one ZZ Top song, and one Aerosmith song, followed by the top latest hits from the current bands that you are also sick of. You can literally set your watch to Zed Zeppelin. They will also throw one of four Guns n Roses songs, one of four Judas Priest songs, and a Rush song. And the songs of course are all the songs by the various bands that you have been sick of since the late 80's because radio stations play NOTHING ELSE.

Instead of playing songs like 'A Touch of Evil' by Judas Priest, we get 'Breaking the Law, and Living After Midnight. Think they will even play something like Victim of Changes or Diamonds and Rust?

You've Got Another Think Coming.

Don't think I'm just bitching about the crappy rock station in the crappy town I live in. Radio stations like this exist all over the country. They do it because they think that all the classic rock they play will get them a larger audience. But what they don't realize is that there are also stations that play nothing but CLASSIC ROCK! But stations like Bad (Black) Dog play MORE Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, etc than even most CLASSIC ROCK STATIONS!!!

When was the last time you were listening to the radio and Stairway came on, and you just flipped out with excitement? Me personally, I have NEVER done that, and neither have you. I did like it back in the late 80's and early 90's when the rock stations didn't play Led Zeppelin during the day. At 9:00 PM, they would 'GET THE LED OUT!!!!' That was cool. It made you look forward to it if you wanted to hear it. But they don't do that anymore. They just play the entire Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, ZZ Top, etc catalog every single day of the week, over and over again.

STOP IT ALREADY!!! You want to play a variety? Here's a suggestion. Play other stuff. You think you are playing a variety, but all you are doing is playing EVERYTHING that has been worn out over the years. One DJ actually said "All right, rockers, we got a real treat coming up for you right after this break!" It was Free Bird. Really? That's a treat? It was more like being forced to eat your Brussels Sprouts as a kid.

Bottom line here is that if I want to hear Led Zep, ZZ Top, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, etc, I will listen to a classic rock station. But stations like this one have made sure that I will NEVER want to hear Led Zep, AC/DC, etc again as long as I live. If the radio stations  want to do something different, step outside of the box and ditch the songs that we all heard 10,000 times before hitting puberty. Dig a little deeper into the 80's rock/metal. Instead of playing Paradise City, Sweet Child of Mine, and Welcome to the Jungle, play Mr. Brownstone, Live and Let Die, or You Could be Mine. Use this template for your entire artist catalog.

Just in case you need any help, Ratt has more songs than Round and Round. Queensryche has more songs than Silent Lucidity and Jet City Woman. Deep Purple has more songs than Smoke on the Water.

I just can't believe that people stand for this crap.

Do I like Led Zep, AC/DC, ZZ Top, etc? YES! I DO! But that isn't the point. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT for a change!!! Literally, if I hear these same songs, I change the station. Translated, I listen to more talk radio these days than music. So called 'rock radio' is the number one recruitment tool for sports, and political talk radio. Why? Because program directors don't know how to listen to their fans. One person who calls the radio station and tells the DJ that the station rocks is all they need to hear. They are validated.

That is bullshit.

Am I the only one who feels this way? Come on. I know I'm not! I know you change the station too!

There's a lady who's sure

That her radio's broke

Because all that it plays is Led Zeppelin....