RIP Little Richard, Unique Trailblazer
Richard Penniman, whose music and performance stylings reshaped rock 'n' roll, died on Saturday at the age of 87. His full-throated, emotion-packed singing, piano playing, and songwriting had a profound influence on the Beatles, as well as on a wide range of other musicians and performers through the decades. I wrote about seeing Paul McCartney perform "Long Tall Sally" at Candlestick [...]
A bolt of insight!
This morning while listening to "Fame," the David Bowie song guest-starring our pal John Lennon, I realized something. At a certain point, John ad-libs "What's your name?" Why does he do that? Because, when you're famous and someone comes up to you for an autograph, you ask… "What's your name?"
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Blues Beatles
Stumbled across this via a comment thread on BoingBoing.net, and it was too good not to share. By the way, you'll like the BoingBoing post as well. https://youtu.be/xaDsbnhK2CQ
Of course you want a Beatles face mask!
It was 20 years ago todayyou didn't have to walk around wearing a goddamn facemask If you want a Beatles face mask, and of course you do, here's where to order one. If the zombie apocalypse comes, there will be Beatles-themed machetes. (Not officially licensed, but still.)
Buddhist Monk Singing Yellow Submarine
What the world needs now, I feel, is this: a Buddhist monk singing Yellow Submarine. I know who I want to go do karaoke with! Enjoy! (And enjoy the two minute sit afterwards.) https://youtu.be/QLELtdrRyhs
Is internet Beatle culture toxic?
Wake up, Sheeple. When approving the last ever comments on the gargantuan "Were John and Paul Lovers?" thread, I found myself asking a simple question, which some of you might have an interest in as well. There are certain niche interests where, if not for fan-generated content, there wouldn't be anything new to talk about. I suspect that if you're interested in [...]
Sgt. Pepper in the Age of Social Distancing
From friend of Bystander Stephen Kroninger…I'm just glad Sgt. Pepper wasn't alive to see this...
Shenk’s “Powers Of Two”: 3 Takes
When Joshua Wolf Shenk's book Powers Of Two: Finding The Essence Of Innovation In Creative Pairs was published in 2014, Michael Gerber, Devin McKinney and I each wrote a post about it. Since Shenk's book has come up in recent comments, I thought I'd bring those posts back to the forefront. You can read take 1 here, take 2 here, and take [...]
Help Dullblog out: Try the Brave Browser
"You're right, she DOES look like Alma Cogan…" A lot of people have asked how you might help the blog, so I'm always looking for painless (read: free) ways you can show your HD-love. I just found one. The Brave browser works just like Chrome, but is faster, more private, and more secure. I've been using it for three weeks now and [...]