Email Author Bob Ruggiero

2011 Stories by Bob Ruggiero

• Memoir From Early AC/DC bassist Mark Evans Sheds Light On Band's Beginnings

  published Nov 29, 2011

  Get Lit: Dirty Deeds - My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC By Mark Evans 288 pp., $19.95, Bazillion Points Books The Thunder from Down Under that is AC/DC has been blasting eardrums for nearly four deca... More >>

• Ace Frehley's Wild Rocket Ride

  published Nov 17, 2011

  No Regrets by Ace Frehley with Joe Layden and John Ostrosky 320 pp., $26, Gallery Books Even by standards of '70s hard rock excess, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was out of this world. In this ... More >>

• Jerry Shirley: A Slice of the Pie Has His Say

  published Nov 15, 2011

  English lad and budding drummer Jerry Shirley was all of 16 years old in late 1968 when he received the phone call that would change his life forever. On the other line was Steve Marriott, the singe... More >>

• Get Lit: Everything is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson by Kevin Avery

  published Nov 09, 2011

  Everything is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson by Kevin Avery 584 pp., $29.99, Fantagraphics Books It was a scene like out of the hardboiled detective novels that Paul Nelson lo... More >>

• Charlie Benante Keeps The Beat Steady For Anthrax

  published Oct 28, 2011

  After a tumultuous few years both musically and memberwise, New York thrash metal pioneers Anthrax will be able to close out 2011 on a pretty high note. In addition to releasing the critically and com... More >>

• Baron Wolman: A Bounty Of Iconic Rock Photography

  published Oct 25, 2011

  Every Picture Tells a Story - Baron Wolman: The Rolling Stone Years Omnibus Press, 176 pp., $37.50 If you could point to one thing that makes today's music journalists most jealous, it would probably... More >>

• Tony Iommi: Music's Other Man In Black Proves His Heavy Mettle

  published Oct 20, 2011

  Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath By Toni Iommi with T.J. Lammers Da Capo Press, 416 pp., $26. Imagine this passage being read in your best "Behind the Music" narration:... More >>

• Last Night: Peter Frampton At House Of Blues

  published Oct 17, 2011

  Peter Frampton House of Blues October 16, 2011 If you own one Peter Frampton album, chances are it's Frampton Comes Alive!, the 1976 effort which sent the former Herd/Humble Pie singer and guitarist'... More >>

• The Original Greek Festival

  published October 6, 2011

  While it’s consistently been one of the most popular ethnic festivals in Houston, The Original Greek Festival is also known as one of... More >>

• Last Night: Joe Walsh at the Verizon Wireless Theatre

  published Oct 13, 2011

  Like an eccentric, loopy uncle freed from the shackles of his now-stifling longtime marriage (in this case, the recent Eagles), it was a jaunty and loose Joe Walsh who charmed the Houston crowd with h... More >>

• Peter Frampton's Bassist "Comes Alive" Again

  published Oct 13, 2011

  Classic Rock Corner was emailing recently with Andy Sharp (aka "Buffalo Speedway"), guitarist for the Austin-based Thin Lizzy tribute band Think Lizzy. He told us a story about talking music with his ... More >>

• Get Lit: Had Me a Real Good Time - Faces: Before, During & After

  published Oct 10, 2011

  Had Me a Real Good Time - Faces: Before, During & After By Andy Neill 456 pp., $29.95, Omnibus Press A band that was actually more popular in the U.S. than their English homeland -- based on their in... More >>

• Dio Disciples Keep Ronnie James' Metal Flame Alive

  published Oct 07, 2011

  When Ronnie James Dio succumbed to stomach cancer in May 2010 (some reports say it occurred here at M.D. Anderson), heavy metal lost its arguably greatest voice. And with a career spanning decades in ... More >>

• Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

  published September 29, 2011

  There’s a whole subgenre of horror movies that involve dark nights, the woods and groups of horny, not-too-bright teens. Of course,... More >>

• Saxon: "Denim And Leather" Never Goes Out Of Style

  published Oct 05, 2011

  While they did not achieve the level of success in America as Iron Maiden, Motorhead, or Judas Priest, Yorkshire-based Saxon was an early battalion on the front lines for the invasion of the New Wave ... More >>

• Manhattan Short Film Fest

  published September 29, 2011

  The Manhattan Short Film Festival does more than just screen films; it gives viewers the chance to be part of a worldwide jury. Ten... More >>

• Saturday Night: Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald At Verizon

  published Oct 03, 2011

  Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald Verizon Wireless Theater October 1, 2011 Now, Classic Rock Bob doesn't want to come off as some sort of out-of-touch curmudgeon ("What do you mean you don't sell cassett... More >>

• Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald: Smoothest Of The Smooth

  published Sep 30, 2011

  For fans of '70s classic rock, it was the equivalent of three comic book heroes coming together in one Super Smooth Team when Boz Scaggs, ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, and Steely Dan's Donald Fa... More >>

• Cultural Feast — Oktoberfest

  published September 15, 2011

  While the beer drinkers rarely need a historical reason to imbibe, they should all raise a glass to King Ludwig I of Bavaria. That’s because... More >>

• Beer & Brass

  published September 15, 2011

  When you think of music that goes great with beer drinking, a French horn trio isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. But in an... More >>

• Jimi Hendrix's Fire Burns Bright On New Legacy Releases

  published Sep 15, 2011

  For a guy who died at 27, Jimi Hendrix left behind a massive body of work, from finished studio efforts and live recordings to experimental noodlings and jams. Since taking over the estate's affairs... More >>

• Grand Taiko Concert

  published September 8, 2011

  The big boom-boom bombs emanating from Miller Outdoor Theatre today are the sonically impressive sounds of the annual Grand Taiko Concert.... More >>

• Succinct Stooges Bio Looks Beyond Iggy Pop

  published Sep 13, 2011

  The Stooges: Head On By Brett Callwood Wayne State University Press, 176 pp., $19.95. While there have been a number of books written about the Stooges and Iggy Pop, this slim but substantive volume ... More >>

• Spec’s Second Annual Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival

  published September 1, 2011

  Reach Beervana this weekend at Spec’s Second Annual Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The ambitious event... More >>

• Mozart Under the Stars

  published September 1, 2011

  With apologies to Falco, Mozart was the first Viennese rock star. He’s gone, but his music still demands a spotlight, as you’ll see... More >>