Roger Waters

Kanye West's New Punk-Rap: This Year's Most Exciting and Original Release?

It's probably fair to guess just about everyone under the Sun has seen Kanye West's performance on Saturday Night Live's season finale at this point. Or maybe they caught the video for Yeezy's new song "New Slaves" playing on the side of a building somewhere around the world. Or maybe they've seen t ... More >>

Top 10 Spitters In Music History (w/VIDEO)

Spitting. It's a symbolic form of communication that means nothing good in any language or culture -- a sign of disrespect that garners admiration or adoration from no one. Well, except for fans. Stars and celebrities themselves get mighty pissed off if you spit on them, but if they spit on you, you ... More >>

Hell Freezes Over: The Ends of Five Great Musical Feuds

Last month marked the end of one of the great musical feuds of the 1990s. Any Britpop fan knows you can either be a fan of Oasis or of Blur, but not a fan of both. The two bands hated each other's guts and were in constant competition throughout the decade. So all of us in the press were shocked wh ... More >>

The Disco Experiment: Why It Worked For Pink Floyd, But Not KISS

In 1979, disco was all the rage. For all the kids who had never bothered to pay attention when their parents would talk about it, it was sort of like dubstep. It was ubiquitous on the radio and even rock bands were vying to get in on the action so they didn't get left behind in the new revolution. S ... More >>

10 Fun Facts Only Floyd Freaks Know About Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd's rock and roll masterpiece, The Dark Side of the Moon, turned 40 years old this weekend. If you don't already own a copy or three, consider checking it out. It's the best album by one of history's best bands, and you can find as easily in any record store in Phuket as you can in Philadel ... More >>

Revisiting Robertson Stadium's Forgotten Concert History

After years of dreaming, planning and even a little begging, the University of Houston broke ground on a new on-campus football stadium this month. It's a pretty darn exciting development for the Cougars that marks the beginning of a new era of UH athletics: The program will play its first season in ... More >>

The 5 Worst Disasters In Benefit Concert History

Benefit concerts are great. The practice of bands playing to raise money for a cause can be as local as helping a fellow unsigned musician pay for their son's hospital bills to as international as world hunger. Though we may pinch our noses at the perceived sanctimoniousness of people like Bono and ... More >>

Music That Will Officially Be Old In 2013

One of my favorite pastimes is reminding my friends how old we are all getting, partly because I am cruel, and probably because even I am astounded that actor Steve Guttenberg is now three years older than Wilford Brimley was when they filmed Cocoon together in 1985. We can all think of things tha ... More >>

When the Voice Goes: 5 Rock Singers Who Have Lost It Live

Last week, this video of Guns n' Roses playing at the Bridge School Benefit in California surfaced on YouTube, raising a lot of eyebrows among music fans. It was an acoustic performance of "Welcome to the Jungle" which might sound like a confusing prospect in and of itself, but what has everyone tal ... More >>

Floyd-Flouting Aussies a "Tribute" Act Like No Other

While they are technically a "tribute band," there is nothing amateur, half-assed or untrue to the source about the Australian Pink Floyd Show. In fact, these Down Under Wonders put on such an eerily accurate PF experience, they were asked by none other than David Gilmour himself to play his 50th ... More >>

4:50 a.m.: The 15 Best Fishing Songs We Could Find

Rocks Off never thought we'd say this, but the country eye candy behind "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer," Billy Currington, turned out to be pretty wise. He was smart enough to record the song "Bad Day of Fishin'" anyway, which contains the sage advice "a bad day of fishing beats a good day of anythin ... More >>

Squeezing the Lemon: Led Zeppelin & the 10 Most Shocking Rock and Roll Reunions

Five years ago this week, Led Zeppelin fans young and old squeezed their pants full of lemon juice when the band's three surviving golden gods -- Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones - announced that they'd be reuniting for a one-off concert in London. John Bonham's son Jason would man the s ... More >>

Is Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason Misunderstood or Just Bad?

Like a lot of people I didn't really discover Pink Floyd until I was in my late teens. I had heard their songs before on the radio, but had never felt the need to go buy any of their CDs. Then one night in my dorm room I listened to a pirated copy of The Wall and suddenly it clicked. I was a fan. T ... More >>

All Week Long: $50 Floor Seats to Chesney & McGraw's "Brothers of the Sun" Show

You know an upcoming show is a big one when you see an actual TV commerical about it like we did on VH1 over the weekend. Also a good tipoff: The concert is at the same venue where the Houston Texans will soon enough start their 2012 season. So all week long, but only this week, Rocks Off and the H ... More >>

Pollstar: Woodlands Pavilion Now World's No. 3 Amphitheater

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, site of Sunday night's aromatic 311 show, has long been one of the country's busiest concert venues, usually ranking at or near the top in annual attendance. Now it's officially one of the busiest in the world. In concert trade publication Pollstar's new survey ... More >>

Summer Fest Round Table: What About Next Year?

Assuming we all survive this weekend, and then the supposed Mayan apocalypse, Free Press Summer Fest will return to Eleanor Tinsley Park in June 2013. Pegstar's Jagi Katial and Jason Petzold told the Houston Press this week that they'll start booking next year's acts in about a month, so Rocks Off p ... More >>

Last Night: Roger Waters at Toyota Center

"Look! I can see the Galleria!"Roger Waters Toyota Center May 1, 2012 It really is true what they say: You don't appreciate a performer until he's fired a machine gun at you. They were blanks Roger Waters was firing during "Run Like Hell" Tuesday at Toyota Center. That's why this review isn't bein ... More >>

You Got Served: The Top 10 Legal Battles In Rock History

Ten years ago last week, one of the most vicious legal battles in rock history took another ugly turn. Ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl found themselves in King County Superior Court over a dispute with Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, over the band's considerable royalti ... More >>

Pink Floyd The Wall at 30: Would Pink Have a Facebook Page?

Rock stars: They're different from us. That's why we love them, and that's why sometimes they can fool themselves into thinking they're Hitler. That, as far as I can tell, is the message of Pink Floyd The Wall, Alan Parker's 1982 film based on the British rockers' 1979 album The Wall. Despite the g ... More >>

Roger Waters

Top 5 Bands We'd Like To See At The Ballet

Tonight, Houston Ballet performs Rooster, Associate Choreographer Christopher Bruce's dance interpretations of eight Rolling Stones songs including "Little Red Rooster," "Paint It Black" and "Sympathy for the Devil." If that sounds a little lowbrow for the ballet, the program also includes two works ... More >>

The Value Of Being Important: How Much Would You Pay for VIP Tickets?

Photo By Daniel KramerHow much would you pay to be in front of all of those hands in the air?​Very. Important. Person. For music fans those three words conjure up images of skipping out on standing in line, being at the side of the stage while the show takes place, and partying with the band ... More >>

Roger Waters And The Wall Return To Houston May 1

Photo By Jim Bricker​Now that the Halloween season is officially over, all of you rock nerds can throw this show on your Christmas wish list. Former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters is bringing his big-budget concert production of the band's concept album The Wall back to Houston and the Toyota ... More >>

In The Flesh: 10 Semi-Obscure Facts About Pink Floyd

(Cue heartbeat sound effect) This week we turn our fact-finding spotlight on of the most successful cosmic rock bands of all time, Pink Floyd. The band is going through another period of rediscovery by fans young and old with a new set of remastered reissues, along with last year's extremely popula ... More >>

Top 10 Songs About Other Musicians

When you make music your life, it's only natural that you'd look at the people around you doing the same and find someone who just moistens the muse's panties. What we've tried to put together here is a list of those best efforts. Bear in mind, with one notable exception we've steered clear of fell ... More >>

Father Figures: 100 Famous Musicians' Paternal Professions

If you're a Texan of a certain age, this week you've probably spent some time mourning the death of Jerry Haynes, the children's TV host better known as Mr. Peppermint. Haynes' show on WFAA-TV in Dallas, Peppermint Place, ran from the '60s to the '90s and was widely syndicated across the state, incl ... More >>

Dark Side of the Moon: Best Blockbuster Album Ever?

​Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd's seminal album about mental illness, the inevitability of death, and anxiety born of living in modern society, turns 38 today. It remains one of the most successful... Wait a minute? DSotM is 38 years old? How is that possible? It seems like just yesterday ... More >>

The Most Awesomely Bad Pink Floyd Cover Ever

A few weeks back, Rocks Off was utterly enthralled with Roger Waters' rendition of The Wall, the masterpiece he created with his former band, Pink Floyd. Every note was pitch-perfect and the wall was strategically built onstage while the band behind Waters performed the album note for note. In fac ... More >>

In Case You Missed It...

Marco TorresIt's a bird... it's a plane... it's... Usher!​Rocks Off knows you have had a busy week. So have we. But, we figured, what with Thanksgiving and Black Friday and traveling to and from your various other holiday ports of call, you may not have had as much time in front a computer as ... More >>

Saturday Night: Roger Waters' The Wall, Part 2

Photos by Craig HlavatySee many more photo of Roger Waters and The Wall in our slideshow.​Roger Waters Toyota Center November 20, 2010 Ed. note: The sold-out Roger Waters show was so highly anticipated, we sent two reviewers. Click here to see our write-up from Sunday morning. What would mak ... More >>

Last Night: Roger Waters' The Wall at the Toyota Center

Photos by Jim BrickerRoger Waters performed The Wall in its entirety Saturday night at Toyota Center. See our slideshow for more photos.​Roger Waters Toyota Center November 20, 2010 Ed. note: The sold-out Roger Waters show was so highly anticipated, we sent two reviewers. Tune in Monday morni ... More >>

Top 10 Double Albums That Should Have Stayed Single

​Not all double albums should have been double albums, just as some albums had to be double albums in order for their point to be made. Each case is different with each band or artist. The Who's Tommy and Quadrophenia had to be double albums to tell their stories of teenage wastelands and po ... More >>

Surrender Dorothy: Five Better Dark Side Of The Moon Films

​Tonight at Miller Outdoor Theatre, a group of musicians will play Pink Floyd's legendary album Dark Side of the Moon live, in its entirety, with each and every instrument that was used to record it back in 1972-'73. With 45 million copies sold, Dark Side is still the third best-selling album ... More >>

Rudy's Country Store Sign Don't Need No Thought Control

Craig Hlavaty​Either someone in the front office at Rudy's Country Store & Barbecue near U.S. 290 and Huffmeister got a push from the corporate higher-ups to start slinging more banana pudding, or they are really stoked to have scored front-row Roger Waters tickets. Or maybe Live Nation is in ... More >>

Rocks Off Seeking Local Bands For New Covers Night

​It's been a while since Rocks Off has put on our promoter hat because, well, we've been kind of busy around here, but also because we've been cooking up an idea we think you're all going to like. We hope so, anyway. As you may have noticed, it's not that easy for artists to sell tickets thes ... More >>

FAIL: The Temptations, Roger Waters, Fred Schneider

If you're reading this, you're either on the Internet, or else you've mastered multi-dimensional thought-projection processes that would make Michio Kaku cry like a little girl. We'll assume the former, and just in case you don't already know, the Internet has decided that the word "failure" is too ... More >>

Shakira, Tool, Kings Of Leon, Roger Waters All On Sale Within A Week

​This morning, Live Nation announced more huge roadshows hitting Houston soon (enough), adding Shakira and prog-rockers Tool to Toyota Center's 2010 roster. On-sale information for Kings Of Leon and Roger Water's in-concert production of Pink Floyd's The Wall was also released; see the end of this ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Athlete, The Bangles, Cypress Hill, Imogen Heap, MGMT, O'Jays, Rush, Talib Kweli, Etc.

​Athlete, Carney: Sat., June 26. Walter's on Washington. All Leather, Balaclavas, Yip-Yip: Sat., May 15. The Mink. The Bangles, Tonic: Sat., May 29. Moody Gardens Outdoor Amphitheater. Tyagaraja, Black Queen Speaks, Peekaboo Theory, Robert Ellis & The Boys, The Tontons, VerseCity, Wayside Dri ... More >>

Smoke Drugs Or Snuggle? Roger Waters And Lilith Fair Coming To Town Soon

Craig Hlavaty​This morning two big Houston concert announcements came down the wire, sure to delight the senses. One will no doubt get you brownie points from your girlfriend if you go, and the other will probably score you some really wicked brownies from a dude that knows a friend of yours. Pink ... More >>

Bulls On Parade: Our Favorite Songs About Livestock

​It's almost Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo time again. Our annual celebration of sub-par country music and pissed-off bovines stomping poor fools' nuts in the dirt kicks off March 2 and runs for almost three weeks. During which Houstonians will enjoy traffic-delaying wagon trains and more dou ... More >>

Album Covers You'll Never, Ever See on Any UK Stamps

​ The UK's Royal Mail recently unveiled a series of stamps based on classic British album covers, including the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed and The Clash's London Calling. Rumor has it Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was rejected due to the burning man on the cover, with the Royal Mail electing t ... More >>

He Said She Said: Our Christmas Musical Wishlists, Part 2 - LPs Nobody Can Buy

​When He Said was four years old, all he wanted for Christmas was big brown tape recorder that Play Skool put out so he could record his own imaginary radio shows and crazed ramblings about He-Man. Santa Claus brought it that year, and He Said wore that thing out over the next few months. For Chri ... More >>

Pink Floyd, Dr. Dre, Velvet Underground and Other Artists We're Glad Discovered Drugs

It was 45 years ago this past Friday... that Bob Dylan met the Beatles for the first time and, more importantly for Rocks Off's purposes, introduced them to marijuana. While this meeting of musical titans would never lead to any actual musical collaboration or "Monsters of Hippie Rock" series of co ... More >>

Classic Rock Corner: In Memoriam 2008

You know, the Grim Reaper don't care if you're a multiplatinum music legend, a one-hit wonder or studio-only sideman - he's comin' for you someday! And in 2008, he seemed to like keyboardists and drummers most. A number of classic rockers left for "The Great Gig in the Sky," foremost of whom is the ... More >>

Eyeballin': A Technicolor Dream

This documentary, originally broadcast on BBC television, traces the coalition of the "underground" movement in swinging '60s London. Beginning with a groundbreaking 1965 gathering/reading of the Beat poets at the Royal Albert Hall and following with the opening of the Indica bookstore and galler ... More >>

Flying Pigs and Presidential Politics

Deep Waters

Last Night: Roger Waters at the Woodlands Pavilion

This Just In: “Bodysnatchers” at the Woodlands

Wall Brawl Truce

A fragile détente settles over Kemah and Clear Lake Shores

Pink Pigs and Scarred Psyches

One man's triumphant journey through Pink Floyd obsession