Welcome to Doug's Place

It’s not much of a secret I’m a game show fan. It’s a joke in my family while most kids learned their ABCs and 123s from Sesame Street, I learned my letters from Wheel of Fortune and numbers from The Price is Right.

A trio of other game show fans is teaming up for the Second Annual 24-Hour Game Show Marathon to play games and raise money for two great causes — the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) and the Baltimore-based Kennedy Krieger Institute (www.kennedykrieger.org).

There are many ways to donate –one of them being to dedicate an hour of the marathon in memory of a friend or loved one who is no longer with us. I’ve donated money in that regard and requested they dedicate one of the first hours of the marathon to Stephen St. James’ memory.

You’ll recall Stephen was the longtime afternoon drive rock jock at Rock 104 and operations manager for our parent company, Blakeney Communications. You might recall Stephen and I worked at another station in town. Stephen died in 2011 after battling cancer.

Thanks to Cory Anotado, Bob Hagh and Christian Carrion for putting all this together. Visit 24hourgsm.pacdudegames.com to find out how you can take part and donate.

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

The songwriter who penned The Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling” is getting into the wine business. Jack Tempchin is partnering with California-based South Coast Winery to release P.E.F. Cabernet Sauvignon (three guesses as to what the letters P.E.F. stand for and the first two don’t count). More details at the websites we’re listing below

www.tempchin.com

www.wineresort.com

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

Ten years ago today, the band Great White performed at a bar, known as The Station, in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Just moments into the band’s performance, pyrotechnics sparked soundproofing foam and fans rushed for the exit. Unfortunately, 100 people died that night – including the band’s guitarist Ty Longley.

To this day, singer Jack Russell says he never meant to hurt anyone that night. He’s attempted to contribute to The Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the organization which helps victims and their families. The foundation has refused Russell’s donations.

If you wish to donate, visit the following website.

www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

The members of Def Leppard invite you to live out your own rock ‘n’ roll fantasy — at fantasy camp in Vegas, baby — Vegas.

Def Leppard will be the featured counselors at the camp taking place April 4-7. They’ll be joined by guest counselors Lita Ford and Quiet Riot’s Rudy Sarzo.

Concurrently, Def Leppard will play eleven shows in Vegas. Details at the website below.

www.rockcamp.com

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

Looking for a way to help victims of Superstorm Sandy? Here’s one.

Buy a copy of the three-CD compilation “Songs After Sandy”. Proceeds from the sales benefit grassroots community based charities working to restore neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey that were devastated by the storm.

Among those performing the songs: the two living former Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr; Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead fame; Billy Squier; Jeff Lynne; Eric Burdon and many more.

You can start placing your order with the website we’ve listed below.

www.pledgemusic.com

Word came today that ground has been broken for a new women’s dorm at William Carey University. As the Carey community continues to grow, something like this was inevitable.
Continue reading “Chance at a great tribute”

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

Tired of your favorite legend getting snubbed by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

The Rock Hall must’ve heard your complaints – and is letting you vote for your top five nominees online. The selection committee will then use your votes along with the music industry’s votes to determine who enters the Rock Hall.

Among those nominated this time are Rush, Heart, Deep Purple, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Procol Harum. Vote at the website we’ve posted below until December 3rd.

www.rockhall.com

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

This may be the closest you’ll ever come to having a cup of coffee with a member of Aerosmith. Drummer Joey Kramer has developed the Rockin’ and Roastin’ Arabica coffee. The website for the coffee notes Rockin’ and Roastin’ is forest friendly and farmer friendly. The coffee uses organic and free trade beans from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Sumatra.

Now, we weren’t kidding about having a cup of joe with Kramer. (Get it? Joe? Kramer? Nevermind.) Hidden inside one of the bags is a golden ticket – worth a chance to meet Kramer and tickets to an Aerosmith concert.

Details at the website below.

www.rockinandroastin.com

(crossposted from DougMorris.net)

Joe Smith, former president of Capitol Records, will donate his collection of interviews with rock legends to the Library of Congress. Smith compiled more than 200 hours of interviews on tape for his book Off The Record, released in the late 1980s.

Among the recordings: An interview with Mickey Hart, who opened up about his father ripping off The Grateful Dead, and David Bowie, who talked about creating ad campaigns for raincoats. Other interviewees include Sir Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Bob Dylan. The recordings will be accessible in the library’s reading room; some will be streamed at the library’s website, which we’ve listed below.

http://www.loc.gov

Over the last few weeks on RockTrax and Rock 104, we’ve been following the likelihood Axl Rose was not going to show up at this past weekend’s induction of Guns ‘n’ Roses into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Now, before this goes any further, I should note I’ve never been a particularly big fan of G’n’R. They’re an acquired taste – and it’s taken awhile for me to acquire a taste for the reasons the band’s now in the Rock Hall.

While that may be a jeer, a tip of the cap is in order to Rose for hosting a documentary on Queen, which coincided with the release of what proved to be the last Queen album released in Freddie Mercury’s lifetime. Rose did an amazingly great job hosting that program.

But back to last weekend. As expected, Rose was a no-show. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Rose didn’t want to attend because he believed it “doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.” Further, it’s not much of a secret there was a lot of bickering within the band.

Bottom line: All past and present members should’ve been there. Disagreements should’ve been left at the door and the hatchet should’ve been buried just long enough to thank those who got them in the Rock Hall.