A screenshot of the moment before a U.S. military strike on a submersible vessel suspected of carrying narcotics in the Caribbean Sea, on Oct. 16, 2025. @realDonaldTrump via Truth SocialThe U.S. government…

You're killing 'em, smalls

Eric Clapton first achieved fame as a member of The Yardbirds, band he was part from 1963 to 1965. Due to creative differences he decided to leave the band, joining John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, which would be really the start of his career more focused on the Blues. In an interview with Guitar Player, the drummer Jim McCarty, the only surviving original member of The Yardbirds, recalled what Clapton was like back in those days he was with them and was still figuring out which musical path he would follow. Curiously, after Clapton, the band also had other two future acclaimed guitar players: Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. The Yardbirds’ drummer recalls what Clapton was like at the time "Eric was coming from a difficult upbringing, because he wasn't really brought up by his parents. He was brought up by his grandmother, who he thought was his mother. We met her, and she was a lovely woman, very chatty and very friendly. But that gave him a challenged outlook on things, and I think he took the blues up as his personal crusade." "He was totally dedicated to the blues, and also seemingly very ambitious and very much into fashion and how he looked. He made sure he was dressed in the latest gear, and the coolest clothes. Even when he came to the audition, he was very well-dressed. And he would change. First of all, it was an Ivy League style, and he had a crew cut, and then he'd suddenly grow his hair and grow his sideburns and have different clothes and become like a different person." "Eric was obviously gonna go somewhere. You knew that, yes, one day he'll be a big star, 'cause he was driven to do that, and he was getting a reputation while he was playing with us. He used to copy blues solos — Matt 'Guitar' Murphy or Buddy Guy or somebody — and copy them note for note before he got his own thing going. But he loved blues and he was very, very serious about it, even though he did actually mess around quite a lot with us in terms of jokes and funny voices and impersonating weird people." He continued: "But he was a very moody sort of guy. We'd be traveling in a transit van, going to the shows, and he would sit in the corner and not talk to anybody. The rest of us would be messing about, and he'd be in a little world of his own, obviously quite unhappy with the way it was going." Near the end of Clapton's service, The Yardbirds fought desperately to stay relevant, looking for a hit song that would keep them afloat. This didn't sit well with the guitarist, who quickly found a reason to leave in John Mayall. McCarty remembered: "They were all good songs, but they weren't gonna be hits. They didn't stand out like 'For Your Love' did, and when Paul Samwell-Smith suggested we do it like with the harpsichord and the bowed bass and everything, Eric didn't like the way that was taken over. He thought we were selling out. But he was seemingly quite happy with John Mayall," Jim McCarty said. In the beginning of October Chris Dreja, the band's original bassist, who also played the guitar later on, passed away at the age of 79. Alongside McCarty, he was the only surviving Yardbirds' original member. Dreja was often called “the other” Yardbirds guitarist since he shared the stage with the three legendary musicians who were part of the band in the 60s: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. The news of his death was shared by the music publisher David Stark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YcHrYBLMxE&list=RD0YcHrYBLMxE&start_radio=1&pp=ygUadGhlIHlhcmRiaXJkcyBlcmljIGNsYXB0b26gBwE%3DThe post The Yardbirds’ drummer recalls what Clapton was like at the time appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley died last October 16 at the age of 74. The news was shared by his family after news sources reported he had suffered a fall in his studio about a week earlier and suffered a brain bleed. He was on life support and placed on a ventilator after the accident, but he didn’t get any better. Since the announcement of his death, many famous rock stars have paid tribute to him. How Rock stars reacted to Ace Frehley's death Kiss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSYb-LLj59g "We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS's legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world," Kiss said. Peter Criss "With a broken heart and deep, deep sadness, my brother Ace Frehley has passed away. He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him to the end as well. I love you my brother. My love and prayers go out to Jeanette, Monique, Charlie and Nancy and all of Ace's extended family, bandmates, fans and friends. May the Lord comfort you at this difficult time. As a founding member of the rock group KISS and in Ace's solo career, Ace influenced and touched the hearts of millions of people. His legacy will live on in the music industry and in the hearts of the KISS Army. At this time I ask all of you to please be respectful to Ace's family and allow them to grieve privately. To the KISS Army and Ace's Rock Soldiers, my heart is with you all... Broken...," Peter Criss said: Gene Simmons "Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!" Gene Simmons said. Paul Stanley "I remember 1974 being in my room at the Hyatt on Sunset in LA and I heard someone playing deep and fiery guitar in the room next door. I thought “Boy, I wish THAT guy was in the band!” I looked over the balcony… He was. It was Ace. This is my favorite photo of us…," Paul Stanley said. Bruce Kulick "The news of Ace’s passing is devastating to the world of rock. It has deeply affected me as well. He was one of a kind and truly an iconic guitar player. His undeniable role in the creation and success of KISS cannot be forgotten. Not only was he loved by all, he influenced millions of guitarists around the world. RIP," he said. Tommy Thayer "A legend who will never be forgotten. He inspired generations of guitarists, myself included, to chase greatness. It’s been an honor to walk in his footsteps. His legacy will live forever. Rest in peace, Ace," he said. Joe Perry (Aerosmith) "Sad to hear about the passing of Ace Frehley. We shared a lot of stages over the years. He was one of a kind — a true rock & roll original with a sound and style all his own. Rest easy, Space Ace. You’ll be missed but never forgotten," he said. Alice Cooper “The worst part of being in rock ‘n’ roll at this point is the fact that some of our fraternity have just reached that age where they’ve… they leave the planet. Some of the guys that started 30, 40, 50 years ago are starting to go, and of course Ace Frehley from KISS, one of the pioneers - one of the great guitar players out there…Ace was an absolute Guitar hero to so many people. I did more tours with him than anybody else, as far as opening for us, for quite a long time so… we became quite good friends. And you know he always brought it every night… He did it every night. And… it’s just hard to see somebody like that go. We know that right now that the KISS fans are certainly in mourning and certainly his family and certainly everybody that knew him. Ace was an ACE,” he said. Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) "Sad news about Ace, he was long gone when we got to know the Kiss guys but he left his mark on their music… his first solo album made waves too, Fractured Mirror is a great instrumental & his New York Groove hit the spot more so than any other version of that song. RIP Spaceman," he said. Slash (Guns N' Roses) "Hard to believe & process this devastating news today. Ace I will miss you. & millions more will too. RIP my friend. One of the true great rock n roll guitarists, the Spaceman has left the planet," he said. Sebastian Bach (Ex-Skid Row) "I must have been about 10 years old. Riding my bike to school I hit some train tracks in the middle of the intersection on the road. The wheels on my bike went into the train tracks. I tried to turn the handlebars but they were stuck in the tracks and sent me flying off the bike into the middle of the street. Somehow I fckd up my leg to the point where I couldn’t walk, I was literally crawling home because I couldn’t stand up. When I got home I was crying in pain. My mom was distressed and brought me into the living room… where Dads stereo was." "My biggest joy in life at that time was when mom & dad would let me play KISS … on THEIR stereo in the living room with a Marantz amp & big speakers & everything. Mom said, “Sebastian what can I do to make you feel better?” I immediately replied, “Mom please go into my room and get KISS: The Originals album set. Please put on “Rock Bottom” from Dressed to Kill. The guitar intro by Ace Frehley. That will make me feel better.“ "I’ll never forget lying there on the living room couch, with tears running down my face, with my Mom playing the beautiful acoustic guitar by the Ace on repeat. Nothing soothed my soul like the sound of the Ace playing his guitar. I have too many stories and recollections of the Ace to type out on instagram. I am too sad right now to process this situation. Tonight’s show @mohegansun Arena will be dedicated to the (wild) life & (crazy) times of my original hero & friend @acefrehleyofficial . This could be the 1st Sold Out Headline Show we’ve ever done in the USA. This one is for the ACE." "My thoughts are with Monique right now. I hope she is holding up ok. Losing a hero is painful. But losing your dad is excruciating all the best to Monique & Ace’s family. Thank you to the ACE for soothing my soul with your guitar. And thanks for being a friend. I miss you and I love you ACE ⚡️FOREVER ⚡️," he said. Neal Schon (Journey) "God Speed Ace My sincere condolences to all. RIP ✝️♾️✝️ Journey opened up for KISS back in early 70s with Ace and band when they were up and coming. We played theaters with them," he said. Lita Ford Ace Frehley 1951-2025. Great Rockstars never die! Rest in Peace, Spaceman We will miss you," she said. Eddie Trunk "Sadly I can now confirm my friend of 40 years @acefrehleyofficial has passed away. I am devastated beyond words. Unfortunately I did know this was coming and pre recorded a memorial to him. That will air tonight at 11P ET/ 8P PT on @trunknationsxm @siriusxm 103 or the app. I will return to the radio live tomorrow at a special start time of 2P ET / 11A PT for a 3 hour live show to remember Ace and take your calls. Also on 103’or the app. I will do my best to celebrate Ace tomorrow when back live. For now I am doing my best to process this. My condolences to Jeanette , Monique and all his family and many fans. To say Ace was one of a kind would be an understatement. He was always there for me, was the first artist I ever signed, and we remained close ever since that day we met in 1986. I am crushed. RIP brother. Never to be forgotten," he said. Gary Cherone (Extreme) If you were lucky enough to grow up in the 70’s, it’s hard to describe the larger than life impact KISS had on the culture. In an age that pre-dates “I want my MTV” and decades before anyone could even imagine the instant à la carte of the Internet, There was that teenage kid in his bedroom, every inch of the wall covered in posters, Rock mags littered all around, oblivious to his parent telling him to turn that shit down! Speakers distorting, head banging, sitting cross, legged on the floor only having to get up every 15 minutes to flip the vinyl over and rock n roll over again! Gazing into the gatefold of KISS Alive I & II not fully comprehending what he is seeing! The Demon! The Starchild! The Cat Man! and The Space Man! This was more than music. It was an over the top spectacle for the senses. The production, lights, sound, hydraulic stages, costumes, make up, “My Seven Inch Leather Heels!” the blood and fire! The smoking guitar, And that Iconic logo designed by non other than ACE himself! But none of it would matter if not for the catalogue of songs, too many to mention, the Anthems we loved to Shout Out Loud! Yes, We wanted the Best And We got the Best! Today is a sad day. We are losing too many, too soon. We lost 1/4 of the sum of its parts. Though I am not a guitar player I’m well aware of his influence, and his impact cannot be measured “Ace Frehley, Lead Guitar! Shock me!” you will be missed Thank you for the Rocket Ride! My deepest sympathies to the Frehley family and those that were closest," he said. Rob Zombie "If you were a kid in the 70s Kiss was everything. I bought Destroyer back in 1976 without having heard a single note and was blown away. ⚡️ In 2006 I was lucky enough to jam with Ace on God Of Thunder at the VH 1 Kiss Honors. A little weird since Kiss was also playing minus Ace. But still an epic moment for me⚡️ Rock on Spaceman RIP⚡️," he said.The post How Rock stars reacted to Ace Frehley’s death appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The legendary original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley died last October 16 at the age of 74. A week earlier, he had fallen in his studio and suffered a brain bleed. He was on life support and placed on a ventilator after the accident but didn’t get better. The musician was working on his third covers album, Origins Vol. 3, and had scheduled tour dates. His final show took place at the Uptown Theater in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, where he performed many Kiss classics and other well-known songs from his solo career. Setlist and videos of Ace Frehley's final concert Deuce (KISS song) Shock Me (KISS song) Rock Soldiers (Frehley’s Comet song) Love Gun (KISS song) Rocket Ride (KISS song) Detroit Rock City (KISS song) She (KISS song) New York Groove (Russ Ballard cover) (with KISS's "God of Thunder" intro.) Cold Gin (KISS song) (Jam leading into) Ace Frehley Guitar Solo (Teased of James Bond theme, Led Zeppelin ended with “smoking guitar”) Shout It Out Loud (KISS song) Rock and Roll All Nite (KISS song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mFXJUXA2Mc&list=RD4mFXJUXA2Mc&start_radio=1&pp=ygUbYWNlIGZyZWhsZXkgcHJvdmlkZW5jZSAyMDI1oAcB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV46IklRyic&list=RDMV46IklRyic&start_radio=1&pp=ygUXYWNlIGZyZWhsZXkgcHJvdmlkZW5jZSCgBwE%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQKXZR6jXic&list=RDIQKXZR6jXic&start_radio=1&pp=ygUXYWNlIGZyZWhsZXkgcHJvdmlkZW5jZSCgBwE%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK2EmWrykCg&list=RDAK2EmWrykCg&start_radio=1&pp=ygUXYWNlIGZyZWhsZXkgcHJvdmlkZW5jZSCgBwE%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSYb-LLj59g Ace was one of the most influential guitar players of all time, a crucial part of the success of Kiss in the early days of the band. He helped to form Kiss alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss in New York City back in 1973. He was part of the band until 1982 when he decided to leave and returned from 1996 to 2002. His first solo album, released in 1978 on the same day the other members of the band also released theirs, was the most successful one from the four. It had songs like “New York Groove” and “Rip It Out”. After Kiss he formed Frehley’s Comet, releasing two albums and then focused on his solo career. His final album was “10,000 Volts”, released in 2024 but he was currently working on his third covers album “Origins Vol. 3”, which will be probably released in the future.The post Setlist and videos of Ace Frehley’s final concert appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The mastermind behind The Who, songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend was a fundamental figure in Rock and Roll, especially in the 60s and 70s, when the British band released their most successful and influential albums. During those decades, the genre was evolving, with many bands exploring new sounds and creating various subcategories of Rock. It was hard to keep up with everything that was happening in music at the time because of how rich and diverse the scene was. But Townshend had the chance to see many incredible groups from that era perform. He eventually gave his opinion on them and one of those bands was the Grateful Dead. What is Pete Townshend's opinion on the Grateful Dead Pete Townshend likes the Grateful Dead and said that, at first, he could not understand what they were about but was envious of their connection with fans. He also noted that they had something in common with Bob Dylan, since they could play any song you asked them to. "I remember Bob Dylan, you know, I said to him: 'Why are you doing so many shows? Why are you constantly on the road?' You know, 'don't you have a f*cking life? You know, (you're) just on the f*cking road all the time. He said: 'Pete, I'm a Folk singer'. And I said: 'Yeah?' And he said: 'Well, what is a Folk singer?'" "And I said: 'Tell me'. He said: 'It's a guy with a good memory for music, for songs'. And he said: 'I've got 650 songs and I have to keep playing them, otherwise I'll forget them'. It was a bit like with the Grateful Dead. (They) could playing f*cking anything that you came up with. So somebody in the crowd would sort of say: 'Play Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony!' And they would have a go, you know (laughs)." Pete Townshend continued: "But also, the commitment of their fans was something that was interesting. The big thing about the Dead I remember, was that they gave their road crew the same share that they got themselves, did you know that? Yeah, it was a true cooperative, so nobody got rich, nobody. They made a living but they didn't get rich. (...) They were real contemporaries of The Band and they were a challenge in a sense because they had a connection with their audience that I was envious." "(...) Funny enough, I think, looking back I'm interpolating some stuff which wasn't exactly true at the time. I didn't really understand what the Dead were doing. I didn't understand the San Francisco scene at all. (...) It seemed scruffy, it seemed disorganized and it seemed to need focus, it seemed to lack focus," Pete Townshend said in an interview with Broken Record podcast (with producer Rick Rubin in 2023 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage). The Who and the Grateful Dead crossed paths still in the 60s, when they played on the same day at the Monterey International Pop Festival. That day other big bands like Buffalo Springfield, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Mamas & The Papas. Seven years later, in 1976, they would share the bill for two days at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium. In 1981 Pete had the chance to perform with them live. It was during their show at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany for WDR's Rockpalast TV show. Townshend joined them on stage playing four songs which were: "Not Fade Away" (The Crickets), "Wharf Rat" (Grateful Dead), "Around Around" (Chuck Berry) and "Good Lovin'" (The Olympics). Grateful Dead indirectly helped Pete Townshend to write "Tommy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oot8-M_E_Hc&list=RDoot8-M_E_Hc&start_radio=1&pp=ygUccGV0ZSB0b3duc2hlbmQgZ3JhdGVmdWwgZGVhZKAHAQ%3D%3D Funny enough, according to Pete Townshend, the Grateful Dead indirectly helped him to get inspiration to write the songs that ended up in "Tommy" (1969), one of The Who's most acclaimed albums. As he told Clash Music in 2023, he had a "terrifying" experience after taking something provided by a "chemist involved with the Grateful Dead". “The Who were running out of ideas pre-‘Tommy’, the rock opera. And that album started off as a mythic tale. It’s loosely inspired by Hermann Hesse’s Siddharta. But I was also reading lots of Sufi tales, and mystical writings by Hazrat Inayat Khan. He wrote a book called the Mysticism Of Sound. A musician, but also a spiritual teacher. All of that was flooding through my head.” “I had this experience, post-Monterey, where I took some acid – supplied by a chemist involved with the Grateful Dead. I had this terrifying trip where I left my body. (Then) I spoke about it with this guy Mike MacKinnon, who recommended the writings of Meher Baba. I went and got a biography of him, and instantly got all the answers I needed to all these questions buzzing around my head,” Pete Townshend said. Jerry Garcia loved The Who and Pete Townshend The late legendary Grateful Dead singer, guitarist and songwriter Jerry Garcia was a fan of The Who and Pete Townshend. He even said in a radio interview in 1978, that he thought the British band were the "original Punks" “Yeah (We did a show with The Who, they were the original punks). They’re great, I have a lot of respect. I admire what they do. However, I spoke with Pete Townshend before their set. He was telling me that they’ve been playing the same show for four years. I mean, the same show and they were sort of depressed about it." "I mean, to have exactly the same numbers in exactly the same order for four years in a row is not exactly a sign of progress. Because the guys themselves are capable of more than that. They’re capable of better things,” Jerry Garcia said. In the early 80s, the Grateful Dead guitarist and singer said he saw The Who as "truly important architects of Rock and Roll" and that Pete Townshend could be one of "Rock and Roll's rare authentic geniuses", concluding that he was really happy that they existed. The Grateful Dead was formed in 1965, only one year after The Who, but unlike the British band they didn't continue after losing a key member: Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995 at the age of 53. However, remaining members of the band continued to play the band's music together on other projects, like Dead & Company.The post Pete Townshend’s opinion on the Grateful Dead appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

A travesty... The post The B-52s: What song kept ‘Love Shack’ off the top of the charts? first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

from The HighWire with Del Bigtree: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/