last man standing

Last Man Standing: Band Members Who Just Missed the Boat

Nov 162010

In honor of Pete Best and Ian Stewart, original members of The Beatles and Rolling Stones, respectively, who were kicked out of the band (or band proper, in Stu’s case) just as their mates were on the brink of major success, let’s commemorate musicians who were replaced shortly before their soon-to-be legendary bands took flight as we know them.

A few exclusions (of course):

Band members who died and/or went kee-RAAAY-zee right before their bands broke are disqualified (sorry, original brains behind The Gin Blossoms, whatever your name was). The musician had to have been capable of regretting his or her shot at the big time, and as far as we know the (brain)dead do not retain regrets.
Band members who actually made it to the band’s first, less-than-legendary album before the band broke with a bigger album do not count (sorry, Fairport Convention’s original woman singer, Judy Dyble), although the musician is eligible if he or she only appeared on an early single.
Original XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews is not eligible because XTC never really broke to any degree that would have caused Mr. Andrews to sit home and nurse his missed opportunity. Same goes for whatever guy or gal just missed the boat on your own band, if said band did not scale enviable heights.

Last Man Standing: Euphemistic Fruit References in Rock ‘n Roll Songs

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 022010

Your challenge today is to cite rock ‘n roll songs containing euphemistic fruit references: fruit, not vegetables, although our highly unscientific judges will allow the blurring of categories regarding tomatoes and melons. (One judge does know this much: technically, almonds are a fruit not a nut.) By “rock ‘n roll songs” I mean songs released during the rock ‘n roll era, so that rules out the excellent and not-naughty (as I would expect most entries will be) “Strange Fruit.”

I’ll kick things off with an entry some might quibble over if suggested by anyone else, an unexpected banana reference in Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band”:

Four young chiquitas in Omaha…

Surely, this will be one of the most exclusive Last Man Standing competitions in the history of Rock Town Hall…or not!

RUSH Don’t Walk to Win a Classic Albums DVD of Rush’s 2112…
Or Last Man Standing: Al-bums Edition

Posted by The Back Office

Oct 262010

Three copies of this DVD have been provided by our pals over at Universal Music to give away. The task is simple: Name (link to if possible) an album COVER that includes a naked bum on it. Male, female…this contest swings both ways. We’ve installed a PlugIn called “Comment Timeout” and have set the comments to close at a time only known to us here in The Back Office. As this contest is pretty much automated the Guest Judge will be…

Last Man Standing: Rock ‘n Roll Remedies

Posted by cdm

Oct 222010

What I’m looking for is a remedy for an ailment or affliction. The affliction can be as simple as being lovesick, but the remedy has to be something tangible, that you ingest or apply topically, like a tonic or an ointment. Also, it needs to be more specific than just “a pill” or “a handful of pills.”

So, for instance, “Good Lovin'” would not qualify because the doctor simply suggests that the cure lies in a lifestyle change that includes more “good lovin.” Nor would the rock and roll doctor in the Little Feat song, because he doesn’t really offer advice; the narrator merely ticks off the doctor’s rather impressive credentials.

Home remedies are encouraged, and the likelihood of the “cure” actually curing anything does not matter.

I’ll lead off with “Strychnine,” which, according to The Sonics, is good for what’s ailing you.

Last Man Standing: Custom-Shaped Guitars and the Pro Guitarists Who Play Them

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 182010

Rundgren plays his symbolic guitar.

A recent discussion of Prock futurist Todd Rundgren got me thinking about well-known guitarists who play custom-shaped guitars. I’m not talking about guitars like B.C. Rich models that are a variation on a well-known guitar model, like a Flying V, but custom guitars made in a shape that especially suits the player’s identity. Also, the player needs to be an established pro guitarist, not some wacky dude who designed his own penis-shaped axe.

All entries must be accompanied by a link to an image of the player with his guitar. (Yes, bass guitars also count.)

Rundgren’s guitar, pictured above, is off the board. Play on!

Last Man Standing: People Who Would Be Unknown Were It Not For The Beatles

Posted by al

Oct 152010

You know his name...

I’ve been listening to a bunch of John Lennon interviews lately (4 hours with Jann Wenner in 1970, anyone?). They are quite fascinating when considered 40 years later. It did make me think of how many people there are who owe their fame to The Beatles or a Beatle. Hence this LMS.

Name a person who would be unknown were it not for the Beatles. What counts and what doesn’t? There are some fine lines here (in my head) but I’ll try and make some distinctions by example.

It doesn’t count if the person is a big part of the Beatles story. Brian Epstein, for instance, would be unknown without the Beatles but he’s too big a part of the Beatles to count. Ditto Yoko. By extension, let’s exclude all family members.

I guess I’m thinking more in the nature of hangers-on. Like my initial entry, Dr. Arthur Janov.

Last Man (or Woman) Standing: Animal Songs

Posted by cdm

Sep 272010

In this latest installment of Last Man Standing, I’m looking for songs with animals in the title.

The rules:

The animal must appear in the title, not just the lyrics.
Once a specific animal has been mentioned, it can no longer be used. However, if for instance, “Dog” has already been used, “Dalmatian” is still in play.

As always, please just submit one answer per post. Once you have submitted an answer, you are the Last Man (or Woman) Standing, until someone trumps your answer. The game continues until we’ve exhausted our stock of answers or we can no longer stand it anymore.

Shamelessly pandering to our newfound prog-rock friends, I submit “Tiger in a Spotlight,” by ELP. (“Tiger” is now out of play.)

UPDATE
On this topic, bostonhistorian is Last Man Standing. Comments have been closed for this thread. Well played, Townspeople!

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