Craig Michaels - 7.23.2008
Um... say, Don! Can I... uh... can I take you to lunch? Have I mentioned how GOOD you look lately? Um.. shew... you don't think that maybe I could take a quick look at that DVD before it gets released, do you?? No reason... just... um... curiosity...
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Don Gilliland - 7.23.2008
Craig; not only were those parties tapes, we've unearthed boxes of "candid" phototgraphs. The whole thing will be packaged together and sold as a deluxe DVD box set!
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Craig Michaels - 7.22.2008
I'm going to take a wild guess that Lee's "oh well" was a comment on the ongoing "pledge drive" for the station, and if I'm right, it might mean Lee is having a difficult time scaring up a few bucks here and there. While I haven't had the honor of Lee's company for quite some time, I can say with confidence that it's not an easy thing for him to ask for donations to keep things running. That's NOT because he's such a vain or a proud man... it's simply because he's a good person with a huge heart, and if he could keep things running out of his own pocket forever, he'd do so. I can't imagine the time and effort it takes for him to keep this little eChild of his breathing, and I've certainly been witness to the joy it's brought to a lot of people over the course of a long, long time now... Times are tough in a lot of places, but I doubt Lee is asking anyone to kick in anything with five or six zeroes involved. On his behalf, I'll stump a little bit, and just mention that even little bits are a big help. And NO, I will NOT send any of those exclusive party photos as a gift for your donation!!! Good gawd, I'm blushing...
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Mike Zarek - 7.22.2008
??
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Lee Arnold - 7.22.2008
Oh well.
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Craig Michaels - 7.20.2008
Hey, Don... thinking a bit about it... um... none of the Dogfood parties were taped are anything, were they??
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John Aseff - 7.20.2008
Don - ditto on Steve Perry. Nails on a chalkboard? More like vise grips on the nads. Michael McDonald isn't nearly as horrible as Perry. I, too, hated it when he became the lead singer for The Doobies. Nobody could replace Tom Johnston. He was the sound of the Doobies. I thought McDonald was pretty darn good, though, singing backup for Steely Dan. I believe it's his backup voice that is the most prominent on Peg (Aja album). Peg wouldn't be the same without that sound. He's no lead singer. You are correct about that.
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The Reverend Liketo Sniffpanties - 7.18.2008
SHOCKED!! Shocked I am at the assertion that there was ever anything but good, wholesome, God-fearing, all-American activities at WORJ!!
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Craig Michaels - 7.17.2008
Lee, if they had the control room bugged, I'm betting you could raise a LOT of money from the on air people to keep those little gifties from being given...
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Lee Arnold - 7.17.2008
Ron and Big, Did you have the WORJ studios bugged? :-)
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Ron Jeremy - 7.17.2008
....and for a donation of $150, we'll send you the "Inside the WORJ Studio" DVD; Adults only, age 18+ verification required. All DJ's and their "guests" age 18 or over (or at least *claimed* to be), see 18 USC 2257.
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Big Bambu - 7.17.2008
...and if you donate at the $50 level, we'll send you this exclusive CD, "Sounds of the WORJ Studio", with all those classic "behind the mic" moments you love.... who can forget that 3:00 AM classic, "aaaawwwww shit... no more rolling papers...."
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Lee Arnold - 7.16.2008
Pledge Drive. All Donations, large or small, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. You guys are the best. Thanks for sharing my passion.
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Denise Allen - 7.13.2008
It has been quite awhile since I've visited this message board. Last time I was on there was a discussion about the Rock Super Bowl Concerts at the T-Bowl and who played. Today while cleaning out the garage a box of old ticket stubs revealed themselves and gave up the following info .... Rock Superbowl 1- 5/29/77 Kenny Loggins , Bob Seger , Chcik Correa and Stanley Clark, Fleetwood Mac. 2 - 7/03/77 Andrew Gold , Hall and Oates , Jimmy Buffet , The Eagles 3 - 9/04/77 Rick Derringer, Kansas, Peter Frampton 4 - 07/78 Southpaw , Foreigner , Pablo Cruise , Bob Seger 5 - 08/05/78 Little River Band, Steve Miller Band , Jimmy Buffett What a way to spend those hot Florida summers. On another note, Don Thanks for all your charitable efforts. I was happy to have a reliable source to make a contribution to and hope I can send morte soon.
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Don Gilliland - 7.11.2008
Just back from my latest trip to Myanmar (doing lots more charity work there this time around; due to both the cyclone damage and general poverty over there) and saw Craig's post about most annoying singers. My own "nails on the chalkboard" dislikes: Steve Perry of Journey and Michael McDonald (loved the Doobie Brothers ... until he joined the band).
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Jim McPherson - 7.9.2008
Interesting item ... next Tuesday, July 15, Columbia Records will release Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Bands " Magic Tour Highlights " to all digital download stores. The package consists of 4 audio tracks with accompanying videos, all recorded during the recent " Magic " tour. One of the tracks is a performance of " Turn, Turn, Turn " with special guest Roger McGuinn, recorded here in Orlando,FL on 4/23/08. Also included is a 3/20/08 recording of " 4th Of July, Asbury Park ( Sandy ) in Indianapolis,IN; keyboardist Danny Ferdericis final performance with the band. On sales of these downloads, all the artists, songwriters and music publishers are waiving all of their royalties, and Columbia Records is donating all of its net profits to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. In addition, the ITunes store is donating their first years net profits as well. Tune in to www.brucespringsteen.net on July 15 for download information!
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Lee Arnold - 7.4.2008
HAPPY JULY FOURTH!!!!! http://leearnoldsblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/star-spangled-banner.html
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Billy Walker - 6.30.2008
Wow sorry to hear about Rusty of Cactus, saw them at Orlando Sports Stadium too!
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Jim McPherson - 6.28.2008
Hey Steve, thanks for that info ! It pretty much confirms what someone who knew some of the players involved told me awhile back. Apparently, Sanders was a singer for a band that played the Central Fla. club cicuit back in the day. He was considered the main suspect in the murders but because of his suicide I don't think they were ever able to prove it conclusively.
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Steve Baione - 6.28.2008
Hello All. Hey Jim, I found some info on the death of Rusty Day of Cactus. I did a search and ended up looking in Wikipedia. Here’s what I found. In 1982, Day was working on an album with Uncle Acid & The Permanent Damage Band, as well as dealing cocaine. Day owed money to Ron Sanders, one of the guitar players in his band, after a minor cocaine deal. Monte "Mondo" Thomas, Day's lead guitarist and close friend, explained Sanders as: "...a madman, he was a millionaire and a real bad coke fiend." Thomas and Day both lived in Day's house in Longwood, Florida, along with Day's 11-year old son Russell. Thomas had agreed to drive a friend out of town, and was therefore not present when Sanders opened fire with a machine gun shooting through the windows in Day's house, killing Day, his son Russell, and a house guest, Garth McCrae. Ron Sanders shot himself six weeks later, after police had surrounded his house due to entirely different charges than the triple murder weeks before. Cactus was initially conceived in late 1969 as a super group of the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section, bassist Tim Bogart and drummer Carmine Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck and singer Rod Stewart. However, Beck had an automobile accident and Stewart joined Ronnie Wood in the Faces. Out of frustration, Bogert and Appice formed what we now know as Cactus in 1969. The cast was complete when Day joined them on vocals and Jim McCarty joined on lead guitar. Had Beck’s accident not happened Both Cactus and The Faces might not have had their signature sound. Peace…
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Lee Arnold - 6.26.2008
Thanks. Seems fine now.
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Mike Zarek - 6.25.2008
Working fine here, 7:30pm 6/25 ... tick...tick...tick...tick... ;-)
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Lee Arnold - 6.25.2008
Eastern Time> :-) On a different note, is anyone having trouble today listening to the WORJ.com stream? I have reports from some folk saying that when they try to listen, that the Live365 voice says that we've reached our maximum amount of listeners. I would appreciate if you would try and listen and see if you get the same message. Thanks
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Mike Zarek - 6.25.2008
tick...tick...tick...tick.....
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Craig Michaels - 6.24.2008
Lee, need to know... 10pm eastern? Central? Help help!
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Lee Arnold - 6.24.2008
Please move this content to after 10 PM
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Mike Zarek - 6.24.2008
....yes, you can prick your finger... but don't finger your prick!!
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Craig Michaels - 6.23.2008
And how come the baseball announcer can say, "The batter has two balls on him," but he can't say, "Oh, I wonder if he hurt his balls? Well... he's holding them... he must have hurt them!"
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Craig Michaels - 6.23.2008
Tater tits! Cheese tits! Betcha can't eat just one!
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Mike Zarek - 6.23.2008
....and tits doesn't even belong on the list!! I mean, it's such a *friendly* sounding word.....Kinda like a nickname!.....
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Lee Arnold - 6.23.2008
Jim, I'm impressed!! Been playing with theme sets for a while now. I was wondering if any one was picking up on it.
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Jim McPherson - 6.23.2008
If it's Monday, it must be theme day ... so far, groups of songs featuring the words " free ", " heart " and " old ". It's turning into a game of trying to guess what the next song might be, sort of a version of " Stump The Chump ". I haven't guessed right once but I'm enjoying the playlist anyways ! : - )
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Lee Arnold - 6.23.2008
Mike, a fitting tribute to George. Well said!!
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Mike Zarek - 6.23.2008
RIP George Carlin..... there will never be another...and.. simply because I can... SHIT PISS FUCK CUNT COCKSUCKER MOTHERFUCKER TITS!
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John Aseff - 6.22.2008
Billy - good one! :-)
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Billy Walker - 6.22.2008
Reply to John Aseff.. I think your right there was a pretty decent band from Athens, I just can't seem to REMember their name...
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John Aseff - 6.21.2008
I just acquired Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Good stuff so far. I was reading on Wikipedia that they hail from Athens. Actually 3 of the members of DBT hail from the Shoals region of Northern Alabama. Wasn't there another decent band from Athens? :-)
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John Aseff - 6.21.2008
Don - Thanks for the suggestion. I've been looking for new things to listen to since I now have a 50 minute commute each way. I hope you have a safe trip to Myanmar on Monday. Let us know how it goes.
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John Aseff - 6.21.2008
Milli Vanilli. Now THERE'S an act that deserves Honorable Mention on Steve's list.
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Craig Michaels - 6.21.2008
I guess technically Milli Vanilli could NEVER go on a "Most Annoying Singers" list, since they didn't sing...
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Don Gilliland - 6.21.2008
Any of y'all listen to the Drive-By Truckers? Great band with several very fine albums. They remind me of some of the great southern rock bands of the 70s, but with better lyrics. Their newest album, "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" is one of their best yet. This band rocks!
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John Aseff - 6.21.2008
I don't know Steve. After that little lip-sync, hillbilly dance thing she did on Saturday Night Live, I think Ashlee deserves more than Honorable Mention. She deserves to be in the top 5 at least.
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Steve Baione - 6.19.2008
Hello All. I was checking my mail on Yahoo the other day and found a forum on “The Most Annoying Singers Ever” I jotted down a few names and here’s what I came up with. #1. Trace Adkins, The Honkytonk Badonk-a-Donk Guy. #2. Celine Dion, Because I’m Diabetic. #3. Axel Rose, Because he’s such a Whiney-Ass Crybaby. #4. Bjork, Avant-garde, Yes. Annoying, Even more so. #5. Michael Bolton, Why Not?. #6. Yoko Ono, What to hell was John thinking giving her a microphone??? #7.Wesley Willis, “I Whupped Batmans Ass” was funny as hell, but the worlds worst vocalist. #8. Scott Stapp, Too many reasons to list. #9. Tiny Tim. God bless him #10. David Haselhoff, The Germans love him, Go figure… Honorable mention goes to Ashlee Simpson.
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John Aseff - 6.19.2008
I recently picked up the new CD Warpaint by The Black Crowes. I had not listened to any of their stuff for a while. I guess I got tired of it. This one is a breath of fresh air. If you ever liked The Black Crowes it's definitely worth a listen.
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Jim McPherson - 6.13.2008
While surfing the web recently, I came across an album by a '70s also-ran band named Blackjack. I actually saw them at the Lakeland Civic Center as an opening act, though I can't for the life of me remember who the headliner was now. Their 1st album was getting some local airplay but the crowd at this show was not much into them at all. They were trying their hardest to get the audience fired up, finally resorting to covering " Rocky Mountain Way ", but by then the crowd was like "...NEXT!". Anyways, when I looked to see who was in the band, I about fell out of my chair laffing ... the guitarist was Bruce Kulick, who went on to play for KISS in the '80s and the singer was Michael Bolotin, who later shortened his last name to Bolton ... yeah, THAT Michael Bolton... EEK ! Maybe that crowd was onto him already. It would make a good episode of one of those " Before They Were Famous " shows. OK, I admit I bought his CD " The Hunger " back when it came out, probably the last decent thing he did before heading off into the easy listening wastelands, never to return. His cover of " Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay " sure beat Sammy Hagars version at least !
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Jimk McPherson - 6.12.2008
Talk about a blast from the past ... Return To Forever with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola and Lenny White, Aug. 1 @ the House of Blues ! : - )
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Billy Walker - 6.12.2008
I really remember those far-out posters advertising Together Productions Concerts, especially hanging at "The Infinite Mushroom" old site behind the old Colonial Plaza!
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Billy Walker - 6.6.2008
Thanks Lee, so great to hear Morrie is doing well. He was "The Man" in my day and Together Productions put on the best concerts I've ever seen (Orlando Sports Stadium).
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Lee Arnold - 6.6.2008
The Message Board is back. Please post away. :-)
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Lee Arnold - 6.5.2008
Morrie is a successful Movie Producer in Hollywood. He was the main Concert promoter in Orlando in the early '70s. First with Together Productions (his own company), than with L & S Productions which merged into HBS Productions(Paul Block, Peter Shanaberg, Richard Herre and Joe Lambusta). The "S" in L&S and HBS, was Pete Shanaberg, who brought Morrie to the West Coast to work in the Movie business with him. Other WORJ alumni who worked with Morrie and Pete in Hollywood were Paul Yeskel and Paul Weiss. Morrie was on WORJ often announcing his shows. He was a friend of the station. We worked closely together. Morrie is still a dear friend. I spoke to him last week.
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Billy Walker - 6.5.2008
Gee I feel young until I try to remember something. I mentioned a "Barrie Eisenman", I think it was "Morey Eisenman" and again spelling is all my fault! Anyone recall this Bro?
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John Aseff - 6.3.2008
My pleasure Lee. More to follow.
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Mike Zarek - 6.3.2008
Billy, 107.7 FM was WORJ-FM .. it later changed to Zeta7, and then to Joy 108...
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Billy Walker - 6.2.2008
I'm just getting up to speed here, but memories are pouring back. Wasn't 107.7 the "progressive" station of the late 60's early 70's and do I remember a Barrie Eisenman (spelling my fault) or something close to that?
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Mike Zarek - 6.2.2008
Here's a 107.7 FM tie in to Bo ... In the early 80's, Joy 108 hit #1 12+ in the Orlando market for a while... A party was thrown during which much booze was poured down advertiser and agency throats ... and much stuff went up noses, tho not bought by the station... Bo Diddley was hired to play... It was at the Radisson near Lake Ivanhoe as I recall....
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Mike Zarek - 6.2.2008
Yeah, just saw that about Bo. He was living in Archer, FL, not too far from here (Ocala).
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Jim McPherson - 6.2.2008
R.I.P. Bo Diddely ! :-(
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Billy Walker - 6.1.2008
oops that was WLOF Channel 95 (WOLF)
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Mike Zarek - 6.1.2008
If it was instrumental, my guess would be "El Becko", from Jeff Beck's "There and Back".
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Wayne Mereck - 6.1.2008
"Grand Larceny" by Sea Level sounds like what you are looking for.
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Mike - 6.1.2008
What eas that song that was used as an intro in the 1980 time frame? It started off kinda space age with a systhesizer and ended up with a catchy guitar riff.....
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Mike Zarek - 6.1.2008
Rick Namey: email me... zeek@671mrpc.com. Thanks
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Billy Walker - 5.31.2008
Thanks Lee, board's a really nice trip down "Memory (or is it Penny) Lane)! The "Werd Beard eh, I remember him was he at WOLF- channel 95?
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Lee Arnold - 5.31.2008
Welcome aboard, Billy.
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Lee Arnold - 5.31.2008
John. Thanks, much appreciated
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Wayne Mereck - 5.31.2008
Very sad news about "The Wierd Beard". I found his site in early 2007 and wrote him about how he had influenced me and my friends. I also told him about this site and invited him to post. I am glad that he did and we had a last chance to hear from him. Very sad news indeed.
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Billy Walker - 5.30.2008
So many memories from Steve Miller, Bob Seger System, Cactus, Black Sabbath, Poco, Elephant's Memory, Ruth Copeland, John Sebastian, Allman Bros Band, psychedelic backdrops, free entry for late comers (riot started when they ended that tradition"), main floor unreserved lay on your blanket and mingle type seating, wow, those were the days
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Billy Walker - 5.30.2008
Never forget the most surrealistic moment of my life as I stood in the middle of a pepper-gas filled stadium with crowds running over each other fleeing outside to waiting mass police cars and helicopters as a riot went on, while at the same time John Sebastian sat alone on a stool on stage , singing "I had a dream last night, what a lovely dream it was..."
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Billy Walker - 5.30.2008
Cut my teeth on Rock n Roll at the Orlando Sports Stadium, late 60's - early 70's!
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Billy Walker - 5.30.2008
Cut my teeth on Rock n Roll at the Orlando Sports Stadium late 60's - early 70's!
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Lee Arnold - 5.30.2008
Ladies and Gentlemen---Let's welcome my cousin, Jimmy Silverman to the Board. Jimmy was an integral part of the WORJ Sales Team and served as Sales Manager. He also is featured in many pictures in the pictures section. A Rocker forever and a music freak. He was born to work at WORJ. Hey cuz, welcome home.
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jim silverman - 5.29.2008
Lee, it's good to be back in your life cuz....only 32 years...well some folks never come back. I vividly remember dudes driving over 150 miles roundtrip to secure a WORJ license plate or t-shirt! We had lots of fun in the 70's and the ORJ was the community...not like now where everyone walks around in their own world...now everyone thinks they're a dj. Too bad. J
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Mike Zarek - 5.29.2008
I remember listening to Bill on WLOF "back in the day" and had the pleasure of meeting him in later years as our paths crossed in the computer/tech biz. Bill was always on the cutting edge, be it music or tech. Way back before the internet was a household appliance, and when most of us were dialing in to "BBS" systems, Bill was providing full Unix shell access to the internet via dialup phone line, all from his home. The good news is that his spirit will never leave us, and WORJ.COM is proof. (My apologies for being a little tardy.. I was on vacation and I was only able to check my email via cell phone).
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Chal Martina - 5.28.2008
"Channel 95...5...5...5. You ain't heard nothin yet." And we never will again. Thank you Bill for so much.
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Rick - 5.27.2008
He had a lot to do with my getting into radio, whether or not that was a good thing. Haha! He was so accessible. I took him some turkey and fixins at Thanksgiving one year when he was complaining over the air about having to work. I think that was 1965 or 66. I played this prank on him one time in 64 or 65. I had just started working there and they were doing a Mustang giveaway. Vermillion was riding in the Channel 95 Mustang from Heintzelman Ford with one of those old fashioned car phones, and he'd call in a description of the car he was following and then he was supposed to give out their license number, then they'd have 95 minutes to call and claim a prize and a chance to win the car. I followed him out of the station parking lot and every time he'd do a phone in, I'd pass him and get in front of him. He couldn't give out my license number, so he'd just make up some excuse. I was laughing my ass off. Anyway, as much shit as happened over the years, that was his favorite story about me. He told it again at the reunion show. You'd think it would have pissed him off, but he thought it was funny. We remained friends even when I was the competition and I always heard he had nothing but good things to say. But that was true of everybody - he didn't bad-rap people. I remember at LOF he was always proud of his engineer's license (he had what we used to call a first phone - a first class FCC license). More so than the music or the killer ratings, he thought of himself as an engineer first. I was in the studio the first time he got a letter addressed to Dover Million. He thought it was funny as shit. I miss that place. I miss that time. But I feel truly honored and blessed that I was there. Mike, it was the bonus bell boing buzzer beep beep, just thought I'd clear that up. Oh, Hi There. Let's take a moment to remember Melvin Dejokomo, T. Wilson Messy, Herman Kabibble, Akbar Carr, Natalie Attired and Shirley Schechtenloostengarten - I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly.
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bobby - 5.27.2008
Love Mr. Bill. Just heard the news. What's the plans? Please let me know more. 407-951-7831. Bobby Church
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Wayne Osley - 5.27.2008
Bill V will always be a legend in these parts!! Thanks for the memories...
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Craig Michaels - 5.26.2008
Lyons and Cooper... Orlando's REAL Mike and Mike!
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Roger Brown - 5.26.2008
Just posted of Bill's passing on Orlando craigslist in the local news section. Anyone that greew up in central FL in the '60's will always have fond memories of "The Wierd Beard". God bless you, Bill!
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Jim McPherson - 5.26.2008
Though I only knew him as a listener, Bill Vermillion made an impression that lasts to this day. Listening to WLOF back then, you just knew it wasn't your average Top 40 station. He actually wrote a couple of posts on this site on 10/25/2007, for those who might have missed it ! I was hoping to read some more stories I'm sure he must have had from the golden age of Central Fla. radio. Sadly now, it's not to be. R.I.P. Bill ... you touched more lives than you'll ever know. At least we know heaven will have cool radio stations now when we get there.
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Mike Lyons - 5.26.2008
So sad to hear that Bill has passed. First DJ that I ever called and talked to back in the Fall of 1968 when I first moved to Orlando. I was just a junior at Edgewater but we talked for ten minutes about Spirit. I worked with him two years later when I was hired to do interviews at WLOF on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Bill would let me share time with him listening to new 45's that piled up on the desk. I couldn't believe it. When I left to return fulltime at WORJ under Pat O'Day (Jerry Thompson, supposedly still alive and well in Seattle)I had to give two weeks notice for the first time in my life. Bill was so supportive and encouraging although he knew I would be working at the competition. Lee came in three months later and the heavens opened:) Through the years I ended up working with Bill again as he was our "sound" foundation, mixing at BeeJay for our SPRN shows. We could always be completely confident he would get it perfect for Randy Newman or James Burton and Glen Hardin from Presley's band when Emmylou came through. A dependable beast. I communicated a lot with Bill since I returned to Orlando in 2000. His eyesight was failing but he was still enjoying the tech field he had moved into YEARS before we all knew about NASDAQ. Always happy and always curious and always incredible ears that I aspired to match since that summer of '68. I'll never forget the mail he told me he still recieved addressed to "Dover Million" which was how he sounded when he pronounced his name on LOF boing-buzzer-beep-beep. I know he was pronouncing that correctly. Mike Lyons
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Don Gilliland - 5.26.2008
Very sad news, but thanks to Mike Cooper for passing it on. I own both a debt to Bill Vermillion and Mike Cooper; to Bill Vermillion for helping to hone my musical tastes via the programming on WLOF. Before the advent of WORJ, WLOF was Orlando's coolest radio station. And Mike Cooper, shame on you for staying in the background for so long. But I know you're a busy man --- still --- these days. Mike kindly sold me a "bunch" of records (yes, good old vinyl!) on consignment back in 1983, which helped me have enough inventory to open my Murmur Records shop in College Park. Of course I had to haul all those records in my aging Toyota from Mike's house in Atlanto back to Orlando, but it was worth it. Without Mike's vinyl, there would have been slim pickings in my record shop. And by coincidence, one of my regular customers at the shop on Edgewater Drive was none other than Bill Vermillion's son: Bill Jr.
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Craig Michaels - 5.26.2008
I only had the pleasure of meeting Bill briefly on a few occasions, but even those quick moments were enough for him to convey his passion for music and radio and innovation, and his track record always proved he was a man unafraid to put all three together. Whether you shook the man's hand or not, if you ever listened to Orlando radio "back in the day," you certainly owe a nod of thanks to Bill. More than once, before I knew very much about how all of this works, I'd take a trip "back home" (to Rochester, NY) with my folks, and spend the entire ride there and back wondering why none of the radio stations sounded anywhere near as good as WLOF... Obnviously, Bill Vermillion was the reason why.
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Lee Arnold - 5.25.2008
Bill was responsible for breaking more bands than anyone I know. He ran BeeJay Recording Studios after he left WLOF. We worked together when I programmed WORJ. He was our consulting Sound Engineer. He helped us build state-of-the-art studios and engineered all of our Southern Progressive Radio Network Concerts at BeeJay Studios.. WLOF opened the door for the success of WORJ, because of Bill's musical stance. WLOF was the most musically advanced Top 40 station in America under Bill's watchful eye and great ears and they dominated Orlando radio during the '60s. Bill was a great guy. A true friend. A consummate pro.I'm tired of saying these words lately. Bill will be missed.
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Lee Arnold - 5.25.2008
Bill was a great man and a true friend. He will be missed. Too sad to write more now.
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Mike Cooper - 5.25.2008
Sorry to make my debut on this board with an off-topic and sad posting, but I just received an e-mail from Ken Van Durand indicating that Bill Vermillion died yesterday. As a kid growing up in Orlando, WLOF aka Channel 95, was the coolest radio station musically and creatively -- until WORJ's beginnings as an evening-only FM broadcast (its sister AM middle-of-the-road station was broadcast during the day, before WORJ-FM went full-time). WLOF had creative presentation and alternative music not heard on typical top 40 stations. I never met Bill (the "Weird Beard" was a bit of a mystery to the average listener), but he clearly was the main creative influence at WLOF in those days, stirring a passion for radio and music among those of us who later listened to or worked for WORJ.
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Craig Michaels - 5.24.2008
Watched the film "Into The Wild" a couple of weeks ago (excellent, by the way), and was very struck by the music. Come to find out, the soundtrack was an Eddie Vedder project... I'm not the biggest Vedder fan in the world, but this is a really fine piece of work. Mainly solo guitar with minimal other instrumentation, it's a top notch album from start to finish; emotional, introspective, and a very nice compliment to an excellent film. Warning in advance, it's only about a half hour long... but it's a really impressive half hour!
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John Aseff - 5.24.2008
I just pre-ordered Walter Becker's new CD and they blessed me with a free download. Pretty decent stuff. Here it is for all to download and enjoy: http://www.acefstop.com/music/DoorNumberTwo.mp3
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Lee Arnold - 5.22.2008
Roger, Thanks for the kind words. I'll try to get the April Fools stuff up as soon as possible.
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Roger Brown - 5.19.2008
Kudo's on the station & the website, Lee! How's the work on the April Fools Aircheck coming. I don't think I've ever laughed so much as that day! What ever happened to the Worjets?
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Lee Arnold - 5.19.2008
Welcome aboard, David
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DAVID CONOVER - 5.18.2008
I CAN BELIEVE MY SEARCH FOUND WORJ. I STILL HAVE AN ORGINAL WORJ LICENSE PLATE IN ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION. THIS CERTIANLY BRINGS BACK GOOD MEMORIES.
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Lee Arnold - 5.14.2008
WORJ.com can be listened to on many mobile phones now. Currently testing Radio365 Mobile on the following devices (more to be added with your help!) * AT&T 7525, Tilt * Audiovox 6700 * Blackjack * Cingular 8125, 8525 * Dell Axim X51V * Dopod 810, 595, 838 Pro * HP IPAQ 2750, hx4700, 510, 514 * HTC Orange SPV3100, Wizard, Mogul, 3300, 6800, Touch 6900, Touch P3450 * I-mate JAQ * Motorola Q, Q9 * PPC-6700 * Samsung i760 * Sony Ericcson K700I * Sprint PPC-6700 * Starcom 6700 * T-Mobile Dash, Wing, MDA * Treo 700w, 700wx, 750 * Verizon VX6700 Radio365-Mobile should operate on most mobile phones running Windows Mobile 5 or 6. May not run on the Windows 2003 or CE operating systems. Not available for Palm 650, 655 handsets. Go to http://www.live365.com/downloads/radio365-mobile-win/index.live and give it a try.
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Lee Arnold - 5.13.2008
Time and options are running out for Internet Radio. In the last 12 months, deals have been struck between SoundExchange and Internet radio's closest competitors that set their royalty rates at less than half of what webcasters pay, yet Internet radio is still in the same position - on the brink of extinction. We need your help to remind Congress that though Internet radio is still on the air and artists are still being paid for their work by webcasters, nothing has been resolved and we need them to act. CALL YOUR SENATORS and ask them to support the Brownback amendment to the Orphan Works Bill, S. 2913.
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Lee Arnold - 5.13.2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!!!
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Jim McPherson - 5.12.2008
P.S... Don G., glad to hear you're OK over there, I was wondering if that cyclone affected where you're at. What a sad situation ... I read that the very first supply boat to reach the area sank on it's way in, those poor people can't catch a break ! And now the junta won't let any relief workers in, they want to hand out all the supplies themselves ... yeah, you can imagine how that's gonna go ! : - (
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Jim McPherson - 5.12.2008
Happy Birthday to Steve Winwood, who turns 60 today ... oh yeah, and to me, who turns 50 today ! Yikes ... you try and pretend it isn't coming but when you get that AARP card in the mail reality rears it's ugly head LOL ! Oh well, watcha gonna do ? Once upon a time The Rolling Stones sang " what a drag it is getting old ... " but they're now in their mid 60s and still rockin' so getting old ain't what it used to be. Haven't seen the film yet but I recently listened to the soundtrack from the Martin Scorsese Rolling Stones documentary " Shine A Light ". Sir Mick and Co. have definitely still got it ! Amazing that they can still find the fire to play old warhorses like " Jumping Jack Flash ", a hit FORTY years ago, and make it sound fresh. Their cover of "Champagne and Reefer ", with Buddy Guy, is a standout as is the Let It Bleed nugget " Live With Me " with Christina Aguilera ( ! ) on guest vocals... she brings an extra sass & verve to Jaggers down-n-dirty lyrics. I'd like to hear her sing " Gimme Shelter " with them ! After listening to " Shine A Light " I feel I may have to take back all those cracks I made in earlier posts about " The Strolling Bones ". : - )
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Don Gilliland - 5.11.2008
hey all you WORJ guys and gals; just a note to divert your attention to the current humanitarian crisis in Myanmar (Burma). That nasty cyclone last week has left many without food, water, medicine, shelter and even clothing. As some of you are aware, I travel to that country often and have friends in the Yangon (Rangoon) area. The Burmese (the evil Junta rulers aside) are incredibly kind people with resilient spirit. I'm trying to collect and distribute funds to give to the locals (I know 2 people who have their visas and are going over next week) over there this month. If you would like to, or are able to (I know times are tough for many of us these days) do anything to help, please check my blog (www.bangkokdazed.com) for details. Thanks!
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Craig Michaels - 5.8.2008
The Beale Street Festival last weekend was pretty amazing... I stayed away from the more mainstream aspects of it and concentrated on the blues stuff for the weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I ran off at the wrist and wrote a pretty lengthy observation of the whole thing... I'd crash the board if I posted it here, but more than happy to send it along if anyone's interested... just drop me a line. Hope everyone is well! International Barbecue Competition coming up a week from tomorrow. Darn...
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John Aseff - 5.6.2008
Rick - go hereL http://www.amazon.com/Mudcrutch/dp/B0015FHDS6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1210116333&sr=8-1
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Lee Arnold - 5.6.2008
Steve-o, I do save it on multiple hard drives every 30 days. It's now at 201 pages in WORD. It would be horrible to lose the discourse that has happened here.
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Steve Mack - 5.6.2008
Lee: If you haven't thought of it already (and you probably have), this board should be archived. In ways, it reminds me a bit of those PSA cards we used to chortle over...
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Rick - 5.5.2008
What's all this about a Mudcrutch album? Where do I get it? How do I hear it? What am I missing?
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John Aseff - 5.5.2008
By the way - many thanks to Lee for the NIN download!
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John - 5.5.2008
Don - Yes it was Mark Eastman. I couldn't think of his name. I didn't know him all that well anyway.
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Craig Michaels - 5.5.2008
Wow... and the NIN album is being presented in a variety of formats, all high quality, and with full graphics. A very nice gesture on Trent's part... it will be interesting to see, considering his loyal fans and long-standing status in the music community, what kind of records this sets for web traffic and downloading from a single site!
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Lee Arnold - 5.5.2008
Nine Inch Nails are giving away their new album, The Slip, as a free download at www.nin.com. Trent Reznor is presenting the album as a token of his appreciation for his fans: “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years. This one’s on me.” The download is available now.
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laketowner - 5.4.2008
fyi.... Danny Roberts and his wife were in a serious automobile accident on May 2nd, around noon, in Jacksonville, FL. Details will be posted here as soon as they are availible. We ask that everyone please keep Danny and his family in their thoughts and prayers. http://lakelandmusicandfriends.squarespace.com
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Don Gilliland - 5.3.2008
John, I think the buyer after I left Record Mart was Mark Eastman. Or it could have been Brian Martin. Both guys could have had the Mudcrutch tapes. Looking forward to hearing that on CD!
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John Aseff - 5.1.2008
I third the motion on Mudcrutch. Just heard it. Real nice stuff. Like smooth whiskey. At least it's how I imagine smooth whiskey to taste. I'm not much of a drinker. Don - there was a guy who worked at the Record Mart Warehouse who used do the ordering. At east when you weren't doing it. He had a tape of Mudcrutch recorded at that club in Winter Park behind Beefy King. Do you know who I'm talking about? Anyway, this new Mudcrutch effort doesn't sound much like I remember that old recording sounding. This new one is definitely good though.
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Jim McPherson - 4.29.2008
Copy that Lee ! I listened to it this afternoon ... it's Petty but not quite like you've never heard him before. It's kind of like when he was in the Traveling Wilburys, he seems to relish the role of just being one of the guys in the band rather than the out front leader. If one of the record companies had signed them back then, rather than just being interested in Petty as a solo act ... well, who knows what might have been ?!?!? Better late than never I guess !
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Lee Arnold - 4.29.2008
The Mudcrutch album is awesome!!
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John Aseff - 4.26.2008
I'm listening to The Motorcycle Song on WORJ. Life is good. Has anyone heard Alice's Restaurant Revisited? Arlo redid and sort of updated the whole album. Real nice.
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Mike Zarek - 4.25.2008
Congrats on 5 years of the site Lee! It's great to see WORJ lives on.
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Don Gilliland - 4.24.2008
Happy Anniversary Lee ... and all the rest of you cool and crazy WORJ listeners. What a strange, long trip it's been. Thinking back to those magical days of the early and mid 1970s, and listening to great radio and shopping in great record stores (Hanna's East-West remains the standard of cool!), and being turned on to so much great music in the process. And it's passed the test: I STILL listen to many of the albums I loved back then. I'm not stuck in a time warp by any means, I still love discovering new bands and artists, but I have a special place in my heart for the WORJ years. Give the spirit alive my friends!
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Jim McPherson - 4.23.2008
Man, 5 years of posts ... what a long, strange trip it's been. And a good one too. I know I've enjoyed it ! Thanks again Lee for all you do !
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Wayne Mereck - 4.23.2008
AND MANY MORE!!!!! Cheers
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Lee Arnold - 4.22.2008
Tomorrow (4/23) marks the 5 year anniversary of the FIRST posting on this board. That came mere days after the WORJ site came alive. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to us all!!
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John Aseff - 4.22.2008
I remember sitting in my car behind Colonial Plaza waiting for somebody and listening to the Nat'l Lampoon Comedy Hour. It was a skit about cowboys hanging an outlaw and they were talking about how he was well hung. That's all I remember. I always looked forward to the Nat'l Lampoon Comedy Hour.
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Mike - 4.22.2008
Cool....unfortunately all we get now is a very awful show called "against the grain " that airs on Sunday nights on WJRR. It sounds like a bunch of high school kids hangin' out in their bedrooms playing a bunch of really HORRIBLE metal bands that only they know about. Their is a Saturday night 80's hair metal show also on WJRR that is not that bad, but I quit listening when one of the jocks said that he did not know who originally did "Can't Find My Way Home"....I know damn well that WORJ NEVER had jocks that were that clueless... Anyways, thanks for the great site and all of the great info...
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Lee Arnold - 4.22.2008
Regularly scheduled specialty programs included:KBFH/Dr.D/Flo & Eddie/Nat'l Lampoon Comedy Hour/Weekly Farm Report/BBC Concert Hour/News Blimps/Of course WORJ's locally produced Focus on Film/Living Off the Land/Southern Progressive Radio Network Concerts/Blues Hour/Jazz Hour/Flash News/That Was the Week That Was with Tom Webb/ and others.
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Mike - 4.22.2008
I have noticed from reading a few of these posts that King Biscut was on WORJ..... Was Dr. Demento ever on during his mid-70's heyday????
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Jim McPherson - 4.21.2008
Best thing I remember about WDIZ was in the early 80s ... every Sunday morning a group of us would pile in the car for the weekly surfari to Cocoa Beach. DIZ would play their " Sunday Morning Classics " show, lots of great 60s and early 70s rock that even then was already getting less and less radio play. Probably the closest WDIZ ever came to matching WORJs playlists on any given day.
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Mike - 4.21.2008
Thanks for that info...Another thing that I have always been curious about is that I know there were a lot of songs played on rock radio during the late 70's/early 80's that NEVER get played nowwaddays on classic rock radio. I recall hearing a hell of alot of REO Speedwagon when I was a kid on DIZ, you know, good stuff like "Golden Country", and I also recall hearing a lot of Blue Oyster Cult. I might be wrong on this one, but I recall a lot of NEW WAVE being played and even hearing an occasional Billy Joel tune, like "Pressure" here and there.. I wish rock radio was like that now...I was listening to the Buckethead show the other day and that uninformed jock actually had the nerve to bash Radiohead...anyways, somebody drop me a line on here and let me know about some other lost gems that used to get a lot of airplay...
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John Aseff - 4.19.2008
I'll try and answer the best that my faulty memory will allow. Feel free to correct me. I remember listening to WORJ in high school from about 1973 on. I graduated in '76. I moved to New York for about a year from '77 to '78. It seems to me that it turned into Zeta7 in '78 or '79 shortly after I returned from New York. I also seem to remember WDIZ always being the competition that just wasn't as cool until 'ORJ went away and Zeta7 took over. Then it seems that 'DIZ got much better. Now back to my nap :-)
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Mike - 4.18.2008
Hey guys, maybe somebody can finally clear this up for me. I am only 33, but I absoulutely LOVE radio. I have fond memories of hearing WDIZ when I was a child in the early 80's , and I knew that these "rock" stations were a hell of a lot cooler than the top 40 stations. Anyways, I know the history of Orlando radio pretty good, but, when exactly DID worj go to Zeta 7, and , when exactly did DIZ appear?????
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Mike Zarek - 4.17.2008
This is strange... If I login to my live365 account, the stream is completely chopped up. If I don't login, it works.... very very strange....
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Dave Westphal - 4.16.2008
Got it working and WOW,.. what a flashback. Thank you for putting this all together. Had to twist one up sit back and just git into it. It's like therapy. fyi though,... the unedited of Mike Lyans and Doug didn't link right
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Lee Arnold - 4.16.2008
Mike, Live365 working at my house.
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Mike Zarek - 4.16.2008
I think Live365 is having some problems today... at least, I hope they are, cuz if they aren't, then *I* am!
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Lee Arnold - 4.16.2008
Dave, they are all in Real Audio. Also try out our Live Streaming WORJ Internet station. You might just like what you hear. Click the "Listen Live" button to the left.
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Dave westphal - 4.16.2008
I can't get the sound stuff to work,.. what program should I use to listen to them? I see you have some commercials,... I remember the Ralph Kazarian Insurence spots
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Dave - 4.16.2008
Now I'll be tearing the house apart looking for that box of 8-tracks and hoping like hell I can find where I recorded the last night.
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Dave - 4.16.2008
Thanks Lee,.. Was on The Outlaws (the early years) website and found the link. I was a huge WORJ fan,.. when you guys went off the air it was the end of an era. Radio wasn't the same before, and hasn't been the same since.
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Lee Arnold - 4.16.2008
Welcome Dave, Barbarella and Hannah(So good that you checked in).
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Dave Westphal - 4.16.2008
Wow,... WORJ! Truely a blast from the past. Loved going to the live remotes from "The Joint in the Woods". Hitch-Hiked a couple times from Winter Haven when I was not old enough to drive but had won albums by calling in. I still have much of the last night recorded on 8-track tape somewhere. Beatles,.. "and in the end,.. the Love you make,... is equal to the Love,... you take. 'WORJ Mount Dora, orlando,.. Now leaves the air'" Wow,.. just gave me chills, and lump in my throat, and watery eyes just typing that,..
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Hannah - 4.16.2008
My message was for a certain party who once worked for me. This person loved music so much that he simply had to have albums that he might not have paid for. I was simply saying that now that it appears he is working, he might make things right. Hey, we've all faced temptation and lost. That's what growing up is all about. Love the site but prefer to lurk. hs
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Jim McPherson - 4.15.2008
Interesting reunion item ... classic prog - rock band Curved Air is reuniting in England this year for a series of concerts that also includes the Isle Of Wight festival. No word yet on a tour of the States. Also planned is a new CD featuring new material and new versions of classic songs as well. Check it out @ www.CurvedAir.com
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Barbarella - 4.15.2008
i can't believe i found this site...you guys made the music flow back in the day... been 30+ years since i was in central fla and i am sure not many remember me..but i just wanted to say thanks ...then and now... i have been looking up central fla band for about the past year... and have found more memories than i thought i had... i hope it is all right Lee i would like to post this other site...a get together on April 26...in Lakeland...home of many of great central fla musicians (some they are still searching for..hint hannah)and site for their 30th reunion... the image on the space, like your here will send you back...blast from the past... http://lakelandmusicandfriends.squarespace.com/home/ thanks , peace
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Barbarella - 4.14.2008
b.grier@yahoo.com oops....please contact
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Barbarella - 4.14.2008
hANNAH .... DUMPTRUCK??? ??? Laketown?
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Rick - 4.14.2008
BITEBOY KICKED ASS AT THE HOB! What a night! I wish you all could have been there, because the ghost of WORJ sure haunted the room! Did anybody remember that the Outlaws were discovered by Arista (Mike Bone?) opening for Skynyrd at the Sports Stadium at an ORJ co-pro? Henry Paul came into our dressing room and told my kid's band the story! Wow! Chills and goose bumps. He asked about you Lee, and Lyons. He wanted to know how to get in touch and gave me his cell phone number. What a night! Did I say that already? Biteboy took the stage with his own guitar army and kicked ass from first chord to last. I'm in the process of posting the whole show to Youtube. I'll post the link as soon as I get it. Devon Allman, the second billed act, is the 20 something love child of Gregg, who grew up in St. Louis. Poor kid never met the old man until after he was signed and touring. God, he looks and sounds just like him! We swapped old stories. He was as nice as can be. Monty Yoho is still the Outlaws drummer after 45 or so years. They interviewed him on WHTQ 96.5, the oldies station here and he prominently mentioned WORJ and Lee and myself personally. I'll try to get a tape. Anyway, Rick Jr. had a chance to bask in the glory of rock history, then took the stage in front of a lot of people opening for a national act and earned his own place in it. He rose to the occasion!
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David Schulz - 4.13.2008
PS: Lee - Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! What a great job you have done! I wish I would have found this site years ago. For the first time in almost 30 years I feel like I have a place to go where there are folks who understand. From the overnight guy, Dave
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David Schulz - 4.13.2008
WOW!! A friend just emailed this website link to me and I can't believe what I am seeing! As I go through the pages I feel very happy and very sad at the same time. I will eventually read ALL of the posts, but I scanned through some of them and have seen posts from Randy Molnar and others! This website is great! Yes, the last song was "The End" which followed "American Pie". I was on the air that night. I sure would like to hear from Randy Molnar, if he gets a chance to post again... it has been almost 30 years.... I was at ORJ for the last six months before Zeta, then for two months after Zeta. The only person I have been able to stay in contact with is Chris Wolf who was the production director after Randy Molnar & Lisa. Losing that radio station left a hole in my heart that will never be filled. I'll be back to check in from time to time..... Love to all, David Schulz.
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Lee Arnold - 4.13.2008
Craigs email reminded me. When my old computer died, it took everyones email addresses with it to the great computer graveyard in the sky. Please email me at worj@execpc.com with your current email address, so I can put you back in my address book, Thanks.
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Craig Michaels - 4.13.2008
In case anybody needs to update records for whatever reason... my new email is craig_michaels@comcast.net
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Craig Michaels - 4.13.2008
Wayne, I'm not a big believer in omens and the like, but the last Saturday I was in Orlando was pretty funny in its own way. It was pretty much the last day of the CM Farewell Tour; met a friend of mine for an early dinner. We went to a Chinese place we had gone to often... so we walk in, and the CHINESE restaurant has playing on the muzak system none other than "Tennessee Waltz." We had dinner... fortune cookies come, and mine says, "Don't be afraid to take this big step." Yipes! So we end the evening with a few drinks at Dubsdread; walk in, and what is playing on TV? The Civil Rights baseball game on ESPN, live from... you guessed it, Memphis (the ballpark I now walk to to see baseball). Okay, okay, I get it, I'll go, I'll go...
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Craig Michaels - 4.13.2008
Had to share this... Sunday is a good day to call home and check in with Mom, of course. I may have mentioned before that my mom was a great mom to have. She played lots of music for me as a kid, everything from Sinatra to James Brown, Mahalia Jackson to Wes Montgomery... lots of R&B and jazz, and even a touch of rock and roll tossed in. However, for whatever reason, she was never fond of my working in the music industry in any way, shape or form... even when I was making decent money at it. Guess Mom is from the old school where a job is clocking in for eight hours a day and doing something "respectable." Still... when you get kinds words from the likes of Lee Arnold and Steve Mack, I'm not ashamed to say that I consider that worth bragging about, just a little. So I'm passing all this along to Mom during our nice Sunday conversation, and she gets real quiet. I asked if she was okay and all, and she said in her "stern mom voice," (keeping in mind my mother just turned 75, so the stern mom voice no longer invokes fear... but it sure as heck STILL gets my attention), "Craig... you didn't run all the way to Memphis just to do THAT for a living again, did you?" I dunno, Ma... maybe...
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Wayne "Dixie Chicken" Mereck - 4.13.2008
Craig, if you see my Tennessee Lamb at the Commadore Hotel, please raise a toast.
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Hannah - 4.13.2008
so now that you're working, how about paying me back for all those albums?
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Wayne Mereck - 4.11.2008
Sorry guys, thet REBBE message was for me. Oy vey (sp). Just a cross I bear for trying to help someone. And Steve sorry for assuming the worst from your statement to Craig. Here in Fort Worth we had the news about the unwarrented attacks. Craig best of luck in Memphis, it must be cool for a Music Lover. Cheers
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Steve Mack - 4.10.2008
Craig: I'm with Lee in thanking you and reminding you that you were well worth the effort; WORJ was repaid many times over by your devotion to radio. Certainly we "full-timers" all had our specific talents and felt it was better for everyone all around to share those talents with people who really wanted to learn. You were excellent fodder for our mill! Here's what you DON'T know: I have mentored several people in broadcasting since WORJ (I later concentrated on logical programming, creative production and talk radio) and every one of them has had you held out to them as an example. Yeah, you were a real screwball... but you were OUR kind of screwball and we all loved you for it!
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Lee Arnold - 4.10.2008
Craig, you are making me tear up. Thanks for your kind words. You were worth it. I hope Memphis is a truly great experience for you. As another pointy eared person said, "Be well and prosper".
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Craig Michaels - 4.10.2008
First impressions of Memphis have been really strong. Been here for a little over a week now, and I'm keeping my promise to myself to give me a couple of months of discovering my new home before I worry about getting back to the grind. I've spent a good amount of time driving the main roads, finding what I can and just admiring the scenery - stunning. Dogwood trees in full bloom, gardens filled with the most amazing colors... And then there's the music. There's plenty of it to be had here, and you don't have to go very far to find somebody willing to chat about blues or old R&B, some pretty well-versed folks, too. Spent most of my music time on Beale so far just because I don't know many other places to go, but I'm talking to people and learning more, and the scope of my travels is broadening day by day. Good overview of the city's music attitude? Check memphisinmay.org to see the lineup of talent for the three day Beale Street Music Festival first weekend in May... and then know that all the local ads for the fest list Aretha as the main attraction for the whole deal! Way cool. I'm loving this a lot so far...
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Craig Michaels - 4.10.2008
Steve and all... while in retrospect it was a humorous night all those years ago, it's still among my fondest memories of being on the air. I worked with so many amazing individuals in regards to the radio, but admittedly, Steve Mack was my favorite DJ. Lee and Mike and Chal and Bill and Doug were all very gracious in sharing from their store of knowledge and experience, of course, and Steve showing up (in the middle of an orange grove, by the way, far far away from ANYTHING!) to give me the benefit of his highly skilled approach to radio is a very proper microcosm of the spirit that carried WORJ then and now. I was grateful then and now that Steve heard something worth schooling; I learned twice as much about voice control and pacing and delivery in that evening as I had in all my previous on-air hours combined. Steve wasn't alone, by any means, in giving freely of his experience. We had a hotline in the control room, and Lee would frequently call and just casually discuss delivery or presentation; he was always full of great ideas as far as ways to present new music to people effectively without losing our audience. All the rest of the on-air people all had very solid knowledge about the history of the music, the history of radio, fun ways to present music... and all of it was passed on not in the spirit of criticism, but rather in the spirit of all of us growing together as a community of people with a pretty solitary purpose... to share music. Said it before and I'll hopefully say it again... Steve, Lee et al, thank you for all you gave me!
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Steve Mack - 4.10.2008
I should strive to remember that we now live in an age where everything you say is parsed and only the worst is deemed worth retrieving. Craig caught my meaning instantly and understood the reference to a humorous night many years ago at our old studio in the orange groves of Winter Garden. For the rest, you can research in the earlier posts here and you will also know the story. Just for the record, Craig is probably the LAST person on the planet I'd like to cap. Florida will miss you, Craig, and I wish you all the best in Memphis, my friend.
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Lee Arnold - 4.10.2008
Well Rebbe, that sure shut everyone up. Now back to to Channel 36 Auction...
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Rebbe Nachman - 4.8.2008
"God of understanding, guide me,for my words sometimes baffle me. When I relate to those around me insensitively; when I hurt, embarrass or insult them; when I speak with a callousness that causes pain; when I lose myself in my own ego---God, pullme back to reality. Help others understand that I too am in pain, and let them be forgiving."
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Craig Michaels - 4.7.2008
Quelling fears, btw... check this - http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/doorknock.asp www.snopes.com is a great site for debunkiong the crap that crosses our email boxes... they actually do the research and quote proper sources, as opposed to, "a friend of my sister's pal who knows a guy who bags groceries who dates a woman who once knew a man who knew a guy that had a brother in a gang..."
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Craig Michaels - 4.7.2008
Steve... one of the last times I answered a knock on the door in the middle of the night, I was on the air, and you had showed up, kind enough to make the effort to try and teach me to do it right!
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Wayne Mereck - 4.7.2008
Lee, although I have never had the pleasure of meeting you in person, I know I have in spirit. Thanks Brother!
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Wayne Mereck - 4.7.2008
Craig, I don't know about Memphis, but here in the DFW area as part of gang initiations, the bangers knock on a door and as it is answered the shoot the resident. Luckily in one case the resident reacted quick enough to snatch the banger's gun and shot him in the ass. The kid finally ended up at an ER and was busted. Not sure if he made it into the gang.
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Steve Mack - 4.7.2008
Pssst! Craig!! ..If you hear a knock on the door while you're working in the middle of the night... answer it carefully!
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Lee Arnold - 4.7.2008
Craig, your early contributions to WORJ.com Radio were instrumental in it's sound and finances. Thank you so much. Enjoy your Memphis adventure and be safe, my friend.
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Craig Michaels - 4.7.2008
Dayam! Finally got relocated... when you're single and you move, it means touching EVERY single thing you own... twice. But I'm nicely situated in downtown Memphis; I'm a five minute walk from the Mississippi River or Beale Street, and about ten minutes from the baseball park (home opener Friday!). Busy as I've had to be, I somehow have managed to "struggle" down to Beale most days to hear some music and catch the human parade. There's obviously a lot of touristy stuff, and you have to sort of learn to filter out the homogenized blooze from the real deal, but there's plenty of real deal to be had here, and I'm truly loving it. Also, with the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA Finals tonight, the whole town is on fire - Orlando really isn't a sports town. I'm finding that what happens tonight is WAY more than a basketball game... watched the UCLA game at a bar on Beale, and darn the luck, got stuck at a table with a bunch of Memphis students, including several amazingly beautiful young ladies. Please don't worry, though... I suffered through it. Lee, no doubt the check I sent a long time ago is long spent; will do more as I can, promise. Amazing that you've been able to keep all this going for as long as you have with rather limited help... you're an amazingly dedicated human!
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Wayne Mereck - 4.6.2008
Rick, I get the Wayne's World all the time. I usually reply "and welcome to it" after the TV show My World and Welcome To It. It is just nice being a part of the group. Cheers
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Rick - 4.6.2008
Hope my cheap sarcasm wasn't misconstrued. My hat is off to Wayne and the others who are helping to keep this going, and especially to Lee for doing it. I just couldn't resist the "Wayne's World" crack! Pun intended.
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Wayne Mereck - 4.6.2008
Thanks Lee, It is an honor to be included in something that was and is a great joy to me. Cheers
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Lee Arnold - 4.5.2008
Wayne, Jim, John and Mike: Thank you all again. If anyone else wants to help under write the expense of keeping WORJ.com Radio going, Please click on the DONATE button on the left. This will take you to my PAYPAL account. Credit cards and PayPal accepted there. To those four who have already jumped in, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. When I started this Streaming Internet Radio Station, a year ago, I really didn't realize the time and expenses involved. After paying all the expenses for the last year, it became obvious to me that I needed help. Wayne, John, Jim and Mike were the first to commit. I am blown away by their support. All of you who enjoy the station, Thanks for listening. As for Rick and his son's band, Biteboy, Congratulations on the Outlaw's gig. Say Hi to Charlie for me. This band is really good. Check them out. Long Live the Outlaws and Rock N Roll.
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Rick Namey - 4.5.2008
Hi, everyone here in Wayne's World! Well, I am happy to report that thanks to our old friend Charlie Brusco, it's starting to happen for Biteboy! This Thursday, April 10th at the House of Blues, my son Rick and his band - Biteboy - are opening for the Outlaws, founding fathers all of Southern Rock, and a big act from the 70's when we were all going to the WORJ concerts at the Orlando Sports Stadium and the T-Bowl, including, of course, the WORJ birthday bash at the Sports Stadium, which I am still proud to say I produced. I know for a fact that there are many big fans of the Outlaws out there, and I'm sure many of you would like to see them and the next generation up on stage under the spotlights. I reported on Hughey Thomasson's funeral which was on the day the tour was supposed to start. After all these years, the other half of the original duo, Henry Paul has returned, so it's the authentic Outlaws, with founding member Monte Yoho on drums and a full band of authentic Southern rockers, most of whom have been on the road for decades. You can see the full lineup at Outlawsmusic.com You can hear Rick's band at www.myspace.com/biteboy Rick Namey Jr. is the front man, lead singer and lead guitar in the triple lead guitar army. This is a big deal for us. It's major recognition and our first time working for Charlie and The Outlaws' management, Alliance Artists, which is one of the biggest companies in the business with huge acts like The Eagles and Skynyrd (btw, they also produce the CSI shows). Don Hall, class of '67 Boone High, and a member of 70s local OTown band "Covington Tower" will be there because he has a daughter who plays drums for Biteboy and he'll be on stage covering the keys on his Hammond B3! Yep, hitting 60 and still rockin! BTW, the band's name comes from the fact that Ricky used to bite people as a baby and the name stuck. Also on the stage with us is the second generation of Gregg Allman - his son Devon and his band Honey Tribe. Some people will probably remember along with me when Devon's dad's band, The Allman Joys, played the Orlando Youth Center before they became the Allman Brothers' Band or at least remember one of their earliest shows at the Sports Stadium or when they played Winter's End in Bithlo while Duane had a 103 degree temperature. Devon's band really conjures the feel of early Allmans, and it's worth feeling. The show starts at 7, and you can't be late because we go on first - promptly at 7:30. I'd love to see any old friends and music fans, introduce you to the bands and hang out after our set. If anybody wants to reach me personally about this, send me an email at the myspace site or at RickNamey at aol.com I hope to see some of you there!
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Wayne Mereck - 4.4.2008
I'm not confused Debra!!! Sparky would never thank me for a photo of myself. Ex's don't do that. Sorry to the rest of you all with this episode of "How The Stomach Turns".
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Deltona Dawn - 4.4.2008
Wayne: Thought you would remember me. Never been to Texas other than passing through. Sounds like you have me confused with someone else. So long. You guys have fun living on memories. Sparky.
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Lee Arnold - 4.4.2008
John, I'm afraid Jim beat you to the J. Thanks Jim, truly appreciated. John, we'll find another letter for you. It stands now at:Wayne-O-R-Jim Radio. :-)
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Jim McPherson - 4.4.2008
Lee, checks in the (e)mail !
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Wayne Mereck - 4.4.2008
Guys, you make me blush. I appreciate the attention, but that was not my goal. The community needed help and I just stood up to do what I could. John, best of luck on the new opportunity, hopefully it is a position you will look forward to going to everyday. Cheers!!
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Lee Arnold - 4.4.2008
Good luck on that job opportunity, John. I look forward to the new IDs: Wayne-O-R-John: Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Mt. Dora and the World!!!
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John Aseff - 4.4.2008
So I assume that with Wayne's generous donation the W in WORJ now stands for Wayne :-) If I get the job I interviewed for on Tuesday I'll make a donation that will make the J in WORJ stand for John. Now we just need donations from Orville and Roy.
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Lee Arnold - 4.3.2008
Wayne, Thanks. That really helps. Long Live Rock and Wayne!!!!
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Wayne Mereck - 4.3.2008
Lee, I said I wanted to help out when I could and now I can. Namaste
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Lee Arnold - 4.3.2008
WAYNE, Are you out of your mind? I bow to you, my friend!! THANKS.
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Wayne Mereck - 4.3.2008
WORJfan aka Debra, this venue is for true fans and I doubt where you grew up in Texas you ever heard it or of it.
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WORJ fan - 4.2.2008
Wayne, I watched 1941 a few months ago and thought of you and laughed when they talked about "they should make them smaller" because I thought you would have laughed about it. I got it and I'm not even an engineer. My favorite war movie with a similar title is Summer of 42. I guess it was actually a war movie/love story movie.
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Lee Arnold - 4.2.2008
John and Mike: Thanks!!
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can't say - 4.2.2008
THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, THIS IS NOT MY BIG AUTOMOBILE... well duh, I broke into this beautiful house, took the silverware, the plasma tv, and an interesting book i saw on the coffee table about the Hapsburg Empire. On the way out I saw keys for the big automobile. I'm off to the Hamptons for a whirlwind weekend with the rich and famous. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. If there's any cash left after I see these hot wheels up there, Lee, it's yours.
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Betty Rebel - 4.2.2008
Hey Man, Britney ain't no kin to us'ns. What do you think we is, some illiterate inbred toothless redneck scum? Hello, I got a tooth. Uh, anybody if you see Barney, ask him where he left his wallet.
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Mike Zarek - 4.2.2008
Barney and Betty: Please contact your cousin Britney out in Los Angeles. While you've been looking for the wallet, she's lost her marbles.
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Mike Zarek - 4.2.2008
Lee: Done
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John Aseff - 4.2.2008
Lee - My donation is in. Not too much this first time but more will follow.
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Betty Rebel - 4.1.2008
hey man, if any of you see my old man, barney hanging in the joint parking lot, tell him that i forgot where he told me he left his wallet. hey, i'm not gonna b.s. you, i got home, pulled out our round pearl beer tray, cleaned a number or two..... oh, a number or two of babies.... see i forgot where he told me he put his wallet, probably cause i pulled out the pearl beer tray and you know.... man i'm hungry, only one sammich left, but a girl's gotta eat. but don't worry, i floss my tooth after each meal anybody see barney see where he left his wallet, solid
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Lee Arnold - 4.1.2008
Well, the folks at LIVE365 have raised my rates for streaming WORJ.com. The new Fees for streaming music on the internet are the cause. So LIVE365 had no choice but to pass the expense on to me and other Internet Broadcasters that they host. Based on this, my choice is to either sign it off or beg for support. I'm going to trying begging first and see if their are enough listeners who think WORJ.com has enough value to them to help out by under-writing some of the cost. I have added a DONATE button to the left. This will take you to my PAYPAL account where you can donate using a Credit Card or your PayPal account. No amount is too small or too large. If you have come to enjoy my little commercial free love child, please help. Thanks!!
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Barney Rebel - 4.1.2008
Hey man, I've been waiting in the joint in the woods parking lot since, uh, March. 1980. My old lady was going to go back to our pad and get me a pair of long pants cause Lizard said I couldn't get in wearing my cut-offs with the hole on the ass. If you see my old lady, tell her I'm hungry. A sandwich would be bitchin'. And a bag of chips. Tell her to stop at Scagg's and pick up a bottle of lice killer too, I got a bad itch problem. Oh, and my wallet is on the Pearl Beer tray - you know the round one that the waitresses carry stuff on. the one we clean our you know what with. i don't want to say stash, cause you never know who reads these things. i'm not like a idoit or anything. so if you see my old lady, oh, her name is ..... uh, what the hell is her name, you know her, the one with the tooth, tell her to bring me a sandwich, i'm hungry. and a bag of chips. and my wallet, it's on the pearl beer tray, the round one that the waitresses carry stuff on. we use it to clean our, hey, i'm not gonna tell you what we clean on that tray. okay, it's our truck, we clean our truck on the tray we clean our stash on... hey, I wasn't born yesterday, but I can't remember when i was born, tell her to make sure my i.d. is in my wallet and bring it too. it's on the round pearl beer tray that we clean our stash with.... damn, i said it. can't wait to see the danny joe ronny van winters brotherswitch collins hatchet band, i hear they got the guy who used to play marimba with mariam makeeba - man, I used to love that Pata Pata... Oh, and tell my old lady to bring a sandwich, i'm hungry. you know her, she walks the pit bull that wears the red bandana sticking out of his left back pocket... that means he's gay... or not gay... i forget. i forget his name too... is it getting cold? and dark? mama mama where's the doctor, i need my meds... or at least a sponge bath okay, later.... bring the boy back from nam or is it korea? and don't forget my wallet - it's on the round pearl beer........................................................
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Wayne Mereck - 3.29.2008
And who could forget "howrywoood"
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John Aseff - 3.28.2008
Wayne - I also laughed out loud at the "we need to make these smaller" line. That whole movie was better than it was given credit for. I, too, as a Drafthouse freak. Great place.
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Wayne Mereck - 3.27.2008
Mike, I'm with you, I believe the Aloma Draft Housw was the first. I really enjoyed the place. It was nice getting sandwiches, pizza and beer delivered to the table while watching the movie. They had a deal with the Pizza place, so it was real. I'm not sure if it was still Crusty's. I remember seeing 1941 there. When the Japs were trying to get a tube radio into the submarine, one sailor says to the other " we need to make these smaller. I was the only one in the theater that laughed. Cheers!
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John Aseff - 3.26.2008
WOW! I just heard the new R.E.M. CD Accelerate in it's entirety on www.ilike.com. IT ROCKS! It's good to hear the boys not be quite so melancholy again. The songs are energetic and fun. Can't wait until April 1 so I can buy it and listen in my car.
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Mike Zarek - 3.26.2008
I always thought that the Aloma Cinema Drafthouse was the original.... There was also another one that came about the same time as the Aloma, but I think the Aloma was first... But then again, I could be wrong about it all....
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Jim McPherson - 3.26.2008
Yeah Mike, that JJ Whispers on Kirkman has actually been there for several years now. I've never been but I remember they were trying to bill it as the grand return of the legendary JJ Whispers. Times and tastes had changed of course and it never quite caught on again, I believe it caters to a mostly Latin crowd now. Not sure if it's in the old JBs location but that would be my guess. Remember when that was a cinema drafthouse ? ... I believe the first one of its kind in the country !
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Jim McPherson - 3.26.2008
So they finally tore Fern Park Station down,huh ? ... another piece of local rock-n-roll history bites the dust ! Ronnie Montrose actually did a show there once back in the late 80s / early 90s, Neal Schon also. Guess the days of seeing nationally known acts at your local rock bar are pretty much gone, they all go to House Of Blues or Hard Rock Live now. Both great places to see a show but getting to and from them seems such a hassle now ... LOL, guess I really am getting old ! Has anyone checked out BB Kings new club at Pointe Orlando ?
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Mike Zarek - 3.25.2008
GOT IT!! JJ Whispers turned into "Embassy" ... among others, i think....
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Mike Zarek - 3.25.2008
Hmmm.... Still can't remember what JJ Whispers turned into, but from a google search it appears that JJ Whispers is back!! And from it's address, it looks like it's where JB's on Kirkman used to be...
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Mike Zarek - 3.25.2008
Lady: No offense was meant at all to local bands... There have been many great local bands in the Orlando area for many many years... I even ran sound for one of 'em! ... I was just being a smartass and referring to bands that Orlando is "known" for... lol
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lady in waiting - 3.25.2008
I wish there was an edit button No insult intended I did not mean for Fat Chance to be after the smile.OOPS
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lady in waiting - 3.25.2008
To Mike Z Did you forget about "Cowboy" What a great Band.We had our share of excellent local bands. Tight Shoes. U S Males,Fat Chance ,Skin and Bone oops my bad are we only talking major recording bands.Well I think Orlando Winter Park had there share of exdellent local bands and we could never forget Tin House Take care :0) Fat Chance
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Mike Zarek - 3.25.2008
Why is it that everytime I think of or hear about Fern Park/The Station, all I can ever remember is the effort required to peel one's feet off of the sticky yucky messy carpet they had in that place when one tried to walk?
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Mike Zarek - 3.25.2008
Craig: Good luck! And look at it this way.... altho Florida was home to Skynyrd and others, Orlando itself was only home to the Backstreet Homosexuals (ok.. yeah, I cleaned *that* one up! ;-) ) and N'Stink... You're headin' to the home of the MG's baby! Say hello to the blues for me!
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John Aseff - 3.25.2008
Craig - much luck in your move and future endeavors!
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Craig Michaels - 3.24.2008
These are odd days for me... I've been in Orlando for the last 37 of my 52 years, and I'm less than a week away from loading my life into a truck and relocating to Memphis. I'm excited and nervous, of course... and also thinking that this was the place where I got to be on the radio because of Lee. Orlando is the place where I got to interview and write about so many of my musical heroes because of Max at Free Bird and Don at Dogfood and a lot of people at Jam Magazine. Orlando is where I got to have my record store for almost 12 years... and I drive around and wonder if there's little bits and pieces of me in the trees and buildings and wind. No less than four of the places where I worked during all the years here aren't even buildings anymore... and I look at places, and see the guitar shop in there now and know that a few years back it was a bar where I drank frequently, and even before that, the whole plaza was a putt putt course. The Station just got torn down... they finally took the sign down for FairBanks Inn... and I keep looking with a curious eye for those little bits and pieces of me. But it's time for me to go someplace else and chase the music in a different way, which is exactly what I'll be doing...
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Craig Michaels - 3.24.2008
I'm old... like Monty Python once said, "When he says JJ Whispers, what he MEANS is Cheek to Cheek!" Honest. They said it. Look it up...
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Mike Zarek - 3.24.2008
Yeah, Cheek to Cheek was at the Villa Nova ... On the 17-92 side of the parking lot for the Park Theatres. I have some kind of recollection of going to a show there (OMG, did I fry *that* many brain cells back then?) but I can't recall who it was. JJ Whispers was on the west side of I-4 on the corner of Adanson. It was owned (at least partially) by a guy named John Brown (JB, of later years "JB's Sports Bar" on Curry Ford Rd. and on Kirkman Rd.) It was originally billed as an "upscale" entertainment complex... you had to buy a membership to get in, and it was like $50 or $100 a year. I think the membership routine only lasted a year or two, then it went to straight cover charge, and soon thereafter it went out.. It was reopened under another name (that I can't remember) but by then it was a typical drunkanalia club on the "way past their prime" circuit. I saw once saw Quiet Riot there, and later Foghat. The QR show was unimpressive, but Foghat still rocked, tho Lonesome Dave was the only original left and his health was catching up to him. I'll probably wake up in the middle of the night remembering what name it changed to... I'll let ya know....
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Don Gilliland - 3.23.2008
Yeah, it was Cheek to Cheek. The name of the Italian restaurant was, I think, the Villa Nova? That Lee Road area always seemed to cough up an interesting club every few years. Another restaurant-cum-club was Sleepout Louie's (used to be a Sweden House back in the 70s, and later was a steak house). I saw John Cale there (he was so messed up he kept falling off his stool!), and also Husker Du, and the Meatpuppets. Fine shows!
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Wayne Mereck - 3.23.2008
If memory serves, Cheek to Cheek was an Italian Restaurant that one of the son,s of the owner tried to turn into a night club. It didn't seem to last long. I think they should have stayed in the food business. I
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John Aseff - 3.23.2008
I finally remember one :-) I believe that club in Winter Park was Cheek to Cheek where The Band played right before Richard Manuel hung himself. If memory serves I saw Bonnie Raitt there in the 90s. Don - Unfortunately I never got around to attending a show at Rock World so I missed Derringer there.
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Don Gilliland - 3.23.2008
hey Craig! I know that club you are talking about, but it wasn't JJ Whispers. That was in that other mall just off Lee Road. The place that the Band played was at 17-92 & Lee Road --- but hell, I can't remember the name of it either! But I also saw some of those great shows: Arlo Guthrie, Steel Pulse, Warren Zevon, Shadowfax, etc. I could kick myself for missing Bonnie Raitt and the Band. On a Jackson Browne note; I just notice the second volume of his "Live Acoustic" album is coming out this month. I like the first one.
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Jim McPherson - 3.22.2008
Steve, that Jackson Browne song would be " Ready Or Not " from the " For Everyman " album. Interesting trivia tidbit ... Jackson wrote the title song as a rebuttal to David Crosbys " Wooden Ships ". Crosby wrote " Wooden Ships " as kind of a science fiction song, where he imagined he and a few other survivors escaping on a boat to create a new civilization ( " Silver people on the shoreline " are guys in radiation suits according to Crosby ). Later on Browne asked ... " what about all the people who got left behind ? " and wrote " For Everyman " in response.
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Steve Baione - 3.22.2008
A friend dragged me to see Tesla at Whispers. Not being big fan of theirs I was suprised by their live show. File that one under Ho Hum Studio/Great Live band. Hey, I have a question about a Jackson Browne song??? At least I think it was one of his songs. "Babies havin'trouble getting into her jeans" are some of the lyrics (I Think). My sister asked me about it the other day and now I can't get it out of my head. ( Don't worry, It happens to me a lot) Can any one help me figure out what song it is? Thanx :)
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Craig Michaels - 3.21.2008
JJ Whispers had a great music history... I saw Bonnie Raitt there in her early, blusier days; great show in front of maybe 40 people. Saw Arlo Guthrie there (with his son on either keyboards or drums, I don't remember which); Shadowfax played a show I saw. Numerous others, including a somewhat tragic event - The Band played there, and then that night, Richard Manuel hung himself in his hotel room after an apparent long, long struggle with alcoholism. Still, the club was amazing for the quality of acts they brought in, especially considering the size of the venue.
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Jim McPherson - 3.21.2008
Hey Don, I saw both those shows at Rock World ... I know you, me and Bobby Hall rode together to one of them, maybe both. You guys usually got some kind of promo tickets from working at Record Mart. I recall Rick Derringer looked like he had a bad sunburn ... maybe he was taking his song " Sittin' By The Pool " too literally !
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Don Gilliland - 3.21.2008
Hey John; did you see Derringer play that tiny club on the South Trail called Rock World? Not very far from the I-4 overpass. Good show! The club itself didn't last too long, but I also saw Pat Benatar play a show there when her first album came out. Also a good performance.
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Jim McPherson - 3.19.2008
Steve, thanks for the fact check on the Johnny Winter show ... I knew it was 1980 SOMEthing ! : - ) I was never one for saving ticket stubs but looking back now, I wish I had. Some of them had pretty cool designs, almost like mini-posters.
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Steve Baione - 3.18.2008
Jim. I did see him at Whispers, but it was May of 89'. I still have the ticket stub. Jimmy and I hung around after the show and got Johnny to autograph them for us. We also caught him at Brassy's in Cocoa around that same time. There couldn't have been more than 60 or 70 people there that night. Everyone had great seats. I didn't drink Becks Dark for a long time after that show.
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John Aseff - 3.18.2008
Rick Derringer has always been one of my favorites (thanks for the email link Jim). When I worked for Record Mart an LP called Eye to Eye came out that Rick played on. Kind of jazzy as I remember. I couldn't think of the name of it so I Googled Rick Derringer Discography and found this: http://www.rickderringer.com/discography/page7.htm I was surprised to see how many of my favorite albums he played on. Steely Dan's Gaucho for instance. It's good to see him back in the saddle with his old bandmates.
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Jim McPherson - 3.17.2008
Hey Steve B ... did you happen to catch Johhny Winter when he played at the old JJ Whispers club back around 86/87 ? That was a good show, it was cool to see him in a smaller venue like that. I figured I might run into Jimmy Mann at that show and sure enough, he was there. I think he lived right behind JJ Whispers at the time. Jimmy says he was in the audience when Johnny recorded his classic " Johnny Winter And - Live " in Dania,FL. ... considered by many to be one of his best recordings ever, though his two recent CD releases " Live Bootleg Series, Vols. 1 & 2 " are pretty smokin' too ! And on a related note, Rick Derringer has reformed his classic Derringer lineup with Danny Johnson, Kenny Aaronson & Vinnie Appice. Check it out @ www.myspace.com/derringerrock
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Jim McPherson - 3.17.2008
I was kind of surprised to read that venerable classic rock band Boston will be going out on tour this summer. I kinda wondered what would happen to them after the untimely death of singer Brad Delp last year. Rather than take the Journey route of scouring YouTube videos for a replacement lead singer, they've recruited former Stryper frontman Michael Sweet to step in. I vaguely recall seeing some of Strypers videos on MTV back when they came out as one of the first Christian rock bands. If I remember right, Sweet has the right kind of voice to pull off those signature Boston high notes. Bostons website is pretty cool, kind of what you would expect from a tech savvy band like them ... www.bandboston.com
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Steve Baione - 3.13.2008
Howdy Y'all. My brother in law called me the other day and told me he just picked us up tickets to see Johnny Winter on the 28th of this month. I went to Johnnys website and found he is going to be playing at the Space Coast Convention Center in Cocoa on the 11th of April 2008 with Robben Ford. Ford, for those of you who don't know is an excellent blues guitarist and well worth seeing. I saw Johnny on the tube not too long ago at some kind of all star blues jam with Clapton, Buddy Guy and other blues artists. When it was time for Johnny to come on he had to be helped and sat on the edge of the stage and played. Why is he not in the rock'n'roll Hall of Fame??? I know he will be at some point. I would rather he be around to see it. My sisters ex-husband, Jeff Cole of Tin House had told me stories from when they where on tour together. There was one tale where they where getting ready to go to a gig and couldn't find Johnny anywhere. After searching for an hour or so, found him passed out up an apple tree. I wonder if that's where he came up with the song "Out on a limb"? All I'm saying is if you get a chance to see him, Do it!
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John Aseff - 3.12.2008
Jim - Somewhere I have a photo of Bobby Hall on stage with Todd playing tambourine while Todd tickles the ivories. It was taken several years ago in Boston when Bobby lived there. If I ever locate it I'll scan it and email it to you.
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Jim McPherson - 3.12.2008
Todd Rundgren, April 14 @ Hard Rock Live Orlando. Can't remember the last time he played around these parts !
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John Aseff - 3.10.2008
Don - maybe I remember her from Edgewater. Was she there when we were there?
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Don Gilliland - 3.8.2008
John; good to hear that you liked what you heard by Reina. She's a College Park girl and also went to Edgewater High. She sang for a band in St. Pete for a few years, and then moved to Boston (in the wake of Bobby Hall and Keith Chagnon), and then to Idaho (where she ran her own CD shop) and now she's in Oregon.
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Wayne Mereck - 3.8.2008
Congratulations Lee! It is nice to know that those great call letters are safe in your care. I really can't think of a better place. Cheers!!!
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John Aseff - 3.7.2008
Don - I went on CD Baby and listened to short versions of the songs on Austin to Boston by Reina Collins. Great stuff. I ordered my copy immediately. Thanks for the heads up. By the way, she looks very familiar.
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Lee Arnold - 3.6.2008
Thank you guys for the kind words.
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Jim McPherson - 3.6.2008
After all these years I figured you just could've claimed squatters rights or something ... cuz everyone knows WORJ and Lee Arnold are synonymous ! : - ) Glad to hear it's all documented and legal now. Congratulations and long live WORJ !!!
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Mike Zarek - 3.6.2008
Woohoo! Congrats Lee! And thank you for your hard work and dedication to keeping WORJ® alive in body and spirit for listeners all over the world.
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Lee Arnold - 3.6.2008
WORJ®
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Don Gilliland - 3.5.2008
I also congratulate Lee. Thanks for the hard work and dedication ... and inspiration. My musical roots run deep into the WORJ foundation. On a semi-related note: former Orlando resident and WORJ listener Reina Collins (she was Reina Gutman back in those days) has a new album out called "Austin to Boston." Excellent stuff. Really. Most the songs are originals but she also does a very cool cover of "Woodstock" and songs by Richard Thompson and World Party. Check out her site at: www.reinagcollins.com
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Lee Arnold - 3.5.2008
Thanks, John.
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John Aseff - 3.5.2008
CONGRATULATIONS LEE!!!
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Lee Arnold - 3.5.2008
After 7 months, my pending service mark for WORJ is no longer pending. I was granted the service mark for WORJ on March 4, 2008. The process was actually shorter than I thought it would be and was accomplished with no outside help. I simply applied for it, paid my application fee, waited, checked back now and then to watch the progress, waited out the 30 day publishing window and was then granted my service mark. I am pleased to say the least. That fact that I have been using the WORJ name for years, both here at the WORJ Tribute website and for the WORJ internet radio station, helped speed the process along. When the folks at the Patent office Googled and Lexis-Nexised the name WORJ, there I was with a long history of usage. Nice to know the system works.
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Mike Zarek - 3.4.2008
Incedent At Neshabur .. Ya know, I still think Santana's Abraxas is one of the greatest albums ever cut......
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Jim McPherson - 3.4.2008
Heard Lee play a track by Chris Stills, Stephen Stills son, the other day. For further proof that the musical apple doesn't fall far from the tree check out the new CD from TAB The Band " Pulling Out Just Enough To Win ". Fronted by Joe Perrys' sons Tony & Adrian, it sounds like Joe has schooled them well in the art of blues rock. The Stones / Faces influence is obvious, just like in the Aerosmiths early records, with a nod to the Joe Perry Projects early 80s LPs. Some may complain that they're just re-treading old ground and that it's all been done before, just like when the Black Crowes first came out but what the hell ... I'll never get tired of that style of rock-n-roll ! Not sure what's up with that band name but the album smokes from beginning to end !
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John Aseff - 3.3.2008
I just heard that the Van Halen concert has been rescheduled for March 19. This link is unrelated but it's good for a laugh on a Monday afternoon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y7u_NXTQGc
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Jim McPherson - 3.3.2008
Bummer, John ! ... I understand all the remaining Van Halen tour dates have been cancelled, no word yet as to whether they will be rescheduled. Rumor has it that Diamond Dave is not to blame this time ... there've been reports that Eddie started drinking again, due to his frustration with an ongoing hearing problem that caused him to make numerous playing mistakes while onstage. Hopefully they can pull it together and get back on the road.
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Jim McPherson - 3.3.2008
And in yet more sad news, guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Healey has passed away at the age of 41 after a lifelong batttle with cancer. Blind since the age of 1 from a rare form of retinal cancer, he taught himself to play guitar in his signature style of holding the instrument across his lap. Like most people, I first saw him in the 1989 film " Roadhouse " with Patrick Swayze and was blown away by his sound and unique style. In recent years he hosted a radio show in his native Canada where he focused on his love of jazz music, spinning tunes from his personal 30,000+ vinyl LP collection. R.I.P. Jeff, your music and talent will be greatly missed !
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Don Gilliland - 3.1.2008
Sorry to hear about Buddy Miles. Another one of my favorite drummers from the 70s was Mick Waller, who played on classic Rod Stewart albums such as "Never a Dull Moment" and "Every Picture Tells a Story." Anybody know whatever happened to him?
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Lee Arnold - 3.1.2008
One year ago this past Thursday, WORJ.com Radio signed on. This year went by really fast. A BIG hello to all who tune in and enjoy.
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John Aseff - 2.29.2008
R.I.P. Buddy Miles. He was the drummer on one of my all time favorite albums. Band of Gypsies with Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox. I guess I'll be listening to it all weekend.
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Lee Arnold - 2.28.2008
So Sad...(AP) - Singer Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five has died, less than two weeks before the band was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band's publicist says Smith died of pneumonia today outside London. Smith was 64. The Dave Clark Five's hits include "Glad All Over," "Catch Us If You Can" and "Over and Over." Smith's illness was a complication from a spinal cord injury he sustained in September 2003 that left him paralyzed below the ribs. Smith had been in the hospital since the accident and was just released this past December. He had intended to attend The Dave Clark Five's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York on March 10th.
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John Aseff - 2.28.2008
Cool story. My brother-in-law and his grandson went to a fairly recent show here in Atlanta where Clutch opened for another band. When they got there they found that the show was sold out. They thought maybe they could hang out near the side entrance and at least hear a song or two (small venue). They struck up a conversation with a guy who turned out to be a Clutch roadie. They mentioned how they were there to see Clutch and couldn't care less about the headliner. The guy disappeared into the building and came out with two backstage passes courtesy of Clutch.
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John Aseff - 2.28.2008
Steve - good to hear from you. My brother-in-law is a huge Clutch fan and turned me on to them about a year ago. I have Elephant Riders and Pure Rock Fury. Your description is exactly how I would describe them as well. Pretty good stuff.
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Steve Baione - 2.27.2008
Hello Everyone, I hope Ya'll are doing well. Me, well, I'm just trying to get through this winter. There is about a foot of snow outside and the temp is around 6 degrees and falling. Such is life in the shadow of the Great Lakes. What's the words to that old Buffett song "I think I got cabin fever. I just shot six holes in my freezer". It's not that bad yet, But if it doesn't warm up soon, well, I can't pull my hair out cause I just shaved my head after letting it grow for the past 10 years. I think it was time for a new look. Probably way past time. But i digress. What I really wanted to talk about is the band "Clutch". I was driving in my truck the other day, listening to the local collage radio station (Alfred State) and the song "10001110101" came on. I was thinking to myself, I know this band. Who are they? After the song was over the DJ gave the song I.D. Clutch, Man, I haven't heard these guys in years. When I got home I went to their web site and listened to some songs and looked at their bio. I ordered a couple their CD's. It's hard to put a finger on their sound. They sound a little like Zappa without the jazz influence, especially the vocals. With song titles like "A Shogun Named Marcus" and "What Would A Wookie Do?" I would think they have a slightly twisted sense of humor like Franks also. All in all, a pretty cool band if you ask me. Anyway, that's about it for now. I just wanted to check in. It's been a while since I've posted anything. Peace....
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Mike Zarek - 2.26.2008
TITTIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! TIITIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! TITTIES AND BEER!! ........ woooooooooo!!!!!! Thanks Lee!!!!!
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Ronn B - 2.22.2008
Don , good to see ya alive and well.Got hooked on your store in C Park and we have truly missed you since the closing.I know shop at Ray And Fredd's store.I will tell them hello from you with your approval
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John Aseff - 2.22.2008
BUMMER! I just heard that the Van Halen show my son bought my wife and me tickets for has been postponed. So was tonight's show in Charlottesville.
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John Aseff - 2.21.2008
"Jeez, I wonder what else is wrong with her ... ?" LOL!!! Been there, done that.
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Jim McPherson - 2.21.2008
Yeah, that's why I had to dump that girl John ... I knew you would never approve, LOL ! Seriously, after she made that comment I remember thinking to myself " Jeez, I wonder what else is wrong with her ... ? " Turned out she was a serious cokehead ... a road I've been down and don't care to re-visit ... so it was all for the best !
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John Aseff - 2.21.2008
Even my 12 (soon to be 13) year old daughter loves The Beatles. As we watched the movie Across the Universe together it was wonderful to see that she knew, or was familiar with, all the songs. If you haven't seen it it's worth a watch.
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Jim McPherson - 2.21.2008
I've absolutely had relationships that came to a screeching halt because of music incompatability ! Several years ago I had the chance to date this drop dead gorgeous girl and things were going along well until she mentioned that she couldn't stand the Beatles. After that, it was game over for me ! Granted, she was somewhat younger and wasn't lucky enough to enjoy the kind of musical upbringing we did but c'mon ... to not like the Beatles ?!?!?!? I agree with the Top 40 thing too or people who are into one style and one style only of music, whether it's country, 80's headbanging, etc. While I've got my likes and dislikes, I try and be open minded to all kinds of music ( something WORJ taught me ) and would feel more comfortable with someone who felt the same.
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Don Gilliland - 2.20.2008
I agree with Lee about the music thing; how could you date a woman that listened to Top 40 radio?! Another friend of mine said it well: "I could never understand people who say they aren't into music." In my opinion, if you don't have music in your bones --- whether you are a musician or just an avid listener --- you indeed have no soul. On a Led Zeppelin note: Jimmy Page was in Thailand last month. I just heard this report from a friend who has a friend that hung out with Page when he was here. Cool! And how about that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss album that came out last year? Great stuff!
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Lee Arnold - 2.20.2008
Back in 1975 when I met the woman who would become my wife and soulmate, I was immediately attracted to her for her incredible beauty and sense of humor. She was beauty contest gorgeous. I wouldn't normally have approached a woman like her. I hated rejection. (Who doesn't?) I was the Program Director of WORJ and she worked in sales there. It was more than the music back then. The station was the "center" of the counter-culture community. We lived the music and the life style. I would never even think about dating a woman who listened to Top 40 radio. What would I have in common with her? Music taste and the station you listened to, were a part of the "do I ask you out" litmus test. As it turned out, my future wife, Gay, turned out to be a giant Led Zeppelin fan. The rest is history. Now comes a website that helps match you up with your music soulmate. It's called RocknRollDating.com. Check it out if you're looking for someone who shares your love of Goth, Classic Rock, Jazz, Folk or whatever it is that makes you throw your arm in the air, lighters ablaze. This site addresses the question: Have you ever thought it a little odd that with all the dating sites out there, none of them seem to recognize the relevance of music compatibility in relationships? Ever gone out with someone only to find that their tastes in music are so far off the mark, that you couldn’t imagine being in a long-term relationship with them? Many of us have, and it is for that reason that RocknRollDating.com was created. Long may their "Freak Flag" fly!!!
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Lee Arnold - 2.19.2008
Wayne, it is so good to hear from you. I am so happy to hear that Cali is winning the battle. Please send her my best.
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Wayne Mereck - 2.19.2008
Lee, you are right it is crazy these days. I have been working at a defense electronics company here in Ft. Worth since August. I do a fair amount of travel. When I get home I have a lot of catch up to do. Cali is progressing nicely and the cancer is in remission. Now she would like some more energy, wouldn't we all? Thanks for asking and everyone take care. Cheers!
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Mike Zarek - 2.18.2008
Speaking of Jewish mothers, I have to go to Orlando tomorrow.
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John Aseff - 2.18.2008
Jim - C'mon up! I'll get another ticket for you! I've heard good things about this tour. I don't expect DLR to engage in the acrobatics he engaged in in the 70's but I do expect a halfway healthy scream now and then. I've heard Eddie is in top foem and that Wolfgang does a pretty damn good job. I would still have liked to have seen the original lineup. It's been 20 years. Wonder why they didn't ask Michael Anthony to do this tour?
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Jim McPherson - 2.18.2008
Hey John, Van Halen just played O-Town last week. Didn't get to go but from what I hear, they still put on a hell of a show ! Orlando Sentinel music critic Jim Abbot remarked that watching DLR onstage now is kind of like watching your dad do his best Diamond Dave imitation ... ouch !!! But he also noted that Eddie & Alexs' playing is spectacular as ever. Wish I could be there to go with you !
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Lee Arnold - 2.18.2008
John, Craig, Eric and Don-Thanks for checking in. In this crazy world we find ourselves living in, I get worried when I don't see you on the board. I'm starting to remind myself of my Jewish mother. OY VEY!!
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John Aseff - 2.18.2008
Eric - You're right. Atlanta's music is(was) awesome. It's slipped quite a bit since you were here. Atlanta radio is abysmal now. I've had to resort to XM to get anything decent. 99X just closed up shop. That was the last good station. Now it's all generic corporate crap. As for getting out. Now that the kids are fairly self-sufficient we will be doing much more of that!
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Don Gilliland - 2.17.2008
Been busy working at my bookshop and travelling (Cambodia and Burma). I'm still walking the streets of Bangkok: dodging stray elephants, dogs, and motorcycles that drive on the sidewalks. Never a dull moment. Enjoying lots of new ablums by old favorites lately: Springsteen, Neil Young, Joan Armatrading, Ian Hunter, Linda Thompson, Steve Earle, Solomon Burke. I also finally found a copy (Japanese pressing) of the Tom Jans album "Eyes of an Only Child." Still sounds great after all these years!
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Eric - 2.17.2008
I think I got that backwards... "Hard Times Paraphanalia... Upstairs, Misers Mall."
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Eric - 2.17.2008
Anybody remember this promo? "Upstairs... Miser Mall. Hard Times Paraphanalia." Sticks in my head much like those Eric Adams and Don Mealy commercials (though I don't remember ORJ playing those).
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Lee Arnold - 2.17.2008
Thanks for dropping by, Eric. Good to have you on board.
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Eric - 2.17.2008
John! I heard some of the best live music of my life during the couple of years I lived in Atlanta ('95-'97).Garbage opening for the Pumpkins (VERY impressive live), REM (twice), Pearl Jam, Todd Rundgren... not to mention the Atlanta Music Festival! One of my favorite musical moments in Atlanta was seeing Jorma K (how do you spell that?) playing Embryonic Journey during the Further Festival. I realize that this may not seem very impressive to most folks, but it was a trip in the way-back machine for me. Actually brought tears to my eyes. Great radio, too. Closest thing to a modern ORJ that I've heard over the airwaves. You gotta get out more, John! Lee, thanks for that hit of Arthur Brown! Another one I need on the ipod.
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Eric - 2.17.2008
Hey Lee! I still pop in from time to time. Try to listen in from work on the weekends (significant other controls the home pc). So glad that your still here. Life seems to keep trying to |
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