Diary of a Not So British Fan Girl

In 1992, California-bred Singer/Songwriter James Hetfield, who also happens to be the frontman for the American metal band Metallica, wrote one of the most iconic rock ballads of all time. He was inspired to write the song on the phone with his girlfriend, whom he missed while touring. It appeared as the third single on the band’s fifth self-titled studio album. The song is also said to be an ode to fans. Its universal themes of trust, love, and staying true to oneself still resonate today. When the band released this track back in '92, they faced some criticism. Some fans called it “too soft” and accused the band of selling out. However, over time, it opened the band to a whole new audience and helped redefine what metal could be. If I had to pick a favorite cover, it would be Miley Cyrus’s version in 2021 with Elton John and Yo-Yo Ma. I generally don’t favor covers since nothing can quite top or match the original, but in this case, Miley’s cover truly stands out. She’s an incred...

Anyone who is a Genesis fan may be familiar with the name Steve Hackett, who was their guitarist from 1971 to 1977, before Mike Rutherford took the reins after his departure in 1977.  Hackett's live album that came out in April of '''' '98’ just two decades shy of his departure from Genesis which, was then titled  "The Tokoyo Tapes.” The album was released as a document of two live concerts done by a supergroup line-up of Hackett, John Wetton, Chester Thompson, Ian McDonald, and Julian Colbeck, in December 96’ and is what inspired me to write this particular post. Hackett performed an acoustic cover of a song originally done by the English prog rock band Asia, featured on the album “The Tokyo Tapes.” Asia of course was co-founded by John Wetton former member of another progressive rock band known as,  “King Crimson” in 1981, and was the original writer behind the song “Heat of the Moment” that ended up becoming a hit for Asia and was almost left off of thei...

The eighth studio album that Ozzy Osbourne released back in 2001 titled “Down to Earth” has slowly become one of my favorite albums of all time, which is also just so happens to be nearing its twenty-fourth birthday on October 16th. I was never a major Ozzy fan because, while I do listen to a bit of Metallica and Type O Negative I’ve never been big on any sort of metal. The only two Ozzy Osbourne songs I knew were “Crazy Train” and “Shot in the Dark.” Since, I grew up believing everything Ozzy wasn’t it wasn’t till shortly before his passing that I started seeing everything he was. I read an article about his last show that mentioned “Mama, I’m Coming Home” from his sixth solo album titled “No More Tears” that was released in 1991 to thank for this. I remember going to listen to the song then, watching the video, and thinking how beautiful the lyrics were and how incredibly talented he was. I felt inspired to write about it and finding out he passed shortly after I decided to write ...

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne can be described as one of the most iconic couples in rock music. The two met back in 1970 when Sharon’s father Don Arden managed Ozzy’s band “Black Sabbath." By the time 1979 had hit Ozzy decided to start his solo career and the two started dating. In 1982, Ozzy and Sharon got married and had three children together. The song “Mama, I’m Coming Home” wasn’t about Osbourne’s actual mother, instead, it was a message to his wife Sharon who stood by his side unwavering through his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. “Mama” was a pet name that he had for her. The song was featured on Ozzy’s sixth solo album titled “No More Tears” and is one of a few songs from the album that Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister co-wrote. Songs such as “I Don’t Want to Change the World”, “Desire”, “Hellraiser”, and “Road to Nowhere” are amongst others. There’s a lot we can learn from a love like Ozzy and Sharon’s. They are the epitome of what a real relationship should be....

If I had to pick a favorite Korgis album I’d go with the one they released back in the latter part of 2021 which, of course, is also around the timing of the pandemic. The album of course was titled “Kartoon World” and was originally written as a 70s-style concept album. I’d also consider this one to be the most underrated Korgis album and it was another time they paid homage to the ‘60s band “The Beatles.” Not only this, it also features songs like “La La Land” written in the style of recently deceased Beach Boy “Brian Wilson” featuring an opening guitar riff done by their Australian multi-talented guitarist Al Steele whose very own daughter inspired the album title and quite a few of the lyrics alongside “The Beatles.” It also features songs like “Time (Song for Dom)”, “Back in the 80's”, Magic Money Tree”, and “Bringing Back the Sprit of Love to the World” to name a short list of a few and is also one of a few Korgis albums I was fortunate to get signed by former “Graduate” m...

 It was somewhere around either the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020 when I heard the one song that forever changed my life. I don’t remember the exact date, but I’ll never forget the moment. I was headed home in an Uber, and the 1985 song “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears started playing on the radio. I remember thinking this song sounds oddly familiar and pulling out my phone to Shazam it to see who it was by and if I’d heard it before. Turns out I hadn’t! I never knew that very moment would start a long journey of blogging and writing about music from that era and even as far back as the 50s. I have them to thank for meeting some of my closest friends. Most of whom have inspired me to elevate my writing and my love for music. Tears for Fears also introduced me to bands and musicians such as Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Adam & The Ants, Oleta Adams, Alison Moyet, Puscifer, King Crimson, Steven Wilson, Radiohead, Sixpence None the Richer (whom I’ve met), The Korgi...