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Overview
Foreword by Ben Stiller
Afterword by Perry Farrell
Jewish achievement in the sciences? Celebrated. Jews in literature? Lionized. But until now, there's been no record of the massive contributions of Jews in Rock n' Roll. Jews Who Rock features 100 top Jewish rockers, from Bob Dylan to Adam Horowitz, Courtney Love (yes, she's half Jewish) to John Zorn, with a concise page of essential data and a biography of each one.
Includes the complete lyrics to "The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781250138699 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | St. Martin's Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 09/27/2016 |
| Sold by: | Macmillan |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 128 |
| Sales rank: | 1,060,370 |
| File size: | 7 MB |
About the Author
Guy Oseary is one of the hottest executives in the music business. He started working with Madonna when he was just seventeen, and is now her partner at Maverick Records. He lives in Los Angeles, and is definitely a Jew who rocks.
Guy Oseary is one of the hottest executives in the music business. He started working with Madonna when he was just seventeen, and is now her partner at Maverick Records. He lives in Los Angeles, and is definitely a Jew who rocks.
Read an Excerpt
Jews Who Rock
By Guy Oseary
St. Martin's Press
Copyright © 2001 Guy OsearyAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-250-13869-9
CHAPTER 1
Herb Alpert
Born: March 31, 1935 — Los Angeles, CA
Talent: Trumpeter/songwriter/producer/record label founder
The Road to Fame: While under contract as a recording artist for RCA in 1962, Herb formed A&M Records with his friend Jerry Moss. Switching to his own label, his Latin-tinged backing band, the Tijuana Brass, hit the big time in 1965 with "A Taste of Honey" from Whipped Cream and Other Delights. Four more number-one albums followed until Herb hit a slump in 1969. Nonetheless, the label's prosperity allowed Herb to continue recording at his leisure. Though Herb scored sporadic comeback hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the crowning achievement of his career came in 1990 when he and Moss sold A&M to PolyGram for over half a billion dollars. In addition to founding a new label with Moss (Almo Sounds), Herb went on to produce Broadway plays, record new albums, and exhibit his paintings.
The Music: Hit Albums:Whipped Cream and Other Delights (1965), Going Places (1965), What Now My Love (1966), S.R.O. (1966), Sounds Like (1967), Herb Alpert's Ninth (1967), Rise (1979), Keep Your Eye on Me (1987)
Did You Know? Herb cowrote the Sam Cooke hits "Wonderful World" and "Sixteen" with producer Lou Adler.
Early A&M successes included the Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, and Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66.
Herb's 1987 hit single "Diamonds" featured vocals by A&M superstar Janet Jackson.
Herb produced the Broadway hits Angels in America and Jelly's Last Jam.
Herb became a philanthropist with the founding of the Herb Alpert Foundation in the mid-1990s.
Judah Bauer and Russell Simins
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Born: Judah: 1973 — Appleton, WI
Russell: 1961 — Long Island, NY
Talent: Judah: Guitarist
Russell: Drummer
The Road to Fame: Upon their departure from the New York–based trash-rock band the Honeymoon Killers in 1991, Judah and Russell joined singer/guitarist Jon Spencer (formerly of New York City attitude kings, Pussy Galore) to form the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, a post-punk, blues-inspired juggernaut. After recording their self-titled debut for Caroline in 1992, the group signed with Matador the following year and eventually landed a coveted spot on a Beastie Boys tour. The resulting exposure, combined with MTV airplay, led to success beyond the underground realm.
The Music: Albums:The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (1992), Extra Width (1993), Orange (1994), Experimental Remixes (1995), A Ass Pocket of Whiskey (1996), Now I Got Worry (1996), Acme (1998), Xtra Acme USA (1999)
Did you know? The group recorded A Ass Pocket of Whiskey with authentic Delta bluesman R. L. Burnside.
Before picking up the guitar in his late teens, Judah was a bebop saxophonist.
Russell's first drum kit — the same one he currently uses — was formerly owned by drumming legend Buddy Rich.
Judah has a side project with his brother Donovan called Twenty Miles. They have released records on the indie labels In The Red and Fat Possum.
Russell had a side project, Butter 08, which featured the participation of members from such hip New York City bands as Cibo Matto and Skeleton Key.
In the video for "Talk About the Blues," look-alike actors stand in for the band's members. John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights) doubled for Russell, and Giovanni Ribisi (The Mod Squad) stood in for Judah.
Beastie Boys
Born: Mike D: Born Michael Diamond, November 20, 1965 — Upper West Side, NYC
MCA: Born Adam Yauch, August 5, 1967 — Brooklyn Heights, NYC
Ad-Rock: Born Adam Horovitz, October 31, 1966 — Upper West Side, NYC
Talent: Rappers/songwriters/ musicians
The Road to Fame: Middle class Jews Diamond and Yauch formed the original Beastie Boys as a hardcore punk band in 1981. Their drummer and guitarist left in 1983, just as Horovitz had folded his punk band, the Young and the Useless, to join the group and help them make their transition to rap. In 1984, the Beasties signed with Columbia's Def Jam Records and released Licensed to Ill, the best-selling rap album of the 1980s, two years later. After a dispute with their label in 1988, they signed with Capitol and were teamed with the Dust Brothers, acclaimed producers of cutting-edge music. Their groundbreaking follow-up, Paul's Boutique, failed commercially but earned them cult status. The underground fame soon paid off and the Beasties reemerged in the '90s with their own label, Grand Royal, and a series of bestselling albums.
The Music: Breakthrough Hit: "Fight for Your Right (To Party)" (1986)
Best-Selling LP:Licensed to Ill (1986)
Other Hit Singles: "Sabotage" (1994), "Sure Shot" (1994), "Intergalactic" (1997)
Did you know? The Beastie Boys opened for Madonna during her Like a Virgin Tour and were nearly booed off the stage for their comically profane stage antics.
Licensed to Ill was the fastest selling debut in Columbia Records history (750,000 copies in its first six weeks). It remains the Beasties's best-selling disc, with sales of over 8 million.
The Beasties were arrested, sued, and accused of inciting riots during their 1987 tour.
"Cookie Puss," their first underground hit single, was based on a prank phone call the group made to a Carvel ice cream store.
Ad-Rock's father is New York playwright Israel Horovitz.
The band founded the Tibetan Freedom Concerts, a series of benefit shows that call attention to the persecution of the people of Tibet.
Beck
Born: Beck David Campbell, July 8, 1970 — Los Angeles, CA
Talent: Singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer
The Road to Fame: With the indie hit "Loser," Beck rose out of relative obscurity in 1994 to become one of the decade's most celebrated rock-and-roll icons. After a brief bidding war, Beck signed with DGC and released Mellow Gold, an album showcasing his eclectic amalgamation of gospel, rap, pop, punk, and classic rock. Following his participation in Lollapalooza in 1995, he released Odelay, considered by critics and listeners alike to be 1996's Album of the Year. In 1998, he recorded Mutations, a sample- and drum-loop-free album with an acoustic feel.
The Music: Albums:Mellow Gold (1994), Stereopathetic Soul Manure (1994), One Foot in the Grave (1994), Odelay (1996), Mutations (1998), Midnite Vultures (1999)
Did you know? Beck took his mother's maiden name, Hansen, as his new last name after his parents divorced.
Beck became involved with the anti-folk movement — led by Paleface, Michelle Shocked, and Cindy Lee Berryhill — during a bus ride to New York.
DGC allows Beck to release experimental records on indie labels, such as Stereopathetic Soul Manure (Flipside Records) and One Foot in the Grave (K Records).
Beck used only a portable eight-track recorder, a keyboard, a drum machine, and a guitar to produce his first professional recordings.
He contributed tunes to the film soundtracks of Suburbia (1997) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997).
Ray Benson
Asleep at the Wheel
Born: March 16, 1951 — Philadelphia, PA
Talent: Guitarist/vocalist
The Road to Fame: Two years after forming the Western Swing Revival band Asleep at the Wheel, Ray and his group became a mainstay of the Berkeley country scene and soon captured the attention of United Artists Records. An unsuccessful debut in 1973 led to lineup changes and label switching until 1975, when they broke through with Texas Gold. The group went on to dominate the country charts for the remainder of the decade but hit hard times in the early 1980s. After a brief stint as a producer of solo artists, Ray again reformed the band and released 1987's 10, an astonishing comeback album. Once again at the top of their game, the group continued its success well into the 1990s.
The Music: Hit Albums:Wheelin' and Dealin' (1976), Collision Course (1978), Framed (1980), Western Standard Time (1988), Keepin' Me Up Nights (1990), Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (1993), Ride with Bob (1999)
Hit Singles: "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" (1975), "House of Blue Lights" (1987), "Way Down Texas Way" (1987), "String of Pars" (1987), "Sugar Foot Rag" (1988)
Did you know? During his hiatus in the mid-1980s, Ray produced records by Aaron Neville, Rob Wasserman, Willie Nelson, and Bruce Hornsby.
The group won Grammys for "String of Pars" and "Sugar Foot Rag" in 1988.
Country legends Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, and Garth Brooks guested on Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
Eric Bloom
Blue Öyster Cult
Born: December 11, 1944 — Long Island, NY
Talent: Singer/guitarist
The Road to Fame: In 1968, Elektra Records signed the Soft White Underbelly, a psychedelic rock band from New York State. When it came time to buy equipment with their advance money from the label, the SWU members used to frequent the Sam Ash music store where Bloom worked. Eventually, Bloom struck up a friendship with the fledgling band. In 1969, SWU had an acrimonious split with singer Les Braunstein and offered the job to Bloom. The following year, band mentor Sandy Pearlman changed the group's name to the Stalk-Forest Group, and later, to Blue Öyster Cult. Thinking they had the American answer to England's Black Sabbath, Columbia Records signed the band in 1970, releasing BÖC's idiosyncratic yet influential metal records, whose lyrical content leaned heavily on science-fiction and macabre themes.
The Music: Suggested Listening:Tyranny and Mutation (1973), Secret Treaties (1974), Agents of Fortune (1976), Spectres (1977)
Did you know? A science-fiction enthusiast, Bloom had enlisted the talents of sci-fi writers like Michael Moorcock to assist in the writing of BÖC song lyrics.
On the early BÖC recordings, Bloom is credited with "stun guitar." The term was just another "cosmic manifestation" out of then-manager Sandy Pearlman's brain. Pearlman tried to generate a stage name for Bloom as he had for guitarist Donald Raeser (aka Buck Dharma), but Bloom would not allow it.
BÖC were one of the first groups to incorporate laser light technology into their live shows.
Michael Bloomfield
Born: July 28, 1943 — Chicago, IL
Died: February 15, 1981 — San Francisco, CA
Talent: Singer/guitarist
The Road to Fame: Just a year after picking up the guitar, the fourteen-year-old Michael was jamming with the pros at black blues clubs around Chicago. In 1965, following years of session work and a brief contract with Columbia, he was recruited by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. After two years of recording and touring with the group, as well as recording and performing occasionally with Bob Dylan, Michael formed the short-lived band the Electric Flag. Throughout the 1970s, he remained in San Francisco, gigging with various friends and recording occasional solo projects. Toward the end of the decade, he descended into drug abuse, overdosing fatally in 1981.
The Music: Landmark Recordings: "Like a Rolling Stone" (1965, Bob Dylan), Highway 61 Revisited (1965, Bob Dylan), East-West (1966, Paul Butterfield Blues Band), Super Session (1969, with Stephen Stills and Al Kooper)
Did you know? As a fourteen-year-old, Michael was known to join his blues idols onstage and begin jamming with them without asking permission.
He was Dylan's backing guitarist at the infamous 1965 Newport Folk Festival when the folk icon went electric for the first time.
Michael considered the Super Session album with Kooper and Stills to be an overly commercial sellout.
Exactly three months before his death, Michael performed "Like a Rolling Stone" onstage with Bob Dylan.
Marc Bolan
T. Rex
Born: Mark Feld, September 30, 1947 — London, England
Died: September 16, 1977 — London, England
Talent: Singer/songwriter/guitarist
The Road to Fame: Marc and percussionist Steve Peregrine Took formed the acoustic duo Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1967. Three albums later, Marc teamed up with Mickey Finn and scored the first of many U.K. hit singles with "Ride a White Swan" (1970). Expanding into a full-fledged glam-rock band known as T. Rex, Marc and company racked up hit after hit in Great Britain until their popularity began to decline in 1974. Three years later, in the midst of making a comeback touring and recording with T. Rex, Marc was killed in a car accident.
The Music: Landmark Album:Electric Warrior (1971)
U.K. Hits: "Children of Rarn" (1970), "Hot Love" (1972), "Telegram Sam" (1972), "Metal Guru" (1972), "The Groover" (1973)
Did you know? As a youth, Marc claimed to have been stabbed in a knife fight while a member of a gang known as "the Sharks."
Marc was considered a hero figure in Britain's punk circles by showing support to such bands as the Damned and the Sex Pistols.
Michael Bolton
Born: Michael Bolotin, February 26, 1954 — New Haven, CT
Talent: Singer/songwriter
The Road to Fame: Michael's professional career began in his early twenties with two little-known RCA releases. After recording two more albums with the heavy-metal band Blackjack, he changed his last name to Bolton, signed with Columbia Records, and focused his songwriting on love songs. The success of his self-titled debut in 1983 — which earned him songwriting gigs for artists like Barbra Streisand, Cher, and Kenny Rogers — paled in comparison to his breakthrough release, The Hunger (1987). His 1989 release, Soul Provider, upgraded his status to international superstar. All his subsequent releases have gone multiplatinum.
The Music: Albums:Michael Bolotin (1975), Every Day of My Life (1976), Michael Bolton (1983), Everybody's Crazy (1985), The Hunger (1987), Soul Provider (1989), Time, Love & Tenderness (1991), Timeless Classics (1992), The Artistry of Michael Bolton (1993), The One Thing (1993), Said I Loved You (But I Lied) (1995), This Is the Time (The Christmas Album) (1996), All That Matters (1997), My Secret Passion — The Arias (1998), Timeless (The Classics), Vol. 2 (1999)
Hit Singles: "Fools Game," "That's What Love Is All About," "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," "How Can We Be Lovers," "Love Is a Wonderful Thing"
Awards: 1989 Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance ("How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"); 1992 Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance ("When a Man Loves a Woman")
Did you know? Michael sang with opera legend Luciano Pavarotti for a Bosnian benefit concert.
His early idols included R&B masters Ray Charles and Otis Redding.
Michael wrote KISS's 1990 hit "Forever" and collaborated with Bob Dylan on "Steel Bars" on the number-one LP Time, Love & Tenderness.
Igor Cavalera
Sepultura
Born: Belo Horizonte, September 4, 1970 — Brazil
Talent: Drummer
The Road to Fame: Brothers Max and Igor Cavalera formed Sepultura in 1985, in the midst of social and political upheaval in their native country, Brazil. In 1985, the band's debut album, Morbid Vision/Bestial Devastations, was released, and soon the death-metal underground was abuzz about the band. After the release of their 1990 album, Schizophrenia, the band decided to relocate to the U.S., choosing Phoenix, Arizona, as a base of operations. Sepultura's love of blistering punk and classic British heavy metal appealed to many in the underground hard rock scene, and with help from legendary death-metal producer Scott Burns and high profile tours opening for Ozzy Osbourne, the band's reputation was cemented. In 1997, however, Igor demanded that Max discharge his wife Gloria from her role as Sepultura's manager. Max quit the band and formed Soulfly, while Igor carried on with the Sepultura name.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Jews Who Rock by Guy Oseary. Copyright © 2001 Guy Oseary. Excerpted by permission of St. Martin's Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
ix Acknowledgments
xi Foreword by Ben Stiller
xiii Introduction
xiv Lyrics to "The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler
1. Herb Alpert
2. Judah Bauer and Russell Simins of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3. Beastie Boys
4. Beck
5. Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel
6. Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult
7. Mike Bloomfield of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band
8. Marc Bolan of T. Rex
9. Michael Bolton
10. Igor Cavalera of Sepultura
11. Leonard Cohen
12. Sammy Davis, Jr.
14. Neil Diamond
15. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows
16. Bob Dylan
18. Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers
19.Danny Elfman
20. Cass Elliot, John Phillips, and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas&the Papas
21. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan
22. Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros
23. Fat Mike and Eric Melvin of NOFX
24. Nick Feldman of Wang Chung
25. Doug Fieger of the Knack
26. Jason Finn of the Presidents of the United States of America
27, Alan Freed
28. Marty Friedman of Megadeth
29. Justine Frischmann of Elastica
30. Kenny G
31. Art Garfunkel
32. Adam Gaynor of matchbox 20
33. Gerry Goffin
34. Nina Gordon
35. Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
36. Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion
37. Richard Hell
38. Greg Hetson of the Circle Jerks and Bad Religion
39. Peter Himmelmviian
40. Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles
41. Scott Ian of Anthrax
42. Billy Joel
43. Mick Jones of the Clash and Big Audio Dynamite
44. Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo
45. Steve Katz of the Blues Project and Blood, Sweat&Tears
46. Lenny Kaye
47. Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of the Turtles and Flo&Eddie
48. Carole King
49. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
50. Al Kooper of the Blues Project and Blood, Sweat&Tears
51. Lenny Kravitz
52. Robbie Krieger of the Doors
53. Geddy Lee of Rush
54. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller of Leiber&Stoller
55. Keith Levine of Public Image Ltd.
56. Lisa Loeb
57. Courtney Love of Hole
58. Gary Lucas
59. Barry Manilow
60. Dick Manitoba of the Dictators
61. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
62. Manfred Mann
63. Malcolm McLaren
64. MC Serch of 3rd Bass
65. Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters
66. Bette Midler
67. Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks
68. Randy Newman
69. Laura Nyro
70. Phil Ochs
71. Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros
72. Phranc
73. Monique Powell of Save Ferris
74. Joey Ramone of the Ramones
75. Lou Reed
76. Jonathan Richman
77. Robbie Robertson of the Band
78. David Lee Roth
loch79. Adam Sandler
80. Neil Sedaka
81. Josh Silver of Type O Negative
82. Gene Simmons of KISS
84. Carly Simon
85. Paul Simon
86. Slash of Guns N' Roses
87. Hillel Slovak of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
88. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister
89. Jill Sobule
90. Phil Spector
91. Paul Stanley of KISS
92. Chris Stein of Blondie
93. Steve Stevens
94. Peter Stuart of Dog's Eye View
95. Max Weinberg
96. Andrew Weiss of the Rollins Band
97. Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine
98. Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips
99. Peter Wolf and Seth Justman of the J. Geils Band
100. Zal Yanovsky of the Loving Spoonful
101. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul&Mary
102. Warren Zevon
103. John Zorn
Afterword by Peretz (Perry) Farrell