Last night's Grammy Awards was chockablock with SHOCKING MOMENTS! There was a near-naked Pink singing upside down on a trapeze. Lil' Wayne rapping or whatever you call that only weeks before he's due to hit the slammer - don't drop the soap Wayne! Lady Gaga wearing Frank Gehry's latest building concept on her head. And above all, a truly ridiculous 3D tribute to Michael Jackson. The only institution that should be paying tribute to Wacko Jacko is the California Bar Association.
None of that crap was shocking, in fact it was completely expected. Truly shocking was Jeff Beck and Imelda May's duet of Les Paul & Mary Ford's "How High the Moon" was shockingly short, tasteful, full of musicianship and paid loving tribute to someone who actually deserved it.
For the record, I will say I enjoyed Beyonce's cover of Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughtta Know" and am extremely glad my daughters live in a world dominated by Taylor Swift and not Lil' Kim. And I don't get the fuss over Green Day.
Anyway, Jeff Beck, one of the greatest guitar gunslingers of all time, is back in a big way. He won a Best Rock Instrumental Grammy last night for his cover of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life."
Here's JB TCBing the tune in 2007-check out his female phenom bassist from Down Under Tal Wickenfield.
Jeff Beck is also hitting the road for some arena shows with Eric Clapton this year - good to see him cashing in. Hopefully, Beck, who has never lost his raw tone, will edge Slowhand away from his more middle-of-the-road instincts. Here are the two at the Secret Policeman's Ball in 1981.
I can't say I'm a major fan of Green Day, but at least a few of their songs are amazing. I liken them to Radiohead in that they make albums, not just singles, and their lead singer is a twerpy looking little guy who looks like he can control the world when he's on stage. Sort of a Napoleon thing maybe. The best pitch I can think of is to see them doing "Wake Me Up When September Ends" in a stadium.
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