What’s this blog about?
These are the adventures of a live music fanatic. It’s somewhat editorial, very autobiographical, a bit academic, and a tad philosophical.
Who is writing this blog?
I am a 56-year old (50 when I started this blog) rock music fan. I had a 17-year career as a baseball lawyer (a field I accidentally yet fortuitously fell into). Along the way I acquired a master’s degree in psychology due to my fascination with pop culture influences on human behavior. That, along with my life-long desire to work in education, has led me to a career in college administration. It is my hope to develop and nurture an awareness of the pop cultural perceptions and influences that shape us as individuals and as a society.
I spent a lifetime in the 1980s L.A. Sunset Strip music scene. My friends and I have great and not-so-great memories of a place and time that will never be again: the Decade of Decadence in the City of Angels (please excuse the clichés).
I am a Florida girl – my hometown Tampa Bay area had a great music scene back in the ’80s too. I still go to as many concerts as I can and am loving all the classic tours going on these days.
Why the blog?
The thought of a blog popped into my head one day as I watched the expressions of my co-workers when I casually mentioned a snippet of one of my ‘80s stories. It was the one about being at a party at Larry Flint’s mansion with Althea Flint’s heroin dealer in 1984. One co-worker, who simply knew me as a corporate lawyer with a penchant for rock music, stared at me with her mouth hanging open. The other, whom I had previously told we once hosted a future Guns n’ Roses keyboard player for Thanksgiving dinner in 1986, said “I can’t wait to read your book!”
It dawned on me that since these memories and music musings are generally short and sweet (well, perhaps not always sweet ;o/), a blog is the perfect place for them all.
I’ve also managed to hang on to most of my concert ticket stubs, band flyers, and such stuff over the years and figure this is as good a place as any to document it all for posterity.
On being old, thankfully and prophetically…
I feel lucky to have grown up when I did: two decades of relative peacetime; the last generation of kids who got to play outside without fear of being kidnapped or shot, and coming of age in the limitless excesses of the ’80s. It was the last decade before the world came crashing down in a haze of antidepressants and terrorists, before musicians started singing about how life sucks instead of changing the world or having fun, before the Internet, before this reality. I both blame and thank the pop culture of the first half of the 20th Century, particularly the break-on-through age of the ‘60s and ‘70s that brought us to that ‘80s climax of good times. And I accept some blame that it was our excesses that likely brought it all to a screeching halt and freaked out the kids of the ‘90s and beyond. It’s all stuff to ponder and write about, all the while making a few psychological observations along the way.
In summary?
With my stories and studies, I hope to reflect the influences of music on man- and women-kind to whoever reads this now and centuries from now. Because after all, to most of us, life’s all about the music ;o).
rocksandy.rocks 
Heehee, love the stories! I met Tami in front of the fireplace at the Rainbow. Then I left L.A. and you went there, and you met her at the Roxy. Even in L.A. it was a small world sometimes. I can’t wait to hear more stories. Or maybe I can’t wait to be reminded of stories I’ve forgotten, lol! Your blog rocks! (Insert head bang and devil horns hand here!)
Hey your blog reads really well and will be a blast to read I can see why you are doing it..keep it rocking😃😎
Thank you so much for the praise and for visiting, Louise! I’m still new at this WordPress thing and I’m having a hard time finding your blog – your Gravatar profile doesn’t seem to have a link…but then I may be missing something right in front on my face ;o/ Either way, if you have a minute, please let me know your link so I can check it out! Thank you again!
On second thought, a blog is better than a book since you can keep writing new chapters 😉
I never thought about it that way – a great approach! I’ll be sure to let you know if this ever moves on to a book stage ;o) Thanks!
Hi Sandy,
I was at some of your shows, being from TB myself. Just a note. The Neil Young 1983 show was on the 4th, not 14th. Your “Void” looks like it’s obliterating the “1,” but it’s actually not even there.
Cheers
Thanks, Sam! I will go in and correct that. Now if I only could figure out the “void” lol.
Thanks Sandy for your fantastic blog !
You were lucky to see many fantastic bands in so many years ! Wow !!! My compliments !
Would be nice if you are able to help me to fill all early gigs some L.A. bands played in Los Angeles clubs (Country Club, Roxy, Starwood, Troubadour Cub) such: DOKKEN, GREAT WHITE, RATT ! I have seen you were there in the Eighties !
As I am a rock music fan and collector too I would like to let you know some interesting fan music site that worth a visit, as follows:
BLACK SABBATH https://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/ (Rob Dwyer is a friend – we share many updates recently about BLACK SABBATH gigs played between 1968 and 1978 – my Black Sabbath collecting gig era)
LED ZEPPELIN “Tight But Loose” website and magazine http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk (Dave Lewis, a friend of mine, is the greatest Led Zeppelin expert of all – many books and magazine too about Led Zeppelin has been published since 1978)
FREE “Free Appreciation Society” http://freeappreciationsociety.blogspot.it/ (David Clayton, a friend of mine too, is the greatest expert about Free, Paul Kossoff, Paul Rodgers, Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke too – he runs the fanzine since 1979)
DEEP PURPLE http://deep-purple-ticketmuseum.co.uk/ (Tony Steenhagen is a friend of mine too, greatest expert and ticket collector of Deep Purple)
GENTLE GIANT http://ggconcerts.on-reflection.org (Jack Skelly is a friend of mine too, greatest expert of Gentle Giant progressive rock band)
RAINBOW http://www.rainbowfanclan.com (Frans van Arkel is a friend of mine too, greatest expert of Rainbow rock band)
YES http://forgotten-yesterdays.com/updates.asp (Steven Sullivan website about YES – many updates provide by myself in the last couple of years)
I am also in touch with a Greek fan and expert too of URIAH HEEP (who especially research and collect gigs played by URIAH HEEP between 1971 and 1980)
His website
Konstantinos Takos
http://uriah-heep.com/newa/konstantinostakos.php
His mail address heepfreak@hotmail.com
Surely Konstantinos would appreciate any URIAH HEEP gig recollections and memorabilia too !
All The Best,
Alessandro Borri
Bologna
ITALY
Greetings from Germany….
In Decibel Apr 2021 are 2 pix of rarely unknown bands posted (80-ies, maybe LA scene but could be worldwide too). Do you know the name of these two bands? I uploaded these 2 here – thanks for your help:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/v8g0gv2hu8dzriq/Foto0083.jpg/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file/ariijmn66r6c835/Foto0084.jpg/file
Interesting blog of yours. Great!
P.s.: please drop me a line in case you know the bands.
Do you have anything or knowledge of Tampa Springfest held April 17, 1982 at Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa. 11 bands 12 hours $5 dollar tickets. Bring your coolers.
My brother and I produced the concert and have lost my memorabilia. We also did Clearwater Jam a month later in the Countryside K Mart.
Thank you, Mike Marston
Hurricane IAN, has me worried and curious about the most Radical and BadAss times I ever experienced in my life in Florida as a Professional Lighting Technician I was Lucky enough to live in Ft Meyers Beach originally,Then accepting new challenges with Dennis the Menace,At Candy Store Spring Break home and that year with Lois Lane, Sadly it seems,Clubs Gulf Coast are gone,,IAN smashed, Curious how other former club areas survived,Docker’s,Bowery, Crowne, American Room, Sweeneys,FBI,Plus Clubs, Dirty Harry’s,The Dock,Played all over Came in Right After RACE won battle of Bands South Florida they hired me as their Lighting Tech/Roadie Hurricane Andrew Urged me Exit Stage Left Missed my home Key West,Hit Homestead I was lucky
Also Thank you for this Awesome Blog never thought I’d go back in time and find all this killer information about Florida Music Scene all the Players We all had big Dreams and Strove”Hard to Stay on Point,Have Fun Rock Everyone in site, Keep Club Owners happy,The World underestimates Florida Community they will see Power of People
Thanks, Ricky! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thx for the images, I was at both the Rush show in 82 as well as the Who stadium gig that same year. Listened to 95ynf a lot (my band even played live on there, and 98 rock too, and was in Thrust mag)…
Will
Thanks for the feedback, Will! And so happy you enjoyed my posts..I was hoping this stuff would make a few people like you happy to have a look back 😁
Hey, Liv Sin!
Great meeting y’all on MORC 2024!
Find us on the ship later
Gregg and Sheri
Houston, TX
Great meeting you too! Thanks for stopping by! This is actually Liv Sin’s bestie’s page (1983 lol). Will look for you again! 🤘☺️ Randee and Sandy ✌️🙏
I was born in Clearwater (class of ’79), so I was there for a lot of it. I did start having kids and was poor, so I couldn’t hit all the shows but I saw bands like Stranger, Jeteye, Arazmo, Bleeding Hearts, Savatage, Crimson Glory, Roxx Gang, and I’m probably missing a bunch more. Hit most of the clubs and worked some of them too. Thanks for posting your blog.
We had the best local music scene! That’s a great list of bands there \w/ ! You’re very welcome and thanks for checking it out! I should have my 1990 post up soon (finally) and I included a lot of those local band ads, so more good times to remember ;o)