A Taste:

Jonas Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley

Who says you can’t be bad to the bone and listen to The Jonas Brothers?GeorgeThorogood, one of the baddest mofos to ever destroy a stage, admits to listening to the Jo Bros—a lot. It isn’t necessarily, his choice, but he does.

Thorogood laughs, “I listen to a lot of Jonas Brothers. I’ve got an eleven-year-old daughter. I have no choice. That’s it! A few years ago, it was Hilary Duff [Laughs]. I like The Jonas Brothers because they make my daughter happy and they get her to eat her vegetables. I tell her, ‘I’ve got the Jonas tickets, but you’ve got to brush your teeth’” [Laughs].

Thorogood opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com and gave us an exclusive look at his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up his latest album, The Dirty Dozen.

George Thorogood’s Playlist:

1. Jack Johnson

Actually my daughter turned me on to Jack Johnson. He’s good! For a kid that young to be hip to him is cool. She put him on and I said this is good stuff. She said, “Jack Johnson tells the truth!” [Laughs] I said, “Okay, he’s hot!” I’m on the treadmill. I’m talking to you. I don’t really have the time to find new music. If there’s something out there you’re supposed to hear, it’ll find you.

2. Elvis Presley

I grew up on being blown away by Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Peter Wolf, Little Richard, the really great live performers.

3. Jimi Hendrix

4. The Rolling Stones

5. Peter Wolf

6. Little Richard

7. The Who

Seeing The Who was like being in a pinball machine. It was fantastic.

—Rick Florino
08.09.09

A Taste:

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Zach Brown Band, The Soul of John Black

Clifton Collins Jr. has got rhythm—for a Romulan.

In Star Trek, Clifton gives his character Ayel an entrancing darkness through a calculated and tense portrayal. In some ways, Clifton’s musical sensibility comes through in the rhythmic nature of the performance. Watching him onscreen, it’s no surprise that Clifton is also an accomplished music video director and true tune aficionado.

Clifton’s got a lot on the horizon—Extract, Brothers, The Perfect Game, Boondock Saints 2—but he’s always down to talk music. The Capote and Trek star sat down with us and opened up his playlist in this exclusive feature.

Check out Clifton’s playlist below and don’t miss Star Trek!

Clifton Collins Jr.’s Playlist:

1. Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is a staple of my playlist! My production company is even called “Stone Free.” I’ve played so many different roles, and I pride myself on the diversity of the different things I do. Even though Hollywood tries to get you to do something over and over again, Jimi says, “A woman here, a woman there—if I stay too long with people they try to hold me down.” That means if I keep doing the same role people will try to hold me in that position. I think it’s a perfect model. I’m always in awe of Hendrix!

2. The Zach Brown Band

I listen to The Zach Brown Band a lot. I just got nominated for two CMT awards for directing their video for “Chicken Fried.” Zach is an incredibly talented artist, and we’ve collaborated in so many different ways. This band’s honesty really resonates with me. They’re rock stars, but they’re so humble. Zach started playing guitar when he was six, and he started playing classical guitar when he was eight. He grew up with a lot of the demons that great artists have, and that makes this music really honest and special.

3. The Soul of John Black

This is always on my playlist. He’s a left-handed blues guy, much like Hendrix was. Miles Davis mentored him, and he even wrote a couple songs for Miles. He’s played for Fishbone, and he plays for Nikka Costa. This guy is just really passionate about his music. I’m wrapping a new video for him. It’s dope when you get you get your finger on the pulse before everybody hears about something. I hate being the last guy to get an album after everyone’s had it for a year [Laughs]. It’s so easy to get lost in the stories on a great album. It’s like when you watch a movie for the second or third time and you pick up different details. It’s not something you simply listen to; you feel it. It’s like Star Trek. You get lost in the excitement and the fun of it.

4. Jason Mraz

I just started to listen to Jason Mraz. There’s something really cool about his melodies, harmonies and acoustics. His songs are like those songs you used to hear when you were a kid that you want to hear over and over again. It’s funny to be my age now, and say, “You know what? I want to hear this again” [Laughs].

5. Hank Williams Sr.

He’s also a good staple. I like him for the same reasons I like Hendrix. He was like the original rock star. He died of an overdose at 29 in 1953 in the backseat of a Cadillac with Minnie Pearl in the passenger seat on New Year’s Day. It doesn’t get more rock star than that. He took the corniness out of country music and started coming with something so real. It was so foreign to everybody that it was something new and precious. I think that’s why people felt it. I studied him when I was doing Capote because my character Perry Smith lived in that era. He sang songs that Hank sang. There were three songs from the book, In Cold Blood. When I found those three songs, I wanted to listen to more in order to have the attitude, emotion and idea behind those times. That was something I listened to all the time up until the day they hung me in the movie.

6. Hank Williams III

I like III for the same reasons I like his grandfather. III exudes those same rebel qualities. I don’t mean in terms of going against the system; I mean rebel qualities in terms of singing and writing songs to the beat of your own drum and not being affected by record labels and having them control your content and what you put out. The guy knows how to write a hook! I love it. He’s got an insanely good band too.

7. Van Morrison

8. Janis Joplin

I love the sacred three J’s—Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. They all died at 27. I constantly listen to them.

9. Crosby, Still and Nash

10. Creedence Clearwater Revival

I love those cats! This is music you can just put on and feel. It’s like being in a forest and hearing the silence of the wind blowing through the leaves. I love “Fortunate Son.” You can’t get any better than CCR!

11. The Rolling Stones

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of early Rolling Stones. A lot of these songs I hear over and over, and it’s like I’m hearing them from the first time. You hear the influence everywhere. I don’t think any great art comes out of conformity. I think all of the great artists know what they did to get where they’re at. At some point, they make a choice to either sell out or not sell out. So many great artists aren’t acknowledged until years after they’ve died, whether it’s Van Gogh or Jimi Hendrix. Great artists will always be great in my opinion.

—Rick Florino
05.14.09

A Taste:

Van Morrison, Tower of Power, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Band

“How do you pick your favorite song if you’re a song lover,” asks Paul Ben-Victor with a smile. “I have 19,000 favorite songs [Laughs]!”

Nevertheless, the star of In Plain Sight managed to whittle that 19,000 down for this exclusive playlist feature.

Paul’s created some very memorable characters on everything from Entourage and The Wire to The Invisible Man and John From Cincinnati. He comes alive on screen with undeniable presence and a sharp sense of humor. His role as In Plain Sight’s WITSEC chief Stan McQueen is one of his most vibrant though.

So in between running witness protection on In Plain Sight, Paul found the time to open up his iTunes and gave us exclusive look inside. Check out his playlist below.

Paul Ben-Victor’s Playlist:

1. Van Morrison — “I’ve Been Working”

“‘I’ve Been Working’ is a great song. It’s got a real bad R&B riff! I’m seeing Van Morrison this week at The Orpheum fourth row center. To me, he’s one of the gods. I spent my last paycheck on these tickets [Laughs]. It’s insane what these things cost! Even though tickets to see legends like Van Morrison may cost an arm and a leg, they’re priceless in a sense. It’s like a painting by Van Gogh or Picasso. If the artists dies, you still live with the painting forever. You have these guys’ recordings, but you have to see them live and you’ve got to see it up close too! A great live performance feeds my soul. There’s nothing like it.”

2. John Martin — “May You Never”

“This is a beautiful song. He was an obscure folk singer from England, but you’ll dig this!”

3. Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs — “Come On Out”

“Hornsby and Skaggs did a country album together. Check out this song, ‘Come On Out.’ It’s a real badass, cowboy song. The track basically says, ‘Come on out motherfucker, I’m going to kill your ass’ [Laughs].”

4. Angelique Kidjo — “Babaloa”

“She’s an African singer, and her stuff is fucking awesome. This is a real festive, celebratory song.”

5. Average White Band — “Cut the Cake”

“They’re my boys! ‘Cut the Cake’ is one of my favorite songs.”

6. Stevie Wonder — “Did I Hear You Say You Love Me”

“I had to put a Stevie Wonder song on here. My favorite album was Hotter Than July. The first track, ‘Did I Hear You Say You Love Me,’ was big for us in the ’80s. It’s got this ramp-up in the beginning that’s amazing. It’s really fun to kickoff a party with.”

7. The Band — “Unfaithful Servant”

“There are tons of amazing songs by The Band, but this is one of my favorites. It’s a beautiful bluesy ballad.”

8. Bob Dylan — “Tangled Up In Blue”

“Anytime I head out on a road trip to go skiing or snowboarding, I pop in Blood On the Tracks. ‘Tangled Up In Blue’ is the first track, and it’s fucking amazing. It’s a classic road track. Dylan was in my house early on. I knew those songs and records as a little kid. I grew up with Van Morrison, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.”

9. Bruce Springsteen — “Thunder Road”

“This is another great road song!”

10. James Taylor — “You Can Close Your Eyes”

“I’m a huge James Taylor fan. I grew up listening to him.”

11. Paul McCartney — “Mother Nature’s Son”

“I had to pick a Beatles song, but I’m particularly a fan of Paul McCartney. I feel like he’s singing about me in some way. It’s about youth and coming of age. There’s a beautiful melody to it.”

12. Marc Cohn — “The Things We’ve Handed Down”

“He did ‘Walkin In Memphis.’ I got really into a couple of his albums. There’s one song called ‘The Things We’ve Handed Down.’ It’s a beautiful song if you ever have a kid. It’s about the generations, and he’s talking about this unborn child. It’s so heartfelt.”

13. The Rolling Stones — “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’”

“I had to pick one Stones song. I saw The Stones do this a few years ago, and Ron Wood was wasted [Laughs]. I was there with a friend of mine who is a concierge at the hotel where he was staying. That’s where we got the tickets. During the show, Wood was all over the place smoking and kicking Mick in the ass! My friend goes, ‘Oh my God, you’re not going to believe this. I sent a crate of vodka up to his room this morning, and from what I heard, he drank most of it!’ I got it from the horse’s mouth that he was completely fucked up because she sent the booze up there [Laughs]. However, Ron played that solo incredibly. He stuck a cigarette in the head stock of the guitar, and it was inspired. It was even better than the album. I was impressed.”

14. Jimi Hendrix — “The Wind Cries Mary”

“I had to throw in a Hendrix song, and this is my favorite. Where did that come from? It’s incredible.”

15. Led Zeppelin — “Black Country Woman”

“I was a drummer as a kid, and now I’ve got a cool Roland electric kit. Bonham played a fucking great syncopated kick drum on this song. It’s so good! I had to put a Zeppelin song on there! Page was in the moment and inventive.”

16. Nick Drake — “Know”

“His music has come around more lately, but he committed suicide in his 20s. He was a buddy of John Martin’s. Nick Drake is more distant and melancholy though. Like Joni Mitchell, he created voicings and chords. They’re using him in commercials.”

17. Thunderclap Newman — “Wild Country”

“I knew these guys because my brother brought their music into the house when I was nine. This song is really raw rock. They had a great drummer.”

18. The Tower of Power — “(To Say the Least) You’re the Most”

“They’re my favorite band of all-time. They’re the bomb!”

19. Jackson Browne — “Under the Falling Sky”

20. Joni Mitchell — “Coyote”

21. Frank Sinatra

“The man’s got soul. I love early Frank Sinatra. He’s always good; he’s just the man.”

—Rick Florino
05.11.09

Photo By: Fernando Escovar

A Taste:

Montrose, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Budgie

What do Slash, Lars Ulrich, Scott Ian and Lemmy Kilmister have in common?

They’re all Anvil fans!

They announce their allegiance the Canadian thrash in the fantastic new documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Drummer Robb Reiner breaks it down simply. “We’re Anvil! We’ve been fuckin’ kickin’ ass for years, man,” he bellows with a hearty laugh. The simplicity of the drummer’s statement resounds louder than a Black Sabbath riff. Anvil have rewritten the thrash book on kicking ass, and they’re never going to stop as evinced in the documentary.

Robb continues, “Even if the movie didn’t come about we’d still be rocking. The movie has changed things in a big way, but we’ve worked damn hard. We’re dedicated to one thing only: the music. It’s fantastic people are discovering it through the movie. I love it.”

You’ll love Robb and singer Steve “Lips” Ludlow’s playlist selections below. Check them out!

Robb Reiner’s Playlist:

1. Montrose — Montrose

“This is the almighty blueprint for hard rock power metal. The production is unbelievable.”

2. Cactus — One Way…Or Another

“Carmine Appice’s best drumming was in Cactus, and this album proves it.”

3. Grandfunk Railroad — E Pluribus Funk

“This is probably the most raw and heavy album Grand Funk ever made, and that’s why I love it.”

4. Black Sabbath — Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

“I love all of the Black Sabbath albums, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is hard to top. It inspired all metal, and the riffs stay with you forever.”

5. Deep Purple — Burn

“These are all great hard rock records than any rocker should rock out to [Laughs]. I love Burn because Ritchie Blackmore came to play finally. He felt like he was saving himself on the previous albums, but this one rips. Ian Paice plays drums like the motherfucker he always has been here. It’s a smoking album.”

6. Cream — Disraeli Gears

“This album has some of my favorite songs on it—‘Sunshine of Your Love’ included. It was right in the middle of the psychedelic period.”

7. Captain Beyond — Captain Beyond

“It’s an amazing progressive hard rock album.”

8. Foghat — Energized

“They’re probably my favorite boogie rock n’ roll band on the planet.”

9. Budgie — In for the Kill!

10. Thundermug

“Of course, you haven’t heard of them [Laughs]. They’re a Canadian band, and they’re fucking awesome.”

11. A Foot In Cold Water

“They’re another amazing obscure band. Their first album was mindblowing.”

12. Troyka

“They’re totally hardcore underground psychedelic metal. They were like a really really bad Led Zeppelin [Laughs].”

Steve “Lips” Ludlow’s Playlist:

1. Black Sabbath — Master of Reality

“‘Into the Void’ is probably the heaviest song ever! There are particular parts that are amazing like the beginning of ‘After Forever.’ I remember the first time I smoked a joint and listened to that—it was like walking through walls of tissue paper [Laughs]. The backwards symbols really freaked me out. I loved how bizarre how it was. Of course I can’t forget the opening of ‘Sweet Leaf.’ The coughing is great. I can really relate to what that song’s about [Laughs].”

“I was 15-years-old when I saw Black Sabbath for the first time in 1970. Nothing has ever surpassed that. There were certain moments that happened during that concert I’ll never forget. It was called The Beggar’s Banquet. They were opening for Three Dog Night. The lineup was Humble Pie, Black Sabbath and then Three Dog Night. When Three Dog Night came out, people were throwing tomatoes and watermelon at them. In those days, it was like five bucks to get in and they gave free fruit and vegetables to eat. After the crowd heard ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Wicked World,’ Three Dog did ‘Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog’ and they were covered in tomatoes. It’s as if every moment was tape-recorded in my mind—really unbelievable. Sabbath played for just about an hour, but it was probably the most incredible hour of my life.”

2. Montrose — Montrose

“This album was very influential. It was Van Halen years before Van Halen. You can even hear the similarities to The Doobie Brothers because of Ted Templeman’s production. It’s a very interesting sound particularly on the beginning of ‘Space Station #5.”

3. Grand Funk Railroad — Grand Funk

“This is one of my all-time favorite albums. I love ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Inside Looking Out.’ They’re such amazing songs. ‘Winter & My Soul’ is probably my favorite song on this album. The chords and the bass guitar are extraordinarily influential on everything that came after.”

4. Cactus — Restrictions

“This album has ‘Evil’ on it, and that’s one of my favorite songs on the record. It’s actually a blues cover song, but it’s really heavy. I was so influenced by the song that I wrote a track called ‘Safe Sex’ that used some of the same ideas.”

5. Deep Purple — Deep Purple In Rock

“This is my favorite Deep Purple album. There isn’t one lame song on this record. It is completely crushing and killer heavy from ‘Speed King’ at the beginning to ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’ at the end. ‘Child In Time’ is obviously the almighty classic. I love ‘Bloodsucker.’ Every song on this record is crushing. It’s probably one of my favorites of all-time.”

6. Cream — Fresh Cream

“My favorite song is ‘Toad.’ Ginger Baker’s drum solo is amazing. It doesn’t get any better.”

7. Captain Beyond — Captain Beyond

“My favorite song is either ‘Dancing Madly Backwards (On a Sea of Air)’ or ‘Raging River of Fear.’ They’re really heavy. The guitar playing is absolutely stellar. It was very ahead of its time in a lot of ways. It captured a lot of Hendrix’s overtones in a much more controlled and melodic fashion.”

8. Budgie — In for the Kill

“I love the song ‘In for the Kill.’”

9. Jethro Tull — Thick As a Brick

“I can’t listen to this enough. You can’t pick a song because it’s all one song.”

10. Uriah Heep — Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble…

“‘Gypsy’ is great. This was the first horror or high screaming I heard on a record. Bands like Mercyful Fate and King Diamond were completely inspired by this. They were the originators. Uriah Heep was like a hybrid of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. You can’t help but love that. They’re amazing guys too.”

11. Jimi Hendrix

“Before Black Sabbath and Grand Funk, there was Hendrix.”

—Rick Florino
05.06.09

A Taste:

Tool, Mnemic, Jimi Hendrix

Robert Trujillo’s son has very good taste in music. The Metallica bassist laughs, “My four-year-old boy loves Tool! When I take him to school, we’re playing Tool all the time, so I definitely connect with them. There’s a lot of bass in that group which is nice. They’re a great band for a bass player to listen to. So believe it or not, my son and I are going through a big Tool phase!”

It’s good to hear that Robert’s started his son off early on the good stuff. However, Robert’s personal tastes are very diverse. In this exclusive feature for ARTISTdirect.com’s Grammy page, the Metallica bass master opened up his iTunes and gave us a look at his playlist.

Check out Metallica’s Grammy nominated Death Magnetic, and see what Robert’s spinning below.

Robert Trujillo’s Playlist

1. Tool — Everything

2. Jimi Hendrix — Everything

“I just love Jimi Hendrix!”

3. Black Sabbath — Everything

“I always reconnect with my old Sabbath records as much as I can.”

4. Mnemic — Eveything

5. Meshuggah — Everything

“I go through these real technical phases, and I listen to bands like Meshuggah and Mnemic. It’s stuff that’s a little bit complex and takes a lot of patience. Lately, I’ve been jamming a lot to our music. I play through the new songs so I can keep fresh and keep them in my head. I can act crazier on stage if I can play them with proficiency.”

—Rick Florino
02.04.09