When ALS Stopped Jason Becker’s Guitar Playing, He Became An Accomplished Composer

Today in 2018, the release of the album “Triumphant Hearts” by guitarist Jason Becker. Not many people in music know as much about triumph over adversity as Jason Becker, who found new ways to create and share music decades after being diagnosed with ALS.

By |2024-12-07T07:54:38-05:00December 7, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

A 10 Month Old Kitten Once Climbed The Matterhorn… Somehow

Today in 1950, the Coshocton, Ohio Tribune carried a news story with one heck of a headline: “Kitten Scales Matterhorn: Veteran Mountain Climbers Are Astonished”! Here's how the cat, later nicknamed Matt, got there.

By |2024-12-04T10:36:02-05:00September 7, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Two Tennis Greats Played A Match On A Half-Grass, Half-Clay Court

Today in 2007, the king of grass court tennis, Roger Federer, played an exhibition match against his rival, clay court great Rafael Nadal. Not their only matchup, but for this one, the court was half grass and half clay, making it a so-called "battle of the surfaces."

One Of Aerosmith’s Biggest Hits Happened Partly Because Of A Mel Brooks Movie

Today in 1975, Aerosmith released the landmark album “Toys In The Attic.” One of the biggest hits from that album got its name from an unusual source - the Mel Brooks movie "Young Frankenstein."

By |2024-12-16T06:55:15-05:00April 8, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

How The Beatles Stitched Two Takes Of “Strawberry Fields Forever” Into A Rock Classic

Today in 1966, the Beatles were trying to make one great take of their new song “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and with help from producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, they ended up making that one great take out of two half takes.

By |2024-12-09T07:51:56-05:00December 22, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

A Liner Note Detective Wants The World To Know Something About The “London Calling” Cover Photo

The famous cover of The Clash's landmark album "London Calling" was taken on September 21, 1979, according to the liner notes. Except that Dave Marin, a concertgoer who was there when the photo was taken, has a concert stub that says September 20th. And he's spent decades trying to get the world to notice that the album credits are a day off.

When Marvel Printed A KISS Comic Book, The Band Added Its Blood To The Ink

Today in 1977, Marvel Comics publishes a KISS Super Special - and what was really unusual was that the band members had each added a little of their blood into the ink.

By |2024-12-02T09:40:20-05:00May 26, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Keith Richards Started Writing “Satisfaction” In His Sleep

It was this week in 1965 that Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards got up in his sleep, started up a portable tape recorder, and recorded a guitar riff and an opening line that would soon be iconic: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Here's more of how the song came together.

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