Posts Tagged ‘Before They Were Rock Stars’

Before They Were Rock Stars: David Gilmour

Posted on Mar 05

Classic rock radio staples Pink Floyd have driven more than one young man to a life of collecting black light posters or playing “Wish You Were Here” for spare change, but few were probably aware that the soulful guitar impresario, David Gilmour, did a bit of busking himself before joining the band. Students of The Wall might also be surprised to know that Gilmour was an excellent student.

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour started out going to school up the street from his future band mates, Roger Waters and Sid Barrett, at a place called the Perse School in Cambridge. Waters and Barrett attended a rival school, the Cambridgeshire High School for Boys. Gilmour spent most of his time studying modern languages to A-Level (which is British for nerd), and like the man he’d eventually replace, Barrett, he also spent his lunchtime learning to play the guitar. Wish I went to a school that had allowed us to take our recess with a guitar.

Gilmour eventually started playing in the band Joker’s Wild in 1962 until 1966 when he decided to busk around Spain and France with some friends, though he found little success. In a July 1992 interview, Gilmour stated that he actually ended up being treated for malnutrition in a hospital because of how badly remunerated his music was then. After bumming around a bit more, in 1967 Gilmour returned to England driving a van with fuel that had been stolen from a building site in France. This adventure kind of sounds like the British version of Road Trip, or something from an episode of Benny Hill, at least.

It wasn’t until December of 1967 that Nick Mason, Pink Floyd’s drummer, approached Gilmour about joining the band to make it a five piece. This was of course before Barrett would go mad and be replaced by Gilmour. But we all saw that one coming after hearing his song “Bike” for the first time. Want to hear more baby Floyd? Check out Lullaby Renditions of Pink Floyd!

Before They Were Rock Stars: Rockin’ Yearbook Photos

Posted on Jan 20

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Okay, this post from 11Points.com is a must see. Yearbook photos from Avril Lavigne, Gene Simmons, Steven Tyler, Jim Morrison, Prince, Tina Turner, Eminem, Marilyn Manson and more– all proving it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock & roll. Read the rest here.

Before They Were Rock Stars Quiz: Aerosmith

Posted on Sep 16

In honor of our new arrival, Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith, which came out yesterday, we prepared a new Before They Were Rock Stars quiz for all you rock lullaby trivia masters. This one focuses on The Bad Boys from Boston, when they were literally boys. Leave your answers in the comments and next week we’ll let you know if you were right!

TRUE or FALSE? Leave your answers in the comments:

  1. Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler was born Stephen Victor Tallarico in Boston, Mass.
  2. He got his nickname “Demon Of Screamin’” because he cried so loud when he was a baby.
  3. In his teens, Steven held a job in a bakery.
  4. Guitarist Joe Perry and Steven Tyler met at an ice cream parlor where young Joe was working.
  5. Before Aerosmith, Joe Perry was in a band with Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton called The Peanut Butter and Jam Band.
  6. Drummer Joey Kramer joined Aerosmith while he was still a teenager.
  7. Before he joined Aerosmith, guitarist Brad Whitford was in a band called Justin Thyme.

P.S. Listen to a sneak peek of our lullaby rendition of Dream On here. Did we mention that Steven Tyler wrote the liner notes for our album? Oh, maybe only a few million times? Sorry, but you’d be braggin’ too if the Demon of Screamin’ was singing your praises!

P.P.S. Try our Dream On Green Beans, a healthy baby food recipe created exclusively for Rockabye Baby! by excutive chef Jeff Parker.

Before They Were Rockstars Quiz: AC/DC

Posted on Aug 05

It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock ‘n’ roll. Are these stories about AC/DC before they were rockstars TRUE or FALSE? Leave your answers in the comments!

  1. Australia’s AC/DC was founded by two Scottish brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young.
  2. There were nine siblings in the Young family.
  3. Angus began learning the guitar at five years old, practicing on a banjo he’d re-strung like a guitar.
  4. Angus’ sister Margaret suggested he wear a school boy uniform on stage, because he didn’t like school.
  5. Before the uniform became his trademark, Angus performed dressed as Spider Man and in a gorilla costume.
  6. Margaret also suggested the band’s name, which stands for Alternating Current/Direct Current, after she read it on their sister’s sewing machine.

Can’t get enough AC/DC? Check out Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of AC/DC.