Billy Bragg, circa 1984

“I’m busking the crowd before the doors open with the infamous Portastak, a portable amplifier which allowed me to wander around blasting out songs. The amp itself is stuck on a back-pack frame, the speakers are over my head on two poles and the vocal mic is on a goose-neck.” - B.B. (Taken in Chicago by Randolph and LaSalle - it’s now the Cadillac Palace but back then it was the Bismarck Theatre.)

Davy Jones & Frank Zappa, circa 1968

Rest in peace, you Manchester midget greenie.

Captain Beefheart, circa 1980

Happy birthday, my captain.

Deerhoof, circa 2011

Thanks to mmmmmo for telling me to get over my reticence to approach semi-celebrities and shake Greg Saunier’s hand.

Nigel Tufnel, circa 1992

Happy 11/11/11. It’s one louder, innit?

R.E.M., circa 1983

Was disappointed by their last album, but still quite saddened to hear they’re going away.

Buddy Holly, circa 1959

Trying to imagine this goofy kid as a 75 year old man.

Keith Moon, circa 1972

Reblogging myself, partially to wish Moonie a happy birthday (he would have been 65) but mostly to point out that he actually lived in Lennon’s pit in “Help!”

John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Andy Warhol, circa 1971

They were famous for more than 15 minutes.

Elvis Presley, circa 1968

If he died right after the ‘68 comeback special, nobody would have to qualify the statement “Elvis is awesome.”