Zappagram #82: Lot Long had no idea how popular he'd become
Led Zeppelin IV mystery man revealed
Hey friends,
I think the coolest story in this week’s newsletter is one of the coolest stories I’ve ever read in the New York Times.
Also, a special someone makes a surprise appearance in this week’s Asshole of the Week! Who could it be? (It’s me. Hi. I’m the asshole. It’s me.)
Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
“To me, punk is about being an individual and going against the grain and standing up and saying ‘This is who I am.’”
—Joey Ramone
ROCK THE VOTE
:: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
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:: NEW MUSIC EVERY WEEK
Featuring: The Drawn Out, Sarah Jarosz, Pure Bathing Culture, Cannons, Beirut, Noah Kahan & Hozier, Searows, Shallow Alcove, DRAMA
ZAPPAGRAM #82
ZAPPAGRAM PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
:: WHAT’S GOING ON
Lucky Find at Auction Identifies Man on Cover of ‘Led Zeppelin IV’
It’s not a painting. It’s a picture of a Victorian artisan taken in the English countryside in 1892 [NYTimes]
8 Writers on Taylor Swift and the State of Music Journalism
In mid-September, Gannett announced the creation of two new jobs: one reporter dedicated to all things Taylor Swift and one dedicated to all things Beyoncé [The Present Age]
Hozier Announces 2024 North American Tour Dates
"The Unreal Unearth Tour" continues with 37 new dates. [Consequence]
Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here
Find out who’s up for Record of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album, Best New Artist, and more [Pitchfork]
PJ Harvey Shows Her Range at First U.S. Live Event in Six Years
The singer-songwriter treated a small crowd in Brooklyn to new songs and verses from her recent book, 'Orlam' [RollingStone]
Wilco Get Their Very Own Font
Made with SimpleBits, Wilco Loft Sans is an “all-caps, high contrast sans serif,” the band says [Pitchfork]
Lauryn Hill Tells Audience They’re ‘Lucky’ She Even Showed Up to Concert She Agreed to Play
During a recent performance in Los Angeles, the perpetually late singer reached a tipping point with comments from fans about her not showing up on time [RollingStone]
Trial Date Set in Tupac Shakur Murder Case
Duane “Keffe D” Davis will stand trial in Las Vegas in June, almost 30 years after Shakur’s murder [Pitchfork]
Tom Morello Accepts Rage Against the Machine’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
"Like most bands, we have differing perspectives on a lot of things, including being inducted into the Rock Hall" [Consequence]
Zack de la Rocha Attends Pro-Palestine March Instead of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony
The RATM frontman was spotted at the march on Washington in support Palestine [Consequence]
Macklemore Delivers Impromptu Speech at Pro-Palestine Rally in D.C.
In a previous statement, the rapper denounced both the Hamas attacks and the “U.S. backed human catastrophe” in Palestine [Pitchfork]
Wet Leg, Jason Isbell, and Tegan and Sara Contribute to Abortion Benefit Compilation
Sleater-Kinney, My Morning Jacket, and Fleet Foxes also contribute [Consequence]
Eagles Add New 2024 Dates to Farewell Tour with Steely Dan
Including shows in St. Louis, Omaha, New Orleans, and Orlando [Consequence]
Z-REX
:: ZAPPA’S RECOMMENDATIONS
ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK
:: BECAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS ONE
Occasionally, we should take a critical look at ourselves and course correct when needed.
Therefore, in an effort to not be a hypocrite, I’m calling myself an asshole this week for the fact that I’ve decided to shelve the Zappagram podcast for now.
I deeply appreciate everyone who subscribed and listened to the show each week, but the podcast took a tremendous amount of time and energy, two things that are in extremely short supply for me these days. Right now, I’m choosing to devote what little time and energy I have to other pursuits, not the least of which is spending more time with my family.
Someday, I might revive the podcast. I might not. Only time will tell. But I want to thank everyone who encouraged and supported my efforts. I’m working on some other things that I hope to reveal soon. Hopefully, some of you will be interested in those alternate pursuits. I’ll keep you in the loop.
This newsletter will continue to show up in your inbox every week. Absolutely nothing changes there.
Thanks for bearing witness to my self-flagellation. I now return you to your regularly scheduled newsletter.
XOXO
NEW RELEASES
:: RECENTLY DROPPED MUSIC
Beirut: Hadsel [listen]
Cannons: Heartbeat Highway [listen]
Cat Power: Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert [listen]
New Order: Substance (2023 Expanded Reissue) [listen]
Pure Bathing Culture: Chalice [listen]
R.E.M.: Up (25th Anniversary Edition) [listen]
The Beatles: The Beatles 1962 - 1966 (2023 Edition) [listen]
The Beatles: The Beatles 1967 - 1970 (2023 Edition) [listen]
RELEASE RADAR
:: UPCOMING RELEASES
- NOV 17 -
Bob Dylan: The Complete Budokan 1978
Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition)
Deafheaven: Sunbather (10th Anniversary Remix) (Remaster)
Dolly Parton: Rockstar
Iron & Wine: Who Can See Forever Soundtrack
Kurt Vile: Back to Moon Beach EP
Pearl Jam: Vs. (30th Anniversary Edition)
The Polyphonic Spree: Salvage Enterprise
Speedy Ortiz: Major Arcana (10th Anniversary Edition)
- NOV 24 -
Busta Rhymes: BLOCKBUSTA
De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising (Vinyl Box Set)
Guided By Voices: Nowhere to Go But Up
John Prine: The Oh Boy Singles
Margo Price: Strays (Live at Grimey’s)
My Morning Jacket: Happy Holiday!
Noah Kahan: Cape Elizabeth EP (Vinyl Reissue)
Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight (Vinyl Reissue)
Screaming Trees: Live at Egg Studios
Snoop Dogg: Doggystyle (30th Anniversary Edition)
- DEC 1 -
Dillon Francis: This Mixtape Is Fire Too
Harp (feat. Midlake’s Tim Smith): Albion
Khruangbin: Live at Sydney Opera House
Peter Gabriel: I/O
Steely Dan: Gaucho (Vinyl Reissue)
Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition)
ON THIS DATE
:: MUSICAL HAPPENINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
- NOV 13 -
Birthdays: John Hammond Jr. (1942) • Eagles of Death Metal were in the midst of performing a sold-out show at Le Bataclan in Paris, France, when the venue was attacked by terrorists armed with automatic rifles, grenades, and explosive suicide vests. The band escaped unharmed through a backstage door, but 89 audience members were killed, including the band's merchandise manager, Nick Alexander. (2015)
- NOV 14 -
Birthdays: Steven Bishop (1951) • Brendan Benson (1970) • Douglas Payne, bassist with Scottish rock band Travis (1972) • Travis Barker (1975) • Joy Williams of The Civil Wars (1982) • Led Zeppelin were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by Roger Taylor of Queen. (2006)
- NOV 15 -
Birthdays: Petula Clark (1932) • Jay Bennett (1963) • A cardboard sign reading “Bed Peace" created by John Lennon for his 1969 bed-in peace protest in Montreal, was sold by Christie's auction house to an anonymous telephone bidder for $155,600. (2011)
- NOV 16 -
Birthdays: Diana Krall (1964) • Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver (1966) • Patsy Cline recorded “I Fall To Pieces.” (1960)
- NOV 17 -
Birthdays: Gordon Lightfoot (1938) • Gene Clark of The Byrds (1944) • Jim Babjak of The Smithereens (1957) • Jeff Buckley (1966) • American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin died aged 78. (2014)
- NOV 18 -
Birthdays: Graham Parker (1950) • John Parr (1954) • Cindy Blackman Santana (1959) • Kim Wilde (1960) • Kirk Hammett (1962) • Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB's New York. (1976) • Nirvana recorded their MTV Unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York. (1993) • Malcolm Young of AC/DC died, age 64. (2017)
- NOV 19 -
Birthdays: Ray Collins, vocals, Frank Zappa band (1937) • Matt Sorum (1960) • Justin Chancellor of Tool (1971) • R&B singer-songwriter Tony Rich (1971) • Record producer Terry Melcher, who was behind hits by the Byrds and The Beach Boys, died aged 62 after a long battle with skin cancer. (2004)
Follow me on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Medium for more music-related content. Check out the “Will Work For Vinyl” t-shirts available in my shop. Find the podcast here on Substack or wherever you get your podcasts.
Until next week, friends…
🤘🏻🖤
