Questions for Robin Zander?
If there were one rock star out there I could call an acquaintance, maybe even a low-grade friend, pal, compadre, it would be my boy Robin Zander, frontman of Cheap Trick. (Of course, the next time I see Robin, he will no doubt call me "Larry Dacy" and ask how life is at the Trib. But I digress...) Robin and his fam live one town over, and I've had the chance to hang with him a few times. If he ever needs a biographer, he knows I'm his man. (Here's "Trick Daddy," one of the fanboy features I've gushed about him.)
Robin and Cheap Trick have been making a buzz lately playing the entirety of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which last year turned 40. At tribute shows in L.A. and New York, special guests have shown up to help, including Joan Osborne, Ian Ball from Gomez and Geoff Emerick, the man who engineered the original Pepper's. Yep, Geoff has been working the soundboard.
And now, Robin is bringing the Beatles back home, to Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on Friday, Nov. 21. (For tickets, GO HERE.) That "Sunshine Superman" from the '60s, Donovan, has already signed on to help out. More special cameos are expected. Anyway, should be a great event, and I'm chatting with Robin next Friday for a story. So...
WHO HAS QUESTIONS FOR ROBIN ZANDER?
Photo by my other celebrity pal, Bob Croslin
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
What Native-American Tribe/nation are Robin's Mothers Ancestors descended from?
Thanks
Posted by: Mark | December 18, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Do you like Dr. Phil? I dyed my hair blonde beige blonde. My hair is black and I bleached it, What is this song the flame all about
Posted by: Tina | December 07, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Do you like Dr. Phil? I dyed my hair blonde beige blonde. My hair is black and I bleached it, What is this song the flame all about
Posted by: Tina | December 07, 2008 at 02:02 PM
DING DING! You're spot on, Chad. I use the word frequently when referring to lovey tunes that are soaked in syrup.
Posted by: Marissa | November 07, 2008 at 09:03 AM
shmoopy, now thats a word that reminds me of seinfeld.
Posted by: CHAD | November 06, 2008 at 11:06 PM
well marissa, he just put out two cds on his website, one is a modern sounding rock cd, the other is a moody cd with a few cover tunes thrown in for good measure. by the way, i was just kidding.
Posted by: CHAD | November 06, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Chad, nothing is wrong with Richard Marx, but it's a mood thing. I needed to be alert. I wasnt' in the mood for shmoopy.
Posted by: Marissa | November 06, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Ask him if he has any friends that DON'T RETURN HIS EMAILS!
Posted by: Bob C | November 06, 2008 at 10:00 PM
hey sean,
ask him if he remembers pulling out of the University of Buffalo's Springfest concert after just 6 songs? I'd like a better explanation. (I don't remember the exact year, but it was around the time that the Flame was a hit.) It was sprinkling a bit as I recall, and I think they cited some fear of being electrocuted since it was an outdoor show. and I think the Fest committee was going to sue them for contract breach, but I don't think they ever did. It was a pretty good show, just cut horribly short.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | November 06, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Sounds like a new Trick CD has been recorded will hopefully be coming out in the near future. Does he have a favorite song off of the the new CD, and if so, what about it makes it special or stand out for him?
Posted by: Laura | November 06, 2008 at 06:12 PM
sean
ask him what his ritual is for keeping his voice in tip-top shape. his voice is as good today as it was in the 70s.
Posted by: CHAD | November 06, 2008 at 05:58 PM
great song and video, marissa, but what's wrong with richard marx?
Posted by: CHAD | November 06, 2008 at 05:57 PM
its about the parents smoking pot. rolling numbers is a reference to the rolling paper called 1.5, i think.
Posted by: CHAD | November 06, 2008 at 05:56 PM
The lyric, "Then I woke up, mom and dad are rolling on the couch Rolling numbers, rock and rolling, got my Kiss records out..."
Is this about 69?
Posted by: Name withheld | November 06, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Nice picture of all the color co-ordinated Robins at the beach! Love that Robin Sr. is secure enough to wear man-clogs. Donovan was hands down the worst LIVE act witnessed in the last 5 years. They will have to work around him. Please ask if you can get my promotional "Cheap Trick" bowtie back and please review the new CADILLAC RECORDS movie.
Thank you.
Posted by: Anna | November 06, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Sweet vid, Riss. Thanks!
Posted by: Sean Daly | November 06, 2008 at 01:04 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8ymBR2Ufo
I needed this after hearing Richard Marx.
Posted by: Marissa | November 06, 2008 at 01:01 PM
hmmm Nah. Just tell him I can wail a serious SURRENDER with or without the assistance of tequila. With tequila makes it far more raw and throaty.
Sean, we can duet!
Posted by: Marissa | November 06, 2008 at 12:59 PM
What song from Sgt. Pepper's is the most difficult to recreate live?
Have Paul, Ringo, or Yoko ever checked out any of the shows?
Did you have trouble getting out of Chicago after your show with Heart and Journey because of the torrential rains?
Posted by: Bassnote | November 06, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I've waiting on him before. He used to frequent The Whistle Stop in Safety Harbor where I worked for many years. Nice guy and cute kids!
Posted by: Starfish | November 06, 2008 at 12:22 PM
who was FIRST with the hairdoo?
Robin Zander or Tony Little???
Posted by: surfdog | November 06, 2008 at 12:00 PM