Music has always been a big part of my life and sometimes the right song can evoke such powerful memories.
These are those stories! :)
Pink Floyd's 13th studio album was released on this date in 1987 and represented the first album from the band since the departure of Roger Waters. "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" bears Pink Floyd's name and has most of the members playing on it, it is most certainly a David Gilmour project in all the ways that truly matter.
For most bands, releasing a single album is a labour of months if not years. On this date in 1991, Guns N' Roses dropped both Use Your Illusion I and II simultaneously... :)
Many bands can carry on with the departure of a key band member as Anika Nilles is proving on tour with Rush when she took on the monumental task of following in Neil Peart's footsteps. With the untimely passing of drummer John Bonham on this date in 1980, Led Zeppelin was one band that couldn't overcome his loss but their legacy and legend was undeniable!
1985 was certainly the year for benefit concerts. Everyone remembers the mega-concert "Live Aid" but equally as star-studded and important was the "Farm Aid" concert that was held at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, IL a couple of months later. Today, Farm Aid is the longest running benefit concert series in America benefiting our farmers who need the help now more than ever!
All I wish for is a rocking theme and some tracks to bring it to life. When Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" dropped on this date in 1977, the choice that ticked all of the boxes was crystal clear! :)
Most of the time, there is a theme to the show. And then there's those nights where you're just feeling a vibe and that vibe is cracking open the Mystery Crate and seeing what comes of it! :) This is one of those nights! ;)
Our second night of playoffs in the Helios Division sports a theme that comes from an album so appropriately named for what we're doing, there's no way I could ignore it! :)
The start of the MCHL playoffs isn't just a revelation, it's an a-ha moment as well! :)
The 25th anniversary of the attacks on 11 Sep 2001 seems a good time to remember what the motto of this country truly means and really embrace Benjamin Franklin's famous admonition at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This theme is meant to speak to both America and the notion of coming together in common cause.
The hockey world lost a true legend whose greatest coaching success was leading the Los Angeles Kings and Wayne Gretzky to a Stanley Cup Final in 1993. Even though the Kings would fall to the last Canadian team to hoist the Cup that year, he'd achieve even greater fame as an analyst on "The Deuce" who helped make the coolest game on earth relevant to American audiences outside of the northeast. The man, the mullet, the legend...Barry Melrose has passed away at the age of 70. :(
Six years ago today, we lost Ronald Bell who was one of the founding members of Kool & The Gang. When you've got a lot more time to play with because no one is on the ice when arriving at the rink, it's a seriously kool extended set! But I can assure you that I've not forgotten my fellow nerds as to the other anniversary for today... ;)
We're #1! We're #1! And this album and these tracks most certainly were on this day of the year... :)
Three years ago, Jimmy Buffett left us for that Conch Republic in the sky and life hasn't been the same ever since. This theme celebrates not only the most awesome ambassador of the Keys ever but one of my favourite cousins who has forgotten more about music than I'll likely ever know! :)
After a harrowing couple of hours on the phones with imbeciles at the gas company and then reading the runes for a theme for tonight's game...there was one clear winner that was instantly obvious! :)
It’s rare that I reuse a theme but Dolly Parton’s life certainly justified sharing that set with the Bendis division. But losing Tim Curry on the same day as Dolly…well, we have a special way of celebrating his most famous role! :)
She said only days ago that she still had so much more to accomplish. When you consider Dolly Parton's achievements, it's hard to imagine what more she could possibly do to make the world a better place than she already had and her foundation will ensure that good work continues for a long time to come! :)
Tonight's theme comes to us courtesy of an idea from Michael Gisser of the Gargoyles in the MCHL's Bendis division (who sadly won't hear the set that he inspired). His idea was such a wonderful one that I couldn't exactly let it go with at least three major concerts in Raleigh this weekend... :)
Just when you think you've got the theme that you know the Ironclad players will absolutely love, real life has a way of throwing a spanner in the works in a big way. Fortunately, the theme survived pretty much intact with a special tribute bookending the show! :)
"Tommy" was an amazing album from The Who and one could be forgiven for wondering if they'd ever top that achievement. On this date in 1971, The Who made it very clear that they definitely had accepted that challenge with the release of "Who's Next" which is arguably their best album if not one of the best albums of all time. Midway through the third period of game 2, all three ladies playing in the game had recorded an assist and Miss Kristina had an awesome idea to celebrate that achievement... :)
When today is the day that I'm officially sans teenaged children, there's really no choice at all when it comes to the theme of the night... ;)
Tonight's theme features Madison Square Garden's longest tenured resident and proud New Yorker from the Island as we celebrate his ninth studio album "An Innocent Man" which was released on 08 Aug 2026 with a wee bit of temporal stretching to avoid opening up the Mystery Crate! :)
This album knocked an iconic LP from it's perch at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart in 1984. Then it stayed there for the next 24 weeks...
James Taylor and Carole King collaborated on so many songs but there is one that stands above them all and that's the one she wrote and both of them recorded for their respective albums in early 1971. That tune is "You've Got a Friend" and for James, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 on this date in 1971 and would eventually go on to win Grammys for both JT and Carole in 1972. :)
45 years ago yesterday, the most successful solo album by any member of Fleetwood Mac was released. That album was "Bella Donna" by Stevie Nicks (with some help from Tom Petty and Don Henley) and to say it's a legendary one is a grand understatement!
Tonight's showcase game between the MCHL and the NC Autism Hockey League bringing attention to adaptive hockey has a very special playlist...every song played from the Zamboni to the final horn is by an artist/member of band/composer/subject of song that is neurodivergent. That six hour playlist contains some very famous and successful artists that might well surprise even the most dedicated listeners! :)
