WristRock "This Day in Music" Video Blog: "This Day in Music History" February 13, 2012

JEFF WATERS

Jeff Waters & Annihilator, "King Of The Kill", Live Masters Of Rock, 2008

Happy 46th birthday to Jeff Waters who was born on February 13, 1966, in Ottawa, Canada, is the lead guitarist and mastermind of the thrash metal band Annihilator. He remains as the only original member of the band since he started it in 1984. One of the best thrash metal debut albums was Annihilator's Alison Hell (1989), but the original lineup disbanded right after its release. Jeff has gone to do 12 more studio albums and one live LP since that debut. He's played everything from lead to rhythm to bass, engineered and produced the recordings. He has also used some of the biggest names in metal as session artists in his work. Who says you NEED a band to BE a band?

For more biographical info and 15 more music videos of Jeff's career, visit him at #3 in "Top 10 Metal Guitarists", the new, free, on-line eBook by Guitar Maniacs (Authors of "This Day in Music History").

Happy 46th, Jeff

# # # # #

PETER GABRIEL

Peter with Genesis, "Supper's Ready", Live in Shepperton, 1973

Happy 62nd birthday to PETER GABRIEL,lead vocalist and flautist of Genesis since forming the band in 1967 with his Gabriel founded Genesis in 1967 with school chums Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford and Chris Stewart. (Phil Collins ultimately replaced Stewart on drums in 1970, while Steve Hackett replaced Phillips in 1971).

Peter shocked the world in 1976 by leaving Genesis despite 30 million in album sales. He recorded his solo debut album in 1976 with the single "Solsbury Hill", an autobiographical piece explaining why he left Genesis.

"Solsbury Hill", Growing Up Tour, The Filotorum, Milan, May, 2003

He went on to a very successful solo career. He has won 6 Grammys, 13 MTV Video Awards (9 for the "Sledgehammer" video alone) and in 2007, was honored as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his “influence on generations of music makers". His fourth solo album in 1982, was one of the first totally digital recordings ever done. Security featured the Top 40 hit "Shock the Monkey". In September 2002, Gabriel released Up, his first full-length studio album in a decade. (Peter was quoted as saying ti took him almost 10 years to write "Sky Blue"). However, his 1986 album, So, was his most successful (3X Platinum in the UK & 5X Platinum in the US). This song was just one of the reasons:

"Sledgehammer", Live in Milan, Italy, 2003, w/Great Tony Levin bass work!

Very much a social activist, also in 1986, he became associated with Amnesty International and in 2008 received the group's 2008 Ambassador of Conscience Award. In 1992, Gabriel co-founded WITNESS, a non-profit group that equips, trains and supports locally-based organizations worldwide to use video and the internet in human rights documentation and advocacy. Peter was inducted into the Rock HOF with Genesis in 2010.

Happy 62nd, Peter

# # # # #

10 Years ago today, we remember...

WAYLON JENNINGS (1937-2002)

"Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way", Live, Austin City Limits, 1989

Country music legend, Waylon Arnold Jennings, born June 15, 1937 in Littlefield, Texas, began his career as the bassist for Buddy Holly following the break-up of The Crickets. He escaped death in the February 3, 1959, plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, when he gave up his seat to Richardson who had been sick with the flu. After the crash, Waylon worked as a DJ in Arizona and formed a rockabilly band called The Waylors.

By the '70s, he had hooked up with "The Outlaws", an anti-country establishment who feigned Nashville for Austin, TX as a base. In 1976 Jennings released the album Wanted! The Outlaws, recorded with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessie Colter. The album was the first country music album certified platinum. Two years later, duet albums with Willie Nelson spawned this #1 country hit:

"Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", Waylon & Wille

In 1979, he recorded "Good Ol' Boys", for the TV show, The Dukes of Hazzard. He also served as "The Balladeer" (Narrator) for all 7 seasons. He continued to record when the Outlaws joined forces with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to form The Highwaymen.

The Highwaymen - "Big River"

Waylon released his last solo studio album in 1998. From 1966 and 1995, Waylon charted 54 albums on the Billboard Country Top 100, (11 reaching #1), with 96 charting singles (16 of which hit #1). He won two Grammys and 5 CMA Awards in his career. In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music HOF and in 2006, received his star on Hollywood's Rock Wall. Sadly he passed away on February 13, 2002, in his sleep at the age of 64 from diabetic complications.