Which artist has played Pine Knob the most? It’s not who you think

]

After years of performing Pine Knob’s traditional opener, Eddie Money became the Clarkston amphitheater’s unofficial mascot, and he became synonymous with the kickoff of the summer music season in Metro Detroit.

But the Money Man is not the most tenured artist at the venue. Not by a long shot.

DTE Energy Music Theatre Returns As Pine Knob Music Theatre

]

Over the last couple of days the DTE energy music theater has been teasing an announcement that they would be making on January 14th. Many speculated that this would be a concert announcement for the upcoming 2022 season. That ended up not being the case, as they have officially announced that with a partnership with Trinity Health and United Wholesale Mortgage they’re changing the name of the venue back to Pine Knob Music Theatre. Pine Knob is synonymous with regular concerts such as Bob Seger, a season opening show with Eddie Money, the home away from home for the J. Geils bBand, and so many more concerts and festivals.

But there’s a few things about this name change that irks me. For the longest time I called DTE Energy Music Theater Pine Knob. In fact I know I wasn’t the only one, and people would stubbornly talk about it saying “I don’t care what they call it it’s still Pine Knob”. But after a while things that were once special about the original venue were slowly phased out and, to me at least, I had to stop calling it something it wasn’t. Not just in name, but in theory. Allow me to explain:

Get our free mobile app

Leave Well Enough Alone

Back in 2003 I went to Mayhem Festval and it was one of the funnest concerts I’ve ever been to. It wasn’t necessarily because who was playing, but the good times we had between major musicians. We spent a lot of time playing Hakki sack and we even invented a game called rock in a cup. Basically we set a big plastic cup against a tree and sat about 25 feet away, away from anybody, and just minded our own business trying to throw a rock in a cup. We tried this again later in 2009 and we were asked to stop playing because it was dangerous and they made us go to our seats. Dangerous to who, insects? That was strike one.

An Arm and A Leg

Why is it that when a venue finally has a corporate sponsor for some reason it’s now charging an arm and a leg for everything. I’m sorry but $18 for a beer and over $20 for watered down cocktail or frozen margarita is just ridiculous. You’re already paying for parking and fees for the ticket to get in. Those prices do not have to be like that. Oh you want to bring in a lawn chair and a cooler to enjoy the concert on the hill? Sorry you can’t do that, but you can rent one from them for even more money. That’s strike two.

Loosen up

I’m in no way advocating for people to do this, but kicking people out for smoking marijuana and relaxing to the music is ridiculous, all while over serving people alcohol, leading to drunk driving and fights. Now, driving stoned isn’t good either. But what these people REALLY need to do is stop having their ushers act like body guards. They need to be able to enjoy themselves as well. They work at a venue that has live music for crying out loud. Loosen up the leash and quit being so uptight. Believe me, I’m not just some random west Michigander with a hot take, I grew up over there and have attended over 70 concerts there. If they continue the same behavior as I’ve seen in the past, calling yourself Pine Knob won’t make a difference if you’re still DTE Energy Music Theater at heart. What incredible irony that would be.

The Sound Of Moist Meat – 105.7 The Point

]

Wrong way motorist strikes multiple vehicles, topples truck hauling corn – LINK

Planters seeking NUTmobile drivers for cross-country road trip with Mr. Peanut – LINK

A Surgeon Lost His License for Burning His Initials into Transplanted Livers – LINK

Two Roommates Were Charged with Felonies for a “Glitter Attack” – LINK

Generation X Is Now Old Enough to Get Their Own Museum – LINK

Teen hacker claims ability to control 25 Teslas worldwide – LINK

Uno All Wild Is Uno Without All Those Pesky Numbers And Colors – LINK

A “potentially hazardous” asteroid more than twice the size of the Empire State Building will make close pass by Earth next week – LINK

The IRS Is Now Warning You to Do This, Starting Jan. 24 – LINK

Probation For Man Who Violated Stuffed Unicorn, “Frozen” Doll Inside Target Store – LINK

As I mention this lady’s passing keep in mind the Rolling Stones once opened FOR HER. Singer RONNIE SPECTOR died yesterday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 78 years old. Ronnie rose to fame as the leader of the ’60s girl group the RONETTES, whose hits included “Walking in the Rain”, “Do I Love You”, and “Baby I Love You”. Their biggest hit, though, was “Be My Baby”, which came out in 1963. In 1986, EDDIE MONEY “interpolated” the chorus of that song for his track “Take Me Home Tonight”, which Ronnie sang on. Ronnie was actually born Veronica Bennett, but in the late ’60s, she made the wise decision to marry producer Phil Spector . . . who died last year while serving out his sentence for murder. Ronnie later said he kept her imprisoned in their home and threatened to kill her. But she managed to get away from him in 1972. She said, quote, “I knew I would die there.” (LINK)

Ronnie sang the entire lead vocal for “Walking in the Rain” in one take (LINK). Cher is a background vocalist.

“Be My Baby” is the song that obsessed Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. He listened to it constantly and soon after recorded “Don’t Worry Baby”.

“Say Goodbye to Hollywood” was originally written and performed by Billy Joel (LINK), as a nod to “Be My Baby.” Spector and Springsteen covered it in 1977.

Eddie Money originally asked Martha Davis (LINK) of the Motels to sing on “Take Me Home Tonight.” She suggested he contact Ronnie Spector to get the true original. Ronnie turned him down, but Eddie convinced her to return to show business. It was her introduction to the youthful radio and MTV audience in 1985.

Jeffrey Ross and John Mayer went to pick up BOB SAGET’s car where he left it at LAX, and they recorded their drive back (LINK)

JASON MOMOA and LISA BONET have called it quits after a little over 16 years together. They started dating in 2005 and got married in 2017. They share two kids together, 14 year-old Lola and 12-year-old Nakoa-Wolf. Jason posted a joint-statement yesterday from him and Lisa. Quote, “We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times . . . A revolution is unfolding and our family is of no exception . . . And so, we share our family news . . .”We are parting ways in marriage. We share this so as we go about our lives, we may do so with dignity and honesty. The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived . . .”We free each other to be who we are learning to become… Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life and our children. Teaching our children what’s possible . . . Living the prayer . . . May love prevail.” The written message was followed by a series of photos that include a crescent moon and what could be his children holding a small bird (LINK)

I wonder if Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly read about THAT divorce before or after getting engaged themselves. Yes they are engaged now. Megan announced on Instagram that the two drank each other’s blood to celebrate their engagement. “In July of 2020 we sat under this banyan tree,” she began. “We asked for magic. We were oblivious to the pain we would face together in such a short, frenetic period of time. Unaware of the work and sacrifices the relationship would require from us but intoxicated off of the love. And the karma.” “Somehow a year and a half later, having walked through hell together, and having laughed more than I ever imagined possible, he asked me to marry him,” she continued. “And just as in every lifetime before this one, and as in every lifetime that will follow it, I said yes.…and then we drank each other’s blood. 1.11.22 ✨.” In his own Instagram post, MGK shared a video of Fox and her emerald and diamond engagement ring, writing in the post, “Yes, in this life and every life” 💍 beneath the same branches we fell in love under, i brought her back to ask her to marry me.” “I know tradition is one ring, but i designed it with Stephen Webster to be two: the emerald (her birthstone) and the diamond (my birthstone) set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love. 1-11-2022 ✨,” he added. Congratulations to the happy couple!

I haven’t exactly followed up on the Nelly story from yesterday that claimed he gave a lady $100 after she found his duffle bag with $300,000 in it…But here’s a good one…Some Instagram model claims that she ended up with hot sauce in her junk after a sexual encounter with DRAKE. . . and she’s thinking about suing him. Drake was smart enough to use a condom, and after he was done, he went to the bathroom to throw it out. After he came out, the woman supposedly went in there, picked it out of the trash, and tried to use it to get herself pregnant. Obviously, that didn’t feel too good. The woman screamed, and Drake ran into the bathroom and admitted he emptied a hot sauce packet into the condom to kill all the little swimmers. Drake did appear to address the story on Instagram though. He posted a couple pics of himself and said, quote, “You can have your 15 minutes of fame . . . I’ll take the other 23 hours and 45 minutes.” (LINK)

KYLIE JENNER just became the first woman to reach 300 million followers on Instagram. ARIANA GRANDE follows closely behind with 289 million, and SELENA GOMEZ is in third with 288 million. The only accounts with more followers than Kylie are CRISTIANO RONALDO with 389 million and the official Instagram account with 460 million. Kylie’s gain in followers is only slightly surprising because she’s been laying low in the wake of the Astroworld tragedy, and carrying her second child with TRAVIS SCOTT. Also, who knows how many of these followers are legit. According to a previous report, she tops a list of celebrities who have FAKE followers… (LINK)

The Batman has been given a PG-13 rating. It opens March 4th. The rating is for “strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.” Even though The Joker printed money with its R-rating, Warner Brothers did everything it could to make sure Robert Pattinson’s Batman would be seen by as many people as possible hence the PG 13 party.

“American Idol” Season 20 has a new addition and honestly I can’t wait to not see this: the Platinum Ticket. F your golden ticket, and only nine were handed out . . . three in Nashville, three in Austin, and three in Los Angeles. It is basically a first round bye I think. KATY PERRY said, quote, “This ticket gives [contestants] the ability to go to Hollywood Week, and observe from the box seats at the theater. One day, they get to rest their voice, strategize, check out the competition and select who they want to duet with…Season 20 premieres on February 27th on ABC. LUKE BRYAN is returning as the third judge and RYAN SEACREST is returning as the host

Do you think Billy Joel and Green Day should be in the Rock Hall of Fame? There’s endless debate. Well, Cleveland.com got into the numbers of every member and decided that 100 of them don’t belong there. They used an actual system that took into account each artist’s appearance on various lists, like “Rolling Stone’s” 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . . .As well as the list of 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and the Rock Hall’s own list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. They also factored in every #1 single each act released, and every 10 million albums they sold. Just to show you how tough their grading system is, Billy Joel and Green Day just BARELY made the cut. And the acts that didn’t . . . well, there’s gonna be some serious debate. Here’s just a sample of the acts that Cleveland.com says should be pulled from the Hall of Fame: Foo Fighters, the Go-Go’s, Doobie Brothers, the Notorious B.I.G., Stevie Nicks, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, the Cars, the Moody Blues, Journey, Chicago, Steve Miller, NWA, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, KISS, Hall & Oates, Heart, Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Jeff Beck, John Mellencamp, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, George Harrison, Righteous Brothers, Ritchie Valens, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Mamas and the Papas, the Jackson 5, John Lee Hooker, Bobby Darin (LINK)

This year’s Oscars will have a host. It’ll be the FIRST time since 2018. As for who it will be? Well, that’s yet to be determined. TOM HOLLAND recently expressed his interest in hosting in a recent interview. Sources say that the Academy has reached out to him since. So, stay tuned. The ceremony is scheduled to air March 27th on ABC. Nominations will be announced February 8th.

Not everybody liked the ending of “Dexter: The New Blood”, but a lot of people went along for the ride. Across its 10-week run, the show averaged 8 million viewers, making it Showtime’s biggest series ever. Along with the new show “Yellowjackets”, “Dexter” helped fuel the most streaming sign-ups in a quarter for Showtime.

Aziz Ansari just did his sixth comedy special for Netflix. It will premeire on Jan. 25th. Apparently it was recorded in December at a small venue

Celebrating a Birthday today:

Edmonton Oiler Connor McDavid is 25.

Natalia Dyer is 27. Nancy Wheeler on “Stranger Things”.

Liam Hemsworth is 32.

King Scott’s buddy William Hung is 39.

Orlando Bloom is 45.

TV’s Patrick Dempsey is 56. Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on “Grey’s Anatomy”.

Country singer Trace Adkins is 60.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 61.

Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne is 61.

Janet Hubert is 66. The original Aunt Viv on “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”.

Bull from Night Court, Richard Moll is 79

Trina Michaels

Today’s birthday girl has been in 816 fine films, including:

3-Way Freeway 3

All American Nymphos 1

Baby’s Got Rack

Big Sausage Pizza 5

California Hot Oil Wrestling 2

Double Hammered Hotties

Playing with Mrs. Claus

Buttricks Day

And who can forget her role in 2009’s K-Dog the Booty Hunter

Trina Michaels is 40 years old

Ten days ago, Antonio Brown made his dramatic exit in the third quarter of the Buccaneers’ game against the Jets, sending social media in a frenzy about his behavior. Since his departure from MetLife Stadium and his release from the Buccaneers organization, the former Tampa Bay wide receiver and seven-time Pro Bowler has not slowed down. Brown has released music as well as posted on social media with the men’s brand of FashionNova shortly after his exit from the game. As reports have surfaced why Brown exited the game and his health regarding his ankle—which he will reportedly have surgery for on Jan. 18—he made a trip to LA on Monday after spending a week in New York City. When he landed in L.A., Brown answered a question about whether him taking his shirt off and his behavior was necessary. Brown’s response: “It probably wasn’t necessary or professional,” he said in the video.

Eric Weddle is ending his retirement to join the Rams for the postseason. Weddle, 37, was one of the NFL’s top safeties across the last decade before retiring after the 2019 season. He is a two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, tallying 29 interceptions in 13 seasons. Weddle spent the first nine years of his career with the Chargers before a three-year stint in Baltimore. He played one season with the Rams in 2019 before his retirement. Los Angeles is adding Weddle after safety Jordan Fuller suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. The Rams will face the Cardinals in the wild-card round on Monday night, with kickoff from SoFi Stadium at 7PM.

Novak Djokovic now knows he’ll face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of his Australian Open title defense, if he’s allowed to play. Djokovic’s visa status dominated attention until the moment the draw was conducted Thursday, after a postponement of 75 minutes, to determine the brackets for the men’s and women’s singles draws at the first major tennis tournament of 2022. The Australian immigration minister was still considering whether to deport the nine-time and defending Australian Open champion, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Top-ranked Djokovic had his visa canceled on arrival in Melbourne last week when his vaccination exemption was rejected, but he won a legal battle on procedural grounds that allowed him to stay in the country.

Remember when I talked about how Mizzou knocked off 15th ranked Alabama over the weekend? Well – whatever MOJO they had from that game is LONG gone. Mizzou traveled to Arkansas last night and got DESTROYED by the Razorbacks. Final score was 87-43. It was ugly. Their next game is Saturday against TEXAS A&M in Columbia.

Georgetown University announced yesterday that men’s basketball head coach Patrick Ewing will not lead the Hoyas in their upcoming game against Butler in accordance with DC Department of Health guidelines. Hoyas assistant coach Louis Orr will take over for the Hoyas. Ewing, who is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame thanks to a decorated playing career that featured him starring for Georgetown is in his fifth season coaching the Hoyas. Last year’s team made a Cinderella run through the Big East tournament to win the conference championship and earn an NCAA tournament berth.

Olympic snowboard champion Patrizia Kummer will head to the Beijing Games early to spend three weeks in quarantine because she isn’t vaccinated against the coronavirus. Chinese authorities require unvaccinated Olympians to enter quarantine upon arrival if they don’t have a valid medical exemption. Kummer, a Swiss snowboarder who won gold in the parallel giant slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games, is scheduled to arrive this week. The Olympics start on Feb. 4. She said: “After my personal decision not to be vaccinated, quarantine is the logical consequence. I respect the regulations of the authorities and the IOC.” Kummer doesn’t yet have a confirmed spot on the Swiss Olympic roster, but Swiss Ski said she meets its selection criteria. She is ranked 17th in the slalom World Cup standings.

From one Hawaiian island to the next. After a week on Maui for the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour hops to Honolulu this week for the first full field tournament of 2022, the Sony Open. Last week’s winner is this week’s favorite, as Cam Smith goes for the fifth PGA Tour victory of his career and second of the year. It would also be his second at this tournament; he beat Brendan Steele in a playoff in 2020 for his first individual PGA Tour title. Action starts this afternoon as Round 1 tees off at 11AM.

After proving himself on virtual racetracks, Cem Bolukbasi will attempt the real thing in 2022. The Turkish racer will compete in Formula Two—one tier behind Formula One — after signing a deal on Wednesday. Bolukbasi spent three seasons competing in esports, winning the 2020 Formula Renault Esport Series. On the real racetrack, he earned a runner-up finish at the GT4 European Series in 2020. After testing an F2 car at the end of last year, he will now get a chance to drive full-time in 2022

The Glorious Corner – Times Square Chronicles

]

G.H. HARDING

RONNIE SPECTOR RIP — Is “Be My Baby” the best record ever? Well, it’s certainly in my Top 5 and yesterday vocalist Ronnie Spector passed after a brief-cancer battle.

It seems like Sector’s voice has always been in my head; from those early classic’s with The Ronettes to her re-emergence on Eddie Money’s “Take me Home Tonight” in 1986. And, that video btw … was just superb with Spector emerging from a cloud of smoke mid-way during the video. Just stupendous. That was perhaps Money’s ultimate performance and having Spector there made it all the more enjoyable. Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye To Hollywood” was inspired by Spector; and, when she actually performed the song with Springsteen it was deliriously good.

Keith Richards was a huge fan as were The Beatles. Personally, I loved her take on George Harrison’s “Try Some Buy Some” back in April of 1971. Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0xHx-6WmNg

Perhaps not Harrison’s best song-effort ever, but the emotion she brought to the song made it a must-listen.

While her travails with Phil Spector have been duly noted, they did make some terrific music together. A shinning light for sure.

RIP Ronnie.

THE TENDER BAR —Echoing the sentiments of my fellow TSC-colleague, George Clooney’s The Tender Bar was one terrific ride, with Ben Affleck delivering one of his best-ever performances. Based on the book by J.R. Moehringer (played by Daniel Ranieri and as a young boy by Tye Sheridan) it’s a coming of age tale; growing up in a whirlwind with his mother and grandfather and uncle. It also features just terrific takes from Lily Rabe and Christopher Lloyd.

Clooney’s last directorial effort was the somewhat uneventful and somber Midnight Sky; it looked superb, but the story was decidedly murky. Great atmosphere, but terribly difficult to follow.

This movie is pretty great: from an array of terrific music (the film starts off with Golden Earring’s 1974 classic “Radar Love”) to the fashion of the times-1972. Affleck’s character btw sports some of the snazziest fashions of the time.

A gem for sure.

Tim Bret-Day had a very unique time working with the image icon that was David Bowie for his album Hours. It was a truely creative experience working with the Thin White Duke.

BOWIE’S HOURS — David Bowie would have been 75 last week. I was and remain a huge fan and with the observance of his birth, I decided to have my own Bowie-fest. Playing various videos and listening to several concerts (in case you’re interested, one of my all-time Bowie favorites was his concert at the BBC with Garson, Campbell, Dorsey and guitarist Earl Slick).

Beside the standout music, the one that that immediately appeared again was the fact that in every performance, he had just the best band possible. I’m a big Mike Garson fan and his work continues to amaze. Gail Dorsey, on bass, and Sterling Campbell drums were most valuable additions as well.

As I went through, I discovered that I had never properly listened to his 1999 album Hours. I got it and have been listening to it almost non-stop. This was the third album of his work with the brilliant guitarist Reeves Gabrel (Tin Machine) and the music is just exquisite. “Thursday’s Child” and “I Survive” are the standouts for sure.

Reading the many reviews of the album, it appears that die-hard fans loved it and casual fans thought it was just OK. As a Bowie-devotee … it’s utterly brilliant. It’s also interesting to note that it was the first album released to the then-burgeoning internet.

If you’re a fan and haven’t heard Hours … go and get it right now. You will not be disappointed.

SHORT TAKES — A cover story on Mike Nesmith, including an exclusive interview with Micky Dolenz, is in the next issue of England’s Mojo by David Fricke, out in two weeks. Should be terrific … I’ll say one thing for Matt Reeves’ forthcoming The Batman: it sure is dark. In the last trailer released

last week, it looks great, but especially hard to discern who’s who. I mean, it’s the same origin story one more time but really terribly dark. It’ll be formally released -only in theaters- in March … Keith Girard’s New York Independent just interviewed Claudia Hayden. Will be posted shortly …

Sam Waterston

The Law & Order-mothership re-appears magically next month on NBC and just released is a photo of Sam Waterston back as Jack McCoy. He is the realMcCoy. Can’t wait for this one … Just saw NBC’s Craig Melvin’s interview with VP Kamala Harris Wednesday night. Terribly combative … right? I know things are far from where they should be, but I don’t remember Obama ever being so, shall we say, inelegant. Food for thought … Not for nothing but it seems they pulled a Chris Noth with Price Andrew. Look, I wasn’t there, but what happened to innocent till proven guilty? Strange times indeed …

Whatever happened to Stranger Things and the next Season 4? It seems as thought he show has been gone for years; although it’s rumored to be back this summer. When it does re-appear, I’m sure the kids will have grown into young-adults … Happy Bday Brad LeBeau and Glenn Friscia

NAMES IN THE NEWS — Jason Elzy; Ken Sharp; James Edstrom; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Barry Fisch; Richard Branciforte; Eppy; Freda Payne; Ken Sharp; Sam Waterston; Dick Wolff; Vincent D’Onofrio; Steve Walter; DC Larue; Coco Schwab; and, ZIGGY!

SPARE CHANGE: COVID continues to impact Newport restaurant industry

]

Jim Gillis

Oddznendz as TV weather forecasters try to convince us 40 degrees is “warm.”

• This caught me by surprise. It probably shocked you, too.

Fluke on Bannister’s Wharf shut down for good at the start of 2022. Owners Jeff and Geremie Callaghan were mainstays on the wharf since they opened the popular seafood restaurant 15 years ago.

And their decision to close reflects the shaky nature of doing business currently and possibly in the years ahead. The Callaghans had the option of extending their stay, but headed out.

Everyone is sick of sentences that start with “in these uncertain times … " But in these uncertain times, it’s understandable the Callaghans want to move on.

Spare Change:Spinning yarns of the heyday of the Blue Pelican, which closed 30 years ago

COVID has haunted restaurant owners for almost two years. And there’s no guarantee omicron will be the end of it. As soon as we breathe a sigh of relief, the virus mutates into some other deadly form.

Most of us follow the protocols … mask up, distance, get vaccines. The virus subsides when we as a nation do these things.

Not all vaccines work or work for everyone. But they’re better than running around unvaccinated, spreading COVID everywhere.

‘A tough year in the food business’:Clogged supply chain chokes Newport-area restaurants

In any case, this is what we’ve seen in the past two months in closings.

Sue Lamond (willingly) closed the Salvation Cafe at the end of December after 28 years. It will reopen as a new spot this year.

The 4th Street Diner is now open month to month as landlord Colbea wants the land for an expanded Shell/Seasons operation. Does Colbea realize how unpopular the corporation is on Aquidneck Island of late?

The Coffee Grinder at popular hangout at the end of Bannister’s Wharf closed earlier this month after 25 years when wharf owner David Ray declined to renew the lease.

Now Fluke is gone. Good news is a seafood restaurant will fill the spot.

Gone but not forgotten:The places we miss on Aquidneck Island

But something tells me this shuffle is just starting.

• Here’s hoping the Callaghans soon find a new venture. You have root for a guy like Jeff. He’s an NRBQ fan.

• If the 1976 Robert De Niro bloodbath “Taxi Driver” came out today, it would be called “Uber Driver.”

• The book “Better to Be Feared” by Seth Wickersham is the definitive look at the Patriots of the past 20 years. And you’ll know exactly why Tom Brady left the team.

• Congratulations to Portsmouth’s Bill Trezvant. Or, should I say Rhode Island District Court Judge William Trezvant?

Spare Change:Sue Lamond took a chance decades ago and changed Newport for the better

He’s worked in the state attorney general’s office and in private practice through the years. His court nomination sailed through the General Assembly this week.

• Sad news this week that old friend, musician Jon Campbell, died at 70.

Jon was largely a South County guy, but played Newport many times. You might have seen him as part of Houlihan and Campbell or at his solo shows (some at the Common Fence music series) and as a latter-day Reprobate (after Jim Bennett passed away).

Jon could play funny, play serious or play romantic. He poked fun at and deeply loved coastal Rhode Island.

Jon was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2019. He was a consummate storyteller and a quick wit. He loved wordplay, leaving us with his “hit” called “Winnebacome, Winnebago.”

Fair winds, my friend.

• One of the nicest celebs I ever interviewed? The late Bob Saget is up there. I can see why he was so popular in the comedy world.

• Tough week …. R.I.P.: Ronnie Spector. The Ronettes were big stars pre-Beatles. And they were a huge part of Spector’s Wall of Sound style.

Ronnie also lived for years as a virtual prisoner in the Spector estate. In later years, she enjoyed a freedom and resurgence, covering Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” and singing on Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight.”

Just like Ronnie said …

• Three years in, “Succession” is already one of the all-time great TV shows. It entrances you even with a cast of vile characters. Great acting meets great writing.

Jim Gillis is a Daily News columnist. Send him email at jimgillis13@gmail.com.