H! Everyone,

In preparing the radio show for Saturday March 22, 2014, I had an uplifting time putting together the “new” focus on drummers segment. Dave Lombardo with Philm were February’s featured artist/artists, and I thought it went rather well.

This month, I’m going to play some great work from two legendary drummers, Jim Capaldi and Mitch Mitchell. Their legacies will live in rock history forever.

Also being played: Caliban, Skeletonwitch, DevilDriver, possibly some more Harsh Toke. Lots of Metal guys, lots of Metal.

Stay safe, stay strong,
Bill Ward

UPDATE: The March radio show has been moved to Saturday March 22. Tune in then to hear Bill and loads of Metal!

H! Everyone,

I hope you’re well.  I’m re-starting the radio show on Saturday, February, 15, 2014.  As many of you know, I’ve been in hospital for a while (our last radio show was in August 2013).  I had a final operation on January 7, 2014, and I’m very pleased to say that a positive outcome has prevailed.  I’m healing slowly and surely.  On September 18, 2013, I thought I’d take advantage of the down time and have a right shoulder repair surgery.  Four days after that surgery, I had the perforated diverticulitis.  I’m mentioning the shoulder surgery because approximately two weeks ago, we finally started the shoulder rehab.  It’ll be about six weeks before the frozen joints can be workable again.  I’m hoping to be playing drums by mid-March 2014.  I want to start back in with jam sessions with a jazz quartet, something softer before I start slamming again.

On January 23, 2014, I received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NAMM Bonzo Bash.  Again, multiple thanks to everyone who made that award happen for me. Special thanks to all the drummers at the bash, and it was great to be among the families and fans, and so many kick-ass drummers.  My heart is with the students and the old-timers.

This year on our radio show I intend to feature some of my favorite drummers.  We’ll have our very best of Metal, but we’ll also focus on hopefully surprising the listener with recordings from drummers, well-known and lesser-known.  I’m trying to find rare jams, drum solos – it’ll be about drummers all year long.

Our first drummer to be featured will be the amazing Dave Lombardo.  Dave is quite brilliant, and his music will be worth listening to.  I also hope to feature a couple of tracks from the early Zeppelin era with the one and only John Bonham.  Metallica, Motorhead and Phil Anselmo will be played on the show, and I just picked up Light Up and Live by Harsh Toke, hoping to find something nice to play.  Further, we’ll be playing our Buddy, Ritchie and Big Bopper memorial.  Happy 50^th Birthday, Beatles.

It’s exhilarating to be back with the living!  Check out the show if you can.

Stay safe.  Stay Strong.

–Bill

Hey Everyone,

Our September 9/11 show will not be aired this month.  My apologies, especially to our regular listeners for any disappointment or inconvenience.  At this time, Rock 50 wishes to send its condolences to the families and friends of all those who perished on 9/11/01.  We send our ongoing respect to New York’s Finest as they continue to be the best emergency services in the world, and in loving memory, we bow our heads to those who courageously fell doing their duty.  Never to be forgotten, and always in our hearts.

–Bill Ward

H! Everyone,

This Saturday, August 10 will be our last hardcore rock show for 2013.  We play hardcore and other music in September, October, November and December on the 9/11 show, the Halloween show, the Armistice/Veterans Day show and the Christmas show.  I’ll do my best to get as much ass-kicking metal on this Saturday’s show.  Check us out if you like metal.

Stay safe,

Bill

H! Everybody,

Our live Rock 50 show airs this Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 AM Pacific Time.  I have a couple of classic cuts lined up:  “Children of The Revolution” by T-Rex  and “Man of The World”  by Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac.  Other than those two tracks, I have absolutely no idea what I’ll be playing – it will be a surprise for us all!  Tune in if you can.  I will do my best to make it rock.

Stay strong.  Stay safe.

-Bill

H! Everyone,

Our Rock 50 show airs on Saturday, May 4th.  It’ll be a slightly different show, in as much as it won’t be hardcore throughout.  I turn 65 years old on May 5th, so I’m going to play some of my favourite songs I’ve loved throughout the years.  It’ll be a variety of music, and I hope it’ll be a great show.

What to expect?  Type O Negative, the “bus song” (Stargazer), Mountain, Traffic, Mastodon, Rob Zombie, etc, etc.

Check us out if you can.

Stay safe,
Bill Ward

H! Everyone,

We air at 11:00AM on Saturday, April 20^th.  We have great bands from start to end, including Spineshank, Marilyn Manson, Motorhead, Anthrax, The Resistance and many more.  We have new stuff also.  Check us out if you can, and if you like Metal.

Stay safe,
Bill Ward

H! Everyone,

Our next Metal show is on Saturday March 23, 11:00AM Pacific.  The show rocks.  We have a great new band The Resistance – ex-members of The Haunted and In Flames.  Also, relatively new Hatebreed.  Expect Arch Enemy, Cradle of Filth.  I’ve got some new Helloween, but don’t know yet if I can play them into the show so that’ll be a surprise.  Midway through the show we at Rock 50 will be paying our respects to the late Alvin Lee, then playing Alvin with Ten Years After at Woodstock.

Check us out if you can.

Rock forever,

Bill

You can listen with links on our Rock 50 page here.

Missed Saturday’s Rock 50? Get your batch of Bill’s favorite metal, bad language and bad behavior on demand: http://aircheck.us/show/219

H! Everyone,

Our Rock 50 show airs on January 26, 2013, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

We’ll be playing some great, relatively new stuff – Converge, Cradle of Filth, live Machine Head and very heavy Cryptopsy.  Also, I’ll be playing some of the hits from 2012 as well as some favourites and oldies, and a possible brief focus on Disfear’s songs.

Check us out if you can.

Stay safe.  Stay strong.

–Bill