Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Bryan Adams "Back to You"
November 5th marks the shared birthday of Canadian rocker Bryan Adams and American singer-song writer Ryan Adams. For years, people confused the two. Then came the wiseguy concert-goers who liked to heckle Ryan to play "Summer of '69". It started in 2002 when a guy kept yelling for Ryan to play "Summer of '69" -- upset that security wasn't doing anything, Ryan wound up leaving the stage, found the man and confronted the drunken heckler. He gave him $40 to take a cab home and leave the show. At the time, he told Spin magazine the hecklers were "a bunch of cocks" and he sought therapy to get over the incident. Ryan eventually warmed up to the incident and ultimately played the song at the same Nashville club where the incident first happened. Ryan said it helped him gain a whole new appreciation for Bryan as the song isn't easy to play. Ryan claims he emails Bryan every November 5th to wish him a happy birthday.