After several years of relentless writing, recording and touring the world, the world's hardest working band Rush is up for a well deserved rest. In a jovial mood, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush sat down with me this week to chat about what's next for Rush and their latest DVD release "Snakes & Arrows - Live." Shot with 21 high definition cameras and presented in 5.1 surround sound, the technical quality is nothing short of breathtaking. Add in yet another spellbinding live performance from the band, hilarious comedy sketches, and the boys have upped the bar again on what a concert film can be.

(See Rush perform "The Spirit Of Radio" from their "Snakes & Arrows - Live" DVD here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuL_euRslTc&feature=related)

(See Rush perform "Far Cry" from their "Snakes & Arrows - Live" DVD here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OlU0JbOALU)

This week on the show, win tickets to catch the red hot Blackhawks take on the Ottawa Senators next Wednesday at the United Center.

This Thursday night at 9:30pm, lead vocalist of Staind, Aaron Lewis will be checking in with me to talk about their upcoming show this Saturday night with Seether and Papa Roach at the Venue inside the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.

Also this weekend, due to popular demand, the Smashing Pumpkins have added a show at the Aragon Ballroom Sunday night to their schedule. The re-scheduled (due to illness) Auditorium Theatre show will take place next Monday.

(See the Smashing Pumpkins perform "Today" live at the first Auditorium Theatre show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0DUfrU7mRo)

And last but not least, a heartfelt thank you to all of the Loyal Loopers who came out to support the 3rd annual "Byrd For Birds" food drive! I will be posting the totals as soon as the information becomes available.

This Tuesday is the 3rd annual "Byrd For Birds" food drive from 8am - 6pm at the Merchandise Mart, south entrance. As previously, I will be personally accepting frozen turkey's, non-perishable food items and cash donations that will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository so that less-privileged families will have a holiday meal, too. In these tough economic times, your donation is even more important than in previous years. Everyone who donates will be eligible to win a $500 leather jacket from the Loop and will receive "thank-you" freebies from Potbelly Sandwiches, Eli's Cheesecakes and Argo Tea. Kelly the 2008 Loop Rock Girl will be joining me as well during the lunch hours. Hope to see you and I thank you in advance for your thoughtful generosity. Happy Thanksgiving! Click here for more info: http://www.wlup.com/check_it_out/byrdSharingItDay.aspx

Monday night on my show, I will be playing more brand new Guns N' Roses tracks from the long-awaited, much anticipated "Chinese Democracy" CD.

(See a fan-made video for Guns N' Roses new song "Chinese Democracy" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ocbYLNdJT4

Tuesday night at 9:30pm on my show, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush will be joining me to discuss their excellent new concert DVD "Snakes & Arrows - Live!" as well as giving you the chance to win a copy. Don't miss it!

I am sad to report that we have lost the last surviving member of the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience. Wildly influential drummer Mitch Mitchell of the trio was found dead in his hotel room in Portland Wednesday morning at the age of 61. His death was ruled of "natural causes", but Robbie Krieger of the Doors/Riders On The Storm indicated that Mitch had been acting rather strangely in the previous few days leading up to his death. Robbie and Mitch (along with many other special guests) had just finished a nationwide tour called the "2008 Experience Hendrix Tour" which saw them perform at the Chicago Theatre less than six weeks ago. The symptoms that Robbie described suggest to me that perhaps Mitch had suffered a series of small strokes leading to his death. Sadly, Mitch was scheduled to catch a flight back to his native England later that day. In a strange twist of fate, Mitch Mitchell expired in Jimi's homeland, while Hendrix himself expired in Mitch's home country.

(See Mitch Mitchell perform with Johnny Lang and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith live at the Chicago Theatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXPo2ZyTD9g)

(See Mitch Mitchell perform with the Jimi Hendrix Experience live in 1969 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiMu_ZSbKn4)

(See an interview with Mitch Mitchell in 1973 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqMdlvhk7hA)

(See Jimi Hendrix speak about Mitch Mitchell here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUFYurV_qXA&feature=related)

The Australian Pink Floyd Show packed the house once again at the Rosemont Theatre this past Wednesday night during my live broadcast from the show. In the absence of the real Pink Floyd, this troupe does serious justice to their legacy. Loyal Loopers who have attended their shows have been awestruck by their attention to detail. No wonder then that the guys in Floyd actually endorse them and that they sell out theaters and arenas around the world. Seeing is believing!

(See The Australian Pink Floyd Show perform "Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2" live at the Royal Albert Hall in London here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_JeIpRHjuc)

(See The Australian Pink Floyd Show perform "The Great Gig In The Sky" live at the Royal Albert Hall here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV1rM_vKTLI&feature=related)

AC/DC is simply one of the most bone-crushing and exhilarating rock experiences to ever grace a stage. Stripped down, back-to basics, yet completely effective. Make it loud, make it fun... make a legend. That's exactly what AC/DC has done, and they demonstrated that simple formula with surgical precision last night and Thursday night at the Allstate Arena. From the moment the atomic schoolboy Angus Young and his partners in crime Brian Johnson, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd took the stage, the sold-out crowd of Loyal Loopers were on their feet roaring their approval. Everywhere one looked, huge grins, blinking devil-horns, air-guitars, men and women, young and old alike diving head-first into one of the most satisfying rituals in all of rock. No one, but no one does it quite like AC/DC. Only those who have been baptised in their bombastic, earth-shaking live firepower can ever really, truly understand. The fact that the guys in the band are funny, down-to-earth working class guys with no airs, makes it even better. Even if you've never had the chance to meet them, you can sense it from seeing them live. Regular guys who you could have a pint and a laugh with at the corner pub. Having done just that several times, I can tell you they are exactly what they seem... the real deal. Brian cracking jokes and cackling, Angus giving a wry grin and cracking a few jokes himself while he tries to catch his second wind after expending a week's worth of energy on-stage. Malcolm, Cliff and Phil smiling and chatting about whatever strikes your fancy to whomever is around. Longevity because they're just normal blokes... who happen to have harnessed a monster!

(See AC/DC perform "The Jack" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJGtKSlDl8A)

(See AC/DC perform "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TBdZMqF03A)

(See AC/DC perform "TNT" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBbakvHhlds)

(See AC/DC perform "Back In Black" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3tpfofToMs)

(See AC/DC perform "For Those About To Rock" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWvQQ304u2w)

(See AC/DC perform "Thunderstruck" live at the Allstate Arena live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_73t5aRmc)

After the show, AC/DC's road manager also gave us an extensive tour of the production behind the show. The sets, the stage, the lights, the sound and visual departments were all covered. Even though there is a massive amount of equipment involved, the basic design is remarkably straight forward. Angus gets that distinctive guitar sound by "daisy-chaining" 5 vintage 100 watt JTM45 Marshall amplifier heads right into his 5 4X12 speaker "stacks." No effects, no funny-business. Just a classic Gibson SG guitar plugged into a classic set-up, cranked up to 11. The same type of set-up that Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townsend of The Who used. Very simple, VERY LOUD!!! How loud? Bassist Cliff Williams has had to have two large Plexiglas shields built on either side of his bass amplifier so he can step back between them to hear what he is playing. (In fact, I have significant hearing damage in my left ear from standing front-row at an AC/DC show unprotected years ago... thanks Angus!)

(See photos from our "tour behind the tour" here: http://www.wlup.com/photo_gallery/acdc_concert_20081030.aspx)

Opening act The Answer delivered a short, but punchy set to start the evening. Loyal Loopers are very familiar with these up-and-comers and gave them a very warm welcome.

(See The Answer's video for "Come Follow Me" here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WCbm0ZCMM)

This week, the Loop brings another band from the "land down-under" back to town. The Australian Pink Floyd hits the Rosemont Theatre Wednesday night performing "The Wall" in it's entirety along with a "greatest hits" set. If you are a Floyd fan, it is a not-to-be-missed event. I will be broadcasting my show live from the concert, so make sure you stop by to say hello.

(See the Australian Pink Floyd perform live here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvqkBzInrD0)