The Blackhawks season came to a close this past week, but it was an exhilarating, nail-biting ride. A full five games (three against Detroit alone) in the post-season forced overtime to decide a winner. The Hawks final game was no exception. Trailing 3 games to 1 in the series, the Hawks needed a win to stay alive. In what may have been the most exciting final 30 seconds I have ever witnessed in a hockey game, the Detroit Red Wings mounted a desperate frenzy as they attempted to put the game winner past Blackhawks France-born backup goaltender Cristobal Huet before regulation time ran out. With less than 30 seconds left, Huet made the stop of his career to send it in to overtime. Was it skill? Was it luck? I don't know, but it was one hell of a "fantastique french foot flip!"

(See Blackhawks goaltender Cristobal Huet's last second save here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtfXK6JoRys)

Ultimately, the Wings scored in overtime to end the game and our season, but what a season! Here is a team that didn't even make the playoffs last year (actually they hadn't made the playoffs for the better part of a decade, but that's another story for another time) dispatching the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks to advance to round 3 against the defending champion, one round away from the Stanley Cup finals! In the last 18 months, the Blackhawks have made what Forbes magazine termed “... arguably the most remarkable turnaround in the history of sports in the United States.” How far have they come?

(See a video montage of the resurgence of the Blackhawks here: http://blackhawks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=690&id=40168)

Even cities we eliminated on our rise were cheering for us. I was interviewed last week by the flagship radio station for the Calgary Flames, "960 AM The Fan." Expecting a cool reception at best, I was surprised to find the hosts were as excited for us as we were. They breathlessly wanted to know what the atmosphere was like in town, and how fans and non-fans alike were reacting to the spectacular turnaround of our Original Six, heritage team. I simply told them..."The Roar Is Back... at The New Madhouse On Madison, baby!!!"

The similarities between the current Blackhawks team and the team that brought us our last Stanley Cup championship in 1961 are quite startling and somewhat eerie. Back then, we had a couple of youngsters (one fair-haired, the other dark maned) named Hull and Mikita who were the new "face" of the franchise. Young, fast and exceptionally talented, they were the jet-fuel the team needed to re-invigorate the fan base and excite the city, just as Kane and Toews are doing now. Anchored by veteran goaltending from Glenn Hall (Nikolai Khabibulin now) and a stunning upset of an aging arch-nemesis Detroit Red Wings by an upstart Blackhawks, and the picture is complete. Well... not quite yet. It took several tries before the 1961 team finally hit the jackpot, but hit it they did. That core group were a dominant force in the NHL for the next 10 years. I believe we may very well be witnessing history repeating itself.

(See the Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup in Detroit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB-csuX0GBk)

This past Thursday, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS joined me on my show from 10am-3pm to update me on the progress on their new album and summer tour plans. In the finishing stages of recording an "old-skool" KISS album, the guys were amped about releasing it and getting on the road. In an interesting concept, where the band will play this time around will be determined by fan demand. Would you like to see KISS in Chicago this summer? If so, cast your vote through www.wlup.com today!

KISS are legendary for their over-the-top shows. This weekend the actors/comedians behind the always competing, but seemingly always falling flat "other" band Spinal Tap presented some of their most infamous send-ups at the Chicago Theatre. Beyond hysterical, "This Is Spinal Tap" is a brilliant and viciously biting satire of the rock music business. Appropriately, their live performance was presented without a drummer. Perhaps they know better by now?

(See the movie trailer for "This Is Spinal Tap" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBllPEwjEJ4)

(See the infamous Spinal Tap scene "Goes to 11" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7IZZXQ89Oc&feature=related

(See Spinal Tap's creators perform live at the Chicago Theatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxbLGTcZ7I)

This Friday during the lunch hour, local rock phenoms The Last Vegas will be stopping by my show to play live and give away copies of their new CD and tickets to their show that night at the Metro.

All this week from 10am-3pm on my show, chances to win tickets to the Judas Priest/Whitesnake show July 19th at Charter One Pavilion, and $10,000 with "10 Grand In Your Hand"at 10:05am and 2:05pm every day! Don't miss out!

Hope you had a terrific long weekend! It was certainly one full of activity. Newly formed super group Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith) stopped by during my show Friday afternoon to have a few laughs and to talk about their formation, what to expect later that evening at their sold-out Loop show at the Park West and to play another new track from their debut CD set for release next week. Mike Anthony was in particular excited to be back in his hometown and it showed that night on stage. A ferocious performance from the band served ample notice that these "warm-up" gigs (before launching a larger tour later this year) were just the beginning of a new musical legend for these veteran players. Visibly re-energized, they gleefully cranked out nearly their entire repertoire of killer new songs along with a few crowd favorites as an encore. Mixing the crunchy power of early Montrose, the party-hearty fun of vintage Van Halen and more hooks than a bait & tackle shop, the new CD will undoubtedly delight Loyal Loopers.

(See Chickenfoot perform their new song "Sexy Little Thing" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmfF8Zgos7M&feature=related)

(See Chickenfoot perform their new song "Soap On A Rope" live at the Park West here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9NcBQOHvE4)

(See Chickenfoot perform the Montrose classic "Bad Motor Scooter" live at the Park West here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUF19cfkOJ8)

(See Chickenfoot perform the Deep Purple classic "Highway Star" live at the Park West here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1thdpt0is&feature=related)

Speaking of legends (as I hinted at during my show) AC/DC have indeed announced a return to Chicago August 14th at the United Center. Tickets for this Loop show go on sale next Saturday June 6th at 10am through www.wlup.com. Grab yours before they sell out!

(See AC/DC's video for their latest song "Anything Goes" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58t_ID_s9X8)

It was a roller coaster ride of emotions for Blackhawks fans this weekend as the youngest (and quite possibly the most talented and exciting) team in the NHL scored a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at the United Center over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings Friday night. This was swiftly followed, however, with a 6-1 drubbing at home on Sunday. The Hawks are now in a tight spot, trailing 3 games to 1 in the best-of-seven conference final series. Next game is Wednesday in Detroit. Go Hawks!

Coming up this week on my show from 10am-3pm, your chance to grab free Cruefest 2 tickets, a conversation with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS Thursday at 1:30pm and of course, your chance to win $10,000 just for listening with "10 Grand In Your Hand" each weekday at 10:05am and 2:05pm. If you haven't already entered your name to be called on the air to win the $10,000, do so today at www.listenerrewards.com/wlup!

In what has become Chicago's miracle on ice, the upstart Chicago Blackhawks have advanced to what amounts to the "final 4" against the defending Stanley Cup champions (and our 83 year long rival) the Detroit Red Wings in this years playoffs after dispatching the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks in rounds 1 & 2. In game 1 the Red Wings looked every bit the reining champs while the Hawks looked, well... a bit rusty and tentative after having to wait nearly a week to find out who they would face in round 3. Hawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin was stellar in the nets once again and kept us in the game until the 3rd period when the more experienced Wings methodically dissected our boys and won 5-2. Fortunately this is a best-of-7 round, so we have time to gather ourselves and make a push for our first championship since 1961. Game 2 is this Tuesday night in Detroit. Go Hawks!

While the Hawks had some time off between series', several players took in Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the United Center this past Tuesday night.

(See Bruce Springsteen perform "Born To Run" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3_x9SPQyY)

Earlier in the day, Springsteen's guitarist (and Chicago native) Nils Lofgren checked in with me during my show to chat about that evenings show and to reminisce about his early days living in Chicago. Very excited to be back in his hometown, Nils promised another marathon Springsteen extravaganza, complete with a set list customized especially for Chicago.

All this week on my show from 10am - 3pm, your chance to win Styx/REO Speedwagon/.38 Special tickets for their July 10th concert at Charter One Pavilion.

This Wednesday during the lunch hour (12noon - 1pm) on my show, your last chance to win tickets to see the sold-out Chickenfoot show at the Park West this Friday night and meet n' greet passes to meet the band! Chickenfoot is a brand new "super group" featuring Sammy Hagar on vocals, Joe Satriani on guitar, Michael Anthony (also a Chicago native) of Van Halen on bass and Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums. And during my show on Friday, don't be surprised if the guys "pop by" to have a few laughs and jam on a few tunes. Don't miss out!

(See Chickenfoot perform their new song "Oh Yeah!" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRzb-iSOIOI)

To get you ramped up for the long weekend, join me at Arlington Racetrack this Friday from 5pm-7pm for an '80's themed party with your chance to win Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick or Cruefest 2 tickets if you "dress the part" and live music from U2 tribute act Elevation. See you there!