Rock 'n' roll outlaw Ted Nugent stormed back through Chicagoland with original lead vocalist Derek St. Holmes in tow this past week and laid a little patented "full bluntal Nugity" on the Loyal Loopers packing the House Of Blues.

(See the Ted Nugent band perform "Dog Eat Dog" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DomgogGOqo)

Later in the week saw a particularly inspired performance from Tesla at the House Of Blues before another rabid crowd of Loyal Loopers.

(See Tesla perform "Love Song" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E01yw3LglOo)

(See Tesla perform "Signs" live on my show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWTp7znvdVY&feature=relmfu)

On the weekend, both .38 Special and Pat Benatar rocked the stage at Hammond's "Festival Of The Lakes".

(See .38 Special perform "Rockin' Into The Night" live in Hammond here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0jOsSTlM1k)

(See Pat Benatar perform "Hell Is For Children" live in Hammond here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9nDxQqroNc)

Squeezed like spandex between all those great acts was perhaps the greatest "performance" of the week from the guys in Steel Panther. From the first time I caught their act on the west coast a decade ago, I've been on a mission to bring them here and turn the good people of Chicago on to their special brand of warped humor. Killer chops, hilariously deranged songs and never breaking character result in an uproariously funny experience unlike any other. "Ladies and gentlemen... the greatest mock 'n' roll band in the world... Steel Panther!"

(See Steel Panther perform "Fat Girl" live on my show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYZG_EtTc4w&feature=channel_video_title)

(See my "interview" with Steel Panther here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmvc6XYrcWY&feature=channel_video_title)

Who says you actually need a guitar... or even a band to shred? The U.S.Air Guitar Finals were held over the weekend at the Metro and a Chicagoan who goes by the stage name "Nordic Thunder" won it all.

(See U.S. Air Guitar champion "Nordic Thunder" in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12-yQoI5OPY&feature=player_embedded#at=110)

Talk about "bringing the house down"! Unfortunately, it wasn't a joke and local heroes Cheap Trick narrowly avoided being severely hurt or killed as the stage they were performing on in Ottawa suddenly collapsed during their performance this week.

(See news coverage of Cheap Trick's narrow escape here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMT75YBGzT0)

(See Robin Zander of Cheap Trick's home video of the carnage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCwNKox0uXE&feature=player_embedded)

This week on my show from 3pm-7pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide via http://www.wlup.com/: win tickets to ZZ Top each day, as well as daily chances to win a trip for 2 to see Van Halen in Australia as the Loop's "World Tour" continues! http://www.wlup.com/WorldTour-VanHalen.aspx

(See Van Halen's video for "Panama" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0)

(See ZZ Top perform "Jesus Just Left Chicago" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN69GC2amTg&feature=relmfu)

Also this week, I will be broadcasting my show live from the Def Leppard/Heart concert this Thursday and the Journey/Foreigner/Night Ranger concert on Saturday. Please come by and say hello!

(See Def Leppard's video for "Photograph" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5bS3_BCDs)

(See Heart's video for "Barracuda" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q74u5Mo4Onw)

(See Journey's video for "Any Way You Want It" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxUuldUcfI&feature=related)

(See Foreigner perform "Jukebox Hero" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5_qhnWByA4)

(See Night Ranger perform "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iURWJEmeBI)

As nice a guy as he is skilled guitarist, virtuoso Joe Satriani performed a solo gig this past week at the Venue on a break from his esteemed band mates in Chickenfoot.

(See Joe Satriani perform live at the Venue here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqpYO2oDWZY)

Blue Oyster Cult returned to Chicagoland and rocked Century Park in Vernon Hills for the gathered Loyal Loopers.

(See Blue Oyster Cult perform "Don't Fear The Reaper" live in Century Park here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhUIUAFdHOo)

We thought it would never happen, but after a 13 year break, Soundgarden is back together and sounded like they hadn't spent a day apart.

(See Soundgarden perform "Black Hole Sun" live at the UIC Pavillion here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usrg2DfXXR8)

This week on my show from 3pm-7pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide via http://www.wlup.com/: win $100.00 per hour and Def Leppard/Heart tickets as the Loop's "Workforce Payroll" continues. Make sure we have your name so we can give you yours! http://www.wlup.com/contests/WorkforcePayroll2011.aspx

Also this week, listen each day for a Van Halen two-fer on my show to win a trip for 2 to see Van Halen in Australia as the Loop's "World Tour" returns! http://www.wlup.com/WorldTour-VanHalen.aspx

Guests this week include Ted Nugent this Wednesday at 5:30pm, Steel Panther on Thursday at 4:30pm and Tesla this Friday at 6:30pm.

(See Ted Nugent perform "Stranglehold" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBIhOn_9CM&feature=related)

CAUTION! ADULT CONTENT.
(See Steel Panther's video for "Death To All But Metal" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfB7vF7nCdA)

(See Tesla's video for "Signs" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gklM1AiZX0s)

The Def Leppard/Heart show originally scheduled for this Friday has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 28 owing to the sudden death of Joe Elliott's father. Tickets for the original date will be honored then.

U2 brought their 360 degree tour back to Soldier Field this past week with more elaborate staging, sound and lights than any other rock show ever. No wonder it's become most successful tour of all time... and the nearly 65,000 Loyal Loopers in attendance will likely never forget it. Mind-blowing!

(See my behind-the-scenes look at U2's 360 degree tour here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iObbLdI_-g&feature=channel_video_title)

(See U2 perform "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE4jZ8t6TBQ)

(See U2 perform "Where The Streets Have No Name" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz56l1c0DEA)

(See U2 perform "One" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0acGJzkvzf8)

(See U2 perform "With Or Without You" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdRM61ClkDA)

(See U2 perform "Sunday Bloody Sunday" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVaSnBDcps)

(See U2 perform "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" live at Soldier Field here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHFH0iTLh0g)

This week on my show from 3pm-7pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide via http://www.wlup.com/: win $100.00 per hour as the Loop's "Workforce Payroll" continues. Make sure we have your name so we can give you yours! http://www.wlup.com/contests/WorkforcePayroll2011.aspx

Also this week, win Steel Panther tickets daily.

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT.
(See Steel Panther's video for "Community Property" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUPG8olnO0&feature=relmfu)

Conversations this week with Nick Mason of Pink Floyd on Tuesday at 4:30pm and Joe Satriani this Thursday at 6:30pm.

(See Pink Floyd perform "Money" live at Live 8 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl6NfQyNLto)

(See Joe Satriani's video for "Summer Song" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhR4ZEtkYvg)

Happy 4th of July!

Motley Crue and Poison rolled into town with special guests the New York Dolls this past Friday to kick off the long weekend celebrations with a bang. And what a spectacular bang! A non-stop barrage of fireworks, fun and fist-pumping rock (and one roller coaster) had the Loyal Loopers packing the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre on their feet for 4 solid hours. You might say we were "Red, White and Crue-ed"!

(See Motley Crue perform "Girls, Girls, Girls" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mntaP_hV5Xk)

(See Motley Crue perform "Kickstart My Heart" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS0yGfsUb7k)

(See Poison perform "Nothin' But A Good Time" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vby31D6j49M)

(See Poison perform "Talk Dirty To Me" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv-6Vpw5RL8)

Next up was Styx rocking a capacity crowd Saturday night at Ribfest in Naperville.

(See Styx perform "Lady" at Ribfest in Naperville here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjO2M2Y-Ws0)

(See Styx perform "Come Sail Away" at Ribfest in Naperville here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq_a-_lizv4)

Sunday saw Grand Funk Railroad take the stage at Ribfest.

(See Grand Funk Railroad perform "We're An American Band" live at Ribfest in Naperville here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a58NysQwJII)

This week on my show from 3pm-7pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide via http://www.wlup.com/: win $100.00 per hour as the Loop's "Workforce Payroll" continues. Make sure we have your name so we can give you yours! http://www.wlup.com/contests/WorkforcePayroll2011.aspx

Also this week, win Joe Satriani tickets each day.

(See Joe Satriani's video for "Satch Boogie" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1MJAyRN3Lg)
 
This Thursday is "Loop Sox Night" #2 at US Cellular Field. Join me as I broadcast my show live from the incredible new bar & grill at the ballpark leading up to game-time and win tons of great Loop prizes. Cheap baseball tickets, great time! http://www.wlup.com/SoxNites/20110707.aspx