Reunited | 3:26
Greg Kihn - Topic | 802 subscribers | 933 views | July 21, 2023
Posted on 10/09/2024 8:37:58 PM PDT by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
Eighties hitmaker Greg Kihn, best remembered for his early MTV-era smashes “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” and “Jeopardy,” died Tuesday at age 75. The cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Kihn started his career as a folksy singer-songwriter in his hometown of Baltimore, but moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s where he formed the Greg Kihn Band alongside guitarist Robbie Dunbar, bassist Steve Wright, and drummer Larry Lynch. They released five albums on the indie label Beserkley Records that attracted little public attraction despite strong reviews and their reputation as a killer live act.
“The rap is, why hasn’t Greg Kihn made it yet,” he asked Rolling Stone in 1980. “I don’t know and I don’t care….I’ve given up worrying about ascending to the throne. That’s the kind of nonmusical thing that could hold a band back. Right now, though, I’d like a crack at AM [radio].”
That crack came the following year when “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em),” written by Kihn and Wright, reached Number 15 on the Hot 100. “I never really finished the lyrics to ‘The Breakup Song,” Kihn told Rolling Stone in 1983. “The ah ah ah‘s in the song were just filler – I intended to write words later. Then I played it for the band, and they said, ‘Wow, those are the deepest words you ever wrote.’ I tried to be cool and act like I’d planned it, but in reality, I had no idea. It took me three weeks to write a song about that. Now it takes five minutes.”
[snip]
RIP. At least he was a two-hit wonder.
Bezerkeley records.
One of the best Weird Al parodies “I Lost On Jeopardy”.
He was great as the morning DJ at KFOX for 16 years (1996-2012). He used to rattle some cages because his comments weren’t exactly liberal. LOL!! He was great to listen to on my morning commute. RIP, Greg.
I love The Breakup Song. RIP
Reunited | 3:26
Greg Kihn - Topic | 802 subscribers | 933 views | July 21, 2023
Greg Kihn, a Bay Area staple on Beserkely Records back in the day. RIP.
Greg Kihn was a staple in the Bay Area club scene . The guy was always playing somewhere . Same time and stomping grounds as Eddie Money.
They were good friends, and Eddie would appear on Greg's show on occasion. Greg called him "Eduardo Dinero".
Greg was actually pretty conservative and said some things that rattled management during his time as the morning DJ (1996-2012). They "went in another direction" in 2012 and replaced Greg. I figured his viewpoints were consistent with the asshole POTUS we had at the time, so management fired Greg. I stopped listening to that station immediately afterward.
*were NOT consistent
I remember both of those songs from my much-younger days.
RIP, Mr. Kihn.
Rest In Peace, Greg.
Well, crap.
Breakup song is a great one for the 3-string cigar box guitar.
He wrote and recorded some fun songs. I used to get him mixed up with Steve Miller, the one who wrote “Space Cowboy”
I enjoyed those two songs.
Time flies.
Life goes quickly. I know you all dont think so, but when you reach old age, your mind goes back to some of the great moments, and it seems it was just ‘yesterday’.. But a lot has happened since then.
Old age is when you have the time and maybe the money.. But the body is saying no. You look in the mirror, and no matter how you spin it.. You are old!
There were some other good artists on Beserkley Records at that time inc. The Rubinoos and Jonathan Richman .
Yeah.
Jonathan Richman Modern Lovers live is a great album.
I always liked his sound. It was fresh.
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