Dan Markus Wax Museum

The 1968 Presidential Election

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Rocker Tommy James and comedian Pat Paulsen both had roles in the 1968 Presidential Election. Richard Nixon won the election over Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace. But here are two stories you may not have heard before, one from Tommy James, the other from Pat Paulsen.

Spanky McFarland of Spanky and Our Gang

Dan Markus — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Spanky and Our Gang's hits included "Sunday Will Never Be The Same, Lazy Day," and "Like To Get To Know You." They were known for great harmonies and a quirky look. Here, Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane recalls the band's formation-to-first-gig-in-4-days origin, and the name.

Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night

Dan Markus — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Danny Hutton knows why Three Dog Night songs were so popular, and discloses a really stupid reason why one critic chose to pan the band that had 18 consecutive Top 20 hits.

Bob Cowsill Christmas EP

Dan Markus — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0000

The Cowsills have a new 3-song Christmas EP out, and it's a gem! Here, Bob Cowsill chats with Dan Markus about the new EP, and shares a few other interesting Cowsills stories. More on The Cowsills and many other artists from Rock and Roll's formative years at https://www.danmarkuswaxmuseum.com

Susan Cowsill talks about the 2023 Happy Together Tour

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Susan Cowsill has been a rock star since her pre-teen years, and here she talks with Dan Markus about being in The Cowsills with her mother and brothers, and being a part of the 2023 Happy Together Tour.

Steppenwolf Escaping a Russian Invasion

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

What iconic Rock Star escaped a Russian Invasion as a baby when his mother snuck him across a border in the middle of the night? Hear the story from the man it happened to.

Chad and Jeremy and The Dick Van Dyke Show

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Chad and Jeremy, in the first year of The British Invasion, made a very memorable appearance on the Dick Van Dyke Show, playing British musicians plagued by hoards of screaming teenage girls intent on meeting them. The episode (called The Redcoats are Coming) first aired February 10, 1965. Here, Chad and Jeremy talk with Dan Markus about their cherished experience on that show.

Jimmy Pankow of the band Chicago about early critics

Dan Markus — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 01:00:00 +0000

When Chicago first debuted (is that redundant?), some rock purists were hesitant to call it a "rock band" because it had a built-in horn section (Jimmy Pankow on trombone, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, and Walter Parazaider on saxophone and flute). Here, Dan Markus (a trombonist himself-back in the day) brings the subject up with Chicago founding member Jimmy Pankow.

The Grass Roots’ Rob Grill chats with Dan Markus

Dan Markus — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 01:00:00 +0000

The Grass Roots' Rob Grill revealed to Dan Markus how he had a close call with death, but switched planes at the last minute. The tragic 1979 plane crash took the lives of everyone on board.

Dan Markus talks with Steve Cropper

Dan Markus — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 01:00:00 +0000

Dan Markus talks with one of Rock's greatest guitarists (so-annointed by Rolling Stone Magazine) whose career goes back even before the British Invasion years when he was guitarist in the house band for the TV show "Shindig." He's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for being a member of the legendary band, Booker T. and The MGs. Perhaps he's most remembered for playing behind Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in The Blues Brothers (band and movie). In this 10 minute phone interview, Steve and Dan talk about Steve's latest album, Fire It Up, and Steve tells his favorite behind-the-scene story about shooting The Blue Brothers movie.

Dan Markus talks with Moody Blues founder John Lodge

Dan Markus — Sun, 02 May 2021 01:00:00 +0000

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Lodge talks about "The Sun Will Shine," John's new solo song released May of 2021. Hear the song by visiting the Dan Markus' Wax Museum website, https://danmarkuswaxmuseum.com.

Mary Wilson of The Supremes

Dan Markus — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 01:00:00 +0000

With the sad passing of Mary Wilson, founding member of the landmark Motown group The Supremes, I went back into my interview vault and selected three brief clips from my 1987 interview with the legendary singer. We discussed how The Supremes crossed-over to a larger audience, and the tour that made the trio Superstars.

Mary Wilson of The Supremes

Dan Markus — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 01:00:00 +0000

Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams

Dan Markus — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 01:00:00 +0000

Carl Giammarese of Chicago's Buckinghams chats with Dan Markus about how the band got a record deal by winning a TV contest. And how Kind of a Drag leapt to Number One in America, yet the band didn't have a record deal. And the times (plural) that The Buckinghams played at Presidential Inauguration Balls in Washington, DC. Plus much more.

Pete Best talks about John Lennon

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

On the anniversary of John Lennon's death, here's a brief part of my conversation with Pete Best, The Beatles first regular drummer. I asked him a question, and you can hear his affection for John Lennon as he talks about his bandmate. On the anniversary of John Lennon's death, here's a brief part of my conversation with Pete Best, The Beatles first regular drummer. I asked him a question, and you can hear his affection for John Lennon as he talks about his bandmate.

Johnny Rivers – His Name – Secret Agent Man

Dan Markus — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 01:00:00 +0000

How Johnny Rivers got his stage name, and by what famous (In-The-Rock-And-Roll-Hall-Of-Fame-Famous) Disc Jockey. Plus how he found one of his most iconic songs while touring Great Britain.

Shirley Alston Reeves talks about Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Dan Markus — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Shirley Alston Reeves, lead singer of The Shirelles, didn't think Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow would be a hit. Ultimately it spent two weeks at Number One in early 1961. In this clip, Shirley spoke with me by phone about why she really really didn't want to record this composition by a then relatively-unknown Carole King, with a behind-the-scenes look at in-studio discussions about it.

Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean Pt 3

Dan Markus — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean talks about * Recording Surf City, * The very bizarre story that resulted in the duo being barred from the movie set of a film they had recorded the hit title track for, * Jan Berry's horrendous car accident (and how he, Dean, found out about it), and * The arrival of The Beatles on the music scene (which instantly halted the careers of most American musicians). Visit Dan Markus' Wax Museum website for more conversations, and Dan Markus' Wax Museum on Facebook.

Peter Noone-Herman of Herman’s Hermits

Dan Markus — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +0000

The lead singer of Herman's Hermits (Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter, I'm Henry VIII, I Am, There's A Kind of Hush) talks with Dan Markus about touring with The Who (and Keith Moon's birthday, um, celebration ... you can imagine ... ), some of the famous studio musicians heard on some of their records, his Sirus XM show Something Good, and much more.

Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean Pt 2

Dan Markus — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Dean Torrence talks about … how he came to sing lead on a big Beach Boys hit AND about the time Jan and Dean showed up for a concert and there were no cars in the venue's parking lot AND why they were banned from the movie set of "Ride the Wild Surf" even though they sang the movie's title track AND what major historical international event had its origins in a Jan and Dean tour (according to USA Today).

Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean Pt 1

Dan Markus — Sat, 02 May 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Dean Torrence of Jan Dean ("Surf City," "Deadman's Curve" et al) is a great storyteller with great stories to tell. Hear about the duo's early days (and whose used recording equipment they used in Jan's garage for their first hits). Hear about when he came face-to-face for the first time with the famous woman he once sang about, and her Superstar husband. Hear a detailed account of the destruction of his Grammy statuette ... by family members!

This is a feature length interview. Unlike previous DMWM items, which run only a couple minutes each, this is an in-depth interview that runs just over an hour. And this is just PART 1 with Dean.

How did they come to call themselves The Mamas and Papas

Dan Markus — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Founding members of The Mamas and Papas, Denny Doherty and John Phillips, explain how their rather unusual group name originated.

Kenny Rogers talks about Ruby

Dan Markus — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Country Superstar Kenny Rogers relates how "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" steered his band, The First Edition, away from Psychedelic Rock and more towards Country. And what 60s Rock Band did The First Edition want to emulate? R.I.P. Kenny Rogers.

Jim Peterik – Ides of March

Dan Markus — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Dan Markus talks with Jim Peterik of Ides of March, formerly of Survivor and of .38 Special fame.

Tommy Roe explains the meaning of Jam Up and Jelly Tight

Dan Markus — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Tommy Roe had a hit in early 1970 called "Jam Up and Jelly Tight." It was an infectious little song that we all sang along to. But just what were we singing, anyway?! Tommy explains in this exclusive interview with Dan Markus. And for more interviews, visit ttps://danmarkuswaxmuseum.com

Remembering Davy Jones

Dan Markus — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +0000

On the 8th anniversary of his sudden passing (February 29, 2012), here's one of my favorite stories about being with Davy, and a clip from our first meeting and interview where he talks about success.

Howard Kaylan and the Story of Red Death

Dan Markus — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Howard Kaylan, lead singer of The Turtles, tells an amusing story about the band's early days when they played a UCLA fraternity party.

Tommy James re Hanky Panky

Dan Markus — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Tommy James tells Dan Markus how Tommy's first hit, "Hanky Panky," took years to become a national hit.

Donovan about Sunshine Superman

Dan Markus — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

The rumor has circulated for years … in 1966 George Harrison recorded a guitar track for friend and companion Donovan's signature song, "Sunshine Superman." Or did he? Dan Markus put the question to Donovan, who in turn puts the rumor to rest once and for all.

Arlo Guthrie talks about Alice’s Restaurant

Dan Markus — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Arlo Guthrie's first record release was the fabled "Alice's Restaurant," released in 1967. It was unusual for several reasons … most notably that it was 18+ minutes long and mostly narration. Here, Arlo reflects on his debut offering, which became an instant classic.

Union whistler on a 1965 Top 5 Hit

Dan Markus — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

What Top 5 hit from the Summer/Fall of 1965 featured a prominent whistling part that no one in the band could perform?

Graham Nash talks about CSN being issue-oriented

Dan Markus — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young) were artists who were not afraid to tackle some of the issues of a turbulent time in the world. In this exclusive interview clip from the mid-80s, Graham Nash tells Dan Markus about the band's willingness to deal with public issues through their music.