Detailed Summary of "takin' a walk" Podcast Episode: This Week in Music History 5-19

Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts (Buzz Knight)
Episode: This Week in Music History 5-19

Overview

In this episode of the "takin' a walk" podcast, host Buzz Knight delves into significant events in music history that occurred during the week of May 19th. Joined by guest Harry Jacobs, the duo explores pivotal moments, influential artists, and enduring legacies that have shaped the musical landscape. The conversation seamlessly weaves through various genres and eras, providing listeners with insightful anecdotes and reflections on iconic figures in music.

Favorite Titles and Branding in Music History

Buzz Knight opens the discussion by seeking Harry Jacobs' preference among several proposed titles for his role in the music history segment.

• [04:10] Buzz Knight: "Harry, what is your favorite of the terms that I have laid out for you? The maestro of all things music, I think, was the most recent one. I've gone through many different variations of it. Do you have a favorite that you'd like us to stick with?"

• [04:13] Harry Jacobs: "Music Maven? I kind of... I enjoy. I gotta give some thought to it."

After contemplating, Harry Jacobs emphasizes the importance of consistent branding:

• [04:19] Harry Jacobs: "Perception is reality. So if you keep using the same thing, people will think, oh, Harry Jacobs, he's the maven of all things music history or whatever."

Buzz Knight agrees on the potential for effective marketing and merchandise:

• [04:38] Buzz Knight: "Then I see all sorts of marketing ploys, merchandise. It really takes off."

Key Events in Music History This Week

Linkin Park's "One More Light" and Chester Bennington's Legacy

The duo reflects on the release of Linkin Park's final album and the tragic passing of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.

• [04:44] Harry Jacobs: "May 19, 2017, Linkin Park released 'One More Light.' And that was their last album with Chester Bennington, who died, took his own life just a couple of months later on the 20th of July in 2017."

Buzz Knight expresses his sorrow:

• [05:01] Buzz Knight: "Awful, terrible story. Great band and just... I mean, just what a tortured story."

Harry Jacobs praises the band's musical diversity:

• [05:08] Harry Jacobs: "My God, a great sound for them. It was kind of an interesting. Not straight rock. It was almost kind of a rap or a pop, you know, had multiple elements in their music."

He further elaborates on the band's unique sound:

• [05:21] Harry Jacobs: "They did, yeah, like industrial sounding. Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Dusty Hill's Birthday and Passing

The conversation shifts to the legendary bassist Dusty Hill of ZZ Top.

• [06:57] Harry Jacobs: "Dusty Hill's birthday was May 19, and he passed away in July of 2021. He had a bunch of issues that you wouldn't think would have taken, taken someone's life. He had an issue with bursitis. He had an issue with hip. He had a hip surgery, but he passed away. What seemed to be pretty suddenly for us as ... I was so sad, you know, passing."

Harry Jacobs also highlights the continuity of the band:

• [07:48] Harry Jacobs: "Netflix released the documentary that they had a ZZ Top documentary. I think you can find it now on Amazon, which was really insightful but they did a lot. We learned a lot about all three of those guys that were in their homes. Dusty Hill is a monster Elvis fan. Had a monster collection of Elvis stuff and all the ZZ Top history. But it was quite a surprise. They, by the way, they didn't miss a beat. Elwood Francis, who's their guitar tech, literally stepped in the next night."

Eric Clapton's Marriage to Pattie Boyd

Harry Jacobs recalls Eric Clapton's significant personal and professional milestone.

• [09:49] Harry Jacobs: "In 1979, on May 19th, Eric Clapton celebrated his marriage to Patty Boyd. And Pattie Boyd was a... was an important figure and led to the recording of one of Clapton's most famous songs."

Buzz Knight connects this event to Clapton's iconic work:

• [10:09] Buzz Knight: "You mean 'Layla'? Yeah, that's right."

Harry Jacobs discusses the personal turmoil surrounding the marriage:

• [10:26] Harry Jacobs: "Eric Clapton fell in love with Pattie Harrison, George Harrison's wife. They were the closest of friends at the time, which made it, you know, further awkward."

Buzz Knight comments on the aftermath:

• [10:42] Buzz Knight: "What did you think?"

Harry Jacobs responds candidly:

• [10:44] Harry Jacobs: "Yeah, completely messed up situation that he fell in love with his best friend's wife. The air was cleared. Clapton and Harrison got along after that, which is weird, but they celebrated their wedding in 1979 on May 19th with a whole bunch of great guests, Mick Jagger and a bunch of people. It was a musical type event."

Additional Notable Events

1. Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock"

   • [11:59] Harry Jacobs: "In 1954, on May 20, Bill Haley released 'Rock Around the Clock.' This was the first rock song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It's a big deal. Musically, it had a lot of different elements. Bill Haley was a country artist before he was playing with the Comets, but that song had elements of R&B, it had elements of country, and it has elements of swing. Musically, it's a really neat song to listen to. There's a lot of different stuff going on in it. And that song is, in ways, the first real rock song."

2. The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" and "Brown Sugar"

   • [12:52] Harry Jacobs: "Paint It Black hit number one in the UK and then later on in the US. But 'Paint It Black' is one of those songs when you hear it, like in a movie or something, you know something bad's gonna happen. It's completely haunting."
   • [13:13] Harry Jacobs: "On May 22, they released 'Brown Sugar.' And that was the first song on the Rolling Stones' record label, which they kept going until 1992 and they signed with Virgin."

3. Charlie Watts' Passing

   • [13:39] Harry Jacobs: "May 24, 2021, was the day that Charlie Watts passed. And that's our last story for the week. He died at 80. He had battled throat cancer in 2004, he had throat cancer and he beat it. They never released his cause of death in 2021. But you know, a sad day for rock and roll to lose Charlie Watts."
   • [14:07] Buzz Knight: "And one of the true gentlemen of rock and roll. Everyone always said Charlie was really more comfortable playing jazz rather than playing rock and roll, but what a great drummer, what a gentleman and what a terrible loss."
   • [14:22] Harry Jacobs: "You really appreciate his work as a drummer. If you see video of him playing, you know, non-Stones playing jazz or playing another style, you really can appreciate him as a drummer."

Reflections and Conclusions

As the episode wraps up, Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs reflect on the bittersweet nature of music history, acknowledging both the triumphs and tragedies that have shaped the industry.

• [14:36] Buzz Knight: "That's right. Yep."

• [14:37] Harry Jacobs: "And in fact, 'Paint It Black.' His drum licks during 'Paint It Black' were just amazing."

Buzz Knight concludes with a note of gratitude towards listeners:

• [14:47] Buzz Knight: "Well, thank you, Harry. And you know, it's sad with a lot of the passing of the great icons of music, but we do have to report on that just as much as we celebrate them. It's another look at this week in music history for the week of May 19th. And thanks for checking out the Taking a Walk podcast. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and are part of the iHeart Podcast Network."

Notable Quotes

• Harry Jacobs [04:19]: "Perception is reality. So if you keep using the same thing, people will think, oh, Harry Jacobs, he's the maven of all things music history or whatever."

• Harry Jacobs [05:08]: "My God, a great sound for them. It was kind of an interesting. Not straight rock. It was almost kind of a rap or a pop, you know, had multiple elements in their music."

• Buzz Knight [05:01]: "Awful, terrible story. Great band and just... I mean, just what a tortured story."

• Harry Jacobs [10:26]: "Eric Clapton fell in love with Pattie Harrison, George Harrison's wife. They were the closest of friends at the time, which made it, you know, further awkward."

• Harry Jacobs [13:13]: "Paint It Black is one of those songs when you hear it, like in a movie or something, you know something bad's gonna happen. It's completely haunting."

• Harry Jacobs [17:39]: "The paper ceiling."

Conclusion

This episode of "takin' a walk" offers a poignant exploration of pivotal moments in music history, highlighting the profound impacts of personal lives on artistic legacies. Through engaging dialogue and insightful commentary, Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs honor the memories of legendary artists while celebrating their enduring contributions to the world of music. Whether reflecting on the groundbreaking sounds of Bill Haley or mourning the loss of Charlie Watts, the episode provides a comprehensive and heartfelt narrative that resonates with music enthusiasts and history buffs alike.