Green Day, Howard Stern, Donovan and The Malibooz

by Chris Murray on October 6, 2016

Jon Pareles in The New York Times today wrote a review of Green Day’s new album, ‘Revolution Radio.’ In the review, he wrote that “Green Day’s music stays loyal to punk-rock’s defiant gusto…” Howard Stern did an amazing hour and a half interview with the band on his morning show yesterday and Green Day performed several songs live on the show.

Donovan with his wife and muse Linda backstage at the Public Hall in Cleveland after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, April 14, 2012. ©  Carlotta Hester, 2012 Donovan with his wife and muse Linda backstage at the Public Hall in Cleveland after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, April 14, 2012. © Carlotta Hester, 2012

It was an extraordinary honor for me to accompany Donovan to his induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The induction ceremony and concert was held at Public Hall in Cleveland that year. I will never forget Green Day opening the concert with a killer performance of Letterbomb. I was standing in front of the stage, and I said to myself that Rock & Roll is very much alive and well upon seeing and hearing them perform. Donovan and his wife Linda and I were in the backstage dressing room with Billy Gibbons when Green Day came off the stage. I told Billie Joe Armstrong and Tré Cool how incredible their performance was. You could tell they were psyched to be there and to have performed so well. It won’t be long before Green Day is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Tré Cool reaching for Donovan's Hall of Fame award backstage at the Public Hall in Cleveland. ©  Carlotta Hester, 2012. Tré Cool reaching for Donovan’s Hall of Fame award backstage at the Public Hall in Cleveland. © Carlotta Hester, 2012.

Billie Joe Armstrong pumped up after coming offstage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. ©  Carlotta Hester, 2012. Billie Joe Armstrong pumped up after coming offstage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. © Carlotta Hester, 2012.

Tomorrow night, Donovan performs in Pasadena, CA at The Rose as part of his 50th Anniversary Sunshine Superman tour. I was psyched to see that The Malibooz will be opening for Donovan tomorrow night. I formed The Malibooz in New York City with my lifelong friend, John Zambetti while we were in high school together in Manhattan. I was the vocalist and rhythm guitar. As a band, we championed British Invasion, soul and surf music, which is what was happening musically at the time. John eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he kept The Malibooz going with the help of Walter Egan, who also went to Loyola High School with us and played in the original Malibooz, along with Dennis “Ace” Lopez and Tom Scarp. Walter has also enjoyed a great solo career which included his Top 10 hit, ‘Magnet and Steel,’ among several other hit songs he has written. It feels like my life has come full circle with The Malibooz opening for my friend and Govinda artist Donovan.

The Malibooz on E. 83rd St., NYC before a gig circa 1964. ©  The Malibooz. The Malibooz on E. 83rd St., NYC before a gig circa 1964. © Govinda Gallery Archive.

Govinda Gallery organized an exhibition of Walter Egan’s paintings of musical artists at Gypsy Sally’s in Washington. Donovan’s exhibition of his Sapphographs at Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington continues through October 21st. Donovan and Egan’s artwork is available through Govinda Gallery.

Category: Blog   

4 responses to “Green Day, Howard Stern, Donovan and The Malibooz”

  1. Bob DeLaurentis says:

    So cool Chris. Congrats! Here’s to the great circle of life!

  2. You Haven’t changed a bit Chris, since 1964.

  3. Chris Murray says:

    And here’s to you, Robert!

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