Farewell Dick Clark, Music Genius

Dick Clark, music pioneer and legend, died yesterday after a massive heart attack. He was 82. Everyone in America -- and probably the rest of the world -- knows Dick Clark. People like my parents (you know, baby boomers) watched Clark host American Bandstand, a show that launched countless music careers. People of my generation know Clark for New Year's Rockin' Eve. And he had his hand in countless other types of shows like TV Bloopers & Practical Jokes and a slew of award shows like the Golden Globes. Dick Clark productions was also behind one of my most favorite television series of all time: American Dreams.

Clark had diabetes and suffered a stroke in 2004. That stroke badly damaged him... and me too I think. He returned to host his New Year's Eve party show for a couple years after that stroke, but he looked and sounded so bad, it upset me to the point where I had to give the show up. In recent years, Ryan Seacrest took over the hosting duties, with Clark just doing the midnight countdown. I couldn't even watch that part -- and the past couple of years, I even did my best to avoid Twitter right after midnight because I couldn't bear to read the comments from insensitive people that don't understand the complexity that strokes and aging in general have on the human body.

American Bandstand wasn't just for pop stars. Dick Clark just loved music and he featured lots of glam bands we count as our faves like Def Leppard and KISS.

Comments

[Metalboy!]

Farewell, Dick!

Glam Metal acts that appeared on American Bandstand:

Aerosmith
Autograph
Def Leppard
Dokken
Giuffria
KISS
Y&T

[Roy]

Very sad, as Dick Clark had ties to Central New York where I live.

PS: Glam Metal acts that appeared on American Bandstand: ANGEL!!

[Shawn]

I actually saw a very young Bon Jovi on American Bandstand. If I remmember correctly they didn't hide the fact that they were lip synching by pretending to play instruments that were not even in the song and I do not think Tico even had a drum set and one of them had a brass instument.. I had forgoptten about Def Leppard.

[scott whitt]

I remember the Guiffria one. The one act that stands out in my memory was a Russian band called Lady Pank. They were this bad band that lip synched and the only reason why they were on was it was still the Cold War and they were a novelty.
DC did a lot with his opportunities.
I remember hearing that Dick was the one that turned Alan Freed in. Don't know if that was ever verified.

[tommydahl]

the man a legend the lip syncing was funny hell even prince was on AB

[tommydahl]

P.S. lets hit u tube

[Metalboy!]

Sux that most of the clips are not up on YouTube, just the interviews Dick would always conduct at the end of a band's performance.

As of now, the only way you can see a performance is to license it from Dick Clark Productions.

Maybe things will be different once the dust has settled on the estate.

[Ace Steele]

Dick Clark is a legend in the music business. He is one of the entertainment industry's true icons.

Not only did he introduce many bands to the world via American Bandstand, but he also had this other amazing show on ABC called "In Concert", which featured incredible LIVE performances from some of the best bands ever, BEFORE they really broke big. One of the most amazing pieces of film ever, is KISS's early performances on "In Concert" when they only had ONE record out. I think this might have been where I first saw KISS in 1974. Thank You, Mr. Clark! Thank you for a lifetime of music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF-jjaBMHcw