You never know when or where success will strike. Sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time. It could result from bumping into an old friend. Or success might be sparked by a sun-drenched day at the beach.

For Don Felder, a former member of The Eagles - the most successful American band in history - success came from each of those circumstances. The latter setting inspired him to write the music for the group's signature song, 'Hotel California.' That tune's most famous line has become all too prescient for Felder - 'You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.' He may no longer be an Eagle, but Felder will forever be associated with the band.

The in-concert meltdown: an unfortunate spectacle usually activated by the rigors of a life on the road sparked by exhaustion, chemicals, a fragile emotional or physical makeup and the general demeanor of the 'artiste' in question.

Audience reactions to the meltdown can range from anger to amusement - from disbelief to delight. The end result for the performer varies, but it could include a vaguely-worded apology and a trip to the ER, rehab or both.

New book, new album and the joy of plugging in

There are few bands of Heart's stature and longevity who can lay claim to a year like this one. June saw the release of 'Strange Euphoria' - a box set containing a wealth of previously unheard material across three discs, along with a DVD of a 1976 Heart performance.

In the mid 80s, a friend gave me a cassette containing live recordings of a February 1970 Fleetwood Mac performance (the original Fleetwood Mac - with Peter Green on guitar and lead vocals) recorded in Boston. The tape was labeled 'Live at the Boston Tea Party,' and to this day, that tape contains some of the best live rock recordings I've heard.

In those pre-internet days, information about The Boston Tea Party was hard to come by. That tape instilled an ongoing curiosity for me about the venue itself. Where was it? Who played there? What is currently occupying that space? That's where it gets a bit complicated.