We pulled this together just in time for your lunch break. Make it a long one. In memory of Tom Snyder, who passed yesterday at the age of 71.
From 1973-1982, the coveted post-Carson slot on NBC belonged to the legendarySnyder and his The Tomorrow Show, an off-kilter interview program featuring Tom's awesome eyebrows and some hard-hitting, confrontational Q&A. He also had a knack for booking rock icons in their heyday -- and for some reason, things tended to get loopy. (Probably 'cause he was booking rock icons. In their heyday.) Take this 1980 interview with Public Image Ltd.'s John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten) and Keith Levene, in which Tom and John engage in a battle of contempt and pave the way for Smoosh, the lovable band from Mr. Show's VTV sketch.
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Doo-dah. After the jump, Part Two of this interview (just as contentious, we promise) and other magical moments in Snyder history, including KISS with a drunk Ace Frehley and a Spacebear, a bug-eyed Iggy Pop, the Clash, an an "explosive" performance from Wendy O. and Plasmatics.
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So much more Tom for you to procrastinate to, so here's a handy link guide to the YouTubes:
Check Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics doing "Pig Is Pig" and the following interview ... head here for Tom and a hopped-up Iggy Pop ... or a trio of The Clash clips ("Magnificent Seven," Q&A, "This Is Radio Clash") ... and finally, lots of drunkenness with KISS (Parts One, Two, Three, and Four).
We've also dug up a clip of U2's stint on the Snyder show, their very first American TV appearance ("I Will Follow") -- but what we couldn't find was John Lennon's final televised interview, which took place with Tom in April 1975. Who's got link?
Regardless ... don't plan on getting anything done this afternoon. Enjoy. R.I.P. Tom.
