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Alex Van Halen Brothers Book Review
I’ve been looking forward to this book being released for some time.
Brothers by Alex Van Halen, the drummer of the band Van Halen and brother of guitarist Edward Van Halen (RIP).
I also bought the Audio CDs of the book because I knew that Alex himself read it for this and wanted to hear him read it as I read along too.
It was worth the extra money because you can hear it in his voice than he means what he says and that you can hear that he’s gone back in time while reading the book.
The book Brothers covers a lot of ground. Alex and Edward’s upbringing, coming to America from Holland, starting to play music as kids, swapping instruments, playing in earlier bands, forming what became Van Halen, their relationship with singer David Lee Roth, playing backyard parties, clubs, making a demo with Gene Simmons of KISS, getting signed to Warner Brothers Records, making their first 6 albums, and more.
I loved this book and especially hearing Alex tell these stories.
I only wish the book went beyond the Dave years and focused on the other years of VH also. There are a few mentions of some of those times, but not much.
But either way, if you are a VH fan, this is a MUST READ.
And if possible, please get the audio too. You won’t regret it.
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The Substance Movie Review
My girlfriend Mariah and I watched the movie called The Substance this past weekend.
We became aware of this movie some time ago and thought it looked really good.
Well, we were right.
If you have not seen this yet and want to, avoid reading the rest of this because I will be giving spoilers. Otherwise, please read on.
Demi Moore, in may I say one of her best roles, plays an Academy Award winning actress who is now hosting an exercise show. However, she finds out indirectly from her boss (played by Dennis Quaid in a very over the top performance) that she is being fired for being too old.
After this, she gets in a car accident (she suffers no injuries) and while she is at the hospital, a nurse gives her a USB drive that features an ad about a way to be young again.
Intrigued, she goes to this very shady, isolated looking place to get the stuff needed to make the procedure happen.
And let’s just say it initially works. What happens is that another form of her (played by Margaret Qualley) comes out of Demi and for 7 days, this part of herself will exist and Demi will basically not exist. But after 7 days, she has to “not exist” and Demi will exist for 7 days.
This goes on for awhile and as I said initially, it works. However, both get greedy let’s say with their time and how they handle things, and in the end, it does not work out for either part.
I think this movie is excellent.
Again, Demi gives one of her best performances.
Dennis Quaid is soooooo over the top.
Margaret Qualley is great.
The cinematography, sets, music, everything is phenomenal.
This movie I consider science fiction, but also an extreme story of how people will do anything to remain young.
Seek out The Substance.
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Mark Farner Closer To My Home Album Review
I’ve been waiting for this for some time.
The great singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) has released a new solo album!!
Released on November 8 of 2024, the album is called Closer To My Home and it is a phenomenal album.
Produced by Mark and Mark Slaughter (Slaughter, The Vinnie Vincent Invasion), this album has everything you want if you are a fan of Mark or Grand Funk.
Every song is phenomenal. It even closes with a Grand Funk classic (I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home).
I can already say this is one of the best albums of 2024 and one of Mark’s best albums.
Thank you sir for making this album and for signing it too!!!!
It rocks, but is yet soulful and has tons of melody and great lyrics.
Rock on Mark Farner and thanks for giving me a shout out recently on a Facebook Live chat too (video below).
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Sebastian Bach Rocks Ashland, KY!!!!
- Date of Concert: Friday, November 8, 2024
- Location of Concert: Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY
- Opener: Kurt Deimer
Wow I needed this!!
So did my friend John Robinette, who sadly just recently lost his job.
We both went to see Sebastian Bach in concert at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY. Just a few minutes from where I live and where I was born.
The opening act, Kurt Deimer, started off the night with a really rocking set. His debut album is out April 25 of 2025, which is his birthday. I definitely want to buy it. He does have an EP out now, though, and songs are available to stream online. Seek him and his awesome band out.
But the main event, Sebastian Bach, came next and boy as always, he rocked!!
He and his great band played almost the entire first Skid Row album (2024 marks 35 years since it’s release) and several songs from Sebastian’s great new album Child Within The Man (my favorite Sebastian solo album along with his album Angel Down), and a few songs from the second Skid Row album Slave To The Grind.
Sebastian told some funny stories about KISS (He gave a water bottle to a little kid in the audience because KISS guitarist Ace Frehley handed him a water bottle from the stage when Sebastian was 11. And he got one of KISS singer/bassist Gene Simmon’s cup of fake blood and kept it in his refrigerator for 20 years, and one day his Mom was over cleaning and she threw it away thinking it was trash.), really pumped the crowd (he even brought two young little girls on stage to rock out to Youth Gone Wild), even signed a few things for some fans, and really had a great time. Which in turn caused the audience to have a great time.
Sebastian always delivers the goods and I and my friend John thank him for all the music and for the great concert. We both needed it.
Sorry though to my friend Brandon Lange, who was going to go to the show, but unfortunately he was not able to make it. So, he gave me his ticket, in which I gave to my friend John. John thanks you Brandon and I say get well soon my friend.
Again, thank you Sebastian for everything. I love the Child Within The Man album.
We love you Baz and please keep on rocking!!
I took videos too but I can’t yet post them. I will soon.
Keep on rocking everyone.
Sebastian Bach Setlist:
- What Do I Got To Lose? (New Song)
- Slave To The Grind
- Here I Am
- Big Guns
- Sweet Little Sister
- 18 And Life
- Can’t Stand The Heartache
- Freedom (New Song)
- Piece Of Me
- Everybody Bleeds (New Song)
- Monkey Business (w part of Tom Sawyer by RUSH)
- I Remember You
- (Hold On) To The Dream (New Song)
- Rattlesnake Shake
- Youth Gone Wild
- Future Of Youth
Kurt Deimer Setlist:
- Dance
- Doom
- Look
- Have A Cigar (Pink Floyd cover)
- Hero
- Whatcha Sayin’
- Live Or Die
- Naive
- Fight
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor By Doug Bradley (Pinhead from Hellraiser Franchise) Book Review
Horror movie icon Doug Bradley (Pinhead in most of the Hellraiser movies) released a book in 2004 called Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor.
Part autobiography, part history book, Doug talks about getting into acting, earlier projects and working on the Hellraiser movies, but also, he talks extensively about other Horror movie icons, like Lon Chaney Sr. and Jr., Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Englund, and many more.
He also talks extensively about Horror movie characters, like Dracula, Frankenstein, Phantom Of The Opera, Michael Myers, Freddie Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, and much more.
He talks about earlier origins of Horror characters too and people who made up many Horror characters, including Clive Barker, who did the forward to the book.
This is a very good book about the history of Horror but also is a partial autobiography of Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley.
I really enjoyed this book.
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Rod Stewart Rod The Autobiography Review
Rod Stewart released his autobiography Rod The Autobiography in 2012.
If you are a fan of Sir Rod’s, I cannot recommend this book enough.
He’s done it all and more.
Lots of music, lots of tours, lots of relationships, lots of sports, lots of everything.
He is one of the ultimate “rockstars”.
Get this book.
It is PHENOMENAL!!
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John Corabi Horseshoes And Hand Grenades Book Review
Singer/songwriter/guitarist John Corabi (The Scream, Motley Crue, Union, RATT, The Dead Daisies, solo artist) released his autobiography Horseshoes And Hand Grenades in 2022.
I bought it when I saw him earlier this year. Sorry John I was late getting to it.
It’s a great book, though. Co-written with Paul Miles, it traces his life from childhood, some of the crazy things that have happened in his life, all the bands he’s been in, and tons of stories throughout.
If you are a fan of John’s, I cannot recommend this book enough.
It has it all.
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My Thoughts on the Terrifier Franchise
As I’ve said in earlier posts, I’m late to the Horror genre.
I’ve been a fan of some Horror movies over the years (Halloween franchise and some of the Horror movies from the 30s, 40s, and 50s), but overall, was never a big fan until the last few years.
I’m still catching up and have a long way to go, but this year, I finally decided to watch the Terrifier movies.
The main character, Art The Clown, started off in an anthology movie called All Hallow’s Eve, and was so popular that a movie with him as the main star was made.
Terrifier is a very low budget Horror movie in which a killer clown (David Howard Thornton) wreaks havoc in very bizarre and gruesome ways.
Terrifier 2 involves Art getting even more gruesome and also has a “final girl” as they are called in Horror movies named Sienna (played by Lauren LaVera) who has to fight against Art.
Terrifier 3 has Sienna being released from a mental hospital and spending Christmas time with family members (her mother was killed in the second movie and her father has been dead for some time), and ultimately having to fight Art again, who of course is more gruesome and evil than ever.
These movies are DEFINITELY NOT for everyone.
I usually would hate movies like these because I am not a fan of extreme blood and gore, but for these movies, this works.
The Terrifier movies have become extremely popular (as I type this, Terrifier 3 has been number one at the box office for a few weeks) and Art The Clown has become a modern day Horror movie icon.
I look forward to seeing the next one because I’m sure there will be another and more after that.
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Motley Crue Cancelled EP Review
Now that I can post on the website again, I want to talk a little about the new Motley Crue EP.I’d heard all the songs online, but I love physical product and actually owning it.Motley are the band that many love to hate, especially on the internet, these days.However, I’ve been a fan for 25 years and I always will be.I don’t like that Mick Mars is not there, but Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, and Tommy Lee are still there, along with the amazing guitarist John 5 (John Lowery).I enjoy these songs. I’m not apologizing for it. They rock!I’m glad that Motley finally released more new music and I hope they will release more someday (albums please?!).Thanks guys for all the great music and keep on rocking!!
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The Website Is Mostly Back!!
I’m back!!
Over the past few months, I have been having some issues with the website and they are still being worked on.
A few posts went away and the videos are currently off the site (that’s being worked on).
But otherwise, the website is working again and I am able to post stories again.
I am in the process of putting the posts that went away back on here.
The videos hopefully will return soon.
But until then, please feel free to browse the site and enjoy it.
Sorry it’s been awhile, but I’m glad to be back on here.
