• Blog,  Movie Reviews

    Gone Are The Days Movie Review

    Gone Are The Days was released in 2017.

    It stars Lance Henriksen, Tom Berenger, Billy Lush, Meg Steedle, Steve Railsback, and Danny Trejo.

    Henriksen plays Taylon, an outlaw who is near the end of his life.

    He wants to rob one more bank before he dies so he can give his daughter (Steedle), who does not even know he is her Dad, the money and the money he already has in savings so she can live a good life.

    What he does not realize is that she is a prostitute who is being pimped out by Railsback’s character, and so Henriksen needs to get her away from him too.

    Berenger plays a sheriff and former Texas Ranger, who has history with Henriksen’s character.

    This is definitely a western, but it is really more a character story of someone (Henriksen) at the end of their life.

    You watch the movie and wonder what is real and what is perhaps a dream because Henriksen’s character is so far gone.

    I found the movie a bit weird because of this, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed it.

    I’m a big Lance Henriksen and Tom Berenger fan, as well as Danny Trejo (who has a small but important role in this).

    Don’t expect this to be a straight ahead western because it isn’t.

    But it is a good movie and I think everyone did a very good job with it.

  • Blog,  Movie Reviews

    Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street Review

    Scream Queen:  My Nightmare On Elm Street is a documentary about actor Mark Patton, who is most known as the star of Nightmare On Elm Street 2:  Freddy’s Revenge.

    Yes this documentary talks about Mark’s experience working on that movie (one of my favorite horror movies), but this documentary is really his life story.

    He talks about his upbringing, about figuring out his sexuality, getting into acting and why he left acting (really off the grid period for many years), and about just surviving all the obstacles that have come his way.

    This documentary also shows him going on the road for conventions/fan expos/Comic Cons meeting fans and reuniting with some of his Nightmare On Elm Street 2 cast and crew.  And trying to find some peace with the writer of the movie, who he had major issues with.

    Mark has really lived, nearly died, and is still going strong.

    His story is extremely compelling and inspiring.

    You may even cry a little because there is some heavy stuff in this.  But it is stuff you should know about.  Not just about him, but about humanity in general.  Both good and bad.

    I want to wish Mark all the best in the world.

    This is a PHENOMENAL documentary.

    I HIGHLY recommend seeking out this documentary.

    You do not have to be a horror fan or Nightmare On Elm Street fan to watch or enjoy this.

    This is a human story.  And one I think everyone should see.

    Thank you Mark for this.

  • Album Reviews,  Blog

    Blue Oyster Cult Ghost Stories Album Review

    Rock legends Blue Oyster Cult released their 16th studio album, Ghost Stories, on April 12 of 2024.

    This album consists of songs that were recorded between 1978-1983 and one in 2016, but were never released or not completely done at the time.

    Some parts were added, but the parts that were recorded at the time were not changed, but just spruced up, if you will.

    This album is very good.  Sounds like classic BOC.

    Classic members Eric Bloom (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards) and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (Vocals/Guitar) are still going strong.

    If you are a fan, or have not checked them out and want to, I recommend this one and all their huge discography.

    Rock out!!

  • Album Reviews,  Blog

    Saxon Hell, Fire And Damnation Album Review

    New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) legends Saxon released their 26th (counting two cover albums) studio album Hell, Fire And Damnation on January 19 of 2024.

    Saxon, consisting of singer Biff Byford, guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler (Brian replacing long time guitarist Paul Quinn, who also plays on two songs on this album), bassist Nibbs Carter, and drummer Nigel Glockler, have been quite consistent over the decades with album releases and tours.

    They put out an album every few years and most of them, I think, are very good.

    They have their style of hard driving, hard rocking, heavy songs, but also incorporate melody and anthemic lyrics.

    This album sounds modern and fresh, but also like classic Saxon to me.

    Lots of great rocking, heavy riffs with Biff’s great vocals, but also some really good melody too.  In fact, more melody than I remember from most recent Saxon albums.

    This band is really good on album and really good in concert.

    I’m seeing them for the 3rd time, May 17, in Cincinnati, OH, co-headlining with the legendary band Uriah Heep, and I cannot wait.

    Keep on rocking Saxon!!!!!

  • Blog,  Book Reviews

    The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx By Nikki Sixx Book Review

    I’m a huge Motley Crue fan, but I was late reading Motley bassist/songwriter/founder Nikki Sixx’s most recent book.

    The First 21:  How I Became Nikki Sixx, was released in 2021, and as the title suggests, covers Nikki’s first 21 years of life leading up to the formation of Motley Crue.

    The book actually starts more in the present about Motley getting back together (a few years after their “Final Tour”) to do a stadium tour.

    Once Nikki talks about that, he goes back in time to the early years of his family, him being born, and a lot of things that happened in his first 21 years of life.

    This is not a long read, but it is a fantastic read.

    I highly enjoyed this book.

    Yes I’m a fan, but I would have loved it anyways because I am such a music fan and a fan of autobiographies. 

    Autobiographies are my favorite type of book and even though Nikki has put out other books (The Dirt, The Heroin Diaries, This Is Gonna Hurt) he still has a lot to say, and he went into much more detail about his early years in this book.

    Again, not a long read, but such a great book, though.

    Check it out.

  • Blog,  Book Reviews

    Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder With Wendy Holden Book Review

    I was super late to this, but I finally read Don Felder (ex lead guitarist of The Eagles) book earlier this year.

    This book, called Heaven And Hell:  My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001), was released in the late 2000s.

    Don collaborated with author Wendy Holden on this book.

    As the title suggests, this book chronicles Don’s time in the hugely successful band The Eagles.  It also talks about his life leading up to being in the band and afterwards.

    In short, it’s Don’s autobiography, and if you are a fan, I highly recommend reading this book.

    Lots of stories.  Lots of details.

    As a side note, I also highly recommend seeing Don in concert.  You will not be disappointed. 

    Don is an extremely talented guitar player and actually is a very good singer too. 

    He sings/plays The Eagles songs in concert and does a great job.  He also has a few really good solo albums too.  Check them out.

    And check out this book.

    Even if you are not a fan of The Eagles but just are a fan of music and bands in general, then this is quite the book to read about music and the music business.

    Very good read.