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The Garden Movie Review
The Garden is about a young boy, who has bad dreams, cuts himself, and was just released from a mental hospital.
His dad, who has partial custody of him and is an alcoholic, comes to pick his son up to take him back to his mom’s house, only to get involved in a car accident, going over a hill. No he was not drunk driving.
A man (played by Lance Henriksen) gets them to safety and takes them back to his farm.
Spoiler alert: Everything that happens after this is very interesting. Lance turns out to be the Devil in disguise (Lance does a phenomenal job as always), and he is tempting the boy’s dad by giving him a job on the farm, giving him drinks, and wants him to pick from a tree, which by all intents and purposes, is a tree just like in The Bible in the Garden of Eden.
The boy figures this out and has to fight Lance and try to save his dad.
I really enjoyed this movie a lot.
Sean Young plays the boy’s teacher in it and is very good.
It’s an excellent modern day telling of the Garden of Eden story, basically, but with a Twilight Zone type feel and twist to it.
I love this movie and highly recommend it.
Five stars!!
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The History of Metal and Horror Documentary/Movie Review
I am a HUGE fan of Metal music.
I am also now a Horror movie fan.
So when I found out about this, I wanted to see it.
Unlike most documentaries, which it definitely is a documentary, it also has a little movie wrapped around and within it, which I found very interesting.
It starts off with a guy walking the streets and finding these old tapes and guitar and goes back to seemingly where he lives.
It turns out he is the last survivor on Earth.
He tries out these tapes, one of which is about the history of Heavy Metal and one is about Horror.
They don’t work unless he plays them together. So when he does, a man (played by Michael Berryman) comes on the screen and starts talking about Metal and Horror and throughout this, many music and Horror movie people (Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Scott Ian, Marky Ramone, Phil Anselmo, Kane Hodder, Corey Taylor, John Carpenter, Dave Mustaine, some of the band GWAR, Boris Karloff’s daughter Sara, Nick Castle, Tom Savini, Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, and many more) talk about Metal and Horror.
Other than the movie parts, it’s essentially a documentary, but it’s well done, giving both subjects more or less equal time and the movie parts are pretty cool I think.
If you are a fan of either genre or both, then I highly recommend watching this.
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Trick or Treat (1986) Movie Review
This movie is about a high school kid named Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) that is bullied (sadly I can relate) but he’s also a hard rock/heavy metal music fan (I can happily relate).
His biggest musical hero is a fictional rock star named Sammi Curr (Tony Fields), who ends up dying in a hotel fire. However, he leaves behind one more recording that a DJ named Nuke (Gene Simmons of KISS) is going to play at midnight on Halloween.
Eddie just happens to be a friend of Nuke’s and so he gives Eddie a copy of this recording to listen to before the broadcast.
Well, spoiler alert: when the record is played backwards, Sammi Curr is actually speaking to Eddie telling him things like how to exact revenge on the people bullying him and how he is going to wreak havoc on the town.
Sammi ends up coming back alive with supernatural powers and causes trouble, to say the least.
One of my great friends let me borrow this movie many years ago because two of our mutual favorite singers/musicians, Gene Simmons of KISS and Ozzy Osbourne, were in it.
Judging by the DVD box, it looks like they are the leads in it.
Misleading because they are barely in it.
Still, I wanted to check it out.
It took me until recently to finally buy it because frankly, I just wasn’t wild about it when I initially watched it.
But since I’ve slowly become a horror movie fan, I wanted to give it another watch, and this time, I enjoyed it more.
It’s just a fun low budget horror movie, and being such a music fan, I love seeing all the cool posters the lead has in his room, and seeing Gene and Ozzy in a movie is always cool in my book.
And Ozzy is hilarious because he’s playing a Reverend on a TV screen saying that Heavy Metal is bad for the kids. Considering Ozzy is one of the creators of it with his band Black Sabbath and that he was attacked for subliminal messages (not true), I find this so ironic and hilarious.
And Gene is cool as the DJ Nuke.
Speaking of messages, this movie touches on what was going on in the 1980s when music like metal was considered bad for kids, which I disagree with wholeheartedly.
It’s music just like any other form. You either like it or you don’t. I happen to love it and always will.
Charles Martin Smith (Toad in the American Graffiti movies, one of The Untouchables in that movie, and many more projects) directed this movie and has a brief part in it during a high school dance scene.
OK in short, I enjoyed this movie, and if you are a hard rock/metal fan like I am, or just want to see a fun horror movie, then this is for you.
It’s nothing super special, but it’s fun.
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Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III Movie Review
I’ve never been a big fan of horror movies.
However, I’ve really liked the old 50s horror movies and the Halloween franchise for a long time, but not really any other movies.
But for some reason, I’ve warmed up to the idea of checking some more horror movies out in the last few years.
This includes the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Friday the 13th movies, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies.
I’m still discovering these, and for the most part, I’ve enjoyed them.
I have yet to watch all of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies, but I will.
I’ve only seen the first 3 (reviews of 1 and 2 are here) and here is my review of the 3rd movie.
I heard that this movie was not that great and that a lot of editing was done to this movie.
But after seeing the Unrated version (I did not watch the Theatrical version because it seemed to just be shorter.) I enjoyed it.
It was more serious in tone than the 2nd one and seemed to try to get back to more of how the first movie is.
None of these I’m sure will have the legacy or impact the first one has, but again, I enjoyed this.
If you’re a fan of 1 and/or 2, you should see this.
Again, I don’t know why I’m becoming a horror movie fan, but I am.
I look forward to discovering more.
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Movie Review
Director Tobe Hooper, who made the first The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, returns with this long awaited sequel to the 1974 horror movie classic.
Spoiler alert: More killing from Leatherface and his family happen in this movie.
Dennis Hopper plays a Texas Ranger bent on seeking revenge on the Sawyer family, consisting of Leatherface, Chop-Top (played by Bill Mosely), Cook (played by James Siedow, who is the one returning cast member from the first movie), and Grandpa. A radio DJ is also involved in helping Hopper.
The first movie is much more a real scary thriller but with a documentary feel to it.
This movie is still wild, but it’s not meant to be taken seriously.
As grotesque as it gets at times, it’s just a fun horror movie, I think.
If you like the first movie, you should like this one. Maybe more so, who knows.
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Biblical: Rob Halford’s Heavy Metal Scriptures Book Review
I was super late to this, but I FINALLY read one of my favorite singers/people Rob Halford’s second book (His first book his is autobiography Confess.) called Biblical: Rob Halford’s Heavy Metal Scriptures.
Even if you are not a fan of his or of his band Judas Priest, that is OK. Because as long as you are a music fan, you will LOVE this book.
Of course, it would be great if you are a fan of his, because hey, you should be.
Anyway, onto the book.
Rob really breaks down what goes into being in a band in this book.
The good, bad, ugly, absurd, funny, everything.
This book is Band 101.
Rob has so many stories, having been in music since the late 60s/early 70s.
And many of these stories are in this book.
I would give/recommend this book to anyone just getting into music or interested in how bands work, and to people who know all about what goes into it.
This book is for everyone. You just have to be a music fan.
AWESOME book.
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My Favorite Albums of 2023
Happy New Year everyone!!
As I type this on January 1 of 2024, I’m thinking back on the great albums that were released in 2023 and I enjoyed and will continue to.
I still have not heard every album released in 2023 that I want to, but I can definitely say I have heard enough to compile a list of my favorite 2023 albums.
So here they are:
- Dirty Honey Can’t Find The Brakes-Definitely my album of the year. It was tough because a few others I will list were number 1, but this one really blew me away. Dirty Honey are a newer rock band, with one EP and now two full length albums. I sadly missed them in concert in 2023 (Maybe this year I will see them?!), but judging by the clips I have seen, they are amazing live too. Their latest album, Can’t Find The Brakes, is just perfect, from top to bottom. Great rocking songs and some great mellower tunes also. Check this band out.
- The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds-This was my number 1 album for a little while, and even though it’s number 2, it’s phenomenal. “The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World” are still putting out great albums and doing great concerts. These guys are in their 80s and 70s and are still better than most could possibly imagine to be. This album is amazing. I want to see these guys still rocking when they’re 100 years old. I think they can do it.
- L.A. Guns Black Diamonds-This album was my number 1 for most of the year. It’s sooooooo great. L.A. Guns have been putting out stellar albums since singer Phil Lewis and guitarist Tracii Guns reunited in 2017. This is their 4th album since their reunion (The band never truly broke up, but these two guys had not worked together in many years.). What can I say? These guys are on a roll and I have read they have another album coming out this year. So I can’t wait for that. And if you get a chance to see them, please do. I will be seeing them again this year so that will be exciting too. Keep on rocking guys!!
- Angel Once Upon A Time-One of my favorite bands of the 70s reunited a few years ago (singer Frank Dimino and guitarist Punky Meadows are the sole original members now, although classic bassist Felix Robinson is playing a couple of shows with them this year) and have been playing a lot of shows and have released two albums since reuniting. This album I think definitely has the most variety of different songs on it, but yet, still sounds like Angel, which is great. I know they worked hard on this album and they should be proud of it and all their other albums. Sadly, this band never got the attention and success it deserves, but I am glad they are still around and doing what they do best. I was lucky enough to see them twice in 2023 and meet them, and I can say they are great people too. Thank you guys for everything.
- Metallica 72 Seasons-I have been a Metallica fan for 25 years, and I have loved almost every album they have made (I do not hate any of them.). This album they initially premiered one night only in limited theaters around the country. I was able to attend one of these listening parties and it was a great experience. I have heard that some people feel this album is a grower. I loved it immediately and I still do. They are one of the biggest bands in the world and I feel they still are putting out awesome music and I think they can go as along as The Rolling Stones have. Rock on guys!!
- Winger Seven-Winger got slagged so much by Beavis and Butt-Head (and Metallica for that matter in one of their videos), but to me, they are just a phenomenal band. Singer/songwriter/bassist/keyboardist/leader Kip Winger is just a musical genius, as far as I am concerned. His voice has always been great and he and guitarist Reb Beach (one of my favorite guitar players) continue to write great rocking, catchy songs. And all the band are just great musicians. Please check out Winger. Their albums are great and they are still playing great concerts too.
- Jethro Tull Rokflote-Singer/songwriter/flutist/leader Ian Anderson is still going strong. Many are not wild about his voice anymore (He talk sings more these days so I understand people’s frustrations) but it does not bother me. I still think he’s great and I really like this album. And I saw them live last year and had fun. I know my Jethro Tull concert review got a lot of attention, and I understand if people do not want to see the band anymore, but I still think the band is great and Ian is still writing great songs. I am not apologizing for liking it.
- Greta Van Fleet Starcatcher-Greta Van Fleet is the biggest newer rock band in the world. They have the big rock show. Their albums seem to actually sell. They have a rabid fan base (especially females). They still get compared a lot to Led Zeppelin, and I understand that, but to me, they just sound like a 70s rock band, period. And that is not a bad thing. They are phenomenal. I have seen them live and trust me, they really are huge. They have worked hard for it and I am glad to see a younger rock band make it!!!! As a rock fan, I want to see more bands like Greta Van Fleet make it. Dirty Honey I hope are on their way. The Struts are doing well but could be even bigger. There is a newer band called Lost Hearts that I have high hopes for. Greta Van Fleet has proven that it still is possible to be a rock band and make it in the music industry. Keep on rocking guys.
- Dokken Heaven Comes Down-Singer Don Dokken is still Rokken!! This is the band’s first album since 2012. If you are a Dokken fan, you should like this. It’s great.
- Uriah Heep Chaos & Colour-This band has been around since the 60s and is still putting out great albums. This is their 25th studio album. I hope I will get to see them this year (they are announcing a U.S. Tour with Saxon January 8th. Fingers crossed!!).
- Lynch Mob Babylon-Former Dokken Guitarist George Lynch has released what I think is maybe his best album he has ever made outside of Dokken. His current lineup of Lynch Mob is maybe his best band since he was in Dokken. This album is phenomenal. Please seek it out!!
- Mike Tramp Songs of White Lion-White Lion singer Mike Tramp released an album of re-recordings of White Lion songs in 2023. The arrangements are a little different, but still sound like White Lion and I really like them. I was lucky enough to see and meet Mike last year. Such a great and talented guy. Keep on rocking sir!!
- Paul Rodgers Midnight Rose-One of the greatest singers ever put out a great album in 2023. Anything this man sings is gold. Check it out.
- Vandenberg Sin-Great album from guitarist Adrian Vandenberg. Sounds very much like Whitesnake (which he was in for several years) which is not a bad thing. I am seeing him in March and cannot wait.
- Alice Cooper Road-Alice has been around since the 60s and still as great or better than he has ever been. This album is another masterpiece in his massive masterpiece of a discography. I could have ranked this much higher, but a lot of great albums came out in 2023. And please go see him live. He’s phenomenal.
- Black Oak Arkansas The Devil’s Jukebox-Singer Jim Dandy is still going strong. He and his band released a mostly covers album in 2023 and it is very good. I am so happy Jim is still around and I soooooooooo want to see him and Black Oak in concert. Please?!?!
- KK’s Priest The Sinner Rides Again-Former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing and former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens have released their second album under the banner of KK’s Priest. Very heavy album. If you are a Heavy Metal or Judas Priest fan, you should really like this one. I cannot wait to see the band in March.
- Ian Hunter Defiance Part 1-Such a great album from Mott The Hoople singer/songwriter Ian Hunter. Lots of guests on this album too. I hope I can see Ian in concert and I truly hope there will be a Part 2.
- Sweet & Lynch-Stryper singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Sweet and guitarist George Lynch released their third album in 2023. If you are a fan of these guys’s work, you need to check out their albums together. They make a great pair and I hope they will make more together.
- Plow Horse Plow Horse II Blood On The Plow-This is my friend Kevin Montavon’s band out of Ohio. He is the singer/songwriter of the band. I was truly blown away by this album. A great hard rock album. All originals except for one cover by John Mellencamp. And wow what a cover it is. You can check out this album on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Pandora, and Spotify. I have the physical copy, which to me is always the best. Thanks Kevin. This album rules.
- Extreme Six-Great album by singer Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger, and drummer Kevin Figueiredo.
- Dolly Parton Rockstar-Dolly Parton put out a very good double album of original and classic rock songs in 2023. Lots of guests on it too. She and all the guests did a great job on this.
OK that is my 2023 album list. I am sure there is more and maybe I will add them to this list at a later date.
But until then, be healthy and safe everyone. And I cannot wait for great albums to be released in 2024, along with more great concerts.
Rock on!!
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“The Iron Claw” Movie Review
I saw a movie called “The Iron Claw” on premiere night, Thursday night of December 21.
This movie is based on a true story about the Von Erich family.
They are well known to wrestling fans as a very famous wrestling family.
The father, Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson) was a wrestler for many years and eventually became a wrestling promoter.
Many of his sons, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris Von Erich/Adkisson got into the wrestling business later on.
And for those that don’t know, many of the brothers suffer tragic passings. Some would say this family was cursed. Even the oldest son died very tragically as a very little boy.
This movie is definitely about all of this, but the movie mainly focuses on the family itself and their dynamic.
If you’re going into this expecting just wrestling or more of a documentary, you will not get that.
If you want to see documentaries about this, there are a few great ones you can see.
There is wrestling in this for sure, but again, it’s more about the family. And since it is a movie, there is only so much time. So some aspects of the story are rushed, changed, or left out.
But all considering, coming from someone who knows this story pretty well and am a fan (I was able to see Kerry wrestle in 1991 when I was 8.), I think the filmmakers did a very good job with this movie.
And even if you’re not a wrestling fan or know nothing about this story, you can still enjoy it as a movie and story.
The actors are perfectly cast. The locations are great. For example, the recreation of the arena they wrestled at a lot and was more or less their main office looks pretty good, especially on the outside.
Some real footage is used in the background occasionally, which is a nice touch. Kevin (the only Von Erich still alive) and his sons and some of the other kids in the family were involved in the behind the scenes of this, which is great.
Everyone will have their opinion and some I’m sure will complain about some people not being portrayed (Chris Von Erich is ignored completely, which I think is weird.) or portrayed right in it.
But as a fan, I think it was a well done movie.
Warning: It is a sad story, especially later on. So be prepared to cry or feel bad at times. It’s quite the emotional rollercoaster. But sadly, that’s the reality of this story.
But I recommend seeing this because it is a story that not everyone knows about. I’m amazed it took this long for a movie to be made about this because it has movie written all over it.
Check it out and see for yourself.
Feel free to comment on this post. I’d love to hear what everyone thinks about the movie or what they think about the real life story in general.
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Farewell KISS?
My favorite band KISS ended their End of the Road (“The Final Tour Ever” for them) tour Saturday, December 2, of 2023.
Now, this is supposed to be the end of KISS as a touring band.
They’ve said this before, though, so we’ll see.
Immediately after the last show, a video was shown showcasing them as Avatars for a new era of KISS.
Now what does this mean? Will this be a destination attraction? A traveling concert tour? Will it be an IMAX exclusive showing? Is it an interactive video game/animated movie? How much will it cost to see? Will there be many different versions? Or something else? Who knows?
I initially was very upset by this announcement, but then I realized that KISS are the kings of merchandising and have shown themselves as superheroes at various points in their career (comic books, movies, cartoons, video games, toys).
So, I see this, whatever it is, as another way to promote themselves as superheroes, particularly to kids.
And it’s only logical that they would do something like this because it’s perfect for them.
And if you look at the videos shown so far about it, on their official website KISSONLINE, then you will see that they are involved in the making of it.
They have donned the motion capture clothes so that the makers of this animation can use their voices, movements and expressions to enhance this viewing experience.
I don’t know what this is yet, but it’s only the beginning of many more merchandising things to come.
I personally want more archive releases, both audio and video. That’s already been happening, but I want more, and I’m sure I’ll get it.
And I don’t know for sure if KISS is truly done playing real live concerts. But if they are, they had a great 50 year run, made many great albums, and have left behind many great memories for fans, such as myself, to love forever. As well as tons of things for new fans to get into, which I think these Avatar things are tailor made for them, again particularly kids.
No matter what happens, though, I have been a fan of this band since 1998 and always will be. I first saw them in concert on December 8 of 1998, and have seen them ultimately 11 times over a 25 year period and have met many of the members.
I love every album and every lineup of the band.
I have no apologies for that.
And I will continue to be a fan until I die.
I love KISS forever!!
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Desmond Child w/David Ritz “Livin’ On A Prayer: Big Songs, Big Life” Book Review
Songwriting extraordinaire Desmond Child released his long awaited autobiography on September 19 of 2023.
I preordered a signed copy, via TalkShopLive. Thank you for that!!
I could not put this book down.
Desmond has lived a full life.
So full that I don’t even know what to say because I don’t want to leave anything out.
All I can say is that if you want to read a compelling story, this is it.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Not just for the stories he has about working with Barbara Streisand, Laura Nyro, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, KISS, Meat Loaf, Ricky Martin, just to name a few, but for his life story.
Desmond has seen, done, and experienced a lot.
I have nothing but respect for this man.
Thank you sir for writing this book, along with David Ritz.
I can’t say enough how compelling it is.
Thank you sir.
And everyone: Please check out his solo album Discipline. It is a masterpiece. Not opinion. Fact. The song “Obsession” alone is one of my favorite songs of all time.
How he is also not one of the biggest singers in the world is beyond me.
But hey, he’s done great and continues to do great.
