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My Tribute to My Favorite Wrestler Hulk Hogan (August 11, 1953-July 24, 2025)
As I type this, I’m still processing the passing of Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948-July 22, 2025).
Two days after Ozzy’s passing, my favorite wrestler ever, Hulk Hogan, passed away too.
I had heard for about a month that his health was not well, but I honestly did not believe it.
In the last several years, Hulk Hogan has become someone everyone loves to hate, and fair enough.
I’ve not loved everything he’s done and said by any means.
Having said that, I became a fan of his when I was six or seven years old and he was the reason why I became a wrestling fan.
From 1989-1992, when I first watched wrestling (I sadly went away from it for many years but did get back into it and will forever be a wrestling fan.), Hulk Hogan was everything to me.
I bought into his whole character and he was one of my biggest heroes.
Even when I went away from watching wrestling, I never stopped being a Hogan fan.
And even when I got back into wrestling years later, he was the reason.
Many will forever argue who the “greatest wrestler of all time is”. I have many favorites, but for me, it’s Hulk Hogan.
He was the biggest star, sold sooooooooo much merchandise, and really put his name out there and professional wrestling out there too.
Wrestling was popular wayyyyy before he came along, but when he got really popular, wrestling definitely kicked into a new gear of popularity.
He wasn’t the only reason, but the biggest reason why because again, he put his name out there and put professional wrestling even more into the mainstream.
From 1984-1992 or 93, Hulk Hogan was IT!!
He went into a slight slump in the mid 90s, but when he teamed with Scott Hall (RIP) and Kevin Nash and formed the bad guy wrestling faction New World Order (NWO), Hogan’s popularity soared again.
In 2002, when the NWO attempted to make a comeback, the fans really wanted Hogan to be a good guy again, and that’s what he did.
His popularity, even in 2002, was off the charts.
Some years later, family/domestic issues became forever tabloid news, even to this day.
Like all of us, he was flawed and made mistakes, but for me, the good he did still outweighs the bad.
If you don’t agree, fair enough.
But no matter what, Hulk Hogan, for me, will always be my favorite wrestler and I will be forever grateful and thankful to him.
I sadly never got to see him wrestle in person or meet him (although I did get his autograph a few times via online and at a wrestling show), but I did get to see him at a wrestling pay-per-view in 2011 in Cincinnati.
I’m glad I at least got to see him.
I feel like I need to say so much more, but I’m at a loss.
All I can say is I’ll always be a Hulkamaniac and again, I’ll always love him for all the good that he brought to my life, and especially childhood.
I love you Hulkster!!!!
Rest In Peace and all the best to your family, friends, and fans all over the world.
Hulkamania/NWO 4 Life!!!
All the pictures I’ve included in this post are from my collection of magazines, books, DVDs, toys, and pics of the show I saw him at.
I have pictures that I took from the show, but I can’t find them. If I do, I’ll post them too. But until then, I included pics from the DVD of the show I was at.
This is not everything that I have of Hogan, but you get the idea that I’m a Hulkamaniac.
Again, I love you Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea)!!!!!
Thank you for making my childhood and life in general better.
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Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948-July 22, 2025)
When I was in high school, I got into a lot of music that I’m still a fan of and forever will be.
Thanks to an old friend Robbie Frasher, I got into the music of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne.
He let me borrow his copy of Ozzy’s albums Blizzard Of Ozz and The Ozzman Cometh compilation, which also featured some Sabbath songs.
Those were the first true Heavy Metal songs I heard and boy what a way to start.
Because Sabbath invented the whole genre and ultimately all of it’s subgenres!!
Thank you Robbie for getting me into their music.
I sadly only saw Ozzy once, but it was with Sabbath on Ozzfest in 2004.
They were soooooo great (review here).
I love all of Sabbath’s and Ozzy’s albums.
I will forever be a fan.
I just never thought of Ozzy passing away.
Yes, we’re all going to die someday, but you just try not to think about it.
I knew Ozzy’s health had not been well for about six years, but I just thought he would carry on.
He literally just did his final show with Sabbath and as a solo artist on July 5 and even though he had to sit, he sang great and seemed very happy.
I know he wanted that last show and now that he’s gone, I know he willed that show to happen and hung on for that show.
No I did not know him and he’s not a family member, but it doesn’t mean this is not a big loss for me. Because it is.
I’ve really been feeling this and will continue to for some time.
All my best to his family, friends, band mates, and fans all over the world.
He truly was an original.
His music is phenomenal.
He was a great singer and performer.
He was a huge personality that beamed sooooooo bright.
He made a lot of people happy and will continue to forever with his body of work.
I love you Ozzy soooooooo much!!!!
I’m glad you were here as long as you were and I’m glad I was alive the same time you were to enjoy the music and got to see you once.
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne!!!!!!!!!!!
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I Finally Saw Pantera, But This Night Was More Than a Tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie, but to Ozzy Too!! Great Show, Sad Day.
- Date Of Concert: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Location of Concert: Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
- Openers: Amon Amarth and Snafu
Pantera has been a favorite band of mine since high school.
Sadly, I never saw them.
I probably could have in 2001 when they played in Huntington, WV, about 30 minutes from my house at the time.
But I stupidly didn’t go, which will forever be my biggest concert regret.
Three years after Pantera ended, guitarist Dimebag Darrell was assassinated on stage in Columbus, OH while performing with his and his brother Vinnie Paul’s (also from Pantera) band Damageplan.
Vinnie later on was in the band Hellyeah, who I did see.
Sadly, Vinnie also passed away in his sleep in 2018.
During all of this time, Pantera did not exist anymore and there is never a possibility of a reunion or reformation.
However, in 2022 that changed when Pantera members Phil Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) started touring under the Pantera name again with Zakk Wylde (guitar, also of Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, Pride And Glory, and Ozzy Osbourne, who I will get to later in this post) and Charlie Benante (drums, also of Anthrax and S.O.D.).
Some call this a cash grab, and I actually did feel a bit weird about it too at first.
However, I never begrudged Phil and Rex doing it.
I saw some of the live clips and thought they sounded great and hoped at some point I would be able to go see them.
Well, that date came on Tuesday, July 22nd of 2025.
I was looking forward to the show, but a few hours before I left the house to go to the show, I found out that one of my favorite singers and musical heroes ever, Ozzy Osbourne (of the first Heavy Metal band ever Black Sabbath, as well as a super successful solo career and TV personality) passed away at the age of 76.
Ozzy had performed his last show ever as part of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist on July 5th, just a few weeks before this day.
It was a charity concert to raise funds for Parkinson’s, which Ozzy had, as well as some other local charities in the area of the show, Birmingham, England, where Ozzy and Sabbath are from.
Many bands/artists performed, including Pantera. All were there to honor Ozzy and Sabbath for being the originators of Heavy Metal music.
The day went so well and Ozzy was in good form and did well.
He had been wanting to do one more show ever since his health really declined in about 2019.
I’m very glad he got his wish.
But who knew a few weeks later he would be gone?!
Once I heard the news, I knew this day/night was going to be different and it was.
Yes, Pantera rocked and played a lot of awesome Pantera songs and the openers, Amon Amarth, who I had seen once before, and S.N.A.F.U., who is a band on Phil Anselmo’s record label Housecore Records, were both solid.
But on top of all of it, the weight was heavy on all of us there this night of Ozzy’s passing.
We all felt it.
The venue played Ozzy/Sabbath music constantly over the PA whenever any bands were not playing.
Each band gave shout outs to Ozzy.
But Pantera especially did.
Phil wanted everyone to chant “Ozzy” and we did a lot.
Phil wore a Sabbath shirt, and Rex did too.
I can’t even imagine how Zakk felt. Zakk joined Ozzy’s band in the late 1980s and was in Ozzy’s band on and off until his last show. Ozzy is one of Zakk’s kids’ Godfather. He’s always called Ozzy “the boss” or “the boss man” and Ozzy’s wife Sharon “Mom”. So Ozzy is really family to Zakk.
Zakk, as always, played his heart out, but I know he was and is grieving and I’m so sorry for his loss.
We all lost a hero in Ozzy.
Like anyone, he was not everyone’s cup of tea, but for many of us, he was and always will be an inspiration and a hero.
Well, Pantera, like I said, played their awesome songs and Phil, as he does every night now, said that what they do each night is for “Dime and Vince”, but on this night, Phil also said that for the foreseeable future will be for Ozzy too.
Pantera did play a Sabbath song, Planet Caravan, which they also played at Ozzy’s final show a few weeks before.
They originally recorded it in 1994 for their amazing Far Beyond Driven album.
It was very fitting hearing this song on this night.
The big screens had images and videos of Ozzy, some of which included Zakk and Pantera in over the years.
It was a great tribute and hearing the Ozzy chants were amazing.
People can say Pantera now is a cash grab, but I disagree.
No, it’s not what it used to be and it never will be.
Dimebag and Vinnie are always missed and I wish they were still with us, but they’re not.
But Phil and Rex are still here, and they have every right, in my opinion, to use the Pantera name and play those songs that so many people still love and are still getting into that weren’t even born when Pantera were around and were the second biggest Metal band in the world in the 1990s and early 2000s (after Metallica).
So, I’m glad they’re doing this, and they’re doing it with friends and collaborators of the band, Zakk and Charlie.
This band does the songs justice and like Charlie has said in interviews, just give them a shot if you doubt them. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Oh and Phil singing the last line of the Led Zeppelin song “Stairway To Heaven” was a nice touch too, in honor of Ozzy.
Anyway, God Bless Pantera (they still kick butt and I support them) and God Bless Ozzy Osbourne!!!!!!!!!!
Pantera Band Members:
- Phil Anselmo (Lead Vocals)
- Rex Brown (Bass/Backing Vocals)
- Zakk Wylde (Guitar/Backing Vocals)
- Charlie Benante (Drums)
Amon Amarth Band Members:
- Johan Hegg (Vocals)
- Olavi Mikkonen (Guitar)
- Johan Soderberg (Guitar)
- Ted Lundstrom (Bass)
- Jocke Wallgren (Drums)
S.N.A.F.U. Band Members:
- Scott Curnow (Vocals/Guitar)
- Rian Staber (Vocals/Guitar)
- Patrick "El Toro" Saldivar (Vocals/Bass)
- Mike Jurysta (Drums)
Pantera Setlist:
- Hellbound
- 5 Minutes Alone
- Strength Beyond Strength
- Mouth For War
- Goddamn Electric
- Becoming
- I’m Broken
- 10s
- I’ll Cast A Shadow
- This Love
- Cowboys From Hell
- Encore: Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover. R.I.P. Ozzy Osbourne)
- A New Level
- Walk
- Domination/Hollow
Amon Amarth Set List:
- Guardians Of Asgaard
- Shield Wall
- Crack The Sky
- Deceiver Of The Gods
- Put Your Back Into The Oar
- We Rule The Waves (New Song)
- The Way Of Vikings
- Raise Your Horns
- Twilight Of The Thunder God
SNAFU Set List:
- Choking Game
- Bring Suffering
- The Pear Of Anguish
- Zenith
- Napalm In The Morning
- Bloodletter
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Superman (2025) Movie Review
The 2025 movie “Superman” was released July 11th.
Directed by James Gunn, this movie once again tells the story of The Last Son of Krypton, although this time, he’s already Superman and trying to fight evil doers and be a hero to everyone.
A few changes this time, though. You see his dog, Krypto, his real parents may not have been so great after all (see the movie and you’ll see what I mean), other characters like The Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific appear, and other things happen too that I don’t want to spoil.
Is it the greatest superhero movie ever? No.
But is it really good and a fun superhero movie? Yes.
It’s very much a comic book movie and brings some humor in, which is welcomed.
Everyone was cast perfectly for this.
David Corenswet does a great job playing Superman/Clark Kent, as does Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and everyone else is great too.
Check out this version of Superman. It’s worth it.
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Jimmy Page And The Black Crowes Live At The Greek Album Review
Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes released a live album called Live At The Greek in 2000, and re-released it in 2025 with many bonus tracks.
This was recorded in 1999 when Jimmy played with The Black Crowes for a little bit.
They played a bunch of Led Zeppelin (Jimmy’s band) songs, covers, and songs by The Black Crowes.
However, for some reason, The Black Crowes songs they performed were never released.
This 2025 reissue corrects that.
It also includes a soundcheck too, which is really cool.
The original I played a bunch when it was released so I was excited to know it was being re-released with so many more songs too.
It’s a great set of tunes played by phenomenal musicians.
You’ve got to check this out.
It ROCKS!!
I just wish they would’ve done more together and I’ll always wish Jimmy especially would do more.
But either way, thank goodness they did this much and gave this an even more proper release.
Rock on everyone.
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Two Brian Wilson Autobiographies?
The late, great Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942-June 11, 2025) released two autobiographies.
The first, called “Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story”, was released in October of 1991.
The second, called “I Am Brian Wilson”, was released in October of 2016.
Both are very much worth reading, but both are very different too.
The first one is quite detailed and frankly wild at times.
I believed most of it when I read it, but as it went on, I began to wonder.
I say this because Brian was still under the care of a Dr. Eugene Landy at the time this book was being written.
Also, this book is controversial because Todd Gold, who “Brian” (I put his name in quotes because Dr. Landy supposedly had a big hand in this book too.) told his story to, supposedly plagiarized other sources of biographical information and Brian even disowned the book at one point.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it if you’re a fan and/or just want to know more about Brian.
I truly believe a lot of it is true, but again, did Brian really tell all of this and was Dr. Landy basically telling it instead?
You be the judge.
Now, the second book, which Brian told his story to Ben Greenman, is a lot more positive and still tells the story that is in the first book, but nowhere near as much detail.
However, I believe the second book is really coming more from Brian or he just put more of a filter on himself for this book.
Also, though, since this book was released many years later, Brian tells more of his story about what happened after being under Dr. Landy’s care and about his later albums that he made.
In fact, in this book, he bad mouths Dr. Landy quite a bit, which he did not in the first book.
I think both books are very good and worth reading, but the second book I think gets my vote ultimately as the best one, although the first one has more detail. But I question some of it.
Either way, check them both out and see what you think.
Rest In Peace Brian Wilson. A phenomenal talent.
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Jefferson Starship Rocked Charleston, WV!!
- Date of Concert: Sunday, July 6, 2025
- Location of Concert: Schoenbaum Stage at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, WV
- Opener: Of The Dell
I had seen singer Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship, Starship) do his version of Starship in concert (review here), but I had not seen Jefferson Starship in concert.
For anyone who is confused, here is some history: the band was first Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s and early 1970s. Then the band morphed into Jefferson Starship in the mid 1970s. Then in the mid 1980s, the band morphed into just Starship. Then the band briefly was Jefferson Airplane again in 1989. Then the band became Jefferson Starship again in the 1990s and has remained that way ever since, although as I said, singer Mickey Thomas has Starship too.
Fascinating, but all very cool.
Anyway, I saw Jefferson Starship do a free concert in Charleston, WV and wow were they great.
As you can imagine with so many band name changes, there is probably personnel changes too? Yes indeed.
Sadly, some have passed away (Paul Kantner and Marty Balin), others have retired (Grace Slick), but this band keeps on trucking, playing the Jefferson Starship, Starship, and even some Jefferson Airplane songs too to all the fans who come to see them.
This band really cooks. Classic members David Freiberg (vocals (PHENOMENAL singer at almost 87 years of age) and guitar, who was also in Quicksilver Messenger Service before he briefly joined Airplane and joined Jefferson Starship) and Donny Baldwin (drums, who also in the Elvin Bishop Band, playing on the hit “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”) are in this lineup. The rest of the band includes singer/guitarist Cathy Richardson, who has been in the band for 18 years and is a PHENOMENAL singer, Jude Gold on lead guitar, and Chris Smith keyboards.
As I said, this band really cooks.
If you are a fan, you have to go see this band. Yes it’s not the complete original lineup anymore, but they really deliver the goods.
This was a very stressful week for me, and this concert was very much needed for me and I loved every second of it.
Thank you Jefferson Starship for all the great music and please keep bringing the music to the people because we need you.
Opening band, Of The Dell, from Huntington, WV, were very good too. Lots of great vocals and catchy songs.
Thank you all for the great night.
Jefferson Starship Set List:
- Find Your Way Back
- Stranger
- Call On Me
- Runaway
- With Your Love
- Sara
- Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
- Miracles
- Embryonic Journey
- White Rabbit
- We Built This City
- Jane
- Fooled Around And Fell In Love (snippet)
- Somebody To Love
- God Bless America
- Volunteers
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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The Doobie Brothers Walk This Road Album Review
The Doobie Brothers are one of my favorite bands ever.
I’ve seen them in concert three times and have their albums.
They released their latest album, Walk This Road, on June 6 of this year.
It features original members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, as well as long time members Michael McDonald and John McFee.
If you are a fan of The Doobie Brothers, you will enjoy this album.
Lots of rocking and soulful songs, great singing and playing, everything you want in an album by The Doobie Brothers.
I’m really glad Michael McDonald is back in the band, having rejoined them for their 50th Anniversary tour a few years ago.
What can I say? The Doobie Brothers rule!!!!! And thanks guys for signing the album booklet too!!!
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Giuffria Discography
Giuffria was a rock band formed in the 1980s by keyboardist Greg Giuffria after leaving the band Angel (another favorite of mine).
Giuffria released two studio albums (Giuffria and Silk + Steel) and a live album/video called Live In Japan 1985.
They also appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Gotcha!
They were working on a third album but only got to the demo stage.
That album of demos, surprisingly, was released this year as The Unreleased Remastered Demos (Greg signed the CDs and Vinyl).
I still need to buy the live album and hopefully I’ll get that soundtrack someday, but I have everything else.
Like Greg’s previous band, Angel, Giuffria are another band I think should have been so much bigger.
Giuffria did have a couple of minor hit singles with the songs “Call To The Heart” and “Lonely In Love”, both from their first album.
Giuffria opened for some big bands, including Deep Purple and Foreigner, but unfortunately, they just never quite got to the top level of success.
They had all the tools. Great musicianship and songwriting, their singer David Glen Eisley was incredible as well as their guitarist on their first album Craig Goldy (later in the band Dio) and all the musicians really. And I really think the albums are really good, especially the first one.
Giuffria kind of sound of like Journey, but with a bit more edge.
So, if you are into catchy hard rock with great singing and playing, Giuffria is the band for you.
Greg later went on to form the band House Of Lords and ultimately became a multimillionaire because he invented a chip that’s in many of the slot machines you see and maybe play. I’m serious.
Anyway, check out Giuffria. They are awesome and should be more well known.
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Waxing On: The Karate Kid And Me Book Review
Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid 1, 2, and 3, The Outsiders, My Cousin Vinny, Cobra Kai, Karate Kid: Legends and more) released his biography Waxing On: The Karate Kid And Me in 2022.
It’s definitely a biography, but it is not a full on autobiography because even though he touches on his life a fair amount, the majority of the book is about his experiences making the first The Karate Kid movie.
If you are a fan of The Karate Kid, you must read this book.
Ralph tells you everything you want to know about the making of the movie.
He also talks about the other movies and Cobra Kai quite a bit and some of this other movies and shows.
Like I said, it is definitely a biography, but it’s not a full on one.
But it is an amazing and quick read and I love it.
And thank you Ralph for signing it (via Talk Shop Live).
