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My Favorite Guitarist Is Gone: Ace Frehley (1951-2025)
I’m tired of typing posts like this, but sadly, my heroes keep dying.
My favorite guitarist ever is now gone.
Ace Frehley (April 27, 1951-October 16, 2025).
I became a fan of his and his band KISS when I was 15 going on 16.
I actually saw KISS that year.
The original lineup!!
December 8, 1998 (review here).
What a night it was.
I could have died happy that night.
I’ve always said that KISS is my favorite band ever. All lineups. All albums. All eras.
And that’s true.
However, the original lineup of Ace (lead guitar and sometimes vocals and songwriting), Gene Simmons (vocals/bass/songwriting), Paul Stanley (vocals/guitar/songwriting) and Peter Criss (drums/vocals/songwriting) are the most important lineup and my favorite band ever.
I’m glad I got to see them twice (other review here).
I also got to see Ace solo twice, once in 2016 (review here) and once in 2021 (review here).
The 2016 show I also got to meet Ace afterwards.
I’m so glad I got that chance.
I haven’t cried yet, but I’m sure I will.
I’ll be playing the music (KISS and Ace solo. He made a lot of great solo albums too.), watching the concerts and interviews, and reading stories about he and KISS for awhile after I type this. I’m actually listening as I type this and before I started.
I could say so much, but I’ll just say no other band will have the same impact on me as KISS has.
And they/he have inspired sooooooooooooooooooooo many people all over the world.
And Ace was/is/always will be a HUGE part of KISSTORY.
I love you sooooooooooo much Ace and will miss you forever.
Rock on in Heaven and/or in Jendell!!
The one and only Space Ace/Spaceman has left us, but the music/videos/memories live forever.
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Ozzy Osbourne Last Rites Book Review
Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025) released his final book, Last Rites, posthumously on October 7th.
I received it on October 10th and read it all by October 11th.
Last Rites chronicles Ozzy’s last 7 years on the planet. Starting off being on what ended up being his last tour.
Everything was going well, until one night at home, he fell, breaking his neck.
From that point on, his health was never the same.
It was one thing after another. Multiple surgeries (some of which made him worse, others to try to undo the bad ones), blood clots, sepsis, pneumonia, constant pain, heart valve blockage (which I think ultimately killed him) and more.
It really is a miracle he lived to be 76.
But as he said a few times, he had a great run up to 70. And he did.
The book is not all doom and gloom.
He talks about getting back together with Black Sabbath again, his final solo tour, and many other stories from throughout his life.
Some of the stories he reiterated from his first book I Am Ozzy (2009), but they were worth mentioning again.
Ozzy completed this book reportedly days before his passing.
He leaves no stone unturned.
Like many, I will always love and miss you Ozzy.
Thank you for all the great music and joy you brought us.
All the best to his family, friends, and fans all over the world.
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Tron: Ares Movie Review
Tron: Ares was released on Friday, October 10, 2025 and is the third movie in the Tron series.
I love the first two, so I knew I would love this one.
And I do.
This one is about a program named Ares (Jared Leto) who ultimately disobeys orders from his creator (Evan Peters) by not killing Peters’ rival (Greta Lee) and classic Tron style action ensues.
Jeff Bridges, the star of the first two, returns in this very good follow up to Tron: Legacy.
The music for this movie was done by Nine Inch Nails. Very good stuff.
If you are a fan of the Tron movies (like I am) then you should enjoy this one.
Go see it.
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Jackyl Rocks!!
- Date of Concert: Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Location of Concert: Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY
- Opener: Guns For Hire
The headline really says it all so I’ll say it again: Jackyl rocks!!
I saw the band Jackyl for the second time, although this time with my friend Brandon Lange at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY.
Opening band Guns For Hire got things started with some good rock music.
But as always, everyone was there to see the headliner. In this case, Jackyl.
The band, led by Jesse James Dupree (vocals, guitar, and yes a chainsaw), ripped through a bunch of songs from their rocking discography.
I would say if you mixed AC/DC and any southern rock band or really rocking country band and put them in a blender, you would have Jackyl.
I can’t say it enough: Jackyl rocks!!
The band also includes Jeff Worley on guitar, Roman Glick on bass, and Chris Worley on drums.
If you want to listen to a loud rock band, seek out Jackyl.
Yes you know what I’m going to say: Jackyl rocks!!
And this was a first. Near the end of the show, Jesse threw out his hat that he wore all night into the crowd, and I saw it going to the center of the crowd where I was. I leaned to my right and I actually caught it. There was a little bit of grabbing by other people trying to get it, but I won.
Pretty awesome!!
Thanks Jesse.
Again, Jackyl rocks!!
And thank you Brandon for the invite and ticket!!!
Jackyl Set List:
- Blast Off
- Cut The Crap
- My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine’s Ass
- Encore
- Screwdriver
- Down On Me
- Just Like A Devil
- Push Comes To Shove
- A Country Boy Can Survive (Hank Williams Jr. cover)
- Just Because I’m Drunk
- I Stand Alone
- When Will It Rain
- Dirty Little Mind/Better Than Children (w/Delta Dawn bit)/Dirty Little Mind cont.
- Redneck Punk
- Suspicious Minds (Mark James cover and Elvis Presley’s version is especially known)
- The Lumberjack
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Skipping Christmas Book Review
My girlfriend showed me the movie “Christmas With The Kranks” a few years ago (it was released in 2004) and I loved it.
Last year, I received the book the movie was adapted from.
Called “Skipping Christmas”, it was released in 2001 and written by John Grisham, known for many lawyer/crime thrillers.
Both the book and the movie are about this couple who always celebrate Christmas, but this particular year, the husband (played by Tim Allen in the movie) decides to convince his wife (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the movie) to skip Christmas this time and go on a cruise.
This is because their daughter is working out of the country for awhile and frankly, to save money and because the husband is tired of all the traditional Christmas stuff.
The wife takes a bit of convincing, but ultimately, she agrees with her husband to do this.
Well, everyone they know (neighbors, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, police, firemen, everyone in their community) is up in irons about this couple skipping Christmas this year.
They’re all in on doing this, until their daughter calls and says she’s coming home for Christmas with her new fiance, who she barely knows.
So, after not preparing for Christmas at all (decorating, cooking, shopping, etc.) they only have a few hours to put everything together.
Both the book and the movie are very fun, entertaining stories.
I actually enjoyed it better than my girlfriend, who loves many Christmas movies/stories.
Like any book adapted into a movie, there are a few differences, but not much.
I could easily visualize the movie while reading the book.
Kind of a departure story for John Grisham, but he did a great job writing it, as usual.
Seek both the book and movie out and enjoy.
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Leonard Nimoy I Am Not Spock Book Review
I have been a Leonard Nimoy fan since I was little.
However, I had never read his book, I Am Not Spock.
I had read his I Am Spock, though, which is quite good.
But I Am Not Spock has for the most part been out of print or not as available for many years.
Luckily, I found it at a $1 book sale.
My book copy has definitely been well loved, let’s say, but it is complete and the ruggedness of it does not bother me.
Leonard released this book in 1975.
He talks about some aspects of his life and of working on various projects, including Star Trek.
Many people apparently took the book title the wrong way and thought Leonard hated the Spock character and hated Star Trek.
Quite the contrary.
Leonard loved Spock and Star Trek and the opportunities that character and show awarded him. Not only on the show, but of what he did later also.
Leonard has lots of Star Trek stories and even has some memos he wrote to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and others in regards his thoughts and suggestions on various Star Trek episodes, and even mentions some of his favorite episodes.
This is not a very long book, but it is very good, if you can find it.
As Leonard and Spock would say, “Live long and prosper”.
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Duff McKagan How To Be A Man (and other illusions) Book Review
Duff McKagan released his second book, How To Be A Man (and other illusions) in 2015.
Duff is known as the bassist of Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver, but is also the lead singer/co-guitarist of the band Loaded, and was in the bands Neurotic Outsiders and The Walking Papers, and is a solo artist also.
But outside of being a singer/songwriter/musician, he is also a writer. And a very good one at that.
He has written for The Seattle Weekly (where he is from), Playboy.com, and ESPN.com, and released his first book/autobiography It’s So Easy (and other lies) in 2011.
Duff is very smart, well spoken, and well read.
In his second book, he talks about being a father, a husband, a musician, a writer, being sober, being a sports fan, stories of being in his bands, going back to school after getting sober, book recommendations (as I said he’s well read) and so much more.
I found this book to be an excellent follow-up to this first.
You don’t have to be a fan or even know who he is to enjoy this and his other book.
This is a very entertaining, enlightening, and even inspiring book.
Seek it out and his other book too.
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38 Special Milestone Album Review
The band 38 Special released their first album in 21 years, Milestone, on the day I type this, September 19 of 2025.
I preordered a signed copy of the CD more than a month earlier and received it on the day of release.
As of this typing, I’m already on my second listen of the album.
It’s a very good album. Lots of rock, some melodic songs, lots of catchy, hooky parts, great singing and playing, and what can I say? They still rock.
Lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/founding member Don Barnes is the one original member still in the band, but he has a solid group of guys with him. They include Jerry Riggs also on guitar/vocals, Bobby Capps on keyboards/vocals, Barry Dunaway on bass/vocals and Gary Moffatt on drums/vocals.
I’m so glad 38 Special finally released another new album.
I wish more of my favorite bands/artists still made albums.
To me, if you’re a band or solo artist, you make albums. Whether they sell or not, you make albums because again, that’s what you do. Period.
Thank you guys for another really good album and hopefully this will not be the last.
Rock on forever 38 Special!! And thank you for signing the new album too!!!!
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Slobberknocker: My Life In Wrestling By Jim Ross w/Paul O’Brien As Told To Scott E. Williams Book Review
If you are a wrestling fan, you should probably know who Jim Ross, AKA Good Ol’ JR, is.
He has been a fixture in wrestling since he started as a referee in 1974, and eventually becoming an announcer/commentator/interviewer/head of talent relations and so much more.
For many, Jim Ross is the greatest wrestling announcer/commentator of all time.
Slobberknocker: My Life In Wrestling (w/Paul O’ Brien as told to Scott E. Williams, released in 2017) chronicles his life from his early days all the way to 1999 when he returned to wrestling after a second bout of Bell’s Palsy.
Jim has two other books, but this is his first.
And if you are a fan, you will not be disappointed.
JR has a lot of stories, and I think since he has so many stories that it’s fitting he has three books up to this point.
Check out this book. No pun intended, but it is a real Slobberknocker as JR would say.
And I’m glad to say I was able to buy a signed copy!!
All the best always JR.
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Bryan Adams Roll With The Punches Album Review
The very talented Bryan Adams released his latest album, Roll With The Punches, on August 29th of 2025.
Bryan once again has made another very rocking, melodic, catchy album.
Very good songs, short and sweet, tons of melody, great lyrics, solid musicianship, and good singing as always by Bryan.
If you are a fan, you should love this album.
I’m glad Bryan is still going strong and I can’t wait to finally see him in concert November 1st.
Keep on rocking Bryan!! And thanks for signing it too, through TalkShopLive!!
