DVD Player to Receive Viking Funeral

I’d like to give a hearty and hale farewell to my Durabrand DVD Player (Model: DVD-1002). This seemingly chintzy DVD player, bought at Family Dollar for $29.99, before taxes and manufactured in June of 2006, has stood strong in the face of rough abuse doled out by my 5 year old for the last year or so. The last 8 months receiving the bulk of The Destroyer’s most rigorous of challenges. The Destroyer doesn’t press a button but stabs at it violently. The Destroyer simply opens the cover when ready for some new trifle of a movie to desecrate, rather than the time honored tradition of stopping the video and waiting for the disk to come to a complete stop. Moreover, The Destroyer finds it suitable to touch the laser eye with greasy fingers and with these same fingers, smearing whatever greasy substance there onto precious DVDs that, when mashed into position with colossal force, rotate at a very high RPM: spinning the less than tenacious gunk onto bits and pieces of stuff that looks really important and delicate inside the DVD player. Despite this intense and concerted abuse, the Durabrand DVD Player (Model: DVD-1002), stood strong and, nay, even spit back in the face of The Destroyer, time and time again.
All good and valiant DVD players must come to an end though. It is written thus. I wandered the house looking for the foul burnt smell. There it was: dark smoke poured from the DVD player’s vent. It was on pause and had been so for several hours. Earlier, The Destroyer had insisted on pausing, rather than stopping the DVD player, while we went on a mission. After the mission, the DVD player was forgotten.
Hours later we tried 3 different discs but the player wasn’t cooperating, though it showed signs of life. It was turned off and allowed to rest awhile. After this, the player worked another night, once again spitting in the face of The Destroyer! But, alas, it was a final and fleeting blow…fore it would never again read another disc.
Well, we’re going to give the Durabrand DVD Player (Model: DVD-1002) a Vikings Funeral. As much as I’d like to thoss this DVD player in the trash and be done with it, I can’t help but wonder how much fun it would be to shoot it with BBs.

White Zombie Adjunct

In 1995 I worked a number of jobs and one of them (the best of them!) was at Hara Arena as a caterer/beer pourer and runner. In my catering capacity I was required to wear a white long sleeve, button up shirt complimented with a black bow tie and black pants. Dressed as such, I served people their meal with a smile. I never smiled more, though, than the time I catered backstage for a White Zombie concert in 1995. This was the first time that I got to cater backstage for a concert. Which was awesome! I’d seen a lot of concerts at Hara, so it was a real treat to be able to be backstage and part of the action. I would be able to experience the concert experience in a completely different way, so I accepted the opportunity when presented to me with relish.

My day started early, I can’t remember exactly, it was probably 7 or 8 a.m. It is necessary to have the catering lounge set up by the time anyone shows up, which was 9 a.m. After transporting food and beverage a great distance as the kitchen was a bit of trek (Hara is huge!), we finished setting up as the crew arrived.

There were many great and memorable things that happened that day. Sean Yseult, the beautiful female bass player for White Zombie, came into the lounge to eat. Against the wishes of my boss, I was told not to talk to the crew or band members, I approached Sean for an autograph, all the while asking her inane questions: such as who did the art for the backstage passes, for instance. (Rob Zombie created the art according to Sean, in case you’re interested.) She signed my pass and went on her way, sitting with a couple guys who, in retrospect, were probably the guitar player and drummer and possibly wondering why I didn’t ask for their autographs, as well. Ummm. Oops. By the way, having a backstage pass was cool, in and of itself, as I’d never been able to land one previously as a patron to the multitude of shows I’d seen in Hara’s hallowed halls. And for your information, being backstage is not the good time party scene, as portrayed in many movies and TV. In fact, it’s all business, what with the crew running around getting everything ready for the show. Which brings me to the ultimate highlight of the day: seeing White Zombie perform a handful of songs in the course of a stage check.

After seeing Rob way down the hall standing in front of his own personal dressing room briefly, I killed time in the lounge wondering if he would partake of the sumptuous banquet his tour had requested be available. (No, he did not come anywhere near the catering lounge. Perhaps he had heard tales of Sean being accosted by a strange guy with long hair dressed in a white shirt and black bow tie asking weird art questions and simply did not want to deal with a potential fanboy? Or he heard, erroneously, that the food sucked, one or the other.) My reverie was interrupted by the pulsating sounds that begin the song, More Human than Human. I didn’t just hear it; I felt it rumbling through the concrete up into my body and was compelled to move at breakneck speed around the corner into the concert hall proper. What I saw before me was amazing. Before me, and in only four or five short hours, the hall glittered with lights, lasers and other various and sundry stage effects. The lights had been turned off, as they would be for the actual concert and White Zombie, minus Rob, were on stage playing a song as if it were the real show. They did a couple of numbers and then were joined on stage by Rob, who sang and performed the stage check with the same gusto as if he were already singing to the 4,000 odd people that would crowd the hall later that evening. It is hard to describe the elation and wonder I felt as I stood by, close to the stage, watching; which was, for all intent and purpose, a private show by White Zombie in all its theatrical regalia. Except for a few songs, where I was briefly joined by a girl, similarly dressed like myself, I had the whole hall and mini ‘concert’ to myself! Life can be good sometimes and after having seen the vast majority of concerts in my life up to that point at Hara, this experience was a real treat.

Another notable moment was seeing a couple of the members from the band The Melvins in front of their dressing room, which was just a few yards away from the catering lounge. I saw the drummer and the singer/guitar player, King Buzzo. I recognized Buzzo, but was reluctant to approach him because I didn’t own any Melvins albums and I couldn’t name a song from them if my life depended on it, though I’d seen some of their videos and liked their weird brand of music. It’s too bad, because I had the sense that he would’ve been receptive to me talking with him.

That day was also special because I met a new friend at Hara. His name was Rich and he was hanging with a long time friend of mine named John. I was allowed to watch the show after my catering duties were completed but I wasn’t allowed to see the show dressed as I was. I new John would be drinking in The Pub, Hara’s own little bar, before the show, so I went there to see if he had an extra shirt or jacket for me to wear. John was there with his friend Rich, who happened to have a flannel shirt in his car that I could borrow. Later and off the clock, I found John and Rich and enjoyed the rest of the White Zombie show. Little did I know that I would become good friends with Rich and see many more shows in his company in the years that followed.

I guess the last noteworthy moment came at around 3 a.m. after leaving The Pub, which is where I typically ended a great show in those days at Hara. Some of White Zombie’s crew were outside trying to break into one of their merchandise trucks because they had locked their keys inside. They asked me if I had a coat hanger they could use, to which I said maybe. I found a plastic hanger in my truck, which is useless for breaking into trucks, at about the same time they got into the truck. Although I didn’t really help, they rewarded me for my attempt by giving me one of their black crew T-Shirts, which was simply adorned with a white route sign with the number ‘666’ inside it. Get it? Route 666?
Oh, by the way, the show kicked ass!

Sean Yseult Book Review

Sean Yseult, bass guitar player for defunct band White Zombie, has recently published a coffee table book of her years in White Zombie. Even though it has been almost 20 years since White Zombie became nationally known and 14 years since the band broke up, they still seem like a new band to me. Some form of time distortion, no doubt. Lead singer, Rob Zombie, has stayed in the public eye: releasing albums under his own moniker, touring and directing four major motion pictures while the others in the band quietly faded away. Sean didn’t disappear immediately, though. I was lucky enough to have access to a kick ass record store, circa 1998, that stocked odd, indie music. Browsing, I happened on a CD by a band called Famous Monsters. The album was called. “In the Night!!!” and I was intrigued. After all, there were three exclamation points. The cover featured three hot girls dressed all Halloween like, standing on the hood of a car from the sixties, floating in a cosmic background. There was a little sticker that read: Featuring Sean Yseult of White Zombie. I asked the always knowledgeable, if a bit dour, shopkeeper called Jeff, what he knew about the band. He said it was a surf rock band and it didn’t sound anything like White Zombie, matter of factly. That was fine, I was still intrigued and I bought it. It was surf rock but with a Halloween horror humor about it and it was excellent. Sean had remade herself into Devil Doll, guitar player and singer for Famous Monsters. It was a dramatic change but in keeping with the horror element found in White Zombie and I began to suspect Rob Zombie was not solely responsible for that particular aspect of the band. Up till then, I presumed Rob called all the shots in the band. Sean’s new book, I’m In The Band: Backstage Notes From The Chick In White Zombie, tells the story behind Famous Monsters and proves that Rob Zombie was only a part of what made the band interesting and unique.

The book is a colorful collage of photos, notes and memorabilia Sean collected over the years. Most interesting is Sean’s story, well written and informative: it has changed the way I look at White Zombie and Sean Yseult. I know it’s been in vogue for awhile to bash Rob and everything he does but I have always admired him as a renaissance man. Rob was brave enough to step into unfamiliar territories and has been rewarded with a certain degree of success. Perhaps people are just jealous? But Rob was not the only renaissance man in the band. After reading I’m In The Band, it was evident that Sean was every bit as much a renaissance “man” in her own right.

Since releasing the book, Sean has gone on a press tour promoting her book and making herself available for interviews. These interviews have been as interesting as the book as Sean is forthright, smart, charming and candid with her answers. She is also on a mission of sorts: To tell the story of White Zombie, the story untold. She felt the White Zombie box set, released in 2008, cheated the fans by not including any liner notes whatsoever from the band. Sean was contacted for input, but she and the rest of the band were snubbed out of the loop and the box set was released without their input. She decided to put her book together to fill the void. She seems to be enjoying the press tour and one can hope she will put together a larger book delving a little deeper into her time with the band.

Whether a fan of White Zombie or not, it’s an interesting story of a talented and multifaceted girl named Shauna Reynolds who became Sean Yseult: The Chick in White Zombie.

Men Without Hats: The Good Albums Digitized

I have finally digitized my two Men Without Hats Vinyl LPs: Rhythm of Youth (1983) and Folk of the 80s (Part lll) (1984). Since buying my Ion iTTUSB Turntable in 2006 I have had a list of records I own that must be digitized. The records on this list include bootlegs, rare promos and albums that are unavailable on CD or as a digital download. My Men Without Hats albums fall into the “unavailable” category. That is to say they are not available anywhere as a new sale in North America. It may be possible to find them used online or at a garage sale but unlikely. Ten or so years ago there was a CD that had much of these two albums material on it along with some less worthy songs that came after these albums. It is out of print, too. What a shame. They are lost glittering gems of a bygone, musically adventurous, era. Looking back with a new perspective on all things musical, Rhythm of Youth and Folk of the 80’s (Part lll) were bold musical statements. I always liked them and, even then, they were really different. I’m glad I stumbled on them. These were very eclectic, forward thinking albums. Listening to them now, I’m amazed at how good they are but, alas, they are forgotten. You see, Men Without Hats were a one hit wonder band.

Their big hit was “The Safety Dance,” a big hit on MTV, back when the “M” stood for “music.” It’s hard to describe the song: think early 80’s synth rock but sung like it was a 60’s protest song, Folk style. (Hence, Folk of the 80’s?) Lyrically the song is a bold individualist statement about dancing. The video rounds out this incongruous stew of disparate elements. In the video, the singer strides about confidently through a Medieval/Renaissance landscape. Jesters, wenches and townspeople dance at the singer’s passing and fall into line, following until they reach a town square, where they dance together in joyous communion. I was hooked the first I saw the video and sought to purchase the album. Rhythm of Youth yielded 10 distinct and interesting songs that sounded like nothing I’d ever heard before. Sadly, as popular as “The Safety Dance” was, it would not “break” the band and they faded from the public’s fickle eye.

I followed the band regardless and was rewarded a year later when Folk of the 80’s (Part lll) was released. This album was just as good as Rhythm of Youth; done in the same style but distinctly different as well. Excellent music! I eagerly awaited their next album. And I waited. And waited.

Finally, 1987 brought Pop Goes the World, the long awaited and eagerly anticipated follow up to Folk of the 80s (Part lll). I couldn’t admit it at the time, though I felt it, I was greatly disappointed with the album. The lineup had changed and the music, including Ivan’s vocal delivery style, had changed. Now it was candyfied, late 80’s, pop dreck. The next album followed suit and they pretty much disappeared. But I always had these albums, which I was careful not scratch. My old turntable died at a time when turntables had become unavailable and USB Turntables hadn’t yet arrived. I was exiled from the wonderful world of vinyl for a time.

When I finally secured a USB turntable, Men Without Hats were some of the first records I pulled out. But I was long in recording them, possibly holding off until the albums came available. That never happened so I finally sat down and recorded them onto my computer. Actually, I did it twice. A warning to Audacity users: Check your channel settings before you record! I hastily recorded these, and other, albums in a marathon recording session only to realize, after the fact, I had recorded everything in Mono! Wanting these songs as much as for enjoyment as for backup purposes, I was forced to rerecord everything. Doh! But it was well worth the effort. Now I can listen to this great music anywhere and am no longer limited to the availability of a turntable. Also, if my young daughter decides to do horrible and unspeakable things to these records, I will still have a copy of the music.

Ronnie Dio and the Prophets, et al

I was amazed to learn that there is a plethora of old recordings of Ronnie James Dio on the web. Unknown for most of Dio’s latter day career as a premiere hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, which started in 1975 when he became the vocalist of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow; he was a crooner of the late 50’s and early 60’s. Back then he was known as Ronnie Dio and he fronted or was a member of several bands, most notably: Ronnie Dio and the Prophets.

I discovered Dio in 1980 when I heard “Heaven & Hell,” the first Black Sabbath album to feature Ronnie James Dio as vocalist and lyricist. Since then I have been a fan of his and have watched his career. Later, I discovered Dio had sang for Rainbow, whose seminal song, “Man on the Silver Mountain” was always on the radio and I loved it. I was young then and didn’t know much so it took me a while to figure out it was the same guy in Black Sabbath. Actually this made Dio more interesting to me. Later I learned that Dio fronted a band called Elf in the early to mid 70’s which disintegrated when he quit to join Rainbow. That was it. Before Elf there was nothing. Not all rockers view interviews as confessionals. Dio would comment on Black Sabbath and Rainbow after he went solo with his own band DIO, but usually he discussed the now, what was happening in his life at the time of the interview.

But then the internet came along and as the technology improved and it became the primary means of communication and entertainment. The internet was a thing of the future but it’s greatest quality is as a resource of the past. As more people became involved, they not only downloaded their knowledge of a given subject but their pictures and sounds, as well. I am delighted by what is now available regarding Ronnie James Dio: Recordings of him singing in the early sixties copied from old 45’s.

Copied from old 45’s! Truly vintage and rare. Dio is considered the quintessential singer of Heavy Metal music and to think he started his career in the late 50’s?! It boggles this fan’s mind. And you know what? These songs from the early 60’s are good. YouTube has some songs posted as videos with still photos of Ronnie Dio & the Prophets. Truly shocking! I can’t stress how much of a shock it is to realize the true length of this man’s career. Ronnie Dio passed away in May 2010, ending a 50+ years run in music at the age of 67. Dio has been with many bands and has been quite prolific in his career and it would be an amazing Anthology that collected songs from the whole of Dio’s long career.

Here is a list of some of the songs I found (Enjoy!):
Songs:
-Ronnie Dio & The Prophets LOVE PAINS 1962 (45 label says Padavona for credit)
-Ronnie Dio & The Prophets - Will you still love me tomorrow
-Ronnie Dio and the Prophets - Blue days blue nights
-Ronnie James Dio & The Prophets - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
-Ronnie Dio And The Prophets - The Way Of Love 1964
-Ronnie James Dio & The Prophets - An Angel Is Missing
-Ronnie Dio & The Prophets - Gonna Make It Alone
-Ronnie And The Prophets - Don't Take Your Love From Me
-Dio And The Prophets - 10 Days To Brenda
-Ronnie Dio and The Prophets - Love Potion 9
-Dio - Red Top 1963
-Ronnie Dio And The Prophets - Everybody's Got A Dance {feat. RONNIE JAMES DIO}
-RONNIE JAMES DIO - Welcome to My Nightmare
-Ronnie James Dio - Dream On
-Kerry Livgren-Ronnie James Dio -To Live For The King

Next Men Takes Me Back & Savage Dragon Still Surprises

I hadn’t been to the comic shop in more than a month but it was time. The latest issue of Savage Dragon should’ve been out around a month ago and I wanted to know how Emperor Kerr was fairing in his conquest of Earth. Believe me, there’s a lot of back story to this but don’t worry, I will spare you the details. There simply isn’t enough time or space to get you up to speed. Suffice it to say, Savage Dragon is written and drawn by Erik Larsen, who has been publishing Savage Dragon for 19 years. Certainly one of the longest runs in creator driven titles, Savage Dragon features something fairly unique in the comic world. That is, that the comic takes place in real time: Meaning all the characters, those still alive, have aged 19 years. I followed Erik Larson when he left Marvel Comics to help form Image Comics, where Savage Dragon is published. I would describe Larsen’s style as a mixture of Marvel’s groundbreaking Silver Age comics with John Byrne 80’s Marvel: Byrne, himself, a Marvel Silver Age aficionado. The stories treaded new ground in the early days of the 60’s but after a point, the characters had been around a long time yet had not aged. Comic book publishers would not allow characters to age because eventually they’d have to retire profitable titles. Or course their thinking was limited but there was wisdom in their stance. Otherwise, Batman and Superman, unless otherwise disposed of by their various colorful enemies, would be dead of old age and Spiderman would be retiring right about now. John Byrne took the Fantastic Four back to their roots by considering only seven years had passed since the first issue, though 20 years and well over 200 issues had passed. It was like Byrne picked up where Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had left off. Savage Dragon incorporated these great qualities in Savage Dragon along with real time, which is just not done in comic books. Erik Larsen has never shied away from introducing dramatic change to the Savage Dragon story and he has always made it work. Lately, much dramatic change has been taking place and I am eager to see what happens next.
Driving to Bookery Fantasy, I realize that enough time has passed that two issues of Savage Dragon may be available. At the store and scanning the racks something unbelievable catches my eye. It is an issue of John Byrne’s Next Men! Next Men ceased publication back in 1995 or so, what the fuck? A reprinting seemed likely but who knew? It is not a reprint. It is the second issue of a new Next Men series that picks up where the old series left off. Awesome! But did they have the first issue? None were readily apparent. Still loyal to the lone comic book I still pick up; I searched for the latest Dragon tale. I found the Savage Dragon and, much to my delight, found it to be the issue after the one I was looking for. I was right, two issues were out. Or course, now I worried I wouldn’t be able to find the issue I missed. Usually, Bookery had a couple back issues available, but you never know. I missed out on a couple of issues in the past and it took me years to find copies for myself. That was not the case and I found what I was looking for. That done, I marched to the counter to inquire of Next Men #1. I had no idea where to look so, why not let the good people of Bookery Fantasy do what they do best? They found the issue in question and I felt excited.

Paying for my prizes, I comment on my surprise at seeing the new Next Men comics to the clerk. I have been buying comics from him for years but I do not know his name. He might know my name because I have paid with my credit card over the years. Who knows? He is knowledgeable and to my statement he says that he has had many surprised comments on the Next Men. There was a thrill: Other people were buying Next Men, too. It has been far too long since I have enjoyed a good John Byrne yarn and it was a revelation that others may feel same way.
Getting into my car, I realized I felt excited about comic books in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. I had four issues of what I knew to be exciting comics in my possession and I looked forward to kicking back and checking them out. After getting home, my woman would be going to work and I would be watching our young child. It would be a while before I could kick back and using this: I would savor the moment.

After performing various Dad duties and knowing my daughter was preoccupied, I retired to my command center. Sitting down in the sunlight that beamed brightly through the window I would begin with the Savage Dragon and then it would be on to the Next Men. Savage Dragon #167 and #168 packs a blood soaked punch with the wanton death, and wholly unexpected twists and turns. I am amazed at Erik Larson’s consistent ability to just go all out, throwing the pieces in the air and seeing where they all fall. After all this time the Savage Dragon still offers surprises supreme. Bravo, Erik Larson! And a Stan Lee “Excelsior” to thee!

John Byrne’s Next Men are next. I thought about digging the old issues out and reading them again, so as to be up to speed. I decided not, figuring all would come back as I read. I shouldn’t have worried as Byrne does an excellent job of recapping what had gone on before while simultaneously jumping into the new storyline. It is good. I’m happy to be picking up on an old story that was never finished after so many years. I can only compare the feeling to when I saw the DIO era Sabbath in 1993 and the OZZY era Sabbath in 1998 or the all original members of KISS in 1996. These bands had reunited against all possible odds and expectations after many years of estrangement. Growing up, it was a foregone conclusion that I would never see these bands live in these particular incarnations. But then it happens and it’s like, WOW! Byrne has a story to tell and, as such, a definite conclusion to the Next Men story, which will culminate with issue #50 (or is that 80?). This is great. Now, after probably over a decade, I will be collecting two comics a month. Well, at least for the next four years.

Vinyl Fun Finds at Goodwill

Lately, I’ve made some great Vinyl finds at the local Goodwill Store. I have been trolling for cool Vinyl for many years. I find my treasures by haunting flea markets, thrift stores, flea markets and, infrequently, garage sales. Garage Sales are always disappointing as a cool vinyl resource, whereas an actual record store is the best resource. Which, I didn’t include in my list above because it’s an obvious place to find cool vinyl and there aren’t many record stores left, anyways. Also, the selection is usually picked over, worn out, over priced and smells like piss. Cat or Human? I think both. Flea Markets are a step above as they don’t smell as bad but they cost more. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen much vinyl at all at any flea markets for the last couple of years. So that leaves Thrift Stores. Up until recently thrift stores have been more a resource for that cool old retro cover. The music inside, to my modern ears, is garbage for the most part. Rarely did I find some cool rock album, rather it was the garbage made for old people back in the 50’s up through the 70’s. And yet, some of them had cool covers. Well, maybe not cool in a pop culture sense but cool to me.  Every decade or so I’d find a cool rock album from the 70’s up. These were rare gems. Outside of the occasional Jazz, Blues or Comedy record, you just didn’t see anything cool in thrift stores. Rock albums were surprising and fun finds back in the day. In the last few months of 2010 is when cool rock albums from the 70’s & 80’s started making a regular appearance at my local Goodwill Store.

Of course all the crap I’ve picked through over the years is still there but now I’m finding pockets of cool stuff shoved in between the crap. I was astonished to find a large cache of Rap and DJ Mixes thereof, most of which was from the mid 90’s and Chicago based. Real local shit. I wasn’t a fan but I could appreciate the serious find before me. I passed, knowing it belonged to someone else. Flipping along, I found another pocket of cool shit. It was of some 45’s, which is fairly rare to find at thrift stores. The first 7” was “Goody Two Shoes” by Adam Ant backed with “Crackpot History” (the superior song, in my opinion) from 1982! Both songs come from the album, Friend or Foe. I love this album and I bought a cassette of it back in 1983. The next 7” was “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas! I love this song but before finding this record, I couldn’t have told you who performed it. I have taken Kung Fu for many years now and, funnily enough(!), many people break into this song when I mention that I take Kung Fu. But now I have an actual 45 of this song! Ha! The B-Side? How cares? “Kung Fu Fighting” is on side A! The last 7” of interest was “Easy Lover” (Duet with Phil Collins) by Philip Bailey. I would’ve thought it was a Phil Collins song with Philip Bailey guesting. You learn something new every day. I always liked this song, though. There were a few other 45’s I passed on, finding them lame and contrary to the ones I wanted. A few records down I found “200 M.P.H” by Bill Cosby and in good condition. There were a few other Cosby albums but they were in piss poor shape.

A few weeks ago I found a new influx of rock albums, such as YES and STYX. The Firm’s two albums were there too, along with the PRIZE: A promo only interview disc, called Talks Business - Exclusive Interview, with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers of The Firm. I have The Firm’s albums already but not the promo which I snatched up, looking side to side wondering if it would be necessary to defend against this great find. There were others flipping through and one guy, over my shoulder, was eyeballing the records I was flipping through, but he said nothing and violence did not erupt.

Radio promos are rare as they are not offered to the public. The promo’s sole purpose in life is to promote a new album: In this case, by providing an insightful interview with the creators on the construction of their band and their new album, in this case: The Firm’s second, and ultimately last, album “Mean Business.” Since then, Jimmy Page has claimed The Firm only ever intended to produce two albums, but the interview on this says otherwise. They seem eager to continue to write together but “Mean Business” sold poorly and the partnership was subsequently dissolved. Promos such as this are produced only in small numbers and usually remain in a radio station vault or “find” their way into an appreciative DJ’s private collection. This, after decades of collecting, is only the second Interview on vinyl I’ve found. For inquiring minds who want to know: The first is called “Lets Talk” and is an interview with David Bowie, promoting his “Lets Dance” album. “Talks Business” has a “questions and answers” version on Side A and an “answers only” version on Side B. It comes with an introductory letter and a transcript of the interview. There is also a time breakdown, informing you when you need to dub in your questions. The record is clean and I suspect it was rarely played. Over all, the package is in Near Mint condition. “Talks Business” is a great addition to my collection but offers something else, thanks to computers: The opportunity for me to dub myself asking the questions and to spruce it up by adding their music to the background. The moral of the story? Never give up flipping through all those old records, you never know what you’ll find.

Halford’s Still Made of Metal

I put off buying Halford 4 - Made of Metal for a number of reasons. There was other music I wanted to download more, Nostradamus with Judas Priest was disappointing and would Made of Metal be just another tired retread of past glory? I have been a fan of Rob Halford for nearly 30 years and have always wanted to be a first day buyer when something new comes out. But lately, I’ve wondered if he and the rest of Judas Priest are past their prime and maybe they should all just retire. And so it goes that Judas Priest have announced their final “Epitaph” tour. Reading this I realized I might want to pick up Halford 4. It was only $10 at Walmart, not much more than the digital download, so I decided to go old school and buy the plastic.

My expectations weren’t particularly high when I plugged my new CD in the player. I have found that having low expectations is good because I’m far less crest fallen when I’m disappointed. But I am not disappointed with Made of Metal. In fact I’m a little surprised and mildly relieved. The album delivers a sold dose of Heavy Metal and has a fire in its belly. Halford has made no bones that he will continue after the mighty Priest are gone and this album stands as testimony. Halford’s solo output has been next to nothing since rejoining Priest but it has been picking up in the waning days of Priest. Made of Metal follows less than a year since Halford’s last album, Halford 3 – Winter Songs, the first album to be released after a seven year gap.

If you’re on the fence about this one, get off the fence and buy the album. What are you waiting for? You know you want it.

Best Worst Movie: The Troll 2 Documentary

I was thinking of Christmas ideas and I thought it would be nice to get a replacement copy of Troll 2. I had loaned my old Troll/Troll 2 DVD out back in 2007 and it hadn’t been returned. The problem was compounded by the fact that I couldn’t remember who I’d loaned it to. Damn. I love Troll 2 and I have loved it ever since an old friend brought it to my attention, way back in 1993. He said he saw it on HBO and that it was the worst movie ever but it was hysterical. It was a low point in my life so I was game. I’d actually seen the VHS of Troll 2 in a rental store for a few years and it never passed the “cover test.” Ironically, it wouldn’t have mattered as the original VHS cover didn’t have anything to do with the movie. We rented a copy and set down to watch, beers in hand. I am amazed we didn’t get hernias from the gut busting laughter that volcanically erupted from us. Troll 2, despite its obvious lack of technical prowess in almost every area of importance, delivers.  It is fun and like a good album something you play again and again and it was many years until that same friend who first introduced me to Troll 2 gave me the Troll/Troll2 DVD, for Christmas 2004. We had talked about the movie for years and it was a surprise to find it was on DVD. I loved to play Troll 2 during the Halloween season and I have missed seeing it the last few years. So, why not as a Christmas gift?

I found online that Troll 2 was available as a 20^th Anniversary, stand alone DVD. Sadly, there is no bonus material. I found something else, a documentary about Troll 2 called: Best Worst Movie. They’d both just been released on DVD in November. Excellent and unexpected! The documentary is directed and is the brain child of Michael Stephenson, the child star of Troll 2: Joshua Waits. Stephenson had run from the movie for most of the 20 years since its release in 1990. Via the internet, Stephenson found that a large cult following for the film had developed over the years and, warming to the situation, realized HE was the lead child actor of the best worst movie ever. The only way to distinguish yourself from the best is to be the worst. And seriously, the movie is really fun to watch. Thinking this was pretty cool, he decided to make a documentary on the phenomena, the highlight being he’d track down just about everyone of note who was involved with the movie. I put both the DVDs on my wish list and crossed my fingers.

I got Troll 2 as a gift and had to order Best Worst Movie. When I received my order, Best Worst Movie was the first thing I wanted to see. The documentary is as much of a tribute to the fans as it is the cast and crew of Troll 2. It is enjoyable and there is a lot of interesting information therein. I had no idea of the large, young cult following that has blossomed in Troll 2’s wake. The film focuses mostly on George Hardy, the amiable dentist that played the part of the dad in the movie, Michael “Farmer” Waits. Most all the principal actors were interviewed and featured except for two notable people: Mike Hamill, the fire and brimstone preacher of Nilbog, and Deborah Reed, the over the top villainess: Goblin Queen. I have heard CultFilmFreak’s separate podcasts with both actors that both were interviewed for the documentary but weren’t featured at all. This is regrettable and eminently perplexing. Stephenson even had material with some of the dwarves who played goblins in the film but didn’t include the two main villains? Judging from the podcasts, their inclusion in the film would’ve only made the movie better. Oh well. I read on some comment boards that Deborah Reed is working on her own documentary, so how knows? Despite this egregious flaw, it is a good, enjoyable documentary.