R.I.P. Lt. Frank Drebin aka Leslie Nielson

Leslie Nielsen of ‘Naked Gun’ fame dies at age 84 (AP)

 

LOS ANGELES – Leslie Nielsen, who traded in his dramatic persona for inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in “Airplane!” and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in “The Naked Gun” comedies, died on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.

The Canadian-born actor died from complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home at 5:34 p.m., surrounded by his wife, Barbaree, and friends, his agent John S. Kelly said in a statement.

“We are saddened by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in ‘The Naked Gun’ series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television,” said Kelly.

Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live television dramas in New York. With a craggily handsome face, blond hair and 6-foot-2 height, he seemed ideal for a movie leading man.

Nielsen first performed as the king of France in the Paramount operetta “The Vagabond King” with Kathryn Grayson.

The film — he called it “The Vagabond Turkey” — flopped, but MGM signed him to a seven-year contract.

His first film for that studio was auspicious — as the space ship commander in the science fiction classic “Forbidden Planet.” He found his best dramatic role as the captain of an overturned ocean liner in the 1972 disaster movie, “The Poseidon Adventure.”

He became known as a serious actor, although behind the camera he was a prankster. That was an aspect of his personality never exploited, however, until “Airplane!” was released in 1980 and became a huge hit.

As the doctor aboard a plane in which the pilots, and some of the passengers, become violently ill, Nielsen says they must get to a hospital right away.

for the rest , go here

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/leslie-nielsen-naked-gun-fame-dies-age-84-ap

Lemmy, always an entertaining interview

from:www. theIndependent.com

Growing old disgracefully: Lemmy on heartbreak, ageing and his penchant for Nazi memorabilia

He’s the famously hard-living lead singer of rock legends Motörhead. But could there be a soft side to Lemmy?

Interview by Nick Duerden

Sunday, 28 November 2010

JAKE WALTERSSolitary guy: ‘Even when I’m in an arena, surrounded by 10,000 people, I’m alone in my head’, says Lemmy

You hear him before you see him, the tell-tale clink of ice on glass, a glass that rarely leaves his right hand. In it, always the same concoction: whisky and Coke. It sees him through the day and keeps him – mercifully, as his entourage down the years will confirm – mostly nice and manageably mellow. You smell him next, the moment a roadie opens the door to the soundproofed rehearsal room to wheel out the drum-kit case. It’s an overpowering whiff of nicotine that quickly brings tears to the eyes. And then, through the smoke, you at last see him, sat on a chair, the only static thing in a room full of activity, and you realise it couldn’t ever have been anybody else. 

 It is early on a November evening in an industrial part of north London, a stone’s throw from Pentonville prison. Lemmy is winding down for the day. He has been here for several hours now, in preparation for Motörhead’s forthcoming European tour, and running through the new songs until he has them down pat. His band are in attendance, of course, but frankly it is difficult to know who, among the roadies packing away gear and getting ready to leave, ‘ might be the guitarist or the drummer. To the untrained eye, all heavy rockers look the same. Motörhead may always have been a band, but Lemmy was its sole focal point. 

The man himself takes a puff on his cigarette as I approach, then looks up. In response to my anodyne greeting of “How are you?”, he chuckles and says, obliquely, “I can take it or leave it, son.” Up close, he does rather look his age; he’ll be 65 on Christmas Eve. The eyes are rheumy and craggy, the skin pallid and slack, the most famous warts in rock (two of them, both on the left cheek) as pronounced as distended nipples. His voice is a hoarse croak, but despite the ravages of time, he still cuts a formidable presence. Fast and reckless living, perpetuated over decades, has somehow not killed him. And if it does some day soon, he later suggests, “I’m ready for it.” But for now at least, he remains a prime example of heavy-metal magnificence, hirsute and black-clad and, even in weary exhaustion, robustly lascivious. “I’ve always had a way with a certain kind of girl,” he will say. The phrase “lock up your daughters” could have been invented for him go here and check out the rest of a great inteview!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/growing-old-disgracefully-lemmy-on-heartbreak-ageing-and-his-penchant-for-nazi-memorabilia-2142747.html

Happy Thanksgiving From Chuck & Allen

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Raffle Tickets for a Good Cause. The Shepherd family.

Brief Review of Kid Rock’s New Cd “Born Free”

People that know me know I like music ALOT.I like rock,hard rock,and hip-hop, and have a collection of music.I bought a CD today of one of my favs and found out that Kid Rock needs to change his name to Kid Country,WTF!! Country is not my type, and probably never will, life is depressing enough. Anyway if you like country music and depression you will love the new Kid Country CD, it’ll be in my dumpster if anyone wants it!11 hours ago

Chris Gish

Lady Antebellum’s ‘Need You Now’–A Ripoff?

So what do you think? Did Lady Antellum rip off the Alan Parson’s Project? I think they are just in the same vein of style…Well, your opinion is?

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/75288/lady-antebellums-need-you-nowa-ripoff/

Lady Antebellum‘s “Need You Now” is one of country’s biggest success stories this year–it’s a certifiable crossover hit and has won several major awards, most recently Single of the Year at the 2010 Country Music Association awards last week.

Now, with all that said–here’s some food for thought. Is the trio’s smash single actually a ripoff of an early ’80s hit?

That may seem like a far stretch. However, some people are saying so–specifically, people related to the ’80s hitmaker in question, Alan Parsons of the Alan Parsons Project. Apparently, fans of the APP have been chattering about the similarities between “Need You Now” and the APP’s “Eye In The Sky,” a tune that approached the top of the charts back in 1982.

Alternative newsweekly Nashville Scene reported last week that a woman calling herself the “executive personal assistant” to Alan Parsons wrote in to their editor, claiming “Our fans are reaching out to us by the hundreds telling us how ‘Need You Now’ by Lady Antebellum is one of those ‘lazy rip offs’ of ‘Eye In The Sky’ by The Alan Parsons Project.”

If all this seems a bit out of left field, a fan of the APP took the liberty of creating the following mashup to drive the point home. The tempo and pitch of both songs have been altered a bit, but it is nevertheless rather an eerie match (at least in this example). Take a listen and see what you think:

Hanging with Faster Pussycat at Frankies with Murray

by rogue reporter Murray Carter 

Let’s see where do I began? Saturday, Nov. 23th, 2010 the Faster Pussycat band was coming to Frankie’s Bar in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Thursday prior my wife Katrina and I went and bought our tickets ahead of time to ensure our spot to see the show. The next night I sent out a Facebook friend request to Casey Carnage who books the bands at Frankie’s. Little did I know it was the best friend request I could’ve ask for him. I mentioned to him that I was working for KICKACTS magazine, which is a local online music mag owned by my good friend Chuck Gee. Casey Carnage told me he was the one who had gotten Faster Pussycat to play at Frankie’s bar. So I thought to myself what the hell, I’ll ask him if he thought he could get me an interview with someone from the band. Man the moment he told me he could I was stoked. I called Casey and asked if there was anything we could do to help and lucky for he needed a ride. That’s were our adventure began. Little did I know that Katrina and I would be hanging out with the band and driving them around Owensboro. First stop was Frankie’s to meet the band member. Tamie was the first to step out of the RV and shake my hand an Katrina’s too. Then we walked around back where the rest of the band and road crew exited the RV. Chad Stewart (drummer, Danny Nordahl (bass guitar), Xristian Simon (guitar), Ace Von Johnson (guitar), Thomas, their main man at getting everything set up and sound checks complete and Savannah, who sells all the faster Pussycat SWAG!! As the back of the RV opened up, we made a line and I went into roadie mode unloading equipment. It was pretty cool, the guys were real nice, laid back and always cutting jokes. As all the equipment finally entered the building, Chad asked Casey if we could drive Tamie to the hotel so he could rest and get ready. We said sure, come on let’s go! After dropping Tamie off Casey says the rest of the crew would like to know if we could drive them around to their meet & greet at FYE’s in the Owensboro Mall and once again we said YES!!While waiting for everyone to load up Thomas and Savannah mentioned they wanted a tattoo, so I had called my good friend Marty Owens and his son Chris McClure who own “Ink Mob studio” at 3525 Frederica Street in Owensboro. I managed to get them the “hookup”. So Katrina offered to drop them off at the Meet & Greet and then drive Thomas to the shop. What I didn’t expect was to be invited to hang with them at the Meet & Greet by Chad, who btw, is an absolute cool cat and jokester!! Katrina returned and hung out with us at FYE where we took photos and cut up and talked about the tour. 

Once again back on the road headed to the tattoo shop where Thomas was still getting his tat of a heart with devil horns and tail with his daughter’s Lily name in it. Now it was Savannah’s turn to check out what she wanted. While they were getting work done Katrina and I drove the rest of the band back to the venue so they could sound check and get ready to head to the hotel to get ready for the show. Katrina and I headed back to INK MOB studio’s to wait for Thomas and Savannah. Savannah got a TCB with a lightning bolt on her thumb. It came out pretty cool! Before heading back to the Venue the four of us grabbed sandwiches at Penn Station. It’s funny we all got Philly Cheese Steaks!!! lol Now we’re back on the road headed to Frankie’s for the night. Danny invited us to come hangout in the RV parked around the back of Frankie’s and I said HELL YEAH!!!. Come on folks, who’s gonna refuse that offer??? Not ME!! We had a fucking blast; they are all cool as hell. When we went back to the bar Chad asked me if I wanted a Bud Light and we all know I’m not passing up a free beer. Danny Nordahl was doing shots of Jack Daniels and JagerBombs. Chad comes up and tells everyone to get ready Tamie is on his way. Thomas asked for my helping finishing up the last minute sound checks an asked me to stand on the side of the stage and make sure no one disturbed the equipment on that side. I truly felt privileged. Crowds yelling and screaming!! The house was packed!!Everyone’s’ on stage and here comes Tamie wearing a fur coat, Nazi hat, totally cool looking and ready to rock!!The band starts playing and everyone I saw was having a blast dancing, screaming and having the best time in their lives!! They played their songs like “Bathroom Wall, “House of Pain”, “Non Stop to No Where” and others!! Even though I didn’t get to get my interview I got to hang out with the members of Faster Pussycat!! So there you have it!!  The awesome experience of my wife Katrina and I hanging out with FASTER PUSSYCAT!!! oh and Chad, if by chance you read this. Thanks for our wonderful experience hanging with ya’ll. And to Casey Carnage, my new FB friend many THANKS TOO!!!!! Last but not least, thanks to KICKACTS for letting me cover the story!! 

Peace out~ 

MadDawg Murray \m/ \m/

FIREHOUSE TOMORROW NIGHT AT FRANKIES~!~Nov. 19th

Mr. Big Ready To Return In January With ‘What If…’

Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com and www.frontiers.it.

Frontiers Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated European release of MR. BIG’s new studio album entitled ‘What If…’ on January 21st 2011. The North American release, also on Frontiers records, shall follow in February with more exciting details to be announced!

‘What If…’ is MR. BIG’s first “all original” album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of ‘Hey Man’, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.

Guitarist Paul Gilbert said, “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of since fourteen years, and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan, “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds, “Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.

Eric Martin concludes, “I like to compare this to the first album, when we just got to know each other in a reharsal studio and cut it in 8 or 9 days. This is like chapter 2. We had so many years, so many records and so many things behind us. Now this feels like a beautiful brand new chapter starting for all of us”.

‘What If…’ was produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and the release will be followed by a World Tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.

Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark “shredding” musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original line-up – vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres – be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock.

Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.

‘What If…’ will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.

‘What If…’ tracklisting includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).

The DVD will include the videoclips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.

The first single “Undertow” will have an official promotional launch on November 27th.

KICKACTS book Review ” Rick Springfield’s “Late, Late at Night”

I just recently got to read Rick Springfield’s autobiography entitled “Late, Late at Night”. I have to tell you it was quite an interesting read. Most of you might just consider him a pop “Rock Star” but the book covers far more than that. He drills down deep into his upbringing, mistakes and successes and doesn’t hold anything back. He basically bares his soul and at his own expense. It covered him growing up in the fifties back in his home in Australia and how he was somewhat of an army brat and how he and his parents moved about every three years. He talked about his first guitar and the love he has for animals and of course his career from his start on “Mission Magic” on the Saturday morning cartoon show.  Anyone remember that? I do…

 The book covers basically his entire life warts and all. His many ups and downs and not sure “of’s”. The impression I also gathered from the book is he, like a lot of musicians and people in general has had a severe bout with depression his entire life. Even at the top of his game when he was “Noah Drake” on General Hospital and having a hit record at the same time he felt like he was worthless and even at a young age attempted suicide. Obviously, being a child of the 50’s and touring by late 60’s, he experienced and was caught up in the “what was normal at the time” drug scene… Even telling that he got the clap a few times and something to the fact he was wearing his dick out (his own words) on the endless groupies…

But the book is much more than that… I don’t want to give away too much information but he talks about some of the exciting gigs he had over the years and even playing in Hot Zones in Vietnam and helping load mortars while their camp was under fire.

 I highly recommend checking out the book. I couldn’t put it down.

Chuck

to buy it on Amazon, go here:

http://www.amazon.com/Late-at-Night-Rick-Springfield/dp/1439191158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289935889&sr=8-1