The Swedish band “Ghost” seems to have came around at the right time. Back in the 80’s if a band had a “evil” or satanic” feel to it the whole world would have had major issues with these guys. It’s anti catholic or maybe it’s an inverted take on the church but it would have definitely got them in hot water. Judging from the interviews I have read and seen, it’s a gimmick and one that has set them apart from all the other bands these days. The music is borrowed heavily from Blue Oyster Cult, King Diamond and bands of that style. Ghost has even managed to keep almost all of their identities a secret from the general public. A stunt that KISS pulled off back in the seventies. Papa is on vocals and all the other musicians are called “Nameless Ghouls”. Everyone wears a mask to protect their identity. Rumor has it that Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters has donned a mask and sat in with them from time to time too!
Ghost is currently doing unplugged shows and here is the one they just did in Seattle! Check it out. Ghost announce Unholy Unplugged tour – TeamRock
Aug 18: Seattle Silver Platters, WA
Aug 20: Los Angeles Amoeba Records, CA
Aug 21: Phoenix ZIA, AZ
Aug 22: Baltimore Sound Garden, MD
Aug 23: Brooklyn Rough Trade, NY
To the hottest BatGirl and Barbara Gordon there ever was… ;-(
Watching those reruns of BatMan as a young lad while growing up in the 70’s…We all looked forward to seeing her appearances. She was female Superhero to many.
Yvonne Craig, who played Batgirl, dies at 78 – CNN.com
(CNN)Before Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, before Joanna Cameron’s Isis, before Scarlett Johannsson’s Black Widow, Yvonne Craig was a pioneer of female superheroes on screen.
As an actress, she originated the role of Batgirl in the 1960s “Batman” television series. As a trained dancer, she did her own stunts.
Craig died this week after a long two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 78.
The cancer metastasized to her liver, and she died Monday in her home in Pacific Palisades.
“She had been in chemo almost continuously for the past two plus years since being diagnosed and that had weakened her immune system as well as her body,” her family said in a statement late Tuesday night.
“This didn’t dampen her sense of humor or her spirit, she intended to fight and win this battle. In the end, her mind still wanted to fight but her body had given up.”
Craig originated the role of Batgirl in the show’s third and final season in 1967, kapowing and zzonking the bad guys alongside Adam West and Burt Ward’s dynamic duo of Batman and Robin.
“I hear from women that I was their role model,” she told CNN in an interview earlier this year. “‘When I was a little girl, I realized that girls could kick butt just like guys,’ [they’d say].”
She also had a memorable role as the green-skinned Orion slave girl Marta who wanted to kill Captain Kirk in a third-season episode of “Star Trek.”
“The Leader of the band is tired, and his eyes are growing old…
But his blood flows thru my instrument, and his song is in my soul”.
A well written song by the late Dan Folgelberg. It was his gift to his father. A song to this day that almost makes me tear up when I hear it. The depth of it. The meaning of it. The beauty of it. The song looks at life and if you have paid attention to it closely, the brevity of it. The shortness of it. Breathe in and breathe out and it’s…
gone.
The other day I was sitting and talking with my Grandpa “Pops’ on his front porch. I try to go by there daily at lunch to spend a few minutes with him. He usually gives me the weather report of what he has seen on the Weather channel. If you have read any of my previous stories about him you will know that it’s about the only channel he really watches even though he has about 200 channels. Every once in a while he will be watching “Bonanza” and say, “I have already seen this one”. I will jokingly reply “Yea, because we watched all those shows as kids!”
“Pop’s” is thin. He is still fearlessly independent even though I tell him he needs assistance. His once muscular body has succumbed to the sands of time. He used to stand tall, shoulders back. He is now hunched over. His once huge biceps and forearms are now reduced to just skin and bones. His legs that I have been told used to tear up a dance floor now and then in his youth no longer can support him without his “Cadillac” as he calls it. Cadillac meaning a seated walker with wheels that he pushes around most of the time. His once chiseled facial features that he used to charm the ladies with is gone. Replaced with wrinkles and age spots. Despite him eating all the time he can’t put any weight on his tiny frame. He may weigh 100 lbs. soaking wet when he used to weigh over 200 lbs. His eye sight is not what it used to be. In fact, he is slowly going blind. He can no longer read the newspaper. Something that he has probably done every day since he learned to read. He now reaches out with his hands to me and holds them still as I place his favorite drink of choice “Sprite” into them. He can see but not long distances. He can’t make out the house across the street anymore. Or even short distances anymore for that matter. Such as the newspaper. It didn’t help that they had shrunk it in size too. At 94, he has a full head of snow white hair still and one could probably almost make a sure bet at the horse track that it won’t be falling out on him anytime soon.
On this particular day I got to looking at his hands and got to thinking to myself “If only those hands could speak”. But in a non-verbal way, they do. Those hands have held a life time of hard work. They carried his hopes and dreams. The sorrows and heart aches too. They carried the weight of a lifetime for him. They remain frail but steady. Those hands held the hammers and nails that he used to build beds at the Old Delker Brother’s factory. Those hands held ink pens and note book pads that he used to “count pipe” at Crestline Plastic Pipe Factory. I remember as a kid he would come home more than once with the front of his boots cut out because he had gotten his feet ran over with a heavy steel wheeled cart. I guess this was way before OSHA was a big deal. He never wore steal toed boots. His toe nails would be busted and bruised and he would have his toes wrapped in electrical tape but the next day he would get up and head off to work. It just wasn’t “him” to stay home from work. It never slowed him down. I can only recall him being really sick maybe once while we were growing up.
Those hands help build roads for the CCC’s. To this day he can recall what town he was in while building roads out west. He tells of watching wild horses run thru the desert and running a gas powered film projector at night. I am embarrassed to say that even though I have heard the story several times I can’t recall where it was at this moment.
He used to love working with wood. I remember Pops building David and me a toy box when we were just tiny little tots. It was so huge and had two sliding doors on it. The care that went into it. I watched him sand and finish the wood finish until it was perfect. He tapped the finishing nails until they disappeared. He was a craftsman at it. He took pride in it. He still takes pride in his self. I wish I still had that toy box and often wonder what became of it.
Those hands baited hooks and helped us throw out cane poles at first, and then later on, rod and reels. I couldn’t cast an open face reel to save my life. I would always wind up with a “birds nest”. He would gently untangle the mess I made and cast it for me and then hand the rod back to me. His hands held the fish that we were too scared to touch. They pitched the whiffle balls to us as we tried our luck at baseball. David and I were notorious for getting flat tires on our bikes. Pops would pull the inner tube out away from the rim, place a patch over the hole, add some glue to it and light it with a match to melt it in. He showed us how to make paper kites with newspaper and glue. He used take small pieces of white PVC pipe and widdle out a homemade reed (block) and make us flutes. It seems the employees at Crestline were quite inventive! I remember PVC lamps too that he had made.
He walked David and me to grade school. We used to walk down town after the businesses where closed and “window shopped”.
When we got those guitars for Christmas Pop’s knew a couple of chords and played a song for us! There was nothing those hands couldn’t do.
All along as he slowly aged, his hands did too. I never paid much attention to it. I just never saw it. But it has happened. Once again, if you have read any of my “Pop’s” stories, he sits alone a lot. Really for days on end. It’s not a dig at anyone that can’t go by and see him. Life is fast. We all have a million things to do. Lately I have changed my habits when I go see him. I put the phone down. I look him in the eyes when he talks to me. Sometimes (a lot of the time really) the things he talks about is stuff I am totally not interested in hearing about. Lol… I guess it’s an elderly person thing. But every word he tells me is important to him. Every sentence. Sometimes it’s about finances and saving money. Or what to do with the house once “he’s gone”. He brags on Denise’s cooking. But I always give him “time”. He gave me his “time”. It’s only fair I give him my “time”. I am trying to do that with my family too. My wife will be the first one to tell me I fall short on that and she is right. But I am trying.
Something else I started doing is this. Well let me back up. I was wondering when was the last time he had a hand shake or a pat on the back. You know, the “human touch”. It’s important to us all. He doesn’t have leprosy. Old age is not contagious. He is a human being. So, those hands of his that gave me comfort and assurance, I now assure him. I place my hand on his shoulder when I talk to him. I have straightened his hair up. We all need the human touch. It’s what makes us human. It’s comforting. I notice my wife tells her mom that she loves her every time they see each other or speak on the phone. She also tells her sister and our kids too. I realize now that’s important to hear. I know they know it but they need to “hear it” too. It reminds me of a book I read. Chuck Swindoll tells of a story of a kid praying before bedtime and the kid was afraid of the dark. ‘Well, Jesus is with you” his father replied. The kid replied back that he wanted Jesus but with some skin and bones on him. Make sense? Not just words but actions. So I tell Pop’s I love him before I leave. He knows it but needs to hear it. The other day on the porch when I took the photograph of his hands, I said “Pop’s I want you know, I am extremely grateful and David is too that you took time out of your life to raise us. I told him he might never had been rich but he made us rich by being a part of our lives….
Enclosing…
It’s no secret that when I was younger we didn’t always agree. In fact, we hardly ever agreed. Maybe we agreed to “disagree” but you know what. As they say, “it’s water under the bridge”. The troubled times are gone. Long gone. What’s left? The crème of the crop. It has risen to the top. I am darn happy to have been blessed by Pops being here.
Pops talks a lot of his family “on the other side”. He says one day there will be a reunion. It may seem a little selfish of me but I glad he is still around. He is one of the last direct links to my past. He is a treasure to me. I enjoy his stories and his company.
I thank you for the music And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom When it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness And the times when you got tough
And, papa, I don’t think
I said, “I love you” near enough
It’s my hands’ time. What in time are they going to say? What stories will be they be able to tell?
Warning Lights are flashing everywhere. Seems like today everything is just about one screw turn loose from being chaos. Agree? One can’t turn on the television or check the web without seeing some news story about heartache and hurt. People are out of control it seems. This week Tony talks about some of the tough subject matters on “The Naked Adam Show” and brings comfort with the only answer there is. What’s the answer? You got to listen to the podcast. Once again Tony’s gentle voice and great music selections is always inspiring!
“Life was filled with guns and war, And all of us got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready, The children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready”
(Larry Norman)
“Mobile device users please click <HERE> to listen to the podcast”
NORMAN MATTHEW: KISS, MOTLEY CRUE, GUNS N ROSES for that big, edgy, arena rock sound with huge hooks. THE CURE and DEPECHE MODE for introducing a dark, sleek, sexiness to lyrical content, because I’m not much a partier, so I really connected with that growing up, along with a dark classiness to band imagery I fell in love with. Then there was NINE INCH NAILS. Trent changed the game for me and opened my ears to an whole other sensory level of production. I adopted Trent Reznor’s work ethic in that i write the songs for the band, then bring them to the jam room to bring them to life live. Im not a jammer, i like to have a blue print or a road map with at least a general idea of where I am heading. NIN really influenced me production wise as well..
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in the music business?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Learn it from the inside out!! Educate yourself on every level from management to booking, from being a roadie to a producer. The only way to be successful in this new industry model is to understand the business at the core, from the inside out, much like executives need to have product knowledge. The educated musician is the musician that will survive in this new world order of music.
What piece of advice did you ignore that you wish you hadn’t?
NORMAN MATTHEW: I have listened to every piece of advice ever given to me from anyone who came before me was willing to give me. I may not have followed it all, but I tailored it to what fit me. Best advice I ever received, “be careful who you step on the way up, because you see them on the way down” and “they can’t feel what doesn’t have feeling, so put every bit of yourself in every note”, i morphed that one so i can feel yoda like.
Do you have a greatest gig story or worst gig horror story you’d like to share?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Hmmm, that’s hard. EVERY show comes with it’s own set of challenges, from travel to sleep deprivation, the stress of having a hand in the business and in the creative, but i try to not focus on the negative and i never, ever look back or dwell on what i could’ve done, i just learn and move on. DEF greatest memory, first UK tour being sold out and performing in cities I only dreamed of as a kid such as Cardiff, Wales, Glasgow, Scotland and London, England, UK Fans Represent!
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of peckers or boobs? Make sock puppets? Sit in the dark and eat Cheetos?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Sit in the dark and eat Cheetos haha! I’m a video game freak, love WWE Wrestling, I re-watch episodes of King Of the Hill and I’m addicted to DDP Yoga..yup I said, ALL of that.
What do you think about the current music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
NORMAN MATTHEW: I don’t really pay attention to the scene, I’m too busy worrying about creating OUR scene and bringing something new to the table. Time for a new regime and a new legion to take over. I’ll either succeed or fail, but it will be on my terms and with my peeps \m/
Do you think reality shows like American Idol, X factor and The Voice have helped or hurt the music industry as a whole?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Both. Anything that can give an artist exposure and a chance to thrive in the business is always a plus to me on any level, i’m not a hater like that. I do feel it has hurt the mentality and the work ethic. Perception is reality and on the outside, it makes it seem like all you have to do is get on one of these shows, competition or in a battle of the bands and you are set. It takes years of work, blood, sweat equity and tears. You have to earn your way up the proverbial latter within the industry and network, while creating your brand, understanding your market and growing as an artist. Opportunity only pays off when an artist really has something to offer. Until then, keep driving in that van and jamming in the basement until you know in your heart it’s right. If your mind is connected to your heart and your soul, you will know.
What is your opinion of unauthorized music downloads?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Sucks. I love it as a consumer, but as a musician, it’s hard. It’s not about the money, but it’s about your favorite artist being able to survive as a musician and financially sustain yourself to keep creating. People seem to think if you are a “rockstar”, you are somehow rich. Spotify pays crap, Who knows what Apple Music will do and do some simple math of your own, split $0.99 between, band members, manager, label, distribution, marketing and you tell me who’s robbing who at the end of the day haha! If you are going to take music for free, at least support your favorite bands by going to the shows, buying the merch. and spreading the word like a disease, that’s the best way to help your favorite artists art.
I thank you in advance! \m/
Click the album cover to get it at Amazon!
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear.
NORMAN MATTHEW: I wish I could. We are all pretty chill dudes, no good drama and weird quirks. We like to create and maintain all our madness onstage…and believe me…it shows
Hypothetical situation. You’re on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the survivors… Which one and why?
NORMAN MATTHEW: That’s a loaded question, that could get me in trouble no matter how you slice it haha! If i HAD to pick, it would be either Gilligan for the laughs or Ginger for the…..laughs, yeah that’s it!
Do you know what a vinyl album is and have your ever purchased one? If so, what was it?
NORMAN MATTHEW: are you kidding me? i grew up on vinyl. My 1yr old loves to listen to KISS “Alive II” or Guns N Roses “Appetite For Destruction” before bed with me, not even kidding! Those are his lullabies.
You’re marooned on an island with Justin Bieber. Do you choke him out the first night in his sleep or what?
NORMAN MATTHEW: I’d keep him around just to torment him, If I killed him, then I would be bored. Hopefully he owns the island we are marooned on, then I’d live it up! I have the super power of tuning people out, so it’s easy for me to ignore things.
What is your opinion of Miley Cyrus?
NORMAN MATTHEW: who didn’t love “Achy Breaky Heart”? Oh wait, that’s her dad ha! I don’t ever pay attention to that celeb scene because it’s a waste of my day. It’s like, who cares and how does this effect me and my life? so im pretty out of touch with all that and always will be.
Which would you rather hear in concert? Lip syncing or real vocals?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Lead Singers being lead vocalists of course! I Love hearing a singer tell their story, even if it’s breathy or pitchy, it’s real. Additional vocals in live production on track are nothing to be scoffed at though, some huge productions have to do it and much like playing to a metronome or click track live, you have to be spot on, the whole time. So as long as there’s reality in the mix, i don’t mind a little fantasy to ensure the live show is amazing. People pay their hard earned money to see a great show. Deliver.
Who, or what, is the next big thing?
NORMAN MATTHEW: Murder FM. haha! I don’t know, it’s hard to tell, attention spans are so short these days and technology allows Anyone to put Anything out, there’s no natural filter anymore. Murder FM want to bring rock back to arenas \m
One artist you can’t get enough of and can’t live without is…
NORMAN MATTHEW: KISS
Confession time. Share a secret about yourself.
NORMAN MATTHEW: I’m terrified of karaoke. I don’t drink and i play an instrument, so you can see where i’m a terrible candidate for karaoke, i take it too serious haha!
Favorite movie of all time and why.
NORMAN MATTHEW: Nightmare Before Christmas. The imagery, the characters, the story, the combination of my two favorite holidays and without a doubt, the score by Dany Elfman. I absolutely love his work.
Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!
NORMAN MATTHEW: You know what grinds my gears? People looking down on Fake boobs, why do people frown upon them? i mean really, they aren’t fake. i can see them, touch them, they don’t disappear and make my Ocd very happy. hahahahaha! I’m sure that will get me in all kinds of trouble, but i don’t really think about many other things. Man, born and bred! “Sex,Sex and Rock N Roll”
If you’re an Iron Maiden fan this video is for you! Can we say cowbell too! First release off their new album “The Book of Souls”! Are Arcades coming back?
This could have been a lot worst than it was. Remember when the roof collapsed on a venue the night before KISS was scheduled to perform several years ago?
KickActs is looking to network with someone with knowledge of advertising, ad clicks, etc. We have the traffic, we need your expertise in ads and both of us making bank. Contact us at chuck@kickacts.com. Please share! Thanks!
You think she is. Why? What makes someone too old to be what they want to be or do what they want to do? Who wrote the rule book? I am not a fan of her music but at her age (look it up at you need to know her age) She is still in shape and making noise. So hats off to her. “Techno” on Madonna!
By the way. There are a slough of celebrity guests in the video. Can you name them all with using GOOGLE?
Under the video is an interesting article from the NYTimes on growing older with Madonna. Check it out.
KickActs EXTREME
The video has some language in it,zero nudity but some suggested S&M other things.
“But the subject of her advancing years dominates seemingly every conversation about her, as she has become a crusader, willingly or not, against age discrimination. As someone who once tracked her closely, I have watched with queasy fascination her attempts to navigate the undeniable fact that she is growing older before our eyes in an era of obsessive self-documentation and rampant oversharing — one that she had a direct hand in creating.”
Yvonne Craig, who played Batgirl, dies at 78 – CNN.com
A well written song by the late Dan Folgelberg. It was his gift to his father. A song to this day that almost makes me tear up when I hear it. The depth of it. The meaning of it. The beauty of it. The song looks at life and if you have paid attention to it closely, the brevity of it. The shortness of it. Breathe in and breathe out and it’s…
