2012! Hello new year! I am ready for a good year ahead…

This year has to be good. Times have been rough lately and a change has to come soon. 2 years ago we lost my grandma, last year was Sharon’s aunt, and this year was Sharon’s aunt Marge. My sister is recovering from her sickness thank god for that. I hope to re-charge somewhat this year. Some of my drive and motivation has been lacking lately and I need to get this year moving ahead on the right path. Stop talking and start doing. Get back to bettering my health. Work harder, but know when to take time for the small things and not let life pass me by.

I have been writing songs in my composition books and in the next few weeks we start jamming some on them. Have not had a guitar lesson for a few weeks due to the holidays and today I will get practicing for their return. I have a new direction of sorts for my art and paintings and I hope the next comic book I have planned should be bigger and way better than the last two. I plan on drumming up new local business by going around town and getting the word out about my art skills with some new ad materials. New shirts are going to be developed soon too. I had a few requests for the “Search and Enjoy” shirts at my website, so that’s getting the green light to get produced soon. Sold a few paintings this week too. Waiting for payments from a few commissions I did too. 2012 is off to a good start. this could be a great year.

I am still waiting for the new KISS album”Monster”, but I’m betting we won’t hear more on it until June or so… The way over due Kissology vol.4 too. It’s getting to the point I don’t care anymore. You would think we get to see the cover by now at least. Mike watt has a new “Spielgusher” thing out I want to get. I don’t think we will get the new Redd Kross anytime soon either. Oh well, It’s only entertainment. Have not bought many art books this year, but I did buy some comic books (well, I got a few subscriptions to some because it’s cheaper) right now I get Green Lantern and Batman. I kind of switched from Marvel to DC. I was getting the Hulk for a bit, but I had to cut it and just keep two titles for now.

As for movies, I hope to see the new Ghost Rider soon. The first one is a real good popcorn movie, and this new one looks even better. Most of all it looks like a fun movie to see. I have not seen Xmen first class, Thor or Capt. Amer., yet either, but I’m sure I will soon. Maybe I’ll get them on used dvd or something. The Avengers may be good, but the trailer looks boring. The next Batman should be worthy of checking out too.  The best thing about the movies is the popcorn too. I got to spend some time recently with my sister. We went to the Muppets and had a big thing of corn and soda. It was fun.

Sharon and I plan to have some “reading dates” out on our patio the next few sundays (weather permitting that is) I have a big stack of comics to catch up on and I bought the graphic novel for the blackest night series. I also have a big Simon/Kirby book to read as well. I also want to get to the keith Richards bio too. I read Ace Frehley’s in one sunday. It was kind of sad that he spent so long on drugs and never really enjoyed life. He seems happier now (I hope that’s true). I did spot a new DC book on the art of Alex Ross (not the happy trees guy… the comic book guy) but I really am trying to enjoy what I already have and I have an Alex ross sketchbook book, so maybe I’ll just re-discover that for now.

As for toys I just don’t have any room left for them, but I still got a small Darth Vader guy and some hot wheels (an orange drag merc, a swat car, and a ford purple with flames delivery truck) this year from santa anyway. I’m sure I’ll by a few hot wheels here and there. I’m sure we’ll hit the torrance flea too (wallet permitting) We’ll see….

Got a friend coming by to buy some paintings now, so I got to hit the showers and get clean. Have a great new year!

Wacka, Wacka!

I went to the Muppets new movie with my sister who has been sick, but is on the mend now. We have not been able to see each other for some time as she moved to the bay area some time ago. As kids we were bored quite often as we lived a long way from the mall and the only other place we could go was a 3 mile walk to 7-11 to get lemonheads, slurpees and my favorite, star wars gum cards. (That was if we had some change) Otherwise we had cable TV. I thought the cable company forgot to turn off our service, but it turns out mom kept paying for it for us (probably to keep us at home). My sister watched her favorite movies over and over. I remember Devo videos shown there way before mtv and concerts by neil young (live rust era) and Alice Cooper. I had a small black and white portable in my room with cable and late at night I would smoke cloves and watch a Clockwork Orange and The rock and roll swindle (on school nights too!) Well, they showed the original Muppet Movie all the time. Just before the family split up then we often watched the Muppet Show at dinner time followed by Benny Hill.

That was years ago. We all got older. The 80′s seemed to fly by like childhood years do, and The Muppets got stored away until now. You are either a fan or not, and Jenny and I went clear back to when Kermit the frog still lived on Sesame Street. I have always said the best song ever made was Minah, Minah by the muppets and I stand by that. No real words just plain old jerky emotion being laid down by some angry puppets. It was a radio hit too. Great tune. Just like Surfin’ Bird by the Trashmen or Wild Thing pure rock and roll excellence. Then there was Blondie, Alice Cooper and many others that appeared on the Muppet show…. but that was long ago. My sister got sick this year and since she is on the mend she decided to come to visit the family. I had not been to the movies in a long time and Jenny had sent me some old video clips on facebook of the Muppet band from the original movie. So we made a plan to check the new movie out.

I am so glad she is doing better and just to spend a day with her was as great of a christmas present as I could get this year. She’s my younger sister and she is supposed to out live me. That’s just how it’s supposed to in my mind. She has just found her new family and new life in the bay area and she deserves a long life of happiness. Getting back to the movie… it was just like you think a muppet movie would be. The nice thing was no bad CGI effects. You could just enjoy the good words and messages the muppets have for you (and you know what they are…) things like it’s going to be o.k. as long as I got you and that’s just how Jenny and I felt watching it and having some popcorn. Even enjoyed the heckeling of the commercials by the nerds in the crowd. (I am a nerd myself, so it’s good to see people let go and just have fun for 2 hours) This world is so uptight and like Robert Plant said, “does anyone remember laughter?” I always have laughed at the Muppets. The Rainbow Connection song always makes me cry too, just does… so does “Being Green” so there you have it. Get out a good cry. Have a laugh. We all need to sometimes. The spoiler for me was the fact that Walter the muppet’s real life persona turns out to be Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory (My wife Sharon’s favorite TV show) (check out the man or muppet video attached) As for my sister, can you imagine if you had a fan to cheer you on your whole life and give you endless support and unconditional love? Well that’s how my sister is for me. She can be stubborn at times, but she has so much love to give it’s amazing, so I had a real good day. Jenny did too. Until next time, Minah, minah and Wacka, wacka!

1978, A magic year for me.

1978. Kiss had released the solo albums and all the kids picked which Kiss member they liked best. I bought Ace’s lp and got paul and peter’s as gifts. I did buy gene’s but I gave it to Barbra H. for inviting me to her birthday party. (she also got the Car’s first lp which we played all day). Our family had sold our home and we would be moving to “the Hill” a richer neighborhood (and a 2 story house we would fix up). We were leaving behind my roots. My hometown I grew up in. I was 11 years old.

I had to adjust to our new home. Everything was far away. Before I could ride my bike or skateboard to the store or friends house, but this was not my old beach town. Kids outcast me for not growing up there and I found myself amongst the outsider’s crowd. We listened to cassette tapes at lunch. Mainly the Sex Pistols, Nevermind the Bollocks. We also watched saturday night live and memorized movies like Airplane and Caddyshack. The Stones’ Some girls was the lp of that year for us. Mick and Dan Ackroyd goofed on Tom Snyder on SNL. The Stones played live. It was a great dirty lp. The cover was changed due to using Lucy and other celebs on the first run. It was great all the was through. My uncle was a huge fan who also would introduce me to punk and new wave soon. This was when I became me. My parents fought out the last of their marriage behind closed doors. The new big house became cold and the rooms all seemed to separate us from communication. Still my sister and I were close as there was no place to go and we just had each other to try and sort out the oncoming storm of the divorce.

I often go back to 1978. I collect things from then and prior to that trying to remember it was not always dysfunction. We did have a family once. At least we tried to have one. Sometimes things need change sooner than later. 1978 was the start of the end of the 70′s and I became a young man. I became really aware my future was in my hands. I would have to figure out how to get down stream alone and I had no feelings of self worth to speak of. I would battle depression for many years to come. This was the turning point 1978. For 1979 and 1980 I sat in my room playing Paul Stanley’s sappy solo lp about loss and ending relationships. I also played the first Pretender’s lp. The song “kid” was a favorite of my mom’s then and always takes me back to then. I would sometimes walk to the 7-11 to buy Star Wars cards if I had some change. Soon I would move back to Redondo with my dad and start smoking things, but before then I had 1978. The final year I was still just a kid.

Ken Kelly’s original “Destroyer” (brown) cover art

This is called “Destroyer Brown” by Ken Kelly. (The revised one you know is called “Destroyer Blue”) Casablanca Records said the city was too close like they just blew it up and was too violent. In addition KISS had just changed their stage outfits as well. I love the fantasy art and it started for me with Ken Kelly, Frank Frazetta, Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo. I always bought Heavy Metal magazine when I was young (sometimes they would not let me buy it as I was not 18 yet) Today I still love fantasy art. Check out new guy Brom for some good fantasy stuff and even catch yours truly at it now and then. Still I love those early KISS covers and still love to stare at them. Check out Ken Kelly’s site for more art, prints, books and more: Ken Kelly Then there is this Kelly Kiss image done for a recent tour… a glimpse into the new lp cover perhaps? (They did say the new lp would be like Kelly’s covers, but by another artist possibly)

 

Destroyer "Blue" by Ken Kelly

 

My thoughts on Lou Reed…

I don’t like to call any entertainer a genius. It’s only entertainment. Music is mostly just entertainment. Not often is it “art”. So instead of genius I’ll just say Lou Reed is an artist. Warhol knew this. He sponsored the Velvet Underground which changed music completely and were way ahead of their time. Later Lou connected with Bowie’s people to make his own mark on hard rock with his transgendered frankenstein pose. Rock and roll animal was an amazing album. Lou was backed with an amazing band, but he sounds like he was so over the whole thing when he sang. The bitchiness adds to the charm of it. I discovered Lou due to the song that would etch in my brain “I love you Suzane” A simple tune that makes my fingers pop every time. I have not even mentioned “Walk on the wild side” the household known famous tune about cross dressing ( …and the colored girls sing…) To understand the recent pairing of Metallica to Lou Reed you need to know about Lou’s Metal Machine Music lp (I call it MMM). On MMM Lou simply plugs in his guitar and lets it feed back. Why is this art? It was a double album. The question is not why but how? How did he get record companies to put it out? Well, he’s an artist. It was art. People began to hate Lou. MMM was Lou attempt at Metal. Problem being no band at the time was heavy enough for his vision. What he wanted you to feel. So he made his 4 sided statement with a wall of feedback. Lester Bangs from Creem magazine was the only one who cheered it on. Time moved on. recently due to bands looking at their big moments and attempting to re-do them Lou looked at MMM and put together a trio and toured with it. (as a side note here, MMM was not his only famous “flop” he helped Kiss with their “Music from the Elder” which was considered by many their worst). Getting to today. After a team up at the rock and roll hall of fame Lou has paired with Metallica for  ”Lulu” a story from a play about an abused woman dancer. I am understanding that Metallica is the band he needed all this time to deliver the proper punch to your face he intended with MMM. (at least I think that’s the case).

I gave up years ago on Metallica. They made a few good lps. My fave was garage days re-visited ep (it was quick, no filler and a direct punch. No ballads or over the top machoisim). Early Metallica was discovered on punk radio stations, so they had crossover appeal to punks and head bangers. On the way they lost me. The majestic “Black album” was a yawner for me. I remember enter  sandman as the theme song for the Tom Arnold show. James Hetfield always seems to want symapthy for his drug problems on screen. He even wrote the self indulgent “St. Anger” about how he wants his pain to be real (meaning he’s always numb). He’s got enough money to fix any of his troubles and I wish anyone who is struggling with addictions to find soberity and well being. So, I am not real big on James Hetfield, but on this album he does respect Lou enough to hold back on some of his rants. The ones he does let go on are kind of surreal too. (like repeating “I am the table” over and over). Metallica  does not step over Lou’s vision. they do what is intended which is simply backing Lou up. I heard Lou said people (Met. fans) were threatening to shoot him. This could be Lou joking, but in the world of today who knows. How dumb are Metallica fans? Please folks, don’t shoot Lou. To quote Black Franics “I like Lou Reed…) The thing I can tell you is you will get an emotional reaction from this album if you listen to it the whole way in one sitting. It’s much like listening to The Fall. Not for everyone and I am sure it’s lost on many Metallica fans. To me it tells a story of getting older. Dealing with the thoughts in relationships you think about but don’t ever say out loud. It’s dark cruel and sadistic and at times made me aware of the simple fact I have blood flowing in my body and time is still ticking like a time bomb. Many young kids will be lost on this record simply because they have not been through the feelings it deals with. Not that it’s for seniors, but it does deal with the transition and changes of time.

Obviously I am just a Lou fan. I really enjoyed this album. I’d like it more if were only Lou’s vocals. My question to you is what are you going to do with what’s left of your time? Think you can make a record like this in the september of your life? Lou doesn’t care. He did it. He doesn’t care what I think either. Pitchfork gave Lulu 1.0 stars which in my opinion is just foolish. As if you care.

Flea market finds and fun new toys for Sept. and Oct. 2011

These two are new 70′s Vette and 80′s Silverado kinda weird choices to make race cars of.

Hubely Volks probably 70's. Have not seen too many with plastic.

This Volks I bought because I bundled it with the Ertl for a package deal. May be good to trade down the road (Lots of folks like to collect the Volks.)

Early 70′s Ertl car. I look for these all the time. I have the fire truck too. Hard to find them.

Some new boxes. 2 ebays and the flipper was a flea market find for 15 bucks. I love to look at the Palos Verdes style painting on the Johnathan Livingston Seagull box. I remember a christian girl who had this in grade school because it was the only one her parents approved of. My box in school? (I had 2. First was a green plastic ecology flag dome that broke when I kicked it on the way home from school. Second was an orange plastic Fat Albert and the cosby kids. My sister a few years later had a metal Pac Man box) This Flipper is a bit rough, but still fits my style. The Cracker Jack is amazingly illustrated and has really cool embossed kernels. Kind of a plain box yet if you look close it’s amazing. The sides have prizes on them.

I probably posted this before, but look how cool this T bank is. Got it for a good price on ebay after a few years of looking for one.

Reminded me of my uncle Don. (Donald) Usually don’t buy Disney (too much to collect) but this one looks like he’s tripping so I had to get it. I haggled a deal that worked for me and took it home.

Got all this paper ephemera in one big bundle buy for 5 bucks. I t had 60′s hawaiian travel pamphlets too. This Ralph’s one is a pop up sewing kit.

Last is this Farrells menu. If you lived in the south bay in the 70′s as a kid you will remember this ice cream place with it’s Pig Trough. I think you can enlarge this if you click on it to see the prices of the times. Many kids got sick after going here from over doing it. We used to shoot our fancy frilled toothpicks from dinner in the ceiling with our straws there. (lots of kids did this and there were many toothpicks on the ceiling)

Metal days ahead, It’s almost 11-11-11. Last night it started for me.

I like some heavy metal. Lots of it really. I like cheesey glam metal at times. You know I still follow KISS everyday. I remember the early days of Metallica when they got played on the college punk station with Adam Bomb and the Mentors were guests (I used to tune it in on an old boom box and tape those shows then play them at school lunch the next day). I still like music that makes my brain flex, but hey I like Manilow too. What about some Louis Prima? 70′s disco now and then helps the ass shake, and burns calories too. I honestly never was a real big fan of Iron Maiden, but they were better than some of the 80′s synthe pop at the time (some of which I like too). So last night I had tickets to see my guitar teacher Walter’s band at the Key Club in hollywood. I knew they were like Maiden because I watched a you tube video of them before I went.

There is something to be said for the energy we all share. I felt the energy from Walter. Kind of like good vibes all the way until the show. I think thats the power of art and music shows. You share that good feeling. He was glad I was going and so was I. I knew that had I simply skipped the show he would know and be let down and I had shared his good energy already. The only way to give good energy back was to support him and go to the show (most times weekday shows I skip) I had not been out for a long time. The cost of going out has really jumped. (20 bucks to park…) Still, I need it. I needed to drive there playing good music on the way. I had a nice piece of good chocolate cake before I left as another treat to me.

I needed the release of just getting out at night. I put tissue in my ears this time and it really helped. They did not buzz afterwards. Before they went on they played some glam band singing about Tiger Woods. It was a sappy tune, but now I have to know who does it. I will check today sometime. (I found out “Steel Panther” does “just like tiger woods” pretty funny)Walter was a real showman. Head banging and ripping up the leads. I liked the double guitar leads. The drummer was good too. The also did a nice unplugged type tune too. I felt a bit nervous being so old and thought to have a drink, but I don’t like to drink at all really and I still had a good full belly from the cake (and a sugar buzz too). I had my can of diet Pepsi on the drive home. Hit some construction traffic, but I had rather ripped by sonic youth on which proved to be a good late night LA drive cd. I’m glad you can’t smoke in clubs now. I did not smell like smoke when I got home. Seeing the port on they way back I am still amazed how much it has grown. Many lights to greet me back safe to my warm bed.

I’m glad I got to see Walter in his element. He was a natural on stage. They were very much like Maiden. Maybe even better in some aspects. They had a good crowd that sang along with them. It was fun to get out for a change. The overall day was good too. Thanks to my friend Walter for the good energy and a great night. (and my neighbor Mushie for sharing her chocolate birthday cake) This morning I slept in until 8.

http://shadowsentwined.com/

Gene and Shannon Simmons

I have been sick for a few days in a row. Yesterday I drug myself out of bed to take care of some life stuff and I realized I had not watched the wedding yet. When I got up this morning early I watched it on line. A who’s who of gossip tv star and celeb guests plus of course KISS. I even shed a tear or two knowing I helped finance that wedding by spending my dough on KISS krud. I see now gene believes in therapy. It helps if you believe in it otherwise it does not work. Just like marriage you have to believe in it for it to work. I’m going to keep this short as I have work to do. Thanks Gene and Shannon (and Sophie, Nick and Snippy) for a fun tv marriage. I enjoyed it. It may spell the end being near for KISS but I have been in this army so long I am ready for that day too. Enjoy life as it is so short. It’s never too late to find love. If you have not found love yet I’d recommend it. Hate and fear is a lonely place. For those about to love, I salute you!

Desires, wants, and then there’s real life….

I have been lusting over guitars for years now. I get one. Then up comes another one I got to have. Happens all year long. I am not Eric Clapton. I’m not even James Chance (look him up). I am a guitar hobbyist looking to transition to band member of some sort. I does not matter what kind of guitar you have. The cheap ones are pretty good now due to the over abundance of them in the world. They just are not as rare of a thing as when I was growing up. Still I lust for them. The object De Jur is the J Mascis Squier Jazzmaster. Off white body, gold pickguard, rosewood neck (see how I am drooling?) Priced at 500 on the Squier site, but I know when they come out (around November) they will be around 300 out the door most likely. Which makes me justify it even more.  Reality is… I really don’t need another guitar. I have many. The problem is each one is just slightly different from the other guitars. Maybe it’s the tone of the pickups, or how it feels in your hands. How it rests on your body. Jumbo frets or medium? I never owned a jazzmaster. I played a few way back and I know they have their own tone, feel and warmth that is unique to jazzmasters in general. In the 70′s they were a throwaway pawn shop guitar. Then guys like Elvis Costello brought them back until grunge and shoegaze in the 90′s made them one you need in your quiver stash. Kurt Cobain, T. Moore, Lee Ranaldo and J Mascis all have new models out. They will be either hard to get later or very cheap (these are not the biggest stars, just todays hip list). Is it even cool to buy a signature guitar? Don’t you need to be the name on your own guitar? When I play it I will probably sound nothing like J Mascis, but that’s where the hook is. In the dream that you are that good. One day that will be your name on the neck. What’s to stop you from carving your name over J’s? I have a great almost brand new Fender telecaster I am savoring. By that I mean now and then I take it out of the case and play it, clean it, then back in the case until I get the blues again. I do this with new things sometimes. Savor them. take my time and breathe in the new guitar smell (or whatever the new thing is). I think that means the same as “take time to smell the roses”. Some people never get the chance to play or even have a guitar, so I am lucky for the ones I have. I may not get the J Mascis Squier any time soon. I may stare at that photo of it for a long time. You never know. In the mean time I am taking guitar lessons again and for that I brought out my Gibson wm45 acoustic which has not been out of the case since last christmas. It is very nice to hold. Very light, and the neck is so thin it plays like butter. Maybe it’s just a day for smelling the roses. Outside I have a cumquat tree that is almost ready to give up some lovely fruit, so maybe I should just wait for that instead (it has been about 2 years since we planted it. It was a birthday gift from Sharon. I told her I had always wanted one.) With the cost of everything going way up I hope I can keep savoring things and not selling them. Maybe I will sell cumquats?

Guitar lessons started again today.

I went back for guitar lessons starting this saturday until who knows how long. I went to the Gray School of Music here in Pedro (22nd and Leland next to Leland school) I took lessons there a few years ago. My teacher that time taught me music reading, but we did not do very much “jamming”. My new teacher Walter today showed me how to hold my pick right and new picking techniques. I want to be ready to jam with my pals this winter, so the lessons will help. I plan to eventually walk to my lessons to drop some weight too. It’s kind of a learn/win deal. Learning to crawl guitar wise too. The “bad for you” snack of the week went to retro “Taco flavor Doritos”(I got Tapatio flavor too, but have not opened them yet) they took me back to 1975 when my neighbor pal Matt Perkins and I had them with lunch and sometimes for dessert we took some of his grandmas “aids brand diet chocolates” (they were chocolate chews with sacchirne.) I also remember watch Joe Namath of the Jets Battle Bob Gresee of the Dolphins and Rodger Staubach of the Cowboys. Anyway it was a good day to learn. Maybe next week I will have more photos of my music school (I had to ask them permission before taking photos etc..) I will keep you posted. I may put up some of my song lyrics soon. The Pudding Cupps should be chillin’ by winter. I feel real blessed to be living this life and I am grateful for all the opportunities I have to just do what I want. Freedom is a nice thing to have.