October 2014

October 2014, Issue #9

Steel Notes Magazine

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Š Copyright Steel Notes Magazine 2014

steelnotesmagazine.com | October 2014

Table of Contents 5 Photography by Bill Des Jardins 6 Rockin’ Facts — Thomas Richmond.

7 Origin of Halloween — Alexxis Steele 18 Brodian’s Banter — Why I Hate Reality Shows 20 Colicchio’s Corner by Victor Colicchio 22 Positively Energized by Scott Brandon 25 Barbell Buzz by Tim Caso 26 Zombie Girl pictorial by Gary Pries 32 Interviews by Marlowe B. West Takez Manhattan 54 Crosby Stills and Nash Pictorial by Sheri Bayne 58 Interview with Steve Lukather by Alexxis Steele 68 EP Review - Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz by Michael McKenna 69 CD Review - The Dana Gaynor Band “Laughing at Armageddon” by Michael McKenna 70 CD Review “Playground“ by Michael McKenna 71 The Rew & Who Show 72 CD Review - Sterling Kotch “Let It Slide” by Michael McKenna 73 CD Review -Ultra Kings “Gun Metal” by Michael McKenna 74 CD Review - “Acoustic Kitty Project” by Michael McKenna 75 Book Review -”The Stranglers - Song by song” by Krista Cameron 76 Movie Review “Lincoln” Reviewed by Jerry Saravia 77 Movie Review “The Normal Heart” Reviewed by Jerry Saravia 78 America Live -Florida State Fair by Rhonda Jean VanBuskirk 80 October Artist of the Month Bill Mang - Alexxis Steele 90 Bethlehem Celtic Fest by Calling Karma 92 2014 Intn’tl Songwriting Compeition by Michael “Jacob” McKenna 94 TNA Impact Wrestling at the Sands Event Center - Alexxis Steele 100 Allentown Artfest - by Calling Karma, photography by Gary Pries 104 Interview with Ricky Byrd by Puma Perl, photos by Bob Gruen 107 FrozenArtPhotography.com 108 Billy Joel Pictorial - Photography by Robert Klein 111 R.I. Rhythm & Roots - by Elizabeth Mullen 118 Sheryl Crow Pictorial - Photography by Sheri Bayne 120 Romano Family Halloween - Photography by The Romano Family 125 Natasha NYC - Advertisement

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Steel Notes Magazine

is a monthly magazine featuring what is happening in the art, music, entertainment, and fashion industry. Copyright is reserved. Re posting is whole or in part on other sites and publication without permission is prohibited. All right to photos belong to their respective owners.

STAFF Alexxis Steele - Publisher/Editor in chief Guido Colacci - Assistant Editor Elizabeth Brett - Proofreader/Copy Editor Leland Maurello - Layout & design.

Staff Writers

Suburban Joe Rhonda Van Buskirk The Gypsy Poet Krista Cameron Jerry Saravia Debra EVANS Michael Wade Douglass Tony Angelo Sheri Bayne Karen Best Stormy Boz Stewart Brodian Tim Caso Victor Collichio Mike Dorn Vera Ferrara-Rone

Photographers Sheri Bayne Larry Dell Mike Dorn Bob Klein Brian Matus Gary Preis

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Michael Hendrick A. Jude Lori Kape Bob Klein Derek Oels Puma Pearl Roman Thomas Richmond DarkOne Skip Rayvin Stites Marlowe B. West Michael “Jacobs� McKenna Guido Colacci

Composition

Cover design by: Keith Boisvert http://VeroConcepts.com/ Layout & design by: Leland Maurello http://Lelanda.com

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Videographers Lisa Koza DarkOne Skip Freddy Williams Bill Des Jardins

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Rockin’ Facts — Thomas Richmond.

Rockin’ Facts

by Thomas Richmond

1968

, Big Brother And The Holding Company went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Cheap Thrills’.

1974

, The Bay City Rollers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album ‘Rollin.’ The album included three British chart hits ‘Remember’, ‘Shang-a-Lang’, ‘Summerlove Sensation’) and the debut of Saturday Night’, never a British hit yet a No.1 smash in America.

1991

, Simply Reds fourth album ‘Stars’ went to No.1 on the UK chart for the first of five times, featuring the singles ‘Thrill Me’, ‘For Your Babies’ and the title track ‘Stars.’ The album became the biggest seller of 1991 and 1992 in the UK spending 134 week’s on the chart.

2008 album.

, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ the band’s seventh and final studio

1975

, Rod Stewart and The Faces made their final live appearance when they played at Nassau Coliseum, Long Island

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Origin of Halloween — Alexxis Steele

THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN

BY HISTORIAN NICHOLAS ROGERS (REPRINT ACCORDING TO WIKI)

Halloween or Hallowe’en is a contraction of “All Hallows’ Evening”), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It initiates the triduum of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. Within Allhallowtide, the traditional focus of All Hallows’ Eve revolves around the theme of using “humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.”

According to many scholars, All Hallows’ Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, with possible pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic Samhain. Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has solely Christian roots.

Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related “guising”), attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted house attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows’ Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although in other locations, these solemn customs are less pronounced in favour of a more commercialized and secularized celebration. Because many Western Christian denominations encourage, although no longer require, abstinence from meat on All Hallows’ Eve, the tradition of eating certain vegetarian foods for this vigil day developed, including the consumption of apples, colcannon, cider, potato pancakes, and soul cakes.

Contents 1 Etymology

5 Games and other activities

2 History

6 Haunted attractions

2.1 Gaelic and Welsh influence

7 Food

2.2 Christian influence

8 Religious observances

2.3 Spread to North America

8.1 Perspectives

3 Symbols

8.1.1 Christianity

4 Trick-or-treating and guising

8.1.2 Other religions

4.1 Costumes

9 Around the world

4.2 UNICEF

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1 Etymology The word Halloween or Hallowe’en dates to about 1745 and is of Christian origin. The word “Halloween” means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening”. It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows’ Eve (the evening before All Hallows’ Day). In Scots, the word “eve” is even, and this is contracted to e’en or een.

Over time, (All) Hallow (s) Eve (n) evolved into Halloween. Although the phrase “All Hallows’” is found in Old English (ealra hālgena mæssedæg, all saints mass-day), “All Hallows’ Eve” is itself not seen until 1556.

2 History 2.1 Gaelic and Welsh influence An early 20th-century Irish Hallowe’en mask displayed at the Museum of Country Life.

Today’s Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which have pagan roots, and others which may be rooted in Celtic Christianity. Indeed, Jack Santino, a folklorist, writes that “the sacred and the religious are a fundamental context for understanding Halloween in Northern Ireland, but there was throughout Ireland an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated with Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before Christianity arrived”. Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while “some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain”, which comes from the Old Irish for “summer’s end”. Samhain (pronounced sah-win or sow-in) was the first and most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Gaelic calendar and was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It was held on or about 31 October – 1 November and kindred festivals were held at the same time of year by the Brittonic Celts; for example Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall) and Kalan Goañv (in Brittany). Samhain and Calan Gaeaf are mentioned in some of the earliest Irish and Welsh literature. The names have been used by historians to refer to Celtic Halloween customs up until the 19th century, and are still the Gaelic and Welsh names for Halloween.

Samhain/Calan Gaeaf marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the ‘darker half’ of the year. Like Beltane/Calan Mai, it was seen as a liminal time, when the spirits or fairies (the Aos Sí) could more easily come into our world and were particularly active. Most scholars see the Aos Sí as “degraded versions of ancient gods [...] whose power remained active in the people’s minds even after they had been officially replaced by later religious beliefs”. The Aos Sí were both respected and feared, with individuals often invoking the protection of God when approaching their dwellings. At Samhain, it was believed that the Aos Sí needed to be propitiated to ensure that the people and their livestock survived the winter.

Offerings of food and drink, or portions of the crops, were left for the Aos Sí. The souls of the dead were also said to revisit their homes. Places were set at the dinner table or by the fire to welcome them. The belief that the souls of the dead return home on one night or day of the year seems to have ancient origins and is found in many cultures throughout the world. In 19th century Ireland, “candles would be lit and prayers formally offered for the souls of the dead. After this the eating, drinking, and games would begin”.

Throughout the Gaelic and Welsh regions, the household festivities included rituals and games intended to divine one’s future, especially regarding death and marriage. Nuts and apples were often used in these divination rituals. Special bonfires were lit and there were rituals involving them. Their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers, and were also used for divination. It is suggested that the fires were a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic – they mimicked the Sun, helping the “powers of growth” and holding back the decay and darkness of winter. Christian minister Eddie J.

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Smith suggests that the bonfires were also used to scare witches of “their awaiting punishment in hell”.

In modern Ireland, Scotland, Mann and Wales, the festival included mumming and guising, the latter of which goes back at least as far as the 16th century. This involved people going house-to-house in costume (or in disguise), usually reciting verses or songs in exchange for food. It may have come from the Christian custom of souling (see below) or it may have a Gaelic folk origin, with the costumes being a means of imitating, or disguising oneself from, the Aos Sí. In Scotland, youths went house-to-house on 31 October with masked, painted or blackened faces, often threatening to do mischief if they were not welcomed. F. Marian McNeill suggests the ancient festival included people in costume representing the spirits, and that faces were marked (or blackened) with ashes taken from the sacred bonfire. In parts of Wales, men went about dressed as fearsome beings called gwrachod. In the late 19th and early 20th century, young people in Glamorgan and Orkney dressed as the opposite gender. In parts of southern Ireland, the guisers included a hobby horse. A man dressed as a Láir Bhán (white mare) led youths house-to-house reciting verses— some of which had pagan overtones—in exchange for food. If the household donated food it could expect good fortune from the ‘Muck Olla’; not doing so would bring misfortune. Elsewhere in Europe, mumming and hobby horses were part of other yearly festivals. However, in the Celtic-speaking regions they were “particularly appropriate to a night upon which supernatural beings were said to be abroad and could be imitated or warded off by human wanderers”. As early as the 18th century, “imitating malignant spirits” led to playing pranks in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. Wearing costumes at Halloween spread to England in the 20th century, as did the custom of playing pranks. The “traditional illumination for guisers or pranksters abroad on the night in some places was provided by turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces to represent spirits or goblins”. These were common in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands in the 19th century, as well as in Somerset (see Punkie Night). In the 20th century they spread to other parts of England and became generally known as jack-o’-lanterns.

2.2 Christian Influence Today’s Halloween customs are also thought to have been influenced by Christian dogma and practices derived from it. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows’ Day (also known as All Saints’ or Hallowmas) on 1 November and All Souls’ Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows’ Eve (meaning the evening before All Hallows’ Day).

Since the time of the primitive Church, major feasts in the Christian Church (such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) had vigils which began the night before, as did the feast of All Hallows’. These three days are collectively referred to as Allhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 609, but was originally celebrated on 13 May. In 835, it was switched to 1 November (the same date as Samhain) at the behest of Pope Gregory IV. Some suggest this was due to Celtic influence, while others suggest it was a Germanic idea. It is also suggested that the change was made on the “practical grounds that Rome in summer could not accommodate the great number of pilgrims who flocked to it”, and perhaps because of public health considerations regarding Roman Fever – a disease that claimed a number of lives during the sultry summers of the region.

On All Hallows’ Eve, Christians in some parts of the world visit graveyards to pray and place flowers and candles on the graves of their loved ones.

By the end of the 12th century they had become holy days of obligation across Europe and involved such traditions as ringing church bells for the souls in purgatory. In addition, “it was customary for criers dressed in black to parade the streets, ringing a bell of mournful sound and calling on all good Christians to remember the poor souls.” “Souling”, the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for all christened

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souls, has been suggested as the origin of trick-or-treating. The custom dates back at least as far as the 15th century and was found in parts of England, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy. Groups of poor people, often children, would go door-to-door during Allhallowtide, collecting soul cakes, in exchange for praying for the dead, especially the souls of the givers’ friends and relatives. Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593). The custom of wearing costumes has been explicated by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: “It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints’ Day, and All Hallows’ Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognised by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities”. In the Middle Ages, churches displayed the relics of martyred saints and those parishes that were too poor to have relics let parishioners dress up as the saints instead, a practice that some Christians continue in Halloween celebrations today. folklorist Kingsley Palmer, in addition to others, has suggested that the carved jack-o’-lantern, a popular symbol of Halloween, originally represented the souls of the dead. On Halloween, in medieval Europe, “fires [were] lit to guide these souls on their way and deflect them from haunting honest Christian folk.” In addition, households in Austria, England, Ireland often had “candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their earthly homes”. These were known as “soul lights”. Many Christians in continental Europe, especially in France, acknowledged “a belief that once a year, on Hallowe’en, the dead of the churchyards rose for one wild, hideous carnival,” known as the danse macabre, which has been commonly depicted in church decoration, especially on the walls of cathedrals, monasteries, and cemeteries. Christopher Allmand and Rosamond McKitterick write in The New Cambridge Medieval History that “Christians were moved by the sight of the Infant Jesus playing on his mother’s knee; their hearts were touched by the Pietà; and patron saints reassured them by their presence. But, all the while, the danse macabre urged them not to forget the end of all earthly things.” This danse macabre, which was enacted by “Christian village children [who] celebrated the vigil of All Saints” in the 16th Century, has been suggested as the predecessor of modern day costume parties on this same day.

In parts of Britain, these customs came under attack during the Reformation as some Protestants berated purgatory as a “popish” doctrine incompatible with the notion of predestination. Thus, for some Nonconformist Protestants, the theology of All Hallows’ Eve was redefined; without the doctrine of purgatory, “the returning souls cannot be journeying from Purgatory on their way to Heaven, as Catholics frequently believe and assert. Instead, the so-called ghosts are thought to be in actuality evil spirits. As such they are threatening.” Other Protestants maintained belief in an intermediate state, known as Hades (Bosom of Abraham), and continued to observe the original customs, especially souling, candlelit processions and the ringing of church bells in memory of the dead. With regard to the evil spirits, on Halloween, “barns and homes were blessed to protect people and livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as they traveled the earth.” In the 19th century, in some rural parts of England, families gathered on hills on the night of All Hallows’ Eve. One held a bunch of burning straw on a pitchfork while the rest knelt around him in a circle, praying for the souls of relatives and friends until the flames went out. This was known as teen’lay, derived either from the Old English tendan (meaning to kindle) or a word related to Old Irish tenlach (meaning hearth). The rising popularity of Guy Fawkes Night (5 November) from 1605 onward, saw many Halloween traditions appropriated by that holiday instead, and Halloween’s popularity waned in Britain, with the noteworthy exception of Scotland. There and in Ireland, they had been celebrating Samhain and Halloween since at least the early Middle Ages, and the Scottish kirk took a more pragmatic approach to Halloween, seeing it as important to the life cycle and rites of passage of communities and thus ensuring its survival in the country.

In France, some Christian families, on the night of All Hallows’ Eve, prayed beside the graves of their loved ones, setting down dishes full of milk for them. On Halloween, in Italy, some families left a large meal out for ghosts of their passed relatives, before they departed for church services. In Spain, on this night, special pastries are baked, known as “bones of the holy” (Spanish: Huesos de Santo) and put them on the

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graves of the churchyard, a practice that continues to this day.

2.3 Spread to North America

Lesley Bannatyne and Cindy Ott both write that Anglican colonists in the South and Catholic colonists in Maryland “recognized All Hallow’s Eve in their church calendars”, although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the holiday, along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church, including Christmas. Mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century increased the holiday’s celebration in the United States. “In Cajun areas, a nocturnal Mass was said in cemeteries on Halloween night. Candles that had been blessed were placed on graves, and families sometimes spent the entire night at the graveside.” Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.

The annual New York Halloween Parade, initiated in 1974 by puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village in New York City, is the world’s largest Halloween parade and America’s only major nighttime parade, attracting more than 60,000 costumed participants, 2 million in-person spectators, and a worldwide television audience of over 100 million.

At Halloween, yards and public spaces may be decorated with traditionally macabre symbols including witches, skeletons, cobwebs, and headstones

3 Symbols Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time. Jack-o’-lanterns are traditionally carried by guisers on All Hallows’ Eve in order to frighten evil spirits. There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the jack-o’-lantern, which in lore, is said to represent a “soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell”: On route home after a night’s drinking, Jack encounters the Devil and tricks him into climbing a tree. A quick-thinking Jack etches the sign of the cross into the bark, thus trapping the Devil. Jack strikes a bargain that Satan can never claim his soul. After a life of sin, drink, and mendacity, Jack is refused entry to heaven when he dies. Keeping his promise, the Devil refuses to let Jack into hell and throws a live coal straight from the fires of hell at him. It was a cold night, so Jack places the coal in a hollowed out turnip to stop it from going out, since which time Jack and his lantern have been roaming looking for a place to rest.

In Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween, but immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much softer and much larger – making it easier to carve than a turnip. The American tradition of carving pumpkins is recorded in 1837 and was originally associated with harvest time in general, not becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century.

The modern imagery of Halloween comes from many sources, including Christian eschatology, national customs, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the novels Frankenstein and Dracula) and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The Mummy). Imagery of the skull, a reference to Golgotha, in the Christian tradition, serves as “a reminder of death and the transitory quality of human life” and is consequently found in memento mori and vanitas compositions; skulls have therefore been commonplace in Halloween, which touches on this theme. Traditionally, the back walls of churches are “decorated with a depiction of the Last Judgment, complete with graves opening and the dead rising, with a heaven filled with angels and a hell filled with devils,” a motif that has permeated the observance of this triduum. One of the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from Scottish poet John Mayne, who, in 1780, made note of pranks at Halloween; “What fearfu’ pranks ensue!”, as well as the supernatural associated with the

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night, “Bogies” (ghosts), influencing Robert Burns’ “Halloween” (1785). Elements of the autumn season, such as pumpkins, corn husks and scarecrows, are also prevalent. Homes are often decorated with these types of symbols around Halloween. Halloween imagery includes themes of death, evil, and mythical monsters. Black, orange, and sometimes purple are Halloween’s traditional colors.

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to “threat” to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming, which is closely related to souling (discussed above). John Pymm writes that “many of the feast days associated with the presentation of mumming plays were celebrated by the Christian Church.” These feast days included All Hallows’ Eve, Christmas, Twelfth Night and Shrove Tuesday. Mumming, practised in Germany, Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, involved masked persons in fancy dress who “paraded the streets and entered houses to dance or play dice in silence.” Their “basic narrative framework is the story of St. George and the Seven Champions of Christendom.”

4 Trick-or-Treating and Guising In England, from the medieval period, up until the 1930s, people practiced the Christian custom of souling on Halloween, which involved groups of soulers, both Protestant and Catholic, going from parish to parish, begging the rich for soul cakes, in exchange for praying for the souls of the givers and their friends. In Scotland and Ireland, guising – children disguised in costume going from door to door for food or coins – is a traditional Halloween custom, and is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895 where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. The practice of guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going “guising” around the neighborhood.

Souling was a Christian practice carried out in many English towns on Halloween and Christmas American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts wrote the first book length history of Halloween in the US; The Book of Hallowe’en (1919), and references souling in the chapter “Hallowe’en in America”: The taste in Hallowe’en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burns’ poem Hallowe’en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe’en is out of fashion now.

In her book, Kelley touches on customs that arrived from across the Atlantic; “Americans have fostered them, and are making this an occasion something like what it must have been in its best days overseas. All Halloween customs in the United States are borrowed directly or adapted from those of other countries”.

While the first reference to “guising” in North America occurs in 1911, another reference to ritual begging on Halloween appears, place unknown, in 1915, with a third reference in Chicago in 1920.

The earliest known use in print of the term “trick or treat” appears in 1927, from Blackie, Alberta, Canada: Hallowe’en provided an opportunity for real strenuous fun. No real damage was done except to the temper of some who had to hunt for wagon wheels, gates, wagons, barrels, etc., much of which decorated the front street. The youthful tormentors were at back door and front demanding edible plunder by the word “trick or treat” to which the inmates gladly responded and sent the robbers away rejoicing.

The thousands of Halloween postcards produced between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s commonly show children but not trick-or-treating. The editor of a collection of over 3,000 vintage Halloween

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postcards writes, “There are cards which mention the custom [of trick-or-treating] or show children in costumes at the doors, but as far as we can tell they were printed later than the 1920s and more than likely even the 1930s. Tricksters of various sorts are shown on the early postcards, but not the means of appeasing them”. Trick-or-treating does not seem to have become a widespread practice until the 1930s, with the first U.S. appearances of the term in 1934, and the first use in a national publication occurring in 1939.

A popular variant of trick-or-treating, known as trunk-or-treating (or Halloween tailgaiting), occurs when “children are offered treats from the trunks of cars parked in a church parking lot,” or sometimes, a school parking lot. In a trunk-or-treat event, the trunk (boot) of each automobile is decorated with a certain theme, such as those of children’s literature, movies, scripture, and job roles. Because the traditional style of trick-or-treating was made impossible after Hurricane Katrina, trunk-or-treating provided comfort to those whose homes were devastated. Trunk-or-treating has grown in popularity due to its perception as being more safe than going door to door, a point that resonates well with parents, as well as the fact that it “solves the rural conundrum in which homes [are] built a half-mile apart”.

4.1 Costumes Halloween costumes are traditionally modeled after supernatural figures such as vampires, monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. Over time, in the United States the costume selection extended to include popular characters from fiction, celebrities, and generic archetypes such as ninjas and princesses.

Dressing up in costumes and going “guising” was prevalent in Ireland and Scotland at Halloween by the late 19th century. Costuming became popular for Halloween parties in the US in the early 20th century, as often for adults as for children. The first mass-produced Halloween costumes appeared in stores in the 1930s when trick-or-treating was becoming popular in the United States.

Rev. Dr. Eddie J. Smith, in his book Halloween, Hallowed Be Thy Name, offers a religious perspective to the wearing of costumes on All Hallows’ Eve, suggesting that by dressing up as creatures “who at one time caused us to fear and tremble”, people are able to poke fun at Satan “whose kingdom has been plundered by our Saviour.” Images of skeletons and the dead are traditional decorations used as memento mori.

4.2 “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” is a fundraising program to support UNICEF, a United Nations Programme that provides humanitarian aid to children in developing countries. Started as a local event in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood in 1950 and expanded nationally in 1952, the program involves the distribution of small boxes by schools (or in modern times, corporate sponsors like Hallmark, at their licensed stores) to trick-or-treaters, in which they can solicit small-change donations from the houses they visit. It is estimated that children have collected more than $118 million for UNICEF since its inception. In Canada, in 2006, UNICEF decided to discontinue their Halloween collection boxes, citing safety and administrative concerns; after consultation with schools, they instead redesigned the program.

5 Games and other activities There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. One common game is dunking or apple bobbing, which may be called “dooking” in Scotland in which apples float in a tub or a large basin of water and the participants must use their teeth to remove an apple from the basin. The practice is thought by some to have derived from the Roman practices in celebration of Pomona. A variant of dunking involves kneeling on a chair, holding a fork between the teeth and trying to drive the fork into an

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apple. Another common game involves hanging up treacle or syrup-coated scones by strings; these must be eaten without using hands while they remain attached to the string, an activity that inevitably leads to a very sticky face.

Some games traditionally played at Halloween are forms of divination. In All Hallows’ Eve celebrations during the Middle Ages, these activities historically occurred only in rural areas of medieval Europe and were only done by a “rare few” as these were considered to be “deadly serious” practices. A traditional Scottish form of divining one’s future spouse is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one’s shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse’s name.

Unmarried women were told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror. However, if they were destined to die before marriage, a skull would appear. The custom was widespread enough to be commemorated on greeting cards from the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Another game/superstition that was enjoyed in the early 1900s involved walnut shells. People would write fortunes in milk on white paper. After drying, the paper was folded and placed in walnut shells. When the shell was warmed, milk would turn brown therefore the writing would appear on what looked like blank paper. Folks would also play fortune teller. In order to play this game, symbols were cut out of paper and placed on a platter. Someone would enter a dark room and was ordered to put her hand on a piece of ice then lay it on a platter. Her “fortune” would stick to the hand. Paper symbols included: dollar sign-wealth, button-bachelorhood, thimble-spinsterhood, clothespin- poverty, rice-wedding, umbrella- journey, caldron-trouble, 4-leaf clover- good luck, penny-fortune, ring-early marriage, and key-fame.

The telling of ghost stories and viewing of horror films are common fixtures of Halloween parties. Episodes of television series and Hallowe’en-themed specials (with the specials usually aimed at children) are commonly aired on or before Halloween, while new horror films are often released theatrically before Halloween to take advantage of the atmosphere.

6 Haunted Attractions Haunted attractions are entertainment venues designed to thrill and scare patrons. Most attractions are seasonal Halloween businesses. Origins of these paid scare venues are difficult to pinpoint, but it is generally accepted that they were first commonly used by the Junior Chamber International (Jaycees) for fundraising. They include haunted houses, corn mazes, and hayrides, and the level of sophistication of the effects has risen as the industry has grown. Haunted attractions in the United States bring in an estimate $300–500 million each year, and draw some 400,000 customers, although press sources writing in 2005 speculated that the industry had reached its peak at that time. This maturing and growth within the industry has led to technically more advanced special effects and costuming, comparable with that of Hollywood films.

On All Hallows’ Eve, many Western Christian denominations encourage abstinence from meat, giving rise to a variety of vegetarian foods associated with this day.

Because in the Northern Hemisphere Halloween comes in the wake of the yearly apple harvest, candy apples (known as toffee apples outside North America), caramel or taffy apples are common Halloween treats made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup, sometimes followed by rolling them in nuts.

At one time, candy apples were commonly given to trick-or-treating children, but the practice rapidly waned in the wake of widespread rumors that some individuals were embedding items like pins and razor blades in the apples in the United States. While there is evidence of such incidents, relative to the degree of reporting of such cases, actual cases involving malicious acts are extremely rare and have never resulted

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in serious injury. Nonetheless, many parents assumed that such heinous practices were rampant because of the mass media. At the peak of the hysteria, some hospitals offered free X-rays of children’s Halloween hauls in order to find evidence of tampering. Virtually all of the few known candy poisoning incidents involved parents who poisoned their own children’s candy.

One custom that persists in modern-day Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays, the purchase) of a barmbrack (Irish: báirín breac), which is a light fruitcake, into which a plain ring, a coin and other charms are placed before baking. It is said that those who get a ring will find their true love in the ensuing year.

This is similar to the tradition of king cake at the festival of Epiphany.

7 foods associated with Halloween: Barmbrack (Ireland) Bonfire toffee (Great Britain) Candy apples/toffee apples (Great Britain and Ireland) Candy apples, Candy corn, candy pumpkins (North America) Monkey nuts (peanuts in their shells) (Scotland and Ireland) Caramel apples Caramel corn Colcannon (Ireland; see below) Novelty candy shaped like skulls, pumpkins, bats, worms, etc.

Pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread Roasted pumpkin seeds Roasted sweet corn Soul cakes

8 Religious observances 8.1 Perspectives The Vigil of All Hallows’ is being celebrated at an Episcopal Christian church on Hallowe’en.

On Hallowe’en (All Hallows’ Eve), in Poland, believers are taught to pray out loud as they walk through the forests in order that the souls of the dead might find comfort; in Spain, Christian priests toll their church bells in order to remind their congregants to remember the dead on All Hallows’ Eve. In Ireland, and among immigrants in Canada, a custom includes the Christian practice of abstinence, keeping All Hallows’ Eve “as a meatless day with pancakes or Callcannon” being served instead. In Mexico, on “All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit.”

The Christian Church traditionally observed Hallowe’en through a vigil “when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day itself.” This church service is known as the Vigil of All Hallows or the Vigil of All Saints; an initiative known as Night of Light seeks to further spread the

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Vigil of All Hallows throughout Christendom. After the service, “suitable festivities and entertainments” often follow, as well as a visit to the graveyard or cemetery, where flowers and candles are often placed in preparation for All Hallows’ Day. In Finland, because so many people visit the cemeteries on All Hallows’ Eve to light votive candles there, they “are known as valomeri, or seas of light.”

Other Protestant Christians also celebrate All Hallows’ Eve as Reformation Day, a day to remember the Protestant Reformation, alongside All Hallow’s Eve or independently from it. This is because Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg on All Hallows’ Eve, because hundreds of visitors would come to the church during the celebration of Allhallowtide. Often, “Harvest Festivals” or “Reformation Festivals” are held on All Hallows’ Eve, in which children dress up as Bible characters or Reformers. In addition to distributing candy to children who are trick-or-treating on Hallowe’en, many Christians also provide gospel tracts to them. One organization, the American Tract Society, stated that around 3 million gospel tracts are ordered from them alone for Hallowe’en celebrations. Others order Halloween-themed Scripture Candy to pass out to children on this day.

8.1.1 Christianity

Some Christians feel concerned about the modern celebration of Halloween because they feel it trivializes – or celebrates – paganism, the occult, or other practices and cultural phenomena deemed incompatible with their beliefs. Father Gabriele Amorth, an exorcist in Rome, has said, “if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that.” In more recent years, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has organized a “Saint Fest” on Halloween. Similarly, many contemporary Protestant churches view Halloween as a fun event for children, holding events in their churches where children and their parents can dress up, play games, and get candy for free. Many Christians ascribe no negative significance to Halloween, treating it as a fun event devoted to “imaginary spooks” and handing out candy. To these Christians, Halloween holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners’ heritage.

8.1.2 Other Religions

In the Roman Catholic Church, Halloween’s Christian connection is cited, and Halloween celebrations are common in Catholic parochial schools throughout North America and in Ireland. Many fundamentalist and evangelical churches use “Hell houses”, themed pamphlets, or comic-style tracts such as those created

by Jack T. Chick in order to make use of Halloween’s popularity as an opportunity for evangelism. Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its putative origins in the Festival of the Dead celebration. Indeed, even though Eastern Orthodox Christians observe All Hallows’ Day on the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Eastern Orthodox Church recommends the observance of Vespers and/or a Paraklesis on the Western observance of All Hallows’ Eve, out of the pastoral need to provide an alternative to popular celebrations.

The reaction of non-Christian religions towards Halloween has often been mixed, ranging from stern disapproval to the allowance of participation in it. According to Alfred J. Kolatch in the Second Jewish Book of Why, in Judaism, Halloween is not permitted by Jewish Halakha because it violates Leviticus 18:3 which forbids Jews from partaking in gentile customs. Many Jews observe Yizkor, which is equivalent to the observance of Allhallowtide in Christianity, as prayers are said for both “martyrs and for one’s own family.” Nevertheless many American Jews celebrate Halloween, disconnected from its Christian origins. Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser has said that “There is no religious reason why contemporary Jews should not celebrate Halloween” while Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde has argued against Jews observing the holiday. Sheikh Idris Palmer, author of A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam , has argued that Muslims should not participate in Halloween, stating that “participation in it is similar to one commemorating Christmas or Easter, or congratulating the Christians upon their prostration to

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the crucifix”. Javed Memon, a Muslim writer, has disagreed, saying that his “daughter dressing up like a British telephone booth will not destroy her faith”. Most Hindus do not observe All Hallows’ Eve, instead remembering the dead in the festival of Pitru Paksha, during which Hindus pay homage to and perform a ceremony “to keep the souls of their ancestors at rest.” The celebration of the Hindu festival Diwali sometimes conflicts with the date of Halloween; but some Hindus choose to participate in the popular customs of Halloween. Other Hindus, such as Soumya Dasgupta, have opposed the celebration on the grounds that Western holidays like Halloween have “begun to adversely affect our indigenous festivals.” Neopagans do not observe Halloween, but instead observe Samhain on 1 November, although some neopagan individuals choose to participate in cultural Halloween festivities, opining the idea that one can observe both “the solemnity of Samhain in addition to the fun of Halloween.” Other neopagans are opposed to the celebration of Halloween, believing that it “trivializes Samhain”, and “avoid Halloween, because of the interruptions from trick or treaters.” The Manitoban writes that “Wiccans don’t officially celebrate Halloween, despite the fact that 31 Oct. will still have a star beside it in any good Wiccan’s day planner. Starting at sundown, Wiccans celebrate a holiday known as Samhain. Samhain actually comes from old Celtic traditions and is not exclusive to Neopagan religions like Wicca. While the traditions of this holiday originate in Celtic countries, modern day Wiccans don’t try to historically replicate Samhain celebrations. Some traditional Samhain rituals are still practised but at its core, the holiday is simply a time to celebrate darkness and the dead — a possible reason why Samhain is often confused with Halloween celebrations.”

9 Around the world The traditions and importance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it. In Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children dressing up in costume going “guising”, holding parties, while other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and having firework displays.

In Brittany children would set candles in skulls in graveyards. Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in other nations. This larger North American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended to places such as South America, Australia, New Zealand, (most) continental Europe, Japan, and other parts of East Asia. In the Philippines, on the night of Halloween, Filipinos return to their hometowns and purchase candles and flowers, in preparation for the following All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Araw ng Patay) on 1 November.

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Brodian’s Banter — Why I Hate Reality Shows

Brodian’s Banter Why I Hate Reality Shows I could summarize this entire article by saying, “It’s been said that reality shows are anything but reality”.

However, that wouldn’t be going enough into detail.

The way these shows are edited reminds me too much of English class.

The characters seemed to grow with their experience.

And, they tried something new that hadn’t been tried in the previous season.

When a cast member left, the cast member conducted interviews for a new room mate.

THAT was creative! That was intelligent.

The introduction, the buildup, the foreshadowing, the climax, the lesson to be learned, etc.,..

But, by the 4th season, things started to get formulatic.

Life doesn’t always work that way.

Sometimes, things are left unresolved.

It was obvious; where was the conflict and (as one cast member put it in the 4th season opener) which one is the gay member?

That’s just part of life.

Road Rules was bit on the creative side;

But, I guess, that isn’t good television.

It was basically Real Road hits the road.

Add to the fact that there seems to be only drama on these shows.

In one episode, they spent the night at a hotel, only to wake up the next morning to find their van had been robbed.

Think about it: When was the last time you saw anybody laughing on a reality show?

And, I don’t mean, laughing at (maybe) someone else’s misfortune.

I mean ACTUALLY laughing because they’re enjoying themselves?

I used to watch some reality shows.

I never was interested in the first season of MTV’s “Real World”.

I started watching it after I was reading an article on how things were revamped for the 2nd season (California).

It was interesting.

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That, at least, was real.

It was also interesting to see how they worked with each other to cope with the situation (eg: one of the girls offering the other girl some of her clothes).

Do you see any of that compassion in any of today’s reality shows?

One thing I noticed in some interviews and some personal experiences that has showed me how a lot of this is set up.

There is supposed to be this ‘invisible line’ between the cast members and the crew.

However, more often than not, this line in continually violated.

An interview with some of the cast members of the first season told how the crew were trying to

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provoke a relationship between two cast members.

The gay cast member from that season told how they were deliberately trying to get to much into him, just because he was gay.

More recently, I met a gentleman who was offered the opportunity to have a small part in some reality show.

He was in the area where they were shooting some scenes.

He was offered but, he turned it down.

He said he saw one of the crew members go up to one of the lady contestants and say that one of the other lady contestants had something to say about her.

He said it was obvious that they were trying to start some drama just for the cameras and that he turned down the opportunity to be part of it.

He didn’t want anything to do with a situation like that.

That is one of the things that bother’s me about this whole business.

Nothing but drama and it’s usually provoked.

Didn’t this used to be illegal?

interesting parts into a two hour VHS and sell copies here and there.

Sometimes, for filler, I would also include my appearances on different cable TV shows.

THAT was my reality show!

And it was far more entertaining than anything else on television today!

People used to enjoy my video tapes because it would enlighten them.

I didn’t do this to bring people misery.

What kind of garbage is the mainstream media trying to force on us?

The days of VHS are gone and just about everybody has their own ‘thing’ on youtube.

But, there is still some mainstream TV. I still have my hope of getting my comedy TV show, “Double Or Nutin’”, on the air.

It is definitely more entertaining that what the networks have to offer right now.

Remember: reality shows are cheap to produce and as with anything, you get what you pay for!

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Isn’t it still illegal?

There’s also the simple fact that some things just CAN’T be caught on camera.

I could ramble off dozens of things that happen to me in everyday life that are funny (remember that word?) or, just interesting!

The problem is, even when the cameras are around, you still just can’t capture everything.

I keep a journal and, if I ever get my own TV show, I could just use that for scripts from now until the end of eternity!

In a way, I sort of had my own reality show.

I used to film my travels with my camcorder wherever I went.

When I would get back home, I would edit just the

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Colicchio’s Corner by Victor Colicchio

Colicchio’s Corner

by Victor Colicchio

Victor Colicchio is a new York based actor, screenwriter, and musician. As a screenwriter Mr. Colicchio is best known for his screenplay SUMMER OF SAM directed by Spike Lee. His acting credit include, Bullets Over Broadway, Goodfella’s, Inside Man, Brave One, Soprano’s, numerous television appearances on Law & Order, and NY Undercover.

On An Island with Marley It was picture perfect day. It was a day for swimming, boating, tropical drinks and Island music.

I always loved the music of Bob Marley, and life on a tropical Island. The only problem was…It was September, and I was back in Manhattan. What’s a guy to do? Hop a ferry from the East River and head to Governors Island and catch the Bob Marley Tribute band CCB.

I decided to try the seafood which consisted mainly of Lobster Rolls, clams, oysters, hot dogs, burgers, fries and the usual “beach Food”. I counted six bars serving beer wine and every cocktail you could imagine.

The party started at 2pm and went until midnight.

Then it was back to the crowds, the cabs, and the noise of the mother island.

If any of you native New Yorkers have not yet visited Governor’s Island. DO IT !

George Washington set up Governors Island as a naval defense post during The Revolutionary War in 1776. From there our troops would fire on British ships coming into the harbor. It later became an army post, and eventually a US Coast Guard station.

In 1811 Castle Williams was built, and used to not only protect the harbor, but to house prisoners of war. All this can be googled so lets back to the Island with Marley.

In addition to the historic buildings, spectacular views, and the best bicycle paths in the city, the island hosts one of the best music and party venues in Manhattan, Governor’s Island Beach Club.

Although Governor’s Island is legally a part of Manhattan, as soon as I stepped off the Ferry boat, the crowds, the cabs, the buses and noises of Manhattan were immediately replaced by sand, palm trees, sweet music, seafood, tropical drinks, and good vibes at an event knows as The Music and Seafood Island Beach Party. And what a party it was.

The 14-member band CCB sounded exactly like Bob Marley. They performed for more than and hour and a half. Ya Mon. Paradise. While waiting for the next band to perform ( A Sublime tribute band)

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Martin Bergman SCARFACE This month I hit a party thrown by film producer Noel Ashman. The party was to honor both Noel’s and Martin Bregman’s birthdays. For those of you unfamiliar with Martin Bregman let tell you something about him. Marty is one of the most significant film producers of our time.

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His credits include SCAREFACE, CARLITO’S WAY, and DOG DAY AFTERNOON, to name but a few.

The guest list was hot, Tony Danza, James Lipton (Inside Actor’s Studio). Chuck Zito (Son’s of anarchy) ,Grand Master Flash and a bevy of beautiful babes.

Chuck Zito

Tony Danza

Grand Master Flash

The Bevy of Beautiful Babes pictures have intentionally been omitted.

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Positively Energized by Scott Brandon

Positively Energized

by Scott Brandon

Positively Energized with Heidi Hollicker

Early in her career, Heidi Holicker was a Jordache

Jeans girl for Miller’s Outpost (The GAP, etc), and played the runaway girl in the music video for Twisted Sister’s cover of The Shangri- Las’ Leader of the Pack. She was also featured in John Mellencamp’s music video This Time.

Her acting resume also boasts 5 motion pictures including Pink Motel, which united Heidi with Phyllis Diller, for whom Heidi’s mother, Charlotte, had written material. Phyllis was the primary reason Heidi’s family had moved to Los Angeles, so working with Phyllis is an experience Heidi very fondly treasures. Heidi recalls Phyllis as “a very lovely, encouraging human being.”

Heidi’s other notable roles include the movie Joy of Sex, which reunited Heidi with 3 of her Valley Girl co-stars: Cameron Dye (Fred in VG); Michelle Meyrink (Suzi in VG); and Colleen Camp (Julie’s mom in VG), as well as Valley Girl director Martha Coolidge.

Since leaving acting behind, Heidi has built a highly impressive resume in film production. She has worked as an assistant to 7-time Academy Award winner for Special Makeup Effects Rick Baker, on 20 major feature films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas; Planet of the Apes (2001); The Nutty Professor 1 & 2; and Men In Black 1 & 2, among many more.

But it is her portrayal of Stacey, the cliquey best friend of Valley Girl’s lead female character Julie (played by Deborah Foreman), that garners Heidi the most fan recognition. “It is a much bigger film now than it was in ’83,” Heidi explains. “Back then, there were no VHS tapes, and certainly no internet.

There was really nothing with any kind of real

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repetition.”

In 2003, Heidi participated in Valley Girl’s 20th anniversary DVD release with interview and commentary tracks. In April 2013, The Today Show did a piece on this film classic. And the following month, there was a 30th anniversary screening at the Los Angeles Museum of Art. Heidi gushes, “It was amazing!!”

Director Kevin Smith has long been quite vocal about his affection for Valley Girl, and interviewed various alumni, including Heidi. Heidi’s interview was part of Kevin’s podcast show SMornings, back in 2011.

Heidi’s genuine warmth and humility are highly impressive. She is still very sentimental about the sincere kindness of celebrities like John Travolta and Henry Winkler, both whom she had a crush on and later met, as a teenager.

Their treatment of Heidi helped shape her own approach to her fans.

She still gets as excited as a grade-schooler on Christmas morning over the fact that (not being in the music industry whatsoever) her picture was on the cover of the original Valley Girl soundtrack vinyl. At public appearances, she brings that album cover (an incredibly rare find today), and the outfit she wore for the party and Hollywood scenes, as show and tell pieces. Heidi reflected how during an appearance where she judged a Valley Girl costume contest, fans thought the album and clothing were prizes, and almost walked away with them. She had to quickly correct, “Nope. Sorry. Those are mine.”

While music clearances (and doubt the film would succeed) limited that original vinyl issue to only contain 6 songs, the entire score not only enhances the storytelling, but is a major reason fans keep

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watching Valley Girl time and again, even 30 years later. “The music was fantastic,” Heidi emotes.

“Martha (Coolidge) did an amazing job.”

In 1994 and 1995, Rhino Records released 2 CDs containing all (but 1: Eddy Grant’s Electric Avenue), of the songs actually heard in Valley Girl. The second volume also contains great filler material from the 1980s.

After talking to Heidi, it is clear that being a genuinely nice person is much more important to her than being “successful”. To me, that makes her one of the most successful people I know.

To hear my audio interview with Heidi, containing exclusive material, visit www.PositivelyEnergized. net, and search the keyword Holicker.

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Positively Energized with Dick Bartley program Solid Gold Saturday Night to play us a song that she found uniquely eerie. It was on that occasion that I first heard, and fell in love with Dickey Lee’s 1965 recording of Laurie (Strange Things Happen). In 1996, it came as no surprise to me that (as I was converting my vinyl collection to CD) the first CD release of Laurie was included on a disc called Collector’s Essentials: the 60s, which Dick Bartley helped produce & compile. It was the first time I ever heard Laurie in true stereo.

“Radio is magic.” Those words were actually spoken by Dick Bartley toward the end of our interview. But they are so profoundly true I just had to start this article with them.

I first heard Dick on WLEV 96.1 FM in the Allentown, Pa market back in the 1980s. I still remember the day (before ever tuning into a live broadcast) when my aunt came over to our house with a cassette recording of Dick’s

Dick got hooked on top 40 rock and roll radio as a child living in Syracuse, NY. Around age 14, after moving to Lynchburg, Virginia, Dick started working part time in radio as a “gopher”, filing records, getting coffee, etc. He did that until age 17, when he got his first chance behind a microphone. Dick continued doing radio all through high school and college.

In 1979, Dick was working six afternoons a week at Chicago radio station WFYR, including Saturdays. It was then that he presented his idea for a Saturday night call- in request show featuring 1950s-60s

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music (a slight contrast to the station’s 24/7 adult contemporary format) to WFYR management.

Dick explains, “The ratings that we were generating on Saturday night were negligible. So we had nothing to lose.”

In 1981, after showing very promising ratings, Dick’s Saturday night call-in show gained the attention of the RKO radio network.

“WFYR was an RKO station”, Dick tells. “They called and offered to hook my show up to the satellite and expand it nationwide.” In January of 1982, Solid Gold Saturday Night became Dick’s first syndicated radio show. In 1991, the show was renamed Rock N Roll’s Greatest Hits, which is still broadcast today.

Over his long career, Dick also produced other radio shows which were pre- recorded and pressed to either vinyl or CDs that stations would play. Not all of the shows were produced during the same point in his career, nor have all been broadcast on the same network. Dick has actually worked with four major radio networks: RKO, United Stations, ABC, and Westwood One. He reminisces, “Over the years, I have specialized in three different presentations that have served me well: The request format; the countdown format; and the artist interview & special format.”

Dick currently produces and hosts three different radio programs every week, including the live Saturday night call-in show Rock N Roll’s Greatest Hits. “It’s a very full time job. I work six, sometimes seven days a week”, he describes. It was at this point that Dick romanticized, “Radio is magic”. He then continued, “Radio has evolved over the years.

Whatever you can hear a broadcast on whether it’s a terrestrial receiver, smart phone, computer, or whatever, radio continues to be audio entertainment delivered”.

Dick is also very happy that there is still a demand for what he considers to be the greatest music ever recorded, and invites you to find a station to stream at www.DickBartley.com.

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Barbell Buzz by Tim Caso

Barbell Buzz

by Tim Caso

This ‘n’ That I thought I’d go off “the beaten path” and talk to you about are often overlooked yet will enhance your fitness and safety in the gym.

Spotting Spotting, like any other practice in the gym, is an important skill. I learned this early on in my weight lifting career and was fortunate enough to have experienced lifters show me the ropes. Since then, I can’t tell you how many cringe-worthy examples of one-lifter-trying-to-make-sure-the-other-lifter-doesn’t-getinjured sometimes known as “spotting” that I’ve encountered. Probably the most egregious example of this is when one well-meaning gym-mate stands behind the lifter with his arms under the lifter’s armpits as that person is squatting. Question: do you really think that, if the lifter loses his balance or simply collapses under the load, that the “spotter” will be able to catch both the weight and the lifter and pull him to safety? Unless he’s being spotted by Captain America or The Hulk, you can count on an accident.

A better way: when a lifter is squatting, have two capable assistants stand on either side of the lifter with their hands clasped tightly and held right underneath each end of the bar. The spotters will maintain this hand position as the lifter goes through his repetitions. If the lifter should fail for any reason, the spotters are right there to catch the weight. Another key is to always ask the lifter how many reps he will be attempting. If you are the lifter, be sure to tell your spotters what you intend to do. A great example of this coming together was when my training partner was squatting heavy and was going to attempt 455 for ten reps. He made nine and a half. No worries – we had one spotter on either side (I was one of them), and we caught the weight and pulled it and him up. One final note: in a situation like this, always keep your hands on the bar and guide (as opposed to push) it back to the rack.

Chained to Your Work I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical about incorporating chains into my routine. The theory of attaching chains to the barbell is that the bar would be lighter on the way down while gradually becoming heavier on the way up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was very old-school, a bit parochial in my thinking, and “we” (a reference to old my Olympic Lifting club) never used them – and we were really, really good. So, my close-minded thinking went, how good could chains be? However, that old Mikey commercial (you know: “try it, you’ll like it”) kept ringing in my ears. So, finally, I broke down, went to Home Depot and bought the heaviest gauge chain I could find. I was scheduled to bench press that night so I rigged the chain to my bar and hoped for the best. Of course, thinking the whole time that “this is really stupid.” Guess what? It turns out that you can teach an old dog new tricks! It was great and a completely different “feel” to the lift! Even though I didn’t go particularly heavy, I felt sore the next day. It takes a little getting used to, and I would only recommend it to someone who’s been lifting for a while. But, who knows? Try it, maybe you’ll like it!

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Zombie Girl pictorial by Gary Pries

Zombie Girl Pictorial by Gary Pries

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Interviews by Marlowe B. West Takez Manhattan

Interviewz with David Kramer, Rachel Amodeo, Danny Ray, and Donna Destri 32 Steel Notes Magazine

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Interview with David Kramer

DK: I was doing some research on Devon Wilson (one of Jimi’s girlfriends), at the Chelsea Hotel where she was murdered, and a guy came outside as I was leaving and said: “You have to speak to Marlowe, he knew Devon! You must speak to him!”

DK: Ginger Baker is an interesting character as most people know... John Entwistle was a great experience because I went to his mansion in England with my girlfriend and we spent a few days with him and his girlfriend. At the time they were just getting ready to release all the Who CD’s newly remastered, and he had advance copies which we proceeded to listen to at his in home bar, getting very drunk, and singing along... a lot of fun! It’s always great when you can spend some quality time with your musical heros! Especially when they’re nice, and John was a very nice man. In fact, I can say that most of the people that were friends with Jimi are good people.

And Jimi was loved by all. I didn’t get any negative comments on Jimi, although his manager was a different story, I got no positive comments on Hendrix’ manager Michael Jeffrey.

DK: Well, 20 years in the making, with over 400 on camera interviews, including many who have never spoken on the subject before, this promises to be, without a doubt the most complete, definitive documentary ever done on Jimi Hendrix! And many of these people are now gone... Wilson Pickett, Bo Diddley, Cornell Dupree, Richie Havens, Curtis Knight, Ray Manzarek, Timothy Leary, Ahmet Ertegun, and most recently Johnny Winter (RIP) just to name a few.. you

DK: I’ve been all around the world doing interviews for this project: England, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Caribbean, South America, Canada, etc. and of course all over the United States.. It’s been some interesting travels, as they say the joy is in the journey.

DK: I love the music and when I started working in television doing graphics, animation and special effects, computer graphics was a brand new

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medium/field. So whenever I put a demo reel together with my work I’d use Hendrix music as the background music. Music videos and MTV was at their peak and I always felt that if Hendrix was alive he’d be producing the most incredible music videos with color drenched psychedelic graphics splashing across the screen, so I started producing more and more images using Hendrix music as the background music. Eventually it evolved to the decision of producing a documentary on Jimi Hendrix. I also felt that if while Beethoven was alive and all the people that knew him and played with him were interviewed, that would be some pretty interesting and valuable stuff. So I put Hendrix on the same level, he’s definitely a classic!

MBW: What was your intent on setting out with this project ???

DK: I intended to produce the finest documentary ever done on Jimi Hendrix. And I thought it would take a couple of years to accomplish LOL! But as I got deeper and deeper into the project, I’d find more and more information, more footage, interviews, photos, etc. And with all the digging I found things that I didn’t want to find, like the plausibility that he’d been murdered. Although it’s always been speculated, it’s a heartbreaking revelation when you see the postmortem report and learn that there was an insufficient amount of drugs or alcohol in his blood to kill him.

MBW: Do you feel you have achieved your purpose ???

DK: As far as producing the definitive documentary on Hendrix, absolutely!

MBW: Jimi’s sudden death left us in mystery ...

Were there any discrepancies ... from one person’s story to that of another ... that you found curious or outstanding ???

DK: Yes, the 3 people that were at the at the Hotel room together where Hendrix died (Eric Burdon, Alvenia Bridges, and Monika Danneman), all have different stories. And the roadies for Hendrix: Gerry Stickells and Eric Barrett have refused to give interviews, which I, as well as many others find very suspicious. I spoke to Gerry Stickells off camera and he told me “You’ll never get the truth!”

MBW: As one of the people interviewed by you ... along with my cousin Marquise Richman de la

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Eric Burdon and David Kramer

Lillibridge ... you are well aware of our possession of Mr. Hendrix’ purple suede and leather fringed jacket ... which was custom made for him by Long Beach Leather only three months prior to his death ... and the fact that it was given to Marquise .. by Devon Wilson ... just days after Jimi’s untimely death ... Is that correct ???

DK: Yes, a beautiful jacket which Devon acquired and gave to Marquise along with her story.

Immediately following Jimi’s death in London, not to be implicated, Devon quickly fled to LA where she met up with you & your cousin Marquise. All the strange events surrounding Hendrix death are very suspicious to say the least. Jimi Hendrix was one of the highest paid entertainers of the day, the headliner of the biggest festival of the 20th century: Woodstock. Whenever there is that much money involved, the greed mongers come out of the woodwork and I think that was a huge problem especially since he was so open, trusting and accessible.

MBW: Shall we talk about Miss Wilson ... aka Dolly Dagger ... aka Foxy Lady ???

DK: Sure.

MBW: Certain people ... I have found ... either never really knew ... or had little or no compassion for Marquise and I ... On a number of occasions we

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have been slammed for repeating the revelations of Devon’s words ... I stand here now ... before you and the world and God and the very spirit of Jimi Hendrix himself and proclaim my honesty ... Let there be no doubt ... Regardless of speculation or so-called medical documentation or the conflicting words of those who were not even standing right there ... such as family members or other self imposed ... supposedly more relevant persons other than Marquise and I ... who were the only two people solely present as Devon Wilson told us she heavily dosed Jimi’s coffee .. the night before his death in September of1970 ... at a party in London ... saying “The only time we were lovey dovey was when we were on the drug.” ... You have said you never doubted my word ... Is that so ???

DK: That is true, I believe that Devon said that to you, but I also believe that Devon was a liar as most junkies are. And she may have said that to shift the blame and protect someone else. It was well known by people close to Devon that she was on Michael Jeffrey’s payroll to spy on Jimi and his whereabouts.

Although she loved Jimi, she was strung out and did certain things for money that I know she regretted. She was also close to Alan Douglas, a shady character, who Jimi by many accounts did not want involved with his business.

MBW: Can you tell us anything about Jimi’s family ... I know they have so much power and so much to say ... even though they were not even there at the time ???

Randy California and David Kramer

DK: The so-called “Family” with so much power and money is an adopted step sister that goes by the name of Janie Hendrix. Her real name is Genevieve Lisa Jinka, the illegitimate daughter of a Japanese mother (Ayako) and an unknown German father.

Jimi Hendrix’ father Al Hendrix married Ayako “June” Hendrix in 1966 when little Janie Jinka was around 6 or 7 years old. Janie met Jimi very briefly when he returned to Seattle to play 3 concerts in the late sixties. She calls herself Jimi Hendrix’ sister, and the press has often referred to her as Jimi’s half sister, but the fact is she is related only by marriage.

She gives interviews as if she and Jimi grew up together... she refers to him as her beloved brother.

Jimi Hendrix’ real brother Leon, with whom Jimi grew up with and loved, has been completely shut out of the will. It’s funny , but she doesn’t refer to Leon as her beloved brother. I suppose if Leon was earning millions of dollars, he would be her beloved brother as well. I actually interviewed her mother Ayako, better known as “June” before she passed and she was embarrassed by her daughter Janie’s astonishing level of greed... it’s very sad. The greed that surrounded Jimi Hendrix in his life continues in his death. And I’ll go one step further and say that I believe that greed, sadly, is the downfall of modern civilization.

MBW: This is a fateful moment I have longed for since I ran into unexpected, unfair and unaccounted for speculation concerning this issue ... Forty four years is a very long time to carry such a thankless burden ... It’s funny, David Kramer ... This time I am interviewing you ... Tables do turn ... don’t they ...

So please ... Delight us all with some joyful news about yourself and your work ???

DK: I’ve been working in television since 1981 as an artist, producer, and director. I’ve produced several music videos and won two Emmy awards. I also produce an annual Jimi Hendrix Birthday Tribute Concert (each year for the past 8 yrs.) at BB King’s Blues Club & Grill in Times Square, NYC. This year it will take place on Saturday, November 29. In the past I’ve had many of Jimi’s band members, jamming partners, musicians he’s recorded with, musicians he’s influenced, and musicians who’ve influenced him perform including: Buddy Miles, Larry Coryell, Johnny Winter, Ghetto Fighters, Harvey Brooks, Paul Caruso, Frank Marino, Jack Casady, Vince Martell, Terry Reid, etc. I produce and promote many concert events which has allowed me to interview various artists that might not

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necessarily want to be interviewed for the documentary.

I taught TV Art & Design, and 3D graphics for many years at the Center for the Media Arts in NYC. I also write CD, DVD, and book reviews for Elmore Magazine... so I keep pretty busy and I enjoy what I do.

MBW: Tell me more about yourself, my friend ... above and beyond your incredible Jimi Hendrix experience ???

DK: I’m interested in finding the truth, I’m a Scorpio for Christ sake! And I don’t particularly enjoy talking about myself so much.

MBW: How are things looking on the horizon ???

DK: Things are looking good as I’m wrapping up the documentary this year!

MBW: If I could grant you three wishes ... what would they be ???

DK: Health, Happiness, and Peace..

interview with Rachel Amodeo It Gives Me Great Pleasure To Put The Spotlight On This Beautiful Lady and Her Work ... 4 The October Issue Of Steel Notes Magazine ...

Marlowe B West: I was hanging with Natasha Adonzio one day and she asked me if I wanted to go see a film with her downtown ...

She said the girl who made the film was making another film and that she was supplying her with wardrobe from her awesome punk fashion line ... So I went, never expecting the revelations about to unfold ... Rachel Amodeo is to me a candle that has been patiently set in a dark corner of a huge cathedral that has just been lit with a warm loving

prayer for humanity ...

Her first film ... What About Me ... took her three years to scrape together in the bowels of lower Manhattan and has splahed a bucketful of hope in the face of cinematography . .

As a screenwriter myself ... who rarely dares venture into what I have perceived as a lost cause by going to the movies these days ... I was immediately overwhelmed ...The opening scenes are straight out of the Silent Film Era and I was expecting an appearance by Charlie Chaplin ... but it wasn’t a Silent Film ... They started filming in 1989 and finished in 1993 on a non-existent budget and did a better job

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Lisa (played by me) a young woman forced to exist on the streets of New York City, intermingling with the outcasts of society. Using Tompkins Square Park and its environs as a backdrop, I trace the steps of a woman’s decline after she loses her apartment.

MBW: Your use of all of the lingering components at hand is ingenious ... The way you took your characters from Skid Row into our hearts is the work of an angel ... There is obviously an intense motivation behind this sordid collaboration ???

RA: We all walk a fine line. I like working with all types of people, especially, the so called outcasts of society . They are a vanishing breed now.

Desperation and suffering opens portals in the mind. I was just grabbing people that I knew would work.

MBW: There is so much meat left on the bones of grabbing my interest than one of those hyped up expensive phoney baloney block busters of late ...

Please allow me to introduce to you Rachel Amodeo ... What would you like to say to the world following this mile long introduction ???

Rachel Amodeo: Hard to add much to an introduction like that. Thanks Marlowe.

MBW: Will you kindly tell us the story of “What About Me” RA: The film portrays the gradual deterioration of

of your first film ... yet I am compelled to take a bite into your next one ... Please tell us about this project I have heard rumors about ... How is it progressing and has your first film set you on a new course here or is this one totally fresh and set apart from the last ???

RA: Working title for my new film is “Rock N Roll Gangster”. It’s about a girl drummer in a Rock N Roll punk band set in the Early 80’s. I’ve finished the screenplay and looking for funding to get the film made.

Unlike the first film, I think this one has an ending people will make people happy.

MBW: I know I am speaking solely from my own

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personal view but to me films in general have stagnated ... They have all become stereo typed ... Same characters ... Same plot ... same disrespect and adding to the current cheesy climate in society ... What really caught my attention and interest in What About Me was that it is candid ...A rather unpatronizing expose of harsh reality without being posed and rehearsed and chisled like what they dish out today under the pretentious title of Reality Films ... I would love to help you ... What is standing in your way ... if anything ... I mean what would it take to get this film really rolling ... I would hate to have to wait another three years ???

RA: Funding for the film would be very helpful, and a good mentor.

RA: Charles Laughton is one.

MBW: My readers love and look forward to interesting stories about inner New York City ... Would you mind telling us about a typical day and night as a wife and mother and career person living in one of the most fun areas in Manhattan ???

RA: I’ve always loved her design’s and thought she would be perfect for my new film, so I reached out to her on Facebook. She was very accommodating and helpful with ideas.

RA: Well my 16 year old son curses at me a lot in a very loving way. His father is a mad scientist and we are both driven by creativity and love for the city.

MBW: The people in your film were all genuine characters ... A classic collection ... I can not help but to ask you to tell us about working with two Icons who have since passed away who were from our local Bowery community ... Dee Dee Ramone and Johnny Thunders ???

RA: Dee was a true genius with the sensibility of a young child. He wasn’t out to get over, he just wanted to get by. Johnny was a real prince and one of the most charismatic people I have ever met.

MBW: How did you meet Natasha Adonzio ???

MBW: What were you doing that led you up to starring in and directing an actual film of your own ???

RA: I didn’t plan it. It just happened.

MBW: What do you see and hope for the future ???

RA: To develop my creative skills and the capacity to be a fine leader. World, peace, love and harmony.

MBW: ... and my favorite question ... If I could grant you three wishes ... What would they be ???

RA: Ultimate enlightenment , endless artistic opportunities and the best apartment in NYC :

MBW: Do you have any favorite directors ???

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interview with Danny Ray

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going through the whole list of bandits. It’s a long list of savants).. Everyone contributes to the eclectic writing and arranging. That band’s a circus; I love it to the ends of the Earth.

I’ve also been playing and touring with my friend, Jesse Malin, who I’ve always felt has done fabulous stuff. I’m very happy having the opportunity to play with him, after all these years. The San Jose Parking Lot Horns (Indofunk Satish, Robert Donnelly and myself), provide a wall of brass for him. Jesse and Ricky Bacchus, saved my life years ago asking me to play on the first DGeneration album, on “Guitar Mafia”. I might not be playing anymore, had I not done that session and then gone putto California, later on with them, when they switched to Sony.

But, I’ve never sat down and put together my own band...a Danny Ray ‘Exploding Sax’ Band, if you will, ha. I can’t say that I haven’t thought about putting a band together, of my own. But it’s always taken a

back seat to all the other live playing that I’ve done--and there’s been a lot of that going on. Maybe it’s going to manifest sooner than we think…dunno.

MBW: I am certain you have been involved with loads of musicians ... Can you tell me some of your favorites to play with ???

DR: Oh damn! Some of the more obvious guys I guess are, Sami Yaffa, Jesse Malin, Richard Bacchus, Alejandro Escovedo, Sylvain Sylvain, Jerry Nolan, Johnny Thunders, Rob Stoner, Chris Spedding, Howie Wyeth, Tony Machine, Robert Gordon, Brian Setzer, Tommy Byrnes, Kevin Shaw, Wayne Kramer, Roy Buchanan, Earl Scruggs, Vassar Clements, Billy Joel (piano w the Earl Scruggs Review), Wild Bill Thompson, Philippe Marcade, Derek Cruz, Stevie Klasson, Matt Langone, Dave White, Thomas ‘TJ’ Jordan, Chris Robison, Zack Brock, Steve Johnson…

And that’s not even getting into drummers, bass players, keyboard players. It also doesn’t scratch

Danny, Sammi Yaffa, George De Voe, Karmen Guy, Mal Stein, Indofunk Satish, Marnirice

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Danny Ray, Joff, Puma Perl

the surface.

There are so many gifted maniacs that I’ve had the good luck to play with…The list is long and it’s so not fair to mention the obvious knowns and leave out the unknowns, so many of whom are just as great.

MBW: Do you have any particular influences ???

DR: The truth is, I was always just as interested in guitar players as sax players. Guitarist took sax playing and took it out ten steps. So I always wanted to try to gain some of the territory that they discovered.

list. Big Jay McNeely, David Fathead Newman, Earl Bostic, Jimmy Forrest, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Gene Ammons, Hal Cornbread Singer, Jr. Walker, Paul Bascomb, Rusty Bryant, Sam the man Taylor, Bill Doggett, Fred Wesley, Lee Allen, Maceo Parker, Tab Smith, Illinois Jaquet, Arnett Cobb, John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Fela Kuti, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Pharaoh Sanders, Charlie Parker, Moondog, Clarence Clemmons... All people I’ve looked up to, learned from and continue to, all for varying reasons.

MBW: Tell me about you and the studio ... Have you done much recording ???

But, if you’re going to get down to influences and be real, you’d have to include African, Asian, Eastern European, Spanish, Mexican, Jamaican, Japanese, Chinese, Balinese, instrumentalists. Then you have to include all the beautiful writers, poets, political writers, comedians, actors…all gurus… We could talk for weeks on this, or write a set of books. Your playing should be defined by the culture you keep.

DR: I’ve never been what you’d call a studio musician. I’ve been close to those circles at times, but was never drawn to that crowd, as a focus. But I have done a bit of recording over the years. I think I’ve recorded about 30 albums, with a lot of different groups that may still be available somewhere.

There are a lot more that have probably vanished with time.

But if we’re going to talk saxes, here’s a starting

There’s an incomplete discography at http://en.wiki-

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pedia.org/wiki/Danny_Ray_ (saxophonist) To me, the funny thing about recording is that the sound gets stuck in time. But the nature of sound is always in the moment and surfs on ‘time’. So personally, when I listen to recordings that I’ve done, it generally doesn’t feel anything like it did as I was playing it, nor all the ideas, shapes and colors, that shot through my head as I was playing as I was playing, at those moments. A lot of musicians will tell you that. You’re juxtaposing something into another time zone, one in the future and it always tend to appear out of place when I listen back. If you would bring up your personal feelings, say the moment you finished your first drawing in school and feel them once again, as they were at that time---but here and now this moment---it would feel trite. I like to create and move on to my next creative moment; I don’t like wearing the old ones around my neck.

MBW: You are well loved, respected and a devoted member of the New York Underground ... From your perspective could you paint me a picture of the perfect gig ???

DR: There’s no such thing as a perfect gig. Each is unique and beautifully different. The fact that you can play a show and things go wrong, is part of what we do. When something is wrong, a good combination of players takes it and makes something good of it. You take chaos and somehow to end up with some order. There’s no perfect gig. If you see the perfect gig on the road, kill it. Certainly don’t trust that kind of thinking.

dancing, though there was almost no room. That crowd was just as inspired as the Asbury Park show.

It’s more about the opportunity to play, than how perfect the gig is. In fact I’d say the musicians take more chances on a small stage with their playing, then they take in a large concert situation; there also tends to be more hijinks. So, in some personal ways the moment of playing is all the more free in the smaller venues. It’s just always good to play, when you’re with good players.

MBW: In choosing material ... What kind of music is closest to your heart ???

DR: My musical taste has always been very eclectic.

I grew up in a house where they played everything.

By everything, I mean everything they could get their hands on. I tend to listen to a lot of world music, Africa, Asia, South American, Jamaican, Balkan, Turk, Albanian, Arabian, Classical, Rock, old punk, new punk, experimental… I’m not big on corporate pop music. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t listen to any. I listen totally random, most of the time. I could listen to Iggy, Maria Callas, Balkan Beat Box, Fela, William Burroughs talking over Kurt Cobain’s playing, Woody Guthrie and Harry Lauder (110 year old show hall Edison recordings), in the same 60 minutes. That’s actually probably a watered down example of my listening habits. I’m sort of dyslexic with my listening and find it hard to listen to a whole album in a sitting, sometimes even

Danny Ray and Puma Perl

But also, I played a show with Jesse Malin and Bruce Springsteen, earlier this year. There were 2000 excited people out there, great conversations backstage, Willy Nile played an off the wall set, damn!, great after party, food, drinks. It was a great night. Then the next week a I played with Frank Wood’s NYC All-Stars, a great quirky band of sharp NYC musicians and singers...for 30 people (maybe). It was a rockin show. Everyone was

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a whole song at a time of the same artist. But, in the last year I have listened straight through Alejandro Escovedo’s last album, as well as Willie Nile’s last and Wayne Kramer’s last album, always a surprising thing.

But, getting back to your question, the music closest to my heart, is music that was implemented with heart.

MBW: Do you write any of the songs you play ???

DR: Writing has never been my focus. Though, I have been writing a little bit, the last couple of years. Most of the stuff I write, has been centered around keyboards, flute and guitar. I haven’t really written much for sax. Funny, right? Also, since I’m so scattered, a lot of the stuff I’ve written sounds like movie background soundtracks. Most of what I’ve written with bands that I’ve played with is horn lines, hooks and taken part in some of the arranging.

MBW: Your improvisation ... with the back up band for our incredible poetess ... Puma Perl ... is abso-

lutely mesmerizing ... I must applaud all the various and intermingling members ... Joff Wilson, Angelo Oliveri, Walter G. Steding, Sam Hariss, Russ Brazello and Jeanne Carno Rosenberg ... It is indescribable how you guys create this uber groovy beatnik atmosphere ... while Puma eloquently recites her righteous lyrics ... When and where did this mad collaboration first occur ???

DR: Puma asked me to sit in with her a couple of years back and I couldn’t at the time. Then she showed up at a couple of gigs, one with Luigi Scorcia and All Mobbed up, at Cha Cha’s on Coney Island. We backed her up on the fly and it was just a fun thing. The music went well with the poetic content. She had done some things before that with guitarist Rick Eckerle and with Joff Wilson, who is a prolific songwriter and player, by the way. She asked me to show up at a poetry reading and we just made things up from scratch. It was so interesting that we just kept doing it, adding different players, reading to reading. Walter Steding was a regular on electric violin. It’s always strictly improvisation. We never know what’s going to come

Robert Aaron, Seaton Hancock , Danny

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Walter G. Steding, Danny, Puma Perl, Angelo Oliveiri

out. There’s something that goes on between me a Walter and Joff and myself, that’s always random and inventive. That’s all I can say. We walk on, not having a clue what will happen and we walk off kind of mystified. It’s always a trip and the connection with Puma and her verse keeps evolving as time goes on. We ought to take it into a studio and see what happens.

MBW: I already found out how busy you are ... and how difficult it is to get together with you ,,, but ... I really feel you are a mega star, Danny .. and I would like to team up with you in the studio with some songs I wrote ... Do you think this could be arranged ???

DR: Hahaha, mega star! …maybe just a comet when I get warmed up. Hell yeah, Marlowe. We should find the time to do that. But only if you ease up on those superlatives MBW: I always enjoy stories about living in Manhattan ... Can you entertain us with some of yours ???

DR: Oh hell, I’ve been here a long time. First started hanging in the East Village in my teens and moved in as soon as I found a way to. You know, a musician

without a girlfriend, is called “homeless”—at least back then there was an element of that. I’ve seen the changes since the 60s and it’s changed a lot.

I lived in Williamsburg for a while too, in the late 80s, when I got thrown out of the LES by the early gentrification. It was different then. No hipsters yet.

Just cheap rents and a short ride on the L train to gigs. There were only three musicians that I knew there at the time. Rick Bacchus, Jesse Malin and I all moved there around the same time for the same reason. I remember the East Village when it was still a bastion of interesting artists living amongst a melting pot of poor working class people. I think the general IQ of the neighborhood was 40 points higher. It was like living on a campus populated by savants. I’d walk through the neighborhood and run into members of innumerable great bands, who’d ask me to sit in at Max’s, CBGB, the Peppermint Lounge, Danceteria or Tier 3, that night.

At breakfast I’d often find myself in the company of Alan Ginsberg, Iggy, William Burroughs, Lou Reed, Johnny Thunders, Alan Vega. The LES was a center of international culture. I’ve marched with Yippies, had conversations with Moondog, I saw Sun Ra play in people’s living rooms...The stories are innumerable. You know---I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving

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hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian streets at dawn looking for an angry fix, angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night, who poverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high sat up smoking in the supernatural darkness of cold-water flats floating across the tops of cities contemplating punk music… Don’t know whether it was that dramatic, but it was certainlyinteresting times. It’s still interesting times and maybe more so.

a Korean place on 32nd between 5th and Broadway.

It’s a trip. That’s a pretty wide array of cuisines; but that’s NYC.

MBW: What are your aspirations in life ???

One: I’d ask for the pschopathological / ponerological influence around the world to get toned down at least 80%. (Why only 80%? Because, you’d have little to complain about without some psychos to mess things up with their control issues.)

DR: That’s a funny thing to consider, at this point in my life. My aspirations are the same as they always were. They mainly consist of the desire to seek truths and put them to practical application. I practice musical alchemy and that doesn’t have an end point to it. I live in a lot of worlds. I just try to be mindful and apply some humor to the horrors I partake in. I avoid processed foods and the Mets.

My only real aspirations are to continue playing, be mindful, continue evolving and be positively active.

MBW: ... and my favorite question is “If I could grant you three wishes ... what would they be ???

DR: What’s there to wish for. Man, we live in the most interesting times ever, I play music and I live in New York Fucking City, as Buddy Bowser stated it so elegantly late one night in Iceland. But if I had three wishes, who am I to turn them down.

MBW: What brings you the most happiness ???

Two: And I’d like to see TV disappear altogether.

The only reason it’s there is mass hypnosis. That would probably actually put that first wish into effect. It might have the effect of awakening people up enough to creatively take an interest and use their energies in cleaning up the toilet they currently allow this lovely world to be.

DR: Love and keeping desire in supporting role, not a starring role.

Thirdly, I’d just like a little love, but I already have a lot of that. :

MBW: This is way out of line but ... How about food ??? ... I like to get turned on to new places to eat in New York City ... and share them with our readers ???

Danny, Mal Stein, Tony Mann, Indofunk Satish

DR: Katz’s (Kosher Deli) and Vesselka (Ukrainian) do it for me. But so does Candle 79 (Veg), Candle Cafe West (Veg), Wo Hop (Chinese).

Bouley (French), Asiate (Asian fusion), Armenia (Italian), Hangawi (Korean vegetarian), Ma Peche (Momofuko), Buceo 95 (Spanish Tapas)… If you’re up at 4AM and want to do something really weird, go to Wanjo,

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Interview with Donna Destri MBW: Ladies and Gentlemen and Children of all ages ... I am your Ringleader ... My name is Marlowe B. West and I take Manhattan, seriously !!! .On that serious note ... I will now take you all one step further ... Back into the heart of my Manhattan ... To a crazy joint once called Max’s Kansas City ... The epitome of Avant Garde and Rock and Roll in it’s heyday ... and birthplace of many exciting legends ... Maximum contributor to the new raging underground movement and culture ...

Andy Warhol and his incredible superstars ... Such as Joe D’Alessandro, Candy Darling, Viva and Eric Emerson ... Scads of musical pioneers such as Lou Reed, Blondie and The Ramones stand out most prominently ... emanating ...seeping through the cracks and ultimately educating the ‘Squarezville’ main stream society ... This new ‘upper class’ glamourized trash ... You can not buy cool ... Either you got or you don’t ... If you got it, flaunt it ... The dazzling sexy list goes on with the beat of the times ... Here we find Donna Destri ... This serious beauty was always in control ..We worked ... and played ...at Max’s ... I never met anyone more confident ...

Sexiest quality of all ... Donna ... How would you tell your story ... Donna Destri and Max’s Kansas City ???

DD: I remember sneaking in to Max’s when Mickey

Ruskin (RIP) owned it and being so enamored of all the glamour there... the back room, the round table.

A few years later when Tommy and Laura Dean bought the place, we would go there to hang out as well.

Miki Zone and the Fast used to rehearse there in the daytime and Paul Zone told me that they were looking for a cashier. I was in need of a job so I went in and they hired me. I started working at Max’s when I was 18 and eventually did every job that there was to do in that place. Laura Dean’s brother Michael, who used to run the downstairs restaurant even made me manager of the restaurant for a time. It was a big responsibility for a kid my age to order liquor and food for a nightclub of that size, but I rose to the challenge and even thought that one day I would like to have my own restaurant. That changed however, when I started playing upstairs with my band Voodoo Shoes.

After those gigs, I knew for certain that all I wanted to do was perform.

Max’s was a very unique place in New York in that you could go there any night of the week, no matter who was playing and sit and dish with someone you knew. I never felt awkward going to Max’s alone and used to divide my time between Max’s and CBGB’s on any given night. My allegiance

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was always to Max’s however, not only because they employed me, but because I thought it was the better, and cleaner place to be. CBGB’s was literally a shithole. There was always dog shit in the club and the bathrooms were the absolute filthiest places I’d ever seen. I never felt at ease there. I always felt as if a big rat was going to come around and bite me in the ankle..not so at Max’s. Max’s had the same sort of feeling as the neighborhood local does in London, that pub feeling where everyone knows everyone else...yet you got to see some of the most fabulous bands there. Tommy and Laura used to put out a buffet for the bands during Happy Hour, when the bands would come in for soundcheck. Situated where I was in the downstairs restaurant, I always got to meet them all which was very very cool.

MBW: Ahaha ... Yaa !!! .... CBGB’z smelt like puke ... alwaze ... I have interviewed you before, Donna ...

So I don’t really feel like repeating myself otherwise I would simply re-run our previous chat ... I will leave that up to you if you want to get into your background and whatever else you wish ... But bringing us up to date I must congratulate you and rave on about your latest single ... along with the most awesome video I have seen in a dog’s age ...that you have recently released with the brilliant Steven Jones entitled Strange Magic ... What’s the scoop, Doll ???

DD: Well Marlowe, seems I do my best work in hotel rooms! Haha! I know that sounds bad, however, “Strange Magic” was written in a hotel room and so was one of my best “Time Doesn’t Wait.” That one is on my London EP. Seriously though, Steven had a basic track/idea going for Strange Magic and we got together on his last trip here and fleshed it out in his hotel room. It really did come together magically.

I just felt the background vocals immediately and I feel that they compliment Steven’s lead. Then, Steven went back to the UK and called and said get some footage done for the video. I thought immediately that I should go with an Egyptian motif because I’ve always loved that and I thought it would be fitting for the theme

of the song. Steven told me that Dennis Murphy, the creative genius behind all of our videos, was thinking along the same lines! Truly it was magical.

I love that the video is an homage to the Kenneth Anger film “ Lucifer Rising” and I love that Dennis used the Marianne Faithful scenes.

MBW: That is thoroughly interesting ... Magic and Egypt together ... Love it ... Tell us about yourself, Donna ... Are there any particular steps you would take in a heartbeat were they readily there at your disposal ???

DD: Well Marlowe, I would move to a penthouse apartment in Manhattan in a heartbeat...preferably something overlooking the East River. I would also love to be in a Scorsese film before I get old enough to be Di Caprio’s grandmother. I’d settle for the mother role at this point. So let’s ring Scorsese up and tell him I’m ready. You know DeNiro is already in my Strangelove Video...I hope he’s thankful. Haha MBW: I love and admire your mystical aura ... You exude a magical spirituality ... Your generosity and level headedness is very refreshing in these dog eat dog days ... Do you have any words of wisdom and advice for our readers both young and old ???

DD: I’d like to think I’m spiritual as well as level headed, yes Marlowe. I feel deeply for young

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people today because they really do have it harder than we did in many ways. I remember after Max’s closed, I was gigging in clubs, and not making very much money. I needed a job to pay the rent so I picked up the Village Voice, circled a couple of jobs and got a bar tending job...that same day. Young people today don’t have it so easy. My own son had to camp out on the street for a week just to get an application for the Iron Workers Union. It was crazy! Poor kid slept on a beach chair and looked like Tom Hanks in Castaway when the week was over. Finally after two years of waiting to be called by that union, he moved to the coast to pursue other avenues. Nonetheless, I always told my son and I would tell other young people to believe in themselves and to believe in magic because it does exist in our world. Above all, I would tell them to never get jaded about life or love, no matter how you get burned and to learn to forgive and forget.

Still, that doesn’t mean one should be comfortable with being taken advantage of. My motto is “Do no harm but take no shit” I don’t know who said it, but it’s good advice.

MBW: What is your most comfortable style of music to record ???

DD: I love to record any type of music. I love to sing as you know. I’m comfortable singing dance music,

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straight ahead rock and roll, jazz standards...anything. I love the recording studio. For me it’s always a magical experience.

MBW: After all the years of change in Rock and Roll and whatever you call the music of today, can you find a happy medium ... I mean ... What do you enjoy listening to ???

DD: Ah, I fall down rabbit holes Marlowe. Some days I’ll listen to everything 80’s and some days I’ll go down the British Invasion rabbit hole. I listen to 90’s alternative, Soul, Motown, Classical. There’s always a genre that suits the mood you’re in. I love all kinds of music. I think I have a really crazy and eclectic iPod. It’s fabulous. I consider it one of my prized possessions that I simply cannot do without.

MBW: Are there any other facets ... beyond music ... that occupy your interest and energy ???

DD: Well you know Marlowe, I have a Masters Degree in Literature so I teach English and a mixed chorus class which I really love. I have some really good singers in that class that sing gospel in church and when they’re on...wow these kids can blow the roof off the house! I’m very interested in art and art history and take frequent jaunts to the museums.

I adore MOMA but I live for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Frick Museum is frickin’ awe-

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some as well. Like you, I love fashion and of course NY Fashion week is always a gas. I love going to the theater, to the movies, to the Opera. Don’t we live in the most fabulous city on the planet !

MBW: There is no argument about it !!! ... How about entertaining me and our readers with a great Manhattan memory ???

DD: I have so many! First off, I always love showing the city to people who have never been here; being their tour guide is like seeing the city myself for the first time. Years ago when I did New Wave Vaudeville, (my first real acting gig in NY) a show that starred Klaus Nomi, Man Parrish, Paul Zone and others, and was directed by Ann Magnuson, we decided to promote the show by riding in an open car around the East Village.

Well it turned out that a sniper was following us and taking shots. It was crazy scary! Another more pleasant memory was meeting John Lennon and Harry Niilson outside of the 82 club one early morning and they sat with us (me, Jimmy Destri, Paul and Miki Zone and my friend Dorothy) for a bit as we ate bread from a bakery that had just opened. One of my favorite NY memories however, was going with Cherry Vanilla to visit Vangelis at the Parker Meridian. He had a wall of keyboards set up in his hotel suite and he let me play...I started playing a jingle that Cherry and I had written and had tried to submit to the New York State Lottery Association.

Vangelis walked into his bedroom for a bit and then came out and starting humming my tune and nodding his head with this big fat Greek smile that was really infectious. I thought to myself, man this dude wrote Chariots of Fire and he’s humming my tune and smiling....it was really sublime let me tell you! Then of course there was a late night cab ride with Iggy. He started talking in a monotone, saying to me: “Last Night I was down in the lab talking to

Dracula and his crew, what do you think? “ I just nodded my head thinking he was a bit tipsy and talking gibberish. Later, I realized these were the words to the song “Funtime” which would come out much later. Haha. It’s hotel rooms for some of us, taxi’s for others.

MBW: Is there anything you miss from ‘the days’ ???

DD: More than anything Marlowe, I miss all the friends I’ve lost.

MBW: It is great to see all of these memoirs and foto books from our past suddenly emerging such as Chris Stein’s Debbie Harry Photographs, Paul Zone’s fun book entitled Playground, Lee Childer’s Collection, Phyllis Stein’s awesome Johnny Thunders Film etc etc. Don’t you think you could write a book ???

DD: I love that so many of my friends have written books. I just wish that they all would make more money doing it! Paul’s book is lovely and heartfelt and he speaks of me so fondly in it. I was really touched when I read it. I love seeing those early pics of Debbie...truly the most beautiful creature to come out of that scene.

Cherry Vanilla’s “Lick Me” was so so entertaining as was Angie Bowie’s “Lipstick Legends” and “Pop Sex.” Some people have asked me if I would ever write a book. Though I have stories to tell for sure, I just don’t have the desire to do it. Perhaps that will change. Who knows? Maybe a work of fiction... I like to remain open to possibilities.

MBW: Do you think there is a lot lacking today ???

DD: There is one thing lacking for sure and that is class. I seems that young men don’t know how to let a lady step off an elevator first... people hold doors less and less. Common decency, manners, and Chivalry seem to be sorely lacking in our culture today.

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never fail to make my pulse quicken or to take my breath away.

MBW: and food ... Where do you recommend for a great place to eat out in New York City ???

MBW: I always enjoy asking my guests what is their dream day and night in Manhattan ???

DD: I love the Indian restaurants on East Sixth Street, Taj in particular. I used to love the Ukranian places in the East Village but they seem to be disappearing. Of course there are many great Italian places...though Little Italy is only a block long now it seems, being severely encroached by China Town.

My goodness Marlowe!! There are just too many restaurants to mention! My favorite dessert spot is still Veniero’s though. I recently took Steven there and he had a cannoli for the first time in his life! Can you believe it?

DD: The last time I was at the Museum of Modern Art, I was sitting in the Egyptian wing surrounded by those massive statues and thinking to myself that this would be the most wonderful way to spend old age...to sit in the museum, go have a bite of lunch, walk along the park, window shop. I love to walk around the city and just people watch. It’s so entertaining. A great night in Manhattan always involves music...whether watching a band at the Bowery Electric, seeing a Jazz combo at Iridium or Dizzy’s, dancing on the roof of the Standard, or Opera at

MBW: ... No cannoli’s jn London ??? ... Horrors !!! ....

How about pizza ??? ... Remember ... if you will for us ... your favorite performance on stage ... Where and when ???

the Met, I always love to hear the music of the night. Still even if there’s nothing happening in the city on any given night, it’s always a pleasure to just stroll past Lincoln Center or some other fabulous place. I just never tire of the city. My love affair with Manhattan started when I was very very young. No matter where I go in the world, to come back and see those city lights, to see the Chrysler building at night...it’s always exhiliriating. The lights of the city

MBW: Is there something you would like to cast light on coming up in the near future ???

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DD: I did a play in Berlin and every night after the performance we did a concert with the backing band. I did a rendition of Peggy Lee’s Fever that always went over very well there. I was always very warmly received in the shows I did at Max’s, and the Diva shows at the Ritz and Limelight. I recently got a message on FB from someone who said he remembered one night at the Ritz when I sang “White Rabbit”. He said it was about the best live performance he had ever seen and has remembered it all these years. That was very touching to hear.

However, my personal favorite performance was my one woman show “Diary of a Bad Housewife.”

That was a fun dialogue interspersed with songs brilliantly played by Marc Shaman at the Horn of Plenty. I remember Cissy Houston (Whitney’s aunt) telling me how much she enjoyed it. My brother always tells me I should revive it. Perhaps I will.

DD: Yes I’m glad you asked that Marlowe. We have the CD and possibly a vinyl pressing of Strange Magic coming in October. That will be just in time for Logan Sky ( he did a fabulous remix of the track) to present the CD’s at the Blitz reunion gig in London on October 11th. Our single “Three Kisses Before Dying” produced by Fabio Bonelli, is coming

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out soon on Cozzin Music and I’m very pleased about that one. It’s my homage to all things Bond and was originally supposed to be on my London EP...a collection of songs that evoke the moodiness and romance of a rainy London winter. The songs on London are some of my best work to date, I think.

MBW: ... and ... my favorite question ... If I could grant you three wishes ... what would they be ???

DD: Haha...besides asking for three more, I would ask for Love, Health, Happiness and of course Magic for me and for everyone I love...that includes you too doll!

MBW: I love you too ... Dearly, Donna Destri !!! ... :

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Crosby Stills and Nash pictorial by Sheri Bayne

Crosby Stills & Nash - Pictorial

by Sheri Bayne

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Interview with Steve Lukather by Alexxis Steele

Interview with

Steve Lukather

by Alexxis Steele photos by Sheri Bayne

Guitarist for

TOTO On Thursday, September 4th, 2014, I had the opportunity to sit on the stage of the Keswick Theatre, in Glenside, PA for a candid interview with the very charming Steve Lukather, guitarist for Toto, prior to their 8 pm show that night. This was Toto’s 35th Anniversary

tour as Steve explained, and he was amazed at how quickly the past year went by, and how he was looking forward to the show, and grateful as well.

Alexxis: So Steve how long is your tour running for?

Steve: Actually 4 more days, then we are going home to finish mixing our new studio record, which will be out in March, then we will start our world tour in May. In that interim period I am doing a bunch of other stuff too.

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AS: What is the name of your new album?

SL: Right now it’s the number 14 in Roman numerals., you know it’s sort of a good luck charm for us, Roman numerals have been very lucky for us. So right now that’s what it is but you never know, it could change. We will have some kind of unique sword motif. All the records that have the sword on them sold multiplatinum. I don’t know if it’s even possible anymore, unless you’re like some weird freak of nature where everybody in the world buys your record, because it’s tough out there. It takes me out on the road most of my life. It’s a good thing I like the work, otherwise I’d be screwed!

AS: So now besides Toto, you have done a lot of other things over the years with several different artists in different genres of music, starting with Michael Jackson, and you were on several of his albums, right?

SL: Yeah, I did a lot – I did The Thriller album, I did History, other bits and pieces here and there, and I did some of the lost records, that are out there too and some of it hasn’t been released yet. It’s kind of weird how they bring these guys in posthumously and erase all the people that were on it when Michael was around, and put new people on it, to not great success so far. You wonder if Michael would have dug it or not but I guess we will never know. It’s a shame because he was my age when we were kids doing the Thriller record. When he went it kinda hit a little bit, even though we weren’t super close friends, we had a nice working relationship. I never saw anything weird, he was always a gentleman and a pro around me.

You hear the stories, but I don’t know, you hear stories about everybody…

AS: So, you have been working with a lot of other artists too?

SL: Yeah I have had an amazing year! I started out doing the Beatles 50th Anniversary with Ringo and Paul , and all the other artists on the tv show, and I have been in Ringo’s band going on the last 3 years now, which has been an awesome experience.

AS: Yes I saw that Todd Rundgren was also in it.

SL: Yes, Todd’s on the gig, Richard Page from Mister Mister, Greg Rolie from Santana and Journey, Gregg Bissonette, Mark Rivera, Walter Ham, even Joe Walsh comes and sits in. All my childhood heroes and friends. It’s been a kick, it’s really been a lot of fun. The years just rip by. I am going out again with them in October. It’s funny cause I woke up this morning to a text from him, he left me a message, it’s really sweet.

I still kind of pinch myself because he has been a good friend of mine. You get past the whole Beatle thing, which is hard because that ‘s the whole reason I play music, but you know, he is the sweetest, most generous kind, funny, he’s like the guy from Hard Days Night, but it’s years later. And he’s 74 years old but he looks like he is 40. I mean I have no fear of getting old if I can be like him because he is 74, but not old, you can be old at 25. We all know people who hit the fuck it button early on and grew old mentally, not physically, but he looks really great, he is on the treadmill 2 hours a day, eats rabbit food. I mean we all had our crazy misspent youth. His was pretty whacky according to him, and here we are older people enjoying life on a different level with a clear head you know. If I had one regret in life it is probably dancing with the

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devil, and the drug thing and too much booze. I don’t drink or smoke or do any drugs anymore and I’m better for it.

AS: That’s awesome!

Steve, Joe Walch, Todd Rundgren

SL: But you know, we had some fun. I’d be lying to you if we didn’t, otherwise, why would we be doing it in the first place, that’s a young man’s game, but now the drugs are shitty and why do that, and hurt yourself, I like to feel good every day that’s my buzz, and it’s giving me so much more energy, and my music, and my life and all 4 of my kids, I have 2 generations of kids, and I think I appreciate them and I love them all . AS: Being on the road is tough because it takes time away from your family…

SL: The only saving grace is now with my younger kids that I didn’t have with my older kids is Skype, so it’s like Daddy TV at night. I ‘m great friends with all of my exes, so I am fortunate and of course we had our issues at one point, but everybody is cool. I love everybody. I remember when we played in LA everybody was there and I only remember the good shit you know you have to let go of the resentment bull shit or it will just kill you and they have and I have so it’s really nice to have life-long friendships especially when you have those children. Anybody that has my kids is okay with me.

AS: Just like Marie Currie, She made the beautiful Mosaic Guitars, one of which I have.

SL: She did and I am really proud of her. I am happy to help her out in any way I can.

AS: And you sign them for her…

SL: She makes great stuff – she has always been artistic, even when we were kids. I’m glad to see her get something with a little buzz going on it. It’s really unique and the guitar motif. She asked if I would sign a couple, and I said to bring them over, I was happy to sign them for her and happy to support and help her out. It seems to make her very happy and she can work at her own pace at home and stuff.

AS: I love Marie, she is amazingly talented. It’s unbelievable! She did one for your daughter’s birthday.

SL: Yes she did one for my youngest daughter’s birthday. Lilly, who is turning 7. She saw one when Marie came over to the house and my little star goes “that’s just so beautiful. I’d really like to have one.” And I asked what she wanted for her birthday and she said she wanted one of those guitars that Marie makes.

AS: Yes I saw it in Pink & Purple SL: So she got that. That is all she wanted except a trip to Disneyland. My younger daughter is very artistic, so she is drawn to that stuff. I said to her, “You know Marie made these,” and she said “wow! really?” So she was attract-

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Steve, Sheri Bayne, Alexxis

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ed to that, which is kinda neat. I’m great friends with latest ex-wife, it sounds so awful to say this, it sounds like I’m a loser!

AS: Hey, it happens!

SL: This life that I lead, I’m never home. I spent 225 days on the road last year, 180 something this year, and next year’s gonna be insane! From January until December I’m booked up with 3 different tours.

AS: It’s hard to maintain a relationship when you are always on the road.

SL: Tell me about it. So my relationship is my kids and my career, and I take care of a lot of people.

AS: Those are the loves of your life!

SL: Yes at this point, I’m too old to stay up late chasing after girls in bars, it’s not really my thing anymore, I did all that in my misspent youth!

Signing Mosaic Guitars for Marie Currie

AS: Hahaha Yea, right!

SL: If I wasn’t married I would be doing exactly what you would expect me to do.

AS: Living the Rock N Roll Life!

SL: They tell me I had a great time!

AS: But you don’t remember!

SL: Some of it, but it’s really quite embarrassing, when people say, do you remember that and I don’t remember a thing. It’s funny when I watch Ringo or Joe Walsh and they say hey do you remember that? Joe’s like “No man”, and Ringo says, “I don’t remember a bloody thing!” So I don’t feel bad that I’m not the only one. I mean it’s not like I don’t remember any of it, and there are some things that I would like to forget.

I have a few regrets along the line. If I ever hurt anybody I am really sorry about that. But sometimes it happens and you have to let go of that. I have, but some people can’t.

AS: Exactly SL: And life goes on…

AS: Well thats’ all you can do.

SL: I’m happy and healthy, more relaxed than probably ever in my life.

AS: Well that’s a good thing!

SL: And that’s okay to be getting older. The career is busier than ever, I feel good that nobody is mad at me, so it’s okay.

Steve with TOTO

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AS: Right, exactly! So tell me about your solo work SL: Well I have tons of that. The last record is a couple of years old now, it’s called “Transitions” It was sorta like my whole transition from my old life, and my marriage falling apart. A new son came into the picture as it was falling apart. It was a wonderful weird time, and sad time. So I was transitioning into dealing with my life with a clear head, which I started about 5 years ago, picking myself out of the ashes, I wrote an album about it, and we toured it all over the world, and it was very successful and fun but hard work because it is a different level of touring. There’s that level of touring, and then there’s Ringo with his Private Jets and all that stuff which is really nice.

AS: Yeah Right!

The album “Transitions”

SL: And we are like right in the middle, we travel well and stay in nice places, but we are on a bus and working a lot. Instead of a day off we are doing a gig at theatre in Philly, because we would do a tour with Michael McDonald in sheds and theatres, and that’s been really a lot of fun. So I just keep busy, I’m doing a tour, more with Ringo next year, then a lot with Toto, then I’m going to Japan with an all-star band with Larry Carlton, who is a jazz guitar player, studio guy, and we won a grammy 12 years ago. So we haven’t worked since then, so we’re gonna do a little thing, and do a DVD of the all-star band, so I’m just boom, boom, boom you know and fortunately I love doing it and the diversity is great and I have another solo record to do in a couple of years, after the Toto thing winds down a bit.

That will lead us up into like the 40th Anniversary now? My god it’s terrifying to think that we have been doing it this long!

AS: Hahahahah. Yup it is! ..Is that Patchouli you are wearing?

SL: Yes it is…

AS: You don’t smell it that often anymore.

SL: Well I’m an old hippie, what can I tell you...

AS: That’s from back in our teenage years.

SL: Well actually it is Tunisian Patchouli, it has a different smell.

AS: It smells very nice.

“There’s that level of touring, and then there’s Ringo with his Private Jets and all that stuff which is really nice.”

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SL: Well thank you, that scent has been very good to me over the years!

AS: Hahaahha, there ya go!!!! So after you’re going to be doing all of this, is there going to be a time when you are going to say…Wait let me back this up a bit… Would you ever have thought you would still be doing this now, and Toto to still be together for so many years, when so many bands fall apart?

SL: Well, we are the only band that still has the original members coming back. These last - almost 5 years - Toto was kind of fading away for a while there, and a version of it I was the last man standing almost.

There were great replacement guys, famous studio guys and great well-known musicians, but it wasn’t the band, the high school brothers that started the first 4 or 5 albums. And Mike Porcaro our brother, got ALS and that was a motivation to get back together to kind of help him with the expenses of all of that, and you know when a brother is down like that he is the bass player in the band, and he did write a lot of the songs, and the internet is stealing our business, so royalties have really faded away from the old days, but for some reason even though the records still sell, we seem to be making less and less every year. It’s funny how that works. So it makes us stay out on the road. So we went out and did a tour in 2010 with as many of the original guys that we could get back together that were worthy of touring and healthy and still friends. Our original bass player David Hungate just came back, so there is Steve Porcaro, David Paich, Joseph Williams and myself, my childhood friends. So, one tour turned into so much fun and was so successful, so we said you wanna do this again next summer, and it was like yeah man. So we help Mikey and we help ourselves. Most of us have had a couple of divorces, and a couple of kids. It’s an expensive life. We love what we are doing and having a blast. We are just a bunch of middle aged teenagers who never had to really grow up, because we never had to have a real job. When I say a real job I mean something that you hate doing, you’re sitting in traffic driving until the pension comes.

Steve with TOTO

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AS: Like a 9 to 5.

SL: I mean getting back to: did I ever think I would still be doing it.

I knew I would still be playing but I didn’t think that I would be busier than I was 20 years ago, but I am. I just called to do more stuff for these other “All Star Bands” and it’s the diversity that keeps it fresh. Now I suppose if I was playing the same 11 songs that I played in a bar where the Steve with Ringo’s All Starr Band career was fading away then I would be shooting heroin or drinking myself to death, and that’s not the life that I wanted to lead. Being creative, and being with the people that I love, and being successful and making money. The only thing negative I would say is the fact that I missed a lot of my children growing up. My father was gone a lot and I love my dad. He would go away on the road for months at a time and that was at a time when there were no cell phones, or no way to contact him. It was like $100 a minute to make a call from anywhere he was making movies behind the cameras.

AS: Steve, is there anyone that you have not performed with before that you would like to perform with now?

SL: I’d love to work with Peter Gabriel. I know him-we have met several times when I was at the show in L.A., he is really sweet. We have many mutual friends. I love Peter Gabriel, Genesis and Phil, and all those guys. I was an old Prog Rocker back in school. There’s very few guys. I played with the Steely Dan guys but never played a solo on one of their records, and I always wanted to do that, but that probably won’t happen. I played with 3 out of the 4 Beatles. That was really surreal, being that’s why I started playing and now Ringo is my pal, and it’s like “hey Paul, how’s it going?” and it’s like “hey Luke what’s up?”! It’s kind of a weird thing to realize that actually the dream came true, I’m still living and I think I appreciate it more than I ever have.in my whole life and I am very thankful to have these opportunities. Maybe that’s why I work all the time. I don’t want to not do something for fear of missing it. Maybe there were days that I slept all day long when I could have been doing something more important but I was all fucked up, you know what I mean, those wasted days I wish I could take back, and view the mistakes that went with that but shit happens man and makes you who you are today right? I learned from it, so I am a better person rather than a worse person. I have no bitterness. I have no hate in my heart. Sometimes I shake my head and go oh fuck I wish I didn’t do that, and you gotta laugh about it. You know if you could go back and talk to your younger self, what would you say? I’m sure we all have those. But ask me if I’m groovin shit yeah!

AS: On that note I had to let Steve go to get ready for the show, I thanked him for the interview and he thanked me for my time. When it was time for the show and I sat down in my seat, I was pleasantly surprised to see Eric Bazilian of The Hooters and his wife Sara sitting next to me, who were also guests of Steve at the show. This was the first time I had seen Toto live, and they did not disappoint! Steve was the focal point of the band with amazing vocals, stellar guitar playing, and was the showman of the band, telling, stories, jokes, and making everyone laugh. Joe Williams was spot on with his vocals as was the rest of the band. The room of the Keswick Theatre in Glenside PA, was filled with audience sing-alongs to Toto classic favorites such as Africa, Rosanna, and Hold The Line. The culmination of the evening was the VIP meet and greet, and photo op with the band after the show, which they so graciously provided! It was a great evening, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would highly recommended to any fan who has never seen them live!

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When it was time for the show and I sat down in my seat, I was pleasantly surprised to see Eric Bazilian of The Hooters and his wife Sara sitting next to me, who were also guests of Steve at the show.

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Review Section

EP Review - Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz by Michael McKenna

Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz “The Sunset Sessions” Vol 2 - Review by Michael “Jacobs” McKenna

T

his ambitious Philly native manifests her talent in certain ways that allows her to create eclectic music which will grab your heart and leave a lasting memory. Her strong point is her vocals that I describe as gritty, powerful and emotionally stirring. Her Roots/Folk/Americana background coupled with that unique individualty that she possesses allows her to be a presence that steps into many genres and gives her the tools to crossover to different music formats.

She loves to record in many diverse locations such as a church, her living room, live gigs and in a studio all with live audiences. Her credits include 6 studio LP’s, 4 EP’s, many awards and over 12 years of touring as a solo act and with her band.

“The Sunset Sessions – Vol 2” recorded at Morning Star Studios in front of a live audience with her current band, Gypsy Fuzz, is a masterful piece of work that exudes energy, feeling, passion and precision. “Fortune Teller”is an uptempo tune that could cross into many different formats especially country.

Powerful vox and acoustics! “Sing” is an awesome number that takes one thru changes and incorporates a cool hook that captured my ear. “Hail” features stunning lyrics and energy that hits one upside the head. “Waiting” features Gretchen Schultz adding piercing harmonies to Christine’s vox. Great audience participation! “She’s Blessed” is way cool that way she just came out with this spontaneous ad lib. :

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Review Section CD Review - The Dana Gaynor Band “Laughing at Armageddon by Michael McKenna

The Dana Gaynor Band “Laughing at Armegeddon “Review by Michael “Jacobs” McKenna

It

is a very rare event when an artist comes along that defies description! Dana Gaynor fits that bill. If I could use one word, it would be exceptional!

This multi-talented musician is an undisputed master at her trade and it shows in the way she projects creativity in her music. With accolades that could fill multiple pages, the renowned artists she has played with and the respect she has garnered internationally, Dana’s reputation as an elite guitarist is very much in evidence on this 17 track effort.

Her musical influences include roots in a variety of musical genres which include fusion, blues, rock, funk, jazz and yes psychedelic and are in evidence on this CD. “When You Run With the Devil” rides a catchy rhythm that grabs you by the ears with its retro guitar licks.

“Big Buddy” is a cool instrumental jam that I could listen to all day! “Storms a Comin” pounds you into submission from the door with Frankie Z’s percussion. “When Worlds Collide” exposes the fusion and 60’s influences of the band. “Riverside” is an uptempo smoker with a bit of an old-timey rockabilly feeling to it.

“The Philly Stroke” injects some funky blues that Tony Mancino’s bottom enhances nicely. “I Remember John” showcases Dana’s manipulation of those frets with such grace and inner feeling. I would listen to this to send me to another place. “Big Baboon” reminds me a lot of those 70’s rockers with the composition and lyrical subject matter that sounds a lot like they’re having fun with this number. “It’s Alright Now” could invade today’s CHR/pop formats with a bullet and light up the request lines! “I’m Ready for You” has that dynamic retro feeling that the keys magnify nicely and fits in totally with what’s happening today.

“Remington Angel” is magnificent in its simplicity. “I Want To Mutate With You” is a mid-tempo number that features powerful vox that the younger set would latch onto from the door. Awesome! “Lighten Up McGraw” has an alternative sound that is infused with early underground undertones. “Hook It Up” is just “out of the box’ cool! “What’s It To Ya” is a toe-tapping fun song that has some tight country-rock overtones. “The Dakotas” takes one back to the day when music was real and had meaning. “Laughing At Armageddon” shows me how much fun they had making this CD. Nice Outro!

“Laughing At Armageddon” is a masterful compilation of sound that covers many genres and would satisfy any listener’s musical tastes. It is refreshing to hear the creativity these talented musicians performed with classy, flawless style. I give this CD a MUST LISTEN and 2 THUMBS UP! :

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Review Section

CD Review “Playground“ by Michael McKenna

PLAYGROUND” CD by Dave Fry Review by Michael McKenna

D

ave Fry likes to describe himself as a down to earth folksinger, arts educator, entrepreneur and a good-time rascal. As the owner of Godfrey Daniel’s, he has promoted and encouraged creativity at the grass roots level for most of his adult life. He is one of the most humble people I have ever met and actually shuns the spotlight and would rather share his many talents to make people happy. His love of music in all forms has endeared him to many songwriters, composers and lyricists and yes, children. His love for the little ones ignites his creative juices and manifests itself into music that leaves lasting impressions that the children remember. When he performs, it’s like he is singing directly to you and that eye contact he makes certifies that feeling.

His 16 track children’s CD “Playground” features quite a lot of spontaneous musical instrumentation from his ‘bag of instruments’ that he carries with him to all his gigs so that all participants can play along with him and enjoy, learn and have a part in this creative process. The CD features veteran musicians Kevin Soffera on percussion, Kjell Benner on bottom, Doug Hawk tapping keys, Ansel Barnum on the mouth organ, Reid Tre with the electric guitar, Joe Mixon’s beat on the steel drums, big band leader Rob Stoneback’s trombone and backing vocals by Wendi Bourne, Robbi Kumalo, Rosalie Fry and Jordan Soffera.

The title track “Playground” gives us to the sounds of the playground on a nice summer day. “Jimalong Joe” is influenced by Dave’s Americana background and is a toe-tapper. “Finger in the Air” is a classic participation number that has the kids reacting to the lyrics. “Skip to My Lou” is a timeless classic. “Three Slow Snails” is a take on the old classic “Three Blind Mice”. ”Friends of Mine” is a cool up-tempo number that should have the kids dancing. “Giants” tells a descriptive story that would do well as a cartoon soundtrack. Rob Stoneback’s trombone adds a nice retro touch. “The Gnu Song” gives me visions of 50 kids sitting in a circle listening intently. “The Baby Shark” describes a family, like the 3 bears, a surfer, and the consequences of a shark attack. “Rosalie, Where Are You Going” is another happy participation number that features the voices of children. “Jelly in the Dish” describes foods and the moves they make and their place in the kitchen.

“Jump Rope Mashup”is a spoken word number that emulates what kids say on the playground as they are jumping rope. “Figure It Out” is a nice educational ditty that instructs children on how to use their thinking processes. “All Around the Kitchen” is an upbeat tune that is like a ‘Simon Says’ teaching dance moves to the kids, Reid’s riffs are hot. “The Tutti Tah” is another ‘Simon Says’ tune with spoken word direction.

“Shoo That Fly” has a nice late 50’s to early 60’s doo wop feel to it, brings back memories of days gone by.

I have only one word to describe this CD, WOW! I would highly recommend that this be nominated for a Grammy both under Spoken Word and Children’s Music - it is that good and would give the competition a run for their money. My hat is off to the musicians who gave their time and talents to make this project a reality. I give this CD – 2 THUMBS UP! :

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steelnotesmagazine.com | October 2014

The Rew & Who Show

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Review Section CD Review - Sterling Kotch “Let It Slide” by Michael McKenna

Sterling Koch “Let It Slide” Review by Michael “Jacobs” McKenna Sterling Koch is a nationally recognized lap steel guitarist that has been described as a master by many of his peers. Sterling had the support of the legendary steel guitarist Calvin Cooke when first starting on steel guitar and now can claim internationally known steel guitarists Darick Campbell, Aubrey Ghent and Freddie Roulette as his close friends and mentors. His Chicago-style blues background and his undying love of the music has allowed him to create 4 superb CD’s with the latest being “Let It Slide”.

This 13 track effort features Sterling on the lap steel guitar, lead guitar and vocals, Gene Babula on bass, John Goba on percussions and guest musicians Larry Adam on keys and Jennifer Dierwechter on backing vox who collectively present tight, precise talent on each track.

“Shape I’m In - Intro” is a nice warm up teaser for the next track. “Shape I’m In” is a highly energetic blues rocker heavy on percussion and strings that kicks ass! Great party song! “Wrong Side of the Blues” defies description, it’s shit hot! Impeccable string work! “Mercury Blues” is a number I can hear some roots Delta-blues influence in it. “Blow My Mind” has a Stevie Ray rhythm that is infectious. The precision on the strings are way cool! “It Hurts Me Too” is an awesome get-down jam that makes one want to join the groove! The signature percussion and bottom give this a down-home feel.

“Too Sorry” is a nice retro sounding blues kicker. I can hear some Earl Hooker in here. “I Don’t Know Why” is a blues rocker heavy on snare and strings with nice bottom accompaniment. “Lonely Avenue” takes it down a few notches and makes one want to grab his lady and get close on the dance floor. “My Baby’s Hot” is a prime example one would hear on Maxwell ST in Chicago as part of their urban blues scene.

“I Wanna Be Your Driver” has a late 50’s sound that brings back memories of some of the greats in the biz. “I Only Want To Be With You” is a bit like old Memphis and the river blues that came out of that area.

“Working Man’s Blues” has a lot of southern influence and is a bad-ass rocker!

The blues have always been my first love and this CD just takes it over the top. This well mixed and produced effort combined with creative originality makes this a MUST LISTEN! I give this 2 THUMBS UP! : http://www.sterlingkoch.com

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steelnotesmagazine.com | October 2014

Review Section CD Review -Ultra Kings “Gun Metal” by Michael McKenna

The Ultra Kings ”Gun Metal Gray” CD Review by Michael McKenna

The Ultra Kings have been rippin’ up venues on the East Coast for the past 14 years on a regular basis, and have been across the lake performing in Belgium and the Netherlands. Combining primal rock & roll, rockabilly, surf, country, and blues from influences that include Brian Setzer of Stray Cats fame, Van Halen, The Blasters and Link Wray, they create a sound comparable to some of the established acts in the genre.

Members include Ricky Kuebler - guitars & lead vocals, Carl Ehst – tin cans & vocals and Zoots Szmigiel on upright bass & vocals who, together, project a sound that is unique and kicks royal ass!

Containing 13 tracks that will fill any club’s dance floor, this kick ass CD starts with “It’s Showtime” that’s upbeat rockabilly all the way. “Uncle Hank’s Skateboard Ranch” could have been one of the tracks on the old “Hee Haw” show with Buck Owens. “Gun Metal Gray”, the title track, has a nice retro sound that takes me back to my roots, love the guitar licks! “Dirty Little Girl” is a 60’s style rocker that Slim Jim Phantom would have enjoyed playing. ”American Highway Justice” has a Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs feel that’s so 60’s. “Super Stud Trucker” sounds like a tune that could have been part of the British Invasion. “Virgin Skin” could have been a hit in the late 50’s genre of rock that pervaded the radio waves. “Chain & Locket” is a nice simple jam that’s way cool. “59 Impala” elicits memories of Johnny Bond’s “Hot Rod Lincoln”.

“I Never Thought” has a bit of Johnny Horton in it. “Scarlet Letter” is very Johnny Cash like in its lyrics and composition. “Too Much Weekend” is a nice laid back ditty that sounds like a back alley Nashville jam from way back when. “Diesel Drinkin’ Daddy” could rival C.W. McCall’s (Bill Fries) “Convoy”.

If I had a bunch of friends over for a barn party with booze and Bar-B-Q, I would be rockin’ out to the CD. It’s barn burner music! I give this CD 2 Thumbs Up! :

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Review Section CD Review - Acoustic Kitty Project by Michael McKenna

Acoustic Kitty Project “Shine” CD Review by Michael McKenna AcousticKitty Project describes their originals as soulful acoustic tunes with heartfelt lyrics about love, loss, sweetness and sorrow intertwined with Roots rock, Americana music.

They take bits of the past and meld them together with today and create what can only be described as folk infused alternative country that grabs the listener and holds them like a vise!

This versatile band starts with J. Carter Lansing up front who handles every phase of the band, Bill Matlack Jr on skins, Dan DeChellis on keys and Mike Carr handling the lead and slide guitar and mandolin. Rebecca Altman backs the band on vox on some tracks.

Their CD “Shine” is an eclectic collection of tracks that all relate a heartfelt story.

“Smiles in G”marries an acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals together with lyrics that would make radio programmers jump, it has breakout potential! “One Thing”comes from the heart and tells a wonderful story. “Shine”was sung by Carter to his wife on their wedding day and is a track I consider very deep. “Full Disclosure” is a mid-tempo number that features Rebecca’s harmonious vocals.

“Paisley & Lace” is a strong ballad with some fantastic string accompaniment.

“Porn Star Moustache” is way cool, love the storyline! “So Long” has a nice retro sound to it from days gone by. “No One Rides For Free”opens with 70’s style acoustics and effects that seques nicely into a Texas-style mid-tempo country rocker that stimulates the imagination.“Stainless Steel Heart” is Opry material!

I would play this on the air! “That Girl” is one of those tunes that was country before country was cool.“Eden” is nice picking jam with tight harmonies and Carter’s baritone vocals that come together nicely. This is a well produced effort that I recommend that one should give a listen. Well Done!:

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steelnotesmagazine.com | October 2014

Book Review -”The Stranglers - Song by song” by Krista Cameron

Review Section

The Stranglers - Song By Song

Book BY Hugh Cornwell and Jim Drury, reviewed by Krista Cameron “Whatever happened to Helen Shapiro, became a Nero, and watched (her) Rome burn...”

As Far as this book is concerned, Hugh Cornwell will never reunite with the Stranglers. Fortunately he shares with us the dirt on 155 Stranglers songs written before he left the group in 1990. Starting with the prolific “Rattus Norvegicus” first album to number ten, appropriately called “Ten”, the last album Hugh would record with the Stranglers lineup.

For Stranglers devotees and punk fans alike, this is your road map to every song’s meaning, inspiration, proclamation, devotion, as well as the different obsessions and phases the band went through and on which the band based songs and albums alike.

For the first time we hear the truth, as it’s said, song by song, album by album.

We see and hear musical mischief and all, through the eyes and ears of the ringleader. Starting on the authors note page, Cornwell spends time reflecting on heroin and eventually, time incarcerated. He is described as a smart, subtle, well-mannered chap. It’s speculated that this stroke of bad luck and time incarcerated inspired Cornwell’s lust for life and quiet gratitude.

The Stranglers are a very versatile band, covering numerous genres and styles, the band being even moreso colorful during Cornwell’s residency. Double meanings, plays on words, inside dirty jokes, women, drugs, heartbreak, sex, the future, aliens, and occultism are just some of the topics covered in the 155 song catalogue written over Cornwell’s sixteen years with the band. At the end of the book, a special section is dedicated to the B sides and rarities, even more obscure and insightful.

I refuse to spoil the book or give any obvious hints, it’s a must read if you like the band, punk, punk history or just want to know, ‘what is that song about?’ The book is a true deconstruction of every song touched upon. :

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Review Section Movie Review “Lincoln” Reviewed by Jerrry Saravia at the Movies

Lincoln (2012)- the Movie

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia at the Movies here are profound moments in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” that make the hairs in the back of your neck stand on end, that demonstrate an insatiable need to correct an unethical dilemma. These moments happen so frequently that they illustrate, perhaps for the first time in a long while in cinema, the significance of Congress and the House of Representatives and their roles in changing history. If the film had simply been about the House debates and decisions with regards to slavery, it would be simply remarkable. The fact that it also illustrates President Abraham Lincoln’s own categorical persuasiveness and depth of understanding about slavery makes it masterful.

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In the opening moments of “Lincoln,” the Civil War is being fought with the soldiers drenched in rain and muddy waters, echoing Orson Welles’ own “Chimes at Midnight” that showed the rough and clumsy nature of war. President Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) is first seen talking to the troops, listening to their half-remembered memories of the President’s Gettysburg Address. The black soldiers are hoping for equality and respect in fighting the war, and Lincoln talks to them with humorous asides about his barber.

What is especially wonderful about these opening scenes is that it shows Lincoln’s human side and his penchant for telling jokes and stories from the past - he is not simply a stoic statue that we look up to in wonder. As the film progresses, we see a Lincoln arguing with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln (a fierce and unrelenting Sally Field that we haven’t seen since “Norma Rae”), over the heartbreak over their young son’s death and the issue of their eldest son’s wish to fight in the war. Abe Lincoln even threatens to throw Mary back in the madhouse if she expresses more grief, particularly over their eldest and his chances of survival in the brutal war.

The film truly delves into the efforts by Lincoln and his reluctant cabinet to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, a piece of legislation designed to end slavery. Varied opinions and points-of-view are expressed, notably by Lincoln’s own Secretary of State Seward (David Strathairn) who sees the end of war as the only way to end slavery. Most of Lincoln’s other rivals and constituents see the President as a dictator, a conqueror of questionable moral repute

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when it comes to his assertion that black people are equal to whites. How dare he? The sharp and acid-tongued Pennsylvania abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens (a force-of-nature performance by Tommy Lee Jones) has worked on this amendment all his life, and finds that equality under the law as opposed to equality without it merits hopeful unanimous votes.

Stevens’ rousing speech delivers in ways that only Spielberg and the thunderous score by John Williams can help amplify, to make the audience see the value of equality.

If that isn’t enough, we get more backroom intrigue with a quietly assured performance by Jackie Earle Haley as Alexander Stephens, the leader of the Confederate delegation who worries about the future of the South; James Spader, Tim Blake Nelson and John Hawkes as lobbyists who pressure opponents to the amendment to vote for it; Lt. Ulysses S... Grant (Jared Harris) who notices that Lincoln has aged at least a decade within a couple of years; Hal Holbrook as the Republican founder Preston Blair who opposes slavery and is weary of Radical Republicans; Gloria Reuben as former slave Elizabeth Keckley who was Mary Lincoln’s confidante and seamstress, and lastly Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln, Lincoln’s eldest son who insists on joining the war effort despite witnessing severed limbs carted away to a landfill.

“Lincoln” is not an expansive film biography of the 16th President - those have been done on TV and in the early days of Henry Fonda - but rather it focuses on the minutiae of passing a historic piece of legislation (based on a fraction of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, “Team of Rivals” the film focuses on the last four months of the President’s life). The film doesn’t shy away from the naysayers of this amendment (most memorable and most thrillingly alive opponent is Lee Pace as Fernando Wood, a Democratic Congressman in verbal duels with Thaddeus) and it doesn’t shy away from the emotional toll placed on the Great Emancipator. It shows the hardships involved with getting votes to right a moral wrong that festered in the United States for far too long.

Daniel Day-Lewis, pitch perfect in every regard, towers above all to delineate that political struggle.

Spielberg’s “Lincoln” is mandatory viewing - a sensational American classic :

steelnotesmagazine.com | October 2014

Review Section Movie Review “The Normal Heart” Reviewed by Jerrry Saravia at the Movies

The Normal Heart (2014) Reviewed by Jerry Saravia at the Movies n outpouring of rage defines “The Normal Heart,” a largely autobiographical film about the early 1980’s when the AIDS epidemic took the lives of many gays and the government and the White House maintained a laissez faire policy. When a group creates a crisis center and tries to break through the mainstream to address the issue of a “gay cancer,” “The Normal Heart” entails the slow progress of prevention and understanding of a deadly disease.

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The opening scenes of “The Normal Heart” are set in Fire Island, New York, as we witness a birthday party on that island with mostly gay men in attendance. Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo) is the reluctant gay partier, a writer, who may not feel comfortable in his own skin and is, perhaps, still conflicted about his sexual orientation and his sour relationship with his brother, a lawyer (Alfred Molina). When Ned reads a New York Times article about the “gay cancer,” he has his blood tested by polio-afflicted Dr. Brookner (Julia Roberts). Ned is in the clear but many of his friends are not - some drop dead on the streets and others start forming lesions on their bodies and their faces.

Ned helps form the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and becomes the angry spokesman on television, criticizing New York’s Mayor, the President of the U.S. and the government for not intervening or providing the help to cure and combat this deadly virus. His GMHC allies begin to turn on Ned who is not always speaking for the group. Nor does Dr. Brooker speak for GMHC when she first suggests at a group gathering early in the film that the men stop having sex since there is a possibility the virus can be sexually transmitted. Asking people to stop having sex is asking the impossible.

Directed with unabashed fury that matches Ned Weeks’ rage-fueled speeches, “The Normal Heart”

can take an emotional toll on the average viewer, and it should. Based on a 1985 play by writer Larry Kramer (Ned’s character is based on him), “The Normal Heart” never sentimentalizes AIDS or the gay characters - instead it provokes us with its rabble-rousing treatment of an epidemic that grew to astronomical proportions. The film also gives us ball-of-fire performances that fuel the rage. Mark Ruffalo has never given a bad performance and he provides the dynamic and emotional counterpoint to the film - the angry anchor who wants all gays to be on his side.

Taylor Kitsch, who had been written off by critics after appearing in “John Carter” and “Savages,” radiates a certain kind of charm in all the tumult as another gay man who loses his lover. One will not forget Jim Parsons as one of the GMHC allies who tries to calm everyone down (he keeps index cards of the names of all the gays who died); Joe Mantello as the tireless Mickey who has one fiery speech that moved me beyond tears; the gentle Matt Bomer as Felix, a New York Times reporter, who moves in with Ned and slowly becomes infected with HIV, and there is Julia Roberts who exudes a commanding authority as the good doctor who has seen too many men lose their lives.

“The Normal Heart” is a provocative, emotionally draining, wake-up-America-and-shake-your-ignorance drama and polemic that hits all the right notes, and strikes other chords that may drive some viewers up the wall with disgust or enlighten others (Alan Turing, the WWII gay mathematician who cracked the Nazi codes, the government using gays as guinea pigs, etc.)

The film is potent and highly-charged, burning the screen with four-letter words and seditious prose - it makes you gasp for air at the end. I doubt writer Larry Kramer would want it any other way. :

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America Live -Florida State Fair by Rhonda Jean VanBuskirk

‘America’ Live at the Florida State Fair 2014

by Rhonda Jean VanBuskirk

W

hile walking around enjoying this year’s fair, we saw a sign “America Live” and it was free admission.

So we were like “Oh hell yeah.” When we got into the auditorium, we found out it was bleacher seating only. The floor area was set up for the daily motor cross shows, which we had watched earlier, so we understood.

At 4 pm on the dot, band members: Dewey Bunnell (guitar and lead vocals), Gerry Beckley (guitar, keyboard and lead vocals), Willie Leacox (drums), Richard Campbell (bass and backup vocals), and Bell Worrell (guitar, banjo, keyboard and backup vocals). Little did we know, this would be one of Willie’s last shows before retiring on July 8, 2014.

We had forgotten just how many hits America had. Some of the set list included: “Horse with No Name”, “I Need You”, “Tin Man”, “Lonely People”, and “Sister Golden Hair.” The harmonies were flawless and suddenly it was the 70’s all over again. The audience stood up, clapped and sang along. When the audience is singing to their songs, it’s like music to the band’s ears, hence the reason the lead singer places his microphone out over the crowd, which means sing to us.

The guys put on a solid 2 hour show. Even though they (like the rest of us) have aged, they still look like they are having fun on stage, and music and vocals are great. They sounded like they did in the 70’s. The stage lighting and the sound were excellent as well.

If you ever get a chance to see them live do it, because America is still alive and rocking it!! :

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Alexxis: Bill, Is Halloween your favorite holiday?

Bill: Well not really xmas is still #1 but I have more fun with Halloween, you know the naughty one have to have the bad with the good lol! You are actually a general contractor, whose love for designing Halloween decorations back in 1990 blossomed into a fine art form? I was pretty limited on materials PVC wrapping it as I got into welding it expanded what I could do and when make structural frames got huge and big and went a different way, comes from the same ideas it became steel fine art I could have fire breathing.. Well when you need to make a 13 ft dragon you can’t make it out of plastic Alexxis: Tell me about your first creation- Frankie the fire breathing dragon Bill: My wife bought me a welder for xmas, so I had to go and just burn holes in my clothes and learn decided to build a dragon my dad was an artist so I have those kinda genes in me, it just kinda came to me then I was off to the races, so you have that talent in your family.. he was never famous but very good, I do art because I think its fun I really enjoy I am sitting here right now and it the sun has not even gone down there are 4 cars in front of my house and 10 people standing in my front yard Alexxis:Really ? Are they looking at

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your Halloween decorations right now?

Bill: Yes they are! Frankie is not black any more he is red with yellow now. He has been remodeled a bit.. getting back to why I love art so much. The important thing is I won awards best at show in galleries the number 1 thing on my wall one time I was welding when 2 little 3 or 4 year sold Chinese twins boys were standing with their grandma. I invited them over and they were having so much fun and they did not speak English came into my garage to see all of my swords got a letter from each one of these guys all handwritten Bejing saying about how much fun they had thanking me for letting them play with my dragons playing

with my swords, girls or guys come by for 2o years and now I am an art major or graphic designer and say because of you I am in school for graphic design.

When did your fine art dragon creation- zanthony come into play and what materials is he made of?

Bill: All stainless wing copper, some bronze eyes laphrodite stone all my eyes are mystical stone all stainless have stone- ackery black tamourline with white gold 300 a piece for ackery stone,, Really fancy they are acid washed and shiny, he is tack weld polished, after that I kinda morphed into different things, my creatures, I always build the heads first, then the bodies come because I don’t draw very well, I draw stick characters Alexxis: But your sculptures are amazing, so you are doing it from memory?

Bill: It just comes to meI can’t draw! like when I am doing anatomy I will take a look at my arm, which don’t have any muscles, and I work off of that, I just build up their arms..I took alot of anatomy in college and physical anatomy, so I understand the human body and how it looks , and fingers and how it works. I was a biological science minor That’s where I draw my information, A :Lot of these are just creatures, probably too many video games, too many horror movies!

Alexxis: What is the largest and

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heaviest of all your creations?

Bill: The biggest one of the stainless steel , the heaviest is the tax collector,, he is about 400 lbs.. The one with like the Gatlin gun on his arm.. they are actually Swarovski crystals I didn’t know that when I bought it, I just bought one to test it... Its like $70 for each one of the shells. I didn’t know that when I bought it, I just wanted to test it,,So I went back and said give me 15 of them, so it cost $690.00 I was like Aaah geez all for just a gun!

Alexxis: How many different dragon designs do you have?

Bill: Let me see,, I don’t know if the little one I just finished with the green eyes is in there , but I sell quite a bit which are 3 feet long , he’s got green eyes like snake eyes,, I go to a lapadary place here in town that has big and all various sizes of spears of rocks that have been polished, so I go in there and shop for my eyeballs. That’s where I get the eyes from, but sometimes I get the eyes, and I make the creature to fit the eyes. The stones, that’s mother natures art, she’s already got something going on, so I try to find something that will match.

Alexxis:Who are some of the people who buy your work?

Bill: I did a full size stainless steel horses for a horse ranches, I did a dog for a family whose dog passed away, a gaming piece for video game developer, A Chinese organization that is like a Disneyland amusement park bought a big dragon. I went to a convention in Las Vegas where like the booth was $12,000, and the only people allowed in there are buyers from around the world from theme parks like serious people from engineering firms that design roller coasters for large parks like Six Flaggs, Hollywood animotronics. In Disneyland all of their stuff is just framed, then they put latex over that All of their fabricators from came down to my booth and admired my stainless steel work because all they do is weld frames and people make rubber wrap arounds for them. One of the big ones could take me three months to make, they take a long time. I make one a year of the big ones. My Bunny with the top had won the jurors award at the State Fair, which was kind of creepy, like in Alice in Wonderland and he sold the first or 2nd day we were at the fair a doctor bought it who was also a magician, liked it . I had to take it back to I could weld my signature.

I am doing a Cheshire cat like out of the remake with Johnny Depp with bi g sharp teeth.. Which wont be done until around January.

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Alexxis: Do you get ever requests for special orders?

Bill: Yes the horse and the dog both were, early in my career, but I am not a fan of repeats, so my work is pretty much one of a kind.

Alexxis: What is your favorite piece and why?

Bill: The Gladiola flower in a vase is one of my favorite, but my all time is the Gargoyle- Ackery was so much fun to make, all the muscles, He has a six pack , veins all over done in bronze wire., so he is my all time favorite and the Gladiola is 2ndThe reason the Gladiola is fine copper wires in the center that had to be twisted , and the vase is made out of rebar.

Alexxis: Where does your inspiration to create come from?

Bill: People ask me that. I am the kind of guy that goes to bed at 11 and wakes up at 3. I sleep because I am really exhausted then I wake up and watch tv then my mind engages , starts cranking and I just can’t shut it off, so I have to get up and start moving around and doing stuff. I play a lot of video games, You would be surprised how many guys are up at 3 in the morning!

Alexxis: Yes there are a lot of night owls, I usually stay up until 2 am myself!

Bill: So those are my favorite pieces, I like them all, I really don’t like selling them Alexxis: You would rather just keep them for yourself?

Bill: Those are my favorite pieces because they are my action figures ! and I constantly work on them, Sometimes they will sit there for a while,.or I add pieces to them next thing you know they have a harness with a big sword, the next thing you know they have axes, brass knuckles, then they have shin guards, When I look at them I think yeah if I was going to fight this guy he really should have another weapon.

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Alexxis: Do you model anything after video games you like playing? I try not to Bill: The only one I did is Neewalker, and it is exactly the same as the art that the game developer sent me. I am not sure if she has it online, the piece of art and that or not, but she used to have them side by side, what the illustrator for the games sent me and what I made,and those are hard when you have to match somebody’s artwork, or dog or horse. I had to go out and measure the horse.

Alexxis: What materials are the hardest for you to work with, and what materials do you like the best?

Bill: I Like my Halloween stuff because it’s fast it’s fun,it’s colorful and it’s cheap.. The hardest by far is the stainless. Regular people don’t understand regular steel is about 25,00 lbs per square inch, that’s the strength on it, stainless steel is 85,000.That’s why they can make sinks paper thin, because it’s just that hard. It doesn’t like to bend, it doesn’t like to be made round, and of course everything that I have is round. So everything has to be beat with sledgehammers ,heated with torches I Have to cut it and back fill it with weld, that’s why it takes so long. I have a a lot of Steelworkers say do you use a leather bag? letter bag is a bag of leather and it’s full of bebes, then you hit the metal and you can round it, but you can’t do that with stainless steel. It doesn’t bend that easy so I have to clamp it,grab it with bars and bend it, then I heat it with torches. That’s why you don’t see a lot of stainless steel sculpturing of the kind of stuff I do. You’ll see contemporary stuff where you are making big sweeps and rounds, anything like that, but once you get into building characters it takes a lot of time. I work with 304 and and there are 20 different grades of stainless, but with stainless you have to use the next alloy up because when you heat it the iron wants to come up, and it wants to rust, so you have to use one with more chrome in it. The welding wire I use is like $15 a lb and I’ll go through 20-30 lbs on one of those big guys.

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Alexxis: On the average, how long does it take for you to create a piece of Stainless Steel Art? Bill: The big guys 3 months, the small guys a month, month and a half depending on how complex it gets.

Alexxis: Is there anything that you would like to create that you have not done yet?

Bill: Yes there’s quite a few things, but it just takes time and money. I di d a Cheetah, that was fun and now I am doing the Cheshire cat. Anything that comes from that kind of a story line sells quick. My problem is I am space cramped.

I ‘ve got a lot of creatures just with my Halloween stuff, it takes up my attic and I have two storage sheds full of it.

Alexxis: I can imagine!

Alexxis: Where can people find your artwork on display?

Bill: Right now the only place you can see it on display is the websiteAlexxis: From time to time you do exhibits?

Bill: Yes I do, and we usually announce them on the web page when we are going to. I haven’t done one in about a year just because there really hasn’t been any good venues to go to. I have to have quite a bit of space for mine and plus it takes a lot to move mine, it’s not like I am throwing a couple of pictures in the back of a station wagon. I have to rent a 16 foot truck with a lift gate then crate them and box them . We have done it, packed up and went clear out to Phoenix, so it’s a pretty big ordeal to move large sculptures around .Right now with the way the economy is I ‘ve

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backed off , I have been staying with smaller stuff, mostly local. Comic Con invites us every year, which is a pretty big deal out here. There is a big one in San Diego , I’ve been in that one a couple of times, they always invite me down because they like all of the stuff I bring. I might be headed out to that one again.

Alexxis: So basically online they can either view your work or purchase your work as well Bill: Yes I even think I have this phone number on there they can call me and talk to me about what they like, I am very flexible in my prices. If I can get rid of something I will. I just like exposure.

Alexxis: Anything that I did not touch on?

Bill: What makes me unique is I go every direction with my stuff. I make a robot guy every year with garbage art that people throw away. My Zombie outbreak response team. He has a 20 lb chainsaw compressor for a head, he moves and I’ve got lighting on him.. he weighs 400-500 lbs. I am all over the book, I go from fine art contemporary from a 4 foot a Russian gas mask and a pincher for a face.

Alexxis: You have a lot of stuff on your brain and this is how it comes out Bill: It is my release!

Alexxis: Thank you for taking the time rto

CREDITS AND AWARDS EXHIBITS:1987 – Custom 3-story Aviary with spiraling staircase around a Blue Oak tree 2005 – Special Exhibit for Toile’ Farms - Tom and Diane Elliott, Davis, CA 2005/2008/2010 – California Fine Arts, California State Fair – Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA. 2005/2006 – Valley Sculpture Artists (VISA), Sacramento, CA 2006 – LA Con IV – Worldwide Fantasy Art Conference, Los Angeles, CA 2007- Agora Fine Art Gallery, Chelsea New York City, NY, NY 2007 – Comic-Con 2007, International Convention, San Diego, CA 2007 – Special Exhibit – Gianni’s Trattoria, Sacramento, CA 2007 – Special Exhibit – Harlow’s, Sacramento, CA 2008 – Rocklin Fine Art - Snowflake Art Show, Rocklin, CA 2008 – Special Exhibit – Stanford Ranch Plaza, Rocklin, CA 2008 – Special Exhibit – CSUS Witt Gallery – Sacramento, CA 2008 – Rocklin Fine Art – Membership Show – Sacramento, CA 2008 - Special Exhibit – “The Event”, Adventure Art Galley Event, Roseville, CA 2008 – Special Exhibit – Sacramento “Pipeworks” – Sacramento, CA 2008 – KVIE TV Art Auction – Sacramento, CA 2009 – Special Exhibit - International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, IIAPA, Las Vegas, Nevada 2010 – Sacramento International Film Festival, Sacramento, CA 2011Rocklin Fine Art Annual Show, Rocklin, CA 2010/2011 – Outside the Box, Art Auction, Auburn, CA 1993-Current – Mang Annual Halloween Event, Rocklin, California AWARDS:2005 – Award of Excellence for “Amira” Welsh Pony, California State Fair

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2005 – Outstanding Contribution, “Mang Sculpture Collection”, Valley Sculpture Arts Open Sculpture Exhibition 2006 – Award of Merit, for “Blooming” Vase Sculpture, Valley Sculpture Arts, Open Sculpture Exhibition 2006 – Judges Choices for Body of Work, “Mang Sculpture Collection”, LA Con IV – Worldwide Fantasy Art Conference, Los Angeles, CA 2006 – Kid’s Choice, for “Zanthony, Dragon”, LA Con IV – Worldwide Fantasy Art Conference, Los Angeles, CA 2006 – Kid’s Choice, for “Ackary, Gargoyle”, LA Con IV – Worldwide Fantasy Art Conference, Los Angeles, CA 2008 - Best of Show, Rocklin Fine Art, Snowflake Art Show, Rocklin, CA 2008 – First Place, Fine Art Sculpture, Rocklin Fine Art, Snowflake Art Show, Rocklin, CA 2008 – Second Place, Fine Art Sculpture, Rocklin Fine Art, Snowflake Art Show, Rocklin, CA 2008 – Honorable Mention – KVIE TV Art Auction – Sacramento, CA 2008 – Award of Excellence for “Zanthony” Dragon, California State Fair 2010 – Best of Show for Battle Dragon, Rocklin Fine Art Annual Show 2014 - Special Exhibit - Oakwilde Ranch & Sculpture Art Show, Valley Springs, CA 2014 - Award of Merit for “Bunny”, California State Fair Fine Arts, Sacramento, CA MEDIA 2005 – Mang Stainless Art featured in Placer Herald Newspaper, Auburn, CA 2007 – Featured on http://www.Art-Mine.com 2013 - Style Magazine, page 22; and Roseville/Granite Bay/Rocklin issue of the digital Style Magazine

EDUCATION Stainless Steel Sculpture Artist – Self-taught Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Marketing/ Public Relations) University of California, Sacramento – 1977

CAREER Building Contractor, Owner, Mang Builders, 1985-Present

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Bethlehem Celtic Fest by Calling Karma

Bethlehem Celtic Fest

by Calling Karma

Bethlehem’s Celtic Fest had many unique vendors, but I felt not enough entertainment.

The place was pretty crowded but not packed like sardines. There were Clans walking around in different colored Kilts representing different events. Since there weren’t many things scheduled I chatted with some vendors and there were some amazing artists in the mix. The artist that traveled the furthest, I would have to say, is Healy Glass.

Healy Glass, a husband and wife company, has been in business for 20 years. The husband is a Master from Waterford Ireland who started in 1998, had an idea and just went with it. Everything is handmade. If you place a custom order today 9/27 you would get it no later than 11/15. The tall panel took 5 hrs. Most of the designs are from The Book of Kells and incorporates the customer’s request in it. Prices range $10-$500, depending on the piece. Visit Celticsigns.com for more of their work.

Another distance traveler is Michael Hayman of New Orleans. His designs are made of mostly silver and gold, and a little copper. Handmade prices $20-$2050. See them on Facebook.com/mickhaymanjewlry or Haymancelticjewelry.com One of my favorites was a stand I immediately recognized, The Griffons Claw, that carries medieval gothic holistic items and has a bit of magical feel to it. Prices range $15-500, $15-50 for pocket knives. The helmet I wore was $110.

Next up was some music. The Gothard Sisters Band had some haunting rifts and hoedown feel fiddle playing. They had the crowd roaring as they talked about the difference and showed examples of each. The singer claimed that Irish music is all about the jigs and the reels.

Moving on up the street, I watched drummers and bagpipes practice and the sound of their music filled the air. My last stop was The Wooden Match. The Wooden Match offers cigars and beer, exotic beverages and food. The tap beer gets changed every night for a different experience for customers. All I have to say because of the size of Celtic Fest, is I definitely got my walking on, a few souvenirs and some great stories along the way. :

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2014 Intn’tl Songwriting Compeition by Michael “Jacob” McKenna

2014 International Songwriting Competition Press Release

by Michael “Jacob” McKenna

MAJOR RECORD LABEL PRESIDENTS AND CEOs JOIN RECORDING SUPERSTARS TO JUDGE THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) Sarah McLachlan, John Hiatt, Tom Waits, Pat Metheny, Sara Evans, Jon Secada, Bastille, Avicii, Wayne Shorter, Casting Crowns And Many More Join ISC’s Judging Panel Deadline To Enter Extended Until November 4, 2014 September 29, 2014 The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now in its extended deadline period, and the deadline for entering songs is November 4, 2014.

ISC is open to amateur and professional songwriters, and entries are accepted online through the ISC platform and Sonicbids or through the mail.

In addition, ISC will be offering some special promotions and incentives through the end of the year.

This year, ISC has expanded on the participation of music industry executives, offering the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the highest level of decision-makers in the music business.

Judges include Presidents and CEOs from Republic, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Elektra, Columbia UK, Virgin UK, Sony Music Latin, Mercury UK, Wind-Up, Tommy Boy, Alligator, Blind Pig, Fat Possum, Robins Entertainment, S-Curve, and Concord Music Group.

Coupled with additional high-profile industry executives and an notable group of recording artists, many of whom are currently dominating the charts - ISC offers the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the most impressive and elite panel of judges yet.

ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $30,000 in prizes.

Open to both amateur and professional songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories to enter, representing all genres of popular music.

ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $30,000 in prizes.

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Past winners have included Grammy winners, chart-topping artists, amateur songwriters, and everyone in between, including Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; and many more.

2014 ISC judges include: Recording Artists Tom Waits; Sarah McLachlan; American Authors; Pat Metheny; Sara Evans; Bastille; Casting Crowns; Avicii; Wayne Shorter; John Hiatt; Bela Fleck; Keane; DJ Snake; Robben Ford; Natasha Bedingfield; Danilo Perez; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Martina McBride; Newsboys; Jon Secada; The Chainsmokers; Jason Isbell; Femi Kuti; Afro Celt Sound System; London Grammar; Michael W. Smith; Craig Morgan; Gerald Casale (Devo); Jean-Luc Ponty; James Cotton; Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes); Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.);

Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Chayanne; J. Holiday; and more to be announced...

Industry Executives Monte Lipman (Founder and Chairman/CEO, Republic Records); Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Jeff Castelaz (President, Elektra Records); Alison Donald (Co-President, Columbia Records UK); Ted Cockle (President, Virgin Records UK); Mike Smith (President, Mercury Records UK); Nir Seroussi (President, Sony Music Latin); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Rosie Lopez (President, Tommy Boy Entertainment); Glen Barros (President, Concord Music Group); Rex Rideout (VP of A&R, Motown Records); Jay Landers (Executive VP of A&R, Verve Music Group); Bryan Stewart (VP of A&R, Curb Records); Jason McArthur (VP of A&R, Provident Label Group / Sony Music Entertainment); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony); Keith Naftaly (Executive VP of A&R, RCA Records);

Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Joseph Burney (VP of A&R, RCA Inspiration/Sony Music Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (A&R, Thirty Tigers); Albert Schilcher (VP of Music and Music Marketing, MTV International); Gary Briggs (Senior VP of A&R/Producer, New West Records); Lori Teig (VP of Talent, VEVO); Jermaine Hall (Editor-In-Chief, Vibe Magazine); Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Julie Kertes (General Manager, National Parenting Publications Awards, NAPPA); Claire S. Green (President, Parents’ Choice Foundation); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Wende Curtis (Owner, Comedy Works); Claire S. Green (President, Parents’ Choice Foundation); Nate Dern (News Editor, Funny Or Die News); Cyndi Nelson (General Manager, ZANIES Comedy Club); Shannon O’Neill (Artistic Director, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY)

Please visit http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for an entry form or more details. ISC is sponsored by: Ableton, Airplay Direct, Berklee College Of Music, Celebrity Access, D’Addario, Disc Makers, George Stein, Esq., Hammond USA, Indie Pro Mix and Final Mix, Inc., Gauge Microphones, Indie Venue Bible, Lowden Guitars, Lurssen Mastering, Slate Digital, SongU.com, The Music Business Registry, Taxi, and Thayers ### For more information, please email Candace Avery at cavery@songwritingcompetition.com or call 615-2514441. If you feel that you have received this email in error or would like to be taken off this list for any other reason, simply email: remove@songwritingcompetition.com with “Remove” in the subject line.

Please remember to include the email address that the message was originally sent to, so we can remove you from our distribution list, if you are responding from a different account. -- Jim Morgan International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Unsigned Only 1307 Eastland Ave Nashville TN 37206 PH: 615-251-4441 Fax: 615-251-4442 jim@songwritingcompetition.com www.songwritingcompetition.com www.unsignedonly.com :

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TNA Impact Wrestling at the Sands by Alexxis Steele

TNA IMPACT WRESTLING SANDS EVENT CENTER JUNE

by Alexxis Steele photos by Sheri Bayne

AS AN AVID WRESTLING FAN , I WAS EXCITED AT THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING TNA WRESTLING , FOR THEIR DEBUT, AT THE SANDS EVENT CENTER IN BETHLEHEM,PA This was their first live for television event at this venue,which had all the excitement you could imagine, including flash pods and confetti disbursed in the air, amid cheers from the crowd.

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The highlights of the night were:

Dixie Carter invited Tommy Dreamer to come to the show because he was badmouthing her all over social media, after she pulled Bully Ray off off the card for his House of Hardcore event, and they had engaged in a war on Twitter.

That night Dixie Carter walked into the ring with Rockstar Spud amid massive boos from the crowd. She claimed that she would never get put through a table, since she is a star, and Tommy was just trying to make himself relevant and make money off her name, and her company.

When Tommy Dreamer came down to the ring the whole audience erupted into chanting “ECW!!!” Dixie wanted Tommy to apologize to her for his Twitter rants, and he thanked Dixie, for having him at the show, but he was embarrassed by all the crap he sees on TV associated with the business. He went on to say that she came out making Impact the “Dixie Show”, and he reminded her that this show is called “TNA Impact Wrestling”, Tommy Dreamer with Dixie Carter Not “Dixie Wrestling”.

Tommy said to remember what the fans want and to do the right thing.

Dixie hugged Tommy then gave him a crotch shot with her knee as EC3 ran out and attacked him, while she tells them to throw that “has been” out of the ring.

Kurt Angle, who recently had knee surgery walked into the building wanting to talk to MVP, but was stopped King and Lashley.

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Gail Kim came into the ring and introduced the return of Taryn Terrell, but while talking they were rudely interrupted by Angelina Love & The Beautiful People.

After mocking Gail and Taryn, Angelina reminds them that she is the Knockouts Champion, and Gail’s opinion doesn’t matter, and proceeded to beat them down, but Taryn turns things around by Clotheslining Velvet and tossing them both out to the floor!

Taryn Terell and Gail Kim

Backstage MVP asked Kurt Angle what he wanted, and Kurt chastised him for his behavior. MVP said he had two choices, either get with them or leave! Kurt stared him down, then King gets in his face and was warned to get out before he is forced out. King pointed his finger in Kurt’s face, and yells again to get out, while King shoved Angle, but Kurt decked him.

Lashley tries to get in his face too, but security arrives just in time and Kurt leaves.

Ending the show for that evening was, The Main Event for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship between “Showtime” Eric Young vs. Lashley w/MVP & Kenny King. Lashley was the winner and new TNA World Champion via pinfall. While he celebrated with MVP & King over Eric Young’s body laying lifeless on the floor of the ring, he takes one last jab at him by putting his arm inside of a chair and stomping on it. Meanwhile Bobby Roode entered the ring and attacked Kenny King, as MVP, and Lashley take a step back. Roode tossed King over the top of the ring and dared Lashley to get in the ring, but they held their ground as Bobby

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stood in the ring.

The winning show results for that evening were: TNA World Title: Eric Young defeated Kenny King TNA Tag Team Titles Triple Threat: The Wolves defeated Austin Aries and Samoa Joe, while Willow and Abyss retained their titles TNA Tag Team Titles: The Wolves defeated Bram and Magnus through DQ to retain their titles TNA World Title: Lashley defeated Eric Young for a title win

Angelina Love

Alexxis and Bobby Roode

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Alexxis, Gail Chen, Sheri Bayne

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Allentown Artfest - by Calling Karma, photography by Gary Pries

Allentown Artfest

By Calling Karma, photography by Gary Preis

This year marked the premier of the Allentown Artsfest, a festival combining various art forms into a unique and stimulating experience.

It was held at the historic Cedar Beach Park and hosted by The Alternative Gallery of Allentown - a non-profit dedicated to improving communities through art and education. Artsfest was a 3-day interactive experience for all.

Among the displays we found upcycled sculptures, local microbreweries, live graffiti art, a skate park with breakdancing, and dance competitions, dozens of local artists, and flyers for upcoming events. Some of the artists we photographed were Andrew Skrzenski who does custom iron work and was creating a dragon sculpture, William Heffner who created interesting upcycled sculptures out of pretty much anything, and Leah Quirk a talented painter, had Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas influenced work that immediately drew my attention. Another vendor was South Side Lofts, which is an affordable housing community for artists in Bethlehem.

Housing prices range from $206-$987 a month for a 1-3br (income limits apply.)

For info call 610-777-6519, email info@hdcweb.com or visit the website at www.hdcweb.com One of the upcoming events I found a flyer for was the Southside Film Festival, currently open for submissions@Ssff.org and held in Bethlehem June 9th - 13th 2015. I also had an opportunity to interview Split Divo - an emcee, a member of the Battleaxe Warriors primarily based in Canada, a tattoo artist at Sick Ink and the owner of 610nly and 610nly.com, the fastest growing events community. 610nly.com is a base for anything and everything arts related. If you are an artist, promoter, or just looking for something to do, you can find it on 610nly’s forum. They are able to help anyone with planning, promoting, design, and if you don’t find what you are looking for, they can connect you with the right people.

The next Artsfest is scheduled for Sept 11-13th 2015. For more information you can visit www.AllentownArtsfest.com :

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Interview with Ricky Byrd by Puma Perl, photos by Bob Gruen

Interview with Ricky Byrd

by Puma Perl, photography by Bob Gruen

Ricky Byrd and I are hanging in the back of the Lucille room at BB King’s, right before he joins the weekly blues jam led by Jon Paris and featuring Amy Madden, who also regularly plays bass with him. He is in his trademark gear: white cut-off shirt, vest, jeans. This particular shirt bears the image of Lenny Bruce, which makes me extremely jealous.

Interviewing Ricky is an extended version of shooting the breeze; he’s always easy to talk to and accessible to both friends and fans. Many people know him in relation to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, with whom he played from 1981-92. It was different back then, he explains. When I was kid getting started, you could answer ads in the Village Voice and wind up in a paid gig or a band. You could even get signed – which he eventually did, by Tommy Mittola of Sony Records, which was then known as CBS Records.

Ricky was a Flushing kid in love with British music for three reasons – screaming girls, they looked like he felt, and they horrified Ed Sullivan on his Sunday night show. Among the first bands he ever saw were The Who and Edgar Winter. The first show he ever gave was at Flushing High School and included Humble Pie and Faces covers. With some of these same high school friends, he formed a band called Rough Stuff, which later played Max’s Kansas City. One of his first tours was with Graham Parker, and he among his experiences was staying at the legendary, and dearly departed, Tropicana Hotel. I was sitting by the pool, he remembers, and I looked over and there was Marianne Faithfull, dressed in black and reading a book of poetry. At the same moment, Tom Waits walked by. I was in rock ‘n’ roll heaven. His career continued to unfold, and he later became close with Steve Marriot and also played with John Waite. Around the same time, he heard on the grapevine that Joan Jett was looking for a new guitarist, and he loved rock and roll…

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so, it was a good match and it lasted 11 years.

It was during that time period (1987, to be exact) that Ricky stopped abusing alcohol and other substances and became involved in recovery, not an easy thing to do on the road. On my down time, I’d hole up with the Big Book and call my sponsor. I’d call AA hotlines and people would pick me up and take me to meetings, he recalls. My perception of Ricky Byrd is that, in addition to being a father, he has two permanent, unwavering commitments in life – rock and roll, and recovery. And, serendipitously, he has found a way to combine the two.

One of Ricky’s passions is Clean Getaway, a group he founded with Richie Supa (original Aerosmith rhythm guitarist) whose mission it is to bring together sober musicians and musicians who support recovery to carry a rock and roll message of hope. To that end, they stage benefits and provide music therapy to addicts in treatment. Ricky makes the trip twice a week to Sunrise Detox in New Jersey to lead groups and serve as a power of example that recovery does not have to be boring and that music is transformative. The group has an additional goal to raise money to provide beds for uninsured addicts in need of help. Later, during his set with Jon Paris et al, Ricky will introduce a song he wrote, titled Clean Getaway, and inform the crowd, to a round of warm applause, that his 27th anniversary in recovery is coming up.

The last topic Ricky and I discuss is his solo album, “Lifer,” released in 2013 and produced by Ricky and Bob Stander. He started working on it over a decade ago. He wrote every song, although there are a few collaborative efforts included, some with Richie Supa. Within the liner notes is a dedication to Ian Hunter, “and all the rest of the bands that helped me maneuver through my teen-age years.” After he got clean, I spent time figuring out who I was. The music that I loved had passed. I went out on an acoustic tour and started writing these songs.

It’s not hard to understand that the title refers to someone who’s in it for life. The album is very urban, including a great back cover photo by Dina Regine, which was taken in her apartment hallway. It opens with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Boys,” wide-eyed with hope down at Max’s Kansas City, touches on romance in a Sam Cooke kind of way, rides a train to Harlem, and ends with “Turnstiles,” written 2 weeks after September 11, 2001, and opening with actual street sounds from Union Square where vigils were taking place. It is a love song to the city and to rock n roll. The record was 10th coolest album of the world in the 2013 Underground Garage ratings, and in 2014 “Things to Learn About Love” was the coolest song.

We end our conversation, for the time being, and Ricky joins in the blues jam. It’s all pretty good for this Flushing kid who started out as that wide-eyed “Rock ‘n’ Roll Boy” - by the way, the last line of that song is I’m always gonna be on of the Rock ‘n’ Roll boys. Fitting, wouldn’t you agree?

Check out Ricky Byrd’s website, http://www.rickybyrd.com/, to keep up with his gigs and to purchase his album, “Lifer.” It can also be purchased at Amazon, CD Baby, and other sites.

Ricky plays monthly at Carroll Place, 157 Bleecker, NYC, with bassist Amy Madden and a revolving group of drummers. consult the website to keep up with events, http://www.carrollplacenyc.com/.

Ricky also has two solo acoustic gigs coming up - November 15th, 9 PM, at The Parkside Lounge, NYC, and November 18th a The St. George Winery, Mohegan Lake, NY. Puma Perl and Friends will perform at Otto’s Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street, 11/09/14, 11PM, as part of the Nine Days of Wood Birthday Celebration. They will also perform Saturday, 11/15/14, 10PM, AH Productions, Sidewalk Cafe, 95 Avenue A, in honor of photographer Alan Rand, and at the joint birthday celebration of Deborah Gentit Verno and Harold C. Black at The Delancey, 168 Delancey ,Tuesday, 11/18/14, time TBA.:

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Billy Joel Pictorial - Photography by Robert Klein

Billy Joel Pictorial Photography by Robert Klein

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R.I. Rhythm & Roots - by Elizabeth Mullen

The Screaming Eagle of Soul Calls Down Catharsis at Rhode Island’s Rhythm & Roots.

By Elizabeth Mullen

CHARLESTOWN, RI - The 17th Annual Rhythm and Roots Festival elevated the trio of historic roots music festivals in Rhode Island (think Newport Folk, Newport Jazz and Rhythm & Roots), with an amazing music experience that culminated in hugs, tears and remarkable weather at festival close.

Hailed as “92 sets of roots music,” the producers diverged from standard Americana, and booked a diverse lineup for what was dubbed ‘Soulful Sunday. ’Charles Bradley served as the day’s headliner with his main stage performance. As an aside, Bradley was booked as the finale to a diverse lineup that included guitar greats like Anders Osborne, up-and-comers AJ Ghent, super-blues groups like Southern Hospitality, a Bill Payne-spiked Leftover Salmon, the Duhks, Steve Riley among dozens of others.

Bradley prowled on stage after dark with his wing-men the Extraordinaires, and without one beat of musical downtime, he jumped into a powerful and timeless performance driven by wildly tight horns, soaring vocals and dance moves reminiscent of an earlier era in American music -- and a much younger man.

Charles Bradley has often been described as a reincarnation of James Brown, and he has undoubtably earned his moniker, “The Screaming Eagle of Soul.” In Bradley’s well-documented story, he was discovered at the age of 62 by Daptone Records Gabe Roth, while working as a James Brown impersonator in New York. His personal history includes emerging from a life of poverty and family tragedy to become an international, pack-the-house performer. His Charlestown, RI performance was a last stop prior to heading to Europe for dozens of sold-out shows.

Make no mistake about Bradley’s originality however, Bradley creates, records and performs beyond the level even many of the best of his genre. His second album “Victim of Love,” released in 2013 wound up on dozens of year’s best lists in including Rolling Stone Magazine, SXBW festival and Paste Magazine. But this performance proved that Bradley offers something higher than what one could call ‘uplifting.’ Although the skies opened up halfway through his set, Bradley soared and wailed in the rain, delivering a full set that kept a solid crowd dancing and screaming for more on the front lines.

And what were these loyal, loving throngs rewarded with after a full drenching? Hugs and blessings handed out by the Screaming Eagle himself. Surely, this was one of those special concert moments that just can’t be described, but hopefully, it can get you in motion to catch some great vibes next time he’s in town.

The Rhythm and Roots Festival takes place every Labor Day Weekend in Rhode Island.

Website: www.rhythmandroots.com Charles Bradley Website: www.thecharlesbradley.com all photos by Bill Des Jardins

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photo by Bill Des Jardins

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photo by Bill Des Jardins

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photo by Bill Des Jardins

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photo by Bill Des Jardins

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photo by Bill Des Jardins

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Sheryl Crow Pictorial - Photography by Sheri Bayne

Sheryl Crow Pictorial Photography by Sheri Bayne

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Romano Family Halloween - Photography by The Romano Family

Romano Family Halloween at Disney World Photography by the Romano Family

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As seen on the April 2014 cover of Steel Notes: Natasha NYC Custom Designer clothes Now a specialty for Music and Movie Stars

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