17 minute read
Uniquely Arizona
Winslow’s Meteor Crater impresses the world
By Claire Natale N amed one of the Seven Wonders of the World 2020 by Conde Nast Traveler, Winslow’s Meteor Crater is awe inspiring.
As one of the world’s few meteorite impact sites, Meteor Crater is considered to be the best-preserved on the planet. At 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide, the crater was formed in about 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crashed into the earth. Th e force of impact was 150 times greater than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima and equal to 20 million tons of TNT.
Th e impact occurred during the last ice age, at a time when the Arizona landscape was cooler and wetter. Winslow was then covered with a forest, where mammoths, mastodons and giant ground sloths grazed, and the force of the impact leveled the forest and wiped out life for miles.
Meteor Crater meteorcrater.com
Arizona’s dry climate has helped preserve this crater. Little of the rim’s crest has eroded unlike most craters on Earth that are oft en erased by geological processes.
Daniel M. Barringer, a mining engineer and businessman, would have benefi ted from knowing that the meteorite vaporized. In 1903, Barringer believed the site was created by a large nickel-iron metallic meteorite. He formed a company, the Standard Iron Company, and staked claim to the land. He received a land patent signed by Th eodore Roosevelt, allowing the company to research the crater.
Barringer found fragments of oxidized iron meteorite in the surrounding area, leading Barringer to believe there must be a large deposit of meteoric iron below the surface.
Barringer spent the next 27 years drilling, mining and searching for iron ore, but no signifi cant deposit was found. He had grand plans for the iron, estimating that if the iron were found, the amount would be valued at more than $1 billion in 1903. Unfortunately, he lost his fortune trying to do so.
As one of the world’s few meteorite impact sites, Meteor Crater is considered to be the best-preserved on the planet. (Photos courtesy Evolve Public Relations and Marketing)
The Barringer family, along with long-time Arizona ranching and business families the Tremaines and Chilsons, now own the site. It’s been transformed into one of Arizona’s most enduring family attractions.
NASA ties
The Meteor Crater also has deep ties to NASA and space exploration. In the 1960s, astronauts preparing for the first moon landing worked and explored the crater’s rugged terrain. The move helped them train for what they could expect in space, because the Meteor Crater is one of the few impact sites that is still exposed.
The several hundred thousand visitors who trek to the Meteor Crater each year will see an Apollo space capsule, which commemorates the 50-plus-year relationship with NASA.
Daily guided rim tours provide a fun, educational and interactive experience. The observation decks are equipped with telescopes so visitors can study the crater’s rock walls see the breathtaking desert landscape from the air-conditioned Meteor Crater Visitors Center.
This world-class attraction also features a museum and discovery center housing interactive displays with information about meteorites, asteroids, impact cratering mechanics and the formation of Meteor Crater.
The whole family will enjoy “IMPACT: The Mystery of Meteor Crater,” which is shown in the 80-seat big-screen theater, and the new, immersive 4D movie experience “Collision!
Left, The new, immersive 4D movie experience “Collision! You Can Help Save Earth” allows viewers to race the meteorite’s impact to help save the planet.
You Can Help Save Earth.” The film allows viewers to race the meteorite’s impact to help save the planet.
The Gift & Mineral Shop has minerals, jewelry, gems, American Indian art, sciencebased kids’ games, toys, shirts, hats and mugs.
Hungry guests can fill their tank at the Blasted Bistro, which features fresh sandwiches, salads and sweets.
An on-site RV park offers housing and one of the finest star and sky shows in the Southwest. Set up camp and take in the views within the majestic pines, playground and dog park. Amenities include a gas station and general store. Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff is on the near horizon in the Western sky. Also nearby is the Grand Canyon, Havasupai Falls, Route 66, Snowbowl and Petrified Forest.
The Meteor Crater is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Elevators and ADA accessibility are available.
The Gift & Mineral Shop has minerals, jewelry, gems, American Indian art, science-based kids’ games, toys, shirts, hats and mugs.
Fortunate Soul
85085’s Kailee Morgue explores genres on ‘Bedroom’ By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski K ailee Morgue is fi nding the COVID-19 quarantine diffi cult.
In late April, however, she released new music, something she had been hiding away—the EP “Here in Your Bedroom” featuring the single “Knew You.”
“I know there isn’t much to look forward to these days,” says Morgue, who grew up in 85085. “I was looking forward to a couple of shows, and I know they’re going to get canceled. Concerts probably aren’t even going to come back for, like, another year. So, it’s going to be a weird adjustment. But I’m looking forward to hearing what fans say about the new music.”
Th e collection is a study in genres for the Goldwater High School graduate, who’s signed to Republic Records.
“I was just diving into diff erent genres and seeing what I could really do as an artist and testing myself,” says Morgue, who initially attended Boulder Creek High School.
“I wasn’t even sure if this stuff was going to come out. I just wanted to try. I was listen
ing to a lot of stuff that is popular, like Charli
Kailee Morgue
kaileemorgue.com mits, she didn’t want to indulge in love songs. XCX, and thinking But when the relationabout how I could take what I was already ship came into focus, she needed to. She doing but make it a little more modern.” needed that honesty.
Her diverse inspirations are rooted in her “I’ve fi nally allowed myself to start writing parents’ taste. Her father enjoys punk and love songs and about relationships,” Morgue alternative music, while her mom is a little says. “I never indulged in this style before. more mellow. I’d just gotten into a relationship where I
“I was really inspired by Sublime and the was constantly writing about love and that Red Hot Chili Peppers,” she says. “I know early Sublime stuff is actually really punk. Th en we go into Gang of Four and Black Flag and even modern pop-punk stuff like Neck Deep.
“Th en my mom had me listening to a bunch of random people, like the Dixie Chicks. With all of that, I can pull from a lot of diff erent places.”
Th e EP’s name, “Here in Your Bedroom,” is an ode to her father’s taste in music. It’s a reference to the Goldfi nger song of the same name.
She’s embracing her diversity and her love life on the new EP. “Knew You” is also a sign that she’s embracing her love life, which pairs her with musician Ricky Anthony, who performs under Ricky Himself. Initially, she ad
dynamic. I was super playful but honest. I’m being really open.”
The pop genre is weeping with break-up songs. Morgue didn’t find it difficult to steer away from that.
“The negative emotions are always going to be easier to write about and it has its uses like a coping mechanism, and people can relate to that, too, rather than something where like songs are too happy,” Morgue says.
“Writing is a huge part of coping and just communicating something that feels hard to talk about. So, I think talking about hap- pier things is great because you want to live in them more. Before, I was mainly writing about the fear of love and heartbreak, and those negative emotions feel easier to convey over something like that.”
Anthony and Morgue are quarantining in Santa Clarita, California.
“I actually just moved back to California the week that the quarantine started,” she says. “I’m living back over here. I just got a new apartment, and I’m kind of still in the process of furnishing it and getting all the décor. It’s been a really interesting process, because that’s not really a priority when you can’t even get groceries and stuff that often.”
Morgue had the option to live in LA, but she wanted a separation between work and home.
“I knew I would be doing music sessions in Central LA,” she adds. “I wanted to drive 20 minutes out of LA to get to a quieter area. It feels like Phoenix, to be honest—just the energy. It’s slower paced and quiet.”
The quarantine has spawned yet anoth- er new single. “Scream,” by Anthony and Morgue, is a sure-fire hit ballad.
“He’s been making music for, like, five, six years now,” she says. “It’s one of the first songs we did together, like when we were just friends still. It’s been really cool watching the process happen.”
Morgue, 21, says it’s nice to be with some- one who understands her occupation and her dreams.
“At first, I was worried about dating a se- rious musician, because I thought maybe it would be too much music,” she says. “I thought it was going to be too much because our job would be so present in our relation- ship.
“It’s really nice because I think there are just some people who just don’t understand that super-close connection you can have with music. I’ve definitely dated people who just didn’t get it. It’s really nice to have some- body who puts more of themselves in music than I do.”
Take Two
Trixter’s Mark Gus Scott turns hit into ‘power country’ song By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Photos by Pablo Robles M usic fans worldwide have heard songs by the ’80s hair metal band Trixter. The “One in a Million” act’s drummer, Mark Gus Scott, hopes those listeners migrate to his songs.
The 85085 resident recently re-recorded the 1991 Trixter hit “Give It to Me Good” as a “power country” song—with him on vocals—in honor its 30th anniversary.
“I just want people to hear it,” Scott says. “Whenever I have something come out, I want fans to go to my website and check it out. The whole industry is upside down. If you want to buy it, I’m not going to stop you. God bless you. I just wanted to do this song so bad. I hope people like it and then share it. That’s what I think this is really about.”
“Give It to Me Good” is important to Scott, as the song changed his life. It was a Top 50 hit on Billboard’s Top 100 singles chart, was No. 1 on MTV, and led to a five-month North American tour with the Scorpions.
“Not sharing it is a crime,” he says about the song. “I’m bringing it to new markets— ‘power country.’ It’s got a country twist and transcends generations. My son is sharing it with his friends and they’re going crazy.
“The idea that it’s carrying on and people are embracing it is great.”
Scott says he coined the term “power country” after attending several country shows and seeing a tie between that genre and metal.
“I’ve gone to several country show—Eric Church, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley,” he says. “All these guys come out playing heavy metal. The crowds are going crazy. There’s a connection between today’s country and heavy metal rock.
“I would love for those audiences to bridge the gap. That’s where I came up with ‘power country.’ It’s basically country with a kick in the (butt). When you come from New Jersey, you think country music is ‘down south’ and old people listen to it. In the Southwest, there’s a different flavor to it. It’s a little more aggressive.”
The demographic is younger, he says.
“They still have life,” Scott adds. “Country needs a kick in the butt, and I want to give it to them.”
His musical ally, Lou Piccadaci, co-produced the song, which takes the listener on a musical journey from country six-string acoustic to a rockin’ powerhouse hoedown. Piccadaci, who lives in Surprise, defines his value not only as an engineer but with his superior guitar performance throughout the track.
“For the past few years, I got away from rock ’n’ roll and made a lot of music that touched my heart,” Scott says. “But one thing is for sure, I miss rocking and noth
ing is better than playing music that truly drives you and an audience to throw your hands in the air and dance.”
Scott adds that Piccadaci has more talent than that. He’s a stellar pizza maker.
“He has a pizza oven in his backyard, and I was totally locked in when I heard that,” Scott says with a laugh. “He bribed me with pizza. He has that East Coast mentality with the pizza. He knows what he’s doing. It’s thin crust.”
Scott first dabbled with vocals on “With You,” which combines an ’80s-style power ballad piano riff, symphonic orchestration and powerful melodic hooks—a big surprise for one of rock’s most wellknown drummers.
Mark Gus Scott is streaming his new single, a “power country” rendition of Trixter’s “Give It to Me Good,” on his website. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
“I’ve never sang before,” he says. “I’m not playing just drums. I play all the instruments on the cut, except guitar. I’m a horrible guitar player.
“I wanted it done right and I wanted what’s best for the song. Th at’s more important than me playing all the instruments. I’ve never felt so strongly about putting words down on paper. I was trying to be emotional. I always thought I sucked as a songwriter, but something clicked and I felt passionate about it. Th is one’s right on target.”
Both songs are available through Apple iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music and CD Baby. Autographed CDs can be purchased at MarkGusScott.com.
He previously released “Christmas Miracle,” a holiday album that included his version of “Ave Maria.” Th e video features Scott performing among iconic Washington, D.C., landmarks, like the World War II Memorial.
He frequently supports veterans by playing taps at cemeteries in New York City and the Valley to honor fallen heroes during Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
“Th e Christmas album was a real-deal, adult contemporary Christmas record,” he says. “I thought I should be opening for Bing Crosby. Th e band was doing ancillary projects. Now I had a focus and I knocked it out of the park. I love the way it came out.
“I’ve done a lot of music, but this power country is sticking with me,” he says. “‘Give It to Me Good’ is the perfect song to show people what I’m really all about. I feel this is going to defi ne the direction I’m going to go on. It’s kind of old gospel or bluegrass with a heavy metal kick to it. I’m bringing it somewhere it hasn’t gone before.” The parade drum
Scott’s family knew he would be a musician when he was about 7, aft er his grandmother bought a “big parade drum.” At the same time, his mother gave him his fi rst album, “Elvis’ Golden Hits.”
“I turned ‘Hound Dog’ on and I beat the living crap out of that parade drum,” he says with a laugh. “It made me feel wonderful. I broke the drumhead and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ So, I fl ipped it over and started pounding the other side.”
His fi rst concert was Foreigner on its “Foreigner 4” tour in 1981 at age 13. Immediately, he knew his calling.
“When that bass drum busted the waves of the room, I said, ‘OK. I know exactly what I want to do in life.’”
As a sophomore in high school, Scott received the NAJE Special Citation for Musical Excellence and was granted admission to the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music. He attended three summers studying piano, drums, trumpet and a curriculum that included jazz, classical, chamber music, rock, music theory and composition.
He also put his knowledge to use as a musician/songwriter and toured high schools and colleges throughout the country as a guest lecturer, teaching and promoting music, DARE and his drum instructional video/ teaching method, “Rock Solid.”
With Trixter, Scott sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, had three No. 1 videos on MTV, four Top 20 adult-oriented rock hits and hit No. 26 on Billboard album charts.
Trixter toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Japan in support of its fi ve major-label releases. Th ey shared stages with Kiss, the Scorpions, Bret Michaels, Poison, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Cinderella, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Warrant, Great White and Firehouse.
Trixter is on hiatus, which is why this was the perfect time for Scott’s singles.
“Some people don’t make the band a priority any longer,” he said. “In any business with four guys, if you all don’t agree on what you’re going to do with the business, the business suff ers.”
Perhaps Trixter’s most well-known tour was 1991’s “Blood, Sweat and Beers” with Warrant and Firehouse. Next year is the 30th anniversary, and Scott is hoping Trixter reunites for it.
“It was more successful than we ever thought it would be,” he says.
“Warrant had ‘Cherry Pie.’ We had three No. 1 videos on MTV. Firehouse’s ‘Love of a Lifetime’ was just about to break. We just packed them in. Why shouldn’t we celebrate the 30th anniversary? We’re all here. What the hell? Fans ask about it. To not celebrate that, that would be a crime.” Moving to Arizona
Scott considers Arizona his home, aft er living throughout the United States in and out of suitcases on tour.
“I was going through a divorce and was very unhappy,” he says.
A friend asked him to consider moving to the Valley.
“My fi rst day of exploration, I was sold before lunchtime,” Scott explains. “I literally went to breakfast, saw mountains, went over there and knew I was sold. I’ve been here four years and I can’t tell you how much I truly
embrace the area.
“I can get anywhere in 20 minutes. I’m outside the circle of the 101. It’s more rural. I’m not in the thick of the madness of Phoenix. I look outside every morning and I can breathe. Everything comes alive. It’s quiet—until I make some fricking noise (with music).”
Scott has friends in the area, including rock drummer “Wild” Mick Brown, who played with Dokken and Ted Nugent. Th e two spend their weekends riding motorcycles around Cave Creek.
“Th ere’s something very comfortable about doing that just about every weekend,” Scott said.
“We do it 52 weeks. It may sound repetitive, but there’s something comfortable about it. We have a special gang of fi ve members. We’re a tight-knit group. It’s a wonderful brotherhood, and the motorcycle riding here is the best in the country—there are no potholes.”
Scott and Trixter singer Pete Loran record music for video games and movies.
“Th e whole thing started when we were doing sound eff ects for a video game and I started getting punchy,” Scott says with a laugh. “I pulled out the trumpet from the back of my car and it sounded really good.”
First and foremost, Scott is excited for the world to hear his music.
“I’ve never felt so strongly about my music,” he says. “I hope fans enjoy it as well.”
