Not just a "groupie"

Normally I'm a "take each day as it comes" kind of person, but I have to admit to wanting to fast forward two months to Halloween weekend. That is the weekend that Chiller Theatre will take place in Parsippany, New Jersey. Chiller Theatre features all sorts of sci-fi and horror movie and TV show events, shows and guests, and normally I steer clear and let my husband and son attend on their own. But today I found out that Pamela Des Barres will be making an appearance. I am so there.

For those not familiar with Miss Pamela, she has been called the Queen of the Groupies. She wrote two memoirs about her exploits with some heavy duty rock gods, including Keith Moon, Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page. These books never leave my shelves, but not because of their kiss-and-tell aspects. After reading the first page of the first book, I felt like I'd found a kindred spirit. I could see myself in her.

In the opening chapter of her book, she described a feeling of something grabbing hold of her when she heard Elvis's music for the first time that I could totally relate to. She confessed to being a blithering Beatlemaniac, which I know as well as I know my own name I would have been, too. But more than anything, she wrote about her overwhelming love of music, and her words felt like I had written them myself. She took that love to another level by getting physically close to the source of the music, the musicians themselves. She didn't and still doesn't care that people used the term "groupie" in a derogatory way; she wears the label proudly. She knows who she is and what she is doing, and doesn't care what others think.

Along with several books about music, Pamela has written about music and entertainment for several magazines. Her writing style is one I aspire to - conversational and intimate. I always come away from reading one of her pieces with an urge to write better.

She is one of my personal heroes. I seriously can't wait for October!

Just a couple o' thoughts

Let's just grab the bull by the horns today and talk about the whole MJ homicide thing. Dr. Conrad Murray's story is definitely fishy, and toxicology tests don't lie. There are cell phone records, and a prescription paper trail. This isn't some podunk little event taking place in a small town with a Mayberry police force, this is freaking Michael Jackson's death in L.A. 'Fess up, Dr. Murray, about what really happened, because you are not going to get a moment's peace until you do.

And while we're on the Jackson subject, I really think the Jackson brothers deserve a beat down for going ahead with their reality series scheduled to air on A&E network. Apparently, a reality show was in the works from May showing the brothers preparing for a reunion tour. No word on whether any footage of Michael was filmed for the show, but come on. It's really sad when family members want to capitalize on the man's death. As for the tribute concert in Vienna (of all places) on September 26, I think I'll skip it.

Chris Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation and 180 days of physical labor in his home state of Virginia for the assault on Rihanna back in February. According to court documents, he had previously shoved her against a wall and broke windows in a car they were riding in on two separate occasions, showing he has a history of violence against her. During the incident he was sentenced for, he also threatened to kill her. I can't claim to be a fan of his, even before all this, but if I was, I would have to seriously reconsider it. Everyone loves a bad boy, but the image of a bad boy, not the actual real thing.

And finally, another music legend has passed away. Ellie Greenwich, the prolific songwriter of 60s hits such as "Be My Baby" and "Leader of the Pack," has died. Greenwich, with co-writer Jeff Barry and producer Phil Spector, created some incredible songs that stood up to the test of time. I dare you not to spend the rest of the day humming "Da Doo Run Run."

KISS - Still the hottest band in the world?

KISS announced plans for their 35th anniversary tour, KISS Alive 35, in conjunction with the upcoming release of their new CD Sonic Boom. They'll start the tour with two dates at Detroit's Cobo Arena where they recorded their classic album Alive in 1975. They'll perform the album in its entirety at both shows.

So let's discuss.

First, let me just say that I have loved KISS for a very long time. Take note of the photo of me at right with pictures of the band on my wall when I was 9. I listened to my Destroyer record until the grooves were worn out. I've seen them in concert sans makeup several times, and I still say the 1996 reunion show I saw with full makeup was one of the best concert I've ever seen. But I'm wondering if it's not time to hang up the platform boots.

Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are no longer in the band. Old time fans knew it wouldn't last. And as good as Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are, they just aren't Peter and Ace. I can't look at them in the classic makeup. It's not the same.

The material, too, just hasn't been the same since Peter and Ace stopped recording with the band. While each album after Dynasty has some good, and even great, songs (as I write this "God Gave Rock and Roll To You" came up on my iTunes, proving my point), the original four members produced the best material. It remains the material the fans want to hear the most. I don't honestly think they're getting a lot of requests for "Let's Put the X in Sex."

We've also been overmerchandised. God bless him, Gene Simmons is a marketing genius, but how many more items in the world can have the KISS logo on them? According to an article in BrandWeek magazine, KISS has licensed its name to over 2,000 product categories, becoming nearly a 1 billion dollar brand. Yes, that's correct, 1 billion dollars. There's KISS condoms, cologne, and caskets. I draw the line at KISS toilet paper.

And finally, there's Gene Simmons' "reality" show on A&E network, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. How are fans supposed to take him seriously as the God of Thunder when each week we see him getting made a fool of by his partner and kids? Ozzy and Sharon still hold the titles on rock star family dysfunction. Personally, I think the show is just a ploy to help his son Nick's band get exposure, but that's a subject for another post.

So, still the hottest band in the world? I'm thinking more like lukewarm. But maybe the new CD and tour will prove me wrong. As an old time fan, I'm hoping they go out and kick ass.

I Want My MTV (Back)!

Ladies and gentlemen, rock n' roll.

Those were the words spoken as MTV aired for the first time back on August 1, 1981. So I have one simple question - where has the "music" in "music television" gone?

'Cause for the life of me, I can't seem to find it.

I was 12 when I found MTV during a run through of the channels on our cable box in the summer of 1982. I hit on it by accident, but I kept turning back to it to make sure it was still "there." In those early days MTV didn't have a lot of videos, so I sat through the same ones over and over, and a lot were by bands I didn't even like. To this day, just the mention of Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime gives me the shivers. But the channel introduced me to music that would literally change my life and eventually became almost the only thing I would watch. My friends and I would discuss music, bands and videos for hours on end. A World Premiere Video of a favorite band became an event, something to mark on the calendar. Pleas were made with parents to stay up late to watch band members play guest VJs. I sat glued to the channel for every hour of Live Aid. And I could never figure out why the powers that be always had to show the Video Music Awards the first week of a new school year!

So, even though I was getting older, it was with dismay that I noticed MTV was decreasing the amount of music in their programming. At first, it was just "The Real World," which was bad enough, but now? They may as well just change the name of the channel to TV. They have shows about dating and fashion and teen pregnancy and other absurdities. Would someone please give me the phone number of the person who said putting snobby rich kids' Sweet 16 parties on the air is something Americans need to see, cause that person needs a swift kick. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good episode of "Jackass" every now and then, but all day long? Uh-uh.

For the hell of it, I read the Wikipedia entry on MTV before I began writing today, and it stated that the amount of time MTV aired actual videos per day in 2008 was three hours. Three hours, for a 24 hour music channel. Pathetic. I tried to find those three hours, and couldn't. It must be for the night owls who like to rock out at 3 am.

Even MTV's sister channels don't really air videos anymore. VH1, which used to be the "older person's" music channel, doesn't really show videos but at least make an attempt at music programming with countdown shows and Rock of Love (which is a whole other post!). MTV2 and VH1 Classic are doing the same things. Less music, more formatted programming. If I want to watch a video these days I log on to YouTube.

So is it necessary for artists to even make videos anymore? If they do, where are they seen? I saw Mariah Carey's latest pop up on the TV show America's Got Talent, but her husband is the host, so that's a no brainer. Are new artists only getting exposure if their songs are used in commercials and on TV shows? Is YouTube the new MTV?

In his 2007 VMA acceptance speech, Justin Timberlake challenged MTV to "play more damn videos, " but his challenge has, it seems, gone unanswered so far. I wonder where his next video will premiere?

Bach on Broadway

Yesterday when I posted a little blip about Bono doing Broadway, it got me thinking about about other musicians who have tried their hands at working on the Great White Way. Besides Elton John, who worked on The Lion King, and Aida, and what I'm told was a horrible adaptation of Interview With The Vampire, I could only come up with David Bryan, Bon Jovi's keyboardist. Memphis will open in the fall, following on the heels of The Toxic Avenger - although honestly, I don't care if Jon Bon Jovi himself starred in it, I wouldn't see a play about that nasty looking comic book character if you paid me (I guess lots of other people felt the same way).





Then I remembered. Sebastian Bach.






I've been a fan of Sebastian Bach since I first heard Skid Row back in the late 80s. He had a killer vocal range, and he was gorgeous to boot. After he parted ways with Skid Row, I lost track of him for a while until I heard he was appearing on Broadway in the title role in Jekyll and Hyde. It was a must see show.





Bach appeared as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde from April to October 2000. The role seemed tailor made for him. As Edward Hyde, he had the vocal chops to carry the songs like a veteran musical theater performer, projecting his voice throughout the theater and putting his heart into the performance. However, it was as Dr. Henry Jekyll that he kept me riveted to my seat. He brought his rock star attitude to the character and imbued him with a sense of rock 'n roll savagery that was breathtaking. The character is violent, and Bach's vocal style, his lanky frame and sheet of blond hair added another element to Jekyll that somehow I don't think the producers foresaw when the show was created. Bach's natural showmanship really kicked the crap out of the role.



One of the things I remember most clearly about the show was the curtain call at the end of the show. Sebastian came out to take a bow, and was handed a bouquet of red roses. Anyone who has ever seen him perform knows what came next. He bit some of the blooms off the flowers and spit them back at the audience, who gave him a well deserved standing ovation. I immediately flashed back to getting covered with petals at Skid Row's gig at the Ritz back in June 1989. Broadway or not, he's a rock star to the tips of his boots.

Bach played Jekyll and Hyde in between Jack Wagner and David Hassellhoff, and I can't imagine either of them in the role or performing it with the gusto and, quite frankly, balls that Sebastian did. I wish he'd return to the street of dreams. I'd be first in line to see the show.

Bono, The Edge and Spiderman

Okay, so Bono and The Edge are creating the music for the upcoming Broadway musical Spiderman. I can't decide whether this is going to be really, really cool.... or really, really too much.

40 Years since 3 Days

The 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival is upon us, and I wonder, is it possible to be nostalgic for something you didn't experience?

As with most things music related, I became interested in Woodstock as a young teen. Back then, I saw the world through rose colored glasses (or so says my mother), and the idea of three days of peace, love and music was an idea I could totally get behind. I'd like to think I would have been a hippie, but with better hygiene. I thought spending three days with like-minded people, listening to great rock and roll would be an incredible thing to do. Even to this day, I can't get over the list of acts that performed - I mean, really, the Who and Jimi Hendrix on the same bill? Mind blowing! I read lots of first person accounts from people who were at the festival and saw the movie. Woodstock became the stuff of myths and legend for me, and for lots of other people (including those who said they were there, but actually weren't - you know who you are).

So it saddened me when I read an article in the newspaper recently that stated that today's generation feels that the legacy of Woodstock is overblown and overstated. They don't think it has the cultural significance that others (like me) think it does. Really?

The summer of 1969 saw our country at war. Young men were dying needlessly in a country that really didn't want our help. The Cold War was still in full swing. Three visionary leaders had been assassinated. The Civil Rights movement was demanding attention and change. A man walked on the moon. The sexual revolution and drug counter-culture were gearing up. In all this turmoil, 400,000 people came together to celebrate harmony, togetherness, peace. That's not culturally significant? Really?

In the years that followed, there have been musical festivals promoting change, equality and vision. They were important at the time, and made a difference to the causes they had been formed for. But somehow, possibly excluding Live Aid, I can't see someone bragging, or fake bragging as the case may be, "I was at G8 or insert name here."

Woodstock is more today than it was back then. It's not just a music festival. It marked the end of an era. Three Days of Peace, Love and Music doesn't mean the same now as it did then. It doesn't carry the same weight. It was a moment in time that can never happen again, because the world is not the same. And that's not overblown or overstated.