Halloween is my favorite holiday - always has been, really. The costumes and the candy are great. Of course, Halloween is also straight Metal.
As a genre, Metal is often regarded as "underground." Of course, this isn't exactly accurate. The Glam 80s really opened all Metal acts to the mainstream and - for the most part - Metal never really returned to the underground (thanks to the Internet). The popularity has waxed and waned - but there are still plenty of bands out there keeping Metal strong.
I'll roll with the stereotype, but I don't find anything "scary" or "dangerous" about Metal. Hell, maybe it is the lifestyle, although that doesn't phase me much either. The only two things that truly freak me out are 1) a musician's messy apartment and 2) copious drug use. Other than that, I'm good. I suppose if you want to get theoretical and do numerology, we can bring up Iron Maiden. I mean, Iron Maiden did release an album called The Number of the Beast back in 1982. I guess there is also dark imagery in Metal. Then there's all those dragons that Dio likes to slay...
So what are the so-called scariest Metal albums of all time?
Here's my top Halloween list - in no particular order:
The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue Love it to Death - Alice Cooper Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne Antichrist Superstar - Marilyn Manson ...and anything by Undercover Slut or Mayhem
Play all these albums at your Halloween party and I guarantee you'll be a Metal hero.
Here's "The Number of the Beast." Watch it while eating a chocolate bar and playing air guitar. You know, the way the devil intended.
When I was younger, cruising around a certain city block was huge in my town.
I mean, I'm from Main Street U.S.A. You think of perfect small town America? I'm from that town. From my world view, the kids I went to school with were from great homes - and I'm talking parents here, not bricks and mortar. Of course, we all have our problems, but these were (are) good people. My high school football team was strong - yes, we had back to back perfect seasons. The cheerleaders were attractive. Students were competitive honor-roll wise.
Yes, I'm from Main Street U.S.A.
So, Main Street U.S.A. didn't have much action on a Friday or Saturday night. There were two options for dates: the movies and cruising.
In that instance, I would always choose movies. To be honest, cruising used to always bore me to tears. I mean, how many times can a person drive around the same city block, stuck in traffic?
The answer is a lot of times!
The only good part about cruising...was the music. When I was really "young," Glam was the biggest music of the day. At this age, I wasn't crusing with friends. More like riding through town with my parents - but you could easily hear the music waft from the cars. Years later, I cruised for real - and controlled the music, too.
There are some songs that just beg to be played in a car. Fast and loud is usually a prerequisite - of course, that's just my opinion. I know some people don't like a big racket while driving. I've never lived that way.
My top 10 cruising songs (and yeah, I threw in a couple modern tunes):
Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith Public Enemy #1 - Motley Crue Get It While It's Hot - Kix Runnin' With the Devil - Van Halen It's Hot Tonight - Alice Cooper Unholy Confessions - Avenged Sevenfold Rebel Yell - Billy Idol Guilty - Bonham Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry The Last Mile - Cinderella
The only rule is that, of course, "The Last Mile" must be played at the end of the cruise. Or when you run out of gas. You know, whichever comes first.
I don't like posting press releases, but since I wrote this one and we're talking about my beloved Kix, you all get to read and enjoy. That's right, kiddos: Kix are headed to Iowa. Get your tickets. Don't make me stand in a field and drink cans of beer alone.
Of course, if I was alone, I'd have a better chance of hanging out with Kix, wouldn't I?
On second thought, stay home!
Nah, I'm kidding.
Maybe.
ALGONA, IOWA (October 28, 2008) - The "dirty boys of the underground," east coast rockers Kix, are set to bring their high-energy stage antics to America's heartland. Kix will play the inaugural Rock Gone Wild festival in Algona, Iowa August 20-23, 2009.
Founded in a Hagerstown, Maryland basement about three decades ago, Kix are known for an over-the-top show - complete with choreography! Kix take the phrase "hop, skip and a jump" to a completely new level. Band members made a name for themselves in the mid 1980s with a string of videos on MTV and the hit single "Don't Close Your Eyes" featured on the popular album Blow My Fuse. East coast fans know Kix intimately. Their New Year's Eve shows at Hammerjacks are stuff of legend. Now, fans outside the eastern seaboard get the chance to experience real rock energy up close and personal. Kix are Steve Whiteman (vocals), Brian "Damage" Forsythe (guitar), Ronnie "10/10" Younkins (guitar), Mark Schenker (bass) and Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (drums).
Rock Gone Wild fans are able to purchase tickets at all three price levels: platinum, VIP and general admission. Platinum ticket holders are allowed exclusive access to the Sinners Lounge. The Sinners Lounge features buffet style lunch, dinner and nightly snacks daily; liquor and beer, soft drinks and water - all to enjoy in an air conditioned tent. The Sinners Lounge is the perfect nightclub setting for all rock fans! Platinum ticket holders sit in the first ten rows.
VIP ticket holders also get special Rock Gone Wild privileges. These ticket holders will sit in rows 11-30, enjoy buffet style lunch, dinner and late night snacks daily, plus beer, soft drinks and water. VIP fans will enjoy their food and drink in air-conditioned tents. General admission tickets are also available. To purchase tickets, please visithttp://tickets.rockgonewild.com/.
Rock Gone Wild will take place at the FreedomPark festival grounds, located at 2507- 160th Avenue in Algona, Iowa.
Here is a great confession for you: every time I hear Skid Row's "I Remember You" I want to bawl.
Like a baby.
From the guitar solo beginning, to Sebastian Bach's high notes... the song makes me an emotional disaster.
I was feeling particularly sad and lonely last night - so what do I do? I put on "I Remember You" and torture myself.
"Remember yesterday/walking hand in hand/love letters in the sand/I remember you."
These lyrics, people, are the stuff of real Glam.
It's also apparently the stuff that makes the Glam mistress sappy.
You must understand I'm a hardened bad ass. Nothing phases me. I don't cry at movies. Or weddings. Or funerals. Heather moved halfway across the country last week. I didn't cry then either. Well, neither did she. At least she didn't around me. That's not how I roll.
Again, I'm a hardened bad ass.
Still, give me Sebastian Bach and a guitar solo I've heard more times than my own name and I'm reduced to blubber.
Maybe I'm emotionally unstable.
Ok, so I'm emotionally unstable.
"You're my darling/I love you."
Classic.
You see, I think my emotional attachment to this song has something to do with my past. I'm not exactly sure what happened in my past - but something has always triggered a "sadness switch" in my brain whenever I hear this song. Yes, it happens when I hear the song live, too.
The video for "I Remember You" isn't that spectacular from a concept point of view. Still, it gets the idea across - and, apparently - I got the idea big time when I was a kid. There are a few songs that trigger the "sadness switch" but none are quite as powerful as "I Remember You."
I think on some level, songs like "I Remember You" are what put the initial spark in my brain to write. Now, I've accomplished sad little as a writer, but I keep plugging along. I guess I feel like someday I might be able to move people with words on a page like Skid Row were able to move me - through music - so long ago.
It isn't very often that music and lyrics come together to create a perfect emotional storm. Sure, there are songs that make us happy. There are songs that make us violent. Then there are songs that make us feel.
If you're broke (like me) but want some free music (legally) - you're in luck! Jetboy are giving away free downloads of some of their best-known tracks.
Jetboy was formed in 1983...now, 25 years later, the band is back together, playing shows and writing music.
Apparently, Jetboy are embarking on a major tour in 2009. I can't help but wonder who else is on the bill...and how many festival stops the band will make. After all, Jetboy played Rocklahoma, Rock the Bayou and South Texas Rock Fest. I have to believe Jetboy will play at least one festival during the summer of 2009.
If you want some free tunes, just click here. I love free stuff!
Ok, so it's October. Still, festival season must not be too far off because tickets for Rock Gone Wild are already on sale...and general on sale for Rocklahoma is slated to begin today. Rock Gone Wild has already announced several bands, including Great White, Dangerous Toys, Helix and more. Rocklahoma hasn't announced any bands - but I expect one leak soon. I mean, something needs to fuel ticket sales at higher prices, right?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited that Rocklahoma tickets are slated for sale today. I want to see the seating chart and assess how many people renewed. I did not renew my seat license - this year, I'm holding on to my thousand bucks until I can see a true return on my investment. No more interest free loans from the National Bank of the Glam Mistress.
Friday, October 31, 2008 at 08:51PM 
