Guitar genius and legend, Eddie Van Halen passed away due to a long running battle with cancer. Van Halen, the band created with brother Alex, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, was a dominant musical force in the record charts from the late 1970’s to the mid 1980’s and then again when Roth exited and was replaced by singer Sammy Hagar during the 1990’s. A major portion of the credit for that achievement goes to the extraordinary guitar playing and writing of Eddie. Van Halen flirted between a heavy rock and pop sound and showcased the guitar histrionics that Eddie [More]
Influential bassist, rocker, writer and musician Pete Way has passed. I am most familiar with his work with UFO, a popular British hard rock act from the “70’s to the ’90’s. Way wrote some of their most beloved songs and was a relentless stalker of the stage and theatrical performer. Way went on to found Fastway and Waysted and his Pete Way Band. Ways’ boisterous antics are the stuff of rock legend, and there are many tales, but his playing and writing have inspired a lot of people. We will all miss yet another larger than life character of Rock [More]
Today is Bruce Springsteen’s birthday and we wish him many, many more. The evergreen rocker turns 71. We look forward to seeing him on the road again whenever we get a grip on this freaking pandemic. Vintage “The River” material is performed in the video. We need his live concert experience energy now!!!
Simeon Coxe was part of the musical duo known as The Silver Apples. He just passed away. I would not say I was previously a huge fan of their music. I thought their use of a DIY synthesizer beast and drummer combo were at times too repetitive and I wasn’t in love the singing. Listening now, I am liking what I hear more and more. I have borrowed the description below from Jon Pareles of The New York Times who describes the band: Silver Apples was a two-man band: Dan Taylor on drums and Mr. Coxe, billing himself simply as [More]
Dependable British leading lady, Diana Rigg, is dead at 82. Rigg made a splash in the ’60’s as heroine Emma Peel in the iconic TV series, The Avengers. I have a fondness for her performance in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969) where she temporarily became Mrs. Bond to George Lazenby’s James Bond. Also did good work as crazed thespian Vincent Price’s daughter in “Theatre of Blood” (1973). She will be missed.
This was the final film gathering of The Original Series Star Trek crew after a long line of cinematic adventures. Star Trek started out as a TV series but after only lasting three seasons in its original run, a devoted fanbase rallied to get the creative forces that be to realize that there was still an audience out there and, after Star Wars proved to be a box office smash, that maybe there was gold in them thar science fiction film hills. The resultant movie franchise lasted for six installments. This time out, our heroes are ordered to take a [More]
Climate disaster strikes in this gritty, black and white science fiction picture from Britain. The US and Russia are independently testing nuclear weapons at opposing poles in the same time frame. The resultant detonations have calamitous effects on the rotation of our planet setting it on a course a bit too close to the Sun for our own good. London experiences drastic temperature rises. The Thames dries up, looting and riots break out and panic sets in. The authorities decide on a desperate course of action: fire off a couple more nuclear devices in an effort to get the Earth [More]
Actor John Saxon just passed away. I recently watched him in the Clint Eastwood Western, “Joe Kidd”. Nice turn. I will always remember him from “Blood Beach” where he plays a detective assigned to a case of mysterious disappearances at a local beach. He is allowed to utter, completely straight-faced, the immortal riff which borrows from the “Jaws” film legacy about people in his community having difficulty even getting to the water. Classic! A well recognized and respected actor. We are sad to see his passing.
The Big One! Aliens invade our airspace and threaten our way of life. The Earth counters their incursion. Our efforts amount to naught. Surprise, surprise, it takes American ingenuity to break through the aliens’ defenses. Adrenaline fueled, special effects heavy, feel good peon to Humankind working together and preserving the sanctity of freedom and The American Way. LOL! You’ll love it!!! Pop Corn Hall Of Fame Award Winner!!! Yay!!!!
Right on the heals of the Covid pandemic in the United States, we have mobs running riot in the streets. What happened to Social Distancing? How fitting then is this song?
If you thought the COVID-19 pandemic was bad, think about the never ending plague of remakes and redoes about the immortal movie killing machine Michael Myers. In “Resurrection”, there is a group, ultimately Myers’ victims (duh!), who win a contest to appear on an live Internet broadcast that takes place at Michael’s old home. The visitors are equipped with body cameras and there are other cameras setup around the place by the producer’s of the show to capture the action. It isn’t long before the murderous mayhem begins. At this stage of the “Halloween” movie cycle, this is the eighth [More]
It is a good thing for us that Little Richard lived to the ripe old age of 87. We have been able to enjoy his talent and wit all these years! A rock and roll trailblazer and influential icon, Little Richard was a one of a kind personality and energy source. We have been blessed with his presence. Thank you, Sir.
Dave Greenfield played the keyboards with the British punk band The Stranglers. He passed away over the weekend, Dave had to be admitted to hospital for a heart ailment but ended up contacting the corona virus and passed away. Ugh. What a shame. An amazing player and talented writer and performer. Farewell, Dave.
Married man home alone for the weekend. He is also an egotistical lawyer. Begins a flirtation with someone from the office. Unknown to him, she is also rather possessive and psychotic. After their weekend fling, things go all bad. Fantastic suspense film starring Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. Directed by Adrian Lyne. Watch it. It is quite creepy!