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It’s March 1st, what are you doing?

I’m staying home from work, getting a lot done. I am calling this “day one”, more about that later!

My chest is messed up, seriously. Friday night, my step dad took me to the ER, and I had a lot looked at. Worst pain I have ever had, and I had a heart attack in 2005 (?). Everything looked fine to the doctors, so they called it ‘chest wall pain’. They gave me some vicodin, slapped me on the butt and sent me on my way. It’s been a few days, and it still hurts like hell, and may for a couple of weeks. Taking something to cut the pain down, but still having a hard time when I move or breathe in too heavily.

Planning for my music project (have a few basic tracks, a title), some house cleaning and laundry, also looking for a new/better job. Nine Inch Nails playing in the background (just albums, Trent’s not actually here, today). I’ll be around Facebook and MVP Insults (Stickam) most of the day…

Sometimes, you just need to rock out. Something heavy that you can let loose and get down to. I usually throw on something classic, maybe some Zeppelin or ACDC. But today was different, I wanted something with a little more ‘umph!’ to it, something a little more heady perhaps. So, I fingered through my virtual album rack and found just the thing. Today I am going to allow The Cult to beat me to a pulp. Care to join me?

In high school, at Charter Oak, I had pictures of Debbie Harry, Cherie Curry, Joan Jett and Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics plastered all over the inside of my locker. The Wendy O Williams photos got me in trouble with a passing teacher, once.

I think I have said this here, already, but I can’t wait to see ‘The Runaways‘, they’ve always been my favorite band. Just look at what greats came from of it…, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Curry, Micki Steele to The Bangles, and who could forget, drummer Sandy West! This movie is going to be so fun!

As the new year comes up, a lot is looking good for my future. I have a car in the driveway, and it needs some work. But it will be running shortly and I will be able to use it to expand my oportunities. Job, school, things to do. It’s a new start for the new year…

Yep, I mentioned school, I’m going back! It’s been a long road, deciding what it is I could possibly enjoy doing, and it was right under my nose, all along. I want to be a chef! I want to learn to cook, everything! I have been researching possibilities in my area, as far as learning and what to do. So far, I think I just want to get into some basic cooking essentials and then learn as much as I can from trying things at home, getting good at them, and then presenting myself to possibilities outside.

A restaurant? Something private? Catering perhaps. I’ll let it come to me, and see how I feel about it when the time is right. But for now, let’s just see about learning some of the proper ways, and then I’ll add my mix to it and go!

My music is also going to be a huge part of 2010, and I have a lot of working pieces at the moment. I need to get a couple of mics and some other goodies to help me piece it together as an album.

A couple of books to help me with the cooking and the music, and I’ll have quite a bit to work with. Oh, and Alison is sure to be along for the ride, as my little test subject, she’s excited about it!

Happy New Year, everyone!

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On November 30, 2009, guitarist Chad Taylor allthingschadtaylor.blogspot.com confirmed that the hiatus of the band was most likely permanent.

As far as the break-up reasons go, Taylor mentioned lead singer, Ed Kowalczyk’s demands of a $100,000 “lead singer bonus” at the 2009 Pinkpop Festival and of a 2005 contract that would put Kowalczyk as the sole signature of the band’s publishing company, Black Coffee Publishing Inc. In a letter to fans from the band (minus Kowalczyk), sent via e-mail to members of Live’s mailing list at FriendsofLive.com. Taylor, mentioned the possibility of a new vocalist for “the band”…

We were fast to try and open communication with Ed or his legal team but got no reply. Our hiatus had fast turned into a break up. Chad, Patrick and I have no plans to replace Ed at this point in time, however, he will no longer be a member of our band. We are excited by the opportunities ahead of us and will look to enjoin forces with vocalists and instrumentalists that will hold high the ideals set forth by the band and its fans. Yes, there may be future Live recording and tours but we are all very realistic that it will never be the same without Ed. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be great.

Like you, we are greatly saddened by the discoveries we made but as many of you know, life has a way of sorting things out. Ed will always be tied to Live and we will never make attempts to shadow his considerable lyrical and melodic contributions to our music.

The band’s Facebook page was also updated, removing all mention of Kowalczyk’s name. As for Chad and the rest of the band, his letter appears to mention they will turn their focus towards their project ‘The Gracious Few’ along with vocalist Kevin Martin and rhythm guitarist Sean Hennesy from the band Candlebox.

HIM’s new album, “Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice” will be released 2.9.10 in the US. Looking forward to hearing it! A few more details at heartagram.com.

gotafoggynotion.blogspot.com

Steve posted a really great review for friend Brandon Schott’s release, Dandelion. Do check it out, and listen to the included track.

1979-1980

I didn’t like disco when it was all happening, it was always on the radio and I couldn’t get away from it. But hell, what did I know? I was 10 years old at the time, I just didn’t get into it. My friend Travis and his brother turned me on to great rock like ACDC, KISS and Led Zeppelin, while our bodybuider neighbor, Larry Smith turned me on to the ‘new’ things that were happening, like Blondie, Television and Talking Heads. The latter being what caused all hell to brake loose for me. From those moments in the late 1970’s, I was in constant pursuit of something different, and that continues to this day.

I recall back in the 7th grade, at Giano Intermediate School, they used to have these after-school dances. I think it was an attempt to get some of the nighborhood kids off the street and doing something fun and together. So these dances were happening, I can’t remember if it was in a classrom or the cafeteria. But I do recall the room was packed, dark and full of hot sweaty teen-agers.

I don’t recall a lot of the music. I remember it wasn’t stuff I was really into at the time. I would recognise some of the songs in high school, later on. Stuff like Planet Rock, Double Dutch Bus, and Rapper’s Delight. All that early hip-hop and disco rap stuff. I remember it being a great time, the few times I went. And I remember the trouble I’d get in for not coming right home from school, it was worth it

Check out tracks from Peacock Swagger over on Steven’s myspace page.

For years, Steve and I have compared every new album, to something older. I think we all do that, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just a way to associate something, give it a classification, and file it in our minds when we want to get back to it later…

As I listen to the new Plasticsoul album, Peacock Swagger, I can’t help snickering, knowing it would please Steven to no end if I started name dropping our ultra-cool favorites, in comparison. He knows me, I’ll bet the very notion has him grinning that million-dollar grin of his. But I am not going to analyse too much, or use names today, the mention alone, is implying too much about what I think, too soon!

Steve is a songwriter, who loves other songwriters. And in a lifetime of studying his favorites, from the ultra-obscure to the greats, he has managed to reach into their souls, pick among the essence of their works, to perfect and use them for his own master plan. Peacock Swagger takes many of Steven’s favorite elements of rock and roll goodness, mixes them into assorted potions, brews and other concoctions, then delivers up a mixture that very few, if anyone, could serve up the way he does.

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