Monday, February 20, 2012

I'm Demon Speeding

I have been watching a ton of music videos on You Tube lately. I made a playlist of great driving songs. I am famous for having a lead foot. I can't help it, I love the wind in my face and the purr of a big engine. Sadly Seattle is not the place for a loud gas guzzling car, so with a heavy heart I sold my Camero.( also known as the white ghost). Below are some of my favorites

Here is Rob Zombie's Dragula.
Can't you just feel yourself driving too fast? Little known fact Dragula is the name of Grandpa Munsters car..



Ok here's another Rob Zombie song, that is made for driving..and er speeding.

I like the aggressive stuff for driving too. This one is
especially good for Los Angeles or Seattle traffic!



Writer (and friend) Kevin Hearne likes driving to The Chili Peppers, Tell Me Baby. I like it..
I think I will add it to my running play list.



Chelsea of Vampire Book Club fame, chose Children of Bodom's Triple Corpse Hammerblow as her driving song.. Badass much? you bet! The song doesn't have a video, but you should listen to it! Metal at it's best.




Crooked Fang Bassist, erstwhile Vampire and sometimes Twitter Dj Xan Marcelles chose Type O Negative's version of Highway Star..


He also chose Foghat's Slow ride..a fantastic driving song If I do say so myself! Be warned it's the full version... just crank it up and enjoy a beer.. Ah the 70's...



This next one would be an awesome driving song, if I still had a car. It's by metal band Powderburn, and you can get their new album "One Fix" here http://powderburn.bandcamp.com/album/one-fix
This one is called " The Lights go Down" and I LOVE IT!




ok I leave you with one more of my favorites.. It's very glam but I make no excuses.. it's fun..


so tell me what are your favorite driving songs?

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Bacon and Leather with Rob Halford



Back in the day, when I lived in San Diego, I ate my breakfast every Friday morning at a hipster place called the Hash House a Go-Go. For some reason they were never busy on Friday mornings, perhaps the hipsters had to do their hair or buy new skinny jeans on that day. Anyway, the “House” as we called it (and yes I am aware that is a pretty hipster nickname) was famous for making Belgian waffles with apple-smoked bacon inside of them. Not pieces mind you, full strips, and it was delish.

So on this particular Friday after I’d given my order, I noticed a gentleman who was not only dressed in leathers at 9 in the morning but looked oddly like Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He was drinking water and eating a bagel. I tried not to stare because if it really was Mr. Halford it would be utterly ridiculous. I ordered my bacon waffle, and casually mentioned to my waitress in hushed tones, that the leather man looked like a healthy Rob Halford. She laughed and said, “That’s because it is; he comes in a couple of times a week.” Seriously? … Of all the gin joints...oh wait, wrong movie. Of all the places to cross paths with one of the kings of metal, a hipster hash house? WTF Universe?


My waffle was delivered and the thing was huge, freaking ginormous, and I felt eyes on me. I looked up to see the Lord of Metal looking curiously at me and my giant waffle.

He leaned over, smiled, and asked, “Is it as good as it looks? “

I was speechless for a moment, which if you know me is no mean feat... “Yep it is, would you like to taste it?” I asked shyly. (And no that was no innuendo)

He nodded. “That would be lovely,” he replied in a fairly thick English country accent. I cut a largish corner off my waffle, put it on the extra plate and handed it over. I have to say he looked fantastic... Super healthy, shaved head, tan wearing jack boots, black jeans, a wife beater, and a studded leather vest. This guy worked out.

He tasted the waffle, made with the OMG eyes, and hailed the waitress, ordering his own waffle like a child tasting their first Snickers bar.

He then gestured towards his table and asked if I would like to join him. How could I resist this walking bible of Metal History? I moved my food over and introduced myself. One of the most charming things was that, although he was hearing Synde, he pronounced it closer to Sandy.

We talked about music, health, and why he had chosen San Diego as his current home. San Diego has a very open and comfortable gay community and he felt very at home and accepted there. He told me some pretty awesome stories about Ozzy who was born in a town very close to Rob and they had known each other early on. He talked about all the Iron Maiden issues and even a bit about the “new” metal. (Metallica, Megadeth)

After we finished, he insisted on paying for both of us, and who was I to argue? Metal God remember? I thanked him, hugged him and we both went our separate ways. I never ran into him in San Diego again, which was sad, as he was one of the most charming musicians I have met. I experienced no crazy ego on his part at all. He never once pulled the MR JUDAS FUCKING PRIEST title on me. He simply was.

I hope he is doing well...it was a fantastic day that I will always remember.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Humanity the lost art


I spend a fair amount of time on Twitter. Perhaps too much. I have found myself taking others comments personally and feeling hurt.

Have we as a generation lost the art of socialization? No one talks any more: We text, tweet, or email, but how often do we actually pick up the phone? I have a friend who hadn't made a phone call in a year. They made all their plans via text. I find that perplexing.

There is nothing like sitting with your friends and having discussion face to face, in more than 140 characters.

I think my real problem with the internet is that people don't have to be responsible. They can say whatever they like because there is no “real contact” with the other person. I have watched countless people flame each other for the smallest and silliest of issues. Someone commits a small faux pas on twitter and they are slammed. It's not right.

Were did our tolerance go? Did it leave with our social skills? Our friendships are forged on the few things we say to each other. Something happens and then you are the latest flame victim. In “real” life wouldn't you talk to the offender, try to figure it out? I think that's what we adults should be expected to do. Alas no, I think we “live” for those kinds of flamings. It's no good . . . and ruining our humanity.

As a result of this kind of behavior I find myself spending less and less time on the internet, which I think is a good thing.

What do you think?