All posts by Kev Brock

I'm a musician, singer/songwriter, blogger, writer, poet, bodybuilder, movie lover, music lover, video gamer, history/political buff, conservative/republican, etc. I like to do a lot of things.
music

This Day In Music: 11/19/11

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Here’s the this day in music for the day. Enjoy.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Matt Sorum (drummer for the Cult, Guns N’ Roses, The Velvet Revolver. Born in 1960)

– In 1955: Carl Perkins recorded ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ at Sun Studios in Memphis. The rock ‘n’ roll classic became a US No.2 & UK No.10 hit for Perkins in 1956, and has been covered by many acts including Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

– In 1962: The Beatles, played gigs at three different venues. First they performed a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, followed by an 85-mile drive to the Midlands, where they performed at Smethwick Baths Ballroom and then at the Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich in Staffordshire.

– In 1966: The Supremes started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’, the group’s 7th US No.1. It made No.8 in the UK.

– In 1979: Chuck Berry was released from prison after serving a four-month sentence for tax evasion.

– In 1983: Tom Evans from Badfinger committed suicide by hanging himself in his back garden from a willow tree. Family members said the singer, songwriter was never able to get over his former bandmate’s Pete Ham’s suicide. Evans co-wrote ‘Without You’ a hit for Harry Nilson and Mariah Carey.

– In 1988: Bon Jovi started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Bad Medicine’, the group’s third US No.1, a No.17 hit in the UK.

– In 1994: Crosby Stills & Nash member David Crosby had a successful liver transplant operation at Dumont-UCLA in Los Angeles. Crosby’s liver was deteriorated from extensive alcohol and drug abuse, as well as hepatitis-C.

– In 1994: Nirvana entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘MTV Unplugged In New York.’

– IN 2000: The Beatles started an eleven-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘The Beatles 1’.

– In 2001: Mick Jagger released his new solo album ‘Goddess In The Doorway’. First day sales stood at 954 copies.

– In 2001: Scott Weiland lead singer with The Stone Temple Pilots was arrested after allegedly fighting with his wife at the Hard Rock hotel in Las Vegas. Weiland was booked on one count of domestic battery and was released 12 hours later. The band had performed at the club that night.

– In 2003: Police issued an arrest warrant for Michael Jackson following allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year old boy. Jackson who was in Las Vegas filming a video, negotiated with police to arrange a time and place to hand himself in.

 

Stallone news

Cool Photo: “Expendables 2” poster is here!!!!

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It’s a GREAT poster, however, I feel there is a huge mistake on it. I think it’s advertised wrong. How? It’s got Jet Li’s name on the poster, but he’s not on it. Instead you see this Asian person who looks like a woman. That’s not Jet Li. That is a Chinese actress named, Yu Nan. If you’re going to put Yu Nan on the poster, at least put her name on the poster. Jet Li needs to be included on there also. Other than this little error, the poster looks great.

Arnold and Bruce holding guns, is a hint that they are going to be kicking ass and getting into action this time around.

I hope this is a much better than movie than the first one. I’ll be seeing this one in theater for sure. So “Rocky”, and “Rambo”, are Sly’s two big movie franchises, so, “Expendables”, will be his third major franchise.

Van Damme is the main villain in this movie, so it’s gonna be good.

Kev

TV

Report: “Dexter”, gets two more seasons, and Michael C. Hall is still on board!!!!

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Attention all Dexter fans!!!

There were worries that Michael C. Hall was going to quit the show after season 6 due to the impasse. They couldn’t fill in the $4 million dollar gap, of the original $24 million that Michael wanted. Well, Showtime was able to give the $24 million dollar deal that Michael wanted, and now the actor is still on board for two more seasons!

Read the full story, here.

Great news! The more “Dexter” the better. I haven’t been watching Season 6 ’cause I don’t have Showtime. I’ll just watch them all on DVD when the upcoming seasons come out. Glad Michael is still on the show, ’cause there can’t be a Dexter without him.

Kev

music

Report: Van Halen confirms new record deal with Interscope Records, official…

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For a while now, there has been rumors and speculation that there is going to be a new record deal for Van Halen, with Interscope Records. Today, the band made it official. Van Halen, hasn’t announced a new album and a tour yet, but it is expected.

Read the full story, here.

Same thing, if Van Halen comes to the Times Union Center in Albany, I’m going to that show also. Van Halen is another band I’ve always wanted to see that I’ve never got to. I fuckin’ love Van Halen!

Kev

music

Report: Black Sabbath, reveals European tour dates, no U.S. dates just yet!!!

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Just today, Black Sabbath revealed their European dates. Look like they are hitting over seas first before they make their way to the U.S. I’m sure they will have a bunch of U.S. dates soon.

See their European schedule, here.

When they start booking U.S. dates, I hope they book a show at the Times Union Center in Albany. I doubt they will play Albany, but ya never know. We just have to keep our fingers crossed for now. Black Sabbath with the original lineup is one band I’ve always wanted to see live. If they do play the Times Union, I’m gonna get my money ready and buy those tickets. You betcha I’m going to that show if they play here.

I never saw Ozzy or Black Sabbath live. Always wanted to though.

Kev

music

This Day In Music: 11/18/11

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Here’s the “This Day In Music For the Day”. Enjoy.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Graham Parker (singer/songwriter, born in 1950), Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist for Metallica, born in 1962)

– In 1963: The Beatles received silver LP discs for ‘Please Please Me’ and ‘With the Beatles’ at a ceremony held at EMI House in London. They also received a silver EP for ‘Twist and Shout’ and a silver single for ‘She Loves You’. The band then attend a cocktail party and a formal lunch in the EMI boardroom with company executives and invited guests.

– In 1972: Cat Stevens started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Catch Bull At Four’.

– In 1972: Danny Whitten died of a drug overdose aged 29. Member of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse and writer of ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk About It’, covered by Rod Stewart, Rita Coolidge and Everything But The Girl. The Neil Young song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose).

– In 1978: Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US album chart with ’52nd Street’, his first US No.1 album.

– In 1992: Black Sabbath were honoured with a star at the Rock Walk in Hollywood.

– In 1993: Nirvana recorded their MTV unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York.

– In 1993: Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder was arrested in New Orleans for disturbing the peace after a fight broke out in a bar.

– In 2001: Britney Spears scored her second US No.1 album with ‘Britney.’

– In 2003: More than five hundred Britney Spears fans camped overnight outside the Virgin Records Megastore in New York’s Times Square waiting to get the star to sign copies of her new album ‘In The Zone.’

– In 2003: Following allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year old boy, police raided Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch. Jackson denied the allegations, the search came on the day that his latest greatest hits album, ‘Number Ones’ was released in the US.

– In 2003: American composer and orchestral arranger Michael Kamen died of a heart attack in London aged 55. Worked with Pink Floyd, Queen, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Eurythmics, Queensryche, Rush, Metallica, Herbie Hancock, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, Jim Croce, Sting, and Kate Bush. Kamen co-wrote Bryan Adams’ ballad ‘(Everything I Do), I Do It for You.’

 

movies, music

Thought: How I would like to see the Michael Jackson biopic get made…

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As soon as the news of the Michael Jackson biopic film moving forward was announced this week, I am a little worried on how they’re going to make the film. There are questions you have to ask yourself about the film. How much are they going to put in and how much they are going to leave out of Jackson’s life? Will they even use the pedophile and Conrad Murray stuff?

Since this film is going to be by the Jackson estate, I’m a little worried they’re going to leave out all the negative stuff about Jackson’s life, and focus on the positive things out of respect for Jackson’s family. I hope they use everything about Jackson’s life even the controversial stuff. Yes, they even need to use the part where Jackson hangs a baby out the window. Jackson losing Neverland Ranch needs to be in the film too. All that controversial and dark stuff about Jackson’s life needs to be in the film, if they want it to be a powerful drama. This shouldn’t be a family friendly Jackson biopic ’cause we already got the family friendly Jackson with the, “This Is It”, movie.

The film also shouldn’t be a musical ’cause we already got that with, “This Is It”. It needs to be a strictly biopic movie think of films like “La Bamba”, “Ray”, and “Walk the Line”. If they want this film to work, and if they want this film to land some Oscar nods, they need to be a little careful with this film. It’s going to be difficult and challenging to make a Jackson biopic.

It needs a really good writer and good director. Kenny Ortega will probably direct this film, but I would appreciate if they pass the torch to someone else. Spike Lee might do a good job. I would also like the great Martin Scorsese to direct it too. MJ and Martin Scorsese worked on a few music videos in the past before, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they go after Scorsese. Scorsese would probably be the best choice out of everyone though.

The film also needs to be long, at least 2 1/2 hrs. to 3 hrs long. A Jackson biopic would be good. It should focus on the history of his life from his childhood to his death. It should focus everything on his life from his music career, movie career, family life, romantic relationships, drug addiction, etc. Everything needs to be in it. It’s not a biopic movie if they decide to leave stuff out, right?

Whether you like MJ or not, he is king. They don’t call him the, “King of Pop”, for nothing. I’m a fan of MJ, always has been. I don’t care what other people think.

Kev

TNA Impact, WWE news

Thought: It really is sad what WWE has become, I lost interest in WWE completely…

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Even though I haven’t been watching RAW for the past several weeks, I had to watch last Monday’s RAW ’cause the Rock was going to appear. I love the Rock. Dwayne Johnson is always awesome, but last Monday’s show was terrible. It was a 3 hour special of RAW. Mick Foley came back that night, who is another hero of mine.

They’re really trying to make everything you see in WWE TV being real, when it isn’t. They’re trying to make all the storylines believable. I just don’t like how they’re ignoring the wrestling part of it and concentrating on the entertainment stuff.

I totally miss the old days of WWE, man. Back in the old days were really great. That’s when WWE was special, the Attitude Era. Now WWE is for kids.

It is why I watch TNA Impact every week now, ’cause they concentrate on the wrestling part of things. I want to see wrestling, not a fucking circus or a soap opera, come on. Even though I don’t like how WWE is going, I’ll always respect the performers. There are still talented performers in the WWE today, it’s just that I don’t like the PG rating like everyone else.

I’ve watched WWE pretty much my entire life and I didn’t think I would ever give up on them. I’ve had it with WWE. Their storylines lately are looking like stuff that you can read from pre-school childrens books. That’s how family friendly they’re getting. Almost feels like you’re watching Sesame Street.

I really miss the old days. At least TNA knows what real wrestling is all about, they’re doing a good job. I”ve been liking TNA more and  more as I watch. I’m about to watch TNA Impact, tonight.

Kev

music

This Day In Music: 11/17/11

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Here is the “This Day In Music” for today.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Gordon Lightfoot (Canadian singer/songwriter, born in 1938), Rupaul (US male drag queen & rapper, born in 1960), Jeff Buckley (US Singer/songwriter, born in 1966)

– In 1962: The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, the group’s second No.1 of the year. It made No.13 in the UK.

– In 1967: Pink Floyd released their third single ‘Apples And Oranges’, which failed to chart.

– In 1967: The Who kicked off their second North American tour supporting The Buckinghams at Shawnee Mission South High School in Kansas City.

– In 1973: The Who’s double album ‘Quadrophenia’ entered the UK album chart peaking at No.2. One of two two full-scale rock operas from The Who (the other being the 1969 ‘Tommy’). The 1979 film based on the story stars Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Ray Winstone, Michael Elphick and Sting.

– In 1974: John Lennon scored his second solo US No.1 album with ‘Walls And Bridges.’

– In 1979: Jethro Tull bass player John Glascock died at the age of 28, as a result of a congenital heart defect. Had also been a member of Chicken Shack.

– In 1979: The Commodores went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Still’, the group’s second US No.1 single, it made No.4 in the UK.

– In 1990: David Crosby from Crosby Stills Nash & Young was admitted to hospital after breaking a leg, shoulder and ankle after crashing his Harley Davidson motorbike.

– In 2003: 21 year-old Britney Spears became the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The only other performer to get a Hollywood star at her age was Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert.

– In 2007: The Eagles were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ the bands seventh studio album and first since 1979.

music, Uncategorized, World Wide Web

RANT: Metallica had every right to do what they did with Napster…

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Whenever Metallica is brought up in a music discussion forum like facebook, blogs, message boards, etc. Metallica’s controversy with Napster years back is always brought up. Whenever I bring up a topic about Metallica in my facebook account, at least 1 person will bring up the Napster thing there too. Apparently, people have never gotten over Metallica who sued Napster in 2000.

Napster used to be a free downloading music software site. I used to use it myself before the software became payable. Do I blame Metallica for this that downloading music online isn’t free anymore? No. I don’t blame Metallica at all. Who is the real person that should be blamed on? Just blame the thief who stole their song “I Disappear” and leaked it on Napster before the single’s release date. He is the real bad guy there.

That is why Metallica was angry at Napster, because somebody leaked the “I Disappear” song to Napster early which is a song off the, “Mission Impossible II” soundtrack. They were angry about the file sharing on Napster, not because people were downloading the music.

I respect Metallica for what they did to Napster. It’s their music. They were just trying to protect their work. That’s what it was all about. I’ve explained it plenty of times in the past before, if you’re a band and if your music is copyrighted, you have complete control of it. You have the right to choose if you want other people using your music. If other people use your music without your permission, that gives you the right to sue.

Will you feel good about it if some idiot thief steals your music and leaks it to the internet before release date? No. That would piss you right off, I’m sure. That’s how Metallica felt. It was all about respecting the copyright and their work.

People think they can use other band’s music for free, all they want to, but bands work hard for what they do so deserve to get paid for their music. Don’t be a pirate. Support the artist and the industry by buying it. There are still a lot of pirates out there steal a lot of music, but I’d rather not do that. I like putting my money toward the artists that I like. I don’t mind buying the CD or downloading the music digitally.

I like to respect the artist and their copyright. You should too. That’s why Napster turned into a payable site, because it was you that was stealing and sharing stuff. It’s not the band’s fault at all. All they want to do is make music and release it for your listening pleasure. You’re just disrespecting the band by disrespecting their copyright. End of story.

Kev