An expanding collection of the best and worst in music, movies and videos. Oddities, rarities, and assorted nuggets of obscurity. Updated regularly, so check back often.
Dominating the news cycle this morning is this video clip from U.S. president George Bush’s visit to Iraq yesterday, when a Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia television network hurled both his shoes at Bush during a press conference. This quickly disintegrated into a decadent orgy of dance, as the spirit of Elvis took over GW’s body. The horrific results can be seen here:
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This is Jake E Lee, Axemaster extraordinaire. His credentials include 80’s metal monsters Ratt and Rough Cut, as well as shredding it out for Ronnie James Dio and Badlands. He is probably most famous for salvaging Ozzy’s Diary of a Madman tour after Randy Rhodes untimely death. No small feat, filling those shoes. He stayed on with Ozzy and recorded the killer Bark at the Moon album. Without further ado, here’s Jake slaying them on a 1983 tour with Ozzy.
The Strangers has been causing a lot of controversy for its alleged true story angle. Comparing the film to the facts (see: Keddie Cabin Murders -vs- The Strangers) hopefully helped to clear up a few misconceptions, although even if it did, it probably didn’t help anybody sleep better at night because of it.
This movie was inspired by true events, as opposed to being based on true events. What this means in Hollywood lingo, inspired by allows the directors imagination run rampant while implying everything portrayed is true, whereas based on is supposedly based on fact, albeit with a few embellishments (and usually a love interest). When interviewed about The Strangers, director Bryan Bertino said his main inspiration for the story was Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. continue reading "The True story of The Strangers, part two."
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GG Allin meets Elvis Presley in the fever dreams of Artaud.
Extreme Elvis is possibly the greatest living Elvis tribute artist alive today. If he’s still living, that is. His site was permanently shut down years ago by the FBI and Homeland Security for copy write infringement and other heinous crimes…or was it? Reality becomes a blur. Aside from a few online interviews, a story in Gigs From Hell and fading memories of the fascinating biography from his old site, nothing remains but a small handful of unforgettable performances which remain seared into my brain.
Extreme Elvis burst on the about scene eight years ago, leaving a trail of carnage, urine stained blue suede shoes, feces soaked mikes and broken hearts. What happened to him? Was he taken out by some muscle from the Memphis Mafia? Did he self destruct in a delirious haze of fame? Is he living in obscurity in Hollywood, appearing randomly on bagels or treating unsuspecting locals with the occasional sighting in the Midwest? I don’t claim to know, I just wish he’d reignite the faltering Elvis scene with his brilliant interpretation.
Below are clips of two of my favorite E.E. performances. They’re actually quite tame compared to the rest of the existing performances which can be found on his old video page, including a legendary full length performance at the Covered Wagon from 2001. I’ve saved them in case they suddenly disappear as well, and recommend you do the same. Be aware that these videos aren’t work safe, so quit your crappy job. In fact, they’re probably not safe for any situation or location. Please enjoy responsibly, or better yet - don’t. Go on with your life and be happy with Elvis Karaoke on Tuesday nights at the Bingo Hall, unhampered by the reality of these powerful and emotionally charged renditions. You cannot unsee this. continue reading "Extreme Elvis"
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So I wrote earlier that The Strangers was based on the true story of the Keddie Cabin Murders. Well, there are some fallacies that should be cleared up. There were unsolved murders at Keddie Cabin, this much is true. Its also true that the murders are still unsolved.
But thats about where the ‘true story’ angle ends. Truth is stranger, and more disturbing, than ‘based on truth.’ There were four murders in cabin 28 that night. Glenna Sharp, her 15 year old son John and 17 year old family friend Dana Wingate were found beaten and stabbed the next morning by Glenna’s 14 year old daughter Sheila, who luckily spent the night with a friend. Thirteen year old Tina Sharp was missing from the cabin, and her decapitated remains were discovered three years later, buried 95 miles away. Her other two sons and another friend, all toddlers, were spared and found hiding in a separate room. continue reading "Keddie Cabin Murders -vs- The Strangers"
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Thanks to Cialis, limp loined losers can now get laid in as little as 30 minutes! It lasts up to 36 hours! Erectile dysfunction, impotence, heartburn, acid, diarrhea. This’ll cure what ails ya thanks to the mysterious new miracle chemical tadalafil. The home grown bone toner was purposely named to sound like a falafel stand, because the main ingredient is chick please. continue reading "The New Cialis Campaign"
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Nothing fills people with dread more than the words ‘based on a true story.’
It was this claim that instilled absolute terror at the mere mention of Amityville. Even the director of the live action Scooby Doo movie scored a huge horror hit with his remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was based on the original TCM movie instead of the story of Edward Gein. As far from the truth as that movie was, it still served to scare the hell out of a lot of people. I’ll admit the original still freaks me out. But that’s horror. continue reading "The Strangers in the Night"
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I never felt the urge to see Super Size Me. That movie always seemed like a cheap shot at a faltering giant. ‘Wow, nothing negative has ever been said about McDonald’s before, what an original idea!’ What’s next, Smoking: It may or may not be good for you! I read Fast Food Nation, even before it became a movie starring Avril Lavigne. I read Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry. Well, I read the book flap in the store. Needless to say, Super Size Me seemed like a waste of time for someone as knowledgeable and in tune with the world as me. continue reading "Want some fries with that terrorist?"
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A few nights ago I was watching TV with my girlfriend when a trailer for the new film The Stone Angel came on. My mind raced during that thirty second slot. I began to feel angry that somebody had remade this awful movie. Admittedly, I occasionally get stone and cement confused; this is why I lasted only one summer as a masonry apprentice. Somehow I had mistaken it for ‘The Cement Garden’ by smarmy englishman Ian Mcewan. This was a book that, to put it mildly, I didn’t love. After reading it I threw it from the window of a moving bus. Don’t worry, crap is biodegradable. continue reading "Requiem for a Stone Angel"
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When I was visiting Japan a few years ago we went to Yoyogi Park on a Sunday afternoon. There were so many performers lining the walkway it was incredible. Every ten to fifteen feet or so you’d run into a new band, street performer, dancer, musician, comedian, or some other kind of performance or costume that I couldn’t quite describe.
My favorite was the first group was saw at the front gates of the park, The Tokyo Rockabilly Club. A circle of eight to ten massively pompadoured, tough looking leather clad rockers, all dancing to Japanese rockabilly played over a small boombox so loudly that it was distorted almost beyond intelligibility. And damn, these guys could really cut a rug. Usually in the middle of a song one of them would take a ‘dance solo’ while the others clapped and encouraged him to go harder, when he finally exhausted himself the group would all start dancing again.
It was very strange, and very cool. Unfortunately our camera had about 10 seconds of film when we got to the park, but these clips should give you an impression of what a performance is like. If you’re ever in Tokyo make sure to head to Yoyogi Park on a Sunday afternoon, you won’t be disappointed. continue reading "The Tokyo Rockabilly Club"
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Her name is Belinda Bedekovic, and she’s the self proclaimed ‘fastest finger on the remote keyboard’ in the world. Aside from completing her album TORNADO ON THE REMOTE KEYBOARD, she has also been offered a love explosion inside of her by Borat. continue reading "Keytar Lady from Hell!"
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What the hell is wrong with those morons, this video is brilliant. Not only is it catchy and entertaining, it also demonstrates why you shouldn’t eat cleaning products and features washroom sign sex and a talking toilet. Brilliant!
I was honored to receive an email from Lance Bakemeyer of the Hillbilly Hellcats this morning regarding our clip of the zombie dance from Dead and Breakfast. In case there was any misunderstanding, that wasn’t the Hillbilly Hellcats music the zombies were dancing to, it was Zach Selwyn of the country rock band Zachariah and the Lobos Riders (quite an interesting cat). continue reading "The Hillbilly Hellcats in Dead and Breakfast"
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In keeping with our musical zombie theme, here’s a scene from the horror/musical/comedy Dead and Breakfast. This movie boasts a fantastic soundtrack by the Hillbilly Hellcats, as well as some great tunes that narrate the story, blood, guts, violence and everything else you look for in a family film. This particular clip shows and undead horde converging on our heroes who’ve barricaded themselves inside a bed and breakfast. Unlike the rest of the film, they suddenly stop their assault and begin…dancing? continue reading "Dead and Breakfast"
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Here’s a cool video that originally aired on CBC Sept 27, 1977. Hana Gartner decides to find out what this punk thing was all about by interviewing Canadian punk legends Teenage Head, The Viletones and The Poles between sets at a five hour show.
Apparently she didn’t dig it too much. She asks Steve Leckie aka Nazi Dog why he cuts himself, and while speaking with Frankie Venom she told him, “I’ve been listening to you this evening, and the Viletones, and if I may be honest the only thing I got out of it was a headache.” Frankie responds, ‘Oh gee, yeah? Tough.” Also features interviews with punk girls who slash themselves because they’re bored and much more. continue reading "Canadian Punk Rock circa 1977"
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Here is an excerpt from Takashi Miike’s brilliant horror/comedy/musical The Happiness of the Katakuris. The story is based around a family who move to the country and buy a bed and breakfast in order to be closer together and away from the city. Unfortunately, the B&B is so isolated they don’t get any guests at all for a very long time. When they finally start getting borders, they all mysteriously die.