The world is full of monsters. As a parent I am aware of this everyday. My children are now grown and young adults out in the world. I was often told as they were growing up that I was to overprotective and that nothing would happen. I tried and we were lucky so far, and I hope to remain so. My Friends in NJ were not so lucky as to the recent events that have befallen them. The loss of their daughter Autumn has touched me deeply, the callousness in the way the alleged perpetrators treated her sickens me. Now the blame game will begin, “I was mistreated as a child”, “My father wasn’t around”, etc. etc., well I got news for you, I WAS mistreated as a child, and my parents were at times neglectful. But you know what? I CHOSE NOT TO CARRY ON THAT CYCLE. YES, YOU HEARD ME, I MADE THE DECISION. All of your actions are chosen by you. Own them they’re yours. Now, take the time and talk to your loved ones and be a part of their life.
Rest In Piece Autumn Pasquale, the world dimmed a bit with your loss. If you want to donate to Autumn’s family and make sure that your donations
go to Autumn’s family, Please Contact only Joe Fortino, John Higginbottom, Ken Mondillo or Greg Tripp members of The Electric Boa
Or
Autumn Pasquale Memorial Fund
C/O Fulton Bank of New Jersey
35 N Delsea Dr
Clayton, NJ 08312
Donations can be made via mail or walked in to the location
This is the official fund…watch the scams..this is the official one..Help is still needed.
with repsect,
the Hellion
http://www.facebook.com/CrownedByFire?fref=ts
Justin took time from his busy schedule to call me and give an intimate interview on Crowned By fire and their up and coming take over of the world. Take your time, sit back, grab a tasty beverage and listen……
thanks Justin! It was a pleasure speaking with you as always.
the Hellion
One of my favorite guitar effects is the wah pedal.
We all know and love the work of the man Jimi Hendrix. His use of the wah pedal set the bar for guitarists to come. So let’s look at some of the standouts:
Zakk Wylde on Ozzy’s “Gets Me Through”
Zakk has carried on the torch of melodic playing yet with brutality. His use of the wah in this makes this song stand out as one of Zakk’s best.
Jeff Beck on Jeff Beck Group’s “I Ain’t Superstitious”
Jeff takes a classic blues song and makes it magic. Slow down, put on some headphones and just listen to the magic.
Dimebag Darrell on Pantera’s “A New Level”
I couldn’t leave the man off of this list. Listen to the artwork in this track and just smile in its glory.
Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter”
The haunting music in this track is very well suited for Jimmy’s use of the wah. This one has taken me to far away places in my mind on many occasions.
Slash on Guns N Roses’s “Sweet Child O Mine”
Slash is one of my favorite guitarists plain and simple. Listen to the swagger of this song and get it all over you.
This list is by far incomplete. There are so many more to listen to so help me out!
the Hellion
I have been thinking about a conversation I recently had with a friend about growing old. I recently turned 48 years old and I still find excitement and joy in Rock N’ Roll. I’m not your typical 48 year old, I have long hair, earrings, numerous tattoos, I write a music blog, co-host an internet radio show, and created an internet video music show. I am twice the age of a lot of my friends. And yet, we have meaningful conversations, I give them advice, and we discuss pertinent world issues.
I feel that music knows no age, it is timeless. Through my entire life it has been a constant friend to me, always there, always comforting, never questioning me, never belittling me, always my companion.
My mom always had music on when I was growing up. When my first step-dad wasn’t home it was Rock N’ Roll. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson 5, Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Temptations, The Who, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, Isley Brothers, David Bowie, MC5 were but a few of the many bands my mom introduced me to. My step-dad however, only listened to country music. Johnny Cash, Jack Greene, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sonny James, Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Bill Anderson, Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, and Conway Twitty were some of his staples. I was five in 1969 and all of this music had me hooked, I was in love with music. I enjoyed the Rock N’ Roll more than the country (As an adult I would later come to respect the country music). Music became my anchor in the storm of my turbulent and dark childhood.
I was ten when my mom married my second step-dad and saved me (or so I thought) from the monster we had lived with. My new step-dad was a more of a free-spirit. Johnny Mathis,Cher,Terry Jacks,Redbone, Grand Funk Railroad, Elton John, Blue Swede, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Wings, Three Dog Night, The Steve Miller Band, and Steely Dan filled my ears with glorious sounds. However, it soon became apparent that music would become my only friend. My mom and my new step-dad soon had no time for me and my newborn brother. They had lives to live and we were and interruption. Again it was a dark time for me. It was 1974.
1974 -1985 Many many things happened in those years, most I choose to put away and not reflect upon. A lot of music came and went of varying styles and trends. I was lost and wandering, but music was still there. Hard Rock and Heavy Metal became my music of choice ( I made some questionable choices in music during this period as well).
1985 I was reborn. I met my future wife and The Cult, AC/DC, Dio, Dokken, Kiss, Motley Crue, Scorpions, Ratt, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and David Lee Roth were on the scene. My life became worth living and truly became joyful to me.
1990 I became a father and vowed to be there for my new son and treat him as I wish I had been treated as a child. We filled him with love, companionship, and music. Megadeth, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Pantera, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Warrant, Queensryche, Poison, and many others were often heard on radios and cassette players (yes cassette) in our home.
1993 My daughter was born furthering my joy in life. She was full of life and energy and completed my dream family. The music from that time carried on the “Metal Scene” was prevalent in our home in this period.
Present- I am 48! Oh shit! When did this happen? My kids are now young adults, I am still as much in love with my wife as I have ever been. and music is still a huge part of my life. I now write about, interview, and talk with people about music on a daily basis. I share my experiences, give advice, and share music both new, and old with many others. Music, yeah it can save you, it saved me.
the Hellion
https://thehellionrocks.wordpress.com/
I recently heard of a meeting between two guys that could change the world. Scattered Hamlet‘s own Adam Joad and Randy “The Arsonist” Cooper. One can only imagine the conversations that took place between them. Here’s a video link for an idea:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4387098711650
Rebels meeting Rebels
Make sure to go to Scattered Hamlet’s facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ScatteredHamlet?fref=ts and give ’em a like. Check out the Randy Cooper Crew at http://www.facebook.com/randcrewythc?fref=ts
Rock on my brethren, Rock on!
the Hellion
There’s been FAR TOO MUCH of those things lately. I know I’ve discussed it before, but WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? I mean the Rock N’ Roll community needs to get behind each other and lift each other up, not tear each other apart. I often times reflect to the day when Rock fans would gather in the parking lots of shows,outside of record stores, at parties, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME! Sure there were discussions about how one thought this band was better than another, and there was the occasional fisticuffs, but for the most part we were there to celebrate Rock N’ Roll music. I see far too many people these days dragging down someone for their successes and trash talking them instead of congratulating them, and giving them advice or support. I support each and every artist who makes the effort to step up and share their art. Won’t you? Will YOU help to tighten back up the GLOBAL Rock N’ Roll community? Bands: send me your info to janaya64@msn.com LET’S DO THIS!!!!
As I sit here pondering my 100th post it comes to me. Why I do what I do. There are some extremely wonderful bands out there that really have no outlet to be heard. Why is this? What can be done? How can they be heard? By us the bloggers and internet radio hosts, the internet video shows. We can can herald their cause. By us telling our peers, sharing their music on our sites, telling our friends, going to their live shows, posting their videos, and taking the time to interview them and hear what THEY have to say. I come to know a lot of these bands and they are hard working, genuine people. They usually are barely scraping by by selling their merch. I try to buy their stuff at every turn. Corporate radio and TV might not support them but WE will.
One other thing I am passionate about is not losing touch with music of the past. As with newer bands, there is really no outlet for a lot of bands from the past. So much great music has been made already. But when their marketability starts to lack they are cast away for the next big thing. By listening to these bands we keep them alive. As with the younger bands we need to support them in the same way and NOT LET THEM GET LOST!
I will leave you with this and go now to enjoy my birthday evening. ROCK N’ ROLL WILL SURVIVE!!!
the Hellion
There have been some pretty cool bands that were made up for movies. Let’s take a look at some of the bands that would have been cool if they were real.
STEEL DRAGON
The movie “Rock Star” from 2001 gave us one of the coolest bands that never was.
Mark Wahlberg as Chris “Izzy” Cole (Lead vocals)
Dominic West as Kirk Cuddy (Rhythm Guitar)
Jason Bonham as A.C. (Drums)
Zakk Wylde as Ghode (Lead Guitar)
Jeff Pilson as Jörgen (Bass)
This was the film lineup on screen. The actual music from “Steel Dragon” was pretty cool. with songs such as “Livin’ the Life”, “Blood Pollution”, “Stand Up”, “Wasted Generation” written by greats such as; Steve Plunkett, Peter Beckett, Twiggy Ramirez, Sammy Hagar, and Desmond Child, A.Allen, J. Allen to covers of “We All Die Young” (Miljenko Matijevic, Kenny Kanowski) by Steelheart and “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” (Ronnie James Dio, Richie Blackmore) by Rainbow. This is definitely one of my favorite bands that never was. Here’s “Blood Pollution”:
STILLWATER
“Almost Famous” from 2000 gave us the band Stillwater. This was a 70’s band that I wish would have been.
Peter Frampton
Mike McCready
Jon Bayless
Ben Smith
Gordon Kennedy
Marti Frederiksen – vocals
Were the magic behind the band. Nancy Wilson wrote the song “Fever Dog ” which we can see right here:
THE WONDERS
” That Thing You Do! ” from 1996 is a movie I can’t pass up. From the mind of Tom Hanks this is the tale of a band in the 60’s and their rise to fame and their meteoric fall from it. The movie features original music by Tom Hanks, Adam Schlesinger, Rick Elias, Scott Rogness, Mike Piccirillo, Gary Goetzman and Howard Shore. Here’s the title track:
Three pretty cool bands that could have been.
the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 