Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Back From My Walkabout...
I am back but honestly way too jet lagged to get my bearings straight.
I will post pictures soon but off the top of my head some highlights are:
- directing KISS concerts in front of 80,000+ people
- getting an Australian Rules Football lesson from the Carlton Blues
- Hanging out with Blues midfielder Brendon Favola hours before he was arrested and suspended for public urination
- Petting kangaroos
- Circling the Sydney Opera House in a helicopter
- Sitting on the side of the stage while Alice Cooper performed
- Sitting behind Eric Singer's drums during sound check
- Flirting with Zombie Cheerleaders
- Traveling with the band in all of the airport lounges (free food, liquor and messages)
- Tahooy's beer
I am sure there is more, but it is like 4am tomorrow for me and I am seeing stars.
Later.
Monday, March 24, 2008
R.I.P. Neil Aspinall
Beatles' friend Neil Aspinall dies at 66
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
1 hour, 14 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up, has died. He was 66.
Aspinall's death was announced Monday in a statement from surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, and the band's Apple Corps Ltd. company.
Aspinall died Sunday night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer, according to Geoff Baker, who formerly represented both Aspinall and Apple Corps.
Aspinall's wife and five children were by his side; McCartney visited him before his death.
He was a childhood friend of McCartney and Harrison in Liverpool, England. While he didn't contribute musically, he played several key roles in support of the Beatles, most notably as the head of their Apple Corps business, which oversaw the commercial concerns of the group, including licensing.
"I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed," Starr said in a statement Monday.
Harrison's widow Olivia and the couple's son Dhani said: "Neil takes with him the love and history of his extended family. He was our constant and avuncular caretaker for so many years; there is no way to measure how much he will be missed."
Aspinall and the late Mal Evans were the Beatles' roadies. Aspinall would drive them to gigs in his van before they became famous, and never left the band's tight-knit circle. He took over the management of Apple Corps in 1968, and continued to oversee the group's business affairs in the decades after they broke up in 1970.
As head of Apple Corps, Aspinall was executive producer of the hugely successful "Beatles Anthology" album and was behind other successes, including the "Beatles One" album and the recent Cirque du Soleil production "Love," which has been a hit in Las Vegas.
"As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come," the band's statement said.
Aspinall stepped down from Apple Corps last year.
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
1 hour, 14 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up, has died. He was 66.
Aspinall's death was announced Monday in a statement from surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, and the band's Apple Corps Ltd. company.
Aspinall died Sunday night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer, according to Geoff Baker, who formerly represented both Aspinall and Apple Corps.
Aspinall's wife and five children were by his side; McCartney visited him before his death.
He was a childhood friend of McCartney and Harrison in Liverpool, England. While he didn't contribute musically, he played several key roles in support of the Beatles, most notably as the head of their Apple Corps business, which oversaw the commercial concerns of the group, including licensing.
"I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed," Starr said in a statement Monday.
Harrison's widow Olivia and the couple's son Dhani said: "Neil takes with him the love and history of his extended family. He was our constant and avuncular caretaker for so many years; there is no way to measure how much he will be missed."
Aspinall and the late Mal Evans were the Beatles' roadies. Aspinall would drive them to gigs in his van before they became famous, and never left the band's tight-knit circle. He took over the management of Apple Corps in 1968, and continued to oversee the group's business affairs in the decades after they broke up in 1970.
As head of Apple Corps, Aspinall was executive producer of the hugely successful "Beatles Anthology" album and was behind other successes, including the "Beatles One" album and the recent Cirque du Soleil production "Love," which has been a hit in Las Vegas.
"As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come," the band's statement said.
Aspinall stepped down from Apple Corps last year.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Next project...
Greetings from Down Under.
I have been in Australia for a little over a week and just flew from Melbourne to Brisbane. KISS perform in a few hours at the local "enormo-dome" so I am just checking in at the hotel and running over to the venue.
Another little fan-dork moment for me the other night as I directed KISS' Melbourne show at the Australian Grand Prix. All those years of listening to KISS Alive II paid off. It was very surreal to be staring at the monitors and calling the shots to songs I have known my whole life. It was also fun to be reminded that Gene is a rock star. I deal with him so much on a daily basis that I sometimes forget exactly what his day job is.
On the comic front - me and Marc's next project was just announced by Top Cow. Here is the cover (minus the logo which has not been designed yet).
It is called "Genius" and features what I think is a pretty fascinating premise...
Alexander, Hannibal, Napoleon, Patton. What if the greatest military mind of our generation was born in strife, surrounded by violence and combat since birth? When the gauntlet is dropped, the question isn’t “How did 17-year-old Destiny Ajaye unite the gangs of South Central into a killer army and declare war on the LAPD?” No, the question is, “Can anyone stop her?”
Definitely not your average comic fare. A big thanks to Rob and the Top Cow gang for taking a chance. The book will be released in June as part of a promotion they call "Pilot Season." 6 comics released, fans vote, one becomes an ongoing series. I'll post the voting information once I have it.
Ok, that's it. I am off to Rock n' Roll All Nite and Party Every Day...
I have been in Australia for a little over a week and just flew from Melbourne to Brisbane. KISS perform in a few hours at the local "enormo-dome" so I am just checking in at the hotel and running over to the venue.
Another little fan-dork moment for me the other night as I directed KISS' Melbourne show at the Australian Grand Prix. All those years of listening to KISS Alive II paid off. It was very surreal to be staring at the monitors and calling the shots to songs I have known my whole life. It was also fun to be reminded that Gene is a rock star. I deal with him so much on a daily basis that I sometimes forget exactly what his day job is.
On the comic front - me and Marc's next project was just announced by Top Cow. Here is the cover (minus the logo which has not been designed yet).
It is called "Genius" and features what I think is a pretty fascinating premise...
Alexander, Hannibal, Napoleon, Patton. What if the greatest military mind of our generation was born in strife, surrounded by violence and combat since birth? When the gauntlet is dropped, the question isn’t “How did 17-year-old Destiny Ajaye unite the gangs of South Central into a killer army and declare war on the LAPD?” No, the question is, “Can anyone stop her?”
Definitely not your average comic fare. A big thanks to Rob and the Top Cow gang for taking a chance. The book will be released in June as part of a promotion they call "Pilot Season." 6 comics released, fans vote, one becomes an ongoing series. I'll post the voting information once I have it.
Ok, that's it. I am off to Rock n' Roll All Nite and Party Every Day...
Monday, March 10, 2008
"That is what the reservation is for."
Just got off a 14 hour flight to Australia. A flight I was dreading because...well, cause it's 14 fucking hours. Also because I was flying coach which makes it doubly suck.
I had my assistant double check that I had a window seat. A middle seat sucks for the obvious reasons, but I don't understand how people prefer the aisle. You have to get up every time someone needs to use the bathroom and the cart smashes into your elbow every time it passes. Plus - unless you are traveling with someone you are VERY friendly with, you can't lean anywhere. I always get a window, put my shitty airline pillow up against it and doze.
When I got to the ticket counter I was informed I had a middle seat. "But I have a reservation for a window seat," I explained. "Sorry, sir. You have to call at 1p on the day of to reconfirm."
"You mean even if I call in advance, I am told it is confirmed, I am given a CONFIRMATION NUMBER, I still have to call the day of?"
"Well, the confirmation doesn't hold the seat for you."
That is when I realized I was having the below conversation almost verbatim...
I became "that guy" - the loud, angry customer. Because my brain is 90% pop culture anyway I was literally quoting lines from Seinfeld much to enjoyment of the surrounding passengers.
I got my fucking window seat.
I had my assistant double check that I had a window seat. A middle seat sucks for the obvious reasons, but I don't understand how people prefer the aisle. You have to get up every time someone needs to use the bathroom and the cart smashes into your elbow every time it passes. Plus - unless you are traveling with someone you are VERY friendly with, you can't lean anywhere. I always get a window, put my shitty airline pillow up against it and doze.
When I got to the ticket counter I was informed I had a middle seat. "But I have a reservation for a window seat," I explained. "Sorry, sir. You have to call at 1p on the day of to reconfirm."
"You mean even if I call in advance, I am told it is confirmed, I am given a CONFIRMATION NUMBER, I still have to call the day of?"
"Well, the confirmation doesn't hold the seat for you."
That is when I realized I was having the below conversation almost verbatim...
I became "that guy" - the loud, angry customer. Because my brain is 90% pop culture anyway I was literally quoting lines from Seinfeld much to enjoyment of the surrounding passengers.
I got my fucking window seat.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Click Here To Order Your Copy Of The Highwaymen!!!
The trade paperback, collecting all 5 issues of "The Highwaymen" mini-series hit stores today.
Get your copy now!!!
Get your copy now!!!
Dream House...
As a little kid, I think everyone dreams about what their own "grown up" house will be like. Comedian Dane Cook has a great routine about his dream house having moats and trap doors that dump you in swamps.
My dream house ranged from no stairs - just fireman poles (don't ask me how I planned to get back up), to my own private soccer field to every oversized toy from the FAO Schwartz catalogue - the lifesize Storm Trooper, the same battery operated car Ricky Schroeder had in "Silver Spoons" etc.
I thought I moved beyond those silly dreams until my buddy Tim sent me this...
I know this is possibly the geekiest thing possible and in my younger days would ensure I would never get laid but I am now married with kids and make a pretty good living. Who am I trying to impress?
I am so getting this.
My dream house ranged from no stairs - just fireman poles (don't ask me how I planned to get back up), to my own private soccer field to every oversized toy from the FAO Schwartz catalogue - the lifesize Storm Trooper, the same battery operated car Ricky Schroeder had in "Silver Spoons" etc.
I thought I moved beyond those silly dreams until my buddy Tim sent me this...
I know this is possibly the geekiest thing possible and in my younger days would ensure I would never get laid but I am now married with kids and make a pretty good living. Who am I trying to impress?
I am so getting this.
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