Art Music Cinema

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T03:20:00.000-04:00

Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol

Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2011

2011-12-12T17:18:00.003-04:00

Just saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas concert, on December 10, 2011. This was at the St. Pete Times forum - soon to be Tampa Bay Times forum or something like that. This concert is really spectacular! Reviews will never do the show any justice. This is a MUST-SEE event! The vocalists put so much heart and soul into their singing. The music is tight and most of all there is not one dull moment. There is so much going on. The light show is so impressive, it will leave your jaw scraping on the floor ... it's absolutely superb!

TSO have really come a long way. I believe Chris Caffery mentioned this was their 13th year. They went from theaters to the big arena. I remember seeing them many years ago at the Mahaffey theater in Tampa, FL. It was a smaller show, but just as great. Now the whole production seems like it's on steroids, but in a good way, not in a hurtful, shrink your Willy Johnson way ... but I digress.

My wife took these photos on her cell phone. See below and click for a larger view. The photos aren't the best quality, but it can give you an idea of what some of the lights are like.

Some people in the audience weren't being considerate, holding their arms up too high to take photos with their phones. It made it difficult to see. Please be considerate and understand you may be blocking someone's view. That's right, I'm talking to you lady, row 23, floor 2 section.

It really is quite amazing how much work goes into this type of production. So, my hat's off to all involved. Thank you for another great show. See you guys in March for the Classical Beethoven's Last Night concert!

Rankin/Bass Wine Glasses Revisited

2011-12-02T18:25:00.001-04:00

I painted these wine glasses back in 2009. (See December 2009 archive for more info.) Click on images for a larger view.

Yukon Cornelius, Santa, Charlie-in-the-box and Bumble

Christmas Vacation Collectibles

2011-12-01T15:36:00.003-04:00

It's that time. Christmas time is here. Everybody knows there's not a better time of year. (Click images for a larger view.)

Real Glass Mugs (We have a set of 4.)

New 2011 Hallmark Car Ornament (Sound only - theme song.
Not Mavis Maples, the original singer of the song.)

2010 Hallmark House Ornament (Lights and sound.)

Replica House that lights up. (Cheaply made, but cool to have.)

Thanksgiving Cartoon

2011-11-22T17:37:00.000-04:00

Spooky Empire Orlando 2011

2011-10-12T19:34:00.000-03:00

My wife and I attended another Spooky Empire convention in Orlando, FL. We’ve been going to this event since around 2006 when it was originally called Screamfest. This year was unbelievable. We had a blast! There were more guests this year than ever before. Film guests included Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange), Clive Barker (Hellraiser, possibly his last appearance due to health issues), Doug Bradley (Pinhead), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), Tony Todd (Candyman), Butch Patrick (The Munsters), Sam Trammell, Kristin Bauer and Mariana Klaveno (True Blood), Stephen Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, Charlie Chiodo, Suzanne Snyder, Grant Cramer, Mike Martinez and Harrod Blank (Killer Klowns from Outer Space), Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco (The Boondock Saints), and many others too numerous to mention here. (Click on all photos for a larger view.)

I was really happy to see a Killer Klowns from Outer Space reunion. All three Chiodo brothers, Stephen, Edward and Charlie were there, along with Suzanne Snyder (as Debbie), Grant Cramer (as Mike), Harrod Blank (plays a killer klown) and Mike Martinez (also a killer klown). Everyone was very affable, genuine and willing to answer all of our questions.

Chiodo Bros., Killer Klowns from Outer Space Table. Many great works of original art and collectibles.

During the Killer Klowns Q&A panel, a sequel was officially announced for The Return of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space (in 3D). The Chiodo brothers mentioned the new picture will be half a sequel and half a re-make. They joked that it would be a four-part trilogy. The Killer Klowns will have real makeup and foam rubber appliances. They will not be CGI. Everyone yelled, “Thank God!” It will have 3D images that really pop out like the older films used to. The 3D will be unlike the newer films which seem to just show a bit of depth and texture.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space Q&A panel with the Chiodo brothers, Susanne Snyder, Grant Cramer, Harrod Blank and Mike Martinez.

Back at their table, I asked Edward Chiodo if they ever considered creating a Killer Klowns Christmas special that was stop-motion like the classic Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. He said they have been working on something like that, but it turned out to be longer than a half hour special. How incredibly amazing would that be, to have those characters in stop-motion? I’m already thinking of all kinds of collectible merchandise. I told him that I had thought of a scenario where the klowns are like The Grinch. They don’t understand Christmas. They end up eating everyone’s Christmas ornaments and putting people in cotton candy cocoons. Towards the end, they discover the true meaning of Christmas and become good, but the klowns can’t help themselves and start acting mischievous all over again. Ed chuckled at my story and told me that hopefully their new Killer Klowns features will all get released. First things first, they want to release the new film sequel by the end of 2012, maybe into 2013.

I think the Chiodo brothers are extremely creative, brilliant and humble guys. They keep busy and are always working on projects. Sometimes people never realize some of the great work they’ve done, like creating the mouse dioramas for the film Dinner for Schmucks or doing the stop-motion for Elf, claymation for The Simpsons and the marionettes for Team America, just to name a few.

Here is a photo of me with the Chiodo brothers. I am now the proud owner of a Killer Klown, one-of-a-kind replica. This head is from an original mold used for the film. It’s personally hand-painted and signed by the Chiodo brothers. The klown heads can be seen in the shot with Debbie getting dressed in the bathroom, only to be attacked by these creepy klown creatures. They pop out of the laundry basket, the medicine cabinet and the toilet.

Killer Klown replica from original mold.

In 2006, the Chiodo brothers brought with them actual screen-used props to Spooky Empire. It was called Screamfest back then. They didn’t bring them this year probably due to their fragility. Here are a couple of photos I took from that event. They are clearly showing signs of age, but it was great to see them.

Animatronic head named “Ears”, with the biker who lost his head after breaking Shorty’s bike, and another Killer Klown head.

We also met Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton from Re-Animator. Both were incredibly nice. We then attended the Q&A panel for Re-Animator, where they spoke about making the film. I was surprised to hear that it was shot in only 18 days!

Re-Animator Q&A with Barbara Crampton and Jeffrey Combs.

We met Sam Trammell, Kristin Bauer and Mariana Klaveno, from the HBO series True Blood. They were all great to talk with. The True Blood Q&A was interesting. They all had a great sense of humor. They answered everyone’s questions about how it felt to shoot scenes in the nude or semi-nude, some of their favorite scenes, how many hours they might be on a set and many other topics.

True Blood Q&A featuring Sam Trammell, Kristin Bauer and Mariana Klaveno.

In the vendor room there are plenty of collectibles and goodies, including creations from my friend Terry Cruikshank. This year he paid tribute to the Killer Klowns. Terry has many well sculpted items that he created and hand-painted himself. I own a couple of them. If you’re interested, take a look at his website here. If you don’t see a character there that you are interested in, contact him, as he does custom orders as well.

Terry Cruikshank Collectibles, along with his Killer Klowns tribute.

Apes will Rise

2011-08-07T13:59:00.004-03:00

Went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes yesterday. I didn't have my hopes up too high because of Burton's attempt at a re-make. I'm not saying that Burton's film was bad. Rick Baker's make-up was the best part of that film, but the story was lacking.

Rise truly was AWESOME! It was much better than expected. I'm not usually a big fan of CGI, especially if it doesn't look realistic. The CGI was very good in this film. The script was so good that the CGI actually became secondary for me! John Lithgow, of course, was brilliant. The story really does play on your emotions a great deal. It was compelling throughout. This film is pretty much a re-make of Conquest and tells the story of how the Apes came to be so intelligent and eventually took over the world. Very well done! A must-see film, even if you're not a true Planet of the Apes fan!

Click on the images for a larger view.

Tripper and the Gang's Favorite Hangout

2011-07-30T12:12:00.000-03:00

Regal Beagle British Pub Collectibles by EinhornandFinkle
Zazzle Store

I've Got A Golden Ticket!

2011-07-21T11:20:00.005-03:00

This October 18, 2011 will see a new 40th Anniversary box set release for, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971).

Click on the box set image for a larger view.

I'm not sure how great the Blu-ray transfer will be. I wasn't happy with the quality of the regular widescreen DVD. The box will have three discs. One is the film on regular DVD, the second is the film on Blu-ray, the third will have all of the special features. It will have two NEW making of featurettes and interviews. Some new interviews were done just for this release. There is an older featurette that was on the regular DVD and should be included on this release as well to complete the set.

Collectible materials included in the double-wide box will include a 144-page book featuring color photos and notes, a Wonka Bar pencil tin with chocolate scented pencils and eraser and a couple of printed sheets showing archival production letters. Purchasing the set also gives the buyer a chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles. The book is a re-print of the Making of Willy Wonka and it has a different cover. It's slightly smaller in size than the original book, so it will fit in the box. I have the original release of this book. If you really like the film, you'll appreciate all of the rare photos in the book.

Special Features:
Mel Stuart's Wonkavision (New)
A World of Pure Imagination (New)
Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Commentary by the Wonka Kids
Four sing-along songs
Vintage featurette
Theatrical trailer

Bruce Lee 38th Anniversary

2011-07-20T12:27:00.000-03:00

November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973

Click on images for a larger view.

Rare Backyard Workout

Bruce relaxing in between scenes of Enter the Dragon

Bruce with Jackie Chan - Scene in Enter the Dragon

Rare Photo - Fist of Fury

Visit the official Bruce Lee site: www.brucelee.com

Blizzard and Diary Box Set Review

2011-06-01T16:32:00.008-03:00

Blizzard of Ozz - Diary of a Madman 30th Anniversary Box Set
My thoughts and review on this incredible box set. Click on photo for a larger view.

I've gone through the box set after receiving it on the release day. I almost soiled my shorts when I saw the Diary video footage ... 2 songs in their entirety from New Mexico! I've read in the forums about Rudy and Ozzy having most of the screen time for the Palladium footage. Randy is seen plenty though. The Palladium songs are cut because the guy had to change the reels. I don't care if it's not crystal clear ... it's f-n never-before-seen Randy Rhoads! It was interesting to see Ozzy holding that skull image and placing it in front of the monitors. After seeing it in many photos by his monitors, I always wondered how it got there.

A few people have mentioned they thought the book was nothing special because they have seen most of the photos. Well, I wasn't disappointed. Just because I've seen many of the photos, doesn't mean I don't want a nice high quality print of them in a hardcover book of my own. There are many that have never been shown before as well which is great. There's a small photo of Randy during a Blizzard record signing. I have a couple of those photos of him in the purple shirt at the signing. The one photo in this book shows him actually signing for someone. Some of the lyrics in the "book" are incorrect. I believe Bob Daisley has corrected the lyric mistakes and posted them on his site. I noticed it has a couple of pictures of Ozzy after Randy had passed. Not sure why, but the hardcore fans will notice that, even if it's just a couple.

The CDs sound great to me on my Bose headphones! Some people have complained about a small glitch at the end of Dee. It's at the :47 mark. I've noticed it too. It doesn't bother me that much. Something must have happened during the transfer or if they used the original tapes, perhaps the tape is slightly damaged at that point from its age.

It's GREAT to have a nice quality transfer of After Hours included on the DVD. It is slightly cut when Ozzy gets disappointed that he cracked during a note. He shakes his head and you can see he's upset about it. That part is not shown. It's really not cut that much ... very little in fact. I like that you can see Randy's facial expressions so much better than before!

The Randy solo is not from Quiet Riot as previously thought. It's just him jamming from the Blizzard sessions. It could have been while they were working on levels in the studio. It's played just after Revelation Mother Earth on the tape reel, during the Blizzard documentary. It's very cool and the first opening riff is COMPLETELY NEW to me! It almost sounds like something that was used on Bark at the Moon. I don't know why the extended tracks weren't included on the CDs, but there are some cuts in the documentary to satisfy my appetite for all things Randy.

The double-sided poster is Ozzy on both sides. It would have been nice with Rhoads on one side at least. I won't wear the Ozzy gold cross replica, but hey, it's a collectible as part of the set.

I realize that Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake are not shown in the book of photos. They are not in the documentary at all, nor are they ever mentioned. It's a shame that there are still problems between the Daisley, Kerslake, Ozzy and Sharon. Sharon Osbourne (Ozzy's wife and manager) did mention in a videotaped interview that the box set would include early rehearsals and the band joking around in the studio. This may have been Bob Daisley's collection that he wanted to offer. I believe everyone was disappointed to learn it was not in fact included in the set. Obviously there were disagreements between all parties involved yet again. Will it ever end?

I have to say I LOVE everything and glad I now own the set! I'm enjoying and appreciating it very much. It's better than having nothing at all. I feel like I just received a Christmas/Birthday present in one. If anyone's a Randy fan, I would think they would want to have this as a collectible! Highly recommended!

Included in the Box Set:
One Hardcover Book Loads of photos and artifacts. There is no text or stories at all. Nice quality print and very rare photos. Many never-before-seen. Book is the same size as the vinyl records with large photos.

Blizzard of Ozz on Vinyl Original members and original recordings.

Diary of a Madman on Vinyl Original members and original recordings.

Blizzard of Ozz on CD Original members and original recordings. The remastered work sounds great to me.
Bonus Tracks: You Looking At Me, Looking At You, Goodbye to Romance Guitar and Vocal mix, with just Ozzy and Randy tracks isolated. Sweet! Sounds awesome to hear the tracks Randy played. Also included is an Unreleased Solo Track of a Randy Rhoads solo from the Blizzard of Ozz sessions. Just awesome to hear it that crystal clear!

Live CD featuring Randy Rhoads Taken from the Blizzard tour. The sound is amazing! Mixed by Kevin Churko. Hats off to him and everyone else involved.

Diary of a Madman on CD Original members and original recordings.

Thirty Years After the Blizzard DVD Documentary This has Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, Bill Ward, Nikki Six, Steve Vai, Rob Halford and more talking about the Blizzard/Randy Rhoads days. Many cuts from the songs played in the background are isolated tracks. You can hear Randy's Acoustic playing during the Revelation piano part, the extended version of Tonight and more.
Bonus Footage: Ozzy MTV interview, Palladium Footage with Randy Rhoads. This is NOT the Palladium footage that has been circulating through the bootleg scene. This is entirely new never-before-seen footage! The songs are cut, but worth seeing! Nice copy of After Hours. I can really see Randy's facial expressions better than ever. Albuquerque News footage/interview, Diary Video Footage with Randy Rhoads. Two full songs from Albuquerque, New Mexico on the Diary tour! The cameraman was a complete jackass, but it's Randy on the Diary stage!

One Large 2-sided Foldout Ozzy Poster Both sides are Ozzy. Would have been great to have Rhoads on one side.

One Ozzy Gold Cross Replica This is the gold cross he has worn for years and it was reproduced for this box set as a collectible.

Record Store Day 2011

2011-04-17T13:36:00.002-03:00

Had a blast on Record Store Day this past Saturday, April 16th. Purchased the rare Ozzy and Randy Flying High Again vinyl single. The store gave me the poster for free. The little ad came with the single. The ad mentions the box set. The poster also mentions the box set will be released May 17, 2011. RSD also had Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. I didn't purchase those because they will be included in the box set I pre-ordered, which will have some amazing rare material of Randy Rhoads!

I also bought another very cool vinyl release, Foo Fighters Medium Rare. It features many of the rare covers they recorded, including some I believe were not released on CD.

Purchased other vinyl records not related to RSD. Be sure to click on the thumbnails for a larger view.

Sunset from Powel Crosley Estate

2011-03-28T17:18:00.001-03:00

I took these recently. Haven't posted nearly enough photography. Click on thumbnails for a larger view. You may have to click on the image a second time to view it at 100%.

29 Years Ago Today - March 19th

2011-03-19T11:40:00.000-03:00

Randy Rhoads
12.6.56 - 3.19.82

Always Inspires
Never Forgotten

Good for Dave Grohl!

2011-03-18T17:44:00.000-03:00

These short comments from MSN News:

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has lashed out at "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy for assuming all musicians are desperate to feature on the hit show.

The rocker isn't a fan of the high school singing and dancing program and insists he wouldn't want to follow in the footsteps of Madonna and Britney Spears, who have had their songs used in the series.

Grohl is fed up with Murphy slamming stars if they decide to not sign on with "Glee."

He tells the Hollywood Reporter, "You shouldn't have to do [expletive deleted] 'Glee.' And then the guy who created 'Glee' is so offended that we're not, like, begging to be on his [expletive deleted] show. I watched 10 minutes [of it]. It's not my thing.

"Slash was the first one. [Murphy] wanted to do Guns N' Roses, and Slash is like, 'I hate [expletive deleted] musicals. It's worse than "Grease."' Then [Murphy's] like, 'Well, of course he'd say that. He's a washed-up ol' rock star. That's what they [expletive deleted] do.'"

"And then Kings of Leon say, 'No, we don't want to be on your show.' And then he's like, 'Snotty little [expletive deleted] ...' And it's just like, 'Dude, maybe not everyone loves "Glee." Me included.'" [END]

It's about time someone [expletive deleted] speaks up and is honest about about the crappy TV shows that get shoved in our faces. I personally don't care for those singing shows, but that's not the point. It's OK to [expletive deleted] honestly express your opinion. If the big TV suits/writers don't [expletive deleted] like it, then too [expletive deleted] bad. Now that Two and a Half Men is gone, I don't have anything I really care to watch. Maybe The Biggest Loser. At least that is inspiring and helping people. Seems like most of the good shows are now on premium movie channels. [Expletive deleted] end of my rant. ;-p

Randy Rhoads in Memoriam

2011-03-05T12:05:00.010-04:00

Jay Banbury is the photographer that shot this photo of Randy Rhoads. Jay's photos are amazing, probably some of the best out there, of the late guitarist. I think what makes them stand out is the great timing and the vivid colors of the shots. Timing is very important for live concert photos. Jay has given me permission to use the photo for a design. I designed this not just for the memorial on March 19th, but also as a tribute. I created the gold logo, which is similar to the gold ring Randy always wore on his left hand.

It's difficult to believe that in March of 2012 it will be the 30th Anniversary of Randy's passing. He was just 25 years old when he was taken from the world and he still continues to inspire us every year. His music is still appreciated. Peace, love and happiness to the Rhoads family.

You may right click and save the image for your personal use only and add it to your collection. Sales and merchandise is prohibited. Photo Copyright of Jay Banbury. You can purchase Limited Edition, high quality Randy Rhoads posters from Jay's site by clicking here.

Also visit two of the most informative Randy forums on the net and a great Facebook page. Plenty of rare photos and audio on these sites.

Randy Rhoads TK forum
Ultimate Rhoads forum
Randy Rhoads Society Facebook page

Click for the larger view.

Chaos Theory

2011-01-31T19:36:00.002-04:00

I don't understand how some great movies can slip under my radar. I do remember seeing a trailer for Chaos Theory, but that's about it. I don't recall it getting much exposure. I wasn't sure what to expect. What I did know was that I've always liked Ryan Reynolds in his past films. This picture turned out better than I expected. It was great from start to finish. There's no way to properly label a film like this. Drama, Comedy, Dramedy, Romantic/Comedy? I'd say it was all of that. It has some great laughs, though not as abundant as I would have liked. It's also a very profound and heartfelt story. Ryan is colorful and nutty in this picture. He was superb and all of the other actors deserve credit for their excellent performances as well. If you haven't seen this film, check it out. You might be as suprised as I was.

Chaos Theory is about Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds), a time-efficiency expert. His life is run by to-do lists and completing them in prioritized order. He uses his personal experiences in managing these tasks in his motivational speeches with corporate executives. One morning, his wife Susan (Emily Mortimer) tries to help her husband by setting the clock 10 minutes fast, but sets the clocks so that he’s running 10 minutes behind schedule. As a result, a chain of events occur that changes his career, home life and relationship with his best friend, Buddy (Stuart Townsend) forever.

Harry Dunne Gets Gas

2011-01-25T00:54:00.000-04:00

Harry Dunne: "Skis, huh?"
Beth Jordan (Undercover Police Officer): "That's right."
Harry Dunne: "Great ... they yours?"
Beth: "Uh, huh."
Harry Dunne: "Both of em?"
Beth: "Yeah."
Harry Dunne: "Cool!"

MOKE

2011-01-12T14:12:00.004-04:00

John Hogg: Vocals, Guitar
Sean Genockey: Guitar
Alex Evans: Bass guitar, Keyboards
Johnny Morgan: Drums

MOKE - Self Titled aka SUPERDRAG

1. Down
2. Wheel in Motion
3. Another Weekend
4. Mislaid the Key
5. My Desire
6. Leather Drag
7. Wrong
8. Sleepyhead
9. Water
10. Power Cut
11. In Your Dreams

MOKE - CARNIVAL

1. My Degeneration
2. Hanging Around
3. Slide
4. Today
5. Liar
6. Strange Days
7. So Much Better
8. I Don't Mind
9. Magic House
10. Screen
11. Fluicide

Click on the images for a larger view and use them for iTunes covers.

Moke was a London based rock band which formed in 1997. I say was, because unfortunately they have disbanded ... which is really a big loss to the music world. They recorded two great albums. The music is very catchy, melodic, soulful, groovin, bluesy, hard rock. How's that for a full description? I really like John Hogg's voice. He has a good range, breathy at times, clear and sings with real emotion. I also like Johnny Morgan's drum sound on Carnival. His drum playing is great as well. The whole band was solid and the songs were well written. I was lucky enough to see them during the Carnival tour, when they opened for King's X. They were just as good live.

I've read that John Hogg is working on solo projects. Johnny, the drummer is working with a band called Senser. Sean Genockey is now a record producer.

The CDs are becoming harder to find, including some of the rare tracks they had recorded. I've been able to collect most of those some time ago, including a great Beatles cover, Baby You're a Rich Man. Carnival is currently on iTunes, which is mixed in with another band now using Moke's name. Why couldn't this other band come up with a new name? I don't know, but it's ridiculous. But, I digress. Get these two CDs if you can. They are well worth adding to your music collection. Cheers.

Happy Holidays to all!

2010-12-23T22:44:00.001-04:00

I haven't had the time to blog as much as I thought I would this month. I've been so busy, but I want to wish everyone a fun, good old-fashioned Griswold family Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's That Schwetty Time of Year

2010-12-02T00:45:00.000-04:00

Pete's Famous Schwetty Balls by EinhornandFinkle

Griswold Family Christmas Ornament

2010-12-02T00:42:00.000-04:00

"I dedicate this house to the Griswold family Christmas!"
-Clark Griswold, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-23T21:51:00.000-04:00

Cartoon by Mike Peters.

Christmas Vacation Moose Mugs

2010-11-18T10:37:00.000-04:00

Disney's A Christmas Carol Blu-ray

2010-11-17T12:01:00.003-04:00

Just picked up the new Jim Carrey Blu-ray release for Disney's A Christmas Carol. There are a few copies out there. The one I purchased has four discs. One is the regular Blu-ray, one a 3D version, one is the regular DVD and one is the digital copy for your computer and iPod Touch. Please be advised that the 3D version is for 3D TVs and 3D Blu-ray players and not the glasses version! I didn't know this and was expecting 3D glasses to be included in this pack.

I'm only keeping the copy I have now because of the cool 3D collectible cover on the front. It was only a couple dollars more. I haven't watched it yet, but there are plenty of extra bonus features. I'm a little surprised that this 3D version is for 3D TVs only. I don't know of many people that have them. I haven't heard the technology is that much better. They should have advertised this info in more detail. I didn't see any clear signs in Best Buy about it.

Birds of Tokyo

2010-11-03T12:07:00.001-03:00

Just bought the new 2010 CD from Birds of Tokyo. I LOVE this album from start to finish. This Australian band recorded very melodic, catchy songs. If anyone likes Silverchair's Diorama, I'm pretty sure they would like this one just as much. I doubt they are selling this album in the U.S. at this time, so you can buy it directly from the band's website.

Ian Kenny - Vocals
Adam Spark - Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Programming
Adam Weston - Drums
Anthony Jackson - Bass

Track Listing:
1. Plans
2. The Saddest Thing I Know
3. The Dark Side of Love
4. In The Veins of Death Valley
5. Circles
6. Wild at Heart
7. The Gap
8. Murmurs
9. The Unspeakable Scene
10. Waiting for the Wolves
11. If This Ship Sinks (I Give In)

Daybreakers 2009

2010-10-27T15:09:00.005-03:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The reason why I didn’t see Daybreakers in the theater was probably the overload of zombie and vampire releases. There is also the fact of rude people, kicking your seat, talking, texting ... but that’s another topic. These films get overlooked, as there are an abundance being released. Some of the good ones never get the credit they deserve. I was actually quite blown away by this film because the makeup was excellent. The CGI was more believable. The story is refreshingly different. Ethan Hawke was one of the main characters in the film. I didn’t realize Willam Dafoe was in the cast also. His performances are always superb.

There are vampires that are deprived of blood and end up feeding off of other vampires. Doing so they become deformed, incredibly creepy and scary (Click on small thumbnail for a better view of the makeup). The deformed vampires really made the film! If I had to give any constructive criticism, it would have to be that these creepy vampires were not shown enough. There was too much focus on the Army. Also, the person in charge of this Army, Charles Bromley's dialogue (Sam Neill) was a bit too chatty for me personally. The ending should have shown more humans and the outcome, instead of riding off into the sunset. Though I found out later the film went over budget and had to shorten much of the dialogue and the ending as well.

This is a great horror film. If you missed it at the theater as well, Blu-ray is a great substitute. The picture quality is excellent and there's a great amount of behind-the-scenes footage. Click the bottom photo for a larger view.

Christmas Vacation Moose Mugs

2010-10-16T01:30:00.003-03:00

I now own some more great Christmas Vacation collectibles. These are National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Moose Mug replicas. They are real glass. I purchased them from "achristmasstoryhouse" on ebay. Great seller and fast shipping. They make great gifts for fans of the film. They are a decent size, but you may need frequent refills of eggnog.

They are officially licenced by Warner Bros. There are other replicas out there, but this one seems to be the best and at a good price. It has Warner Bros. on the bottom of the mug and will most likely be the only mug endorsed by them. Click the image above for a larger view.

From what I understand, the mugs in the film were not real. They were props. They were supposed to show Clark Griswold had purchased them from Walley World. If you look closely, you can see the glass looks like a regular short-stemmed cordial glass. It appears that the snout and horns were glued to the glass. I read that many were breaking on the set. The Moose Mugs I purchased are pretty close to what you see in the film. The snout is shorter, it has a thicker stem, probably made to last longer than the props.

Bruce Lee Christmas Ornament

2010-10-13T18:37:00.000-03:00

Click on the photo for a larger view.

This is the first official Bruce Lee ornament I've ever seen. It's about time one was released. He deserved on a long time ago ... maybe better late than never.

This one is by Heirloom/American Greetings. The likeness is not bad at all for it's small size. It's nice quality. The quote reads: "The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

Though not widely advertised, I'm sure these can be found in stores online or at a Christmas shop. I found this one at Robert's Christmas Wonderland, in Clearwater, Florida.

Bruce Lee Enter the Dragon Sculpture

2010-10-13T18:19:00.002-03:00

I painted this Bruce Lee, Enter the Dragon collectible a while ago. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the maker was Vision Models. The sculptor was John Wright. This one is extremely rare now.

Click on the thumbnails for a much larger view.

It's probably one of the first resin sculptures I began working on. CLICK HERE to see some of the other work I've done in the past. I don't work on them often. They're expensive and very time consuming.

I believe this Bruce Lee sculpture is one of, if not the best likeness I have seen, as far as building and painting them.

Enterbay sells collectible figures that are amazing and couldn't possibly be any better. I believe the main sculptor is Arnie Kim. It's very difficult to capture Bruce's likeness, but Enterbay doesn't seem to have a problem capturing him perfectly. They are a bit costly, but well worth it for the quality.

Nosferatu Collectibles

2010-10-05T12:53:00.001-03:00

Nosferatu Collectibles by EinhornandFinkle

Christmas Vacation Ornament

2010-10-04T14:44:00.001-03:00

"I dedicate this house to the Griswold family Christmas!"
-Clark Griswold, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

New for 2010, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation collectible ornament from Hallmark! The whole house lights up and plays Hallelujah from the film. I know it's not even Halloween yet, but I had to buy it before it sold out.

Bruce Lee Collectible Imports

2010-10-01T13:54:00.000-03:00

Japanese import collectibles for Bruce Lee related items ... Posters and Calendars. Prices are reasonable for these items.

**Buy Bruce Lee Collectibles from Japan here!**

Ip Man

2010-09-20T13:17:00.004-03:00

It's been a while since I've seen a martial arts movie of such high quality. I finally got to see the film Ip Man. It is about the real person, Ip Man or Yip Man, who was a Grand Master of Wing Chun. He taught Bruce Lee (Photo below) the art before Bruce arrived in the U.S. Not many people knew of Ip Man's life and it's unbelievable to learn what he went through. The fight scenes are more realistic. I'm happy there are no people flying through the air like superheroes. That always irritated me.

The makers of this film claim this to be a true story of his life and is supposed to be as accurate as possible. I'm not sure how accurate, as the internet and Wiki info reads differently. The info I've read mentions he was a police officer at one time and also smoked Opium. He died at the age of 79 from throat cancer, which may have been from smoking cigarettes and Opium. At least we know for sure that he was a true Grand Master of Wing Chun and taught Bruce Lee.

The movie's cinematography and fight choreography is stunning and couldn't possibly be any better. Sammo Hung, who starred with Bruce in Enter the Dragon, was the Action Director. Tony Leung Siu Hung, was the Martial Arts Coordinator. Donnie Yen, who portrays Ip Man, I believe was perfect for the role and delivers a great performance. Donnie has made a statement saying that after Part 2, he will no longer be a part of filming another Ip Man. Donnie Yen said, "I would never ever touch any films related to Ip Man. This will be my final film (Ip Man 2) on the subject. Whenever something becomes a success, everyone would jump on the bandwagon, this is very frightening. Did you know how many Ip Man films are in production? Under such condition, we would not progress, it'd only lead to over-saturation of the subject matter."

I've read that part 2 is better than the first, but I haven't seen it yet. Part 2 is supposed to feature Bruce Lee as a student. If you're a Bruce Lee fan and love martial arts films, Ip Man movie is a must-see. I have a feeling Bruce Lee would be proud of this film as well. Highly recommended. Click on images for a larger view.

Billie Mae Richards Voice of Rudolph

2010-09-16T18:54:00.001-03:00

Billie Mae Richards, a Canadian actress best known for voicing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the classic 1964 Christmas special, died Friday, September 10, 2010. She was 88 years old.

Producers Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass also went to Canada because they could record the voices for the special more cheaply, according to Rick Goldschmidt. Rudolph remained her favorite part, Richards once said, and she reprised the role in two sequels, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" (1976) and "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July" (1979). Click on all images for a larger view.

Read more by clicking here.

Rick Goldschmidt - Rankin and Bass Historian: Click Here.

Original Cast for the Classic 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

At RCA Victor Studios, Toronto. Left to Right: Arthur Rankin (at Piano), Bernard Cowan (Recording Supervisor and misc. voices), Paul Kligman (Donner), Paul Soles (Hermey), Corine Conley (Mrs. Claus/Misfit Toys), Alfie Scopp (Charlie in the Box/Elves), Larry D. Mann (Yukon Cornelius) and Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph).

Comedian Bob Nelson!

2010-09-09T13:42:00.004-03:00

Bob Nelson has been around for a while and is still funny as ever! Does anyone remember seeing the Rodney Dangerfield specials? Bob made several appearances on those HBO specials. He had characters like the Football guy, The New Yorker and the goofy boxer, Jiffy Jeff! Those routines that were performed on Dangerfield's show are now extremeley rare because they are out-of-print at this time and his act has changed. Bob has cleaned up his routine not because of his faith, but he wanted his act to be more like Red Skelton's. Red Skelton knew Bob and said he was disappointed by how many curse words he used. Bob was influenced by Red Skelton and after giving it some thought decided to keep his material clean. I think he'll reach a wider audience as well.

I was wondering if his characters could still be as funny and have the same impact with all of those curse words taken out. After all, has anyone ever heard of a tough guy New Yorker not cursing? Well, he pulls it off. His routines are still incredibly funny because it's his personality that brings those characters to life, not the curse words. If Jerry Lewis or Red Skelton could do it, so can Bob.

Bob has acted in film as well. He starred in Brain Donors, with John Turturro and had a small part in Kindergarten Cop, with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He still tours and I've seen him a few times. If he ends up in your town, make sure you go see him. You'll laugh until you pee a little. Click Here for his official website. You can also find many videos on You Tube, including the original Dangerfield shows.

Ahna Capri Enter the Dragon

2010-08-24T23:28:00.001-03:00

Ahna Capri, who starred in many films including Enter the Dragon, has passed away on August 19, at the age of 65, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Los Angeles. This information is from the Hollywood Reporter. My sincerest condolences go to her friends and family.

I am a big fan of Bruce Lee and liked Ahna's performance in Enter the Dragon. I also really appreciated the extra bonus footage that Ahna offered from the set during filming in Hong Kong. She filmed behind-the-scenes with her newly acquired 8mm camera she received as a birthday gift. She will be missed. Click on images for a larger-sized view.

Footage from Ahna's personal camera.

Bruce Lee Behind-the-Scenes

2010-08-23T19:48:00.000-03:00

Here's a rare image of Bruce Lee joking with Kien Shih (Han), on the set of Enter the Dragon. Click the image for a larger-sized view.

Randy Rhoads 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

2010-08-11T19:05:00.003-03:00

Kathy Rhoads D'Argenzio, the sister of Randy Rhoads, will be releasing a special limited edition 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, in tribute to Randy.

Kathy's statement, "On August 15th, I personally will be dedicating our first release ‘Randy Rhoads 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon wine.’ This is my way of honoring my brother. The wine was created with the same pride, passion, and dedication that Randy gave to his music. A major portion of the proceeds will go to The Randy Rhoads Charitable Trust."

Wine Label Advertisement. Click HERE to visit the D'Argenzio website for more information.

Kathy Rhoads D'Argenzio and her husband Richard D'Argenzio.

Mary and Max Claymation

2010-07-26T15:22:00.006-03:00

Normally, when I post a blog about stop-motion animation, it’s usually about the Christmas specials of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. I just recently watched an Australian, claymation film called Mary and Max (Click for IMDb info). I didn’t know much about the film and thought I would give it a chance. It’s advertised as claymation for adults. It's clearly not appropriate for children, but it's not as harsh or offensive either.

There were a couple of reasons I wanted to blog about Mary and Max. It’s a very creative film with colorful characters. It’s art combined with cinema that is both funny and heartfelt. There are some incredibly hilarious scenes, along with a very bittersweet story.

The voice-over work is outstanding. Barry Humphries is the narrator. Philip Seymour Hoffman, is the voice for Max Jerry Horovitz, Toni Collette is the voice for Mary Daisy Dinkle, Bethany Whitmore is the voice for young Mary and Eric Bana also has a part as Mary’s love interest, Damien.

If you love claymation and/or stop-motion films, you won’t be disappointed by Mary and Max. So, grab a few chocolate hotdogs and check it out.

Click on the picture frame to visit the
official Mary and Max website.

Napa Valley Photography

2010-07-04T12:16:00.002-03:00

Some of my photography is available on greeting cards. These particular photos were taken in Napa Valley, wine country.

Napa Valley Greeting Cards buy here at EinhornandFinkle

Visit to Musonia

2010-06-25T20:22:00.006-03:00

I finally made a trip to see the music school Musonia. For those that may not know, this is where Randy Rhoads used to teach guitar lessons. His mother designed the building and had it constructed in the late '40s. It's still all original to this day.

I realize I've been posting such an abundance of Randy Rhoads lately. I am not only a big fan, but it's a big year for him and he absolutely deserves it. Blizzard and Diary are both timeless and very influential albums. The 30th Anniversary for Blizzard and Diary is this year and we'll see a special Randy Rhoads boxed set. I posted a blog about that earlier and it's in the archives.

Randy's brother, Kelle Rhoads himself, met my wife and I and gave us a tour. He was incredibly affable, down to earth and more than generous with his time. He also has a great sense of humor. It was more than I expected and such a pleasure to have been there with him. Kelle liked my colored pencil drawing I had done of Randy. I had given him a few postcards of the drawing. A photo of the artwork is in the August 2009 archive section.

We had flown from the east coast and then drove many miles from Northern California to make the special stop there. Kelle really appreciated that we traveled such a long distance. Because it was my birthday the day before Kelle really want out of his way to make sure I had a great time. He also wanted to play a section of a new song he's currently writing on piano for his third Classical CD release.

After visiting Musonia, we stopped by the D'Argenzio wine tasting room. Randy's sister, Kathy Rhoads D'Argenzio is releasing a special Cabernet Sauvignon in Randy's name. It should be out this August. We purchased two bottles and can't wait to try it. We bought a bottle of Gewurztraminer while we were there. OK, enough babble, on with the photos ...

Click on photos for a larger view.
The front exterior when I arrived.

Main Entry

Great Music Room

Randy's original Head and Cabinets from the Quiet Riot days. Duct tape is still on the head to mark where he wanted his settings kept.

Kelle allowed me to see Randy's original guitar case that he always used for his cream Les Paul. It has Quiet Riot spray painted from a stencil. The string marks were clearly visible inside and it was worn. He added his Les Paul to a stronger road case while on tour with Ozzy.

The hallway leading to Randy's teaching room. I thought about him walking that hallway many times.

Randy's teaching room. George Lynch, from Dokken, mentioned that he gave guitar lessons there after Randy had passed away. Rudy Sarzo, who played bass for Quiet Riot and Ozzy also taught at Musonia.

Back exterior, to other rooms. I asked Kelle if Randy had smoked out here all of the time. He just replied with, "He smoked all over the place."

The very room Randy first learned to play guitar.

Original Drums from Quiet Riot. The word "RIOT" written in marker on the top drum.

Me and Kelle, just after he finished playing an original piece he is writing.

Stop Motion Animation

2010-05-30T01:23:00.001-03:00

Thought I would blog about some inspiring works by Patrick Boivin. Patrick has been creating his own short films and stop motion animation for some time now. The stop motion is most impressive and really fun to watch. I had contacted him a while ago about the making of those films. He pointed me in the direction of one of his videos showing how he does it. After taking the photos, he uses software to add reflections and other images. You really should head over to his You Tube channel and take a look at these films. Look for the "Stop Motion Animation" section. He has Iron Man fighting Bruce Lee and many others. One of his short films includes a really creepy Ronald McDonald-type of vampire clown.

Design: Text on Fire

2010-05-27T16:18:00.001-03:00

There is so many graphic design tips online ... enough to make your head spin. After finding this site, I had to blog about this very cool Photoshop fire effect for text. It was created by Johnson Koh, from Singapore. I have the Eye Candy fire effect filter and this blows it away. The effect is more intimidating and very artistic. However, this is not a filter that creates it for you, but steps you have to do yourself. It's best if you're very familiar and comfortable with Photoshop.

Click for the Tutorial.

Ronnie James Dio

2010-05-17T15:44:00.006-03:00

Ronnie James Dio, the legendary Rock & Roll singer has passed away. We, the fans will miss him. His incredible legacy of music will continue to live on.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2009. After a long, hard battle, it was confirmed by his wife Wendy Dio on his official website. He was 67.

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
- Wendy Dio

"Whenever we dream, that's when we fly
So here is a dream for just you and I"
- Ronnie James Dio
July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010

Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz 30th Anniversary

2010-05-16T13:50:00.010-03:00

UPDATE: Skip to my review of the 30th Anniversary Box Set by clicking Here.

Big news was just announced that Ozzy Osbourne will be rereleasing Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, featuring Randy Rhoads, with the original bass and drum tracks restored! These will be deluxe 30th Anniversary editions and there will be bonus features. Those features and dates have yet to be announced.

Bob Daisley recently mentioned that he had hours of recorded sessions from both albums, including some clowning around. It would be amazing to hear these recordings, which Bob has labeled "gold" and the "holy grails" of that era with Randy Rhoads. Those albums are a huge part of rock music history.

UPDATE May 19, 2010: Courtesy of http://www.bravewords.com/
As previously reported by BLACK SABBATH News last week, 30th Anniversary Editions of OZZY OSBOURNE's first two legendary solo albums featuring the late guitarist Randy Rhoads - Blizzard Of Ozz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981) - are due out later this year.

"They definitely are coming out this year," Sharon Osbourne told BraveWords.com a few hours ago today (May 19th). "They are coming out for (US) Thanksgiving and they will be on the market then. It's going back to the original recordings with (Bob) Daisley (bass) and (Lee) Kerslake (drums). There will be a lot of stuff that you haven't heard before in the packages, like certain conversations that were going on in the studio with the guys just messing around while the tape was still rolling. All of that will be added into it."

Ozzy added jokingly - "Do I sing good?"

Sharon - "Fabulous!"

There's also talk of some visuals in the archives with Randy Rhoads? "There's two shows that we have in the archives that we are working on right now," Sharon reveals. "Of course in those days, the tapes were like twenty minutes and then you had to change the tape. So we're trying to clean it up, make sense of it. So we are working on it, along with another film we have of Randy. It will all be boxed together and it should be a great piece to have for a real fan. It will be an amazing piece."

Since their initial release twenty-three years ago, Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman have sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

All I have to say is, If they're being released on or around Thanksgiving, who needs turkey? I can't wait for this boxed set, I'm salivating!

From Left to Right: Bob Daisley (Bass), Lee Kerslake (Drums), Ozzy Osbourne (Vocals) and Randy Rhoads (Guitar)

UPDATE: February 23, 2011
Sent to me by Record Store Day rep:

"Ozzy Osbourne, who is serving as Ambassador of Record Store Day 2011, is releasing an exclusive 7” single for record stores on that day, and those stores who choose to bring them in will also be the first place to purchase vinyl reissues of the original recordings of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. The expanded anniversary editions of those titles, on CD, will be released in May."

So the vinyl editions are re-issues released on April 16th for Record Store Day. The CDs with the bonus stuff is supposed to be released in May. Let's hope this date doesn't get changed yet again. We fans are not getting any younger.

Official Jim Carrey Website

2010-05-14T15:40:00.002-03:00

I love Jim Carrey's films. I never get tired of watching them. It just never gets old for me. I also love his new website. The designer's at 65 Media created amazing graphics! It's phenomenal work! You can move your mouse over certain images and it will either have a recording from Jim or it will take you to a different page. A photographer character will pop up every once in a while and you have to be quick to click on him to see the photo. There are also many photos on the biography page. There are a couple of behind-the-scenes photos from some of his films. I would love to see more of those. I love rare, never-before-seen material.

Below are some examples of what the site looks like. Click on them for a larger view and don't forget to visit Jim's site.

Jim Carrey's website homepage.

Page showing some of his film roles.

Another interesting page.

Jim in his trailer, during the filming of Yes Man.

Sarasota Film Festival

2010-04-10T11:53:00.002-03:00

The Sarasota Film Festival is here again. It's been growing stronger every year and the actors seem to like this festival. I don't know if it's because it might be more intimate than most film festivals. Maybe they love the warm weather. Whatever the reason, there are many wonderful films shown during these two weeks in April and a few events that are intriguing for the fans.

This year there will be a well deserved filmmaker tribute to Director, John Landis (American Werewolf in London, Animal House, Blues Brothers and many other great films). We met John Landis at a Spooky Empire event, in Orlando, FL. He was incredibly gracious and has a great sense of humor. Looking forward to seeing his new film, Burke and Hare, with Simon Pegg. I recall him saying that it was going to be a very dark comedy.

At the 2007 Sarasota Film Festival, the wife and I attended a Q&A for Steve Buscemi. I took photos of the event and met him briefly after. He was very affable and willing to answer any questions about the films he worked on. I asked him about his time filming Ed and His Dead Mother. I imagine too many fans ask him about Fargo. I guess all he could say about the film was that it was fun to make. I think Ed and His Dead Mother is absolutely hilarious! If you haven't seen it, rent or buy it now. It's a comedy/horror and Steve is brilliant in it. This photo was taken during the Q&A. Click on the image for a larger size.

Hot Tub Time Machine

2010-03-29T00:08:00.010-03:00

Just saw the new film, Hot Tub Time Machine, with John Cusack. It was much funnier than I thought it was going to be. Well, I didn't know what to expect from the title. It has many laughs and it's pretty out there at times. I love seeing John in comedies ... not that he's bad in anything else. I was a bit surprised and very happy to see Crispin Glover. He turned out to be incredibly funny in his character! Chevy Chase also has a role! Go see this film and have some laughs. It doesn't matter if you grew up in that era or not to appreciate it. Click on the images for a larger view.

Jeff Buckley Grace Around the World

2010-03-28T12:13:00.000-03:00

Absolute must-have if you love Jeff Buckley's music! It's a live DVD with extra footage and interviews. Each song is from a different venue. The live CD sounds great. Being a designer myself, I love the packaging too. Very well done. Everyone involved in this project did a superb job. I'm sure it was very time consuming.

Jeff Buckley Grace Legacy Edition

2010-03-22T19:14:00.002-03:00

I've been listening to Jeff Buckley lately. I have Grace the Legacy Edition and a few other previously unreleased tracks. I highly recommend the Grace album if you haven't heard it. He sang with such great emotion and expression! He wrote songs with great feel back when grunge was the somber and popular "style" at the time, for lack of better words. He wasn't afraid to express himself in his music and not get caught in any one style. I have a difficult time believing he passed away. Who knows what he would have been writing today. I'm sure it would have been just as profound as his earlier work.

Randy Rhoads - In Memoriam

2010-03-19T02:42:00.001-03:00

December 6, 1956 - March 19, 1982

Gone too soon, remembered forever.

Craig Ferguson Live on Tour

2010-03-18T11:52:00.011-03:00

Last night my wife and I went to see Craig Ferguson, live at Ruth Eckerd Hall, in Clearwater, FL. It was a very funny show. He joked about the local area and has a natural gift for improv. He had great material, including his crazy imitation of Larry King. He had a couple of people with him that are usually on his "Late Late Show" CBS TV. He was selling tour shirts, which has an image of him sitting on a big thrown-like chair with the word American on top of it. Why on earth would he not add his name to the shirt? It would have been great along with the tour dates. He was also selling copies of his new book and some were signed by him. I own the American on Purpose book, but I'm regretting not purchasing the signed book for a collectible. I do have the shirt without his name on it. What was I thinking?

I was hoping to take a few pictures, but never got the chance, due to the venue's strict no camera policy. However, my wife managed to get a small clip of Craig lip syncing to a Britney Spears song, including a wacky dance for the end of the show. I feel the reason why Leno and Conan had poor ratings is because they can't compete with Craig's comedic talent. I watch his show as much as I can because he really is hilarious. It's too bad the show is on so late. The only unfortunate thing about the night in Clearwater was the fact that his poor robot skeletons waited out in the cold air to greet him after the show. He decided not to meet them either because he was tired or maybe CBS doesn't allow it. He drove away to his hotel to get rest. If this leg of the tour is over, maybe he's heading back to record more CBS shows.

I'm currently in the middle of reading Craig's new book, American on Purpose. It's a very honest and funny story of his life. He talks about how he came to America to become an actor/comedian. If you love watching his show at night, you're clearly a fan that should be reading this book.

Randy Rhoads Remembered

2010-03-12T14:03:00.012-04:00

It’s difficult to believe that it’s been 28 years we’ve been without the great presence of musician/guitarist Randy Rhoads. This year may possibly be the biggest year for Randy. Ozzy has announced that he will be releasing live footage of Randy that has never been seen before. There are no other details, which I found rather odd. No mention of the venue, city, tour or how long the footage is. Ozzy's son Jack, is also working on an official Ozzy documentary and I’m assuming he would include some rare photos or other footage of Randy. I know the fans would appreciate it.

Peter Margolis, the director for the new Randy Rhoads documentary, has been working on the film for three years now. I’m hoping that will be released this year too. There has been some arguing going around about this documentary. I wish all of the people behind-the-scenes could stop all of the disagreements and power struggles. They should realize that this is for and about Randy. Any films being made or merchandise being sold will help keep Randy’s memory alive.

Randy recorded two of the biggest albums in rock history and continues to influence generations. He has always been a well respected guitar player, but he is finally getting more recognition now than ever before and deservedly so.

Randy with a friend from a band called Budgie.

Blizzard studio photoshoot.

Rare fan photo.

Last known fan photo.

Rare candid photo.

Rare in-store appearance, during Blizzard tour.

Randy tuning his guitar during a soundcheck.

Live in Texas, Blizzard tour.

Rare backstage Ross Halfin photo, during Blizzard tour.

Great live photo, during the Diary of a Madman tour.

The rare and classic Diary tour poster.

One of many, from the last photo shoot.

Bruce Lee Remake?

2010-03-01T16:22:00.000-04:00

I've been reading this around the net. Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle), is set to begin filming a remake for Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon, with Jack Black and Anne Hathaway. Huh?

First of all, there is no such thing as a Bruce Lee remake because Bruce is not here and NO ONE can take his place in those classic films. However, If it's a different take on the story than that would make sense, but one should choose actors carefully.

I have to admit, I've never seen Shaolin Soccer or Kung Fu Hustle and I probably won't see this remake. There seems to be an abundance of remakes these days. Clash of the Titans is set to be released soon, but that's another story or blog. Why bother remaking classics? Why does the film industry refuse to find some new and original stories? I'm sure they're out there.

Here's a link to the story I read: Stephen Chow Remakes Bruce Lee Classic | Shakefire.com

The Wolf Man 2010

2010-02-13T17:58:00.007-04:00

"Terrible things Lawrence ...you've done terrible things."
I went to see the 2010 release of The Wolf Man, with Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt. The film was better than I expected, as I didn't have my hopes up too high for this remake. Remakes always seem to disappoint or never gives the film justice it deserves. I've been reading about disappointments with Benicio's performance. I didn't think his performance was bad. However, he could have added more emotion to the character, as he did seem somewhat laid back about the situation and what was happening to him.

The story is different from the original 1941 classic, but I did like the twist and the back story was just as creepy. The wolf transformation was surprisingly good for CGI, but I still don't think anyone has come close to the transformation in An American Werewolf in London. The attacks were fast and fierce, which I also thought was a nice touch. The cinematography was superb and well done.

I read on the official website that the howls were created by recording an Opera singer's voice and then turning the pitch down. I think that was the only thing in the film that I felt wasn't quite believable enough. I enjoyed the film and I think anyone that is a fan of werewolf films will like this one as well. Please click on the images for a larger view.

Doug Landis Artwork

2010-02-11T13:21:00.002-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while. I thought I would blog about some artwork by Doug Landis. I like pencil art and his work truly has some great detail. What's more amazing than that? Well, he draws them with a pencil in his mouth! Yes, you read that correctly. He had an accident while wrestling in high school and is paralyzed from the neck down. He uses his neck muscles to draw.

His brother thought he was watching too much television, so he challenged him to draw and he did just that! Nothing is more inspiring than his artwork and how he is able to accomplish it. It takes Doug anywhere from 40 hours to 200, depending on how large the piece is. Click on the images for a larger view. For more information click on the link to visit his site: Doug Landis Mouth Art

Muse

2010-01-17T13:21:00.002-04:00

My wife and I have been listening to the music of Muse. We have all of the releases. They are a very versatile band, with heavy influences of Queen. Some songs are rock opera, some very pop oriented, regular rock, ballads, you get the picture. If you haven't heard them, or have only heard what's been played on the radio, I highly recommend these three albums from their catalog! They all include amazing songs and the singer, Matt Bellamy really puts his heart and soul in his singing.

They have the unique ablility to blend completely varied styles of music into their albums and sometimes within the same song. After viewing the HAARP DVD/CD, it is apparent that they are able to translate everything they do into the live show! The DVD is great quality. It doesn't have the aggravating quick frame change style of filming, that usually inhibits you from being able to concentrate on the band members. It's also filmed at a packed Wembley Stadium. Please click on the albums for a larger view.

Muse Absolution

Muse Black Holes and Revelations

Muse The Resistance

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis

2010-01-06T13:00:00.002-04:00

The great Martin & Lewis! I never get tired of watching all of the original films, Colgate Comedy Hour shows and Jerry's solo films. They will always be the best and are still larger than life. Just purchased the Jerry Lewis show on DVD. It might not be as funny as the films, but it shows many performances with the Nutty Professor character.

My wife and I saw Jerry live, April 4, 2009, at Ruth Eckard Hall, Clearwater, FL. It was great to see him in person and see the rare clips of his work. He mentioned he had turned 83! Sure he's getting old and he had to breath with an oxygen tank during breaks, but he's still up there performing and talking with his audience, who are still crazy about him after all these years. Be sure to click on the photos for a larger view.

Vinyl Art

2009-12-26T22:30:00.002-04:00

I received this awesome Randy Rhoads Christmas gift from my wife. It's original artwork by Daniel Edlen. The artwork looks as great in real life as the photo does! Pretty amazing! Please check out my October 2009 archive blog about Daniel's artwork and for more info. They are great collectibles and if you would like to buy one of your favorite artist, it will be original art, not a print!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T03:03:00.001-04:00

Happy Holidays to all and a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Rankin/Bass Info

2009-12-22T20:15:00.001-04:00

Here is a very detailed blog about Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass. Click here to read it and see some rare photos.

Also, don't forget to visit the best Rankin/Bass blog, created by Rankin/Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt.

Above is a rare behind-the-scenes photo of the Mail Delivery Kruger, on the set of Santa Claus is Comin to Town. Original photo from Rick Goldschmidt.

Gary Hoey

2009-12-20T23:47:00.000-04:00

Gary Ho Ho Hoey, The Complete Collection. Great CD! See my November 09 blog on Gary and this Christmas collection.

Schwetty Balls

2009-12-18T10:23:00.000-04:00

Pete's Famous Schwetty Balls by EinhornandFinkle
Buy a t shirt online from Zazzle

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2009-12-16T14:50:00.001-04:00

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's audience seems to be getting bigger each year. I have the three Christmas CDs: Christmas Eve and other Stories, The Christmas Attic and The Lost Christmas Eve. We have seen them twice so far. Once at the Mahaffey Theater several years ago. We didn't see the original singers during that show because they have two separate touring shows to keep up with the demands during Christmas.

This past December 6th, we saw the original singers (that are on the CDs) and a HUGE production, at the St. Pete Times Forum. It was unbelievable! The light show was incredible. The music was tight and there was a very special encore with Joe Walsh. Joe performed Life's Been Good and Rocky Mountain Way. He then finished the end of the show with TSO. I'm so glad we saw that show.

Don't hesitate to see this show! You will not be sorry or disappointed! It just depends which half of the group you will get. You might get Al Pitrelli on guitar or you might get Chris Caffery and Alex Skolnic. We got to see Chris and Alex this last time. Yes, Alex Skolnic was originally from the band Testament. I believe he records Jazz music now.

Rankin/Bass Display

2009-12-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys and The Year Without a Santa Claus.

Rudolph Rankin/Bass Wine Glasses

2009-12-10T01:06:00.002-04:00

Not only am I going to blog about Christmas and the Rankin/Bass specials, but I'm also going to blog about another art project I just completed. I hand-painted 4 wine glasses. Each glass features a character from the 1964 Rankin/Bass classic, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and The Island of Misfit Toys. One is of Yukon Cornelius, the second is baby Rudolph and skinny Santa, the third is Charlie in the Box and the fourth is Bumble.

I used Delta PermEnamel paint and regular acrylics. It air dries and does not have to be baked. At the very base of the glasses, I added a theme to go along with the characters. Yukon has a plaid drink container or canteen, so I painted a plaid base. Baby Rudolph and skinny Santa use the jingle bells harness in that particular scene, so I put that on the base. Charlie in the Box has a base that sort of matches the purple box he's in and Bumble's base has the actual snowflakes that are in the animation.

It was extremely difficult to paint the detail on the glasses, trying not to distort the images. Plus, the paint layers had to dry at least an hour before applying another layer. It took me quite a while to paint them and was beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I'm glad they're finished and we can enjoy them for the holidays. Click on each image for a larger size.

If you want to see a great blog dedicated to the Rankin and Bass specials, go to this link: http://enchantedworldofrankinbass.blogspot.com. Rick Goldschmidt created the blog and is an official Rankin/Bass historian. He has plenty of info and many great photos, including behind-the-scenes photos while working on the holiday specials. He also wrote a book about the making of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I have the book and it's loaded with great info, photos and the original script to the show. For those that love the Rankin/Bass specials, it's a must-have book. There is also an official website for the specials here: www.rankinbass.com.

Pets at Christmastime

2009-12-06T15:19:00.000-04:00

Took some practice shots of Guinness, our Australian Shepherd and Gillies, our Goldie's Lorikeet. Click on the photos for a larger view.

Gillies tries his hat on.

Crap, it doesn't fit?

Gillies posing on a Christmas frog.

Guinness relaxes on a Christmas pillow. Cute little bugger!

Christmastime is Here

2009-12-01T22:01:00.000-04:00

It's that time again Charlie Brown!

Bruce Lee's 69th Birthday Memorial

2009-11-29T12:20:00.002-04:00

Bruce Lee would have been 69 years old on November 27, 2009. He is still larger than life today. Go to the new official website, www.brucelee.com for info, photos, video and blogs.

Here is a news article from the Seattle Times, about fans visiting his resting place on his birthday.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

2009-11-25T23:17:00.001-04:00

Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
'Cause it's good
Love to eat turkey
like a good boy should
'Cause it's turkey to eat
So good
Turkey for me
Turkey for you
Let's eat the turkey
in my big brown shoe
Love to eat the turkey
at the table
I once saw a movie
with Betty Grable
Eat that turkey
all night long
Fifty million Elvis fans
can't be wrong
Turkey turkey doo and
turkey turkey dap
I eat that turkey then I take a nap
Thanksgiving is a special night
Jimmy Walker used to say Dynomite!
That's right
Turkey with gravy and cranberry
Can't believe the Mets traded Darryl Strawberry
Turkey for you and turkey for me
Can't believe Tyson gave that girl V.D.
White meat, dark meat,
you just can't lose
I fell off my moped and I got a bruise
Turkey in the oven
and the buns in the toaster
I'll never take down
my Cheryl Tiegs poster
Wrap the turkey up
in aluminum foil
My brother likes to masturbate
with baby oil
Turkey and sweet potato pie
Sammy Davis Jr. only had one eye
Turkey for the girls and
turkey for the boys
My favorite kind of pants
are corduroy
Gobble gobble goo and
gobble gobble gickel
I wish turkey only cost a nickel
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving

Lyrics by, Adam Sandler Copyright 2004

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2009-11-23T18:01:00.006-04:00

I wasn't aware that there was a new release for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the 20th Anniversary. I LOVE this film. I have the Blu-ray and wasn't that amazed by the transfer, but I felt I had to buy this anniversary set for the collectibles ...yeah, I'm a sucker for them. The tin alone is cool! It includes coasters with images from the film, a pin, a real Santa hat with a moose on it, a small box of fake snow and a very tiny, plastic, moose mug replica and of course the Blu-ray disc.

Collectibles are great to own from any of these classic films, but what about the extras that are not being included on most Blu-ray discs? There are NONE on this one! OK, so there's commentary. That was included on past releases. Where are the bloopers and gag reels that I love so much? There is no behind-the-scenes footage either. Some people might feel that's lame for a 20th Anniversary. But for we die-hard fans, we take what we can get for now.

Goldie's Lorikeet

2009-11-20T13:55:00.002-04:00

We have a new baby bird. He's a Goldie's Lorikeet. His name is Gillies. He's a great bird. This breed is very quiet compared to most birds. He's a bit of a watery pooper, due to his diet of fruit and nectar. It's going to be tough to train him not to poop on the shoulder. I took some quick photos with my Canon SLR.

Gary Hoey

2009-11-06T21:54:00.003-04:00

I wanted to mention a great guitar player. If you like Christmas music and instrumental Rock, you should check out Gary Hoey's CDs, Ho Ho Hoey! The set of three CDs should be in everyone's Christmas collection. You can buy them separately or all in one package. His other CDs, not related to Christmas, are also awesome. Excuse the pun, but he does a mean version of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

I love all of the different guitar tones he captures in the studio. I love his version of Hocus Pocus, by the Dutch group Focus. I also love Gary's song, The Deep. Gary does a small Christmas tour every year. My wife and I saw him last year at Bourbon Street Club, in New Port Richie, FL area. Go to his official website for more info and tour dates: http://garyhoey.com/

A Christmas Carol Released Today

2009-11-06T21:30:00.001-04:00

Went to see Disney's A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey, today. Had center seats at a big IMAX theater! It was as good as I thought it would be and visually stunning! I had a little trouble viewing the film through the 3D glasses. The lenses seemed cloudy and the film was very dark. Not dark as in gloomy or evil, but the picture tone and shading. Wish I had better 3D glasses like I had with Polar Express.

Gary Oldman was AWESOME as Jacob Marley! It also had some comedy here and there. There was one part with the Ghost from Christmas Past that had me cracking up. Jim Carrey's humor comes through even in CGI. The 3D is great too! It's not to early to get in the Christmas spirit. Go and see it! I believe Charles Dickens would be proud of this version!

A Christmas Carol

2009-11-02T12:25:00.006-04:00

November 6th, will be the official release for Disney’s version of A Christmas Carol. This film was directed by, Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express, Cast Away, Forrest Gump). It will have two favorite actors of mine, Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman. I saw a 3D preview during the movie’s train tour. If you love all of the different versions, this is one version you must see and will love. Robert Zemeckis wanted to create a version that was as close to the original Dickens story as possible. He did mention a couple of added scenes that will have a slightly different perspective. Click on the posters above for a larger view. The images are from the very informative, unofficial Jim Carrey site, Jim Carrey Online.

With the new 2009 release, merchandise is slowly becoming available. Books and ornaments are being offered and hopefully other quality collectibles will be available soon. At this time, the hardcover book for The Art of A Christmas Carol is one of the best for collectibles. The book is full of amazing images and goes into great detail about the making of the film. There is always other merchandise to collect on the web, that is not related to this film.

Also, Jim Carrey has a brand new official website. The sites graphics are very impressive. The designers managed to create a unique and inventive theme. I hope some behind-the-scenes content from his films will be added soon.

The merchandise below is not related to the Disney film, but is a very classic image on shirts, greeting cards and more. Click on the image for more info.

A Christmas Carol Collectibles by EinhornandFinkle

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-31T13:31:00.005-03:00

"I am ... Dracula and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in."

Vinyl Art, by Daniel Edlen

2009-10-23T18:51:00.001-03:00

I was browsing the web for music images and an image on a record album caught my eye. It looked like it was done in Photoshop, so I decided to take a closer look. I clicked on the Vinyl Art site and discovered a talented artist, Daniel Edlen. Daniel paints images of famous musicians and entertainers by hand, using white acrylic paint and with beautiful detail. The shading is superb and gives these images such depth. They don’t appear two-dimensional.

Daniel has a passion for art, music and vinyl records. You can truly see the passion in his work. He grew up in Pacific Palisades, California and now resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife. He also has a baby girl on the way and owns 4 dogs. He went to UCLA and took classes at the Brentwood Art Center. You can read more about Daniel and see his gallery at his website for Vinyl Art and his Vinyl Art Blog. He has a You Tube Channel that shows some work in progress and how it’s done. Just add his name to the search and you’ll see all of his videos.

He also makes them very affordable to purchase. You’re not buying prints, you’re buying the original art, on the original record. No two are alike, which really makes them unique and collectible. He will search and purchase the record for you, but if you have it in your possession, you can send him what you choose. It would obviously be quicker for him to start painting if he didn't have to search for it. Just make sure you are sending him an album that you do not plan on playing, as it will have paint directly on the record itself. They are framed, but you can also order them without a frame. If you have a favorite musician, tell him and send him the photo you would like to use. You can read more info on his FAQ page. Click on the images above for a larger view.

Hand painted collectibles

2009-10-14T13:42:00.008-03:00

Here's another favorite art form and very fitting for the Halloween season. I had mentioned in the last blog about Zombie Head, that I would post some things I have painted. The sculpting of these figures are superb and all show an excellent likeness to the character. I don't know who sculpted all of these, but I know Mike Hill created the Curse of the Werewolf.

These were all hand painted by me, using regular acrylics - not all at once of course. Some of them took a week to work on and others took a month. I believe the Ozzy and Randy Rhoads Tribute took a little over a month. That particular one was extremely challenging and frustrating. I still have a couple sitting around that I haven't worked on yet. I don't work on them as often because they can take up space and they're time consuming. Click on any image for a larger size. Once you click on the photo, click it a second time to view the original size.

Bram Stoker's Dracula collection.

Lon Chaney, Jr. as The Wolf Man.

War of the Gargantuas. A Japanese horror film. I get a kick out of this old classic.

Curse of the Werewolf, Hammer films. One of my favorite pieces.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Nice sculpting by the artist. True to the animation.

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads, Tribute sculpture. I included a photo of this one showing the pieces before it was assembled and painted. I didn't enjoy working on this one as much, but I'm happy with the end result. The tattoos on Ozzy had to be created by hand. It's also accurate to the photos from that time, as he has added more tats since then. The last photo shows a close-up of the tats. I even had to paint Ozzy's nipple! LOL!

Zombie Head Jewelry and Collectibles

2009-10-13T00:15:00.005-03:00

I was at the Spooky Empire con this past weekend, in Orlando, Florida. I bought a couple of items that are creepy, funny, artistic and just plain cool! I had to showcase them here on my blog, as they definitely qualify as art. Technically these items are jewelry, but I chose to buy the pendants as collectibles for our curio case.

The name of this talented artist is Krystal Osborne. She has been designing the Zombie Head collection since 2003. She sculpts the heads using Super Sculpey, paints them with excellent detail, then adds a gloss touch. No molds are made. They are all done by hand and are one-of-a-kind. She has so many to choose from, I had trouble deciding which pieces I wanted. I had to think carefully and finally decided on two. I ended up with one creepy zombie that reminded me of the Evil Dead film. The second is a zombie clown. Her clown art reminded me of the Chiodo brother's film, Killer Klowns from Outer Space (See my blog on the Killer Klowns film - August 2009). There is a photo below showing my two zombie heads.

Krystal's work is very inspiring. Click on any of the photos for a larger view. There is one photo with a ruler showing the head to scale. The pendants are roughly 1” x 1”. Any fan of horror films would love collecting these small Zombie Heads. They also make great gifts. She has pendants, earrings, bracelets, pins and new items are added as they’re completed. If you would like to browse her store, click here: http://zombiehead.etsy.com. She also has MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages. When you get to her site, click on her profile for those links.

Speaking of painting, I’ve painted a few collectibles in the past myself and I will post them soon. I love Krystal’s attention to detail and try to do that with my work as well. This is the best time of the year for scary collectibles, so I will try to post as much as I can.

The Invention of Lying

2009-10-04T18:12:00.007-03:00

Just saw the film, The Invention of Lying today, with Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey and many others. There are some interesting and unexpected cameos. It’s a comical movie with a message. The basic synopsis is about a world where people only tell the truth in detail, but Ricky’s character manages to lie and it changes everything. I thought it was very funny, but at the same time it has some deep and somber scenes as well. The story appears to paint a picture of how shallow and insecure human beings can be. I don’t want to give any of the film away, but there is a very impressive scene I liked. Ricky Gervais is speaking to his mom just before she dies and tells her what it’s going to be like when she passes and I thought he gave an amazing performance! The movie was written and directed by Ricky and Matthew Robinson. Click on the poster for a larger view.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Seinfeld Reunion

2009-10-02T17:56:00.002-03:00

Click this text for the official site and watch a preview!

Comedian Bob Marley

2009-10-01T13:11:00.008-03:00

My wife and I are huge fans of comedian Bob Marley. Not many people knew at first that Bob, who plays Detective Greenly in The Boondock Saints film, has released many CDs of his brilliant comedy. The Boondock Saints is a great film that was overlooked at first, but now has a big cult following. Boondock Saints 2, All Saints Day, is set to be released in theaters on October 30, 2009.

Bob is very animated on stage and is a great story teller. He’s especially funny when he’s imitating his Mom and Dad. He has hours of material and it’s all incredibly funny. Much of the material is New England based and he performs mostly in that area. You don’t have to be from New England to appreciate his comedy. I hope he considers touring more of the country soon.

He does venture off to different areas from time to time, such as California, Arizona and Florida. The photos below were taken by me while Bob was performing in Melbourne, Florida, in 2009. My wife and I met him before the show and he was extremely affable. He joked with us for a good twenty minutes or more. It was a great performance that night!

I have almost his entire collection of CDs and never grow tired of them. Check them out, along with some live DVDs, from his official website. If it’s too overwhelming for you to choose which CD might be best, start with Bob Marley Live (Photo above). He has video and audio clips on his site. You’ll also find many live video clips on You Tube as well. Click on any of the images for a larger view.

"My mom's got itchy boobs."

"This brassiere is chafing my areolas!"

"You want salt, pepper and oil?"

Nosferatu 1922

2009-10-01T11:55:00.009-03:00

Nosferatu Men's Shirts by EinhornandFinkle

Design custom shirts at zazzle.com

Halloween is creeping up, excuse the pun. Nosferatu, the 1922 silent film, is still a creepy film after all these years! Max Schreck, will forever be remembered as Count Orlok, even with the fake ears, bald cap and fingers. He was born in Munich, Germany in 1879. I didn’t know his last name’s meaning in German, is “frighten” or “terrify”. He died of heart failure at the young age of 57 and is buried in Berlin. Read more about him on this Wikipedia page. Click on the image above for some Nosferatu collectibles.

Below are images of the actual castle, (Orava Castle, Slovakia) where much of Nosferatu was filmed. You can clearly see the gazebo where Thomas Hutter (Jonathan Harker) films a scene. It's amazing to think that someone was right there in that very spot making a classic film all those years ago and it hasn't changed. The last photo, showing the stairs is where Count Orlok welcomes Hutter and asks him to come into the castle. This also might be where Count Orlok is shown loading his coffin onto a coach with horses. Click on the images for a larger view.

KISS - The Originals

2009-09-21T17:41:00.001-03:00

I just found these KISS poster prints on Zazzle. These official prints are of the original band members, Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace. Some great rare shots many fans haven't seen in a while. New fans may not have seen these at all. I'm not sure how long they will be available. Click on the images to buy them and browse around the band's official Zazzle site. There are different sizes to choose from. Be careful that you choose the correct size and material it is being printed on.

KISS Group Above Skyline Poster Print by kissmerch
Browse Kissmerch Posters

KISS Group Photo Shoot Poster Print by kissmerch
Large format poster printing from zazzle

KISS Group Upshot Poster Print by kissmerch
More Kissmerch Posters

KISS in Kimonos Poster Print by kissmerch
See More poster designs on zazzle

Flower and Butterfly Photos

2009-09-17T11:54:00.010-03:00

Another creative interest of mine is photography. Here are photos that were shot in RAW, of the Purple Passion flower and a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. I'm still learning how to get sharper images with my Canon Rebel SLR. The SLR has been very difficult to work with, compared to all of the point and shoot digitals I've used in the past. It's taken me a while, but I'm finally getting more comfortable. Click on the images for a larger size. Also, check in my "Blogs Worth Mentioning" section, on the right sidebar and view some stunning Kevin Adams photography.

Ace Frehley - Anomaly Released Today

2009-09-15T10:47:00.007-03:00

Picking up the new Ace Frehley Anomaly today. This is a very strong Ace Frehley album, with great songs. Ace wanted to create something close to his 1978 solo release. He didn't understand at first why so many fans loved that album the most. It was probably because of the signature guitar sound, the reverb and delay on the vocals and the raw rock and roll songs. His voice was very aggressive on the '78 album. The past couple of decades, music in general has been recorded with too much compression and no delay or live sound to the vocals and instruments. Ace wanted to bring that back to his new release. Sister is one song that I really love. It's pure Ace. I have a feeling this album is going to get plenty of well deserved attention.

American Werewolf (Full Moon Edition)

2009-09-15T10:44:00.004-03:00

Blu-ray and DVD Release, September 15, 2009.
Picking up my copy today. Can't wait to see the documentary, Beware the Moon!

Cheap Trick - The Latest

2009-09-08T18:23:00.008-03:00

I love the new Cheap Trick album, The Latest. It’s has great songs from start to finish, with Miss Tomorrow, Sick Man of Europe and Closer (The Ballad of Burt and Linda) being among my favorite tracks! It’s a great follow up to the last album, Rockford. In my opinion, these last few albums have been just as good as Dream Police. Here is the video for Sick Man of Europe. Visit Cheap Trick’s official site. You can also get some official Cheap Trick merch with the link below!

Cheap Trick Logo - Pick Your Shirt by cheaptrick
Browse other Cheap T-Shirts

Extract Movie

2009-09-05T18:46:00.008-03:00

Well, I seem to be discussing more about films than art and music lately. Maybe it's because of the many films I would like to see in the next couple of months. I just went to see Extract, written and directed by, Mike Judge. I am a big Office Space fan and thought that this was supposed to be similar in comedy. It was really funny, but I was a bit deceived. I don’t know why we trust movie trailers anymore. They are just as bad as the reviewers. The trailer makes it appear a little lighter than it is. OK, so it wasn’t as funny throughout the entire film. The story is great, but was making me a bit stressed. It really is a stressful situation to be in, without giving too much away. It has a serious side to it. Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman were outstanding. Ben’s character was very funny and I like him more now after seeing great films like Changing Lanes and Surviving Christmas. Jason's character is a good guy that you really feel for. Everyone, including Mila Kunis, did really well in this film and the characters were very zany and interesting. I really do recommend it, as long as you don’t expect non-stop laughter. Maybe I took Extract too seriously, but didn't find it as funny as Office Space, with characters like Milton or Lumbergh. If anyone has seen Extract and would like to leave a comment, please do so. I’m curious to know anyone’s thoughts on it. Also, don't forget to click on the images throughout my posts for a larger size.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - New Season 7

2009-09-05T13:45:00.006-03:00

Looking forward to the new season of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Last season was incredibly funny. I loved JB Smoove's character as Leon! He was hilarious! You can take a look at Curb's website here for more info.

Michael Doret Designs

2009-08-27T22:54:00.010-03:00

Time for another art blog. I would like to mention an exceptional illustrator and graphic designer, Michael Doret. Michael is originally from New York. He is a graduate of The Cooper Union in New York City, and opened his own design business shortly after graduation. Since then he has continued to run a small design studio - first in New York City, and currently in Hollywood, California. What is really impressive is while creating his designs, his lettering is done by hand. Anyone that is familiar with design and fonts knows that this is no easy task. He is now selling fonts he personally created here at Alphabet Soup.

Michael is also the artist that created the now legendary Kiss album cover, Rock and Roll Over. He just recently completed a new Kiss album cover for their new 2009 release, Sonic Boom. Kiss asked Michael if he could create new artwork that captures the magic and energy of Rock and Roll Over, with an all new, fresh look. I believe he succeeded! I love the lettering for Sonic Boom and it still has the retro feel. His work always shows great use of vivid, complementary colors. Visit his official home page here and take a look at his blog. His blog talks about his work, as well as designing for Kiss and shows a rough sketch of the new album before it was completed. His designs are very inspiring. Michael was very generous and took time out of his busy schedule to answer a couple of questions for me.

From start to finish, how long did it take you to complete both Rock and Roll Over and Sonic Boom?

Michael: As I recall, Rock and Roll Over took me some time to complete. That was a long time ago, and working digitally wasn’t even on the horizon. The art was done by inking with a Rapidograph on frosted mylar overlays—one overlay for each color. That work took several weeks. But before I did that, I needed to show the group what I had in mind, so I did a colored pencil comp. That probably took about a week to complete.

Sonic Boom was also fairly complicated, but in different ways. I had to contend with the four photographs and converting them into graphic "objects" that would integrate seamlessly into the rest of the design—I really dislike photographs slapped over graphics. I prefer it if everything appears to be cut from the same cloth. The actual work probably took about two weeks, but then there always is time factored in for meetings, waiting for approvals, waiting for photography, etc.

What other interests do you have when your not designing?

Michael: Keeping a career going (as you might well imagine) is a 24/7 job. When I’m not working on assignments, I’m trying to add to my library of fonts at Alphabet Soup, which is not yet a very large number (soon to be six). I have a great passion for astronomy, and always have had since I was a kid. Perhaps that’s why there’s so much geometry in what I do! I probably would have been an astronomer had I not gone into graphic design. Reading and traveling also are high on my agenda when I have time!

Have any graphic design magazines ever approached you for an article, to feature your work?

Michael: I’ve had articles in several magazines over the years, and been featured in books—but none recently. A book feature that’s only from a few years ago can be downloaded by clicking HERE. It’s a 24 page PDF, 8.4 MB.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

2009-08-20T15:22:00.019-03:00

Chiodo Klownz Shirt by chiodobros
Shop Zazzle for another tee at Zazzle.com

A brilliant and funny horror film. Killer Klowns from Outer Space, was produced by, the Chiodo brothers and directed by, Stephen Chiodo. You can now purchase official merchandise from the Chiodo brothers, clicking the link above! Very detailed, colorful illustrations, of the Killer Klowns and other designs. It would be great if a coffee table book was released, with all of the art illustrations and behind-the-scenes images from this classic 1988 movie.

More merchandise is showing up online because the characters are very popular. AmokTime.com, is selling figures. There are also authentic Halloween masks being sold online as well.

Here are some photos of some Klowns that were used on screen. These were taken at Screamfest (now called Spooky Empire), in 2006, at the Chiodo booth. The props are showing age, but it was great to see the actual screen used items. The Chiodo brothers, discussed a possible Killer Klowns 2, but no one knows for sure if this will ever be created and released.

An American Werewolf in London(Full Moon Edition)

2009-08-19T20:02:00.022-03:00

Blu-ray and DVD Release, September 15, 2009.

This will be a special release on Blu-ray. I’ve been patiently waiting for the brand new documentary, Beware the Moon. It's directed by Paul Davis and will be included on this release. I viewed small clips, supplied by Paul. I’ve been reading Paul’s blogs and notes on the web. He was able to set up all new, recent interviews with practically the entire cast of the film. He also visited and filmed some of the locations that were shown throughout American Werewolf. It shows how those places appear today, compared to back in 1981. Some areas haven’t changed much and some drastically. If you are a fan of this film, you will love this new addition!

It’s true that some older films may not look any better on Blu-ray because they were not filmed in High Definition. But from the news I’ve read online, it’s possible that this transfer might be well worth it. Here’s what John Landis had to say about the release. (Quote from www.blu-ray.com) Landis, "My film comes out on Blu-ray this summer and looks amazing. I was afraid the digital cleaning of the negative would result in too clear a picture and hurt Rick Baker’s make-up, when in fact the incredibly crisp detail actually makes Rick’s stuff look even better!"

Bonus Features Include:
Making An American Werewolf in London Featurette
Feature Commentary with Cast Members David Naughton & Griffin Dunne
An Interview with John Landis
I Walked with A Werewolf
Beware The Moon (The NEW Documentary, directed by Paul Davis)
Make-up Artist Rick Baker on An American Werewolf in London
Casting of the Hand
Outtakes
Storyboards
Photograph Montage
BD-Live (Blu-ray exclusive)

District 9

2009-08-16T13:35:00.054-03:00

I like blogging about things that I'm interested in. I try not to make these posts sound like reviews because they really aren't. Just saw District 9 yesterday. I didn’t know what to expect because I didn’t see much press before the release. It had one trailer and it didn’t show much. I wasn’t familiar with the story. It turned out to be AWESOME! It’s an actual original story and not a remake or adaptation. I am so sick of the remakes, as if Halloween and the other slasher films haven’t been done to death ...excuse the pun. But that is a whole other topic.
I didn’t know this movie would be portrayed as half documentary and half drama. It has some comic relief and the main character was very entertaining. The film had a grungy-look and the effects were definitely eye candy, for lack of a better term. The story also gets you emotionally attached to the aliens. I did have trouble focusing on the visuals of the creatures when they were speaking, as there were subtitles.

They certainly left many possible scenarios open for a sequel, and that is one that should definitely be made. All I can say is this film was much better than I thought it was going to be. Go see it! You won’t be disappointed. For more information, go to the official site: http://www.district9movie.com/

Randy Rhoads Colored Pencil Artwork

2009-08-15T16:02:00.025-03:00

Here's my first colored pencil work, using Prismacolor pencils. This portrait is of the late guitarist, Randy Rhoads. I really took a liking to Prismacolor pencils. I will have to keep practicing. This is also my very first portrait. I don't draw very often, so this piece is not as good as it could have been. It's also very time consuming. The eyes may be farther apart than they should be. I apologize that there are watermarks on it, but it's to prevent it from being copied and sold on E-bay. The artwork has official copyright protection.

I sent a couple of postcards of this artwork to the Rhoads family. I always loved Randy's work with Ozzy. He is always missed and I don't think any fan will ever get over the loss of this great musician.

In the future, I will try to post some new work when they are finished. Not sure what I might draw next. I will also try to post some great links for colored pencil tips and tutorials.

Silverchair & The Dissociatives

2009-08-14T13:30:00.032-03:00

Silverchair’s Diorama and Young Modern
I don’t know why these past two albums didn’t get more coverage in the U.S. The fan base is not as large here in the states as it is in Australia, where they are from. Silverchair’s Diorama and Young Modern are not to be underestimated.

In my humble opinion, Diorama is the best thing to happen to music in a long time. Diorama has many layers and can't be fully appreciated with just one listen. The melodies are all amazing. I never really appeciated orchestration on albums, until I heard this release. If you can find the Diorama B-sides on E-bay, those are certainly worth getting as well.

Young Modern, though it’s more pop-sounding than Diorama, has songs that are just as great. It almost has a ‘70s feel. The hooks in Straight Lines, caught my attention and made me want to buy this album. I also love the opening guitars in Those Thieving Birds.

If you’re not familiar with these two albums, pick them up. If you can’t find them in your local store, you can buy them online. I know many great record stores have been closing down, which is not good for collectors.

The Dissociatives
I have to thank Daniel Johns for convincing me to open my mind and listen to different pieces of music every once in a while. Daniel Johns worked on a side project with Paul Mac, called The Dissociatives. It’s not really considered heavy rock, which is what I like most of the time, but the melodies are too catchy too ignore. The self-titled record contains the song, Horror with Eyeballs. That is my favorite cut from the album and such a perfect song. The hooks are brilliant and I never get tired of listening to it. The artist that worked on the design of the CD, made the guys look distorted ...sort of like caricatures. The videos are created the same way. They’re imaginative, creative and very funny. This is another album that seems to have slipped under the radar in America. It may have had an official release in the U.S., but it is available online.

At this time, Silverchair are working on a new album. Many fans have been waiting patiently and some impatiently, wondering what the new one might sound like. I’m sure the songs will be great because the writer is gifted. For more information, go to Silverchair’s official site: http://www.chairpage.com/. For The Dissociatives official site, or Dissos, go to: http://www.thedissociatives.com/.

Take a look at this video, by The Dissociatives. The video is from their official website.

Dumb and Dumber

2009-08-13T15:22:00.029-03:00

I love Jim Carrey's films. Dumb and Dumber is one of my favorites. I also think Jeff Daniels is the only actor that's been able to hold his own alongside Carrey. Jeff is just as funny in this film. I'm really surprised there wasn't a sequel. Even though this film is just as popular today as it was when it was released, I don't see that much in merchandising. There are some shirts and even a lunch box. I will post more about Jim's films soon. There are some rare collectibles. >Take a look at this parody.

Harry Dunne, "One time we successfully mated a Bulldog with a Shih Tzu.
Yeah, we called it a bullshit."