Forever Will Be Lois Lane

 Forever Will Be Lois Lane

Margot Kidder In Memoriam

17.Oct.1948 - 13 May 2018

Magot Kidder was a Canadian Born Actress, who had a spanning 5 decade carreer that includes over hundreds of film and television credits..

Her Iconic role as Lois Lane opposite Christoper Reeves made her a household name (or household face at least), mainstream recognition and further memorable films like the Blockbuster Horror film "The Amityville Horror" .

As a kid growing up in the 80's , we have a very limited access to Foreign TV shows,  mostly already ran but was popular in America Like The Knight Rider, Perfect Stranger, McGyver, The A Team, The Greates American Hero, 21 Jumpstreet, the couple of years delay WWF TV and a bunch more.. as for films , most of which that would make our shores are either anticipated blockbuster films or Bunch of horror shows.. But yeah basically reflecting what was happening in Hollywood.

Superman would be one of them, The Christopher Reeves starrer was a presage of the mainstream popularity of Hollywood's Superhero films , way before MArvel and DC universe were doing their thing today.. 

Superhero film was a big thing, and with the improvement in film making, especially with the technology, at that point was groundbreaking, relatively It was the most expensive film made at that time and as a kid that had grew up with Cartoon version of Superman and The Justice league.. Superman in flesh was a must.

The Film was successful in many ways. It was deemed to be a success with Richard Donner and Mario Puzo (yes of the Godfather fame) at the helm.  Film music by the ever reliable John Williams and Supported by high profile actors such as Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando. , Margot Kidder was the Cherry on Top

Margot would become to be one of Hollywood's most recognizable face, and even for some time that i didn't get her name, she was my earliest biggest crushes... 

Though her role wasnt Grammy worthy, however it was iconic enough, how it touched a lot of lives, i guess was as much as rewarding.. 

Her role,  her face was forever imprinted in my(our) memory .(well talking bout my generation.)

Bob Mould: Legacy

 Legacy: Songs and Stories

Bob Mould

16 Oct 1960

Robert Arthur Mould, known mainly for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.

It wasnt hard to find Bob Mould a place in my toppermost influential artist,  i mean how can you get wrong fronting 2 influential bands in different eras Sugar and Husker Dü ..

"Copper Blue" was my very introduction to Bob Mould's music , it wasnt instantanous as i have to digest a lot of great bands that i listened to the very first time during that magical year of 2005. (My Vitriol, Shiner, The Life and Times, Jawbox, MBV, slowdive, among others)... but darn when it sunk in..  the album just keeps playing in my head long after i took out my headset.... 

What Mould (And Jawbox's J.Robbins) made special is that their previous works points me to a previous scene i was deeply into.. Hardcore and Punk... 

Bob Mould fronted Husker Dü, whose early works were raw hardcore punk, before it morphed into melodic Alternative. (And J.Robbins being a former member of DC band Government Issue)- who by the way were signed by Geg Ginn of Black Flag to his "SST Label"

 that simple retrospect comnection was kinda cool and interesting finding something common i share with my two icons.

Academically after listening to "Zen Arcade"  and my personal faves "Metal Circus"  and "Land Speed Record" 

Mould, being a prolific writer having a solo career in between and no sign of slowing down just released and album "Blue Hearts" recently

John Mayer:Beauty behind Heavier Things

Beauty Beyond Heavier Things

John Mayer
16 Oct 1977

John Clayton Mayer (born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Credited for
Multi Platinum and Critically acclaimed albums.  including his fist two albums;  Room for Squares (2001) and Heavier Things (2003) that found him commercial success. He had also already won 7 Grammys in 19 Nominations.

It was the second album "Heavier Things" that had me..  As soon as i heard the eccentric Guitar intro  of "Bigger Than My Body" i know i just need to get a hold of the album. And i must say it wasnt a fluke.. Mayer is one of the artist that can easily bridge mainstream music and Rock and Blues afficionados..
I'm.not sure if casual.Mayer fans realized how good as a Guitar Player Mayer is... Not too many Guitar player or artist is bold enough  to cover Jimi Hendrix . But dang his cover version of "Bold As Love" in "Continuum" was spot on.. i would think he must have hired a Guitar player to play on that. I've searched a video of him playing the song live and to my surprised and amazement.  His profound influence in music is also evident seing him cover Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine",  Prince's "Raspberry Beret" ,  and  Jason Becker 's "Air" on his response to the former's "Ice Bucket challange" .. and darn! Perhaps only guitar players will undestand to be regarded as Guitar Prodigy Jason Becker's favorite along with EVH and Marty Friedman.
Mayer's Guitar playing is evidently Influences by Guitar extraordinaires Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn . Mayer is also a finger picker like Another guitar favorite of mine, Richie Kotzen which at one point i tried to emulate myself as a guitar player.

As an artist Mayer had already established himself as a great songwriter, not just producing hits, but writing such melodic tunes .
Such as "Gravity", "I Don't Need No Doctor",  "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room",  "Vultures" , "Neon" among the few..
Not to forget Mayer has such an amazing voice.  Who along with Chris Cornell, Richie Kotzen, David Coverdale,  Bryan Adams, Don Henley, Izzy Stradlin,  Michael Bolton,  Tim Armstrong and Renz Verano (😁) were my biggest favorite Voices

"Flea" That Funky Music

 Flea that Funky Music

Flea Balzary

16 Oct 1962

Michael Peter Balzary , known professionally as Flea, is best known for his funky slapping bass technique, is the  bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers who reached massive success with their  Breakout album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" in 1991 and have since became a permanent staple in the Rock Charts in the 90s  with  "One Hot Minute" ( 1995) and " Californication" (1999)  and would continue in the 2000s with "By The Way" (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006).

RHCP has received numerous Recognitions , including 12 Grammys including Rock albums 3 times, (2000, 2007 and 2012)

Regarded as one of the best rock bass players of all time, in 2009, Rolling Stone's readers ranked Flea the second-best bassist in their top-ten poll, ranked behind only Behind John Entwistle

and again in April 2011, Flea finished second in an online poll conducted by Contact Music to name the best bass guitarist in rock music also behind John Entwistle.

 Flea briefly appeared as the bassist for such bands as What Is This?, Fear, and Jane's Addiction. He has performed with rock supergroups Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Pigface, and Rocket Juice & the Moon, and collaborated with the Mars Volta, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, and Young MC. 

Flea, was among the first Bass players to ever caught my attention, together with Billy Sheehan, and local great Jay Dimalanta in the early 90s.. and would be my first heroes when i started playing Bass Guitar myself. The technical aspect of such prowess that i appreciate when i get to understand the bass more... though melodicly theyre already great even for a common rock afficionado's simple band thing perspective .

Though i didn't tried imitating him then, because , i mean how can i? , i would just be like a guitar novice who will try to sound Hendrix or Page or Slash (which i did when started with guitar)... i was already into punk , hardcore and ska music when i shifted to bass.

started with a more simpler but same intensity

In Dee Dee Ramone and Klaus Flouride,

then would go back to Flea when i started advancing a little on my craft, i had a band then that covers RHCP and TOTO. I did fair but i wasnt funky or flambouyant enough, i realize that time that playing really isnt about technical proficiency, you need to have your soul in doing such. And that was Flea is so commited to, and why his chops are so impeccable and comes natural... understanding that , what he do with his Bass would forever amaze . And in the process, i  did found what moves my groove as well

Dan Potthast : "All I Can Be"

 "All I Can Be"

Dan Potthast

10.09.1972

A Native of  St. Louis, MO, Dan is best known for his work as singer/songwriter for the Third wave Ska band , MU330 in the early 90s

He has also released a solo musical endeavor, plays acoustic ska , but not limited to under the name Dan P. 

Dan and his band  MU330 was my first introduction to "Ska-Core" , via their song " Hoosier Love" aroun d 1998, which was a track on a Ska compilation album "Skarmageddon". Ska Core was a term coined from the combination of the word ska and hardcore. which describes use of heavy distortions ( which wasn't really common)  blending amazing well with the Horn sections for ska music. 

( though Dan Described MU330's music as  "Psycho Ska", high energy ska punk marked by manic performances and humorous, often strange lyricism). 

it would pave me to discover bands such as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Streetlight Manifesto, Less Than Jake, The Suicide Machines, Link 80 etc.. which would dominate my playlist around that time.

For a certain period of time, i was outdated from some of the bands,i was listening to in the mid and late 90s. ( For a lot of reason, i would continue to expand my music vocabulary- its just hard to capture everything all at the same time. and for MU330, Streetlight Manifesto and even MMB its not the fire was lost , but i would constantly shift focus on different kind of music. started in the early parts of the 2000s 

However, great music will always find its way through me, as i would rediscover Dan, amazingly a much tamer, but still passionate i must say in a different way.just like me i guess a more mature in a lot of sense., Acoustic? And still a little ska flavor. But i hear the man, this time much louder despite his music, much subdued as compared to MU330.

His solo albums such as " Eyeballs"(1999) , "Sweet Meats" (2002), "Around The World" (2010), "Eat The Planet" (2008), "My Living Room" (2014) and "Cars For Sale" (2020)... Gone soft? No . just wiser

The Power of the Chords: Johnny Ramone In Memoriam

 The Power of the Chords

Johnny Ramone In Memoriam
October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004


John William Cummings in real life. Known Professionally by his monicker "Johnny Ramone" was a songwriter guitarist for the Legendary punk rock band, the Ramones. Which he co-founded in 1974. The band found significant success in the late 70s and 80s and established themselves as an
Influential Punk Rock band.
The Band broke up in 1996 after tensions, conflicts, and falling out especially Johnny and singer Joey Ramone ( Jeffrey Ross Hyman)

Ramones concerts and recordings influenced many musicians central to the development of California punk, members of Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, and the Descendent

Johnny's Guitar Playing was immensely influential, despite being almost exclusively a rhythm guitarist, Johnny was notable for using fast downstrokes style throughout the entirety of his career, as well as his usage of full, six-string barre chords and occasional power chords. This unique technique, combined with his characteristic high gain tone from his guitar amplifier, produced a guitar sound that was amazingly aggressive and rhythmic. which perfectly fit Ramones' usually fast and short songs. and darn felt good especially on their live sets ( where they played the songs much faster and most of the times separated only by Dee Dee's signature "1..2..3...4!!! " count in between songs

Johnny seldom had guitar solos on Ramones songs, although Johnny did play few simple lead guitar parts on a small number of Ramones recordings, such as "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" and "California Sun". However, the other few guitar solos on the group's studio albums were usually overdubbed by producers Tommy Ramone, Ed Stasium, Daniel Rey, Walter Lure and other uncredited guests. Songs such as "We Want The Airwaves", "Poison Heart", " I Wanna Live", "Strength To Endure" which Johnny never played the Guitar solo parts in their live sets
Most of these small leads were only added in an attempt to give certain songs, certain characters that the producers felt needed in the songs. of course they were not common on the band's songwriting process.

And in this seldom times , where the Buzzsawing guitar blasting were overwhelmingly amazing enough and no amount of guitar solo or the lack of it, can take away from the sheer energy of a Johnny Ramone.

Albert Ascona: Punk Rock and Everything Nice

 Punk Rock and Everything Nice

Albert Allan Ascona 

Oct 5, 1975

- Aside from his main band Bad Omen, is also /has been a member of elite bands such as Vagabonds, Gut Reaction, Communion, Prevail, Throw, Music Front, Nemodav, The Beauty Of Doubt and a couple a hundred more

A prolific songwriter who can't seem to contain the Punk Rock blood in his veins.. Albert is also a good conversationalist, who can easily make a great interviews and of course the guy is all guns blazing when it comes to issues that concerns National interest. He writes some good stuffs of different subject matter as well.

Side note:

prior to this pandemic,  i was fortunate enough to get  Albert's Red Fender Telecaster (yep the one on the photo),  It was one he use for some gigs and Communion MV... 

I was planning and looking for a Tele for years suring that time,  that fits my budget and how cool is that finally owning a Tele that was previously used by a local Punk Rock icon..

The Guilty: Short film review

 

A simple plot with a compulsive story telling.

The actor who portrayed Bubble Boy, The Former Price of Persia and recently Spiderman's antagonist Mysterio, Jake Gyllenhall pulls up an impressive performance he portrays a beliguered  Police Officer Joe Baylor, LAPD Police Officer who seems demoted as he sits as 911 dispatcher with an undefined controversy as he was also set to appear for a court appearance the following the day... 

how he would communicate with the the rest of the team suggests that he seem to either have a really issue or in really deep sh**

Baylor who found himself in a surreal situation of what seemed to be an on going abduction after she recieved a call from a woman (Emily Lighton) who was seemed despair and in need of dire help while a  massive Wildfire was happening at the same time, omewhere in Calfornia..

The call was dropped after the captor seemed to get suspicious of who she was talking to... bent on tracking the woman in danger he dugged further info and was able to reach the victim's house and sas able to talk to yhe victim's daughter Abby and his baby brother Oliver .. from therefort the movie just takes my emotion. The abductor's past charges of assaults and Abby's accounts  just seem to lead us to what was happening as imminent danget looms.  While Joe seemed to be has so invested on the call did eveything, even  beyond  his jurisdiction and avaialable help officially and phoned in some peole yo help him..  by this time the movie has established Baylor's perplexing behaviour as the story relates also his curent situation with his estranged wife  which he has been dealing with for sometime , trying to call his daughter just to say goodnight

This part would be the movie's twist and i'll save that for those who haven't watched the movie.. in the end i can say that "Emotions sometimes can incorrectly overwhelm sound reasoning." .. 

Good Movie.. and i just read, that this was just a remake so i better check that out

The Mouth: Francis "Kiko" Magalona In Memoriam

 The Mouth

Francis "Kiko" Magalona In Memoriam

Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, The Mouth and The Man From Manila.

People of my age were fortunate to have witnessed how the Rap/hip hop thing started, in the P.I.
i grew up in a generation, where "Breakdancing", "strutting" were a thing.. but theres no other person was doing "fast talk and rhyming" in the music scene... until "The Mouth" did his thing..

i feel fortunate personally having to see Francism's humble begginins strutting and rapping freestyle in the defunct Alma Moreno show "Loveliness" ( and Willie Revilliame playing drums).. thus where the "Yo! yes yes yo" catchphrase started
... kids of my age, we were imititating him. without guilt of being branded, ...
he was the only rapper we would know.. 87-88? until the likes of JJ fad and ultimately Vanilla Ice (MC Hammer etc) finally find its way into the land of Three stars and a sun
Piracy in casette forms were already happening then... so i was able to get FM's "Yo" and "Rap is Francism albums (though the latter one was a legit record that i was able to score)..
Later, Kiko would flourish to became not just a rapper but a great musician incorporating rock music in the style of The Chilli peppers and The Beastie Boys.
He was also such a nice person, as i have occassionally had the chance to interact with him during our "Multiply"days (yes. when social media was far better then)..
he was always sensible and always have that PMA attitude, even until he was struggling battling his dieses... yes he was sharing those on his pages..
passing away... he left a void that i dare say nobody could replicate..
well you can always find someone who can rap faster... but not sensible enough as close as FM...

P.S.
just wondering if i didint have this Porky Pig syndrome in me.. who knows I could've followed his steps

"Idlip" : Rest In Power Mon Legaspi

 "Idlip"

RIP Mon Legaspi

Sad to hear the passing of Bassist Mon Legaspi , who played for Local Rock greats Wolf gang and also currently of The Dawn last night due to Cardiac Arrest.

Mon Legaspi was one of the amazing local artist who helped local rock music reach greater heights. As part of the band Wolfgang , they created a stir to the local mainstream Rock scene. and took the music into greater heights . ( in the sense , their songs can go at par with the Western music). They were technically proficient, receiving individual awards/ recognitions

but aside from being an amazing Bass player, but a great lyricist as well. Mon penned mostly the Tagalog lyrics to Wolfgang songs such as "Halik Ni Hudas", " Natutulog Kong Mundo". Mata ng Dios", Mula sa Kamandag", Tulisan", Ilang Alon ang dala" , "Trenta" and "Idlip". a no nonsense lyricist and i must say in a way poetic way.

Hanggang sa Muling Pagdilat sa pansamantalang pagkakaidlip

Harley Alarcon: Piece Of This

 Piece Of This

Harley Alarcon

My introduction to Harley's work was via Dead Ends third installment "Damned Nation" , it was a pivotal album for me to say the least, it was an amazing album, Aggressively and Technically .  It became also a gateway to discovering local punk music and on a broader perspective appreciating our homegrown talents. 

Harley had a different vibe and feel , but nonetheless aggressive. by this time , it was the early 90s , and an amazing times for resurgence of the whole band thing. which Harley became a big part of.

Shortly after, i learned that he was part ( founding members) of local alternative band Rizal Underground. (along with former  Runaway Boys frontman Stephen Lu and Dead Ends Bass Wizard Jay Dimalanta) which released the now classic "Alert Level : The Album" and the band's debut album which spawned hits like "Rollers On Her Hair" and the awesome remake of "Sabado Nights".

His best works though would come around the mid 90s. with the formation of the amazing all star line up funk Rock band P.O.T. as the album would recieve a generally amazing rave reviews, and recognition for his amazing work capping out with taking the 1997 NU Rock awards album of the year and Drummer of the year ( Mally Paraguya also Bagging the Bassist of the year).

and not to forget his contribution on Eddie Siojo's Betrayed, album "Again" which was Siojo's comeback album, which was nothing less more than a great album, releasing an album after the debut album released during the Punk music revolution in the mid 80s.

 Such an impressive resume. With different types of music and contrasting styles, it's easy to say Harley has became a solid force behind not only his bands music , but significantly with the music that was happening around that time.

Richard Hell: Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

 Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

Richard Hell
02.Oct.1949

Richard Lester Meyers, better known by his stage name Richard Hell, is a singer,songwriter, bass guitarist and songwriter. Hell was in several important, early punk bands, including Neon Boys, Television and The Heartbreakers, after which he formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album Blank Generation influenced many other punk bands. Its title track was named "One of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock" by music writers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listing.

Discovering Punk as music to me had different phases... initially it was The Pistols bridge me to punk music. But it was actually the american hardcore /punk thing ( plus a couple of local too) that really got me into it. Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat... Dead Ends, G.I. + Idiots then Brit punk, The Pistols, The Toy Dolls, The Exploited...
As the information during that time was scarce, with a few zines, i rely on peers recommendations .. The Compilation albums did wonders as well and helped in a lot of ways.. Punk and Disorderly series, Dischord hardcore Compilation, BYO's "Someone's Gonna get their head into something" , "Oi' Chart Buster series" .. and a particular album that represents the early CGBG / proto-punks
"The Blank Generation" The New York Scene 1975 -1978... All of these albums were important as it lead me different bands to listen and while most would give me the idea of the things that went together geographically and time line wise.... The Cassette connected me to some bits and pieces that i heard before The dead Boys, Johnny Thunders and The Ramones... The heralded me a new hero Easily Richard Hell ... The Album title, incidentally was a Richard Hell song was compelling enough that there's something about the guy.. though far from the really fast and aggressive music Ian McKaye or Jello Biafra.. ..but absolutely the anti thesis of what whats happening around him during their time..
This time it wasn't only the music , it's how the music evolve and how certain individuals would would take the unpopular path that would carve history and influence significant people that would took what they had to a different level...