Clap Back

I Got You Babe
Cara Delevingne & Ashley Benson

One of the best surprises in recent memory was the unexpected yet way cool coupling of Cara Delevingne & Ashley Benson. It was the twosome you never knew you needed until it happened.

Well they recently came under attack from a ridiculous, I mean religious zealot on Instagram and they both clapped back.

It's nice when a couple has each others backs...

Cara on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/caradelevingne/?hl=en

Ashley on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/ashleybenson/?hl=en

Monday Motivation

All That Jazz
Katy Perry

This weeks Monday Motivation takes on the shape of Katy Perry showing her jazz love at what else? The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, naturally.

Katy went all out in her, dare I say awesome, unique and completely original choice of outfit. Ms. Perry is going big, as you can see, living her best life as it were.

"Yes" now you are seeing where I am going with this piece of Monday Motivation - live your best life, you only have one damn it, so just do it!

For example today I am hitting the yoga mat, as it does my body and my twisted soul good. Thus I am doing something that is making my quality of life the best it can be. Yeah, it's that simple people, do something that is good for you, buy something that makes you smile or engage in an activity that makes you feel good if you get my drift (wink, wink, nudge nudge)

Even if it means wearing something like Ms. Perry, whatever it is, if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad...can it???

Katy Perry on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/katyperry/?hl=en

Sunday Sinema: Bachman

"Bachman: Special Edition" coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 10th The story of Randy Bachman from his early days in The Guess Who  to Bachman-Turner Overdrive to present day As a member of The Guess Who, Bachman was part of the first ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by a Canadian band with "American Woman / No Sugar Tonight," and then topped the Hot 100 again in 1974 with another band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, with "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." "That's a pretty rare thing for a recording artist who gets two No. 1s with two different bands," notes John Einarson," biographer and music historian, at the start of the new documentary, Bachman, chronicling the life of this 74 year old who is still regularly making music and performing. The film follows Bachman as he looks to the past for inspiration from rarely seen footage, pictures and documents that have been stored at the National Archives in Ottawa for decades. Among the other hits Bachman has written or co-written are "These Eyes," "No Time," "New Mother Nature," "Takin' Care of Business," "Let It Ride," and "Roll On Down The Highway." "He was like my biggest influence when I was a kid," says Neil Young in the film. "Watching him play guitar, he had an amazing sense about the way he played. And the feeling that you got when you listened to him. It was more than just chops." Young, who has known Bachman for about 55 years, added, "I hear Randy - when I see him, I hear him, and I feel him." The documentary made its world premiere in Toronto at Hot Docs 2018 before a festival run, and eventual airing in Canada on CBC's Documentary Channel. Incorporating numerous present-day interviews with family, management, and fellow musicians, director John Barnard (2012's The Sheepdogs Have At It) touches on everything from Bachman's childhood to his various rock bands -- The Guess Who, Brave Belt, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bachman-Turner -- and solo work. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Fv4v5EZA_ns  Pre-order: https://mvdshop.com/search?q=bachman Bonus Materials Neil Young on Winnipeg Randy's Crazy Horse Building a Reprise 'Here Comes the Sun' On Chords Songwriting 'When No One Knows' Theatrical Trailer 5.1 Surround, Stereo English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired

"The Motivator"

The Motivators
Cherie Currie & Brie Darling
Photo:
Corey Parks

CHERIE CURRIE & BRIE DARLING

Join Together to Release New Album “The Motivator” - Out August 2

Los Angeles-based, female rock icons, Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have joined together to record their debut album, The Motivator.  The album was produced by the six-time Grammy nominated Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Stray Cats, Janiva Magness, Tom Waits) and features nine classic covers by bands including T. Rex, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and John Lennon, plus three powerful new originals, “Too Bruised,” “I’m Too Good, That’s Just Too Bad” and the topical “This Is Our Time.”  The album will be released August 2, 2019 on Blue Élan Records with the title-track, lead single, out  on all streaming services. 

Listen  HERE

The Runaways front-woman and solo artist, Currie, met the Fanny drummer and singer, Darling, in 2017 and immediately connected.  Currie had come in to contribute vocals to Fanny Walked the Earth, a reunion album from the trailblazing Fanny, the first all-female band signed to a major label (Reprise) in 1969.  Though the two musicians were certainly admirers of each other, they had not yet met until that session.  Once connected, the idea to continue collaborating was hatched and soon the idea to record an album was solidified.

It was decided they would record an album of cover songs that resonated with the duo.  The covers chosen mostly share—unintentionally—a socio-political resonance that’s as relevant today as when the songs were written.  “The original album concept was that Brie was going to sing a few, I’d sing a few, and we’d back each other up,” furthers Currie. “But I knew our voices really work well together. On T. Rex’s ‘The Motivator,’ Brie did a great soulful rock scratch vocal but maybe I have more of a tough rock quality to my voice, so I think Dave decided I was going to sing it.  But in my head I heard a duet, me doing the first verse, her on the second verse….and that started the dialog of using our voices together as a concept. Our voices complement each other, so we decided we should share the majority of these songs, because it makes them better.”  Producer Dave Darling says, "It's extremely rare to have two such powerful vocalists in the same band. Cherie's a steam roller and Brie's a flame thrower. That just doesn't happen!"  

Guests on the album include a host of family and friends who came in to do backups, including Currie’s sister, actress Sondra Currie, her ex-husband, actor Robert Hays; friends, Susan Olsen of Brady Bunch fame and actress/director, Allison Scagliotti. Darling’s brother, Henry Berry is on “He Ain’t Heavy”; and brother Phil Berry does a guitar solo on the Kinks tune “Do it Again” while her sister, Rory Berry Bishop plays drums on Thunderclap Newman’s “Something in the Air.” Patti Quatro—Suzi’s sister and a member of Fanny—plays guitar and sings on “For What It’s Worth.”

To listen or purchase “The Motivator,” visit: http://smarturl.it/ccbd-themotivator

Follow Cherie Currie here: Facebook

Be the first to follow Cherie & Brie on:

Instagram “New”- cheriecurrieandbriedarling

Twitter “New” - @CherieandBrie 

Sigma - The Alarm

The Alarm’s New Album“Sigma” Set For June 28^th Release

Lead Single & Video For “Blood Red Viral Black” Available Today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spR34zbjYs8&feature=youtu.be

SIGMA LXXXV TOUR 2019

Featuring The Alarm, Modern English &

Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel Kicks Off July 17

New Dates Just Added

  The Alarm have confirmed they will release a new album Sigma on June 28^th to coincide with their North American summer tour which kicks off July 17 in Nashville, TN.  The band have also released the first song (and video),“Blood Red Viral Black” from Sigma today with Classic Rock magazine premiering the video: https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-alarm-return-with-new-album-and-video-for-the-single-blood-red-viral-black

Sigma is available for pre-order here:  https://thealarm.ffm.to/_sigma

All pre-orders will instantly receive an Instant Grat track of “Blood Red Viral Black” 

Sigma acts as the sequel for 2018’s critically acclaimed EQUALS release and features musical contributions from original Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp and Billy Duffy from The Cult. "It's an honour to have Dave Sharp performing on Sigma", said singer Mike Peters. "Dave was and always will be, part of The Alarm family, and to have him feature on this record is a thrill for all of us and I’m sure, for all the fans too. Billy Duffy of The Cult also makes his mark on guitar just as he did on Equals, and we have been fortunate to have such an incredible talent in the studio with us for a second time. Sigma is the summation of a period of creativity that started out during the initial 'Blood Red Viral Black' project and has continued through Equals towards Sigma. All the albums in this sequence have been defined through symbols and equations included in the cover art and they all add up to this new album Sigma.”

“Having Billy Duffy play guitar with The Alarm has become part of our DNA, “says Peters. “It’s a relationship that goes back to the start of this new century, when the beginnings of new era’s for both The Alarm and The Cult were being formed. Blood Red Viral Black defines our relationship as friends and opposites, human beings united through the colour of sound.”

Click here to watch the latest on The Alarm: https://youtu.be/959jUj-bpBc

The Alarm
Photo:
Andy Labrow

The Sigma LXXXV Tour #sigmatour2019 will showcase a fraternity of alternative British rock bands led by acoustic pioneers The Alarm, post punk auteurs Modern English, and the charismatic Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebelthat will stop by some 40 North American cities, presenting the very best music and ideas from a generation of enduring artists, brought together through a legacy of timeless sound and song. Tickets and information is available at all three bands websites:  www.thealarm.com, www.modernenglish.me, www.genelovesjezebel.co.uk

Throughout the Sigma LXXXV Tour, Love Hope Strength (co-founded by Mike Peters),   will be hosting bone marrow drives at each concert aimed at finding donors for people suffering from Blood Cancer who need a transplant for a second chance at life! The charity has already registered over 200,000 individuals and located some 4,000 plus potentially lifesaving matches. Visit www.lovehopestrength.org for more information.

Alarm fans attending the tour will also be able to enhance their participation at each event, by purchasing EXPERIENCE SIGMA LXXXV TOUR 2019 passes which will allow early entry into the venue for an exclusive pre-show acoustic performance with Mike Peters.

QUOTE FROM MIKE PETERS of The Alarm

"The Sigma Tour will bring out the best that The Alarm has to offer the 21st Century, and along with our friends Modern English and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel, we look forward to taking part in an event that will hopefully, live long in the memory for all our fans." says Mike Peters. "Our music, which still gets played on the radio every single day, gives us all a platform for creativity that will shine through every second of the Sigma Tour. Fans can expect collaboration, moments of reflection, camaraderie and also the unexpected. The tour will be alive on all the social media platforms allowing fans from around the world to see what it’s like for British bands to be on the road in the USA. Each show will be presented by an in-house MC / DJ and play host to intimate pre-show events that will connect fans to the musicians in a setting away from the spotlight. Up on the main stage every night, The Alarm will be celebrating the release of a new music album entitled Sigma, and honouring the 1985 Strength album reissue that has literally changed and saved lives through Love Hope Strength, the charity which sprang from the intention of the lyrics. The Sigma Tour will look, sound and feel like no other. It's an opportunity for our generations of fans, to make themselves heard, and for us as artists to prove that we are still as relevant as when we first helped shape the musical landscape of America, and when it's citizens looked to British bands for inspiration and alternatives." 

In addition, Mike Peters was recently honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) Award by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.  The MBE is one of Britain’s highest honors.  Mike was awarded for his services to charity, having raised thousands for cancer care projects in the UK and abroad and dedicating his life to giving hope for families affected by cancer.

Sigma LXXXV Tour 2019 Dates

July 17                        Nashville, TN              Cannary Row (The Alarm only)

July 19                   Austin, TX                         3Ten Live

July 20                   Dallas, TX                          Gas Monkey

July 21                   Oklahoma City, OK         Tower Theater

July 24                  Las Vegas, NV                  House of Blues

July 25                   San Diego, CA                  House of Blues

July 26                   Temecula, CA                  Wien’s Family Cellars

July 27                   Los Angeles, CA               Microsoft Theater – Music Festival Show

July 31                    Phoenix, AZ                    Celebrity Theatre

August  2               San Francisco, CA           Regency Ballroom

August  3              Sacramento, CA               Ace of Spades

August 5               Portland, OR                     Aladdin

August 6               Seattle, WA                      Triple Door

August 7               Spokane, WA                    Bing Crosby Theater

August 8               Salt Lake City, UT             The Complex (The Alarm/Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel only)

August 9               Denver, CO                       Oriental Theater

August 10            Lawrence, KS                     Liberty Hall

August 12            St. Louis, MO                     Delmar Hall

August 14            Minneapolis, MN              Fine Line

August 15            Milwaukee, WI                  Turner Ballroom

August 16             Chicago, IL                        House of Blues

August 17            Detroit, MI                         St. Andrews

August 18            Cleveland, OH                   House of Blues

August 20            Portland, ME                     AURA

August 21            Boston, MA                        Paradise

August 23            Huntington, NY                  The Paramount

August 24            Jim Thorpe, PA                  Penns Peak

August 25            Falls Church, VA                State Theatre

August 29            Asbury Park, NJ                 Asbury Lanes

August 30            Staten Island, NY               St. George Theater

August 31            Philadelphia, PA                The Keswick Theater

Sept 1                   Norfolk, VA                        Norva

Sept 3                   Charlotte, NC                    Neighborhood Theatre

Sept 4                   Atlanta, GA                        Masquerade

Sept 5                   Orlando, FL                           The Social (The Alarm/Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel only)

Sept 6                  Bonita Springs, FL             Southwest Florida Event Center   Fort Meyers

Sept 7                  Miami, FL                           The Ground at Club Space

Sept 8                  St. Pete, FL                         Ferg’s Concert Courtyard      

Michael's Musings

I'm Wild Again, Beguiled Again -
Michael Shinafelt

“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan, A stately pleasure-dome decree" Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

That's correct minions I am kicking off this Thursday with a quote used in the movie Xanadu starring one of my all time favorites Olivia Newton-John. Not sure why this particular opus is on my mind, I believe it may be in reaction to the world at large. Xanadu is escapist fare all the way, escaping, yeah that's today's ticket...

Surreal Moment of the week: Billy Idol meeting the RHOBH

My gangsta name? Five Speed Douche

Accidental anal hair, discuss...

His breath really smelled, perhaps he ate some ass before Spin Class

I'm watching you, oh yes I am

That can't be the only gorilla suit in Germany!

Crazy Boxing Guy the myth is real

When visiting the super bloom beware of the Wicked Witch of the West

Caught a screening of The Breakfast Club on the rooftop of The Montalban Theater in Hollywood last night. Still a great film!

He's Still Got It @ 63
Billy Idol

Speaking of Billy Idol...with a Rebel Yell, baby!

Don' you forget about me

Beware of dogs with agendas 

Frozen Blueberries - that's all

It's better with a concubine 

Come up to the lab and see what's on my slab at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

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Just Because...Cha-Cha-Cha

Cha Cha Cha
Madonna

Just Because it's catchier than you initially think. Just Because of it's dream like quality and Just Because it uses the phrase Cha Cha Cha I present to you Madonna's first single off of her upcoming album Madame X - Medellin.

Honestly upon first listen I was so like WTF?! Then I listened again, and again and the Cha Cha Cha goes on...

She collaborated with Latin star Maluma who is from Medellin, Cha Cha Cha.

When I play it while sipping my black fly free Chardonnay I often feel like I am drifting into a fugue Cha Cha Cha.

But mostly it makes me want Cha Cha Heels for Christmas, for I am Nikki Finn and I will not be denied, Cha Cha Cha.

Madonna on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/madonna/?hl=en

Monday Motivation

Smell What Michelle Is Cooking!
Michelle Obama

Today's Monday Motivation comes takes on the form of eating healthy. "Yes" like Michelle Obama, practitioner of delectable edibles (say that three times fast.)

OK, I usually do eat healthy otherwise I would not have lost fifty pounds. But I've been really playing fast and loose with my eating habits of late. Thus this week will be a quite disciplined one, I swear by the lemon water I am imbibing at present, right here, right now.

FYI here's a life hack for you, not only is water with fresh squeezed lemon in it delicious, it also burns fat. "Yes" it really does, don't believe me? Look it up, ask your Doctor or anyone versed in nutrition - Michelle Obama knows this factoid I am sure!

Back to the week at hand. It's time to Monday and my Motivation is squarely in place. Translation - I have my menu planned for the week of what I am going to eat and am not veering from it.

Now it's time to conquer the week, meal by meal.

Pardon me, did I hear you say spinach?!

Eating Healthy on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthy_diet

Happy Easter & Such

Be Your Own Yolk
Lady Gaga 

Well it's Easter Sunday and it means something to some of you and to others not so much. This being a fact for some reason, well actually for obvious reasons I thought of when Lady Gaga emerged from an egg at The Grammy's. 

Yeah, those were the days when our Lady of Gaga was doing all sorts of "outrageous" things to get our attention. Me? I always found these shenanigans boring and uninteresting as her music at the time was to me as well.

Well Gaga you've come a long way baby! So this Easter Sunday, whatever it means, or doesn't mean to you. Why not try something different, emerge from your own egg and go fourth and conquer something that you have always wanted to try.

If Lady Gaga can, so can you!

Egg Toss!

Easter on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter  

With This Rose...

A Rose By Any Other Name...
Marilyn Monroe

She could act, sing and dance, but did you know she could paint? One of the things I love about surfing the WWW is you start one place and inevitably end up at another. Thus you stumble upon many unexpected and interesting things along the way.

Case in point, while I can't recall what I started this journey researching, but here is a gem of a fact and piece of art I found by none other than Marilyn Monroe. How many of you knew she could paint? I for one was not aware of this talent, it does not however surprise me.

Guess who this watercolor of a rose was painted for? C'mon guess, oh OK I'll spill the tea. It was rendered for none other than President John Fitzgerald Kennedy! Woa!

So I leave you a little more enriched today, with this rose...

Marilyn on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe 

Good Friday - D.O.A.

D.O.A. "1978" Double 12" LP/CD coming May 3rd

Unreleased demos, rare tracks, and early singles 

from Canada's punk pioneers 

Godfathers of Hardcore 40th Anniversary Tour Continues

D.O.A. "1978" is a 21 track collection of unreleased demos, rare tracks, and early singles from Canada's punk pioneers. Joey Shithead Keithley went deep into the Sudden Death vault and came up with some super exciting and raw punk rock. 

The album title and art concept is spike haired nod of the head to that early, dynamic era of D.O.A.and to the seven great former members of D.O.A., who have passed on. Their spirit and talent played a huge role into launching the band into worldwide prominence.

The two constants on the album are Joey Shithead and Chuck Biscuits who play on every track. From the start of "1978" the listener is drawn in by their wild, "I don't give a shit" approach to punk rock. Now some 40 years later you can hear it all, starting with the never seen light of day demo version of The Enemy. This demo has a different set of lyrics that speaks to fighting Nazis, strange, what is old is new and vital again. 

There's a ton of exciting tracks that range from the never heard before: Bored and Suicidal, The Mutant, No God No War, Rip Dis Joint, No Way Out and Rent-A-Riot to classic early singles like Fucked Up Ronnie, Disco Sucks, World War 3, The Prisoner and Thirteen. You also get demo versions of America the Beautiful and Liar for Hire with Biscuits drumming, which are wildly different than the classic versions you hear on "War on 45." 

On "1978" you hear the origins of hardcore and you get a full blast of D.O.A's politics and raucous humour. The album will be released as a double 12" LP/CD on May 3rd, go to Sudden Death Records for more info. 

Against all odds Canada's punk godfather Joey Shithead Keithley elected to political office

In his hometown of Burnaby, BC, Canada, Joe ran a campaign based on affordable housings for all, help for the disadvantaged, sustainability and grassroots democracy. Facing well financed and vicious opponents, Keithley took a shoestring budget and his punk rock attitude and was elected as a city councilor. Burnaby is BC's third biggest city and Canada's most culturally diverse, 150 languages can be heard on the streets of Burnaby. Joe's always been involved in politics, including organizing Canada's first Rock Against Racism concert way back in 1979, so it just seemed like a natural progression for him to stand for election.  

"When I ran it was pretty straight forward... I said housing should be a right and not a privilege and everybody's vote has to count," said Keithley. "I'm just using D.O.A.'s mantra: TALK - ACTION = 0 and applying it to politics. It's been fun to get in there and kick some ass!"

Since being elected, Keithley has helped set up the first homeless shelters in the city. He is also a key member of Burnaby's critical Affordable Housing Task Force. He has also stood up against junkets and perks to local politicians. Keithley was recently quoted as saying, "Give me some time, but I have my sight set on running for Canada's Prime Minister, so I can help attain justice and fairness for all Canadians."

It all comes full circle as he began his quest back in 1978 till now, hence the album name "1978."

D.O.A.'s last studio album Fight Back was hailed as their most innovative since War on 45 (1982). 

It's a scathing and timely piece in which Joe deals with all manner of unseemly low characters and issues. The album opens with acerbic "You Need an Ass Kickin' Right Now," next rips right into the startling "Killer Cops," then smashes into the anthemic "Time To Fight Back," which is street punk resistance at its fiercest. The album proceeds with the timely "Gonna Set You Straight" with violent and natural ease, and continues with the vitriolic "I Just Got Back From the USA." Then, the album takes a funny twist with "We Won't Drink This Piss" (down with bad corporate beer!) and "You Can't Stop Me," a song in which Joe delves into the character of Slapshot's playing coach Reggie Dunlop (a natural alter ego perhaps).

The Godfathers of Hardcore continue their 40th anniversary tour in 2019 with dates in Canada, Europe, SE Asia, India, and the west coast of the US.