Saturday, November 11, 2017

D.O.A: A Right Of Passage


Punk Rock + It's Origin = D.O.A.

"D.O.A. is as much of a Woodstock as punk may ever inspire."
The New York Times
"D.O.A. features state-of-the-art performances... 
Still, it's the eerie Spungen-Vicious dialogue that will probably haunt most viewers."
Rolling Stone

D.O.A.: A Right Of Passage is the ground-breaking classic rockumentary about the origin of punk rock. The film will be coming to select theaters in mid-November, and will also be available in a collector's edition Blu-ray + DVD package.

"High Times is pleased to finally uncover and restore this extraordinary, vintage film - D.O.A.," said High Times owner and CEO Adam Levin. 

The vision for the film can be attributed to two people: Tom Forcade (the founder of High Times magazine) and filmmaker Lech Kowalski (East of Paradise). The production centered around the Sex Pistols 1978 tour of the US, which ended with the group breaking up. Forcade and Kowalski followed the band with handheld cameras through the clubs and bars during their seven-city U.S. tour. 

Mixing this with footage of other contemporary bands, trends in the fashion capitals and punks of all shapes and colors, the film makers captured a grainy, stained snapshot of the punk movement at its peak (which includes the now famous footage of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in bed) along with rare interview and concert footage of the late seventies punk rock music scene. 

As John Holmstrom, Founding Editor of PUNK Magazine, writes in his liner notes:
"D.O.A., the original 1950 film noir and A Rite of Passage's namesake, was about a dead man walking who wanted to get revenge on his killers. This aptly describes D.O.A.: A Rite of Passage, which was made by a man who killed himself a few months later, who wanted to get revenge on his tormentors: corporate and government control of rock music and youth culture."
For Holmstrom's complete story, go HERE.

With live performances by the Sex Pistols, The Dead Boys, Generation X (with Billy Idol), The Rich Kids, the X-Ray Spex, and Sham 69, along with additional music from The Clash, Iggy Pop, this iconic documentary is now available for the first time ever on disc!


Screenings:
11/15-11/16 - Phoenix, AZ - FilmBar 
11/16 - Pittsburgh, PA - Hollywood Theater
11/17 - Dallas, TX - Texas Theater 
11/21 - Baltimore, MD - Parkway Theater
11/29 - Iowa City, IA - FilmScene
12/1 + 12/3 - Boston, MA - Brattle (Cambridge, MA)
12/4 - Durham, NC - Carolina Theater
12/11 - Nashville, TN - Belcourt
12/18 - Maitland, FL - Enzian 
1/3 - Yonkers, NY - Alamo Drafthouse
1/12 - Tulsa, OK - Circle Cinema 
1/12-1/14 - Seattle, WA - Northwest Film Forum
1/15 - San Francisco, CA - Alamo Drafthouse
1/15 - Denver, CO - Alamo Sloans Lake 
1/18 - Louisville, KY - Speed Museum 

Pre-order at MVDshop.com 

Friday, November 10, 2017

Rock Out, With Your Gaga Out!

Wave Your Hands In The Air Like You Don't Care
Lady Gaga
T.G.I.F! Happy Friday peeps, for those about to rock like Lady Gaga, pictured here at her Detroit concert we salute you!

Why this today? Why not? I say. It's a nice kick off to the weekend, it's Gaga looking and feeling good and doing what she does best, performing.

Thus can you think of anything better than this to wish you all a joyous three day Holiday? I think not, don't even try to challenge me on this one, you will lose.

So have a glorious time with that extra day, you've earned it, and bend it like Gaga. You know you want to!!!

Gaga on the Gram:
https://www.instagram.com/ladygaga/?hl=en  

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Michael's Musings

Taste The Rainbow
Michael Shinafelt
"When a rocket blows and, and everybody still wants to fly, Some say man ain't happy truly until a man truly dies, Oh why, oh why? Sign o' the times, unh" - Sign O' The Times, Prince 

Wow! What a week this has been! First let me start things off by stating I finally followed through on something that I have always thought about doing but never have. I took a boxing class at Gold's Gym Hollywood this past Tuesday night with my friend Maresa Wickham


Let me say this about the experience, it was exhilarating! So much so that when I did yoga yesterday morning, it's held in the same room as boxing. I kept looking over at the punching bag off to the side wanting to go a few rounds with it. 


There you have it, and here we go!


The Globe is really desperate for gossip. The headline I saw in the checkout line at my local Smart & Final read: "Dying Camilla Plans Her Own Funeral." Like no on has ever done THAT before!


Seriously Ryan Murphy? This past weeks American Horror Story: Cult featuring Charles Manson as part of the story line was on a lame par with the Valerie Solanas episode, and in bad taste in so many ways, I can't even!!!


Danica Roem is the first transgender woman to win a seat as an official in Virginia over opponent Bob Marshall who tried to pass laws discriminating against her. History and the greater good have been served.


It's raining diversity hallelujah!


Jenny Durkan an out Lesbian has been elected Mayor of Seattle. My home area, yay!


Byline: "Grey's Anatomy Will End if Ellen Pompeo Quits." I didn't know the show was still on, let alone it actually having an audience that tunes in.

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire...
Mike Clifford
Mike Clifford's wonderful rendition & video of The Christmas Song drop this Wednesday November 15th. Keep up with Mike at: https://www.facebook.com/MikeCliffordsWonderfulWorld/

Daylight Savings Time ended this past weekend. Has anyone ever asked daylight if it really wants to be saved?

If you had a Guardian Angel what do you think they would do? What would mine do? Be spent 24/7

Speaking of 24/7 things: pizza, yes pizza you are always on my mind

Lyrics are really hard to decipher in songs you don't know. I swear there is a song I hear in Jessica's spin class @ Gold's Gym Hollywood that has the refrain: "When I put my titties on"

This week everything has been coming up Unicorns...go team uni! 

Everything is rainbows & unicorns in my world at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt     

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Ciao Bella!

Wild Cat!
Bella Thorne
There's something about Bella Thorne that I find fascinating. I am guessing it is in no small part due to her beauty, presence and that fact that Bella marches to her own damn beat!

It's been a spell since we have had a fiery red headed star and Thorne, star of the Freeform show Famous in Love fills that void very well, thank you very much.

So you just know when I saw this photo of her in a leopard print dress online I had to run it. Of course  you did because that is what you are viewing, right here, right now. 

Enjoy & Happy Hump Day, indeed!

Bella on Instagram:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu9nUWKJnhw 

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Coupling: Jonathan Bennett & Jaymes Vaughan

Goose & Maverick
aka
Jaymes Vaughan & Jonathan Bennett 

Aaron Samuels was "So Fetch" in Mean Girls who didn't have a crush on him?! I know I did, and "yes" Gretchen Weiners I am still trying to make "Fetch" happen for you.

Too bad Cady Heron you didn't land him, and neither did I, boo F#cking Hoo! That honor goes to Amazing Race contestant and TV host Jaymes Vaughan.

Yep, Jonathan Bennett aka Aaron "Fetch" Samuels and his guy Jaymes went as Goose & Maverick from Top Gun for Halloween. It got posted on Bennett's Instagram, naturally. 

Only one last question does Aaron like to be Top Gun, or perhaps...yeah, moving on from my bad self. 

Wishing you guys the best!

Jonathan Bennett on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jonathandbennett/?hl=en 

Monday, November 6, 2017

Are You Worthy?

Divas
Mary J. Blige & Viola Davis

Let's get this week off to a roaring start with a too good to be true photo of, well music and acting royalty. Do you think you are worthy? Of course you do.

It's Mary J. Blige and Viola Davis at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, CA

Once in a while there is an rare opportunity to get two greats in one terrific photo, this is one of those times.

By the way how about this season of How To Get Away With Murder? While I have always enjoyed the show I never felt it had reached it's full potential until the current season.

Breaking up Annalise Keating and her pet students was the masterstroke the series needed. It is much more fascinating to see everyone fending for themselves to some degree than as a unified front IMHOP

Bow Down Minions and Happy Monday

Viola on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/violadavis/?hl=en

Mary J. on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/therealmaryjblige/?hl=en

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Summer of '82 - When Zappa Came to Sicily


"Summer of '82 - When Zappa Came to Sicily"
Coming to DVD and Digital Formats on December 8th

Zappa's '82 Italian tour comes to life with never-before-seen concert / backstage footage

Limited theatrical run starts in LA on November 5th

Where were you in the summer of '82?


In the feature documentary, Summer 82 - When Zappa Came to Sicily, filmmaker and Zappa fan Salvo Cuccia tells the behind-the-scenes story of Frank Zappa's star-crossed concert in Palermo, Sicily, the wrap-up to a European tour that ended in public disturbances and police intervention. Cuccia had a ticket to the concert but never made it. 

Thirty years later, collaborating with Zappa's family, he re-creates the events through a combination of rare concert and backstage footage; photographs; anecdotes from family, band members, and concertgoers; and insights from Zappa biographer and friend Massimo Bassoli. The story is also a personal one, as Cuccia interweaves the story of Zappa's trip to Sicily with his own memories from that summer.

The film looks at the rise and heyday of Frank Zappa's career as an innovative composer and libertarian provocateur, and includes tales of the relationship of a busy father with his children.

While in Sicily for the concert, Zappa visited Partinico, the birthplace of his father and grandfather; and in the film's warm and loving coda, three of Zappa's children, Dweezil, Moon Diva and his wife Gail, return to meet their relatives there for the first time.

A Blu-ray edition of the film, distributed by MVD Entertainment Group and produced by Eleonora Cordaro for Abra&Cadabra, will be released on December 8th (pre-order HERE). Bonus features include unpublished photos of Zappa behind the scenes.

SCREENINGS:
11/5 - Los Angeles - The Regent Theater - Q&A with Dweezil & Moon Zappa + Steve Vai
11/17 - Philadelphia - PhilaMOCA - Q&A with Dweezil Zappa
11/20 - Boston - The Regent Theatre - Q&A with Dweezil Zappa