I have just had a very cool three weeks, and would like to share a random sampling of all the rock and roll goodness that has been coming my way. It's fun, although I have to say that I really do know some odd people.
Things that have happened, in no particular order, include:
I told A.L. how in the Guns 'N Roses article I discussed how much we hated the November Rain video. We then picked up the conversation right where we had left off over a decade ago, and spent fifteen minutes ragging on Axl Rose. (Coming soon--A.L.'s Video Pet Peeves.)
I got into a fight about Pantera, even though I haven't listened to Pantera since Cowboys From Hell, and am really not very qualified to fight about Pantera. I still tried though!
I just found out that in 1992, Tom Waits sued Frito-Lay. I'm going to try to dig up more info on that.
I left an urgent message for Jeff J. because I needed to know how high Stone Alone by Bill Wyman charted. He left a message saying that he didn't know. Two minutes later, he left a message telling me the peak chart position, the day it was released, and he included some bonus commentary. "He also has a song called Wine and Women, spelled w-i-m-m-e-n. Do you think that's like the first misspelling meant to be ironic in some stupid way?"
I got yelled at for saying, "Glenn Frey," when I meant, "Don Henley." First I got yelled at for mixing them up, then I got yelled at for bringing the Eagles up at all.
Speaking of the Eagles, I had a message from LCG singing Witchy Woman. That was the entire message.
In the past week, I have had two different conversations about Queensrÿche with two different people.
I recently started to wonder, am I, as a Queen fan, obligated to sit through We Will Rock You coupled with We Are The Champions when they start up on the classic rock station? Am I less of a Queen fan if I shut it off? Fortunately, I ran into someone with the same problem, regarding the song You're My Best Friend. He has an elaborate system set up to decide whether or not he will listen. I just sit through my songs patiently. At least during We Will Rock You, I can think about the cool sunglasses that Freddie is wearing in that video.
In the last week, the topic of Ronnie James Dio has come up three times.
The other day, I took an urgent phone call from LCG, "Who are the five guys in the Jackson Five?" "Uhhh. Tito, Jermaine, Michael, ummmmm, uh, I think there's a Randy. Oh! Marlon. And, uh, let me go look it up." I looked it up. I forgot Jackie Jackson! Turns out there is a Randy, but he replaced Jermaine when Jermaine left and they had to become The Jacksons because Motown owned the name Jackson Five. I like the Jackson Five because they spell it Jackson 5ive. They're the Jackson family! They don't need to follow the rules of spelling! And isn't it sad that Tito was the first one I came up with?
Was told by LCG, "You know, you're the kind of girl that makes a guy think, 'I'm taking DragonAttack out. I'd better go home and change into my Lizzy Borden t-shirt.'" I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I do know that this has really happened.
Had a job interview, Rocksnobs-style. Here is how you can have a job interview, Rocksnobs-style, if it ever comes up. Step one, decide to give yourself a haircut two hours before the interview. In this case I needed to get rid of what Jeff J. and I like to call, "unwanted volume."
Step two, get dressed. I put on the velvet pants that have never failed me, and a sweater. I know that a sweater isn't very rock and roll, but this particular sweater has been missing for over a year. I found it in the basement under my amplifier. Therefore, it is the most rock and roll sweater in town. I also added boots that are not comfortable, but were purchased because they look like the boots that the Monkees wore.
Step three, while driving to the interview listen to Roads To Madness and Take Hold Of The Flame at earsplitting volumes. Sing along loudly. Somewhere in there, have a cola. Get job. Probably. I will know if I got the job by the end of the week. By the way, here is the secret to giving yourself a haircut: The less you care about the way it looks, the better it will come out.
I recently went to the record store and my arrival was announced! Am I the Queen of England all of a sudden? I don't remember my coronation ceremony! That would have been on the BBC, right? I showed up and it was announced, "Mr. Pirate, there's a Rocksnob here." Bitchen! It was in the same matter of fact tone of voice that is used when one says, "David, Smell The Glove is here. Hello Jeanine." Bitchen!
LCG found me a discounted vinyl copy of the Misfits Collection. Because I only had Collection II.
I met someone who understands the definition of Rock And Roll that I use. I didn't even have to explain it.
Someone I was talking to the other night abruptly put the conversation on hold, because he needed to rock to the AC/DC that was playing. That makes me think that there is a new rule brewing. Here is the Second Rocksnobs Rule Of Etiquette:
It is permissible to halt a conversation for a reasonable amount of time in order to rock. "Reasonable Amount Of Time" is to be determined by the Rocksnobs having the conversation.
Meaning, if the Rocksnobs want to stop a conversation in order to rock for the full length of, say, Stranglehold by Ted Nugent, that is just fine, as long as all parties are in agreement.
And that is the highlight reel of my last three weeks. Fights about rock and roll, a brand new rule of etiquette, and a whole lot of Dio.