Anne-Marie Körling har lagt till en ny kategori i sin blogg som hon kallar för “Hinder för lärande” och delvis av en slump handlar flera aktuella inlägg om just detta. Öpedagogen skriver om “snuttifiering”, IT-Mamman om bristen på datorer och Tomas Kroksmark om provens utformning. Jag hoppas att vi kan få till ett bra “grupparbete” om detta och att våra bidrag kan samlas på ett överskådligt sätt; kanske i Anne-Maries blogg eller i Flumpebloggen (som faktiskt redan är igång men med begreppet “Förberedande av god pedagogisk miljö“)?

Mitt bidrag kanske inte står högst upp på prioriteringslistan, men i ett grupparbete är det ju bra om deltagarna bidrar med olika infallsvinklar.

I Mats inlägg om “pojkpengar” och i Morricas om “okoncentrerade elever” har vi diskuterat hur vi ska motivera och bemöta elever som kanske inte känner att skolan är prio ett, eller att de blir bemötta med respekt, och jag tänker så här: Vad är det för förebilder vi lyfter fram i skolan? Vilken framtid målar vi upp när vi försöker motivera eleverna att ta utbildningen på allvar?

Ja, det är ett kallt faktum att de flesta kommer att växa upp och bli som sina föräldrar, sitta i kassan på Ica eller kanske fylla ampuller på AstraZeneca, men är det vad man behöver höra som tonåring? Är det att sikta mot stjärnorna? Lämnar vi eleverna att söka förebilder i tveksamma dokusåpor när vi envisas med att ensidigt lyfta fram Medelsvensson och uppfinnare och författare från en förgången tid?

Bruce Dickinson har väl sina brister som förebild, men vem har inte det? (Bruce blev t ex relegerad från en skola efter att ha urinerat i rektorns mat) Han är å andra sidan en av världens mest berömda hårdrockssångare, framgångsrik idrottsman (uttagen till Storbrittaniens OS-trupp i fäktning) och utbildad pilot. I Iron Maidens texter kan vi dessutom hitta många intressanta infallsvinklar, Run To The Hills handlar t ex om hur den “vite mannen” behandlade ursprungsbefolkningen i Amerika.

Passande nog skriver man i dag i AB om dokumentären “Heavy metal in Baghdad” som är ett exempel på hur vi kan utgå från elevernas intressen för att nå skolans mål; t ex att öka förståelsen för andra människors livsvillkor.

Länkar till andra bloggar om: skola, skolan, skoldebatt, utbildning, lärare, grundskolan, gymnasiet, gymnasieskolan, pedagogik, flumpedagogik, Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden,

Parlano, parlano di libertà,
ma quando vedono la penna libera,
allora il panico li provoca.

[liberamente, da Easy Rider:
in claris fit interpretatio]

«Non mi sono mai sentita a Casa – Quaggiù» scrive Dickinson. «Riporta questo selvaggio a Casa» canta Dickinson. Emily e Bruce. E nello stesso sentire: sentirsi sempre fuori luogo. Perché fuori di testa, fuori dai denti, fuori dal coro e fuori dal metro. E ne parlavo con l’amico. L’amico della kerkoporta. Mi ricorda, ancora, la kerkoporta: «devi farti kerkoporta, basta farsi kerkoporta. Costantinopoli – si dice – cadde a causa della kerkoporta, una piccola porta secondaria».
Alla quattrocentocinquatatreesima volta che mi sprona a diventar kerkoportiforme gli comunico che, per contrappasso dantesco, sarà concluso in una belìn di kerkoporta per l’eternità… E nel delirare e demandare all’Alighieri i tormenti di chi ci/mi cianura/cianurò la vita in vita, nasce la Metalli Commedia. E l’amico della kerkoporta offre occhio e orecchio all’opera. E presta mano: per contenere le cascate chiare [ché lui computa accenti e corregge e contiene i *cazzi* che Dama usa/abusa come virgola], per assegnare assilli all’arco dell’alloro che – no! Non è peccato mortale  sostituire Virgilio con Alice Cooper! E se – sì: è peccato mortale, m’ho da confessare…
E l’amico della kerkoporta presta i polsi: per formulare fastidi e ferrare il forte sentire – altro. Oltre il BellPaese buonista che caramella carmina e canta cliché: zecca l’oro che copre tutte le carie e tutte le carenze. Carenza che buca la pagina la parola il plasma: nella marea massmediatica di bbbuoni/socialmente impegnati/altruisti/benefattori/attivisti d’ogni sorta – chi sono i cattivi? E se non sono i giovani sono i metallari e quando sono giovani&metallari – sono prede prelibate da patibolare. E se prima l’etichetta [dai gloriosi esponenti della gloriosa Italietta Ipocrita] era: *alfiere dell’anoressia*, ora è: *paladina dei metallari*. Vera è la violenza con cui difendo ogni mio dire/dare – e non ho nessuna intenzione di smettere. Perché e per chi – non è difficile comprendere: troppo comodo parlare/prosare/poetare nei corposculi di qualche/qualsivoglia corrente. Assuefatti e accecati e accomodati nell’Arcadia e nell’Ammmore – asserire che la parola è cruda e crudele, che l’essere umano [tanto perfettibile quanto fallibile] prova e provoca Rabbia – è [ancora] realtà che non si vuole accettare.

E allora? Non potendo assumersi la responsabilità di tutta la gamma emotiva, non sforzandosi più d’indagare quelle scomode zone d’ombra – che non è mai piacevole percorrere quelle pieghe, quelle delle passioni più pericolose – la maggioranza deve *trovare i colpevoli*. Gli aizzapopoli, i corpi violenti da violentare. Gli abiti da bruciare per purificarsi. Abiti e ambiti naturalmente adatti allo scopo: e allora – attacca i metallari che, AnimaliBruttiCattiviDannati, suonano/sondano anche gli stati più scuri/secreti dell’umanissimo sentire/sentirsi!

E allora: vi dico non basta! Non basta dirsi controcultura e poi bigottare buone azioni. E allora vi dico: affarinculo le denunce davanti e dietro lo schermo, mentre si coccolano scheletri armadi e maschere – quando nessuno vede [ma qualcuno vede/vedrà sempre: OGNI mondo è un mondo piccolo]. E allora vi dico: dedico tutto – al popolo borchiato che conosce la Rabbia e – quando distrugge – è per costruire: domani migliori.

E, in primis, ringrazio il di lui kerkoportante Guglielmo Amore. E si ringrazia – sempre – Fabrizio Centofanti e LPELS tutta per aver permesso la pubblicazione dei primi estratti [ché lapidazione da parte dei puristi si prepara. E no: non cercate la perfezione delle terzine. E sì: “Lo spirito creatore giuoca con gli oggetti che ama” avverte il buon Carl Gustav.  E no: nessuna numerologia già data, la cabala Chiara digita il dado di Dama, colorando Dante – e segue il grido del globulo: il metallo ha forgiato. Da sé. Questo sì: non esiste cambiamento quando canoni/controlli sono le sole *cure/curie*].
Omaggio senza tempo, nei tempi dispari: alla [mia] famiglia di Metallari. La [mia] casa di Marshall e doppiacassa!

«La società va compiaciuta, laddove è possibile; se non la si compiace, bisogna sbalordirla; se non la si può né compiacere né sbalordire bisogna provocarla e farla INORRIDIRE» [Jordan in: Jung, Psychologische Typen]

I

Nel mezzo del gran sol di Satriani
mi ritrovai per caso tra poeti
che non vi so dir le lagne immani

né lo girar di gonadi per vieti
ch’imposer alla di me mia scrittura
di ferro – in quel mollo di profeti

Ahi quanto maledir esta uggia pura
esta massa massiva d’arroganza
che sol nel rum ne vinsi la lordura

tanto pedanti lator di mattanza,
torma munta dallo monatta stanco
quale Infame Colonna ch’avanza…

Così rimembrando il Manzo mastro
in sua gran pompa or’è al mio fianco
ecce Lisandro! E il dice capestro:

«memento memento Renzo e l’Arno
memento mori, voi turpi metallati!
null’è casto nello custom indarno,

echi neoclassici avete infangati?
in settenari sarete puniti:
studenti a vita e disoccupati!»

Quand’ecco qual dardo divino scocca:
«Vade retro! bigotta co’pruriti
I’son l’Alice ch’elogia la potta!

Vade retro: fermo, vetusta bocca!
I’son l’Alice che scuole conclude
e’l pitone sul bavero – arrocca!»

«O dello metallo il primiciglio,
padre mio, mie ghigliottine sì crude
Tu’l solo tu’l veleno tu’l piglio

macabro tu mentr’ io mi maraviglio
Cooper nostro, sia tu il benvenuto
in mio incubo ché dolor sferraglio

l’atro censore m’impone bavaglio
m’impone sestine carche di pianto
m’impone sua sola – guisa di canto
secca per me codesto psicopompo!»

E al Manzo or preme suo meato,
sì piange per lo supplizio inflitto:
scuoio perpetuo, dal Simmons leccato

Manzo si spela, di strato in strato,
perde pelle sotto sferza di lingua
sua condanna: damnatio ad metalla

all’osso reso, mero cranio roso
miracola e membra e midolla
e torna assillo: daccapo abraso.

«Dove mi è?» il padre mio novella
«nei tre giri dell’Arte» – il canticchia:
«nell’inferno di chi strupò favella

sei, di giustizia, nella prima cerchia!
Diffida! Spetti sempre diffidare
dell’oro, credi al chiodo che borchia

la fine dello falso formulare!
Vendica con nota che luce brilla
tutto’l corrotto cinico fangare

nel nero ch’all’occhio goccia, pupilla
pinta pura, spada sarotti e scudo
nel tristo guadar stilla coccodrilla:

spartito – mira – nel fangoso feudo
più d’uno che ragliò, stonato musico,
come il piaga il suo guardian crudo»

[to be continued…]

Sunt oameni de care ma indragostesc si in care am absoluta incredere ca s-ar descurca perfect si in postura de dumnezeu atotputernic. My little black book ii cuprinde pe Miller, Bukowski, Vonnegut, Burroughs, Aleister Crowley, Robert Anton Wilson, Bruce Dickinson, Johnny Depp si or mai fi dar deja am depasit conturul. Conturul zilei de astazi il dadeau domnii Bruce Dickinson si Aleister Crowley. Iegzplicatii?

Bruce de la Maiden, roacheru’ perfect in sens pozitiv, om destept si multivalent, a scris scenariul pentru un film despre Aleister Crowley, the wickedest man in the world. Dl Crowley e un personaj foarte simpatic de altfel (aveti grija ce spuneti despre Crowley pentru ca nu se stie niciodata…obisnuieste sa se reincarneze mai mereu si are prostul obicei de a blestema) unii zic ca e malefic pana in varful urechilor, altii zic ca e pur si simplu destept (nu folosesc timpul trecut pentru ca…mda… nu se stie niciodata). Ocultist, alpinist, yoghin, sex addict, spion si poet, Crowley se infatiseaza in fata ta cu capatzana cheala si urechile ascutite, mereu insotit de curenti de aer dubiosi, si iti zice cu sictir : m-ati innebunit, mereu va plangeti, vreti sa faceti sex, faceti! vreti sa plecati din tara, plecati! vreti sa mancati gandaci, mancati! vreti sa invatati chineza! invatati! ce e asa de greu???!!! “Do what thou wilt, that is the whole of the  law. Love is the law, love under will.”

Pricepurati? e simplu. E ca-n reclama la Nike, Just do it.

Mbun, si ziceam ca Bruce a scris scenariul asta, Chemical Wedding, si a iesit un film… placut pentru mine care tanjeam sa vad cam ce-a dat Bruce si cam cum s-ar fi comportat Aleister, dar putin prea eclectic in zona superficiala a magiei si stiintei. O mixtura de pisica lui Schrodinger cu ritualuri de magie sexuala, combinate cu o poveste de dragoste dintre un science man si o pustoaica uratica si roscata, evident studenta si ziarista. In afara de primele scene in care il vedem pe Crowley inainte de moarte si cele in care Crowley reincarnat apare in fata comisiei facultatii pe motiv ca si-a scos cucul in sala de curs si a facut pipi pe studenti, restul e cliseistic dar intr-un mod digerabil. Coloana sonora o da evident Iron Maiden, la ce va asteptati… Si cea mai tare chestie, filmul se poate vedea gratuit, dar maxim 72 de minute pe zi, la Chemical Wedding.

Até o final do ano o Iron Maiden deve se reunir para a composição do seu 15º álbum de inéditas. Momento de tensão, já que Steve Harris, baixista e líder da banda, sempre afirmou que planejava gravar 15 discos de estúdio e que depois encerraria a carreira. Álbum de despedida da Donzela de Ferro? A notícia é do canal Metalexpressradio.com .

Aunque era todo un hecho que Iron Maiden sacaría un album mas, ahora es toda una realidad, ya que Janick Gers (Guitarrista del grupo) le revelo a la pagina Metalexpressradio que la semana pasada, se reunieron para empezar a escribir las primeras canciones, lo que llena de emoción a este humilde licenciado.

El baterista, Nicko McBrain, también ha hablado recientemente del sucesor de “A Matter of Life and Death”, afirmando que:

El estudio ya está reservado. Pero los planes son reunirnos en noviembre en algún sitio, probablemente en Europa, para terminar de componer el disco. Bruce y Adian Smith están allí, Steve Harris está aquí, en esta parte del mundo, David vive en Hawai, por lo que reunirnos antes para componer es un poco difícil por el momento. Probablemente nos reuniremos en noviembre, seguramente la primera semana, y continuaremos hasta antes de Navidad escribiendo el disco. Estoy muy ansioso por que llegue, estar con estos chicos, escribir canciones nuevas, y tocar con ellos es algo siempre muy especial”

A estas alturas de su carrera, ya no les pido que me den un álbum completamente legendario, pero si que mínimo nos entreguen unas cuantas canciones que alcancen el nivel mítico de muchos de sus antiguos trabajos. No queda mas que esperar por que el material final sepa un poco a The Number of The Beast y que para nada sepa a Virtual XI.

Sin mas que decir sobre la legendaria y mítica Doncella de Hierro, se despide el roqueroso Lic. Jesús de Nazaret. Larga vida a Dickinson y a Iron Maiden.

En este episodio hablamos sobre el metal y hard rock de los años 90. Los siguientes grupos salen, como es habitual con temas menos conocidos:

Flotsam & Jetsam
Killers
Bruce Dickinson
Kiss
The Almighty
Life Of Agony
Pro-Pain
Testament
Geezer
Black Sabbath
Sepultura
Helloween
Anthrax

También se habla sobre los siguientes temas:

Jason Newsted, Dave Ellefson, Paul Dianno, Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden, Accident of Birth, Carnival Of Souls, Rolling Stones, Circus Diablo, Crank, Soul Searching Sun, John Tempesta, Louis Clement, James Murphy, Alex Skolnik, Daarth, Larzarus A.D., Death, Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Derrick Green, AC/DC, Alice In Chains, Van Halen, Time Of The Oath, High Live, Michael Kiske, Andy Deris, John Bush, Dan Nelson, Bionic Strigl Radio

El podcast se puede descargar en formato que prefiere desde aquí:

O escucha online aquí:

Klikk på bildet for å søke opp dvd'ene hos drammensbiblioteket.no eller klikk på linkene i teksten under.

OK, helt nye er de jo ikke da, bare nye i samlingen vår.  Seigmen-dvd’en «Fra X til døden» er en dobbel-dvd spekket med konsertopptak, en fyldig dokumentar og andre godbiter fra et av de mest sentrale banda i norsk rocks historie. Sett den i spilleren, len deg tilbake og nyt!

Kaizers Orchestra har vært landets nummer én-band  i det tiåret vi nå er i ferd med å forlate (med mulig unntak av a-ha som på en måte spiller i en annen divisjon). Klart det må dokumenteres på dvd, og «Viva La Vega» fra Vega-scenen i Danmark er da også en fest fra start til mål.

Vi kunne kanskje ønsket oss en litt mindre ydmyk dokumentar om Iron Maiden, men for all del – «Flight 666» gir et fantastisk innblikk i livet på veien med et av klodens aller største rockeband. Opptakene er gjort rundt første del av «Somewhere back in time world tour».  Bak spakene både i flyet og på som frontfigur på scenen finner vi den gale Bruce Dickinson og resten av det mildt sagt aparte persongalleriet som utgjør bandet og managementet rundt. I tillegg får man en ren musikk-dvd med låter hentet fra 16 ulike arenaer.

«Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo» gir et finfint inntrykk av et av de sentrale engelske banda de siste årene, Arctic Monkeys. En streit konsert-dvd som både er godt filmet og med en bråte hits fra en av rockens klassiske arenaer.

« L’histoire mène à tout, à condition d’en sortir »

Claude-Lévi Strauss

Les possibilités d’emplois pour les diplômés en histoire sont variées, même si la démarche de recherche d’emploi n’est pas toujours facile.

Le service de placement de l’Université Laval effectue chaque année une relance auprès de ses diplômés. Les résultats, par discipline, sont disponibles sur le site internet de l’Université sous le titre Analyses de marché et ont peut les consulter ici. L’histoire figure au nombre des disciplines où les données sont disponibles. L’analyse de marché pour les diplômés en histoire nous permet de connaître les postes occupés, les fonctions, les employeurs potentiels, les compétences recherchées, les conditions de travail et les tendances de l’emploi dans ce domaine. Un document à consulter!

Et pour prouver que l’histoire mène à tout, voici une courte liste de personnalités qui ont étudié en histoire. Oui, l’histoire mène à tout…

De la télé en passant par le Parlement…

-L’acteur Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) (Réf )

-Le chanteur du groupe Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson (Réf). Par ex. la chanson Passchendale de l’album Dance of Death est inspirée de la bataille de Passchendale qui a eu lieu durant la Première Guerre mondiale (1917).

-Marie-Claude Savard, chroniqueuse sportive à la télévision québécoise (Réf.)

-Plusieurs députés provinciaux québécois: Louise Beaudoin (Rosemont), Yves-François Blanchet (Drummond), Geoffrey Kelley (Jacques-Cartier), Gilles Robert (Prévost), Kathleen Weil (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), Martin Lemay (Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques), Sylvain Gaudreault (Jonquiète) (Réf)

-Micheline Lachance, journaliste et romancière (Le roman de Julie Papineau) (Réf.)

-Anne-Marie Sicotte, romancière et journaliste  (Les accoucheuses) (Réf.)

-Michel Jean, animateur de l’émission J.E. (Réf.)

-Conan O’Brien, animateur à la télévision américaine (Réf.)

Concernant les possibilités d’emploi lorsqu’on a un diplôme en histoire, je vous conseille de consulter la section Billets reliés du présent billet (particulièrement les deux premiers liens) ainsi que les pages des départements d’histoire des universités.

Crédits photo: BdwayDiva1 sur Flickr

Billets reliés:

• Qu’est-ce qui vous attend après votre diplôme en histoire?

• Faire de l’histoire au Québec

• Devenir historien

• Brochures de la Société historique du Canada en ligne

Abonnés par courriel: cliquez sur le titre de ce billet pour pouvoir consulter les liens de la section Billets reliés.

Black Sabbath & Iron Maiden

El próximo 31 de octubre es el día en que un grupo de reconocidos músicos dominicanos rendirán tributo a dos de las más importantes bandas del rock pesado de todos los tiempos, los ingleses: Iron Maiden y Black Sabbath.

Las mejores canciones de estas notables agrupaciones que son pilares en la historia del rock serán interpretadas por los reconocidos músicos: Omar Bautista, Javier Arthur, Maik Abanddon, David  Muñoz (Quo Vadis), Miguel “El Madman” Oscar, Gustavo Lazala, Marino Peña (Quo Vadis), Silvio Reyes, Homero Guerrero, Daniel Méndez y muchos invitados mas.

The Black Sabbath & Iron Maiden Tribute Band “Black Maiden” se presentará en el Cinema Café de la Plaza de la Cultura para celebrar la fiesta de Halloween a partir de las 10:30pm. El costo es de 200$p/p.

After a little break, I thought that I would fire up the SSEC series once more.  We’ve tackled “incarnational ministry,” “engaging culture,” boutique coffee-drinking, and maybe something else.  I can’t remember. Anyway, here’s another subject that strikes me as a sacred evangelical cow: our degrees.  Before you read on, however, I will require you to sign a mental disclosure statement that indicates that you understand that this post is written in a tongue-in-cheek style and is meant in good edifying fun.

Way back in time, in the early twentieth century, evangelicals (if we can call them that) did not believe strongly in degrees, as Joel Carpenter’s Revive Us Again shows in abundance.  Many Christians, including some in the fundamentalist tradition, did not believe it necessary to earn them.  In the mid-twentieth century, with the rise of neo-evangelicalism and pedigreed leaders like Harold J. Ockenga, many evangelicals switched tracks.  Instead of distancing themselves from worldly credentials, they embraced them in order to shore up their cultural footing and gain social credibility.

In our days, it’s common for evangelicals to earn all kinds of degrees.  If we once possessed too few credentials, making it easy for people to avoid taking us seriously, perhaps the pendulum has swung back too far the other way, such that we take ourselves too seriously.  How many times have you seen an evangelical identify himself as “Dr. John Smith, PhD,” a title that immediately paints the possessor in a slightly insecure light?  This is all too common among evangelicals.  To paraphrase the immortal Bruce Dickinson (Google it with “gold-plated diapers”–no, I’m not making this up), we conservative Christians have a “fever for degrees.”

This extends beyond just one degree or title.  I see people’s business cards identify them as “John Mottleby, MDiv” somewhat regularly.  Now, I’m all for academic training.  I believe in it.  I think it’s useful, and I think that in many cases (especially colleges and seminaries) there is a great deal to be said for jumping through the hoops necessary to win accreditation.  I differ with some when I say that I think, in my limited judgment and experience, that it is good for pastors (for example) to get a recognized degree (and maybe two if they sense the Lord leading them to do so).

But I am also aware that the whole thing can easily be overblown and taken way too seriously.  We can take far too much pride in our degrees and we can think that they automatically bestow credibility or “expert” status upon us.  Many of the smartest people I know, and a good chunk of the fine preachers and teachers  I have benefited from, have had few degrees and credentials.  They were simply deep thinkers and smart doers who were, among other things, freed from the insecurity that drives some of us to great degree-earning–and degree-displaying–heights.

I recall a conversation with a Christian friend studying in a secular context some years back that is instructive on this point.  He noted that at his elite institution, few professors listed their degrees.  They had little to prove and knew that academic distinction was a matter of course for their profession.  They thus took their diplomas less seriously than many evangelicals do.  Where scholars and leaders of other realms pay their past achievements little mind (in some instances), some of us evangelicals double-list them on our CV, insist on being referred to as “Dr. John” in any and all situations, and detail an alphabet soup of degrees–D. D., D. Litt., Psy. D., Ph. D., Y. M. C. A., and W. C. A. Y. S. D. (Who Cares About Your Stupid Degree).

So what’s the deal?  Should we Christians stop earning degrees?  No.  At least I don’t think so.  Should we stop mentioning our degrees?  No.  I just think that we might need a little bit of balance.  Scholars, for example, very often need degrees, and sometimes lots of them.  That’s well and good.  Pastors also will in many cases benefit from earning degrees that feature stimulating content.  So that’s well and good, too.

But we may find it helpful to find a little more security in the gospel and who God has made us than in our credentials, whatever they may be.  Whether a PhD or a folk credential, we are often tempted in this life to find our security and our enfranchisement in certain experiences or attainments.  These things may well play into who we are and what we do, but they should not take precedence over our status as children of the living God.

This is not to say that if John Smith identifies himself as “Dr. John Smith, PhD” that he’s lost all sight of his Christian citizenship.  But he may be struggling with this temptation, as we all do in many different ways.  Let’s collectively take a deep breath about our degrees, giving thanks to God for how He has allowed the American evangelical movement to intellectually bolster itself while simultaneously praying for ourselves and our leaders that we would not find our confidence or legitimation in any earthly thing, but only in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Brute Force and Ignorance – The Final Countdown

We’re looking at Brute Force, a compilation album released at the height of NWOBHM frenzy, when record companies were falling over themselves to cater to the whims of 14 year old pubescent boys, obsessed with the thought of something electric strapped round their necks and slung low down between their legs.

After a surprisingly metal free Part 3, things come to a close today, with the final three tracks which are actually, honest guv, metal! There’s a shocker.

First up, is a controversial record from the not very good Xero. Controversial, because upon its release as a single, the Evil EMI came along with writs, galoshes and rubber truncheons to force it from the market. Why? Not on grounds of taste, but because prior to Bruce Bruce joining Samson, he had recorded one of the tracks that appeared on the B-side of this single from NWOBHM no-marks, Xero. But once unveiled as the shiny frontman of Iron Maiden, the Man didn’t want the kids to hear him squealing like a pig stuck on a pike. Or something.

MP3 one – Xero – Hold On

Who knows who Cryer were? Not me. I know they released one single and that one of the members was called Graham Careless! Which is two more things than anyone needs to know about them. I’ve heard worse than ‘Day To Day’, but you can hear why they went nowhere. And as for releasing a single called ‘The Single’, well, only Girl can get away with that.

MP3 two – Cryer – Day To Day

Things come to a shuddering halt with the boogiefied May West, a band so obscure, even I know nothing about them. I do remember Paul Suter praising them in Sounds, but that’s no guarantee of anything.

MP3 three – May West – Black Queen

And so, it comes to an end, the marathon that was Brute Force. And what’s next I hear you cry?

Well, what about this!

Featuring Persian Risk, Marseille, Stratus, Warfare, Jaguar, Emerson, Dianno, Limelight and Baby Tuckoo! Drooling? You should be.

The Sunflower Jam 2009 Photos! See the ones that don’t include Jeremy HERE

All photos by Fin Costello

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

2 Oct 2009

The Sunflower Jam 2009 Review.

On Thursday 24th September 2009 Jacky Paice in association with Foreign Currency Direct hosted the fourth ‘Sunflower Jam’ at the Porchester Hall, London.

The Sunflower Jam 2009 was held in aid of The Holistic Cancer Support and Research Fund set up and run by The Society For Complementary Medicine.

Tim Dray beautifully transformed the Hall – this year taking on the theme of a modern day circus.

With guests seated at their tables, the delicious three-course meal, prepared by Paul Clerehugh of The Crooked Billet, was served. Jeremy Irons, master of ceremonies, took to the stage and welcomed all guests to this year’s event. Moving the evening forward, Jeremy then introduced three fantastic performance artists to the stage: Rubber Ritchie, Marawa and Bruce Airhead. All performers gave highly entertaining and mind boggling performances and really got the room warmed up.

Bob Jacobs from SCM and Bob Harris were then welcomed to the stage and talked about the charity, experiences of being treated at SCM and the work that the charity does.

Cue Jeremy Irons back on stage to introduce Adrian Biddell of Sotheby’s who brilliantly conducted this year’s auction and raffle. After lots were won and raffle tickets drawn, there were two giant cheques presented on stage to The Sunflower Jam. The first cheque was from Planet Rock Radio for £5100 that was the result of a one of a kind guitar that was auctioned on ebay with all proceeds going to The Sunflower Jam. The second cheque presentation was from this year’s crown sponsor, Peter Ellis, CEO of Foreign Currency Direct.

Foreign Currency Direct donated £35,000 to The Sunflower Jam 2009.

The stage was then cleared for the musical feast to begin…

The live music kicked off with a guest performance from the incredibly talented singer/songwriter Newton Faulkner. Newton had kindly agreed to perform providided he could make it back in time from a promotional radio show in Cardiff. He literally pulled up outside the venue, ran strait inside and onto the stage and instantly won over the audience with his amazing guitar playing and soulful voice.

The evening was then amped up with all settings on 11 for the Sunflower Jam band to take to the stage.

The set opened with instrumental track, Frankenstein, originally performed by the Edgar Winter Group followed by a rendition of The Stones’ Jumping Jack Flash, with Margo Buchanan’s soaring vocal launching the audience out of their seats and on to the dance floor.

From then on in it was a rock and roll dance party like no other, with Dennis Locorriere taking to the stage to play harmonica on The Stones’ Not Fade Away with Margo and proving that he still has one of the best voices in rock with awesome renditions of The Beatles Get Back, his own Sylvia’s Mother and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s, Love The One You’re With.

If there was one thing that was missing up until this point it was a good old fashioned sing along, we had no fear. One man we could count on to raise the voices of a well-fed and watered audience was the original London boy himself, Suggs. With gusto akin to a well oiled stag party on a Friday night out, the Madness front man brought the house down with the Madness classics; Our House, It Must Be Love and Madness.

During rehearsals there was one name that everyone was talking about… Gary Brooker had brought tears to the eyes of his fellow musicians with his beautiful voice and quiet grace.

His renditions of ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’ and ‘Sweet Soul Music’ were what dreams are made of but it was his performance of his classic ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ that proved one of those life affirming moments and one that will be with us for ever.

If the audience thought they had been let of the heavy rock hook then they were sorely mistaken. As soon as Bruce Dickinson walked on stage they knew that their ears were going to take a bashing! With his trade mark scream, Bruce launched in to his own “Tattooed Millionaire” and then followed with energy driven performances of ‘Wishing Well’, ‘Back In The USSR’, The Who’s ‘Wont get fooled again’ and finally finishing with an encore of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Rock and Roll’, featuring both Ian Paice and Karl Brazil on drums.

Yet again a huge vote of thanks must go to Wix and Nick Fyffe for pulling all the musicians together during rehearsals and on the night.

Musicians roll call.

Adam Phillips (Guitar)

Aitch McRobbie (Backing vocals)

Bruce Dickinson (Vocals)

Dave Lewis (Sax)

Dennis Locorriere (Vocals, Harmonica)

Don Airey (Hammond Organ)

Gary Brooker (Vocals, Piano)

Ian Paice (Drums)

Karl Brazil (Drums)

Margo Buchanan (Vocals)

Matt Winch (Trumpet)

Micky Moody (Guitar)

Nick Fyffe (MD & Bass Guitar)

Paul “Wix” Wickens (MD & Piano)

Sewuese Abwa (Backing vocals)

Suggs (Vocals & Dancing)

Bruce Dickinson’s hair is a very important part of Iron Maiden.

Before I got into Maiden, the only thing images that came to mind about the band were Native Americans and the lead singer’s hair.

I am willing to make the bold assertion that it is, in fact, the best hair in heavy metal.

We primarily think of Bruce’s coif from 1982, classic Number of The Beast-era. However, some interesting variations occurred over the years.

Here’s a time-line of the development of metal’s #1 ‘do:

Early 1982:

long long ago..in a time before the fringe..

1983:

classic Bruce

1985:

Sun-In?

1990:

my favorite...giving a little 1960's cher?..

1994:

seems it took 4 yrs to grow out the fringe above...welcome to the grunge era

199…whoa!

i think this one speaks for itself

Present:

an age-appropriate choice

Bonus Feature:

sorry, nothing to do with this post but i found this in my search, and it's completely amazing!

Change of Heart

Nothing says Shout at the Devil quite like sporting a Devil on your bike’s  headtube. This picture was taken from the NBL Grands photo gallery on the Standard Bykes site.

Part of me wants to believe these are the personal rides of Bruce Dickinson (of Iron Maiden).  A guy can dream can’t he?

Iron Maiden – Brave New World (2000, Columbia Records/Portrait Records)

1. “The Wicker Man” … 4:38
2. “Ghost of the Navigator” … 6:50
3. “Brave New World” … 6:19
4. “Blood Brothers” … 7:14
5. “The Mercenary” … 4:42
6. “Dream of Mirrors” … 9:21
7. “The Fallen Angel” … 4:01
8. “The Nomad” … 9:06
9. “Out of the Silent Planet”… 6:26
10. “The Line Between Love & Hate” … 8:27

Band:
Bruce Dickinson – Lead Vocals
Dave Murray – Guitar
Adrian Smith – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Janick Gers – Guitar
Steve Harris – Bass, Backing Vocals, Keyboards
Nicko McBrain – Drums

Producer: Steve Harris & Kevin Shirley

This was my very first Iron Maiden album and over time it has become one of my favorites as well. Initially, I wasn’t much of a fan the album. I’m not sure what exactly I was expecting, but it just seemed boring to me. Another issue for me was/is that I’ve always had a hard time getting into the themes that Iron Maiden uses. Fantasy stuff is cool, but I generally favor songs and bands that write about things I can relate to. Still, it’s a minor quibble because I’m quite proud and happy that Iron Maiden has continued to successfully wave the banner of heavy metal high in the 2000s.

Anyway, this was the comeback album for Maiden. After the abysmal sales and harsh reviews for 1998’s Virtual XI, singer Blaze Bayley was out by early ‘99 and Bruce Dickinson was back in after leaving the group in ‘93 to go solo.  Also rejoining the group was guitarist Adrian Smith (who left sometime in 1990). So, for the first time, we had not two but THREE guitarists in Iron Maiden as Janick Gers, Smith’s replacement, stayed on. The band ran through a successful reunion tour, release another greatest hits album and then set about to record Brave New World.

Needless to say, the album was a major success as Iron Maiden was one of the few acts signed to famed A&R man John Kalodner’s revived Portrait Records label and this album would eventually go gold, also proving Maiden to be the only successful act for the label’s short-lived return.

Listening to the album now, I think I see why I didn’t care for it at the time. It’s a very melodic, epic slow album. Not that there aren’t a few rockers, but most of these songs are slow-tempo and make use of keyboards a lot. So at that time, I was wanting balls-to-the-wall heavy metal. Perhaps an album full of “Run to the Hills”, “Can I Play With Madness?”, “2 Minutes to Midnight” or “The Trooper” was what I was looking for it. Nothing here matches the urgency and punch of those songs, but the album comes pretty close with “The Wicker Man” and “Brave New World”.

The numbers have a slower pace and are less metallic, but this is still a must have Maiden album, IMO.

According to Adrian Smith, “The Nomad”, “Dream of Mirrors” and “The Mercenary” were songs originally written to Virtual XI.

Highlights: “The Wicker Man”, “Ghost of the Navigator”, “Blood Brothers”, “Brave New World”, “The Mercenary”, “The Nomad”, “Out of the Silent Planet”

www.ironmaiden.com
www.myspace.com/ironmaiden

Below is the trailer for Michael Bay’s A Nightmare On Elm Street. This remake, set for release in April 2010, will complete the triumvirate of the über-slashers, joining reboots of the Halloween and Friday The 13th franchises. This is also the first time anyone besides Robert Englund has portrayed Freddie Krueger on the big screen, with Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen’s Rorschach) taking over the famed glove and striped sweater.

Naturally, after seeing what Bay did with the Friday The 13th remake (and anything else, for that matter), my expectations for this are very low. But regardless, it’s still kind of exciting to see Freddie back in action again. The 1984 classic scared the crap out of me.

Here’s the trailer:

The first two movies relied solely on scores, but when the decision was made to feature hair-metal band Dokken on the 1987 soundtrack for Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, a precedent was set and several terrible songs followed.

Here they are for your enjoyment (personal favorite, The Fat Boys):

Dokken – “Dream Warriors” – Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Vinnie Vincent Invasion (feat. Mark Slaughter)- “Love Kills” – Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

The Fat Boys – “Are You Ready Freddy” – A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Whodini – “Anyway I Gotta Swing It” – A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

Romeo’s Daughter – “Heaven In The Backseat” - A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

The Goo Goo Dolls – “I’m Awake Now” – Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)