It’s Saturday, and I’m YouTube-ing again. 

Video #1: Freaky wasp

Props to Ted for turning me on to Tarantula Hawk Wasps

Wooooooowww.  These are some bad-ass bugs for sure.   Taratula Hawks (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) stalk, grapple with, and (if all goes well) paralyse their large spider prey with a painful sting rivalled only by that of the dreaded Bullet Ant.  The stunned spider, still alive, is dragged into a dugout nest, where the female wasp lays a single egg on the body of her victim.  When the egg hatches, the tarantula is eaten alive by the voracious young larva.  Don’t parasitoids just freak you right out???  Despite the ferocious feeding habits, these wasps are actually quite docile, and really rather stunning – gorgeous deep blue-black body highlighted by glinting rust-coloured wings. 

Video #2: Freaky diva

Because today I am totally obsessed with Lady Gaga (why did I not know how freakin’ COOL she is until recently?  Huh?  Why did no one TELL me???) you get the way-over-the-top-bloody-über-drama spectacle that was her rendition of Paparazzi at the VMA awards…

The theatre geek in me simply adores her edgy drama, her huge stage presence, the use of costuming,  makeup, lighting, good sets and props to set a tone…the fact that the woman can hella sing is just gravy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all from Metal Odyssey. Yes, I will eat whatever the heck I feel like eating today, plus the quantity of food I eat is my own personal business too. To all the people who watch what other people eat and tell others how and what to eat… go eat rice cakes today and stare at yourselves in the mirror, you artificial and pompous fools.

I am thankful for:

My incredible wife and beautiful twin daughters… and our new cat toby.

My courageous and strong father.

My mother and father in-law.

Alright, an extra special thanks to my mother in-law… this past Summer she gave to me, her unreal good stereo system… what a sweetie.

Nonny.

My sister and brother in-law and their two daughters… o.k., their dog too.

My Best Metal Buddy Scott and his fine family.

My sister is in Heaven and I am thankful for her son and daughter.

My mother is in Heaven too… I am thankful for all the love and memories.

My faith, God and all of the guardian angels who have worked overtime for me and my family.

For all my cousins, aunts and uncles who are the good ones. In other words, the ones who are not self absorbed in their own minds and know I still exist.

Good friends and helpful neighbors.

My country – The United States of America, The Land of the Free… I hope and pray it stays this way.

Armed Forces of The United States of America – these men and women in uniform protect us all every minute of every day.

Rock and Roll – especially Heavy Metal and all of it’s genres.

Punk Rock

Motorhead, Misfits, W.A.S.P. and Slayer… my top four.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and their 2009 album – God & Guns

Cheap Trick and ELO

Anthony Bourdain and No Reservations

Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures

World Champion New York Yankees and the New York Giants

Planet Earth… the best and only planet we can all live on. If only we all could get along…

I’m very thankful for being introduced to this album by The Everly Brothers, (Don and Phil Everly), as a child. My mother had this album and it was my first introduction to the amazing world of Rock and Roll. This 1958 album was a true enjoyment and will forever be an unreal lifetime memory.

I’m extra thankful for being alive to be thankful for all of the above.

About 8 years ago (wow, was it that long!!?!) my parents moved from Madison, NJ to Vero Beach (affectionately referred to as Zero Beach), FL for retirement.  Madison is a convenient 45 minutes from NYC by train… Zero Beach took seven hours of traveling to get to today.  Apparently, when you’re retired, you need to be completely removed from civilization.  Their house is three hours from the airport.  Le old folks need to forget there’s a way to travel outside the state I guess!

Despite the hefty trek, I do love coming home to my parents house.  Everything is so… clean.  And taken care of.  And it all works.  Let me explain.  As much as I am ‘an adult’ in age (25), I still operate like something of a college student.  I live in a subletted apartment (and am about to move to a place that will only have room for a bed), I haven’t acquired any real furniture, and as hard as I often clean the bathroom… sometimes I think I should be in there with flip-flops on.  The internet is often pirated, I don’t really know anyone I live with, and most of my pictures are of me holding an alcoholic spirit.  The comparisons go on.

Although, perhaps this is the difference between an apartment and a home.  Or perhaps, more frightening, I’m legitimately missing the decorator WASP gene, for I’m pretty sure my Mom’s place when she was my age was spotless, nicely (though minimally) furnished with a floor so clean you could eat from it.  I want to have a nice place when I “grow up”… but I don’t want to be bothered with putting it together.  Or the upkeep.  So, yeah.  I’m not sure where that leaves me.  

For the time being, I’m damn happy to be home where everything is beige, furniture has no dust on it and wireless works everywhere.  Hopefully I’ll get there eventually (well, not the beige part.  I’d spill something without question.).  

Coming back home one day, we noticed a large strange looking orange insect on our front door step.  Miss 8 was fascinated but scared and Miss 10 didn’t care.  My first thought was to grab my camera and decide which lens to use.  Not knowing exactly what it was, I stayed my distance. 

I’ve since figured out that it’s a spider wasp, and they’re probably quite harmless so I could’ve gone a bit closer for better close ups.

Here’s Mr Wasp scoping me out.  Its snack, Mr Spider, already comatose in the background.

After Mr Wasp was satisfied that I wasn’t going to steal his lunch, he thought he’d give Mr Spider some tail action.

Mr Spider, now definitely drugged out and not being much fun, just lay around.   Mr Wasp took advantage of the situation and started preparing? eating? sucking?  Who knows.

I left the two of them to chill out together, and when I checked them after a few hours, they had left.  Or maybe, more correctly, Mr Wasp took Mr Spider to home for tea.

Gec oldu guc olmasın diyerek bu leziz geceyi azıcık dilim dondugunce anlatıyım hemen.

1982 yılında Los Angeles’ta kurulan ve 27 yıllık kariyeri boyunca 15 albüme ve aralarında ‘Wild Child’, ‘Love Machine’, ‘Animal’, ‘Sleeping in the Fire’, ‘The Headless Children’ ve ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’ gibi sayısız hite imza atmış olan karizmatik frontman Blackie Lawless önderliğindeki WASP 19 Kasım 2009 tarihinde Istanbul Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park’ta hayranlarıyla ikinci kez buluştu ya ni ben ve benim gibileriyle….

Soğuk

Grip

İş çıkısı yorgunlugu ne kadar umrumdaydı….

HİÇ!

Ha belki Miss Lolayı evde bırakmıs olmanın verdıgı sıkıntı bıraz belkı kaale alınacak cınstendı:)

Değdi…

Bir devri doyasıya yasamıs ve yasatmıs olan bu grup dun tam bir şölen verdi.

Grubun gitarıstı Doug Blair’in bir gece oncesi esimle aynı sahneyi paylasması ise ayrı bir onur kaynagı….

Ayagına saglık WASP:)

Hayatta cekmedim su kalorilerden cektigim kadar.

Bir kadın olarak, daha dogrusu fızıgıne cok dıkkat eden bır kadın olarak kalori hesabı yaparak yasamak nasıl bırseydır anlatılsa anlasılmaz. Hele bir de hayatınızın anlamlarından bir tanesı de TAT ALMAK ise….

Dakikalardır kendimle savas halindeyim.Burnuma buram buram simit kokusu geliyor. E hadi onu anladımda agzımı sulandıran krem karamelın zamanı mı sımdı

Hemen search yapalım. YETIS GOOGLE….

Search: simit kalori

Her bir simidin hamuru 60 gramdır, pişerken 20 gram fire verir ve 40 gram gelir. Bu 40 gr simitin kalorisi yaklaşık olarak 240-260 kaloridir. Bazı diyetisyenlere göre bu 300 kaloriyi bile bulabilmektedir.

Ne yani şimdi yiuyebilir miyim, yiyemez miyim?

Devam edelim…

Search: krem karamel

Sonuc: 265 kalori.

Peki….

Ama ben aksama WASP konserine gidicem. Oradaki performansımın benden goturecegı kalorileri hesaplar isek ( ki sanki ben sahne alıcam) o zaman bana bu yeme hakkını verir mi?

VERIR:)

Vermeli…Cunku su an zil caldı ve siparıs ettıgım krem karamelım geldı. Bu yazıyı neden yazdım ki? Zaten karar belli.

Bana müsade:)

รวบรวมเรียบเรียงแปล โดย สว อิเฎล
ห้ามนำไปใช้ใน Website อื่นโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต
หากต้องการสอบถามเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับผลงานวง ให้ถามที่ http://board.thaimisc.com/manson

อ่านหน้าอื่น ๆ : ประวัติ วง Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ นาย Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ Twiggy Ramirez, ประวัติ Madonna Wayne Gacy (Pogo), ประวัติ John 5, ประวัติ Zim Zum, ประวัติ Ginger Fish

ระหว่างที่ Marilyn Manson ยังเป็นเด็กหนุ่มอยุ่นั้น เขาอยู่ในเมือง Canton, Ohio เขามีชื่อว่า Brian Warner เขาได้ลงทะเบียนเรียนที่โรงเรียน ตอนที่อยู่ที่นั่นเขาเป็นคนที่อ่อนแอต่อการที่จะรับฟังเรื่องสยองขวัญเอามาก ๆ และยังมีความคิดต่อต้านศาสนา Christian เอามาก ๆ ด้วย แต่ถ้าพูดถึง คนที่น่าสยองที่สุดก็คือเขาเองนั่นแหละ เขาได้เริ่มที่จะถอยหนีและออกห่างจากสังคมเพราะเขาก็เริ่มเข้าใจตนเองมากขึ้น คือสิ่งที่เขามีนั้นแตกต่างไปจากทุก ๆ สิ่งที่อยู่รอบ ๆ ตัวของเขา สิ่งที่เขารู้สึกขัดแย้งได้เพิ่มมากขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ จากการที่โรงเรียนสอนศาสนา Christ ให้กับเขา และวันหนึ่งเขาก็เริ่มที่จะมองเห็นว่าสิ่งเหล่านี้เป็นสิ่งที่หาประโยชน์ไม่ได้ แต่มันเป็นเพียงการหลอกลวงของปรัชญาทางศาสนา หากจะย้อนเวลากลับไป และพูดถึงวง heavy metal ก่อนหน้านี้เช่น Kiss, Wasp, Judas Priest เป็นต้น พวกอาจารย์ในโรงเรียนของเขาได้สัมมนากัน แล้วสรุปออกมาว่า เพลงเหล่านี้คือ ‘ปิศาจ’ และไม่สมควรอย่างยิ่งที่จะฟังมัน ตามความเป็นจริงแล้วโรงเรียน Christ จะห้ามมิให้มีการลงไม้เรียว หรือแซ่กับเด็กนักเรียน อาจารย์จึงจนปัญญาที่จะลงโทษ Brian Warner ซึ่งอาจารย์คนหนึ่งก็สามารถรับรู้ได้ว่าเขาพยายามที่จะปฏิเสธต่อโรงเรียน เขาจึงเปิดโอกาศให้ Brian Warner ได้ย้ายไปเรียนที่อื่น คือที่ Glen Oak public school ใน grade 10 ถึง 12 เมื่อเรียนจบอายุ 18 ย้ายไปที่ Tampa Bay, Florida และได้ทำงานเป็นนักหนังสือพิมพ์ด้านดนตรี ในปี 1989 เขาเจอกับ guitaristที่ชื่อ Scott Mitchell ทั้งสองมีสิ่งที่แตกต่าง แต่ลงรอยกัยพอดี คือ กาพย์ที่ Manson แต่ง สามารถใส่รวมกับ line guitar ของ Mitchell ได้ (คือ Daisy Berkowitz)

Marilyn Manson miss Daisy Berkowitz

เรามาพูดถึงเขา “Antichrist Superstar” Marilyn Manson เขามีชื่อเสียงอย่างปฏิเสธไม่ได้เพราะเขามักจะมีเรื่องขัดแย้งกับดาราคนอื่น ๆ เป็นประจำในยุค 1990’s หลายคนมักจะปรักปรำและติเตียนเขาอยู่เสมอเพราะการ Antichrist ของเขานั่นเอง คนพวกนี้อ้างตัวเองเป็นผู้กำจัดความชั่ว หลังจากนั้น Marilyn Manson ได้กลายเป็นวงดนตรีที่ติดอยู่ที่อันดับ 1 ของ chart แต่ถึงกระนั้นแล้วการที่เป็น Leader ของวง ก็จะต้องมีการต่อสู้ต่อไป และกลายเป็นการต่อต้านทุกอย่างทั้ง วีรบุรุษ นักการเมืองต่าง ๆ จนทำให้บิดามารดาของเขาต้องเป็นกังวลอย่างหนัก

ในขณะที่บางคนดูถูกพฤติกรรมของ Manson ว่าหยาบช้า บัดซบ บ้างก็ว่ามาลบหลู่ศาสนาของพวกเขาหรือมาชักชวนให้พวกเขาเอาใจออกห่างจากศาสนา ความไม่พอใจมีอยู่ครึ่งค่อนเมือง การออก CD Smells Like Children EP ในปี 1995 ช่วงสั้น ๆ หลังจาก CD นี้ได้ออก Berkowitz ต้องลาออก ZimZum ได้มาแทน ในปี 1996 ได้ออก CD antichrist superstar ได้อยู่อันดับ 3 ของการ vote เพราะความมีชื่อเสียงของเขาที่เจริญเติบโตงอกงาม ทำให้เขามีชื่อเสียงเกรียวกราว การจัด Live Take ก็มีไปรอบ ๆ เมือง ดนตรีของเขาก็แพร่หลาย อย่างไรก็ตาม มีคำถามว่าการแสดงออกถึงการสวมกอดอย่างรวดเร็วมันเป็นความจริงใจที่แท้จริงหรือเปล่า เพลงที่ชื่อว่า The Long Hard Road Out of Hell ทำให้คนสงสัยว่าเขาได้ขายวิญญานและจิตใจให้แก Satan แล้วหรือ Mechanical Animals ที่เกิดในปี 1998 เป็น Tour ที่มีผลทำให้เขาเสื่อมความนิยมลงไป และ 1 ปีต่อมา เขาได้ทำ the live Last Tour on Earth โดยให้ชื่อว่า Jason Ankeny

” Marilyn Manson เขามีความใฝ่ฝันจะขับเคลื่อนได้อย่างกล้าหาญ และจะขับมันด้วยพลังอันเหี้ยมโหด และจะยิงวงดนตรีของเขา กับสิ่งที่เขาปรารถนา เข้าสู่สื่อมวลชน วิธีการยิงและเหตุผลที่จะยิงได้แผ่กว้างออกไปและขอบเขตของมันก็จะแสดงมาให้เห็นอย่างต่อเนื่อง แทรกซึมไปทุกการเดินทาง อย่างไม่มีใครต่อต้านได้ ทำให้ไม่มีคนลืมมันได้ ” เหล่านี้เป็นคำกล่าวขันของผู้ที่เข้าใจเขา

Marilyn Manson paint Water colors Drawing

เขาไม่ได้เป็น Paul ในเรื่อง Wonder Years Paul นำแสดงโดย Josh Saviano ซึ่งตอนนั้นอายุ 20 ข่าวลือหลายอย่างเกี่ยวกับตัว Marilyn Manson ทำให้เป็นแต่ด้านไม่ดีของสายตาเขาที่ว่าไม่จริง ข่าวลือต่าง ๆ เช่น การมีเพศสัมพันธ์กับ Twiggy Ramirez จนกระทั้ง contact lens ที่เขาใส่ เป็นตาลูกแก้วของจริง และยังการรวบรวมแขนขาของหญิงโสเภณีเป็นงานอดิเรก เหมือนที่เห็นในการแสดงโปรโมทอลบัม The Golden Age Of Grotesque

ด้วยพฤติกรรมเหล่านี้ซึ่งไม่จริงแต่เขาก็ไม่เคยปฏิเสธเลย เขายังมีเรื่องไม่ดีเกี่ยวกับผู้หญิงมากมาย เขาเปลี่ยนผู้หญิงบ่อย ทั้ง ๆ ที่ถูกมองว่าเป็นเพศที่สาม บางคนบอกว่าเขามีเพศสัมพันธ์กับ Evan Rachel Wood เพียงครั้งเดียว และนั้นก็คือครั้งที่เขาถ่าย Video เพลง Heart-Shaped Glasses นอกจากนี้ แฟนเพลงของ Dita Von Teese หลายคนก็ไม่ชอบเขา ที่พยายามแต่งตัว Evan ให้เหมือน Dita การที่เขาไม่มีเยื่อไยกับ Dita ทำให้ credit ของเขาเสื่อมลงไป ตามที่ Dita ให้สัมมภาษณ์ว่า เธอและแมนสันนอนกันคนละเวลา และ Manson ไม่มีเวลาให้เธอ ที่จริงแล้วการคบผู้หญิงใหม่ ๆ ของแมนสัน อาจเป็นแรงบันดาลใจทางด้านศิลปะของเขามากกว่าความรัก เพราะ Marilyn Manson มักจะวาดผู้หญิงใหม่ ๆ ของเขาเสมอ เพื่องานแสดงสีน้ำ

Ben Goins and Andrew Howard, Twisted Method

เบน กอยส์ (Ben Gions) มือกลองของวง Twisted Method (วงนี้แตกแล้ว, และโด่งดังในปี 1993, แนวเพลงเป็น Nu-Metal เหมือน Slipknot) ให้สัมภาษณ์เกี่ยวกับการแสดงในงาน Ozzfest ของเขา ว่าวงที่น่าสนใจแบบ Marilyn Manson จะได้แสดงตอนกลางคืน นายแมนสันเป็นคนที่ชอบสร้างกระแส เช่น Anti-Christ ของเขา และเมื่อคนทำตามกระแส แมนสันก็จะดังเอง ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการด่า หรือเป็นการชม แสดงว่า แมนสันเก่งด้านการค้ามากพอดู ปัจจุบัน นาย เบน กอยส์ ได้เป็นบาทหลวงรักใช้ศาสนาคริสต์ไปแล้วหลังจากที่เพื่อนรัก Andrew Howard หวังหน้าวงหรือคนแต่งเพลง ของ Twisted Method เสียชีวิตอย่างมีเงื่อนงำ โดยถูกเดาว่ามาจากยาเสพติด

Hair metal is hard to do right these days when it’s so ugly and dated. Guns n’ Roses nearly got it right with Chinese Democracy and Turbonegro definitely got it right in a wide cross section of their albums.

W.A.S.P. are always going to be hard to review fairly and balanced because of the time we’re living in. Hair metal is dead and most people really couldn’t give a flying fuck about Poison or Stryper whereas bands like Hanoi Rocks managed to progress and make something people really wanted to hear (well, the Finnish at least).

With WASP, I’ll tell you that the music hasn’t really progressed past cock rockin’ hard metal but it comes across ok. Crazy and Thunder Red are actually very good songs that could stand up against their old classics like I Wanna be somebody or Animal (Fuck Like A Beast).

Songs like Live to Die Another Day and Into the Fire sound like filler, and I’m not sure why 90% of the songs have fire related titles.

Other songs like Godless Run are hard to take seriously – 80’s emotions don’t cut it with me but I’m sure the die-hards will dig it.

Burn is probably the best song on the record which has a bit of a Deep Purple/Thin Lizzy riff through it, It’s like older and more classic rock n’ roll which WASP pull off with ease and it seems as though they feel very comfortable here and this will be a song the fans will really get into.

Promised Land is definitely my favourite tune on this ol’ record. I’m a big Chuck Berry fan so anything with this legend does good with me. They pull it off effortlessly and the solos are fantastic, CB couldn’t do better himself!

It’s hard for bands to keep up with the times and either let their music progress or rely on the whole nostalgia aspect of it all. I think WASP depend on the latter and that’s ok.

I salute them for recording new music and keeping themselves interested – there will always be fans waiting for them, well until eventually the band and their fan base surrender to old age.

friday week….Blackie is a comin…

I once rang 2FM when I was a child, got through to the DJ and asked him innocently to play “Animal (fuck like a beast)” He said,

“This is not that type of radio station!”

I was perplexed.

Why do people on social networking sites write ‘f**k’ when they want to say ‘fuck’?

I am perplexed.

M-am intors, ud, obosit, infometat, infrigurat si incredibil de impresionat de ce s-a intamplat in aceasta seara frumoasa de toamna in care pana si natura a inteles mesajul si s-a asigurat ca toti cei ce am fost la concert sa putem spune fericiti “rain on me”.

Azi dimineata ma speriasem putin cand am vazut ca exista posibilitatea de a merge singur, din pacate criza a inceput sa te faca se renunti la mancarea pentru suflet in favoarea celei pentru stomac. Cu chiu cu vai am reusit sa conving o buna prietena sa-si mute fizicul oprimat de stilul de viata corporatist sa subtieze “fondul de vodka pentru revelion” si sa ma insoteasca la acest minunat concert W.A.S.P.

Acum ca am trecut peste ceea ce cred ca a fost cea mai de cacat introducere din existenta mea pot incepe sa vorbesc despre concert:

Am plecat de la carciuma pe la 19 si m-am indreptat vertiginos catre Piata Uniri pe jos, vrand sa rezolv o mica problema ce avea nevoie de aer liber datorita miresmei emanate. Nu stiu cum se face ca, de fiecare data cand ma grabesc pe traseul Romana-Uniri trebuie sa dau de cineva cunoscut care tine mortis sa-si expuna parerea in privinta oricarui detaliu minuscul a vietii cotidiene. De regula nu ma deranjeaza, pot sa aberez despre orice, dar cand merg pe jos, repede… mereu trebuie sa pierd timp explicand sensul, directia, obiectul si natura grabei mele, desigur, nu putem face asta mergand, trebuie sa stam, sa fumam o tigare (blah, speram sa fi scapat)… sa aberam. As vrea sa-mi organizez viata ca pe o companie, daca mai dau de vreun d’asta sa-i raspund cat se poate de vesel si empatic “pss, come back during bar hours”.

In fine, intarziat si putin infometat ajung la Unirii, iau coleguta si ne indreptam spre Arene. Datorita brutalului drum cu tramvaiul, amestecat cu inca niste multa cola, in timp ce ne plimbam prin parcul pustiu am constientizat inca o problema, si anume cea a vezicii mele suprasaturate. Imediat ce am intrat in Arene m-am indreptat spre locul unde stiam ca-s budele, evident ca pe drum sunt placat de diferite personaje pe care, datorita problemei excretorii deja ajunsa in pragul critic, abea le-am putut saluta cu o voce de om normal. Eco-budele nu mai erau si a trebuit sa rezolv problema in budele din gang, sunt sigur ca pana si albastrele Toi-Toi erau casa mai putinor bacterii si microbi dar bine ca ma pis din picioare.

Cum ies din gang pentru a 2-a oara, fericit si usurat, pe scena deja s-au urcat W.A.S.P, intru in cortul parca ceva mai mare decat cel de la In Flames si, cu multa usurinta ne indreptam spre scena. Cand am auzit prima piesa parca mi s-a taiat craca de sub picioare, sunetul era mai prost decat la In Flames, incepusem sa injur cortul. Din fericire problema s-a remediat imediat dupa aceasta prima piesa si, cand Blackie ne-a salutat cu vocea lui specifica am inceput sa ma simt ca la un concert adevarat, nu ca intr-un abator parasit, presarat cu mirosul de piele uscata si grimasele infricosatoare a animalelor ce se bucura de zgomot si de colectia de cioturi de bilete dar nu si de muzica in sine. Bine, poate exagerez putin, in public erau peste 1300 de oameni, aceleasi fete pe care le vad mereu la concertele de gen, aceiasi oameni pe care-i vad de peste 5 ani la fiecare manifestare de gen, lucru ce pe deoparte ma bucura si pe cealalta ma intristeaza, unde-s restu ? Unde-s toti roacherii de populeaza carciumile de gen ? De ce nu vin la concerte ? Sau WASP nu sunt suficient de TRV pentru lanturile si bratarile lor ?

Cum am spus, de la a 2-a piesa atmosfera s-a schimbat drastic, unde am stat eu sunetul era lacrima si oamenii chiar apreciau muzica, stiau versurile si, parca cu totii ne lasam ridicati de chitarile incredibil de dulci ce rasunau armonios de pe scena. De data asta WASP au cantat fara scena lor, fara microfonul scheletic si bataitor a lui Blackie, au cantat pur si aproape de public, vizualele fiind asigurate de un show decent de lumini si un proiector ce spama clipuri in spatele lui Dupke, tobarul aproape invizibil a acestei minunate trupe.

Am avut parte de cateva piese de pe albumul nou, Babylon, un album exceptional, dovada vie ca o trupa ce canta de peste 20 de ani nu trebuie sa se plafoneze si sa scoata discuri doar pentru bani. Piesele suna incredibil live, mai ales title track-ul Babylon’s Burning, instrumentele se leaga perfect, vocea unica a lui Blackie asigura coeziunea perfecta dintre muzica si mesh-ul video ce era proiectat pe fundal.

Concertul cu totul a fost incredibil, am avut parte de piese epice precum Chainsaw Charlie, I Wanna Be Somebody, Wild Child, Take me up, etc. Repede, poate prea repede, cei 4 s-au retras de pe scena, obligand publicul sa tipe, sa aplaude si sa ceara mai mult. Pauza a fost dureros de lunga, dar macar am avut ocazia sa exersez niste tipete de femeie violata d-un taur cu pirce in pula.

Dupa acest moment de respiro, cei 4 se urca pe scena, Blackie ne face semn sa limitam galagia si, pe ecranul din spatele lui era proiectat intro-ul de la, probabil cea mai buna piesa de pe Dominator: “Heaven’s Hung in Black”.  Atat eu cat si restul publicului eram in extaz, sunetul era perfect, toate instrumentele se comportau ca Holophonor-ul din Futurama, a fost un adevarat orgasm senzorial. Colajul de poze si filmari proiectat pe ecranul din spatele scenei a fost exagerat de expresiv. Pacat ca inca mai e nevoie de astfel de cantece, pacat ca inca n-am invatat nimic din lunga noastra istorie, pacat ca inca mai este nevoie de oameni care sa moara pentru idealul altora. Acele cateva momente au fost epice, pacat ca cei ce conduc lumea nu sunt deloc afectati de astfel de manifestari artistice.

Concertul s-a terminat cu poate cea mai cunoscuta piesa a celor 4 americani: “Blind in Texas”, un final epic pentru un concert mult prea scurt din punctul meu de vedere. Publicul se transformase intr-o entitate comuna, versurile erau cantate la unison, a fost incredibil. De notat este totusi faptul ca, dealungul intregului concert am stat langa un tip orb, un tip ce, desi probabil ca habar nu avea cum arata Blackie, scena, probabil nici Arenele Romane dar simtea cu adevarat muzica. De fiecare data cand ma uitam la el il vedeam cantand, ii vedeam grimasele, se vedea pe fata lui ca intradevar fusese dus pe alta lume.

Vroiam mai mult, vroiam “I can’t”, vroiam “Goodbye America”, vroiam mult mai mult… dar s-a terminat, poate data viitoare. Cand, intr-un final am iesit din cort am constatat cu stupoare ca afara ploua, nu era frig, nu era vant, era efectiv o ploaie calda si frumoasa ce se revarsa asupra noastra. Mai epic de atat nu se poate.

In timp ce ma hotaraesc daca sa ajung la program la munca sau nu, m-am gandit sa va mai spun ce se mai intampla prin atat de importanta mea viata.

Diseara merg la WASP si am impresia ca se impute situatia putin, se pare ca oamenii cu care trebuia sa merg fie intarzie putin… fie nu mai ajung deloc, drept urmare s-ar putea sa merg singur. Chestie care-i de cacat. E posibil sa cunosc oameni pe acolo…dar daca vroiam sa merg cu ei, mergeam cu ei din start. Drept urmare as prefera sa merg cu voi, exista fani WASP pe aici si au chef de mine diseara ? Va anunt de acum ca din clipa in care s-a urcat Blackie pe scena nu mai vorbesc cu voi, dar e nevoie de oameni cu care sa interactionez pana incepe concertul…si in timpul concertului, pentru a-mi infrana impulsurile dubioase, as prefera sa nu mai ajung cu creaturi ciudate acasa.

Dupa concert…bem..sau…fumam…sau…facem ceva pe undeva.

In alta ordine de idei aseara a fost emis ultimul episod din the simpsons. E ceva mai bun ca Treehouse of Horror-ul de anu asta…dar parca-i lipseste zaz-ul de alta data. Oricum, uitati-va la episod, daca nu pentru laughs atunci macar pentru mesaj si morala.

Iar acum ca mi-am terminat si cafeaua ma tirez catre carciuma pentru a face pe clovnul sinucigas in aceasta minunata zi de luni.

W.A.S.P. – Babylon (2009, Demolition Records – UK Import)

1. “Crazy” … 5:10
2. “Live To Die Another Day” … 4:41
3. “Babylon’s Burning” … 5:00
4. “Burn” … 4:50
5. “Into The Fire” … 5:54
6. “Thunder Red” … 4:20
7. “Seas Of Fire” … 4:34
8. “Godless Run” … 5:43
9. “Promised Land” … 3:13

Band:
Blackie Lawless – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Doug Blair – Lead Guitar
Mike Duda – Bass, Backing Vocals
Mike Dupke – Drums

Producer: Blackie Lawless

I haven’t listened to a new W.A.S.P. album since Dying for the World. The Neon God albums didn’t sound appealing since I’m not a big fan of concept albums and despite the best of intentions, I never got around to picking up Dominator (which never had a U.S. release).

The story of 2009 seems to be the scarce availability of albums released by veteran artists… From Blackie’s own lips this album has a U.S. distribution deal, but I’ll be darned if I can find it anywhere in town! Instead, I had to settle for ordering the UK import from Amazon.

Oh well, whatever trouble I went through to get this album was well worth it. The buzz around this album seems to be it is either one of W.A.S.P.’s best or one of their lamest. Well, I haven’t heard enough W.A.S.P. to say where this ranks in their catalog, but I’m loving Babylon and it’s a highlight album for 2009, IMO.

Blackie’s voice is still great. It’s just as powerful and mean sounding as ever and the music itself has the classic W.A.S.P. sound. If I didn’t know this was 2009, I’d fully believe this album was released in the ’80s. “Crazy” is by far my favorite track and it really sounds like something you might hear from the first three albums.

My biggest complaint is the album is too short at only nine tracks, I would’ve preferred one or two more. Of those nine, two are cover songs (Deep Purple’s “Burn” and Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land”) but I don’t really have a problem with that as some others do because W.A.S.P. frequently do covers and do it well and it’s no different this time around.

Blackie shows no sign of softening or slowing down and for that I applaud him!

Highlights: “Crazy”, “Babylon’s Burning”, “Burn”, “Into the Fire”, “Godless Run”

www.waspnation.com
www.myspace.com/wasp

W.A.S.P. has brought the Chuck Berry 1964 Rock and Roll Classic Promised Land to the Heavy Metal forefront. Promised Land is from the Chuck Berry album from 1964, St. Louis To Liverpool. Appearing on their new studio album Babylon, Promised Land is the last song, closing out a tremendously catchy and hook laden, Old School Heavy Metal album. W.A.S.P.’s Heavy Metal lays down the riffs, leads and solos that resonates power and electrifies this song. The rhythm section of W.A.S.P. sets and maintains the Metal pulse of Promised Land, balancing out a groovy ride. When an early 1960’s Rock and Roll Classic like Promised Land can be covered with the passion and intensity that W.A.S.P. brings, it is the Old School Heavy Metal balance and basics that makes this song come to life. W.A.S.P. makes this song crush with heaviness without sacrificing any early 1960’s Rock guitar sound and energy.

Nothing is overdone with W.A.S.P. covering Promised Land. This is not a cover song that is a filler for this Babylon album. I always feel, that if you are going to cover a Rock and Roll Classic, there better be plenty of emotional integrity with the music and vocals combined. A cover song has to really convey the original song’s essence and fire. Blackie Lawless does live up to my expectations with covering Promised Land vocally, he really sings the lyrics as if he penned them himself. Blackie Lawless sings the lyrics of Promised Land as if he truly was the poor boy, (in this song), traveling across the country to California. To camouflage oneself within a song’s lyrics, to make the song sound so believable as Blackie Lawless does with his vocals, is worth taking a bow. In my Metal opinion, listening to Blackie Lawless sing Promised Land makes me believe that he would have owned an enormous crowd of frenzied Rock and Roll fans back in 1964. This same sentiment goes to the entire W.A.S.P. band here, based on how authentic Promised Land plays out on Babylon. W.A.S.P. would have torn the roof down, (literally), at any given theater that catered to Rock and Roll concerts – back in the early 1960’s.

Anytime a band of any Rock or Heavy Metal genre pays tribute to such an icon such as Chuck Berry, it makes for quite the Rock and Roll history lesson. Younger bands should take notice, saluting a Rock and Roll originator such as Chuck Berry, through a high quality cover song such as W.A.S.P. has done, is of the highest compliment to this Rock and Roll legend. This cover version of Promised Land had me hooked from the opening note, it is the Heavy Metal of W.A.S.P. taking over a soda hop from 1964 and bringing it into 2009.

W.A.S.P. is not the first band in Rock and Roll history to cover Promised Land. This song is too great for it not to have been previously covered. The late and unreal legendary Elvis Presley covered this song, found on his 1975 album Promised Land. Rock icon The Grateful Dead have covered this song, (it was a staple in their live sets), plus other Rock luminaries such as Meat Loaf, James Taylor and Dave Edmunds have covered Promised Land on album too.

Republic of EQUATORIAL GUINEA

stamp: 0,55 ekuele

year: ?

insect: wasp

And now to apply them to InDesign until awesome.

Republic of SINGAPORE

stamp: 15 cents

year: 1985

insect: wasp – Delta arcuata

Thank you Blackie Lawless. Thank you for not going away, taking an extended leave of absence or selling out. There are too many 1980’s Heavy Metal Bands that did just those things, now they are scrambling to make their triumphant comeback or best album ever. Some are doing just that, only Blackie Lawless does not belong to that club. The Heavy Metal membership card that Blackie Lawless holds says two words… for life. Why shouldn’t it say just that? The true fans of Heavy Metal and/or W.A.S.P. are in it for life. While the 1990’s ushered in the Grunge genre and scores of pretentious bands (being mistakenly labeled) Heavy Metal, all the while lining up at Hollywood’s red carpet gala’s for accolades, W.A.S.P. was too busy making real Heavy Metal albums of integrity. The politically correct mainstream press was not a necessity for W.A.S.P.’s survival then, it certainly is not now. There is no return of or part ll theme happening with W.A.S.P., just a band that is a Heavy Metal mainstay, due to the perseverance and creativity of Blackie Lawless. To take a quote from Blackie Lawless, (as stated in the liner notes from Babylon)… If it is not the truth, it will not stand.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be writing a series of reviews on the new W.A.S.P. studio album, Babylon. Concentrating on individual songs, musical elements and lyrics from Babylon makes for a more enlightening Metal experience for me, hopefully visitors to Metal Odyssey will agree. When an album of Heavy Metal has such a powerful impact on me, as does Babylon, a generalized review is about as fulfilling as a stale beer sitting in the hot sun. Could I have predicted Babylon would have impacted me in such a fantastic way? Of course not, yet the surprise is more expected than unexpected.

Crazy is the opening song on Babylon. The weight of the world always seems to be put on the opening track of any album. The first song sets the table for the remainder of the album, good or bad, this all important track can either be the demise or exclamation point for the songs that follow. With Crazy, this song kicks and extends it’s Heavy Metal tentacles like a giant sea squid on a caffeine rush. Crazy is the prelude to nine Heavy Metal songs of substance, this song alone foretells that W.A.S.P. connects in 2009. Blackie Lawless borrowed some of his Old School Heavy Metal and fused it with a more mature presentation, both with lyrics and tempo. Sure, Crazy is a fast moving song, only it’s the streamlined sound of it’s speed that makes it so appreciable. The consistency of Heavy Metal muscle is what I have come to expect from W.A.S.P., Crazy illuminates and flexes it from the opening note. My best Metal buddy Scott cued me into the comparison of Crazy to Wild Child, from the 1985 W.A.S.P. classic, The Last Command. (This was well before I owned a copy of Babylon, Scott was a lucky one who nailed Babylon on it’s import release date of October 13th). The opening guitar intro to both Crazy and Wild Child are very similar, still not a mirror image note for note.

The vocals of Blackie Lawless during Crazy extends maturity, not a voice that needs a stretcher… Blackie Lawless is not fooling anyone or pulling any high tech tricks. Doug Blair on lead guitar sounds like a rising star that Ozzy Osbourne would have plucked out of the bushel to call his own, decades ago. Instead, Blackie Lawless has a guitarist that doesn’t just play… emotion is emanated from the guitar of Doug Blair. Listening to the guitar solo on Crazy reminds me as to why I love Heavy Metal in the first place. Crazy is as commercially viable as any song from the storied Heavy Metal history of W.A.S.P., (only it has never been about accessibility with this band)… thank God for that. This is absolutely not an accusation that Blackie Lawless has set out to make a hit single, rather it is a Heavy Metal song that is so melodically driven that it is awe inspiring.

Lyrics, as with music itself, is art. One persons interpretation of a songs lyrics will differ far and wide against another’s. My interpretation of the lyrics for Crazy is – don’t fall in love with anyone or anything that cannot love you back. The symbolic person or thing that won’t accept love in Crazy sends a deep message of steering clear from personal hurt. Human emotion is a very volatile subject and Blackie Lawless has penned some intriguing lyrics with this song. You cannot draw love from drugs, alcohol or hate. These are things that will make anyone look crazy for loving. Inanimate objects are never going to love anyone. A tremendous Heavy Metal song is Crazy, this is the one song I have listened to the most from Babylon thus far… isn’t that crazy?

Wouldn’t you rather sneak up on him than him sneak up on you? – photo copyright MyOpus

W.A.S.P. has me burning up with an extreme Heavy Metal fever. Their new studio album, Babylon, is the total Old School Heavy Metal package. I am so excited about this new W.A.S.P. album, I need to calm down. Alright, if you have never purchased a W.A.S.P. album in your life and you are into Metal, do the right thing and buy Babylon. Veteran W.A.S.P. fans should understand why I am pumped up about Babylon… it is the quintessential Heavy Metal album for 2009. Am I saying it is the best Heavy Metal album of 2009? I am sure leaning in that direction for certain. Remember, this is Heavy Metal, no strings attached. Blackie Lawless has proven once again he is not about to back down, cow tow or change for anyone. Blackie Lawless has my total Metal support and praise for his convictions, which he so eloquently states within the liner notes of Babylon.

In a perfect Heavy Metal world, Blackie Lawless would be my choice for President and Chief Commanding Officer. For now, I can live with Blackie Lawless being the living Heavy Metal legend he is. I now hereby declare, that it is very difficult to hide my appreciation for the Heavy Metal of W.A.S.P., I am damn proud of it too. I have been listening to and enjoying the Heavy Metal of  W.A.S.P. for too many years now, to give a hoot about what anyone thinks of my admitting my adoration for Blackie Lawless and his band. Hey, it is light years better than admitting to being a follower of an uptight dude, named Keith Olberman, who whines all night on MSNBC.

Get ready – for this will be the first in a series of rave Metal reviews I will be doing regarding this W.A.S.P. Babylon album. It is that unreal great. Oh well, I have to listen to the boss at Metal Odyssey and he says I have to do it this way… that boss is me. Isolating songs from a great Heavy Metal album like Babylon and writing about them, is more of a deserving tribute to a Metal accomplishment by Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P., in my Metal opinion. The only song I will comment on, in this first edition of W.A.S.P. Babylon reviews, is the cover song Burn. This 1974 Classic Hard Rock song from the ultra incredible Deep Purple, is now also an unbelievable Heavy Metal classic, courtesy of Blackie Lawless and his band. I listened to this W.A.S.P. cover of Burn at least six times repeatedly… it blew my Metal mind. Blackie Lawless on vocals is Metal mesmerizing, I can hear the love and passion he truly has for this song… very loud and very clear. W.A.S.P. signs, seals and delivers Burn in powerful Heavy Metal style, nothing formal, no black tie required.

I will always believe, that it is extremely hard to cover a song of this magnitude, without tripping up somewhere along the way. Nothing beats a Hard Rock Classic, especially one from Deep Purple. David Coverdale will forever have the notoriety of originally vocalizing Burn with Deep Purple. David Coverdale’s  vocal signature on the original version of Burn, plus his historical importance to Heavy Metal is immeasurable, in my most honest Metal opinion. Fast forward to 2009 and Burn is resurrected from the archives of Hard Rock history, thanks to W.A.S.P.. Blackie Lawless maintains the signature keyboards of Burn, reestablishing the importance this instrument has within this song. Doug Blair on lead guitar, cements himself as an asset, to the Heavy Metal identity that is W.A.S.P., on this amazing cover song. Burn returns and rises like a flaming phoenix, with Blackie Lawless unleashing this song’s power and exposing it’s grandeur for all Heavy Metal time.

THEY’RE BAAAACK!! This week on the Mild Mannered Podcast, special guests Aaron Gold and Andrew Durso make a comeback (and then some) as the guys deliver a review of Mark Millar and Brian Hitch’s Ultimates Vol. I, and as expected, there will be plenty of jokes and tomfoolery going on! There will be praises, outbursts of insults, and much, much more this week on The Mild Mannered Podcast!

Republic of IVORY COAST

stamp: 30 francs

year: 1979

insect: wasp