Last night I took part in another episode of the KISSFAQ Podcast. This time around we talked about it being the 40th anniversary of Eric Carr debuting as KISS’ new drummer. We also discussed Ace Frehley’s new single, “Space Truckin’,” from his forthcoming album: Origins, Vol. 2. Check out the episode below, and enjoy!
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Des Barres three times. He’s also the first celebrity I interacted with through my blog, way back in 2012. Since then, I’ve seen him perform live in New York City and continue to enjoy his countless artistic endeavors, which are always inspired. Michael has a new documentary, and it’s a rip-roaring success! Make sure to watch it, and check out the following interview I conducted with him, where we cover a wide range of topics.
The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily my favorite. I’ve watched it several times and it still makes me cry. That’s how powerful it is — I know what’s coming, yet the tears always flow. This riveting cinematic experience chronicles professional wrestling legend and founder of DDP Yoga Diamond Dallas Page helping his mentor, friend, and fellow wrestling luminary, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, topple addiction over the course of 18 months. It’s a perilous journey with disheartening lows and unimaginable highs. What I love most about The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is how it perfectly captures the triumph of the human spirit. Not only does DDP inspire Jake to turn his life around, he also gets Scott Hall — another one of pro wrestling’s ticking time bombs — to move in with them at the Accountability Crib so he can also transform his life for the better. Keep in mind that these are the two pro wrestlers that people thought were going to wind up dead at any given moment. Both of these men are friends who helped Dallas get his big break, and he never forgot what they did for him. Rather than have their lives cut short by self-destructive behavior, DDP stuck out a hand and helped Jake and Scott rise above the maelstrom of sadness and pain their lives had become so they could achieve their full potential and find true happiness.
Doug Bradley’s Spinechillers series is unique in that it provides a modern take on classic horror literature, read by one of the genre’s most iconic figures. The first volume was excellent, and Doug Bradley’s Spinechillers Volume 2 provides listeners with another healthy dose of horror fun.
Brett Weiss has written countless books about retro video games, including the SNES Omnibus Volume 1 & Volume 2, as well as The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987. His upcoming NES Omnibus: Volume 1 was a runaway success on Kickstarter, and I look forward to checking out the final version in the months to come. Brett’s Classic Home Video Games trilogy of books is one of his most popular. Covering 1972 to 1990, these books take a look at some of the most influential systems and games that defined numerous generations.
In the past I’ve reviewed a couple cookbooks. The first being The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Cookbook and the second being The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook. And, right now, I’m going to review WWE: The Official Cookbook! All three of these cookbooks are based on pop culture phenomenons I love. One is based in the video game space (i.e., The Elder Scrolls), another in cartoons, movies, and more (i.e., The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and the most current one — WWE — lives in all of those mediums and beyond. While WWE may have started out as solely a wrestling company, it has quickly transcended beyond the squared circle. WWE: The Official Cookbook takes The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and countless other legends and modern-day superstars and includes a bevy or recipes inspired by their larger-than-life personas.
Did you know that Ian Fleming’s James Bond was inspired by a real-life James Bond who was an ornithologist from Philadelphia? As a fellow Philadelphian and a massive Bond fan, I found this to be incredibly interesting. Well, apparently I’m not the only one because there’s an entire book dedicated to this topic. The Real James Bond: A True Story of Identity Theft, Avian Intrigue, and Ian Fleming by Jim Wright is a fascinating and informative book all about the man behind the pop culture icon.
Michael Des Barres has carved a path through show business and life like no other. He has played rock stars and been a rock star. He’s been a fictional DJ, and a real DJ with millions of listeners on Sirius XM. A singer with record deals over the course of five decades and an actor in over a hundred TV and movie appearances, chances are you know him and don’t know it. Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me To Be? allows Michael, the son of a junkie aristocrat and a schizophrenic showgirl, to tell viewers his story from its very high highs to its very low lows (and some very high lows too). A host of eyewitnesses including Gabriel Byrne, Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols), Don Johnson, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Allison Anders, Ed Begley Jr., Pamela Des Barres, and Steven Van Zandt all join in to corroborate Michael’s wild tale. This documentary is an excellent encapsulation of a life well lived, and I highly recommend that everyone see it.
I’m a massive fan of horror. Books, movies, TV shows — you name it. One series that has made an indelible mark on me is Hellraiser. Clive Barker is an artistic genius whose talent has transcended a myriad of mediums, including literature and film. His horror novella The Hellbound Heart was adapted for cinema in 1987. This film, Hellraiser, is a classic that is comprised of numerous spellbinding performances. However, the one that people remember most of all is that of Doug Bradley as the lead cenobite whom society named Pinhead. Bradley’s background in stage acting and his deep knowledge of literature — not to mention the man’s unmistakably wonderful voice — makes his Spinechillers series from Renegade Arts Entertainment a joyful listening experience.
For 20 years — from 1964 through 1984 — the Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald were a mainstay in the mystery genre. With each of the 21 titles including a color in their name, this was one of the first examples of books in a series having a theme. Living on a houseboat called The Busted Flush, which he won in a card game, the protagonist, McGee — who is neither a cop nor an investigator — is a “salvage consultant” for hire, regularly finding himself in a variety of mysterious predicaments. The first novel in the series, which had a major influence on Lee Child — the author of the best-selling Jack Reacher series — explains how McGee only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: he’ll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.
