8.17.2010

FOR ELVIS.....


What do you say about Elvis? He was my father figure for my whole life. I guess it was because my father looked so much like him. My father had a southern drawl and played boogie woogie on the piano. He was 6'4 and had that dark wavy hair. His hair was naturally dark though Elvis dyed his dark.   


 In the late 80's I produced a traveling convention show around the US and worked in Memphis right before Christmas every year. I dragged my young staff to visit Graceland every year. They groused about going because they were young and he wasn't "cool" to them then. But now years later when I see one of my old staff kids they always bring up how lucky they were to see Elvis's home and the surrounding landmarks like Sun Records I made them go there too! Little bitty place.
 

Here is a picture of Elvis's jumpsuits. As you can see they used to just hang there and were out in the open. You could touch them if you really wanted to. Now I hear they are behind glass and displayed better. The air would destroy them and they need to be protected.
 

This is just like the cool watch I got at the souvenir shop across the street along with my "Teddy" Bear sweat shirt and Elvis ash trays!
 

One of my favorite stories I tell about going to Graceland is about Ruby the tour tram driver. I stayed on the tram one time as I had seen the tour so many times. As I was chatting with the driver, Ruby. She asked me what Graceland really looked like inside. She had been driving this tour bus for 15 years and never once went inside... ah people! One time I was with the show in Chicago and had a security manager there who used to do security for Elvis. 

He had the cool gold TCB (taking care of business) necklace that Elvis gave to people he liked. I go to put it on and wear it for a day. sigh....
My favorite room at Graceland was the living room. I really liked the custom built white couch. It was like 15 feet long and extra deep. At 5'8 your feet would stick straight out if you sat with your back against the pillows. 
 

My second favorite room is the gold records giant hallway. Man he had a ton of gold and platinum records! Take a virtual tour of Graceland!
 
Hall of gold and platinum records
My personal favorites:

8.16.2010

MEET MICHAEL ERLEWINE AT THE ANN ARBOR LIBRARY



Michael Erlewine, the award-winning archivist of popular culture, who founded and built the largest music review database in the world, All-Music Guide, has written a fascinating new book that chronicles the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival.

The first Ann Arbor Blues Festivals, in 1969 and 1970, brought together the greatest selection of blues performers and helped bring modern blues music to a wider audience.

Never before had such a far-reaching list of performers been assembled. These ground breaking festivals were the seed that grew into the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, which was continued annually for many years.

Michael's New Book is "Blues in Black & White: The Landmark Ann Arbor Blues Festivals"


get your copy above


Many of my readers will already know that Michael was a founding member of the famed band The Prime Movers


Oh and young Iggy was their drummer.... :)

So come to the main Ann Arbor Library 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 this Thursday 7-9 pm in the main room! We'll be there!

8.15.2010

THE SEATBELTS ROCKED THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT!


 
Greg Upshur unbelievable lead singer of the Seatbelts!

Well folks what night it was! It was crowded and all three bands were fantastic. I went at the invitation of Skid Marx and Greg Upshur. Didn't now what to expect. I have heard great things about Cinecyde and Choking Susan so I was looking forward to seeing them... they did not disappoint.

I have to say that I had a horrible time filming as my camera kept going off focus and the stage lighting was all on the left side of the stage. Luckily I got some really great still shots for the night. Thankfully Greg's son Alex just sent me a great video! If he sends more I'll post them!

THANK YOU ALEX BEAUTIFUL JOB


Alex Upshur Photography and Video

 Bad ass Bass Man Skid Marx my dear friend
Skid was having SUCH a great time and night! I have seen him play many times and have never seen him play better or look so full of joy. I was so happy for him as The Seat Belts were "the Kings!" Quote from the MADHATTER himself.



8.12.2010

RETRO:KIMMER LOVES THE GODFATHER!


My prized autographed Al Pacino Godfather Photo

Everyone that knows me is highly aware of my ever growing mobster fascination. It all started with Mario Puzo's unbelievable book The Godfather which came out in 1969...


James Caan was gorgeous!

Mario Puzo was born October 15, 1920, in "Hell's Kitchen" on Manhattan's (NY) West Side and, following military service in World War II, attended New York's New School for Social Research and Columbia University. His best-known novel, The Godfather, was preceded by two critically acclaimed novels, The Dark Arena and The Fortunate Pilgrim. 
 

 OMG young Robert Deniro!

In 1978, he published Fools Die, followed by The Sicilian (1984) and The Fourth K (1991). Mario Puzo has also written several screenplays, including Earthquake, Superman, and all three Godfather movies, for which he received two Academy Awards®. Mario passed away July 2, 1999, at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island. His novel Omerta was released a year later. He is survived by his companion of 20 years, Carol Gino, and five children. Mario's website is HERE



This book set the world on fire! Everyone speculated of who the real mobsters might be or if the character of Johnny Fontane was really Frank Sinatra. Denied by all but yet very similar...

Though I adore both Godfather I and II films the book is must read because there is so much more character depth and storyline. I read that book in like 7th grade with a flashlight in my bed as I couldn't stop reading!

Then in 1972 came the first Godfather Film which I stupidly saw at a drive in with a blind date that kept trying to chat while I wanted to WATCH the movie!! So the next day I went to a real theater with a girlfriend and watched it again without being bothered.

My true crush in the beginning of the film was James Caan's portrayal of Sonny Corleone. My what hunky guy... Especially loved it when they had him in a tank shirt with suspenders. James Caan had the most fantastic shoulders!


Sonny talking to Michael after the cop beat him

The Godfather really had very little cursing in it, at least in English :) But from the very first scene until the end I was completely addicted to this movie and book too. But man did I hate Diane Keaton in the role of Kay Adams! YUCK all she did was whine and all along she knew his family history and yet pretended to be so above it. Nothing against Diane just hated that character. See full cast and crew HERE
At the end of the film I switched crushes to Al Pacino. I sent away for a photo and they sent me one! FREE Knew I liked AL and his staff!

Here is a treat some of the scenes that were deleted...

Robert Deniro in GF 2
The film starts with Deniro as young Vito Corleone escaping Sicily and growing up in New York to be the Don. The film then jumps to Michael Corleone in Vegas which I found totally distracting. Though I loved the film, I heard the director Francis Ford Coppola needed money for Apocalypse Now so he release a set of both Godfather movies in time sequence. Great idea! So I tracked down The Godfather the Complete Epic 1902-1959 vhs set on Ebay which cost me $60! I still have it and still watch it religiously. It has all the deleted scenes in it and flows better in my humble fan's opinion. I love it and would grab it if I had to flee my home! Now you can get one from my Amazon Store cheaper!

THE HISTORY OF THE MUSIC VIDEO FROM THE 1960'S UNTIL 2010

History of Music Videos
Find more Music Videos


TINO GROSS: NEW VIDEO WITH BARRETT STRONG AND ELIZA NEALS


8.11.2010

THE RUINERS NEW CD LAUNCH!!!!!!




Please visit: myspace.com/theruiners

From Detroit USA, The Ruiners are a wild and fantastic beast; pure white lightning & sexy self-destruction. Having endured club bannings, beatings, court enforced restraining orders, jail terms, cat fights, pregnancies, bankruptcies, heart attacks, overdoses, emergency room visits and death threats over the last 10 years, the band is now fresher, sexier & more self-confident then ever with their brand new album Happy Birthday Bitch . This 10 song blast of Detroit sleaze is destined to be thee greatest party record of all time, with a lot of fuzzed out sounds, primitive drums, mucho sex appeal & greasy bar room grit...and that my friends is what The Ruiners do best.


Since I am far from being a music reviewer, let start by saying that the Ruiners are THE MOST FUN band to see live ever! I have had so much fun filming them and knowing them as friends that I want everyone to get their new record "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH" which is one my snarky favorite songs...

Band Members are: Nina Friday, Rob Ruiner, Liz Ruiner, Rick Ruiner, Justin Ruiner

On their new CD I love SUGAR BUZZ... it's dance, it's punk, it's just pure fun. This band loves performing and the audience joins in their fun with great freaky glee.

Here is the CD song list:

1. Sugar Buzz
2. Love/Hate (Eat Me Alive)
3. Fix That Broken Halo
4. Charlie Laine Ate My Brain
5. Happy Birthday Bitch!
6. Suburban Cop
7. Messin' Around
8. Beer Time
9. Screw You
10. Panther Tears




One of my prized possessions is their autographed playlist from the first Ruiners show I filmed. After filming and photographing the band I realized that they were just so much more in person than conveyed on film. Their CD really captures their sound perfectly.

THE RUINERS......


video Jonas Sluizas for Retrokimmer


BUY THR RUINERS HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH CD FROM MY AMAZON STORE!

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