The Real Memphis Mike (don't settle for imitations)

The headline read "Russell Brand May Have Started A Revolution". Hogmuffins. The piece regarded Brand being interviewed by BBC's Jeremy Paxman (known for his "forthright and abrasive interviewing style") about being the guest editor for The New Statesman's recent revolution-themed issue. Paxman asked, and rightly so, what qualifies Brand for this. The interview just goes awry from there. It ends with Brand being dramatically passionate about the state of the world. OK...so he's lucid enough to understand, like most of the rest of the world, that things need to change. He's vocal about what ...but not about how . He rants about social injustice, wealth disparity, etc...but makes no statements regarding how to go about solving the problems. A friend sent me the article this morning and this was my reply (for the most part): "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." ...

Q: How do you ask a musician/entertainer/artist to do shit for FREE for your favorite charity, fundraising entity, non-profit organization? A: You don't. Asking us to do for you, what many of us do for a living, for FREE, is an insult to us. Many will appear to take the high road** on this...I, however, will not. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for benefits and charities. Over the years, I've given my money, time, and talents to many. I did so because I chose to...not because I was asked to. I do so because the charities that I contribute my time/money/talent to mean something to me...just like your favorite charitable organization means to you. It doesn't make one better than another. In fact, many are really pretty crooked...but that's a story for another time. So, a guy calls me today, under the pretense of buying some gear that I have for sale. I can tell he's trying to make small talk...to get on my good side. If you've ever engaged in a busines...

   THIS IS STAR TREK , DAMMIT!!!!!!!!  (l-r Scotty, Chekov, Bones, Nurse Whats-her-face-that-no-one-really-cared-about, THE KIRK, Uhura, Spock, and Mr. "Oh My" his own bad self, Sulu. THIS is Star Trek!) I've actually had this same discussion a few times in the past week. THIS is Star Trek. The REAL Star Trek, if you will. "Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." That was Captain James Tiberius Kirk's monologue at the beginning of every episode, bar two. Jim Kirk is in command of the Enterprise. Learn that. Live it. Love it. When someone asks me if I like Star Trek (which I do), THIS is what I think of. I am usually horrified when asked the follow up question: "Which one?" By this, I can only hope that they mean to inquire as to which episode I liked the ...

We played a wedding last night. I have, for years, avoided doing so for many reasons. I'm not a wedding singer. I am rarely able to pull off doing 'pretty songs'. If you've ever heard my voice, you know why. No, I prefer loud, rollicking, screaming-shouting-stomping old blues, rockabilly, rock and roll, country, etc. Not your ideal wedding band. I am often asked to play weddings. I don't get it? I'm usually asked by someone, at one of our shows, if we can play their wedding. I am normally able to dissuade the question by quoting them a ridiculous price. When price isn't an object, I remind them, repeatedly, that the show they just saw (loud, drunk, and often obnoxious) is what they'll be getting for their wedding. I ask how their grandma or great aunt Gladys will feel about songs referencing 'drinking until one pukes'.  I then tell them, "NO REQUESTS". I don't care if Lionel Richie's "Hello" has special meaning for...

The other day, a neighbor of mine decided to fly the flag upside down, feeling that the country is in distress. I won't lie; this pissed me off. Big time. Sure, our country is in a mess right now...but it's mostly a mess that we brought upon ourselves. Are we in distress? Hell no. Most of our problems are easily fixed if We The People WANT to fix them...but we don't...otherwise we would. Before I go any further, allow me to attempt to demonstrate what the flag means to me. I've spend some fair chunks of time overseas. When I return home, I, admittedly, get a lump in my throat when I see our flag. That's right; OUR flag. It is a symbolic representation of our country, it's people, and it's history. When I was a kid, I was in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts. At that point in time, I'd have recommended the experience for every boy. It was a positive experience for me. Aside from studying history in school and at home, I learned more in the sco...

We're all special. Mr. Rogers said so . But, in as much as we're all special, doesn't that diminish the specialness of being special? Most of us are bullies and probably don't even realize it. Worse, most of us will probably argue that we're not because we are so certain that our beliefs are important and true. Sure, you're passionate about your beliefs...but at what point does that passion become aggression? Say, for example, you're a vegan. You hate going to your local grocery store because they sell meat and meat byproducts. You've explained to your friends and loved ones (and many strangers too) how bad meat is for you, how cruel the slaughter of animals is, and blah blah blah. You really must be tired and exhausted from all of that preaching. You've exchanged some words with the lady, making just slightly more than minimum wage, who works at the meat counter. She's probably had a rough day, you know, killing all of those cute cows and ...

I read a great quote this evening and I'd like to share it with everyone. Hopefully you'll all take the time to remember it and pass it on, especially to the younger generations. It goes like this: "There's always someone willing to die and take you with them." I've buried a lot of friends over the years. Some died from diseases like cancer. Some died from AIDS. Some OD'ed. Some were murdered. The one thing that they all had in common was that they trusted someone...perhaps more than that person had earned. While not so much an issue to someone with an illness like cancer, it's definitely a concern regarding HIV/AIDS.  Two people meet, they feel that intense attraction, and common sense flies out the window. Use some protection! Unless you and your partner are tested prior to each sex act, you really don't know what, if any, diseases that person may or may not have. It's sexual Russian Roulette, and just not worth it. I know a lot of pe...