R.I.P Dickie Peterson.

Man, what a bummer year. First Ron Asheton, then Lux from the Cramps and now Dickie Peterson from Blue Cheer.

I love Blue Cheer. Dickie's vocals were incredible. I'm so glad I got to meet him and see BC a few times. He was a super nice dude.

Dickie Peterson and I at the Magic Stick.

Here is their classic version of Summertime Blues. I remember seeing this as a young kid of 13, it made me want to Rock!

Rationals @ The Blind Pig, Oct. 24th!

This show is going to rule! Jeremy Wheeler out did his self on this poster.

Rational weekend for a Bang!

Howdy folks,

Here is what I've got going down.

I'll be playing guitar for the Rationals CD release party on Friday night over at the Magic Bag in
Ferndale. The show is in celebration of the release of the Ace records CD comp "Think Rational". I'll be playing along side Matthew Smith on guitar, Jim Diamond on Bass, and David Shettler on Drums and of course Scott Morgan on lead vocals. Should be a stellar night. The Howling Diablos & The Space Heaters will be opening the show. Tickets are $12.00 adv. The doors open at 8pm.

On Saturday night I'll be here...

This Saturday, Robo Bang + Punk Rock Prom 2009

This Saturday you'll have at least two options for maximum party time in our little town of Ann Arbor, and if you're really up on your game then you'll take advantage of both.

First off, if you like Robots, dancing your ass off to interplanetary boogie and donating money to a good cause at the same time, then you'll want to head over to the Blind Pig for the Robo-Bang! There is sure to be some sexy cyborgs and gorgeous droids shaking their metallic bodies to outrageous jams provided by the Bang DJ's all for your audio visual enjoyment. Proceeds from the event will be donated in support of 826Michigan.

If that doesn't exactly fit your idea of a good time, and you would rather get your ears shattered by thunderous high energy Rock 'N' Roll, then just skip a few blocks over to Main St. and the Club Above the Heidelberg, where you'll find the 2009 Punk Rock Prom in full swing after 9pm. The theme for this year is "This Tragic Moment". Make sure to dress to impress! Music and entertainment will be provided by the bands: MAZINGA, Versificators, Bantha Fodder and Cock Snot (From Grand Rapids), as well as DJ's Jef Porkins and Nate Pancakes spinning punk vinyl all night. Who will be king and queen of the prom? You and your mom?

Come and find out.

I challenge you all to attend both events, since they take place within blocks of each other. I'll be at both. See you there. What the hell else are you going to do on a Saturday night around here?

Motor City Comic con recap.

I had a blast at the comic con this year.
The convention was packed on Saturday afternoon. Great deals abounded. I found an excellent fifty cent comic booth and spent over an hour scouring through it. I ended up with a nice stack of Savage Sword of Conan, various DC WWII comics, and some assorted Marvel titles which totaled $14. I got in for free thanks to the Bang, or I wouldn't been able to spend any money. I think the $20 admission price plus $5 dollar parking is way to steep for most people, Regardless the place was still crowded and people were still spending money like crazy.
The party on Saturday night was totally nuts, including a free admission price and such highlights as 800 Jelly-o shots, a half naked ape man, and hundreds of costumed fans partying with the stars from the con.
Here are some fun pics courtesy of J'dub's I-phone taken during the convention and the after party.
Can't wait for next year!

MOTOR CITY COMIC CON! THIS WEEKEND!

This weekend is a special time for me and my fellow geeks. The time for the Motor City Comic Con is upon us.

Starting today, rabid packs of Trekkie's, nerds, and pop culture geeks from all over the midwest will descend in troves on the Rock Financial Show Place in Novi, in search of rare comic book/pop culture memorabilia, and also to have the chance to meet stars from such films as Star Wars, and TV shows like Dukes of Hazard and Battlestar Galactica.
This year is extra special because Team Bang along with the 501st Storm trooper legion will be hosting the official after party! Here is the low down.

Mix Tape Dance Party With Superhero/Comic Flair!
In honor of Motor City Comic Cons 20th Anniversary the 501st Legion are teaming up with the areas most unique mix tape masters of "The Bang!" to bring the biggest pop culture fans an after party they won't soon forget!

When: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 9:00pm - 1:00am

Where: Novi Doubletree Hotel Ballroom, 42100 Crescent Bvld (only a 4 min drive from the Rock Financial Showplace)

Theme: Superhero/Comic Mix Tape Dance Party! Costumes are preferred but not required.So slip on your superhero dancing shoes, leave your inhibitions at the door and come cut loose with fellow pop-culturists for a great night of music, dancing and socializing!
It's going to be off the chain!


HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

MAY DAYS This weekend!

Hey there. I've been way to busy lately to post much here, but I had to take a sec and post about a huge event taking place this weekend.

MAY DAYS at the Bohouse.
JOHN SINCLAIR AND THE PINKEYE ORCHESTRA HOST WEEKEND CELEBRATING DETROIT CULTURE; IT'S ART, JAZZ, POETRY AND ROCK 'N' ROLL

2 NIGHTS: FRIDAY MAY 1st 2009- -SATURDAY MAY 2nd 2009

THE BOHOUSE (historically the Bohemian National Home)
3009 TILLMAN
DETROIT, MI 48216

DOORS: 6PM
SHOW: 7pm
COVER: $5 (each night at the door)
ALL AGES

BACK STORY:
"This chance meeting with Jeff Howitt had turned into a thing of great beauty-a tremendous artistic experience deeply rooted in my own personal geography and brought to bloom through the robust energy and intelligence of these young musicians out of the old bohemian tradition." wrote John Sinclair for the liner notes of TEARING DOWN THE SHRINE OF TRUTH AND BEAUTY; his collaboration with PINKEYE last summer.
The sessions were released through LOCO GNOSIS on Sinclair's 67th Birthday Party held at THE BOHOUSE where he was named Poet-In-Residence and given a key so he has an actual room of his own to live in when he is in the United States.
"Fast forward 40 years and here I am again, in the same neighborhood with exactly the same sort of people I'd grown up with at the(Detroit Artist's)Workshop and doing the exact same thing!"
With that sentiment Sinclair asked Howitt to help him design an event for "May 1st and/or 2nd". Howitt(whose inaugural event for LOCO GNOSIS at the Masonic Temple in 2006 featured 12 bands on 2 stages volleying sets for 8 hours of unbroken music)immediately knew it had to run 2 days. Howitt recruited band mates Jason Worden and Frank Stephens and MAY DAYS started to take shape. They invited the Detroit Artists Workshop and Detroit Life to help keep one eye on lineage, another on friendship and the third on the spirit of this city and how it reflects in it's people and culture.

JAZZ & POETRY UPSTAIRS IN THE BALLROOM-curated by James Semark & the DETROIT ARTIST'S WORKSHOPhttp://www.detroitartistsworkshop.com/-sponsored by DETROIT LIFEwww.myspace.com/holicepwoods

-FRIDAY'S PROGRAM FEATURES:

GALLERY:
7:00 AHH CHARLIE
8:15 RED CHINA
9:30 SLOW GIANT

LIBRARY:
7:20 OUTDATED FATE
7:55 HELLBLOWER
8:30 BLACK LODGE
9:05 THE SUMMER PLEDGE
9:40 HOT DAMN!
10:15 BARS OF GOLD
10:50 JEHOVAH'S WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM
11:25 WOODMAN
12:00 MARCO POLIO & THE NEW VACCINES/PINKEYE
1:ish CARJACK/THE OSCILLATING FAN CLUB

BALLROOM:
7:00 RON ENGLISH ENSEMBLE
8:00 McCUNE - SEMARK - WILLEM COLLABORATION
9:00 WARDELL MONTGOMERY
9:15 DONNA VINSTRA
9:30 ANDY VINSTRA
9:45 JOHN CAGE'S SCULPTURES
10:00 RON ENGLISH & JOHN SINCLAIR
10:30 MIKE WHITTEY & drummer
11:00 JOHN CAGE'S CRUMBLED PAPER
11:15 BILL HARRIS, DOCTOR DETROIT and others

-SATURDAY'S PROGRAM FEATURES:

GALLERY:
7:00 DANDYLYON WHINE
8:15 INDIAN GUIDES/JURA
9:30 ROOT BEAR

LIBRARY:
7:30 MOTHER WHALE
8:05 OATMEAL
8:40 AL SCHEURMAN
9:15 THE MANTONS
9:50 GARDENS
10:25 OBLISK
11:00 BLUE SONG
11:35 DUENDE!
12:10 PIGEON
12:45 FRIENDLY FOES

BALLROOM
9:00 DUTCH PINK
10:00 RED CHINA
11:00 MADAME XD
12:00 MAZINGA
1:ish JOHN SINCLAIR & PINKEYE ORCHESTRA