ALICE IN DALLAS (Oh god, I said it)

Today is a special anniversary. 35 years ago, on April 28, 1973, I saw the original Alice Cooper band at Memorial Auditorium in Dallas while they were on the Billion Dollar Babies tour. The show was unbelievable, by yesterday’s standards or today’s…and I met part of the band after their sound check. I met the drummer, Neal Smith, who took me under his wing and walked me backstage to meet Alice. On the elevator, we were briefly joined by bassist Dennis Dunnaway. After that, I was kicked out of the backstage area before I could meet Alice, by his longtime manager Shep Gordon. Neal was very apologetic about the outcome – a total sweetheart. I finally met Alice in 1990 at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas. We had a great visit on his tour bus, and as I stepped off of it, who walked up but Shep Gordon. I just looked at him and said, “Too late.”

EMOTIONAL ELEVATOR

Today has been very up and down for me. Not quite an emotional rollercoaster, more like an emotional elevator. I found out this afternoon that I am officially hired as a paid crew member for the set production department for a movie being filmed in Dallas. I will start work on May 19, Pete Townshend’s burfday. I cannot reveal the plot of this film, but will say John Waters should’ve made it right after Female Trouble. That was the good news. The sad news came in the early evening when I found out that my childhood hero, Mr. Peppermint, had a pacemaker installed this week in Dallas, and has also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This is a major bummer. I watched his show every single morning before school for about a decade, and rediscovered him after I graduated highschool. He had his own show on Dallas airwaves for over 20 years, maybe 30. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago at Club Dada. This hit me harder than expected, and I have been crying peppermint tears.

FUN WITH THE STONESIES

Went to see the new Stones flick at IMAX today with me girl Barley. She asked the cashier if we could have a senior discount and HE GAVE US ONE. It was funny because we are in our 40’s, but to a young person look very very old. But compared to the Stones, we look very very young. They get a senior discount without even asking. Movie rocks.

RALPH STANLEY VS. NEW YORK DOLLS

Last night, Mon. April 20, I saw one of the best double bills in the history of Dallas. Two different gigs but both at the Granada Theater. First, an afternoon show by bluegrass daddy Ralph Stanley, and then an evening show by lipstick bastards New York Dolls. It was every bit as surreal and wonderful as I thought it would be. You can read my full review on my music site, http://namedroppermedia.com. See you there!

FOREVER GONE

On Thursday April 10th, I resigned my position as manager of the LP Department at Forever Young Records, in the interest of seeking more creative work.