THE LOST POST

The other day I posted a very long piece and as my luck would have it, I lost it to technical difficulties. This is how my life works sometimes.
Anyway, what I had written was about how that some people have been asking me how I could respect Hunter Thompson because he killed himself. Well, for one thing I don't respect the guy because he killed himself. In fact if the details that I have heard are true; and he shot himself while his son, daughter-in-law, and five year old grandchild were in the house; as well as having his wife (or ex-wife,I don't know) on the phone while he did it, well let's just say that I find that to be the behavior of a total fucking piece of shit.

My sympathy really goes out to those people who were close to the man and loved him. I am sure that they must be experiencing a flood of emotions ranging from anger, hatred, love, sorrow, etc. And possibly all of these things at the same time if that is possible. I have seen what suicide can do to families and loved ones and I can't begin to imagine what those people who loved Thompson must be feeling. I hope that I never will.

But back to the original question at hand. Do I respect Hunter S. Thompson? Yes. I'm not sure why that seems to be so hard for some of the people I have talked to in the last couple of days to conceptualize. I enjoyed the man's work. I think he was a great writer and his work had an impact on me. Him shooting himself really doesn't change anything for me. Had I personally known the man, maybe it would. No, I don't agree with everything the guy thought or stood for; but since when has that become the prerequisite for respecting, or liking someone?

I have a lot of friends that I do not agree with on everything, or maybe I don't subscribe to their certain philosophies in life, but hell, I think it be kind of a boring if all I did was hang or associate with people who thought exactly like I do, or only like the same things as me. It makes me wonder about just how narrow minded some people must be.

As an aside, if "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" doesn't describe "drug addled" then nothing does.

Rest In Piece-Hunter S. Thompson

Wow. Hunter S. Thompson kills himself Sunday night. Killed by self inflicted gunshot the story goes. Well, the guy was either gonna die from a gun, or a drug overdose, so I guess in a way this sort of fits in with the guys life. I would have to think that a lot of people out here in the blogosphere owe the man some kind of small debt. The guy pretty much created gonzo journalism and whether a lot of these people know it or not; of lot of bloggers are definitely following in the great gonzo tradition.

If you haven't read anything by the man then you definitely need to out and pick something up right now. My favorites are "Hell's Angels", "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail in '72", as well as what is truly a classic "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

I really loved this guys work and I would have to say that it did have a profound effect on my life when I was a young guy reading and absorbing his stuff. The guys wit, cynicism, and drug addled perception of life struck a chord with me and still do. It was even due to Mr. Thompson and his writings that I discovered the greatness of vodka and grapefruit juice. Something I would find it hard to get through many days without.

So many heroes of mine have been dying lately and it's really caused me to think about things. I mean Johnny, Dee Dee, and Joey Ramone are dead. Arthur "Killer" Kane dead. Now Hunter Thompson. I know that it may sound kind of trite; but these guys (and many more) had some significant impact on my life. These guys either with the music or their writings would reinforce a lot of the ways I felt about things, or how I thought about things. I never met any of the these guys but I really do miss them in ways. It seems strange to say that, but it really is true.
These guys all represent something in regards to my perspective on life, but more than that each one of them represents an era, a fragment of culture that really does seem to be disappearing from the world. Now I know that saying that makes me seem like a dinosaur and maybe I am, but I feel it's true. I'm not really trying to be depressing here, I actually don't feel depressed per say, just a little sad I guess. The times they are a changing. I guess I'll go out to the porch, sit in my rocking chair and drink a toast to the good ole' days.

Anyway, the next time you have a drink, raise a glass to one of the great gonzo's.

A RANT !!!

The other day someone showed me a video of Fred Durst playing guitar. He plays guitar like I do. Very badly. What is it with this piece of shit and his fuckhead band Limp Bizkit that some people seem to think is enjoyable? I really don't get it. The entire Nu-Metal scene is beyond me. None of the stuff I've heard appeals to me in any way. I know that I'm not in touch in regards to this stuff, but I thought this style was dead already. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part I guess, 'cause somebody's still making a fuss about this kind of music.

Well, I'm sure that douche...Er, I mean Durst, isn't gonna lose any sleep over what I think of him, but he is a complete and utter fuckhead. At best the idea of mixing rap and rock is a very, very, bad idea, at worst it's a fucking abomination. Yeah, I know it's just my opinion, but my opinion is one to be reckoned with. I've even heard that Bo Diddley has been doing some rap stuff when he performs. I've also heard that it completely sucks and is more than a little embarrassing to watch and listen too. So this stuff has even poisoned one of the coolest mortals that has ever walked the earth. This may not be Fred Durst's fault, but hey, I'm gonna go ahead heap all kinds of venom and hatred on the guy anyway. Why? Why not? He's certainly not shy about voicing his worthless opinions and here on this page, is where I get to voice mine.

So Fred, for all you do and say, and for all the bullshit music that you write and play, FUCK OFF!The only time that you should go near a stage is as a roadie, or if you're going to be crucified on one.

All my best,
SHEP

NEW VINYL !!

It's been a very long time since I've posted, but when you mix a busy schedule with a lazy dispopsition things sometimes get left behind. Besides, I'm not sure that there are a whole lot of you out there reading this. Oh well, never let it be said that I couldn't get behind a lost cause.
So anway, I guess I'll review some of the new vinyl platters that I have procured in these last couple of weeks.

DMZ-RELICS
The tunes on this record were recorded sometime in 1977. DMZ were a important band in the early pantheon of garage revivalists and they soon evolved into the LYRES. The riffs are good as of course, they should be or else, why bother in the first place. The style definatly does harken back to the screaming sixtees kind of punk as well as mixing in some nice Ramones feel to the stuff. They also do some nice 60's covers including the classic 13th Floor Elevators tune "Your Gonna Miss Me".

SCUM OF THE EARTH part 2
This is a collection of various sixtees bands that in some way or another try to live up to the title.
Lots of cool stuff on here. The Bugs doing a song called slide which is a good garage punk stomper. Steve Purdy and the Studs doing "The Weed". No it's not about that weed but rather it's a kind of white trash anthem to tobacco. The Soul Men do "Road House" A great instrumental stomper and Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads appear doing "Goo Goo Muck" A cool strange kind of thing that was later to be covered by the Cramps. The platter is capped off by Bob Vidone and the Rockers playing "Weird". Lots of greasy saxophone and a thumping guitar riff. This thing is good for the soul I'm tellin' ya.

Lightning Beat Man 7 "
Three songs on this 45. "I'm gonna kill ya tonight" has a great killer fuzz riff. "I Love You" is not a ballad by any stretch yet it is kind of warm in a desperate psychotic kind of way. "I think You Lie" is possibly the most raw, sloppiest riff that I have ever heard. I mean this in a good way folks. This thing is primitive. It's caveman clatter that satisfies in a way that the squares and normals will never understand.

Well there's just a few of the high culture treasures that I have come across lately. If your out there people, let me hear from ya.