The day Pee Wee Herman landed me in the hospital
Another celeb encounter gone very, very wrong...
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/22/46081/ It was around 1999 when I first heard through mutual acquaintances that Paul Reubens, AKA Pee Wee Herman, liked the (utterly unauthorized, but not negative) comic book bio that I wrote about him back in '92. As in many …
How I pissed off Gene Roddenberry AND Ed Wood's Vampira....
Two memorably wonky celebrity encounters that didn't go as planned
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/21/45954/ Here I am with "Vampira" (real name Maila Nurmi), probably best known for appearing in Ed Wood Jr.'s Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Conrad Brooks, who played the dumb cop in the same movie. Heather and I saw …
Skelpin fiddler Patric Petrie dropping Pocket Venus May 31
New CD with Matt Hensley (Flogging Molly) debuting at the Mingei Museum
Patric Petrie's release party for Pocket Venus happens May 31 at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. “Pocket Venus refers to a woman who is petite in height, yet voluptuous and curvy at the same time,” says the Skelpin fiddler. …
McCartney concert screenings in Poway, Temecula, Mission Valley, more
Plus "Beatles Do Diego," chronicling the Fab 4's local adventures, together and separately
Someone stole my Wings Over America (1976) triple-album way back when triple-albums were still a "thing," and it's been a looooong time since I've been able to play my Paul McCartney and Wings laserdisc edition of Rockshow, the rarely seen …
"Encinitas Moms (So Hot)" - locals salute moms in songs
Mom-centric music by locals Wag Halen, Fake Booby Judy, Nicky B. Le Grand, more
San Diego's own Wag Halen sent over this salute to "Encinitas Moms (So Hot)," with a music video now viewed over 103,000 times on YouTube. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/12/45379/ “Encinitas moms are the hottest moms in the world,” said Wayno Wag Halen. “We …
As I Lay Dying singer arrested for alleged murder plot
Police allege Tim Lambesis tried to hire someone to kill his wife
As I Lay Dying singer Tim Lambesis was arrested on Tuesday, May 7, for allegedly trying to hire an undercover police officer to murder his estranged wife. The band was scheduled to tour with Killswitch Engage, Miss May I, and …
NWEAMO 2013 — Emotional Circuits, Electric Animals in Hillcrest 4-26 & 27
Affective Neuroscience symposium with live experimental musical performances
According to Affective Neuroscience architect Jaak Panksepp, we are all the same...under the hood, mammals and birds all share the same neurobiology for emotions. "New inventions such as fMRI and MEG are showing our brain circuits with a degree of …
Local publisher creating Kiss rock comics for kids
Kiss Kids by locals Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz to debut in Autumn
Kiss Kids, an upcoming comic book series from local publisher IDW, will be co-created by previous Kiss series writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz with art by Jose Holder (Mars Attacks, the Real Ghostbusters). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/21/44127/ "Kiss is used to rocking …
The Wrong Trousers righteous reunion coming to Normal Heights July 5
Lestat's to host charismatic trio's first performance since 2010
"Yes, it's true, the time has come," says Kelsea Rae Little, whose teen trio the Wrong Trousers will play a reunion show at Lestat's in Normal Heights on July 5. "Your favorite nerdy 3 piece San Diego band is getting …
RIP Paul Williams, North County rock journalist
Crawdaddy Magazine founder and Dylan biographer passes away
North County writer Paul Williams has passed away after a long illness, at the age of 64. The founder of Crawdaddy Magazine (the first national U.S. magazine of rock music journalism) also wrote several noted biographies, including what many consider …
Prince is coming to downtown's Hard Rock Hotel?!
$250 "standing room only" tix for shows on May 3 and 4
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/22/42432/ Twice now, I've had tix for Prince concerts that ended up being cancelled. The last time, I actually camped out in front of Cox Arena to score "purple section" seats up front, only to have the little stinker cancel …
Danielle LoPresti battling stage III non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer.
Her band is "taking a break indefinitely until Danielle is restored back to full health"
"Life wildly turns, and sometimes it wraps around our hunger, to teach from the burn..." - "Run With It," Danielle LoPresti http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/21/42385/ "Two months ago, Danielle was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer," according to a statement circulated today …
What do you get when you cross Megadeth with the San Diego Symphony?
I don't know either, but we'll find out on April 12, 2014, at downtown's Copley Symphony Hall
Symphony Interrupted at Copley Symphony Hall will feature San Marcos-based Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine doing an as-yet-unspecified collaboration with the San Diego Symphony on April 12, 2014, in a program set to include Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” Vivaldi’s “Winter,” …
Con-Dor science fiction/fantasy convention photo report
San Diego's OTHER comical con happening on Hotel Circle North
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/09/41483/ The annual ConDor science fiction/fantasy convention is happening this weekend at the Town and Country Resort on Hotel Circle North, which last October also hosted the inaugural edition of San Diego Comic Fest. This year's ConDor features authors, agents, …
A Scribe Amidst the Lions calling it quits
Band breakup just weeks after releasing finale of 3-album trilogy
"After many years of creating some of the best music and memories of our lives, A Scribe Amidst the Lions is saying goodbye," according to an email blast from A Scribe Amidst the Lions. "We want to thank all of …
Rock Out Karaoke ending 4-year residency in Pacific Beach
No more live band karaoke at 710 Beach Club "as the club works on going a new direction"
"This Thursday [March 7], we’ll be celebrating our four-year stay at the 710 Beach Club with a big ol’ freakin’ party," says guitarist John Ruzicka of live sing-a-long band Rock Out Karaoke. "It’s also with mixed emotions that we announce …
Gunther's Grass serving up vintage stash on new full-length
Never in the Future that Dawned Earlier On showcases medieval European hurdy-gurdy and the Lao/Northeast Thai mouth organ khaen
Never in the Future that Dawned Earlier On, a new collection of songs from experimental, minimalist art rockers Gunther's Grass, has just been released on Marcelo Radulovich's local Titicacaman label. "The stuff was recorded in 2005 and 2006 at my …
Beggars choose to start a busy year with 2-CD O.B. acid melt
Local Lotushouse label building their high mountain temple with a deluge of discs
"This 2-CD set was recorded over four three day sessions in Ocean Beach, in the Upper Chamber of the High Mountain Tempel Oceanic Lodge, and on Mt. Washington in L.A.," says Eric Nielsen, co-founder of existentialist tripmeisters Beggars with fellow …
Weiland booted from Stone Temple Pilots (again)
Slipknot and Velvet Revolver aren't saying nice things about him either...
“Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland,” according to a statement issued from the band’s management. Stone Temple Pilots came together when Scott Weiland met New Jersey-born bass player Robert DeLeo at a 1986 Black Flag …
RIP early Beatles collaborator Tony Sheridan: His San Diego ties
Backed by the Beatles on their first vinyl appearance and recorded with local troubadour
Tony Sheridan passed away on February 16 at the age of 72. It was Sheridan for whom the Fab Four played on their first-ever recording, “My Bonnie,” credited to Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers (renamed the Silver Beetles on …