We’s back w/ Dan Crenshaw and this time he’s got a new solo project…HOW LONG THE NEW PROJECT’S BEEN AROUND?
DC: Crenshaw Band Started And Album Done Now Featuring Ira Black From Dio Disciples VIOLENCE ..Les Warner From The Cult ..Crenshaw On Lead Vocals ..Crenshaw Ira Black Doing Bass Tracks For Album..
WHATCHA DOING FOR NAMM?
DC: i’ll Be At Namm With Many My Rockstar Friends, We Get To Meet Up Usually once a year between our touring Schedules looking forward to it lots shows ill be doing guest spots
WHATCHA DOING AFTER NAMM?
DC: after namm tours being scheduled as we speak u.s.and europe.
ANY LAST WORDS FOR YOUR FANS?
DC: last words thank you all for supporting Garden Of Eden And Now Crenshaw Also Happy Holidays To All And Happy New Year .
I’m no lawyer, but I do know one of the exceptions to our 1st Amendment right to free speech is deceptive commercial speech, thus illegal. Las Vegas hotels advertise a $29 hotel rate but with a resort fee the total can be over $200. Since this fee is mandatory, it is not a fee, it’s more like fraud. Can I sue and get my money back?
Yes, you are correct. Deceptive commercial speech is unconstitutional in federal court. State court is a different matter. While federal law trumps state law, someone has to file suit to stopf this blatant illegal practice.
Mandatory resort fees are very deceptive. Instead of suing Caesars Entertainment, or MGM Entertainment, or Wynn, your best approach is to protest with your wallet. There are many laws that are illegal federally but considered legal in state court, or are simply ignored. A violation of your Civil Rights is an example. Las Vegas tourism over the past few years is way down, some estimates are close to 20%. Nevada gaming revenue has dipped as well. Social media has done a lot to expose the hidden fees, i.e., a $12 cup of coffee, a $15 dollar bottle of water, $30 parking fee, and the list continues. Nobody tells you when booking a room at Resort World that the pool closes at 6pm despite continued sunshine for hours. Close a pool? $20 can of beer? The resorts continue to pull ‘bait and switch’ tactics with hidden taxes. Nowhere else in the world does a bottle of beer, at the bar cost $10 and when receiving the bill the total is $11.87, because of taxes.They don’t want to round it to $12 because they’re playing you for stupid. Very few tourists are fooled by the hidden resort fees. Las Vegas continues to insult the public with revenue making parking fees, window fees, ATM fees, pool fees, and the fee scam goes on and on. Circa adult swim? More deception! No swimming allowed. Fifteen pool guards will insist you can’t go underwater or hold your breath. You can stick your feet in the pool but no swimming.
While there have been attempts to sue the state of Nevada over deceptive resort fees, most of these implemented laws are ignored and Nevada continues to impose deceptive advertising. One court case made the total amount (including resort fees) be included in the grand total.
Greed will prevail. The more straightforward resorts will see the customers flock to their hotels. Some say Las Vegas was better when run by the mob. I tend to agree. Don’t waste your time and money suing in federal court. Complain! Protest! Make youtube videos! Refuse to pay their ridiculous fees.
Yes, you are correct, deceptive commercial speech, e.g., resort fees are illegal. If you refuse to pay these fees.. maybe Las Vegas will learn a lesson and become more transparent, but don’t expect any change until Caesars, MGM Grand and Wynn learn their lesson.
As a wiseman once said, (OK, it was me!) Get the word out! The gig is up! The cat is out of the bag! Refuse to pay the resort fees and even consider going somewhere else on your vacation until there is a change in the law and a change in the system.
Have you got a legal question? Drop me a line.
Brent Lee Kendell, JD, CPA Brentkendelljdcpa@gmail.com
Paul and I headed to the Greek Theatre for Robby Krieger’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, and let me tell you — the place was buzzing like a beehive with a backstage pass. The lineup read like a love letter to rock: Billy Idol, still sneering like rebellion itself. Perry Farrell, cosmic and theatrical as ever. John Doe of X, carrying all that iconic punk soul.
And here’s something worth noting: There was only ONE woman on the bill — and it damn well should’ve been me. I sing with Robby all the time at my gallery. But it’s show business, baby. You roll with it, you laugh, and you keep your mic warm. The night brought a cavalcade of ’90s stars, each one a nostalgia bomb. My longtime friend Norton Wisdom painted live on stage like a tornado of color and emotion — shifting with every note, every drum hit, every breath of the crowd. Speaking of drums, Stephen Pearcy jumped in, smiling ear-to-ear. The whole evening was surprise after surprise, the kind of show that reminds you why rock ’n’ roll grabbed the world by the throat in the first place. The Greek was gorgeous. Perfect weather, end-of-season sparkle, and Robby — Robby — proving that age is nothing but a number written in pencil.
He played for two and a half hours straight. No breaks. No slowing down. Just pure, genius-level guitar work from a man who refuses to stop. His son Wayne sang a few songs, and every time he steps into the spotlight, he channels something uncanny — like Jim Morrison is whispering through him. Wayne is stocky, wild around the edges, probably partying harder than he should, but that’s the charm. After a lifetime with Robby, he’s become a living echo of Jim.
Digital Wildness at LACDA — Man vs. Machine, and the Machines Are Winning. Downtown at LACDA, the digital art scene is exploding. Every month, strange new sound creatures slither in through the doors — tech kids, AI dreamers, misfits, experimental musicians — the kind who build instruments out of code and then pretend they can control them.
Spoiler: they can’t. It’s more like riding a mechanical horse that’s glitching in five dimensions.
During the monthly Thursday Art Walk, the galleries on Fourth and Main and Fifth and Main open their doors. The area may not be charming, but the crowds? Packed. Electric. Hungry for art. We recently had Kat Museum do a four-month experimental residency — four months of sonic madness. LACDA is always looking for new artists, new troublemakers, new visions. If that’s you, tell them Tequila sent you. They’ll listen. Tequila TV, Retail Slut, and the Underground That Never Sleeps. Over at Gallery Dig It All (Eye Comanage), we’ve been hosting monthly gatherings for my long-running project, Tequila TV. My show has been broadcasting in West Hollywood for 40 years — four decades of championing the underground, the brave, the loud, the weird, and the wildly talented.
Big news:
We’re launching a pop-up with Retail Slut, one of my favorite legendary shops. Helen and I are curating a Senior Invasion from December into January — yes, senior punks showing the kids how it’s REALLY done. Helen’s also doing a show at The Monty celebrating Retail Slut’s rebirth.
Last month, Mojo made a surprise appearance — a rare and beautiful thing — alongside Richard Eastman and Reid from Green Jellø. The room vibrated with stories, history, laughter, and that underground magic you can’t manufacture. We’re stationed at Melrose and Larchmont — the perfect HQ for scheming, painting, performing, gossiping, and keeping the spirit of rock ’n’ roll alive. Sean Shimmer, formerly of Green Jellø and now leading Shimmerbed, also hosts evenings there, spotlighting the newest bands clawing their way into the scene.
Vampires at Victorio’s, Nervous Gender, and Other Beautiful Night Creatures. Halloween was unholy perfection. We hosted the best vampire gathering at Victorio’s Restaurant in North Hollywood. We featured Nervous Gender, one of my all-time favorite bands. I’ve been booking them since 1982, and they’ve only gotten sharper, stranger, and more powerful. They played with Atomik Kangaroo, turning that sleepy restaurant into a sonic riot. I’ll be doing more events there — keep your eyes open and your veins ready.
The Doo Dah Queen, Missing Parades, and Punk Rock Bowling on Pause. Pasadena is preparing to crown the new Doo Dah Queen at the Old Town Pub. No parade this year, which is why it’s now the “annual — or occasional — Doo Dah.” But the crown still finds a head, and the celebration still rolls.
It looks like Punk Rock Bowling is taking a year off, too. Politics has gotten so messy it’s spilling into everything, even our fun.
But here’s the truth I stand by:
You can’t control what THEY do. But you can absolutely control your joy.
For the first time ever, on December 3, 2025, heavy metal icons Metallica will take the stage at the Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre in Bahrain. Just 3 days later, they will be part of the 2025 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Island, near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and will be performing during the after-race concerts.
Tickets to the show in Bahrain will be available via Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre’s official web site, www.beyonaldana.com.bh. Tickets for the after-race concerts are being held exclusively for those already holding tickets for the race.
This will be the third time for Metallica performing in Abu Dhabi after making their debut on the island in 2011. The after-race concert is touted to be life-changing as they are a perfect addition to the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Growing up in Long Beach, there were many influential punk bands in the LA/OC area. You know the names, Black Flag, X, The Gun Club, Germs, Adolescents, Vandals, TSOL, etc., and then there was Secret Hate. A band whose logo you saw everywhere, just as much as the Black Flag bars or Misfits skull. Billed as a heartfelt compilation honoring the late Secret Hate drummer Rick Selga, featuring unreleased tracks, post-Secret Hate projects, and bands shaped by his legacy. The album features 4 iconic Long Beach bands and musicians that helped shape the punk legacy in Long Beach.
Secret Hate the legends of the Long Beach scene whose influence can be heard in almost all the punk bands in Long Beach and whose song “The Ballad of Johnny Butt” has been a cover staple and made its way to the major label debut for Sublime. The tribute features the bands GlueFactory which features Mike Davis (Secret Hate), Greg “Mudd” Lowther (Falling Idols, Corn Doggy Dog, Perro Bravo, Hamapple), Randy Bradbury (Falling Idols, Pennywise, Tender Fury) and Chris Bradford (DeadBeat Dads, Carpit, 3rd Alley, Hamapple). Das Klown the street punk band fronted by A.J. Ransdell, Rick’s roommate at the infamous Castle in Long Beach. Hamapple which features members from The Vandals, Falling Idols, 3rd Alley, Perro Bravo. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Mudd and A.j. to discuss the project and the impact of Secret Hate.
In your opinion, what is the biggest impact Secret Hate had on the punk scene?
Mudd: Secret Hate was a major influence on The Falling Idols. Our singer, David Quackenbush, grew up in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. He and his sister went to Hughes Middle School before moving to the same neighborhood where Trey, Randy, and I lived. David and his friend AJ (later of Das Klown) were younger than the guys in Secret Hate and the Crewd, but they were influenced by the “war stories” passed down from the older kids. We started The Falling Idols around the same time Secret Hate was forming. Bands like The Stingers. Rhino 39 and the Suburban Lawns had already paved the way for kids to start bands and build a local scene. When Reggie Recktor joined the band on guitar, their songwriting took another leap forward. Reggie was a skilled guitarist who brought in suspended chords and unexpected voicings. Mike, in turn, pushed vocal melodies that were unusually sophisticated for a fledgling local punk band. Reggie, inspired by Bad Brains, even brought reggae into the mix with the original Ballad of Johnny Butt.
AJ: They made people think, and if you were truly listening, you knew it was something special. Intense, uniquely soulful, and kind of scary. Back then it went over most people’s heads, and they really didn’t get it till it was gone. In my eyes, they were the best in Long Beach and an inspiration for all the good ones to come after.
Where would you rank Secret Hate in the legacy of Long Beach punk?
Mudd: Eric, Bud, and Brad of Sublime were younger than us, and they may have been influenced by The Falling Idols in the same way we were inspired by Secret Hate, the Crewd, and the earlier Long Beach bands. Eventually, Sublime discovered those bands too—and went on to cover Ballad of Johnny Butt on their self-titled album. That exposure inspired Secret Hate to reform, with Blake and Bob on guitars, replacing Reggie, who had sadly passed away a few years earlier. Mike, Kevin, and Rick continued to inspire and influence music in Long Beach and beyond. In the early 2000s, Eric Wilson formed the band Shortbus, which recorded Odd Walking Man, a song written by Mike and Blake. Secret Hate had a demo of that track that was never officially released.
What impact did Rick have on your drumming style?
Mudd: Rick had been more than an inspiration—he was a mentor. He always encouraged The Falling Idols and generously let me use his drums because mine were junk. Rick embodied what it meant to be a “band guy.” He believed that a rising tide lifts all boats. He never tore other bands down; to him, music was a community not a competition. I also remember a Halloween party we played at Reggie Recktor’s house, where I used Rick’s drum kit. After the show, Rick and I talked about drumming. He complimented my approach and suggested some ideas for playing faster songs like using eighth notes on the cymbals instead of sixteenths, or trying non-surf-style beats. I told him I’d never taken lessons and was thinking about it. He said he hadn’t either, and maybe that’s why we both played in our own unique, unconventional ways which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Originality mattered, especially in the local scene. Great musicians are everywhere, but the standouts are those who are original and connect with people.
Living with Rick can you share a memory you have that made an impact in your life or always makes you smile?
AJ: I left home when I was fourteen. One of the houses we lived at was called “The Cave”, and Secret Hate practiced in the garage. I loved just sit and watch Rick play the drums. He had great style and did it with such ease. He grew up playing to R&B, so he knew all the moves. Rick was hilarious and definitely knew how to charm the ladies. I remember one time I didn’t want to go to school so I popped a hole in my bike tire. When he figured out what I did – he fixed the tire and made me go anyway. Rick was like a brother to me and always had my back even when I was wrong. He wanted me to be better and was always concerned about my wellbeing. I could count on him. We kept in touch till the very end. A few of us were there when he passed and I got to be there for him and his family. He held my hand and told me he was proud of me and that moment meant everything.
Can you tell a story about Rick or Secret Hate that has lasted with you?
Mudd: Before I learned about his health issues, I ran into Rick on the beach in Sunset Beach. We’d known each other for over 30 years. We had a great conversation, reminiscing about the old days. I thanked him for being such a genuine influence on me. In typical Long Beach fashion, he brushed it off, and we talked about Mike Davis and his remarkable ability to elevate an average musical idea into something much more. Rick told me that Mike was one of the brightest people he had ever known.
What does this album mean to you?
AJ: Being part of this tribute album is an incredible honor. Secret Hate wasn’t just a band I admired—they were a defining influence on my musical journey. Their music shaped me, and their presence was a huge part of my life.
Mudd: After Rick Selga passed away, Mike Davis reached out to Long Beach Records to see if they might be interested in releasing Odd Walking Man and a couple of other demo tracks. This tribute album was a joy to put together. Mike Woods of Hamapple really wanted it pressed on vinyl. I usually resist that due to the costs involved, but for this project, it felt right. Vinyl was the medium when Secret Hate and The Falling Idols were dreaming of giving our friends and co-conspirators something to hold and hear. Brent Cheshire, who had done the “Secret Hate 2.0” flyers and album artwork, was the obvious choice to design the cover. Bill Ranson (aka Vex Billingate) of the Suburban Lawns had attended art school with the artist who drew the cartoon of Rick on the back cover. Since Rick, Mike, Kevin, and Reggie were all influenced by the Suburban Lawns, I liked the idea of that vicarious connection. I considered using a photo of Rick but felt the hand-drawn artwork showed more thought and effort in honoring a true legend.
