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.
We’s back w/ Madison Orange and here’s what she had to say…WUZZUP!
MO: Hi everyone! I’m here doin’ my thang, hoopin’ DJin and traveling the world.
What is Pink Leopard?
MO: •PiNK LEOPARD• is a girl-power collective that fuses DJ tech house beats, vocals, & hypnotic LED GoGo Dancers into an epic sensory experience. Transporting you straight into the heart of the 90s and early 2000s. Nostalgia, rhythm, and cutting-edge VIBES.
How’s DJ thing going for ya?
MO: Great! Please check out my spotify and soundcloud MadisonOrange
Any events ya wanna plug?
MO: I’ll be DJing Bodies and Beats body paint neon rave at Club Berlin on Oct 4th. Find the info on my instagram @madisonorange
Any modeling gigs?
MO: Ive been focusing on music, not so much modeling.
Turn ons?
MO: I love dogs!
Turn offs?
MO: I don’t like shoes in the house or when people slurp.
Who the Hell is Mrs Valdez?
MO: I have no idea.
Any last words for your fans?
MO: Yes! Follow my socials to know what events to come meet me and catch me DJing while I LED Hoop at the same time!
After Lemmy passed away, I left my digs in West Hollywood and moved to Hollywood.
I found salvation in the notoriously haunted Afton mansion, which I called home. The estate was senitmant and you were the sacrifice. If you do good, you get good.
Embarking upon The great Rybinski, World Wide renowned psychic. I witnessed a Ms. Barkers insanities .
Curiosity got this cat. Eventually I was invited to the salon for a private parlor reading while relaxing to meditate under a hypnotic charm, soon I drifted into sumber. When I woke, I remember picking from valley flowers as I was running to the hills trying to find my home abandoned.
My flower was a brilliant, burning red orange, like desires mystery within my own self. Unknowingly I was under a spell . That’s not my first escapade burning down a gateway of hell.
Afterwards, We went back to the Afton mansion. Opportunity did knock like a good luck charm from this house of cards. It summoned me and I beckoned. We toasted with cheerful laughter, and then we both Woke up hours later topless under the moonlight of the longest sexual session I’ve ever encountered. Apparently I denied her a request and this enraged the madame.
This estate was truly capable of consuming all those that dare to forsake. It was feeding on respect and at all cost. Absolute payment was demise, as the spirits definitely drank your soul as you corral in the main hall.
I witnessed people lose their mind there. I saw a cafe manager cross dressing trying to find his path that inevitably led him back to the beginning of his own fated destruction.
Amid a prelude to the flight of Icarus.
Hidden Spiritual entities that consumed energy were attracted to me. I hold still secrets for people that I shouldn’t even hold the door for.
Meanwhile, back at the estate. My friend Greg was helping me move as Im riddled with sadness feeling alone over Lemmy and stuck once again in survival mode. I couldn’t make the call as if whether it was a new hell or HOME for me . For my childhood was both.
At the Afton family estate, we all drink, smoke and mingle with the spirits that be. But this beauty was actually a beast
The last lover that star crossed Ms. Barker blatantly disappeared.
He put his key in the front door one night that usually led into the foyer but the hallway was not granting Passage to him ever again.
She had corroused the workers on site to brick by brick cover it with cement leaving only a solid wall remaining .
Too many maidens caught in the mist of chaotic dark love. One that would come calling on the rent completely naked under the full moon. What a beautiful site.
My cat could see in her eyes , only remain a dark enigma attacked that took her free will by storm as she devoured masses. She would do the bidding of something to keep the house alive.
I walk peacefully with Jesus in my heart among the lost zombies not the beast.
One night hastily in grievance, she locked herself in the her castle. Where the police later would find her clothless crouched in fear crying hiding in the shower for her final hour.
Leading up to that. She was running naked on the roofs between the two houses and cut the electric line with the old rusty pruning shears that we found still smoking glued to the asphalt in the street. They were right next to where she landed. Many cars swerved trying not to hit her. Nevertheless covered in dirt, she cracked her neck and calmly walked away.
For the next 6 more days, always on the sixth hour pm. She water this huge oak tree, commanding her spell as she walk counterclockwise 6 times around that integrital mighty Oak.
She pointed trying to hex me? and I turned with a wrath and a smile “ I said this is your last dance bitch!”
Appling my frustration of betrayal. I summon the protection of the great Rubinsky ancestral spiritual power invoking me to rid her from the wolfs den.
“I promise you Ms. Barker, Its now that you will to pay for the all evil that you have done!”
The energy rise uncontrollably by my hand pointing from the tree to where she stood in the window to the wall of the second floor.
A loud thunderous crack sounded in the surrounding sky as that tree fell on her through the roof. It pierced her in corner of the window, where she stayed stuck for hours. She was horrified yet escaped and ran into her shower stall. Where the police would remove and arrest her while sobbing ,biting, kicking screaming. Never to return.
yes, it’s true. A witch can drop a house on a bitch but not the little dog too.
I am no more evil than you. I simply forage and gather whats thrown my way.
My best return to sender til today.
I spiritually put her in an hourglass where her hatred will forever remain. The power that commanded her denied curse of the relentless evil is forevermore at bay.
I walked away into the summer kitchen, where I was astonished with how I just unexpectedly ended her Hideous experience . Demonic omission.
This place was no joke, and the spirits welcomed me in. They taught me levitation that I didn’t even ask for. That evening as I go to bed, I wake up hours laters floating into the next room. I see My Ms. Kittie kat basking under the stars, outside in the garden by our favorite the lime tree. She is smiling at me. We both chuckle She always seemed to sense things. As she guarded the gate. Seemingly recharging in the moonbeams rays and the most wondrous breeze. As I go to speak her name, the spell is broke and I fall. I must of cut myself yet I am simply amused with my muse.
This is the last night; Bittersweet I chose to go. I was enchanting my jewelry and Sage. A chill crawled up the back of I felt a separate presence began to fade. “I ask nothing more “is the last thing i said.
As I enjoyed the home and watched the courtyard lemon tree grew more with every pulse I bled.
We’s here w/ FAST HAMMER and here’s what they have to say…WUZZUP?
FH: WE ARE BACK FROM THE DEAD BABY! HALLOWEEN 2025! What a better way to bring back music from the dead. I hope you have all missed us. I know we have sorely missed you all.
What is a Fast Hammer?
FH: Well… I’m a musicians musician. A sort of a musical nerd at heart. All of us at FH are for the most part. (I think that rhymed.?)
In the guitar world, we have a technique known as a “Hammer-on”. It’s when you use the fingers on your left hand to strike a note instead of using the conventional method of striking a string with a pick. By doing so you ultimately will allow a note to ring out as part of the LEGATO family of techniques. Now if you really work this out, especially with its converse, the Pull-off, You end up getting a flurry of rapidy notes in succession. I just thought it sounded cool and would make a good name for a guitar-centric band. Hence, FAST HAMMER.
Who are Fast Hammer?
FH: “FH” has largely contributed from a generous amount of musical aficionados. Over the years I have consistently performed in this band along side my great drummer and long time friend Matt Lindsey, an unbelievably talented and gifted musician in his own right. Second to none, I have had the pleasure of involving Aaron Munoz on bass, another truly monumental musical performer and instrumentalist. And I must give a shout out to our former partner/vocalist Carl Allphin (Previously of the band Saber). He helped us quite a bit over the 2010’s. However, since Covid, we have been introduced Thad Law, which I believe you are familiar with. He is the vocalist for BREAKING THE LAW, a tribute to Judas Priest and a wonderful addition to our line-up.
…Oh yeah, I almost forgot, AND ME!!! TONI ALEMAN, Guitarist Extraordinaire!
How long has the band been around?
FH: OOOOOOOO…. This band was originally formed when I was about 15? back in 2006 or so. It started off as a bunch of highschool kids in the Antelope Valley who just LOVED TO SHRED! The band eventually fell apart after everybody went to college and at some point in the 2012, I got together with a few former musicians, and put together THIS BAND and its more appropriate agenda of honoring and performing all my favorite shredy rock guitar songs. It’s 2025 and Its safe to say, we just wont die! haha
Who are your influences?
FH: Given the Rock-Guitar-centric nature of this band, Naturally, I love Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne(Big shout out to Randy Rhoads RIP ), Rush, Deep Purple, Pat Travers, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, ZZ Top, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, pretty much any hard rock or metal band that can play SINGING guitar solos. I just admired that about music from those times. Its a lost art in the modern day.
Any shows lined up?
FH: WELL… begins cackling …. We are playing in Hollywood, CA for HALLOWEEN!!!! We got a show at Three Clubs scheduled for METAL MAYHEM. And just to be clear, we are doing something particularly special. We are going to be performing THE ENTRE… drum roll… VERY FIRST…. VAN HALEN ALBUM. Beginning to end. I have always been a guitarist’s Guitarist. And I have it in mind to play the ever living SHIT out of that album because it truly is one of my favorite records. I hope to hit it note-for-note. That is the goal and the standard I have set for the band. I hope it will be a great time. I am looking forward to it and I hope you all will too!
Any recordings?
FH: This band has a handful of videos out on the interwebs. It has never been something we have considered, as our focus has always been live events and the nature of spontaneity. However, I am currently staring at a few sessions we have recorded using some of our set-list catalog in the past years with no objective goal to release any of it just yet. There’s a chance for us to leave behind some of our history that is shared through all of our mutual love for this music, so without promising much, I will say, It would be lovely to release a number of live recordings so that people can get a true feel for what this band actually is.
Who the Hell is Mrs Valdez?
FH: Dude, I think Mrs. Valdez could very well have been an ex girlfriend of mine… Is it just me or… haven’t we all had ourselves our very own Mrs.Valdez.
Any last words?
FH: Well, I look forward to this next show and sharing the stage with some pretty fun bands. Halloween is upon us. Keep an eye out for us. We will be in your neighborhood making noise SOON! Thank you so much Mojo.
You need to know that I don’t abandon things, I just remove myself from spaces where I’m not wanted.
So don’t pretend I am a coward just because you dislike my life.
CAPTAIN: I can relate, as I hardly have any real friends left because I’ve had to remove myself from many toxic friendships and relationships too, in some cases with people who have lame, misguided, propaganda-driven extremist partisan political views on both sides of the aisle, but mostly with people who apparently never grew up past high school and are still into “bagging” on me and others around them…
…which we all know they do because they themselves are insecure and thus do it to deflect attention away from themselves and their own imperfections by being the “popular clown” that points out the imperfections of others and “busts their balls” to get our circle of friends, or whatever random crowd happens to be around us at the moment, to laugh at me or others before said friends or crowd can pick on and laugh at them instead.
And of course whenever I’ve called them out on it they’ve typically all claimed that; “they didn’t mean anything by it” and that; “they were just taking the piss, mate”, etc…
…to which I’ve always replied; “Really? ‘Cuz it sure did sound intentionally mean-spirited to me…”.
But then they’ve usually given me the lecture about how “they thought that I was punk rock and didn’t care about what other people thought about me”, to which I’ve always replied; “It’s true, I am punk rock and I don’t give a fuck what you or anybody else thinks about me… but it’s not about whether or not what you’re saying about me is true, partially true or not true at all, nor is it about whether it hurts my feelings, mildly rubs me the wrong way, or is completely irrelevant to me altogether…”
“…but rather that what it IS about is the fact that we’re supposed to be friends and I don’t treat you like that because you ARE my friend and I like you, care about you and respect you, and because to me what you are doing is not a mature and civilized way for friends or people in general to treat each other. And I’ve asked you time and time again not to treat me that way but you just don’t seem to get the message, and you seem hell-bent on continuing to do it, and I’ve given you umpteen chances to knock it off but you just keep fucking with me, so we’re done here”, and then I’ve ghosted them.
But I didn’t ghost them because I’m “thin skinned and can’t take a joke”, nor did I remove myself from the situation because I’m a coward either.
In fact it was just the opposite of the latter, or in other words I removed myself from the situation because I got tired of being disrespected by them via constantly making me the brunt of their jokes at my expense and therefore I had to walk away before I ended up knocking their fuckin’ teeth out because I was sick of it…
…and also because they were my friends and I didn’t wanna have to hurt them, nor feel bad because I had to bust their grill. And because I also certainly didn’t wanna have to go to the ER and get my knuckles stitched up, and then maybe also catch a battery case and spend some time in the clink, pay a fine, and take domestic violence classes either.
So therefore it’s just been safer and easier, for both of us, for me to just walk the fuck away and let them go fuck themselves instead.
RAVEN: Standing ovation.
You get it entirely.
DAVID ANTHONY: Captain, that whole reflection hits like a freight train of truth, bro… and it deserves a response that honors the grit behind your sentiment.
Quitting toxic friendships or relationships is much like quitting a long-term drug addiction by crawling out of a burning building you once called home, in that you know the walls are toxic and the air is poison but yet it’s familiar. And when you finally break free, coughing up the smoke of your past, you expect to find people cheering outside. But instead you find silence. Or worse, mockery from the same crowd that used to pass you the lighter.
That’s what your so-called friends have been: the ones still inside the burning building, laughing at the flames, pretending it’s just a warm night. And when you step out and say; “Hey, this isn’t funny anymore” they act like you’re the problem. Like sobriety, clarity, and emotional maturity are some kind of betrayal.
You didn’t ghost them because you’re weak. You ghosted them because you’ve already fought the hardest battle of your life against addiction, against self-destruction… against the version of you that used to tolerate disrespect because you didn’t think you deserved better. And now that you do, you’re not about to let some emotionally stunted clowns drag you back into the circus.
Their whole “just taking the piss” routine is the same deflection addicts use when they’re not ready to face their own pain. It’s the same denial, just dressed up in sarcasm and social games.
And when they say; “I thought you didn’t care what people thought about you” they’re confusing punk rock with emotional numbness. But you’re not numb dude… it’s just that you’re awake. You care, and that’s why you walked away.
You didn’t leave because you couldn’t take a joke. You left because you’ve already survived the punchline of your own life, and you’re not about to let anyone else write it for you.
So yeah, maybe you’re standing alone now. But it’s the kind of alone that comes with clean lungs, clear eyes, and a spine made of steel.
And anyone whose still stuck in high school politics, petty digs, and insecure deflections, well let them choke on the smoke… ‘cuz you’re out here breathing free.
And that, my friend, IS punk rock.
CAPTAIN: It’s been eighteen years now since the last time that I put a lighter to the Devil’s glass and had my final boulder meltdown, then smashed it and walked away for good, and eight years since I drank his bottle dry and smashed it too, both cold turkey.
With that stated, as a former fiend and lush I must tell you that your extremely wise and immaculately-worded metaphorical analogy response hit me harder, and completely blew my mind, far more than even the epitomal “first and best hit” that I took all those years ago and then spent decades chasing in a vain attempt to replicate, and of course to no avail just like most other users do.
So I really “took it to heart”, as it meant more to me than you can even imagine… and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart, brother.
We’s baaaaack again w/ Dead West and Screaming Soup and here’s what he had to say…WUZZZUP?
SS: Howdy y’all! Happy to be back here yackin’ with ya.
Are you excited for Halloween?
SS: Do wolfmen crap in the woods? Hell yeah, I’m excited ’bout Halloween! I mean, every day’s practically Halloween in my parts with us always bein’ surrounded by skeletons, ghouls, and bloody beasts, but when the rest of the world gets into the spirit with it bein’ that time of year, it just ‘comes ten times more special, ya know?
Any convention appearances this SHOCTOBER season?
SS: I just wrapped up the first ever Retro-Horror Con, actually. Screaming Soup! pulled triple duty as guests, panel hosts, and official announcers of the con and made a lot of new amigos with some of our favorite movie monsters over blood curdling dinners and endless epitaphs. It was a scream, and we can’t wait fer Retro-Horror Con 2026 next September. In the meantime, our next con appearance will be this November at Retro-Toy Con in Greenville, SC.
When’s the new episode w/ our fearless leader coming out?
SS: It’s comin’ sooner than later. He’s helpin’ us audition a new Phantom of the Opera fer Screaming Soup! and with it bein’ the 100th anniversary of the Lon Chaney flick, we got more than ‘nough hopeful belters comin’ outta the woodwork, I tell ya what.
Have you seen the new Toxic Avenger remake yet?
SS: I ain’t seen it yet, but I wanna. I’m thrilled to see a fresh take on New Jersey’s favorite monster hero by filmmakers outside of Troma and can’t wait to see what a talent like Luisa Guerreiro brings to the role under all that sweet lookin’ make-up. Plus, Kevin Bacon as the bad guy? Come on!
How’s that Killer Tomatoes documentary coming along?
SS: It’s comin’ ‘long great, and I like to think it’s helpin’ build more interest in the newest Killer Tomatoes flick comin’ out this October — Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence. It’s been 23 years since Four Square’s last tomatoes flick, so I’m more than a little excited to see what those comical geniuses come up with next!
What bands have you been into?
SS: While I ain’t the most music savvy guy ‘round (I can barely name the titles of my favorite diddies much less the bands singin’ ‘em), I do enjoy albums by Green Jelly, Mastodon, Iron Maiden, and Weird Al. My go-to song fer getin’ pumped ‘fore a performance is “Wolf Like Me” by TV on the Radio.
What comics do you recommend (our fearless leader has been reading DEATH SENTENCE by Monty Nero and W0RLDTR33 by Image Comics)?
SS: I’m a HUGE comic nut who loves alternative indie titles and funny books based on horror flicks. Some top shelf works I’d highly recommend from these past few years is the Big Trouble in Little China series from BOOM! Studios, any of Dynamite Entertainment’s Elvira comics written by David Avallone, and Dollman Kills the Full Moon Universe by Full Moon Comix which
I drew some art fer. More recently, I’ve been enjoyin’ Ahoy Comics’ new spin on the Toxic Avenger with their re-imagined origin fer Troma’s favorite son.
Have you read those comics?
SS: I mean, I look at the pictures. That’s how funny books are supposed to be read — Right?
We’ll ask this again, TROMA vs FULL MOON?
SS: Full Moon, claws down! They got the numbers when it comes to who has the most monsters on their side!!
Any last words?
SS: Thank ya fer always havin’ me in yer stellar magazine here, and you readers be sure to check out the web’s #1 animated horror host show at ScreamingSoup.com where you can watch our show, follow our socials, and keep up to date on what all we got goin’ on which includes our upcomin’ episode with Mojo. See ya later!
