Hah - didn't hear about that. Sell outs!

Suicidal Angels - straight ahead thrash from Greece. A bit corny in the vocals but great riffage.

LTI was one of many signifiers to hit 1986 - the USA was deep in the grips of Reaganism and the big plastic, boxy suited, cocaine addled, neon colored 80s. In other words, an utter nightmare. But REM was touring arenas, U2 were gods after a 3 second stint in the underground, thrash metal was keeping the ridiculous…

I had the honor of meeting Dick Smith in the early 90s and actually got to hold his Oscar for his makeup work on Amadeus. Mr. Smith is probably best known for his effects work on The Exorcist - he told me a funny little story the day I met him.

Thanks for the reply - my second part about source genre was in reference to how most musical theater of the early to the mid 20th century was sourced from light/comedic opera and then eventually became inspired by pop, rock and roll and now hip-hop. You're right that musical theater is often its own genre, but I…

And the show girls and Abe Lincoln…

Yeah that was just a wee hyperbolic. Just a wee. I get that Hamilton is a cut above the schlock that is prevalent on Broadway but let's get a grip.

As someone who hates most musical theater could someone convince me Hamilton is awesome beyond "but it's hip-hop plus Founding Fathers! Dude! Don't you get it?".

Dave, I have Spotify open right now and am going to check that out. If someone references a Blue Oyster Cult deep track, you go and listen to that Blue Oyster Cult deep track. Thanks!

Nice! Saw them in Rochester just after July 4th after they kicked off their current tour. "Anyhow" is a stellar track from the new album. Love the horns, Derek's solo and Susan's smooth 70s Bonnie Raitt style vocal.

If I had to pick one Bowie it would be "Rock and Roll Suicide" (said good-bye to a buddy many years ago to this song - not a suicide but damned close: he was driving his motorcycle drunk, in the rain, on the LIE. Really Gary?). But "Life On Mars" is a damned close second.

"Tuesday night at the Bible study,
we lift our hands and pray over your body,
but nothing ever happens."

Cat Stevens - "Father and Son". If you had a tumultuous relationship with your deceased dad, you know what I mean.

Thank you for saving me the time to make nearly the exact same comment. To not "politicize" something such as a gun massacre is the antithesis of a free and thoughtful society. "Politicize" is not a dirty word when it means seeking answers and solutions.

I just finished up Legs McNeil's Oral History of Punk - Lou Reed was legendary in the late 60s/70s downtown Manhattan art and music scene as being not just a depressed asshole but more than likely someone suffering from some type of bipolar disorder. He could get very violent and would react to things - such as new…

You seem to be into exhibits - bear with me, but believe it or not the Ghostbusters VR Experience at Madame Tussaud's in - gasp! - Times Square is said to be the best VR fun in the land. A group of co-workers, some of whom participate in VR Meet-Ups, absolutely raved about it. The company that does these…

We knew about the very expensive pieces like the firehouse HQ (we live a few miles from a Lego store in Manhattan - we go a lot). I just didn't know the new release - which I will start calling Answer the Call - had a set out yet. Thanks for the tip!

I hope you're serious because if there is anything he loves more than Ghostbusters is Legos!

True, but he enjoyed it and will be disappointed that there will be no sequel with these characters. This movie couldn't win: I made a benign Facebook post stating that I took the kid to see the new Ghostbusters and was attacked by my SJW friends that the movie reinforced racist stereotypes and that its treatment of…

Exact same scenario here - my 5 year old boy loves the new release and is obsessed with I & II. For those who had the patience to sit through the end credits there was a small bonus scene that hinted at what we could expect from the sequel. Now the word is there will be no sequel. Can't bear to tell the kid since he…