Frank Zappa...The Torture Never Stops! DVD release!

Way back in my hippie daze, I tripped the-magical-fantastic to the remarkable musical strains of Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and Jeff Beck.

In fact - I vividly recall scaling the walls of a downtown concert hall in Toronto (alongside two-dozen-or-so other delirious yahoos) way back in the heady sixties - in a bold-faced attempt to crash a sold-out concert for Zep that was the hottest psychedelic ticket of the day!

SOL!

Those roadies were a posse of tough dedicated dudes to get by, eh?

Groupies can attest to that fact.

Just ask Cherry Vanilla, dudes!

Meanwhile, heads in San Francisco - and elsewhere in communes around the country - were grooving on the unique sounds (and zany antics) of legendary Frank Zappa.

Now - my friends at Eagle Rock Entertainment have informed me - that they are releasing a DVD this week featuring Zappa's celebrated Halloween concerts which were the rage of the day (held at the infamous Palladium in 1981).

"The Torture Never Stops” was created in its entirety by the mad musical man - Zappa himself - from an original concert production which were live! and intended for broadcast as 1 of 3 Television Specials.

"You Are What You Is" and "Dumb All Over" - the two other specials in the series - actually aired previously and are shorter in length that "Torture".

Halloween was Frank Zappa’s favorite holiday, and New York was the site of Frank Zappa Halloween concerts for years, as die-hard fans will fondly recall (in spite of drug-induced stupors that may have enhanced them).

In fact, all Zappa shows were unique experiences featuring the legendary musician on guitar and baton, as he led his band on wild flights of improvisation throughout remarkable unforgettable performances on stage.

“The Torture Never Stops” DVD Collection (just released) now cements Zappa’s reputation as one of the most innovative and challenging composers and performers of the 20th century.

Line-up

Frank Zappa (guitar, vocal); Ray White (vocal, guitar); Tommy Mars (keyboards, vocal); Scott Thunes (bass, vocal); Chad Wackerman (drums); Ed Mann (percussion, vocal); Bobby Martin (keyboard, sax, vocal), Steve Vai (guitar, vocal)

TRACKLISTING

1) Black Napkins; (2) Montana; (3) Easy Meat; (4) Beauty Knows No Pain; (5) Charlie’s Enormous Mouth; (6) Fine Girl; (7) Teen-Age Wind; (8) Harder Than Your Husband; (9) Bamboozled By Love; 910) We’re Turning Again; (11) Alien Orifice; (12) Flakes; (13) Broken Hearts Are For Assholes; (14) You Are What You Is; (15) Mudd Club; (16) The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing; (17) Dumb All Over; (18) Heavenly Bank Account; (19) Suicide Chump; (20) Jumbo Go Away; (21) Stevie’s Spanking; (22) The Torture Never Stops; (23) Strictly Genteel; (24) The Illinois Enema Bandit.

Additional performances & Bonuses

*Teen-Age Prostitute (live)
*City Of Tiny Lites (live)
*You Are What You Is
*Discography
*DVDography
*Liner Notes
*Photo Gallery

Enjoy, eh?





 http://www.thetattler.biz

Nevada Highway Patrol...Captain Karen M. Lorenzo cover-up & conspiracy! Rogue cops Violate motorist rights!

A few weeks ago, I reported on the abusive conduct of a Nevada State Trooper by the name of Del Padre (Badge No. 691), who illegally harassed a motorist under the color of authority.

Post:  07/13/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/07/chief-tony-almaraznevada-highway-patrol.html

After filing a complaint on behalf of the victim, I was quite annoyed to receive a response back from Captain Karen M. Lorenzo (at the Nevada Highway Patrol), who clearly chose to sweep the issues under the rug after-the-fact in a deceitful effort to protect her fellow officers from recrimination.

For example, in her terse response by U.S. Mail, Captain Lorenzo asserted as follows:

"An investigation into your complaints regarding Trooper DelPadre and Sergeant Haycox, employees of the Nevada Highway Patrol, has been completed."

"Although personnel rules prohibit me from discussing our findings and/or information about our employees, I can assure you that this matter was properly investigated and addressed. Furthermore, I can assure you that any sustained allegations of misconduct will be addressed administratively for appropriate corrective action."

Bullsh**!

If you read between the lines, it is quite evident that Captain Lorenzo is just as corrupt as the officers in question, if not moreso!

On its face the communication confirms how reluctant Law Enforcement Officers (and the powers-that-be in uniform) are - to not only take disciplinary action - but reveal to the public what penalty rogue cops will suffer for engaging in conduct that is both abusive to motorists but also in direction violation of their overall rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Shame!

Ms. Lorenzo should be strung up by the ti**ies and given a thousand lashes!

It is because of officers like Lorenzo, that a mockery is made of Law Enforcement, in the final analysis.

There will be rebellion in the streets if action is not taken against corrupt cops like these in Nevada!

Amen.

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Rogue Cop Chief Tony Almaraz!

Ronni Chasen...murder stuns Hollywood power-players!

Shortly before she was murdered the other evening in Beverly Hills - gangland-style - Ronni Chasen posted a "to do" list of chores to carry out the next day at her upscale PR office just a heartbeat away from the site of the ghastly slaying.

And, earlier that evening - the charismatic publicist mingled with the power elite (at a chi-chi after-party for the feature film "Burlesque" starring Cher) - seemingly without a care in the world.

According to industry-insiders, the sixty-four-year-old blond - familiar and well-known in show-biz circles - was well-liked, too.

But, for some inexplicable reason, an assassin plugged her body with half-a-dozen-or-so bullets at approximately 12:28 a.m. on Whittier Drive on a quiet tree-lined drive the other evening.

A neighbour who heard the shots - and glanced out the window a few seconds later - reported that the victim was alone in the car and that no one was spied fleeing from the scene.

Which begs the question.

Was it a spontaneous killing triggered by road rage, perhaps?

Or, was it a planned attack, carried out with expert precision by an unknown assailant?

Ms. Chasen started her professional career as an actress on a soap opera, and over the years, ended up landing a post as a top publicist at MGM Studios.

A seasoned pro in the publicity end of the business, Chasen was considered a top dog, when it came to garnering attention (and much-needed publicity) for a film project.

In recent years, the once-married high-profile Hollywood publicist, worked on successful campaigns for celebrated flicks such as the Oscar-winner "Hurt Locker".

Randall Wallace, the director of "Secretariat" (a current box-office hit), confided to a reporter that he was slated to meet with Ms. Chasen yesterday afternoon to launch an Oscar campaign for that sure-fire contender.

For the most part - friends and business associates recalled that Chasen was a likable individual - and a real down-to-earth charmer.

Meanwhile, one producer - Irwin Winkler - fessed up in an interview with a daily just yesterday, that Chasen tended to be fiercely protective and overly-devoted to her clients.

Apparently, Chasen screamed at the Foreign Press Association (Golden Globe Awards), when they passed over his project "De-Lovely".

Maybe there was an enemy or two lurking in the shadows?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Justin Bieber...Acoustic tune "Pray" splashes on Internet!

Justin Bieber's much-ballyhooed effort - "My World's Acoustic" - has hit the web two weeks before the disc was due to be released on November 26th.

To the delight of mop-topped Bieber fans!

"Pray" uses a string section, synthesizers and congas to get the juices flowing!"

The tune is also rife with heartfelt thoughts.

Bieber croons:

I know there's sunshine beyond that rain
I know there's good times beyond that pain
Heaven, tell me I can make a change

Bieber fans - anxious to snap up publicity stills - may be thrilled to hear that the pop Icon has launched a new web site where photographs by Robert Caplin (featuring Bieber) will be posted.

http://www.bieberpix.com/

Caplin was one of the artists who worked on Bieber's recently published memoir:

"First Step 2 Forever: My Story"

"Robert Caplin is gonna be posting never before seen pics every week to help others," Bieber tweeted the end of last week.

Proceeds from sales of prints sold on the site will be donated to an unnamed charity.
Just betcha, they'll be snapped up in no-time-flat!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Prince William...pops question to Kate! My prediction true...

 

So, it looks like the handsome Prince - and his fair lady - will gallop into the Sunset next year (after all).

A few weeks ago, amidst a lot of hoopla, I penned a post in which I predicted that Lady Diana's oldest son (heir to the English Throne) was ready to trot down the aisle to say "I do".

The Royals have announced that the pretty couple will exchange vows in the spring or summer of 2011.

Post:  05/17/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/05/prince-williamwedding-bells-ahead.html

The Prince - smartly-attired in a chic dress suit with his fiancee on his arm - strolled out onto the world stage earlier this afternoon as flashbulbs of the omnipresent paparazzi snapped away furiously in a bold-faced effort to capture the auspicious occasion on celluloid!

Insiders are speculating that this is the real deal, too.

"He gifted Ms. Middleton with Lady Diana's engagement ring, so what does that tell you," one Royal-watcher gushed from a perch on the sidelines.

Prince Charles was heard to quip ecstatically in the wings:

"It's about time. They've been practicing for the past eight years!"

Congrats, Willie

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Richard Avedon Foundation...priceless fashion stills to be auctioned!

 

The largest collection of original Richard Avedon photographs have been catalogued for auction at Christie's in Paris next week (November 20th).

The unprecedented offering (sixty scintillating stills in total) boasts seminal portraits of sixties icons such as Twiggy and Veruschka (featured in a Bill Blass dress circa 1967).

In addition, collectors will - no doubt - jump at the rare opportunity to bid on a handful of unforgettable fashion images Avedon rustled up with his searing insightful lens which include:

*Dovina and Elephants
  Evening Dress by Dior

*Cirque d'Hiver
  Paris

Richard Avedon was born in New York City to a Jewish-Russian family.

Curiously, the imaginative photographer started taking snapshots for the Merchant Marines (for identification purposes) with a Rolleiflex camera which was gifted to him by his father as a going-away present.

In 1944, the talented visionary artist began working as an advertising photographer for a department store, shortly before being discovered by Alexey Brodovitch, the art director for the fashion magazine at the oh-so-chic Harper's Bazaar.

Lillian Bassman also saw promise in Avedon and later promoted his highly-stylistic photographic images as well.

Avedon launched his own studio in 1946 - at which point - he began to accept assignments for fashionable upscale magazines such as Vogue and Life.

Within a scant few years, the remarkable Avedon became the chief photographer for Harper's.

Part of Avedon's success arose from his tendency to break away from standard photo-shoot techniques utilized by his fellow contemporaries at the time.

Avedon preferred to photograph models expressing a full range of emotions - smiling, laughing, and in action - whenever possible.

This was his signature style!

In 1966, Avedon became a staff photographer for Vogue magazine, and later on headed up the whole shebang!

As a result, Avedon's stunning images ended up gracing dozens of the most memorable covers at Vogue Magazine from 1973 through 1980.

Avedon is infamous for having shot the Calvin Klein Jeans campaign featuring 15-year-old Brooke Shields which caused quite a sensation at the time.

In May of 1992, Ms. Shields told Interview magazine:

"When Dick (Avedon) walks into the room, a lot of people are intimidated. But when he works, he's so acutely creative, so sensitive. And he doesn't like it if anyone else is around or speaking. There is a mutual vulnerability, and a moment of fusion when he clicks the shutter. You either get it or you don't".

I do!

If only I had the moolah to snap up one of his dazzling stills.

Oh well, I can dream, can't I?




Twiggy & Avedon in a candid moment!

http://www.thetattler.biz

The Americana at the Brand...Christmas Tree Lighting! Mark Ballas! Freddie Stroma! CINDERELLA performance!

 

Mark Ballas

(DWTS)

Americana at Brand will be hosting its "Christmas Tree Lighting" ceremony on November 18th with a lot of pomp and circumstance.

The annual Yuletide festivities - set in beautiful downtown Glendale - are boasting high-profile appearances by popular actor Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter series), Award-Winning Grammy Artist Peabo Bryson, and the La Canada High School Marching Band.

Guests will be treated to a dazzling dance routine by DWTS Mark Ballas!

And, celebrated Musical Director - Gerald Sternbach - will also present a special musical performance by the cast of  Cinderella (A Christmas Story).

See 'ya there!

Freddie Stroma

(Harry Potter)

http://www.thetattler.biz