Fave album covers

I have always loved the artistic and unusual album covers from some of those 70's albums. Over the years (from the early 1970's) my brother, sister and myself have acquired quite a collection of LP's that I am hoping some day will be worth quite a bit. I am just guessing but over the years we probably have collected about 1,000 albums and this excludes our CD collection and 45's.

I remember that there were some album covers that I loved to draw. I would spend time drawing these album covers on tracing paper and then coloring them in to match the actual album cover - my faves were Rare Earth and Kiss's Love Gun. Both are ranked in my top 10.

The Kiss album covers were always my favorite from Love Gun, to Destroyer to Double Platinum and to the solo album covers of each of the band members - they were so colorful and artsy (well at that time I considered them artsy heheheheh!).

But times have changed - CD covers now are sometimes just - well - let's say they lack the luster of albums pass.

As far as I can remember these are my fave album covers. They really are my personal faves and most of them are on the list based on the experience they have given me and of course - my love for rock N' roll baby.

10. Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf

This album cover tricked me a bit. At that time I was very religious and this album was really scary to me....so I was expecting some hard rock/metal music. But then when I played this album - it was like - OMG - it's so dramatic and seemed larger than life - "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" - classic rock.

9. Destroyer - Kiss

I just loved this band - they were such a big part of me growing up. I was really a Kiss fanatic - I had the wig, make-up, posters, comics, dolls - you name it. And I knew all of their songs - I just loved this band.

This album cover was just so much fun - they seemed like super heroes to me.

8. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin

Something about this album cover is dark and it's almost as if it's a different world. It does leave some thought to one's imagination. I remember this album from our collection and looking at it and thinking - WTF....

7.  On the Radio - Donna Summer

When my brother was getting married, my sister decided that she would wear a dress just like this one that Donna is wearing on the album cover - floral pattern and all. Well - it looked great and hey - it was the 80's then!

6. One World - Rare Earth

I really don't know why I loved drawing this album cover over and over - maybe it was the simplicity; or maybe I loved the way the hair was drawn or maybe the color. But I really like this album.

5. Boston - Boston

Boston baby - the music on this album is completely awesome. "More Than A Feeling" is actually my favourite rock song ever. Now back to the album cover - colorful, different and had great visual appeal. Plus I was into Star Wars and anything with some spaceship on it had me sold.

4. Love Drive - Scorpions

Loved this - being young and impressionable anything with some forbidden parts borne had me sold. This cover is kinda kinky and left alot to my imagination. This album has one of my favorite rock ballads on it - "Holiday".

3. Love Gun - Kiss

I loved this album cover - I spent so much time tracing and coloring the pictures I had drawn. I also had a Love Gun puzzle.

2. Born in The USA - Bruce Springsteen

What's not to like - it is simple and to the point. I dressed like this in the 80's so the picture reminded me a bit of myself.


1. Candy - O - The Cars

I always loved the raw sexiness of this album cover. Off the top of my head - the model on this picture was actually painted by Alberto Vargas who did work for Playboy. The initial painting had shown some pubic hair of the model but was later "brushed" out for the fear that it would be too controversial for the US market. Co-incidentally, the name of the actual model is "Candy".

I always said that I would love to have this picture on my living room wall - it is really a great conversation piece.

Well peeps - there you go. Hope you enjoy!

Duran Duran Duran Duran (so good had to say it twice!)

The awesome 80's.....One of my fave bands was and still is "Duran Duran". Everything about this band was cool - from their name; their avant garde style and music; their look; the way they dressed and the fact that every single released was so good.....

I first heard Duran Duran in 1981 on radio with a song called "Planet Earth" and then saw the video on MTV in 1981 or 82 - this was before the band broke big in the US.

The first pic is Classic 80's and the second is approx 20 years later. They still look great!

In the UK, they were "the happening" thing and they had a number of Top 40 hits in the U.K. before crossing the Atlantic to the US. In the 80's there was a radio programme called "the Hot 100" which was about 6 hours long and played tracks from the US 100 and also the UK Top 40 - so I heard Duran Duran before they were big in the US.



My sister had bought a "Top of the Pops" yearbook for 1981/82 which featured some amazing posters of the big bands cracking Top 10 in the U.K. I remember this book had some awesome pics of Siouxie; Japan; Adam and the Ants; and of course - Duran Duran.

Once I saw a pic of this band I immediately became a fan - they were slick looking and all so very gorgeous to look at (I liked John Taylor - ummmmmm!). Back then their music was described as "Avant Garde" which I though was quite appropriate given the unique new wave/pop sound they had which can also be played in clubs and discos. The term also fit in well with their unique and new wave style of fashion - they were trendy; hot and well.....purely fashionable. (They were also part of that "New Romantic" movement from the 80's with bands like Spandau Ballet; ABC and Haircut 100).

The band also became a staple on MTV and "Hungry Like the Wolf" was put on Heavy Rotation. The video - I won't say anymore - if ever you were a fan of MTV you would probably agree with me that this video made you want to be a sexy rock star. The hot model rising out of the water; the heat and Simon LeBon looking all so sexy in khakis.

For me...I think this video was definitive MTV and 80's. My cousin saw them in 1984 in NY at Madison Square Garden and I was jealous - I keep looking for their touring dates and I keep missing them. But one day I will see them (hoping :)).
The Reflex was also a great music video especially when the crowd gets wet!

Princess Diana also said that Duran Duran is her favourite band (back then) - mines too!

As far as my collection goes - I have Rio; Seven and the Ragged Tiger and Arena on LP. And the rest as CD's or cassettes (yes it was the 80's and I had a cassette player).

Album cover - Rio. A special artist was commissioned to paint this cover. I think it was avant garde and modern.

Album cover - 7 and the Ragged Tiger (I think the seven refers to the 5 band members; their 2 managers 

Album cover - Arena (featuring wild boys)

The rest is history really - the band had two # 1 hits in the US (A View to A Kill and The Reflex) and numerous Top 10 and 20 hits like Hungry Like the Wolf; Rio; Save A Prayer; Wild Boys; The Reflex; Is There Something I should Know etc. They were one of the mos popular bands in the 80's and they had some charting success in the 90's as well with tracks like Ordinary World; Come Undone; and Reach Up. They are still popular on the touring circuit in the US and their shows are usually sold out (and I would know because I could never get a ticket).

The 12" single for "The Reflex" - the band's 1st US number 1 single. Also as far as I can recall this might have been the first single that a special remix was released as a single and hit number 1.

The band also had a number of side projects ranging from solo projects to hybrib bands. Andy Taylor had a Top 40 hit; and Arcadia comprises was a 3 member band comprising Simon LeBon; John Taylor and Nick Rhodes. They had a Top 10 hit with "Election Day" (from the album "So Red the Rose").

Over the decades they the band went through some band member changes from the original 80's members (Simon; Nick and the 3 Taylors); to a threesome; back to 5 and now down to 4.

In conclusion, here are my Top 7 Duran Duran songs (7 as in Seven and the Ragged Tiger) (heheheh):

7) Is There (Something I Should Know)

6) New Moon On Monday

5) Save A Prayer

4) Ordinary World

3) The Reflex

2) Rio

1) Hungry Like the Wolf

As if this blog wasn't already long enough - here are some interesting tid bits and further thoughts on Duran Duran:

- the band got it's name from a character in a movie called "Barbarella" (later on the band sang a song called "Electric Barbarella" which I like);

- the band did Live Aid in 1985 (I even remember the band performance);

- they did a strip down concert on VH-1 storytellers which is my fave episode on the series (I remember the crowd going wild when they did Hungry Like the Wolf);

- the three "Taylors" in the band - Roger; Andy and John - are not related (as far as I know).

- on the video for "Wild Boys" there was a malfunction on one of the equipment and Simon almost drowned.

- Over the years there have been many band changes - one totally new member was ex-Missing Persons guitarist Warren Cuccorullo. Apparantly they have made a mould of his cock for - well you know what - he must be one hot naturally endowed man. He also posed in the buff for gay magazine "G". Ummmm - I'd like to see that.

Peeps - thanks for reading my long blog.

Fragility

Wow - what a day!

As you may (or may not) have known - I have been having some back issues, so I have been missing the gym. As such - I had my Saturday opened up so I had brunch with my good friend - the morning was fun, we had lots of coffee and some friends popped by at our favourite brucnch locale - Cimbocco.

The day passed by - I took my pain killers and the day moved along nicely until my friend whom I had brunch with texted me and said that he had checked himself into the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing....and it might be heart related.

We were chatting about this at brunch but really thought it was stress induced.  The doctors wanted to keep him overnight just for observation.

Whilst we were waiting in the lobby - the doors of the ER room busted open and a father came running in with his (I an guessing) 6 year old daughter in his hand running into the hospital followed by her two brothers and mother. Except for the dad - they were all crying and bawling. It turned out that the little girl had died.

Something felt weak inside in me - these things really impact on you and makes you realise that you have no idea when you may go - and especially for your kids. It makes life seem so fragile and well.....unpredictable!

Peeps - make peace with all!

Things that make you go.......ummm!

Two things this past week!

1) even with my broke back I still chanced it and went to the gym!

Well no regret because while in my spin class there was a sexy cutie on the bike in front! Ummmmm! Blonde, tall (6 foot 3) a great ass and gorgeous hairy legs to just look at! Then to make it better I saw his face and it was worth the pain...cute and he had a nice beard! He was so hot on the stretches!

And;

2) I was at the liquor store and this hot guy drove by and waved and smiled at me!
Wowie!

I did not know him but his smile made my day!

Ok peeps hope you have a "ummmmm!" moment today. -

My Broke Back

This week was a bit tough - mainly because I pulled a muscle in my lower back and it is now inflamed and painful....but most importantly - I have missed one of my fave pass times - the gym :(.

I will leave it up to your imagination to figure out how my back got the way it did. But all in all - I have been walking like an old man and I can' bend more than 20 degrees forward.

I spent two days at the chiropracter before finally going to a GP. I felt more comfortable going to the GP as immediately they diagnosed the situation, I got pain killers and I also got a muscle relaxant. Before these pills my sleep was painful and I felt my something like an electric shock running down my body to my legs. I was in pain - not chronic but it was still a bit of pain.
The GP also recommended physio-therapy and I had my 1st session today - it went very well. Back seems to be better.

Since this back thing I have been going to bed early and looking at Supernatural 4 on my portable DVD - at least watching it gets my mind off the discomfort. I hope I am better for Saturday night - I can't wait to have me some wine or vodka crans.

Peeps - be careful @ the gym!

Memory of My 1st VMA

It was 1984, WLIR was thriving, A Nightmare on Elm Street launched and introduced us to the sexy Johnny Depp. I was longing for vinyl - my playlist (just thinking about it from the top of my head) included some of the following:

- Howard Jones - New Song / What Is Love 


- Paul Young - Come Back and Stay / Love of the Common People


- Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It be Good / I Won't Let the Sun Go Down On Me / Wide Boy


(My sister and I thought of the above three as the Holy Trio - they seemed to release albums co-terminoulsy and whenever we bought albums there were the new albums from these 3 acts)


- Depeche Mode - People Are People / Master and Servant / Blasemphous Rumours

(These were from "Some Great Reward" - an amazing album that gave DM there 1st US pop charting single)

- Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun / Time After Time

- Culture Club - everything on "Colours by Numbers" (Album);

- Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax (see my previous post on the gay overtones of the video www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=4405774850372757775)

- Bronski Beat - 'nuff said - this band was like the first "gay boy band" (see my previous post about this band's 1st album and the meaning behind the "Age of Consent"www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=4405774850372757775)

- Night Ranger - Sister Christian);

- Van Halen - Jump

- Duran Duran - The Reflex / New Moon on Monday;

- Billy Joel - Everything on the classic album "An Innocent Man";

- Bruce "the BOSS" Springsteen - everything on "Born in the U.S.A."

- Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days

- The Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again;

- Alphaville - Big In Japan

- Billy Idol - Rebell Yell / Eyes Without a Face;

- Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now / Doctor Doctor

- Don Henley - Boys of Summer

- AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON.....and many more!!!!!!!

MADONNA - EVERYTHING ON "LIKE A VIRGIN"


PRINCE - "PURPLE RAIN"


WHAM! - YEAH BABY - FOR ME THE BEST POP SONG OF ALL TIME IS "WAKE ME UP 
BEFORE YOU GO-GO (I WILL JUSTIFY IN A SEPARATE POST)

These artists were all over MTV, WLIR and radio - maybe with the exception of Frankie Goes to Hollywood - the video was initially banned and the 1st time around "Relax" did not even crack Top 40. But you can't keep a good track down - eventually this song re-bounded and gained momentum and cracked Top 10 - MTV had a part to pay in this!

But I have saved the best for last!

The first VMA's  - speaking (again) of the "top of my head" could only remember two things :

1) "The Cars" won Best Video for "You Might Think"l\; and

2) Madonna's killer performance of "Like A Virgin". See link below to you-tube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg7sgaCDk7c

I had a poster of Madonna from the 1984 VMA's of her in that white dress and that classic "Boy Toy" belt buckle. This was just the tip of the iceberg and this woman pushed buttons and taboo like no other artist I can think of - and for me  - isn't this the essence of an (pop) artist - there is no one like her and no one can compare! (at this point I am thinking I want a gay bay to go "strut my stuff" to some classic Madonna!

But all in all - MTV had first aired in 1981 with it's 1st hour of music including - "Video Killed the Radio Star" which was the 1st video ever aired on MTV. I also remember reading about 20 years ago in Billboard that the 1st hour also inclued Pat Benatar and Rod Stewart - YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!

(PS: I love Pat Benetar - I always practised the drumming to "Fire and Ice" on my first drum set when I was like 10).

I LOVE YOU (80's - MTV).

ROCK ON - you introduced me to so much great music like .... Berlin (the Metro); the Bangles before they were big; Tears for Fears on Change and Mad World; and made so many artists simply with the power of music video - like A-ha & Duran Duran and you are a pop icon of anyone in the 80's and who loves 80's music.

LOVE YA!

Peeps - hope u njoy!

Put Them In the ...... Iron Maiden

I don't think that any decade was as diverse as the 80's - from new wave, to R&B, to modern rock, to glam metal, pop, metal......you name it - it was all in the 80's.

My brother was into the hard rock and it rubbed off on me...one of my favorite from the 80's was Iron Maiden. To back track a bit....the 80's had some serious hard rock/metal bands that really just spanned the 80's - as quickly as it came in - it evolved into "pop metal" (e.g. Bon Jovi and Poison) and then eventually became subdued as hard rock, before giving way into "alternative-hard rock/metal" in the 90's and it's various derivative forms (nu-metal; hard alternative; grunge; industrial).

(Another reason why I name my blog "LHB" - in the 80's I had a crew cut and really had no dreads to head bang with)!

But where did it all get started? As far as I can tell....the term "Heavy Metal" was used by Steppemwolf in their classic song "Born to be Wild". The lyrics go ....... "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder...."

I sort of describe the 80's metal scene as "cheesy" - and I don't mean that in a derugatory way - I actually love 80's metal (bands like "Accept"; "Lee Aaron"; "Fates Warning"; "Queensryche").

Bands like AC/DC, Rush, Metallica and of course one of my many favorites - G N' R were some of the top metal acts to come out of the 80's. Along with Whitesnake, Europe, Poison, White Lion and Bon Jovi (who were the poppier side of metal).

AC/DC's "Back in Black" spawned the title track "Back in Black" which is a rock staple and one bad-ass tune. Also there was "You Shook Me All Night Long", which can still be heard today in movies and any 80's party.

Rush - prog rock re-incarnated in the 80's - classic tracks like Tom Sawyer; Closer to the Heart; Limelight and New World Man were great tracks that helped define that "behind the scenes" metal/hard rock scene of the 80's. Of course a further re-incarnation of prog in the 90's/2000's includes bands like "A Perfect Circle"; "Coheed and Cambria" and "Mars Volta".

Guns and Roses and Metallica - well I won't even get started here on these bands - I will blog about them separately.

So back to my theme - the "Iron Maiden". In my room I had two flags up - one of "Pushead" from "Metallica" and the other was of the cover from Iron Maiden's album entitled "Killers". I also had numerous posters of the bands cover, which usually featured their mascot "Eddie" in various forms.

Eddie became a symbol of the band and also of hard rock/metal-heads. Where there is a rocker - then there would be Eddie (some really clever marketing which became synomous with the Band).

Check out the below link to you tube which shows Eddie in various reincarnations:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=eddie+iron+maiden&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=_DGySo7rHJPclAeB5YGUDw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4#

The band had a signature style and as I listened I realised that the bass and lead guitars were playing the same notes in sync and in some cases they matched the tune of the drum...which created a symphony which was really not too characteristic of hard rock/metal bands in the 80's.

It might all sound .... well - just take a listen to the song "Phantom of the Opera" you will understand what I am speaking about, and also the bassline on the track "Killers".

Well...hoping not to make this post too long so that you get bored and say...."WTF is this dude rambling about" - I just want to conclude with my Top 5 Iron Maiden songs from the 80's.....

5. Hallowed Be Thy Name
4. Run to the Hills
3. Phantom of the Opera
2. Killers
1. Number of the Beast

PS: I don't want anyone to get me wrong here - I love rock, but I also love to go to Church!

Thanks peeps!

True Blood - that was Nuckin Futs!!!

OK - I think True Blood is a breath of fresh air to TV - it's hot, full of sexy people, the most unusual beginning of any TV show; great music; and of course, sexy cutie vampires - one of my favorite themes.

But what was up with Season 2 and in particular the last episode? I mean.....Eggs is a super fine sexy mofu but jeez....he was driving me crazy last night.....whining and bitchin'. Not even that hot body and gorgeous face could get me off how annoying he was. And Jason - what's up dude - shooting Eggs? What a ditz - he might be hot and sexy (especially in those white briefs from Season 1) - but they made him out to be really "dumb" in Season 2.

And can someone please put Tara out of her misery? Please?????

Bill and Sookie were hot in the final episode and Eric as usual - but all these back deals with the Queen? I don't think I can take much more. Also Season 1 had a bit more interesting vamps - and they also showed some hot scenes in Fangtasia - but this was not really present in Season 2.

Bill looks like a rock star (well....a mature one who has had a long career)

Sexy Eric - ummmm

Also - there was less of LaFayette - I like him and I wish they could have shown more of him in Season 2.

I think the best thing in Season 2 was Sam....he looked so hot all naked standing there after "horning" to death Marianne. Ummmm....

All in all - True Blood is hot, but I thought Season 2 lacked the intrigue and sexual taboos that were present in Season 1 e.g. Season 1 had alot of gay overtones from gay vamps; to a senator getting blow jobs from LaFayette and for V; and also remember LaFayette's gay web cam? These were things that made the characters really fun and dark (and a bit humourous)! There was also a male vamp who preferred males....

But Season 2 also pushed the buttons - with all of the sex orgies which seemed to be present in about 5 episodes in a row - but it just seemed a bit, well...."tasteless"

Also, we got to know Sam a bit better, and we were introduced to a darker Eric. Tara remained the same - weak and full of problems relating to her life and her mother. And there was the Queen and Bill's maker also entering the picture along with Godrick (who seemed to be the only vampire with a sense of emotion and heart). Jessica's character developed a bit...and I do find her hot with that sexy red hair and great lips.

Let's see what Season 3 brings....

Peeps - ltrs!

9/11

9/11 - An unforgettable day in history. That morning I remember I was on my way to work at PwC when the news hit. I was at my parents and we just stayed in and looked at the news coverage over and over and over. We were all in complete awe - I could not believe what I was seeing on TV. Immediately I felt weak inside and was about to cry - the images on screen were just so horrendous.

My immediate thoughts were....OMG! Who in God's name would do something like this....who would want to kill so many innocent lives. We all know the story thereafter. America is still paying the hefty price of the war on terror.

One image that is stuck in my head was that of those people jumping off the WTC. I don't really want to drag on because the thoughts of such really makes me sad and also angry at the same time.

9/11 also struck me in 2004. On 9/11 in Cayman, hurricane Ivan a category 4/5 hurricane had passed over Cayman and destroyed everything in it's path. There was so much flooding and water over the island that the entire island was actually submerged and was not visible by satellite.

I was at home with some of my friends and really we have been through 2 warnings earlier in the season, that we really did not take this one too seriously (talk about crying wolf). But....boy oh boy....we all lost everything. For me it was my apartment and car.

My 9/11 story was that of myself; Victor; Anthony; Darren; Tracy; Rob and Pauline all in my apartment, with all four walls shaking...I prayed so hard that the roof and the walls would not give way. Luckily we were safe in the room we were in. In my spare bedroom, the roof had caved in from the amount of water falling on the roof. The water came straight through the top floor and the ground floor was flooded to about 3 feet. We were one of the lucky ones.....

The aftermath was bad as well....but....that's another story....

We all suffered through - I have seen a grown man cry; one of my friends needed professional help due to the drama. Some were strong - I was praying to God more often than I did.

All in all - I lost so much. Ivan left me almost broke as everything I owned I had to buy back and really start from scratch. Now we are in hurricane season, and I keep my fingers cross.

Rob Zombie - Me Scared

If someone was to ask me - what's some of the scariest movies I have seen in recent times - there would be two that would come to mind - "The House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects". Both are from filmmaker Rob Zombie.

The first left me scared to go to bed by myself and haunted my memories about being lost in a small town in the middle of America where the population is 100. (That's why I travel to big cities only....hehehehe - San Fran here I come). The characters were sick, demented and just plain crazy (I would run from the looks of such folks).

The other was disturbing and sick as s**t. I have not seen such a demented and twisted movie - I mean the things that were in that movie - it had me scared and wanting to sleep with my eyes open - it was gruesome  and still scares me when I think about it.

In "House" I knew that everyone was just going to be dead at some point, but the ending of this movie - OMG it still gives me chills when I think about it and I saw it 8 years ago. With Rejects I saw this in City Walk, Orlando with one of my friends because we could not get in to see another movie - man, it scared the living be-jesus out of me!

I think the reason is the gore in Zombie's films, and also the actors he selects - they are really some ugly and bad-looking mo-fu's.

Part of the reason I am writing this is that one of my favorite movies is Halloween and its sequel "Halloween II", and Rob has just released Halloween II and I am wanting to see it and also a part of me does not want to. I have decided that I would like to go by myself just in case I scream like a girl.
(Rob also directed the re-make of Halloween as well).

Just like weekend I saw "Final Destination 4" and I was hiding my face for most of the show. With Rob's movies I want to see all in it, but I know that at night I would have to sleep with my Rosary as comfort.

Peeps - Ciao.

Lehman - One Year After

Yesterday was one year following the collapse of Lehman Brothers - one of the oldest and most recognised financial institutions in America  and the World.

I remember the first half of 2008 as being really good in my line of work - companies were doing great, stock prices were moderate and money was there to be made. The symptoms in the economy was creeping in - the mortgage crisis, a vampire-sucking war in the Mid-East; losing faith in the Bush Administration; Bear Stearns collapsing along with AIG and also the impending election - Obama was to be the hope of America tomorrow?

When Lehman came crashing down and the US Government did not announce a bail out - I knew we were in trouble at work - uncertainty, anxiety and a whole angst of feelings would be and had creep in. All of a sudden I felt "uneasy" and for the first time I was thinking - "OMG - it's a recession, I need to cut back".

My lifestyle as a single; life-loving; sometimes social; (sometimes anti-social) male was really not inhibited by cash or cash flow - I really was all about spending without a care. After all the loss of income and job security was really not part of my vocabulary. But since Lehman happened I am thinking twice about how I spend my mula.

I did not think in my time I would say the word or even experience it - but here I would mention that dreaded work, which for better or worse has left me with a sense of "uneasiness" and "fear" - that word - "RECESSION".

From an offshore perspective - the impact compared to the US or Europe has been a bit delayed - we weren't hit immediately with the threat of a loss of job or job security - or an immediate need for cut-back, but the "flu" has caught on.

Living in Cayman boasts a lifestyle and per capita income that may be on par or even above par of the US and Europe (believe it or not) - but now - everyone has to really think about how and where the spend their hard earnings. The symptoms now have far reaching economic and social implications that leaves this once crime-free and safe island with a blanket of crime - and I now feel vunerable.

What have I learned from Lehman -

1) We are all vunerable;
2) The world is all interlinked - whatever happens in the United States affects all and everyone;
3) Save; save and save
4) Love what you have and appreciate it - don't take your job for granted; and
5) In times of difficulty remember the man upstairs.

Peeps - laters and take care!

(You) Shook Me All (Friday) Night Long

Friday was an unexpected blast.

It seems that once there are too many things on in Cayman at the same time - one place suffers at the expense of the other. Friday was "full moon party" on the beach. A great place too get naked and go skinny dipping if you've had too many vodka crans (not that I have ever done it - hahahaha!). And also major cuties half naked and looking fine as the alcohol consumption increases.

Bamboo was one of those places that suffered. Me and Jon arrived (via cab - we are sensible on a Friday night) to a less than populated bar and was wishing we had gone to the beach party instead. Ah well - I was too well dressed and it was kinda hot outside (welcome to the Caribbean man!).

Well - the vodkas were flowing nicely and later on in the night Kim, Victor, and the entire crew joined in. All in all -  a great night with too many drunk folks.

Here are some pics - hope you like.

Vic, Stu (two Scotsmen) and Jon (one Englishman)

Stu was visiting from the U.K. and was getting really pissed (or as the Brits say - trolleyed). 

Some "intoxicated" Scots. The blonde in the back is Mark (an Irishman)

Boys on (sorry mean "at") the side. 

 The bar staff had to work hard to keep up with our drinks (heheheheh). Tara being a good sport - more vodkas please! :)

A school boy/girl party was happening at the side - some posers.

It was interesting conversation with Stu - we were talking about why the 35+ single males are just that -"single". Stu's theory is that with us Generation X'ers we were perfectionists and it is easy for a guy to walk away if he isn't happy in a relationship (of course heterosexually speaking).

My theory is that once a guy reaches 35+ it becomes difficult to date - "WYSIWYG" is my theory - i.e. What You See Is What You Get. It is difficult to change and as such, then a guy can just move on to another relationship.

Well whatever it is - blah - maybe we are both nuts - maybe its the alcohol - maybe my chaos theory is correct - i.e. there is  no rhyme or reason to love - only madness.

Anyway peeps - rock on!

Which Rock Star Are U?

Was having lunch with my baby today at Abacus - great restaurant - I had the Thai Red Curry with Lychees (ummmm) and my sexy man had the spicy shrimp quesadillas with cous cous (also ummmm). We were chatting with the bar maid about "if you were a rock star - who would you be?".

The bar maid said Fergie because she is married to Josh Duhamel (hot and sexy). I answered "Ozzie" - why - I guess everyone love's Ozzie - he is rock and roll at it's core.

Are well - which rock star are you?

My Favourite Drummers

So I was home having a late dinner tonight...did gym and cooked...and playing iTunes when the Smashing Pumpkins came on with Cherub Rock. I got to thinking....who are my fave drummers in Rock N' Roll - the top two came instantly - but the rest took some mind searching. Here's what I came up with as my Top 5:

5. Jimmy Chamberlin - Smashing Pumpkins

- Big fan of the band from Gish and onwards.  Jimmy is really the only "modern rock" musician here - and his style is full of energy. Seems to remind me of the chaos in the world today.

4. Stewart Copeland (The Police)

- Drumming and snare on "Walking on the Moon" seems to be one step behind bass but this seems characteristic of early Police. Also "Message in A Bottle" - makes it sound as if the drums are "impromptu" and "unpredictable". Love that style. Stewart's drumming always sounds like he is having fun.

3. Keith Moon (The Who) 

- Won't Get Fooled Again - amazing drums baby! Keith was a wild man and I just can't say anything about his drumming - it was perfect! Sometimes I think that Keith's drumming is some sort of intricate puzzle with some pattern in there that cannot be easily deciphered.

2. Neil Peart - Rush (can you mimic "Tom Sawyer")

- Wow - prog rock really describes Neil's sound on the drums. It marches to a beat of it's own. 

1.  John Bonham (Zepplin baby!)

- It was tuff trying to decide between #1 and #2. But I choose John because I found his style quite sensual and bluesy....traditional in a sense and never boring.

As a side note - both John Bonham and Keith Moon died at age 32. Coincidental for 2 of the most highly regarded and influential drummers in rock history?

Anyway peeps - laters for now!