Oh Those Guys!

Nick Cave
{this is such a great shot}

Ted Phelps of Imperative Reaction

Syd Barrett

Till Lindemann of Rammstein

Ryan Gosling

Ogre

Lee Pace

Jamie Hince of the Kills

Tim Skold

Ian Curtis

Jon Hamm

Cillian Murphy

Benicio Del Toro

Joaquin Phoenix

^_^

15 Years Ago...

On April 5th 1994, Kurt Cobain killed himself. Or so they say. His body was discovered on April 8th but 'they' said he had been dead for days. And April 5th is the day that they estimate he ended his life. He was only 27 years old. You know how people knew exactly where they were/what they were doing when important (yet tragic) events happened like when JFK was assassinated or when 9/11 happened? Well, this was one of those moments in my life, as I'm sure many people of my generation. And it was interesting because I happened to be watching TV (MTV to be exact) when I first heard the news.

I was over at my cousin's house and we were watching Woodstock '94 and then there was 'breaking news' all of a sudden. They said the unfortunate news and I can't remember too much after that THAT day. But I do remember driving with my other cousin's wife later that day and she heard of the news too and she was like he's about "___" age (her husband). She also said it was sad that he had a baby too. Frances Bean Cobain was only 1-2 years old. I felt very sad for her that she would grow up without her dad.

Then there's speculation speculation speculation. Why did he do it? Did his wife Courtney Love do it? All kinds of rumors. And the thing with most suicides is--->it's hard to know exactly why someone did it, even with a suicide note. Back to rumors for a sec, people even said he had too much heroin in his system to pull the trigger. Again, who knows for sure?

So I'd like to talk about what he did for music for a little bit now. Believe it or don't believe it, he changed things with "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The day that song came out, music went into a completely new direction. "Grunge" & "Alternative" music was born. I got the album NEVERMIND a couple months after it came out and it was my first introduction to this kind of sound. I remember listening to the tape (yes, THE CASSETTE!) over & over again. Think I wore it out. Then came a flood of new music out of Seattle as well as other alternative bands like the STP, Bjork, Breeders, & Smashing Pumpkins, who ended up being my favorite band throughout high school (1994-97).

I remember my friend Jenny and I used to wonder what things would be like in 10-20 years after his death. Both how would our lives be and how would music & life in general be. And I have to say I think music is in desperate need of a change. And has needed a BIG change for quite a while. I'm talking about 'mainstream' music more so. I don't listen to the radio at all these days & that was a big source for music for me back in high school. I find out about new music in other ways nowadays but things just aren't the same. It's kinda depressing...

Example: turn on MTV right now & I can almost guarantee you'll see anything BUT a music video. Kurt Cobain would be turning over in his grave if he saw the state of the music industry right now. I can't distinguish one band from the next...I think it's sad.

The above pic is of Frances Bean Cobain. She's so pretty. She looks a lot like her mom but I can see Kurt Cobain's features too...mainly her lovely blue eyes. It's terrible that she never got to know her dad and she's probably had (and continues) to hear a lot of crap about both of her parents. I hope she'll turn out well and live a normal life. I think that's what her dad would've wanted most of all for her. RIP Kurt Cobain.

One of my fave Nirvana songs off of their last CD In Utero

The Tree Show Art Book

Mark Ryden news again. just found this out. i think i overlooked it when i did my previous post (1st know, i said that this book made me want to cry cuz i couldn't get it...mainly cuz i have most, if not all, of his books). BIG "doh!!!" so now i'm very excited that i'll probably be able to get my hands on a copy of this. it won't be signed but it's still gonna be an awesome book regardless i'm sure! this sweet book will be available in wide release through bookstores as well as online distributors on February 1st. so if you want one, i suggest getting on it fast...cuz they always sell out in no time!

(his website said it's going to be limited to 12,500 copies which prob includes the ones he will sign the day before it's wide release.)

UPDATE @ 3:45 PM-I just preordered this lovely book off Amazon for $26 bucks. not a bad deal for 128 pages. Again, if you're interested in this book, I suggest getting it soon. I can promise you it won't be around long. (and Amazon usually has the best prices for books.)

For more info click HERE

Oh to be in sunny California some days...

just found something out. great news for peeps living in california (LA to be exact) but sucky for peeps like me in good ol' isolated michigan. and i don't think there's a way to get my hands on one of these either. not to mention what else is going on there. Soldier aka: Heidi, please go there & get me one! no, but c'mon Mark, leave your state sometime. see why THIS makes me cry (well, not cry but do this >_<)!!! i mean he IS my fave artist EVER. (and this michigan weather is terrible-cold cold & COLD! i need to feel what warm weather is like again.)

wow, peeps really liked Anarchy by KMFDM. i was actually very surprised. i'm so happy you guys enjoyed it! and SKOLD rules...had to throw that in there again!

what a day. typical monday, always a lil' crazy. so i worked for a bit and i wrote a long story inbetween helping peeps. i'm gonna post it on the Despair blogger that i just recently became a contributor for. this sad story is about an old friend and strange events leading up to her...well, that's for you to find out. i was gonna post it today but did you ever hear the old saying "Let things (you write about) sit sometimes." i really think it needs to sit a while. it didn't help that it was hard as heck for me to write an ending that satisfied me...and that could very well change again. endings are usually a b!tch for me. so yeah, it's best for it to not get posted yet. PLUS, i have no desire to sit here & type it all up right now (didn't save it to a memory stick either). it came to about 2 pages typed (but the font was at 14, so maybe it wasn't tooooo long right?!?).

i have a neurologist appointment tomorrow morning. fun stuff. i made it to hopefully get me some relief aka: medication. i been having these terrible migraines that occur about 2-3 days (in a row mind you) a month. i feel kinda nervous about going and i don't know why...just feel that way with doctors sometimes. especially new doctors & going over every little thing, ahh. i just hope he doesn't ask where the pain feels like it's coming from cuz it really feels like my whole head is about to explode. again, >_<...soooo, wish me luck peeps! been needing this appointment for a while. and BIG thanks again diane for telling about what you take. i'm gonna mention that med to him to see what he says, as well as some others i found out about.

OMG, it's a lil' past 9 pm! where does the time go?!? oh, one more thing, i got 2 new followers today-woo hoo! that brings the curious headcount to 13, my second fave number...1st is 6SIX6. NO, not 666...just 6. just wanted to write it like that. night night all. til tomorrow.~

Musical Monday: Anarchy

(i don't typically like blonde boys, but Skold is an exception.)

hi all. and happy monday to you. here's hoping we'll all have a lovely week. o.k. this is my 2nd time around at Musical Monday, hosted by Diane & Jori. the song i chose this week is Anarchy by KMFDM. this song means a lot to me in several ways.

for starters, when my boyfriend and i started to go out we were getting familiar w/one another's styles when it came to movies, music, and that kinda stuff. and i've always liked goth music but never got into anything industrial, (except a lil' bit of NIN), which is more his cup of tea. so about 7 years ago, he said "i think you'll like this song called Anarchy." he gave me KMFDM's Symbols album and low and behold, Anarchy ended up being my favorite song off that CD. must've listened to it a million times & to this day, that song still holds up.

so again, this song means a lot to me basically cuz it was really my first taste of "industrial" music. i didn't think i'd ever like that kind of music or really get it. and some is still very hard/loud to listen to. but overall this new type of music (for me) opened up my eyes or ears(?) to many bands to come like...Skinny Puppy, Ohgr, Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface, etc...whom i all like very much.

and lastly (and most importantly, ha ha), this song introduced me to my boy Tim Skold. he sings the song, wrote the lyrics, does the music w/Sascha on Anarchy. once i saw his picture i was like "Oh my!" cuz he's super cute. no but seriously i love his work (w/KMFDM, his own band Skold, and Marilyn Manson) and i consider him to be one of my fave musicians ever. (Damn Mike for being able to see him live with Ohgr! I only saw Skold when he was in Marilyn Manson but he was a million feet away-i was in the balcony, ugh!)

so i am really looking forward to his new project/CD called Skold Vs. KMFDM. i can only hope this means he's back to work w/Sascha for a while (cuz MM & him are done, thank God! preferred him w/KMFDM for many reasons). or maybe if he atleast does some solo stuff because i really want to see him live/meet him one day. that would rule! i love everything about him, especially his great (sexy) voice. sorry for the ramblings but Skold (as he's usually called) is one of my BIG loves. ;}

my video below. sorry! i honestly couldn't find anything showing KMFDM because there's not many good "videos"/live clips for this song. so basically this "video" is a black screen w/Skold's lyrics popping up when he sings. hm, actually it's kinda cool because the lyrics are also VERY important to me...because i love Skold's writing style. Mike has even said that sometimes when i write lyrics for our band that they sound Skold-ish. of course i say "I'm not doing it on purpose!" so he definitely has influenced me and continues to be someone i admire. hope you'll enjoy Anarchy.~

Donnie Darko Revisited

(above: Frank through the looking-glass)

(above: they ALL make up Frank...scary!)

(above: there's my boy in his skeleton outfit!)

yesterday when i came home from work i had this urge to watch The Good Girl...cuz of my boy Jake (i'm too lazy to look up his last name & i can never spell it-or say it-right either!). every now & then i get these urges to watch certain actors/actresses films. and then this morning i was going to get my hair dyed but i didn't realize how much snow we got between last night & today. so at 10am it was still coming down...so i scrapped the hair dyeing. soon after that, i had the urge to watch another Jake film...Donnie Darko. i hadn't seen it in a while, and i think i may have only seen it twice. so i watched all 2 hours and 15 minutes of it....

....and damn, i love that movie. Jake is so good (and yeah he's cute!)...and the story is awesome. AND, i really love the music (80's woo hoo-INXS, Duran Duran, Echo, etc...) too. but one thing has always bothered me about watching that film...it's Frank. he scares me still...the way he looks of course and his voice is creepy too. that is such a frightening character...he totally gives me the creepy crawlers...:)

strange thing is i don't really care for the director's 2nd film, Southland Tales. like Donnie Darko, it's a story that involves a lot of characters and the story is...different as well. mike loved it & even said he'd want it on Blu Ray but after i watched it, a while back, i was so confused....and overall didn't want to give it another try. so mike thinks it's kinda weird that i cared for Donnie so much but still won't give any love to Southland. idk, the plot was so confusing to me. :(

so i just wanted to say all that cuz i don't know when i'll be able to get on here next for a post. mike & i are having a friend over so we'll prob do something. well, i'm off to Target in a few...yay, my fave place. so if you're one of the few who hasn't seen Donnie Darko, i highly recommend it...and if you haven't seen it in a while, you should watch it again. such a GOOD movie & Jake is sweeeet! :)

(UPDATE @ 6pm: his last name is: Gyllenhaal. and i spelled it wrong even when looking at the paper, but it's right now!)

Here's Some Donnie Darko Info For Curious Peeps...

Call Me A Copycat but I LOVE Mark Ryden Too!

i just saw someone's posting about Mark Ryden, and i just HAD to say something about him. he is my all-time fave contemporary artist! i have loved him for soooo long. can't even remember when i started liking his work. i have tried over the years to get every book he has put out on his art & i'm very happy w/my collection. fortunately, nothing was ever TOO pricey. unfortunately, since he lives in Cali i've never seen any of his shows or bought anything either, besides books of course. it would be a dream come true to actually own something of his one day. (a girl can dream, right?!?)

AND, he has VERY interesting themes in his art that i find unique & appreciate. these things range from: animals, nature, blood, meat, religion, and overall innocence & beauty (mainly of young girlies). the colors are wonderful and the frames are even gorgeous. you can tell he puts a ton of thought into each piece of work. and again, i appreciate that as both an artist & fan of his work. he is definitely an inspirartion. (i could blab all day about him!) but i feel like his world is my world sometimes...it's so...lovely. ;}

so the pic i chose is of an all girls compilation he did the cover for. i LOVE it & even bought the record (not CD!) because i wanted to kinda have a piece of his art, so i guess i own something he did, right? and my boyfriend has some Jack Off Jill & Scarling CD's he did cover art for, so does that count? no, i know it really doesn't. but still, he rules & i look forward to his art with every new theme. last was BLOOD, now i don't know what it could be...hm...curiouser & curiouser.~

Gush Gush & Gush Some More!

yay! i was so happy to find mr. gosling's band's video this morning. i really didn't know much about his band. all i really knew was 1) he played guitar 2) he dj's at a club in california 3) he made a song & it's on his website (but i never found that website). so i was excited to see/hear this music. and it's so good! i'm not just saying that cuz i think he's a wonderful actor or cutie pie, but the music's truly good & completely MY kinda style. their MySpace says they music is: Gothic/Gospel/Showtunes. & that their influences are: disney's haunted mansion, doo woop, and 60's girls' groups. i find that funny & cool. plus his bandmate & him sound great together-the drums are cool, piano sounds lovely, and ryan's voice is both dark & lounge-y. ooo, love it all!

yeah, gush gush gush! sorry peeps, BUT this song/video made my week. ever have that happen? something small that's just makes your day...or week? i am in total love with it at the moment. (big swoon) i even found the mp3 & now have it both on mike's itunes & on a CD-R, yay! (*kinda-obsessed eve*) ;}

i was gonna add on to my previous post (of dead man's) but my work computer is acting funny & i can't add on to previous posts. finding this lil' thing is just kinda weird cuz i had a dream about him, watched his film yesterday, and then strangely found his video today. should i be doing a Gosling Blogger at this point?! i don't mean to gush so much (these last few days) but i can't help that he's my fave actor. and he's SO overlooked...so of course, i think he deserves more credit. and it's kinda funny that NOW his band has something out, & they happen to be REALLY good. honestly, i'd say if they weren't so good (like vincent gallo), but Ryan's band sounds really great & i can't wait til the CD comes out!~

Here is their MySpace Page, check it out!

Joy Division "Shadowplay" Live

i just finished a Joy Division documentary. it was really REALLY great. it was definitely more informative than Control (film) but still Control was very great as well. it's so terribly sad about Ian Curtis (singer/writer) cuz he was so wonderful & talented. but he truly was a tortured soul. i hope he knows how much he did for music. RIP Ian.

quick lil' weird story. a while back while i was walking to my car after work, i saw this boy who looked just like Ian...so eerie. i mean pretty freakin' exact...and he wouldn't look my way & i was definitely staring at him. same style & color hair, clothes, everything. hm....curious...

here's "Shadowplay"...and The Killers have their version of it as well (made for Control), which rocks, but this is the original by Joy Division wayyyy back in the day.

Imperative Reaction LIVE

i saw one of my favorite bands, Imperative Reaction, a little over 2 months ago and am writing about it now. why you ask? simply becuz i didn't have a blogger then & i just wanted to document it before chunks are forgotten. well, it was one of the most surreal moments for me because the whole experience was so incredible. here we go...

Imperative Reaction have been one of my fave bands for a while now and i was beyond excited to see 'em that night. so when mike & i got there we grabbed a booth because it was atleast an hour before the 2 opening bands got on stage. and once one did we still stayed at our booth cuz the music was pretty crappy...as well as the next band. and that ended up being fine because i was able to meet the two 'main' members of the band. the first guy, Clint-he does the keyboards & programming live-just walked by our table & i asked for an autograph on their newest CD Minus All. and funny, a guy asked for one when i was getting mine. Clint was really cool, so that made me happy. but i was really hoping to meet someone else...

then when i was passing through a small & tight hallway they have there to get to the stage, i saw Ted Phelps, the singer/mastermind of the band. i say mastermind cuz IR is his band practically-he does vocals, lyrics, and all the instruments & programming. and the peeps on stage just do what he can't since he's singing...Clint does some extra help on the albums though. anyways i was both surprised & happy to see him, & had to say something. so i gushed to him for a few minutes on how i love the band & if they were playing my fave song that night (and they were!), bla bla bla-the normal girl gushing thing. did i happen to mention he's so cute?! he has black hair & blue eyes...lovely! so yeah, i felt like i was shaking in my boots. then we made our way over to my table and talked some more (gush gush gush), and i got my CD signed. and again, another dude asked him for an autograph while i'm getting mine...what did i start?!!

so Ted was so sweet & humble (and so sexy in person, darn him for being married, & darn mike-j/k!). so i was beyond happy that i got to talk w/him for a bit and got my CD signed-cuz i'm an autograph junkie too! oh, & yeah, i hugged him too...cuz god, i had to. who knows if i'll ever get to talk to him again? had to take advantage of the situation...ha ha. mike said i wasn't gushing but you ever get that feeling you're making a fool out of yourself?!? i feel that way when i meet people who...1) i really admire or 2) are very cute...and he happens to be both!

so the show. it got started LATE. and even though we were at a table until they were about to go on stage, we got a spot right up front, to the left of Ted. so that was awesome. & they were SO awesome live, everything & more that i hoped for. and even during a song i'm sure he pointed at me. i mean it was a pretty small venue & i happened to gush to him an hour or so before so it wasn't too unbelievable. i thought that was funny. OOO, they played so many of my fave songs, and saved the best for last "As We Fall." such a great song.

i took a lot of pics but less than half turned out decent. the one i'm going to use here was my BEST shot. it was so smokey & dark & lights were going everywhere that it was hard to get decent pics. but i got a few. the other pic is my collage i made consisting of the set list (first one i ever got, yay!), album artwork, and my autographs i got that night. so i went home feeling very satisified & thrilled that i met HIM (Ted) and that the show was so freakin' awesome. when i woke up the next day, i just wanted to be back at that concert cuz i waited quite a while to see 'em (i missed 'em last time they came around)...and it just made me SO happy. definitely one of the best times i've ever had. when there's that much anticipation, it makes things so surreal & 10x better cuz you're like "it's really happening." everything was perfect, i couldn't have asked for anything more that night!~

[this clip is from a show a couple weeks before mine, and is one of my fave songs "Closed In."]

Skold Vs. Kmfdm...& Finished For the Night!

i was anxiously awaiting for tim skold to come to his senses & leave marilyn manson, and luckily he did that several months back. then i was wondering, what's he going to do now? he is so awesome that his talents just can't go to waste (he sings, plays guitar & bass, programs, etc..). and so happens to be super cute too!!! so he joined forces again with sascha of KMFDM & will be soon releasing SKOLD VS. KMFDM. this is some of the best news i've heard in a while. !!!@_@!!!

i was pretty pissed because he did an album with KMFDM but then didn't tour for it cuz he joined marilyn manson & was already working on his CD w/him. damn him for making me miss him live! and then when i did see him live (w/marilyn manson), i was a million miles away so again, i was pissed. and he only played bass-no singing. and above all things he does, i love skold's voice SO much!

so i may have to wait a little longer for the CD but atleast i know it's coming out. so as you can imagine, i'm hoping he'll tour for this, and just maybe i'll get to see him & much closer too. and ooo, to meet him would RULE! i can only hope but first, the album! (and from the snippets i've heard so far, it sounds great!) ^_^

FYI: ok, i'm done posting for the day. darn, that's the most posts i've done in a single day so far-6, wow! and to think i was so very lazy this morning...well, it didn't help i was pretty much isolated cuz of the snow all day. basically, i got my 2nd wind & wrote away near the end of the night. i don't know how much i'm gonna post tomorrow cuz i plan to leave home (good but bad if the roads still suck)...and wrap presents. but my plans change so often i could very well post a few things. until then, have a nice night all! xox~

Joaquin's "Last" Film

i am both very excited & sad for joaquin's last film...although i have this gut feeling, he'll be back on the screen before long. he's my 2nd fave actor out there, behind ryan gosling, and i was heartbroken when he announced his early retirement. i just hope he doesn't weird out too much...and will be back once he realizes he did something stupid (he's only in his early thirties, he has so much longer to go!)!!! here's what i found online:

Exclusive: 'Two Lovers' Poster Premiere

16 December 2008 8:32 AM, PST | From Cinematical.com | See recent Cinematical news

Cinematical has received this exclusive poster for Two Lovers, starring Joaquin Phoenix (in his final movie role?), Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw. Directed by James Gray (We Own the Night), Two Lovers is a Brooklyn-set romantic drama that follows a troubled man who returns to his childhood home and falls for two very different women: the lovely and caring family friend (Shaw) and the mysterious, volatile neighbor (Paltrow). Which woman will he choose, and will she set him on a course for happiness or turn him in the complete opposite direction? Two Lovers also stars Isabella Rossellini and Moni Moshonov, and it will arrive in theaters on February 13, 2009.

CANDY...Revisited

(above) Heath Ledger in the film CANDY

this is a really good film. i saw it last year & wanted to see it again. it's about a couple (heath ledger & abbie cornish) who are deeply in love with one another, as well as with a drug...heroin. it's a good story but sad. still both actors do a great job. this is my 2nd fave heath ledger film after The Dark Knight. he's so sweet & freakin' good in it. (oh & he gets to use his 'real voice' cuz it's an australian film too...geoffrey rush is also in it.)
rent it if you can. tragic & sad...but still GREAT. (oh, and heath looks REALLY cute in this one!)

He Got Nominated!

i wasn't gonna post any more today, but i just found out Heath Ledger got a (very well-deserved) golden globe nomination for his performance as the joker in the dark knight. yay yay & yay some more. here's hoping he wins...and gets an ocsar nom too (and WINS!).

heres what i found online (assiociated press) about his nomination:

The year’s biggest hit, the Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” came in with strong awards buzz across the board but had only one nomination, supporting actor for Heath Ledger as the Joker. Ledger died of an accidental prescription drug overdose on Academy Awards nominations day last Jan. 22.
“This nomination is deeply appreciated and is not lost on those of us who continue to love and miss him,” said father Kim Ledger in a statement on behalf of the actor’s immediate family. “We are so proud that our boy’s work is being recognized in this way.”
“Heath was a friend of mine,” said actor Terrence Howard, a presenter at the nominations ceremony. “He gave his all in that film. I think he will win in that category. He’ll also get an Oscar.”

Alice In Wonderland by Tim Burton

since my page is very alice in wonderland themed, i would like to talk about the film that is rumored to be in the making soon. and that is tim burton's alice in wonderland. this is like a dream come true to me in several ways. 1) tim burton is my all-time fave director 2) alice in wonderland is one of my fave things EVER 3) to take a dark spin on this is gonna be wonderful because people don't really know that the book(s) that disney's alice is based off of is quite dark & twisted. and i love twisted things...and hm, how should i word this-i LOVE "gothic" things. & tim burton knows dark, twisted, & goth things better than any other film director out now!!!

so it is confirmed NOW that the great johnny depp will be playing the mad hatter (so awesome!). happy happy joy joy!!! (BIG thanks to LUNA for the concept pic of mr. depp) i'm going to guess on the other BIG characters: queen of hearts-prob going to be played by tim's wife, helena bonham carter. and how about alice, sweet alice? i'd say dakota fanning or anna sophia robb. helena would make an awesome Queen...and as for alice i chose these young girls, not only cuz Alice is blonde, but because i could actually picture either of them playing her. but anything could happen with tim burton...the girl could have pitch black hair or she could be an adult for all i know. i guess we'll have to wait and see.

OH & prob my fave character of ALICE, the cheshire cat. i love Disney's Cheshire Cat...and seeing him dark & twisted for the computer game several years ago kinda was creepy & very scary. i don't think i liked him THAT dark. i want him to be twisted (like he definitely is) but not TOO dark & not very scary (i know tim will realize children might want to see this, making me wonder what kind of rating this will get). Cheshire Cat-he was funny in Disney and i liked that. not to mention i loved all of his lines, especially "we're all mad here." ha ha. he rules & this film will be a great twist to both a classic book & film i'm sure. can't wait!!!:}