My prized WBCN vintage 80’s t-shirt.

I’ve got so much ‘BCN stuff tucked away it makes my head spin. I still wear the vintage WBCN t-shirt (pictured above) with pride to this day.

Former Big Mattress DJ, Charles Laquidara posted some great links to news stories on WBCN, past and present on his blog. Read ‘em and weep radio listeners for the end is nigh…

Pilot episode of the Jesus Fucking Christ show. For Freddy Pants and Agnostic Fucking Johnny…

Many years ago he died for your sins. Now he’s back on earth, to suffer like hell again

Jesus has to get a job and be a regular Joe. Fighting with his slumlord, and living with a ho.

Opening lyrics to the Jesus Fucking Christ show theme song.

At the JFC website, you can download the entire first season to your computer or iPhone. Although it will be of no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, Drunken Mess-iha episode 4, is my current fave.

To drop some cash in JFC’s donation plate so the show can continue to piss crazy people off, click here.

Living Will Tattoo.

Yikes!

Sid Vicious Beach Towel by Elizabeth Peyton. For Tommy One Time…

New York based artist Elizabeth Peyton created this beach towel as a part of the Artist Towel Series in 2007 for the Art Production Fund’s Works on Whatever (or WOW for short) project. You can buy your own Sid towel, here.

More from Elizabeth Peyton here.

The Stranger. Volume 18, #42. July 1st, 2009. By Jay Bevenour.

More from artist Jay Bevenour, who is approximately 5′9, here.

Jackson Five, I’ll Bet You. From 1970’s, ABC.

The Jackson Five covered this old-school Funkadelic jam on their February 1970 release, ABC. A pretty ballsy move considering that Funkadelic, the first vinyl collaboration from George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, was released only a few months prior, midway through 1969.

Like so many of you, I still have the wicked sads about Jackson’s passing. Also, like you, I’ve been reading and watching coverage almost non-stop. While most of the media prefers to spin either manufactured or car-crash-at-the-side-of-the-road sensationalism, the final thought in this article from the UK’s Daily Mail pretty much nails how I feel about this whole morbid circus:

Now that he’s gone, maybe it’s time to shelve the suspicions and appreciate the music.

Now, can I get an AMEN? Amen…

Professional yeller and TV pitchman, Billy Mays is dead at 50.

The man who sold the world, Billy Mays, was found dead in his Tampa home yesterday. Stranger still is the fact that on Saturday, Mays had a near miss when the plane he was on blew out it’s front tires during it’s landing. It’s reported that Mays hit his head during the incident. Now it appears that Mays had a pretty devastating case of Heart Disease. The effects of which he likely succumbed on Saturday when he passed away after complaining of “not feeling well”.

The Glove…

Michael Jackson passed away at 2:26PM today at a home he was renting in Bel Air today. Details are still emerging but preliminary reports indicate Jackson died of cardiac arrest after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was 50 years old.

RIP Michael. I’ll always remember you like this…

A clip from the 1970 pilot episode of Kung Fu staring David Carradine.

What happens in a man’s life is already written. Man must move through life as his destiny wills.

Caine

Actor David Carradine was found dead in his Bangkok hotel room today. It has been reported that Carradine committed suicide by hanging himself. Now it appears Carradine’s death was an accident. He was 72.

Namaste, Grasshopper…

What do you mean you know who killed me?

In his new book, Rock Roadie, James Wright claims that Jimi Hendrix’s death was no accident. Wright says that in 1971, Hendrix’s manager, Michael Jeffrey confessed to him that he had murdered the 27 year old guitarist saying he feared that Hendrix was planning to dump him for a new manager. According to Wright, Jeffrey admitted to stuffing pills into Jimi’s mouth while he was sleeping, and then attempted to wash the pills down with several bottles of red wine. The doctor that treated Hendrix at the hospital said that Jimi had literally “drowned in red wine” adding that only a small amount of alcohol was actually found in Hendrix’s system.

Upon Hendrix’s death, Jeffrey’s stood to inherit around $1.2 million dollars from an insurance policy he had taken out on the rock icon. Jeffrey was killed two years later in a mid-air plane collision.

While this is a pretty stunning revelation from a man close to both Hendrix and Jeffrey, it’s important to consider that Wright also says he spurned the sexy affections of Jayne Mansfield. Which to me, sounds even more unbelievable than Wright’s claim that Hendrix was aced by a man who’s been dead for 36 years.

Ean Evans of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Ean Evans, the original bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd passed away yesterday after a long struggle with cancer. Evans was 50 years old.

The late Dom DeLuise and Dean Martin in the skit “Mate My Bird”.

A comedian with one of the greatest laughs of all time, Dom DeLuise, passed away in his sleep last night after a long illness. He was 75. Maybe it’s all the rain and gloomy-gray weather today but I feel like I just lost a friend. Captain Chaos, you will be truly missed.

Sadness…

Guitars salvaged from The Dutchman fire. I don’t know about you, but this photo made me cry.

On January 7th, 2009, The Dutchman, long time Seattle rehearsal/recording space burned to the ground. Two months later, the first benefit show for The Dutchman will take place at The Funhouse on March 12th. Taking the stage will be The Zack Static Sect, one of the musical residents of the 103 year old Dutchman reportedly lost everything in the fire. The rest of the night includes, The Pleasure Elite, LD & Her Pretty, Pretties and Witchburn (!). Another benefit for Gary Mula (owner and resident of The Dutchman) is in the works for later on this year at Neumo’s. Mula’s cat, Jules, died in the fire.

If you can make a donation to The Dutchman Fund, click here. If you’re a local artist, musician or in a position to donate an item or your time to an upcoming silent auction or event for The Dutchman, click here.

Thanks to LP for the link.

Alan Landers, The Winston Man, dead at 68.

Alan Landers, a spokesperson for Winston Cigarettes for over a decade passed away due to complications form throat cancer. Landers said he lost his mother, father, brother, grandmother, aunt and uncle to cancer. Landers was also involved in a lawsuit against four major cigarette makers was scheduled to go to trial next month.

Landers was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1987, and had two cancerous lobes removed from his right lung. Six years later in 1993, doctors found cancer in his left lung. Shortly after that, Landers was diagnosed with emphysema which then led to a double-bypass to repair his blocked arteries. Landers has been quoted as saying that at one time, he smoked as many as four cartons of Winstons a day.

Goodbye American Made Peppermint Pattie…

Hershey, the makers of Peppermint Patties has closed their chocolate factory in Reading, Pennsylvania, eliminating 230 jobs at the 23 year old plant. Hershey says it will move operations to it’s new factory in Monterey, Mexico.

Derek Mears, the man behind the mask. Sorry…I couldn’t not write those words. The power of Mears compels me!

This is actor/stuntman, 36 year old Derek Mears, or Jason from the latest edition of Friday the 13th. Derek Mears is 6′5 and said he grew his nails out for the role of my favorite hockey-headed, teenage love assassin, Jason. Friday the 13th made over $45 million of dollars last weekend. Take that Nickelback…

Out of a job? You’re not alone…

The news was grim to say the least when it comes to job losses this weekend. Since Friday, January 23rd lay-off announcements from nine US companies equated to the loss of well over 50,000 jobs, nationwide:

Sprint – 8,000

Phillips Electronics – 6,000

Home Depot – 7,000 jobs in addition to 41 store closures nationwide

Caterpillar - 20,000

Pfizer - 8,000

Harley Davidson – 1,100

ACLU – will lay off 10% of it’s workforce (or about 36 people).

Williams-Sonoma – 1,400

Starbucks - 1,000

Texas Instruments – 3,400 (1,600 through voluntary retirement).

In other news, Citigroup purchased a $50 million dollar corporate jet. You might also remember that Citigroup purchased Wachovia’s bank operations in September of 2008 for $2.2 billion. Then, in November of 2008, Citigroup requested and was granted a $306 billion dollar bailout from you the Federal Government. To date, Citigroup has received $45 billion dollars in the bailout fund.

Sickening…

Bob May was the actor who portrayed Robot B9 on Lost in Space. Robot B9 is on the right…

Actor Bob May, who was best known for his role of Robot B9 on the 1965 television show, Lost in Space, has passed away. May also appeared in films like Jailhouse Rock, Beach Blanket Bingo and performed in over a dozen movies with Jerry Lewis. May also worked with Lewis as his dialog director. He was 70 years old.

Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, RIP.

Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead today in his Michigan home from an apparent heart attack. Asheton, who was still gigging with Iggy at the time of his death, went on to play with New Order and Destroy All Monsters in the late 70’s through the mid-80’s. Asheton also performed with Mudhoney’s Mark Arm and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth on the soundtrack for the Iggyesque flick, Velvet Goldmine.

According to Ann Arbor police statements, Asheton, who turned 60 in July, had been dead for several days. Iggy Pop himself released the following statement after hearing of Asheton’s sudden passing:

I am in shock. He was my best friend.

Sadness…

I’m gonna stay in this very spot with all your records until you get back together again…

I don’t know the current vital signs of your favorite local band but you might want to check. My inbox has been full of sad-breaking-up-the-band news lately.

The Cops go kaput…

The Cops, still be riding high on the success of their 2007 record, Free Electricity are going on hiatus after nearly five amazing years of rocking the shit out of Seattle and beyond. The Cops will play two more gigs at The Sunset on Thursday, December 18th with Cancer Rising (!) and on Friday, December 19th with The Whore Moans (!) and Kinski (!!). As a very good looking friend of mine said, as he told me this sad news, “I know where I’m gonna be on Friday, December 19th”. And now, so do I.

Ms. Led, New Agenda.

Ms. Led will play their last show on January 23rd at The High Dive. This news gave me particular pause as no more Ms. Led punches a big hole in the music scene here in Seattle. Ms. Led has always been a source of awe and inspiration to other bands and musicians in this town. Ms. Led’s record label, Fish The Cat, has also helped pave the way for other local artists like the awesome Spanish for 100. To say that Ms. Led will be missed understates the impact and contributions this band has made to the music community in Seattle over the last nine years.

The Transimssionary Six, Zero Gravity, from 2008’s Cosmonautical.

The duo of Paul Austin and Terri Moeller, aka The Transmissionary Six , will play their last gig ever at The Sunset on Friday, December 12th. Only eight months ago the band released their fifth full-length, Cosmonautical to, albeit quiet acclaim. Terri Moeller’s sleepy, swaying vocals always get me. Sadness.

The Freakouts practice space, where the magic used to happen.

Earlier this year, The Freakout’s added this text [Broken Up] to their Myspace. Then, in September, one of my local favorites, Iceage Cobra announced their break-up by saying (via their Myspace): “Bands break up, deal with it”.

IAC is right when they spoke so bluntly about their demise. It’s true, bands break up all the time. And yeah, your favorite band probably didn’t break up just because you didn’t go to see them play that gig at The Comet. However, it’s impossible to deny the negative impact that our shitty economy has had on the members the music scene. So please, make sure you support your local music community any way you can.