The Mortician (2012)

Studio: Lionsgate/Full Circle Films
DVD Release: February 14, 2012
Rated R

Review by James Klein

Wow, talk about false advertisement. The Mortician is promoted and packaged like this is a horror film. Far from it. Much like films such as Boyz N the Hood and Menace II Society, this urban drama tries to be a life story about a lonely man helping a down on their luck family by getting away from an evil street gangster. While the previous films I mentioned worked due to the talent behind the camera and also in budget, The Mortician lacks the same heart and drama due to its extremely low budget and an oddly all British crew (shown in the making of featurette on the DVD) who just don’t seem to know what exactly makes an urban drama click.

- Read the full review at UnRatedFilm.com

Busting (1974)

Studio: MGM
Theatrical Release: Feb. 24th, 1974
DVD-R Release: Jan. 3rd, 2012
Rating: R

Review by Craig Sorensen

Vice detectives Michael Keneely (Elliott Gould of The Muppet Movie) and Patrick Farrel (Robert Blake of Our Gang) don’t play by the rules, like most movie cops. Tired of busting prostitutes and pimps only to have them end up back on the street in the morning, the two cops decide to turn their attention to head man Carl Rizzo (Allen Garfield of Orgy Girls ’69). Unfortunately for them Rizzo has the legal system wrapped around his little finger.

Busting is the kind of ‘counter-culture’ establishment movie that was very prevalent during the 70’s after the success of M*A*S*H. I don’t know what it is about watching people who seem to have nothing but contempt for their jobs and the system that they work in, yet put their life on the line. I guess there’s a bit of wish fulfillment there (I know there are a few people at work I’d like to call assholes and yet still keep my job). Where as most films like this seem to revel in sending up the stiffness and uptightness of ‘the establishment’ with their character’s devil-may-care attitude, Busting takes a darker tact. Nothing that the characters do in this film will ever matter. All of the people they bust are out on the streets in no time and their bosses are all working for Rizzo the gangster. Any time they make headway in their case they get chastised by their bosses and given busy work to keep them out of the way (for some reason always involving homosexuals). They’re just a couple of guys fighting the system, only in this case, the system wins. It lends a slightly depressing edge to the film. So Busting does seem to come up a bit short in the comedy department. That might not be much of a problem though as it does deliver a few good action set-pieces. There is a foot chase scene in the middle of the film that is shot with long take tracking shots that works really well. This leads into a pretty suspenseful grocery store shoot-out.

- Read the full review at UnRatedFilm.com

Division III: Football’s Finest (2011)

Studio: Image

Theatrical Release: October 14, 2011
Blu Ray Release: January 17, 2012
Rated RComedy

Review by Raymond Velez

They say never to judge a movie by its DVD case. But when I saw the cover to Division III Football’s Finest, I knew I was in for a fun night of laughs.  Andy Dick is so good in this comedy, that you wonder why his career didn’t reach higher heights.  He never really starred in a movie that could display his great talents.  He’s always showed us his comedic genius from the supporting standpoint.  This film finally utilizes his talent.

The story is your basic cliché.  The Pullham University Bluecocks are a terrible team. Even for division III football. They need at least a winning season this year or the “Cocks” are history. That’s when an old coach like Rick Vice (Andy Dick) comes in handy. He had some experience coaching peewee football and should be more than qualified to coach this miserable team. When I say Andy Dick is great in this, boy do I mean it? He’s energetic in every scene and literally had me laughing out loud. I don’t know what was written and what was adlibbed but it all works out perfectly in each scene.  Coach Vice is not only a verbally abusive coach, but a physically abusive one as well. He drops f-bombs and smacks players with steel chairs.

- Read the full review at UnRatedFilm.com

Vice Squad (1953)

Studio: MGM
Theatrical Release: July 31st, 1953
DVD-R Release: Jan. 3rd, 2012
Rating: Unrated!
Crime, Drama

Review by Craig Sorensen

Welcome to a day in the life of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Captain Barnaby (Edward G. Robinson of Mr. Winkle Goes To War).  He’s having a hell of a day.  Early in the morning one of his beat cops gets shot trying to stop a couple of car thieves.  The only witness to the crime won’t testify.  He’s got some girl bugging him about her mom marrying a phony count.  He’s got a television interview today, cops bugging him about budgets and police line-ups that need supervised.  He’s also got a stool pigeon saying there’s going to be a bank robbery sometime in the near future…

- Read the full review at UnRatedFilm.com

Comedian (2002)

Studio: Echo Bridge Entertainment/Miramax
Theatrical Release: October 25, 2002
DVD Release: December 15, 2011
Rated R
Review by James Klein

Most everyone knows Jerry Seinfeld as the star of his own, long running sitcom from the 1990′s Seinfeld. Not everyone remembers how he started in “the biz”, as a stand up comic. Now, with his series over, Seinfeld goes back to his roots and starts to get back in the game by doing more stand up acts while coming up with more jokes to play off a live audience. There have been many films about stand up comedians such as Lenny, Punchline, and Funny People. But none of them was able to capture the insecurity and selfishness that some comedians are capable of being. Comedian almost pulls it off but seems to be afraid to go into the darker and drearier side of stand up comics. We get just a taste of it.

The documentary Comedian would have you believe that this is about Jerry Seinfeld. It is not. It is about Jerry Seinfeld’s stand up career post-Seinfeld. We see Jerry traveling to different night clubs and improv performances, testing out new bits. At one point he asks the people who run a comedy club if he could come in unannounced and do a quick bit for the audience to just test out his act. There are points where he hangs out at a bar with Chris Rock and Colin Quinn and the two discuss what they do in their act or the hardships of being a comedian. One gets the impression that it is not a stable lifestyle. And to see these stars still feel insecure in their routine is very surprising.

- Read the full story at UnRatedFilm.com

I Am Bruce Lee (2012)

Studio: Network Entertainment
Theatrical Release: Feb. 9th, 2012
Rating: Unrated!Documentary, Martial Arts, Television
Review by Craig Sorensen

 Am Bruce Lee ought to be familiar to anyone who watches cable TV.  It’s shot in the style of any number of generic TV documentaries airing on any number of stations.  I’m not saying that it’s poorly made, just kind of generic.  You’ve got a lot of talking heads cut together with some archival footage.  That’s it.  Nothing at all surprising.  Maybe if the filmmakers had shot the talking heads somewhere other than a sound stage with a plain looking background it would seem a little more inspired.  Maybe shoot them on location some where?  There are a lot of people here talking about martial arts but very little of them actually showing what they know.  I’d love to see Ed O’Neill showing off his kung fu.  I mean, if you’re going to gather together all these celebrities that have martial arts training (evidently Ed O’Neill has a black belt), why not have them show off a little?  It’d add a little dynamism to the interviews at least.  I don’t know, maybe it wasn’t in their contracts.  Maybe it would have cost them more and they just didn’t have the money

- Read the full story at UnRatedFilm.com

Paul Gilbert's Great Guitar Escape: Daily Schedule Announced, Guest Instructors Guthrie Govan, Tony MacAlpine, Chris 'Kid' Anderson & others comment

DAILY SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR

PAUL GILBERT’S GREAT GUITAR ESCAPE

JULY 9-13, 2012 AT FULL MOON RESORT IN BIG INDIAN, NY

FEATURING GUEST INSTRUCTORS INCLUDING

Guthrie Govan, Tony MacAlpine, Chris "Kid" Andersen, Scotty Johnson and Sam Coulson

The daily schedule for Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape is now available. Full details are listed below and can be viewed at: http://www.greatguitarescape.com/schedule.html.

The first annual Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape--featuring acclaimed guitarist Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X)--will take place July 9-13 at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Guitar players of all ages, levels and styles are invited to join Paul Gilbert and other expert musicians for this experience focused on the techniques, styles, and life of the modern working musician.

Paul’s musicianship was praised in the January 2012 issue of Guitar Player magazine. Writer Matt Blackett noted, “His sense of melody, composition, and humor in his solos is world class, and his chops and execution—which have always been off the freaking hook—just keep getting better.”

Here are comments from some of the instructors for Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape:

Paul Gilbert:

“When I was in high school, I would look ahead to every summer vacation and think, ‘This summer, I’m really going to get better.’ Those summer days were a chance to take my extra time and focus it all on the guitar. The result was noticeable bursts of improvement in my technique, my ability to improvise, and my ability to write songs. These musical leaps always seemed to happen when I could remove the distractions of daily life and spend hours getting deeper into the instrument. With the help of the teachers at The Great Guitar Escape, and the stunning location of the Full Moon Resort, I know that you will take similar leaps yourself…from “instant gratification” techniques and phrases, to musical ideas and philosophy to last you into the future... Let’s make this summer the one where you take your guitar playing and musicianship to a new level. I’ll be practicing my guitar until I see you there!”

Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats, Dizzee Rascal, Asia, The Fellowship, The Young Punx):

“I'm flattered and honoured that Paul Gilbert invited me to be involved with his Great Guitar Escape - and I must say I'm looking forward to it immensely. There's something very cool about the idea of guitar players getting together in a pleasantly tranquil location to celebrate their chosen instrument…and Paul's roster of tutors encompasses an impressively diverse range of playing styles, so this promises to be a musically mind-expanding experience for everyone who attends. Most pleasing!”

Tony MacAlpine (CAB, Planet X):

“The Great Guitar Escape is an excellent way to learn and interact with professional guitar players and an even better way to have a super time in a great environment where improvement is the goal!”

Chris “Kid” Andersen (Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, The Terry Hanck Band, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop):

“I am very proud to be part of Paul Gilbert's Great Guitar Escape. If there are any guitarists out there who couldn't pick up a thing or two from the incredibly diverse lineup of instructors who will be at their beck and call during this week, I can only assume that they are busy doing some incredibly well-paying gig, or that they are contractually obligated to do something to pay off their debt to Satan that week.  Regardless of whether you are a shredder, jazzer, rock god in training, funkazoid, bluesman or a chicken-picker, you are going to have a great time and get a chance to meet up, learn from and jam with some people that'll fit your taste and make your every day of this experience. Personally, I am eagerly anticipating seeing Guthrie Govan doing an impression of me! "

Scotty Johnson (Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Paul Gilbert, Robben Ford’s Fords and Friends, The Ford Blues Band, The Blindside Blues Band):

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this landmark event. Clinics by day, jamming every night, throw in the beautiful scenery and this is as close to heaven as a guitar player can get!"

Sam Coulson (UK guitar virtuoso):

"I am looking forward to this July's Great Guitar Escape with even greater anticipation! It makes me extremely proud to be teaching and playing alongside my fellow contributors. It is my belief that everyone attending will find themselves in a magnificent environment to soak up all the musical ideas they possibly can. And furthermore, what a great location to do so in. The amazing beauty of upstate New York will be the perfect place to stand up next to a mountain and chop it down with the edge of your hand! Needless to say I am thoroughly excited to perform and teach at Paul Gilbert's Great Guitar Escape!"

Kelly Lemieux (bassist for Goldfinger, Electric Love Hogs, 22 Jacks, MD.45, King of Clubs, Fear):

"What an amazing thing to be a part of. I'm sure this will be a great learning experience for everyone involved. I can't wait for this summer! I'm shopping for bug repellent right now!"

The daily schedule for Paul Gilbert's Great Guitar Escape is as follows:

Monday, July 9

3:00 PM	Sign In
4:30-5:15 PM	Meet and Greet with Instructors
5:30-6:30 PM	Paul Gilbert – Introduction Seminar
6:45-8:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Concert with Paul Gilbert Band

Tuesday, July 10

8:00-10:00 AM	Breakfast
10:15-11:15 AM	Scotty Johnson – Crash Course in Music Theory: The Language of Musicians
11:30-12:45 PM	Paul Gilbert – 5 Steps to Alternate Picking
1:00-2:00 PM	Lunch
2:15-3:30 PM	Kid Anderson – Rock ‘n’ Blues Vocabulary I Paul Gilbert – Hands-On Beginners Course I
3:45-5:00 PM	Tony MacAlpine – Advanced Heavy Rock I
5:15-6:30 PM	Guthrie Govan – Choose Your Notes Wisely: Note Choice and Improvisation
6:45-8:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Concert/Jam with Paul Gilbert and all instructors

Wednesday, July 11

8:00-10:00 AM	Breakfast
10:15-11:15 AM	Sam Coulson – Vibrato, Sustain, and Ripping Tone I
11:30-12:45 PM	Paul Gilbert – Stuck Technique – Unstuck!: Break Through Your Technique Barriers Bring your guitar!
1:00-2:00 PM	Lunch
2:15-3:30 PM	Rodney Holmes – Groove Inventions I Mike Arellano – Guitar Tech 101 Paul Gilbert – Hands-On Beginner’s Course II
3:45-5:00 PM	Scotty Johnson – Essential Skills for the Working Guitarist I Tom Size – Crash Course in Modern Mixing
5:15-6:30 PM	Kid Andersen – Rock ‘n’ Blues Vocabulary II Kelly LeMieux – Bass Guitar On Tour I
6:45-8:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Concert/Jam with Paul Gilbert and all instructors

Thursday, July 12

8:00-10:00 AM	Breakfast
10:15-11:15 AM	Sam Coulson ­– Vibrato, Sustain, and Ripping Tone II Scotty Johnson – Essential Skills for the Working Guitarist II
11:30-12:45 PM	Paul Gilbert – Melodic Phrasing with Arpeggios and ‘Arscalios’
1:00-2:00 PM	Lunch
2:15-3:30 PM	Tony MacAlpine – Advanced Heavy Rock II Rodney Holmes – Groove Inventions II Paul Gilbert – Beginner’s Course III
3:45-5:00 PM	Guthrie Govan – It’s All in the Details: A Guide to Articulation and Control Kelly LeMieux – Bass Guitar On Tour II
6:45-8:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Concert/Jam with Paul Gilbert and all instructors

Friday, July 13

8:00-10:00 AM	Breakfast
10:00-11:00 AM	Paul Gilbert Speech/Meet and Greet with Photo
11:00 AM	Check Out

For full details about Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape, visit:

www.greatguitarescape.com.

- Read the full story at UnRatedMagazine.com

Rock On The Range 2012 Reveals Massive Lineup For Sixth Annual Premier Destination Rock Festival

Performers Include Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeth, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon And More


Rock On The Range returns for its sixth year boasting a massive lineup covering the rock spectrum. America’s premier destination rock festival will be held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH featuring performances from Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeth, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon and many more.

"Incubus is stoked to be joinin' the killer lineup at Rock On The Range this year. We'll see y'all in Columbus," comments Brandon Boyd from festival co-headliner Incubus.

"If you thought last time was a blast, then this time we are gonna blow your f#@*ing mind," says co-headliner Rob Zombie.

To get the party started and based on the success of last year’s anniversary celebration, the weekend will kick off with the Friday Night 4Play, which is absolutely FREE with every ROCK ON THE RANGE weekend ticket purchase. The May 18 party will feature performances from Hairball, Foxy Shazam, Hells Bells and more.

The current lineup for ROCK ON THE RANGE 2012 is as follows: Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeth, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon, Theory of a Deadman, Volbeat, Down, The Darkness, Halestorm, Escape The Fate, P.O.D., Lacuna Coil, Adelitas Way, Black Stone Cherry, Cavo, Attack Attack!, Trivium, Bobaflex, Falling In Reverse, Redlight King, Aranda, Emphatic, Otherwise, James Durbin, Black Tide, Kyng, 12 Stones, SOiL, Rival Sons, Eve To Adam, and Ghosts of August.

Monster Energy returns as one of the driving partners behind the success of ROCK ON THE RANGE as more than fifteen acts perform on the mammoth Monster Main Stage. Jägermeister also celebrates its fifth year as a key partner while welcoming twelve of the hottest up-and-coming bands to the in-your-face, up close and personal Jägermeister Music Stage. In all, ROCK ON THE RANGE features three stages, 44 bands, and three days of non-stop rock.

“There are so many incredible bands playing at ROTR this year, and every one of them is significant,” says Del Williams, co-executive producer of the event for Right Arm Entertainment. “I think this is the most interesting mix of bands that we have had at the festival. The Rangers already know that the weekend is going to be insanely great, but there will be surprises this year and a certain edge to the lineup that will likely create some of the most memorable moments in the 6 year history of Rock on the Range."

Tickets for ROCK ON THE RANGE go on-sale Friday, February 10 at 10:00 AM EST at the festival’s website, Ticketmaster and the Crew Stadium Box Office. Two-day weekend stadium GA tickets once again start at just $99.50 (plus service and transaction fees). A limited number of ROTR pre-sale layaway tickets are also still available through February 29. Visit www.RockOnTheRange.com for full details and VIP package information.

Visit http://www.rockontherange.com/, www.facebook.com/rockontherange, and www.twitter.com/rockontherange for the most up-to-date information.

Presented by Right Arm Entertainment, AEG LIVE and Crew Stadium, ROCK ON THE RANGE is a multi-stage music and lifestyle event featuring a potent line-up of bands on three stages. The nationally renowned festival centrally located in the heart of the country has annually drawn weekend crowds in excess of 70,000 since its inception in 2007.


- Read the full story at UnRatedMagazine.com

Five Finger Death Punch Announce Canadian Tour/Select West Coast US Dates



Ivan Moody of 5FDP, Rock on the Range

 FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH ANNOUNCE CANADIAN TOUR, SELECT WEST COAST DATES SOULFLY TO SUPPORT ALONG WITH WINDOWPANE, PERSIST

American Capitalism will be heading to the Great White North this spring. Five Finger Death Punch has announced they will tour Canada as well as the Western US beginning this March, with legendary Soulfly as support, as well as Windowpane and Persist. 5FDP will headline Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and more, while also playing a special Las Vegas hometown show alongside other western-US markets. Singer Ivan Moody shared, "The few times we've been to Canada it's been absolutely phenomenal. The fact that we get to take a band like Soulfly with us on a tour like this says it all. This is going to be one hell of a great time, in no uncertain terms." Guitarist Zoltán Báthory added, "We only played a handful of dates in Canada, but they were all sold-out so we are really looking forward to a headlining tour up there. What makes it even sweeter is taking one of our favorite bands Soulfly with us on this trek. As we are playing bigger and bigger venues, I think it became our responsibility to help expose some great metal bands to our more diverse audience ."

This will be 5FDP’s first proper headlining tour in Western Canada, where their current album, American Capitalist is already more than halfway to CRIA-Certified Gold Record Status - a mere three months after its release. 5FDP’s previous album, War is the Answer, is projected to hit CRIA-GOLD Status this spring, right around the time of the tour.

In the US, 5FDP continues to rack up impressive sales with over 280,000 copies of American Capitalist already sold. Incredibly, American Capitalist is selling twice as fast as their previous Gold record, War Is the Answer- which itself has been one of the best-selling hard rock/ metal albums of the last five years. 5FDP’s current hit single, “Remember Everything” is already Top Five at Active Rock and climbing; their lead single, “Under and Over It,” was recently named Sirius Octane’s Song of the Year, and American Capitalist was named a Top Album of 2011 by ARTISTdirect.

Tickets go on sale to the general public the weekend of January 27th and 28th, but special VIP packages and tickets will be available starting WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25th 3pm LOCAL at http://www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com/.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH HEADLINING TOUR W/ SOULFLY, WINDOWPANE, PERSIST

MARCH 2012

FRI 23 Las

Vegas, NV The Joint
SAT 24 Pomona, CA Fox Theater
MON 26 Fresno, CA Rainbow Ballroom
TUE 27 Modesto, CA Modesto Center Plaza
WED 28 Redding, CA Redding Convention Center
FRI 30 Yakima, WA Yakima Valley Sundome
SAT 31 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre

APRIL 2012

MON 2 Dawson Creek, BC EnCana Events Centre
WED 4 Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall, University of Calgary
THU 5 Edmonton, AB “Thaw at the Shaw” @ Shaw Center
SAT 7 Regina, SK Agribition
MON 9 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cumming Theater
WED 11 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena
THU 12 Casper ,WY Casper Event Center

Rock Meets Classic Tour 2012 - Essen, Germany

Grugahalle - Essen, Germany - January 18, 2012
by Edwin van Hoof 

012 just kicked off and already I find myself on the front row of one of rock's most exceptional events, Rock meets Classic. After my first acquaintance with this remarkable concert 2 years ago, I was delighted to see it return to the Essener Grugahalle which now, unlike 2 years ago, was nearly sold out. It seems classic rock fans finally appreciate the unique combination of classic and melodic rock, blended with the pompous overhaul of a classic orchestra. The symbioses between this style of music and the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra of Prague is further more elevated by the powerful rockband put together by musical director Mat Sinner (Sinner Primal, Fear). Alexander Beyroth (Sinner, Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, Silent Force) and Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Hartmann) handle guitars, and Jimmy Kresic on keyboards. Backing vocals are vividly brought to life by a renowned choir consisting of Amanda Somerville (Thrillium, Avantasia), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), X Factor finalist Tiffany Kirkland, Verena AkaNena and German musical star Sasha Krebs. Indeed, an all star cast which will make stars like Ian Gillan, Jimi Jamison (Survivor, Cobra), Robin Beck, Steve Lukather (Toto) and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band) and shine brightly tonight.

As the lights dim, the orchestra and Kresic kick off the evening together with Krebs and a powerful version of Van Halen's rockhammer "Jump," instantly creating and interaction with the stunned audience. The towering keyboard theme, being empowered by the large string and brass section of the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, paving the way for the first highlight of this evening, Jimi Jamison. "Burning Heart" and "Eye of the Tiger" are sung along too loud, but the exquisite highlights of the set are "Didn't know it was Love" and "I can't hold Back," followed by the stunning beautiful orchestral rendition of "The Search is over." The ballad especially gives me goose bumps all over. Jamison interacts with his audience and is a true entertainer, blessed with a crystal clear voice he manages to make the best impression of this night.

Real more of performances by Jimi Jamison, Robin Beck, Chris Thompson, Steve Lukather, and Ian Gillan.


- Read the full story at UnRatedMagazine.com

Jane’s Addiction Unleash The “Theatre Of The Escapists” Tour

Alternative Rock Pioneers To Perform “Immersive” Show In Classic Theatres Starting February 22

From the beginning, JANE’S ADDICTION has thrown the most unique parties in rock, mixing a fierce musicality with theatrical flair onstage.  2012 sees the band--who’ve always outrageously combined electricity, sex and danger--return in support of their acclaimed album THE GREAT ESCAPE ARTIST (Capitol Records), which features the now-buzzing-at-radio track “Underground.” Starting February 22, this special run of North American shows—called “Theatre of the Escapists”--will bring the band to intimate venues, most of which are classic theatres. The alternative rock pioneers--frontman Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins, along with Chris Chaney on bass—are poised to deliver an immersive theatrical experience as only they can. Tickets go on sale January 14, with a pre-sale set for 10:00 EST this Wednesday, January 11. There will be a special package on JanesAddiction.com where fans can pair up their presale ticket with a high-quality lithograph. The lithograph will be signed by the band and sold only at the JanesAddiction.com presale.

“We chose to play as many of the great theatres that we could find because we wanted to immerse the audience in a unique experience unlike any they have ever seen at a rock show,” says FARRELL.   “Expect an orgy of musical and visual delights.  We like orgies, and hope you do too.”

2011 was a milestone year for JANE’S ADDICTION, marking the release of their first studio album in eight years, the Rich Costey-produced album, THE GREAT ESCAPE ARTIST. Spin, writing about one of the album’s tracks, noted that “frontman Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro both put in stunning performances...it sounds like a band re-vitalized” (August 3, 2011), while USA Today said the album finds “…core members Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins conjuring the feral drive and mystical haze of those early works with a fresh kick to the band's electro-rock meld (10/17/11).”  The album features “Irresistible Force,” the transfixing Top Ten alternative rock hit that Rolling Stone called “an art metal freak show set on some distant planet” (August 3, 2011). Their new single, “Underground” is currently climbing the alternative and rock radio charts.  It features some of NAVARRO’s best guitar work, according to the Wall Street Journal, which took note of the way he ”excels with terse fills long before he solos at the song's fade.”  The publication added: “As always, Stephen Perkins proves to be one of rock's great drummers, and his interplay with Mr. Navarro, his high-school marching-band buddy, is one of the disc's savory treats” (October 11, 2011).

Also in 2011, JANE’S ADDICTION headlined major events such as the Splendor in the Grass in Australia, the launch of Lollapalooza Chile, Gathering of the Vibes, and the iHeart Radio Festival in Las Vegas.

In June, JANE’S were inducted into Guitar Center’s RockWalk by Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. Morello made it clear that the alt-rock pioneers led the way: ” Nirvana often gets credit for being the first ‘alternative’ band to break through, the band that changed music and led rock out of the hair metal wilderness of the ‘80’s. That’s just not true. It was Jane’s Addiction.”

In August, at Lollapalooza’s 20^th Anniversary in Chicago, in front of 80,000 fans, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters recounted the first time he saw JANE’S ADDICTION in 1991 in Los Angeles:  “…that day me and Kurt went down and we sat at the audience and we thought: ‘Oh my god, music is f%%%kin changing.’ There’s 20,000 people here. To see bands that are actually f%%%kin cool. WTF. How did that happen! So I’d like to thank Perry for changing music–thank you Perry…Well this one goes out to you Perry, cause if it weren’t for you, I swear to god, we wouldn’t f%%%kin be here right now. And when I say: ‘We.’ I mean: ‘F%%%kin We.’ Am I right! Am I Right!”

Onstage, JANE’S ADDICTION hold nothing back. They “…reminded everyone there were rock gods to be prayed to, and then defied them with feverish grace,” noted Billboard (August 13, 2011—check date) of their NYC show at Terminal 5. Writing about their Los Angeles performance at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, ArtistDirect.com (October 5, 2011) said:  “Jane's Addiction stood triumphant for the entire show. It was one of those magical gigs where every element simply worked. On stage, Jane's Addiction display the kind of mystique that's belonged to the likes of Led Zeppelin and few others. However, they're one of a kind.”

The cities for JANE’S ADDICTION’s “Theatre of the Escapists” tour, with support act Black Box Revelation are as follows:

Saint Louis, MO

Detroit, MI

Columbus, OH

Toronto, ON

Rochester, NY

Albany, NY

Portland, ME

Long Island, NY

Wellmont, NJ

Waterbury, CT

Richmond, VA

Myrtle Beach, SC

Atlanta, GA

Tulsa, OK

Kansas City, MO

Minneapolis, MN

Grand Rapids, MI

Milwaukee, WI

www.janesaddiction.com

www.facebook.com/janesaddiction

www.twitter.com/janesaddiction

Follow the band on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/perryfarrell

http://twitter.com/davenavarro6767

http://twitter.com/stephenperkins

- Read more UnRatedMagazine.com

Common's "The Dreamer, The Believer" In Stores

COMMON’S 9TH STUDIO ALBUM “THE DREAMER, THE BELIEVER” IN STORES
ALBUM RECEIVES “BEST OF 2011” HONORS AND ACCLAIMS ACROSS THE BOARD IN REVIEWS


Warner Bros. Records releases Grammy award winning rapper, actor, and author Common’s highly anticipated album The Dreamer, The Believer. “Common has been a fabulous partner for the Warner Bros. label,” says Warner Bros. Co-President and CEO Todd Moscowitz. “His cross-over appeal, work ethic, and heightened visibility, have allowed us to maximize his exposure and cross market him not only to his core but to a broader fanbase.” Joie Manda, head of Warner Bros. Urban division further adds, “Common deserves his spot in the history books as one of the best rappers to ever do it. Anyone who does not have this album is missing out on a true body of work.”

Reviews of The Dreamer, The Believer have been nothing short of stellar. SPIN Magazine gave the album an 8 of 10 rating while Entertainment Weekly listed the album in “The Must List: The Top 10 Things We Love This Week.” The Chicago Sun-Times finds the “spirited” and “soulful” album a “U-turn to reconnect with his South Side roots” following 2008’s Universal Mind Control while the Chicago Tribune applauds the effort for “returning to his ‘90s foundation: uplifting songs about everyday folks rising above their circumstances.” The Associated Press comments further chimes in, “In all, the combination of Common and No I.D. make The Dreamer, The Believer work. The rapper finds balance with his complex lyrics and supplies a clear message that all dreams can be achieved with an unwavering belief system in yourself.” In their review of his New York album listening session last week, The Village Voice exclaimed, “The sleeping giant has been awakened. The Dreamer, The Believer puts Common back on the proverbial hip-hop map[.] No matter whether he really ever left in the first place, this is where he belongs.” This week, Complex Magazine named the record in their “Top 25 Album of 2011” stating that “Common remains one of the best pure emcess in hip-hop, still spitting that raw after two decades in the game. With his new album, The Dreamer, The Believer, the Chicago-getter is back to doing what he does best: flowing over rugged breakbeats.”

The album is a full-circle journey through life, love and reality. “I wanted to make an album that everyone could relate to and also showcases my experiences. My career has taken many directions in the past couple of years as well as my personal life,” reflects Common.” The lead single “Blue Sky” touches on the importance of reaching for your goals despite your current circumstance: “Daylight beams, night-life schemes/ This is my inception I'm writing my dreams.” Elsewhere, “Cloth” demonstrates a symbolic view of relationships and the belief that your mate has to be cut from the same values and beliefs (“We can cover each other through the coldest nights/ Tight, never smother, It's two things that seems to hold us together/ God is our tailor and forever), while “Raw (How You Like It)” is a throwback to real hip-hop battles and natural bravado (“Dude got vile like crack in the 80's/ You don't want to test this yo/ You never know who got a tech up in the disco”). Common takes to his nay-sayers and frustration with the commodification of hip-hop on “Sweet” which is arguably the most contentious record on the album: “My name synonymous with prominence/ I'm the hip hop what Obama is to politics.” “Lovin I Lost,” one of the more personal records on the album, touches on his very public relationships (“How could someone you to talk to each and everyday, that you about to marry be on their merry way?/ I'm singin' through the pain like I was Mary J.”

Guests for the 12-track album includes the honorable Maya Angelou who showcases her prowess with an original poem on the opening track “The Dreamer,” hip-hop legend and traditionalist emcee Nas who rounds out the evocative storytelling record “Ghetto Dreams,” soul crooner John Legend who is featured on the uplifting track “The Believer,” and Common’s own father Lonnie “Pops” Lynn who gives a Gil Scott-Heron inspired benediction to close out the album. All production for this cinematic journey is at the hands of longtime friend and renowned producer NO I.D.


Tracklisting is as follows:

1. The Dreamer feat. Maya Angelou

2. Ghetto Dreams feat. Nas

3. Blue Sky

4. Sweet

5. Gold

6. Lovin’ I Lost

7. Raw (How You Like It)

8. Cloth

9. Celebrate

10. Windows

11. The Believer feat. John Legend

12. Pop’s Belief



Without a traditional radio set-up for the album, Common relied on the strength of his music and the viral support of his fans to push the record and its contents. Following a real-time performance and interview at Youtube’s headquarters, Common received monumental praise for the record which resulted in the emcess previewing the entire album one week before its release. “I thought it was important to reach my true fans, they motivate me,” reveals Common. “I am rooted in hip-hop and the blogs keep me on my toes. They don’t bite their tongues.”


Leading up to the release, Common has made a number of highly-visible appearances including a Haiti-inspired documentary for CNN Heroes, a panel position on HBO’s Real Time Bill Maher, a performance tribute to GrandMaster Flash with LL Cool J, Rick Ross, and Lupe Fiasco at the 43rd Annual Grammy Nominations Special, a resounding performance of “Blue Sky” with Marsha Ambrosius at the 40th Anniversary Special of the Soul Train Awards, and even gracing the couch of Chelsea Lately. Upcoming appearances include BET Honors and 106 and Park, Wendy Williams, the VH1 Diva’s Live special on December 19th, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on January 12th, Live! With Kelly on January 13th, BET Honors, the Kennedy Center Honors special, and even a cooking segment showcasing his lifestyle regiment on ABC’s The Chew on December 22nd. Common can currently be seen on the covers of Michigan Avenue , JET Magazine and M Musician Magazine. Fans can catch him this week in front of a packed house at the Spotify sponsored Highline Ballroom in New York City on Monday December 19th or at the sold-out House Of Blues show on December 21st.

Common also stars in the AMC series, “Hell on Wheels,” which premiered to the second highest ratings the network has ever had. Common plays the role of “ Elam ,” a freed slave who comes west in post-Civil War America seeking work on the Transcontinental Railroad. Common has also recently finished filming the Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture fantasy film The Odd Life of Timothy Green alongside Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton and Ron Livingston. Next up, Common will star alongside Danny Glover and Michael Rainey Jr. in L.U.V. as “Uncle Vincent,” a troubled ex-con who finds companionship with his shy 13-year-old nephew. Also serving as a producer on the film, Common will travel to the 2012 Sundance Film Festival where L.U.V. has been accepted to the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

- Read the full story at UnRatedMagazine.com

UnRated Film Magazine – Movie Reviews, Interviews,, Hollywood Kane Hodder: Stuntman, Jason and Author

Kane Hodder

Interview with Kane Hodder at Horrobles, Berwyn, Chicago, IL, December 3, 2011
by James Klein, photo by Adam Bielawski

I was 13 years old when Kane Hodder made an impact in my life. It was the summer of 1989 and a friend of mine and myself journeyed to the local theater for opening day of Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. We were waiting in anticipation as Jason was now going to be killing off New Yorkers instead of camp counselors. As the film started and we got a glimpse of some bare breasts as a man and a woman on a boat are making out, that’s when real evil hit: the usher of the theater came by and kicked us out. As we argued with the guy that we were old enough to see the film, I could see Jason aiming a dart gun at the guy, killing him. Sure, I saw the film as soon as it came out on VHS but I wanted to see Jason on the big screen so bad, my little pre-pubescent mind couldn’t handle the disappointment.

In the summer of 1993, I took my girlfriend at the time on our one month anniversary dinner…and then dragged her to see Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. At dinner, the trailer for the film played at the T.V. hanging over by the bar so I quickly jumped up and ran to see it as my date sat alone at the table.

In the spring of 2002, I took my other girlfriend (whose now my wife) to see Jason X on the big screen. Not being a horror fan but not wanting to disappoint me at the same time, she went reluctantly and sat thru it. Kane Hodder has always played some sort of part in my life, especially being a huge Friday the 13th fan. Now, with Hodder’s new book Unmasked (co-written by Michael Aloisi) out on shelves and a whole slew of movies under his belt, Hodder is now a horror icon, a legend to horror fans.

This interview wouldn’t have been possible without the permission and help of my good friend John Aranza who runs one of the best goddamn stores around, Horrorbles. Horrorbles is located in Berwyn, IL and it’s the home for horror (I even taught a horror screenwriting class there) with posters, toys, movies, and memorabilia. Interviewing Mr. Hodder at Horrorbles was all the more fitting and I thank my friend John from the bottom of my bloody heart for getting me this interview.

James Klein: You started out as a stunt man before you became an actor. How did you break into being a stunt person and what drew you to that career move?

Kane Hodder: I broke in very slowly, extremely slowly. It took eight years really to get something working. I thought it would be a great career to have. I didn’t realize just how difficult it was to get into it when I wanted it to start. I just got…I got bitten by the bug by doing something crazy and getting paid for it. So I thought I’d like to try it. It took forever. I still do a lot of stunt work, even when I am playing certain characters because it almost always has some stunt activity involved with that character that I play. I still choreograph the stunts that I do for movies. I still love it.

JK: One of your first roles was in Lone Wolf McQuade with Chuck Norris. What was it like working on one of your first films and working closely with such an icon like Chuck Norris?

KH: Actually it wasn’t my first movie but it was my first movie I was on for an extended period of time. Um…it was fantastic because I am sure that anyone that was ever talked about Chuck will say he is a great guy which he is. He’s a pleasure to work with. A great guy to do a fight scene with because he knows his business. There’s a lot of actors that think they know how to fight but they don’t, they end up hurting you. But he’s a great guy and we had a lot of fun because we did all kinds of different stunts in that movie. From fights to ya know even some car work. It was the first time I was ever on location for awhile, down in El Paso for a few months. And it was interesting working with David Carradine too.

- Read the full interview at UnRatedFilm.com