Archive for October, 2008
Happy Halloween! Happy 15th, Purging Talon!
Bonfires burning bright / Pumpkin faces in the night / I remember Halloween
- Misfits
Yes, today marks 15 years of Purging Talon. As I prepare to attend a Halloween party, I’m reminded of the Halloween bash back in 1993 that became a makeshift release party for the very first issue of the very first magazine I’d ever done. 15 years. So much has happened since those meager beginnings, so many media projects, and so many more to come.
Speaking of the last, my Halloween present to you all is an excerpt from the introduction to the upcoming (read: when I finally get it done) book release, tentatively titled, Bound In Hellfire: The Best of Not Like Most — namely, from an 11-page history of Purging Talon, which I think is rather fitting today. Enjoy…
My first serious attempt at self-publishing began in the early-1990s. I was attending school at a small private college in Northern Vermont and, in many ways, running its radio station. And by “running,” I mean it. At the tail end of my tenure there, I was General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Music Director, Metal Director, Production Manager, and DJ to three shows — all at the same time! And it’s not exactly a stretch to imagine that my grades suffered as a result of practically living in that radio station (not to mention my status with my not-too-happy girlfriend at the time), and at one point was given leave from that institution to find education elsewhere. I don’t mind admitting that I had more determination than focus in my youth. But my media journey had to start somewhere. So amidst covered bridges and maple sugar farms, I took that first step.
Through one of the many posts I’d held (Metal Director), I would be in weekly contact with the A&R departments of and general promotions types from numerous record labels. If it was metal in the early-’90s, I had a main line to it: Roadrunner, Earache, Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Megaforce, Capitol, Atlantic, Elektra, and the list goes on. What seemed the most unlikely thing to me (and, perhaps, now to you) was that so many of the reps (and at least one label owner) I spoke with on a regular basis had actually gotten their feet wet in the self-publishing world, having already gone through putting out a zine and, in one case, banked an entire record label off of it. So, after shoveling hype on their star bands back to them or giving them the usually fudged rankings submitted that week to CMJ (read: music directors like free CDs), I’d pick their brains on the print world: how did they get started, how did they promote, what worked, what really didn’t work, etc. (Keep in mind that this period of time predates the World Wide Web.) Before I was even out of the gate, I was already armed with a wealth of knowledge that, even in retrospect, was dead on. And, best of all, I didn’t have to experience those specific pratfalls of publishing firsthand. They did that for me.
I should probably mention that this first zine idea of mine was, if you couldn’t already guess, music-oriented. Yes, I almost put out a fanzine — in this case, one centered on the then-already glutted market of death metal / grindcore. But, I was young and excited so I thought I’d take a crack at it. I’d hung onto all of my label contacts after leaving school and moving to Vermont’s biggest “city,” recorded a slew of band interviews to transcribe, and had plenty of insider info from the trade mags. I had my scissors and glue stick all set. I doggedly typed away on my word processor (or, if you prefer, “electronic typewriter”) from the confines of a makeshift bedroom in a punk rock house with four other party-prone roommates. I was even planning on buying a photocopier to run off the first batch, which seemed rather ambitious back then. I was all ready to launch the debut issue of GRIND! when something rather strange happened.
I was outgrowing music subculture as a whole. My heart was no longer in it and I could no longer ignore the white elephant of mindless conformity in the room. It was so painfully obvious to me at that point just how much of it all was so orchestrated by big business and clique politics, whether it was what you wore, what you listened to, what issues were trendy, or the tedious drone of “band talk.” Even being in bands was a constant test of my tolerance, having to look out over a crowd of imbecilic automatons who’d chant, yell or throw their fist in the air at my command. I asked myself a lot of questions then: Why am I serving as entertainment for sheep? How can I continue to put on the act when it feels so fruitless? Is this all really worth it? It dawned on me that if I had anything to say up there or through whatever music I’d recorded, no one would listen but plenty would mimic. I was reaching a level of maturity that didn’t include a lot of other people and mentalities and I’ve no doubt that many people I once knew have some rather sour grapes-inspired insults for me, seeing as I wouldn’t drink the Kool-Aid anymore. So I took my final bow at the curtain close. Exit MGP, stage left.
The result of this awakening was that GRIND! would never come out, regardless of its completion, containing over a dozen extensive interviews, scores of reviews, and whatever else was in there that I can no longer remember. If I even had the proof copy somewhere today, I wouldn’t even know it.
I was sure that I still wanted to publish. Just not this.
So, I took a break from the idea of self-publishing for a year while I got to know my brand-new hometown of Burlington. After 2 1/2 years of living in an isolated rural area that was 2,000 people when school was in, 200 when it was out, I was ecstatic over my improved surroundings — having a good time, being young, parties, girls, etc. I was, shall we say, pleasantly distracted.
And then, in 1993, a bundle of joy entered my life. It didn’t coo or smile or even wake me up in the middle of the night to feed it, but it was free and it was the beginning of life for Purging Talon.
It was a computer. More specifically, a Mac Classic that I had won in a contest…
Happy Halloween to all! Keep it scary…
Vote For President Charley!
Definitely NOT safe for work… especially if your surrounding co-workers speak jive, or whatever the kids call “a complete butchering of the English language” now.
2 comments
Magnetic Poetry Madness #3
More absurd verse from the front of my refrigerator. This one might be mine, with one other person changing a word or two in the first line. Been too long, not really sure.
MGP’s Apple Retro Collection (ARC)
The ever-growing Apple computer collection of MGP, displayed for you in marvelous chronological order. It even has its own acronym! (To see all of the pics full-sized and in their intended aspect ratio, visit the ARC gallery on Flickr.)
Peter Gilmore on “Time Out New York” Site
Haunted House reviews, anyone? Magus Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan, chimes in on two of Manhattan’s biggest spook shacks in Time Out New York’s online site’s Own This City section. “In my philosophy, it’s something we call a ‘total environment.’ If you’re sucked into the fantasy of it, you suddenly buy it,” Gilmore states. Oh, yeah, and two other guys have their say, too.
Movie Recommendations For Halloween
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a holiday that is truly ours — that is, a perfectly Satanic celebration of eustress, indulgence, and exploring our darker sides in a fun and stimulating way. The so-called “Deadly Sins” are also entertained by many this Eve, including gluttony, pride, greed, and envy (and, perhaps lust, if you’re into kinky dress-up sex). From the pumpkin-faces burning bright to the sight of all manners of roleplaying night creatures — all the way down to young magicians casting their Lesser Magic skills upon the candy-hoarding adults, Halloween has His stamp of approval all over it. It must be rather enjoyable for some of you to play us for an evening. Perhaps, even liberating.
Halloween is also time for some great movies. I have quite a few favorites, including these standards…
An American Werewolf In London (1981) – Things we discover in this movie: 1) staying off the moors is a good idea in England, 2) shower scenes are hot, 3) talking to the dead is “boring”, 4) small Indian children who say “No!” all the time are awfully cute. Of course, this is also a horror movie and definitely my second favorite werewolf film. What’s the first? Read on. [trailer]
Quote: “I will not be threatened by a walking meat loaf!”
Creepshow (1982) – A tribute of sorts to the old EC comics and the probable impetus to the HBO show, Tales From The Crypt. Before TFTC, though, was this collection of vignettes steeped in blood and dark humor. And I’m certainly not the only Magister to endlessly quote this movie. [trailer]
Quote: “Do it first… do it NOW!”
The Devil’s Rain (1975) – Yes, Anton LaVey is in this film, and he was technical advisor as well. It also has cowboy William Shatner against cult leader Ernest Borgnine, which is just an insane pairing made for cinematic gold. Either that, or it’s fun B-movie fare with the Devil thrown in there for effect. You decide. [trailer]
Quote: “Who calls me from out of the Pit?”
Halloween (1978) – Molly hates this movie. The rest of us love it. In fact, this was my very first horror movie, which I snuck into at the theaters when I was 10. Scared the crap out of my fifth-grade brain, and I’ve been a horror fan ever since. Maybe you’ll feel the same. Or maybe you’ll just enjoy a topless P.J. Soles. Either way. [trailer]
Quote: “I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and… the blackest eyes… the Devil’s eyes…”
The Howling (1981) – Hands down, my very favorite werewolf film. A brilliant lycanthropic slasher flick with some great performances, including the illustrious John Carradine. Plenty of subtext pertaining to Natural Law, survival of the fittest, and all of those good quasi-Nietzschean inferences, too. But, if you’re not up for thinkin’ stuff, there’s still plenty of vicious gore, a little nudity, and suspense as well. [trailer]
Quote: “You can’t tame what’s meant to be wild, Doc. It just ain’t natural.”
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – The original has its merits, but this remake is still the best of the lot for me. And who can forget the final image/sound of Donald Sutherland at the end? Rent, rent, rent. [trailer]
Quote: “Here I am, you pod bastards! Hey, pods! Come and get me you scum!”
Love At First Bite (1979) – A romantic comedy about Dracula and a cover model? Surely, you can’t be serious?! Yes, I am. And I highly recommend it, too. George Hamilton as the Count and Arte Johnson as Renfield alone are worth the price of admission. Even the Jeffersons make cameos, for crying out loud! Don’t miss this one. [trailer]
Quote: “Without me, Transylvania will be as exciting as Bucharest… on a Monday night.”
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) – Ed Wood. Enough said. [trailer]
Quote: “Because all you of Earth are idiots.”
Return of the Living Dead (1985) – How many Friday The 13th sequel actors can you find in this movie? Probably none, since you’re not obsessed with FT13 like I am, but that’s not really important. What’s important is this great 80s zombie movie with a tinge of humor. You’ll be howling with laughter over split dogs, Linnea Quigley’s death musings, and, of course, paramedic and law enforcement requests from members of the living dead. Do YOU want to party? Yeah, you do. [trailer]
Quote: “Sir, this is Colonel Glover. I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, sir, but we’re at Q-2 status. It looks like we’ve found that lost consignment of Easter eggs. Yes, sir, pretty sure.”
The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) – Christopher Lee is the greatest Dracula in film history. There, I said it. And you should not miss any of the seven movies in which he portrays the Count, especially this one. [trailer]
Quote: “My revenge has spread over centuries and has just begun!”
The Thing From Another World (1951) – John Carpenter’s version of this movie (simply titled, “The Thing”) is an admitted masterpiece. Now, see where the inspiration came from. Really stands on its own, and quite scary for its time. Proof that B&W films have some bite to them. [trailer]
Quote: “Watch the skies, everywhere! Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!”
Trick or Treat (1986) – Heavy metal horror movie time! Skippy from Family Ties plays the main metalhead (yes, it’s a stretch, I know) who spins a record backwards and all falsetto hell breaks loose. Tacky and endearing cameos from Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons. Plus, who doesn’t love yet another 80s movie of nerd revenge against the normals? [trailer]
Quote: “You should be loyal to your heroes… they can turn on you.”
If you have any others that really fit the bill for solid Halloween film fare, post away in the comments of this entry.
1 commentReview: RetroMacCast
There are quite a number of Mac-related podcasts out there, ranging from informative all the way down to boring, inept, and inconsistent with posting episodes. Then there’s the RetroMacCast, hosted by James and John, two Mac aficionados who bring you a wealth of knowledge on all things Apple, some entertaining segments and, dare I say it, a show that has its shit together.
The production value is top notch with a folksy, almost NPR-ish vibe. A lot of the audio problems that plague many an inept podcast producer — bad sample/bit rate issues, audio pops, hiss, and the list goes on — simply do not apply to RMC. When you’ve heard so many podcasts consisting of little to no preparation, bad research, piss-poor audio, and a just plain ol’ don’t-give-a-crap attitude, then you understand my pain and might find RMC a breath of fresh air. [Rant in the middle of the review ends here.]
In their Retro Mac of the Week segment, the Js spotlight a different Apple computer of yore, which always piques the curiosity of this particular collector. And they’re certainly not just reading specs off a site or out of a book. Both hosts have real-world experience with Macs and the Apple-branded machines that came before, so there’s often a number of insights — both personal and professional — to glean from these gents. RMC also covers Apple news in general, but most of the show is geared towards retro, as you might expect from the actual show name.
In the eBay Finds of the Week segment, James and John scour the online auction site for good deals but also some of the more oddball Apple promotional items of the past and other unexpected goodies tied somehow to our great Mothership in Cupertino — perfect for those in need of a plush “compact Mac” toy or a Steve Jobs jack-in-a-box. Even MY extensive Apple knowledge is challenged on a near-episodic basis by RMC.
Also recommended is their Flickr page, which contains a gigantic stockpile of photos of James’ impressive Apple collection, event photos, detailed shots of all of their Retro Mac of the Week machines, and much more. Of course, the visual aids don’t stop there as RMC is an “enhanced” podcast — meaning, that if you listen to the show on your (5th generation or higher) iPod, a series of related photos will progress throughout each episode, often answering the question, “wow, I wonder what THAT looks like?” It’s not unusual for me to pick up, glance at, and put down my iPod, over and over again, just to catch the pics. More podcasts should take advantage of embedded photos.
Whether you’re a collector like I am, or you have a boundless curiosity for Macs and Apple products — even if you’re just wondering what it is that makes us Mac fans so… well, fanatical — then check out RetroMacCast. Highly recommended.
No commentsSatanism Today: 10-21-08
Magister Harris discusses a DVD distributed in “swing states” that spreads information about Islam. Also, Richard Dawkins and the “Atheist Busses,” and a church that burns pornography.
No comments“Friday The 13th” Remake (Trailer)
Burton: Oppressor of Women and Self-Mutilators!
Kinda hot, actually.
Although this Burlington Free Press story is a good overview, the true hilarity of this drama can be gathered from a series of posts (and their corresponding comments) at the Seven Days blog site, Blurt. Follow in this order: Burton’s Offensive New Boards / Burton Snowboard Controversy: Update and Op-Ed / Board Critics to March on Burton / Burton CEO Defends Controversial Boards / “Please Talk To Us”.
More pics of the boards can be seen here and here.
Some of the opinions I’ve left behind at the comment sections of Blurt (just in case you don’t really want to pore over all of those linked stories) include…
Does Cabot make a variety of cheese for this type of wine?
Seriously, people. Welcome to art. It’s not always peaceful and serene and non-offensive. Sometimes, it’s actually provocative, gritty, and unsafe. Like snowboarding, perhaps. You know, the actual audience for all of this?
And if you’re worried about your children, maybe raise them to be critical thinkers instead of expecting Burton, the media, the government, and the music industry to help raise them for you.
And I almost can’t even address the nude girl designs with any degree of seriousness. Misogyny? Really? What a blind leap off the PC diving board THAT one is! How utterly afraid of the flesh some of you are. One good fuck would probably kill you.
Unbunch your panties. Get over the fact that art exists that you don’t happen to like. And suck it up, cupcake.
And also this one…
Things I’ve “Learned” From This Thread…
1) Many people got to ham-handedly dictate what is and what is not art for everyone, instead of copping to their own highly subjective opinions (or, of course, highly subjective reporting for Blurt). You must be a real hoot at the Art Hop.
2) Violent imagery simply must result in violent behavior. Likewise, “objectifying” women results in rape and misogyny. Personal responsibility and effective parenting, be damned! Chock one up for androphobia, too.
3) Molly would no doubt run out of Passive-Agressive/Solipsist Awards were she not to have rung the “ding, ding, ding… thread’s over” bell.
And then this one…
Excellent to hear that Burton isn’t backing down to self-righteous whiners. Highly commendable!
And it looks like the BFP story and this protest will get them some additional regional advertising, which could only mean MORE sales — to the chagrin of its detractors, of course. The Law of the Forbidden still rings true.
Your indignant protest will come, and then go, and then Burton will sell its boards as it should. Funny how a “cause” can blind some from that immutable reality. Funnier still how it provides so many of us with such entertainment. Good show!
But, if you’re really wanting a whiff of mindlessly-PC Vermont (well, let’s be real here, Burlington) activism in full and embarrassing bloom, some of the comments in the Blurt posts and the Free Press story are simply adorable. Life in the Green Mountain Bubble is so much fun sometimes.
And if actually wondering, I am all for the “objectification” of women. Then again, I am a Satanist. I recognize and respect the sexual power of women and how it can be and often is utilized to great advantages — true feminism, in my book, as opposed to the pointless (and very selective) usurpation of well-established male values. (I might have also read this book… and understood what it said.) Some people are afraid of female sexual power. Others simply don’t measure up and then tellingly finger-wag at those who are more physically endowed than they are, instead of exploiting their own individual strengths. Believe me, if men innately possessed that power, I’d be tapping into it posthaste. So, cheers to hot women and their willing consignment of their physical form to get what they want in life.
As for the self-mutilation designs, that’s a matter of taste — subjective as that is. (And I certainly don’t feel the burning desire to put down others who like it by force-applying an objective judgment upon said artwork. See Blurt comments for glaringly retarded examples of that.) But, were I to brainlessly adopt the complainers’ mindset, here would be the truly absurd example: The “metal horns” design depicts, knowingly or not, a religious hand gesture: namely, one used in the religion of Satanism, of which I am a member. Perhaps I should get all outraged, invoke political correctness, and scream from the rooftops that my legally-recognized religion is being dragged through the mud (or, snow, if you prefer) and that Burton should cease all production of that imagery. OR, I could look over the illustration, laugh at the inherent black humor it contains, and then… MOVE ON! Given that I am able to see the Third Side in all of this, I’ll choose the latter. Imagine that.
4 comments
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