The Boss bites back

I’m not quite sold on the allegations of the Jersey guy who is naming Springsteen in his divorce papers as the individual his wife had an affair with.  I would need to know more facts in order to fully buy that tale.  Did this guy hire a private investigator?  What makes this guy believe Bruce Springsteen would want anything to do with his wife?  Or that his wife would want anything to do with Springsteen?  It kind of reminds me of the scene in the movie “Honeymoon in Vegas” when the guy goes to Jack Singer proclaiming “My wife is having an affair with Mike Tyson”.

There has to be more to the story than his wife “committed adultery…with Springsteen…at various times and places too numerous to mention…”  If there were too many times and places to mention, why bring it up at all?  

Let’s assume for a moment that it is true.  That makes the wife of this guy just as guilty as Bruce.

I know in Bruce’s retaliating statement he does not deny having an affair.  But maybe that’s because there is no affair to deny.

As a person who has witnessed first hand the clandestine qualities of a rock star, on one hand I say “it wouldn’t surprise me if this affair allegation were true”.  That’s solely based on my past experiences with one rock star (whom I can prove and have proved cheated on his wife MANY times and still does to this day). 

However, unlike the rock star I know, I have never met Springsteen, nor have I witnessed him hitting on women or traipsing off with a friend of mine for a ”rendezvous” (which had very serious consequences), as I have seen with the rock star that I know.  Therefore, I have to give Bruce the benefit of the doubt and leave it at that.

In essence, he is innocent until proven guilty.  A statement in some guy’s divorce papers doesn’t make it true.

Wild about “Wild Boy”

I hate to use this blog as a place to post my reviews of books, movies or music I’ve enjoyed or hated, but I felt after I finished this one particular read, it deserved some attention here.  Maybe this will be the start of an on-going thing.  Who knows?

The book I’m referring to is “Wild Boy” by Andy Taylor.  For those of you who are thinking “the sherrif from Mayberry wrote a book?  ‘Wild Boy’?  Was that about Barney?”, the answer is no.  This Andy Taylor is/was the guitarist for the phenonemal 80’s pop group Duran Duran.  If you are reading this and are/were a DD fan, I need not explain any further.  You may have already read the book yourself.  If you were not a DD fan, read on.

At one time in my life (say around 14, 15, 16) I was the ultimate Duran Duran junkie.  I slept, ate and breathed Duran Duran.  I will not go into the crazy details here.  They will make your head spin.  When I think about some of my crazy antics (none of which had to actually do with the band, mind you), I shake my head.  But reading this book really took me down memory lane.  And it also opened my eyes to what I would never have guessed (or dared to have thought) about the five guys I so admired.

First of all, I was highly impressed with Andy’s writing.  He comes off being very well schooled and quite intelligent.  Trust me.  I’ve read books by other rock stars (written by the rock star themself) and it was not as well written as this book.  Very well done.

Andy’s story takes us from Duran Duran’s beginnings, their ups and downs, highs (literally) and lows, illnesses (his own and his wife’s) to the end when Andy said “enough–let me off this crazy roller coaster”.  In reading all the tales, I find it hard to believe John Taylor is still alive today.  Out of all the members, I never thought he would’ve been the worst as far as drug problems went.  I always thought it would’ve been Simon.  Just goes to show you how much of a “real” fan I was, huh? haha.

I know Andy’s story is just his side of it.  It’s from his view.  I’m sure if the other four members wrote their own tales, some of what Andy wrote about would come out differently.  For instance, maybe Nick would be pointing the finger at Andy for bringing up problems with the lyrics instead of Andy pointing the finger at Nick for doing that.  Andy referred to Nick as the “Lyric Police” for his nitpicking Simon’s lyrics.  I’ll admit some of Simon’s lyrics are quite odd.  I’m still trying to figure out what a “lizard mixture” is and what the hell is “The Reflex” anyway?

The conclusion of the book at least clarified in my mind what I had originally thought back in 2005 when they were touring again:  they needed the cash.  I was right about that one.  Yet Andy and Roger were only going to be seeing a portion of the profits due to the fact that they had not worked with the band during the 90’s.  So I guess by this time Duran Duran really were not Duran Duran any longer.  They were just five individuals who needed some money and the only way they could get it was to go on tour again.

If they’re all still alive twenty years from now and need the cash, maybe they’ll tour for their 40th anniversary.  They’ll all be pushing 70.  Hey, if the Stones can do it, why not Duran Duran?

Still, this was a very entertaining read.  As a Duran Duran fan, I also followed them during their solo ventures and this book led me to drag out Andy’s solo album.  I forgot how much I used to love listening to “Thunder”.  It’s too bad he didn’t really reflect much on his solo career in the book.  I thought it was pretty good music.

I’m sure we won’t be hearing Andy any time soon on a new Duran Duran CD (unless they can talk him into that 40th anniversary tour); but I hope he does do his own thing musically and continues to do what he loves most.

What a week it’s been!

With the countless layoffs, cowardly suicides and crazy weather that affected the country this past week, it’s good to know that we can all toss our cares aside tomorrow, park our asses on the couch and pig out on nachos and two-alarm-fire buffalo wings while witnessing two of the NFL’s alleged best football teams go head-to-head.  Please.  Tell me when this nightmare is over.

The best thing about the Super Bowl will be Springsteen’s show at halftime.  JMO, of course.  Then again, I do consider myself a big fan of The Boss.  Although I won’t be watching the game (I could care less who wins), if I time it just right, I may turn the tube on just in time to see Bruce.

Speaking of Bruce, I can understand how some fans became upset by his deal with Walmart exclusively selling his greatest hits CD.  Here is Springsteen, strong advocate for the common everyday laborer and there is Walmart, alleged perpetrator of worker’s rights.  The Boss has apologized for his decision.  Say what you want about Walmart–at least they haven’t been in the news due to layoffs.

BTW, if you are considering picking up Walmart’s exclusive Springsteen CD, save your $10.00 and put it towards buying his NEW CD.  The GH has ten songs on it, all from prior Bruce CD’s; if you are the average Bruce fan, you probably own the albums already which contain all of those songs.  Just create your own GH mix CD for free.

Want

The Rolling Stones sang “You can’t always get what you want”.  

However, one washed up Canadian singer who decided to become a philosopher of sorts and somewhat “motivational” speaker with a book he wrote states that people “CAN always get what they want”.

To me stating that you “can always get  what you want” is preaching nothing but greed.  Can you imagine going around teaching our children that they can always get what they want in life?  What rotten people they would turn out to be!  I wonder if this is what he is teaching his own four-year-old.  If so, I feel bad for her.

I am a firm believer in WORKING for what you want to achieve in life:  home ownership, a new car, children, a better job; however, there is NO guarantee in life that you are going to get it! 

I know many people who have put in countless hours and tons of money to obtain degrees from various educational institutions.  They wanted to better themselves.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I’ve achieved that myself.  But I can tell you that not one of them is the CEO of any company and none of them make more money than I do.  In fact one of them has been unemployed for two years.  One very good friend of mine did post for a management position that he wanted but did not get it.  So telling people that they can indeed get what they want is BULLSHIT!

I want nothing more than to have total financial freedom.  So where’s my ten million bucks?  How about all those people who wanted homes, got them, and now find themselves without a home because it was foreclosed on?  How about all those people out there who want to get a loan but can’t?

I can see what this has been Canadian singer is trying to say in his quote. Like most of what he says it sounds good on the surface but needs more backbone to go with it.  Prove the theory.

I believe there is a fine line to getting what you want.  You can work yourself to the bone to become rich and famous, you can own a business and work at it 80 hours a week. Presto! You got what you wanted. “Success”. But who did you have to run over to get it? Did you have to sleep or sneak or manipulate your way to the top? Did you leave your family behind while you made trips around the world in the name of “success”? Did you miss out on your child’s first steps, first words, first day of school?  I know this has-been Canadian singer did.  I often wonder if that was what he REALLY wanted.  If yes, then I feel really sorry for him.  He can have his “success”.  One thing with success and money is that you can’t take it with you.  But you only get one family.  If no, I still feel sorry for him because he’s become a slave to his own wants. 

I recently read a very interesting article on highly successful business people in Reader’s Digest.  In a sidebar, it listed keys to how these people became the millionaires they are.  One of those keys was only taking what they NEED, not what they WANT.  For instance one states he can’t “fathom” why people buy bottled water. Another one looked at a 1.5 million home but went for one half the price because “a house with double the cost wouldn’t give me double the enjoyment”.  It goes on to say that some of the richest people “spend their money with a middle-class mind-set”. They even clip coupons and wait for sales.  Did you know that Warren Buffet, the third richest person in the world according to “Forbes” lives in the same Omaha, NE home he bought four decades ago for $31,500!

For someone to try to make others believe that they can always get what they want is like brainwashing.  It kind of reminds me of that “Secret” book because that’s the same kind of statement they were making.  Funny how all these “motivational” people all sound the same after a while!

What I learned from Facebook and why I left it behind

For the past year I was a member of the popular social community called Facebook.  I initially joined because a friend of mine was on there and told me I should sign up.  So I did.  As far as I know, that was the only reason why I did because I never knew of any other reasons for being on there.

As the first part of the title of this post states “What I learned from Facebook”; the answer is that Facebook is a community page that was obviously created for people who have nothing better to do with themselves, i.e., people without lives.  I’m not saying I was one of these people because honestly, in the entire time I was registered there, I did not visit my page very often.  I discovered there were people I didn’t even know who wanted to be my “friend”.  They would request my “friendship” and months would go by before I even received their requests, to which I would ignore them because I did not know them and if it was someone I didn’t know, I wasn’t going to make them my friend!

Another thing I learned was that washed-up 80’s Canadian rock stars spend their time frequenting Facebook to see who is talking about them or who is willing to talk about them and gawk at all the pictures they post of themselves on their Facebook pages.  Facebook is a big ego trip for them.  What is left of their egos anyway. 

They spend hours on end adding all their “friends” to their Facebook pages–people they don’t even know, people they have never met, friends who refer to themselves as “Goldilocks” and “Asslicker”.  They change their status literally by the minute, trying to be funny in what they say; they really aren’t funny at all because the jokes they keep posting in their status are other people’s jokes; the jokes are also distasteful and disrespectful;  To top it off, they sit on their computer playing Texas Hold ‘Em Poker on Facebook for HOURS.  Then they turn around and tell ME I need to get a life.  The truth is, if my life was anything like this former “rock star”’s life, I think I’d be looking for a gun.  After all, he’s the one spending all his time on Facebook adding his “friends” and playing poker.  I actually have a job to do, a child to raise and a house to run.  It must be nice to be a washed-up 80’s Canadian rock star with nothing better to do.

So, why did I leave Facebook behind?  Simply because I figured it was stupid to be registered to something that I hardly ever visit.  If I want to communicate with my real friends, I’ll visit them or pick up the phone.  I can’t find my real friends on Facebook.

As for that washed-up rocker, he can keep chatting about himself and what he did 20 years ago to whomever cares to listen.  Like himself, it too will get old fast.

How quickly they forget where they came from and who put them there…

Ringo Starr has come forward to say that starting October 20 he will no
longer sign any memorabilia or answer any fan letters

Per a report on CNN, Starr states:  “I want to tell you please… do
not send fan mail to any address that you have. Nothing will be signed
after the 20th of October. If that is the date on the envelope, it’s
gonna be tossed.

“I’m warning you with peace and love I have too much to do. So no more
fan mail, thank you, thank you, and no objects to be signed. Nothing,”
the 68-year-old said.

If you’re going to diss your fans, why wait until October 20?  Why
not start now?  I guess fans should be glad that at least he’s warning
them with “peace and love” not to send fan mail.

Putting myself into Starr’s shoes for a moment, I can kind of see his
point.  After all he is a cranky, tired, old British fart who allegedly
has “too much to do”.  At nearly 70 years old he is past retirement
age and I’m sure he has to squeeze in a few naps throughout the day.
Add in the fact that he probably suffers from arthritis.  There’s a
good excuse for not being able to write to all his fans.  And I’m sure
he has to find the time for calling those Bingo games at the senior
center with the other washed up members of his All Starr Band.

On the other hand, I can hear the voices of the fans.  After all they
have been buying Ringo merchandise and going to Ringo shows for the past
40 plus years.  I’m sure many of them feel following these years of
dedication they at least deserve an autograph.  Isn’t it the least the
drummer from one of the biggest musical acts ever can do for people who
put food on his table and clothes on his back?

It amazes me how quickly so many celebrities forget where they came
from and who put them there.  They forget that if it weren’t for fans,
even for people wanting a mere autograph, they would be nothing.  I’m
not saying celebrities owe us anything; but don’t cop an attitude
because after years of complying with your fans’ autograph requests,
suddenly you feel you are “too busy” to accommodate them.  That’s
bullshit.  Ringo Starr was busier 20 years ago when he was playing a
midget train conductor on PBS’ “Shining Time Station”.  And he was
signing autographs and answering mail then.

He may have talent and he was a Beatle (although not the first drummer)
but without his fans Ringo would just be another drummer among a sea of
drummers trying to make it big in the music biz.

What do washed up rock stars do when they have nothing better to do?

They play poker on social networking sites!

Still cranking out the ideas to make the big bucks…

It’s so ironic how TheNemesis creates his “book” then decides he’s going to put out a DVD to go along with it.  Hm…seems kind of like what they did with “The Secret”.  Then he has the nerve to go on his social networking page and tell people to BUY his book and then ask him all kinds of questions about it so he can talk about it in the DVD.  GET REAL, Mr. Wonderful.  Although I do have to give you credit…at least it will give you something to do, since it seems you have nothng to do right now.  Making a DVD could keep you busy…for a while at least.

Rock stars shouldn’t get political…

Mr. Wonderful remains dumbfounded that the whacko’s on the far right STILL get to screw up what should be a pretty sane world to live in.

I remain dumbfounded that he’s still a wacko….

Aren’t we a little old for this shit?

I could see a 13-year-old creating a site like this, but this is a 40-year-old woman!  C’mon.  How lame is it to be asking others to give you their opinion regarding the group’s hair, what their favorite part in a video was, who their favorite band member is/was.  We went through all of this over 20 years ago!  These guys are practically GRANDFATHERS!  The lead singer is over 50 years old and hardly has any hair left–so who cares if it’s long or short?