Tag Archives: History

It’s an Incredible Jamboree With Immortal Guitar Axes

4 Dec

Immortal Guitar Axes is a perfect and heavy coffee-table book that’s sure to be an eye pleaser.It not only puts a lot of these beauties in the forefront, but also each instrument has a story too! Lisa S. Johnson‘s love for the six-string is very clear in the prose, and I suspect she did a lot of fieldwork to find out where some of them have disappeared to. Some were lost to history for one reason or another, and others thought destroyed.

For example, just when Peter Frampton (who played with many talents, ranging from David Bowie to Ringo Starr) thought he lost his beloved after the cargo plane crashed over Venezuela, it survived! Although not every guitar has a story like this one, what’s recounted is a look back about where it was either bought or made. Many artists’ instruments are profiled here, and while we already know everything about some axes, namely Brian May’s Red Special, others aren’t as widely known. I really appreciate the chapter about Suzi Quatro since it’s her music which got me to love that classic rock n’ roll all over again ever since I saw her on Happy Days.

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A Fond Look Back at REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World

30 Nov

REVIVAL69

Opens in Select Cinemas across Canada beginning Dec 16, 2022
See Below for British Columbia Screenings
* Mild Spoiler Alert

‘Twas the summer of 69, and while many remember Woodstock as the event that transformed music, there were others, namely Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, where locals praised it as the “…the best show of my life.” The new documentary REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World by Director Ron Chapman looks at how the idea got started, and all the troubles that went with staging such a production.

I can’t help but wonder if a very young Bryan Adams was at this Canadian show to get inspired to play his six-string till his fingers bled. As for how this film can influence not only his destiny but also those who were there–including Geddy Lee, only time will tell. This frontman of RUSH was interviewed about how this concert changed him. Although some performers had trepidation about being here, they were ready and willing. Others who weren’t too sure took convincing. And as for John Lennon, this event showed to the world he’s “quit” The Beatles in a not so official way. But for him to offer a different style of performance theatre wasn’t without its hurdles either. The backstory is quite compelling, and I was glued to this subplot more than the other narratives.

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On Kickstarter is Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies in a Detailed Multi-Volume Look Back!

28 Nov

Video Games author Andrea ContatoNow on Kickstarter is Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies, and according to Andrea Contato, he wants to deliver the most comprehensive work to date regarding the history of video games. While the Italian five-book project is a go, the financial assistance through crowdfunding is needed to help translate this book to an English reading audience. The first chapter has been translated, annotated and can be read here.

In this book, there will be a lot of personal accounts detailing more than just the motivation and creation behind a lot of what today considers the retro scene. This author believes his book will cover a whole lot more than what we normally learn in documentaries offered so far. And I have huge respect for those who want to delve deep into the subject. In this work, we have a look at what really started it all, and I had a chance to interview him about what that is.

For people who haven’t read your last work, the comprehensive Through the Moongate about the classic Ultima RPG series, can you please introduce yourself?

I am a history, computer, and video game enthusiast from Italy. In 2015, I ventured into researching the history of Richard Garriott and his company Origin Systems Inc and after three years of hard work, I launched two crowdfunding campaigns to translate my draft into English. My book, Through the Moongate, (as pictured) was well received, and the enthusiasm with which my project was supported encouraged me to continue.

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Korean Epic Hansan-Rising Dragon Isn’t Sailing Away Yet

22 Nov
Hansan-Rising Dragon

Available to watch on Amazon Prime or order

Well GO USA

One doesn’t need to be a student of Korean history to enjoy Hansan-Rising Dragon (한산: 용의 출현), the prequel to the 2014 movie, The Admiral-Roaring Currents (명량). This cinematic treatment about the historical Battle of Hansando during the last dynastic period of this country is epic. Those able to see it on the big screen in either IMAX or 4DX format are lucky. To witness the oceanic battles in the Yellow Sea must be quite the spectacle.

The tale here concerns figuring out what the next best tactical advance is. Admiral Yi is wounded, and his fleet is facing the might of the invading Japanese navy. His only defence is whether the turtle ships he has to command are fit to oppose. His advisors don’t want to see him in the field all the time.

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Craig Charles Has 10 UFO Conspiracies. Truth or Fiction? Series in Review and Episode Guide

29 Sep

Craig Charles UFO ConspiraciesOn select Streaming Services

Craig Charles (Lister from Red Dwarf) wants to believe, but he can’t do it alone in UFO Conspiracies. There’s some humour involved in this investigative television show on Sky. He joins forces with astrophysicist and journalist Sarah Cruddas to look at various cases, past and present. What’s presented only reminds longtime ufologists about those cases of ongoing debate.

These two work in a makeshift office and don’t have field agents to report in. Instead, what this show offers is something akin to Fact or Faked. Maybe they’re in this bungalow because they fear the Men in Black are coming. The fact it’s “undisclosed” says something. Video cameras are everywhere, and they can be hacked into when they are computer networked machines. In the way this series is filmed, I suspect it’s partly scripted.

I admire the later episodes when the two hosts put together the puzzle pieces. It’s rare to find any paranormal reality programming that’s similar to Beyond the Series. Their investigation into the Phoenix Lights is perhaps the best, since it offers material I do not recall presented elsewhere. To my knowledge, not even Ancient Aliens went into the depth as they did concerning who had seen these UAPs up close.

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