These tiny little caskets are hand-made and then etched with a laser. Each casket Cory sells has a lyric from a song that is more than appropriate for a headstone. One side of the casket has the lyric and the other has the artist name, song title, and year the song was released. There are even some band logos on some of them.
I am sure you are asking yourself why in the hell I just stated that.
Truth is, have been sitting here for easily 30 minutes trying to figure out how to start this post and that is what sounded best. I have the feeling many of you reading this though agree with me.
The Cleveland, Ohio, America, World-Renowned artist Derek Hess has been creating concert fliers, illustrations, artwork and prints for nearly 20 years and finally someone had the right state of mind to do a documentary on him.
To say I am excited is an understatement. I have been a fan of Hess since I was a kid and have had the pleasure of meeting him multiple times. I am proud to say I have a few of his prints from over the years and one day hope to obtain an original.
I know the man has been through a lot and I am very curious to learn more about him soon. I can say he is a quality person and I know this documentary is going to be amazing.
The following comes from the press release:
“Forced Perspective” is a documentary film showcasing the life of artist Derek Hess directed by Nick Cavalier. The film illuminates Derek’s struggle with alcoholism, bipolar disorder, depression and watches him triumph over his personal demons while showing how these experiences help shape his artwork. From Derek’s early flyer work and celebrated sketches to his elaborate mixed media pieces, this film showcases the evolution of Derek’s art and the emotional ripples it leaves behind in the world.
Bringing back my little Times Of Yore entires, I’ve decided to take a break from the music and focus on a film I used to love when I was in high school.
The movie was called Gift. Does anyone out there remember this movie?
It starred Perry Farrell, of Jane’s Addiction fame, and his girlfriend at the time Casey Niccoli as well as included some Jane’s Addiction songs. The film focused on a semi-autobiographical drug-addicted tragic love story that involved mainly heroin and does not necessarily have a happy ending.
Watching the movie I knew that Perry Farrell and Casey Niccoli were an item in the early nineties. While the movie surrounded their love there were also heavy doses of fiction making for a wild viewing. I remember a lot of my friends getting confused after viewing the movie. I do not want to ruin anything so I will not metion the scenes that caused the confusion.
I should note that this was not intended to be a Jane’s Addiction movie and the band was only featured in a few scenes. The film created by Perry Ferrell and Casey Niccoli was more of a vision between the two lovers.
One part of the film showed a live cover of Sly & The Family Stone‘s “Don’t Call Me N*****, Whitey” featuring Ice T and Body Count. Seeing them on stage with Jane’s Addiction was, to me at the time, amazing (still is).
I also remember one of the lines said by Perry Farrell in the movie that was chilling to my ears:
“What would you do if you came home and found the person you loved the most in the world lying dead on the floor?”
At a day and age where I was turning from a teenager into a young adult, this movie opened my eyes to things never before I had thought of. Hardcore drugs, overdose, depression… I watched it over and over with my friends and sometimes alone. I loved the performances by Jane’s Addiction even if they were brief but more so I loved the art aspect of it as well as the performance and execution of the idea by a musician.
The story itself was less than what I needed as a kid trying to learn what love was all about. At times it was sweet to see the two in love and happy but towards the latter end of the film tragedy strikes and scarred my young eyes.
Sadly the VHS I obtained from Half Price Books for a only $7.98 collected dust for years and I finally rid of it thinking I would never want to watch it again. Wrong.
As luck would have it though it is coming to DVD. The film is scheduled to be released on DVD as part of the Jane’s Addiction box set, A Cabinet of Curiosities in April 2009.
So the holidays are over, the presents were unwrapped, and even though I was happily satisfied with all the J-Day gifts I received I felt as if I lacked items for entertainment purposes.
I was a good boy, I done no wrong, in fact this was the first New Years since I was 12 I was completely sober so I think that means presents for me from me. I am just looking for some excuses to buy crap…
Now it is show and tell time. Lookie what I got/have/own…
First up is something I hesitated to buy because it was not something that I needed at all. Hell, none of the items I recently purchased were things I needed… Anyways, I am currently the proud owner of a MC Chris action figure. The thing is poorly made, can’t stand up on it’s own, does not move, and was not designed to do anything. It just lays there motionless, with no desire to entertain; but here is the kicker… it is awesome. It is so awesome that it now is one of my favorite non-animate objects that I own.
The only thing this thing could do is hurt someone if you chucked it at their head.It came packaged with styrofoam in a brown box.
Why would I dare say something so poorly made is awesome? Well it reminds me of a toy you would find from the early 1900’s at your grandparent’s house, something you would look at and scratch your head at. I really think I have a piece of treasure here and to prove it I bought it for $25 from the MC Chris website and now it is on the very same site for $75 (they are claiming to have 3 left). Why the price increase? Well it seems as if there are only 50 in existence as the 450 others were lost in the order according to a bulletin that MC Chris had posted on MySpace.
Noose Halo
Next up is a Derek Hess print I have had my eyes on for a while. Last year I interviewed the Cleveland rock artist and remember questioning his affordable prices. He wanted to make sure he sold his work at prices that people without a lot of money could afford. Well I am without a lot of money and I love his work. I was actually buying a print for my good friend for a belated J-Day gift and could not help myself in getting one for my own house.
This is my third Derek Hess print I now own and I know I have many more to acquire in the future. I have already framed it and will place it accordingly in my dwelling so that all can see. One day I hope to have an original piece in my collection…baby steps for now.
If you would like a print for yourself you might want to act fast as this offset print is limited to 300 and I scored numbers 204 and 205 for myself and said friend. Once 300 is reached it will be sold out and very difficult to find.
For my media pleasure I picked up a copy of the hilarious DVD Pineapple Express. If you have not seen the movie yet I promise you some foul mouthed stupid humor plus a little bit of action. The duo of Seth Rogen and James Franco are perfect for this derranged adventure involving two stoners.
Watching the movie last night had me rolling. I enjoyed it a lot more than originally when I saw the movie in the theaters seeing how it was ruined by two jackasses in front of me who clearly pregamed before the movie. The other benefit of DVD over going to the movies are having extra content. The deleted scenes were not too entertaining but the gag reel was hilarious.
Today I ventured to the Borders book store I used to work at a few years back. I went there looking for a vegan cupcake book. I know, what the hell was I thinking right? Well have you ever had a vegan cupcake? Exactly. Once you have you will want to know how it was made.
Let’s get back to why I went to Borders. Well that vegan cupcake book was nowhere to be found so I kept looking around and found something that I have been wanting for a while, a copy of Anthony Bourdain‘s A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines. The book captures Anthony Bourdain and his travels for food. I can not wait to find some free time to sink my eyes into it.
My wife also found a book she knew I would have interest in called Punk: The Whole Story that usually retails for about $25. It was sitting there in the budget section with the attractive price of $4.99 so I grabbed it seeing how I never pass on a good punk rock deal. Full color hardbound book full of punk rock history, a great find if you ask me.
As I finish up this bragging of a blog I keep telling myself there was one more thing that I purchased…something very recent.
Oh yeah. I bought an album on iTunes today. Dirty south punk meets crunk act Whole Wheat Bread recently released their third CD on iTunes before it hits shelves and I could not wait. The Afro Punk rockers have been favorites of mine since they first released their material in 2005. The album Hearts of Hoodlums will be released in stores on January 20th. Inauguration coincidence? Perhaps. That also happens to be the day back in 1977 that I started kicking ass and taking names or however you say that (hint, hint).
Well I guess my show and tell time is over and I should go sit back down on the magic carpet and see what the next little kid out there had…until next time.
Here’s a Whole Wheat Bread video just for the heck of it:
Whole Wheat Bread covering Rancid‘s “Roots Radicals” featuring Chris from Stretch Armstrong at Peabody’s in tropical Cleveland, Ohio
I don’t know about you, but I am excited about this. I love rock concert prints. This movie/documentary looks to be real interesting…
Cleveland’s Derek Hess is in it as well (w/ Jose the dog). Sweet. I see Coop & Frank Kozik are in it as well. I love all three artists so needless to say I can not wait till this comes out.
The movie was called 
. If you have not seen the movie yet I promise you some foul mouthed stupid humor plus a little bit of action. The duo of 
. The book captures Anthony Bourdain and his travels for food. I can not wait to find some free time to sink my eyes into it.
that usually retails for about $25. It was sitting there in the budget section with the attractive price of $4.99 so I grabbed it seeing how I never pass on a good punk rock deal. Full color hardbound book full of punk rock history, a great find if you ask me.
will be released in stores on January 20th. Inauguration coincidence? Perhaps. That also happens to be the day back in 1977 that I started kicking ass and taking names or however you say that (hint, hint).