Maybe it’s because I’m such a big fan of the NBC s…

Maybe it’s because I’m such a big fan of the NBC show “Ed” or something, but lately I’ve been thinking if it would be cool or if it would suck to actually own a bowling alley. Of course, it would be nothing like “Ed,” I am not nearly gullible enough or stupid enough to think life is anything like a television show, but it does make me wonder. It seems Boston lacks a really hip kind of bowling alley in the Somerville/Cambridge area, and I believe someone could have a shot at succeeding if they were to engage in such an endeavor. There is a pretty large bowling center in Cambridge right on Route 2, but it’s dated and kind of cheesy.

So I did some research and it seems that the general consensus is that one would need approximately $1.3 million in financing to get a good solid, hip, mid-sized bowling alley off the ground. I envision this: a bowling alley, maybe 15-20 lanes, all ten-pin, with the best jukebox in town. I’m no braggart, but I do think I could easily put together the best jukebox in town (already have the CD’s, in fact). Anyway, I would also have a seperate room that would hold, oh, 50-75 people and I’d use that room for low-decibal bands and I’d have shows start at 7:30 pm. This would be for three purposes: 1) to get people to the bowling alley, obviously, 2) show would be over at 8:30 or 9pm so people could bowl afterwards and 3) so people my age who have to be at work the next morning can get home at a reasonable hour if they just want to see a show. Furthermore, I bet I could get bands who are playing in the clubs later that night to do an acoustic show at that time for a few extra bucks. There are NO clubs that do that in this city. And I know it’s all driven by alocohol. Is this a pipe dream? I dunno. Just sounds like something that would work, doesn’t it? Please send money.

The Rolling Stones have most certainly become more cartoonish than anything since, oh, 1981, but I’ve been listening to a lot of their late ’70s/early ’80s stuff lately and I am so digging it. While clearly not their strongest era, songs like “Heartbreaker,” “Emotional Rescue,” “Miss You,” and especially “Waiting on a Friend” should be given more credit than they seem to be given. Or maybe they are given credit and I just don’t realize it. Whatever. My ears itch for some reason today. Like – inside my ears. That’s annoying.

Because I used to work in the record business and …

Because I used to work in the record business and for a while dabbled in running my own record label, I used to get a lot of band promo photos in the mail. Some were usual, some were funny, blah blah. Sometimes, just to fool around, we would “autograph” the photos and write stupid things to friends like “Ron, thanks for the very sensual night. Love – Bob Stevens.” And it would be Bob Stevens’ promo photo. Sophomoric, stupid – yes, of course. And great fun. Well, the other day I actually received this promo photo and the opportunities for some good ‘ol twenty-something humor here are clearly endless……ladies and gentlemen, I give you…………MUDVAYNE!

I swear this is a real band. They’re actually on Epic Records.

Back in the late 1980s, I began my pursuit of high…

Back in the late 1980s, I began my pursuit of higher education at Northeastern University in Boston. As many of you don’t know, I left Northeastern in February of 1990, after just two quarters, because the cost of attending this school was just too high and I wanted to get involved more in journalism and mass communications, a degree which I finally secured from the infamous Kent State in the spring of 1994.

What a lot of people don’t know, and it’s a fact that I like to keep pretty quiet, was the 6 months that I had off between Northeastern and Kent State was spent on tour with the Rolling Stones. Not only did I play guitar, I also played bass and rhythm. What a rush it was to walk on stage and rip into the opening chords of “Satisfaction” (then start the deep bass background, and finally, add some extra chops on rhythm guitar) and see the crowds of 60,000 people or more go hog-wild. I’ll never forgot that spring and summer of ’90.

I saw Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets on its…

I saw Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets on its opening night, last Friday. I have a whole slew of observations:

1) First and foremost, the movie itself was just fantastic. I think I may have liked it better than the first one, in fact. Of course, it’s largely directed at kids, but there’s plenty in there for adults to easily enjoy – excellent monsters, great special effects and an entertaining storyline. Just good ‘ol wholesome entertainment.

2) Opening night for a film like this is pretty ridiculous. I went to the 7pm showing, so the loonies weren’t there yet, but the theatre was full and we had good seats, thankfully we didn’t have to sit in the whiplash seats up front. I also had peanut M&M’s – a damn fine snack candy, but no comparison to the mighty Fig Newton, which of course is not sold at concessions. Anyway, when we were walking out after the movie, the line was about a mile long for the 10pm showing and throughout the line you could see goof-balls with lightning bolts on their foreheads and fully-grown adults dressed up as some of the adult characters in the movie like that huge dude with the big-ass beard whose name I’ve already forgotten – Hoggle-schorts or Wiggle-Rumps or whatever. I don’t know. Sheesh. It’s a movie, ok? Why get dressed up? Actually, I think I might go see Free Willy when they re-release it and dress up as a lifesize whale.

3) This was the first time that I have ever been to a film where the entire theatre broke out into simultanous, rousing applause before AND after the movie. That was kind of strange. The only other time I’ve heard applause at a movie was when I saw Alien 2 during high school and Signourney Weaver called the big alien a bitch and then killed it. I think that’s how it happened…..

Not sure if you’ve heard the news, but that audio …

Not sure if you’ve heard the news, but that audio tape recorded by Jeffsama Bin Laden was finally released to the public this week. The tape is nothing more than me singing songs like “Islands In The Stream” and REO Speedwagon’s “Take It On The Run.” I also make some thinly veiled threats to Barry Manilow that if I ever see him singing “Mandy” on VH-1 again, he’ll be in a world of hurt. There seems to be a lot of news articles about the tape, though. In fact, coalition intelligence sources have said they believe the tape is authentic and unedited (duh, of course it is). That view has been reflected privately by U.S. officials. However, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Wednesday the tape was still being analyzed. Have fun! I hope they like my singing. Ashcroft also released the first known picture of Jeffsama: