Pedal steel guitarist "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Brothers has died from Alzheimer's disease complications at age 72, Reuters reports.
Kleinow soon quit for lucrative session work on albums by the likes of John Lennon ("Mind Games"), Fleetwood Mac ("Heroes are Hard to Find") and Joni Mitchell ("Blue").
He later returned to his original calling as a visual effects artist in film and television. Before the Burritos, he had worked on NBC's "The Gumby Show." His later credits included the first two "Terminator" films, and he shared an Emmy for his work on the TV miniseries "The Winds of War."
--------------------------
Animator Iwao Takamoto, credited with creating Scooby Doo, died Monday, according to The Associated Press.
Takamoto [also] assisted in the designs of some of the biggest animated features and television shows, including "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp" and "The Flintstones."
---------------------------
CD new releases Jan. 9, 2007
Window in the Skies Pt 1 by U2
Window in the Skies Pt 2 by U2
Measure for Pleasure by Pf Sloan
Live From Austin Tx by Neko Case
Half & Half / Helicon by Four Seasons
Reunited: Live by Four Seasons
Four Seasons Entertain You / Live on Stage With by Four Seasons
Streetfighter / Hope & Glory by Four Seasons
Working My Way Back to You / Genuine Imitation by Four Seasons
Live at the Cow Palace: New Years Eve 1976 by The Grateful Dead
Live from Austin, TX by Johnny Cash
This Time by DJ Shadow
High Flying Bird: Live at the Monterey Festival by Jefferson Airplane
Chicago Blues Festival 1964 by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
This Is Gospel: Greatest Hits Black Gospel by Various Artists
More upcoming CDs
Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 8, 2007
Writer Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle talk to 20th Century Danny Boy about their pretty decent 1980s run on the Batman comics.
Best Batman Sites.
------------------------
The animation history blog, ASIFA, has scans of some cool Terrytoons model sheets.
Best Cartoon Sites.
------------------------
Famed for its die-cast car models, Corgi Toys has merged with Master Replica Inc. and will expand into new areas, according to a press release.
The new Corgi now holds licenses for many of the highest grossing film franchises of all time including Batman, Disney Classics, Harry Potter, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, and others.
The company will be developing unique, collectible products under three brands. New products will begin arriving at retail in the spring of 2007 for Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars 30th Anniversary, and Transformers and in the fall of 2007, for The Golden Compass.
Best Toy Car Sites.
--------------------------
The ASPCA is not gonna like this (although, I'm sure, no animals were harmed in the creation of these comics panels).
--------------------------
An animated flick on Gold Key Comics' Turok, Son of Stone may be in the works.
--------------------------
Donovan and David Lynch are doing a double tour to promote "meditation, consciousness and creativity." Both men are long-time devotees of Transcendental Meditation, the publicizing of which seems to be the main aim. You can get info here.
--------------------------
A new book, "Hitchcock's Music," looks at the prominent role sound played in the director's flicks. The New York Times takes a look:
For Hitchcock music was not merely an accompaniment. It was a focus. And it didn’t just reveal something about the characters who sang the score’s songs or moved under its canopy of sound; music could seem to be a character itself.
This might sound a bit grandiose, but take a look at Jack Sullivan’s fascinating new book, “Hitchcock’s Music” (Yale University Press). In his book “New World Symphonies,” Mr. Sullivan, who is director of American studies at Rider University in New Jersey, inverted the usual suggestion that American concert-hall music evolved under the domineering shadow of European influence. He showed instead how American music powerfully shaped the evolution of Europe’s art form. Now he shows that it isn’t just that Hitchcock believed that sound should serve image; he believed that image should serve sound.
--------------------------
"Doctor Who" can make boring science fun, says the UK's new science minister.
"If you start a lesson with the chemical formulae you will lose 90 per cent of the class. If you start with something interesting or important, like something they read in the paper or saw on television, they will remain interested.
"It can be part of an entrée to some of the more technical, important but slightly more boring parts of the subject. If I was a teacher I would start with a chunk from Doctor Who and Billie Piper and say, 'Actually, what was that all about and how is our textbook relevant to that?'"
...However, Derek Bell, the chief executive of the Association of Science Education, said: "We all enjoy programmes such as Doctor Who, but teachers would need to be careful to make it clear which bits are science and which fantasy."
Best Doctor Who Sites.
Best Batman Sites.
------------------------
The animation history blog, ASIFA, has scans of some cool Terrytoons model sheets.
Best Cartoon Sites.
------------------------
Famed for its die-cast car models, Corgi Toys has merged with Master Replica Inc. and will expand into new areas, according to a press release.
The new Corgi now holds licenses for many of the highest grossing film franchises of all time including Batman, Disney Classics, Harry Potter, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, and others.
The company will be developing unique, collectible products under three brands. New products will begin arriving at retail in the spring of 2007 for Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars 30th Anniversary, and Transformers and in the fall of 2007, for The Golden Compass.
Best Toy Car Sites.
--------------------------
The ASPCA is not gonna like this (although, I'm sure, no animals were harmed in the creation of these comics panels).
--------------------------
An animated flick on Gold Key Comics' Turok, Son of Stone may be in the works.
--------------------------
Donovan and David Lynch are doing a double tour to promote "meditation, consciousness and creativity." Both men are long-time devotees of Transcendental Meditation, the publicizing of which seems to be the main aim. You can get info here.
--------------------------
A new book, "Hitchcock's Music," looks at the prominent role sound played in the director's flicks. The New York Times takes a look:
For Hitchcock music was not merely an accompaniment. It was a focus. And it didn’t just reveal something about the characters who sang the score’s songs or moved under its canopy of sound; music could seem to be a character itself.
This might sound a bit grandiose, but take a look at Jack Sullivan’s fascinating new book, “Hitchcock’s Music” (Yale University Press). In his book “New World Symphonies,” Mr. Sullivan, who is director of American studies at Rider University in New Jersey, inverted the usual suggestion that American concert-hall music evolved under the domineering shadow of European influence. He showed instead how American music powerfully shaped the evolution of Europe’s art form. Now he shows that it isn’t just that Hitchcock believed that sound should serve image; he believed that image should serve sound.
--------------------------
"Doctor Who" can make boring science fun, says the UK's new science minister.
"If you start a lesson with the chemical formulae you will lose 90 per cent of the class. If you start with something interesting or important, like something they read in the paper or saw on television, they will remain interested.
"It can be part of an entrée to some of the more technical, important but slightly more boring parts of the subject. If I was a teacher I would start with a chunk from Doctor Who and Billie Piper and say, 'Actually, what was that all about and how is our textbook relevant to that?'"
...However, Derek Bell, the chief executive of the Association of Science Education, said: "We all enjoy programmes such as Doctor Who, but teachers would need to be careful to make it clear which bits are science and which fantasy."
Best Doctor Who Sites.
Upcoming mags from TwoMorrows Publishing
Click links to order from TwoMorrows.
ALTER EGO 66
edited by Roy THOMAS
ALTER EGO 66 shines the spotlight on Bouncin’ Bob POWELL—from
Blackhawk
to Daredevil to Batman! Behind a clamorous full-color Powell cover
specially assembled by Michael T. GILBERT, we take a look at the life
and times and titanic talent of the artist who drew Daredevil,
Sub-Mariner, Sheena, The Avenger, The Hulk, Giant-Man, Green
Hornet—and
Batman!?—presented with pride by Ed LANE and the POWELL Kids! Plus,
there's related art by Wally WOOD, Howard NOSTRAND, Dick AYERS, Joe
SIMON, Jack KIRBY, Charles CUIDERA and others! FCA (Fawcett Collectors
of America) with Marc SWAYZE, C.C. BECK, and others! Michael T. GILBERT
and Mr. Monster—& MORE!!
The 100 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 14 March 2007.
------------
BACK ISSUE 21
edited by Michael EURY
BACK ISSUE 21 is our “The Devil You Say!” issue, sure to set your
soul
on fire! Behind an awe-inspiring Daredevil cover by Mike ZECK is an
in-depth look at the Man without Fear’s 1980s and early 1990s
adventures, featuring interviews with and/or art by Klaus JANSON, John
ROMITA Jr., Ann NOCENTI, Frank MILLER, and others! Mike MIGNOLA recalls
the roots of Hellboy in an exclusive interview, Dan MISHKIN and Gary
COHN go “Pro2Pro” on their co-creation of Shadowpact’s Blue
Devil, and
“Greatest Stories Never Told” examines Colleen DORAN’s
unpublished X-Men
spin-off Fallen Angels! Plus there’s sizzling spotlights on the Son
of
Satan, Ty TEMPLETON’s Stig’s Inferno, the hellish humor of DC’s
Plop!,
and one of Jack KIRBY’s most bizarre comics, Devil Dinosaur!
The 100 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 21 March 2007.
------------
WRITE NOW! 15
edited by Danny FINGEROTH
In WRITE NOW! 15, we feature an in-depth interview with the amazingly
versatile J.M. DeMATTEIS, as he discusses his work on Disney’s
Abadazad
with Mike PLOOG (who provides a sidebar interview, and this issue’s
all-new cover)! We also have an amazing Nuts & Bolts section on DC’s
red-hot 52 series, featuring script by the Mark WAID/Greg RUCKA/Geoff
JOHNS/Grant MORRISON team, breakdowns by Keith GIFFEN, and pencil art
by
Joe BENNETT and Chris BATISTA! Then: Jim OTTAVIANI—writer of
TWO-FISTED
SCIENCE—tells you about the world of nonfiction comics writing and
publishing! GRIMJACK’s John Ostrander discusses the difference
between
writing a character you own and a “franchise” property—everything
from
Star Wars to Batman! STAR TREK novelist Bill McCAY tells how to deal
with editors and rewrites! Journalist Don SMITH takes you on a tour of
the zany world of self-publishing! Plus: More amazing Nuts & Bolts
samples of comics scripts and art, and more! Edited by Danny FINGEROTH.
The 80 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 28 March 2007.
ALTER EGO 66
edited by Roy THOMAS
ALTER EGO 66 shines the spotlight on Bouncin’ Bob POWELL—from
Blackhawk
to Daredevil to Batman! Behind a clamorous full-color Powell cover
specially assembled by Michael T. GILBERT, we take a look at the life
and times and titanic talent of the artist who drew Daredevil,
Sub-Mariner, Sheena, The Avenger, The Hulk, Giant-Man, Green
Hornet—and
Batman!?—presented with pride by Ed LANE and the POWELL Kids! Plus,
there's related art by Wally WOOD, Howard NOSTRAND, Dick AYERS, Joe
SIMON, Jack KIRBY, Charles CUIDERA and others! FCA (Fawcett Collectors
of America) with Marc SWAYZE, C.C. BECK, and others! Michael T. GILBERT
and Mr. Monster—& MORE!!
The 100 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 14 March 2007.
------------
BACK ISSUE 21
edited by Michael EURY
BACK ISSUE 21 is our “The Devil You Say!” issue, sure to set your
soul
on fire! Behind an awe-inspiring Daredevil cover by Mike ZECK is an
in-depth look at the Man without Fear’s 1980s and early 1990s
adventures, featuring interviews with and/or art by Klaus JANSON, John
ROMITA Jr., Ann NOCENTI, Frank MILLER, and others! Mike MIGNOLA recalls
the roots of Hellboy in an exclusive interview, Dan MISHKIN and Gary
COHN go “Pro2Pro” on their co-creation of Shadowpact’s Blue
Devil, and
“Greatest Stories Never Told” examines Colleen DORAN’s
unpublished X-Men
spin-off Fallen Angels! Plus there’s sizzling spotlights on the Son
of
Satan, Ty TEMPLETON’s Stig’s Inferno, the hellish humor of DC’s
Plop!,
and one of Jack KIRBY’s most bizarre comics, Devil Dinosaur!
The 100 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 21 March 2007.
------------
WRITE NOW! 15
edited by Danny FINGEROTH
In WRITE NOW! 15, we feature an in-depth interview with the amazingly
versatile J.M. DeMATTEIS, as he discusses his work on Disney’s
Abadazad
with Mike PLOOG (who provides a sidebar interview, and this issue’s
all-new cover)! We also have an amazing Nuts & Bolts section on DC’s
red-hot 52 series, featuring script by the Mark WAID/Greg RUCKA/Geoff
JOHNS/Grant MORRISON team, breakdowns by Keith GIFFEN, and pencil art
by
Joe BENNETT and Chris BATISTA! Then: Jim OTTAVIANI—writer of
TWO-FISTED
SCIENCE—tells you about the world of nonfiction comics writing and
publishing! GRIMJACK’s John Ostrander discusses the difference
between
writing a character you own and a “franchise” property—everything
from
Star Wars to Batman! STAR TREK novelist Bill McCAY tells how to deal
with editors and rewrites! Journalist Don SMITH takes you on a tour of
the zany world of self-publishing! Plus: More amazing Nuts & Bolts
samples of comics scripts and art, and more! Edited by Danny FINGEROTH.
The 80 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 28 March 2007.
Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 5, 2007
Sharity: WFMU has MP3s of the rare Velvet Underground tracks that surfaced on a one-of-a-kind acetate that recently sold for a zillion dollars on e-Bay.
----------------------
From Bedazzled: James Brown on "Soul Train."
----------------------
The must-read comics history 'zine Alter Ego has an in-depth feature on the famed "Monter Society of Evil" storyline, which ran for 20 issues of Captain Marvel Adventures in the 1940s. You can see an excerpt here and read the whole thing in Alter Ego #64, which you can order here.
I agree with Alter Ego publisher Roy Thomas that DC Comics should publish a book collecting the entire storyline, a move that especially would make sense with cartoonist Jeff (Bone) Smith's new "Monster Society of Evil" mini-series set to debut soon.
-----------------------
Netflix is offering members an exclusive disk that bringers viewers up to speed on NBC's "Heroes" series.
This exclusive season-to-date recap of the hit NBC drama "Heroes" -- which follows a group of ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities -- might help you answer any lingering questions before the show's return to the airwaves on Jan. 22. Can a young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia) really fly? Is an artist (Santiago Cabrera) truly painting the future? And what force is working to unite them with gifted people from all over the world? The pilot episode of NBC's "The Black Donnellys" is also included.
Netflix members can add the disk to their que now and it'll be delivered beginning Jan. 9.
Best "Heroes" Sites.
------------------------
Action Figure Insider has some exclusive pics of the upcoming TV-version Batmobile due out later this year from Hot Wheels.
------------------------
From Silver Age Comics: Clark Kent and Lois Lane compete on "Survivor"?
----------------------
From Bedazzled: James Brown on "Soul Train."
----------------------
The must-read comics history 'zine Alter Ego has an in-depth feature on the famed "Monter Society of Evil" storyline, which ran for 20 issues of Captain Marvel Adventures in the 1940s. You can see an excerpt here and read the whole thing in Alter Ego #64, which you can order here.
I agree with Alter Ego publisher Roy Thomas that DC Comics should publish a book collecting the entire storyline, a move that especially would make sense with cartoonist Jeff (Bone) Smith's new "Monster Society of Evil" mini-series set to debut soon.
-----------------------
Netflix is offering members an exclusive disk that bringers viewers up to speed on NBC's "Heroes" series.
This exclusive season-to-date recap of the hit NBC drama "Heroes" -- which follows a group of ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities -- might help you answer any lingering questions before the show's return to the airwaves on Jan. 22. Can a young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia) really fly? Is an artist (Santiago Cabrera) truly painting the future? And what force is working to unite them with gifted people from all over the world? The pilot episode of NBC's "The Black Donnellys" is also included.
Netflix members can add the disk to their que now and it'll be delivered beginning Jan. 9.
Best "Heroes" Sites.
------------------------
Action Figure Insider has some exclusive pics of the upcoming TV-version Batmobile due out later this year from Hot Wheels.
------------------------
From Silver Age Comics: Clark Kent and Lois Lane compete on "Survivor"?
DVD: Naked City Criterion Edition
This classic, shot-on-location noir is due out March 20 in one of Criterion's spruced up, expanded editions . It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Details:
Master noir craftsman Jules Dassin and newspaperman-cum-producer Mark Hellinger’s dazzling police procedural was shot entirely on location in New York City, as influenced by Italian neorealism as American crime fiction. A double Academy Award winner, The Naked City remains a benchmark for naturalism in noir, living and breathing in the promises and perils of the Big Apple, from its lowest depths to its highest skyscrapers.
Extras:
* Audio commentary by screenwriter Malvin Wald
* An analysis of the film’s New York locations by Celluloid Skyline author James Sanders
* A new video interview with NYU film professor Dana Polan
* Footage of Jules Dassin from his 2003 appearance at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
* Theatrical trailer
* Stills gallery
* PLUS: A new essay by Luc Sante
Details:
Master noir craftsman Jules Dassin and newspaperman-cum-producer Mark Hellinger’s dazzling police procedural was shot entirely on location in New York City, as influenced by Italian neorealism as American crime fiction. A double Academy Award winner, The Naked City remains a benchmark for naturalism in noir, living and breathing in the promises and perils of the Big Apple, from its lowest depths to its highest skyscrapers.
Extras:
* Audio commentary by screenwriter Malvin Wald
* An analysis of the film’s New York locations by Celluloid Skyline author James Sanders
* A new video interview with NYU film professor Dana Polan
* Footage of Jules Dassin from his 2003 appearance at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
* Theatrical trailer
* Stills gallery
* PLUS: A new essay by Luc Sante
DVD: Hawaii Five-O season one
The first season of the long-running cop show is due out March 6 on seven disks.
Extras include:
* The original pilot movie "Cocoon"
* 45 minutes retrospective with James MacArthur
* Interviews with the cast and crew
* Footage from 1996 reunion
The set is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Extras include:
* The original pilot movie "Cocoon"
* 45 minutes retrospective with James MacArthur
* Interviews with the cast and crew
* Footage from 1996 reunion
The set is available for pre-order now from Amazon.
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