I couldn’t think of a more apt title for this post than the above photo…one of my prized possessions…the autograph of today’s birthday celebrant, the vibrant pixie performer Lindsey Stirling (1986).  The picture, however, doesn’t do justice to the amount of pride in knowing that this talented artist actually took the time to place her mark in her biography to me to have forever.

The sheer amount of talent in her, however, is only outweighed by her heart; I was privy to an announcement on Twitter that she will be livestreaming at 2 PM, to raise awareness for human trafficking…now if that doesn’t show her love for the human race, I don’t know what will!

As you may recall, I have covered that fact that she is an entertainer like no other; her prowess with being a violinist who DANCES while performing is utter tenacity!  The fact that she can do both and make wonderful contributions to the musical archives is more than enough to merit her place here on this blog.  As covering her birthday on more than one occasion shows, I’m not a “bubblegum” believer and her place in my personal music collection is a testament to that.

For you on your birthday, Miss Stirling, I present to you your birthday twins; late author H.G. Wells (1866-1946), late animator Chuck Jones (1912-2002), late actor Larry Hagman (1931-2012), late actor Henry Gibson (1935-2009), actress Fannie Flagg (1944), producer Jerry Bruckheimer (1945), The Eagles’ guitarist Don Felder (1947) and uber-author Steven King was born in 1947.

Comedian/actor Bill Murray (1950), Motörhead drummer Phil Taylor (1954), director Ethan Coen (1957), comedian/actor Dave Coulier (1959), songstress Faith Hill (1967), talk show host/actress Ricki Lake (1968), actor Alfonso Ribeiro (1971), actor Luke Wilson (1971) and famous child Nicole Ritchie (1981) finish today’s list.

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\

September 8th, for those of you who share this date, is also the birthdate of late comedy legend Sid Caesar (1922-2014), whose career spanned for a whopping sixty years (1946-2006) and included movie appearances in such classic comedies as “Grease/Grease II”, “History of the World, Part I”, and “Cannonball Run”. His comedic stylings were often emulated but they were often aspired to by the general comedy public.

His timing and mannerisms were what set him apart from all the others; Sid Caesar ruled live television for almost ten years with a comedy show in the hit “Your Show of Shows” and its successor, “Caesar’s Hour”…that alone earns his respectful place here as one of your “celebrity twins”!

Also celebrating with the comedy genius are/were; late “Pink Panther” star Peter Sellers (1925-1980), late country diva Patsy Cline (1932-1963), former ‘Til Tuesday vocalist Aimee Mann (1960), former hardcore wrestling icon Raven (1964), retired New York Knicks’ star (and Timberwolves, too) Latrell Sprewell (1970), actor Larenz Tate (1975), pop music diva Pink (1979) and rap “star” Wiz Khalifa was born in 1987.

Be back tomorrow maybe…birthday post for a personal “acquaintance”?…until then, as always…

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\.

Today, September 2nd, if you’re celebrating, is also the birthdate of late NASA astronaut and former teacher Christa McAuliff (1948-1986), whose life was tragically taken from us in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. There is a two-fold reason that this event weighs heavily on me personally.

Firstly, I was in high school in Jersey City on the day that it occurred…I was actually on my way to Study Hall in the school library witnessing this event on the prehistoric televisions of the era…and we were all just awestruck at how this was a “history-making” episode.

The final reason (as not to take up too much of your valuable time) is the fact that my youngest daughter, Erin, attended a Jersey City grammar school that bears her name…not that it means anything to you, the normal folk…just an odd coincidence.

Also celebrating with you are/were; late Snapple co-founder Arnold Greenberg (1932-2012), Kentucky Derby-winning horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas (1935), the sixth Baseball Commissioner, Peter Ueberroth (1937), actress Mary Jo Catlett (1938), New York Rangers’ president Glen Sather (1943), late singer/actor Billy Preston (1946-2006) and Hall-of-Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw was born in 1948.

Actress Rosanna DeSoto (1950), “NCIS” chief Mark Harmon (1951), former tennis pro Jimmy Connors (1952), former NFL great Eric Dickerson (1960), actor Carlos Valderamma (1961), former interim head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves (and former player {1989-’92, 1995-2002} Sam Mitchell (1963), actor Keanu Reeves (1964), pugilist Lennox Lewis (1965), actress Selma Hayek (1966) and former NHL journeyman (and San Jose Shark) Stephane Matteau (1969) are celebrating, as well.

Until next we meet…thank you for perusing your birthday twins…and please come back soon!

Today, August 16th, aside from being the 41st (as of this writing) anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, will now forever be etched in my chronicles as the date that my mother, Ruth (who was also one of his BIGGEST fans EVER), joined him in her own “Long Black Limousine”.

As I’m still trying to wrap my head around this tragedy, I would be remiss if I didn’t make an announcement…with her being one of the “fans” who would read every single post, without fail, it just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t write about it on the day that it happened.

We in her family appreciate all the love and condolences from all of her friends, extended family and acquaintances, as it will be through all of your well wishes that we will persevere from this heinous event!

/,,,/ ROCK ON MOMZ \,,,\

Today, August 11th, for those that are celebrating, is the birthday of one of the greatest “sports entertainers” (wrestlers) of my generation, “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan (1953). In his almost 40 year career in wrestling, he has won the World Championship (in the various organizations that he’s wrestled in) 12 times and was also the first wrestler to win back-to-back ‘Royal Rumbles’ (in 1990 and 1991).

In addition to his ‘wrestling’ career, he is also an accomplished musician (having played fretless bass guitar, forming a band called Ruckus in 1976), as well as (in case you’re living under a rock) an accomplished actor (although he ‘acts’ most of the time in the ring), having starred in such cult classics as “Rocky III”, “Mr. Nanny” and “No Holds Barred”, among others.

Also, celebrating today are/were; late talk show host Mike Douglas (1920-2006), late author Alex Haley (1921-1992), late televangelist Jerry Falwell (1933-2007), singer Eric Carmen {who’s hit “Hungry Eyes” was featured in “Dirty Dancing”} (1949) and Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak was born in 1950.

Popular singer Joe Jackson {not the late Jackson family member} (1954), former Ramones drummer Richie Ramone (1957), comic book artist Jim Lee (1964), TV personality Joe Rogan (1967) and actor Chris Hemsworth was born in 1983.

So, whatcha gonna do? Tell ‘em you celebrate with ‘The Immortal One’ and…

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\

As a lot of you are aware, today, August 8th, is one of the two most depressing days in my life…the date that my eldest brother and mentor, Fred, was taken from us in 2015.  This date personally resonates with me (as, I’m sure, with all of his family, friends, and cohorts), as it is only the second time in recent memory that a member of my own personal family has been taken too soon!

I’m just going to make this short and sweet…the man was never spoken about in ill-temper, mainly due to the fact of his wonderful aura and persona.  He was a wonderful brother, which I have a myriad of memories with him to last forever, and devoted and honorable father and a friend of boatloads of people whom his light has enveloped.

There will never be another…we love you and miss you always, dear brother, and, as always, many fond memories abound today in your honor!

/,,,/ ROCK ON DERF \,,,\

As much as you’d think that this post was about today’s birthday celebrant, the very-much-so-disputed Greatest Quarterback of All Time, Mr. Tom Brady (1977), it is actually to relate to you of my disdain for that statement with HIS name attached to it…sorry, but, cheating to win 5 Super Bowls does NOT make you anything more than the least greatest of them all.  To be honest, you don’t have as many 5000 yard seasons (2011 only) like the actual GOAT, aka # 9 Drew Brees (who has as many of those as Brady has rings) so, until you can pass that milestone, your “rings” mean diddly!

With my pitchfork-and-torch repellants handy, I present his twins; late author Leon Uris (1924-2003), NFL veteran coach Marv Levy (1925), entertainer Tony Bennett (1926), veteran superstar actor Martin Sheen (1940), TV personality Martha Stewart (1941), talented director John Landis (1950), former “Dennis the Menace” star Jay North (1951), Metallica frontman James Hetfield (whom I met once; details in the book), Salt-N-Pepa’s DJ Spinderella (1971), former San Jose Sharks’ journeyman defender Sandis Ozolinsh (1972),  and talented Shiny Toy Guns singer Sarah Faye Charnow {awesome music, trust me; she was on Lindsey Stirling’s latest album) was born in 1984.

Until next time, as I always say…

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\

As the following post is in the book, I have to post it almost verbatim…due to it’s “title”…

# cviii…”Captain Chaos!!!”…

The above line was shouted by August 1st’s birthday celebrator, the late great Dom DeLuise (1933-2009), in the movie “Cannonball Run”, which was just one of the numerous comedies and movies that Mr. DeLuise graced with his rotund presence. As a multi-platform star of stage and screen, his masterful presence was featured in a lot of movies with co-stars like Burt Reynolds (“Cannonball Run” films, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, etc.) and Mel Brooks (“Blazing Saddles”, “History of the World, Part I”, “Spaceballs”).

As a comedian, it was his love of laughter that made this man’s presence that much more noticeable. His knack for the genre of comedy was and will always be unmatched, as his was an almost infectious side effect for his natural aura. With appearances in over sixty movies and countless television shows, this man’s legacy to the film industry is also apparent in his children, David (“Wizards of Waverly Place”, etc.), Michael and Peter (who, at one time, were both on the hit science fiction TV drama, “seaQuest DSV”), who have gone on to follow in their father’s enlarged shoes and seem to share his penchant for making people laugh.

The late comedian’s birthday twins are as follows: late esteemed director J. Lee Thompson (1914-2002), late fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008), former New York senator Al D’Amato (1937), late Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia (1942-1995), Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad (1948), Bachman-Turner Overdrive co-founder Tim Bachman (1951) and late Deep Purple (1975-76) singer Tommy Bolin (1951-1976).

Also on the list are/were; multi-talented musician Robert Cray (1953), late veteran actor Taylor Negron (1957-2015), Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott (1959), rappers Chuck D (1960) and Coolio (1963), talented actress Tempestt Bledsoe (1973), Dhani Harrison {scion of The Beatles’ George} (1978) and actor Jason Momoa, who will be starring as the comic book icon “Aquaman” soon, was born in 1979.

Thanks for kicking off the month here…you shouldn’t be disappointed from here on out, as this is a weird and off-setting month {details definitely forthcoming}…

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\

Last night, one night after the astronomical energy of the lunar eclipse, everyone’s favorite Long Island tribute band, the ever-popular The Wizard of Ozz, continued to show why they have been the ultimate Ozzy tribute band for almost 30 years.  As they did last year, around the middle of August, Johnny and the boys returned to the outdoor venue known as Popei’s Clam Bar in nearby Coram, NY…and, in almost repeat fashion, completely awed the audience (which, for the first time in a few years, included my now-18 year old youngest daughter) with their spot-on rendition of all of the classics that we know and love.

As you may remember, the venue itself is not very big (the stage is part of the patio area set up for the bar’s “smoking area” in the rear of the place.  However, with that said, the amazing set-up crew (of Nicky Traylor, Steve-O and Steve Houmis) did their absolute best to make sure that the band sounded as amazing as they did last night.  True to form in repeating the output of last year’s show, everything ran especially well, considering the space didn’t impede the success of the show!!!

From the opening number (the omnipresent “I Don’t Know”) through the finale of their other main song “Paranoid” (complete with John’s daughter Brianna on drums, as happens a lot of the time), John and Petey (the prevalent drummer of the band), along with Tony and Dennis (“rotating” bassist and guitarist on this go-around), and Mark (keyboards) ROCKED THE HELL out of the small (yet always packed) venue, with such hits as “Flying High Again”, “Mr. Crowley”, “Shot in the Dark”, “I Don’t Wanna Change the World” and, of course, the always-sought anthem “Sweet Leaf”.

Also, among the set, were the great numbers “War Pigs” (yes, as usual, complete with audience participation), “Suicide Solution”, “Mama, I’m Coming Home”, “N.I.B.” (after a small bass solo from Tony), “Bark At the Moon” and “Crazy Train” before wrapping up with a newer edition to the repertoire, the awesome track known as “Children of the Grave”…after which, Petey surrendered his “drumming duties” for the finale of “Paranoid”, featuring Brianna’s stunning work on the skins!

With this particular show in the books, a huge thank you to the band, the road crew AND the venue for another wonderful night of Ozzymania…one that I know my family (including BOTH of my children, for once, and, hopefully, the forseeable future) absolutely enjoyed and will continue to experience in the years to come!

/,,,/ ROCK ON DUDEZ \,,,\