It is true that after graduation we will all be going on to new and different things. Some will enter the job market and others will further their education. No matter what each one of us decides to do, graduation signifies the end of our high school career and the beginning of something new.
Many times graduation is thought of as the point at which our lives begin. It is the beginning of a new chapter of our lives, but there is no point in our lives at which we begin living. We are living right now at this moment and graduation does not suddenly begin our lives or make them more real.
Each of us has had a different high school experience. We entered as Freshman - frightened and unsure. Our four years at West have prepared us and shaped us. As we progressed, we discovered that although we are a unified class, we are a group of individuals, each one different and unique. Now we each walk across the stage and receive our diplomas. Our high school experience has taught us all a little more about ourselves and brought us to the point we are right now.
We are all anxiously looking forward to the future but we have to remember that only what we are experiencing at this second is real. No one can predict the future. We must have goals and dreams, but we have to realize that life is a continual process. Life does not begin after high school or after college or after marriage. Life is right now.
Michelle Meyer
Commencement of the Class of 1986
West High School
June 13, 1986
Photo: The Waist High Collection
To my full time readers around the world that have never heard of Bakersfield California and could give a crap about my 20 year high school reunion this coming Saturday: My apologies for giving you nothing but posts about my reunion for what will end up being the better part of two weeks.
To my West High School Class of 1986 classmates that sort of give a crap: My apologies that on this coming Saturday, Jul. 29, 2006, you will be subjected to someone who is in possession of the Special Senior Edition of The Saga, Vol. XXI, No. 10.
SENIOR TRIVIA QUIZ
1. What was the overall theme for Homecoming 1983 (sophomore)?
2. What was the score of the 1984 Powder Puff game (junior)?
3. Who was our freshman class president?
4. When did the varsity football team first play a league game on our football field at night? Who did they play? And who won?
5. When were the lockers painted?
6. What was the theme of the Winter Formal, January 28, 1984, and where was it held (sophomore)?
7. Who was homecoming King and Queen 1982 (freshman)?
8. Did the class of 86' have a victory party after winning this year's Powder Puff game (senior)?
9. When was the computer lab opened?
10. When was West High opened?
11. When was the first girls' soccer team formed?
12. What was the musical presented by the Fine Arts Department in 1982 (freshman)?
13. Who was our sophomore class vice president?
14. Where is the easiest place to order a taco or get arrested on a Friday or Saturday night?
15. What was the score of the BHS/West football game our freshman year?
16. When was the song "Valley Girl" popular?
17. Do you remember where the senior quad was?
18. What was the theme for the January 12, 1985 formal and where was it held (junior)?
19. Who was the head cheerleader in 1984 (sophomore)?
20. What do these areas have in common: The Couch, The Dredge, The Pits, The Place, The Shack, and The Orchards?
21. When did KWHS begin?
22. What year was it when the power went off first period - and they actually dismissed us for the day?
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1. Disneyland
2. 6-6
3. Doug Morrison
4. November 1985, BHS, West
5. 1983
6. "The Royal Ball," Red Lion Inn
7. Stacie King and Mark Luttrell
8. Ask Wendy
9. 1984 (sophomore)
10. 1965
11. 1983 (sophomore)
12. Oklahoma
13. Stacey Cochran
14. Taco Bell
15. 14-0, West
16. Summer '82 (freshman)
17.
18. "Midnight in Paris," BC Fireside Room
19. Beth Bonetti
20. If you're looking here, you'll never know
21. 1983 (sophomore)
22. 1984 (junior), (remember Blaine's)
So whatever you needed to do, it is too late to do it now.
WEST HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1986
20 YEAR REUNION
Date: Jul. 29, 2006
Hotter: Than Hell
Cocktails: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.
Cost: $60 per person (pre-registration before Jul. 25)
At The Door Price: $73 per person
After Dinner Price: $35 per person (8 p.m. to midnight)
Location: Holiday Inn Select
801 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield California
(661) 323-1900
Rooms Available: $79.00 per night - group rate for Fri/Sat night.
Contact the hotel directly. Mention you are a part of the West High School 20 year reunion to get your discounted rate.
Photographer: There will be a professional photographer at the reunion. You can have your picture taken with your guest and/or friends. You can check out her website at portraitsbymisty.com. Her portrait packages are priced from $8-$15. She accepts cash or checks.
Memory DVD: There will be a slide show with pictures sent in by our fellow alumni. Every member of our class will get a memory DVD to take home. Also, if there is enough interest, there will be another DVD with pictures from the reunion and family day. Those will be sold for $10 each. There will be two photographers at the reunion taking pictures for this DVD. The pictures will also appear at the official reunion website. Check out the pictures they have so far. If you are unable to attend the reunion and would like to order a copy of the memory DVD or the reunion DVD, please contact Tammy through the reunion site.
Extra Fun: Friday night Jul. 28, 2006
Michelle Garcia is having a pre-reunion social at her house from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. Please bring your own beverages (alcoholic or non).
Call Michelle for directions and to RSVP: 661-703-1003
Family Day: Jul. 30, 2006
Hotter: Than Hell ever thought possible
Location: Greenacres Community Center
2014 Calloway Drive Bakersfield California (661) 392-2010
Cost: Free
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Swimming: Noon to 3 p.m.
They have rented the pool. It will be closed to the public. Lifeguards will be on duty so you'll feel more comfortable visiting while your kids swim. There is also a shallow pool for the little ones. Directions will be available at the reunion. If you cannot attend the reunion, but can attend the family day, contact Tammy for directions.
See you soon my friends.
Photo courtesy: The Waist High Collection
The Kern County Drunkard: It has been a very long time since Waist High or her Bakersfield correspondents have been able to report a sighting. Because Waist High will be in Bakersfield the weekend of July 28-30 for her high school reunion, and will undoubtedly end up in many a skanky Bakersfield drinking establishment, this all could change.
Rampart: Keep in mind that this is the individual who told the 'uptight' Waist High, in December 1987, to "Drink this six pack before I get back!" The outcome of that evening, the red headed child you see above, graduated from high school last month. Managed to play with his BlackBerry and not cry for all of the ceremony. Says he will "cry like a baby when she graduates from college" because graduating from high school is "not really a big accomplishment." Rampart was rumored to have called Waist High an "old bird" in reference to Waist High attending her 20 year high school reunion next weekend; Rampart was a high school classmate of Waist High's, Rampart will be in attendance for the same above mentioned reunion, and Rampart even paid his $60 registration fee before Waist High. It is unknown if he will be donning his usual attire of black socks with sandals.
The Stranger: Can't really talk about this 28 year old individual. That whole 'I can't talk about my love life on the internet thing' prohibits me from doing so. It was however two Fridays ago that the The Stranger became familiar with the 32 herb Czech Republic spirit Becherovka, during an evening that in certain circles is now referred to as "The Becherovka Incident."
Tri-Tip: A shadow of the man he used to be, Tri-Tip recently requested that Waist High no longer quote him on her blog. Request has been respected. For the most part. Has become more than exasperated recently with Waist High's lengthy and vain "TO DO BEFORE THE REUNION LIST," most of which she did not get to. Expressed respectful disgust last week by stating that the only possible thing that he could think to have on his list would be "buy a pair of flip flops."
Priscilla: Waist High drinking buddy extraordinaire constantly advises Waist High to matter-of-factly brush off all "old" references as gracefully as possible, even though they are being fired at a rapid clip. Sometimes from individuals her own age. Tactfully reminded Waist High that although she is gearing up for her 20 year high school reunion, she doesn't look nor act 38 years old: "You don't wear the mom jeans and hello, you are (content removed by author.)"
Desi: Currently involved in some kind of love triangle, the details of which he will not discuss. Does not share the sentiment of Priscilla regarding Waist High's youthful appearance and behavior. Recently referred to Waist High as "like an older sister," ran to cleanse right hand with Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer after accidentally touching the hand of the elderly Waist High, publicly expressed amazement that Waist High is (content removed by author.) Was told that if the old jokes did not stop, was going to have to give Waist High "a massage with Ben Gay."
My Lovely Teenaged Daughter: Graduated from high school last month, and was forced by Rampart to secure a full time job merely one week later. Did not listen to Waist High who advised to wait until the summer was over to secure a full time job so that she could focus solely on getting drunk, "everyone's full time job the summer after high school." Refused an all expenses paid trip to her birthplace of Bakersfield California for Waist High's 20 year high school reunion because "anything over 80 degrees is too hot." Plans to never return. Continues to wear the same sunglasses she has worn since infancy. None too pleased to currently have a father that wears black socks with sandals, and a mother who is (content removed by author.)
Photos: The Waist High Collection
Man shows up drunk to DUI hearing, has to sober up in cell
BELLEFONTE, PA -- James Kassab arrived bright and early -- 9:45 a.m. -- at the Centre County Courthouse Annex on Thursday, where he was scheduled to plead guilty to drunken driving.
The problem was that he was drunk when he got there.
A portable breathalyzer test found his blood alcohol level to be about .15 percent, or almost double the legal limit to drive in Pennsylvania.
Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford was not amused and ordered Kassab, 24, of 622 Galen Drive, State College, handcuffed, led from the courtroom and put in a holding cell for the rest of the day to sober up. Kassab did not even receive a lunch.
"We're going to try it again here at 3:45 p.m.," Lunsford said, donning his judicial robes. "If he is sober, we'll take his plea. And, if not, well, we'll see him tomorrow."
Later, with Lunsford seated on his bench, two sheriff's deputies led the bleary-eyed and still-handcuffed Kassab to a seat nearby.
"How do you feel?" Lunsford asked without looking up.
"Pretty embarrassed," Kassab answered.
"I bet," the judge said, still not looking up.
This time, a breath test reported no alcohol in Kassab's system, and as Kassab was now clearly coherent, Lunsford accepted his plea to drunken driving.
As Kassab repeatedly apologized, Lunsford told him that until his sentencing, he is not allowed to drink any alcohol, to be inside any establishment that serves or sells alcoholic beverages, or to even be near someone who is drinking alcohol.
Material: centredaily.com
Waist High's favorite record producer Trevor Horn's songwriting credits date back to 1979 with "Baby Blue," a song for Dusty Springfield co-written with Geoff Downes, with whom he went on to form Buggles. The Buggles' hit, "Video Killed The Radio Star," reached number one in 16 countries and would achieve immortality as the first video ever played by MTV.
From Buggles, Horn moved to Yes, where he co-wrote all of their 1980 album, Drama. In 1984 he returned to the band to co-write their biggest ever hit, "Owner of a Lonely Heart."
Horn worked with Malcom McLaren on 1983's Duck Rock, which included the song "Buffalo Gals," the second record ever to feature "scratching." The only other record with scratching before "Buffalo Gals," according to Horn, was Grandmaster Flash's "On The Wheels Of Steel."
By 1984 The Art of Noise became Horn's main songwriting platform, and by 1985 he had written "Slave To The Rhythm," originally intended as Frankie Goes To Hollywood's second single, but given to Grace Jones instead.
Horn achieved great commercial success as a producer in 1984, firstly with the Liverpudlian band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and secondly with the charity group Band Aid and their enormous hit "Do They Know It's Christmas." In the UK, Frankie Goes to Hollywood was the best-selling band of 1984; the success of singles such as "Relax" and "Two Tribes" helped to bankroll ZTT Records, which Horn had co-founded in 1983. "Do They Know It's Christmas" became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Trevor Horn the producer has also proven his genius with ABC's The Lexicon of Love, Marc Almond's Tenement Symphony, Cher's It's A Man's World, Bryan Ferry's "Dance With Life," Genesis' "The Carpet Crawlers," Pato Banton & Sting's "Spirits in the Material World," Paul McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt, Pet Shop Boys' Introspective, Seal's Seal, Seal's Seal II, Seal's Human Being, Seal's Seal IV, Simple Minds' Street Fighting Years, Spandau Ballet's Instinction, Rod Stewart's Vagabond Heart, and Tina Turner's Wildest Dreams.
Material: perfectsongs.com & wikipedia.org
Ian Curtis' fate was said to have been set after attending a Sex Pistols concert in 1976, where he convinced himself his destiny lay as a performer rather than just a fan. One thing led to another and Curtis got to know a young Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook. Sumner and Hook told Curtis that they were trying to form a band and he simultaneously put himself forward as a vocalist and lyricist, an offer they accepted. The three of them recruited (and sacked) a sucession of drummers before settling on Stephen Morris as their final member. They called themselves Warsaw for a short while before changing their name to Joy Division in 1978.
"Love Will Tear Us Apart," released one month before Curtis' suicide in May 1980, was voted the number 1 single of all time by the New Musical Express in a 2003 poll, and number 179 of Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. It was also one of the four songs nominated for the 'Greatest British Song of the Last 25 Years' award at the 2005 Brit Awards.
Filming began this week on the film Control, the long awaited Ian Curtis biopic. Popular rock photographer Anton Corbijn will direct, while former Factory Records head Anthony Wilson will executive produce. New Order will compose the score for the film.
Material: wikipedia.org
Portland Oregon is among the North American destinations on the concert tour announced Thursday by The Who - the legendary band that has not been on a major tour for 25 years.
The Who -- Uncut, Uncensored, Unrepentant Tour gets under way at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center on Sept. 12 with confirmed dates at 17 arenas and amphitheatres across the U.S. and Canada with more U.S. shows to follow in November and December.
The Who will perform songs from their new mini rock opera, Wire & Glass, and material from their upcoming studio album. They will also be singing their greatest hits and songs that they haven't sung in public in a long time.
Singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend, the surviving members of the band, will be joined by John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards, Pino Palladino on bass, Zak Starkey, son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, on drums, and Townshend's younger brother, Simon, on guitar and backing vocals.
The group's new album is tentatively titled Who 2 and is scheduled to be released on Oct. 23. It is the band's first album since 1982.
Material: nbc5.com & news.scotsman.com
(Only in Oregon)
Woman asks 911 to send 'cutie pie' deputy
ALOHA, Ore. (AP) - A woman who called 911 to get "the cutest cop I've seen" sent back to her home got a date all right - a court date. The same sheriff's deputy arrested her on charges of misuse of the emergency dispatch system.
Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. David Thompson told KGW-TV of Portland it all started with a noise complaint called in last month by neighbors of Lorna Jeanne Dudash. The deputy sent to check on the complaint knocked on her door, then left.
Thompson said Dudash then called 911, asking that the "cutie pie" deputy return.
"He's the cutest cop I've seen in a long time. I just want to know his name," Dudash told the dispatcher. "Heck, it doesn't come very often a good man comes to your doorstep." After listening to some more, followed by a bit of silence, the dispatcher asked again why Dudash needed the deputy to return.
"Honey, I'm just going to be honest with you, OK? I just thought he was cute. I'm 45 years old and I'd just like to meet him again, but I don't know how to go about doing that without calling 911," she said. "I know this is absolutely not in any way, shape or form an emergency, but if you would give the officer my phone number and ask him to come back, would you mind?"
The deputy returned, verified that there was no emergency and arrested her for misusing the 911 system, an offense punishable by a fine of up to several thousand dollars and a year in jail.
Thompson said Thursday it was the first case he knew of in which someone called the emergency line for such a personal reason. "That's taking up valuable time from dispatchers who could be taking true emergency calls," he said.
Photo: kgw.com
Material: usatoday.com
Trashed: An Essay
We all like a laugh. And you can't have a laugh on a night out without having a bit of a drink, can you?
After all, what's the point of going out if you're not going to have a drink or several to keep up with your mates?
But what's such a laugh about throwing your guts up and speaking to the porcelain telephone all night? Drinking's alright as far as it goes, but there comes a point when falling over, getting into fights and getting off with Mr. or Miss Personality Bypass loses its appeal.
Getting so wrecked you can barely walk, never mind walk straight, means you're putting yourself at risk of more than a sore head the next day.
If you've had too many, you're much more likely to have an accident on the way home. Or when you get there.
Around half of all pedestrians aged 16-60 who are killed in road accidents have more booze in their blood stream than the legal drink-drive limit.
Still feeling good about getting trashed?
Think about it.
Nearly half of household fires are linked with people who have been drinking.
Alcohol is a factor in at least seven per cent of drownings.
People who have sex after drinking are much less likely to use condoms - increasing the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease or getting pregnant.
Have another one...
About 1,000 children aged under 15 are admitted to hospital each year with acute alcohol poisoning. All need emergency treatment.
You can also get a criminal record. In 1994, 57,900 people were found guilty or cautioned for offences of drunkenness. The peak age of offenders was 18. Hundreds of thousands of other offences, including criminal damage and violence, are drink related.
If you get completely wasted by bingeing on alcohol, you put a great strain on your liver and other parts of your body. It also makes you dehydrated.
If you're into sport, heavy bouts of boozing damages the red muscle fibres you need for endurance, so you'll find it hard to keep it up in more ways than one. Regularly drinking too much increases the risk of damaging the white muscle fibres that are needed for sprinting and jumping. More of a step, stagger and fall than hop, step and jump.
If you do get really drunk, it's best to lay off alcohol altogether for the next two days to give your body tissues time to recover. Forget the myths of coffee, more coffee and a fry-up. The only cure for a heavy session is time.
If you get drunk on a regular basis, it may be worth asking your GP for help.
If you carry on drinking too much over the years, there are all sorts of long term risks to your health - to say nothing of your bank balance.
So what might happen if I don't take your advice?
You'll probably put on weight - if your idea of attractive is a spare tyre around your belly, then keep it up. Alcohol is high on calories with no real food value. Your blood pressure will also go up, increasing the chance of having a heart attack and some kinds of stroke. You'll also risk liver damage.
Other risks faced by long term, heavy drinkers are cancer, especially cancers of the mouth and throat. If you drink heavily and smoke, you're 150 times more likely to develop throat cancer than people who don't.
Women also risk having problems if they want to become pregnant.
Men and women can develop psychological and emotional problems, including depression and an inability to relate to people properly.
And that's nothing to laugh about.
Photo: The Waist High Collection
Trashed courtesy: wrecked.co.uk
"Recent testing on a severed hand that has stumped police and cryptologists alike for years shows the shocking truth about Bigfoot: the legendary man-beast has no DNA. After years of research, compiling data from experts across the country, Bigfoot hunter Tom Biscardi has proven that the monster he's been chasing all these years is a lifeform completely foreign to anything that modern science has even considered."
Material meant to scare Waist High, who works in an area of Oregon where there have been 116 Bigfoot sightings, sent by a long time Waist High friend.
Photo: cryptomundo.com
38 year old Waist High, who lived in Southern California for 25 years and never set foot inside the Hollywood Bowl, finally gets wish to attend a concert at the Hollywood Bowl? Check.
Tickets to said concert at Hollywood Bowl paid for by someone else? Check.
Hollywood Bowl concert probably a really relaxing way to unwind from/process the fact that you just attended your 20 year high school reunion two days prior? Check .
People that have just attended their 20 year reunions are, how do you say it? Not young anymore? Check.
Another bitchin reference to Old Grand Dad Bourbon? Check:
"You have mentioned in the past Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Well, it so happens that they are playing under the Harvest moon on July 31st at the Hollywood Bowl. What do you think? I think that would be a fabulous way to kick off the week after the reunion. NO. This concert is NOT sponsored by Old Grand Dad."
Although there were bands before them that pre-figured the style, Bauhaus is generally agreed to have been the first gothic rock group. They combined a number of influences to create a gloomy, but very passionate sound which appealed to many left looking for something new in the wake of punk's collapse. As the bands lead, Murphy is often referred to as the "Godfather of Goth."
Murphy's solo career, more than 10 albums strong, over time has become more nuanced than Bauhaus; the music ranging from pseudo-pop to electronica to haunting ballads that showcase his deep and complex vocals. The pinnacle of Murphy's solo popularity came with the release of Deep in 1990. The single "Cuts You Up" held on to the top spot on the Billboard alternative charts for longer than any other single before - ironically displacing "So Alive" by his former Bauhaus bandmates Love and Rockets. The record was unbroken until the release of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
Bauhaus reformed and went on tour in 1998, and again in 2005.
Material: wikipedia.org
While Neil Tennant has consistently and sincerely labelled the Pet Shop Boys' music as "disco," their music's trademark sound is a combination of pure synthesised pop, slightly over-the-top instrumentation, and Tennant's laconic vocals; sometimes spoken-word or rap.
Despite a history of implementing current musical trends from the underground into their productions, they have always maintained their own specific and defined sound. Their lyrics (mainly written by Tennant) have been described as articulate, stylish and poetic. Among their musical trademarks is the combining of pop hooks with detailed chord structures and soundscapes.
The Pet Shop Boys are one of the most consistently successful duos in pop music history. Since 1986, they have had 38 top 40 singles in the UK, and as of 2006, they have been remixed by over 80 different DJs and producers.
Their latest album, Fundamental, was released on the Parlophone label on May 22, 2006.
Material: wikipedia.org
Waist High favorite Simple Minds' fifth studio album, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84), released in 1982, was a significant turning point for the band, when critical and popular success in the UK and Europe finally intersected. With a slick, sophisticated sound thanks to producer Peter Walsh, Simple Minds was soon categorized as part of the "New Romantic" outgrowth of New Wave, and the record generated a handful of charting singles including "Promised You a Miracle," "Someone, Somewhere in Summertime," and "Glittering Prize."
1983's Sparkle in the Rain delivered "Waterfront," which hit number one in a few European countries and remains one of the band's signature songs to this day, as well as "Speed Your Love to Me," and "Up on the Catwalk."
Despite the band's newfound popularity in the UK and Europe, Simple Minds remained essentially unknown in the U.S. until the movie The Breakfast Club changed all that. It broke Simple Minds in the U.S. almost overnight, when the band achieved its only number-one U.S. pop hit with the film's opening track, "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Ironically, the song wasn't even written by the band, but by Keith Forsey, who offered the song to Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry before Simple Minds agreed to record it. The song soon became a chart-topper in many other countries around the world.
Taking advantage of their newfound popularity, Simple Minds released Once Upon a Time, which would go on to generate four worldwide hit singles: "Alive & Kicking," "Sanctify Yourself," "Ghostdancing," and "All the Things She Said."
Simple Minds' latest album, Black & White 050505, released in the fall of 2005, has generated some of the most positive reviews for a Simple Minds record in many years.
Material: wikipedia.org
With David Ball, established the first successful British electronic duo Soft Cell.
Soft Cell had a string of international hits, the most successful having been their 1981 version of the Gloria Jones track "Tainted Love." "Tainted Love" was a number-one hit in seventeen countries and went on to set a then-Guinness World Record for the longest consecutive stay on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart (43 weeks). Their album Memorabilia was the first techno record ever, and set the pace for a whole musical movement.
Almond is currently working on his new album of cover songs which should be ready for release by the end of 2006.
Material courtesy: eastcentralone.com via chrissyfessler.blogspot.com & wikipedia.org
ADAM ANT, real name Stuart Leslie Goddard, will publish his autobiography Stand & Deliver on Sept. 15.
In this "frank and revealing autobiography, he tells the full story of his amazing life from his dysfunctional childhood to his key role in the punk movement and creation of a unique musical style that brought him a string of hits (both singles and albums). At one point he was so famous other stars sought his company and advice - even Michael Jackson called in the dead of night to ask about music and clothes. His many girlfriends included Jamie Lee Curtis and Heather Graham and for a time he lived in LA, acting in fifteen films. Adam also writes honestly about his life-long battle with manic depression. His first episodes were triggered by the stress of living with a violent, alcoholic father, and he tried to commit suicide when he was at art school. A gruelling episode with a stalker in LA precipitated a mental breakdown, and a stalker in London led to his well-publicised arrest and hospitalization in 2001. At times funny and at other times tragic, this is a gripping account of the turbulent life and times of one of music's most fascinating figures."
Photo: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd. Publishers via amazon.co.uk
Synopsis courtesy: amazon.co.uk
BLOW MONKEYS frontman DR. ROBERT has announced his first London show for almost five years which will take place at Filthy McNastys on July 14th. In the meantime, Robert has been working on a duets album with soul legend PP ARNOLD as well as working on bonus material for a long awaited Blow Monkeys DVD.
KIM WILDE will release her long awaited new album in September. The release, entitled Never Say Never, will appear on September 8th but will be preceded by a brand new reworking of Kim's 1988 single "You Came" on August 14th.
WORLD PARTY have lined up an extensive US tour for July, August and September which will include two prestigious shows at LA's The Roxy in August.
HEAVEN 17's back catalogue remasters are to finally see the light of day on August 7th with the release of reworked, remastered and expanded versions of Penthouse and Pavement, The Luxury Gap and How Men Are. The releases have been produced with the full co-operation of the band.
ANNIE LENNOX is in the studio again working on the follow-up to her 2003 album Bare. The album is still in the early stages and no release date has yet been set.
THE CLASH frontman JOE STRUMMER is to be remembered in a unique way after having a music festival named after him. 'Strummerville Nights' was launched in London on July 5th as a way of showcasing new bands.
PETER GABRIEL has launched a "Shock The Monkey" remix competition via his www.realworldremixed.com website. Various parts of the song are available to download and anyone wishing to remix them can then upload their version of the song where they can be voted on with Gabriel choosing an overall winner from the final shortlist.
All material courtesy: remembertheeighties.com
Man tries to pay with bartender's checks
STATESBORO, Ga., (AP) -- A 21-year-old Georgia man was arrested after trying to buy drinks with a checkbook he found at a bar. Unfortunately for Jody Brian Minor of McRae, the checkbook's owner was the bartender serving him.
Minor was arrested on theft and forgery charges early Saturday morning, Statesboro Police Detective Terry Briley said. He was "extraordinarily intoxicated," Briley said. Minor is out on bond, and his case will go before a grand jury in August, Briley said.
Minor was at Dingus Magee's bar when he found a checkbook and began paying his tab with it, Briley said. One of the bar's employees realized the checks belonged to a fellow bartender Hubble Beasley, who called police. Briley said Minor's father has paid the delinquent $129 bar tab.
Material: billingsgazette.com
After years of grassroots support, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has decided to acknowledge Waist High favorite Rodney Bingenheimer's contribution to music and radio with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which will be presented in 2007.
Bingenheimer has been a disc jockey on Los Angeles radio station KROQ since 1976 and is one of the very few "DJ's on commercial radio in Los Angeles who has autonomy over what he plays. As a result, he has been the first to play many up-and-coming bands, including David Bowie, The Runaways, Blondie, The Ramones, Van Halen, Duran Duran, Oasis, The Donnas, No Doubt, Coldplay, Dramarama, and others."
Photo courtesy: rodneyonthewalk.com
Quoted material: wikipedia.org
In the small town of Basildon, outside London, there lived two guys named Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher. In 1976 they formed a band called "No Romance In China." At that same time, a guy named Martin Gore was a guitarist in the band "Norman and the Worms." By 1979 Clarke and Gore were playing together in the guitar and synth band "French Look." Soon, Fletcher joined them and they changed their name to "Composition of Sound."
In 1980, a guy named David Gahan was drafted in to complete the line up and the band was re-named Depeche Mode.
The band became part of Daniel Miller's Mute label by verbal contract, and released their first album in 1981. For Speak and Spell, Clarke penned "Dreaming of Me," "New Life," and "Just Can't Get Enough." While the band was promoting the album, Clarke began to publicly admit his discomfort with the level of success that Depeche Mode was achieving, and departed shortly thereafter.
Clarke has commented on Depeche Mode's post Speak and Spell material as being a little dark for his taste, but good nonetheless.
Clarke then teamed up with singer Alison Moyet to form Yaz, who produced two albums. Upstairs at Eric's gave us the greats "Don't Go," "Situation," and "Only You," and You and Me Both delivered "Nobody's Diary."
In 1985 Clarke put an ad in Melody Maker for a singer, and the forty-first applicant was Andy Bell, a fan of his earlier projects. He teamed with Bell to form the group Erasure, and the duo has become one of the biggest selling acts in British pop music history. Songs include Waist High favorites "Oh L'amour," "Sometimes," "Chains of Love," and "A Little Respect."
The band have released fifteen albums in their twenty-one years together, most recently 2006's Union Street.
Photo: jencray.com
Material: wikipedia.org & synt.nu/depeche
It was on this day in 1982 that a Waist High favorite, ABC's The Lexicon Of Love, went to #1 in the U.K.
The Lexicon of Love was produced by Trevor Horn and features orchestration by Art of Noise member Anne Dudley. "Tears Are Not Enough," "All of My Heart," "Poison Arrow," and "The Look Of Love (Part One)" were all Top 40 hits in the UK; the last two also charted in the U.S. In 2005, a deluxe 2-disc reissue was released on the Neutron label.
The Lexicon of Love not only established singer Martin Fry and guitarist Mark White as two of the decade's smartest and most skillful cross-breeders of Motownish dance grooves, but cemented ex-Buggle Trevor Horn's status as the era's defining producer.
In 1998 Q magazine readers voted The Lexicon of Love the 92nd greatest album of all time; "The Lexicon of Love stands as a landmark album in British pop."
Material: wikipedia.org & amazon.co.uk
Quote: Robert Webb via bbc.co.uk
Waist High gets love mail:
"I just wanted to thank you for your blog. I was driving back to work a few minutes ago, and the guy on the radio said happy birthday to John Taylor. I thought his birthday is on the 20th not the 22nd. Then I thought I can look at Waist High's blog because I know she will have said happy birthday to him. And, of course, I found I was right."
Waist High gets hate mail:
"Piss you, who gives a toss about the bloated corpses of these no hit wonders you call singers."
And then there is Pierre. Pierre's mail is always a mixture of love and hate, creepy stalker vibes, an enormous amount of respect for The Clash, and by GOD, the loveliest of sign offs ever:
"Need a good licking or seek to make homemade movies...call me!
Pierre"
"Peace, pleasure and licks to drop you to your KNEES,
Pierre"
"God bless and get naked already,
Pierre"
P.S. Anyone know what "Piss you" means?
B-52's founder and lead singer.
Recently captured the heart of Waist High with Party Out Of Bounds, which airs Friday nights, 9 p.m. to midnight on Sirius 22 First Wave. On the radio show, Schneider plays a mix of new wave-era dance, remixes and rarities, interspersed with Schneider's own humorous bits and anecdotes.
Photo: Roberto Rabanne via starfileonline.com
Material: wikipedia.org
