I’ve Seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens! Lots of people have been wondering what’s up with the new Star Wars
movie. Some have high expectations; some expect Disney to screw it up! But, as my regular readers know, I work in the mass media and I have
had access to a private viewing of the film ! Yes! I have seen it and
Disney doesn’t disappoint! In the climax scene, Han Solo is valiantly (but vainly) fighting it out
with the evil Darth Vader. Chewbacca tries to help, but what good is a
simian versus the Dark Side? Just as Vader is about to lop off Solo’s
head and end his life, Buzz Lightyear appears yelling, “To infinity and
beyond” as he zaps the light saber out of Vader’s hands and scoops up
Solo in an exciting rescue scene! Wow! What an exciting Disney ending! I told you that Disney, “Doesn’t disappoint”! No, they don't. But expect that they will make a Star Wars film that sucks as bad as the rest of them (excepting the original.) OK? Now, no matter what happens, you won't be disappointed (too much). Just don't ever expect that this new movie to ever come close to the original and you won't be unhappy! (Creepin' Jesus, it's a Disney film fer cryin' out loud!) You can thank me later! Have fun at the movies! Japanese version of this blog is here: 激速『スター・ウォーズ/フォースの覚醒』！ / I’VE SEEN STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS! robot55.jp/blog/激速『スター・ウォーズフォースの覚醒』！/
(That's me holding the poster for the "Ventures Final Show in Japan." I
did drink with Don Wilson - the guy who is second from right - the one
that looks like Rock N Roll Santa Claus. How could I forget that face?
Nice guy.)
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This is a
short post about some guys who really inspire me. You know them as "The
Ventures." They were huge in the sixties all over the western world. They are still big in Japan... Here's what Wikipedia says about the Ventures: "The
Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in
Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in
its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development
of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the
best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their instrumental
virtuosity, experimentation with guitar effects, and unique sound laid
the groundwork for innumerable groups, earning them the moniker "The
Band that Launched a Thousand Bands". While their
popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains
revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. " It's true. The Ventures are still big in Japan. May
I brag? I have drank with Don Wilson at a rip-off bar in Roppongi
before... I think that must have been in about 1988 or 1989. I have a
photo around here someplace... If I can find it, I'll put it into this
blogpost. Don was a nice guy and the boss of the bar was kissing his ass
the entire time I was there and Don put me on the guest list for the
show... (So, how could I forget, no matter how drunk I was? And I mean,
how many people look like Burl Ives or a a Surfer Santa Claus?) And don't really remember too much from that night excepting that Don was a nice guy, soft spoken, and I drank too much. We
drank Dom Perignon and it was outrageously expensive (I remember that).
And I didn't have to pay anything, they paid. I was blown away that
they would pay for some shitty DJ in Japan's drinks.... I vaguely remember the bar's name (I think it was "Chalace" or "Chantay" or something like that) and I have been by there in the last few years but it is now gone. Good riddance. I
think it was like ¥90,000 (almost a thousand US dollars) for a few
bottles of Dom Perignon and some snacks. What a rip off! Thank God my
girlfriend and I didn't have to pay!
Anyway,
like it says, the Ventures are still big (sort of) in Japan to this
day. So big that they are actually having a "Final Show." Well, what the
hell? I guess so, I thought all the original members were dead? Anyway, a Final Live, they have! It's
kind of like my Punk Band when I was a youngster: every show we played
was our "Final Show" (or "Last Final" or "Totally Final" or "Really,
We're Not Joking This Time, Final" or "Seriously, the Final Final.") But this just goes to show that if you have a brand and a name and an image, you gotta stick with it and live the dream. The
Ventures are playing Japan (again!) and the tickets are ¥6000 each!
Holy Holy! That's $50 (USD) a pop! And the venue they are playing at The
Mozart Hall at Katsushika Symphony Hills Mozart Hall and that place holds about 1300 people! You do the math: $50 x 1300 = $65,000 to go to Japan and play one night? Why not? And that's not to mention what they get selling merchandise and a bunch of money from sponsors. Is that cool or what? So, well, the point is that: 1) Ventures are still big in Japan. 2) The Ventures can still come here and get paid to play and have fun. 3) They must all be in their late 60s or early 70s yet they can still tour the world and be treated like Rock Gods in Japan. 4) They probably still get to go out drinking in Japan and spend $1000 a night yet some rich Japanese person picks up the tab. Scoff all you want... But you won't find me disrespecting these people. They rock! They have lived the true "Rock and Roll Dream." I wish I can do the same when I'm 80 years old! Don't you?
NOTE:
Holy Shit! I just found out that Don Wilson was born in Feb. 1933! That
makes him 82 years old as of the writing of this article! Wow! What a
wonderful life! And he is on his final tour of Japan! You rock Don!!!!
You are a hero!
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This article reprinted from Robot55ロボット・ゴー・ゴー (http://robot55.jp/blog/the-60s-surf-band-the-ventures-still-big-in-japan/)
This week's Top 3 Videos over at Robot55! http://robot55.jp/blog/this-weeks-top-3-new-artist-videos-040715/ Half Girl from Berlin and a hilarious song about Motorhead's Lemmy called, "Lemmy, I'm a Feminist." Also a hot new British group named "History of Apple Pie" and their homage to "The Weekend." And at #1 the girl who, according to “Revolver Magazine,” The Fabulous Miss Wendy is “the sexiest rock star ever”!
