I know this is a music blog, but it’s somewhat related — It’s a variation on the classic Asteroids, that you play directly on your computer (no download needed). Use your flying David Lee Roth to fight your way through the universe. Shoot at Van Halen logos, and head shots of the band (including Sammy Hagar!) Hilarious! Go Play Van Halen Asteroids!
After you’ve made your mark in comedy, what do you do for an encore? Apparently make serious music. That’s the case with Christopher Guest who best known for his roles in This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind. NPR has a story about his serious musician chops as a member of The Beyman Bros, where he plays guitar and mandolin, mandolin cello, and even the clarinet. It’s kinda new age-y free form instrumentals that I would expect to hear at a spa or yoga class. But it’s first class stuff.
Not to be outdone is the serious musical expertise of Steve Martin. He is considered the foremost expert in bluegrass banjo playing. The NY Times article mentions “Mr. Martin is regarded as a master of a difficult five-fingered playing style known as clawhammer or frailing, in which the instrument’s strings are pushed down by fingernails, rather than pulled up with picks.” Amazon is selling his banjo music album “The Crow” and on Youtube there are plenty of examples of his skills, but I love this early example of his banjo playing.
The Prisoner, created by Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein, follows a former British Secret agent who is held captive in “the Village” by mysterious authorities who want to know why he has resigned his position. The series ran for seventeen episodes, from 1967 to 1968, first on the BBC. Star of the cult show, Patrick McGoohan passed away on January 13th. The popularity of the show rivaled that other British fictional character, James Bond. You can watch the entire “Prisoner” series on AMCTV here
Listen to The Times “I helped Patrick McGoohan Escape”
In 2007, I found this cool video of The Peppermint Trolley Company, an obscure pop band that modeled itself after The Association. They never kept this original “Brady Bunch” theme, because they wanted to have girls sing “It’s the story of a lovely lady…” part. After a single album in 1968, they faded from memory. It’s a shame because they showed potential as a great sunshine pop band, if they emerged a year earlier it might have made a difference.
Sixties British pop star Dave Dee has died aged 67 after a long battle with cancer. The former policeman was the lead singer with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and enjoyed a string of chart hits including “The Legend of Xanadu,” “Bend It, and “Save Me.” Here is the video of “Bend it” – he was a cult fave of mine. The other hit here is Hold Tight which I posted two years ago. What an underrated band at the time, RIP Dave.