Book Review, 'A Shot of Poison: An Insider's Tales of One of Rock's Most Outrageous Bands'

Disclosure: the ad for A Shot of Poison: An Insider's Tales of One of Rock's Most Outrageous Bands by Christopher Long at the top of this website is part of a paid campaign.

A few weeks ago, writer Christopher Long emailed. He said he'd stumbled on my site and I might be interested in his book. He arranged for a promo copy to be sent to me and I awaited the book's arrival. When all 240 pages of A Shot of Poison: An Insider's Tales of One of Rock's Most Outrageous Bands (Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc., 2010) arrived on my doorstep I honestly didn't have high expectations. I've read so many music bios that I figured I'd heard every story possible. The good news is that A Shot of Poison actually had some new stories (for me at least).

I think if you're a big Poison fan, this book is definitely for you. If you like Bobby Dall, this book is for you. Long and Dall apparently go way back and that's why there is a big focus on Dall in the book. Turns out, Bobby must be hell on tour. At one point, Long served as a tour assistant for Bobby in 2006 -- let's just say that's a job I'd never want and/or accept. (This was the tour with Cinderella. I was at that tour, were you?)

Long talks about the other members of Poison of course. It seems the author genuinely respects all the members of Poison and gives a little insight into Bret Michaels. Long says that Bret rarely interacts with the other members of Poison while the band is on tour and is pretty much quiet and all-business.

The book is broken down into traditional chapters and then each sub-section within a chapter is chopped up by a little drawing of a needle. For whatever reason, these little needles upset me. I'm still not sure if the needles are 100% in reference to "the shot of poison," Bret's diabetes or a member's possible drug use or something else. Whatever the case, I think I would have used another picture to break apart text.

Speaking of pictures, Long adds many of his personal photos to the book to help the stories come alive. These photos are sort of like looking at a friend's Facebook page - the images are just that personal.

Now, for the honesty. My favorite part of the book is the chapter that deals with Bobby Dall's keen sense of smell. I'm serious. Now you want to read the book, right? You should. It's on Amazon and maybe even at your local library.

New Band Alert: Cheap Thrill

I've got a new band for you, Glam lovers! The band is called Cheap Thrill and they are from the U.K. The band will release a six song EP next month. Cheap Thrill is definitely a mix of classic rock and 80s glam. Sure, the band is rough around the edges but they have great potential!

Check out "Faster Than a Loaded Bullet"

"Blood Shot"

In Honor of Irene: Songs About Hurricanes (and Storms)

Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the east coast this weekend and I hope all my friends are safe! While I'm in Ohio and not really impacted by Irene, I've still got hurricanes on my mind (remember, I've said before that I am a weather junkie... just like Bret Michaels). I decided to create a top 10 hurricane songs play list just for the occasion (it's a bit of dark humor, no offense here people) and these songs are in no order:

10: Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
09. Like a Hurricane - Roxy Music
08. Riders on the Storm - The Doors
07. Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters (yes, I like the Carpenters. They rule actually)
06. Goodnight Irene - Lead Belly (obviously this song only works for this current hurricane)
05. Ridin' the Storm Out - REO Speedwagon
04. When The Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
03. Water's Rising - Lillian Axe
02. Hurricanes and Suns - Tokio Hotel
01. November Rain - Guns n' Roses

So that's my (basically) diverse play list to entertain myself for an hour while I wait for the TV networks to continually refresh and revamp their live hurricane coverage. You've got your metal, your pop, your classic rock and blues. What more do you need?

Motley Made a New Vid for 'Kickstart My Heart'

So Motley Crue made a new video for "Kickstart My Heart" and I'm not exactly sure... why. The band said it was a gift for fans and the new clip is from this summer's tour with Poison and the New York Dolls. I really like the beginning of this clip -- very documentary-like. I don't mind the concert portions either. It's definitely throwback because the original "Kickstart" video is a concert clip from the Dr. Feelgood era. I guess that's where my confusion comes in: why not make a concert clip of a different song? Maybe it is my bias and I can't help it: "Kickstart My Heart" is probably my least favorite Motley tune.

'If You Really Really Love Me'

Steel Panther has a new single. The song, "If You Really Really Love Me" will be the first single from the band's upcoming album Ball's Out. That album hits stores October 18.

Now, I actually honestly enjoy "If You Really Really Love Me." I listened once and laughed. Then I listened again and realized the song is basically a Def Leppard tune. Considering Def Leppard is one of my top five bands of all time, this is good news. Let me know your thoughts.

Bret Michaels, The Weather and Glam Gold

Why Is Bret Michaels on the Weather Channel?

Ok, I'm a weather nerd. I get excited about watching breaking weather coverage during hurricanes and blizzards and tornadoes. But I'm just a nobody and I'm certainly never trying to insert myself into the story. Turns out Bret Michaels must love weather too. He submitted some "extreme weather video" to the Weather Channel while on tour and earned a turn as a guest correspondent.

Doh!

Bret never met a camera he didn't like.

Bret, the weather man, says "You've got to see this lightning, check it out. Woah. The wind's gotta be blowing at least 40 mph. All kinds of insane lightning strikes. This is awesome. Scary, but cool."

The package that follows below is nothing short of Glam gold. Seriously. Just watch. To the end.

'I'll Bite Your Face Off,' Alice Cooper -- New Video

OMG, Alice Cooper has a new video! The king of shock metal made a video for 'I'll Bite Your Face Off' for Welcome 2 My Nightmare. (That's the sequel to his 1975 album Welcome to My Nightmare).

Alice Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare will be out September 13th via Universal Music Enterprises.