Quotes of the Year: 2015

Quote of the Year : "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"
-Leonard Nimoy

Quote of the Year (Runner Up): "America has shown to me as an immigrant, that it is the land of opportunity. And I appreciate America so much and this is why it was so important for me to give something back. And we have to keep it the #1 country in the world. So I want to say thank you to America; that you have given me everything that I have."
-Arnold Schwartzenegger

And the rest...
"As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again."
-Bono

"What we've said all along, and have been called bigots for it, is when there's this many bad apples, there's something wrong with the orchard."
Bill Maher on Islam

"The interesting thing about Mulder is nominally he is law enforcement but he never solved one case in nine years. So he’s the worst F.B.I. agent of all time."
-David Duchovny

"Fuck you Eddie Van Halen."
-Sammy Hagar

"Whatever you think of Reagan, you have to admit, he had a black belt in badassery."
-Brad Meltzer

"It was all this contemporary music geared for that audience, and it was so disappointing listening to it. Really weak songwriting, insipid vocals and productions. It was really discouraging. I was sorry to hear that. You're waiting for something to happen, musically. You're waiting for some great thing. Like every generation or every decade seemed to have that big thing that carried it through. There's nothing now, at least in rock."

-Alex Liefson

"I felt like I was in a period-piece sometimes. Because I could hear echoes or
sensations of Connery or of Roger, which I didn't try to censor; I'd just allow
them to come in."
-Pierce Brosnan

"Some people think it's a genius album, but I think it's a mishmash of rubbish, kind of like '(Their) Satanic Majesties.'”
-Keith Richards on Sgt. Pepper's

“I’m the only one to separate Siamese twins.”
-Ben Carson

"Calm people live. Tense people die."
-Adam Savage

“Don’t be a slave like I was.”
-Carrie Fisher

Quotes of the Month: June 2015

Quote of the Month:
"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they dorespect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find itsfulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.
-Anthony Kennedy in Obergefell v Hodges (2015)


Stupid Quote of the Month:
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending the best ... they're sending
people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems. They're
bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists and some, I assume, are
good people, but I speak to border guards and they're telling us what we're
getting,"
-Donald Trump

Racist Comment of the Month:
“If you are a white man in America, this country is changing dramatically. You have always been in charge. So there is something to white men feeling like something has been taken away from them.”
-Annonymous White House Official quoted in Washington Post

And the rest...

"What could he possibly be thinking?”
-Dan Rather reporting on the military's reaction to Obama's Iraq policy

"I won't be the youngest president, but with your help I'll be the youngest female president."
-Hillary Clinton

"I will take nothing and no one for granted. I will run with heart. I will run to win."
-Jeb Bush

"I identify with black."
-Rachel Dolezal

"Fuck you Eddie Van Halen."
-Sammy Hagar

"You're in my house."
-Barack Obama to a heckler

"It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters.”
-Fredericka Whitfield on the attack on Dallas Police HQ

"Racism, we are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being
polite to say [n-word] in public."
-Barack Obama

“We should start calling this law SCOTUScare."
-Antonin Scalia on King v Burwell (2015)

"Whatever you think of Reagan, you have to admit, he had a black belt in badassery."
-Brad Meltzer

"It was all this contemporary music geared for that audience, and it was so disappointing listening to it. Really weak songwriting, insipid vocals and productions. It was really discouraging. I was sorry to hear that. You're waiting for something to happen, musically. You're waiting for some great thing. Like every generation or every decade seemed to have that big thing that carried it through. There's nothing now, at least in rock."

-Alex Liefson

Top 200 Albums of All Time: Rush

2112: Rush (1976)

Rush explored a future dystopia set in the year 2112. The album is broken up into seven parts furthering the storyline. In the future world, the government determines what people can read, think, and listen to. Rock n Roll does not exist until a man discovers a guitar and learns to play it. The man commits suicide after the High Priests of the Temples of Sphinx destroy the guitar. His martyrdom sets off a revolution with an ambiguous ending.

Ironically, critics attacked 2112 for being fascist. Somehow, a man fighting for his art and freedom represented fascism. In reality, these critics may have recognized a conservative critique of progressive governments resulting in the backlash.

Moving Pictures: Rush (1981)

Rush moved into the mainstream in 1980 with Permanent Waves. They followed the formula in 1981 with Moving Pictures. The album remains the band’s best selling album and includes the iconic tracks “Limelight” and “Tom Sawyer”. The songs remain radio favorites thirty years later.

Key Tracks:
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight

Quotes of the Year: 2011

Quote of the Year:

“Daniel Craig’s my Wookie bitch now!”

-Harrison Ford to Chewbacca

Stupid Quote of the Year:

“I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president — with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln — just in terms of what we’ve gotten done in modern history.”

-Barack Obama

Meltdown of the Year:

“It's no longer acceptable in mixed company -- meaning bipartisan company -- to use the goddamn word 'climate.' And some of the exact same people — I can go down a list of their names — are involved in this. And so what do they do? They pay pseudo-scientists to pretend to be scientists to put out the message: ‘This climate thing, it’s nonsense. Man-made CO2 doesn’t trap heat. It may be volcanoes.’ Bullshit! ‘It may be sun spots.’ Bullshit! ‘It’s not getting warmer.’ Bullshit!

-Al Gore

Twilight Zone Quote of the Year:

"Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). Need to write my will today."

-Former Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh one week before he suddenly died.
　

And the rest:

“Interesting though, as we evolve and realize our social prejudices are unacceptable, we are finding new groups to hate.”

-Simon Pegg

“You spend your life fighting the spread of evil. Then you learn a Kardashian is pregnant.”

-Batman

“Ironically, the best defense against a zombie uprising would be a robot army.”

-Grant Imahara

“If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I’m gonna be really pissed.”

-Chuck Lorre

"They picked a fight with a warlock."

-Charlie Sheen on his feud with CBS

“Winning.”

-Charlie Sheen

"There are not any plans to erect a statue to RoboCop. Thank you for your suggestion."

-Detroit Mayor Dave Bing

"God didn't create all men equal, Smith and Wesson did."

-Top Shot

“I for one welcome our new computer overlords.”

-Ken Jennings

"I never hugged him, I bombed him."

-Margaret Thatcher

“Who wants to go to Europe. It’s not Detroit.”

-Jalen Rose

"They say I have no hits and I'm difficult to work with. And they say that like it's a bad thing."

-Tom Waits

“People like crap.”

-Getty Lee on popular music

“Will the universe end? many ask. Yes. Not with a bang but a whimper. Not in fire, but in ice. Not in light, but in darkness.”

-Neil deGrasse Tyson

"Why don't you just arrest me?"

-Nicholas Cage to police

"I'm now at the "happiest place on earth". And I'm not happy about it.”

-Brent Spiner

“Clarence doesn't leave the E Street Band when he dies. He leaves when we die.”

-Bruce Springsteen

"As far as I'm concerned, Betty Ford saved my life."

-Stevie Nicks

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band …”

-R.E.M.

“It’s hard to accept being liked.”

-Andy Rooney

“This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

-Joe Paterno

Quotes of the Month: April 2011

Quote of the Month: “People like crap.”

-Getty Lee on popular music



Stupid Quote of the Month: “I don’t trust your kind.”

-LeBron’s mom to the police



Political Quote of the Month: "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people. It's just very, very sad."


-Donald Trump (he had a big month)


And the rest:

“Will the universe end? many ask. Yes. Not with a bang but a whimper. Not in fire, but in ice. Not in light, but in darkness.”

-Neil deGrasse Tyson

"I see the same [expletive] you guys see. Exactly the same [expletive]."

-Ozzie Guillen on his team’s bullpen problems

“Take the vehicle. I have 10 more.”

-Allen Iverson after the police pulled his Lamborghini over.

“Your cat does not love you. It tolerates you day to day.”

-George Takei

“The WH has been remarkably consistent...in changing nearly all of his campaign positions.”

-Dana Perino

"Why don't you just arrest me?"

-Nicholas Cage to police

Best Riffs of the 80s

Here are the best riffs of the 1980s...not in any order...

Paradise City- GnR

Rock You Like a Hurricane- The Scorpions

Back in Black- AC/DC

Breakin’ the Law- Judas Priest

Master of Puppets- Metallica

Seek and Destroy- Metallica

Photograph- Def Leppard

Sharp Dressed Man- ZZ Top

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits

Start Me Up- The Rolling Stones

Rockin’ in the Free World- Neil Young

Spirit of Radio- Rush

Eminence Front- The Who

Run Like Hell- Pink Floyd

Couldn’t Stand the Weather- Stevie Ray Vaughn

Crazy Train- Ozzy

Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC

I Love Rock n Roll- Joan Jett

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-U2

Top 10 Acts NOT in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame generally does a good job inducting acts. However, it does an even better job ignoring acts. Here are the Top 10 acts not already in the Hall of Fame:

The Clovers: They should have been inducted during the eighties. The Clovers formed in 1946 and were one of the first major vocal groups. They were the mold from which other groups modeled themselves. Their biggest hit, “Love Potion No. 9” came in 1959. It’s likely the voters don’t realize their history beyond that one song.

Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddnDuR8QG-s

Alice Cooper: Cooper was a diverse artist known for his stage shows. He was one of the first to create a rock n roll villain figure and his stage shows were adventures. Cooper’s theatrics and body of work deserve inclusion.

Welcome to My Nightmare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQE0pfBAYQ8

Deep Purple: Deep Purple is one of the most influential groups ever. They broke with “Hush” which bordered on psychedelic and created perhaps the greatest riff of all time with “Smoke on the Water.” This is a seminal act. Perhaps the billion lineup changes have hurt the band because they did not evolve with a set lineup operating on a single trajectory ala the Rolling Stones or Metallica.

Smoke on the Water (Live with all their lead singers):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WX_4FNoto4


Emerson, Lake, and Palmer: They had a very short-lived mainstream period which undercuts their viability. Additionally, the voters don’t seem to know what to do with Prog rock. It took several tries for Pink Floyd and years for Genesis to make the hall. If the Hall decides to really look at the genre, then ELP (and Rush) will be quick inductees.

Lucky Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRFpXPu_7wE

Darlene Love: I have written about her before. Love’s main work was not done under her own name. They need another category to get Darlene elected.

He's a Rebel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOU_uefqeXg

Red Hot Chili Peppers: They have not been eligible for long, so it should not be long before they make it. The early RHCP were innovative and different. They have several seminal albums and a large body of hits. On the other hand, many of their recent hits, all sound alike.

Under the Bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE

Rush: Where to start? They are immensely popular, but the band’s personality (mostly) avoids conflict and publicity. So, people forget them. Their musicianship is second to none and Neil Peart is one of the top three drummers of all time (Moon and Bonham). It is a crime Rush is not in the Hall of Fame. Maybe they don’t like Canadians.

Tom Sawyer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DFsBcVMDA

Ringo Starr: John, Paul, and George are all in as solo artists. Ringo had as many top 10 hits in the seventies as John and George combined. He's had as many #1 hits as John. Ringo probably suffers from his goofy personality and people don’t remember his resume.

It Don't Come Easy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbntU2N7xY

Tina Turner: Tina is the Queen of Rock n Roll. She is in as part of Ike and Tina Turner, but belongs in as a solo artist which began in the seventies. Her story is compelling, her comeback is legendary, she is well respected and loved, and her hits are still played on the radio today. What gives?

We Don't Need Another Hero:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FPK5-Rm38

Mary Wells: Wells was Motown’s first solo star. She helped break Motown nationally and crossed racial boundaries. Some consider Mary Wells the originator of the “Motown Sound.“ Her signature hit, “My Guy” is a classic. Unfortunately, she died of cancer in 1992. As a result, she has been forgotten.

My Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-qsGe96cw

Quotes of the Month

Quote of the Month: “We don’t get excited. We’re Canadian.” -Getty Lee

Dumb Quotes of the Month:

1. "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal [...] ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other."

-Pat Robertson

2.“A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.”

-Bill Clinton on Barack Obama

3. "Once the incident occurred, the system worked."

-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano after the underwear bomber incident in Detroit

4. "He was wowed by Obama's oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a "light-skinned" African American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one," as he said privately. Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination."

-From Game Change page 37 by Mark Halpern and John Heilemann. They are quoting Harry Reid.

5. "This will play right into Obama's hands. He's humanitarian, compassionate. They'll use this to burnish their, shall we say, 'credibility' with the black community -- in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It's made-to-order for them."

"Besides, we've already donated to Haiti. It's called the U.S. income tax."

-Rush Limbaugh

6. “The Brown victory shows how angry Americans are with the Republicans.”

-Steny Hoyer

Best News Headline: Big Brewer Battles Belgian Beer Blockade

Best Campaign Line: “Your tax dollars should go towards the purchase of weapons to stop these terrorists from killing American Citizens, not to pay lawyers to defend them”

-Scott Brown

Best Sports Quote: “I like me sex life. I want to be able to perform. That stuff will tear you up as far as your manhood is concerned.”

-Mark Grace on why he never did roids.

Best Slam: Charles Krauthammer
"I'd rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president,"

-Barack Obama

"Obama Forgot Option 3 - " Mediocre 1- Term President, & That's What He's Been Thus Far"

-Charles Krauthammer

#75 Rush

Rush is the most eclectic band around. They have been a blues-rock band, a sci-fi band, prog rock, alt rock, classic rock, and hard rock. They have influenced bands ranging from Metallica to Symphony X to Primus. Only the Beatles, Stones, and Aerosmith have had more consecutive gold or platinum albums. Their fan base is the most loyal in music. Despite their achievements and success, they are continually ignored for induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. They belong in over Madonna, Grandmaster Flash, and others. However, the band does not seem to care.

Rock n Roll Moment: Geddy Lee donated 200 baseballs signed by Negro League greats to the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City.

Essential Rush: 2112 (1976), Permanent Waves (1980), Moving Pictures (1981)

Rush Top 10:
Working Man
Fly By Night
The Spirit of Radio
Tom Sawyer
Limelight
Time Stand Still
Roll The Bones
Subdivisions
Bastille Day
Manhattan Project