Memories: Elisabeth Sladen, Never To Be Forgotten

Lost Apr 19, 2011I've been thinking of you, Lis Sladen. You were, and always will be, the very best.Love,Dan, Jr.youtu.be/elpvW8XdFog

— Dan, Jr. (@DanJunr) April 20, 2013

Black Sabbath Updates Through February 2012

Black Sabbath at album / tour press conference on November 11, 2011.
Photo Copyright © Kevin Winter / Getty Images.

There has been a lot going on with the band Black Sabbath, involving both past and present members. Some of the news has been good, some has been quite unfortunate.

Cancer has hit founding member, guitarist Tony Iommi. Reunion tour dates for 2012 have been cancelled or changed to "Ozzy and Friends" events. There was a contractual disagreement between band and founding member, drummer Bill Ward.

On to the good news. Deluxe album reissues (import only for North America) are coming on March 19th from the band Dio, which featured former Sabbath lead vocalist, the late Ronnie James Dio. Former lead singer Tony Martin has apparently got his Tony Martin era Black Sabbath music playing band, Tony Martin’s Headless Cross, gearing up to tour.

To get all the details on these happenings and more, you should visit the fan site run by Joe Siegler. It's called Black Sabbath Online, and I post links to his updates on a fairly regular basis, because he makes sure he gets the story straight. If you want unbiased, factual and accurate information on Black Sabbath, and the group's family tree, you go to Joe.

To read up on the things I've listed above in particular, this is the link to the Black Sabbath Online archive for February 2012.

Junior's Reading And Viewing List: August 1 - 10, 2011

Last Update - August 30, 2011 at 5:10 AM EDT

This Junior's 'Reading And Viewing List' is for August 1 through August 10, 2011, and it has the usual linked titles, with snippets of articles. The following items were published via the internet at the start of August 2011.

Films in the making, music industry news, Formula One racing and WRC rally events are among the topics to be found here.


August 10, 2011

Girlschool Re-Record Classic Album
By mdome at Classic Rock

Girlschool are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album Hit And Run by re-recording it...


Jon Lord Battles Cancer
By mdome at Classic Rock

Former Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord has revealed that he’s fighting cancer...


Tyre strategy - Pirelli on perfect planning
Posted at Formula1.com

Tyres - and the ability of a driver to use their tyres well - have always been critical to success or failure in Formula One racing. But it's been especially true this season...


August 9, 2011

Aerosmith Man Undergoes Cancer Surgery
By mdome at Classic Rock

Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has just undergone what’s described as a ‘radical medical procedure’...


August 8, 2011

'Avengers' Director Joss Whedon: Why Heroes Keep Him
Up At Night
By Kara Warner at MTV's Splash Page

It's simply impossible for me to write about Joss Whedon without gushing. He's just so darn likable. And brilliant. And a fellow ginger, so our bond is unbreakable there. I promise to continue gushing about him even if "The Avengers" does not meet the exceedingly high expectations set out for it (which it WILL. I have faith!)...

The Home Of Metal Black Country Weekender Brochure
Posted at Home Of Metal

The Home of Metal Weekender is bursting with events across the Black Country from 1 – 4 September. Including a conference, films, concerts and activities ranging from a silent metal disco to studded wristband making, there’s something for everyone...


In Bed with Chris Needham + Heavy Metal Parking Lot
-September 3rd @ Light House
Posted at Home Of Metal

The Light House - Saturday September 3rd - 8.30pm

Tickets £5.80 / £4.40 concessions - For Bookings call 01902 716055
- http://light-house.co.uk/

Heavy Metal Parking Lot

This video documentary short documents Heavy Metal fans taligating in the car park outside the since demolished Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, on May 31st 1986, before a Judas Priest Gig...

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: I was at that Judas Priest concert, but I don't remember the film crew. Watch the documentary for FREE at SnagFilms.


Alonso not giving up on 2011 title hopes
Posted at Formula1.com

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso may be 89 points adrift of championship leader Sebastian Vettel, but he's adamant there is still plenty of time to turn things around. Speaking at the Italian team's summer press event at Madonna di Campaglio, Alonso insisted he wasn't ruling out title success this year...


Loeb: WRC future decision imminent
Posted at WRC.com

Sebastien Loeb has revealed that his continued participation in the World Rally Championship could be decided before the next round in Germany...


Tarmac rounds hold no fear for Ford
Posted at WRC.com

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson is convinced that his factory squad can register a victory on asphalt this season...


August 7, 2011

Harford Co. Baseball Team Makes It To The Cal Ripken
World Series
Posted at WJZ TV News / CBS Baltimore

...WJZ Eyewitness News met with the 2011 Maryland state champion team — the Hickory Hornets...

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Somebody at WJZ got it wrong,
it's Harford County (MD), not Howard County.


August 6, 2011

QUEEN - Promo Clip Posted For Final Five Album Reissues
Posted at Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles

...These five albums cover the era when Queen were elevated to truly legendary status as they stole the show at Live Aid in front of a global TV audience of 1.9 billion people, and wowed audiences with subsequent headline shows at Knebworth and Wembley in 1986, the latter recently voted by the public as one of the most iconic events ever seen at the stadium. This was also Queen’s most consistent period of commercial success with each of the five albums going platinum in the UK and ‘A Kind Of Magic’ and ‘Made In Heaven’ each selling over 1 million copies, the latter doing so four years after Freddie’s death showing that the Queen legacy reigns eternal...


Review: 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' - 'The Categories of Life':
Heat is on
By Alan Sepinwall at What's Alan Watching? via HitFix.com

A quick review of tonight's "Torchwood: Miracle Day" - including thoughts on why I'm likely taking this season out of the review rotation going forward...

...I continue to think there are some good basic ideas here, I like what Bill Pullman and Lauren Ambrose are doing as guest stars, but overall, "Miracle Day" has been a pretty big misfire after "Children of Earth" got so much right...


August 5, 2011

Patrick Stewart Holds No 'X-Men: First Class' Grudges
By Travis Helwig at MTV's Splash Page

There’s no bad blood (just mutant blood) between Patrick Stewart and his young replacements in the summer blockbuster "X-Men: First Class." Stewart, who has played Professor Charles Francis Xavier (or just Professor X) in every other "X-Men" film, insists that while he hasn’t sat down to watch it, he’s certainly not holding any sort of grudge.

Queen To Release New DVD Featuring Two Full Wembley Stadium Concerts
Posted at RTT News

(RTTNews) - To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their two-night stand at Wembley Stadium in 1986, Queen is releasing a new DVD, Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium, that features both the July 11 and 12 concerts in their entirety, according to Bravewords.com...


August 4, 2011

Samuel L. Jackson Offers Avengers Update
Posted at Superhero Hype

Samuel L. Jackson is set to reprise his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Nick Fury in next summer's The Avengers and dropped a few hints to BBC Newsbeat about what fans can expect from his performance...


August 3, 2011

It's My Party
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings From The Man Cave

Well, the Tea Party has rapidly shown that they're nothing new and nothing to get excited about. As little more than a Caucasian-only portion of the Republican Party, although not quite as well-funded or as intelligent as the GOP, they're kind of passe...


Hot Air
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings From The Man Cave

...I'm befuddled, no, stupefied at how ridiculously ignorant our culture is becoming. Every morning I hop on line and attempt to read what's happening in our little patch of real estate and walk away from my laptop with my head shaking from left to right in a slow syncopation of utter disbelief...


Alice Cooper Gets Universal Maze
By mdome at Classic Rock

A special Alice Cooper Maze is being opened by Universal Studios in this for Halloween...


August 2, 2011

'Doctor Strange' Moves Forward, Seeks Directors
By Aubrey Sitterson at MTV's Splash Page

Given Marvel’s recent string of successes in bringing their comics properties to the silver screen, it should come as no surprise that the company is looking to branch out further. With “The Avengers” hitting theaters next summer and Edgar Wright having just turned in a new script for his “Ant-Man” movie, the company has now turned its Eye of Agamotto to none other than Doctor Strange...


To test or not to test - the in-season testing debate unravelled
Posted at Formula1.com

From team principals to drivers, from engineers to fans, Formula One racing is a sport of obsessives. And from the careful construction of a motorhome menu to polishing a car after it's left parc ferme, painstaking preparation is par for the course. It's surprising then to find that in this bastion of minutiae most car upgrades only make it out on track for the first time during Grand Prix weekends...


Novikov vows to come back stronger
Posted at WRC.com

...Russian Novikov, who was returning to the event for the first time since his spectacular landing from a jump on the Leustu stage in 2009, dropped out on both Friday and Saturday due to technical problems. However, he still said he was able to gain vital stage knowledge at the wheel of the M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta RS WRC...


August 1, 2011

Press tour: NBC remakes 'Prime Suspect'
By Alan Sepinwall at What's Alan Watching? via HitFix.com

NBC's "Prime Suspect" likely faced a tougher room from the TCA than they will from audiences this fall, when it airs Thursdays at 10. After all, if you were to do a demographic breakdown of the audience for the original British "Prime Suspect" when it aired on PBS in the '90s, a large chunk of it would be made up of TV critics. The vast majority of viewers sampling the new version, with Maria Bello as an abrasive New York cop battling sexism and her own personal demons, probably have no idea there was an earlier version starring the great Helen Mirren...

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Once again, American TV
will do it's best to Fuck Up perfection.


LA Without A Map Competition & Trailer
Posted at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

Thanks to our friends at Yume Pictures we have a great competition to celebrate the release of LA Without A Map on DVD in the UK! (8th August 2011)...


David Introduces Fright Night At Comic Con
Posted at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

Spoiler Pics & Videos From The Dark Knight Rises Set
Posted at Superhero Hype

A crazy amount of pictures and videos hit the web from the Pittsburgh set for The Dark Knight Rises on Sunday. You can view some below featuring Bane, Batman and Miranda Tate (Marion Cottilard) in action and more pics are available at gettyimages...


Slash To Release Live DVD
By mdome at Classic Rock

Slash played at the Victoria Hall in the city where he grew up on Sunday, July 24, playing a set of solo tracks, plus...


Entitlements
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings From The Man Cave

So after giving this entry some thought and attempt to dazzle everyone with my rapier wit and biting electronic pen I've realized that this particular subject doesn't need to be hyperbolized. I want to lay this out fairly flat so even the jaded Fox News viewers can see my point...


Ostberg: the Big Five are in sight
Posted at WRC.com

Mads Ostberg reckons his performance on Neste Oil Rally Finland last week has proved that he is getting closer to taking on the world championship's Big Five on a regular basis...

Today's Tune: "Country Girl" & "Neon Knights" By Heaven & Hell

Performing in Montreux, Switzerland, on July 7, 2007.
Photo by Sandro Campardo - AP Photo / Keystone.

One year ago today, singer and song writer Ronnie James Dio passed away (67 years old), by the hands of stomach cancer. Naturally, Ronnie has been on my mind, and remembered by millions and millions of other fans as well. Therefore, this 'Today's Tune' combo was selected to honor and remember that great man.

He was lead singer for some great bands in his time - Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. Both of these tracks are originally from the first two Black Sabbath albums that Mr. Dio recorded with the band. I was fortunate enough to see Sabbath on both of the subsequent tours that followed. I remember those times fondly, to say the least.

The following video is from a live Heaven & Hell concert. A taste of "Country Girl", from 'Mob Rules' (1981), starts it off. Then, "Neon Knights" (1980), which was a single from the album 'Heaven And Hell', goes into full flight.

Click here, to see my long post from a few days after Ronnie's death in 2010.

Heaven & Hell - "Country Girl" & "Neon Knights"
Live - June 16, 2009

Today's Tune: "Sara Smile" And "She's Gone" By Hall And Oates

Photo from Coventry Telegraph.

This 'Today's Tune' double feature is dedicated to actress Elisabeth Sladen, who passed away this morning. She died of cancer, at the age of 63. Sladen, born in Liverpool, England on February 1, 1948, is most well known for playing the role of investigative-reporter Sarah Jane Smith in the world's greatest science-fiction television show of all time and space, Doctor Who.

Right now, I'm so full of shock and sadness, I can't bring myself to type the words to tell you all about this wonderful woman. Like millions of other fans across this planet, she was my favorite of all the companions that have spent time with the Doctor, since the show first started in 1963. There has been at least one fan club, that was dedicated specifically to her.

Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who (1975)

I must admit, I found her quite attractive. As an actress, she had a special quality and a real presence about her. She was intelligent and kind. Though I've met some of the actors from the classic Doctor Who series, as well as writers and William Hartnell's (original Doctor) granddaughter, I never met Elisabeth Sladen. Now, I never will.

Here is the Wikipedia page for Elisabeth Sladen. For her death announcement from the BBC, click here. YouTube results list for Elisabeth Sladen.

Elisabeth's most famous character, Sarah Jane Smith, led me to immediately think of these two tracks from Hall And Oates, that became hit singles. First up, we have the beautiful "Sara Smile" (1976), followed by the sad lament of "She's Gone".

Hall And Oates - "Sara Smile"



Hall And Oates - "She's Gone"

In Remembrance Of Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio, one of the most extraordinary singers, songwriters and entertainers of all time, passed away early Sunday morning - May 16, 2010. He was a brave and determined man, but stomach cancer won the battle anyway.

Forgive me for not posting something sooner, but besides being busy with the ever crumbling world that is my personal life, I have spent much of the free time that I do have grieving over the loss of Ronnie.

Not too long after Sunrise on Sunday morning, I signed off the internet. The last thing I had read was that Ronnie James Dio was still alive, and that reports of his death were merely rumors. The first thing I saw when I got back on the internet on Monday, was confirmation that he did pass away. It was just a little later on, while I was taking my dog for a short walk.

He had lived a lot and given a lot during his time on this Earth, but 67 years isn't all that old, and I know he had a lot more to give. The force that was Ronnie James Dio lives on in the people who loved and respected him. His influence can be heard in many a rock singer's vocal style.

I'm sure fans new and old are pulling out their Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell records, CD's and DVD's, emersing themselves as I have done, and playing RJD recordings over and over again.

It's been a while, but I had the pleasure of going to five or so Black Sabbath and Dio concerts with Ronnie as lead singer. They were all good and satisfying times. Memories I shall cherish until my own demise. Thank you, Ronnie!

In remembrance of Ronnie James Dio, I've chosen to include a few videos of him singing what I know was one of his favorite songs to sing. From the very first Rainbow album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975), I offer "Catch The Rainbow". I just can't seem to get enough of this tune right now, and I don't feel like picking only one video. Each of the following includes different pictures and live action. My favorite is the last one, apparently a small intimate show, where Ronnie is obviously very happy. It's not the whole (long version of the) song and recorded somewhat poorly from one side of the small stage, but I love watching him enjoying life. I wish he could be doing so right now.


Service announcements from the official website:

Public Memorial Service For Ronnie James Dio
5/19/2010 2:21:32 PM

There will be a Public Memorial Service for Ronnie James Dio on Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 PM at The Hall Of Liberty located at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

This will be a celebration of the life and music of Ronnie James Dio and is open to all of his friends and fans from around the world.

For those of you that will be flying in from out of town or out of the country, we have made special rates at various local hotels available to you! Just go to our official Facebook Page for hotel information!

Official Ronnie James Dio Facebook Fan Page

The Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund
5/19/2010 11:59:40 AM

Wendy Dio has requested in lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to the Ronnie James Dio "STAND UP AND SHOUT CANCER FUND". Please send your donations to the Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #624, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. From all of us at Niji Entertainment Group, we thank you! For those that want to use Paypal, a link will be set up at RonnieJamesDio.com .


For the long version by Rainbow, live in Munich, Germany in 1977:
Part 1 (10:35) here, and then Part 2 (7:47) here
- Oberhoffer posted May 18, 2010.

Original Rainbow audio with pics, vids - akrug79 posted May 18, 2010



Original Rainbow audio w/ pictures - BJB333333 posted May 17, 2010



Dio at Sofia, Bulgaria in 1998 - angelpriest posted May 04, 2008



Dio at Gothenburg, Sweden 1997 - japiedio posted Nov. 21, 2008

The Latest Updates On Singer Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk on January 17, 2007.

In case you missed them, I just wanted to share with you the latest updates posted by singer Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell) and his wife Wendy on his web site.

It was reported in late November of 2009 that Ronnie had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, after having taken ill earlier that month. Fans were advised to send get well cards and letters to the fan club. Wendy then wrote about the beginning of his treatment in last update I posted here. Here we go now, with one from Ronnie just before Christmas, and the last one from Wendy came this past Wednesday.


Holiday message from Ronnie
12/21/2009 at 1:46:54 PM

Happy holidays everyone,

I'd like to take the time to thank everyone for the most wonderful gifts I have ever received. The list includes your good wishes, your prayers, your support, your tears and laughter, your anger and rejoicing, and most of all the unwavering love you've bestowed upon me. I guess I've always felt that we were one person and that you've allowed me to be our spokesman, but until this time of my greatest peril the truth was perhaps slightly hidden. It is hidden no more. Together we' shall face the foe and live on to climb higher mountains and explore greater magic. Together we cannot fail. Please accept my never ending love and dedication to you all. So it is written, and so it shall be.

MAGIC,
FROM RONNIE JAMES DIO


An Update on Ronnie from Wendy
01/13/2010 at 6:57:50 PM

After a few hiccups between Christmas and New Year’s, such as a blood clot, a trip to the emergency room, and a three day stay at the hospital, we had a quiet holiday spent with family and close friends. Ronnie and I just returned from Houston, where Ronnie had his third chemo treatment, and all seems to be going well. Ronnie and Simon Wright went to see Avatar, which he thought was amazing! He has also been writing more chapters for his book.

While at M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre on his second trip, he met a DIO fan named Carmen who has been having treatment every other day for a year, and is eagerly awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Ronnie and Carmen have become fast friends. Carmen is a very positive happy person whose existence, like Ronnie’s, depends heavily on music and sports. On the third trip, we also met his mom and sister, whose total support is so important to all cancer patients. They have become part of our family as well.

The support we get from all of our friends and fans is such a blessing to Ronnie and I.

Ronnie, Geezer [Butler], Tony [Iommi] and Vinny [Appice] will be doing some interviews in the upcoming weeks to be included in the new 30th anniversary Heaven and Hell DVD due out sometime this year.

We would like to thank Simon Wright, who has been such a help with everything and a good, good friend, of course our doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Ajani, and especially our family doctor, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, without whose quick diagnosis and help with all the nurses and hospitals, we would be lost. His care and compassion is unwavering.

Thanks again to all of Ronnie’s friends and fans, and --- by the way ---- Ronnie has not lost any hair yet!

------ Wendy Dio

Ronnie James Dio Stomach Cancer Update - December 10, 2009

Ronnie James Dio in 'The Devil You Know' promotional picture.
Photo by Chapman Baehler / Rhino Entertainment.

Wendy Dio posted another update on the health of her husband, singer Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell), on his site late yesterday afternoon. I thought I'd follow up on the recent announcement of Ronnie being diagnosed with stomach cancer, with the latest news about how things are going.


Latest Update - Ronnie Aces 1st Chemo Treatment with Flying Colors
12/10/2009 5:19:51 PM

Here is an update from Wendy Dio on Ronnie's battle with stomach cancer:

Well, it has been a very exhausting month – after all the neverending tests in Los Angeles, we flew to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and as soon as we arrived, we got a call from the MD Anderson Hospital that they had an appointment for us with the doctor we originally wanted, so we then flew to Houston to the clinic, and of course MORE tests, but Ronnie finished receiving his first chemo treatment on Wednesday, and all is going very well.

I would like to thank Tony Martell from the T.J. Martell Foundation, Dr. Stuart Aaronson from Mount Sinai, Lindsay Brown and Mike Carden from Eagle Records, and our very own Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, for all your help in getting us into MD Anderson, and also our friends Geezer and Gloria Butler, who flew to Houston to be with Ronnie while he had his chemo.

Ronnie and I are totally overwhelmed by the amount of well wishes that we have received from friends and fans - we are reading them all. Some make us laugh, some make us cry, but all of them are so filled with love that it gives us so much support and makes Ronnie even more determined to fight this battle and win. Thank you all for the positive energy and prayers.

--Wendy Dio

December 2009 Concerts In Baltimore & Annapolis, Maryland

Here is a current list of some notable music concerts and comedy performances scheduled to take place in December 2009, at venues in Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland.

Paula Poundstone - December 11th: 6:30 PM EST and 9:30 PM EST at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD

Renée Fleming - December 17th at The Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, MD

Aaron Neville - December 17th and December 18th Christmas music concerts at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD

Kix and Face Dancer - December 19th at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD ● Celebrate Christmas and Rams Head Live!'s birthday with cake from Charm City Cakes, the Charm City Roller Girls, Baltimore Hons, etc. CancerSucks.com will be collecting donations at this event. Rescheduled

Going For Broke: Comedy Tour and Toy Drive - December 18th at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, MD ● This event features Eddie Griffin, Donnell Rawlings, Darius Bradford, Larry Lancaster, and music by DJ Tanz.

*All details are subject to change!

Ronnie James Dio Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer

Ronnie James Dio at movie premier in 2006.

The heavy metal band Dio recently cancelled the remainder of their 2009 European tour, as lead singer Ronnie James Dio was taken ill. The following post by Ronnie's wife Wendy is the most recent update to appear on the official web site - RonnieJamesDio.com.


Here is the latest update from Wendy Dio:

"Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up.

Long Live Rock and Roll, Long Live Ronnie James Dio"

Get well cards and letters can be sent to the fan club.

Dio Fan Club
12400 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 624
Studio City, CA 91604

Joe Siegler of Black Sabbath Online is also collecting E-Mails at GetWellRonnie@Black-Sabbath.com, and will forward them to Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie, you should remember, formerly sang for Black Sabbath and their recent sequel band Heaven & Hell. "Please note - if you're talking about making some digital card or something in Photoshop, please print that and mail it yourself."

2008 Komen Race For The Cure

www.komenmd.org