Lisa Lampanelli told me that while attending a workshop, the workshop leader said, “Make a list of the people in your ‘choir’ … . If you’re not on your own list, then you’re doing something wrong. “You have to really be on your own side.” Of all of Lampanelli’s accomplishments — being a member of the Friar’s Club, her …
“People thinking MC is shorthand for misconception; Let me meditate, set it straight,” — “Definition” by Black Star Talib Kweli has made a life in Hip Hop. He has been a prominent emcee for almost 20 years, first as one-half of Black Star (with Mos Def) and then as a solo artist, recording 10 albums and collaborating with artists …
“Calmness is a wasted breath.” From “Weak” by God Mother For 20 years, The Dillinger Escape Plan, with its lead guitarist and founder Ben Weinman, have been giving us searing heavy metal music. The Dillinger Escape Plan is considered by many to be the best mathcore band of all time—with an original fusion of heavy …
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue throughout the body. NF can lead not only to disabling pain, but also to disfigurement, cancer and even death. May has been designated National Neurofibromatosis Month and May 17 is World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day to promote awareness of this tragic disease and to call attention to how …
Alexander Owens’ Fight Against Neurofibromatosis Read More »
Alan Robert has always loved to be scared. “I can remember my first experience being fascinated with the film The Amityville Horror as a young kid. After all, I had cousins who lived in Long Island, NY, so I knew Amityville was a real place, which made the whole thing even more frightening. I must’ve been only …
“A world of humans with no humanity” From “Losing My Humanity” by Kobra and the Lotus We want people to “get” us – to understand who we are and what we are about. When approached in a healthy way, we understand our authentic self well enough to know what makes us tick and who we …
Kobra Paige Pulls Herself Out of the Drama in Her Head Read More »
“He has a million voices telling us lies Describing your fate to your face while scripting your demise He uses fear as his favorite play while hiding his eyes For the calm and innocent who wreak of surprise” From “Burn the Straw Man” by Butcher Babies In the late 1970s, the punk-rock and heavy-metal world got a …
Butcher Babies and the Legacy of Wendy O. Williams Read More »
“Swallowing the feeling Counting cracks across the ceiling Never reached the depths of them before Finding flaws in every format I know but haven’t shown that I could pick myself up off the floor” –“From the Outside” by Real Friends Dan Lambton, founding member and singer-songwriter of the band Real Friends, has bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mood …
The On and Off Switch That Dan Lambton Can’t Control Read More »
Benjamin Zephaniah is a writer, poet, actor and recording artist. His new autobiographical book, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, chronicles his personal, spiritual and creative journey. To understand Benjamin Zephaniah’s journey, one must understand his roots in Rastafarianism–a religion that has its origins in Jamaica. Rastafarianism has informed almost every aspect of Zephaniah’s life–including his art form of …
“The dying world gasps its last breath as we turn off our minds All hope is lost There’ll be no new dawn And all of your dreams will die, die” From “See You in Hell” by Electric Wizard From an early age, Jus Oborn of Electric Wizard knew that he felt a bit “off.” Oborn has struggled …
