Tag Archives: Katherine Turman

Nothing Says “Christmas Rocks Very Hard” Quite Like The Roadrunner Records Holiday Party!

Roadrunner Records Logo

“Merry Christmas”

It is no secret that the music industry does not throw parties like they used to ten or even five years ago. Those glorious days of the full buffet, open bar and name acts that don’t suck playing sets of rocking music for your enjoyment, are over, baby. At least we have our memories. But one exception I’ve found is the annual Roadrunner Records Holiday Party!

I think anyone who is lucky enough to get an invite to this event will agree with me that it sets the music industry benchmark for holiday parties that kick total ass. This year’s party was held last night and, as usual, it was really fun and REALLY crowded. There were friends I waved to from across the room at various moments in the evening, but never could really find in the crowd to actually speak to. It’s that way every year. Sometimes a wave and a nod is as good as it gets.

Dressed like the rock goddesses that we are, Tracy and I spent most of the evening working the room with writer/editor Kirk Miller, who is always cool and fun to hang with. I also met up with the adorable Katherine Turman and a couple of her friends, and was kissed and hugged by many cherished music industry pals who I sometimes only see once a year at this event. Another highlight of the party for me, besides the food, was meeting the actor/comedian Jay Oakerson, who plays Neil on the fun IFC series, Z-Rock – which stars one of my favorite local rock bands, Brooklyn’s own Z02. He was super nice and (surprise!) very attractive in person. I enjoyed all of the plentiful and delicious foods (partaking heavily of the buttery beef filet with horseradish sauce) and drank a few too many vodka cranberries. Despite my toasty state, I made it home on the bus okay. Surprisingly, this morning I did not have a hangover. Thank you Roadrunner Records for another happy holiday memory and please continue to rock!

Some Kind of Golf Monster

Golf Monster Book Cover
Smart, Beautiful, Maybelline

Last night my friend Katherine (please see Ian Hunter blog a few entries down for the back-story on Katherine) took me out to dinner as a belated Birthday gift. Because she rocks so hard, she also gave me a copy of Alice Cooper’s new biography, Golf Monster. I’ve only had time to casually page through the book since it fell into my possession last night, but it looks like a pretty easy read; something you can tackle in one or two afternoons at most. From what I understand, Golf Monster tells the story of how Alice got sober for good by getting up every day at the crack of dawn to play golf. But of course, it’s also a biography where he waxes nostalgic on his career, including the gory glory days of the original band called Alice Cooper – the group that started the whole shock rock thing that Alice basically gets exclusive credit for even though it was invented by five guys. Don’t even get me started on that.

I’m most interested in reading Golf Monster to find out what stories Alice retells in this book that I’ve already written about in the book I’m working on with Neal Smith. That way, Neal and I can compare the two versions and make sure our version is a million billion times better. I’ve already been told that Alice talks about the time he shot Neal during a hunting trip out in the Arizona desert, but since Neal is the one who actually got shot, and Neal never spent any time in rehab, I’m pretty sure we can one-up him!

I’ll check back in with my verdict on Golf Monster once I’ve finished reading Alice’s latest collection of tall tales. I’m sure it’s no Billion Dollar Baby – because, seriously, what the hell is? – but it’ll be good for a few laughs, no doubt.

Ian Hunter Celebrates New CD with Party at John Varvatos’ Soho Store!

Ian Hunter Shrunken Heads CD
“Move Over, ‘Cause You’re Standing In My Light”

This past Wednesday I had a total blast going out to a CD release party for Legendary Rock God Ian Hunter. I was invited to this hipster hang by my pal Katherine, who produces Alice Cooper’s nightly syndicated radio program, appropriately titled Nights with Alice Cooper — thanks Katherine! The party was held in the John Varvatos clothing boutique on Spring Street down in Soho, so it was very swanky. Right away I ran into my old sidekick Tommy Rocker and his lovely lady Leona, and we got caught up on each other’s lives as party goers sipped refreshing Greyhounds (vodka and grapefruit juice, so tasty) and ate delicious bite sized snacks amid racks of fragrant leather jackets and overpriced jeans.

Dennis Dunaway (bassist, original Alice Cooper band) was also there with his wife Cindy, and I spent some time hanging out with them since I sort of know them already. It feels kind of surreal to say that, because I had such a hard crush on Dennis when I was 12 years old and Billion Dollar Babies had just been released. But the hilarious thing is that when somebody asked Dennis, “Do you know anybody here?” He replied, “Well, I know the band, and I know Gail.” Seriously.

The similarly legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen was also there. He is impossible to miss even in a crowd of rabid scenesters, because he’s on TV all the time and has such a distinctive look. Bob (along with guys like Mick Rock) took a lot of the photos of all the classic rockers — too many to name — which have become icons of the era. I have a few of his shots of my friend Neal Smith on display in the Chickpad. Bob has the eye, as they say.

About an hour into this festive shindig, Ian performed a short set of tunes from his new CD, Shrunken Heads plus an awesome rendition of “All The Young Dudes,” which is my favorite song of all time. That song changed my life, and I was standing about five feet from Ian when he sang it that night. It was so cool. Ian is one-of-a-kind and I will adore him until I die.