Yeah, so it’s tacky to feature myself. But it’s been quiet around here again; what’s with these spurts?

So… what song makes me think of my short story? Like many before me, it’s a hard choice. Ozzy’s Crazy Train is an option ’cause if there’s anything going on with Ice Cubes in Hell, it’s a crazy train. This band is dysfunction city — and sadly familiar to many of us inside the biz.

Maybe I’d settle on Nothing More’s breakout song, This is the Time (Ballast) — as a warning to my fictional friends that what gets revealed this night needs to be moved past.

Or there’s my son’s favorite song (Not): Katy Perry’s Roar, since Broken describes the events that happen when T finds her voice — although she’s never been the sort to bury it in the first place. T’s a pretty in-your-face sort of woman. I like her for what it’s worth.

The Amity Affliction’s Pittsburgh? A definite contender, as this band, these people are lost and drowning.

Funnily enough — or not — I have three of these songs in my Spotify playlist that keeps me company at work. I bet you can’t figure out which is the one not on the list…  And yes, I’m sticking to these four. It’s MY site, MY interview question. I get to break the rules.

Here’s the long description for Broken:

For T and the rest of Ice Cubes in Hell, it’s a routine night backstage after their set, opening for the notorious Vanessa Kontempt. The party’s in full swing when T walks in, but she’s not in the mood. Not tonight. Things spiral downward when she finds some groupies raiding her stage clothes. One breaks the heel off her favorite boot, and as T confronts the band’s tour manager about the destruction, secrets are revealed. Secrets which might tear the band apart … or bring them closer.

The story won’t be released until the 15th — that’s just next week! — but you can preorder it now.

Smashwords  (Uhh, no affiliate link this time. Go figure.)

Amazon

 

I know. Some things get lost in the annals of history (what the heck IS an annal, anyway? Any of you erotic writers want to weigh in here?), and one of those things is that Randy Rhoads was in a band before Ozzy’s.

Now, we can read about it. And watch and listen, as well.

“Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years”, a new book from QUIET RIOT’s personal photographer/lighting director Ron Sobol, is tentatively due this spring via Red Match Productions. As a bonus, this book comes with a 90-minute DVD documentary of the QUIET RIOT years with Randy, containing interview footage telling the story of the band.

Know how far back in history we’re going here, folks? 1975. That’s right. Raise your hands if you weren’t even born back then. (No comment from THIS member of the peanut gallery!)

The pictures, the clothing alone… this could be a lot of fun. Plus informative… really. In all my years of learning about music, I think I’d skipped the Randy Rhoads pre-Ozzy lessons. It’s like the guy had joined Ozzy right after he jumped out of the womb, fully formed and guitar blazing…

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the heads-up. Now if they’d only send me this stuff instead of waiting for me to find it myself…

(demanding, aren’t I?)