12:09 p.m.
Me with Alice Cooper, 4-20-2019
If you have known me longer than a minute, you know that this picture is SOOOOO cool for me that I can't even come close to expressing my joy.
School's Out came out in 1972, but I was already a fan before the age of 12. I felt, at the time, that "School's Out" kind of caught other people I knew up to the group. It was eminently relate-able. Everybody got it.
1971's "I'm Eighteen" was a bit much for my 11-year-old classmates, I guess, but the album "Love It To Death", the first one I bought at that age, caught my attention with "The Ballad of Dwight Fry". I had no idea who the guy was, but I was intrigued anyway.
My classmates were caught up with The Osmond Family and The Jackson 5, or maybe the Carpenters. Now, I liked them, but I absolutely loved Alice, and no one got it. I was the odd man out.
Didn't care. Not a lick.
In 8th and 9th grade, we had a teacher--Mr. Farnsworth, if you remember--who had his classroom out in a mobile home type outbuilding. He allowed us to play music in homeroom and study hall. He brought in a little record player, and he used to play Loretta Lynn's "Don't Come Home A-drinkin' " all the time.
I brought in "Muscle of Love". Poor Mr. Farnsworth! I didn't even attempt to explain that a woman singing about not giving her drunk man any and a drunk man singing about his "muscle" probably were equally inappropriate for kids. Hahaha! I brought "Elected" and "School's Out" after that.
We also got to play records in Mrs. Beverly's art class, and some of the 9th graders in my class didn't appreciate Alice back then--they had to grow into him, I guess, because some of those same people who dissed 7th grade Alice-fan me for my bad taste in music are now big fans.
Anyway, from the first song, my sister was freaked, my parents were shocked, my classmates were shaking their heads, and I was loving being the weird music pioneer. Because, who cares what anyone else thought about my eclectic musical taste? So what if I played a John Denver song followed by an Alice Cooper song, followed by The Monkees? It was all for ME!!
Now, it's true that as a kid I cared what others thought of some things: Was my hair wrong? Were the bells on my jeans big enough? Should I NEVER say "Dig it" or "groovy"? But my music, my books, my art and my writing were all about ME, and I never cared about pleasing anyone else.
There was something so cool about hanging up that poster. Surely, you know the one--naked Alice, strategically draped by a boa constrictor. My mother, God bless her, blanched when she saw it, but didn't insist that I take it off my wall immediately. My Dad, God bless him, laughed, shook his head and told me not to let Grandma see it. I have cool parents--they were never crazy about the music, but they never forbade it, either. (Although, "Turn it down!" was a frequent request, but they said that about all the music!)
It was 2011 before I got to see Alice in concert. Took me 40 years from the time I first decided I just HAD to go. It was awesome! My sister, who was at first freaked out by Alice, went with me. So did my daughter. She knew every song, because I raised my children right--they listened to Alice all the livelong time.
Finally, three days ago, I shook the hand of my Rock-N-Roll hero. He signed my copy of his book.
He told me he loved my shirt, and that Paranormal was his favorite album to date. We talked a bit about his book, which he says is the REAL story of his addiction and recovery. He declared Big Pharm the most corrupt drug dealers in this nation, more worrisome than any cartels because they have the money to brainwash us all through advertising.
Of course, we also talked about upcoming albums--four to come! Wow! He's not bust at all, right?
He's warm, funny and intelligent. It took me over four decades to do it, but I finally met Alice Cooper, and I am so glad I got to mark this goal off my bucket list.
You know, until I get a chance to do it again. I hope I do!
Thanks, Alice!!
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1:15 p.m.
Now, as promised, some other FanX Comic Convention highlights.
The convention ran for two days, but we only attended on Saturday. I didn't get to see Alice Cooper's Friday panel in person, but I naturally went and viewed it on YouTube.
We started our day with the panel by Zachary Levi. You know him--Chuck! Flynn Rider, aka Eugene from Tangled. Shazam! That guy.
This is a genuinely nice man with a lot to offer over and above his contributions to movies and television. He has raised money for children with cleft palate malformations, raised awareness about mental illness and really cares about people.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to meet him this time. He was kept quite busy all day, and the lines were so long, forming at his booth even as he was elsewhere doing photos with fans. I do hope to have a chance to meet him someday, but I was very happy just to see his panel live.
Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I love to "eat street". By this, I mean food trucks, and there were quite a lot of them around the Salt Palace. Last year we chose one that sells Ramen, and they were back, so we became repeat customers.
I told you before that I couldn't eat much, but let me assure you, it was not the food! The food was delicious, and I enjoyed every bit I was able to consume. Yum!
Back inside, we decided to go see Ricky Schroeder. If you're about my age, you have probably been watching Ricky since he was a little boy.
He started by informing us that he'd just turned 49. Wow, that made me feel old, considering I was grown up the first time I saw him as a little boy in "The Champ". Remember that one? Dang, did I cry!
He had plenty of good stories to tell and we really enjoyed the panel. Then we wandered back down to Celebrity Row to meet him. Nice guy!
Now. for some reason, I have yet to see my sister's photos. What's up with that? Ha ha!
No Con is complete without Cos players, and I have been consistently impressed over the years with how those costumes come together with such perfection!
That's commitment, folks!
I'm amazed by this, mostly because I pat myself on the back if I manage to sew a button back on without stabbing myself with the needle.
The crowds are in constant motion, and I caught a glimpse of Aladdin on his carpet from above, so I'm pleased with how these shots turned out!
Look down now--here he comes!
And there he goes! Clever costume, right?
To end our fun day, we went to an AMC channel screening of Joe Hill's NOS4A2, where we got to see the first episode of the show. It's crazy. It's good. It doesn't start until June 2nd! Aughhhh!
Left us wanting more for sure!
Here's some info:
I read the book--good one! I'm definitely going to watch this show. Check it out, see what you think.
Okay, that was our day. It's a three hour trip each way to Salt Lake City from here, so we decided to try to leave while the sun was still up.
It was down when we got home, but--hey! So great not having to do the canyon in the dark, anyway. Not that I had to drive, but I am nice enough to think about the driver.
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Next month is Denver's con, and I am hoping for one day there as well. I usually do the whole three days, but I don't think that's going to happen this year. I will only be home for a long weekend and I want to spend time with my family after dentist, doc, etc.
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Your nerdy friend is signing off! Have a great evening!
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