BOG BLAST ALL OF YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAILOR JERRY!

2012-01-14T09:49:00.002-05:00

There is no greater legend in tattooing than Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. From his tiny Hawaiian shop, the roughneck tattooer blended Japanese style and shading with his own hardnosed art and humor and changed tattooing forever. He would have been 101 today. A few years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to contribute a biography of the man for a book called Homeward Bound. You can read excerpts here and then buy a copy for your coffee table, tattoo shop or old lady. The book is a companion piece to the killer documentary Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry. In the rankings of American folk art, I put Sailor Jerry on par with Hank Williams. You should too.

GOING TO CALIFORNIA

2012-01-12T12:43:00.001-05:00

I'm working on the ultimate playlist for my move to LA. I plan on driving out with a buddy and need to feel a few days (!) worth of tunes. So far I've added the Stones "Winter," Neil Young "Out on the Weekend," Billy Bragg "California Stars," Social Distortion "California (Hustle & Flow)," and, of course, Led Zeppelin "Going to California." What would you add?

While we're on the topic, I've received more than a few mails from people who have read BLACK DOGS and want to know if I hate Led Zeppelin. Not at all! I love Zeppelin but when I sat down to write BLACK DOGS it only made sense that Patrick, as the organizer of this little heist, not like Zeppelin. What teenage rock fan would rob he band he loved, right? (Of course, he manages to get poor Frenchy wrapped up in his plot!)

To get to this point in my plotting of the book we need to back up a bit. The genesis of BLACK DOGS started with a magazine article about the release of "The Song Remains the Same" on DVD. The article mentioned that the movie was delayed after Zeppelin were robbed of $203,00 at the end of their '73 tour, money that was supposed to be used to fund the filming. No one was ever arrested. How did I not know this? I spent most of my teen years and all of my college years working at record stores. (And I'm old enough to still refer to them as record stores. Hell, I'm old enough to still remember hanging out record stores!) Spend enough time working in music stores and you hear every album, every bit of music folklore and partake in every stupid argument from Beatles vs Stones (it's Stones) to Metallica vs Megadeth (it's Metallica). I didn't know that the biggest rock band on the planet was robbed of almost a quarter of a million dollars?

It occurred to me that somewhere a group of guys could be sitting at a bar talking about how they robbed Led Zeppelin and got away with it. My mind started spinning around, making up back stories for these guys. They wouldn't be big-time burglars because those kinds of movie stereotypes go after massive scores of diamonds and bank vaults. This was too small-time for them. Besides, who would know that Zeppelin always got paid in cash except some young rock 'n' roll fans? From there I could see them, a ragtag bunch of stoners and dropouts who decide to rob the world's biggest rock band.

I put them in Baltimore because the image of that city in the 70s seemed gritty and dirty, the kind of place where some delinquents up to no good could easily get sucked into something bigger and meaner than them. I'd never been to Baltimore and poured over maps and books trying to place landmarks. When I did a BLACK DOGS reading in Baltimore I braced for a few questions about the authenticity of my made-up Baltimore. I only received on: That I should have included Natty Bo beer, which they then provided me with a six-pack of (It's delicious!)

I'll talk more about BLACK DOGS later and in the mean time hit me up with any questions!

CALIFORNIA STARS

2012-01-05T16:36:00.000-05:00

It's sure been a cold, cold winter. I've never liked winter. I grew up in the middle of Illinois and could not wait to move somewhere warm. I left my hometown for the frozen corn fields of northern Illinois where it was even colder, landed in Chicago (way cold) and finally moved to New York City (still cold). After almost a decade here in Brooklyn I'm finally getting out of the icy winds and snow and moving to Los Angeles. Hopefully forever. As Johnny Cash sang, "Somewhere out in California is where I ought to be so I'll pack up my troubles and take 'em to the coast."

The new novel is finished and off with the new agent while I wait for his notes. Once we work through those we'll send it out in the world and see what happens. I told myself I wouldn't read it again until after the new year so I better dig it out. The BLACK DOGS screenplay is in a similar limbo while I wait for notes back from the director and producer. I'm just here sitting in the waiting room, I guess. I don't well with sitting still. Hell, I can barely sit through a movie. I have to stay busy and have already started outlining Novel #3. I should be packing.

2011-11-04T11:43:00.003-04:00

According to their website, the mighty Sabbath are announcing something next week! What the hell?

OZZIE GUILLEN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

2011-09-27T10:00:00.001-04:00

Reports are out that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is leaving the team. Can't say I didn't see it coming but I'm still bummed. I grew up watching Ozzie play. During the 2005 season I warned my editor at Playboy magazine that the White Sox were going to win the World Series. Nobody could beat them. They were just too good. As the playoffs got closer my editor told me to start tracking down Ozzie.

He agreed to do the Playboy Interview and we met up in Dallas during the winter baseball meetings. A horrible snowstorm delayed my flight out of NYC and I didn't get in until the middle of the night. The only thing open was a Hooters and I was the only guy there. I needed batteries for my voice recorders (I use two or three at a time. Call it OCD.) and decided to pick them up in the morning before my afternoon meeting with Ozzie. I went to sleep. About seven in the morning my phone rang. "Alo? This is Ozzie Guillen. Let's meet for breakfast instead." I jumped out of bed, threw on my clothes and ran downstairs. The concierge gave me directions to a Walgreens and I drove like a madman to buy batteries. Back at the hotel, I ran across the parking lot and entered the hotel just as Ozzie was crossing the lobby, bullshitting with people, laughing, calling people names. We had a long breakfast and talked about everything from the baseball to politics in Venezuela to his love of Jerry Springer. All swearing and cursing and passion. Undeniable passion. My favorite assignment ever. I have a framed copy of it hanging on the wall of my office.

"Whatever you did last night means shit today. That's history. Today is another game." -Ozzie Guillen

You'll be missed, buddy.

FINISHED.

2011-09-26T10:46:00.001-04:00

The new novel is done. I need a beer.

Mister Two Hundred

2011-08-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

I'm over two hundred pages into my second novel. It's quite a bit different than BLACK DOGS, namely that I avoided including two things I have very little experience in: the 1970's and Baltimore. No, this sucker takes place right here, right now and is set in my beloved Chicago.And while BLACK DOGS was heavily influenced by the Stones, Stooges and Skynyrd, Book Two is built around the Beastie Boy's "Paul's Boutique" album. Fleetwood Broughams. Angel dust. Stolen cars. Pick up the 20th Anniversary Edition pronto.

I've met the Beastie Boys a few times. Once, in a record store in Milwaukee during their "Check Your Head" tour. I have a photo with them on my fridge. I have a ponytail. It's ridiculous. Another time was at a listening event for their album "To the Five Boroughs." I got off the elevator and someone told me it was the door at the end of the hall. There were two doors. I beat on the left door until AdRock threw it open and said, "What the fuck are you doing?" Turns out they were mixing in there and the event was through the right door. My fault.

Lots of people asking about the BLACK DOGS movie. No real update. The second draft of the script is with the director and producer. Waiting to hear back. Hopefully we can get something rolling.

Speak soon. Stay lucky.

LOUIS C.K. IN NEW ISSUE OF PLAYBOY

2011-05-17T19:00:00.000-04:00

I interviewed comedian Louis C.K. for the latest issue of Playboy. You can check it out here. He's one of my favorite comedians. Pure rage but with an edge of humanity. You get the feeling that he really loves people, he's just frustrated by them all the f'n time. I can relate.

One thing we talked about that didn't make the interview was the time he spent training with boxer Mikey Ward, who was the inspiration for the movie The Fighter. They are both from the same are in Massachusetts and met while Louis was filming the movie The Invention of Lying. Micky whipped Louis into shape for his stand-up tour and Louis even took Mikey out on the road with him. I'm a huge boxing fan so I loved hearing about this. They need to release the Ward-Gatti trilogy of fights in some kind of Blu-Ray boxset or something. Who do I have to fight to get that done?

UPDATED AMAZON PAGE

2011-04-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

Needed a fresh reason to procrastinate on writing today so I updated my page at Amazon's Author Central. Check it out here. Now I can go there and stare at the cover of Black Dogs sitting there all alone in the bibliography section. Argh! Hoping to wrap up this next book in the next couple months with the help of coffee and loud music.

QUICK UPDATE

2011-03-23T13:24:00.004-04:00

Still working on the Black Dogs script. Just turned in a second draft that looks pretty lean and mean. Now I'm focused on pumping out the next book. Won't be related to Black Dogs at all (I can't do another 70's book. Ever.) but will be fucked up and weird. Hope to wrap it up in the next few months, aided by my return to regular coffee consumption (scary), my stockpile of Girl Scout cookies and lots of new music. Currently playing: J. Mascis "Several Shades of Why", Defeater "Empty Days & Sleepless Nights", Killing Joke "Absolute Dissent" and Rival Schools "Pedals." It's also spring in Brooklyn so I'll be hitting the skatepark when I can. Look for me to appear in your local emergency room.

FROM MY HEADPHONES TO YOU

2011-02-01T09:21:00.003-05:00

Weird year for music but here's my top 10 list from the annual Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll. Probably should have put the OFF! album higher since that shit shreds but what can you do? I'm sure there are lots of things I forgot. I probably spent more time this year listening to albums from the Epitaph Records discography such as Bad Religion, NOFX, Down By Law and Rancid than anything else while working on my oral history of Epitaph story for Spin magazine.

Here's what I've been listening to lately:

1. Dave Hause "Resolutions" -Solo album from former Loved Ones frontman. Manages to avoid a lot of the Springsteen cliches that are floating around out there these days.

2. Iron & Wine "Kiss Each Other Clean" -Trying to get this to grow on me. Needs less funk, more folk.

3. Justin Townes Earle "Harlem River Blues" -Son of Steve Earle makes the best NYC country I can recall. "One More Night in Brooklyn" is fantastic.

4. Chamberlain "Raise It High" EP -Saw this Indiana band a lot when I lived in Chicago and their new single is amazing. Hope there's an album in the works.

5. Jesu "Heart Ache & Dethroned" -Combines two EPs from the king of shoegazing sludge. Think Joy Division as a metal band.

ME, LAMAR ODOM, AND A BAG OF JELLY RINGS

2011-01-30T14:40:00.004-05:00

Playboy has posted an excerpt of my Playboy Interview with Lamar Odom from the LA Lakers that appears in this month's issue of Playboy. Weird note: We did the bulk of the interview in the conference room at Playboy's office. The windows face Santa Monica Blvd and while we were talking a tall, black man walked by and looked in the window. He recognized Lamar and turned around to enter the Playboy building. He spoke to the receptionist for a second and then headed towards us. Lamar had his back to him and the man put one finger to his lips to give me the shhhhhhh sign. I didn't know if he was a friend of Lamar's or someone sent to assassinate him. He grabbed Lamar from behind in a bear hug and they both started laughing. That's when I realized who the man was: Ron Artest. Also, Lamar put away a bag of jelly rings and few chocolate bars during our interview. Dude loves sweets.

HOMEWARD BOUND

2010-12-30T11:25:00.007-05:00

My summer project was contributing the bio section to Homeward Bound, a gorgeous coffee table book about tattoo legend Sailor Jerry. I just got the first copies and it looks amazing! The book serves as a companion piece to the documentary Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins, directed by Erich Weiss. (Weiss also put together the Black Dogs trailer you see on my home page. It turned out killer if I do say so myself!) Both the movie and the book do a great job of detailing the birth of American tattooing and the importance WWII played in it's evolution. It's an interesting look at a moment in time whether you're heavily tattooed, an art nerd or a History Channel buff. (I'm sorta all of the above.)

Between Homeward Bound, the history of Epitaph Records article I put together for Spin magazine and the Black Dogs screenplay, 2010 was filled with some of the best projects I've ever worked on. Charmed life!

AGAINST THE GRAIN: THE HISTORY OF BAD RELIGION - NEW SPIN ARTICLE!

2010-10-01T11:28:00.005-04:00

The day I graduated from high school, I threw my cap in the air and before it even hit the ground I was in the backseat of my friend Pat's car on my way to see punk band Bad Religion on the Against the Grain tour. I still have the T-shirt. Years later, Pat passed away. I named the main character in BLACK DOGS after him.

This year is Bad Religion's 30th anniversary. Next year is the 30th anniversary of Epitaph Records, the label started by their guitarist Brett Gurewitz. For the November issue of SPIN magazine, I assembled the complete oral history of Epitaph and conducted somewhere around 25 interviews including members of Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, Pennywise and Offspring. I talked to old friends, tracked down a few old scenesters, and chatted with Gore Verbenski, the director of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, who once played in a punk band on Epitaph Records and directed the first music videos for the label. The issue includes a Bad Religion tribute compilation featuring a lot of great bands (Polar Bear Club!) that you can check out here.

The assignment was a dream come true for this old punk. Epitaph put out so many albums that massively influenced my life, none more than Bad Religion. I'll try to post a few memories of them over the next few days. Until then, start with No Control and listen to every record they ever put out.

INTERVIEW IN ROLLING STONE ITALY

2010-08-05T01:13:00.006-04:00

My novel BLACK DOGS was recently released in Italy. (See below for the cover art. Not sure what hair metal band they borrowed that guitar from but I bet it smells like Aquanet.) The Italian version of Rolling Stone ran an interview with me. They also requested some pictures but ran a vintage photo of Led Zeppelin instead. Guess my pants weren't tight enough! Anyway, you can check it out here. Have your browser translate it. Unless of course you speak/read Italian in which case, good on you.

BLACK DOGS INVADES ITALY

2010-05-31T16:22:00.005-04:00

BLACK DOGS was recently published in Italy, thanks to a deal that provides me with a lifetime supply of Nutella gelato. Huzzah! Actually, it's being published by Fanucci Editore under the title La Grande Rapina ai Led Zeppelin. Rolls off the tongue, right? This is the best version of the cover that I can find. Hoping to get my hands on an actual copy soon and check it out. Maybe they changed Patrick's name to Giuseppe.

OZZY BRINGS THE BIG LAUGHS

2010-05-26T20:26:00.004-04:00

My man Ozzy Osbourne has a new album coming out June 22. He recently spent the day at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in NYC posing as a statue and scaring the living hell out of passers-by. I laughed a lot at this. Damn funny!

BLACK DOGS: THE SOUNDTRACK

2010-04-27T14:26:00.005-04:00

While we're working out the details of the BLACK DOGS movie, I started thinking about the soundtrack. I mention a few songs in the book but a movie would have plenty more. Obviously, we'd love to have some Zeppelin but what else? The one rule: Since the movie takes place in July 1973, the song has to have been released before that. It's tougher than you think! A few songs I would love to have:

1. The Faces "Borstal Boys" - The closet the Faces ever got to punk rock. One of my favorite bands.

2. Deep Purple "Highway Star" -Seems like there has to be a scene with this song. The riff is huge.

3. Traffic "Dear Mr. Fantasy" -Totally underrated song. Used to spin this a lot when I worked at a record store as a teenager.

4. Humble Pie "Big Black Dog" or "The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake" -Either one of these would make a perfect mood song.

5. Black Sabbath- I can name about 10 Sabbath songs I'd love to have in the movie including "Supernaut," "Electric Funeral," and plenty of others.

Got any ideas? Post them here or email me!

BLACK DOGS: THE MOVIE!

2010-04-02T13:46:00.004-04:00

Contracts have been signed. Drinks have been toasted. Yes, the BLACK DOGS movie is in the works!

The director, Evan Bernard, has done videos for some of my favorite bands such as Rancid, Beastie Boys, and Slayer. Plus, I'll be writing the screenplay. It's a cool chance to remix the original book and put the boys into some different situations like the new scene where Frenchy returns to Vietnam to save his POW buddies.....Just kidding.

Who do you want to see in the movie? What songs would you want on the soundtrack? Let's talk.

NOISECREEP ARTICLE

2010-03-23T14:35:00.003-04:00

AOL's Noisecreep blog posted an article on yours truly and my book BLACK DOGS. If you haven't checked out Noisecreep, it's a great blog focusing on hard music (re: metal, hardcore). I've been rocking a lot of Doomriders, Disfear, and Hope Conspiracy lately so this is good. Rock on!

RADIO INTERVIEW TOMORROW!

2010-03-15T14:18:00.002-04:00

I'll be on K-Rock 101.5FM in Manhattan, Kansas tomorrow at 8:30AM CST to talk about my book BLACK DOGS, the great Zeppelin robbery, Black Sabbath, and anything else that comes up. Tune in!

RICHARD COLE IS ALIVE AND WELL

2010-02-23T09:24:00.003-05:00

A Led Zeppelin tour left behind a trail of wreckage littered with drugs, booze, women, and mass destruction. Richard Cole was the man who kept that tornado on the road. As the band's infamous tour manager, Cole handled the band's day-to-day business, from shuffling women around to settling up for wrecked hotels. His book "Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored" is essential rock 'n' roll reading, if only for the story involving a Seattle hotel room, a groupie, and a live mud shark. Sleazy! When Zeppelin was robbed of $203k, which serves as the plot of my novel BLACK DOGS, Cole was questioned by the Feds and reportedly passed a lie detector test.

A few weeks ago a friend emailed to say that he had come in contact with Cole and asked if I would be interested in sending him a copy of my book, especially since Cole pops up a few times during the story. I couldn't resist getting feedback from him so I mailed off a copy to him in London with the inscription, "I hope you get a laugh out of this!". Yesterday, I received a very cool letter from Cole:

Dear Jason
Thank you for your book. I enjoyed the read very much. You ideas did make me laugh. Many thanks again- Richard Cole

So there you have it --word from the man himself!

BIG NEWS....COMING SOON

2010-02-11T10:34:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have some big news that I want to post. Just waiting until I'm given the green light. Hang tight!

APPARENTLY I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE ANIMAL COLLECTIVE....

2010-01-26T14:21:00.006-05:00

As a sometime contributor to the Village Voice, they ask me to take part in their annual Pazz & Jop music poll where they ask music writers for their top 10 albums of the year. You can check out my list here. A few notes:

1. Am I the only person who doesn't care about Animal Collective? Yawn.

2. Apparently Spin magazine editor Doug Brod and I are the only people who picked Mariachi El Bronx, the mariachi album by the members of The Bronx. You should buy every album by The Bronx immediately, including this.

3. I really love Dear Landlord's "Dream Homes" album. It's become a daily soundtrack. Blazing punk rock from the Illinois. Check out the track "Last Time I Checked." Amazing.

4. I really should have included Banner Pilot's "Collapser" album. I don't know what happened. Guess I slept on it. Could have made the top three if I had spent more time with it earlier. D'oh!

To summarize: Everyone has shit taste except me and you. What were your favorite albums from last year?

RAMPAGE JACKSON - PLAYBOY

2009-12-29T14:35:00.004-05:00

In case you missed it, I interviewed ex-UFC champ Rampage Jackson for this month's Playboy magazine. You can check it out here. The interview went down at the UFC facility in Las Vegas. When I showed up, Rampage was in the middle of a training session for this season of Ultimate Fighter. He was still in full fighting gear (and mode!) when we started so I plowed through the questions while waiting for a right cross to the brain. Luckily, it never came. Or it did and I just don't remember the last year of my life.

NEW PIECE IN THE VILLAGE VOICE

2009-12-02T17:05:00.004-05:00

I grew up listening to hardcore. It defined who I am today. As a writer I always feel like it gets short-changed in the media. Thankfully the Village Voice gave me a chance to remedy that with a piece on the 25th anniversary of Agnostic Front's debut album Victim in Pain. If you don't have it, get it. And pick up Cro-Mags' Age of Quarrel while you're there. I can't even have a conversation about music with people who don't own those.

I Got the Led Out!

2009-11-11T12:32:00.002-05:00

When I wrote BLACK DOGS I had two worries:

1) Someone in Baltimore would call me on my weak grasp of the city. However, I later did a reading in Baltimore and a few radio interviews and everyone seemed cool with it. I even got a few compliments. Guess all that research paid off. First test passed.

2) Some mega-Zeppelin fan would call me on my Zep knowledge. I was braced for some hella nerdy criticism like "They didn't play that song after '72" or "Jimmy Page never wore white pants." So when "Get the Led Out", a nationally syndicated all-Zeppelin radio show, asked me to come on, I figured my time was up. Not so! Everyone was great and I didn't get flamed. Whew!

Now you can check out the online version of an interview I did with them. Thanks to everyone there for having me.

(Do I really sound like that? Yikes!)

RETURN OF THE WHITE LOTUS

2009-11-02T16:31:00.005-05:00

The White Lotus offers a celebratory pose after wrestling everyone on the island of Manhattan. He then body slammed the photographer in front of the N train.

TOTAL SELLOUT

2009-10-16T11:11:00.003-04:00

According to Amazon, there are only two copies of my book left there. I'm tempted to buy them just to see if it says "Sold Out". What do you think?

Don't worry. We still have a long way to go to sell out the first print run. So buy a couple for your friends, ya bum!

RECORD MESS

2009-10-14T21:36:00.003-04:00

I've been using a cool USB turntable to rip MP3s of my records lately and finding some funny stuff. Here's a look at a few gems.

1. J CHURCH
How many goddamn J Church records did I buy back in the day? Seriously. I know they seemed to play Chicago's Fireside Bowl every other weekend, even though they were from San Francisco. Hell, I'm not sure I've even heard half of these. I will say that Prophylaxis is my favorite, specifically for the song "No Surprise."

2. SAM KINISON
Louder Than Hell is one of the greatest comedy albums of all time. Easily top three ever. The first two are Richard Pryor.

3. JFA
I have every single JFA record. Half of them I bought when I was a teenager. The other half I bought when I worked at Victory Records. Occasionally, we would get in stock from distributors that were going out of business. One had a box of sealed JFA records. Total score. The original skate rock band. Period.

4. LOUISIANA RED
I read once that Lousiana Red's Midnight Rambler was one of the most disturbing blues albums ever recorded. At the time, it took me almost a year to find a copy and I will say that it's entirely fucked up. The two-album set is simply Red and his guitar singing about murder and death. I made a copy for a friend (the inspiration for Backwoods Billy in Black Dogs). He plays it on Sundays at his bar in Brooklyn and has been asked more than once to put on something else. Of course, he refuses.

5. DRUNK INJUNS
The beloved skate rock band's album Frontside Grind is a must have. Think west coast punk mixed with Joy Division. Priceless. I listened to this constantly when I skated to my first job at a liquor store.

I have a ton of other stuff including all of the original Pogues' and Misfits' records, some weird blues stuff, a record used to train new Sears employees in the 60s, and a ton of old late 80s hardcore. I'll post a few more updates as I wade through this.

BLACK DOGS: THE MOVIE. (PART 2)

2009-09-24T11:42:00.005-04:00

Where I suggest who I would cast in a movie version of my book BLACK DOGS....

CHARACTER: Keith
WHO I WOULD CAST: Trevor Moore
CREDITS: Whitest Kids You Know, Miss March.
WHY: He's hilarious and would deliver a Keith who is totally dimwitted yet lovable. Plus, he's lived in Virgina so could related to Keith, a burnout rock fan from Maryland.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

2009-09-18T11:17:00.005-04:00

Me. Circa '05. Probably Chicago. (Photo by Cha-Chi)

JIM CARROLL (1949-2009)

2009-09-14T10:16:00.005-04:00

Twelve years ago I was living in Chicago in Wicker Park when it was still an art ghetto. Our apartment was a real shithole. Windows didn't close. My bedroom was somehow triangular. Our backyard was essentially the D&D Liquor Store on Damen and Division. In the mornings, I would let my roommate's dog out in the backyard and collect all of the purses and wallets that had been thrown over our fence from the alley, having been stolen from someone and cleaned out. One hot summer night I was convinced there was a rat in our apartment scratching around in the cabinets. Instead, I found a crackhead outside my window digging through the trash for a lighter that worked. He kept trying to light one. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.

I was unemployed and broke and we had three records that we played constantly. Rolling Stones "Goat's Head Soup," The Replacements "Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash," and Jim Carroll Band "Catholic Boy." They really shaped the mood of being poor and crazy during a brutal Chicago winter. We played the Stones "Winter" and Replacements "Johnny's Gonna Die" over and over. But "Catholic Boy" got played front to back constantly. On the song "It's Too Late", Carroll delivers one of the greatest rock verses ever:

It's too late
There's no one left that I even wanna imitate
You see, you just don't know
I'm here to give you my heart
And you want some fashion show

But it ain't no contribution
To rely on an institution
To validate your chosen art
And to sanction your boredom
And let you play out your part

We'd all read Basketball Diaries and seen the movie. Carroll even read at our school and signed our books of his poetry. Now he's gone. He passed away from a heart attack over the weekend and I'm bummed. Man, what a writer. I can't recommend "Catholic Boy" enough. Essential listening.

BLACK DOGS: THE MOVIE. LET'S DREAM!

2009-09-04T10:30:00.006-04:00

One question I always get about BLACK DOGS is, Who would I cast in a BLACK DOGS movie? Who would play the main characters and the members of Led Zeppelin? My skills at remembering actor names leaves a lot to be desired. (I'm that friend of yours who says, "He played that one dude...in that movie...Remember? He had a gun or something?") So with the help of the Interweb I've come up with a few ideas as to who I would cast in a BLACK DOGS movie. I'll be posting them over the next week or so. Got ideas? Leave a comment or let me know!

CHARACTER: Uncle Danny
WHO I WOULD CAST: Danny McBride
CREDITS: Eastbound & Down, Pineapple Express, Foot Fist Way.
WHY: I saw Foot Fist Way and Eastbound & Down after I finished writing BLACK DOGS and my first thought was, "Holy shit! That's Uncle Danny!" McBride would be perfect as the cocky and incompetent Uncle Danny.

"LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN...."

2009-09-01T15:21:00.005-04:00

I'm writing again. Starting on my second novel and so far, so...something. This one will take place in the modern day and feature plenty of blood and bullets, elements that were left out of BLACK DOGS by necessity. Right now, the main influences are Edward Bunker and Paul's Boutique album. They fit together. Check it out sometime.

And if you read BLACK DOGS, go to Amazon and write a review! I dig reading them.

RAINED OUT

2009-08-13T12:42:00.002-04:00

Skated to the INKED offices today but now it's raining. Damn.

I'M BACK!

2009-08-04T10:29:00.003-04:00

My mini-road trip to promote my book BLACK DOGS has officially wrapped. Thanks to all the bookstores that allowed me to stand between their shelves and tell inappropriate stories. Thanks to the friends who in Chicago who brought me tall-boys -and to the friends in my hometown the next day who brought me water for my hangover. Thanks to the crew at Record & Tape Traders in Baltimore for spinning Stooges in the store and stocking the cooler with cold Natty Bo's. Thanks to the staff at Half King Pub in NYC for the podium that made me feel like a professor of b.s. Thanks to Rachel at Sailor Jerry rum for hooking up the sweet drinks and after-party in LA.

Also thanks to the all radio stations that had me on to promote the readings and the book. Sorry I don't like Rush! One other note: I think my segment on Get the Led Out aired last night. Anyone know for sure? Love to check it out!

Work on Book #2 starts now!

BOOK TOUR UPDATE --BROUGHT TO YOU BY MY DYING LIVER

2009-07-26T22:16:00.007-04:00

This month, in honor of the 36th anniversary of the robbery of Led Zeppelin that I based my book BLACK DOGS on, I gave readings in Chicago, Kankakee (my hometown), NYC, and Baltimore. This Weds (7/29) I'll be reading in LA. Thanks to the spots that hosted the readings and to everyone who came out to watch me slur my way through a few pages of the book and ramble about how you can break a car window with the top of a spark plug without making any noise. Here are a few photos of what went down!

CHICAGO -- QUIMBY'S BOOKSTORE

KANKAKEE -- BARNES & NOBLE

BALTIMORE -- RECORD & TAPE TRADERS

"CHAPTER SHHHEVEN...."

2009-07-21T23:43:00.005-04:00

Here's me slurring my way through my reading at Quimby's Bookstore in Chicago over the weekend. Note the spilled beer on the step behind me where my PBR tallboy tripped and fell. Stupid beer.

Thanks to everyone that came out!

READINGS! OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

2009-07-14T18:28:00.005-04:00

I'll be reading from BLACK DOGS: The Possibly True Story of Classic Rock's Greatest Robbery this month in honor of the 36th anniversary of the robbery of Led Zeppelin that the book is based on. I'll read from the book, tell stories about the real-life knuckleheads who inspired the fictional knuckleheads in the book, and answer questions about BLACK DOGS and INKED. Come by and say hello!

JULY 17
7-8PM
Quimby's Bookstore
1854 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL

JULY 18
1-3PM
Barnes & Noble
1577 North State Route 50
Bourbonnais, IL

JULY 20
7-8PM
Half King Pub
505 West 23rd St.
NYC, NY

JULY 23
7-9PM
Record & Tape Traders
7551 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD

JULY 29
Stories
7:30PM
1716 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES READING -- ZEPPELIN ANNIVERSARY

2009-07-09T11:56:00.004-04:00

Holy hair metal! Has it really been 36 years since Led Zeppelin were robbed of $203,000 at the end of their '73 tour? (I really shouldn't sound so exasperated by that fact considering that I wasn't even born yet). But yes, it has been and to mark this day I'll be reading and signing my book BLACK DOGS at Stories Bookstore in LA, a rad shop on Sunset Blvd in Echo Park. I've been told there will be a DJ spinning Zeppelin, Sabbath, and other killer tunes while whiskey flows. This is the recipe for a particular sloppy reading but I'll make up for it with ridiculous stories about the real-world knuckleheads who inspired the characters. Maybe I can get the real Frenchy to fly out? We'll see!

JULY 29
STORIES
7:30PM
1716 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

NEW YORK'S ALRIGHT IF YOU LIKE SAXAPHONES

2009-07-07T12:12:00.002-04:00

I'm speaking at a journalism class at NYU this week. Well, not actually speaking but being interviewed by the class for an assignment they have to do. I'm not sure what career advice I can really offer considering that I started in the customer service department at Playboy.com answering a little red phone on a desk (no shit!) and helping dudes fix their passwords. That said, I guess the basics of magazine writing would be:

The person you are interviewing is not your friend and never will be.
As such, ask every questions you want to ask regardless of what the interview subject or their publicist has instructed you. You have nothing to lose.
When an actress says she'll call you at 9PM, she means she'll call at 1AM. Or not at all.
Get paid in cash whenever possible.
When the red phone rings, answer it. It's probably "Jackhammer69". His password won't work again.

On another NYC note, we're still looking to set up a reading in the city on 7/29, tied to the anniversary of the robbery of Led Zeppelin which is the entire damn point of my book BLACK DOGS. Got a bookstore, pub, or music store? Let me know

JULY BLACK DOGS READINGS

2009-06-25T11:51:00.005-04:00

On July 29 it will have been 36 years since the robbery of Led Zeppelin that I based my book BLACK DOGS on. In honor of the anniversary, we're setting up readings throughout the month of July. I'm going to be hitting a lot of the same cities that Zeppelin hit on that tour, sometimes on the exact same day. I'll be popping up at cool indie bookstores, bigger chains, and even a killer independent record store. Can't wait!

If you've got a bookstore/music shop/pub where I can stand around and babble about the book, let me know!

JULY 17
7-8PM
Quimby's Bookstore
1854 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL

JULY 18
1-3PM
Barnes & Noble
1577 North State Route 50
Bourbonnais, IL

JULY 23
Record & Tape Trader s
7551 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD

POPMATTERS REVIEW

2009-06-22T13:42:00.002-04:00

Popmatters posted a really cool review of BLACK DOGS saying "Buhrmester’s first effort fits neatly on the shelf with some of the cooler rock novelists, from Nick Hornsby to Joe Meno." Check it out here.

CHICAGO READING DETAILS

2009-06-19T15:12:00.003-04:00

It's official. I'll be reading from my book BLACK DOGS at Quimby's Bookstore on July 17. My first Chicago apartment many years ago was just one block south of the original Quimby's location and my old roommate and I would skate up there to buy copies of Cometbus before heading to chow on hot dogs at Wicker Dog (R.I.P.). I'm psyched to hit my hometown, see old friends, and talk about the people who inspired the knuckleheads in the book. (Note to my knuckleheads: You guys better be there!) Quimby's will be selling copies of the book and I'll be scribbling something stupid in them for you (I can't write in cursive. Shhhh!) ADDED BONUS: Quimby's readings are BYOB so breakout those tallboys!

All the information you need on the reading is right here.

NOW READ THIS! CHICAGO

2009-06-17T18:19:00.004-04:00

I'll be hitting my hometown Chicago for a reading on July 17th. Plan on stopping by, unless you're too busy tripping balls on some horrendous hallucinogenic drugs during the Jesus Lizard gig that night at the Pitchfork Music Festival. Not sure what I'm supposed to do at a reading so I'll be taking requests and suggestions, unless your eyes are horribly dilated.

HIT THE ROAD!

2009-06-12T15:48:00.003-04:00

We've started looking at setting up BLACK DOGS reading dates. What does that mean? Really, what doesn't it include! I come to your town and deliver a dynamic reading of my book complete with numerous costume changes, chorus girls, a full 36-piece orchestra, and a laser light show that includes hits from all of Led Zeppelin's albums while I lead Nico through a series of flaming hoops.

Er...Actually, it will be more like me stumbling through a few passages of BLACK DOGS and telling stories about the real-life cretins who inspired the fictional cretins in the book before it dissolves into an inner dialog/debate about which volume of the old Thrasher Skate Rock compilations is best. (I typically argue for Vol 3 Wild Riders of Boards.) Then I'll write something stupid in your copy the book and we'll all get pizza. Sound good? Email me if you want to have me read at your bookstore/pub/bowling alley/tattoo shop/flea market!

SO A DRUNK ELEPHANT WALKS INTO A BAR....

2009-06-08T11:16:00.007-04:00

If you see me wobbling around NYC today, it's because I just finished this dandy of a tattoo on my calf. Tim Kern at Tribulation Tattoo here in NYC banged it out in six hours at Ink & Iron over the weekend. We discussed coloring this drunken Irish elephant pink but I couldn't pull the trigger. Tim had to settle for pink bubbles. Stay tuned for photos of me wincing and whining while stretched out across a string of chairs. Ouch!

INK AND IRON HANG OUT

2009-06-02T12:21:00.001-04:00

Me and the crew from INKED magazine will have a booth at the Ink and Iron Tattoo Festival this weekend in Long Beach, CA. The event features some of the most bad-ass tattooers from around the world, a lot of amazing bands (including one of my favs, The Bronx!), a car show, pin-up pageant and more. I'll be at the INKED booth every day so stop by and grab a copy of the mag, pick up a copy of BLACK DOGS, and crack a beer!

I TWEET, THEY GAWK

2009-05-27T23:11:00.006-04:00

The folks at media gossip site Gawker have apparently been peeping on my Twitter account and found something they like. I'm so proud of my hockey temper!

"High Fidelity with guns and really dumb criminals...."

2009-05-21T11:32:00.008-04:00

The latest issue of Revolver magazine features a very cool write-up of BLACK DOGS. I used to write a bit for Revolver back when I was working on BLACK DOGS and trying to feed myself by writing for magazines. I definitely owe them a beer or three now. Be sure to pick up a copy!

Here's what they say: "It was one of the greatest rock-and-roll swindles: In July of '73, $203,000 in tour proceeds were stolen from Led Zeppelin's New York hotel. Buhrmester, a former Revolver contributing writer turned novelist, re-envisions the still-unsolved crime as the work of a group of teenage friends, who carry out a plan to meet the band and make off with the loot. Fast-paced and funny, if a little unlikely, it's like High Fidelity with guns and really dumb criminals."

READ BLACK DOGS -FREE!

2009-05-18T21:02:00.003-04:00

Haven't picked up BLACK DOGS yet? (What the hell is wrong with you?) You can now read an excerpt of it online here. Check it out!

RADIO INTERVIEW

2009-05-15T14:32:00.002-04:00

I'll be on WCVX 1050-FM in Cincinnati at 10AM tomorrow talking about my book BLACK DOGS. Check it out!

NYC TATTOO CONVENTION

2009-05-14T16:17:00.001-04:00

I'll be at the INKED magazine booth at the NYC Tattoo Convention all day Saturday. Bring your copy of my book BLACK DOGS and I'll sign it for you. Get there early before I'm too drunk to write anything legible.

I OFFICIALLY LOVE THIS GUY

2009-05-13T10:58:00.002-04:00

While I don't officially recognize the Dio years of Black Sabbath, I do dig this guy's love of Sabbath. This is like watching a lost Chris Farley skit. If the guy from this video emails me (and can somehow prove it's really him!) I'll send him a signed book. Rock on!

ZEPPELIN, BUDDY HOLLY, & MOM

2009-05-07T09:52:00.005-04:00

Pop Damage, a very cool online magazine that I'm glad to discover, wrote about my book Black Dogs. You can check it out here. They describe it as "a lovingly-rendered slice of slacker life in Baltimore circa 1973." I like that, especially considering that I was actually born in '73 and have only been to Baltimore once (and only for a few hours!). I worked hard to capture the feel of it so it's cool when someone notices.

I was actually born roughly one month after Zep was robbed. So it's funny when I do radio interviews and the host asks me if I grew up a Zeppelin fan or if I ever saw them in concert. Um...nope. And there's no chance I saw them as a toddler. My Mom was not a Zep fan by a long shot. We grew up listening to Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Hank Williams, mixed with Mom's taste in only the safest of rock 'n' roll like Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys, and the Everly Brothers. I still listen to all of this stuff. Thanks Mom!

PHILLY TOMORROW

2009-05-05T14:12:00.001-04:00

I'll be on the radio in Philly tomorrow morning talking about BLACK DOGS, Zeppelin, and whatever else they throw at me. Tune in!

WPHT-AM 1210
8:30AM

WEIRD ASS MOMENTS IN MUSIC

2009-05-01T17:34:00.002-04:00

I just wrote a short piece for the hilarious site Holy Taco called "Six Weird-Ass Moments in Music" including the time Johnny Cash started a massive forest fire, when Keith Richards snorted his dad's ashes, and when Black Sabbath ran from some Satanists. Check it out!

ANOTHER PARTY PIC...

2009-04-29T16:22:00.002-04:00

Here's a random shot of me with a beer and a copy of my book BLACK DOGS at the release party we threw at Angels & Kings. I don't remember this. Or much else....

REVIEW ROUND UP

2009-04-20T21:08:00.000-04:00

Here's a round up of what critics are saying about BLACK DOGS:

"Frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious, Black Dogs keeps upping the ante page after page (after Page, geddit?) ...whether you love Zeppelin or hate Zeppelin, or just want a whacked-out '70s-set crime comedy to keep you warm at night, you need to check out this book." -Maxim

"Goofball characters are Buhrmester’s specialty, as well as capturing the rock world’s wacky milieu and greedy idiosyncrasies. Black Dogs is an impressive debut, and, if he’s not careful, Buhrmester could find himself becoming his generation’s Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen." -Playboy

"A vivid, fast moving and creative buddy story...." -MTV's Headbanger's Ball

"Lots of great, sharp dialogue – kind of like an updated His Girl Friday script – and insider rock geek stuff make this book indispensible." -Creative Loafing

"While the stakes are undoubtedly high, from the very first page of Black Dogs Buhrmester creates complex characters that are likable even when they’re pulling off something illegal." -Gibson Guitars

HEADBANGER'S BLOG

2009-04-20T12:24:00.004-04:00

Cool review of BLACK DOGS at Headbanger's Blog, the official blog of MTV's Headbanger's Ball. You can check it out here. I grew up watching the Ball and will never forget seeing Suicidal Tendencies' video for "Possessed to Skate" on the show. Amazing video! It's raining in Brooklyn right now so I'm skating in the living room.

TOMORROW'S RADIO INTERVIEWS

2009-04-19T19:53:00.002-04:00

I'm doing a gang of radio interviews tomorrow all over the damn place. Take a look! Then tune in, call in, and get weird.

(All times Eastern)

8:00 AM

KSLX-FM 100.7

Phoenix, AZ

8:20 AM

KTRH-AM 740

Houston, TX

8:30 AM

WUMS-FM 92.1

Oxford, MS

8:50 AM

KDKB-FM 93.3

Phoenix, AZ

9:00AM

KNEN-FM 94.7

Norfolk, NE

9:10AM

WXKR-FM 94.5

Toledo, OH

10:00AM
WBBB-FM 96.1

Raleigh, NC

12:10PM

KBCO-FM 97.3

Denver, CO

BLACK DOGS IN PAGE SIX!

2009-04-19T19:44:00.003-04:00

The folks at Page Six in the New York Post gave gossip a rest just long enough to write about a little book called BLACK DOGS. They've always been good to INKED but now I'm thinking I owe them a bottle of Sailor Jerry Rum or something....

HOLY HANGOVER! NOW PRESENTED BY THE VILLAGE VOICE

2009-04-18T16:06:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday April 14 we celebrated the release of my novel BLACK DOGS with a blowout bash at Angels & Kings featuring free PBR tallboys and Jack Daniels while Theo Kogan spun tunes from Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, and other rock greats. Needless to say, things got blurry, then messy and stumbly, and somewhere along the way they apparently got naked. The Village Voice has posted a photo gallery of the madness. Definitely NSW so click carefully. Prepare yourself then click right here.

MORE RADIO INTERVIEWS

2009-04-16T09:37:00.003-04:00

I was on the Mancow Show for a minute this morning. Hopefully you caught it. I have few more radio interviews coming up. If I'm on in your area, call in and harass me.

Thursday, April 16
1PM
WMET 1160-AM
Washington, DC
Culture Shocks with Barry Lyon

9:20PM
KMOX 1120-AM
St. Louis, MO

More to come....

PLAYBOY & MAXIM

2009-04-15T11:18:00.002-04:00

My homeys at Playboy and Maxim hooked up reviews of BLACK DOGS. I couldn't be more psyched! You can check out Maxim here and Playboy here.

RADIO RADIO

2009-04-14T00:02:00.003-04:00

I'll be hitting the radiowaves over the next week few weeks to talk about BLACK DOGS, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and god knows what else. Here's where I'm at tomorrow. Tune in! Turn on! Drop trou!

APRIL 14

11:00AM EST
WMOC 1420 AM
Davenport, IA

12:30 PM EST
KCMN-AM 1530
Colorado Spring, CO

12:55PM EST
Blogtalk Radio!

OK GIBSON, LET'S MAKE A DEAL

2009-04-13T21:33:00.003-04:00

Dear Gibson Guitars: Thank you for posting a great write-up of BLACK DOGS and the trailer on your website. It's a great fit, especially since the boys in BLACK DOGS use a '58 Gibson Les Paul as their ticket to get to Led Zeppelin. Does this mean you'll send me one of these? Please?

NEW MYSPACE DESIGN

2009-04-13T10:00:00.004-04:00

Holy hell! Check out the new MySpace design. It was done by designer Audra Lea. She was recommended to me by tattooer Seth Wood who tattooed my chest. Here's a photo of the chest tattoo. Now go check out the Myspace page!

CREATIVE LOAFING WITH A SIDE OF FRENCH FRIED POTATERS

2009-04-10T10:07:00.004-04:00

The folks at Creative Loafing gave BLACK DOGS a sweet write-up, saying, "Lots of great, sharp dialogue...and insider rock geek stuff make this book indispensible." Thanks boys! Check it out here.

While you're there, check out the author photo right below the review of BLACK DOGS. Apparently the dude from Slingblade wrote a book. Good for him! I wonder if they paid him with "french fried potaters".

GOOD READ INDEED

2009-04-09T14:34:00.003-04:00

In an article called "Good Reads," the fine folks at Slushpile.net say BLACK DOGS is a "riot of read." Thanks boys! Read the article here.

CRIME CRITICS REVIEW

2009-04-07T10:22:00.006-04:00

I don't sweat reviews that much. Usually I ask myself, What would this reviewer think of the most important parts of my culture? Like, do they understand the importance of Black Flag's Damaged album? Or Irvine Welsh's books Trainspotting, Glue, and Porno? Or Blind Skateboards Video Days? If not, I probably can't really be bothered. We're obviously coming at this thing from different directions. I'd rather stumble into an East Village dive and see the bartender reading BLACK DOGS. That's my target audience.

That said, the crew at Crime Critics just posted a review of BLACK DOGS that really nails it. (The writer has obviously spent more than a few nights sitting around with some friends, a stack of killer records, and a six-pack.) But this line in particular really drove it home for me:

"Look for it on shelves April 14th and send a copy to any of your childhood friends that you can track down. The ones in prison will be especially appreciative."

Perfect!

KIRKUS REVIEW

2009-04-03T14:46:00.003-04:00

Here's what Kirkus Reviews had to say about BLACK DOGS:

Almost Famous meets Reservoir Dogs in Inked editor Buhrmester's debut novel about a quartet of wannabe young criminals who probably should've stayed in school.

Here's the true story: In 1973, after three sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden, Led Zeppelin had the money for their shows--$203,000--ripped off from a safe-deposit box at the Drake Hotel. Neither the perps nor the money were ever found, and because of the lost revenue, the release of Zep's concert movie The Song Remains the Same was delayed for three years. Here's the fake, but highly entertaining resolution from Buhrmester: Nineteen-year-old Baltimorean-turned-New Yorker Patrick Sullivan and his merry band of rock dorks pulled off the heist. Patrick's Baltimore posse, such as it is, will never be mistaken for the Gambino Family. Hapless Alex should probably find another best pal, considering how Patrick has betrayed him. Smart-ass Frenchy lives for his guitar and little else. And Keith is the dimmest bulb in a chandelier that was pretty dim to start with. Eventually, the boys get mixed up with more musicians-cum-criminals, the whack-job leader of a motorcycle gang called the Holy Ghost Christians and some fanatical Zep followers, all of which leads to a denouement that would bring a smile to Jimmy Page's face. Buhrmester demonstrates an affection for rock 'n' roll's attendant trappings--the camaraderie, the excesses, the lust for both financial success and artistic fulfillment--but never forgets that without the music, the whole thing means nothing. The plot is nothing to write home about, but what's important here are the quirky characters, the snarky Elmore-Leonard-meets-Lester-Bangs attitude, the goofball atmosphere and, most vitally, a heartfelt affection for all that rocks.

Casual music fans will enjoy the heck out of this hilarious and gritty tale; rock fanatics will adore it. --Kirkus, March 15, 2009

BLACK DOGS TRAILER!

2009-03-30T22:59:00.005-04:00

The official trailer for my book BLACK DOGS is up now! It was put together by Erich Weiss, who has directed videos for everyone from the Buzzcocks to Eagles of Death Metal. He recently completed Hori Smoku: Sailor Jerry, a killer documentary about tattoo legend Sailor Collins. The music is by the Brought Low. I listened to their album Right on Time a hell of a lot during the writing of the book. Put the two together and you get a killer trailer.

VINTAGE ZEPPELIN ARTICLE

2009-03-26T14:51:00.005-04:00

An original article from the New York Daily News about the robbery that inspired my book BLACK DOGS. Wild!

IT LIVES...AND I HAVE PROOF!

2009-03-24T21:43:00.003-04:00

Just received the first official copy of BLACK DOGS. So psyched! Go grab one and let me know what you think. (Personally, I think the thanks list might be the best part but that's just me.)

I ROCK JEWELERY NOW. YOU DIDN'T KNOW?

2009-03-23T13:36:00.005-04:00

I bought this necklace the other day. I consider it a gift to myself in honor of my book coming out in a few weeks. I plan to wear it the next time Suicidal Tendencies are in town. Yes. I'm planning that far ahead.

SPOTTED IN VEGAS

2009-03-19T17:17:00.001-04:00

I was in Vegas. Looking pasty and drunk.

FINALLY! PROGRESS

2009-03-14T18:08:00.004-04:00

Coverart for BLACK DOGS is finally up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powells, etc. Pretty cool. Finally feels like this thing is coming out. A few reviews have dropped too. So far, so good. At the end of the day, I'd rather hear what a bartender or something thinks of it but whatever. We'll take what we can get.

Working on setting up a party for the April 14 release date. You know, one of those things where people come to drink free booze and get a copy of your book for free, rather than buy one. Sound good? Let me know if you want to come.

THE HUSTLE

2009-03-05T11:25:00.002-05:00

The worst part about writing a book is finishing it because that means you need to start another. And the thought of rolling that block back uphill is exhausting to think about. I write late at night with a beer and some old punk rock records. That's my set-up. And there's nothing worse than sitting there staring at a blank page with the Angry Samoans blasting behind you. It makes you feel stupid. A famous writer once said the best way to keep the writing going is to stop when it's going well. That way, you still have that energy when you pick it up the next day. Then again, that writer shot himself in the head so what the fuck do I know?

Anyway, the next book is sketched out a bit. It's gonna be a bloodbath. And I'm gonna sit down and get started after a savage weekend bender (including seeing my old Chicago friends The Tossers on Saturday!) and then I'm off to Vegas for a week. The Angry Samoans will have to wait.

ON VEGAS AND DYING

2009-02-22T21:45:00.004-05:00

I'm back from a week in Vegas and deathly ill. Too much booze and long nights in smoke-filled casinos have knocked me to my knees. Hunter was right about Vegas: "...you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back." I'll be back after I recover. They really got me this time.

LA TRIP + OINGO BOINGO + BLACK FLAG

2009-01-27T17:02:00.000-05:00

I just dragged my weary and hungover corpse back from LA on Sunday. It was work trip but I managed to squeeze in time to hang with friends and get some drinks. I also checked out the Raymond Pettibon exhibit at Regen Projects which included new art from the man behind the classic Black Flag album covers.

Two things about my flights: The flight to LAX was filled with pumped-up dudes on their way to a benchpress competition. Not kidding! The pilot on my flight home was the former bass player for Oingo Boingo. The co-pilot actually announced it and gave a free drink to the first person to name an Oingo Boingo song. I totally choked! How could I forget the hours I spent listening to the "Weird Science" soundtrack in my room? That one cassette led to me buying the "Repo Man" soundtrack and discovering punk rock. So, I'm sorry Boingo boys. I totally choked.

Whatever. It's good to be back in Brooklyn.

Weird & Random Notes on March Issue of INKED

2009-01-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

Some of you might already have the March issue of INKED. It's popping up on stores and mailboxes. (If you don't have it yet and want it to be a surprise, you should probably skip the rest of this. Go read a book. I'm currently reading one of AC/DC that I can recommend.)

**Erik Ellington rules and I loved having him in INKED. A few days before Christmas I hit the post office in Chinatown near the INKED HQ and realized I was standing in line behind one of Ellington's teammates, skate legend Chad Muska. Random as hell.

**It's no secret that The Bronx are one of my fav bands on the planet. The shot of them in the mag was actually done right on 9th Street in the middle of the afternoon. Totally illegal guerilla style. We had to wave down and stop a school bus from running them over. The next night they played a secret show in the basement of Fontana's and blew our minds. (And to the kid I tried to sneak in: Sorry! I tried, man.)

**Jamie King quickly became the main crush of most INKED staffers. Now the staff is divided between her and next month's cover star (can't tell you yet but it's awesome!)

**Gym Class Heroes + trampoline = a hell of a fun photo shoot.

**Me and INKED creative guy Todd Weinberger went to Hawaii a few months ago for a screening of Hori Smoku: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins that INKED help put together. The R&R was nice, the booze was better, the movie was incredible, and my pale skin burned like Wonderbread in a broken toaster. SPF 60, you failed me again!

**We changed up our events pages in the back of the mag. Less convention photos, more parties. Like it?

Check out the issue. Let me know what you think. Back to work. March is late as hell and April isn't going to write itself.

J

BLACK DOGS now available for pre-order

2008-11-17T13:25:00.000-05:00

Although we're still about six months away from the actual release, my debut novel BLACK DOGS is available for pre-order at Amazon. I'm psyched! (I'm also a little weirded out that they list "256 pages". Did someone break into my apartment and count the stacks of papers on the floor? Next time Amazon SWAT breaks in my spot for recon they could at least clear out some of the beer bottles.)

Order here.

BLACK DOGS is about four kids in Maryland who plot to rob Zeppelin in New York City during the band's 1973 tour. (The band actually was robbed of $203,000 on that tour. You can suffer through the Zep documentary The Song Remains the Same to learn more about it or just look it up.) Think of the book as That 70's Show meets Ocean's 11. Probably with a bit of Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels thrown in. And some Black Sabbath. Lots of Sabbath.