Listening to PIGFACE "Easy Listening For Difficult Fuckheads"......Sunday Nights release party at the Exit was HUGE and kicked my ass hardcore. What is normally a dead night turned into a clusterfuck of all types. Representing and supporting were the members of Fashion Bomb as well as American Head Charge who headlined at the House of Blues earlier in the evening. And Macabre who headlined the Metro also showed their support. Yvette Lera was bartending an all kinds of local were in attendance as we listened to the DJ spin a collage of old favorites and new MINISTRY that I brought in. Time flies and the next thing I knew was it was 330 and I needed and wanted to get home. Thanks to all who came by and checked out the mag and purchased a copy. To anyone who missed this one, "you missed a helluva party." Happy New Year and Don't Drink and Drive okay. Let's have a hardcore year. New Years Resolution: "Have a good time, all the time." - Spinal Tap
Letter from a member of BILE/Marazene I'd like to share w/ you all. -AZ Hey Alex, Kemp here, Just wanted to say happy holidays, hope your new years is kick ass! You did a kick ass job on the MK Ultra show, NICELY DONE!!!! Im sure i speak for all of us when i say we had a great time, very good way to end an amazing tour! I visit your site all the time for my "up to date" music news. Also very well done!! Wish you continued success. Keep in touch, and let me know about any shows Marazene can do with any of your bands, by the way Dave's band is kick ass! (Fashion Bomb) I also really dug chainsaw jonny...fuckin hilarious. Levi has recently asked to be a permanent member of Marazene, since the success of the Marazene/Black from the Dead show we had. We will be booking shows soon! (I have to go to New York to do a Bile show in Brooklyn at L'mours Jan 4th) after that Krz goes on tour with Pigface. So in the meantime its Marazene time...lol. The next Bile tour is tentitively schedualed for March...i think. It will make up all of the Canadian dates and head west and south west....fuck yeah! Ive never been to Cali. So im excited. Keep in touch and congrads once again on all of the success with MKultra. Thanks for a great show!!! Take care. Kris
Listening to Howard Stern repeat: Well well after an 8 day delay the new issue is here. Breaking out of the underground without compromising my morals is not an easy task, but I don't consider getting all of this great distribution selling out, so fuck off to all of you who are saying that. Mark my words, not mock them, when I promise you that this beauty is the most gorgeous piece of worked I've ever published. It is amazing. The tireless hours of hard work really paid off on this one, and the next is going to be even slicker. So if you want copy send in a subscription or buy one from one of our hundreds of dealers worldwide. Single issues are available for $6.50 by mail. We had to up the cover price to $5 do to our growing distribution, but it'll be worth it. And the new centerfold is a piece of work all of it's own. Moe and I drove over 500 miles yesterday and we unloaded the truck, I took him home, then I showered, changed and went to the I LOVE RICHMAS show at the Fireside Bowl. It was great fun. Hope to see a lot of you at the Exit next Sunday for the magazine release party. Ciao!
Listening to BILE "Copy Machine": Well it's obvious that the Shitmas Helliday is upon us because the masses drive like retards. And that's offensive to retards because nobody looks where they are going. I could have a heart attack trying to avoid an accident. So for the day I'm done driving, I hope. Anyway I'm going to lay low watch some movies and drinks some holiday cheer with the comfort of my cats. Yesterday Moe and I went to meet w/ Martin Atkins and Rob Hymen about cross promoting ands sponsoring the upcoming PIGFACE show. We're doing a cover and centerfold with the "Girls of Underground Inc." It's going to be a hot topic for sure. That issue will be available in February. So far we have Raymond atts, Nocturne, BILE, Kim Fowley, Graves, The Donnas and Nick Cave confirmed for that one. Speaking of issues, Moe and I pick up the new one on Monday. The offical relewase party is at The Exit 1/29 and by then Tower and all of the other outlets will have it. In the meantime if you don't read any diary updates in the next few days, it's a good thing. Party Hardy and Don't Drink and Drive. -AZ
Listening to Nine Inch Elvis: Where do I begin? Saturday afternoon began with a call from Ron Marks of Subsonic, and he was en route from his Hotel over here to the office. Prior to his arrival Phia and Justin showed up. The office got crowded so we went across the street to the condo. Then Leigh and Rob from Indy arrived and gave me a cool CGI birthday gift. We hung out a few then packed up the car and went to Cubby Bear for load in. We paid the club the balance of the rental and paid the bands off, made sure all was kosher and I went to Ran Allis and Susan went home. I met Phia and Justin for a yard and a Quesadia, and Tom Tretter arrived. Thereafter the madness was about to begin. We arrived at the CB at 730 and Fashion Bomb was still doing sound check and Jeff from Chainsaw Johnny was already drunk. By 8pm there was already a line at the door and sound check w/ Chainsaw was still in progress. Jaime Duffy (Acumen Nation) was running back and forth from Metro where he was also running sound for their and my event at the same time. Impressive at the least. People were flooding in early. Ron Marks, Steve Roach, Martin Atkins and the UI krew. Apox from Minneapolis, and more and more. I introduced Tony The Retard at 905 and he was in a diaper, which we filmed him putting his fat into. He told a few tasteless jokes prior to Chainsaw Johnny taking the stage for a beer-induced set of over indulgence and offensiveness. BILE was watching the fun. I was running all over the place meeting and introducing people. I was the ringleader indeed. By the time Fashion Bomb took the stage the place was packed. Susan was raking in cash hand over fist and enjoying it. Her friend Lori helped her in working the door. Fashion Bomb fans crowded the stage and I had several photographers on them. During this time I was approached by security that there was some altercations going on between bands in the dressing rooms. I went down to try to smooth I over and it wasn’t pretty. It ended up getting one of the band-members banned from backstage because he refused to apologize. It was too bad because a simple “I’m sorry.” Would have fixed the entire problem. I put on my Satan Claus garb and pelted the crowd with cd’s and t-shirts Fun as always. I did many photos with patrons in my bad make up. Nocturne and BILE played amazing sets on time and incredibly. BILE is just the greatest, and most professional people I’ve ever worked with, and they’re fun. BILE was simply astounding. The Cubby Bear was really good o work with as well and I may be doing a lot more with them in the future. The crowd hung out till 3AM when they were kicked out by the club. About 8 of us met up at Jason Harmon’s hotel room and partied till 530 AM. I didn’t sleep and came to the office to get ready for brunch. I was at Ranallis at 10AM to meet Justin and Phia and nobody else showed by 1130 so we left. I was surprised because the Apox folks were sure to be there. We cabbed to Jasons hotel where he was checking out. Susan went to sleep and Jason and I dropped off Phia and Justin and went back to Ranallis where we found Apox sitting there 2 hours late. So we hung out with them and showed them the office and they went on tour and Jason and I went….back to Rannallis. I had pretty much been there all day and it was 5PM when Susan stormed in and I was cut off. Jason went shopping and I came home where I finally got to sleep at about 1030 PM that night. I woke up 930 Am on Monday with no voice which to speak with and didn’t recover it till this morning. And now I’m back to work. Alc O Holiday 2002 Marathon has ended and has been the most successful event to date. Paying attendance approx 600+.
Listening to Johnny Cash 5: I so badly want to update this diary with the gory details of the Alc O Holiday event. It is now 3 days after the show and my voice isn't even up to 50%. I'm still in dire need of rest and only getting about 6 hours of work in a day. I will retire from today's work and be back in what I hope to be full office tomorrow. There is so much to tell and it'll take time to compose the madness via keyboard. For those of you trying to call me, I'll get with you as soon as I can talk. I'm dealing w/ business only at this time. I am not responding to personal phone calls when it takes all of my ability to speak to record labels etc. See info for our party at EXIT on Dec 29. Cheers! -AZ
Listening to well deserved silence. I have to keep this brief. It's 857 AM and I haven't fallen asleep yet and won't for awhile. I will go into detail tomorrow. #1 If Fashion Bomb aren't rock stars you'd never know the difference. They brought massive gear and FX. BILE are the most professional and nicest guys I have ever worked with in my career. ALC O HOLIDAY was a massive success. Thanks to everyone who showed up in support.
Listening to FEAR "More Beer" Today is the fucking day. But it started last night when I was in bed and got a call from Phia who drove from Richmond VA for the show. She asked me out for a drink and I declined. Then the phone rang again and it was my great friend Justin from Pittsburgh. Phia picked him up and brought him here as a Birthday gift to me. So I went out to Ranallis w/ them. Woke up this morning and went downtown to BORDERS where my friend Allison treated us to her annual 40% off employees discount. I picked up an Evek Knievel DVD, 2 Fear cd's, a cramps double disc, new Johnny Cash, and old Donnas record, two books by Ray Manzerek and the new Hunter S Thompson reissue. Then we picked up a rental car and I came here to the office to take phone calls from fuckers coming in from out of town for the show. Leigh left from Indy late, Jason Harmon is driving from Pendleton IN, and Dave Brown and Ronnie Ellis are heading up from Indy. Ron Marks who used to sling guitar for Celtic Frost just called me from his hotel room and he's coming here to the office. Jeff and Tony the retard are on their way from the burbs as I type this. Dreg dropped off more ticket orders and Steve sold another 10 advance tickets. The buzz on the street is that this is going to be a huge success. I hope someone is bringing me some drugs. I doubt I'll be writing tomorrow. Pray I'm not dead or in jail.
Listening to The Donnas...Again. Wednesday night was fun. Dave and I met Tom and Mike at Domaine and that place reeked of yuppiness, smoothies and the carbon-copied cut-out trendroids that give fashion a bad name. But you'll never be able to convince them of that. This place was a cheese factory from hell. We stayed till 9 and went to Ranallis and Moe showed up. Then everyone split up and Mike and I went to Smart Bar which was boring. And the floor was wet and I was afraid of slipping so we called it an early night. Yesterday I woke up to find a Jack Ass The Movie bowling shirt which made me happy. Moe and I picked up the proofs for the new issue and approved them for printing. Looking good. We dropped by JBTV and dropped off Alc O Holiday Tickets and picked up our videos from the show. I was surprised that they took the extra footage and made another version for Ch 19 which will be on soon. And then they took more footage for the annual 10-Hour "Don't Drink And Drive" video show which we're on. They took some pretty funny stuff w/ me talking on that one. I got back to the office and we wrapped up some last minute stuff and then I got the KISS Creatures stage, which has the full Eric Carr drumset and lights that really work. It took 3 hours to put together . I got to eat at Joes Scab Crack for my birthday and I had 2 lbs of crab legs and 1/2 lb. of shrimp. Today I got to Ellen's hair studio and to meet Laura for dinner at Leona's. And hopefully I ca get some well needed rest before the madness begins tomorrow. The biggest MK ULTRA production to date is just 30 hours away. CHEERS!
Listening to The Donnas. My birthday celebration begins in about an hour. I'm waiting for Vampire Dave aka Devin from the band Alluring Eve to show up and head over to PT Studios w/ me for their monthly event. Tom and mike are supposed to meet me there and those pussies better show up. Tonight DJ Miki is sure to being playing some weak booming house music, but we're their for the drinks, food and fashion. Last month they took my photo with Amber and Kelli and posted it. I really don't fit in with these smoothies and foo- foo-girls. But whatever it takes. I love invading their space from time to time especially with other creatures of the night in tow. We'll toast my aging there and likely head to the safe confines of Ranallis since it's stumbling distance to home and or the office. At midnight I'll have made it another year and those who have tried to prevent this process will surely cringe as I have not failed miserably as they wished. Tomorrow is offically the birthdays of Bruce Kulick, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Greg's girlfriend Michelle and yours truly. But the big kaboom comes Saturday for Alc O Holiday and it is the biggest and loudest ever. People will be taking about this show for a long long time I promise. And I have a lot of suprises which I will be bringing to the stage that only I have the balls to do. When you least expect it expect it.
Listening to Chem Lab: Still fighting this damn cold I caught upon my return from the trip. I think nearly everyone I know got hit by it. To top off things by the delay of the mag release, people are disappointed not to be able to purchase it at the show. There's not a hell of a lot I can do about it and I'm done venting. It will be worth the wait. Only an additional week anyway. All the Fashion Bomb fans planned to buy mags/subscriptions at the gig. And to add fuel to the fire, my server is experiencing email sending problems again. Being laid up over the weekend I got to catch up on movies and Saturday night I dropped back into Ranallis to add more to my beer mafia trend. Sold tickets there and the next day in between trips to the store. Uncle Fun had bobble head Satan Clause dolls and the Demonique version as well. And picked up a set of Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe glasses. Jeff from Chainsaw Johnny is stopping by with his ticket money and then I'm off to run errands and pick up mail which has been a lot lately. And if I don't feel too awful it's off to JBTV to get the tapes. Most importantly is getting rest and staying out of this bitter cold. I must have full Satan Claus mad energy for Saturday. Also for anyone interested: The Morning After All You Can Eat Brunch Buffet for the survivors of Alc O Holiday 2002 will be held this year at Ranallis 2301 N Clark St (in the TOWER RECORDS Building) The price is $10.95 per person and they have Bloody Mary specials. I am reserving space for 11AM. If you would like to attend I need to get an approximate head count no later than Friday noon so I can call it into the restaurant.They are going to make one long table to seat all of us. It's been a fun annual tradition in the past and great hair of the dog. RSVP at this email mkultraman@mkultramag.com
Hells Bells. Due to rather embarrassing circumstances the new issue of MK ULTRA will NOT be available at Alc O Holiday 2002 but rather a week after. I promise everyone it will have been worth the wait. The mag should be available at TOWER, Virgin, Borders and all other outlets by Xmas so you'll have a nice stocking stuffer. And in time for you New Years Day hangover, The Toxic Avengers to the rescue. Now, I'm gonna chill out for the weekend and watch some movies and the tonight drink some yards at Ranallis.
Taking the day off. I am sick. Last night was cool. Fashion Bomb has sold 100 tickets so far. The best whores I eer knew. More tomorrow. - AZ
Listening to Nashville Pussy: It's damn cold here in Chicago but at least for now the snow has stopped. I've been out in that weather for the last 2 daze. Doing a lot of the administrative work for MK now and trying to get the site updated. The new issue has been sent to the printer. It's looking really good. The one after will even better as I rack my skull for new ideas. Tonight is Metal Night at Delilah's, and my last chance to promote there for Alc O Holiday 2002. Krztoff from BILE called from the road yesterday just to make sure everything is running smoothly. I can't wait to see them perform again. I can't wait to drink with all of my friends old and new again. This is the ninth Alc O Holiday and believe it or not one of the guys (Tom Tretter) who was at the first will be here. Ironically he did the ad artwork for the first one ever. I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday every year than to throw a big drunken party and have some cool, and loud bands play. Ron Marks who was in Celtic Frost is flying in, my old krew from Indpls is driving up, and who knows else. I've been doing some press about it and am trying to get on Fox In The Morning on Fox 32 Chicago. They're considering it. The JBTV show really got a lot of response. I should get on Rebel radio this week sometime about it. I'm getting psyched about the whole thing. - AZ
MY RUM DIARIES: Back from Americas paradise as they call it. St John Virgin Islands. However, don’t believe it, I know there are not really virgins there. But they do like to drink rum a lot and they like to keep you intoxicated with it. They are proud of their rum their and rightfully so. Allow me to explain: After my usual cavity search prior to boarding my flight from Chicago because of my hair, I wasn’t in a good mood. In fact I’m fucking tired of it. (however I tricked them on the way back) And speaking of tired I had been working on the final draft of Vol 2 issue 2 of MK ULTRA from 7 AM to 1145 PM the day before my flight. I had to get up at 3 AM for the 415 AM limo ride so in a nutshell I was damn tired. The last thing I was in the mood for was to be picked out as I walked up to the Flying Whore (aka Flight Attendant) my ticket. And knowing I cannot sleep in public and was in for a 12-hour journey to my final destination Caneel Bay on the island of St. John. Anyway, as moody as I was I managed to not erupt in a fit of anger. From there we flew into Miami had a layover there, and flew into St. John which was fucking hot. But the first thing they do is offer you a shot of Rum, and then I bought the most highly recommended bottle of Spiced Rum, which was Duty Free at only 12 bucks, and then on the ferry they plowed you with punch till you get to the island. There they drive you to your room where there was a free bottle of Rum waiting in the room. So I was getting a hint. Immediately I got into the shower because I was sweating like a native. And then I made a drink. But my joy would not last long as I had to dress up to go to dinner at the exclusive restaurant, on the resort, which was originally owned by the Rockefellers. So you can see in your head what the people at this place were like. After diner which basically was over rated and the neighbors felt the same way I stripped down to swimming trunks, and laid in the warm water staring at the stars which were blurring in my eyesight. The neighbor lady came out to see what I was doing for some reason and scarred the crap out of me. I went back to the room and passed right out from exhaustion. The next morning I woke up shortly after sunrise and we went to breakfast buffet, which was only $25 a person and then hit the beach for a little while. Later we cabbed into Cruz Bay and bought 3 bottles of Rum, some Cola and chips. Town was a far cry from Caneel Bay and very inexpensive. By the end of the day we managed to do a good bit of damage to our purchase while sitting on the beach and swimming. We ate at the resort bar which offered the best hamburger I’ve ever had. It was Thanksgiving Day and I was celebrating the raping and thievery of some of my ancestors by getting plastered and sitting in the sun. Friday morning I was up at 3 AM which was three hours before sunrise. I was having the worst heartburn and I was not happy. Susan got up and sat on the beach as the sun rose up to the water, she came in to see me with a drink and gave me the usual look of disapproval. But we were on vacation in a place where they immediately told me they drank 8 days a week. At least I didn’t buy any cheap gars. CI-gars!! I got my snorkel gear and enjoyed endless hours of snorkeling. It was great fun. The coral was surrounded by many varieties of fish and exotic sea creatures under crystal clear water on white sand. It was truly a new addiction. I couldn’t get enough of it. I had so much fun doing it I could have cared less about Rum. Later we went into Cruz Bay a gain to do a little shopping and came back to snorkel again. It was raining lightly but failed to dampen my emotions. The Rum was the only thing that could keep my mind off of MK ULTRA. I’m absorbed in it and felt guilty for not having the job completely finished when I left. The lay out was done but the final proofing was not quite finished. But I am a work-a-holic that wants nothing more than this rocket to fly up and explode over the earth for the whole world to behold. Saturday was spent mostly snorkeling to the point that my back got burnt pretty badly under the hot sun. It just made everything else under the water show that much more. I must have spent 6 hours that day in the water. Later that night we had a liquid dinner at Woodys, which has a killer happy hour. Some cool guys from Russia and a couple from Raleigh N.C joined us. And we ended up yukking it up and I handed out free copies of MK ULTRA to promote it in a part of the world where people would otherwise never hear of me. We were laughing and trading anecdotes and filthy stories about sex drugs and rock n roll when suddenly Susan decided to cut me off. I guess I was having too much fun. But I finally got to have beer and it was good. We said farewell to our new friends and headed back to the room. I had another drink, naturally and fell asleep fine but woke up at 3AM again. The next day I tried to snorkel after breakfast but I had a bleeding blister on my heal from wearing my new Mephisto shoes with no socks and it didn’t help by sliding a flipper over it. So I just relaxed till it was time to leave at 11PM and I walked around alone and video taped as Susan took a brisk walk and later found me sitting in the shade at the bar. On the ferry back to St Thomas I had a couple drinks and got to the airport to prepare for the long journey through Customs. We bough 9 bottles of liquor and got to drag that around with the luggage. Customs was long but I was in disguise and got through I, and the security at San Juan Puerto Rico and to Chicago without my cavity search and fondling by security. How did I fool them? As Fashion Bomb would say, “ I got in The Line.” I took out my piercings, pulled my hair back and hid it in a pinched ball cap, wore baggy shorts and a college athletic like shirt that was too big. I looked just like those frat fuck. Thus sneaking by them. Hell I could have smuggled a virgin. –SATAN BOY