Chinese Executions and 2008 Olympics

Chinese Executions!

Some days, life feels like such a struggle. I’m very moved and saddened when I’m reminded of these sort of news when we all just got done celebrating Xmas, the New Year and all other happy occasions. Life goes on, but I’m afraid not for everyone.

When it comes to capital punishment, I’m sort of an agnostic.

China shows caution on executions; Facing pressure before the Olympics, Beijing's policy is to 'kill fewer, kill carefully.' Activists urge more legal reforms.

I’m not picking on China. Many countries are guilty of this and still practice Capital Punishment.
I just want to say something. How about all those whose punishment should not be death? Once they’re gone there is nothing anyone can do.

Monika Jalili

Monika Jalili
Monika Jalili: NoorSaaz brings to life the rich history of Iranian culture through its music and poetry. This entrancing selection of songs spans time and place; traditional Persian folk favorites stand alongside love songs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, a time of great cultural change in Iran. Using traditional and non-traditional instruments, as well as lyrics in Persian, English and French, the artists of NoorSaaz combine their influences to present original interpretations of this music. In this spirit of exploration, NoorSaaz aspires to create understanding through an appreciation of the beauty of Iranian culture.
Vocalist:
Monika Jalili is a classically trained vocalist born in New York City with a degree in Vocal Performance from The Manhattan School of Music and in French Literature from Columbia University. Monika has been a performer on stage and film since the age of 12 and was a student of the late Beverley Peck Johnson. Her performances have taken her to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, The Producers Club, The Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, The Moscow Conservatory of Music, The Starlight Roof at the Waldorf Astoria, The Wortham Center (Houston), Wolf Trap (Virginia), The Shubert Theatre (New Haven) and venues throughout Europe, and around the US. She has performed on and been interviewed on many international television and radio programs worldwide. Monika's great love of Persian music and culture led her to create NoorSaaz with Megan Weeder.
Rest of the bios:Monika Jalili Noorsaz

Listen to here beautiful voice here. These are some great songs:
Solatneh Ghalba-ha
Janeh Maryam
Daryacheye Noor & Gole Gandom

Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto
I’m so sorry. I’m speech less. I don’t know what to say. This is a very very sad day for all of us. What is it with these people? Which God can condone this kind of act? What a bunch of savages! Like father like daughter.

I Lost That Recipe!

I can't remember my oatmeal recipe! Was it, 1 part water, 1 part milk, 1 part oats, a dash of salt, little cinnamon, and some honey, in a pot on low heat slowly warmed and stirred until ready?



This reminds me of this song:

Mac Arthur Park by Donna Summer

This same song, Mac Arthur Park also performed by Richard Harris.

So, is it Checkers or Chinese Checkters or does it matter?

How sad that the new generation, perhaps, only remembers him by his most current roles in Harry Potter as Albus Dumbledore!

Camelot:


With Vanessa Redgrave:

As Professor Dumbledore:


On a totally unrelated subject but somehow a ubiquitous nagging in my head to include it here, I present to you:



Who Moved My Cheese? a “Self-Improvement” book that has nothing to do with cheese, but a lot with your mind that I was once asked to read to help learn to cope and resolve challenges arising from working with and managing people.

A Tale of Two Cities

A tale of two cities; a tale of two lovers, what an irony!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of understanding, it was the age of innocence; it was the period of belief, it was the time of disbelief; it was the season of happiness, it was the season of misery; it was the spring of confidence, it was the winter of agony; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to paradise, we were all going the other way.

Another chapter in my life.

Desiderata - An Inspirational Piece!

See and listen to Desiderata – A Very Inspirational Piece. (No Comments!)
Well, maybe just one comment, I can’t help it. Is this another inspirational BS fluff, am I being just cynical, or just more sentimental? Who knows?


By Max Ehrmann, 1924
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, 1924
VERY INSPIRATIONAL PIECE...

(and Our own very 'Inspiration Point' at Yosemite National Park a must see place in California. Checkout California's Yosemite National Park for more info. Here is a picure of Ahwahnee Hotel at Inpiration Point)



The Confused History... (goes with the CONFUSED BLOG)

The Confused History of "Desiderata:"
The author is Max Ehrmann, a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who lived from 1872 to 1945. It has been reported that Desiderata was inspired by an urge that Ehrmann wrote about in his diary:

"I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift -- a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods."

Around 1959, the Rev. Frederick Kates, the rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland, used the poem in a collection of devotional materials he compiled for his congregation. (Some years earlier he had come across a copy of Desiderata.) At the top of the handout was the notation, "Old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692." The church was founded in 1692. [1]

As the material was handed from one friend to another, the authorship became clouded. Copies with the "Old St. Paul's Church" notation were printed and distributed liberally in the years that followed. It is perhaps understandable that a later publisher would interpret this notation as meaning that the poem itself was found in Old St. Paul's Church, dated 1692. This notation no doubt added to the charm and historic appeal of the poem, despite the fact that the actual language in the poem suggests a more modern origin. The poem was popular prose for the "make peace, not war" movement of the 1960s.

When Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, a guest in his home found a copy of Desiderata near his bedside and discovered that Stevenson had planned to use it in his Christmas cards. The publicity that followed gave widespread fame to the poem as well as the mistaken relationship to St. Paul's Church. [1]

As of 1977, the rector of St. Paul's Church was not amused by the confusion. Having dealt with the confusion "40 times a week for 15 years," he was sick of it. [1]

This misinterpretation has only added to the confusion concerning whether or not the poem is in the public domain.

By the way, Desiderata is Latin for "Things to be Desired."

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Q: Bijan, thou art such A hypocrite! A: Why, can’t one be benevolent and like Lamborghinis too?

Oh Lord! Save me from myself! Can I count on you? Are you Just? Is this true?

Gerard Manley Hopkins
Wiki's own note: It has been claimed that some or all of this article or section is incoherent and not understandable, and should possibly be reworded if the intended meaning can be determined.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918.

50. ‘Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend’

Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum: verumtamen justa loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum prosperatur? &c.

THOU art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners’ ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavour end?

Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now leavèd how thick! lacèd they are again
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds build—but not I build; no, but strain,
Time’s eunuch, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain

Narcissism

XLIII. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

About Narcissism:


I picked up that line on this movie, Scoop, one of Woody Allen’s latest movies (the movie (hint: In a party, as he is talking to bunch of new people and he is exif not the last, but I don’t know that for sure and who cares!) with Scarlet Johansson:):);) See if you can pick up that line in plaining describing himself…)



And don’t get me started on her cause I’ll start to moan and groan! Now there is a woman, and I might add a very beautiful, sexy, and young woman after my heart (Not!)




A big lie!

Well ever since I broke up with Heidi, a have been seeing a lot of Scarlet, as much as my schedule and trips allows me. And, I have made it very clear to her to not to lose herself over me, because I’m not into serious relationships. I have my reasons, but that’s for me to know and you to find out;)

And, Scarlet, my dear love, if you happen to read this, please don’t get all upset and pick the phone and ask me to explain, because I know I have made myself very clear. Besides you’re too young for me and I’m not into starting a family all over again. So, sweetheart, I’m sorry to break your heart all over again (if you happen to read this on location), but you should have listened to me. Anyhow, no more about us, since this was mostly about Moi!

You wish!
"Aarezo bar javanan aeib neest", There is no shame to aiming high or you can’t fault young & playful wishes, or something like that!

Old Flame:

Military Attack on Iran - An email from a friend

email from mjshahidiusa@aol.com

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT:I am sorry to send you this ominous message. And, I beg you to forward it to others.
A U.S. military attack on Iran is about to take place. The U.S. armed forces are waiting for President Bush's "Execute Command" order. Some reporters as well as former intelligence and military official are saying so.

Even though the majority of the American people are against it, a small but powerful lobby is pushing for it.

Please contact your political and community leaders and explain to them that a military attack on Iran will bring retaliation against Israel and U.S. personnel in the area and cause worldwide economic depression. Iran has the capability to do severe damage to U.S. allies in the region. The entire Middle East will be thrown into chaos and bloodshed for decades. Such action, now, would be madness.
There is still time for diplomacy. Let the U.N. and other negotiating groups do their work.

I will explain this issue on Twin Cities Public Television, Ch. 17 or 13, at 10:30 p.m. tonight.

Top 10 Cancer Fighting Foods (& more!)

Top 10 Cancer Fighting Foods & there is more to this blog than the title may suggest!

Is this really true? I like to challenge everyone to share their thoughts and beliefs on this subject. You don’t need to limit your comments to just these ten items. I’m even interested in the Oldwives’ tales as well! Are you into Organic Food? What does that mean? What really constitute organic?


Isn’t it, after all, all made out of similar Chemical Compounds? Is Caw shit fertilizer superior to other chemical fertilizers or are all pesticides that harmful? What do you think about companies like ADM, the super market to the world? What about genetically engineered foods? What is the tradeoff here?

Are you into recycling and saving the planet? I am, but my belief is that for anyone of like me, there is one who drives gas guzzlers and pullouts just enough to ruin my efforts. That’s okay too! I assume we cancel each other out and at the end it all balances itself. We can’t all be perfect! Just as there is one war monger amongst us, there is one who does Amnesty International and other peaceful efforts (i.e., Greenpeace organization) to make up for the damages cost for the other. I like what Bono is doing and I admire people like my friend Jay Shahidi who is involved as dedicates time and effort as much he can afford. When I grow up, I like to be just like them! I’m not too sure about Michael Moore though! Well, how about Al Gore?


Last but not least, solar energy and conservation!

Hearst Castle - First Mini Vacation In July

(Correction after a blogger comment!) + another link to H.C.

Neuschwanstein in Germany (a comment by a blogger pointed out my error?)

Hearst Castle - The Pool:

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First Mini Vacation this (last) summer in July! Sorry! I’ve been busy! Better late than never! Too many exclamations! Well, I just let the pictures to speak for themselves ;) Hearst Castle in San Simian. A MUST SEE PLACE! (Oomret be fanahe ageh ino nabini!)


First Mini Vacation this (last) summer in July! Sorry! I’ve been busy! Better late than never! Too many exclamations! Well, I just let the pictures to speak for themselves ;)

It’s way back there! These are the binoculars you can use to see it way way back there!



The entry to the onsite store (souvenirs and all kind of neat stuff!)



The life size statutes are awesome. You’ve got to see the indoor/outdoor pool!


FYI: Program & Tour Information:

Hearst Castle



I really can not do this justice. Not to mention, we couldn’t get any tickets that day, on site. You MUST have reservations way in advance. I have been there before, but you never see enough! Just google it and read about it. It really is one of those WORLD MARVELS that you must see. I did take many pictures of the surrounding areas, then again you must see it for yourself to appreciate the magnificence of it.

Salvador Dali's Original Lithographs

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) on Wiki. For more info. check out Dali Museum.
Other links: Salvador Dali Art Gallery"

The (my) Two Paintings


Salvador Dali's Original Lithographs

They finally arrived over a week ago and I couldn’t wait to tell you ALL about it!

My two Salvador Dali’s Original Lithographs: Surrender of Breda, Salvador Dali’s Interpretation of Diego Vealzquez's original painting and The Black Devil. Here is some excerpts on Diego Velazquez:

VELÁZQUEZ, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y (b. 1599, Sevilla, d. 1660, Madrid)
The Surrender of Breda (Las Lanzas)
before 1635
Oil on canvas, 307 x 367 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid
It was in 1625, ten years before this picture was painted, that Justin von Nassau, the commanding officer of Breda, surrendered the city to the Genoese Ambrosio Spinola, commander of the Spanish forces. Breda was one of the border fortresses of the Netherlands, a military base which had long been a bone of contention, alternately seized by the Spaniards or returned to the Princes of Orange. After a long siege Spinola learned from an intercepted letter that the defendants were in desperate straits, short of both equipment and food, and he therefore proposed that von Nassau should freely surrender rather than continue the bloodshed. The proposal was accepted and the army withdrew in good order, keeping their goods and some of their arms. The citizens did not suffer any harm at all. This victory was one of the last triumphs achieved by Spain in the period when she was accounted a great world power, and it was also one of the fine instances when humanism prevailed even in times of war.
The main problem of a history painting featuring a large number of figures is the question of how to handle the crowd scenes. Velázquez initially tackles this difficulty by dividing the picture plane into two levels - a higher area of action on which the main event is acted out as on a stage, and an area below it in which we see the city and harbour of Breda and the sea. The stage-like situation is further emphasized by various foreground elements. The two military leaders - the defeated commandant of Breda handing over the keys of the fortress to the Spanish commander Spinola - are immediately recognizable as the protagonists because the view opens up behind them towards the otherwise hidden background, whereas to the right and left the respective military entourage is grouped like stage extras. Yet Velázquez does not portray them as anonymous soldiers. Amongst the group of Spanish victors brandishing their lances, we can make out just as many individual expressions of exhaustion as we can amongst the resigned group of defeated Dutch soldiers.
It is thought that the composition of the picture derives from a contemporary book-illustration of the Bible; this is certainly true of the two central figures of the commanders. In its colouring - the brown masses of the horses, the blue and red garments of the soldiers - we see the influence of Venetian painting, particularly that of Tintoretto.

And last but not least my other lithograph, The Black Devil:


My own pictures:




See the Details

Something Juicy: 68-69

Number 69." But wait there is more! Phamouse69 Sexy Magazine And there is even more! As in: Summer of 69 Song
How about something on 68? STS-68? Or even this: The year of the four emperors: Galba (68), Otho (69) and Vitellius (69) all govern a very short time before Vespasian becomes emperor. ... 68 on Wiki or perhaps


But for real, jokes aside:

One of my readers (the few that I suppose have) has asked me to TELL him/her something JUICY about myself! I hardly know him/her and intact I’m not very fund of him (I’m just going to refer to IT as HE, just for the sake of arguments.) He knows who he is and I’m not sure you care. A while back, he left, as comment, a set of URL to some grouse sexual sites! I still haven’t checked it for myself, but from what I’ve gathered, according to a friend of mine, it’s just a GARDEN VARIETY porn site. Well, I left it intact, since I strongly believe in Freedom of Speech! But, I realize some people were offended by it. As for myself, I wasn’t even slightly curious to check it out for myself. I’ve seen them before and they DON’T DO MUCH for me. I think of SE Swimsuit issue more desirable or even the gorgeous ladies in the Vitoria Secret catalogues as MUCH more JUICY as any of those porn site which demonstrate and assume men are like animals (perhaps close cousin, apes or orangutans) and women just like to GET ALL NIGHT LONG and THE HARDER and the BIGER THE BETTER bang! And of course they show off SEMAN (come) dripping from their faces, lips or other desirable/sexy (according to their philosophy of what is sexy or what turns MEN on are showed off and displayed like women have a popsicle in a hot afternoon summer day!)


Well, I hate to write about this and I apologize and agree that this subject may be TOO private to some or even distasteful and disgusting to argue about. I agree, but it’s my blog and I’m not arguing BACK with anyone, so there you have it. I think I’ll let the secret out. I adore Heidi Klum! Well, she is not the only one, but ONE example should suffice! Actually she is married now and has three kids, but still looks fantastic. She was on Leno a few nights ago and was adorable and interesting too and when one of the other guests started talking about premature ejaculations, she put both index fingers in here ears and started to sing to block her ears and not hear the rest of the conversations! That was very cute to me. I think she is still married to Seal!

Well, my point or my reason to talk or mention this is that I believe, what’s sexy or juicy to one person may not be as exciting to another. Don’t want to get too philosophical and beat this horse to death! You know what I mean and if you don’t just continue reading. Here is a quick joke: You all know what 69 stand for, right? Quest: “What about 68?” Ans: You give me one and I’ll owe you one:) Sex Position 69

These are the FIVE (actually many more) things that I find juicy, exciting, or even moving: The Victoria Secret catalogue, The Beethoven Symphony No. 9, a good movie, a beautiful scenery (beach or greenery), a NEW GADGET, well, there are many more to name and I don’t want to take the next few pages to recall all of my fetishes or my DEEP SECRETS (there really aren’t many!) Let me clarify one thing about naked women! I think, they should be covered more so to leave more to the imagination! I really don’t like g-sting bikinis either! I don’t like men model in bulgy underwear either! Now you know it! Some modesty, I think, will go a long way!

I just like life & I try to enjoy and have a great day any day I can by surrounding myself with things that matter to me & there are endless things that MOVE me and get my attention (a great painting, a beautiful song, a SMART person, intellectual but not boring conversation – oh well, I said I will not name them all, but here I go. So I shall stop it right here!) Left out Porsches & Motorcycles!

Here is more about Heidi, for those who get it:
Born June 1, 1973, in Bergische Gladbach, Germany, Heidi Klum catapulted to the supermodel scene when she got the cover of Sports Illustrated's 1998 Swimsuit Issue as an unknown at the time.

All this came as a disappointing shock to Caprice Bournet, the supermodel who assumed she had the cover wrapped up. Ever since, Heidi has been flooded with work, the 5'9 35-24-34 vixen had not even thought of modeling until a friend coaxed her into entering a modeling competition called Model '92, after winning several rounds on her way, she eventually was crowned. She then signed a 3 year contract with Metropolitan and has grown ever larger in the modeling scene with each successive year. Heidi was involved in the well publicized Victoria's Secret internet broadcast, largely hyped but much too grainy and miniature to appreciate any of the girl's beauty. 1999 brought another appearance in the SI Swimsuit Issue and also brought Heidi in front of the TV camera's with a 3 episode role in Spin City, in which she played Michael J. Fox's love interest. The year before she saw a bit part in the movie 54, based on the old New York nightclub, Studio 54. … Google her and you shall find the rest!



And for those who also get Porsches:
The 2008 Porsche Limited Edition Boxster that was first shown privately at the New York Auto Show last April will go on sale this September with a base price of $49,990 (Original MSRP $45,800). The higher-performance Limited Edition Boxster S, meanwhile, will start at $59,990 (Original MSRP $55,700).

Dipped in the same eye-popping orange paint as the 911 GT3 RS, the Limited Edition Boxsters also feature the SportDesign package that adds front spoiler lips, a new automatically extending rear spoiler, and slightly altered rear trim to allow for an integrated diffuser. Add to that standard 18-inch black alloy wheels (19-inch for the Boxster S) and additional black trim pieces on the exterior, and you've got a fairly stunning exterior package that overshadows a garden variety Porsche Boxster with ease.

Black carries over to the interior where it's applied to most surfaces including the seats, carpet, dash and door panels. The interior is also trimmed with Alcantara and additional pieces that match the exterior's orange body color. And while the motors in both cars were left alone, each gets a new sport exhaust system that may liberate some extra power by offering less restriction.

The 2008 Porsche Limited Edition Boxster and Boxster S officially go on sale September 28th, and since Porsche is only building 500 examples, you may want to get your deposit in now.

My Other True Love – A Nice Porshce!

ALAF BAYAD BE DAHANE BOZZI KHISH BEYAD!

Or see for yourself & you shall SEE what I mean


How about a juicy Red Ferrari? or Read about it Here!I guess you the old saying, Bigger the Boy, the Bigger the Toy!

Pretenders - Chrissie Hynde

Pretender's Chrissi Hynde,
a contemporary musician artist and an original song writer!
I miss you very much & I still enjoy your beautiful music whenever I can.
She is a True Artist For the Ages!

Pretenders - Here is some of Chrissie Hynde’s:

Back on the Chain Gang
Brass in pocket (I'm Special)

Did I once think that I should have written and sang this song? YES! At times, I’ve felt so special too. I really have! I really am! There is only one copy of me, if you think of it! Nobody else here is like me! So, I’m gonna use everything … Im special, so special, I gotta have some of your attention. Give it to me!

I’ll Stand By You
I've got you babe
Don't get me wrong

U2 & Pretenders the Hall of Fame induction with the Boss sharing a U2 story.

Her songs were Performed by MANY artists. Here is Carri Underwood of American Idol! Who could not love her?

Here is a funny piece from her appearance on Friends:
Friends –
Angel of the Morning”



Pretenders - Chrissie Hynde A contemporary musician artist and an original song writer. I miss you very much Chrissie! I still enjoy your beautiful music whenever I can. She is a True Artist For the Ages.

Due credit to the author: 1996-2006, By Lisa Benton:
After kicking around the US, UK and France for over a decade, Chrissie Hynde finally wound up on the path that would eventually lead her to the Pretenders. Towards the end of 1977, while living in squats around London, she met Tony Secunda, onetime band manager of such acts as Steeleye Span and The Move.Chrissie, with Fred Berk (Johnny Moped) on bass and Nigel Pegrum (Steeleye Span) on drums, recorded a few demos including The Phone Call. In March 1978, Tony arranged a meeting with Anchor Records' Dave Hill, who was setting up a new label, Real Records, in the UK. The day before the meeting was to take place, Chrissie was on the phone with Secunda, "said something really stupid," and he hung up on her. She phoned Dave to tell him she no longer had a manager and wouldn't be able to make the meeting. He told her to come around anyway and signed her up as the first artist on Real Records. Hill introduced Hynde to a studio drummer, Gas Wild. Gas had recently returned to London from a trip to his hometown of Hereford. While in Hereford, Gas bumped into an old friend, Pete Farndon.Pete had just returned from Australia where he'd been in a folk group, The Bushwackers. Gas phoned Pete the following week to tell him about the band he was in with an American, and to ask him if he was interested in coming to London to join them. Pete jumped at the chance to again escape Hereford and give rock 'n' roll another shot.Pete met Chrissie in a pub. She said hello, then turned around and ignored him for an hour.Later, Chrissie took Pete to her rehearsal space, which he said was "the scummiest basement I've ever been in in my life". The first song they played was Groove Me by King Floyd, followed by a few of her songs - Tequila, The Phone Call, and I Can't Help Myself. Pete was impressed and began the task of working out the odd time signatures in her other songs.It was soon apparent that Gas was not right for the band and they dismissed him. Chrissie had her mind set on Phil Taylor, Motorhead's drummer. To get Phil Taylor in the band, Chrissie and Pete came up with a plan to try to lure him away from Motorhead - they'd ask him to sit in on drums while they auditioned guitarists. To make this plan seem valid, they had to get a decent guitarist for the "audition". Pete had a guitarist-friend in Hereford whom he decided to call. James Honeyman-Scott agreed to go to London for the session.Phil would not be swayed, and stayed with Motorhead. Hynde and Farndon, however, were very impressed with Jim. Honeyman-Scott was less impressed and went back home to Hereford.About this time Gerry Mackleduff came along and, while never officially joining the band, drummed for them as a session player, receiving £10 each time. In need of a guitarist for recording demos, Pete once again phoned Jim to see if he was interested in the job. He agreed and was paid for the session with "£100 and a load of speed". Included on this demo were I Can't Control Myself, Precious, The Phone Call, and Stop Your Sobbing.It was summer, 1978, and once again, Jim happily returned to Hereford. This time, however, Chrissie and Pete were determined to have him in the band. Chrissie knew Jim loved Rockpile and Nick Lowe, so she took the demo to Lowe, an old friend of hers, and asked him to listen to it to see if he would be interested in producing them. He liked what he heard and told her he would produce the single for them. Chrissie then phoned Jim and told him who was going to produce their record. He immediately joined the band. So Jim, Chrissie, Pete and Gerry went into the studio and recorded Sobbing and its b-side, The Wait.A permanent drummer was needed as Gerry was still being paid by the session and not considered to be the right person for the job. Pete and Jim wondered what had become of a fellow they knew from, not surprisingly, Hereford - Martin Chambers. As it turned out, Martin was living within a mile of Pete's place in Tufnel Park. They invited Martin for a rehearsal, and finally everything clicked. Pete broke the news to Gerry and the Pretenders had a real drummer. By the time Sobbing was released, Martin was in the band and Gerry was not. This is the reason Martin's picture appears on the back cover (in applicable countries of release - not including the US) of Sobbing.Their first album was number one in the UK, as was Brass in Pocket, their third UK single. The original lineup released two albums, Pretenders and Pretenders II; a North American EP, Extended Play; and a handful of singles.By the end of 1981, Pete had caused increasingly strained relations within the band due to his heroin use. They finished their world tour in Bangkok in April 1982.After a rest, Chrissie, Martin and Jim got together and decided Pete would no longer be a member of the band as he had become increasingly unreliable due to his drug addiction.Two days after Pete was told the news in June 1982, Jim Honeyman-Scott died in his sleep at the home of a friend. His death was due to heart failure caused by cocaine intolerance.The following month, Chrissie and Martin went into the studio to record Back On The Chain Gang, a song they'd been working out during soundchecks. Tony Butler (Big Country) filled in on bass and Billy Bremner (Rockpile) took over the lead guitar duties.A number of guitarists were auditioned before Chrissie and Martin remembered someone Jim had wanted to bring into the band as an additional member. They called Robbie McIntosh and he came for an audition. He also brought along a bass player he knew named Malcolm Foster.Before the Pretenders were finished recording their new album, Pete died. He'd shot up while in the bath, passed out and drowned.The new lineup made the Learning To Crawl album and, with Rupert Black on keyboards, launched an extremely successful worldwide tour.In 1985, the Pretenders played Live Aid, a benefit concert that was held in the UK and the US simultaneously and broadcast throughout the world. This was the last show this particular lineup would perform together.During the recording sessions for the Get Close album, Chrissie started working with other musicians. Although it was rumoured, it was not until 1994 that the fact that Martin had actually been fired came out. Although the cover shows Chrissie, Robbie, Blair Cunningham, and T. M. Stevens, various musicians played on the album.This lineup began a US tour in 1987 and included Bernie Worrell on keyboards. Only a few weeks into the tour, Bernie and T. M. were fired. Malcolm and Rupert were brought back in to finish the tour. By the time they'd reached South America, Robbie quit and Johnny Marr came in to replace him.In 1990, Chrissie, now the only Pretender left, began recording Packed!, again using various musicians. During this time, there were several lineup changes. The Hynde/Marr/Eller/Hood lineup seems to be the most valid, even though they never toured, and recorded only a few tracks together.In 1993, Chrissie finally began to rebuild the Pretenders. She kept bassist Andy Hobson from the days of Packed! (he does not appear on the album, but can be seen in the video for Sense Of Purpose) and netted Adam Seymour just after the Katydids broke up.The recording for Last Of The Independents was already underway when Chrissie asked Martin to rejoin the band. He did.In 1994, the band toured Europe and the US in support of Independents.Over two nights in May of 1995, they recorded two live acoustic-type shows with the Duke String Quartet. These recordings became The Isle Of View LP.They were asked and agreed to perform at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio in 1995. The Pretenders received tremendous praise for their performances of My City Was Gone and Neil Young's Needle And The Damage Done.In the US, Viva El Amor was freed into the open arms of critical acclaim on June 22, 1999. The band joined up with Lilith Fair for a month of US Summer dates, then returned to Europe to tour in support of the new album.

Not to be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. Copyright 1996-2006 Lisa Benton



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Back on the Chain Gang

I do miss her :)