Why I've Been in Hiding

I'm not sure where to begin except to say that I'm sorry I've been out of the loop lately. Actually, I've been in a kind of hiding. Without going into boring detail, some things happened that made me extremely fearful for my safety, so I have tried to be very careful for these past few months.


I'm actually glad things happened the way they did because now I appreciate my life so much more. I'm embarrassed to tell you guys that I was homeless for a bit. And I've skipped more than a few meals because I couldn't afford food. But that time has taught me so much and I am so lucky to know who my friends are! And I'm so grateful to be able to continue on with what I love - playing underground metal bands on my shows!


During the hard times these last few months, there are so many people who stuck by me and I'd like to mention them now.

When the Lizard Messiah heard about what was going on, he offered to send me money. I was just blown away that someone would do that for me. Lizard has been my friend since the early days of the Annie show on Blog Talk Radio and he's a straight up good person. Lizard has his own online radio station called Core of Destruction. Please go check it out - they play amazing metal 24/7 and they have really great DJs. Ryan Mckern, Bobby Paranoize, Grave, The beautiful Fairy of Doom, and GoatSerpant are all there too and I consider them all my friends.

Fowler Doxey is my boss over at Brutal Existence Radio. He was there for me when I was so lost and always gave me encouragement and a kind word. I managed to do my show over there - but I had to miss more than a few weeks and Fowler was very understanding about all of it. My friends at Brutal Existence Radio have been so supportive: Soggy Bob, Metal Mark, Gwen, Elizabeth, Tony, Kaji, Kev, Ginster and many, many more who have stopped by to say hello.

The guys over at Basement Sound Radio had to put up with the most trouble with my move. Because I no longer had a computer, I was unable to tape my show with those guys. Alan Sutherland and Chris Murphy have been more than understanding and I owe them so much. They have supported me through thick and thin even when I was unable to do the show and I will never forget how they were nice to me even when they didn't have to be. Please check out their site - they have so much going on with their record company and radio shows!


There are some other people I would like to thank - people who checked on me and made sure I was still breathing:

Reverend Paul
Christer Cunat
Suinelah/Tobias Halenius
Kaji
John Dubose
Odd Jan Eidam
Bryan Schuessler
And many, many more!


I love you guys and I am just so honored to call you my friends. The truth is that without my METAL family, I wouldn't have made it through this. I don't know what I would have done if you guys hadn't been there to give me encouragement.


Anyway, I wrote this to explain my absence and to thank some pretty amazing people. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I can promise you that I will NOT give up. I will continue to do these shows and I will continue to promote the underground!


There will be more than one Annie Show coming up in the near future and I will keep you all up to date!


Thanks for all your support and friendship.
I love you very, very much.

Annie Christ

p.s. - If you would like your band featured on one of my shows, send me your songs!!!!

(I haven't done my Blog Talk Radio show lately because I have been busy with school - I teach at 4 on Mondays. But I hope to get that back going soon too - I want to use it more as a talk show than a music show because the songs don't sound so great on their system.)

A note on the shows

Recently there has been a bit of controversy dealing with one of the stations I do a radio show on. Since then some of its former DJs have started a new station which I have been invited to do a show on as well. When they put my picture on their site, it seemed to re-stir that old, tired controversy.

So, let me make myself clear. I am committed to doing the LIVE show that I do now – without question. The only show that I plan on dropping is my Blog Talk Radio show –because the quality is so substandard to the other shows. (I also plan to continue doing my taped show.) On the week that the other station approached me, I was also approached by 2 other stations to do shows. As much as I wish I could do them all, I have come to realize that I have been spreading myself way too thin – and the stress of that has been wearing on me.

As the new station knows, I am waiting to see what my school schedule is like before I am able to do anything. And I’m ok with them using my picture until I know something, being the “camera ho” that I am. My manager, Chris, has suggested I just tape a show that people can pick up if they want – and yes, I know that means just doing a podcast. And I’m thinking about that option.

Basically, what I’m saying is this: I am so tired of “he said-she said.” And I know we are all better than this crap. There are people out there dealing with real problems – life and death shit – and we are worried about who is contributing to what website? Are you shitting me?

I can’t believe I have to once again tell this story – every 6 months I sit for 4 days with my dad who gets his “booster” treatment for lymphoma at the Cancer Center in Montgomery. It’s a big room with about 100 people at any given time getting chemo. I sit there and realize how lucky I am and how lucky my dad is – and how precious life is. If you all could sit there with me you would see old men in wheelchairs, young women losing their hair, all ages really – all races – all kinds of people, even kids. And they’re so pale and weak. And all they want is a chance to live – just a chance that this stuff that makes them puke and makes them lose their teeth will keep them alive just a little longer.

And we’re bitching and gossiping about websites that play music? Give me a fucking break.

So, as far as I’m concerned, this is over. It’s a non-issue. If you feel the need to discuss it still, even after what I’ve just said, then do it – but leave me out of it. Life is too short to worry about Jr. High shit and I am too tired and busy to hear it.

I love each and every one of you very, very much.

Annie

Kyle Turley - What Country could be.

This past Thursday I went to a rock show in Nashville.  What’s funny about that isn’t that a metal fan like me went to a rock and roll show; what’s really funny is that the show was performed by a Country artist.  Yes, I “technically” went to a Country concert, but it certainly didn’t feel that way to me. In fact, the whole band was more rock (and metal) than most Country sensibilities would allow. But that’s not the only boundary broken that night in Nashville; and it got me wondering: Is it even possible to remain a real Country artist when you do a show that extreme?  Well, if you’re Kyle Turley it is.

When Kyle Turley and Tim Pickett (President of Gridiron Records) invited me to Nashville to see the showcase, I knew I had to go. I had never spent time in Nashville but I kept hearing how cool it is. And since it takes about a tank of gas to get there from here, there was really no reason to miss the fun.  And I’m so glad I went.  Not only did I get a serious schooling in music done authentically, but I also made some new friends in the process.

Turley played five songs for the fans, record executives, agents, critics, and other industry people attending. I’d like to explain the show sonically in terms that a country reviewer would use, but I keep going back to metal classificatory terms which may or may not serve my purpose here. Basically, Turley kicked my ass. So there. I said it. I was impressed with a Country show.  And so much so that I am officially endorsing this artist. Fuck you if you don’t like it.

You might actually be impressed to know that the Turley band is made up of metal and rock musicians: Joe Fazzio of Superjoint Ritual, and Zak Godwin and Rob Ogles of Flexar.  And you might also be impressed to know that Turley is an extreme metal fan and has been all his life.  But what is most impressive is how Turley and his band have used their influences to reinvent a Country sound that is more than just some guys trying to sound Country. No, it’s a true organic evolution and a real representation of what happens when you let Country music happen instead of manufacturing what a pollster tells you is popular.

This weekend in Nashville I got to hang out with some of the coolest people on the planet (that’s a story for another time) and I got to hear some great music - some great Country music.  I can’t explain why this is not a typical review of a showcase, rather in some way it’s just a statement on how it all felt.  Before Katrina, New Orleans always felt like home to me. And since moving back to Alabama, I have had that sense of coming full circle; but nothing has felt like home faster or more gracefully than Nashville.  And in some way, the Turley show had a lot to do with that. 

Yes - I'm a Pro-Porn Feminist

Here's a very informative video from Reason TV discussing porn and free speech.

Friday Shout Out for 7/2/10

Friday Shout Out Video for 6/25/10

Good Advice for the Sheeple

Yesterday I interviewed Kyle Turley on my metal radio show, Annie Christ's Metal Monday. At first, we concentrated on his music and his CD "Anger Management." We touched on his pro football career and the charity he raises money for. The last 15 minutes (or so) of the interview took a very different tone. Turley basically schooled us all on his beliefs and on what we need to open our eyes to. I was not expecting such an amazing and interesting rant from this guy. And whether you like his music or not, this is well worth a listen - especially if you care about what is right and wrong. I'd love to hear your comments. Do you agree with what Turley says at the end of the interview?

Listen to internet radio with Annie Christ on Blog Talk Radio

The things you learn doing a metal radio show!

Yesterday's blog talk show was possibly the craziest I have ever experienced. Sure, it started out innocent enough. I devoted the entire hour to the band Death Benefit from California/NC and we played some songs and talked about the bands CD that's out now.

Then, we got a call from the Lizard Messiah.

What happened next - well, I can only say was - educational. Until yesterday I had no idea what a Rusty Trombone or Chillidog was! Seriously. Now, I unfortunately also know what a Pink Slipper and a Dolphin is too. UGH

Here are two links for the live video feed I did (I got booted by Ustream and had to start the stream again.)I think you can see the shock on my face when I find out what the hell the guys are really talking about.

Metal Monday 6/7/10 - Pt.1
Metal Monday 6/7/10 - Pt. 2

3 Videos to check out

All of these videos talk about what we are trying to do with our new group AND the music industry in particular - ASCAP, etc.


They are about 20 minutes long each and very much worth the time!!!!

I'd love to get reactions to these videos.
Email me with your opinions.

Love ya,
Annie

The Ominous Order of Filthy Mongrels

Friday Shout Out 5/21/2010

Annie Christ goes Country!

Yes, the title of this blog post was meant to shock you. (I was giggling when I wrote it.) Let me calm your nerves by saying up front that I am still (and will forever remain) a faithful and ardent supporter of all things METAL. \M/

Here's the deal:

Because I am from Alabama (and grew up in a trailer), I have what the folks back in the woods call "Redneck Credibility." This means that I not only can identify TRUE and GREAT country artists, but can also suggest them to you, my metal family, without impunity.

Usually, when I am forced to hear country music (when visiting family back at the double-wide or at the barn tacking up) I feel intense pain and sorrow. It's just so sad that something so vanilla and soulless gets put to music and sold to the mindless and the young. Getting a country song stuck in my head is like self-mutilation without the release. I've often wondered if they used that "Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee - it get's hotter than a hoochie coochie" song to torture prisoners at Guantanamo. If you've ever heard that song, then you know how effective it could be in "enhanced" questioning scenarios.

Anyway, I've already mentioned this artist in an earlier Friday shout out video. (You can watch it here.) Kyle Turley used to play pro football but now he is committed to his country music career. He calls his style of country "Power Country" and no- do not make the correlation to Power Metal. "Power Country" is Rock and Country but with outlaw and Metal sensibilities. It's recklessly dark, deliberately truthful, and refreshingly determined, oh, and it's nice to listen to.

Basically, it's what country music would be if it had a soul and a giant set of nuts.

Please friend Kyle Turley's Myspace page. You will see there that he is also a Slayer fan and has opened for Hank III.


And if you have any other Metal endorsed Country artists, I'd love to hear from you!

Kisses,
Annie Christ

Friday Shout Out Video 5/14/2010

Today's Blog Talk show - Metal Blade Records and the RIAA

Today I will host a one hour special (4-5 pm US Central time) on Metal Blade Records joining the RIAA- which makes it impossible for me to play any bands on their roster on any of my internet shows.

Feel free to call into the show and give your opinions on this new development. I'm not here to judge Metal Blade - and certainly, not its bands, BUT considering metal acts get very little regular air time, to restrict those of us who work so hard to promote these bands from doing so seems to be counter productive to helping the bands in the first place. Is it that Metal Blade is too big to need us anymore?

And considering how the RIAA has bullied people in the past, its business practices are the opposite of how metal labels have traditionally treated its fans. Does this mean that RIAA will soon come after (and sue) every 15 year old boy who has downloaded a Goatwhore or As I Lay Dying song? If so, what a boon for RIAA - they'll be suing kids for years.

Here is the LINK for the show.

I hope you can stop by and give your opinion.
AND feel free to call in and discuss with me and the listeners.
(718) 664-6570


Thanks!
Annie

Friday Shout Out Video - 5/7/2010

Friday Shout Out for 4/30/10

The World's Youngest Metal DJ

You might have seen Dylan on an earlier blog post. Dylan, a metal fan and singer, is the 11 year-old son of Lizard Messiah. I've spoken with him on air before and he's even been kind enough to sing me some Sabbath. Well last night, Dylan hosted his own show on Blog Talk Radio!


DJ Puff-N-Stuff (Dylan) blew me away! That kid is amazing - it just melted me to hear him do so well.

Anyway, please check out DJ Puff-N-Stuff on Stoned Insanity's show last night! Support the future of the underground!

Here is the LINK for the show!

Valhall's Red Planet CD

Weight

My friend just sent me the lyrics to a song he's been working on. They're so personal to him that he gets angry when he repeats them, and I know it was hard to share them with someone, but I'm honored that he did.

And although the topic of the song is not something I've had to deal with, some of the lines touched me very deeply. It's amazing to see what is being written in metal today and how much of it is so intelligent and complex. (And pro-feminine.)

Maybe it's my friend's song or things that have happened in the past few days, but I am a little overloaded right now with the weight of certain realities - in me and others. We're all just beings bumping into each other here - looking for relief, and love, and air to breathe, and a way to be.

I'm not trying to get philosophical here. I'm just wondering how to find all those things for myself while I see my friends doing the same. I see us struggling and I wonder why.

And before I get too deep.....I see us all bright-eyed and smiling too. And I see us enjoying each others' opinions and time. I have such hope for us - that we will all find our way somehow. My friends are awesome!

Love you guys!
Annie

Friday Shoutout for 4/23/10

Post Modernism and Metal - random notes

The title of this post is too obvious and cliche (and a bit outdated) I know. But I've been playing with the idea of signifier vs. signified in the names of metal bands (of all genres) and in getting to their deconstructed remnants, I am reminded that Metal - in it's essence, it's history, and in it's divisions, is a perfect example of what is post-modern and even more so, post-post-modern. Metal (in its very practice) has the element of the undefinable; it is more than just an expression of disenchantment; it is more than just a way of life. The elements of Metal overlap and conflict at the same time. It can be interpreted and described, but it cannot be explained.

For example, can you tell me what is (or is not) a metal band? Certainly it would be easier to assign what is NOT Metal than what is. But that doesn't tell me what is Metal. It is in the layers of genres, sub-genres and sub-sub-genres that this is evidenced so clearly - all of them social constructs on the context of what we think we know about Metal. In the end, the only common narrative we have of Metal is the assigning of the word "Metal." What that word means depends on the user.

And should we define Metal by what it is not, knowing that that will only fail in making it a set explanatory system? And do we want that kind of absolute truth anyway? Well, I don't. I want Metal to be the product of individual expression. I want it to constantly challenge me. I want it to remain contextually and subjectively incomplete.

Friday Shoutout for 4/16/10

Annie Christ - Embrace Damnation

Annie Christ mentions Black Market Ministry

My New Buddy: Wedgehead

You might have noticed that I have posted a few new pics on the site. Yes, I realize they are not your typical “heavy metal” type pics – but I guess that’s what I was going for. I love that metal fans are diverse and true individuals; and I always want to privilege that in my work. The truth is I wear cowboy boots more often than biker boots. And in real life I hang out with horses more than metal bands or fans. But that doesn’t mean I’m not a fan, supporter, student, and true believer in this music that I find to be the only real, organic, expression of self out there.

When my friend Bryan, who is a rodeo bullfighter, told me about the bulls at his place, I had to check them out. The bull that I got to meet (and pet) was Wedgehead. He has been on Jimmy Kimmel Live so he’s way more famous than me. I was able to get into the pen with him and as long as I didn’t make any sudden movements, I was told I would be just fine. Wedgehead was so relaxed around me that he decided to take a five minute piss during the shoot (the results of which you can see behind me in the pics).

The other rodeo bulls there (some of which were PBR bulls) were too dangerous to get near. As I walked by them, they snorted and were totally intimidating. I look forward to going back out to the bull pen and hanging with my new buddy. Maybe Bryan will let me ride Wedgehead next time! (Video to follow! LOL)

The Future of Heavy Metal

Yesterday, on his 11th birthday, my friend Dylan called into my show and sang Black Sabbath to me! Dylan is a great singer and has been a metal fan since he was a baby.

So, if you're worried that all kids are only into rap or Miley Cyrus, then take a look at Dylan and know that metal will carry on long after we are gone.

Thanks, Dylan!!!!!!

My Reel

When I was acting, I used the name Amber Rules (the origins of which is a long story that I won't go into right now). I had totally forgotten about my reel - but it kinda explains where those silly fairy pics came from.

I like the reel because it shows me with almost every hair color possible and it reminds me of all the great times I had on set.


Amber's Reel

Danan | MySpace Video

Friday Shoutouts for 4/1/10

Looking for Underground Bands

I'm on a mission to find Underground bands to showcase on a new show I'm developing with Basement Sound. The show will be radio based, but will lead to the new video series I'm doing through them. The bands can be from ANYWHERE in the WORLD. They only need be METAL.


Interested bands should contact me via Myspace or EMAIL with subject line: Metal Mission.

Thanks!
(And thanks for helping me promote the underground.)

Annie Christ
(New website coming soon!)

Writing to Procrastinate Writing

I'm up early enough - ready to start writing on the Teenage Waste chapter. (It has an official name that is too long to quote.) I should just get to it - and pump it out!

But I'm thinking of a million other things - silly things - anything to keep from starting. I used to have to clean my entire house before I could start on a paper....but that has been replaced with checking all my websites and answering all my emails first. And writing this blog post.

I look at my list of things to do today - not bad - but the main thing - with a star next to is this chapter. (Well that, and "Clean Gun.") Other things: get vitamins, meet dad at 2, answer phone calls, listen to archive of Paranoize and Stoned Insanity from this week.

I've also been thinking of writing something about the Jessie James debacle, the updates on the new website, and the dream I had last night in which I stole a vibrator from a sex shop and totally felt guilty about it. It was green and I walked out with it in my purse. (Wonder what that means.)

I'll probably make a video about the two shows on Monday too. UGH

So, off to write and listen to metal and drink hot tea - the start of a perfect Sunday!

Brutal Existence Radio and other random news

I'm very happy to announce that I will be hosting a new show on Brutal Existence Radio .com starting March 29th (Monday) from 8-10 pm (central time). I don't have the name of the show yet - I'm taking suggestions - but I will let you all know as soon as I do. If you have not checked out the site yet, please do. Fowler, the owner has an amazing thing going and I am honored to join the team at BER.

While discussing the show with Fowler, he mentioned something that really stuck with me last night: Their main goals are to promote REAL underground music and to help each other out. That's why BER will be a perfect fit for me. And I am so excited that Stoned Insanity's Lizard Messiah will be hosting a show after me from 10-12 central!

Both Lizard and I have decided to keep our Blog Talk Radio shows for now, be we are thinking of switching to be sure. Only time will tell.

Of course, both my shows will be simulcast on my Ustream channel - for you visual junkies out there. (Those are always available on AnnieChrist.com.)


On the book project: I am getting notes and interviews together on the Teenage Waste years. There are times when I think about the enormity of the whole project based on the info coming in from just this band - and it is overwhelming. But I plan to just take it one chapter at a time. I am not kidding when I say Mike has lived an incredible, fearless life. It's crazy to hear about it sometimes.

Oh, and last but not least. I inherited a fucking cannon. My last living grandparent died two days ago - I was never close with him so I certainly didn't expect that he would leave me anything - especially not the coolest thing in his yard! OK, I got the giant concrete alligator and eagle.....but hey, a cannon comes with the deal. I actually think that he didn't leave me these things, but the family is trying to get them off the yard so they can sell his house. Either way, no one in my family would appreciate a cannon more than me. Now all I need is a Nova on blocks, and maybe a clothesline, and I will be the coolest redneck in Alabama!

Ok - I'm off to book the next show - there are some incredible bands coming up this Monday and I hope to see you there!

Kisses,
Annie

Interview Notes - March 13, 2010

Over the past week, I have done a couple of really interesting interviews for the book.

Michael, an old friend of Mike's, told me about some of the Rose Tattoo days - and about an incident with Dit and Der. (They published a fanzine in the 80s.) If anyone knows their real name (or how to find them) I would love to hear about it.

I also spoke with Veronica, an ex-girlfriend of Mike's. She was very open and talked with me for hours. Her recollection of their time together will make for some great stories too.

The more I get into this project, the more I have come to respect the people involved. I had no idea that I would learn so much - not just about the underground scene in New Orleans, but about the power of the human spirit in all of us - no matter what we have been through.

Hauntings

We’re all haunted by something. Much of our lives are spent dealing with one haunting after another. And some of us are haunted by almost everything that touches us. If you think that you aren’t haunted by anything then you don’t have a past and you never made a bad decision; and good for you. I think about what haunts me a lot, maybe too much. I know I’ve thought about it a bit too much these past few days. Sometimes it seems that my humanity is strangled by the things that haunt me. Sometimes it seems that all that’s left are ghosts.

I don’t think haunting is as much about regret as it is about the reality that we make up for ourselves. Most of our demons are self made – for a million different reasons. My regret for a love that I lost is all tied up in memories that may or may not be totally accurate at this point. Those memories are all colored in hues determined by feelings and tears, seen through a broken lens of time and sadness. Heartbreak: this is the haunting of loss.

I think about why I constantly run from the prospect of love, and I can only explain it as a haunting. I’m haunted by the idea of loving someone as much as, say, a song that touches me so deeply I can’t stand to hear it. I avoid it because I can’t bear feeling something with an overwhelming deepness that engulfs me. This avoidance of feeling is the haunting of beauty.

In my interviews for the Mike Williams book, so many people have told me their stories – their sadness and regrets and their sweet memories of friendships and loves lost. They all say something about making bad decisions when they were young – as if they were the only ones who did and now they have to apologize to someone – to themselves – for it. Even after I remind them that everyone believes they have made horrible mistakes, they still feel the need to apologize to me. Not giving ourselves a break – this is the haunting of the past.

When I started writing this, my life was very different. Now, only a few days later, I see that there are so many other things that can haunt: loneliness, doubt, silence. I wonder now if those things have always been with me, only hiding when I have something to lean on and reappearing when I’ve lost the ground under my feet. They are there to define me by my weaknesses whenever I stop walking through them long enough see them and remember they are there. And just like ghosts, as soon as I stop allowing them to be, they disappear again.

Problems with Today's Show

Thanks for hanging in there with me on today's show. There were several technical difficulties and I got booted three times in the first hour. Luckily, I have some amazing listeners who hung in there for the whole thing - even when I played the wrong song and had a laughing fit. (And even when I danced like a dork on the Ustream simulcast!)

To all of you, I leave you a poem written in 1640 by Henry King:

Sic Vita

LIKE to the falling of a star,

Or as the flights of eagles are,

Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue,

Or silver drops of morning dew,

Or like a wind that chafes the flood,

Or bubbles which on water stood:

Even such is man, whose borrowed light

Is straight called in, and paid to night.

The wind blows out, the bubble dies;

The spring entombed in autumn lies;

The dew dries up, the star is shot;

The flight is past, and man forgot.

So, as King says, Such is life. I hope to see you all back for next Monday's metal show!

Annie

What are you doing March 6?

If you are anywhere near New Orleans, you should check this out:

To the Little BOYS who are burning churches in Texas

Yes, I'm talking about you three. According to the AP, these are pictures of "Persons of Interest" in the 9 church burnings in Texas over the last few weeks. If this is your picture, then I have a few words of advice for you - and I will try to make them as plain and simple as possible.

Here are a few reasons why burning churches is a stupid idea:

1. You're not Norwegian.

At best, you like true Norwegian Black Metal, and you want to be just like our Viking brothers in the cold North. BUT, you are merely copycatting something only a few of them did 20 years ago. Norwegians don't even burn churches anymore - why do you think you should now? If you want to be just like Varg or King ov Hell, then go walk around Walmart with corpse paint on.....then you would surely end up on PeopleofWalmart.com and become famous for what you really are.

2. The Church is not your enemy.

If you think the church is stifling your individuality, then you are about 300 years too late. Sure, there are forces out there trying to destroy the rights of the individual - but the church isn't one of them anymore. Read a book - educate yourself. Find out who your true enemies are before you go charging windmills (you'll have to read a book called Don Quixote to understand that reference). At one time, Norwegians had a reason to see their state church as the enemy of their individual freedom, but AMERICANS have different enemies to consider. And if you are worried about the enemies of Heavy Metal, then you should learn about the PMRC and the record companies - and even that is ancient history. If anything is preventing you from expressing your individuality, it's your own ignorance.

3. Burning churches makes us all look stupid

When they catch you (and they will), and you are wearing your Mayhem tshirts and upside down crosses, then the media will associate your music preference with your ignorant actions. And then......they will correlate your actions with all the rest of us who like good music. Thanks. And for the next few weeks, writers for Metal Hammer, Terrorizer, and even Spin will spend their time (once again) defending Heavy Metal and its fans instead of writing articles about something a bit more interesting.

And even though they are going to catch you (because if you are dumb enough to do this in the first place,then you surely will have done something to be detected), you should stop burning churches now. Instead, try to use your brains, and consider some of the things I've mentioned here. Don't just be another failed product of our public education system. Be a real individual and educate yourself!

Press Release from InDebt Management

Indebt Management announces the signing of Annie Christ, metal radio host and writer.

Annie Christ of Annie Christ’s Metal Monday and AnnieChrist.com will now be managed by Eric Christ of InDebt Management Company. Some other InDebt clients are Tension Head, Seven, Diabase, Mensrea, Members of Gwar, and Vampire Moose (on Rotten Records). As Annie’s producer and manager, Eric Christ will help facilitate advertising and merchandising deals with Annie Christ. Eric Christ is also a senior associate and booking agent with Twisted Hillbilly Magazine and an A&R rep for Twisted Hillbilly Records.

Contact information for Eric Christ is:

indebtrva@yahoo.com

Looking for CD Reviewers and Bands to Review

Reviewers:

I'm looking for CD reviewers for my website. If you love metal music and would like to volunteer your time as an official Prophet for the website, send me a quick EMAIL with your name, location, favorite genre of metal, and how many reviews you would like to do per month. Your reviews will appear here and on the Annie Christ Blog. You will also be featured (and sometimes interviewed) on the Annie Christ Metal Monday Radio Show! And sometimes you will get FREE CDs!


Bands:

Would you like to have your band's CD reviewed by a Prophet of the Annie Christ show? All CD reviews will be featured on this website, the Annie Christ blog, and the Annie Christ Metal Monday Show. Annie will sometimes play songs from a reviewed album on the radio show (with permission from the band). Send a quick EMAIL for details and address to send CDs!

Two interviews: Brian Trotter and Ronald Nicaud

Two interviews: Brian Trotter and Ronald Nicaud
Some Random Notes

Over the past two days I’ve had the honor to interview two original members of Disappointed Parents, Brian Trotter and Ronald Nicaud. (Brian was also in Teenage Waste with Mike IX Williams back in the 80s.)

Brian met Mike IX back in 81 or 82. “He was such a little kid,” he says of Mike back then, “He and his friends were bad little boys.” Brian, who is a few years older than Mike, told me stories of the New Orleans underground scene in the 80s. He mentioned the infamous Beat Exchange (run by the never popular Barbara Hoover). He also mentioned “Emergency Hall,” the empty building owned by Ronald Nicaud’s father where bands that had nowhere else to play would be able to gig.

In fact, Ronald told me that Graveyard Rodeo named themselves at Emergency Hall. The place was originally opened when DRI came to town and had nowhere to play because David Duke and his minions had frightened Rose Tattoo enough they boarded the windows “hurricane style.”

Ronald had much to say about the infamous NOLA underground in the 80s. “It was very aggressive and very violent,” he says, “And every band was different.” This was hardcore before the crossover of metal. This was hardcore before the “drugs and darkness.” “It was a scene well before its time,” Ronald explains, and he’s glad that the scene is finally getting the attention and respect it deserves. In fact, Disappointed Parents will be playing the Raise the Dead Festival with some new members in March. Now that the band is back together, Ronald (who spent time overseas and as a Hari Krishna monk) says, “I have no regrets waiting 25 years to do it again.”

His recollections of Mike IX are much the same as Brian’s. He called him a “little rascal” who was always “super intelligent.” And he agreed with Brian, admitting that, “Yes. Mike was very naughty. But he was very nice too.” His most favorite memory of Mike IX: while at a The Cold show at Tulane, Mike turned to him and said, “Hey, have you ever heard of the band The Clash?” You just don’t forget the person who turned you on to something like that for the first time.

It was quite the learning experience to be able to talk to these guys.

Buy Organic - Why Metal Music is Good for You

If you’ve seen Food, Inc., or are aware of the adulteration of our food industry by the US government and major corporations, you know that most of our food is genetically modified and/or washed in ammonia and/or sprayed with bleach. The animals we eat are overfed with hormones and cannibalistic diets. When they finally get to die, they do so in panic and pain. As a result of this industrialization of the food supply, we have become sick, mindless fat asses who poison ourselves on Franken-food and indigestible crap.


Is this so different from the music industry? In order to sell the most units possible, record companies force artists to become something they’re not in order to produce the blandest product acceptable to the most palates. Artists live lies in order to feed us meaningless music that neither sustains nor energizes.

If the universal law is still true – you are what you eat, then are we also what we listen to? And if so, what are we becoming by listening to the crap music being fed to us by major corporations? In our efforts to homogenize everything we take in, we destroy anything that was good about it in the first place.

No genre of music has withstood that homogenization more than metal. (That’s why there are so many subgenres of metal – because it keeps getting spicier and more diverse.) Metal is the product of true artists – not corporations. It is, therefore, the most organic of all music genres. And listening to it will only make you healthier and (dare I say?)…..happier.

Going organic (whether it’s with food or music) is not just something we should do for our bodies – it’s something we should do for our souls, our spirits, for our very existence. And anyone who tells you any different is your enemy.

Interview Notes – Gary Mader – 1/1/10 – 4:30 pm

I just spoke with Gary Mader about the Mike IX project (yes - I really need to come up with a name for it). We plan to do our first interview later this month – on a Friday – in NOLA. He’s setting up my interview with Joey LaCaze since they live close to each other so I can talk to them on the same day.

We also discussed the possibility of the Eyehategod compilation/coffee table book too – something I can definitely help them get organized.

Now I’m off to track down Jimmy Bower for an interview request.

Friday Shoutouts for January 1, 2010

Interview Notes - Trevor Antonides

1/1/10

I just got some really great one-liners for the Mike IX book from Trevor Antonides of Jacksonville, Florida. Trevor’s band, A-Frame, opened for Eyehatgod in Michigan back in the mid 90s and he is a big Eyehategod fan. He calls them the “Anti-hero and nothing but that.”

Trevor has been impacted by Eyehategod, saying that “Ever since I heard them, they’ve helped me shape who I am. I tell the world to ‘Fuck Off’ on a daily basis and I never let anything compromise my beliefs.”

My favorite quote from Trevor on EHG: “They’re what the Sex Pistols always wanted to be.”

(Thanks for the interview, Trevor. And good luck hunting metal bands in the Ukraine! I want to hear the ones you find.)

Two Projects for 2010

Over the past few days, I’ve been giving serious thought to the direction I want to take in 2010. As most of you know, my main priority for the year is the Mike IX Williams biography. The book will be done by the end of 2010 – with a companion screenplay as well.

Along with the research on Mike, I would like to start an academic conference on Metal in the South. I’d like to host the conference in New Orleans with panels of scholars and musicians. The conference would include documentary viewings, paper presentations, musical showcases, and spoken word performances.

Here’s where you come in:

If you have any personal Mike IX stories, I would love to interview you for the book.

OR

If you would like to be involved in the Southern Metal conference – as a volunteer, presenter, or vendor, please contact me at stamplify3@gmail.com

I’m looking for a venue in New Orleans to host the conference. I’m also looking for sponsors for the event.

Thanks for helping me make 2010 a great year for Metal!