TOP 10 GUITAR GODS

I am a metalhead at heart and a fan of hard rock and heavy metal guitar players! I've always loved watching music videos and concerts focusing on the flying fingers of some of my favorite guitar players both old and new! Everybody from Jimi Hendrix to "Dimebag" Darrell, I delight in all the shredders and soloists, the leads and the licks! I even used to play a little electric guitar myself but I knew my skills would never even come close to any professional guitar player (that's why I stick to using my fingers for writing!). So tune up your strings, crank the volume knob up to 11, here's CHERNOBOG'S BLOG: TOP 10 GUITAR GODS!!!

Randy Rhoads

#10 Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) Despite having been fired from Metallica in 1983, Dave Mustaine co-founded (with bassist David Ellefson) Megadeth, one of the leading heavy metal bands in the thrash metal movement of the 1980's. Throughout the years Megadeth has gone through many band members such as guitarists CHris Poland and Marty Friedman and even the departure of Ellefson in 2002 when the band disbanded but thankfully reunited in 2010.
Favorite Song: "Sweating Bullets"

#9 "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera/Damageplan) - The Cowboy from Hell himself, Dimebag (originally known as "Diamond Darrell") was the lead guitar player for Texas born Hardcore Metal pioneers Pantera! After their breakup in 2000, he and his brother and former fellow Pantera founder, drummer Vinnie Paul started Damageplan in 2003. Unfortunately, his life came to a tragic end when a crazed fan shot and killed Darrell during a performance in Columbus, Ohio in 2004. Since then, Darrell's memory lives on and has even inspired a local charity event known as Ride for Dime! His unique and original style and magnetic personality made him a major influence on heavy metal music. Favorite Song: "Walk"

#8 Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society) - A.K.A. Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt, Zakk Wylde became Ozzy Osbourne's lead guitarist on the 1988 album "No Rest for the Wicked" which began a long musical collaboration with Ozzy for almost 20 years. Having started several side-projects including "Pride & Glory" (1994) and "Book of Shadows" (1996) he is also the founder of Black Label Society since 1999. Recently having departed from Ozzy's band and recovered from major health issues, Zakk is back on the attack with BLS and has never been better with his signature black and white, Bullseye pattern, Gibson Les Paul Custom, awesome!
Favorite Song: "Bleed For Me"

#7 Kirk Hammett (Metallica) - Originally the founder of the band Exodus, Kirk Hammett (a protege of Joe Satriani) was hired in 1983 by Metallica after former guitarist Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) was fired. Since then Kirk has been a major part of Metallica's sound as it has evolved and changed over the years. Even during the late 1990's when they cut their hair, went alternative and Kirk suddenly had a new fondness for the Wah pedal...and despite the lack of his signature solos on 2003's "St. Anger" album. Either way Kirk is still a top shredder on my list. I especially love his guitars decorated with old monster movie posters.
Favorite Song: "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

#6 Angus Young (AC/DC) - Known for his wild onstage antics and his English school boy uniform Angus Young has been a major force in hard rock as the co-founder (Along with brother Malcolm) and lead guitarist for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC! With his signature Gibson SG, Angus Young is a legend with his now familiar sound and memorable riffs!
Favorite Song: "Thunderstruck"

#5 Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) - Eddie Van Halen along with brother and drummer Alex formed the hard rock band Van Halen in 1972 and ushered in a new style of guitar playing utilizing intense solos and high frequency feedback. Although the band has gone through many incarnations with several singers including David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, and Garry Cherone; Van Halen is complete again having reunited with Roth and included Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass! Favorite Song: "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"

#4 Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) - A brilliant and ingenious guitar player, Jimmy Page was originally a member of The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, who went along to found Led Zeppelin in 1968 with singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham creating a musical phenomenon as one of the major influences of hard rock and heavy metal! Favorite Song: "Immigrant Song"

#3 Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell) - Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most important and influential guitarists and a pioneer of heavy metal music. His distinct dropped down tuning style created a completely new sound and changed hard rock and heavy metal for all time. His detuned sound actually developed by accident as he was working in a sheet metal factory when the tips of his fingers were cutoff in an accident. He then used rubber baby bottles and formed thimbles to protect his fingers, thus drop tuning the guitar strings in order to play. Having originally formed the band originally called "Earth", with their unique, darker sound they changed the name to Black Sabbath and with their new singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne created heavy metal history! Favorite Song: "Paranoid"

#2 Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot/Ozzy Osbourne) - A true musical genius and guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads founded the band Quiet Riot in 1973 with bassist Kelliy Garni and went on to join singer Ozzy Osbourne during his comeback after having been fired by Black Sabbath in 1979. With his enormous talent he was able to bring Ozzy back from the brink with a new sound and made Heavy Metal history with two albums "The Blizzard of Oz" (1980) and "Diary of a Madman" (1981). Tragically his life ended in a plane crash in 1982 while on tour with Ozzy, he was only 26 years old. Having lost a friend and musical companion Ozzy's bands could never truly replace Randy even with such talented guitar players like Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde.
Favorite Song: "Mr. Crowley"

#1 Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience) - The original gypsy/voodoo child Jimi Hendrix changed the world of the electric guitar forever. As one of the greatest guitar players of all time he began his musical career in England with his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience and would later achieve worldwide fame performing in the U.S. including the famous Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967 and of course Woodstock in 1969. His career and life soon came to an abrupt end in 1970 from a drug overdose. He was only 27 years old. Favorite Song: His legend and music will live on forever... "Voodoo Chile"
LINKS: Guitar World Magazine, VH1 Classics's That Metal Show

TOP 10 90'S CARTOONS

The 1990's were a turbulent time; both socially, politically and culturally. It was the time of Operation Desert Storm, grunge music, and the Internet! It was also one of the most important decades of my life! I was a teenager during the 1990's and what better way to distract me from all the craziness then with some of the best KICK ASS CARTOONS!!! I hope you had as much fun watching them as I did! I spent many an hour glued to the TV lost in animated bliss...(maybe that's what's wrong with me?) Lol! CHERNOBOG'S BLOG presents the TOP 10 90'S CARTOONS! Enjoy... 

#10 Beavis and Butt-head (1993-1997) Created, voiced, co-written and directed by Mike Judge (also "King of the Hill"), these two teenage losers first appeared on their couch on late night MTV and started a huge phenomenon as teenagers (despite their Parent's outrage) watched these two skip school, attempt crazy pre-"Jackass" stunts and watch music videos... they even got their own movie Beavis and Butt-head Do America in 1996. Later, one of their supporting characters, Daria Morgendorffer, spun-off in her own series: Daria (1997-2002).

#9 The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991-1996) This popular Nickelodeon cartoon featured the insane duo of Ren Höek, a psychotic chihuahua and Stimpson J. Cat, a dimwitted cat, in one of the most offensive and disgusting shows of all time... and that's why we loved it! "You eeee-diot!"

#8 ReBoot (1994-2001) Original and groundbreaking, "ReBoot" was produced by a Canadian/Vancouver based production company and was the very first completely computer-generated animated series. The series featured Bob, a guardian of the Mainframe who protects the computer-world from Megabyte, a villainous computer virus. With characters and story elements based on real-world computer technology this highly creative Tron-like world paved the way for modern CGI feature TV shows and films.

#7 Darkwing Duck (1991-1992) After the success of Disney's "Ducktales" (1987) cartoon series, with Disney's new weekday afternoon lineup included shows such as "Talespin", "Goof Troop" featuring already established Disney characters. Disney introduced a new superhero based in the Ducktales-like animal world it featured a semi-dark themed crime fighter "Darkwing Duck" a.k.a. Drake Mallard as a caped crime-fighter who used a variety of gas-guns, very reminiscent of "The Shadow" or "The Sandman". A sort-of spin-off of "Duck Tales", it featured the character of Launchpad McQuack as DW's sidekick and later also featured Gizmo-Duck. With some of the funniest Batman/James Bond-like super villains such as Steelbeak, Megavolt, Quackerjack, and his arch-nemesis Negaduck! "Let's get dangerous!"

#6 The Tick (1994-1996) Based on the independent comic book series created by Ben Edlund in 1986, the Fox Network introduced the wacky (and most likely insane) unlikely superhero The Tick (Townsend Coleman) and his sidekick Arthur (Rob Paulsen)! Featuring some of the craziest allies such as Die Fledermaus, American Maid and super villains from Chairface Chippendale to Brainchild just to name a few! "Spoooooon!!!"

#5 Animaniacs (1993-1998) "It's time for Animaniacs, and we're zany to the max..." In the new renaissance of Warner Bros. animation in collaboration with Steven Spielberg which included such titles as "Tiny Toon Adventures", "Animaniacs" was a revolution of animation entertaining both kids and adults! With a huge cast original characters including the Warner Brothers and their sister Dot, along with Pinky & the Brain (which got their own spin-off in 1995), Slappy and Skippy Squirrel, Rita and Runt, and The Goodfeathers! With often very adult-oriented and sometimes suggestive themes (Hello Nurse) and pop-culture references from both movie and cartoon history the show even including some current political themes with an appearance from Bill Clinton!

#4 X-Men (1992-1997) Although the X-Men were not new to animation with appearances in the 1980's with "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" (1981) to a failed "X-Men" pilot starring Kitty Pryde in 1989. As "The X-Men" Marvel comic book had experienced renewed interest with an all-star talent and popular new characters (i.e. Gambit, Jubilee, Bishop). The Fox Network produced a popular animated series featuring some of the most popular mutant characters creating even more success for Wolverine, who had already been the X-Men's most popular character. The series also re-introduced an older character, Morph (a.k.a. Changeling), who started out as an extraneous character but soon became the center of a major plot line as they killed off his character in the pilot episode! The show featured original stories as well as those based on past comic story-arcs such as "Days of Future Past" and "The (Dark) Phoenix Saga".

#3 Gargoyles (1994-1997) Whoever thought that Disney would have created one of the best action/fantasy cartoon series ever! "Stone by day, warriors by night!" With Keith David as the voice of the heroic Goliath and Marina Sirtis as the femme fatale Demona, it was dark, violent, even scary at sometimes! There was even a controversial episode called "Deadly Force" involving the lead Hispanic damsel Elisa Maza getting shot! An amazing show, it featured an intense episodic storyline and often highly-intellectual content featuring influences from the works of William Shakespeare!

#2 Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) I have been a huge Batman fan even from an early age and following the "Batman" movies directed by Tim Burton (1989-1992), Warner Bros. produced a new Emmy-winning animated series featuring the work of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. With some of the best voice actors like Kevin Conroy as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and memorable villains starring such actors as Mark Hamill as The Joker, Richard Moll as Two-Face, Ron Perlman as Clayface, Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoman and David Warner as Ra's Al Ghul. Later the show introduced a much older teenage Robin (Dick Grayson) and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) and retitled in it's 2nd season as "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" and was then later reworked into "The New Batman Adventures" featuring a new younger Robin (Tim Drake) and Nightwing. The show spawned two feature films including the theatrical release of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993). "I am vengeance...I am the night...I AM BATMAN!"

#1 The Simpsons (1989-Current) Although it technically premiered on "The Tracy Ullman Show" in 1987 and it's first episode aired on December 17, 1989, The Simpsons were the defining dysfunctional family of the 1990's. Now it has become the single-longest running TV show of all time with worldwide popularity and is currently in it's 22nd season having released a theatrical movie in 2007 (The Simpsons Movie), along with billions of dollars in merchandise! "Ay Caramba!"

Comic Book Review: "5 Ronin"

I have been a devoted comic book collector for years and very rarely has a Marvel title brought so much enthusiasm, not since last years limited series return of "Deathlok". I have been very disappointed in Marvel with their supposed "epic" story lines which have so completely destroyed anything that resembles anything of the Marvel Universe we know. The constant deaths, resurrections (i.e. Captain America), reboots (i.e. "Wolverine", "X-Men") and don't get me started on the whole "Ultimates" thing... Every once in a while there is a breath of fresh air and creativity that distracts us from the Marvel norm with the occasional original limited series or independent title.
This Spring, Marvel Comics has published a 5-issue mini-series entitled "5 Ronin", in the same vein as the recent "Marvel Noir" titles. "5 Ronin" combines my two favorite things: Marvel Superheroes and Japanese Samurai! Each issue of "5 Ronin" features a specific Marvel character as they would appear in 17th Century Medieval Japan including: Wolverine, Hulk, Punisher, Psylocke and Deadpool.
The series is written by Peter Milligan, a British writer who's comics works include "2000 A.D." "Shade: The Changing Man" , Marvel's "X-Force" and "X-Statix". Each issue features amazing artwork by five different artists including Tomm Coker (Wolverine), Dalibor Talajić (Hulk), Laurence Campbell (Punisher), Goran Parlov (Psylocke) and Leandro Fernandez (Deadpool). The story is set around the year 1600 following the legendary battle at Sekigahara and centers around a legendary Ronin (masterless Samurai) who can not die or rather, will not stay dead (Wolverine)! The Ronin is seeking revenge for the one who betrayed him and his brothers and along the way runs into other uinque warriors who possess strange abilities and strengths. The main influence for these stories come from Wolverine as it is known his character spent much time in Japan and learned the ways of the Samurai. "5 Ronin" is an amazing story told in an epic style with impressive artwork from several talented comic artists. Although the series is only in a 5-issue mini-series, hopefully it will spawn a more lengthy series in the near future as we hope to see more of these fantastic characters! Also, look for alternate cover artwork for each issue by the same talented artists!

MOVIE REVIEW: PAUL

PAUL is THE ultimate geek movie of all time since Fanboys (2008)! Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have become one of the most popular British comedy duo's since their international fame in the BBC TV series Spaced (1999) and movies such as Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007). Simon Pegg has also achieved some success in American movies since he played the new Scotty in Star Trek (2009). PAUL is the story of two friends/geeks: Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost) who've traveled to the U.S. to see San Diego Comic-Con and tour the most infamous UFO hot spots like Area 51 and Roswell, New Mexico! Along the way they encounter a stranded, extra-terrestrial named simply Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), who just happens to be a rude, foul-mouthed pot-smoking, lazy, slacker! Reluctantly, they agree to help Paul find his way home but along the way run into trouble with dangerous Men-In-Black agents, redneck hunters and bible-pumping trailer-trash!
This movie has so many pop-culture elements that appeal to both the comic-book/sci-fi loving nerds (like myself) and those who love the typical bathroom/pot humor buddy comedies. (It's amazing how those two sub-genres go together sometimes?) And that's where Seth Rogen comes in, who's no stranger to voice work from his parts in "family-friendly" Dreamwork's pictures such as Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and Kung Fu Panda (2008) to appearing in more "adult"-related comedies like Pineapple Express (2008), Zack and Miri (2008) and Knocked Up (2007). And I use the word "adult" very loosely as most of his characters seem like the same pot-smoking looser, but he has apparently become one of the biggest stars right now since his role in The Green Hornet (2011). Although I found it to be a very campy treatment to an otherwise serious story similar to the travesty of Jim Carrey's The Mask (1994)!
Although I love Simon Pegg and Nick Frost it seemed inevitable that director Greg Mottola (Adventureland (2009), & Superbad (2007) would put these two together. Surprisingly, with Paul, I found myself wanting MORE Pegg and Frost and LESS Rogen! Despite being a computer-generated character, likened to the Grays from The X-Files to very reminiscent of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, Rogen steals the show with his incredibly realistic and highly detailed character. It seems ironic that one of THE most sophisticated computer-generated characters ever is reduced to a crude, pot-head, loser but he amazingly manages to insight a great deal of sympathy and pathos to his character.
The movie is so filled with pop-culture/sci-fi references it's enough to make even the most casual fanboy giggle (admittedly) with nerdy snorts from Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, E.T. and especially Close Encounters of the Third Kind. There are SO many recognizable comedy and sci-fi related cameos in this movie from Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, David Koechner, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch and even Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Spielberg! Kristen Wiig plays the confused, love interest to Simon Pegg who starts out as a pitiful, sheltered, bible-pumping girl (with a weird eye thing?) and with the help (or rather corruption) by Paul is free to pursue a relationship with Graeme and start cursing like an awkward middle-school student.
I just can't stop singing the praises of the Pegg and Frost duo, they're my new buddy comedy favorites since Mike Myers and Dana Carvey or Chris Farley and David Spade! Ever since I saw Shaun of the Dead I've enjoyed they're chemistry and camaraderie through thick and thin, zombies and aliens! Paul is their first American movie together although it was written by both of them, director Mottola I feel may not be the best fit for them as their previous collaborator, director Edgar Wright, who directed both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but also the recent comic-book/ film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010). If you haven't experienced the comic genius of Pegg and Frost, I highly recommend them and if you too are a fellow geek, PAUL is a laugh-riot! So, may the farce be with you and live long and prosper or something!


Paul Official Movie Website: http://whatispaul.com/

2011 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: ALICE COOPER

Last night I watched the 26th Annual 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on FUSE. The ONLY artist I was interested in seeing was of course the one and only ALICE COOPER! After 40 years, Alice Cooper is finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to which to many in the music industry have a love/hate relationship with (i.e. Eddie Trunk) I'm always elated (and sometimes confused, i.e. Michael Jackson, Madonna) at some of the artists chosen to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame from classic artists such as The Beatles, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix and even some of my favorite classic hard rock artists such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, and Queen to even more modern favorites such as Van Halen and especially METALLICA, who were inducted in 2009.
I realize there are hundreds of Rock & Roll bands out there, some of which have been around for over 40 years that haven't even been inducted. I believe it was definitely way over due for Alice Cooper to be inducted and who could've been more perfect to present him than none other than Rob Zombie, who regards Alice Cooper as one of his major influences as a "rock & roll villain". 
For those who don't know Alice Cooper (the band ) started in the late 1960's originally as a 5-piece band who were discovered by legendary record producer Frank Zappa. Throughout the late '60's and '70's Alice Cooper terrorized the charts (and parents) with songs like "No More Mr. Nice Guy", "School's Out", "Under My Wheels", and "The Ballad of Dwight Frye" just to name a few. In 1975 the original band broke up and singer Alice Cooper (a.k.a. Vincent Furnier) released his first solo album Welcome To My Nightmare. Since then Alice Cooper has survived as the original shock-rock band; before KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, and even Marylin Manson. Alice Cooper has been known for his elaborate and amazing stage shows incorporating bizarre costumes, blood, snakes, and guillotines!
Along with their presentation Alice Cooper performed "I'm Eighteen" with the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper band (Glen Buxton died in 1997) and also "School's Out" along with Rob Zombie and a choir of creepy-clad children. This year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees also included Neil Diamond and Tom Waits.
*Favorite Alice Cooper albums: "Killer", "Welcome To My Nightmare", "Trash", "The Last Temptation", "Brutal Planet"

I got lost on the road somewhere
Was it Texas or was it Canada
Drinking whiskey in the morning light
I work the stage all night long
At first we laughed about it
My long haired drunken friends
Proposed a toast to Jimmy's ghost
I never dreamed that I would wind up on the losing end
I'm stuck here on the inside looking out
I'm just another case
Where's my makeup, where's my face, on the inside...

- "From The Inside", Alice Cooper

ST. PATRICK'S DAY: TOP 10 IRISH CELEBRITIES

It's St. Patrick's Day! Although I'm not religious I have a strong Irish Heritage and some of my favorite actors,  celebrities and writers are Irish so to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, here's my list of the TOP 10 IRISH CELEBRITIES! So, get your lucky four-leaf clover and grab some green beer and enjoy!

#10 Gabriel Byrne (Actor) The Usual Suspects, End of Days, Miller's Crossing

#9 Colm Meaney (Actor) Played Chief Miles O'Brian in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

#8 Cillian Murphy (Actor) 28 Days Later, Batman Begins, Sunshine

#7 Oscar Wilde (Writer) "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1890)

#6 C.S. Lewis (Writer) "The Chronicles of Narnia"

#5 Bram Stoker (Writer) "Dracula" (1897)

#4 Sam Neil (Actor) Jurassic Park, In the Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, Daybreakers 

#3 Liam Neeson (Actor) Darkman, Schindler's List, Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Taken

#2 Kenneth Branagh (Director/Actor) Hamlet, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Thor (2011)

#1 Pierce Brosnan (Actor) Remington Steele, James Bond in Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day

TOP 10: ZOMBIE MOVIES!!!

Today, in honor of the release of The Walking Dead: Season One on BluRay and DVD, CHERNOBOG'S BLOG presents the TOP 10: ZOMBIE MOVIES!

#10 The Return of the Living Dead (1985) This very punky, '80's, parody of the zombie genre actually brought some fun and originality to the genre which coined the term: "Brains!" and featuring such memorable scenes as the Tarman and of course...a nude Linnea Quigley, wow!

 #9 Fido (2006) A classic tale about a boy and his zombie! The pseudo-1950's, post-zombie outbreak is hilarious and surprisingly original.

 #8 28 Days Later (2002) Danny Boyle's British masterpiece, the rage virus creates blood-spewing zombie-like infected which run amok in London. I love the music!

 #7 Zombieland (2009) Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) stars with Woody Harrelson in this hilarious and action-packed zombie shootout. "Time to nut up or shut up!" The opening credit sequence does it for me every time featuring Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"!

 #6 Zombie (1979) Italian director Lucio Fulci's incredibly gory masterpiece! A zombie fighting a shark underwater, what more could you ask?!

 #5 Dawn of the Dead (2004) Zack Snyder's (Watchmen, 300) first film and an impressive remake of George Romero's classic! It also featured faster zombies!?

 #4 Resident Evil (2002) Based on the incredibly popular Capcom vidseo game Paul W. S. Anderson's started a new zombie franchise that has so far released 3 sequels including last years Resident Evil: Afterlife.

 #3 Shaun of the Dead (2003) Director Edgar Wright+Simon Pegg+Nick Forst=Perfect Combination! In this British homage to the genre brought Simon Pegg and Nick Frost success all over the world!

 #2 Dawn of the Dead (1978) "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth." George Romero's long awaited sequel to his original Night of the Living Dead which brought all the glorious zombie gore in beautiful color!

#1 Night of the Living Dead (1968) THE original, the ONE and ONLY, George A. Romero classic!!! This is the one that started it all! "They're coming to get you Barbara..."