Monthly Archives: May 2007

Film and Television, Pop Culture

RIP Charles Nelson Reilly

Charles Nelson Reilly Meh
Farewell, Funny Man (a href=”http://sportschump.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/charles-nelson-reilly-meh.jpg”>Image Source

Comic Actor Charles Nelson Reilly Dies at 76
Frequent Game Show Guest Was a Tony Award Winner

The New York Times

Charles Nelson Reilly, who acted and directed on Broadway but came to be best known for his campy television appearances on talk shows and “Match Game,” died on Friday (May 27th, 2007) in Los Angeles. He was 76 and lived in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The cause was complications of pneumonia, said his partner, Patrick Hughes, who is his only immediate survivor. Mr. Reilly had been ill for more than a year, he said.

Long before moving west to become what he somewhat ruefully described as a “game show fixture,” Mr. Reilly was an actor and an acting teacher in New York City. In 1962, he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Bud Frump in the original Broadway production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
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Lifestyle, Nature and Tourism

Memorial Day: Those Who Died in Vain

Memorial Day
Image Source

Here’s an interesting and poignant article by author Gary Kamiya on the true meaning of Memorial Day from Salon.

Music, Pop Culture

Gail In Print: Modern Drummer, July 2007


Ron Howard Look-Alike, Jeff Ballard

I just got the July 2007 issue of Modern Drummer in my mail box today and was delighted to find my update with Ian Matthews of Kasabian on page 26!

Music, Pop Culture

Happy Birthday, Bob Dylan!

Bob Dylan 1962
Greatest Living American Songwriter: Born May 24th, 1941

It is probably impossible for me to name just one favorite Bob Dylan song because, as the greatest living American songwriter, he has written practically every amazing song on the planet (with the exception of those written by any member of the Beatles, or Led Zeppelin). Think about it: “All Along the Watchtower,” “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “My Back Pages,” “Tangled up in Blue,” these are all fantastic songs. Nobody can turn a phrase like Dylan.
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Books and Periodicals, Pop Culture

Gail’s Rad Advice For Bands to be Included in Book on Touring

tour smart book

I have conducted and written about a gazillion interviews in my career, and most have turned out really good or great, not just thanks to my extreme talent but also to my good fortune at being able to interview some of the most verbose and charismatic figures in rock music. Somebody who’s always an amazing interview is Martin Atkins: drummer, label owner, entrepreneur and mastermind behind the revolving line-up underground supergroup, Pigface. Martin is the shit. Fortunately for all you struggling musicians out there, Martin has just written the definitive insiders’ book on touring tips for bands, entitled Tour: Smart. I was quite flattered to be among the 150 or so music industry luminaries that Martin solicited for input to be included in the book. Of course, I was thrilled to oblige.

My contribution to Tour: Smart centers on interviews, mistakes musicians make when approaching interviews, how bad that pisses me off and what you can do to avoid my wrath. You will probably really enjoy reading that section, because I name names and use a lot of swear words. Tour: Smart should be released this summer, and is a guaranteed must-read.