December 2009 archive

1%er Biker Clubhouses are nothing like the TV portrays; at least in my experience. The people are warm, friendly and humorous.

Biker clubs are like dandelions in Michigan, whether or not you notice them, their members are everywhere. Still, though there are a few we are close to, the whole premise is incomprehensible to me. Not that they give one flying fuck what I think of their life choice, its their life not mine. But its natural when you really like someone to try and figure out just what makes them tick. They get that too.

You see, they see themselves as outlaws. They see their own as brother, and feel the bonding of being outside the mainstream America by common experience and interest.

The first thing that strikes me is the Rules. There are so many rules and commitments it makes State Legislation look like suggestions.

Let me see: You want to be “free” so pledge lifelong commitment to a group that enforces mandatory meetings, mandatory bar service, mandatory rides, mandatory settling of differences (ahem) with other groups. Your freedom includes taking off work whenever they say you must, being away from home and family a couple weekends a month, and showing up at least three nights a week to the Clubhouse???

To me, that’s not freedom, its just handing your will over to a smaller, stricter government that enforces its will, with, ummm, deadly force.

You may as well shave your head and join the Krishnas… its the same thing with better toys.

The featured number this week was released on May 24, 1968, and was referred to as “supernatural Delta blues by way of Swinging London” by Rolling Stone.  This song was hailed as evidence of the band’s return to their blues roots after the psychedelia of their preceding albums.  This hit reached #1 on the UK charts, #3 in the United States, and was the most played in concert of this group’s extensive and impressive repertoire.  

In 2004, Rolling Stone rated this song 124th on its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  In March, 2005, Q Magazine placed this superhit at #2 in its list of 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. VH1 placed it at #65 on its show “100 Greatest Rock Songs.”

So, without further ado, the featured original this week is the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin Jack Flash.”  

Here’s the original version from 1968 by the Rolling Stones, along with a fascinating slide show:

George Harrison and Friends performed a great cover version at the Concert for Bangladesh, held on August 1, 1971 at Madison Square Garden.  Among the friends:  Leon Russell, Eric Clapton and Carl Radle.

“Jumpin Jack Flash” comprises about the first four minutes of this medley:

Here’s one of Johnny Winter’s many great renditions of this song, assisted by Dr. John on piano and vocals. Look for a bit of a surprise from 6:45 to 7:30 mark:

And for just a slightly different twist, check out this interpretation that includes the incomparable Aretha Franklin AND Keith Richards appearing with Whoopi Goldberg in video footage from the 1986 film, “Jumpin Jack Flash”:

A military affairs blogger has posted a bit of media research with some rather, shall we say, unlikely(?) results, RawStory reported Friday.

It seems that for at least this year, and probably for a few years previously, the Taliban have been playing their assigned role in the great war on terror to the letter and have been considerate enough to stand around in standardized production groups to be attacked and killed by unmanned aerial drones and US and Afghan ground troops.

Groups of not odd numbers like 29 or even 31 of them, but standing there waiting for their martyrizing missile strikes in groups of exactly 30.

Citing the Moon of Alabama blog, which made a similar argument this spring, Security Crank linked to 12 news reports of separate air strike incidents since the start of the year in which the number of Taliban or insurgent casualties was reported to be 30, in most cases citing US military officials.

Not 29, not 31. Thirty.