AMERICAN CHOPPER's Last Ride

Sadly, family legal problems between the Teutul family have probably resulted more than anything in the decision to end the very popular TLC motorcycle customizing reality series, AMERICAN CHOPPER. The last episode will air on February 11.

Back in December, legal problems between Paul Teutul, Sr. and Jr. resulted in a lawsuit by the father against the son for control of the Orange County Choppers business in New York state. With the two unable to repair their relations, and the continued conflict over control of the family business, it seemed nearly impossible for the very popular TV series to continue.

The show was so popular it spurred many products including a PlayStation 2 version of the show.

TLC issued a statement thanking the Teutul family for being such a great moment in the channel's history.

Cd Preview: THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN Expanded 2 Disc Edition Drops March 23

One of the greatest UK psychedelic era albums of all time, THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, will be rereleased on an expanded 2 cd set on March 23. This excellent original 1968 album in beautifully remastered digital stereo will be included along with alternate mono versions of the songs, singles, and a 1968 BBC radio broadcast. This is an incredible must have package.

Originally released in 1968 0n Track Records with Pete Townshend of The WHO as the associate producer, Arthur Brown's outlandish album hit peaked at #7 on the Billboard albums chart, and the single, "Fire" peaked at #2 on the Billboard singles chart. His outlandish vocal style and macabre stage shows probably helped to influence later rockers such as Alice Cooper and others.

The original 1968 album was a dark and twisted, nightmarish vision indeed. Alternating between deep voiced dark and demonic vocal styles, and a ear-piercing high pitched screaming style , this psychedelic "Punch & Judy" issued one of the strangest and greatest and darkest masterpiece albums of the 1960's. Unfortunately, none of his later efforts seemed to really capture all of the magic of this original first effort. THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN captures this artist at his greatest moment.

His dark hit single, "Fire" opens with that famous shouted catch-phrase of his, "I am the god of hellfire", and a heavy use of flaming helmets and other fire use caused him to once be removed from a tour with Jimi Hendrix. Further, Arthur Brown was forced to put up bonds to perform in other venues because of the fire risk to theaters and stages. Sometimes, an occasional fire accident did occur causing the loss of a little hair. In 207, another little fire accident happened as well when Arthur Brown lost some hair and a musician of his also caught fire.

Musicians associated with Arthur Brown's original band such as organist Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer(who later formed Emerson, Lake & Palmer) eventually went on to form Atomic Rooster. And Arthur Brown had a later association with the out there UK act, Hawkwind.

But this original 1968 album has so many high points beyond the success of the single, "Fire". His cover version of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins song, "I Put A Spell On You", was another very macabre masterpiece, but became a less successful follow-up single to "Fire" for some odd reason. But it's a very memorable version of that song, and may well be the best version of that song ever recorded. "Nightmare", "Come And Buy", "Spontaneous Apple Creation" and other songs all stand very well on their own as well. "Nightmare" is really good, and another fantastic vocal performance by Brown as well.

While not really comparable to the same dark musical vision presented by The Doors, Arthur Brown's own very dark music, heavy macabre vocals and creepy keyboard based songs on THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN should really appeal to fans of The Doors nonetheless, for his own unique visions of very dark and disturbing concepts and stylings. If you like dark music, this album is for you.

All in all, this is one of the greatest rock era albums ever recorded. It is an absolute must in any well stocked collection of 1960's vintage psychedelic rock albums. By all means buy yourself a copy. Cd Universe is offering preorders on this classic album at just $20.99 right now. That isn't bad at all for such a fantastic album expanded with so many musical rarities and goodies.

The Bottom Line: ++++(four stars out of four, excellent)

New Jimi Hendrix VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE Unreleased Recordings Due Out March 9

Big news for Jimi Hendrix fans is the expected March 9 release of VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE, a 12 song collection of unreleased studio tracks that has been fully authorized by the Hendrix family. Surprisingly, Cd Universe is offering preorders on this new cd for a mere $9.58, which is a real bargain. A limited edition high quality vinyl record will also be available as well, but selling for around $20 or more depending on outlet. Each of the 5,000 only copies of the Lp will be numbered. They will be pressed by RTI from California.

Tracks on the new Hendrix release will include "Stone Free", Valleys Of Neptune", "Bleeding Heart", "Hear My Train A Coming'", "Mr. Bad Luck", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Lover Man", "Ships Passing Through The Night", "Fire", "Redhouse", "Lullaby For Summer" and "Crying Blue Rain". So far there is no word which versions of these songs these are, but it might be possible that some of these versions might have available only on bootlegs or other rare sources. These Hendrix family authorized songs should be good quality. On the family website a number of inferior quality concerts of Hendrix are offered for free listening.

Other big news is the rerelease of ARE YOU EXPERIENCED, AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE, ELECTRIC LADYLAND & FIRST RAYS OF THE NEW RISING SUN on 180 gram vinyl along with companion "making of" DVDs included for the cd releases. This sounds similar to what The Beatles did with their recent remastered rereleases.

Fans of Jimi Hendrix, myself included, should be really excited by all of this great news. The legendary guitar superman lives on.

Maybe That Creepy Burger King Mascot Isn't Such A Good Idea?

While beating earnings expectations at 37 cents a share, Burger King still noted a slight sales decrease of 2% worldwide, and 3.3% in the U.S. and Canada markets despite adding 321 new restaurants. Normally, with new outlets an overall sales increase should be noted. Part of the problem is that Burger King is just too similar to most other fast food outlets that serve hamburgers without enough uniqueness to set it aside from McDonalds and others.

The only real good news is that Burger King outlets have become slightly more profitable, while at the same time the new outlets have really fallen short of building additional sales.

And it might be that those creepy Burger King mascot ads are simply a missed opportunity. They might get the Burger King name out there, but they really fail to advertise any identifiable product to draw new customers. The ads might work to remind steady customers to return, but fail to give a new customer any real reason to stop in. By contrast the Jack In The Box ads are unusual, but often make special note of a new product, giving customers a reason to stop in.

Brittany Murphy's Life Could Have Been Saved

New reports by TMZ and other sources now claim that the ongoing investigation by the L.A. Coroner's office has concluded that actress Brittany Murphy's life could have been saved if only she have been brought to the hospital for help. Apparently the 32 year old actress was suffering from pneumonia, severe anemia and complications from prescription drug use, which formed a lethal brew of problems that weakened and killed the popular film actress.

The actress was apparently far sicker than those around her realized, and she needed immediate help. However, that help was apparently put off for too long.

Yesterday, the L.A. Coroner's office had more interviews with her husband and mother. Apparently, the investigation into the death is still an ongoing matter.

Jamaican Bobsled Team Fails To Qualify For Olympics

There will be no great sequel to COOL RUNNINGS this year, as the Jamaican bobsled team sadly failed to qualify as good enough to compete in the upcoming Vancouver, Canada hosted Winter Olympics. The saga of this team with a lot of heart was once captured in the funny 1993 comedy with popular actor John Candy.

And sadly, the real Jamaican bobsled team is going have to wait until at least 2014 for another try at Olympic gold.

DVD Review: LAID TO REST

If you enjoy really trashy slasher horror flicks, then LAID TO REST just might be for you. It's sure not a great film by any means, yet it has more than enough trashy slasher violence to satisfy many gore fans if only you can get past some of very stupid characters and insulting script. Former PLAYBOY, MAXIM, STUFF & FHM, men's magazine model, Bobby Sue Luther, actually helped to co-produce this outlandish film vehicle to further her acting career. Previously, she had starred in such film classics as DEUCE BIGELOW EUROPEAN GIGOLO, with the perennially awful Rob Schneider, which should give you some idea where her movie career was headed.

Bobby Sue Luther is actually a brainy beauty, whose academic career once mattered to her so much more than modeling at one time. But you sure can't that from this script, where she constantly refers to the casket she wakes up in at a funeral home taken over by a deranged metal faced serial killer as a "box". She even calls the killer, "Chrome Skull" as "Shiny Face". Her command of the English language is absolutely horrible here, if not down right juvenile and funny. And many of the town folk in the film represent some of the worst of small Southern town stereotypes of outright ignorance and stupidity. This film should be an absolute outrage to any Southerners. It couldn't have portrayed them as any worse than if it really tried.

Yet, enough decent slasher violence, as well as an interesting new psychopathic killer personality, with "Chrome Skull", make this movie acceptable enough horror movie fare here to marginally recommend.

It's a genuinely frightening enough premise that a young woman wakes up in funeral home in a casket run by twisted and disturbed serial killer who dismembers young women. And small time actress, Seri DeYoung, looks so cute in her panties that you just hate to see that killer grotesquely do her in. With a funeral home filled with half dismembered women, LAID TO REST is a pretty fair horror film on that level alone. But it's all that bad dialog and terrible hick town Southern stereotypes that you have to tolerate to get through this.

The Bottom Line: ++(two stars out of four, fair)

Bobby Sue Luther Trivia Time: Did you know that she's actually the famous face of the St. Pauli Girl on those beer products?