Page 13 - New York Waste Hot & Sweaty Summer 2015

smokin’ Summer Issue NY WASTE 2015 13
Chiller Theatre at The Parsippany Sheraton Hotel April 24-26/2015 Chiller Theatre is a twice a year horror and
pop culture convention held in Parsippany, New Jersey. It’s a fantastic place to hear panel discussions and take part in auto- graph signings with vintage actors and mu- sicians. It’s an opportunity to be able
to talk with your favorite pop idols. Here are just a few of those wonderful people with whom I shared stories and asked some questions.
What a great treat getting to meet Michael Cole
from “The Mod Squad” TV series. He was very
charming and delighted to be here for his first
ever east coast convention. His character, Pete
Cochran, along with those of Peggy Lipton and
Clarence Williams III, made up the hippest cops from those groovy days of the ’60s.
Next I met Jennifer O’Neill. We talked about this off beat film called
“The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud.” This 1975 movie was about this guy played by Michael Sarrazin who dreams about his former life and how he was able to relive it. He meets his former wife, played by Margot Kidder, and his daugh- ter, played by Jennifer O’Neill. It’s a very trippy film.
Speaking of trippy films, two stars of “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls” and singers in The Carry Nation, Dolly Read and Marcia McBroom, were there to please and so pleasant to see.
Punk and glam legend Sylvain Sylvain of The New York
Dolls hammed it up for photos.
The entire cast from Jesus Christ Superstar was there,includ-
ing the main man Ted Neeley, who was truly wonderful to
chat with. He had the total ‘60s vibe going on.
Upon meeting Gary De Carlo, the singer/writer behind the
smash #1 hit of 1970 “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”
by Steam, there was a great talk about those amazing one-hit
wonders from the early 1970s and trying to bring them back
for a time capsule show.
Simon Kirke was there to sign autographs and talk about his days of drumming with Free and Bad Company. He still rocks out sometimes with Paul Rodgers and also his own bands or with anyone who needs a fab drummer.
Porn star Ron Jeremy had all the girls gaga over him 40 years on. Comedian Gilbert Gottfried made everyone laugh.
It was a spectacular event that would not have been possible without show producer Kevin Clement.
BookExpo America (BEA)/BookCon
at The Javits Center 5/27-31/2015
These two annual book events happen yearly at the end of May in New York. Sadly, next year they will be moving to Chicago.
BookExpo America, aka
BEA, is more for trade mem-
bers and BookCon is for
consumers. Book companies
from all over the globe and
every type of book topic you
can only imagine are here.
But it’s the book signings of various musicians and
celebrities that really draws in the crowds. It was a
very good year for rock and roll stars.
Now here are some of the highlights:
Punk rock icons, including former singer Richard Hell and poet perform- ance artist Karen Finley, were promoting their new books.
Richard Hell’s up-coming book “Massive Pissed Love” is a novel in progress. He is best known as a punk icon and a founding member of Tel- evision, The Heartbreakers and the Voidoids. Although he doesn’t perform music anymore, he writes some truly amazing novels and true stories. His new book reflects back on the 1960’s and 1970’s. I look forward to his book coming in the fall from Soft Scull Press, an imprint of Counterpoint. Karen Finley is a radical performance artist who now has a new book “Psychic Portraits.” She was painting portraits of people at this event while talking to them and getting their vibe.
Bobby Hart, best known as writing songs for groups like the Monkees with his late partner Tommy Boyce, was promoting his book “Psychedelic Bubble Gum” along with his co-writer Glenn Ballantyne. Select Book has put out this wonderful book. Steve Katz, in attendance and best known as a founding member of both “The Blues Project” and
“Blood, Sweat& Tears” has written a very exciting book
called -what else - “Blood, Sweat, and My Rock ‘n’ Roll
Years” It’s a true account of those wild days, with a
touch of his Jewish humor. From Lyons Press, an imprint
of Rowman & Littlefield.
Hal Leonard Corporation was set up there with a booth
and had some good rock and roll authors which included
Susan Masino with her book “AC/DC FAQ.” She has
known the band since 1977 and has some great inside stories to tell. Michael Seth Starr (no relation to Ringo Starr) has a forthcoming book, “Ringo: With A Little Help” about the former Beatles’ drummer. This book is focused mainly on Ringo as a solo artist. In fact,
there was such a long line that the books ran out before
everyone was able to get one signed.
Actress Julianne Moore was signing her children’s book
“Freckleface Strawberry.” It was great seeing Gloria
Steinem, a 1970’s icon and activist, at BEA. She has her
book, “My Life On The Road,”coming in October from
Random House. It will have her own never-before-told sto-
ries.Speaking of important women, Christie Brinkley was there doing a photo-op for her fans.
John Leguizamo, the great Latin actor,gave a very funny speech at Book Con about acting, growing up and try-
ing to make it in New
York City. He then
signed his upcoming
graphic comic book “Ghetto Clown.”
––No book show would be complete with the fa- mous cat Garfield. His new book “The Big Cheese” is out now.
What a great send-off to a fab-
ulous BookExpo.
Once again, and for the very last time, this special trade show would not have been as grand without
Roger Bilheimer, Director of Special Operations and Press Office Operations. It will never be quite the same without you.
Roger, over-and-out! Hail to The Book King!
The City Parks Foundation celebrating 30 years of
great concerts at this special gala at SummerSTage in the
great Central Park
They were doing a special award presentation to Steve
Leber a man who was one of the most innovative person n
the entertainment industry. He began his career at The William Morris agency. Steve has worked with everyone from The Rolling Stones to AC/DC.
Tonight we were treated to Performances by Dionne Warwick, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Colin Hay of Men at Work and Angelique Kidjo. Dionne War- wick opening the show singing her great tune “What The World Need Now “. She sounded great and was great to see her still going strong after all these years.
Debbie Harry was next with just her and guitar play Matt Saha.
She started with an off beat version of “Heart Of Glass” it was followed by a recent tune and she ended with her solo tune “French Kissing In The USA”. Debbie was in fine form and loved playing this special show. Matt is a very talented guitar player and piano player.
Colin Hay from Men At Work came on and joked about that people don’t know if I’m from Scotland of Australia. He said they he was born in Scotland and then moved to Australia. Colin then broke into an acoustic version of Down Under. The crown was singing along. He finished his set with another Man At Work song.
Then Came Angelique Kidjo. This South African lady performed one of
her traditional reggae songs and then did a quite different take on Steve
Winwoods “Higher Love”. I never liked this song by Steve Woodwind,
but Angelique did an incredible job and had the whole crowd dancing.
Then they all came out to sings That’s What Friends Are For.
Wow what a show. Happy 30th Summerstage and all city parks !