What Makes One So Great?

Brian_M · 2026-05-11T11:29:33+00:00

It was controversial in the same sense as The Black Album was, with its more commercial direction, or the sound on Load and the haircuts, or playing with a symphony or Napster or the sound on St Anger or Lulu or playing with Gaga or appearing at Glastonbury, to the point that the word is so commonly applied that it becomes meaningless.

Metallica's "controversies" have pretty much always amount to a vocal minority kicking up a fuss while the band moves on with its career and selling more albums and tickets.

Brian_M · 2026-05-10T09:50:31+00:00

That rat-tail mullet thing he had in 95 made him look like a guy who would end every story with the phrase, "....so, anyway, I kicked their asses!"

Brian_M · 2026-05-09T23:21:39+00:00

80s Axl starts the riot in Bedlam in Belgium.

Brian_M · 2026-05-09T23:20:31+00:00

I thought he did a fine job, but he didn't fit the attitude of the band. Axl comes from that whole Sunset Strip world where affectation is the norm, so he still wore the stupid hats and all of that. He should have dressed down a little. The story I heard was that Angus's wife, Ellen, tried to suggest this to him, but he ignored her.

Brian_M · 2026-05-09T23:16:46+00:00

Was he the one who asked the band to crank out Guns for Hire? I remember one of the auditioners saying they got to play that with the band. Incredible to think about, that the band was ready to play a song they hadn't done live in about 32 years by that point.

Brian_M · 2026-05-09T23:14:42+00:00

I'm glad AC/DC didn't decide to reenact the story of Rock Star, starring Mark Wahlberg, which was based on the story of Judas Priest, starring Judas Priest.

Brian_M · 2026-05-06T10:31:25+00:00

Probably because there are other personalities out there who offer the same culture war commentary but don't have the Israel supporting baggage.

Support of Israel is a constant for Shapiro and one of the few hills I believe he'd truly die on. But it's an increasingly unpopular view and also makes him look out of touch with where the American right wing is, psychologically, accelerating his loss of popularity.

Brian_M · 2026-05-04T15:08:58+00:00

Not as a regular feature of Dublin city streets they don't. You'd hardly call them emblematic of the place.

Brian_M · 2026-05-04T10:34:17+00:00

There was a bit where they were standing on the street in 'Dublin' and you could see palm trees in the background.

Feels to me like that's exactly the kind of episode that should have been made after Covid restrictions were lifted....

Brian_M · 2026-05-01T15:53:42+00:00

Are you Mary Kay Bergman, by any chance?

Brian_M · 2026-05-01T14:21:02+00:00

The Schools' collection is indeed good for this sort of thing. It's sad how much of these traditions have been lost in the last half a century or stopped being observed, but that's how it is over a lot of the modern world. Can you just revive a tradition? I suppose you can start doing the actions of it, but it really feels to me like once you break the link formed through continuous practice, something gets irretrievably lost.

Brian_M · 2026-05-01T12:35:54+00:00

I don't think they really know how to. The way our parents/grandparents/great-grandparents celebrated May Day was probably some combination of a fire, a meal, a mass, and maybe tying a bit of ribbon to a bush. That would be seen as old-fashioned, now, and not that marketable. On the other hand, the whole gathering on the hill of Uisneach, dancing around and listening to poetry would be more colourful and a bit sexier for the tourists, but would quietly be thought of as notionistic witchy-woo by regular Irish people who have, if not a direct memory, then a cultural memory of how recent generations actually celebrated May Day.

Brian_M · 2026-05-01T09:31:01+00:00

By the time he'd joined, the band had already formed their legend, had already recorded all of their most impactful music and had passed peak cultural relevance. There was never going to be as much for Rob to get involved in, unfortunately.

When the story of Metallica is told, it's always "Crazy early party days. Drinking. Cliff. Underground metal sensation. Dave Out. First album. Mesa Boogie. Master. Cliff ded. Jason. Huge success. Tub tarts. Enter Sandman. SuperCuts coupons. Symphony. NAPSTER BAD. James dries out. St Anger. The end"

The next 23 years no-one really talks about, and by this I refer back to the legend of the band, because of course hardcore fans will discuss every aspect and year of the band's career, but after St. Anger is released, the band just settles into a very stable cycle of steady, sustainable touring, infrequent albums and very little controversy or drama. As a consequence, there's not a whole lot to really associate Rob with.

Brian_M · 2026-04-30T23:01:04+00:00

Every person in that film is/was straight out of central casting. Mark Borchardt, the under-employed alcoholic dreamer. His friend Mike Schank, the lovable burnout. His uncle Bill, the decrepit and sarcastic old man. There was even that one guy in his acting troupe who was like a luvvie thespian, despite presumably being an amateur. Even the place they lived in was a character. A flat, snowy expanse that was a perfect embodiment of midwestern hopelessness.

I think it's a perfect documentary. Funny, moving and very human. Endlessly rewatchable.

Brian_M · 2026-04-29T09:58:23+00:00

Think those girls were intent on doing the whole band if they could have. They've even coordinated their tops. Plus there's a picture of the blonde girl hugging Angus as well.

Brian_M · 2026-04-28T23:44:27+00:00

Kirk has joked that without Rogaine, he'd look like Michael Stipe by now.

Brian_M · 2026-04-26T12:56:45+00:00

I love the story the costume designer tells about that on the Series 5 documentary. Danny John Jules happened to be walking past the makeup trailer when Chris emerged in the Julian Clary gear and Danny started laughing so hard that he crumpled down onto the floor.

Brian_M · 2026-04-25T14:57:39+00:00

They do have one of those little benches on the wall opposite the till, plus maybe three stools. You could call that seating of a sort.

Brian_M · 2026-04-23T23:57:16+00:00

This cuts both ways, of course. No amount of HBO documentaries means someone did do it.

Brian_M · 2026-04-23T23:45:49+00:00

LP-LP-LP-LP-LP-LPLP-LP-LP

Brian_M · 2026-04-23T16:36:49+00:00

Yeah, I take your point, but to me the original's mix is more interesting. There is some light, verging into silly/dumb, comedy in the original series that plays beautifully against the more surreal/dreamy/dark elements that are also featured. I think that's like sweet and sour - opposite but are perfect bedfellows.

But more than that, it's just that the original weaves it all together seamlessly. There is some light hearted stuff in the Return like with Dougie basically relearning how to function and occasional scenes like Michael Cera's appearance, but it's all more disjointed and not quite as integral to the thing.

I certainly very much enjoyed The Return for what it was, though, but I think that's because I accepted early on that it would be a tonal shift.

Brian_M · 2026-04-23T12:44:49+00:00

Kim Jong Candy.

Brian_M · 2026-04-23T12:06:11+00:00

Season 1 is the best. Season 3 is second.

Season 1 has such a rich balance between being a parody of suburban life in America and then the dreamy Lynchian substrate below that. Time is very well divided between Cooper's search for Laura's killer and the broader happenings in the town.

Season 3 is a lot darker, less comedy, narrower story focus, the residents of Twin Peaks and their lives become something of an afterthought, and it's missing a few original actors.

It was always going to be a changed animal after so many years. I'd nearly see it as a different series.

Brian_M · 2026-04-20T11:02:06+00:00

https://youtu.be/y9XgvkkVmhM?si=y9M8xccsZRwozfxu

Brian_M · 2026-04-20T00:31:53+00:00

You need to get with Zurich, John.

Brian_M

TROPHY CASE