Time To Start Planning Your Memorial Day 2015 Menu!

I love this holiday! Of course, we are honoring our Veterans who have made great sacrifices for this country, and we are proud of them for that service. For an All-American celebration like this – what beats a burger?

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure – with no shortage of BACON!

Yes, it’s one of America’s most popular burgers – the Shake Shack bacon cheeseburger!

Shake Shacks are opening everywhere now it seems, and here is the reason why:

The burgers are big and beautiful – you can ready my entire review right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/04/bite-into-shake-shack-cheese-stuffed-burgers-my-shack-stack-review/

And there’s no better time than to try and replicate America’s greatest burgers!

Time To Be Inspired!

Why are burgers America’s greatest food? Well, a great burger picture answers that question, but also, remember the words of one of our country’s most beloved Chefs:

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”

Julia Child.

That’s right, this is the kind of food that says “I LOVE AMERICA!”

A cheeseburger, when done right, is a thing of beauty. When done with doughnut buns, as you see above, it’s a thing of PERFECT BEAUTY. And what do you do when something is perfect? You double it!

Now THAT is a thing of beauty! And since the Memorial Day weekend is a time for families and friends to gather, I call on all Artists to rise up and create a masterpiece or two – like this!

To begin, here is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE SLIDER!

I am happy to get this celebration started by showing you what, to me, is the greatest taste imaginable…

MY “FRENCH FRY ‘N’ TARTAR” BACON CHEESEBURGER!

I love burgers. And bacon. AND TARTAR. So why not take care of all of my vices in one big bite?

It’s so easy to be so happy: cook up a burger (i add diced onion and garlic to mine) and just before you finish cooking it, lay a few cooked french fries on top, then top with tartar sauce…finally, lay down a piece of cheese….i use both sharp cheddar AND Mozzarella….once it melts you are ready to bite down hard!

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – and you will never knock it again! OK, I understand that some of you don’t want to mix your burgers with spuds, so if that’s the case, here are some other fun recipes to try!

SLIDERS, SLIDERS, SLIDERS!

I like sliders because you can try more variations due to their smaller size. The key to a great slider is what holds it all together. That’s why I use sweet Hawaiian dinner rolls…they are the perfect size AND they add a nice bit of flavor, which you need when you are piling your mini-bun high like this:

The Ingredients For A Perfect Patty!

Now, time to get down to basics. A great hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I put minced onion and garlic in mine, to provide a bit of sassy crunch. Other than that, I like to use a fun salt – like pink hawaiian sea salt, and a fair amount of pepper.

Let’s get cooking!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Here is the all-american classic! Build it this way and you are golden – your ingredients are easy:

Sweet Hawaiian bun, Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Hamburger patty
Tomato, Pickle, then Mayonaise, Mayonaise, Mayonaise!
Ketchup and mustard if you MUST

If you do it right, it will look like THIS (you can shift things around in terms of order, but it needs to end up like this):

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

But what if you have a “spicy tooth?” Well, we have an answer for you as well:

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website, and it takes advantage of one of America’s most popular new condiments!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

This great looking Sriracha burger pic came from “cookingwithcristen.com” which is also a great site for recipes!

This is easy and fun: just combine the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha, and the pepper – make your patties.

Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium high heat.

Cook your bacon – once the bacon is cooked, remove the slices and drain onto paper towels, reserving the remaining bacon fat in the pan. Cook sliced onions in the bacon fat over medium-low heat until they caramelize, 20 to 25 minutes.

Grill the burgers, turning once, 4 to 41/2 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer registers 130° to 135°F for medium-rare.

While the burgers are cooking, in a small bowl, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha. Lightly toast the buns on the grill during the last minute of cooking time.

To assemble, spread the blue cheese mixture on both halves of each hamburger bun. Stack a burger patty, Swiss cheese slice, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato slice, and a small handful of arugula between each hamburger bun.

Bam! Spicy good times for all!

Our next stop on this burger journey take you to a very unique and gooey place:

The “Bacon Mac’n’ Cheeseburger!”

That’s right, make a bacon cheeseburger and load it up with mac’n’cheese as your topping!

As you can see, simple and so so delicious – especially when serves with tater tots on the side!

And if you want a subtle “international” feel to your slider, this this on for size:

Australian Sliders!

I uncovered these two years ago in Melbourne. They add a slice of beetroot – OK, we call it beet, they call it beetroot – just add a slice underneath the burger. It adds a great, slightly sweet and nutty flavor to the taste. Look at how beautiful that big chunk looks on the burger above…Everything else is the same – but if you want to go totally Aussie, add a fried egg on top….the best!

Finally, if you want to begin your holiday weekend with a slider, do what I do:

The “White Castle Breakfast Slider!”

Here is a recipe for making your own breakfast sliders using frozen White Castles cheeseburgers!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/28/white-castle-breakfast-sliders-behold-the-380-calorie-wonder/

Enjoy your holiday!

The Two Faces Of The Doobie Brothers!

I want to celebrate one of the best classic rock bands of the 70’s….who also happened to be one of the best r’n’b bands of the 80’s!

Here’s a look at a classic band, their transformation, and their rebirth!

Behold The Doobie Brothers!

The Doobie Brothers were one of the biggest bands of the 70’s – they formed in the early 70’s, with original founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons…

“Listen To The Music!”

The band broke through with the smash hit album “Toulouse Street”, helped by a string of catchy rock hits. Here they are in 1975, with a live version of their first smash hit, “Listen To The Music”:

“Jesus Is Just Alright!”

“Listen To The Music” was a huge hit, and so was this classic Doobie song from the album. Here is the band in later years, still able to bring “Jesus” to life with a great sound!

“Rockin’ Down The Highway!”

The Doobies continued their string of hits with this classic rocker:

The hits just kept coming for the band in the 70’s. “The Captain And Me” album was next, with the hits “China Grove” and “Long Train Runnin'” – and The Doobies 70’s country rock sound was never better…

On their next album, they had the smash hit “Black Water”, and the band kept getting more and more popular….until:

“Stampede!”

The next Doobies album included the hit “Take Me In Your Arms”, and fans could see that the album had more of a country flavor to it…what fans didn’t know was, behind the scenes, there were big changes on the horizon:

The Doobies Get Soul!

Lead singer Tom Johnston began having health problems, including a bleeding ulcer. He abruptly stepped away from the band, and the group brought in singer Michael McDonald – immediately turning the band into one of the most soulful of the late 70’s and 80’s!

With Michael McDonald’s soulful voice and silly r’n’b vibe, the band’s sound changed dramatically, but the band had hits like “What A Fool Believes”, “Takin’ It To The Streets” and “It Keeps You Runnin'”…

“What A fool Believes” was written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, and was the Doobie’s second #1 single…here is a live version from 1985:

Clearly, this could not be a more different Doobie Brothers, and ultimately, Michael McDonald launched a successful solo career…the band broke up when the members realized the two musical directions weren’t working for them…

The Return Of Tom Johnson!

At the end of the 80’s, the original band members, including a healthy Tom Johnston, reformed and released a new CD of music, and have continued to release new music ever since!

The Two Doobies Meet!

Now, the two iterations of Doobie have met – and are performing together!

WANTAGH, NY – AUGUST 18: Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers perform at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on August 18, 2012 in Wantagh, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Great shot by photographer Taylor Hill from Getty Images….and here is a great live clip of Michael McDonald, who brings original Doobie Brothers Tom Johnson and Patrick Simmons out on stage to perform the band’s first #1 hit, “Black Water” – written by Simmons!

Great to see the Doobie Brothers continuing to entertain the fans – and keep classic 70’s country rock alive!

And speaking of that:

Jackson Browne – The Sound Of The 70’s!

While The Doobie Brothers personify the sound of the 70’s, the real master of that is Jackson Browne…not only did he have an incredible string of hits, but he continues to make great music today!

To read all about his latest CD, click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/21/never-running-on-empty-brilliant-new-jackson-browne-music/

Browne also wrote the Eagles first big hit, “Take It Easy” – and that helped make them the biggest country rock band of the 70’s!

The Eagles are on a great tour that looks at their rich musical history, with early members of the band performing classic album tracks!

If you want to read my review of the “History Of The Eagles” concert, you can click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

Jackson Browne, The Eagles, and of course, The Doobie Brothers will always define to me the best of country rock!

Happy 35th Birthday!

That’s right, one of the greatest horror films of all time just celebrated its 35th birthday with a big reunion event in England!

“Here’s Johnny!”

Yes, that line was ad-libbed, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to trivia about “The Shining”, Director Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece…

The film just celebrated its 35th birthday, and Warner Brothers did a really cool thing: they reunited many of the film’s participants for a huge anniversary event in England.

Here’s how it was reported in The Hollywood Reporter: “To celebrate the 35th anniversary of “Here’s Johnny” becoming one of cinema’s most iconic lines, the crew and even some of the cast from The Shining assembled at Elstree Studios, the famed U.K. facility where much of Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed psychological horror was shot in 1979.

Arranged by Warner Bros and The Elstree Project, a local program aimed maintaining the studios heritage, the group later attended a special screening of the film in the Odyssey Cinema in St. Albans, the nearby town outside London where Kubrick lived for 20 years until his death in 1999.”

Here is how the event was described by Garrett Brown, the man who invented the Steadi-cam…

“Seeing this crowd again, it’s like a room full of ghosts, but very gentle good ghosts.”

Identical twins Louise and Lisa Burns were also present. The girls memorably played the Grady Twins in the film – they were just ten years old when the film was made – and they appeared in many different – and gruesome – scenes.

“It’s so lovely to be with the whole gang again,” said Lisa, who shared a funny story about Steadi-cam operator Garrett Brown. “Mummy wouldn’t let us have a cup of coffee and a donut each, just half a cup and half a donut. But he used to go around and get us an extra cup and a donut. It was like being part of a big family.”

“The Shining” Exposed!

I have posted about filmmaker Rodney Ascher’s 2012 film called “Room 237″, a documentary that highlights many conspiracy theories about “The Shining.”

My favorite is this: the knitted Apollo 11 sweater worn by Danny Torrence and the particular design of the carpet was Kubrick’s apology for having supposedly shot the 1969 moon landings – a huge “fake” lunar landing to coverup the fact that we never went to the moon!

“The Shining” Executive Producer Jan Harlan laughs off all of the conspiracies. She sums up the film simply:

“It’s a ghost film, end of story. It’s completely mysterious. When at the end you see Jack Nicholson in the photograph in 1923, you can’t ask ‘how come?’, because nobody can possibly have an answer. Kubrick always said ‘never try to explain something that you don’t understand yourself.'”

You can read all about “Room 237″ here, and gets lots of great “Shining” trivia as well:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/31/the-shining-room-237-the-exorcist-the-greatest-horror-movies-ever-made/

According to THR: “Kubrick’s daughter Katherina said that during the shoot she had asked her dad if he believed in ghosts. “He said no but wouldn’t it be nice if there were because that would mean it wasn’t the end.”

Danny Lloyd, who was just six years old when he played Danny Torrance, greeted the audience via videotape, and spoke about his life after “The Shining”.

“I know that I’ve kept a low profile, and I know people say that’s because I didn’t like the movie or didn’t like the process of making the movie, but that’s definitely not true,” he said. “So I want to set the record straight and say that I really enjoyed the experience and the crew was like my family.”

Lloyd is now a father of four, and he teaches at a community college in Kentucky, where he has a small farm.

According to THR, “Lloyd finished the video with his child Ben ride a bike around the house, much like he himself had done in the Overlook Hotel, built in Elstree Studios, 35 years earlier!”

Now, if this isn’t enough great trivia for you about “The Shining”, how about this one:

Simon Cowell Was Involved!

Yes, it’s true! You can find out just how by clicking on my story about some of the craziest pieces of movie trivia EVER!

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/04/simon-cowell-was-shining-debra-winger-is-e-t-wildest-movie-facts/

And here’s to 35 more years of “The Shining” horror!

“Excuse Me, Are You Human?”

In Japan, careful who you ask that question to! According to Bloomberg News, there’s a new “robot revolution” underway!

Here’s the headline from Bloomberg: “A new greeter at the entrance of the Mitsukoshi department store in central Tokyo has caused a stir. The worker, dressed in a kimono and cheerfully welcoming shoppers in honorific Japanese, is a robot made by Toshiba and shows how lifelike these machines can be.”

It’s all part of Japan’s rush into robotics! I’ve got a lot of examples to share, because there are so many “human Robot” developments underway, like this fashion robot now appearing in Japan:

I can’t wait to head back to Tokyo to be greeted by one!

Read the whole story here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-28/japan-unleashes-a-robot-revolution

As you can see, the race to “robotize the world” is on! Oh, and one more thing:

Here Are Some Important Instructions For You!

Japan’s “Brain Controlled Tails” Are Here!

There are times when there really isn’t much to say except this: Japan has come up with a brain-controlled mechanical tail!

Big thanks to the Japanese company “Neurowear”, best known as the company that created the cat ears controlled with your mind….yes, YOUR MIND!

Now, the company has gone one better: they’ve created an artificial tail that wags according to the emotional state of the user!

According to Neurowear, your mood is read by an app, which also tags your location and shared via Facebook or Twitter. This enables you and your friends to search for places those fellow Shippo wearers have found relaxing. To use Shippo, wearers must also use the brain wave reader, along with a heart rate monitor that can be clipped to the user’s ear lobe – talk about plugged into technology!

“Brain Wave Reader!”

According to a website, the tail will wag based on your brainwaves, and it is also able to geotag places according to the “happiness level” of the user, as the video explains it very well:

Brain-Controlled Cat Ears!

By the way, here are those “brain-controlled cat ears” in case you want some of them as well! How did I miss these?

This is genius: you attach these ears and control them with your mind. And of course, there is a video:

This is why I love Japan – they are always innovating!

Here is a great website to check out – a guy who documents his life in Japan – he’s got an ongoing collection of fun stuff to share…check it out and wag your
tail!

http://www.kirainet.com/english/ – “A Geek In Japan”

And if mechanical tails aren’t enough for you, then check out Japan’s latest news technology – the Robot News Anchor!

“This Just In!”

While it might look like just another news update, this News Anchor has a secret: she’s a Robot!

When President Obama visited Japan, he was introduced to one of their newest Robots – the story was seen on newscasts around the world…and in Japan, this robot story was covered by Robots!

The News Robot Is Here!

An amazing new exhibition in Japan introduced the News Anchor of the future!

Miraikan in Odaiba has an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations in humanoid robotics. The exhibition features a number of robots, including Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro’s newest androids!

Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation has opened an exhibit on humanoid robotics. These “Anchorbots” will deliver news updates to all visitors in several languages!

Here is the amazing video:

It’s another big step forward in robot technology – so if you are in Japan, check out these “Anchorbots”!

And while you are there, don’t forget THESE Robots!

Yep, bikini-clad robot warriors are already here! Check out my story by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/27/giant-bikini-robot-dolls-tokyos-crazy-nightlife-strikes-again-tamborine-man-too/

But Robots are for more than News and Booze – they are also for serving food!

Yes, in China there are restaurants that have Robots serving your food! See the entire story by clicking on HERE:

And of course, you can read all about China’s Robot restaurants by clicking HERE!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/28/robot-chefs-robot-waiters-look-at-this-chinas-robot-restaurant/

And if you don’t want to ever miss your favorite News Anchor, the answer in Japan is simple – clone them!

The Future Is Now – And It’s Cloned!

I have covered many unique aspects of japanese life, but this is the craziest ever! People are going through a process by which their cloned image is being put on – well – everything!

First of all, a special thanks to Chris Gore, who shared a story about this online! That led me to several fascinating articles about this new trend!

Time To Get Cloned!

According to one story, the cloning service is popular among Japanese women looking to preserve a special moment in their life – such as their wedding day, by cloning the hair & makeup – and even the dress they wore!

Sit Fido, Sit!

Oh, you can do the same thing for your animals too! And when you do, someone will take a picture of it, and that picture will look LIKE THIS!

This is quite a disturbing, fascinating new trend – I find the pictures to be unsettling yet impossible to look away from! If you need to see all of the detail on how it works – and you do –

Read the entire, extremely disturbing story here – it’s a mesmerizing article:

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/17/human-doll-cloning-is-so-hot-right-now-in-japan/

There is one enterprising young man who has decided to jump into human cloning with both dancing feet!

Danny Choo Is Doing It Too!

We shot with Danny Choo once in Tokyo – he’s known as the “Dancing Stormtrooper” – and can be seen in the Shibuya district of Tokyo – here he is dancing with Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira when we filmed a story there:

Danny has posted an in-depth story about the entire process – it’s fascinating – click on the link to see it!

Checkout the story:

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/26119/Human+Cloning+in+Japan.html

It is clear that technology doesn’t stop – and here is the proof!

So there you have it, the latest in Japanese technology – and it’s nothing to shake your tail at!

Who Loves Fast Food?

Easy question: almost everyone! And “fast food” doesn’t have to mean “bad food”! I am proud to have been included in the latest issue of The Henry Ford magazine, all about fast food…

I profiled a number of great restaurants and Chefs who are taking our perceptions of fast food and turning them upside down – please check out the magazine online here:

http://thehenryford.uberflip.com/i/516192-the-henry-ford-magazine-summer-2015

I love the whole issue, and hope you do too! I want to thank the great burger brains at Seattle’s Lunchbox Laboratory:

I profiled them in the article, and had the chance to eat there again recently…here is that tasty story:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/classic-burger-joints-dicks-drive-in-lunchbox-laboratory-seattles-burger-magic/

And if you want to see what some other folks are doing with fast food, then you want to check out this “Ketchup leather”:

Plan Check in LA is a great new burger spot…check out my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/05/02/incredible-plan-check-burgers-ketchup-leather-bite-into-national-burger-month/

Leave me a note and let me know what you think of my article, thanks!

Feel like some “Sea Urchin Pie?”

OK then, are you in the mood for a nice poached oyster in custard with caviar?

These are two of the most imaginative and delicious bites of the food in the world – and the creative Chefs behind those dishes have taken their show on the road!

“The French Laundry” Ad-Libs!

Chef Thomas Keller turned Napa valley’s “French Laundry” into one of the world’s greatest restaurants. This 3-star Michelin restaurant even allows you to wander through their garden, which is open to the public and includes maps to show you what they are growing for dinner!

In the fall of 2011, Chef Keller took The French Laundry on the road, doing a “pop up” version of the restaurant at legendary Harrods department store in London!

Recently, The French Laundry closed in order for a short period in order to expand the kitchen. This inspired Keller to launch a “pop up” restaurant nearby, called “Ad Lib.” And while The French Laundry is once again open, Ad Lib’s incredible success has also kept that “pop up” open as well!

I will share my meal at “Ad Lib” in a moment, but first, another acclaimed Chef also offered a “pop up” restaurant recently, but this one was for a limited time only – and caused a foodie sensation in Japan!

“Noma” Hits The Road!

Noma restaurant in Copenhagen Denmark is one of the best in the world. 37-year-old chef and founder, René Redzepi, is what Newsweek calls “the high wizard of ‘New Nordic’ cuisine. Using traditional Scandinavian techniques like smoking, pickling, curing and fermenting, he and his small, dedicated team transform native ingredients into something entirely new and, more important, delicious. ‘The idea is to force creativity by setting limitations,’ Redzepi says.”

A 60,000 Person Waiting List!

Chef Redzepi decide to take his restaurant on the road, so Noma did an incredible “pop up” in early 2015 – it moved temporarily from Copenhagen to Tokyo’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

According to Newsweek, there was a waiting list of 60,000 people for reservations!

From January 9 to February 14 2015 Noma served a fixed menu, including wine pairing, for 64,900 Yen ($550). And what did diners get for that price? Well, here are a few examples:

Try This: “Langoustines and Ants.”

As I said, Noma is considered the most inventive restaurant in the world right now. They forage in the wilds of Denmark for much of their menu items, and in Tokyo they utilized Asian ingredients like this:

This is “Wild Duck in Rye and Soy.”

And how about some “Black Garlic Leather” on the side?

Pie, Anyone?

Well, the kind of pie that Noma serves isn’t for dessert….like this “clam pie”:

Or you can have a slice of “sea urchin pie” instead.

18 courses. Amazingly inventive. Some hard to believe.

Kudos to the incredible majesty of the food – and an important thanks for the pictures from the Instagram of Ivan Orkin (@ramenjunkie) and René Redzepi (@reneredzepinoma). These were all posted as part of a great article in “Gizmodo” – see all of the menu items here:

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/restaurant-noma-moved-to-japan-and-this-is-what-its-new-1682250555#

I would love to try Noma some day, but until then, I can share my incredible meal at Chef Thomas Keller’s “Ad Lib” restaurant in Napa Valley!

Chef Keller celebrated opening night by making Caesar salads table side. The menu celebrates a classic steak house environment, with unique twists.

Our night started with a platter of “tastes”: deviled eggs, a crab salad in an edible bowl, yellow beet with a rice cake, and a zucchini pan perdue – all delicious…

Classic steakhouse dinner rolls are served from Bouchon bakery, along with creamy butter and a side dish of salt:

Bring On The Crudite!

My wife had a collection of fresh crudite, served with a classic Green Goddess dressing…

I ordered the Caesar salad served table side…here is the progression as they make it for you from scratch…beginning when they roll a salad making station up next to you…

As you can see, everything is fresh: an egg yolk, garlic, olive oil, croutons, lettuce and a healthy shower of parmesan cheese…

After crushing the garlic clove in the bowl, next comes the egg yolk, which is stirred with a steady stream of olive oil, followed by anchovies and romaine lettuce…

After a snowstorm of freshly grated parmesan, the croutons are added and the salad is plated for you…

Bring On The “Ribeye!”

Since it’s a classic steakhouse, I order a “ribeye” steak, but this is a special cut that makes it tower on the plate, topped by a slice of grilled onion…

My wife ordered classic lamb chops, which show up stacked high on the plate and ready to be devoured…

Classic side dishes included glazed carrots, creamed spinach and of course, whipped potatoes…smooth as silk..

The dining room evokes a classic east coast steakhouse, with white linen and well dressed servers…and the food was terrific. Kudos to Thomas Keller and his team for a great pop up, which will be open through October of 2015.

This is a classic Napa valley sunset view as you exit the restaurant, a great way to end the night.

Keller also has a terrific french bistro in Yountville called Bouchon, and another restaurant in town as well called Ad Hoc. Both are great, under the loving culinary care of Chef Ross Melling at Bouchon and Chef Katie Hagen-Whelchel at Ad Hoc. Chef Keller’s fine dining menu at “The French Laundry” is a culinary treat, and the iconic restaurant recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary!

My wife Alex and I were lucky enough to attend the celebration, and get to enjoy a 14-course menu from Chef Keller – featuring some of his favorite dishes from his culinary past and present, including of course his legendary “salmon cone”:

Read about the entire celebration here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/07/the-french-laundrys-20th-anniversary-celebration-chef-thomas-kellers-xx-party-food-pics-galore/

Kudos to Chef Keller and his amazingly talented team for another culinary success – and take advantage of “Ad Lib” being open through 2015! Also, we can’t wait for our next trip to “The Laundry!”

I was inspired to write this story because of Eventbrite, and joined their “Trends in Food & Drink” project. To me, this “pop up restaurant” trend, when executed by the world’s greatest Chefs, takes fine dining to a whole new level!

I like that Eventbrite is a great platform for finding events in your areas, and also offer event management tools to get the word out about your own “pop up” events!

You can check it out here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/l/event-management-software/

Time to stop reading and go pop up your own event!

Time For Some John Legend Selfies!

Singer John Legend was the “selfie” King alright, as he was swarmed by music and wine fans! Why? Well, Legend was just one of the many participants at a terrific charity event, the Napa Wine Auction 2015!

The event was hosted at Meadowwood Resort in St. Helena, California. Acclaimed Chef Michael Chiarello presented a marketplace of incredible food to begin the day, including polenta with mushrooms under glass!

More than 850 people converged on Meadowood Resort to enjoy lots of wine, eat great food like this fried chicken, then head into the auction to raise lots of money for charity!

Fifty different “lots” are auctioned off for charity – with wine, food and travel being highlighted. It’s also a great way to celebrate this incredible wine region, as winemakers share some of their greatest bottles with the crowd!

The top single lot of the day sold for $850,000, and was introduced by singer John Legend. It features a private performance for thirty of your friends by Legend, plus bottles of a new reserve blend that the singer will be involved with.

According to the Napa Valley Register:

“John is very deep into wine,” said vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, who owns Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena. Boisset said he and Legend did a blending session about nine months ago at Raymond Vineyards and he encouraged the musician to come to Auction Napa Valley to help raise money for the auction and to kick off the brand.

Legend then surprised us all with a live performance of “All Of Me.” Here is a clip from that performance:

Bravo, John Legend!

Afterwards, the singer hung out with the crowd and posed for lots of selfies!

To give you an idea of how unique these “lots” were, one included a two-week, first class trip to top wine producers and estates in Europe! That went for more than $800,000 as well. Although my wife Alex had a bidding paddle, we didn’t get this great trip…

All For A Great Cause!

This is all to raise money for great charities in Napa Valley. As the Napa Valley Register reports: “The most sentimental lot of the day was Fund-A-Need, which raised funds for early medical intervention for Napa Valley children. It was introduced by a video illustrating how early intervention benefited a Napa Valley toddler named Mia, with the medical condition of spina bifida. After the video Mia danced on the stage with her father Jaime. Then she spoke into the microphone and said “thank you” to the crowd.”

After every sale, confetti is shot into the sky, as more money is raised for this great cause…leading to a very festive end of day…

Napa Valley winemakers have done a great job raising money as they put on a terrific event!

The weekend event raised more than $15 million, and is now in its 35th year!

And if you are in Napa valley, you must dine at one of Chef Thomas Keller’s incredible restaurants…we were lucky enough to pose with him in his kitchen, and here is a look at the 20th anniversary celebration at The French Laundry, one of the greatest restaurants in the world:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/07/the-french-laundrys-20th-anniversary-celebration-chef-thomas-kellers-xx-party-food-pics-galore/

Time to head back to Napa for more fun!

Todd Rundgren Goes To Cyberia!

As Todd keeps making memorable music, it’s time to celebrate one of his most progressive musical experiments: a fully interactive concert experience that included what was called “The Todd Pod!”

Todd Live in “The Todd Pod”!

What you see here is a somewhat blurred shot of Todd holding court in his “Todd Pod!” The release of Todd’s new CD “Global” has sparked a lot of spirited discussion on Todd fan sites – his EDM-influenced beats are loved by most fans, but seem to have also confused others at the same time.

This isn’t new for Todd – as far back as “A Wizard A True Star”, Todd has mixed it up and gone off in musical directions that perplexed some fans – but he has always followed his own vision, and as hardcore fans we are all the better for that! In fact, I just listened to “AWATS” again and it’s a real masterpiece that holds up as fresh as the day it was released…

Todd Goes “TR-i!”

Todd has always been an innovator, creating some of the first music videos as well as graphic software for computers. Some of Todd’s most experimental music was created in the 1990’s…but the innovation wasn’t in the songs he was creating, instead it was in the way Todd chose to present it to fans.

Todd wanted to let computers, and the nascent online social media of the time, drive his work. That led to one of the most unique musical experiments ever presented by a Singer/Songwriter to fans.

In the 1990’s, Todd created a website that allowed fans to interact directly with him with an immediacy never seen before in music. “Interactivity” was exploding along with the birth of the internet, and once again Todd was at the forefront of this new horizon.

Todd began calling himself “TR-I”, Todd Rundgren interactive, as he dove headfirst into the deep end of the burgeoning internet pool. Fans could subscribe to Todd’s online “Patronet” website, which allowed access to Todd’s new music AS HE CREATED IT!

The site also provided the tools to manipulate the music as fans chose. Music lovers were actually “interacting” with Todd, and could take his music and manipulate it on their computer as well. It was an exciting time for fans, who got to hear a lot of interesting music that Todd released exclusively on his website.

In an era now when everything is available instantly on any device, it’s easy to forget how revolutionary this was for the early 90’s!

Some of that music can be found on “One Long Year”, Todd’s 2000 album comprised of music from the website. Among the songs on this CD were “I Hate My Frickin’ I.S.P.” and “The Surf Talks.” It also includes his mini-masterpiece “Where Does The Time Go?”

Todd Goes To Cyberia In Majestic VHS!

One of the benefits of subscribing to the site was getting bonus material from Todd as well.

For example, I was sent a video of Todd’s interactive October 7, 1994 show from London! The VHS tape came in a white stenciled box , and as you can see, each one of the limited edition copies was signed by Todd!

For fans who haven’t seen this, Todd put on one of a kind musical performance, “in the round” – with video cameras, computers, musical instruments and all of his songs at the tip of his fingers. Todd performed in what was called the “Todd Pod”, or, what the New York Times called at the time “a high-tech playpen”.

And now, “Live in Cyberia” is available on Todd’s “Toddstore” site!

Here is how the site describes this unique effort:

“Pioneering musician/composer/producer/innovator Todd Rundgren built the world’s first interactive music system and then launched a tour in which no two concerts were alike and audiences were an integral part of the show.”

I took out my old VHS recently and watched the concert again, and wanted to share my review with fans.

Entering The Todd Pod!

First, the stage is in the round, so the audience is completely surrounding Todd. This is part of the show’s interactivity, as Todd explains the special lighting system he created for the show.

“When the light goes red the space down here is mine, all mine”, Todd explains. That means that when the red light goes on, no one can be on stage except for Todd.

When the light is yellow, then the three “TR-I” girls will be on stage. It’s fun to see that Michelle Rundgren is one of them!

Then Todd announces to the crowd that the green light means “the stage is yours!” That’s right, Todd lets the audience be an interactive part of the show!

As the crowd cheers wildly, Todd waves his arm and a fog machine begins billowing smoke – and Todd emerges with a bra! He quips, “your date for tonight, there she is, ok?”

The live concert begins with “Worldwide Epiphany”, which is noticeably energized when performed live with a crowd. Todd throws himself completely into the song, and is a never-stopping ball of energy. He seems to draw even more energy from the crowd, and while performing the song he sprays them with silly string!

Here is a clip from the newly remastered DVD on the “Toddstore!”

During the song, split screen monitors above the stage are showing lots of fun animated videos and graphics, which continue to appear throughout the entire show.

Suddenly the green light flashes, and Todd calls the crowd up for the end of the song. They rush the stage, and he sprays everyone again with silly string! The energy is absolutely incredible, a great song that proves once again how his music absolutely soars when performed live.

Todd then seques into “International Feel”, and his voice is strong, hitting all the falsetto high notes perfectly.

Todd ends “Feel” with an elongated guitar solo, then goes into “Secret Society”, but after a minute of the intro he invites a fan to come up on stage and play the guitar on join him on guitar!

As you can tell, the show is completely interactive, as more fans come up to play lead guitar on the song! The best part is when one guitarist is awful and Todd announces: “no posers here, we want a real guitar player!”

Next up is Todd’s song “Property” – and once again, the song has renewed energy and life when performed live, and I also noticed how the bass line sounds a lot like Eminem’s “Business” from 2003.

Todd then shows the audience how each one of the keys on his keyboard represents a song, explaining how each key allows him to jump to a different song or musical sequence from his songbook.

The “TR-I” girls come back to dance to “New World Order” and soon the audience is called up on stage as well by the green light and the whole stage vibrates.

Todd’s “Chant!”

“Chant for a world united, chant for a world united by love!”

Todd launches into a beautiful and energetic version of “Chant!” While Todd is singing he starts a battle with a plastic shark, flinging it at an audience member, who flings it right back! By now, the stage begins to look a like a spiders’ web because of all the silly string being sprayed everywhere, and the audience is a giant sea of fans pulsating to Todd’s music.

“Day Job” and “Fascist Christ” are performed next. What is amazing to me in watching this live event is that Todd is performing all of this music live while running all of the computers and keyboards himself! You see him choosing songs, leading the crowd, cueing the dancers, and playing guitar and keyboards simultaneously!

His energy level is phenomenal, he just never stops moving, and he is completely engaged with the audience, who crowd the stage waiting for their next “green light!”

Todd launches into a fun “Bang On The Drum” next, and of course the “green light” flashes, and fans are called up to play the drum part.

While fans “bang on the drums”, Todd goes crazy with more silly string, to the point where he finally yells: “I’ve lost control…ah, fuck it!”

At that point, Todd and the TR-I girls escape, leaving the stage engulfed by fans, who just keep dancing to Todd’s iconic beat.

This show lasts just over an hour, and the energy level never flags! The best part is that now you can own this moment in Todd history as well, because the Toddstore has a new DVD version, which includes two Todd interviews from that time, as well as footage of an in-store CD-I demonstration.

Todd’s “Live In Cyberia” is one of the most extraordinary performances I’ve ever seen. Todd’s desire to create an interactive environment with his fans was visionary, and proved a terrific environment for him to perform.

Let me know what you think!

You Know The Face…

He’s the most famous drummer of all-time…one of four members of the greatest musical group ever…and the luckiest man in rock’n’roll?

NO!

Ringo Starr was the most accomplished musician when The Beatles drafted him to take over the drumming from Pete Best. He helped give Paul and John’s songs a driving beat that helped propel them to stardom. Ringo was the heart and soul of The Beatles, and has always deserved a bit more credit than he got for the group’s success…

I assume you’ve heard of the band…The Beatles are, of course, the most influential and creative band ever assembled – and during their worldwide trips, did you know they sent postcards to friends and family?

Yes, I own one of the limited editions, autographed mail boxes that holds reproductions of these missives….more of them in a moment, but first, let’s find out more about Ringo, thanks to a terrific new biography!

“Ringo: With a Little Help” – by Michael Seth Starr

Forget the similar last name, Michael Seth Starr has covered television as a reporter and columnist at The New York Post since 1995, with a number of great entertainment biographies. Now, he take on the world’s most recognizable drummer!

“Ringo: With a Little Help” looks at Ringo’s entire life, from his sickly childhood to what the book calls his “triumphs, addictions, and emotional battles following the breakup of the Beatles as he comes to terms with his legacy.”

Again, here is this great new book!

The story of The Beatles is an amazing one, and this book takes you inside “Beatlemania” to see how life was inside the band. More importantly, it gives real insight into Ringo’s contribution – as well as his emotional state…

With Lennon and Harrison gone, Ringo and McCartney are the last two to keep the legacy alive, and I love that this book gives him his full due…kudos to Michael Seth Starr for a terrific Ringo bio!

Oh, and did you know that the other “lads” liked to mail stuff to Ringo?

“Postcards From The Beatles!”

I bought this limited edition book that features the reproduction of 53 postcards sent by George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Ringo!

The superb facsimile reproductions of the cards come with drawing and scribbles from the boys, showcasing their spontaneous wit as well as the art of The Beatles. As the promo says: “The messages sent with love and kindness give insight into the unique bond which existed between the members of the Fab Four.”

The entire set came in a specially designed English “postal box” with Ringo peeking out from the mail slot…

My limited edition copy also came signed by Ringo…and as fans of Howard Stern know – from his playing of Ringo’s recent “peace and love” message – Ringo is no longer signing anything. so it’s fun to have!

This is now available to buy as a regular book as well, and it comes with great insights from Ringo himself.

Ringo explains the meaning behind the cards, along with great anecdotes…

“Keep Off The Grass!”

I love this story from Ringo about this card:

“This is just after viewing the “Let It Be” film for the firs time. I didn’t like it that much when I first saw it. It was too much ito the discussions of John and Paul. There was the interesting bit on the day George had left and we just started playing like mad people. That how we dealt with this crisis within the band.”

If you haven’t seen the documentary “Let It Be”, long out of print, here is my story about it:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

It’s a great inside look at the breakup of the band…

“With A Little Help From His Friends!”

As the biography says in the title, one song is without a doubt Ringo’s greatest moment: “With A Little Help From My Friends” from “Sgt. Pepper’s” – so here is a live version he performed a few years ago with Paul McCartney!

And of course, Ringo was more than just a drummer!

He was also part of the cult classic “The Magic Christian” – if you want to see Ringo’s great acting performance opposite Peter Sellars, then you need to click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/02/ringo-starr-the-fab-fours-magic-christian-madness-raquel-welch-dominatrix-great-solo-music/

And yes, he got to spend some time with Raquel Welch as well:

Solo Ringo!

And never forget that Ringo began as the group’s most popular solo Artist after the breakup of The Beatles…he had a string of great singles…read all about the Beatles’ solo years here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/03/exclusive-the-lost-beatles-album-the-fab-fours-solo-songs-remixed/

I can’t wait to read more about Ringo!

Let’s Make Some ART!

Time to celebrate the wildest, most irreverent and VITAL film company alive today!

Welcome to Troma, where THIS is considered ART!

The wild and wacky crew of Tromaville, led by filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman, have entertained us for a generation – and now Lloyd needs your help to keep the fun alive!

Return To Class of Nuke ’em High Part 2!

Troma released the brilliant “Return To Nuke ’em High Volume 1″ in 2013, to critical and commercial acclaim! But now, Lloyd needs you to “kick in” to his Kickstarter campaign in order for Troma to release the Tromatic sequel!

In order to realize his dream of releasing “Return To The Class Of Nuke ’em High” in two glorious parts, Lloyd needs help in the edit bay!

Lloyd’s Kickstarter campaign has a number of ways you can help support independent art – and get some cool stuff in return! Click here to see how you can be part of Troma’s future – get some cool movie stuff as well – and support independent cinema!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/return2nukeemhigh2/return-to-nuke-em-high-volume-2-by-troma-entertain

And just what are you supporting? Well, check out the trailer!

It’s your chance to help out a great company, and here are some of Troma’s other masterpieces you should buy now, beginning with the original “Nuke ’em High”!

“Readin’ Writin’ And Radiation!

Class Of Nuke ‘Em High!

By 1986, it seems that Lloyd had latched onto a great idea: crazy “over the top” movie titles, and lots of crazy actors acting crazy, tearing off limbs, and going topless, all with a punk rock soundtrack!

The pupils at a high school next to a nuclear power plant start acting and looking strange after buying contaminated drugs from a plant worker. That’s it, a simple plot upon which to hang anarchy in all its forms!

And speaking of anarchy…

All The Love You Cannes! 2002. Full disclosure: I am in this movie. I am. It might be a single b-roll shot while Lloyd mentions me in passing, but hey, I’m a Troma star!

Here we all are in Cannes one year: E! News Host Steve Kmetko, who allowed my wife Alex, along with James Gunn, turn him into “Dolphinman” for “Sex On The Riviera”. Lloyd is on the left, by the way…

Every year I was in Cannes, Lloyd and his Troma team were up for any shenanigans…and their tireless energy is captured in Lloyd’s documentary about life at the Cannes film festival. If you want to see the best documentary about the pomp, circumstance, and sordid underbelly that is Cannes, this is the movie for you!

The Troma Team is willing to try every stunt imaginable to get a little publicity, including walking the streets of Cannes dressed as various Troma heroes, staging lesbian make-out sessions, hilariously crashing Jean-Claude Van Damme’s “press conference,” where JCVD shows up for about 2 seconds.

It’s a great, inside look at the film festival, and includes great stuff with James Gunn, who went on to fame and fortune as Director and visionary behind “Guardians Of The Galaxy!”

Of course, Troma may be best known for the world’s first superhero from New Jersey!

THE TOXIC AVENGER QUADRILOGY! Forget Alien: THIS is the Quadrilogy you need to own! Lloyd created New Jersey’s first Superhero, and 4 films into the story, it just keeps getting better…

Here is the IMDB summary of “The Toxic Avenger”: “This is the story of Melvin, the Tromaville Health Club mop boy, who inadvertently and naively trusts the hedonistic, contemptuous and vain health club members, to the point of accidentally ending up in a vat of toxic waste. The devastating results then have a transmogrification effect, his alter ego is released, and the Toxic Avenger is born, to deadly and comical results. The local mop boy is now the local Superhero, the saviour of corruption, thuggish bullies and indifference. Troma classic with good make-up effects and stunts, a pleasant surprise indeed.”

“Citizen Toxie” is the fourth in the series, and included “Hank The Angry Drunk Dwarf” as GOD – but of course it did. The DVD also includes a full-length documentary on the making of the movie, and a ton of deleted scenes.

In 2006 a novelization of The Toxic Avenger was released. It was co-written by Kaufman and long time Troma employee Adam Jahnke. “The Toxic Avenger” is the movie that is most often mentioned when discussing Troma, but there is one that must be remembered as, I truly believe, a masterpiece of creativity…

Tromeo & Juliet. Behold the most Tromatic masterpiece of all. This was written by James Gunn, Directed by Lloyd, and truly stands as a masterwork. As Variety said, “Shakespeare is transformed into a NO-HOLDS BARD!”

As the poster says so beautifully: “BODY PIERCING. KINKY SEX. DISMEMBERMENT. THE THINGS THAT MADE SHAKESPEARE GREAT!”

When I was in Cannes, my wife Alex was interviewing Kennth Branagh for his 4-hour opus “Hamlet.” She told him he wasn’t the only Shakespeare film in Cannes, and showed him the “Tromeo & Juliet” poster. He read the words above in his classic British accent, then added, “perhaps I can get my soundtrack done by the ASS PONYS!”

Bravo, Lloyd and James, BRAVO! Read all about Lloyd’s cameo in Gunn’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy” here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/08/director-james-gunn-geek-guardian-of-the-galaxy-my-cannes-photo/

And of course, read all about the best Troma films here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/03/exploitation-nazis-shakespeare-tromas-tromatic-holiday-gift-guide/

And head on over to Troma’s kickstarter campaign to keep independent art alive!

Hungry For A Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich? ON A STICK?

It’s become an annual tradition: the Iowa State Fair has unveiled their list of new food item to be presented that this summer’s huge event!

Fairgoers walking along the Grand Concourse at the 2004 Sesquicentennial Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 21, 2004 in Des Moines, IA. (Iowa State Fair Photo)

Iowa’s Amazing State Fair!

Kudos to the Iowa state fair – for not only putting on a hugely successful event every August, but for now actually releasing an annual list of the new food to be unveiled at the fair!

A “Bacon Explosion!”

For bacon lovers, this was probably the biggest news: “The Ultimate Bacon Explosion” features 8 oz. of fresh brisket trimmings infused with a light jalapeno cheese, blended with seasonings, and then wrapped in bacon. It is then smoked and lightly sauced in a homemade Sweet Chili BBQ Sauce.

Here is one of many stories from local media showing you what to expect this year:

http://www.kcci.com/news/iowa-state-fair-to-release-new-foods-list-wednesday/33737086

And Iowa’s not the only state that is getting into the state fair food madness!

Thank You, Texas, For Your Deep-Fried Coke!

“Fried Coke” is Coca-Cola-flavored batter that’s deep-fried and garnished with Coca-Cola syrup, whipped cream, and cinnamon-sugar. Abel Gonzales Jr. won Most Creative for this concoction at the 2006 State Fair of Texas. Good job, Abel!

Indiana’s Pizza Cones!

Indian’s state fair offers this portable version of a pizza slice is a cone-shaped pizza crust filled with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and tomato sauce, baked in an oven. And just like an ice cream cone, the cheesy treat comes wrapped in its own paper sleeve for on-the-go handheld ease. Sounds tasty and fairly healthy, considering the next item:

California Fried Avocado Bites!

It wouldn’t be California if avocado didn’t get a starring role! This recipe consists of spears of tender avocado that have been coated in a corn-dog batter and fried until golden. These vitamin-rich nuggets come with a choice of two dipping sauces: ranch or herb-infused oil.

Texas Unveils Chicken-Fried Bacon!

This ode to bacon won the award for Best Taste at the 2008 Big Tex Choice Awards. Creator Glen Kusak had been a fair vendor for 12 years running, but 2008 marked his first year entering the annual State Fair of Texas food contest.

Glen Kusak is now our hero!

The Huffington Post Food Section Digs Into Fair Food, Too!

The Huffington Post also had a great story in their food section, all about great state fair food. Among their choices:

Fat Elvis On A Stick – Wisconsin State Fair

Elvis loved his peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwiches. Wisconsin paid tribute to this with their latest on-a-stick creation, the Fat Elvis: a peanut butter cup dunked in banana batter, then deep-fried, and served with bacon on top, of course.

Deep Fried Cotton Candy – Texas State Fair

And how can you top this? We saw deep fried Kool-Aid last year, so we should have known that cotton candy couldn’t be that far off. As the Huffington Post says, this is pretty crazy, because it seems like the spun sugar would melt in the deep fryer. Life is full of mysteries. Not enough sweets for you? Don’t worry, this treat is served by a frozen yogurt purveyor, so feel free to use these giant balls of fried sugar as a topping on your froyo.

Enjoy your state fair “food on a stick” experience!

Chuck Norris! Charles Bronson! Superman!

I love movie history – and here is one of the most fascinating movie documentaries that celebrates the wacky 80’s movie company known as Cannon films!

Time For Some “Electric Boogaloo!”

The new documentary is called “Electric Boogaloo”, and it’s a terrific in-depth look at Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus – two movie-obsessed cousins who launched a film company in the late 70’s that released some of the best B-movies of all time, such as:

“Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo!”

That’s right, the breakdance sensation of the early 80’s “Breakin'” had a sequel with one of cinema’s most ridiculous titles of all time – and of course, it was a Cannon film! Check out the trailer for this new documentary:

Time For Some Cannon Classics!

Cannon Films was known for such b-movie classics as “Enter the Ninja”, “Death Wish 2″ and the legendary Chuck Norris action film “Invasion USA!”

Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus started Cannon films in 1979, and in the 80’s offered up a never-ending array of low-budget exploitation films and star-studded action movies like Sylvester Stallone’s arm wrestling epic “Over The Top!”

JCVD! JCVD!

The cousins loved action films, which were popular all over the world, so they churned out a lot of them, working with Stallone, Chuck Norris as well as Jean-Claude Van Damme!

The documentary is full of clips from movies such as “Bloodsport” along with interviews with Molly Ringwald, Alex Winter and Dolph Lundgren, who starred in “Masters Of The Universe!”

Golan and Globus were high flyers at the Cannes film festival every year – and legend has it they once signed a deal to do a film on a cocktail napkin at the Carlton Hotel!

Director Mark Hartley has done a great job bringing this story to life…capturing the “anything goes” era of 80’s filmmaking – Cannon never made critically-acclaimed movies, but that wasn’t their goal, and a lot of these movies are still cult hits today!

Probably one of the most fascinating stories about Cannon involves America’s favorite super hero: and how Golan and Globus managed to get the rights to make a fourth “Superman” movie with Christopher Reeve!

There are so many great stories to share and campy movies to celebrate, all thanks to the renegade movie company known as Cannon!

Wait! There Are Even More Great Movie Docs To Share!

I’m now officially a huge fan of Director Hartley, not only for this film but he also made the terrific documentary “Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation”!

This is also a great inside look at the world of Australian exploitation! “Mad Max” got his start down under, and this documentary shows you some of the wildest movies ever to come out of Australia!

Hartley was also the Director of another fun documentary – that takes you inside the world of exploitation film courtesy of The Philippines!

“Machete Maidens Unleashed!”

This is a great look at low budget cinema from around the world…check out the latest and greatest by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/10/ozploitation-lives-explore-a-wild-trailer-explosion-from-down-under/

And get a look at some classic Cannon films now!

Melbourne – Australia’s Most Beautiful City!

That’s right, one of the largest cities in the southern hemisphere is also the most beautiful city in Australia!

Oh wait, did I mean to say:

Sydney – Australia’s Most Beautiful City!

That’s right, it’s actually Sydney, with the incredible Opera House and Harbor bridge that is Australia’s most beautiful…well, as you can see, both cities offer an amazing view…

What a dilemma! Is Sydney, with a beautiful skyline and incredible scenery, Australia’s most beautiful city? Or is is the classic, european vibe of Melbourne, with an iconic train station:

I was lucky enough to travel to both great Australian cities, which leads me to ask this question:

What Is Australia’s Most Beautiful City? Melbourne or Sydney?

Trust me when I tell you that Australians have a very strong point of view on the matter! For the entire time I was there, I was told by people from Sydney that Melbourne was dull and lifeless, even with this incredible beauty:

Down Under Pride!

Yes, residents of Sydney proudly extolled their virtues. And the folks in Melbourne told me that Sydney residents were crass and unsophisticated:

Well, let me say that it was mostly good-natured, and certainly based on pride for their environment – so I decided to show you what made BOTH cities so special…beginning with Melbourne’s Eureka Tower:

The Eureka Tower!

The Eureka Tower is the largest skyscraper in southern hemisphere – 88 stories, and the views of Melbourne and the surrounding area was beautiful from he top:

The Secret Of The Tower!

I was lucky enough to shoot a sequence at the top of the tower with my Host Sasha Grey. I filmed this sequence as Sasha discovered the secret of the tower:

I love that video – you can look straight down 88 stories and see people like ants below….and as I showed you, the views of the area are beautiful..and I also love this short snippet I filmed from the 88th floor just moments before, when I caught Sasha in a “candid” moment:

Sasha was such a great talent to work with, and you can see more of Sasha’s adventures in Melbourne by clicking on my story here!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

So Melbourne made a great case for itself: European style and class with a “down under” sense of adventure…and if you look on a map, Melbourne is one of the world’s southernmost cities!

I’d love to go back and be able to explore more of the surrounding areas, but on this trip was was just two days of fun and then off to Sydney!

Welcome To Sydney!

As much as I loved Melbourne, Sydney had plenty to offer as well. First of all, you are amazed by the beauty of the Opera House and the Harbor bridge, which you can actually climb up with a group if you want!

You can see those intrepid climbers on the upper right…offering an incredibly unique vantage point of Sydney –

It is a city that celebrates its beauty – with so much water everywhere you look – and what’s in water? That’s right – seafood! If you go down to Sydney’s acclaimed fish market, you can see one of their unique food items – “bugs”!

“Bugs!”

These “bugs” are a strange combination of shrimp-like creature with a “flattened” lobster head…but they are delicious! My Host Alison Haislip had no problem digging into them!

And Sydney is also home to one of the world’s most famous beaches as well…

Welcome to Bondi Beach!

It’s simply gorgeous – pristine sand and waves that curve around a gorgeous slice of Sydney…

Sasha was up for anything in Sydney, including surfing for the first time ever! But that wasn’t her only “first!”

Sasha jumped at the chance to step into a tank filled with sharks – her first time using scuba gear! And after a thirty minute instruction, she entered the pool – filled with sharks and stingrays – with NOTHING between them! Here is a short snippet of her “walk among sharks”:

And of course, one shark flipped his fin at her, but she didn’t panic! She also kept her cool when two sharks decided to “photobomb” her!

Surfing Bondi!

As I showed you, Bondi beach is absolutely beautiful, and Sasha agreed to learn to surf for the first time! This led to my favorite “candid” moment of all – when I captured Sasha telling me about surfing Bondi Beach – and then she discovered something about Australia’s water!

I appreciate that Sasha was a good sport – she still laughs about these videos – like this one that I love: I happened to be filming her as she was telling me how she did a special “circular” shot for me, then realizes she stepped in gum!

Here is a look at the entire Sydney adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

Sasha wasn’t the only great G4 talent that I traveled to Australia with: I also got to hang out with the incredible Alison Haislip!

She got the chance to dig into a big meal in Sydney, which you can read all about here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/08/alison-haislips-mega-surf-n-turf-aussie-alison-digs-into-sydneys-bugs/

Alison was also great to travel with, and she made Sydney a fun culinary adventure…

So, the question was: which city is more beautiful – Sydney or Melbourne?

As you can see, they are both beautiful, so I will give style points to Melbourne but energy credits to Sydney – if you’ve been to either, let me know what you think!

4th Of July – Burger Fireworks Galore!

Everyone loves the 4th of July! Celebrating our independence from “bangers and mash” is one reason – grilling burgers of all shapes and size is another – like this “double decker!”

Yes, we can “live free and eat hard” this holiday season – for me, I plan to have a more “subtle” cheeseburger…like this one:

Talk About A “Sloppy Joe!”

Ok, that may be just a bit more than I need this weekend, but how can I stop piling on the goodness when it can lead to one of these:

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure as well!

WHAT THE PACHISLO???!!???

I love this picture. My daughter Jessica posed in front of an ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” when we were in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, but in hindsight we should have walked in and ordered one, just to get a real picture of it!

First, a big shout out to “Taylor’s Refresher” in St. Helena, California for their great bacon cheeseburger…you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/15/napas-burger-battle-taylors-gotts-great-burgers-a-mondo-burger-fight/

I am going to profile a few of America’s best burger joints as I showcase some great burger recipes….

Building A Better Burger!

Look at this picture above. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I add minced onion and garlic, pink hawaiian sea salt, pepper, and a bit of Worcestershire sauce….boom, you are ready to grill!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Build your better burger this way and you are golden:

Top Bun
Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Slider Patty
Tomato
Pickle
Mayonaise, mayonaise, mayonaise!
Bottom Bun

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

OK, you can deviate a little…since my daughter and I were in Tokyo earlier, let me share this japanese burger!

The Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Burger!

Make your patty as usual, but this time top it with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo!

Lotteria’s “Bacon Cube” Burger!

If you are inspired by a Japanese take to your cheeseburger, check out these unique burgers from Tokyo, thanks to the unique restaurant “Lotteria”…read all about them right here….

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

If you head to Seattle, you can find one of America’s best burgers…

Bite Into The Dork!

Here’s an incredible burger being made by Seattle’s “Lunchbox Laboratory”! Check out the recipe by clicking on my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/classic-burger-joints-dicks-drive-in-lunchbox-laboratory-seattles-burger-magic/

I am also a fan of bending the “burger rules” as necessary to offer up a unique taste sensation…and what better sensation to celebrate than “Sriracha!”

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

In a large mixing bowl, make your burger patties with the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha and pepper.

Cue The Bacon!

Cook your bacon, then use the bacon fat to cook your onions into a cartelized taste treat!

Grill the burgers, and while they are cooking, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha to use as a topping!

There you go: a cheesy, oniony, spicy, bacon-y thing of greatness!

And speaking of “GREATNESS”, how about a bacon-covered macaroni-and-cheeseburger!

A Bacon Macaroni-and-Cheeseburger With Tater Tots!

Once you’ve tried this, you will never go back to a plain old cheeseburger again!

It’s easy! Instead of cheese, cover your burger with mac’n’cheese! Throw some bacon in there and make sure your tater tots get under the bun as well!

And if you really want to get weird, try my favorite burger of all:

Behold The French Fry Burger!

And of course, my favorite burger of all is this: just add french fries to the top of the burger, then a bit of tartar sauce, and top it off with cheddar cheese – a burger and fries all in one!

No matter which recipe you try, spend this fourth of July doing what all Americans should be doing: eating meat and waiting for the fireworks! Happy July 4th!

“Smile! You’ve Got Bacon!”

Here are more ways you can get the most out of bacon this holiday weekend – we begin with a monstrous bacon cheeseburger that is a work of art:

No, not THAT work of art. I mean bacon that is used as it should be used: to smother a cheeseburger!

Shake Shack does a great job with their bacon-drenched double cheeseburger, but imagine if you added just ONE MORE THING:

Behold The Mac’n’Cheese Burger!

That’s right, it’s burger that is topped with mac ‘n’ cheese…and yes, it’s good! It’s just one unique item topping off a burger…how about this one?

Japan’s Burger King Goes Pumpkin Crazy!

Burger King Japan’s BK Pumpkin, and its bigger, pumpkinier sibling, the Pumpkin Bomb. Via a Google translated press release: both burgers come with beef patties, fried kabocha pumpkin slices, bacon, and lettuce. They’re also topped with a nut sauce made from sesame seeds, peanuts, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts. The difference between the two? Pumpkin Bomb has a whole bunch more pumpkin on it, ten slices in total. A Pumpkin burger? I don’t think America is ready for this yet….

5 Guys!

So I had my first 5 Guys burger, and yes, it lives up to the hype…this is one juicy, cheesy, tasting burger – and it’s BIG!

I also mentioned that it’s “cheesy”, right? This baby was “all in” – everything they wanted to put on it, they put on it – and it oozed real good…

Your Bacon Org Chart!

However you want to utilize bacon, just follow these simple rules of social media:

And here are some other examples of burgers taken to the extreme…like my favorite from Big ‘n’ Little’s in Chicago – their homage to the Big Mac called the:

“Big Mack Daddy!”

Big ‘n’ Little’s is also famous for their “pork belly po’boy” which you can bite into right here:

Big ‘n’ Little’s really knows how to take bacon and turn it into something special! Of course you need to read more about this amazingly good restaurant, and you can by clicking on my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/27/behold-the-pork-belly-poboy-big-littles-bites-down-hard-deep-fried-cheeseburger/

Burger In A Box?!?!?

Oops! A cheeseburger in a box? Who else has ever bought a frozen, pre-made cheeseburger in a box and taken it home to the microwave…..

And sometimes you just want a burger that is SO juicy, you might have to eat it with a spoon?

And of course, you can always just have your bacon ON A STICK!

Read all about the “bacon explosion” being sold at this summer’s Iowa State Fair by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/06/25/bacon-explosion-pbnj-on-a-stick-deep-fried-beer-iowa-state-fairs-latest-food-mashups/

And don’t forget your bacon social media – smile, you’ve got bacon!

AJ Benza’s Terrific New Memoir!

I am excited to share this great news: my friend AJ Benza has a knockout of a new book coming out!

It’s called “’74 And Sunny”, and you need to order it now!

I was lucky enough to work with AJ Benza at E!, where he hosted a classic show about entertainment…

“Fame: Ain’t It A Bitch!”

That phrase is arguably E!’s most famous slogan, as it described the classic E! show “Mysteries & Scandals!”

AJ was the Host of the show – and your very opinionated guide into the dark corners of Tinseltown – with some of Hollywood’s most notorious stories.

We worked with a great team, including Executive Producer Michael Danahy and Producer Alison Martino…you can find whole episodes online, and they are worth watching…this show had terrific storytelling, all held together by AJ’s cool, cynical commentary…

“M & S” gave viewers a candid, shocking and honest look at one very unique aspect of Hollywood’s history, with fascinating tales of the town’s excess…

AJ was more than just my Host at E! He’s been on a number of TV shows, and did a great job acting in the 2006 film “Rocky Balboa.”

And now, it’s time to shine a spotlight on AJ’s latest project, a terrific memoir about the best summer of his life!

“’74 And Sunny!”

AJ’s new memoir is published on July 21, and here’s how “Page Six” in The New York Post described it:

“The book follows Benza growing up in a close-knit, Italian-American family on Long Island in 1974. When Ciro, Benza’s cousin, comes to live with the family, his interests include “curling people’s hair and singing along to Liza Minnelli [rather than] playing football,” according to a proposal. Ultimately, the Benza family realizes “that acceptance triumphs over ignorance.”

I love this picture that I found online, as it showcases AJ’s “tough as nails” attitude – I look forward to reading this book – here’s the first glowing review:

“A sometimes-abrasive radio and TV personality’s unexpectedly touching memoir about “the best summer of [his] life.” Benza’s depiction of how he, his father, and his cousin change is what is most satisfying about this book. That one family could make a difference in the life of a misunderstood boy and in turn be transformed by interactions with him is an uplifting message about the true nature of love. A warm and honest memoir.” (Kirkus)

I can only imagine that AJ will be as brutally honest about this summer of his life in the same way he has always been candid – and now AJ has a Facebook page you can sign up for to support this book:

https://www.facebook.com/74AndSunny?ref=notif&notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite

Kudos to AJ for his latest book – which leads me to his first encounter with the printed page:

“Fame: Ain’t it a Bitch – Confessions of a Reformed Gossip Columnist”

Yes, after the huge ratings success of “Mysteries & Scandals”, AJ published a book that told about his wild days in the gossip business in New York. This is also a hilarious and honest look at his life at the time.

Congratulations on the publication of the new book, AJ! I know the whole E! team is rooting for you…and speaking of the E! team, I also want to remind you to check out this:

Celebrate “Vintage Los Angeles”!

Producer Alison Martino, who worked with AJ on “Mysteries & Scandals”, is also an accomplished Hollywood documentarian, and has a terrific website dedicated to “Vintage Los Angeles!” Here she is with Actress Betty Olsen at a screening Alison put on for the legendary Hollywood film “Sunset Blvd.”

You can read all about Alison’s terrific website by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/20/vintage-l-a-noir-celebrate-las-heritage-amazing-website-and-classic-70s-noir/

Kudos to Alison for keeping great stories of Hollywood’s past alive – and let’s all support AJ by buying his great new book!

“I don’t even want to say double-D, because they’re even bigger than that.”

Celebrate One Of Hollywood’s Iconic Sex Kittens!

Mamie Van Doren is a Hollywood survivor. She is also one of the town’s most legendary sex kittens, and here’s why!

There have been a number of Hollywood sex kittens over the years: many have become legendary, like Marilyn Monroe:

And there are a number of legendary tinseltown sex symbols who have survived to carve out lucrative careers, like Ann-Margret and this smart businesswoman:

“Untamed” Mamie Van Doren!

Van Doren has been in a number of classic cult movies, and is perhaps best remembered for bringing the rock ‘n’ roll-style of music alive in the B-musical “Untamed Youth” (1957)!

Here is the classic trailer – and tell me they didn’t know what they were selling when they used the word “throbbing!”

Some of Van Doren’s more noteworthy movies include “Teacher’s Pet”, “Born Reckless”, “High School Confidential” and “The Beat Generation”!

But Van Doren was just as well known for her provocative roles, in a classic series of “sex kitten” performances that made her every man’s fantasy.

“Girls Who Grow Up Too Fast!”

Yes, that is the provocative headline in the trailer for “Girls Town” from 1959, which provoked censors with a shower scene where audiences could see Van Doren’s naked back! Here is the trailer:

“Sex Kittens Go to College!”

Look at the words on that poster! This 1960 film cemented Van Doren’s reputation as a “girl gone wild!”

“Fun With The Student Body!”

This was a time when Hollywood was trying to “spice up” the movies without running afoul of stringent censorship laws…and a beautiful, aggressive woman was just the ticket…

The Sex Kitten Years!

Van Doren used her popularity to branch out into other areas as well, including being one of the most popular pin-up models of the 60’s:

As the sexual revolution raged at the end of the 60’s, actresses like Van Doren took full advantage by appearing in a number of men’s magazines…

She posed twice for Playboy in 1963 to promote her movie “3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt”, and became a legend with this quote:

“I don’t even want to say double-D, because they’re even bigger than that.”

Read Her Version Of Events!

This iconic sex symbol has survived Hollywood and released her autobiography, “Playing the Field” in 1987.

Mamie Van Doren
Screen Legend Mamie Van Doren launches Mamietage Wine
held at Eleven Restaurant – Arrivals
West Hollywood, California – 14.11.07
Credit: (Mandatory): Dimitri Halkidis / WENN

Van Doren is very active on Facebook and Twitter today, and her husband Thomas maintains her website where various merchandise and movies are available – so “follow” her here!

https://www.facebook.com/mamie.vandoren

Of course, Van Doren is not Hollywood’s ONLY sex kitten to have a long and commercially successful career:

Ann-Margret went from acting opposite Elvis to writhing in baked beans thanks to The Who!

Read all about her incredible career here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/23/hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten-ann-margret-rock-operas-baked-beans-elvis/

There are, unfortunately, a number of tragic stories about Hollywood sex symbols as well – perhaps none more so than Jayne Mansfield:

This Hollywood sex symbol died tragically, but left behind an incredible legacy – read about her here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/12/28/jayne-mansfield-the-tragic-life-of-hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten/

And one of the more recent tragedies involved rising star Rainbeaux Smith:

Hers is a Hollywood cautionary tale, but her friends and family are helping keep her legacy alive. Read about here here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/20/hollywood-tragedy-70s-starlet-cheryl-rainbeaux-smith-the-runaways-caged-heat/

Congratulations to Mamie Van Doren for a great career!

Behold The Human Body As A Work Of Art!

Here are some of the most beautiful works of art ever created – if you are willing to consider the body as a canvas!

The Planets Align!

Kudos to “TheGuardian.com” for their coverage of this event. As The Guardian notes of the body painting above, “this majestic creation blends planets, alien figures and what looks like a rollercoaster track to turn the model into a galaxy not so far away.”

The beautiful photograph is by Jan Hetfleisch of Getty Images, as is the one below:

The World Bodypainting Festival!

More than 45 countries participated in the 18th edition of the World Bodypainting Festival in Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Austria the weekend of July 3, 2015.

You can see more photos and videos by going to the official website here:

http://www.bodypainting-festival.com/en/home.html

This work is really stunning!

Behold The Work Of Artist Brittney Pelloquin!

Look at the artistry of this:

According to The Guardian, bodypainting artist Brittney Pelloquin “designed this image, incorporating time, a lion, literature, and a watchful eye.”

The amazing photograph is by Didier Messens of Getty Images!

Jan Hetfleisch of Getty Images took the above photo.

Kudos to TheGuardian.com for their photos and great story…read all about it here:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/jul/06/world-bodypainting-festival-2015-austria-in-pictures?CMP=share_btn_fb

These are stunning works of art, and kudos to the Artists who used the human body for such a gorgeous purpose!

Ready To Hike THIS?

Time to head back to China for a nice walk: get some fresh air, see the sights….AND WATCH YOUR STEP!

Yes, here is the world’s most dangerous mountain hike! If you need more proof, well HAVE I GOT IT FOR YOU!

Thanks as always to the way folks at “RocketNews24″ for posting this story, which they say was originally uploaded by the website “Izismile”.

Look at how you begin to climb this baby!

Climb Aboard The “Hua Shan Trail!”

This is 100% true: this is a hiking trail! These are photos of the Hua Shan trail, which crosses over, under and between the five peaks of the 7066 foot Hua Shan mountain in China’s Shaanxi Province!

According to RocketNews24, “the trail is known among tourists as ‘the world’s most dangerous hiking trail’ on account of its steep climbs and sheer drops alongside which narrow paths snake.”

Um, YEAH!

As you can see, they have found a way to make every part of this mountain “hike-able” – as long as you have no fear of heights!

Thanks as always to the intrepid reporters at “RocketNews24″, THE GREATEST WEBSITE FOR ALL THINGS ASIA! READ THEIR ENTIRE STORY HERE:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/02/05/dont-look-down-a-stroll-along-chinas-deadliest-hiking-trail【photos】/

I honestly don’t think I could do that…but I might try! And if you work up an appetite, then you have to try this Chinese restaurant as well!

Yes, that is a restaurant on the side of a cliff! Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/27/cliffhanger-dining-chinas-terrifyingly-delicious-cliff-restaurant/

And maybe you will order some Yak dumplings, which is a delicacy in parts of China…

Read all about unique aspects of China travel by reading my post about J. Maarten Troost’s great book “Lost On Planet China” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/09/cannibals-savages-sex-and-great-walls-too-troost-troost-troost-great-adventure-travel/

And remember, it’s easy to travel in China…just take this road:

That’s right: it’s built ALONG the river, not over it! See more here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/28/amazing-china-highway-runs-over-length-of-river-wild-china-adventures/

And don’t forget to get some extreme hiking on the books soon!

Time To Meet A “Supermensch!”

Here is one of the most entertaining entertainment documentaries I’ve seen – and a terrific inside look at Hollywood – and Hollywood excess – it’s the classic story of Shep Gordon, who did indeed wear this T-shirt while managing the group Alice Cooper:

Mike Myers Tells The Story!

In his directorial debut, Mike Myers tells this fascinating story of the astounding career of the ultimate Hollywood insider, Shep Gordon! Here is the trailer:

Myers takes advantage of a ton of great archival footage PLUS great new interviews with a ton of celebrities who worked with Gordon!

The Making Of A “Supermensch!”

Shep Gordon fell into music management by chance after moving to LA after graduating from college in the late 60’s. He immediately became friends with Jim Hendrix and Janis Joplin!

Gordon helped turn Alice Cooper into a superstar, along with a wide variety of musicians and performers. Alice has some great anecdotes to share about their adventures…

Gordon also managed chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, ushering in the era of celebrity chefs on television!

Mike Myers spent twenty years persuading Gordon to let him tell his story. There is a poignant aspect to their relationship that is revealed in the film as well.

Oh, and Shep was a ladies man too…

This is a GREAT movie, and a fascinating look at the world of music, movies and HOLLYWOOD.

And let’s never forget that because of Shep we have this:

I LOVE Alice Cooper, and as a group and a solo performer, I could listen to classic songs like “I’m Eighteen” and “Elected” forever….which leads to this great movie that uses a Cooper tune:

Yes, the cult classic “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” includes Alice Cooepr’s incendiary classic, “School’s Out!”

Read all about the classic “blow up your high school” film here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

And make sure you check out this classic documentary!