Gene Simmons to women: Stop depending on men

Gene Simmons is an asshat, I've known that since the 90s and anyone who didn't realize that about him hasn't been paying attention. However, in this video which has generated some controversy, he's got some good points.People were blowing him up on social media for the statements he made in this video on Fox News, but this is the advice I'd give my daughter.

I disagree with him that you can't have a career and raise a child. As a single mother I had no choice. It's very very hard and you end up making sacrifices but it can be done. But I wholeheartedly agree that women need to stop depending on men, emotionally and definitely financially.

"Find out that thing that you're good for that makes the money, and then get married and/or have children from a position of strength," Simmons says. That makes sense. Even if you do decide to stay home later you have money to take care of your child. Having two people making a good living is a great thing.

Another part that resonated with me: "Let's all agree that women should not depend on men. The statistics tell us predominantly they will run out on you,"

Yes, there are some good men out there. But my experience and that of a lot of my friends has been the running out kind. Make sure you can take care of yourself. Best advice a woman can have, actually. It's hard enough to pick yourself up and start again emotionally. At least if you can take care of yourself financially you can be in good shape.

Simmons also says that men aren't fully grown until about their 40s. This is again something I can agree with. I know a lot of men take offense to it, but having dated men in all age groups, that's when they finally start treating you right and do a little less catting around.

The good news is, if you get an education and you're capable of supporting yourself and any children you have, if the right man comes along you're with him because you love him, not because you can't afford to leave him.

So yeah, even though I think Gene Simmons is a pompous asshole (but  he's laughing all the way to the bank) I kind of think he got it right on this one.

You can watch the whole video here.
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Shinedown starts recording of new album

Shinedown has started recording their next album, right now being referred to as Shinedown5. They have posted references to it on their Facebook and Twitter. On the band's official Facebook account, they have posted a few photos from the recording of it and have been using the hashtag #shinedown5. Looks like today is Day 3, and we all know how long it takes to record an album, mix it and finally get it released, but at lease new music is on the way! I will definitely be following this (well, I always do) and posting any updates I see on this site.

This is very exciting as Shinedown always puts out some great stuff. Their last studio album was Amaryllis, which was released on March 27, 2013. While Shinedown was taking a break, guitarist Zach Myers released a special acoustic album and even went on an acoustic tour which got some pretty good reviews. The Myers side project album, Allen, Mack, Myers and Moore, is available on his Pledge music site.

While you're waiting for the new tunes, you can head over to Shinedown.com where they are having a weekly sweepstakes. Seems that every week they are giving away a prize pack. Contest winners receive a limited edition Shinedown Nation t-shirt and more. Contest enntry is as simple as sending them an email, so what do you have to lose? 

Halloween Idea: Iron Maiden's Eddie

Halloween is definitely one of the most metal holidays out there and few things are as metal as Iron Maiden's mascot, Eddie. (Also known as "Eddie the Head") One of my friends shared this awesome makeup tutorial on Facebook and it is definitely a pretty cool idea. The video is from YouTube and it basically shows how to do your makeup like Eddie.

In 2008, Gibson.com called Eddie "the most recognizable metal icon in the world and one of the most versatile too." From 1980 till 1992, Eddie was drawn by artist Derek Riggs. However in 1992 the band accepted contributions from other artists in order to "update Eddie to the 90s." Eddie has appeared as everything from a skeleton to a samurai to an undertaker to a Blade-Runner esque cyborg. Eddie can truly be anything and any incarnation. According to Dave Murray Eddie's name was inspired by an old joke: "A wife had a baby, but it was born with only a head and no body. 'Don't worry,' says the doctor. 'Bring him back in five years time and we'll probably have a body for him'. So five years go by, and there's Eddie the 'Ead, as his parents have called him, sitting on the mantelpiece, when in walks his dad. 'Son,' he says, 'today's a very special day. It's your fifth birthday and we've got a very special surprise for you.' 'Oh no,' says Eddie. 'Not another fucking hat!'" If you would like to see more awesome artwork of Eddie for some Halloween inspiration of your own, there is actually a Facebook community called "Eddie -- Iron Maiden's mascot." In any case, if you decide to follow the tutorial for the video or do your own awesome Eddie costume, feel free to send pics to the contribution info at the top of this page. Any pics I recieve will be posted.

Steven Tyler Encourages Drug Court Graduates

Steven Tyler, of Aerosmith, known back in the day for some crazy drug use as well as the rockin' music that Aerosmith made, appeared as a guest speaker before the Maui/Moloka'i Drug Court program graduation and encouraged the graduates as well as speaking about his own struggle.

Tyler attributed a lot of his success with sobriety to attending AA meetings. This was probably a good message for the graduates to hear...no one can do it all themself and a lot of people need the support and structure to get them back to a drug-free life.

He said he began "getting high" in 1964. "By 1984, I was 126 pounds, shooting cocaine," when he first went into a rehabilitation center, Tyler said.
"They weren't rehabs," he said. "They were mental institutions where people that sat next to me had dribble bibs."
Later, he relapsed. "I had it all. I didn't care," he said. "And I hurt my family and my children and my friends. If it wasn't for the program of AA, I would have nothing.
"I'm a better drug addict and alcoholic than I am a musician. I got to keep it in check."

You can read the full story from Billboard magazine here. 

It's  great that Steven Tyler took time out to attend this program and give this talk  to people who could surely use his inspiration. It probably helped them to know that even one of rock and roll's great vocal Gods faced the same struggles that they did. Statistically I'm sure some of these people will relapse again, but if he could help a few of them that is a great service. This is the sort of thing that makes him seem like more of a "Nice Guy of Boston" than one of the "Bad Boys of Boston." Tyler is truly an inspiration and a down to Earth guy.