Steve Harris on Iron Maiden / Judas Priest co-headline tour

Anyone who is a fan of both Judas Priest and Iron Maiden will probably be thinking this thought or something similar: TAKE MY MONEY NOW!! Iron Maiden bassist talks about the possibility of these two veteran metal bands doing a co-headline tour. When asked about the idea of an Iron Maiden-Judas Priest co-headline tour, Steve Harris replied "Why not?"

Harris, who has a band outside of Iron Maiden called British Lions, has released their second album, The Burning. During an interview with Eddie Trunk on Sirius XM's Trunk Nation, he admitted he had seen Rob Halford's comments on hoping for a co-headline tour. He said, with a shrug "So, I don't know. I suppose the management has gotta get their heads together and [make] something like that [happen]. But, yeah, why not? I suppose the fans can push for it to happen. But we'll see."

If this tour does happen, it would mark the first time in music history that two titans of metal would be touring together. The first time it happened in 1981 when Priest was touring in support of Point of Entry and Iron Maiden were touring in support of Killers. Looking back on those times, nearly 40 years later, Harris remarked "[I have] lots of good memories and I really love that album-Point of Entry. Some people don't think it's their favorite Priest album, but I suppose because we were on tour [with Priest at the time] really liked it."

2020 was a busy year for Harris. His side band British Lion released their second album The Burning. It was the first album they released since their 2012 debut. They'll be touring in support of it. When that concludes, it's back to all things Maiden

James Jagger on the show Vinyl: "I'm not rabble-rouser"

James Jagger, who strongly resembles his father, is on a new HBO drama called Vinyl, which depicts the life and times of a punk band in 1973 New York

On HBO, debuting Feb. 14 of this year is a drama called Vinyl, which centers around a record executive, played by Bobby Cannavale, who is trying to navigate trying to sell his label and the 1973 punk explosion in New York. One of the punks he runs into is Kip, played by James Jagger. When he comes on stage, those watching, especially those who are fans of The Rolling Stones, might notice something eerie-there's a lot of similarities between Kip on stage and Mick Jagger on stage. Juno Temple plays an A&R assistant he's seeing. When asked what he cares about, his reply is "Fighting, f---ing. Nothing."

During an interview with W Magazine, James Jagger lays it out about filming, the 1970s, his father.

Magazine: The pilot is almost two hours long. It is so cinematic. And that last scene...

James: It really makes you want to see what comes next. At the same time, it's one of the cheapest Martin Scorsese movies ever made [laughs]

Magazine: Your character is a little bit of an anarchist, a little bit of a nihilist. Was it hard to get into his head?

James: It was definitely a process, and it was definitely fun to play. I don't think it was super hard to get into his head per se, but there were some elements that were unpleasant. He's got a huge amount of pain; it can be a little tiring to wear that. The thing I found was that when you've to portray someone cold and unpleasant, I ended up feeling bad for the other actors I was playing against. I have to go give Juno a hug at the end of the day. To be like "All's fair in love and war..."

Magazine: "...and acting."

James: Exactly

Magazine: Kip seems pure, like the effects of the heroin he shoots.

James: There's a lot more to him. He puts up a very strong front, but I feel like as the season progresses the character really does have a bit of a revolution. He's definitely pure, but he's kind of burnt as well-there's a kind of jadedness, too.

Magazine: Did you base him on anyone?

James: Not as I'm playing him, but there're certainly bits and pieces I took from people of that era. In particular, maybe...I dunno, I identify with Richard Hell [American punk musician] at times. But Kip is definitely his own person. Musically, there are other influences.

Magazine: I read that you wrote the song Kip's band, The Nasty Bits, plays?

James: Yes. One of them is played in the pilot, when we have a lot of s--- thrown at us onstage [laughs]

Magazine: Does it sound anything like the music you write?

James: With my band? I wouldn't say so. We really tried to write something to fit with the cultural backdrop of that time. I'm no longer playing with those guys, but we used to play around a bit more with fantastical, esoteric things rather than kitchen-sink drama, which is what The Nasty Bits play with.

Magazine: When you're performing onstage as Kip, with your makeup, you do resemble your father quite a bit.

James: I got asked in an interview whether I try to play up my likeness to him. [laughs]. Yes, I'm using my acting prowess to play up my likeness to my father, it was nothing to do with the fact that I'm his son. I thought that was quite funny. 

Magazine: Did he have any insights in to the scene to share with you?

James: He was really open about that time. I riffed with him about New York during that period. He had a few good anecdotes, but he's also really into his history. He really had a grasp on what was going on politically and socially. It was all really helpful for me.

Magazine: Your comment recently that you prefer The Kinks to The Rolling Stones has caused a lot of controversy on the Internet.

James: It was totally a tongue-in-cheek comment! I was asked whether I prefer The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. That's the question I'm asked constantly. So my response was flatly, with a straight face, "I prefer The Kinks." You know? Like, I don't know...

Magazine: And now everyone's misconstrued your joke.

James: I guess so. It's just a ridiculous thing. I love all three bands. Why should you have to choose? Why do you have to be a cat or a dog person, they're both great animals.

Magazine: How did you get involved with Project Zero?

James: I started working with them three years ago. I thought it was such an exciting new way to approach maritime conservation.

Magazine: Now you're on the board of directors. Is it in your nature to organize and cheerlead? You seem pretty laid back.

James: No, it's just something I'm passionate about. I'm not a rabble-rouser in any way.

Magazine: Right, you've always kept a low profile. With this role-with your father and Martin Scorsese involved-you must've known your cover would be blown.

James: Yeah. I've always enjoyed anonymity. But it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Marty. I don't know anyone who would say no, despite any weird moments I might experience on public transport.

No Time to Die (2021)

The most recent installment in the James Bond series

Summary

-James Bond has left the service to retire in Jamaica. He's drawn back into active service when an old friend from the CIA, Felix Leiter, shows up, asking for assistance. It's regarding a dangerous new villain with access to dangerous new technology

Cast

-Daniel Craig: James Bond

-Ana de Armas: Paloma

-Lea Seydoux: Madeleine

-Rami Malek: Lyutsifer Safin

-Lashana Lynch: Nomi

-Ralph Fiennes: M

-Ben Whishaw: Q

-Naomie Harris: Moneypenny

-Rory Kinnear: Tanner

-Jeffrey Wright: Felix Leiter

-Billy Magnussen: Logan Ash

-Christoph Waltz: Blofeld

Did You Know?

-Daniel Craig said he would retire from the role of James Bond if he became too old to play the character. He said it was becoming harder to stay fit enough to play this role and more stunt doubles were used for action scenes

-The mask worn by Safin (Rami Malek) is a Japanese Noh mask. This led people to believe he was a new incarnation of the first Bond villain Dr. Julius No

-Daniel Craig had injured his ankle while filming in Jamaica in 2019. In a 2021 interview, he said that he had not injured his ankle, which required surgery, during the filming of an action sequence. He had actually injured his ankle by simply tripping over something and breaking his ankle. The media reported it as an injury while filming an action scene

-This is the fifth film in which Daniel Craig plays James Bond. His first film was 2006's Casino Royale. This would make Daniel Craig the longest running actor to play James Bond

-At the home in Jamaica where James Bond lives there is a writing desk. It's said to be a replica of the writing desk Ian Fleming used to write all of the James Bond novels. The real writing desk resides at GoldenEye, the home in Jamaica owned by Fleming

-Rami Malek had to wear a wig to hide his short hair during the photography for the movie as he was filming the fourth and final season of the TV series Mr. Robot

-One of the stunt drivers here is Jessica Hawkins, who was picked by stunt coordinator Lee Morrison. He hand picked Hawkins from the Formula 3 W series, which is exactly like Formula 1 racing only all the teams in the W series are women. She stated "It doesn't get any more exhilarating than being a stunt driver in a James Bond movie and it's an honor to be a part of this incredible movie driving the new Defender."

-The only major change to the Land Rover Defender in this film is a roll cage for safety

-Rami Malek's character's name Safin is of Arabic descent. It can also be spelled "Safeen". Actor Rami Malek was born in Egypt, which is an Arab country. He can even speak the language of Masri, which is Egyptian Arabic

-The two cats owned by Q are Hairless Egyptian Sphynx cats. This is the exact same breed of cat that was named Mr. Bigglesworth in the Austin Powers spoof series. The cat from the Austin Powers series is also spoofed on the cat that Blofeld owns, which was a blue eyed, white haired Chinchilla Turkish Angora Persian cat

-When this movie was released, Daniel Craig was 53 at the time, making him one of the older actors to play James Bond

-This was the first James Bond film to be released after the deaths of Sir Roger Moore, who died on 5/23/2017 and Sir Sean Connery, who died on 10/31/2020

-The first film in the James Bond series to feature two female characters in a lead role who are black. Naomie Harris and Lashana Lynch play Eve Moneypenny and Nomi

-The film was scheduled to premier in China in April 2020, but had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak

-The third film in the James Bond series to feature Ben Whishaw (Q), Ralph Fiennes (M), Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter) and Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny)

-Out of all the actors to play James Bond, George Lazenby and Daniel Craig are the only actors seen driving an Aston Martin in the movies they appear in. The only film George Lazenby appeared in was On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

-This film features the first Double-O agent played by a black person. That person is Lashana Lynch, who plays Nomi. She is of African and Jamaican descent

-Cary Joji Fukunaga is the first director of Asian descent to direct a James Bond film. This film features a lot of references to Japanese culture, such as a Noh mask and a ceremonial costume

-This is the first film in the James Bond series to feature a black person playing both Felix Leiter and Moneypenny in the same movie

Skyfall (2012)

One of the more recent installments in the James Bond series

Summary

-When M's past comes back to haunt her, James Bond's loyalty to her is tested. He must track down the threat when MI6 comes under attack, no matter what

Cast

-Daniel Craig: James Bond

-Dame Judi Dench: M

-Naomie Harris: Eve

-Javier Bardem: Silva

-Ralph Fiennes: Gareth Mallory

-Berenice Marlohe: Severine

-Albert Finney: Kincade

-Ben Whishaw: Q

-Rory Kinnear: Tanner

-Ola Rapace: Patrice

Did You Know?

-In all of the James Bond films, this is only the second film in which James Bond suffers a gunshot wound. The first was 1965's Thunderball during the Junkanoo chase

-That was not a stunt double jumping and sliding down the escalator rail. That was Daniel Craig himself

-On M's desk, there is a bulldog draped in a Union Jack (English/British flag to everyone else). These porcelain figures were created by Royal Doulton during the years of WWII to inspire patriotism. These figures made another appearance in the 2011 film Tinker Tailor Solder Spy. The figures were on the desk of Control (Sir John Hurt), who was the head of MI6. He had two Royal Doulton bulldogs on his desk

-The passport used by James Bond was not a prop, but an actual authentic passport issued by the British Home Office. Everything on the passport, from the photo to the jacket, are authentic. The only thing keeping it from being fully authentic and able to be used is, as a security measure, a special set of information encoded on it to flag it for improper use. The details listed include: Name-John Adam Bryce, Date of Birth-16 December 1968, Sex-Male, Place of Birth-London, Date of issue-22 June 2012, Date of Expiry-22 August 2029

-Daniel Craig did many of his own stunts

-This film is said to be the most successful film in all of the James Bond films

-Hashima Island, located nine and a half miles from Nagasaki, was the location of Raoul Silva's lair. It was once a thriving mining area. But due to overcrowding and poor work conditions, the mines here were shut down

-When recording the theme song, Adele was pregnant at the time. The pregnancy hormones caused her voice to go deeper than usual

-A few days after the movie debuted, an ad was placed by the real MI6, the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service). The ad was placed with The Times and The Sunday Times. The headline was "If the qualities that make a good spy were obvious, they wouldn't make a very good spy." The purpose of the ad was to debunk any mysteries about espionage. The ad also went on to say things about real-life spy work not being "high-speed chases and shoot-outs", that an average spy is not "a globe-trotting secret agent", and psychological profiles of real life agents show they are typically "far more ordinary". The ad destroys the negative stereotype suggesting all spies are white males, saying "the truth is, we don't care what sex you are, or where you're from, as long as you're British." This hilarious ad is considered, to this day, one of the biggest recruitment ads for MI6. But, keeping to true espionage work, the ad does warn of upholding utmost secrecy and strict confidentiality, advising potential recruits to not disclose they are making an application to anyone

-The house in which M (Dame Judi Dench) lives in was the former home of James Bond composer John Barry. It was thought this would be a loving, heartfelt tribute to the man who composed the iconic theme. John Barry died in 2011 and his house would be used as a tribute

-The suggestive scenes where James Bond meets Raoul Silva, in what appears to be a homosexual encounter caused laughter between Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem. This helped reduce tension between the two

-Naomi Harris spent six weeks with a professional barber to learn how to properly use a razor blade. For the razor shaving scene, she practiced on members of the crew

-This is the first James Bond film to be filmed in China, specifically Shanghai. The first Bond film to be filmed in China would have been License to Kill in 1989, but the Chinese government were too restrictive and thus, never got filmed in China

-In the scene where Bond takes M to where he secretly stores his Aston Martin was filmed in December 2011 and also happened to be Dame Judi Dench's 77th birthday. She was given a birthday cake at 4am in a parking lot

-While preparing for his role, Javier Bardem had the script changed in European Spanish so he could understand it better. This showed director Sam Mendes that Bardem was committed to doing a good job

-In the iconic gun barrel opening scene, James Bond is seen wearing a gray suit instead of the usual black suit

-Berenice Marlohe, who played the main Bond girl in the film, said that Daniel Craig was shy and hesitant to do a love scene, specifically their love scene in the shower. Marlohe said "He was very shy, and when he saw me entering the shower, he was like 'Oh my God'. He tried to keep his underpants on for the shower scene, but I said 'No, come on, don't be shy. I will do anything to make you comfortable.'"

-This is the first film in all of the James Bond films that the F word is heard and said. M remarks that she "really f---ed this up."

-The hunting rifle Bond is seen firing from the hip is an extremely powerful elephant gun known as a .500 caliber Nitro Express. It's considered, by many gun experts, as a foolish thing to do, firing it from the hip as Bond did. The target of the gun would not just fall down. A shot placed in the direct center of the target would explode the whole chest cavity and blow the target's arms right off of the torso

-Naomie Harris' mother is from Jamaica, where James Bond author Sir Ian Fleming wrote many of his James Bond novels

-Permission had to be obtained from the London Mayor's office to shut down Vauxhall Bridge to film the scene where M witnesses a terrorist attack on the MI6 building

-During the opening titles, several daggers are seen plunging into the ground. One of them is a Fairburn-Sykes dagger, issued to British Special Forces from WWII to present day. It even inspired a type of fighting style known as Fairburn-Sykes

Michael Imperioli clarifies the "Goodfellas" scene

Michael Imperioli was in the 1990 film Goodfellas. He played the young kid Spider, who gets shot by Joe Pesci twice. Once for not moving fast enough, which results in getting shot in the foot. The other time he's fatally shot for mouthing off to Tommy DeVito, a psychopathic mobster played by Joe Pesci. Michael explains in greater detail about those scenes.

During an interview with CNN's Chris Wallace, Michael Imperioli goes into detail about the scene in Goodfellas that sent him to the hospital and had doctors thinking he'd really been shot. At 23, this was Imperioli's big break into Hollywood. "Working with Scorsese was a dream come true. It's like going from college to play on the Yankees in the World Series or something." Working with actors like Joe Pesci or Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta was more than "thrilling" for Michael. "For some strange reason, I really like when the stakes are high. I like being under a lot of pressure, in terms of work." He gives credit to Scorsese with being comfortable on set. "Marty made me feel so comfortable. From the moment I met him, the moment I got there, he made me feel like I belong there. And I was an actor. And the very first job I had in film, the director did not make feel that way."

He says Scorsese "was very, very kind, and I think knew that - how important it was to me. Because I had been trying, I had been studying and trying to get work for, at that point, six years, you know? Most of what you see is all improvised, which is even more a testament to how trusting he is of actors, especially young actors. Working with legends here, you know, allowing them to just be free to say what they want and respond how they want to respond is pretty, pretty amazing." He also recalls a moment when he was injured while filming the iconic scene where he is shot and killed by Joe Pesci.

"I'm supposed to go flying back into the bar and hit the ground with three bullet holes. They have a stunt double. I said 'No, I want to do my own stunt.'" When he hit the bar, the glass he held in his hand broke, slicing open two of his fingers. "I look up and see Robert De Niro looking down at me. The injury was pretty bad." An assistant drove Imperioli to the hospital, where, seeing the fake blood and bullet holes, thought he had been shot pretty severely. He said "Three bullet holes in my chest and it's Queens, New York. They think I'm about to die. They think I'm delirious, talking about Robert De Niro." when he tried to explain he was filming a movie with Robert De Niro. "So, they put me on a stretcher, wheel me into trauma, and I'm telling them what's happening. They won't listen to me. Finally, they start going into my shirt and see all the squibbing, the wires. I said, 'Told you. I'm doing a movie. I cut my fingers.'"

Two hours later, the staff stitched up his fingers and sent him back to the set, where they filmed more scenes of his death. Imperioli focused on work and didn't "engage in a lot of chitchat" with the other actors on set. "The last thing I wanted to do was talk to them about acting, because, I knew that's not what they wanted to hear." He did make a suggestion that, as he put it, "really took a lot of b---s. I just kind of trusted my instincts, because of Marty because he made me feel that way." He asked the person in charge of props to allow him to reset the poker table where the wiseguys are gambling. His character, Spider, was their "errand boy". He got them drinks, cleaned ashtrays and more. It was Imperioli's idea to move the bottles so that he could face the wiseguys when he made their drinks instead of facing away, so he could see who needed a refill. Making a suggestion like that is "something an actor really would never do. Because first of all, it's a union job. And you don't mess with union workers, right? Or you really might get shot." He said. Also, "the props were very specific. They have these continuity issues, depending on how long they're moving the camera around, and everything's got to be the same."

Scorsese liked the idea and moved the bottles. "When I think about it now, I'm like 'I would probably never even think of doing that now because I just assume that the prop guy is going to do it right. I don't need to do that.' But there was something instinctual. And Marty made you feel like he wanted you to really live this."

11 Facts You May or May Not Know About Ian Hill

For most if not all Judas Priest fans, the name Ian Hill is well known. The fans know him as not only the band's bass player, but also one of the founding members, along with former guitarist K.K. Downing. But there may be some items or facts you may or may not know about this founding member of one of metal's best known bands.

1. He is one of the founding members of Judas Priest

-Along with former guitarist K.K. Downing, he was one of the members present through its various changes in lineup and he was also there at the beginning, to form the band we know and love today. His unique bass lines, deep and powerful, remain a strong part of the Judas Priest sound we know and love

2. He's been with the band for over 50 years

-This band has been around for over 50 years. he is the one member of the band with the highest seniority. He's played an important role of keeping the band going through thick and thin. With his dedication to the band, he's earned the respect of not only fans, but fellow musicians

3. He has an electric stage presence

-He seems to have a strongly commanding presence onstage, sending out bass riffs like sonic booms to the audience. He's able to connect with the crowd and deliver performances that are unforgettable

4. Chris Squire of Yes and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath influenced Ian Hill

-When he was younger, Ian Hill was inspired by people like Black Sabbath bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler and Yes bassist Chris Squire. Their unique playing styles and strong melodic lines influenced Hill to develop his own unique method of playing bass, and thus, helped him develop his own sound

5. His bass lines are a trademark of Judas Priest's songs

-The bass lines he plays are an integral part of any Judas Priest song. For example, listen to the thunderous bass lines in "Painkiller" or the driving bass line in "Breaking the Law".

6. He's collaborated with various artists over the years

-Besides working with Judas Priest, Ian Hill has worked on other projects over the years. He explores different genres and shows he has talent beyond just heavy metal

7. His passion for motorcycles is well documented

-His other love, besides music, is motorcycles. He's an avid motorcycle rider and enthusiast. He's usually seen riding one around, and he even incorporated one into being used as a part of Judas Priest concerts

8. His dedication to his music and bandmates has never disappeared

-He's dedicated to not only his bandmates, but the music. Throughout the ups and downs Priest has suffered, he's remained vigilant and dedicated to his craft. His dedication is the reason for the band's longevity

9. His nickname is "Skullcrusher"

-He earned this unusual moniker for his devasting stage presence and thundering bass lines. This nickname was set early in his career because of his ability to deliver bass lines that can rattle fans to the bones and leave a lasting impression on all those who attend a Judas Priest show

10. His bass lines have precision and groove to them

-He's known for impeccable timing, precision and groove to his bass playing. He's able to lock in tight with the rhythm section and add thunderous layers to an already devastating auditory assault that is heavy metal music

11. He continues to inspire new generations of bass players

-He inspires people all over the world to pick up a bass guitar and start playing. His unique style of playing and his dedication to music will inspire generations of new bass players

How Producers of The Sopranos Found Federico Castellucio to be perfect for the role of Furio

The Sopranos is an HBO program about a fictitious mob family in New Jersey. Producers had come up with a character named Furio Giunta, an Italian brought over to do work for the family. Producers found Federico Castellucio to be perfect for this role.

In Season 2, the crew heads to Italy and there's a sudden wave of new sights and sounds. When the crew arrives in Naples in the episode "Commendatori", Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli singing in the background, Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri (Tony Sirico) and Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) start commenting on the interesting area

Christopher tells Paulie and Tony (James Gandolfini)"You know what I noticed on the plane? Even the skanks ain't worth f---ing." Inside the hotel, Tony meets their Italian point of contact Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castellucio. Later that night, at dinner, Tony notes Furio's ability to manage things well. It's also noticed that Furio can handle potential threats. When talking a deal in Naples, Tony includes Furio in on things as one of the terms of his negotiation. That episode introduced a new character for the next few seasons of The Sopranos. Writer-producer Terry Winter stated that Castellucio would be perfect as Furio right from the beginning

During a visit to the July 27 episode of the podcast Talking Sopranos, Terry Winter talked about the auditions for the character of Furio Giunta. The character required an actor who not only spoke fluent Italian, but could also handle himself and would serve as the love interest for Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco). During his interview on the podcast, Winter recalled "We went through so many guys. And everybody sounded like Mr. Bacciagalupe from Abbott & Costello. It was horrible." When Castellucio walked in, it was like fate. He was perfect from the beginning

Winter continued. "I said this to Federico and it's the God's honest truth: He is exactly what I thought about when I wrote the character." He wasn't ready to commit to anything until he saw Castellucio in action. "I worked on The Great Defender and we had an actor who had to throw a punch in a scene. We didn't think to ask the guy to let us see him throw a punch. On the day [of the fight scene], it was clear he never threw a punch before." Winter had Castellucio throw a punch. Despite seeing some actors' worst fighting skills, Castellucio impressed all who seen his work. Winter said "Holy s---. This is the guy." Since TV shows don't shoot in sequence, Winter refers to an episode titled "Big Girls Don't Cry", where Furio goes through a New Jersey brothel. This was shot prior to going to Italy for the "Commendatori" episode. It was clear Federico Castellucio got the role of Furio even before the crew went to Italy

George Russell says 1million euro fines are "ridiculous" and "obscene"

Mercedes AMG F1 driver George Russell says that €1m fines are "ridiculous" and "obscene". He fired back at the FIA for the ridiculous fines they institute for fines

In the International Sporting Code for the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1 has increased the fine issued to a Formula 1 driver from €250,000 to €1m. This update has been left untouched for the last 12 years and, according to the FIA "does not reflect the current needs of motorsport." George Russell believes otherwise. The Mercedes AMG driver feels that quadrupling the fine from its original amount to the current amount was "ridiculous", given that F1 drivers just starting out in grand prix or F1 racing earn nowhere near that kind of income. Ahead of the US Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Russell said in an interview "I think it's pretty ridiculous that a driver could be fined €1m. In my first year of Formula 1, I was on a five-figure salary and actually lost over six figures in that first year from paying for my trainer, paying for flights, paying for an assistant. And that's probably the case for 25% of the grid. We're doing what we love, so we're not complaining about that. But if you take a year one driver probably by the end of the year is losing over €100,000 because of the investments he has to make, you fine them a million. What's going to happen?" Russell continued on, adding that he says the drivers asked the FIA for more transparency on what the money from the fines will go towards

When he was asked about if he thought the issue would arise again, he said "For sure. There's no doubt about it. We just want transparency and understanding. I think already the fines are getting out of control. [Max] Verstappen being fined 50,000 for touching a car. Lewis [Hamilton] being fined 50,000 [for crossing a live track in Qatar]. It feels like these numbers are being plucked out the air. When there's a lot of global issues going on and so much poverty around the world, how a federation can just make up these six, seven figure fines? We've requested before from the FIA ot hear where these fines are going toward, what causes they're going to. It needs to be reinvested into grassroots, but so far we've had no response on where that's going. If they truly believe a €1m fine is worthwhile and it's going to be reinvested into the sport, then maybe one of the drivers who's being paid a lot is happy to pay that fine. But it seems obscene."

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen has included some comments on this. "If touching your rear wing is 50k, then I would like to know what one million is. Then maybe we can sponsor also the bottles of wines. I'll get ready..." Russell's Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton also added "When it comes to things like this, we really need to be thinking the message that that sends out to those who are watching. If they are going to be fining a million, let's make sure that 100% of that goes to a cause. There's a lot of money in this whole industry and there's a lot more that we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who wouldn't normally have a chance to get into a sport like this. That's the only way they'll get that million from me."

Michael Imperioli on "abusive" scenes from The Sopranos

Michael Imperioli says it was "abusive" for some of the scenes he had to film for HBO TV show The Sopranos. He played a character named Christopher Moltisanti, a member of the Soprano family in New Jersey. He was also a drug addict whose addiction worsened as time went on. His girlfriend was a woman named Adriana, played by actress Drea De Matteo, who gets killed later on when it's discovered she's an informant for the FBI

According to Michael Imperioli, "You have to go to some nasty places." In a recent interview with The Guardian, Imperioli said it was "brutal" when he had to be a physically abusive person on the show. "The most brutal, difficult stuff for me is when Christopher had to be physically abusive with Adriana, for obvious reasons." On the show, Christopher was in a relationship with Adriana La Cerva, played by Drea De Matteo."On a technical level, you're trying to be really careful so you don't hurt the person. But having to get that point of violence toward a woman, you have to go some nasty places to get there. Sometimes it's very immediate. Sometimes it's something present in your life that you can tap into. Sometimes you have to go someplace from the past. And sometimes you have to go to someplace imaginary."

The actor, now currently playing Dominic Di Grasso on The White Lotus, continued. "It's much easier shooting a mobster or shooting heroin. That stuff to me is not difficult. But that stuff with her was. Sometimes you'll use stunt doubles, sometimes not. And even then, it's one thing to choreograph and rehearse it, then when you act it full-tilt with all the emotion, it's easy to not have as much control as in the rehearsal. So you really have to be quite careful."

Michael Imperioli appeared as main character Christopher Moltisanti throughout all six seasons of The Sopranos. Originally his character's name was to be Dean Moltisanti, but was changed to Christopher. His character predated the 2021 prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.

During his interview with The Guardian, Imperioli also shared that his late co-star James Gandolfini was one of the best on-screen partners he's had. "He's probably the actor I've acted with most. He always put in 110%. He managed to find the intensity and the reality in every moment. That pushed you farther." Unfortunately, while on vacation in Rome, Italy with his family on June 19, 2013, he passed away. His son Michael found him unconscious in a hotel bathroom. When paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, his cause of death was declared a heart attack

23 Facts You May or May Not Know About Peter Steele

For the fans of Type O Negative, the name Peter Steele is well known. He was their bassist and vocalist. And when news of his death hit the media, it hit the fans hard. And even for those who don't listen to that band, it was sad to learn of his death. According to Facts.net, here are 23 facts you may or may not know about Peter Steele

1. His real name was Petrus L. Ratajczyk

-He adopted the stage name Peter Steele when he formed the band Type O Negative

2. He was not only the lead singer, but also the bassist for Type O Negative

-He sang lead and played bass for metal band Type O Negative. The band formed in 1989 and quickly gained a following because of their unique blend of goth metal, doom metal and dark lyrics

3. He was self conscious about his height

-At 6'7'', anytime the band was photographed, he made sure to stagger his height compared to the others. He insisted on sitting down or appearing in such a way that his height was not immediately obvious

4. He started out on drums

-Prior to switching to vocals and bass, Peter played drums for various local New York City bands

5. He's a classically trained musician

-With his rock and metal background, he has a strong education in classical music and can also play the piano and guitar

6. He had a dark sense of humor

-He was known for his dry wit and sarcastic humor, which often became obvious in his lyrics

7. The Beatles and Black Sabbath were his influences

-The style of music he chose was strongly influenced by bands of the 1960s and 1970s, especially The Beatles and Black Sabbath. Those bands inspired him to blend heavy metal and classic rock

8. He suffered from substance abuse

-He battled substance abuse issues most of his life and it impacted his personal and professional life

9. His lyrics were deeply personal and introspective

-The lyrics he wrote took long, hard looks into things like love, loss, depression, human conditions, which resonated with the fans incredibly well

10. He had a brief stint with thrash metal band Carnivore

-Prior to forming Type O Negative, he was briefly a member of thrash metal band Carnivore, where he played bass and provided vocals. Carnivore was a thrash metal band known for politically charged lyrics

11. He had a unique sound to his bass

-His bass lines were often heavy on melody and they became a trademark of Type O Negative songs

12. He was fascinated with occultism and vampirism

-He incorporated dark themes such as vampirism, occultism into his lyrics, along with other supernatural themes, showing his fascination with darker elements of life

13. Peter Steele appeared naked on the front of the album Bloody Kisses

-Peter Steele appeared nude on the cover of Type O Negative's Bloody Kisses album. It caused a lot of controversy, but it became one of the band's most recognized albums

14. His stage presence was unique and awe inspiring

-He had an intense stage persona that was also magnetic, thus allowing him to command attention of the audience. This made Type O Negative's concerts memorable

15. He had a devastating vocal range

-He had a deep voice that could go to any octave. This allowed him to hit every note from high to low

16. The New York Rangers were his favorite NHL team

-He was a big fan of sports and often made references to his being a fan of New York-based NHL team the New York Rangers

17. Animal lover is another term attached to him

-Peter Steele loved animals. He strongly supported animal rights

18. His career in music was long and successful

-Releasing multiple albums with Type O Negative, he left a massive impact on metal music and gothic rock genres, thus inspiring new bands

19. His lyrics really made you think

-His lyrics often explored thought-provoking topics such as human conditions, mortality, topics that really made the listener wonder

20. He was versatile in his talents

-Not only working with Type O Negative, he worked with different artists from different genres of music

21. He appeared in Beavis & Butthead Do America

-Peter Steele made a memorable guest appearance in the Beavis & Butthead movie, interacting with the titular duo

22. Charming and enigmatic are at least two words to describe him

-He had not only a charming and enigmatic personality, but his mysterious nature kept fans wanting to find out more about him, thus adding to his appeal

23. His death shocked the world

-When Peter Steele died, fans all over the world were shocked and heartbroken. He died on April 14, 2010. His death left a gaping void in the hearts of fans because they knew there would never be another one like him

Funny Sopranos Memes

For those unfamiliar with what a meme is, it's a picture with a funny or sarcastic comment added onto it. There are memes for everything anymore, and The Sopranos is not out of that running. There are sarcastic and funny memes about this HBO TV show about a fictitious mob family in New Jersey. A lot of them couldn't be posted here because of bad language used in them or inappropriate topics in the memes. Let's just say that The Sopranos is not exactly a family-friendly show. With the language and subject content, there should be a video game-like Rated M for Mature warning on it

January Birthdays

Since it's January, time to say Happy Birthday

James May

-Birth name: James Daniel May

-DOB: 1/16/1963

-Where: Bristol, England

-He is a proficient musician; he's able to successfully play the piano, flute and saxophone and even has a degree in music

Jenson Button

-Birth name: Jenson Alexander Lyons Button

-DOB: 1/19/1980

-Where: Frome, United, Kingdom

-He does sideline interviews at Formula 1 races

Lewis Hamilton

-Birth name: Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton

-DOB: 1/7/1985

-Where: Stevenage, United Kingdom

-He is considered to be Formula 1's first black driver

Karun Chandhok

-DOB: 1/19/1984

-Where: Chennai, India

-He drove for Mahindra Racing in Formula E before going to Hispania Racing in Formula 1

Sergio Perez

-Birth name: Sergio Michel Perez Mendoza

-DOB: 1/26/1990

-Where: Guadalajara, Mexico

-Drove previously for Sauber, Force India and McLaren

Peter Steele

-Birth name: Peter Thomas Ratajczyk

-DOB: 1/4/1962

-Where: Red Hook, New York

-DOD: 4/14/2010

-Where: Scranton, Pennsylvania

-Prior to forming his iconic band Type O Negative, he worked for the New York City Department of Sanitation

Janick Gers

-Birth name: Janick Robert Gers

-DOB: 1/27/1957

-Where: Hartlepool, England

-He was worried about his position in Iron Maiden when Adrian Smith rejoined the band in 2000. But he was reassured by bassist Steve Harris that, when Smith rejoined the band, that he wouldn't be going anywhere, that Harris always wanted three guitarists

Ian Hill

-DOB: 1/20/1951

-Where: West Bromwich, England

-He is one of the founding members of Judas Priest, along with former guitarist K.K. Downing

Richie Faulkner

-Birth name: Richard Ian Faulkner

-DOB: 1/1/1980

-Where: London, England

-Started out playing guitar for hard rock singer Lauren Harris prior to joining Judas Priest

Rod Stewart

-Birth name: Roderick David Stewart

-DOB: 1/10/1945

-Where: Highgate, London, England

-He is known for his raspy vocals

David Bowie

-Birth name: David Robert Jones

-DOB: 1/8/1947

-Where: London, England

-DOD: 1/10/2016

-Where: New York City, New York

-Blackstar was his last album before he died

Phil Collins

-Birth name: Phillip David Charles Collins

-DOB: 1/30/1951

-Where: Chiswick, London, England

-Moved to Los Angeles for a while to keep an eye out on his daughter Lily Collins, who was beginning a career in acting

Malcolm Young

-Birth name: Malcolm Mitchell Young

-DOB: 1/6/1953

-Where: Glasgow, Scotland

-DOD: 11/18/2017

-Where: Elizabeth Bay, Australia

-He is survived by his brother Angus Young and nephew Stevie Young