July Birthdays

Since it's July, it's time to say Happy Birthday!

Triple H

-Birth name: Paul Michael Levesque

-DOB: 07/27/1969

-Where: Nashua, New Hampshire

-He shaved his head in 2012 to have a more professional look while working in the office

Kevin Nash

-Birth name: Kevin Scott Nash

-DOB: 7/9/1959

-Where: Detroit, Michigan

-He had his hair cut short for his role as the Russian in the 2004 film The Punisher. During the scene where he and Thomas Jane are fighting, Jane accidentally stabbed him with a knife and Nash didn't know he was really bleeding until someone told him

Bret Hart

-Birth name: Bret Sergeant Hart

-DOB: 7/2/1957

-Where: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

-To this day, he is still deeply affected by the death of his brother Owen Hart

Mick Jagger

-Birth name: Michael  Phillip Jagger

-DOB: 7/26/1943

-Where: Dartford, Kent, England

-Is half Australian from his mother's side and half English from his father's side

Sylvester Stallone

-Birth name: Sylvester Enzio Stallone

-DOB: 7/6/1946

-Where: New York City, New York

-When he was 15, his classmates voted him "most likely to end up in the electric chair"

Lauren Harris

-DOB: 7/6/1984

-Where: Essex, England

-The oldest child to current Iron Maiden bassist/founding member/primary songwriter Steve Harris

Geezer Butler

-Birth name: Terence Michael Butler

-DOB: 7/17/1949

-Where: Birmingham, England

-He earned the nickname "Geezer", which is British slang for "guy", "dude", because he had a habit of calling everyone a "geezer"

Ringo Starr

-Birth name: Richard Starkey

-DOB: 7/7/1940

-Where: Liverpool, England

-He wrote the song "Octopus's Garden" after conversing with a chef about octopi on vacation

Ronnie James Dio

-Birth name: Ronald James Padavona

-DOB: 7/10/1942

-Where: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

-DOD: 5/16/2010

-Where: Los Angeles, California (stomach cancer)

-Prior to music, Dio attended the University of Buffalo in New York in 1960-1961. He was studying to become a pharmacist

Eric Carr

-Birth name: Paul Charles Caravello

-DOB: 7/12/1950

-Where: Brooklyn, New York

-DOD: 11/24/1991

-Where: New York City, New York (cancer)

-The Kiss album Revenge is dedicated to him

Daniel Radcliffe

-Birth name: Daniel Jacob Radcliffe

-DOB: 7/23/1998

-Where: Fulham, London, England

-Out of all the Harry Potter books, he says his favorite is the third book, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkban

Helen Mirren

-Birth name: Helen Lydia Mironoff

-DOB: 7/26/1945

-Where: Hammersmith, London, England

-She has a tattoo of a star on her left hand, which she had gotten at an American Indian reservation in Minnesota

Brian May

-Birth name: Brian Harold May

-DOB: 7/19/1947

-Where: Hampton, Middlesex, England

-His trademark "Red Special" guitar was assembled from various pieces of junk, including motorcycle valve springs, a knitting needle, mother-of-pearl buttons, a discarded fireplace mantle.

Roger Taylor

-Birth name: Roger Meddows Taylor

-DOB: 7/26/1949

-Where: Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

-He's multi-talented. He can not only play drums, but he can play bass, guitar, keyboards

Ian Anthony Dale

-DOB: 7/3/1978

-Where: St. Paul, Minnesota

-He's of Japanese, French and English descent

Book Review: Behind the Mask

I'm currently reading Behind the Mask: The Authorized Biography of KISS. And it's awesome so far. I have not finished it, and I really want to find the book somewhere! If you're a fan of KISS, I highly recommend reading it. Even the guy who wrote it, David Leaf and Ken Sharp, said it was a good book to read if you love KISS!!!

So far, reading this book, I learned things I never knew about KISS. Like for starters, their original drummer, Peter Criss, was Italian. His real name is Peter Criscoula, and the replacement drummer, Eric Carr, was also Italian. His real name was Paul Caravello.



Peter Criss, aka Catman



Eric Carr, aka The Fox

Or that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were Jewish. Gene's real name is Chaim Witz and he was born in Israel; Paul Stanley's real name is Stanley Eisen and as a kid, he was a chubby kid, instead of the bone thin guy he is today and that he was extremely shy and introverted, meaning he was sort in a shell and shy to come out. Then that changed; he became more outgoing. Which really surprises me. I always thought the guys were outgoing; I mean I know they keep their private lives private, but I just never knew this. It's pretty cool!!



Chaim Witz, aka Gene Simmons. Known as The Demon



Awww, how sweet. Paul and his family. Now I know why I like him. He's such a sweetie!

Or that their current drummer, Eric Singer, is also Jewish. People always have these perceptions that the 2 main guys in KISS are these, to use the words of my mom "greedy Jews". I don't think they're like that. Maybe their compensating for not having a lot of money growing up? Who knows. Because, as I read, it turns out that Paul Stanley does not live the high life of a rock and roller. When he came on to some money from the band, he used some of it to buy his parents a car and he lives in an apartment.


Eric Singer, aka Catman

Peter Criss used some money to take his mom to a specialist for diabetes since it runs in his family. Or that Peter Criss was diagnosed with breast cancer and did the Susan G. Komen walk with all the men and women affected by cancer. Ace lives in a secluded house to have some privacy; he don't like people wanting to recognize him as "Ace from Space" and Gene Simmons is still a fan of horror movies just like when he was a kid.

Peter Criss



Paul Frehley, aka "Ace" Frehley

Or that the band has, for a long time, fought with the battles of super religious people who claims that KISS stands for "Knights in Satan's Service" or that the band were Nazis in disguise. This really seems to tick off Gene, whose mother Florence was the only survivor of her family to survive in Auschwitz. Also to note, this book goes as far as about the mid '90s, up to the point of their Psycho Circus album. They have another book that goes into a little detail about their lives, called Black Diamond: The Unauthorized Biography of KISS.

I really wonder what Gene's kid Nick and Sophie think about their dad being "The Demon" Wearing that studded belt and platforms?



The band unmasked for a photo shoot for magazine Creem. L-R: Gene, Paul, Ace, Peter



Dressed to Kill era. Note: Peter is the only one who actually owns a suit in this photo



Revenge era. Where exactly is the rest of Paul?

Kiss' first show with makeup. Although the "Starchild" dons the whiteface

Top 10 Eric Carr KISS songs

Eric Carr

10
Carr Jam 1981
-Revenge: 1991

9
Under the Rose
-Music from 'The Elder': 1981

8
Saint and Sinner
-Creatures of the Night: 1982

7
No, No, No
-Crazy Nights: 1987

6
King of the Mountain
-Asylum: 1985

5
Under the Gun
-Animalize: 1984

4
I Love It Loud
-Creatures of the Night: 1982

3
All hell's Breakin' Loose
-Lick It Up: 1983

2
Heaven's on Fire
-Animalize: 1984

1
Little Caesar
-Hot in the Shade: 1989

Kiss 'Revenge' Turns 21 Years Old

This album marks when the band decided to take off the makeup. It celebrates its big 2-1 today. This is the most celebrated album of these guys, especially considering they took their makeup off for it.

This album marked the temporary return of Vinnie Vincent as the Egyptian Ankh Warrior, who was called in to replace Ace Frehley. This album also marks a very tragic event. Right before the album was recorded, drummer Eric Carr was diagnosed with cancer and lost his fight with it, thus passing away too soon. After bringing in a new drummer, Eric Singer, this album was dedicated to Carr, whose real name was Paul Charles Caravello.

More Rock Yearbook Photos

Yearbook

Hint
-This artist is with a very well known L.A. metal band who was known for their destructive habits. He's blonde, and was born on Feb. 8, 1961

Still sexy!

Artist: Vince Neil, Motley Crue

Hint
-This one's pretty obvious. Just look at his face. He was the drummer for Genesis for a long time

Artist: Phil Collins, Genesis

Hint
-He was not big. He was small, yet mighty. His voice could go from one range to the next and he helped to redefine metal

It's really sad he's gone

Artist: Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath, Dio

Hint
-This artist took over on drums from Peter Criss. This drummer took over the persona of "The Fox"

Him too. Guy was awesome on drums

Artist: Eric Carr, Kiss

Hint
-Born on Dec. 20, 1945. If you saw him in costume, you wouldn't think he was a good lil Catholic Boy

Looks very good for his age

Artist: Peter Criss, Kiss

Hint
-This English singer has a wide vocal range, and it has been described as a "wail". For some reason, there's just something about this guy you can't help but like

I don't listen to Led Zep. but I give credit where credit is due. He rocks

Artist: Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin

Hint
-He's a guitarist with AC/DC

Artist: Mark Evans, AC/DC

Hint
-He's a lot cuter now. He's in one of the most notorious L.A. metal bands

Sexy!

Artist: Nikki Sixx, Motley Crue

Hint
-He just wants to rock. Look at the eyes. He's a platinum blonde guy

My sister got me liking his band's music

Artist: Dee Snider, Twisted Sister

Hint
-This should be cake. His real name is Chaim Weitz

Artist: Gene Simmons, Kiss

This one is my favorite!
Hint
-He really does not look all that much different now than back then

Still pretty cute!

Artist: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen

Hint
-Who knew this classically trained piano player would go on to become known as "The Screamin' Demon"

Still cute!

Artist: Steven Tyler, Aerosmith

Hint
-This picture shows what looks like a black male. But, this individual was born in Hampstead, England. He's now known for wearing a top hat adorned with a belt and dark shades, including a mass of frizzy black hair

OMG! Love his dark eyes...

Artist: Slash, Guns N' Roses