Rob Halford Duets with Dolly Parton at Rock Hall Induction Ceremony

Two unlikely musicians, Dolly Parton and Rob Halford, duet together on Parton's iconic song "Jolene" at rock hall induction ceremony

During the rock hall induction ceremony, Judas Priest, which consisted of guitarist Glenn Tipton, who was still a member of the band, despite retiring due to his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, former guitarist K.K. Downing alongside current guitarist Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, vocalist Rob Halford and drummer Scott Travis, played three iconic songs from the band's catalogue: "You Got Another Thing Coming", "Breaking the Law", "Living After Midnight". Later on, Rob Halford joined country music legend Dolly Parton in singing on her classic hit "Jolene".

It turned out a lot of people sang with Parton and Halford on the song "Jolene", as part of her induction into the hall. This "super jam" included Simon LeBon of Duran Duran, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo and Eurythmics vocalist Annie Lennox.

Chicago Fire

Not only is this the name of the MLS team in Chicago, this is also a popular television show. Very frequently, you'll see officers and detectives from Chicago PD on here. These two shows will over cross over with each other on a frequent basis. Both shows will also cross over with Chicago Med.

Summary

-The show centers around the professional and personal lives of Chicago firefighters and paramedics

Cast

-Taylor Kinney: Kelly Severide

-Christian Stolte: Randall McHolland

-Eamonn Walker: Wallce Boden

-Joe Minoso: Joe Cruz

-Randy Flagler: Capp

-David Eigenberg: Christopher Hermann

-Jesse Spencer: Matthew Casey

-Anthony Ferraris: Tony

-Monica Raymund: Gabriella Dawson

-Amy Morton: Trudy Platts

-Jon Seda: Antonio Dawson

Did You Know?

-There are some scenes filmed on a studio set and others filmed inside an actual firehouse. The kitchen scenes are filmed inside the real firehouse kitchen, complete with Danger Men Cooking sign. If you see a door to the left of the cooking area, it's the studio set. If you see a water fountain, that is in the actual firehouse

-A lot of the locations used on the show are real locations, just given different names for the show. Firehouse 51 is actually Station 18, which is on 1360 S. Blue Island Ave in Chicago. Molly's Bar, which is owned by Hermann, Dawson and Otis, is in real life Lottie's in the Bucktown section of Chicago

-Anthony Ferraris, who plays Tony, is an actual firefighter. He helps plan how each accident in the show occurs, so that it appears accurate for a firefighter

-Whenever the fire academy is shown, that is the actual Quinn Fire Academy, located at 558 W. De Koven Street in Chicago. The academy is built on the former grounds of the O'Leary Farm, where the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 is believed to have originated from

-Most if not all fire departments do not allow facial hair, as seen on Lt. Severide. It interferes with the tight seal on the SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) air masks worn by firefighters. The seal gasket, which ensures a snug fit, cannot work properly if the wearer has facial hair. Firefighters with too much facial hair will also fail this test. Mustaches, seen on Otis, Chief Boden and Mouch, don't present a problem. Firefighters must be clean shaven at all times to ensure a snug fit on their oxygen masks

-Actor Steve McQueen's grandson, Steven R. McQueen, plays a firefighter candidate named Jimmy Borelli. His grandfather starred in The Towering Inferno (1974) as a fire chief. He jumped into action and assisted real firefighters when a fire broke out on set

-The title for each episode comes from a bit of dialogue from that episode

Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, opens up about his battle with pancreatic cancer

Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, had recently undergone a battle with pancreatic cancer, but had luckily undergone treatment and also did early detection, which saved his life.

Monty Python actor Eric Idle has recently set up the Bright Side Fund to aid with Stand Up to Cancer to aid in promoting early detection of cancer. Idle hopes that his early detection of pancreatic cancer will inspire others to get themselves checked out. Statistics show that the five year survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer is around 11%, but Idle hopes to change that. "I think we can make a difference. The good news is that we are starting to fight back."

In connection with Stand Up to Cancer, Eric Idle had set up the Bright Side Fund to promote research and early detection. In his interview with People Magazine, he said "They're doing great work. I think if we can spread the word a little and try and raise some money, we can put it in the right direction." He recently appeared on the music television show The Masked Singer. Thanks to early detection, he was able to catch his cancer very early on. "My doctor specializes in preventative medicine, and he makes me go for blood tests every year. He noticed a difference in the markers from the previous year, so he ordered an MRI and asked them to add contrast. That lit up the pancreas, and there it was." He talked about the surgery related to it. "It was a partly robotic five hour surgery. I had a fantastic surgeon...and he cut it all out because it wasn't attached to anything; it was intact. The technicians had never seen it in that state before because they'd never seen it that early. A lot of the research is studying early warning signs."

When Idle had gotten the all clear, he said "I cried. You can resign to whatever fate you're in. You put yourself in the hands of the doctors, and off you go. You keep smiling and whistle and then look on the bright side. And then when they tell you that you're going to survive, I mean, that was quite a moment." The actor gives credit to his wife Tania, son Carey and daughter Lily for their strong love and encouragement. "They rallied around me. We had to move quick, and we did. There was no time to lose." Since the news of his cancer battle came out, there has been an outpouring of love and support from all over. "I wanted to be honest and come out about the cancer and encourage people because this is very good news. I got extraordinary responses from people."

He is looking ahead. "I'm a father, so I really enjoy my kids, and I love seeing them. I don't look very far in advance. I'm a writer, so I tend to get up and start early on whatever problems I've set myself. And that's a good way of avoiding any anxiety. You just spend your time trying to solve them."

March Birthdays

Since it's March, time to say Happy Birthday

Steve Harris

-Birth name: Stephen Percy Harris

-DOB: 3/12/1956

-Where: Leytonstone, London, England

-He wrote "Blood Brothers" from Iron Maiden's 2003 album Brave New World about losing his father to cancer

Carrie Underwood

-Birth name: Carrie Marie Underwood

-DOB: 3/10/1983

-Where: Muskogee, Oklahoma

-She became famous after appearing on American Idol

Sting (wrestler)

-Birth name: Steve Borden

-DOB: 3/20/1959

-Where: Omaha, Nebraska

-He is a born again Christian

Daniel Craig

-Birth name: Daniel Wroughton Craig

-DOB: 3/2/1968

-Where: Chester, Cheshire, England

-For the role of James Bond, he was told to dye his hair black. He refused

Alexander Albon

-Birth name: Alexander Albon Ansusinha

-DOB: 3/23/1996

-Where: London, England

-He drives under the Thai flag as a tribute to his mother's Thai heritage

Mick Schumacher

-DOB: 3/22/1999

-Where: Genolier, Switzerland

-His father is legendary Ferrari F1 driver Michael Schumacher

Michael Caine

-Birth name: Maurice Joseph Micklewhite

-DOB: 3/14/1933

-Where: Rotherhithe, London, England

-He left school at age 15 and worked a series of odd jobs before enlisting in the British Army and serving in Korea during the Korean War, where he fought in combat

Elton John

-Birth name: Sir Elton Hercules John

-DOB: 3/25/1947

-Where: Pinner, United Kingdom

-Known for his flamboyant outfits

Dee Snider

-Birth name: Daniel Snider

-DOB: 3/15/1955

-Where: Astoria, New York

-He took on the Parents Music Resource Council when Tipper Gore tried to get one of Twisted Sister's albums banned

Eric Idle

-DOB: 3/29/1943

-Where: South Shields, United Kingdom

-He's a highly talented guitarist

Gary Oldman

-Birth name: Gary Leonard Oldman

-DOB: 3/21/1958

-Where: New Cross, London, England

-He is known for frequently working with director Christopher Nolan

Angus Young

-Birth name: Angus McKinnon Young

-DOB: 3/31/1955

-Where: Glasgow, Scotland

-His onstage schoolboy uniform is inspired by the days of when he would come home from school in his uniform and start playing guitar

Michael Imperioli

-Birth name: James Michael Imperioli

-DOB: 3/26/1966

-Where: Mount Vernon, New York

-Has played a character named Jo Jo twice, both times in films released in 1995: Bad Boys and Clockers

Mark Calaway (The Undertaker)

-Birth name: Mark William Calaway

-DOB: 3/24/1965

-Where: Houston, Texas

-When he entered the ring, the lights went to purple and smoke emerged. Funeral music would then start playing

How theme parks can improve mental health

Roller coasters and mental health sound like words that don't belong in the same sentence. Wrong! A lot of people say that going on rides like roller coasters actually improves their mental health. According to Week99er.com, here's their take on mental health and roller coasters.

Banshee at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio. This is my all time favorite ride here. This is what I call a "locker ride" because you need to rent a locker to put your belongings in otherwise you lose them on the barrel rolls and inversions. This has to be the one ride here I was super excited to ride. Riding it at night affords the opportunity to see the beautiful cathedral lights at the station all illuminated

It's a getaway

Everyone needs an occasional getaway from the rut we wear ourselves into. Every day, we are, more or less, on autopilot. We need a getaway to de-stress, relax and just enjoy life. Theme parks are good for the mind because they allow you to escape your troubles for a time. Not surprisingly, counselors can also help with that. But, theme parks allow you to just breathe and relax for a time. Getting away from stress is very good for you

Face those fears

There are two types of people in theme parks: those who love thrill rides and those who don't. For the "those who don't" people, it's understandable. Sharp turns, steep drops, fast running rides. Theme parks help you tackle those fears head on. Tackling a fear head on is the best way to conquer it. You can start off small by getting on smaller rides with less thrill and working your way up to the top of the line thrill machines. Eventually, your fear of coasters will be far behind you

Bonding experience

Most if not all people go to theme parks with at least one other person, if not a group. Families with gaggles of kids go to theme parks. Couples go to theme parks. You're rarely alone. Doing all of the activities a theme park has to offer allows you to bond with the ones you're going with. You can even make new friends at the park

A great teacher of planning

A lot of people go to theme parks with a set plan in mind. Do not stray. Stay on track. Going to theme parks should be about exploring all the little nooks and crannies it offers. Exploring the different restaurants and themed areas. Exploring the attractions within those themed areas. Going to a theme park far from your home does require some pre-planning. Planning your work schedule, in other words, how much time off from work you'll need. Financial planning, how much money you will need or if you can use your bank card. Having an idea of what you want to do once you reach that park also helps. Staying organized and having a goal in mind helps keep mental health in check

Exercise

Some people jokingly say "extra fries". One thing theme parks offer is plenty of exercise. Constantly walking will burn off the calories from the pretzel you just ate or the food you ate at lunch. Exercise releases endorphins, the "feel good" chemicals. You don't need to overdo it on the exercise to get those feel good feelings. Going to a theme park and just imagining what you can do also gives that great feeling. By the end of the day, you'll have a rush of good feeling come over you

Travel experience

It's quite common to make a vacation out of going to a theme park. Many theme parks are out of state or in another city. It makes for an interesting vacation because going to that park, you can see how the locals near the park live every day. Travel benefits mental health in many ways. Besides the feeling of escaping the every day norm, you can expand your horizons and find out how other parts of the world live their lives. Even other towns or cities can be good; it can be an experience that stimulates the senses

Being outside

Being outside always does good for mental health. Breathing in fresh air. Seeing sunshine. Feeling the warm sun wash over you. Vitamin D is one of the vitamins you can get from the sun. In that case, soak it up, as long as you put on sunscreen or tanning oil; you want Vitamin D, not skin cancer.

SWAT (2017)

A revamped version of the classic 1975 TV show, this show, just like the original, follows a team of highly trained men and women on the Los Angeles Police Department's SWAT task force.

Summary

-A group of highly trained men and women under a local SWAT team leader solve crime in Los Angeles

Cast

-Shemar Moore: Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson

-Jay Harrington: Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay

-David Lim: Officer Victor Tan

-Alex Russell: Officer Jim Street

-Kenny Johnson: Officer Dominique Luca

-Patrick St. Esprit: Commander Robert "Bob" Hicks

-Lina Esco: Officer Chris Alonso

-Stephanie Sigman: Captain Jessica Cortez

-Rochelle Aytes: Nichelle Carmichael

-Amy Farrington: Lt. Piper Lynch

Did You Know?

-On the show, Dominique Luca (Kenny Johnson) will often arm wrestle to win money for charity. In real life, Kenny Johnson was a top grade arm wrestler until he retired from competing in 1995

-Angelica Scarlet Johnson, who plays Kelly, is the real life daughter of Kenny Johnson off screen

-Normally, the only time SWAT officers are called in is in situations involving heavily armed suspects or hostage situations. The team on this show is seen performing duties that regular police officers could do. It's only to add more story lines for episodes

-Rochelle Aytes, who plays Hondo's girlfriend on SWAT, also appeared on Criminal Minds, playing his girlfriend

-A lot of police terminology was used on the show. GND is Gangs and Narcotics Division of the Los Angeles Police. The method to clearing out a house or room uses numbers. The main entrance is labeled 1. The other sides of the house are labelled 2,3,4, etc., in a clockwise pattern. The corners where these sides meet are labeled with numbers and slashes in the middle: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, etc.

-The character Jim Street was played by Irish actor Colin Farrell in the movie version and by Australian actor Alex Russell in the TV version

-Three of the actors on this show also appeared on the FX program Sons of Anarchy. Kenny Johnson, Patrick St. Esprit and Chandler Long

10 health benefits of visiting theme parks

Whether you believe it or not, there are health benefits to visiting theme parks. All the walking you do burns off any unhealthy food you may have eaten. You can sweat out any bad stuff. Going on rides gets the adrenaline racing and thus, destroys stress.

1. A lot of walking

Walking is perfect cardio. It gets the heart rate up and thus, allows you to burn calories. Perfect for burning off that pretzel you bought or the pizza you ate

2. Burn calories on the coasters and fast rides

While riding these intense rides, you are actually burning calories screaming and riding those intense rides

3. Reduce stress

This is a big one for a lot of people. Riding roller coasters and going to theme parks can drastically reduce stress. Our brains release the "good fear" feeling, telling the rest of our bodies that, despite the nauseating drops and zig zagging tracks, the rides are "safe". They become therapeutic and thus, allow us to relax and have fun. And besides, if it was not safe, the attendants would not allow anyone on

4. Boost for mood

You get an incredibly high adrenaline rush after riding a roller coaster. It will leave you happy and excited. It's said that the higher the altitude, the more endorphins that get released. These are the good chemicals. The ones that are usually associated with good feelings. The endorphins sharpen your senses and makes you feel recharged. Going to theme parks is a great way to improve your mood and reduce stress

5. Adrenaline rush

Nothing gets the heart pumping like slowing climbing a hill to go sailing over it down a steep hill. Roller coasters and thrill rides get the adrenaline pumping through your body. The endorphins that get released in our bodies is responsible for the "good fear" we experience. It gives you the same natural high as if you had just finished a set of intense exercise

6. Muscle toner

As you're getting tossed from side to side around the curves on roller coasters and going down steep drops, you're actually building muscle. When you anticipate the drops and curves, you're especially working your core muscles, the same types of muscles you'd normally exercise at the gym

7. Great for workouts

This is a great workout. Your body is releasing adrenaline and endorphins, which is telling you "again, again". These chemicals help work out your muscles and cause you to start sweating, even while walking through the park. Going to a theme park will give you the same amount of exercise as a day at the gym

8. Defeating fears

It can be fearsome going to a theme park. Looking at the rides from the ground up can be daunting. But, looks are deceiving. If the rides weren't safe, no one would be allowed on. Going to theme parks is a perfect way to overcome fear. Fear of large crowds and thrill rides actually harms the immune system. Visiting theme parks helps you overcome this fear. Just plunge head first into the crowd and you will find increased confidence, self esteem and overcome fears. Just remember, everyone is probably going to be as nervous as you riding that big coaster. And it also helps to talk to veteran riders of the ride; they'll tell you how it is on the rides

9. Strengthen bonding time with family and friends

It's no surprise that amusement parks make popular destinations for vacations. Families and groups of friends will go to amusement parks together. You'll create memories, have fun, get away from the autopilot way of life and get entertainment

10. Great for socialization

You can meet all sorts of people at amusement parks. You can meet locals and even citizens of other countries and cultures. Going with a group of people provides ample opportunity to meet people. Even being with a group, you can still talk to people who seem interesting to you

Blaze Bayley dismisses grunge - "It was trying to kill Iron Maiden"

Blaze Bayley dismisses the whole grunge genre, describing it as "trying to kill Iron Maiden".

Blaze Bayley, formerly of the band Wolfsbane, was hired by Iron Maiden in the mid 1990s to replace former vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Blaze dismissed the grunge bands, saying it was "trying to kill Iron Maiden". During a recent interview on the Crowcast podcast, Bayley said "When I was in Maiden, we were at war with grunge. Grunge was trying to kill us. The U.K. press, they thought the sun shone out of various bands' bottoms and they wanted Maiden to die." When he refers to "those bands", he is referencing bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains and others, who released albums from 1991-1994. He also referenced a show that Iron Maiden played in Seattle, which he referred to as "the heartland of death". He said it was not a good show at at all. "There were these people looking at us like we were some kind of dinosaur, and they were going 'Why aren't they dead yet?' And then you've got a few rows at the front going 'Maiden! Yes!' It's just unbelievable. And that's the war that we had with The X Factor and Virtual XI. We were fighting for the very existence of real heavy metal. And where are they now? Metal is forever, 'cause it's in the heart of fans."

Glenn Hughes is still embarrassed about 1986 Seventh Star tour with Black Sabbath

The 1986 Black Sabbath album Seventh Star was meant to be a solo album for Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. The record label it was on wanted the name Black Sabbath on it. As such, Tony brought in his good friend Glenn Hughes to sing on it. Unfortunately, to this day, Glenn is still embarrassed by his behavior during those years.

A lot of people still, to this day, don't know what to make of the 1986 album by Black Sabbath Seventh Star. Tony Iommi insisted it was a solo album. But his label made him put the Black Sabbath name on it. Unfortunately, recording the album got off on the wrong foot to begin with. Tony's good friend Glenn Hughes was basically all but blacklisted from the music world at that point. He was seen as a letdown, a failure. His good friend Tony had a project that he believed Glenn would be perfect for. Unfortunately, Glenn was in the throes of deep drug addiction. The tour supporting the album went well for a period, but then a violent fight started backstage, with Glenn in the middle. He had to be replaced. Tony replaced Glenn with Ray Gillen to finish out the tour. When Hughes looks back on that period, he says, to this day, it still embarrasses him

During an interview with Soundclash, Glenn Hughes had said "The worst and most embarrassing moments for me in my career was when I was with Tony Iommi on those five shows where I had a very bad fight with someone and I had some bones broken in my nose and it consequently stopped me from singing. That was embarrassing for me." Hughes had come to success in the 1970s with three piece band Trapeze, with Mel Galley and future Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland. Then he hit the big time when he joined Deep Purple. He would go on to work with Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tony Iommi again. He would have two projects called California Breed and Black Country Communion (which morphed into California Breed). The most important thing is that he got his act together and got sober. He's now more than 25 years clean and sober and working every day to make sure his addiction issues don't rear their ugly head again

"I'm not frightened to dream. I've worked with the greatest, and I'll probably work with some more. I just think that I don't try to think too much about what's coming down the pipeline for me. All I know is that tonight I'm going to have some dinner with my friends. Tomorrow is not here yet. I'm really being serious with that. I don't know what the h--- is going to happen. I just need to get some sleep and the rest is history."

Why it's not a bad thing to visit theme parks alone

Some people think it's stupid to go to theme parks alone. They say it's no fun. But when you weigh the pros against the cons, the pros outweigh the cons by a vast stretch. According to a December 2018 article from Theme Park Insider Robert Niles, he has quite a few pros for going to the theme parks alone.

This is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The yellow ride that looks like an arch is Top Thrill Dragster. The blue ride at left is Millennium Force. The ride second from the right, with the dome on top is Power Tower, a four way ride that takes riders to the top and then drops them unexpectedly

Also, if you plan on visiting Cedar Point and you don't want to drive, your best best is to fly into Cleveland Airport and rent a car to drive to the park

Single rider lines

A lot of rides offer single rider lines. These are often employed by every theme park to fill the ride to maximum capacity. It ensures that almost every seat has a rider. It reduces the waiting time for not just those waiting in the multi rider line, but also the ones flying solo. While it is normal to go to parks in groups, sometimes those groups get split up by getting on the rides.

Moving through a crowded park

Trying to move through a crowded park can sometimes be stressful, especially when you're with a group. Going solo means you move at your own pace. As a solo visitor, you can swerve around the lovey dovey couples who want to hold hands constantly, the family with the gaggle of kids running around and those who walk at a slower pace

Moving to your own pace

It doesn't have to be go, go go when you go solo. You can move to your own pace. By going solo, you are the captain of your adventure. You can move at your own pace and seek out all the unique insights that park has to offer with out any lip from other people. Going in a group is fine, but it's give and take. Some want to do one thing while others want to do another. Some want to ride only intense rides while some only want to play games. Going solo, you can move at your own pace

You almost never have to wait for the next show, car, etc

A lot of parks will try to fill as many of the seats as they can on rides. Attendants will, more often than not, call for parties of one or two to skip ahead in the line to fill the seats. Going solo ensures you get on the rides faster. That's not to say you have to go to the park solo all the time, but big groups tend to present more problems. Going solo means you can get on rides faster

When paying for just one airfare, you can go pretty far

There are not just solo advantages inside parks. If you're the one footing a bill for a family vacation, wait until the children are grown and you don't have to pay for their airfare to Orlando. The money that would have been spent on their airfare can now be put towards an international theme park, like Disney Tokyo or Cheshire Park / Alton Towers / Flamingo Land in England. Or you can afford to visit both Disney Land and Disney World in the same year. Going solo does allow for more flexibility in booking a room because you only need one bed. Hotels do have rooms for single travellers and even if they book you in a room with two beds, just sleep in the one bed. And you can have peace of mind knowing the whole room is yours. No sharing the bathroom with anyone

You can blend into the crowd

Amusement parks are typically high energy, crowded places. You won't get just families with gaggles of kids, but also adults in couples, adults travelling solo and even the odd occasional family from another country who has travelled to that park on vacation (or holiday, depending on what country they are from). If you have any sort of social anxiety, don't worry about standing out because you won't be labelled a solo traveler. People going to these parks will most likely assume you're part of a group who went off in another direction. Honestly, no one cares if you are there alone. Parks are filled with people on solo missions all the time. You can blend into the crowd, totally fine. You can also chat up random strangers and end up coming out with a new friend or two. You can visit theme parks alone and it will still end up being fine