BuckSpin - A Year Of Change

TGIF everyone…

I hate the black flies up here in Maine. The only thing making these latest cold snaps (and I mean "snap" as in tree branches EXPLODING from the sap freezing) of -10s & -20s (I have the photo to prove that one) is that hopefully it will make Black Flies ‘09 short by serious putting a dent in their numbers. I mean if trees are exploding, how cold does it have to get to make a fly go kablooey?

Speaking of kablooey, that is what our BHDs band did when they fired him. He rebounded with one solid solo effort in 1993’s (late for hair bands but grunge was still very new then) "Exposed" featuring former Billy Idol guitar god Steve Stevens on lead axe. This song, the best single off that album, was featured in the movie "Encino Man" (remember Pauly Shore?). Its a great example of everything hair music was.

So sit back because "You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come"  by Motley Crue’s own Vince Neil  :

TGIF all…

I’ve just about had enough of the snow. I like snow. I like shoveling snow. But this is getting out of hand.

Speaking of out of hand, that is what BHD is now. I know I am far behind. I’ll make it up. I’ll blame it on the …..snow. Yeah. Thats it. Snow.

Tonight’s featured band is atypical as far as hair bands go in that they had a female lead singer but male band. Founded by their lead singer Lorraine Lewis in 1987 in that hot bed of hair bandism that was Albuquerque, they moved to (duh) LA, recorded one album in 1989, had some good MTV & teen flic soundtrack success, then……that was it. They never caught on nationally & disbanded when Lewis left.

These are their 2 best known tunes. I must admit I’m partial to the 2nd video in that any video where the lead female singer spanks herself while wearing Daisy Dukes is OK with me! So first enjoy "Waiting On The Big One   (no hidden meaning there, huh ladies?) and then "Falling In & Our Of Love"   with Femme Fatale  :

"Waiting On The Big One  

"Falling In & Our Of Love"  

TGIF everyone…

Well, the first serious winter snow has hit and more is coming. A few more inches tonight and the possibility of a nice sized load on Sunday.

(Just reread that last sentence. Sounds like it could have been part of a "Penthouse Letters" feature)

I like shoveling snow…always have. Not sure why either. It could be a rememberance of when life was a lot easier and it was one of my ways to make some pocket money in my teens by shoveling out my grandparent’s driveways. Grandparent pay is AWESOME - always way above minimum plus all the perks (food) after! But I also liked the fact I was helping them, kinda taking care of them. They would turn away offer after offer from neighbor kids and guys with plows knowing their grandson would be there - shovel in hand - to dig them out.

Oh, I earned that grandparent pay! A lot of times the driveway had gone all day and had drifted well into a few FEET of snow. But I just liked doing it.

Nowadays I’m the dad and while I’m lucky enough to live very close to a relative with a Dodge Ram diesel & plow who just pushes the majority of our snow for free I do need to clean it all up, plus there are times when he is out making $$$ and it just needs done. I refuse to not shovel it & just let it sit there assuming he will do it when he gets time. That is rude. Many times he is out very late & I am sure would like to get home and warm. So, I just "do it"…and still like it.

Speaking of still liking it, that is the way I feel about 80s hair rock. So without further adieu….

Tonight’s band took their name from a Russ Meyer film. They scored a number of FM & MTV hits off their initial 1987 album, including a major one with their power ballad "House Of Pain". Raunchy, bluesy, typical of the LA scene bands, I actually saw them at a Detroit concert with Slaughter and headliner KISS in 1991. That was awesome.

This particular tune has a real catchy groove to it. So sit back and grab a ticket on the "Nonstop To Nowhere"  from Faster Pussycat  :

TGIF everyone….

Just thawing out from the big ice storm. We were lucky & made it through the evening with power, and only lost it for about 8 hours earlier today. An ice storm is a dangerous & beautiful act of nature. Its like the world is made of crystal….heavy crystal for those tree limbs & power lines. Got a few wild pics of trees bent in half under the weight of the ice. I’ll post em some time soon.

Also just finished up the last training session of my latest 6 week cycle. It was a good cycle. Going back to a 2 on, 1 off, 4 day split (out of necessity) has been great! Made some nice gains & finally have a REAL Leg Day! Shoulders feel pretty good. In fact, I’m going to pass on my down week & just start a new cycle on Monday with some new lifts and see how they react.

On the topic of reaction, I know, I know. This is the 2nd time IN A ROW I’ve missed a BHD Friday. So once again I will play catch up & offer a "double shot" of the best closet classics of the 80s hair genre.

This first band formed out of California’s Bay area in 1986 from guys who knew each other from childhood garage efforts thru rival club bands each was in. They did a number of tunes for movie soundtracks (RoboCop, etc) but this one has a nice, driving beat and catchy refrain so I chose it. Bang your head to "Bang Go The Bells"   from Babylon A.D.   :

This next band is unfortunately one of those who got caught in the crossfire of being labeled a "hair band" (although they didn’t fight it at the time) even though their sound is much harder & more Southern than the genre typifies. Formed in 1990, their initial album yielded a number of MTV & FM rock hits, but none as well known as this one. How many songs can claim someone on "Lead Chainsaw"? So grab some pre-grunge flannel and cut it to Jackyl’s "The Lumberjack"  :

TGIF all…

I know, I know, I know….WHAT happened? "The Cut"? Its like reading a whodunit & finding out the last 3 pages are missing! I promise I will bring resolution to all of you who followed along at home. It was something else. And a special shout out to VTDad, ShanBL & SweetNightShade for all the good mojo they provided during.

I do have some Updated pics posted if you want to see some of the results. More to come.

I have been enjoying eating. I postponed my usual Leg Day to today from Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. We did it low key & very healthy. I did indulge a lil’, but basically one portion and that was it. I was stuffed…full. Its been a long time since I was “full”. I just don’t eat like that anymore. Weird to have that feeling feel so “unusual”.

But I had been carb, um, “reloading” all week (don’t ask about the hemp granola ) and it paid off today. I had a monster Leg Day. Many new PRs, even added a lift at the end. I’m fried right now, and absolutely voracious. I can’t stop eating! My metabolism is off the charts! Gonna start a new “Eat, Lift, Sleep, Repeat”   ….LOVE IT! GONNA GET BIG!!

On that note, its time for Bad Hair Daze. I owe you one, so tonight will be a “Double Feature”!

This first band is basically England’s response/version of L.A. Guns. Formed in 1984 & featuring a great lead singer named “Spike”, their initial US release was managed by none other than Sharon Osbourne. Great bluesy riffs, melodic, they could play a variety of styles and bring it hard when they wanted. I like this one a lot in that its is really bluesy, even honky tonk if you will & features some cool piano & great harmonica via Spike on“7 O’ Clock”   from The London Quireboys   :

This next band’s song fits the bluesy theme of tonight’s TGIF. Always at the end of any “A to Z” play list, they started in the mid 80s as the unofficial “house band” of the famous LA club “The Whiskey”. Managed initially by none other than Don Dokken, their sound mimicked their manager’s namesake band. Some of the best of the “torn & ripped denims” in any band or video, this song just grinds it out (appropriate given the video’s, um, “setting” and “visuals” ) with hard rhythm & blues and searing guitar work. So we’ll end this BHD Double Shot “Face Down In the Gutter”   with XYZ   :

TGIF all..

Its been a long week. A good week, but a long one. This cut is fascinating to watch but not easy. I have gained a whole new level of respect for those who "look like that", and especially those who bodybuild competitively and do this for 6 MONTHS. Much props and earned respect to you…

This upcoming week will be definitely be the toughest. My cals and carbs will again go down 10% from this week. I’m really going to enjoy that grapefruit this weekend in that I’m not sure it will survive the cut’s "cut" when I cut more carbs for my, um, cut….yeah….

I will post update pics at the end, and will see how much of my pre-cut body fat went away as far as % of BuckSpin. Don’t be expecting miracles. I don’t look "like that" yet. This is just a test of the Emergency Cutting System. Had this been an ACTUAL cut it would have been followed by a carb orgy and hopefully some decent pics. In time….

Speaking of time, its time for Bad Hair Daze. In the same realm as last week’s Bad Hair Daze, this week’s is somewhat of a novelty, definitely unique in their place in hair band lore. Originally from California, their claim to fame & niche was being a Christian rock band. Yup, no sex n’ drugs here. All their lyrics are uplifting and hopeful, full of positive messages. Instead of panties tossed on the stage, this band tossed BIBLES to the audience! As a result they were pigeonholed and most of the kids I knew, out of peer pressure for being different, didn’t listen to them or have their albums. What a shame their biggest "sin" was not promoting sin!

And to top it off - THEY ARE REALLY GOOD! These guys can rock & shred with the best of em’, and their frontman probably had one of the most dynamic voices of any band. Tight melodies, harmonies, a cool black & yellow theme, and a neat name that was an acronym (there is your Google for today) for what they hoped to accomplish. Their biggest hit, a power ballad (I could devote a whole year of Bad Hair Daze to power ballads!) "Honestly", cracked the Top 40. Playing it last night turned Mrs. BuckSpin into a 14 year old for about 4 minutes! She hadn’t heard it in MANY years and knew every word!

So if you want to hear some great 80’s hair music and a very positive message to boot (leather boots, mind you) enjoy this triple shot (trinity, get it?) of songs and tunes from Stryper  :

Calling On You  

Always There For You  

Free  

TGIF all…

Its been quite a week thus far. If you have been following me losing my "cutting" virginity I can say its not as bad as I thought it was going to be…..so far. The upcoming 2 weeks will steadily pull back on the cals & carbs even more. I’m already thinking what poor, unsuspecting aspect of my nutrition is going to be voted off Survivor:Torso      (hey, it at least sounds like a lil’ tropical island in the middle of nowhere). I can see it now:

"Grapefruit, the torso has spoken" (Grapefruit’s lil’ Tiki torch gets snuffed out by Jeff Protein)

All the remaining members of the Iwannacarb tribe head back to base camp for another week of grueling (ooohhhh, gruel *licks chops*)(ooohhhh, chops) challenges…

This sleeping in is working out GREAT! The days are much more manageble. I’m psyched for the weekend - 2 days of replacing those PWO shakes with FOOD!

Speaking of shakes, that is a great segue into this week’s Bad Hair Daze. I actually SAW these guys, er, girls, er, babes, er, ladies in concert in 1989 opening for Eddie Money in Pittsburgh. I’ll tell you this - while the idea may have been novel and I’m sure the record company execs saw a gimmick that would sell albums, these ladies could ROCK! They could hold their own (maybe a bad choice of phrasing there) with any band of dudes of their era. They had a few top 40 successes and were obviously the darlings of MTV, but this is probably their best known tune.

I’d like to think a number of the O35 ladies of BB were like this "back in the day". And watch at the 1:55 mark…a lil’ iron being moved! Gotta fit in that spandex somehow!

So kick back, have some carbs for me and sit on the "Edge Of A Broken Heart"     with Vixen     :

TGIF everyone & happy Halloween.

Is there any other holiday that allows both kids AND adults to have as much fun at their respective stages in life than Halloween? What kid doesn’t like getting to pretend they are someone/thing else and get obscene amounts of candy? What adult doesn’t like the opportunity to, for one day, pretend they are a kid again and get….well…..you know….."treats".

Its great to be a dad on Halloween in that you get to live vicariously thru your kids. This year the boys are going as a clown and a ghost. Should be a lot of fun. And no, I’m not the classic "Hmmmmm they won’t miss this treat bag raider"!

Speaking of treats, its time again for "Bad Hair Daze". In honor of today’s theme I thought I would offer up a great 80’s hair tune featuring ol’ Dracula’s favorite snack. These favorite sons of the Baltimore music scene were said to be the inspiration for Poison’s persona and stage presence, especially in that Poison frontman Bret Michaels was catching them whenever he could prior to his relocating from Pennsylvania to LA. Formed in 1981, their biggest success came in 1988 with their "Blow My Fuse" album, which generated (bad joke) a number of FM & MTV hits, including the controversial ballad "Don’t Close Your Eyes". But rockin’ hard live was them at their best, and this video captures that. Watch at the 2:22 mark for some neat choreography.

I know none of the ladies of BB would have been inspirations for this song’s theme, right? (aka "boys have a name for girls like that!!")

This would definitely be on Dracula’s iPod. So enjoy some "Cold Blood"   from KIX:

TGIF everyone. Its kinda a special one for me in that it will mark the end of my latest 6 week cycle. Due to real life I ended up doing Legs & Back yesterday instead of Wednesday. And even by own sadistic standards it was….surreal. Moved a LOT of weight. Spent a few HOURS in my “happy place” afterwards….insane. Somewhere NinjaBill was grinnin’ for reasons unknown to him…

Tomorrow I meet with my “coach” & nutritionist. She is DA BOMB. I always leave our post & pre cycle meetings just stoked. She is amazing. I have zero doubt I would not be where I am today physically without her. She is a Godsend to me. We will review what I’ve accomplished and plan not only the next cycle but also map out the next three plus months, including my first “cut”. I am excited and nervous beyond description to see what will transpire over that as perhaps I will FINALLY get a tiny glimpse at “the body” I’ve been chasing for over 9 months.

But for today I’ll volunteer at my boy’s school (art program) this afternoon, then come home and hit it hard. Send a good cycle out on a high (and LOUD) note. And with that very creative segue….

Its time for this week’s “Bad Hair Daze” tune. This one is a real classic, and probably not as obscure as the other ones I’ve featured. This band, featuring 2 original members of Cinderella, was not a one hit wonder but is definitely best known for this song. And its worth noting that this video was a full 10 YEARS BEFORE another “Britney” utilized the same “Catholic girl school” theme in her video!

For those of you under the age of 30, that “thing” the girl is listening to at the beginning of the video is called a Walkman. Think of it as an antique MP3 player that required *gasp* cassette tapes to work and whose “shuffle” feature was guessing how long to hold the FF or REW buttons down! Anyway, watch the wall behind the blackboard when the teacher cuts the earphones….its a really cool effect.

I somehow get the feeling a number of the O35 women of BB were like this “in that day”! Forgive me in that YouTube has disabled the embedding of this, but its WORTH the click to kick back & enjoy Britny Fox’s 1988 classic Girls School

Before you think I wasn’t breathing correctly on that last set Wednesday, I know its Thursday. I’m going to be going non-stop tomorrow so I’m posting this tonight.

My day will start at 4am when I’ll get up to make breakfast, stretch, then train Shoulders & Bis.

Then I shift into dad mode & will get the boys up, some breakfast, dressed and drive them 20ish miles to school. Tomorrow is a field trip (apple picking, pumpkin patch, hay ride) and I’m tagging along as a chaperone. In the afternoon is Art Class (I’m volunteering 2x/week), THEN off to work just down the road for our monthly Wine Tasting! We’re featuring all Spanish wines, which are among my favorites.

I’ll probably get home by 8pm. A busy day.

As for now, I just finished up one of my "BlackJack" core/ab sessions, a rare PM one at that. Mrs. BuckSpin came thru earlier with some BADLY needed (and MUCH appreciated) back massage from yesterday. Combined with the reload from a great lunch of steelhead trout & avocado brown rice sushi I made, I was rarin’ to go! Back feels great! Abs & obliques ache!

In keeping with Friday’s "Bad Hair Daze", I’ve chosen a great closet 80s hair classic. Why this band never made it big I don’t know. Slick bluesy riffs, awesome beats, great frontman, they had it all. This is one of their best known songs, but I also admit its possibly the "Best Song In The Worst & Weirdest Video" ever made. The video is just…….

…….well, just enjoy the music from Baton Rouge: