Fortunately, because I write for a newspaper, I'm allowed to use the term "Super Bowl" in print. Perhaps you've heard some of the recent fuss about "trademark" issues and the term "Super Bowl," and how places such as supermarkets and bars aren't allowed to use the term "Super Bowl" in their advertisements.

Having a special sale on snacks for the Super Bowl? Showing the Super Bowl on a big screen at your club? If so, you've got to refer to it as "The Big Game," or whatever else you can come up with to let people know that you are, of course, simply referring to the Super Bowl.

It's silly. And for a league that always does everything smart and markets itself so well, it's one of the dumbest things the NFL has ever done. The Super Bowl is pretty much a national holiday. Everybody should be allowed to refer to it by its proper name, and the league should be grateful for the added exposure and that there is always so much interest in its championship contest.

(I admit, I briefly thought about how I might be able to cash in on this idiocy. Perhaps I could trademark the word "Christmas?" Imagine how much money I could make each year if everyone that wanted to use the word "Christmas" would have to send me a check? Department store fliers, greeting cards, churches ...  it could be a very lucrative investment.  But then I realized that if this were possible, Gene Simmons of KISS probably would have already done it.)

My point is, I love the Super Bowl. Always have. My favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, has played in eight of them and won five. And as has become my tradition every few years, I'll share some of the reasons why I will always love Super Sunday, and why even though I'm on the sidelines as a fan this year, I still can't wait for Super Bowl XLIV.

1) For men, it is generally accepted that we are completely sovereign on Super Sunday. If the women in our lives would like to watch the game, great. They are more than welcome. We enjoy their company. But if not, who cares? Go to the mall. Shop. Do whatever it is that you do. We men appreciate the fact that on this day, you understand that we will be fairly consumed by this event. If we want to start watching the pre-game show 10 hours before kickoff, you will understand. We will eat. We will drink. And if it's just the guys and not a family-style gathering, we will swear. And, we may gamble. You will simply accept it.

2) During the Super Bowl, if our own favorite team is not playing, we may torment people whose teams are playing. My rule is this: If you are my friend, and you are not a Dallas Cowboys fan, but you once rooted for them in the Super Bowl anyway, simply because you wanted me to be happy, then I will return the favor and root for your team. But, if you taunted me all week before the game about how my Boys were going to get dusted, I will hope that your team is completely humiliated and loses by a margin of at least 45 points.

3) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to revel in past glories. Almost always, on the day of the game, one of the ESPN networks will show a marathon of the official "NFL Films" Super Bowl highlights. These 30-minute gems have always been shot on real film, not the cheap stuff, so even if you're watching highlights from the very first Super Bowl, the picture is always perfect. In just 24 hours, you can get yourself one hell of a Super Sunday history lesson, and since they're always run in order, you can usually figure out what time your own team's triumphs will be shown, and when you'll need to tune out and switch  channels to avoid the retelling of painful defeats.

4) The Super Bowl allows you to succumb to superstition. You must wear your "lucky" jersey. You must sit in "your spot." You must stick with the same snacks and beverages, especially if your team won when you had them last. During one Super Bowl, I decided to do a shot of Jack Daniels every time Dallas scored, and every time they kicked off. They won 52-17. Not good. That same year, I did not shave on the morning of the first round of the playoffs. Dallas won that day, so I didn't shave all week, until the NFC Championship Game. They won that game, too, so I didn't shave for two more weeks, until the Super Bowl. By the time the game came around, I had a beard. My friends actually took a picture of me shaving it off about an hour after the game, as we continued to party in victory. Laugh as you may, but I know the beard was a big part of the win.

5) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to use Roman numerals. Roman numerals are cool.

6) The Super Bowl sometimes allows us the chance to not fully recognize the current Super Bowl. A few years ago, I was invited to a Super Bowl party, so I took a cake with the a big blue star on it and the Roman numerals VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX. These were the Super Bowls the Cowboys had won. The fact that Dallas was not playing in the Super Bowl that year was completely irrelevant.

7) The same concept applies to what we wear to Super Bowl parties. Many of us will wear our team's jersey to any such gathering, even if they are not playing in the game. Frankly, I believe this is how it should be. Yes, it's the day we crown a new champion, but it's also a day for us all to celebrate the greatness of the (insert Howard Cosell voice here) National Football League.

8) Those that are perceived as "bandwagon fans" during the Super Bowl will be unmercifully ridiculed and vilified. If you went out this week and bought a Colts or Saints jersey, and you nave never mentioned any allegiance to these teams before, you will no longer be respected by any of your friends.

9) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to gain perspective on greatness and to appreciate people that we once disliked. Example: When I was a kid, I hated Terry Bradshaw because he thumped Dallas in the Super Bowl, twice. But, thinking back, the guy was simply excellent. Same goes for Joe Montana. Two guys. Eight rings. Respect.

10) The Super Bowl allows us the opportunity to strike revenge and purge ourselves of old demons. For example, I always hated the old disco song "The Hustle" because it reminded me of when, in 1976 , Dallas lost Super Bowl  X to Pittsburgh. It was a huge hit at the time, and I think they actually used the song during the broadcast of the game. Though I was just a kid, the tune always bothered me, and every time I heard it over the years, it put a little twinge of pain in my heart. Flash ahead to 1996. Super Bowl XXX. Twenty years later, Dallas gets its rematch with Pittsburgh. A few days before the game, I go out and buy one of those disco compilation CDs that contains "The Hustle," and when Dallas wins the game - which I knew they would - I blast that baby all though my apartment, dancing in joyous victory. Closure.

11) The Super Bowl is the time to observe proper Super Sunday etiquette. Some may need to be reminded that this is not a social event for everyone. This is World Championship football. Some people's hearts are on the line. Here are some tips:

a) If anyone at the party you're attending this year is a fan of the Colts or Saints, you must show them courtesy and respect. This is their day, not yours. They get the best seats in proximity to the TV. Period. This is not debatable.

b) Do not ever - ever - stand in front of the television. If you do, you risk being sworn at and pelted with flying objects, which you fully deserve.

c) Do not try to chitchat with those focused on the game. If you're just at the party to hangout and socialize, go into another room. Or, even better, take it upon yourself to serve food and drinks to those watching the game.

d) If you don't know a damn thing about football, Super Sunday is not the day to learn. Don't ask a bunch of folks glued to their seats how many home runs Payton Manning hit this year or what a first down is. You will be ignored.

e) Don't ask anyone who cares about the game to run and pick up the pizza. They will not. And if you have it delivered, tip the guy big time. Remember, this poor dude is missing the game.

f) Appreciate the well-intended contributions of the non-football people. If someone who doesn't care about the game shows up with a big bucket of wings and a case of beer, gladly accept it. This is their way of trying to get involved. Always thank these people accordingly and encourage them to run back out and return with more food and drinks if they'd like.

12) The Super Bowl allows us the opportunity to buy cool stuff during the weeks after the game. If your team wins, it's going to cost you some money. You'll need the obligatory boisterous championship t-shirts and pennants, which are usually in stores just a few days after the game, and later, you'll of course need the required commemorative championship steins and plaques.

13) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to show off to our friends all of the cool stats that we know about the Super Bowl. For example, Dallas lost three Super Bowls by a total of only 11 points. Even in defeat, they have never embarrassed themselves, and with a little luck, they could have won eight championships, not just five. Other stuff I know: The '85 Bears, at the time, put the worst beating on somebody in the Super Bowl, walloping the Patriots 46-10. The greatest whipping ever was San Fran's 55-10 lambasting of the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. Pennsylvania teams? The Steelers have won the most Super Bowls with six. The Eagles are 0-2. I could go on, but that would probably get annoying. It's cool to throw out a few of these during the game, but don't overdo it.

And finally ...

14) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to put down the remote control. For four hours, the station stays set. Sometimes it's a great game, sometimes it's a blow out. But for fans of the winner, it's a day
they will always savor. Even the commercials are fun, and in recent years, everyone from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Prince have performed at halftime. This year, it's The Who. And as for the game, this year's heroes will come from names such as Payton Manning, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. New memories will be created. They are all great players.

Again, I give you my big-five: VI, XII, XXVII. XXVIII and XXX. Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith ... these are the men that, on those days, made some and my Super Sundays most super, and for that I am still very grateful.

It is why I will always love the Super Bowl.

Now, who's running for the pizza? ...

John Lennon was murdered 29 years ago this week. As always, with the anniversary of his death, we hear recollections of that horrible night, we see old news clips on television, we hear his songs on the radio, and often, we see stories in newspapers and in magazines. It wasn't as prevalent this year, as a 29th anniversary just doesn't seem to have the same ring to it as a 25th or a 30th, but I assume we'll once again hear a lot more about the fallen Beatle at this time next year.

Four years ago, however, on that 25th anniversary, the milestone was noted everywhere. And the Weekender was no exception. In fact, our concert, "We All Shine On: A Tribute To John Lennon," remains one of the most memorable nights of music I've ever witnessed.

The event was held on Dec. 8, 2005, 25 years to the day of Lennon's death. We worked on it for about two months in advance. We found great local talent, the acts on the bill all cooperated in working out a setlist so that no songs would be repeated during the show, and on a cold wintry night that reminded many of the events of Dec. 8, 1980, a group of good-hearted and engaging musicians came together at the River Street Jazz Cafe to celebrate John Lennon's life and music and sing his songs.

The entire two-hour event was also broadcast live on 102.3-FM, The Mountain.

To this day, some of the acts that were on the bill that night still tell me how special it was and that it remains one of the most rewarding nights of music they'd ever been a part of. The spirit in the room and the sense of camaraderie was incredible, and the folks at the Jazz Cafe still say it was the most jam-packed the club has ever been. In the days following the show, we received many e-mails from people that listened on the radio, telling us how much they enjoyed it and appreciated it. At the club, people in the crowd often embraced and sang along to the songs.

Emotions ran high, all throughout the night.

Some of the artists on the bill were Smith, k8, John "Fud" Zavacki, Bret Alexander, Eddie Appnel and Pat Flynn, George Wesley, Don Shappelle, plus members of Strawberry Jam and Plus 3. Songs such as "A Day in The Life," "Watching The Wheels," "In My Life," "Imagine," "Starting Over" and "Norwegian Wood" were played with care and passion, and the show ended in an all-star jam of "Instant Karma."

Today, thanks to some great improvements to our Web site since that time, we can now bring you that special tribute concert once again. It's linked right here, in several parts, so you can listen to it anytime you choose. If you missed it, we hope you'll now enjoy hearing it for the first time. And if you were there four years ago at show, or were listening on the radio, I'm sure you wouldn't mind hearing it again.

It really was a beautiful night of music and a wonderful tribute to one of the most important songwriters of our time. And here at www.theweekender.com, it now shines on.

Thank you once again, John Lennon, for the wonderful songs.

"Love Is Rain," the new album from The Badlees, will make its radio premier this Sunday night at 7 p.m. on 102.3-FM, The Mountain. Fans across the country can also listen online at 102the mountain.com. My weekly radio show, "Music On The Menu Live," usually runs from 8-9 p.m., but we're extending it to two hours for this one, and we'll be hitting the air at 7.

The Badlees, everyone at the station agreed, are worth it.

Bret Alexander, the principal songwriter in the band, will join me on the show to talk all about the new album, and just for good measure, we'll also be spinning a few of the band's past hits and a few nuggets. In next week's issue of The Weekender, editor Mike Lello - also a fan of the band - will have a feature story on the group and the new album, and I'll have a full review of "Love Is Rain" in my "Music On The Menu" column. And on Wednesday, Oct. 14, The Cellarbirds - featuring Alexander, Paul Smith and Ron Simasek  of The Badlees - will perform live at The Woodlands as part of the Mountaingrown/Weekender Original Music Series.

Simply put: We've got you covered.

I, like countless others, simply love this band's music. Always have. And that's led to quite a few stories. In fact, I recall about 10 years ago, people would always ask me if I thought the film "Almost Famous" reminded me of myself. There were certainly some similarities. A young music journalist takes a particular interest in a promising upcoming band, spends a lot of time covering them, and a friendship is born. And yes, some of the scenes in the film reminded me a bit of The Badlees and myself in the '90s. But there were also some very big differences.

I was 25 when I first met The Badlees, not 17, like the writer in the film. I'd seen lots of rock and roll by then and thus wasn't so easily impressed. But I was very impressed with The Badlees, right from the first time I saw them. My love for the music came first. I became a fan based on the incredible quality of the albums. It was only later, well after those first impressions, that I got to know the guys. I also found the Lester Bangs character in the film to be annoying. He was a well-known music writer who tried to mentor the younger writer and always seemed to be lecturing him about the boundaries of journalism.  I couldn't relate to that at all. Even when I was young, I did things my way. I probably would have told Bangs to buzz off, to not take himself so seriously, and to remember what The Stones had said: "It's only rock and roll."

My job was simply to tell people about great rock and roll.

I supported The Badlees then and do it now because they are one of the best bands I've ever heard. Album for album, track for track, I'd put them right there with a group like U2. As a songwriter, Alexander comfortably sits at the table with Springsteen. And as a music journalist, and as simply a fan, that's an incredibly exciting thing to stumble upon. One of the most famous reviews in rock music history came from Jon Landau, who in 1974 wrote "I have seen the future of rock and roll, and its name is Bruce Springsteen." He was moved. He was inspired. That's how I felt in 1995, the first time I heard The Badlees "River Songs." And I still feel the same.

 "Love Is Rain" is a remarkable album. And I still want people to know that we've got a guy living here in NEPA writing Grammy-worthy songs that would get Bruce and Landau to perk up in their chairs. I'll get into that a bit more in next week's issue, when I review the album. But in the meantime, you can read my little version of "Almost Famous" on The Weekender Web site, where we've archived all of the stories I've done on The Badlees, all in the order they first appeared in the paper. No personal stories here. Maybe I'll save some of those for another time, or the book someday. Linked here are simply our interviews with the group, our reviews of their albums and their shows, quotes from the fans when they topped our readers' poll, and the ups and downs of what I feel is America's best band. You can check 'em all out right here:

Weekender Badlees archives.

And for an early listen to "Love Is Rain," tune into 102.3-FM, The Mountain, on Sunday night at 7 p.m.

We really think you'll like what you hear.

Hear the 102.3 FM promo here.

Having been a KISS fan for more than 30 years, I can honestly say that in 2009, some KISS fans have become a strange breed. It should be a fun and exciting time for fans of the legendary hard-rock band, but if you check out some of the group's fan sites on the Web and even read some of what's happening within the rock press, it appears the KISS Army is a house divided.

I'll get to that in a minute ... but first, you may ask "Why should this be such a fun time?"

Well, first and foremost, KISS is set to release its first new studio album in 11 years. It's got one of the coolest names ever for an album in "Sonic Boom" and early reviews say it's a great throwback to the band's pure rock sound of the '70s. In fact, most early reviews have been glowing. Plus, the band is on tour in the U.S. for the first time in years with an all-new stage show that the band says is bigger and badder than ever.

Why else should it be a fun time?

Well, former guitarist Ace Frehley just dropped his first new solo album in 20 years. It's called "Anomaly." And it's excellent.

And, on top of that, the band was finally just nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

To me, as a fan, this is all good. Yet to some, it's been reason to nitpick and squabble within the KISS community. Here's a few samples of some of the schlock floating around out there:

"Ace's album is way better than the KISS album."

When I read stuff like this, I feel as if it should be followed by the sound of a five-year old saying "Na-na-na-na-na." You know, like a "My-dad-can-beat-up-your-dad" kind of thing. Please, just stop it. Grow up.

I've also read this: "If they get into the Hall of Fame, they better only put in the original four guys."

And this: "I'm not going to see KISS if those other guys are wearing Ace and Peter's makeup."

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

With all due respect to my fellow fans, some of you are idiots.

The fact is, both the Ace album and the KISS album are really good. The close release dates of the two also happened in 1989, when KISS released "Hot In The Shade" right around the same time Ace released "Trouble Walkin'." I say fans should do now what they did then. Just enjoy them both. You might like one a bit more than the other. And that's fine. That doesn't mean you have to slag the other. Personally, I'm just happy to be getting all of this great new music from these guys. Would it be cool if Ace were still in KISS, and the three best songs from his CD were simply on the new KISS album? Sure. But that's not how it is. They can't work together anymore. They've tried - twice - and ended up splitting up both times. Just get over it and enjoy the music.

As for the Hall of Fame, fret not. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley will be the ones to be inducted should the band pass the vote. But Stanley certainly had the right in a recent interview to consider a few other members as well, and to credit their contributions. The late Eric Carr drummed brilliantly in the band for 11 years. Bruce Kulick was the lead guitarist for 10 years. Listen to his solos on hits such as "Tears Are Falling" and "Forever." It's great stuff. And the band, with these members, sold millions of albums and performed hundreds upon hundreds of shows at the world's largest venues. And let's face it: If KISS broke up in 1982, after Frehley and Criss had both left the band, and were never heard from again, they would probably not be being considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their enduring 35-year history and legacy is a big part of it. And the huge reunion tour of '96'-97 with the original four members would not have been nearly as big if the band had not also remained in the pubic eye so much throughout the '80s and early '90s.

All of these things are valid points in considering which members, in addition to the original four, should be inducted into the Hall.

As for the new KISS tour, the fact that some fans are upset about Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer using the same makeup design as Frehley and Criss is understandable. Fans have always been told that those makeup designs were true extensions of the band member's individual personalities, and thus making them interchangeable with somebody else for the sake of marketing seems wrong. But if it was going to be done, Thayer and Singer are the right guys. They each have a history with the band, they were fans before they were members, and they are great musicians who fully understand and appreciate the KISS sound.

What bugs me the most about all of the nitpicking by KISS fans is when they attempt to pile on Gene and Paul. Gene and Paul are NOT the bad guys in the KISS camp. They are not the ones that put substances before the band. They are not the ones that didn't show up for recording sessions when the band was making great albums. I mean, man, I love Ace just as much as anyone, but the guy almost missed one of the biggest shows of the band's career: the opening night of the reunion tour at Tiger Stadium. Ace is as cool as hell and his new album rocks, but even he now admits he was quite a handful sometimes and tough to work with.

Gene and Paul have always been there. From from "Dressed to Kill" to "Dynasty," "Animalize" and "Revenge," they always made sure there was a really good KISS album in your hands every year or two and that the accompanying tour would blow you away. And when the ticket said the show started at 9 p.m., it started at 9 p.m.

They gave you respect as a fan, and as a fan, I still respect and appreciate that.

A few of friends of mine were talking about the new KISS tour last week, and the show coming to Philly on Oct. 12, and the subject of Thayer and Singer's makeup came up. Some were not pleased. I said this: "If Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are playing KISS songs two hours from my house, I'm going."

I also hope to catch Ace on tour, and if they somehow decide to put a few other members besides the original four in the Hall of Fame, I'm very cool with that, too.

On a personal note, I've seen KISS in concert 28 times and I've met most of the guys that have played in the band.  Paul and Gene were very cool to me. Could not have been any nicer. Paul even helped us out with "Concert For A Cause" one year and sent us an autographed guitar for the rock auction. Ace is very funny and very cordial guy. I even talked to Eric Carr once on the phone for a radio show I was working on and he was terrific. And I've also met Peter, Tommy, Bruce and even Vinnie Vincent. Never had a bad experience with any of them.

They're good guys, and in whatever lineup they've had, KISS has always been, without question, a great, great rock and roll band.

It's a fun time to be a KISS fan.

Just enjoy it.

Many of our Weekender readers may not know that in addition to being a huge fan of music, I'm also a pretty big sports fan, at least when it comes to Major League Baseball and the NFL. I even have my own blog for the people of NEPA to talk about the New York Yankees, my own favorite team, and I have a lot of fun with it. And since I noticed that today was actually a pretty sad day in Yankees history - the anniversary of the death of the great Mickey Mantle - I thought I'd offer some levity and a very funny Mickey Mantle story.

Back in 1982, Mickey Mantle spent an evening right here in NEPA and was a guest speaker at a banquet at The Woodlands. I was only about 14 years old at the time, but I managed to get a ticket and attend, and it was there that Mantle - in his great Oklahoma accent - shared this hilarious story with the packed room. I'm paraphrasing a bit, because it was 27 years ago, but I do know that it brought the house down. Of course, any story involving Mantle's former volatile teammate, Billy Martin, is bound to be pretty funny.

It went like this:

"Billy Martin and I used to like to do some hunting together, so one day I called up an old friend of mine in Texas and asked if we could hunt on his land. He had a huge property, with thousands of acres, and he had allowed me to hunt there before. I gave him a call, and he said we were more than welcome, so Billy and I drove out ...

Now this guy's land was pretty far out in the sticks, so it took us a few hours to get there. When we pulled up to the house, I told Billy to wait for a minute in the truck, and that I just wanted to let my friend know that we had arrived. He gave me a warm welcome at the door, said it was good to see me, and said that we were welcome to hunt as much as we liked. 'Hey Mick,' he said. 'Do me a favor before you guys head out. I've got an old mule out back that's not well, and he really needs to be put down. I've had him for years, and I just can't bring myself to do it. Can you do it for me?'

Now, that's a tough thing to do for the owner of an animal, so I agreed to do it for my friend. But, on the way back to the truck, I decided to have some fun with Billy. 'Damn it,' I said, when I saw him. 'Can you believe he's not going to let us hunt? He said it was OK, and we drove all the way out here, and now he won't let us. Son of a bitch ... I'll show him.'

I then ran around the back of the barn, with Billy following me, and pointed my rifle at the mule. Billy, who was upset about thinking we were unable to hunt, still seemed shocked at what I was doing, and ran off. I shot the mule, as my friend had asked, and then ...

I heard two more gunshots coming from the other side of the building!

I ran around to see what was happening, and found Billy with his rifle in hand.

He said, 'I just got two of his cows.'  "
 







 

About the Author

Alan K. Stout is the music columnist at The Weekender and has been covering rock and pop music in NEPA for more than 15 years. His column, "Music on The Menu" appears every week in The Weekender.

Alan has won a Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism for his music coverage and has been voted Northeast Pennsylvania's "Favorite Newspaper Columnist" six times.

Alan's interviews include conversations with Billy Joel, Steven Tyler, Eddie Van Halen, David Bowie and Ray Charles. He also wrote the liner-notes to the entire Motley Crue catalog, he is the host of the monthly "Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series" and is the founder of NEPA's annual "Concert For A Cause." He also hosts a weekly radio show, "Music On The Menu Live," which can be heard every Sunday night at 8 p.m. on 102.3-FM, The Mountain.

In addition to his work with The Weekender, Alan also serves as the Newspapers In Education Manager at The Times Leader.

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