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Swedish Sensationsfilms: A Sneak Peek

bazillion — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:02:14 +0000

Here’s a look at the new book by Swedish Death Metal author Daniel Ekeroth:

Coming April 2011: ‘Swedish Sensationsfilms’ Book Reveals
Naked Glory of Pioneering Exploitation Cinema

Available April 1 in bookstores everywhere, Bazillion Points Books presents SWEDISH SENSATIONSFILMS: A Clandestine History of Sex, Thrillers, and Kicker Cinema (ISBN 978-09796163-6-5 US$19.95), a lavish and fiery 328pp retrospective of over 200 banned and cut films produced during the golden age of Swedish sin. “I was born into a rising whirlwind of madness,” says author Daniel Ekeroth. “As the ’70s came along, all limits were forgotten. Sweden was flooded with sexually explicit and violent films of every kind, and all morals were gone.”

Sweden’s sexy reputation was sealed the moment Ulla Jacobsson bared her breasts for One Summer of Happiness in 1951, crushing the Hays Code and igniting a mad race to make sensationsfilms! Produced in the backyard of the Swedish film industry, these sexually daring films form a canon of countless movies dealing with shocking or taboo subjects: street punks, sadistic mobsters, space aliens, unruly housewives, ruthless drug pushers, bloodthirsty ninjas, teen temptresses, lingonberry cowboys, bearded perverts, and drunken vikings.

Working far from the confines of Hollywood, the exploits of young director Ingmar Bergman, actress Christina Lindberg, ultra-villain Heinz Hopf, free-spirited Stellan Skarsgård, and American expats like Dennis Hopper, David Carradine, and Troy Donahue have spawned a legacy that inspired Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left, and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

With dark humor and an eye for cultural quirks that will leave readers wondering whether these films are even real, Ekeroth paints the portrait of a national cinema run amok. Special sections include two historical overviews, a recollection by starlet Christina Lindberg, a list of essential sensationsfilms, a rogues gallery of directors and cast, and a hilarious guide to curious Swedish customs.

Why does John Waters cite Ingmar Bergman as a role model? What are raggare, and why do they hate punk rockers? Can taking the name “Marquis de Sade” really change a bachelor’s luck with women instantly? Why won’t France or Germany make films with Sweden any more? Ekeroth reveals all… in Swedish Sensationsfilms.

For more information, page samples, and to view film trailers, visit this location: http://www.sensationsfilm.com

What in Inga’s Name is a Swedish Sensationsfilm?

bazillion — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:06:15 +0000

After 100 years of film censorship, on Jan. 1, 2011, Sweden’s National Board of Film Classification officially disbanded, surrendering all hope of controlling the country’s cinema screens. In celebration, Daniel Ekeroth, author of the acclaimed Swedish Death Metal (Bazillion Points, 2008), declares victory with his scandalous new book Swedish Sensationsfilms: A Clandestine History of Sex, Thrillers, and Kicker Cinema.

Coming this March to bookstores everywhere, this lavish 328pp paperback offers a fiery retrospective of over 200 banned and cut films produced during the golden age of Swedish sin. “Into a rising whirlwind of madness I was born,” says Ekeroth (also known as bassist of Iron Lamb, Tyrant, and Insision). “As the ’70s came along, all limits were forgotten. Sweden was flooded with sexually explicit and violent films of every kind, and all morals were gone.”

Featuring a blockbuster cover painting by Wes Benscoter (Slayer, Black Sabbath), Swedish Sensationsfilms offers accounts by starlet Christina Lindberg (Thriller – En Grym Film, Maid in Sweden); scores of rare exhibition posters from works by Ingmar Bergman, Arne Mattson, and others; a glossary of curious Swedish customs; and an uninhibited cast of thousands, including: Stellan Skarsgård, Pernilla August, Lee Hazlewood, Dennis Hopper, Max von Sydow, David Carradine, Heinz Hopf, Harry Reems, Noomi Rapace, Marie Forså, Troy Donahue, Zinny Zan, and Ludde the dog.

Before Let the Right One In and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, daring Swedish films in the 1950s helped break down censorship in Hollywood, and the country’s exploitation classics are praised to this day by directors like Quentin Tarantino. “I look back with genuine joy,” says celebrated cover girl Christine Lindberg. “I am so very happy I could be a part of the ’70s. I would never deny being in those movies. I know that a lot of people do so, but I just had a blast.

For more information, page samples, and to view film trailers, visit this location:

http://www.sensationsfilm.com

Brahms + Blasts = PIVIXKI

bazillion — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:42:03 +0000

It’s been a couple years since I worshipped at the altar of Corrupted’s intense Llenandose de Gusanos, but I was craving a bit of that solemn ritual lately, particularly the stark piano stabs that lead the final twenty minutes of the procession towards a final resting place. I’m also way out of touch with my favorite Painkiller release, Execution Ground, where metal mists and avant garde atmosphere mingle in long form. So the Australian piano and drums duo PIVIXKI is sweeping over these shores like a tsunami. This is way better than Tori Amos’ version of “Raining Blood”! Piano tuners rejoice, there’s much work for you yet.

PIVIXKI on MySpace

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Mellodrama: The Mellotron Music, Soundtrack CD

bazillion — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:47:13 +0000

The creative forces behind Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie have united again and produced a sweet soundtrack CD featuring songs based on Mellotron, Chamberlin, and Optigan organs. The sweepy, sleepy tracks date as far back as original recordings of Harry Chamberlin demonstrating his tape organ invention, along with music (as mostly heard in the documentary) ranging from whimsical to moody by Michael Penn, Patrick Warren, Brian Kehew, Mattias Olsson, Dave Biro, and Bigelf.

Bazillion Points is offering the CD in a package with the Mellodrama DVD (scroll down to use shopping cart):

Buy the CD/DVD combo at Bazillion Points.

Or if you already have the DVD and just want the music, here’s some quick purchase code straight from the producers that I’m cutting and pasting to create a quick buy method:

Here’s the track list:

1. “Welcome” by Mattias Olsson
2. Chamberlin Riveria demonstration by Harry Chamberlin
3. “Taped Tango” by Brian Kehew
4. “Long Way Down (2010)” by Michael Penn
5. “A Space Oddity” by Dave Biro
6. Excerpt from “Wizard of Kinderhook” by Dave Biro
7. “Winter Pumpkin” by Mattias Olsson
8. “The Evils of Rock and Roll” by Big Elf
9. “Mellotron Intro And Waltz” by Brian Kehew
10. “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Johnny Largo (Optigan Archives)
11. “Dark March” by Mattias Olsson
12. “Chamberlin Ride” by Patrick Warren
13. “Sentimental Over You” by Harry Chamberlin
14. “Sweet Leilani” by Harry Chamberlin
15. “Timeless” by Brian Kehew

TOUCH AND GO: What Is a Fanzine?

bazillion — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:09:00 +0000

The long-awaited 22-issue anthology of Touch and Go fanzine hit the bookstores on June 30, setting off a whirlwind of page-flipping, rare record rediscovery, and belly laughs the likes of which the literary world has never before seen. TOUCH AND GO: The Complete Hardcore Punk Fanzine ’79-’83 by Tesco Vee and Stimson (and edited by Steve Miller of the Fix) is like a dense rubber band ball of Midwest joy and desperation, packing layer upon layer of handmade discovery and punk frustration into a book that reveals the boyish hearts at the beginning of all this DIY hardcore punk nonsense.

So get the book, and while you’re waiting a few days for delivery, check out the straight-ahead Tesco Vee interview above. The dancing lancer of Lansing sets the scene, shows the lay of the land, and plays tracks by Necros, Negative Approach, 999, and more. He explains how the hardcore scene emerged from the punk happenings of the 1970s, how the live circuit was built, and what became of personalities like Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye in the wake of it all. (By the way: Part 4 contained a song belonging to the Warner Music Group, so they caned that section.)

You can also keep up with Touch and Go book events and special moments at the book’s Facebook page. And another, longer podcast interview with Tesco Vee and editor Steve Miller lives at the official Touch and Go book site.

Carving a Giant Wave With Emperor, Surf-Style

bazillion — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:50:50 +0000

I’m completely in awe of “Mr. Meddled,” a musical parodist whose genius and skill apparently rivals Ihsahn of Emperor but extends to the surf rock genre. I love surf music like the Surfaris and the Joker’s green-haired surf band in the campy ’60s Batman series, but I don’t know jack about it. Guess I’m saving that that quest for knowledge for when I turn 80 and retire to Big Sur like Henry Miller. Mr. Meddled knows surf inside and out, the guitar trills and whammy dives, the rapid-fire runs, the haunting organs, and the slow steady woozy stability that glorifies the salty drift of days running together and beach life. He’s recorded immaculate surf arrangements of Emperor and Burzum songs that will blow you away if you’re a lover of black metal music (and not just the face paints and empty boasts), capping them off with silly alternate mythologies placing “Chip Ihsahn” and “Rocky Samoth” on the California waves in the 1950s. Respect!

Endless summer is coming, are you ready?

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“You both 21?” Lemmy and Ronnie James Dio

bazillion — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:29:44 +0000

“What happened to those beers somebody was just bragging about?”—Ronnie Dio

Blubber, blubber, blubber…sniff!

Read Lemmy’s “devastated” remarks about the passing of his old friend (and see a photo that will make you choke up) at this location HERE.

The Keeper of the Sign, The Sparkle and the Shine

bazillion — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:34:21 +0000

I think about closing the door, and lately I think of it more…

Help me, tell me I’m sane, I feel a change in the earth and the wind and the rain…

Think you’re safe but you’re wrong, falling off the edge of the world.

Ronnie James Dio, rest in peace.

Haunting the Chapel—Praytanic Wehrmacht

bazillion — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:06:33 +0000

Who’s more devotional in their ceremonial rituals, the legendary legions of Slayer fanatics, or their sworn and hated enemies from Team Jesus? Judging by this secret surveillance footage obtained by enemy agents—and the lameness of crowds at Slayer gigs lately—I’m throwing my hat in the ring with these crazy Christians. Watch and learn a lesson in violence!

Thanks, Tesco!

UPDATE: Chuck Biscuits Appreciation Day 10/29

bazillion — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:20:40 +0000

Sad news this morning is that drummer Chuck Biscuits died last weekend of throat cancer at the age of 44. He was a past member of D.O.A., Danzig, Samhain, Social Distortion, and briefly the Circle Jerks. He also laid down the drum tracks for Run-DMC’s Tougher Than Leather album.

In 1982, Chuck was a member of Black Flag—the greatest rock band/emotional malfunction ever—during a particularly intense period of their history. He recorded a scrapped version of their My War album that was never released officially due to the band’s crippling legal problems at that time. He did play live, including this blazing scene-stealing performance atop atop a shining drum riser at New York’s The Ritz in September 1982. Note that Chuck is wearing a fedora for about 10 seconds during the beginning of “Can’t Decide”!

I could easily be overlooking someone, but despite countless close calls I believe this is the first loss of a past member of Black Flag. R.I.P. and condolences to his peers and close persons, and he joins his deceased brother Dimwit from D.O.A.

UPDATE [6:45PM ET]: Only death is fake? Now the source of this news is recanting based on new evidence. Follow the mystery through the Internet if you dare… I’ll report back when the case is closed.

UPDATE [The next morning]: The moral of the story is that if you want to pull the wool over the eyes of the Internet, just invoke the name Chuck Biscuits and people will believe anything. Someone has been hoaxing Crawdaddy writer James Greene for six months, pretending to be the legendary hardcore drummer (with throat cancer, no less, so telephone calls would be impossible). Well, Chuck Biscuits’ brother drove to see him with his own eyes yesterday, and he ain’t dead yet.

FULL (?) STORY

Hope you enjoyed the video!

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