Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our eighth calendar year! Number 401 (Vol. 8, No. 48). This edition is for the week of November 26--December 2, 2007.
I got a wee bit of a head start on the homepage this week due to a screwy work schedule, plus I'm diligently trying to finalize the Creature Feature store so it's operating in plenty of time for the upcoming holidays. In addition to that, there's a surprise offer from Unique Video Andy Lalino and I just finished conforming for the website. Click Here to see our new Fan Club Card deal that will get you a 5-day video rental at regular prices.
Thanks to everybody who wrote to us last week with "best wishes" for Thanksgiving. It was truly appreciated.
As we sail on into December, Christmas is on the horizon and the end of the year obviously looms just behind that. I can't believe another year has passed so quickly! As I get older, they speed up it seems. I need to tie up quite a few loose ends before year's end and I imagine all of you out there are looking at a similar scenario.
To All PCR Writers....
Please start thinking about your year-end wrap-up pieces! It will be here before you know it. The plan is the same as all past years': the final two weeks' issues constitute the "wrap-up" for PCR 2007. Either of the final two weeks (or, hell, both if you're super-regular) in which they can be sent will be fine.
I'm planning some changes/upgrades to the website for 2008. But I'm saving those announcements for the end of the year.
Kevin DuBrow, R.I.P.
Word came in just a few hours ago (as I write this) that Quiet Riot vocalist Kevin DuBrow was found dead at a home in Las Vegas. He was 52. Details at this writing are still scant.
When we used to play clubs in the '80s, Quiet Riot covers were always popular. Thankfully, they were usually very easy to play as well.
Dubrow became infamous for a while whenever he'd do interviews. He'd diss other bands and their singers as inferior. A firestorm erupted and he backed off, but I thought it was funny.
Among other accolades for Quiet Riot was that it was the late Randy Rhoads' first professional band. Randy Rhodes left Quiet Riot to audition for Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, got the gig, and the two formed the Blizzard of Oz around 1980.
Kevin Dubrow was one of the few big LA acts like Motley Crüe and Van Halen to make it out of clubs and into record stores and touring. He had a big ego, but had every right to be proud of his accomplishments.
Robert Sandsmark, R.I.P.
Robert Sandsmark was not a famous man. He was my partner at 7-Eleven for almost exactly a year. We got along famously, agreed on almost everything and he made life at the overnight job infinitely more bearable. We eventually got to be pretty good friends. He eventually registered on the Message Board as "Sandsmark" and posted some political thoughts. We talked a lot about politics, particularly presidential candidate Ron Paul, of whom he was most enthused.
Early Tuesday morning of this week, around 2:00am, Robert complained of "heartburn" and bought some Rolaids. I didn't think much of it and continued working. Later, he said he thought he might've gotten mild food poisoning and wasn't feeling well at all. We decided to take a cigarette break outside and stretch out. This would be roughly 3:30am. After a couple silent minutes (very unusual, that) I turned to him and asked "You alright, man?" Robert said, "No.....it....hurts." I thought what an odd way to describe heartburn. Outside of looking uncomfortable, he didn't seem particularly aggitated. We went back inside and he continued loading the cooler. About 4:45am, well before our shift normally ends (6:00am), Robert asked me if he could clock out immediately. I said, "Sure, I guess. Could you count your drawer before you leave?" "No," said Robert, "I need to go." I said, "Wow...OK, well, I'll finish up here as best I can."
The next thirty seconds or so will haunt me for a long time. He was walking toward the office to clock out and I said, "Look, do you want me to call 911?" He stopped, turned and looked at me straight in the face (the last time he would ever do so), and simply said, "No, I just want to go home." The thing is, when he stopped to look at me, his eyes were watery and his face was flushed. I got a horrible feeling right then I might never see him again. That was really, really a disorienting moment. But I blew it off as me over-reacting. As Robert left the building, I called out to him something to the effect of, "See you again around the weekend, eh?" He didn't answer.
Last night, Tuesday evening as I write this, I was called into work because Robert Sandsmark had been found dead in his apartment of an apparent heart attack. He was only 35 years old. Rob was a big boy, well over 300 pounds and smoked heavily. According to the police, his brother reported that he also suffered from untreated high blood pressure.
I've never faced this exact situation before and it sucks. To say life at 7-Eleven will never be the same again would be an understatement. He was a kind and intelligent man. What a waste. He will be sorely missed.
Please consider making a donation to help support Crazed Fanboy! Click on the "donate" link below and give whatever you can. I sincerely thank you for any and all consideration.---Nolan
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