Hell and Hot Sauce On Wheels!

You've seen every episode of Top Chef, Hells Kitchen and Iron Chef and are convinced you can make it if you really fry in with your own little bistro on wheels? Before you tell the boss to shove it and throw in the red stapler, read Serious Eats' report on the ins, outs and endless search for parking that came with LA's Kogi BBQ taco truck's territory. May I take your order?

Rock Of Love Bus: Mud, Sweat & Beers!

The ever-awesome Chickbomb is back with another "no hos barred" Rock of Love Bus recap. Which of Bret Michael's prospective soul mates wins MVP of Mudbowl III and gets to jet off on a private date to his show at Billy Bob's in Dallas and attend the intimate after party for two. Lastly, but not leastly, though maybe a little bit yeasty, find out which ho's torrid tour ends in Music City USA. Will it be Beverly, Ashley, Mindy or maybe even a girl whose name doesn't even end in a "y". Hi-yo!

Never Mind Milk, Got Moleskin?

Stuff White People Like # 122 reports on the moleskin notebook, highly coveted by creative Caucasians in coffee shops from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. The handsomely bound, blank paged tomes aren't any better at documenting your caffeine induced random thoughts than the drug store variety. But somehow like overpriced java, The Colbert Report and indie rock, they just make you feel smarter. Write on!

Top Chef: Ciao, Fabio!

Grub Street's Michael Alan Connolley dished with Top Chef's Fabio Viviani, the latest chef-testant to be sent packing (though possible fan favorite) about his upcoming cookbook, culinary aspirations, how his mother is doing and what makes chef's such great lovers. Mama mia!

As for Episode 13 itself, I can't believe Carla got away with a non-alcoholic cocktail just because she doesn't drink. If it had been a pork roast competition would the judges have let Ms. Hootie Hoo substitute eggplant instead? I think not. Therefore, Jeff should have won and Stefan and Hosea been sent packing. Still it was great to see Gail Simmons again and Padma looked even more delicious than usual in her black Mardi Gras dress.

Lastly for a view from the judge's table, dig into Tom Colicchio's blog to read about how Jeff royally shucked himself with his oyster dish, what made Carla's cuisine reign supreme and how you can help rebuild New Orleans if you can't make it down to Bourbon Street to stimulate the local economy personally.

Rock of Love Bus - Rollin' on a Riverboat

After a brief absence for naughty nurse (and expensive shoe shopping) duties the ever obsessive Chickbomb is back with another no-hos-barred Rock of Love Bus recap. This week's skank-tastic analysis includes a must see makeover challenge, an awesome riverboat cruise and a last night on the tour for the "girl" Bret suspects is packing a little something extra under her trademark tutu. Hi-yo!

Stones' Teen 'Zine Editor Tells All

Bill Germain was a mere lad of 16 in 1978 when he started up "Beggars Banquet" a Rolling Stones fan 'zine.

In a scene straight out of "Almost Famous" Mick and the boys took a shine to young William's scribblings and allowed him to hang with the band and document their midnight ramblings, not for one night, or one tour even, but for the 17 years. Germain has recently cooked his myriad adventures with the 'Stones down into a printable memoir "Under Their Thumb: How a Nice Boy From Brooklyn Got Mixed Up with the Rolling Stones (and Lived to Tell About It)".

The New York Post has more on Germain's juicy journal, including insight into why Keith and Ronnie say half-jokingly that Mick "is a nice bunch of guys". Shadoobee!

Top Chef - Leah's Last Supper & Who Doesn't <3 Padma?

Gawker's Joshua Stein dishes on Top Chef's "Last Supper" episode includes and as side dish a titillating Padma tribute video by Mike Byhoff. Mangia!

Tattoo You

Stuff White People Like's 121st satirical sociological study involves the fine art of tattooing and the even finer art of selecting a design that will still be hip after the bandages come off. Read on before getting "Boys II Men IV Evs" ironically emblazoned across your left butt cheek. Ouch!

Because Life is a Tough Little Beach

In what sure beats Groundhog Day as the first rite of spring, Sports Illustrated has revealed the cover babe on their 46th annual swimsuit issue will be none other than Leonardo DiCaprio gal pal Bar Refaeli. Can't wait to get to the newsstand to get your trembling mitts on the ravishing Miss R.? Todayshow.com has a bevy of Bar bonus features to keep your other hand busy for now.... Surf's up!

Death Takes Holiday Cocktail Lounge's Stefan Lutak (1920 - 2009)

Sad news from St. Marks Place. Stefan Lutak who for more than 40 years ran the Holiday Cocktail Lounge, the best damn dive bar in New York City passed away last week. He was 88.

Cheers to a life well lived and a bar well tended. What I wouldn't give to have the ever irascible Stefan, who since 1965 ruled the Holiday with an iron swizzle stick, set up another round of Black Sambuca and Heineken. On second thought, better make it two and some singles for the jukebox.

Vanishing New York has more....

Lux Interior, Cramps Singer, Dead at 62

"Life is short, filled with stuff, don't know what for, aint had enough" - The Cramps, New Kind of Kick

Lux Interior, charismatic singer and founding member of New York City's punk-rockabilly pioneers The Cramps, is looking for kicks in rock'n roll heaven now. Lux died Feb. 4 of an existing heart condition at Glendale Hospital in California. He was 62.

"Lux has been an inspiration and influence to millions of artists and fans around the world. He and wife Poison Ivy's contributions with the Cramps have had an immeasurable impact on modern music. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly," according to a statement issued by the Cramps media representative.

Lux is survived by his wife of 37 years, Poison Ivy Rorschach (real name Kristy Wallace) with whom he formed The Cramps in 1973. The group’s unique combination of Lux’s reverb drenched vocals over Ivy’s grinding guitar and a rockabilly beat resulted in such cult hits as “Garbageman”, “New Kind of Kick” and “Goo Goo Muck”. Their sound would influence several generations of punk, garage, and “goth” bands including the Gun Club, Sisters of Mercy, My Bloody Valentine to White Stripes.

The Cramps were an integral part of the original New York City punk scene of CBGB and Max's Kansas City, and quickly made a name for themselves with their singular sound and iconography, combining rockabilly and surf music along with campy, horror movie imagery.

One creepy career highlight was the band’s performance for patients at Napa State Mental Hospital in Sacramento, CA which later became a fan favorite when released on video.

Lux, real name Erick Lee Purkhiser, was born October 21, 1946 in Ohio and was falsely rumored to have passed away from a heroin overdose in 1987.

Coincidentally, guitarist Bryan Gregory who was with the band from 1976 to 1980 also died of heart problems, in California in 2001.

According to Billboard.com, The Cramps released fourteen albums. Their latest, 2004's "How To Make a Monster", sold 11,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Their best-selling album, 1984's "Bad Music for Bad People", has sold 95,000 copies.

To read Rolling Stone's rockin' post-mortem, click on...

Photo – Brian Rasic/Rex Features

Inflation is Really Out of Control!

It's nice to know in these days of diminished expectations that some dreams really do come true. Just ask Sheyla Hershey the Texas mom who after nine plastic surgeries has fulfilled her desire to have the world's largest bust line, a whopping 38KKK. The hellbent for back pain Ms. Hershey had to travel to Brazil for the record breaking procedure after celeb plastic surgeon Dr. Rey (aka Dr. 90210) declined to perform the record, bra-strap breaking operation. For more from Britain's "Daily Star" read on...

Weapons of Trash Destruction

"Rock & Roll Never Looked so Beautiful," according to New York City's own Semi Precious Weapons who kicked out the glam jams in the swanky Highline Ballroom on Saturday night as the homecoming show of their "Hell on Heels" tour in support of the new CD "We Love You" (Razor and Tie).

The fierce foursome fronted by bleached blond, bone thin Justin Tanter recalls the glitter of Ziggy-era Bowie, the street walkin' attitude of Iggy Pop and the blitzkrieg energy of the Ramones. Though SPW's set was semi-short for the $12 ticket price and an encore would have been appreciated (c'mon boys ya must know Rebel Rebel) the crowd left as energized as if they had just downed a Starbucks venti with a vodka and Red Bull chaser. And to his credit Justin went straight from prowling the stage to working the merchandise table, which included jewelery of his own design and tote bags emblazoned with the band's mantra "I CAN'T PAY MY RENT BUT I'M F*CKING GORGEOUS" guaranteed to wow 'em at Whole Foods.

So though the band could have played longer and calling your crowd by the "C" word might not be the most heartwarming sentiment, it's still reassuring to know that the future of glam rock as we know it is safe so long as glitter junkies like Semi Precious Weapons are around to keep the fuse lit. For Metro's "the world's largest global newspaper" profile of the band and a bit of banter with Mr. Tanter read on...

Rock of Love 'Hos Take Chicago!

The ever catty and chatty Chickbomb checks in with her latest no 'hos barred Rock of Love Bus recap. This week's episode finds the ten remaining hot-mess-testants winding their way to the Windy City of Chicago for an "awesome" Bret Michaels' concert at the Horseshoe Casino (who knew they had casinos in Chicago?)

Included in C-bomb's kick ass analysis are the panties down and dirty details of the roadie challenge, the life lesson here being "If you want to date a rock star, you better learn how to fall off a stage bitch," according to the astute and sophisticated Ashley who is later seen puking into a casino trash can. Quick, somebody get the little tattooed lady a cheeseburger and a barf bag!

For more high heeled hi jinks and to see which cranky skank's bruised butt gets left behind when Bret's bus blows town, read on...

Donkey Punch - Sexy Brit Flick Kicks Like a Mule!

Grown men giggle and even Girls Gone Wild shudder at the mere mention of the name. Filmed for under $1 million and destined for cult movie fame, Donkey Punch is a killer new erotic thriller from the UK about 3 girls and 4 lads whose wicked weekend on a yacht in Spain goes from from the heights of ecstasy to bloody Hell after trying out the titular ill advised bedroom maneuver. Seriously, do not try this at home, or anyplace else.

Enthusiasts of extreme cinema lucky enough to live in New York City can get DP-ed so to speak, at the Cinema Village (22 East 12th St). Hey, ya can't see a Kate Winslet flick every week!

To find out more and order Donkey Punch on DVD complete with a boatload of boner, err bonus features click here.

Oh My Cod! Radhika Interviewed & Adam Platt's Restaurant Wars Recap

Grub Street talked with Top Chef's Radhika Desai who's lackluster leadership in this week's Restaurant Wars episode resulted in her being the latest chef-testant to be told to "Please pack your knives and go." Read on...

New York magazine's Adam Platt makes an early prediction on this season's winner, comments on Carla's dreadful deserts and wonders who was really on the couch with Leah. Read on...

Rock Of Love Bus - Skanks on Ice!

"What's a goin' on?" Maybe it was a result of President Obama's electrifying and inspiring inaugural address, but the ever-cheeky Chickbomb has certainly been pounding the keyboard (and perhaps a Grey Goose & Red Bull or three) this week. Click on through for her second Rock of Love Bus recap in as many days and read a torrid tale of pneumatic ingenues ice skating, "date night" at Big Al's strip club and see which ho-testant dared mention Bret's "European" hair! Read on...

Bye, Robot

Bob May the actor who worked inside the robot costume on the classic 1960s sci-fi series Lost in Space has died. He was 69. Interestingly enough the voice of the robot was actually done by the show's announcer Dick Tufeld. Will Robinson, you're on you're own now. The New York Times has more...

Rock of Love Bus Kept A Rolling (All Night Long)

Chickbomb returns with another outrageous Rock of Love Bus recap including lingerie clad wedding vows, a hay ride from Hell and an elimination ceremony that ends three ho-testants tour in glamorous Greenfield, Indianna! Read on...

DING DONG DUBYA'S GONE!

Hail to the G! The President of our once again great nation's inaugural address was electrifying, inspiring, unifying and worthy of a big, fat friggin' WOO HOO! Now to Ben's Chili Bowl for a celebratory 1/2 smoke sausage! Gawker of course has an assortment of opinions and surprisingly not all are of the snarky, hipster variety...

Bourdain's Blogs From A to Zamir

Anthony Bourdain, celebrated cook, author, No Reservations show host and lousy ATV driver comments in his latest blog on the Americanization of his Russian friend Zamir. Will too many autograph hounds, questionable business opportunities and near death snowmobile rides corrupt Anthony's comrade? Read on...

Iggy Pop Interview & Ron Asheton Memorial

Rolling Stone reports Iggy Pop's first interview since the death of Stooges' co-founder Ron Asheton. Iggy recalls his best friend's inestimable influence, psychedelic origins and love of small animals. Read on (and listen to the actual Detroil radio interview).

And this just in...

Private Memorial Held for Stooges' Guitarist Ron Asheton
By Roger LeLievre The Ann Arbor News

A private memorial service attended by family members and close friends of the late Stooges' guitarist Ron Asheton was held Tuesday at Muehlig's Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.

Among those attending were Stooges' frontman Iggy Pop; Ron Asheton's brother and Stooges' drummer Scott Asheton; bassist Mike Watt; and saxophonist Steve MacKay, as well as two members of The Stooges' management team.

"Each of us just got up and said a few words. After, we all went to Weber's and had a real nice dinner," said Scott Morgan, a fellow musician and long-time friend of Asheton's. "It was pretty much local except for the band and the band people. There were a lot of close friends, people who always came to Ron's on Christmas Eve."Asheton was found dead in his Ann Arbor home by police officers on Jan. 6. The cause of death has not been determined, pending completion of toxicology tests that are expected to take nearly a month.

Asheton was a founding member of The Stooges, which formed in Ann Arbor in the 1960s and went on to pioneer the musical style of punk rock, influencing generations of rock musicians. He was ranked at No. 29 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Morgan said Pop and other band members gave no indication about the future of The Stooges without Asheton.

"They are still in shock," he said.

A tribute to Asheton will be held Saturday night at the Music Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Detroit. A local Stooges tribute is planned for late February at the Blind Pig, with details to come, Morgan said.

Family members have asked that donations in memory of Asheton be made to his favorite charity, the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Contributions can be made online at http://www.hshv.org/ (click the "Donations" link and scroll down to the Memorial Honorarium option). Those wishing to donate should list "Ron Asheton" in the "Honoree Name" part of the electronic form.

Meanwhile, The Stooges were again snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Wednesday. The band has been on the hall's nomination ballot seven times since the mid-1990s, including this year, but has yet to win enough votes to get in.

Top Chef: Down and Out on the Farm

After episode 8, it's clear as consomme Top Chef's producers did not want to take the simmering Hosea/Leah love connection off the burner just yet.

Otherwise, how is it possible Ariane, who pounded her cougar heart out trying to "honor her protein" was sent packing and both Hosea and Leah who were content to let Arianne overcook her own goose, were allowed to stay?

And then there's Radhika. Her 3-hour grilled corn must have been damned tasty too to qualify her for battle in next week's Restaurant Wars.

And last and by far least, what's up with testy guest judge Toby Young wanting "raw unprotected sex" with his protein and then whine like a cheap merlot about only getting to "first base"? Quick, somebody get that guy a rubber chicken!


Gawker's Joshua David Stein is even more outraged.

New York Magazine's Adam Platt "actually half-liked this episode."

Fresh from the chopping block Ariane talked to Grub Street about teamwork (or lack thereof) simplicity and who should have really been told to pack her knives and go. Read on...

Patrick "The Prisoner" McGoohan - Dead at 80

When all is said and done, he was not a number, he was a free man. Actor Patrick McGoohan, best known simply as No. 6 on the enigmatic 1960s British spy-drama The Prisoner has escaped this mortal coil. McGoohan, not to be confused with Patrick Macnee who stared in The Avengers, was 80. In addition to his Prisoner exploits, McGoohan is the only actor to have played four different murderers on the detective series Columbo none of whom of course were able to elude the good lieutenant's absent minded pursuit. Gawker has more.

"Informer" to Make Sundance Dance to an 80s Beat!

"The Informer," director Gregor Jordan's (Buffalo Soldiers) new picture set around early 1980s Los Angeles and based on a book of short stories by Bret Easton Ellis (Less Than Zero, American Psycho) makes its Sundance Film Festival debut on Thursday. The sexually supercharged movie stars a mostly unclad Amanda Heard, Mickey Rourke, not entirely unfamiliar with the excesses of the era and Kim Bassinger, Rourke's co-star from the classic '80s erotic thriller 9 1/2 Weeks. Billy Bob Thornton and Winona Ryder are also on board, as was Brad Renfro in his final performance before his untimely overdose at the age of 25. The New York Times has more.

All Aboard the Rock of Love Bus!

Bret Michaels has made a second career out of looking for love in all the skankiest places and "Chickbomb's" unbelievably in depth analysis of the first episode of Rock of Love Bus is almost as long as the show itself. Perfect slow day at the office reading material, also ideal for putting off that pesky job search and the captions alone are worth the price of attention. Hi-Yo!

http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/rock-of-love/a-whole-new-bre-8661.php

Time Off For Bad Behavior

Stuff White People Like's latest entry is all about the time honored Caucasian tradition of "Taking a Year Off" to recover from finishing college, put off joining the real world and provide much needed resume padding. Come to think of it, two years would be better.

Born Under a Bad Sign

The Unborn
Movie review by Spyder Darling

Equal parts Nightmare on Elm Street, The Omen and The Exorcist, The Unborn is a sit-through-able supernatural thriller, starring Odette Yustman as Casey Beldon, a comely co-ed whose disturbing dreams of a ghostly child with a menacing message that somehow connects to her mother’s depression and subsequent suicide.

After rummaging around her family’s big old house, the perfect location for expected but nonetheless effective knee jerk frights, Casey follows a trail of uncanny clues to a sinister sanitarium where she meets her long lost grandmother, an Auschwitz survivor whose tale of unspeakable Nazi experiments conclude the only way Casey can save herself from certain demonic doom is an exorcism. Preposterous? Sure, but tell that to diminishing circle of family and friends.

Enter Sendak (Gary Oldman) a reluctant rabbi who, with the help of a sacred text borrowed from a local library attempts to shut a doorway from beyond our world that has been pried open by someone who was never born. Or something like that.

For a PG-13 fright flick, Writer/director David Goyer (Blade: Trinity, The Invisible, Batman Begins) has crafted a passably terrifying glimpse into the life of the undead in The Unborn. While not as scary as its influences, the New York Times financial section, or a New York Knicks box score, it’ll take your mind off the madness of modern day life for a 96 minutes and that’s not kid stuff by any means.

Peter Blast Releases "Chinese Dragonflies"!

Notorious Chicago rocker Peter Blast has just released the cinematic new video "Chinese Dragonflies" featuring footage from Blast's infamous "Dive Bar Tour" (with yours truly on bass) in support of his latest CD "A Plush Horse...with a Monkey on a String." Lie back and enjoy the ride! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugiO7LG0tgk

Stooges' Guitarist Ron Asheton - Dead at 60

This is "No Fun" at all. The NME reports Ron Asheton, founding guitarist and bassist for proto-punks the Stooges, featuring Iggy Pop on vocals, was found dead from an apparent heart attack in his Ann Arbor, Michigan home. He was 60.
http://www.nme.com/news/the-stooges/41900

A Salt on the Senses

"Stuff White People Like" just posted this item about sea salt and the crazy caucasians who gotta have it.