kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

"IN THE LEGEND-LADEN DAYS BEFORE THE DAWNING OF THE HYBORIAN AGE..."

PIC(S) INFO: "THE COMING OF -- KING KULL! Spotlight on the introductory page (and remastered cover art) to "Creatures On the Loose!" Vol. 1 #10. March, 1971. Marvel Comics.

"In the time before the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities -- in the legend-laden days before the dawning of the Hyborian Age... the man called Kull rides proudly at the head of his hand-picked guardsmen. But beware, monarch of mighty Valusia... for ahead lies terror! Ahead waits, stark, unfathomable fear! Ahead lurks -- THE SKULL OF SILENCE!"

-- CREATURES ON THE LOOSE Vol. 1 #10

Artwork by Herb Trimpe (✝), Marie Severin (✝), and Morrie Kuramoto (✝). Story artwork by Bernie Wrightson (✝).

Script by Roy Thomas, adapted from the works of writer-creator Robert E. Howard✝.

Source: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Creatures_on_the_Loose_Vol_1_10.

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"TALK ABOUT BUM CAKES, MY GIRL'S GOT 'EM!... HOW COULD I LEAVE THIS BEHIND?"

PIC(S) INFO: Part 2 of 2 -- Spotlight on more promo shots (rear close-ups galore!) of the 1995 "Bride" resin kit model, sculpted by Mike James (American pin-up artist/ photographer/ sculptor) for Azimuth Design.

Definitely threw on "Big Bottom" (1984) by SPÏNAL TAP for this post -- how could I not?! Bum cakes for daaaays, weeks, and years on end for this ravishing Bride-to-be.

Source: www.jamesart.com/bride.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

THE FIRST PERSON TO PLAY BLUES ON AN ELECTRIC GUITAR -- THE FIRST GUITAR HERO IN THE HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (1910 – 1975) American blues musician, pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds. Artwork by William Stout for his "Legends of the Blues" portraits series.

LEGACY & OVERVIEW: ""How significant was T-Bone Walker to the evolution of the blues?" he repeats the question. “Well,” he says after a long pause. “You look back at everyone who’s ever stood in front of a band playing the guitar and it all traces back to one man. T-Bone Walker was the first person to ever play blues on an electric guitar: How significant is that?”

But Vaughan knows Walker’s contributions go deeper than having access to new technology. Leaving it at that is like lauding a brilliant author for being the first to write a book using a word processor.

“T-Bone created a whole new language for the guitar,” says Vaughan, whose concise leads and impeccable sense of swing and rhythm show that his guitar speaks T-Bone fluently. He reaches for his 1951 Gibson hollow-body electric on the couch in his manager’s office on South Lamar; axe in hands he seems more comfortable talking about Walker, whose work in the 1940s was as major a musical influence as Texas has produced. Vaughan starts playing riffs you’ve heard on records by the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton and Vaughan’s former Fabulous Thunderbirds and the conversation comes alive.

"You’ve heard this one a hundred times before,” he says, playing the driving intro to “The Crawl,” a T-Bird mainstay. “That’s a T-Bone lick. Here’s another,” he says, strumming the harmonic chords that open Walker’s most enduring composition, “Call It Stormy Monday.” Vaughan then hits a note and sustains it with a finger wiggle a la B.B. King, performs a jazz-billy run like the ones Scotty Moore used to play with Elvis Presley, executes the bent-note double stops identified with Chuck Berry, then apes the choppy rhythms of nascent funk guitarist Jimmy Nolen of James Brown’s band. These licks all started with Walker, who was born in Linden and raised in Dallas. The electric guitar has been the defining instrument of the past 50 years and T-Bone Walker was the first guitar hero.

“You know how everyone was blown away when they first heard Jimi Hendrix?” Vaughan asks. “Well, imagine what it must’ve been like to hear T-Bone for the first time, when those riffs were brand new.” Hendrix had contemporaries who were doing amazing things — Clapton, Jeff Beck, Link Wray, Buddy Guy — but T-Bone was on an island. He was the template for so many great guitarists who would follow. In Texas, a Mecca of electric blues guitarists, you had Rockdale’s Pee Wee Crayton, Orange’s Gatemouth Brown, Beaumont’s Johnny Winter. Dallas gave us Freddie King and the Vaughan brothers and Houston could boast Albert Collins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Johnny Copeland and Billy Gibbons, all carrying T-Bone’s torch."

-- MICHAEL CORCORAN, "T-Bone Walker and the Language of Electric Blues," c. April 2020 (Texas Music History)

Sources: www.michaelcorcoran.net/t-bone-walker-and-the-language-of-electric-blues and www.budsartbooks.com/product/more-legends-of-the-blues-card-set-by-william-stout.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

BAT OUT OF CREATURE-DESIGN HELL.

PIC INFO: Resolution at 1512x2016 -- Spotlight on Bat-creature (Dracula's monstrous bat form, perhaps?) concept art from 2004's "Van Helsing." Artwork by Constantine Sekeris.

"Here is a unused design Bat-Creature rough sketch for the "Van Helsing" movie... at the time practical FX were still popular and this was going to b a practical suit with a animitronic head."

-- CONSTANTINE SEKERIS (via Artstation)

Source: https://artofconstantine.artstation.com/projects/xbNqr.

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HALF ENERGY-VAMPIRE/HALF HUMANOID-PTERANODON -- TOTAL SAURIAN TERROR!

PIC INFO: Resolution at 1044x1600 -- Spotlight on original artwork for the "fearsome flying fiend" known as Sauron (of the Savage Land), artwork by Jim Lee for the critically-acclaimed "X-MEN" Series 1 collection of trading cards, c. 1991.

Source: https://1ojodemelkart.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-marvel-x-men-collection-n1-children.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

GONE DIVIN' WITH THE SCUBA-GIRL.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a piece titled "Scuba Girl," originally drawn by Vaughn Bodē (1941-1975), c. 1974. Redrawn by his surviving son Mark Bodē (b. 1963), c. 2008. Pic uploaded 2010.

Photo enlargement and hand-touched with spray can and paint markers - 40 x 30."

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/1am_sf/4754525614.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

THE TWISTED FACE OF HARDCORE-HORROR BUTCHERY -- CLASS OF '86.

PIC INFO: Resolution at 1197x1439 -- Spotlight a repurposed T-Shirt design of the dual-headlining ANTI-CIMEX and AGONI "Chainsaw Tour 86" concert poster.

TEE OVERVIEW: "The legendary UK tour by these cream of the crop Swedish hardcore punk bands, reportedly blowing DISCHARGE off the stage during their ill-fated "Grave New World" era. This classic design has been referenced time and time again by bands like DISCLOSE, and other modern DISCHARGE-style hardcore bands, but none surpass the original. Officially licensed from both ANTI-CIMEX and AGONI."

-- SORRY STATE RECORDS (Raleigh, North Carolina record/merch shop)

Source: www.sorrystaterecords.com/products/anti-cimex-agoni-chainsaw-tour-86-t-shirt.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

STRAIGHT OUTTA THE MARTIAN POLICE FORCE -- THE CHICK IS PACKED.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on promo shots of NAOMI ARMITAGE 6" action figure, based on the lead character from the "Armitage III: PolyMatrix" anime series, and part of "McFarlane's 3D Animation from Japan: Series 2," released by McFarlane Toys in September 2001.

POWERS & ABILITIES: Superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, agility, telepresence communication, telepresence hacking and technological manipulation, Skilled hand-to-hand combatant, Skilled marksmanship, immortality.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Pistol and several built-in laser and energy weapons.

Source: https://mcfarlane.com/toys/naomi-armitage.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

GUINNESS IN A CAN? AT HOME? PEAK PUB NOVELTIES IN THE SUPER SEVENTIES.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a "Guinness at Home" ("Can Man") poster/advert for Guinness in cans, c. 1970. Artist: ?

"This canned stout is looking very dapper in his checkered house slippers. Fun ad for Guinness in cans."

-- CHISHOLM GALLERY (Vintage Posters)

Source: www.vintagepostersnyc.com/p/guinness_at_home_can_man__6035.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

TONY ALVA -- IMMORTALISED BY THE FU (AND VICE VERSA): STAY HEAVY!!

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on front cover of "The Action is Go" (Mammoth Records, 1997), the fourth album by American stoner rock band FU MANCHU, featuring a photo of Z-boy Tony Alva poolriding the Dog Bowl, 1525 San Vicente Blvd, Santa Monica, CA. 📸: Glen E. Friedman

Source: http://beachpartyattitude.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-action-is-go.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

KINGS OF KŌCHI CITY D-BEAT RAW PUNK -- CHAINSAWING THEIR WAY THROUGH WEST COAST DATES.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on an October 2004 West Coast tour poster and/or flyer for the almighty DISCLOSE, and I wouldn't be surprised if this was their first (and last) time touring the left coast of the US.

Man, I was an incoming sophomore in high school when this West Coast tour went down, and I had absolutely no interest in any of the music the "cartoon punks" at my school were listening to. Sadly enough, I didn't start giving punk rock music a chance until after high school, but Kawakami had already passed when that happened. I was nearly twenty when I finally heard DISCLOSE for the first time, too, and I've been a huge fan ever since.

Dis nightmare still @$*!#&% continues!!

Source: http://disclose.likesyou.org/disflyers.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

THE WELL-KEPT LADIES OF APOCALYPTIC-NOIR.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a promo shot of actresses from the Cold War-era atomic noir/thriller, "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955), produced and directed by Robert Aldrich.

Left to right: Cloris Leachman as Christina, Maxine Cooper as Velda, and Marion Carr as Friday.

Source: http://mexnoir.blogspot.com/2011/10/kiss-me-deadly.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

VENTURED INTO TOL-IN-GAURHOTH -- WAS NEVER SEEN OR HEARD FROM AGAIN.

NOTE: This isn't a Tolkien piece, but it wouldn't seem out of place from a First Age perspective, when werewolves were at their peak strength during the marring of Arda.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a Vorten Ravager by Tjota for "Zems" Online Card Game, artwork by Jackson Tjota, a.k.a., "TJOTA!," c. 2014.

MINI-OVERVIEW: "Another commission for an upcoming online card game, "Zems" An Ortor (Zems' version of wolf-like creature) leaping and attacking a soldier in armor. Poor guy doesn't stand a chance. lol."

-- TJOTA! (DeviantArtist)

Source: www.deviantart.com/tjota/art/Zems-Vorten-Ravager-499190875.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

MONSTROUS-MARCH-MARVEL-MADNESS CONTINUES WITH KING KULL!

PIC INFO: Resolution at 1004x1506 -- Spotlight on King Kull hacking and slashing his way through an ancient, unnamed, tentacled monstrosity -- Cover art to "Creatures on the Loose!" Vol. 1 #10. March, 1971. Marvel Comics.

Cover artwork by: 

Herb Trimpe (✝)

Marie Severin (✝)

Morrie Kuramoto (✝)

Story adapted from the works of Robert E. Howard, by Roy Thomas

Source: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Creatures_on_the_Loose_Vol_1_10.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

A LOOK BACK AT THE UK HARDCORE (1985-'89) SCENE WITH THE VOCALIST OF AXEGRINDER.

PIC(S) INFO: Mega Spotlight on some of the standout acts of that third wave of UK punk/extreme music, of the UK hardcore variety (sans AMEBIX, I guess), c. mid to late 1980s.

CVLT: "With a crossover of musical styles, what were the crowd like back then at your gigs? Was it a very close scene back then, with most bands in the UK knowing one another? What are some of your best and worst memories from those days?"

TREV [vocalist for AXEGRINDER]: "Mostly anarcho punks, crusties and the odd metalhead. Everyone got on and I can only remember a few gigs marred by violence. The whole scene was run through letters, tape trading and phone calls. This is before the days of the Internet; today it’s very instant, but back then it felt very special to get a letter or tape through the post, someone taking that much time and trouble to write etc...

The scene was quite tight, but naturally the bands congregated in their own areas, so you had lots of scenes up and down the country. I liked that – the scene didn’t revolve around London, you had HELLBASTARD from Newcastle, AMEBIX from Bristol, DEVIATED INSTINCT from Norwich, ELECTRO HIPPIES from Liverpool etc... It was a great network across the country.

Favourite memory is meeting so many great and colourful people and sharing gigs with some amazing bands – HELLBASTARD, BOLT THROWER, CONCRETE SOX, ELECTRO HIPPIES to name but a few.

Worst memory was all the "crustier than thou" shit; who could be the crustiest, drink the most cider, and live in the most squalid squats. I hated that whole thing."

Source: https://cvltnation.com/cvlt-nation-exclusive-interview-axegrinder.

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FOOD WITH FACES -- "BFF's" EDITION.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on Isaac Marzioli's "BFF's" series for Happy Pantry, c. 2015.

PB&J OVERVIEW: "We have a couple of series at Happy Pantry. The one we're currently into is the "Bff's." Even though it's kind of annoying to say "bff" and the person who refers to their best friend as such should be evaluated by professionals (especially if they're an adult)... but these days the string of letters is so prevalent that those of us who feel this way are in the minority. And thus - we're okay with using it ourselves. And nothing goes together like Peanut Butter and Jelly!"

🥛&🍪: "While I'm not the biggest fan of saying "BFF" - it has it's place.  When talking about how much cookies and milk like each other, then it's a natural and appropriate description."

-- ISAAC MARZIOLI (Animator/freelance illustrator)

Sources: http://meshaq2000.blogspot.com/2015/03/bff-friday-happy-pantry-best.html and http://meshaq2000.blogspot.com/2015/03/happy-pantry-peanut-butter-and-jelly.html.

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

"...PERHAPS THE BEST-SELLING GIRL-KIT IN THE WORLD."

PIC(S) INFO: Part 1 of 2 -- Spotlight on promo shots of the 1995 Bride resin kit model, sculpted by Mike James (American pin-up artist/ photographer/ sculptor) for Azimuth Design.

Source: www.jamesart.com/bride.html.