An amazingly talented friend of mine (and incredible person all around) G Tom Mac recently posted a track of him covering Barbra Streisand’s “People.” A lot of you know G as “the guy who wrote The Lost Boys theme song”, amongst plenty of other songs that have made their way to hit TV shows and films. Some of you may even remember him as the writer for KISS’ “Is That You”. If you aren’t familiar with him at all, you can educate yourself here. His material is worth keeping an eye on.

Anyway. This song is a little slower than what I’m used to from him, and it’s a little slower than what I generally listen to on a regular basis… but it’s different and I enjoy it. The mood is actually kind of perfect for the holiday season.

Last night, a dear friend of mine G Tom Mac went on Variety Radio Online to chat about his songwriting and promote his new single. Some of you know him from writing the Lost Boys theme song, “Cry Little Sister.” What a lot of you may not realize is that you’re hearing his music in a lot of big-named shows and movies (and it’s not always his voice singing, either).

Check out the interview and new song “Groove at the End of the World” below:

Here’s what you might have missed last week:
• Conan: The Barbarian – The Musical
• Insane Clown Posse Learn How Magnets Work
• Really Cool Old Spice Ad
• Two Easy Steps to Covering “Cry Little Sister”

One of my all-time favorite songs to listen to is “Cry Little Sister” (the Lost Boys theme song by Gerard McMann/Gerard McMahon/G Tom Mac). When I was little, not only did I watch the movie a gajillion times (and still do), but I listened to this song on repeat so much that my mother is probably still sick of hearing it to this day, haha.

Anyway, with any great classic 80′s song, people who follow will cover it.

Bands… a little piece of advice… if you’re going to cover a classic, the FIRST step you might want to take is TO GET THE LYRICS RIGHT. That’s the very least you can do. PLEASE.

Then, of course, the second would be to make it sound GOOD, whatever twist you may add to it.

It makes me really sad when I hear people butcher this song… to the point where I start listening to the original on repeat for an hour straight to wash away the damage.

Have you heard a butchered cover of this song and need help washing away the damage, yet for whatever strange reason, don’t have the Lost Boys soundtrack? Well never fear… I’ve found this on YouTube for you:

And, of course, a great metal version I enjoy by my boys in RIKETS (also with Gerard):

Also enjoy rock/metal versions by Seasons After and my buddies in Ventana.

Here’s what you might have missed last week:
• Jake Gyllenhaal Explains How To Pronounce His Name
• Alan Wake: Bright Falls – Episode 5 “Off the Record”
• Alan Wake: Bright Falls – Episode 6 “Clearcut”
• One of these things is not like the other.
• G Tom Mac – “Soul I Bare” Video
• SPLIT/SECOND In Stores Now!
• Spider One Sits Down with George Romero
• Split/Second – Ten FTW: Top 10 Powerplays
• Google.com – May 21, 2010
• Blur Makes Fun of Mario Kart

So my buddy G, singer/songwriter of the Lost Boys theme song “Cry Little Sister,” has a NEW music video “SOUL I BARE” from the film EMERGING PAST that debuted today on the Famous Monsters website. Check it out here!

For those in Indianapolis, you can go see G at the Famous Monsters Convention July 9th to 11th.

My boys in RIKETS had a new album release today! Download it from iTunes here.

Track List:
01. It’s Only Gonna Get Worse
02. Program the Dead
03. Designer Drug Hell
04. Vicious
05. The Murder
06. Allison
07. House of Lies
08. End of Suffering
09. Cry Little Sister (f. Gerard McMann/G Tom Mac)
10. Sold Me Out
11. Sew Your Eyes

Earlier today, E! Online posted an exclusive bit with Gerard McMann/Gerard McMahon (aka G Tom Mac) talking about Corey Haim:

Corey Haim Found “Bliss” Trying to Launch Music Career

Corey Haim wanted to sing.

As we told you earlier this week, Haim had tried to sell a reality show about a year before his death that would have chronicled his attempts to get sober while pursuing a new career in music.

In exclusive footage from the project given to us by Haim’s producing partner, Jim Katz, the late actor is shown working on a single called “Mend Me” with musician Gerard “G Tom Mac” McMahon…

“Only I can mend me,” Haim sings. “Only I can turn this shattered soul into a possibility/ You don’t have to defend me/ This time I own up to myself/ This is my responsibility.”

McMahon tells us that he hopes to release the song some day with proceeds benefiting people battling substance abuse.

“I had taken it upon myself to help Corey seek recovery,” said McMahon, who first met Haim when he worked on music for The Lost Boys. “I wrote a song and said to him, ‘Why don’t you try and write some lyrics with me, as I know music creativity to be a brilliant way of therapy.’”

The reality project, called Lost Boy Found, stalled after they were unable to sell it to a television or cable network.

“The positive outcome of sharing this with Corey was seeing how full of bliss he was from getting to be a part of the creative musical process,” McMahon said. “I could actually sincerely see that music opened him up to a better place.”

(via E! Online)

Oklahoma industrial/metal outfit RIKETS will release its sophomore effort, “All American Death Cult“, on April 20 via Burnhill Union Records. The band is comprised of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Scott Rose, guitarist and producer Provo, drummer Timmy Braun, Michael Reams on bass, and Nick Quijano (formerly of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE) on second guitar.

Rose and company uprooted the original “All American Death Cult” recording session from where they began in Dallas, Texas and relocated them to Ben Schigel‘s (SWITCHED) Strongsville, Ohio studio. “Ben has been there since day ONE,” says Rose. ” He’s a motivator, a mentor, a vocal trainer and a great creative mind.

“I’ve been friends with Ben for years and SWITCHED was one of my favorite bands. Working with him over the years on RIKETS has been cool for both of us because we get to jam together.”

“All American Death Cult” features tracks such as “Program The Dead“, “Sold Me Out” and “Cry Little Sister“, a cover of a song made famous in “The Lost Boys” (a popular 1987 film). “I had called up Gerard McMann (original vocalist) who was an email buddy of mine and asked him if we could record his song for our new record,” Scott recounts. “I wanted him to sing the song. I didn’t want to fuck up the most perfect song ever, trying to re-interpret what this guy felt when he laid it down.”

McMann came out and recorded with RIKETS, creating a powerful new version of the acclaimed track.

McMann had this to say, “It was great to redo the song with RIKETS because I was able to try new approaches to singing it and experiment with the track.” He added, “What RIKETS have done with this track is massive. I’ve heard a lot of people cover the song and their version is just huge!”

On March 27, the band will shoot a video for the album’s first single, “Program The Dead“, with director David Brodsky (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, HATEBREED, FEAR FACTORY) in Oklahoma City. The video will feature leading lady Staci Flood who has worked with marquee names such as Busta Rhymes and Will Smith in addition to co-founding the BOMBSHELL BABIES and THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS burlesque cabaret revues featuring Carmen Electra.

“All American Death Cult” track listing:

01. It’s Only Gonna Get Worse (intro)
02. Program The Dead
03. Designer Drug Hell
04. Vicious
05. The Murder
06. Allison
07. House Of Lies
08. End Of My Suffering
09. Cry Little Sister
10. Sold Me Out
11. Sew Your Eyes

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/rikets.

(via Blabbermouth)

So for those who have known me for years, or for those who have been following me since January, you might remember that I had a Hellish start to 2009. From all of the deaths that I have personally had to deal with, to all of the times I’ve gotten ridiculously sick, to that time that I almost ended up hospitalized, to a handful of other things that just aren’t really worth mentioning anymore… Let’s just say that the first half of this year has by far been the worst I’ve ever had yet.

Fortunately, it was times like these that I was reminded how lucky I really am. It was times like these that I am reminded how lucky I am to have the amazing friends that I do who did an amazing job being there for me and helping to push me back up on my feet when I fell. I had them to remind me that I’ve never been the type of person to just “give up” because things were getting rocky time and time again.

So I pushed forward, no matter what tried to get in my way… and it seemed to pay off in the end. Instead of dwelling on how negative this year might have been, I am here to focus on the positive, no matter how big or how small. So here’s a look into some of the positives of my year:

JANUARY:
- My office officially moves into the new space.
- My favorite author starts following me on Twitter.

FEBRUARY:
- Coraline finally releases in theaters. This is the first movie in a long time that I made it a point to go on opening night and wait in line.
- My friends Steph and Tracy visit L.A.

MARCH:
- Saw the Clark twins in Syracuse, NY.
- Gewirtzman makes sure that I can no longer hear an offer for shots of booze without thinking about how completely wasted he got me in the middle of nowhere, New York.

APRIL:
- Mat Devine makes an indent on my couch for a week.
- The “Don’t Be Upset, Sarah Dope” song is created by Rami Dearest.

MAY:
- Spent an AMAZING week in Hawaii.
- Weekend tour with my boys in Butcher Jones and RIKETS.

JUNE:
- Attend the EA Sports “Fight Night 4″ premiere party with performances by Young Dre and Snoop Dogg… and have the whole “cheah beah” thing completely go over my head, even to this day.

JULY:
- Karri and Ian Northrop have the best wedding ever.
- Comic-Con madness and dinner with one of my favorite comic artists and friends.
- My favorite Devine returns to L.A.

AUGUST:
- Two nights of My Chemical Romance at the Roxy.
- Rami Dearest, Lee Christophers, Pressler, and I try the Orochon Ramen Challenge.
- Vampire Con with G. Met Billy Wirth.
- Go from off/on status to fulltime with the Mouse.
- Disney acquires Marvel.

SEPTEMBER:
- I start getting put on more video game campaigns at work and that inner geek can start working on dying happy.
- Sea Horse Sea Hell Party with the Electrolightz.
- Gaming Breakfast with co-workers and deviantART.
- The Princess & The Frog screening.

OCTOBER:
- Mat can’t stay away from L.A. and I don’t understand why he doesn’t just move here already.
- Studio with the Electrolightz.
- Fly back to Missouri for a few days to visit the folks.
- Also visit old friends on tour.

NOVEMBER:
- G gives me a shoutout on a radio show interview and labels me the “Queen of finding the coolest stuff.”
- Figurative Theater gallery opening with the great Dan Santoni and Chad Michael Ward.
- Two epic Thanksgivings with friends and co-workers.
- Alicia and I pick up new camera equipment and I start giving her some pointers to photography.

DECEMBER:
- Doing three different jobs in the company gets way too overwhelming at times and my amazing team pulls together and helps lighten the load on my shoulders.
- Attend Machinima‘s Inside Gaming Awards.
- Attend Spike TV’s Video Game Awards and got hooked up with killer seats.
- Get my hands on a new deviantART camera bag for all of my new gear.

…This leads to today: Marvel Stockholders OK Disney Deal!

As I said before, Happy New Year to me!

And while I’m at it, Happy New Year to all of you, too! Be safe tonight!