Comedian Albert Brooks once said that, in terms of being social outcasts, radio DJs occupied a place somewhere between curable and incurable lepers. No argument here…as the following anecdote no doubt testifies.
After getting fired for low ratings on his Power 104 “morning zoo” radio show in Houston, conservative talk radio and Fox News cable TV show host Glenn Beck moved on to Baltimore, Maryland in the early 1990s to partner with Pat Gray on the morning drive slot at Baltimore’s leading Top-40 radio station, WBSB – better known as B104. According to Wikipedia, during his time at B104, Beck was arrested for speeding in his DeLorean with one of the car’s gull-wing doors wide open. A former colleague characterized Beck, who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse in his pre-fame days (hmmmm…like another ultra conservative, George W. Bush!), as being “completely out of it” when a B104 manager went down to the station to bail him out. (This was nothing new for the station manager, as another morning drive DJ, “Willie B” Naftel, had surrendered to police in 1987 on sexual molestation charges involving a 16-year-old girl, later copping a plea to third- and fourth-degree sex offenses in exchange for a sentence of eight years probation.)
Glenn Beck (far left), Team Player Radio Jock.
Wikipedia continues: “After a year of struggling personally and professionally, Beck found himself working alone when Gray’s contract was canceled. When Beck was fired also, the two men spent six months in Baltimore living off of their severance, unemployed and planning their next move.” Yes, Baltimore: a place to be down and out.
Queen-sized fan digs Almost Queen with right attitude
Almost Queen/2U
@ Wild Duck Cafe
3408 Red Rose Farm Rd, Middle River, MD
September 4, 2010
Thanks to Scott Huffines for alerting me to this show in neighboring ‘hood of Middle River. He knew my GF Amy is a Killer Queen fanatic, but she was far from alone, as most of the Greater Essex Queen royalists turned out for the concert (as shown below).
Amy and I were already psyched to see Almost Queen because the night before we had an unlikely Queen teaser when we went to the Charles Theatre to see Christian Carion’s new French thriller, Farewell. You see, this excellent ’80s Cold War-era story of French-Soviet espionage (based on true events), and starring two noted directors as the protagonists – Guillame Canet (Tell No One) and Emir Kusturica (Underground) – featured Queen prominantly in its plot. The Soviet mole risks his life to get Queen tapes for his son – and Queen clips pop up during his son’s rock and roll fantasies. Call it fate, we were destined to see Almost Queen!
But first, we saw a tribute band claiming to be from Ireland…by way of New York!
7 O’Clock, Tick Tock: 2U Do U2
2U web site: www.notu2.com
U2 tribute band 2U opened the night’s rock star simulation at a little after 7 o’clock – the start of a beautiful day. These four Long Island, NY guys – founder Joseph Cuma as The Edge, Gene Marchello as Bono, Denis Perry as Adam Clayon, and Tim Bellew as Larry Mullen, Jr. – were spot on and really had the chicks dancing up a storm! They certainly live up to their billing as “the world’s 2nd best U2 show” and Kelly Johnson has even made a film about them called The 2U Chronicles (see trailer here).
The camera is zoomed in on this crazy chick who kept pulling total strangers out of the crowd to dance with her, mostly middle-aged men (either too timid to deny her or thinking she was Rohypnol-primed). All I know is she totally blew by me and Scott Huffines (are we that domesticated?) and made a beeline for my girlfriend Amy, and then for Benny and Tim Finnerty next to me who may have looked single to the gal because they weren’t there with their wives. “No, that’s OK, I’m good,” Tim protested as the girl yanked his arms. “Don’t worry Tim,” I said, “I got my camera ready to upload to YouTube if you change your mind, so your wife can see you having a good time!” He rolled his eyes.
Later she grabbed the mic and asked everybody to stand up and dance with her, although the embarrassed Bono clone singer pipped, “That’s OK, if I didn’t have to stand up here, I wouldn’t be standing either. You all can sit down.” I wonder if tribute bands get tribute groupies? Where does the simulated experience end? (Oh yeah, when you see Bono carrying amps off the stage afterwards, it’s a pretty safe bet it’s the Almost Bono!) Here’s hoping the crazed maenad chick found what she was looking for…
I like the way 2U slipped some Bon Jovi into their version of “Vertigo” – and I think the little girls understand! They also dropped Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” into their rendition of “One” when “Bono” invoked the spirit of Steve Perry to sing “Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world, she took the midnight train goin’ anywhere…” As Scott pointed out, this was not the first time liberties had been taken with u2’s “One,” as any Ben Stiller fan will remember the comedian’s Lucky Charms cereal spoof “Bono for Lucky Clovers” (“Have you had your breakfast? Why not try the best? I’m talking about Lucky Clovers. Why don’t you put them to the test?”)
Then at a little after 9 p.m., 2U’s pals Almost Queen hit the stage for a medley of greatest hits, as well as some unexpected lesser-known treats. The band – Broadway stage veteran Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Randy Gregg as John Deacon, John Cappadona as Roger Taylor, and Steve Leonard as Brian May – has been described by Howard Stern as being “even better than the Queen that’s out there touring.” (Amy would like that quote, since she’s not a Paul Rogers fan!)
Kudos to Tim Finnerty (above left), by the way, for correctly identifying the Almost Queen bass player as Randy Gregg (above right) – formerly of Washington, DC metal band Angel (a band discovered by KISS bassist Gene Simmons and later signed to KISS’s Casablanca record label – no wonder KISS fanatic Tim knew!). Good bass player but, alas, as far as willing-suspension-of-disbelief goes, couldn’t buy him as Queen’s token dork John Deacon – he was far too cool-rockstar-looking to pull off a good JD impression.
I love how the crowd sang, played air guitar and flailed their hands orchestrating the soaring harmonies during Almost Queen’s “Somebody To Love,” especially this big fella in front of me who played air guitar and gesticalated wildly throughout the night like a Pentacostal speaking in tongues. Good times…
Armistead Gardens’s newsletter “The Informer” interviews long-time resident Peggy Kirk
Armistead Gardens Community has many senior residents, who are some of the most dedicated, active and responsible neighbors. They have witnessed the e changes in our community over the years. Margaret Louise Kirk known to most as “Peggy” is one such resident.
Mrs. Kirk has lived in Armistead Gardens since 1944. When her sons were young, Peggy was active in the PTA and Cub Scouts. She also has been in local politics over the years. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors (she has served on the Board for 14 years), President of the Community Outreach Group, and Secretary of the Vestry for Faith Reformed Episcopal Church.
Peggy (Minton) was born in the small town of Jonesville, Virginia on August 24th, 1924. She remembers her rural childhood with fondness. Education was important to the Minton family. Her paternal grandmother, mother, maternal and paternal aunts, were all school teachers. Most had attended nearby Radford State Teachers College (as it was known then) in Radford, Virginia. Peggy also attended this college. It is interesting to note that this tradition has been carried on. Peggy’s granddaughter, Alethea, graduated from Radford. Peggy’s college education was interrupted by her romance with Marion Kirk. This was during the years of World War II, and the couple wanted to be married in the event that Marion was called to service. They married in 1943.
Meanwhile, spurred by war related industries Baltimore was flourishing economically. Due to the great influx of workers, Baltimore experienced a housing shortage. The federal government built Armistead Gardens in response to this growing need. Some members of the Kirk family, including Marion’s parents, migrated north to Baltimore for better paying jobs.
After a year of marriage, Peggy and Marion thought that, they also, might fare better in Baltimore. For a short time they rented an Apartment at North Avenue and Barclay street. Peggy, a country girl, hated living in Baltimore city. Once pregnant, her in-laws convinced them to move in with them. Peggy preferred living in Armistead Gardens. It was less urban than other city neighborhoods. There was a strong sense of community. World War II and shared social and economic conditions gave everyone a sense of kinship.
The Kirk’s had three sons David, Bobby, and Stanley. We asked Peggy how family life then, was different from today? She said without the distractions of television and video games; eating family meals together was important to everyone. She still maintains the tradition of “Sunday family dinner”. We discussed the decline of manners and respect in our society. Peggy believes that a loving home should teach children to be respectful of parents, teachers, friends, and even your enemies.
Mrs. Kirk told us that there are things about this community that she will always cherish. When her eldest son, David, was killed in Vietnam, there was an outpouring of sympathy and support from neighbors. She said that she didn’t cook a meal for two weeks; so many neighbors came by offering food and kind words.
In 1956 the residents bought Armistead from the federal government. Each resident put up a monthly mortgage fee on top of the operating charges. During a 1976 general membership meeting at the Union hall on Erdman Avenue a symbolic copy of that mortgage was burned. Armistead belonged fully to the residents.
Although some people regard our neighborhood as somewhat undesirable, Peggy is proud to be from here. She points out that many children who grew up here, went on to become lawyers, teachers, accountants, nurses, social workers, etc. She emphasized that this community can be whatever we make it. More residents need to take an interest and become Board and or community members.
It was a pleasure to talk with Peggy. We left with a greater appreciation for our community and the people who live here. Really it’s just as Peggy said, “Armistead is a unique community. Here we have the power to make the community whatever we want it to be.”
Glenn Beck @ B104 Radio
