Thursday, January 31, 2008

Blood and Black Dog

Greg Sonier of Calgary, Alberta writes: "I've been looking back at the year 2007 and realized it was a year of patience rewarded. I've been waiting for THE BAVA BOOK since Feb of 2001 and even longer to see my favorite band LED ZEPPELIN. Here's a picture of me with the BAVA BOOK holding a ticket and a wristband for the Dec 10th, 07 LED ZEPPELIN reunion show.
What a great show, what a great book , what a great year! Keep up the great work, Bava and Zeppelin will never die!"

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

SGM's Best Genre Book of 2007

The Sex Gore Mutants website has announced the winners and finalists in their 2007 SGM Readers Awards poll. Alan, SGM's senior editor/webmaster, wrote to us late yesterday with the news that MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK was voted "Best Genre Book" of the year -- with Stephen Thrower's NIGHTMARE USA (FAB Press) and Robin Bougie's CINEMA SEWER - THE ADULTS ONLY GUIDE TO HISTORIES SICKEST AND SEXIEST MOVIES (FAB Press) as second and third place finalists, respectively. Donna and I are delighted by the happy news and we thank SGM and everyone who voted for the Bava book for their enthusiasm and support!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Other Lucas on the Bava Book

I've long been a fan and admirer of guitarist extraordinaire Gary Lucas. His daunting dexterity first wheedled its way into my consciousness via his appearance on Captain Beefheart's DOC AT THE RADAR STATION, where he had the honor of a solo spotlight on "Flavor Bud Living." Gary went on to join Beefheart's Magic Band for his swan song ICE CREAM FOR CROW, and more recently joined up with some original members (including Drumbo and Rockette Morton) for a reformed Magic Band that cut a couple of sonically state-of-the-art, nostalgic yet forward-leaning discs before hanging it up. I was attentive to all this activity, as well as Gary's own Beefheart tribute band Fast 'n' Bulbous, his dazzling solo work (which has touched on all variety of horror and fantasy references, including an inspired kaleidoscopic cover of Leigh Harline's "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao"), and his current work in a veritable supergroup with the auspicious name of Gods & Monsters, in which he plays with former members of Talking Heads, Television and The Modern Lovers.

With all this subjective admiration going on, I had no idea that it was mutual... One day last year, while reading his blog, I was gobsmacked to find a reference to myself. I sent a friendly note to his contact address, and he wrote back with a confession that was even more surprising: he told me that we had actually met once before -- at the October 1994 Chiller Theater convention in New Jersey -- as he stood on line to meet Barbara Steele, whose cashbox Donna and I were managing. That same weekend, I remember having the pleasure of meeting and talking a bit with Johnny Ramone, another guitar god, who passed in front of my table for the same reason -- and, truth be told, I might not have recognized him if I hadn't first overheard someone say "Hey look, it's Johnny Ramone!" There are specific places I expect to see these people, like onstage or on a record album cover -- I don't expect to see them as customers lined up at my table.

Happily, Gary's boundless appreciation for Barbara Steele BLACK SUNDAY has led him to become an enthusiastic drum-beater for MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. He's got the book and he writes about it in his most recent blog entry, which you can find here.

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Monday, January 14, 2008

FILMMAKER Reviews Bava Book

"Easily the most elaborate -- and potentially intimidating -- film book of the year."

So says Travis Crawford in his review of MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, which appears in the current Winter 2008 issue of FILMMAKER: The Magazine of Independent Film. Happily, the entire review is available online and you can read it right here right now.

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Dutch Treat for Bava Fans

The current issue of the Dutch horror film magazine SCHOKKEND NIEUWS ("Shocking News") is a special "Tutto Bava" issue featuring extensive coverage of MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK! Click here and you'll find your way to their website, which offers a free 13-page preview of the issue. (Just click on the "Check It Out Sample" button on the main page.)

I was astounded to discover, on the thirteenth page, a fabulous piece of cartoon caricature depicting me unmasking Mario Bava by telephone! Having never been caricatured before, the experience is equal parts delightful and disconcerting -- but I'm honored, in any case.

Bava fans will want to grab a copy of this issue via the website while supply lasts!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Bissette ♥ ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK

In today's installment of his blog MYRANT, comics legend Stephen R. Bissette begins a list of his favorite books of 2007. At the very top: MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK.

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