Finally Friday! But what madness in my little college neighborhood!!! (Well, not so little. I live near Columbia University, Barnard College, Manhattan School of Music, Union and Jewish Theological campuses.) A friend dropped me off last night and the place was lined with police tape, police cars and vans, tv trucks from every NYC TV and radio station, crowds of people. So I thought, ‘Hmmm, President Obama speaking at Riverside Church or something?‘ When I asked a tv crew guy, he said no, it was a triple homicide, 3 men shot to death in a car execution-style. WHAT?! Can’t be! Not this quiet scholastic hood! But yes, indeed! And in a brand new $80,000 BMW, with stolen plates. Geez! This is the stuff of Law & Order, which, BTW, is also filmed in this neighborhood……OK, on to the news. I loved this story on Pulse of Radio. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl already has a reputation as one of rock’s “good guys,” and now that rep may find its way into bars and restaurants around the world. According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, Grohl was in Philadelphia over Memorial Day weekend for a wedding and found his way to the Smith & Wollensky bar in his hotel for a few drinks. On Friday night (May 25th), he had one drink, but returned on Saturday night (May 26th) for a few more. The tip both times? $1,000….Now here’s a wild tale of crime: U2 bassist Adam Clayton appeared in court on Wednesday at the trial of his former housekeeper, who’s accused of stealing the U.K. equivalent of nearly $3.9 million from him between 2004 and 2008. Carol Hawkins allegedly spent money she took from her former employer on property — including a New York apartment — cars, horses, vacations and jewelry, reportedly withdrawing amounts ranging from $1,200 to $45,000 from his bank accounts over the course of 13 months. What the hell was SHE thinking??!!!!……Blabbermouth reports The Kerrang! Awards 2012 took place in London last evening. Hosted by Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour) and Scott Ian of Anthrax, some of the biggest names in international rock and metal took to the “black carpet” to celebrate the past year in music.On the eve of what will be a triumphant return to Donington Park, with their headlining appearance at the Download festival on Sunday, June 10, Black Sabbath were honored with the Kerrang! Inspiration Award. Accompanied on the night by their families, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler collected this trophy in honour of Black Sabbath’s immeasurable impact on heavy rock. Put bluntly, without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and countless others, with Lars Ulrich once saying, “Black Sabbath is and always will be synonymous with heavy metal.” The world’s most famous rock guitarist Slash was presented with the Kerrang! Icon award, putting him in the company of previous K! Icons Ronnie James Dio, Alice In Chains, Marilyn Manson & Nine Inch Nails, with Kerrang! saying, “Slash should be credited and forever rewarded for defining the sound of modern rock music…” Atlanta prog metallers Mastodon were awarded with Best Album (for their critically acclaimed 2011 release “The Hunter” which went to No. 19 in the U.K. album chart. Nice to see those boys getting the recognition. They rule. Which reminds me! hardDriveRadio is looking for one of our British readers of Dirt who may be going to the Download Festival this weekend to do a hardDrive Concert Report for us! Send me an mp3 account of the event, which bands you saw and what the highlights were via the INTERACT link on the home page! Who knows, you might be included on an upcoming edition of hardDrive and you can tell your friends you’re famous in the states! Keep it around two minutes in length, though, please….Metallica’s Kirk Hammett told Guitar World mag he has over 400 riffs he hopes could turn into some Metallica gems in the coming months when the band decide to enter the studio. Although Papa Het, James Hetfield has him beat with over 800 riffs that could become tunes. 800? Whoa. Keeping track of that must be impossible!…..Have a great weekend! We’ve got Part 2 of hardDrive’s Backstage @ Rock on the Range 2012 in store, and next week, a new KILLER contest will rear it’s little monsterous head! Only right here where you find the world famous hardDriveRadio! Now that I’ll Have Another is scratched from the Belmont, there is no chance of a historic Triple Crown winner! I am bummed! But saved a trip to Yonkers Raceway anyhow! And even though the LA Kings will probably trounce them, I hope the New Jersey Devils give ’em a run for their money!….Celebrating a birthday on Saturday, Johnny Depp turns 49.
