Bye 2021, Don't Let The Door Hit You...

All in all, 2021 was a crappy year, just like 2020. My shoulder injury, the ongoing pandemic, lousy politics, horrible natural disasters, canceled concerts and so many celebrity deaths... and now this news: Betty White has died. Betty was so close to turning 100 in just a couple weeks. Now the news of her passing on the last day of 2021. She is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Her work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot In Cleveland are all so important to me. I actually consider the cast of The Golden Girls to be my friends because I've seen every episode so many times. I always stop at the finale. I cannot get through it without crying - and I don't cry at much, trust me. Betty's passing feels like a gut punch and typical for this year of so much loss, pain and suffering for so many.

If you are going out to celebrate the passage of 2021, please wear a mask and don't drink and drive. We need you here to talk about the summer tour season.

Betty White, the beloved actress and comedian who worked steadily in Hollywood for eight decades, has died at the age of 99. https://t.co/6xWPTUxSOO

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 31, 2021

2020: “I’m gonna make this the worst year ever.”
2021: “Hold my beer…”#RIPQueen #BettyWhite 😓 https://t.co/4REFlBckcQ

— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) December 31, 2021

There's only one way to get through this awful news. pic.twitter.com/lzeqHi69hC

— Hillary Warned Us About Roe (@HillaryWarnedUs) December 31, 2021

The Best Hard Rock Albums Of 2021

Overall, 2021 was a good year in heavy music. There were lots of releases, proving that Gene Simmons is definitely wrong about rock being dead. You just have to know where to find it these days. The following list are my favorite releases of 2021, in no real order. Hopefully you discover something new here. I bet we share a lot of favorites - a few videos are below. What do you think?

• The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood - Ice Nine Kills 

• Dirty Honey - Dirty Honey

• Mammoth WVH - Mammoth WVH 

• Smith/Kotzen - Smith/Kotzen

• For Those That Wish To Exist - Architects

• Senjutsu - Iron Maiden

• Bullet For My Valentine - Bullet For My Valentine

• Checkered Past - L.A. Guns

• Sacrifice - The Devil Wears Prada 

• The Gospel Truth - Gilby Clarke

• Detroit Stories - Alice Cooper

December 2021 New Music Playlist

Not a lot of albums came out this month that really appealed to me. I did pick three tracks that I think you might like to check out, from Devin Townsend, Murder of My Sweet and Volbeat. Let me know what you think.

Just Another Reason To Love Alice Cooper

Just a little more proof that Alice Cooper is a superb human. Alice recently did an awesome interview with Jim Ryan of Forbes magazine. He talks about all sorts of topics, like the time he appeared on the cover of Forbes back in 1973 and how hard rock endures. Of course, the conversation revolved a lot around the pandemic and how hard it has been for touring acts. Alice, in his typical fashion, seemed ready at the get go:

"AC: Oh my gosh. When we saw this coming, we put money aside for our crew. We could see that it was… something. So we put money aside as a backup for them. Because we knew that their unemployment would run out, you know? And then they’d have something to go to. I think all responsible bands did that. Hopefully.

Because these are people we live with. We work with them every day. The guys that run the stage are as important as the guys that play guitar. So we made sure that everybody was covered. And that was really important.

Hey, we thought this thing was gonna last a month! 18 months?! Unreal.

Read the whole interview by clicking through below - it is worth your time.

Had a great chat last month with @alicecooper about interacting with fans and returning to the stage as the Days of the Dead convention wrapped up in Chicago. Fantastic portraits too. My @ForbesEnt Q&A with Alice Cooper… https://t.co/fCrBPNbzH2

— Jim Ryan (@radioJimRyan) December 22, 2021

New Year's Resolutions?

Conversation starter: does anyone have any New Year's resolutions yet? Mainly, those that revolve around music? Perhaps you want to see more shows or start a band? Just practice guitar more or write songs? Organize and catalog the collection you own or start buying vinyl? Whatever it is, let's talk about it!

Personally, I would like to see more than one concert in 2022. I saw one show in all of 2021 (thanks, COVID) and that was just... odd. Of course, I didn't see any at all in 2020! I also want to read more books about the musicians we love/industry in general. What about you?

News Of The Week Roundup: Week 51, 2021

I hope everyone had a nice holiday yesterday and happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate! A short news roundup today, simply because I didn't follow many stories last week. I was just too busy with work and getting ready for Christmas.

Today marks the start of Kwanzaa, also spelled Kwanza (with one 'a' at the end). The celebration lasts until January 1. https://t.co/AyApeN5H9h

— CNN (@CNN) December 26, 2021

Some breaking news today - Desmond Tutu has died. He was a pioneer in the fight against apartheid. The world will miss him.

Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle against the system of white domination known as apartheid, died Dec. 26 in Cape Town. He was 90. https://t.co/cLUCGeA1Ir

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 26, 2021

For the first time in two decades, no troops were deployed during Christmas because of war in Afghanistan. Thanks Biden. Thanks Trump.

Re-upping this work of deployed Marine Corps ingenuity. For the first time in 20 years, no deployed US troops marking Christmas in Afghanistan. https://t.co/C7P2hXln1D

— Hope Hodge Seck (@HopeSeck) December 24, 2021

The U.S. economy grew more than expected in the third quarter.

New: US economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.3% between July and September - a slightly faster pace than the 2.1% previously reported.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) December 22, 2021

Cases of COVID-19 Omicron are exploding across the world. When you go into an indoor public place, wear a mask, but choose a better one than handmade cloth. Get an n95 or kn95.

Holiday travel is happening, despite Omicron. If you want to travel responsibly, here are some strategies you can follow. https://t.co/ph95Sln9W8 pic.twitter.com/xQ2Ls5YtWe

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 26, 2021

Daily Covid cases have now exceeded all previous waves in UK and EU.

The contagiousness of Omicron. pic.twitter.com/K5pFEB8Zxw

— Vincent Rajkumar (@VincentRK) December 26, 2021

And I leave you with this - shut up and take my money!

AEROSMITH: 'On Tour: 1973-1985' Book Now Available https://t.co/U2lMR36jGH pic.twitter.com/Ms0LiekZaS

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) December 23, 2021

'Rolling Stone' Rates The Best Christmas Albums Of All Time

Merry Christmas! Rolling Stone got in the holiday spirit this year by choosing the greatest holiday albums of all time. Their top choice? A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector. The album was released in 1963. From Rolling Stone:

Not just the greatest Christmas record ever, but a bona fide pop classic in its own right. (Rolling Stone named it Number 142 in our list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time). Spector's wall of sound production adds grandeur and drama, while the Philles Records crew lights up the holiday hit parade with rock & roll fire. The Crystals party under the chimney on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; Ronnie Spector turns "Frosty the Snowman" into a puddle in the front yard; and on the classic Brill Building original "Christmas Baby, Please Come Home," Darlene Love throws herself into an epic ballad of romantic affliction, turning winter wonderland into teenage wasteland. No wonder Brian Wilson has called it his favorite album of all time.

Sadly, no glam metal Christmas albums made the list, which is a travesty. You would think A Twisted Christmas, by Twisted Sister, would have made the cut. It's a pretty darn good - and popular - album! But, we are talking about Rolling Stone here...

From Bing Crosby to Bob Dylan, Motown to Death Row, we rank the 25 greatest Christmas albums of all time. https://t.co/uHLIDocJ6U

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 24, 2021