| Rockin' News for April 14 ,2009 |
Marilyn Chambers, Sex Star, Dies at 56
Marilyn Chambers, whose photograph as the mother of a newborn on a laundry soap package and
whose performance as a fantasy-fulfilling wanton in a pornographic movie evoked stunningly
contrasting portrayals of womanhood, was found dead in her home on Sunday on the outskirts of
Santa Clarita, Calif. She was 56.
The cause was not yet determined, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County
coroner’s office. He said that the death was being investigated but that foul play was not
suspected.
Ms. Chambers was an aspiring actress and model in 1972 when she starred in “Behind the
Green Door,” a pornographic film about a woman who is abducted to a theater and ravished in
front of an audience, ultimately to her great satisfaction, by both men and women. It became
especially popular when it was learned that its star was the same fresh-faced blonde who
appeared beaming at a baby on boxes of Ivory Snow, a laundry soap famously described by
Procter & Gamble, its manufacturer, as “99 and 44/100 percent pure.”
Marilyn Chambers, whose photograph as the mother of a newborn on a laundry soap package and
whose performance as a fantasy-fulfilling wanton in a pornographic movie evoked stunningly
contrasting portrayals of womanhood, was found dead in her home on Sunday on the outskirts of
Santa Clarita, Calif. She was 56.
The cause was not yet determined, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County
coroner’s office. He said that the death was being investigated but that foul play was not
suspected.
Ms. Chambers was an aspiring actress and model in 1972 when she starred in “Behind the
Green Door,” a pornographic film about a woman who is abducted to a theater and ravished in
front of an audience, ultimately to her great satisfaction, by both men and women. It became
especially popular when it was learned that its star was the same fresh-faced blonde who
appeared beaming at a baby on boxes of Ivory Snow, a laundry soap famously described by
Procter & Gamble, its manufacturer, as “99 and 44/100 percent pure.”
Ms. Chambers declared at the time that her film would help “sell a lot more soap,” though Procter & Gamble did not see it that way and
replaced her.
“Behind the Green Door” was among the first X-rated films to gain wide distribution and, along with “Deep Throat,” released the same
year, is generally credited with helping establish a mainstream market for pornography.
“Behind the Green Door” was more than just a parade of sex scenes, said Steven Hirsch, the co-chief executive of Vivid Entertainment
Group, which makes adult films. Even though Ms. Chambers did not actually have any lines in the film, he said, she brought it to life.
“It was a movie that really dug deep into sexuality, psychologically,” Mr. Hirsch said in an interview on Monday. “It took you to a place
that no other adult film had gone before, and the reason they were able to pull that off is that she was a talented actress.”
Before making “Behind the Green Door,” Ms. Chambers had hoped to establish an acting career in fully clothed roles. She had had a small
part in “The Owl and the Pussycat,” a 1970 comedy starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal, and she later appeared in “Rabid”
(1977), an early film by David Cronenberg, but most of her work after “Green Door” capitalized on her fame as a sex star.
“I thought there would be a chance to cross over,” she said in the Providence Journal interview. “Boy, was I wrong.”
The Associated Press reports that her survivors include daughter, McKenna Marie Taylor; a brother, Bill Briggs; and a sister, Jann Smith.
(Courtesy of nytimes.com/story by Bruce Weber)
replaced her.
“Behind the Green Door” was among the first X-rated films to gain wide distribution and, along with “Deep Throat,” released the same
year, is generally credited with helping establish a mainstream market for pornography.
“Behind the Green Door” was more than just a parade of sex scenes, said Steven Hirsch, the co-chief executive of Vivid Entertainment
Group, which makes adult films. Even though Ms. Chambers did not actually have any lines in the film, he said, she brought it to life.
“It was a movie that really dug deep into sexuality, psychologically,” Mr. Hirsch said in an interview on Monday. “It took you to a place
that no other adult film had gone before, and the reason they were able to pull that off is that she was a talented actress.”
Before making “Behind the Green Door,” Ms. Chambers had hoped to establish an acting career in fully clothed roles. She had had a small
part in “The Owl and the Pussycat,” a 1970 comedy starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal, and she later appeared in “Rabid”
(1977), an early film by David Cronenberg, but most of her work after “Green Door” capitalized on her fame as a sex star.
“I thought there would be a chance to cross over,” she said in the Providence Journal interview. “Boy, was I wrong.”
The Associated Press reports that her survivors include daughter, McKenna Marie Taylor; a brother, Bill Briggs; and a sister, Jann Smith.
(Courtesy of nytimes.com/story by Bruce Weber)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Marilyn Chambers was reportedly in the pre-production
of a broadway version of the adult classic "Deep Throat"
with Ron Jeremy. (Photo © Retna Ltd.)
of a broadway version of the adult classic "Deep Throat"
with Ron Jeremy. (Photo © Retna Ltd.)
New on Blu-ray - Gary Moore and Friends: One Night In Dublin
- A Tribute To Phil Lynott
(Reviewed by Sir Terrence for blu-ray.com)
On August 19th 2005 at The Point Theater in Dublin Ireland, Gary Moore assembled the
former members of Thin Lizzy and staged a concert to honor its founder and lead man Phil
Lynott. Active in its original form from 1969 to 1984, Thin Lizzy is best known for the
songs "Whiskey in the Jar," "Jailbreak" and "The Boys are back in Town." They recorded
12 albums of which four went gold, and two went silver in the United Kingdom. Bringing all
Thin Lizzy former members together again, Gary Moore created a magical evening for Thin
Lizzy fans that will last a lifetime. This concert coincides with the unveiling of a statue of
Phil Lynott on Grafton Street in Dublin-a moving event shared by all the former members of
Thin Lizzy.
It is apparent both in the performance and the looks on the faces of each musician that
- A Tribute To Phil Lynott
(Reviewed by Sir Terrence for blu-ray.com)
On August 19th 2005 at The Point Theater in Dublin Ireland, Gary Moore assembled the
former members of Thin Lizzy and staged a concert to honor its founder and lead man Phil
Lynott. Active in its original form from 1969 to 1984, Thin Lizzy is best known for the
songs "Whiskey in the Jar," "Jailbreak" and "The Boys are back in Town." They recorded
12 albums of which four went gold, and two went silver in the United Kingdom. Bringing all
Thin Lizzy former members together again, Gary Moore created a magical evening for Thin
Lizzy fans that will last a lifetime. This concert coincides with the unveiling of a statue of
Phil Lynott on Grafton Street in Dublin-a moving event shared by all the former members of
Thin Lizzy.
It is apparent both in the performance and the looks on the faces of each musician that
these gentlemen were having a great time. The crowd sure had a great time, enthusiastically welcoming each band member as they came
onstage. This bands sound is hard, raw, and driving, which exudes energy and power. I really enjoyed the lead guitar duo where to leads
play a solo in two part harmony - it created a unique color that accentuated the solos. I was amazed at the different flavors of rock
music covered in this concert. You had Celtic rock, some heavy metal, traditional Irish with a rock flavor, and just plain hard driving rock.
Fans of Thin Lizzy or Gary Moore are really going to enjoy this fantastic concert performance.
Tracklisting:
1. "Walkin' by Myself" (not a Thin Lizzy song but an old blues standard Moore previously covered)
2. "Jailbreak"
3. "Don't Believe a Word" Gary Moore and Brian Robertson
4. "Emerald"
5. "Still In Love With You" Gary Moore and Scott Gorham
6. "Black Rose"
7. "Cowboy Song"
8. "The Boys Are Back in Town" Gary Moore and Eric Bell
9. "Whiskey in the Jar" Gary Moore
10. "Old Town" (excerpt) / "Parisienne Walkways" ("Old Town" was a song from Lynott's solo career and "Parisienne Walkways" was a
Moore song which featured Lynott)
Band members:
Gary Moore – lead vocals, guitar (all tracks)
Brian Robertson – guitar, background vocals (tracks 4-5)
Scott Gorham – guitars, background vocals (tracks 6-8)
Eric Bell – guitars, background vocals (track 9)
Jonathan Noyce – bass, background vocals (all tracks)
Brian Downey – drums (all tracks)
onstage. This bands sound is hard, raw, and driving, which exudes energy and power. I really enjoyed the lead guitar duo where to leads
play a solo in two part harmony - it created a unique color that accentuated the solos. I was amazed at the different flavors of rock
music covered in this concert. You had Celtic rock, some heavy metal, traditional Irish with a rock flavor, and just plain hard driving rock.
Fans of Thin Lizzy or Gary Moore are really going to enjoy this fantastic concert performance.
Tracklisting:
1. "Walkin' by Myself" (not a Thin Lizzy song but an old blues standard Moore previously covered)
2. "Jailbreak"
3. "Don't Believe a Word" Gary Moore and Brian Robertson
4. "Emerald"
5. "Still In Love With You" Gary Moore and Scott Gorham
6. "Black Rose"
7. "Cowboy Song"
8. "The Boys Are Back in Town" Gary Moore and Eric Bell
9. "Whiskey in the Jar" Gary Moore
10. "Old Town" (excerpt) / "Parisienne Walkways" ("Old Town" was a song from Lynott's solo career and "Parisienne Walkways" was a
Moore song which featured Lynott)
Band members:
Gary Moore – lead vocals, guitar (all tracks)
Brian Robertson – guitar, background vocals (tracks 4-5)
Scott Gorham – guitars, background vocals (tracks 6-8)
Eric Bell – guitars, background vocals (track 9)
Jonathan Noyce – bass, background vocals (all tracks)
Brian Downey – drums (all tracks)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Ted Nugent Reuniting Amboy Dukes For Detroit Music Awards
Ted Nugent is ready for a journey to the center of his past.
Nugent will reunite with his first recording band, the Amboy Dukes, on April 17 to receive a
Distinguished Achievement Award at the annual Detroit Music Awards. The group also intends to
play, marking the first performances of the "Journey to the Center of the Mind" band since
1968.
"This is a great moment to celebrate," Nugent tells Billboard.com. "I got the word about (the
award) and said, 'Well, of course it must be done. It's as proper as tomorrow's sunrise.' I
immediately reached out to John (Brake, vocalist) and Andy (Solomon, keyboards and saxophone)
and started tracking down people."
Ted Nugent is ready for a journey to the center of his past.
Nugent will reunite with his first recording band, the Amboy Dukes, on April 17 to receive a
Distinguished Achievement Award at the annual Detroit Music Awards. The group also intends to
play, marking the first performances of the "Journey to the Center of the Mind" band since
1968.
"This is a great moment to celebrate," Nugent tells Billboard.com. "I got the word about (the
award) and said, 'Well, of course it must be done. It's as proper as tomorrow's sunrise.' I
immediately reached out to John (Brake, vocalist) and Andy (Solomon, keyboards and saxophone)
and started tracking down people."
Ted Nugent (top) will reunite with the Amboy Dukes at the
Detroit Music Awards on April 17. It will mark the
original band's first performance in over 40 years.
Detroit Music Awards on April 17. It will mark the
original band's first performance in over 40 years.
All these years on, Nugent says he considers the Dukes "the world's greatest garage band. We were part of that original fist of Detroit
music, the confluence of Rhythm & Blues and rock 'n' roll and that Motown touch. My brain is jam-packed with stimulating memories."
Nugent actually formed the Dukes in Chicago in 1964, then moved the group back to his native Detroit in 1968. Amidst a variety of lineup
changes, the band released six studio and one live album, and the group ended in 1975 when Nugent embarked on a solo career.
The irony of the band, of course, is that while Nugent has long eschewed drugs, its best-known song was a psychedelic rock anthem (with
lyrics by guitarist Steve Farmer).
"I didn't have the faintest idea," Nugent says of the Top 20 hit from 1968. "I thought, 'journey to the center of the mind' -- yeah, it's
good to be reflective, to journey inside yourself, to think before acting. That still makes sense to me, actually. If you look at the lyrics, it
reflects either one of those philosophies, really."
The awards show performance will be a rare chance for fans to catch Nugent in action this year. After celebrating his 60th birthday in
December he's holding to his promise to not tour and spend time with his family. Nugent plans a few benefit shows and is working on new
material, and he has a new survival reality series, "Runnin' Wild...From Ted Nugent," set to debut in August on TNT.
(Courtesy of billboard.com/story by Gary Graff, Detroit)
music, the confluence of Rhythm & Blues and rock 'n' roll and that Motown touch. My brain is jam-packed with stimulating memories."
Nugent actually formed the Dukes in Chicago in 1964, then moved the group back to his native Detroit in 1968. Amidst a variety of lineup
changes, the band released six studio and one live album, and the group ended in 1975 when Nugent embarked on a solo career.
The irony of the band, of course, is that while Nugent has long eschewed drugs, its best-known song was a psychedelic rock anthem (with
lyrics by guitarist Steve Farmer).
"I didn't have the faintest idea," Nugent says of the Top 20 hit from 1968. "I thought, 'journey to the center of the mind' -- yeah, it's
good to be reflective, to journey inside yourself, to think before acting. That still makes sense to me, actually. If you look at the lyrics, it
reflects either one of those philosophies, really."
The awards show performance will be a rare chance for fans to catch Nugent in action this year. After celebrating his 60th birthday in
December he's holding to his promise to not tour and spend time with his family. Nugent plans a few benefit shows and is working on new
material, and he has a new survival reality series, "Runnin' Wild...From Ted Nugent," set to debut in August on TNT.
(Courtesy of billboard.com/story by Gary Graff, Detroit)