Illinois Entertainer October 2018 | Page 6

Kup O ' Korn Koffee

Hello My Name is Jim

Jim Kerr , Simple Minds
With Bob Marley ' s family , it ’ s marijuana . With Toby Keith , it ' s mezcal . But with Korn , the storied California pioneers of the Nu-Metal movement , it ’ s just coffee - for now . According to Esquire , Korn Koffee , the fair-trade certified brew is , " a collaboration with J Gursey Coffee , is a smooth blend of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe , Guatemalan Huehuetenango , organic Peru beans , and Vintage Black Diamond blend ." This blend was " uniquely curated " by the members of Korn .
Like us , the band members are coffee snobs when it comes to finding the best cup o ’ joe while on tour . “ It ’ s good to have something to really kick you in the pants in the morning ,” dreadlocked guitarist James “ Munky ” Shaffer told the fans and press in a Facebook Live video with Revolver Magazine ," according to Eater . com .
Most recent studies tend to agree that 1 or 2 cups of coffee are good for you every morning , so that goes along with the healthy living mantra Korn founder Jonathan Davis told us about earlier this year . “ I ’ m still there . It ’ s past the awakening – it ’ s just everyday life for me now . I ’ m just happy in my life , with nothing but healthy things around me , and I ’ m learning at 47 years old how to deal with life ’ s obstacles in a healthy way . And I ’ ve had a lot of obstacles thrown in my path , like everybody in life . But I ’ m dealing with them well , so I feel good about myself . So I ’ m eating clean ." Which now includes a signature brand of coffee . “ It has a kick ,” says drummer Ray Luzier of the coffee blend . The bags retail for $ 15 — or $ 24 for a 12.2-ounce bag with a Korn Koffee mug . A little more than a bag of Eight O ’ Clock Coffee at Jewel .

10 • 2018 White Album Privilege

E

ven back in pre-Twitter 1982 , it wasn ' t easy for a vagabond Scottish rock star to keep a low profile in America . But Jim Kerr was doing his best . Visiting San Francisco behind his group Simple Minds ' breakthrough New
Gold Dream ( 81-82-83-84 ) album on A & M , the singer had a few free days to kill , and -- informed that there was only one music club open on a Sunday night , he and his hard-drinking entourage headed to Earl ' s , which spun strange alternating hours of reggae and New Wave music . Naturally , the place had a huge video screen that was showing the latest clips , which Kerr edged gingerly past , his coat collar pulled up for anonymity . He settled in for a drink at the bar with the band ' s guitarist Charlie Burchill , who was gaping in wide-eyed wonder at the plethora of punk and Goth girls filling up the room . Suddenly , an image of Kerr appears on the lounge monitor , crooning Simple Minds ' flagship Dream hit " Promised You a Miracle ," and he almost does a spit-take with his pricey cocktail . Nervously , Kerr pulls that collar a little higher , trying to disappear like a spider into the bar shadows . But Burchill , God bless him , as naive as a wee bairn , doesn ' t stand on ceremony - he jumps up from his seat , points at the screen and yells , " Look ! It ' s us ! IT ' S US !" and the pair is immediately descended upon by a flock of females big enough to rival Alfred Hitchcock ' s The Birds , minus the pecking . Fans can ' t quite believe that one of their favorite bands on the planet is there , at a dinky dive in North Beach , and happily handing out autographs ! Burchill might have gotten laid that night , or maybe not , but his pompadour-topped pate just seemed to disappear beneath a groundswell of gorgeous girls after a few minutes , while Kerr decides it ' s time to get the hell out of there before familiarity breeds contempt .
Continued on page 8 Reminded of the halcyon-days incident a few weeks ago , Kerr , now 59 , guf-

Etc , Etc

KISS
The Beatles
This is the one we ’ ve been waiting for . Of all the Beatle re-issues , the ** White Album [ aka The Beatles ] was the most experimental , least commercial ( as far as singles went ) and had the individual members of the Beatles branching off into solo-like recording methods , ditching the Fab Four constrictions that kept them together as one unit for eight years of recording and touring . And it was two albums , something rare for the cohesive unit that only put 12 to 14 songs on their five previous albums . At a listening party at Capitol Records Studio A hosted by engineer Giles Martin ( son of the Beatles late producer George Martin ), anticipation for the new album was ferocious , but unlike the unveiling of the Sgt . Pepper ' s Lonely Hearts Club Band re-issue last year , there was no full album playback - Martin only played outtakes and demos from the 1968 album , which just added to the intrigue .
According to Variety , “ Martin walked his audience through the process of making the album chronologically , beginning the playback with five of the four-track stereo demos , previously bootlegged and now released in authorized form for the first time , in startling clarity . These recordings , Martin noted , were “ the spine of how the thing was made ,” and were executed in an intimate singalong fashion . ” Only the Deluxe Edition will contain all the White Album outtakes , making it a must buy for Beatle fanatics . “ An alternate “ Cry Baby Cry ” finds the song taken at a sinuous pace . An early version of “ While My Guitar Gently Weeps ” that ends abruptly with a blown chord change features already stirring solo work by guest guitarist Eric Clapton . An early version of “ Good Night ,” sans strings , shows off luxuriant vocal harmonies by the band members .” The reissued White Album comes out on November 9th .
They ’ ve hinted at retirement before . Remember the Y2K – era “ kinda farewell tour ?” Now it appears that Kiss does have a sabbatical of some sort on their radar , and their latest outing is called the " End Of The Road " tour . Does this mean we ' ll see Ace Frehley and Peter Criss make an appearance ? Stanley refused to confirm or deny the possibility to Ultimate Classic Rock . “ I really can ’ t say ,” he stated . “ This will be a celebration of Kiss and not any individual lineup or any individual members . I wouldn ’ t rule anything out , but it ’ s not the crux of what we ’ re doing .” No doubt there will be plenty of merch and swag to commemorate the momentous occasion .
Longtime Chicago rockers M & R Rush , who have been reunited longer than they were originally together in the ‘ 70s and ' 80s , have released a new album , Between The Lines , a throwback melodic rock album with driving anthems and rich harmonies . Look for the BTL review in IE ' s November Spins .
NWI and Southside musicians will appreciate the Fall edition of the ** Northwest Indiana Guitar and Music Instrument Swap * which comes to The Best Western Plus In Portage , IN on Sunday , October 14th from 11-4 . Admission is free . Musicians can buy , sell , and trade guitars , amps , percussion and more . For details go to NWI Swap Meet ' s Facebook page .
6 illinoisentertainer . com october 2018