What Does This Button Do: Book Review

                      The Life & Times of Heavy Metal Vocalist, Bruce Dickinson

Somewhere back in time during 1987 I had the chance to meet Iron Maiden's second drummer, Nicko McBrian at Guitar Center in Chicago while he was promoting Paiste drum cymbals. This was to also spark interested in Iron Maiden's future release titled: "Seventh Son of the Seventh Son," a concept album about a boy with paranormal gifts. In 1995 I was granted an interview with the courtesy of Sanctuary Music Unlimited when I met with Ian Day whom took me back stage where lead guitarist, Dave Murray was waiting. Entering a small private room at the Vic Theater, Mr. Murray and I talked about the success of Iron Maiden and their undead mascot named Eddie. At 15-years of age, Murray told me that he dropped out of school to start a band with Steve Harris. "Bruce and Adrian left on their own, explained lead guitars Dave Murray and after my interview, I got a chance to meet Steve Harris and had seen the best concert of my life.

I never had a chance to acquaint myself with Bruce Dickinson and after several failed attempts trying to contact Rod Smallwood, I said to myself, "Fuck chasing this dead dream, and I quit Heavy Metal journalism. However, in 2018 Bruce Dickinson wrote a book titled: "What Does This Button Do?" and within seven days I was able to complete Dickinson's 366 page autobiography. I learned that dreams die hard for everyone, especially for Dickinson's parents as they ceased to achieve higher learning and stayed locked down to the blue-collar working class. Regardless, Dickinson's list of achievements include: a PhD in music, radio host interviewer, commercial pilot and lead front man of Iron Maiden. 

Pictures courtesy of: Harper Collins 

Under those circumstances, Martin Freshwater, Noddy White and countless names where dropped and that Bruce Dickinson went on tour with Rainbow and .38 Special. Maiden's PA equipment was hi-jacked by bandits over seas and later Dickinson undergone eleven radiation treatments while battling cancer. My favorte part of this book was chapter 30 titled: "Wing Nut." Taking to the skies in southern California is where Dickinson learned to fly a C-152 over Cajon Pass. 

Bruce Dickinson was able to offer some deeper insights on his world travels, touring and his battle with cancer. The language was a bit dry and could have used stronger attention to detail. On the other hand, Dickinson is a master songwriter and a champion of Heavy Metal. Writing a book does not come easy and his overall presentation was well delivered to his fans and new readership. I strongly recommend "What Does
This Button Do" and if you look close enough, you might access that On-Switch to ones imagination.  

The Commuter: Movie Review

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga Shazd Latif & Liam Neeson

The daily grind of getting up, making coffee and heading to the salt mine as an insurance salesman is nothing new for our ex-cop Michel MacCauley played by Liam Neeson. On his way home from work, a mysterious woman approaches Neeson with a hypothetical question on the train and the trap has been established. Laboring to beat the clock and save his family from captors, Michel must find a person of interest and identify to  Joann played by Vera Farmiga.

Other characters in this high-speed mystery thriller included: Patrick Wilson (Alex Murphy) Sam Neill (Capt. Hawthorne) and Stuart Whelan (Police Detective) whom is uncredited in this motion picture.   In total there are 78 actors and actresses caught up in this criminal conspiracy and locating the hidden passenger will be a daunting task of fights and shoot-outs before everyone reaches the last stop.

Liam Neeson

Written by Byron Willinger & Phillip de Blais offers a strong dialogue between the performers in each scene. The sound and special effects where outstanding and with skilled eye of Director Jaume Collet-Serra gave the audience a thrill ride of death and adventure. Some shots in this film remind me of Total Recall (1990) and a music video by Megadeth called Sweating Bullets (1992) using captivating images and was well produced as the deadly plan unfolds.

As a film producer, I was surprised about the outcome of this film. However, I spotted the bad guy a mile away and regret graduating film school because I know the tips and tricks used to make these incredible motion pictures. Nevertheless, unanswered questions regarding the murders of the FBI Agent and the train engineer will have you on the edge of your seat. The message in this movie suggested that you should never talk to smiling strangers offering large sums of money in desperate situations. However, I would recommend this film to folks that love murder and suspense.