FOREVER FIFTH GRADE

2011-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

FFG - DRUMS #1

2007-06-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

I wish i could be in the NYC on 777

Legendary Japanese iconoclasts BOREDOMS, a visionary band who has spent over twenty years pushing itself toward new frontiers, will stage the most extraordinary concert of their career on July 7, 2007. A once-in-a-lifetime performance featuring 77 drummers, and meant to be performed just once (on 7/7/07), BOREDOMS will create 77BOADRUM as a free show in the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Located directly on the East River and majestically framed by the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park provides an arresting stage for this audacious performance. The free show will begin at 4pm and will feature performances by First Nation and Soft Circle and DJ sets from Gang Gang Dance before the 77-minute 77BOADRUM commences.

A volunteer army of 74 of the best players in New York City's avant and experimental underground were selected by the event's music director Hisham Bharoocha, including members of Gang Gang Dance, No Neck Blues Band, Sunburned Hand Of The Man, Excepter, Sightings, Onieda, and more. They will join BOREDOMS drummers YOSHIMI, YOJIRO and SENJU, alongside with 77BOADRUM mastermind EYE on electronics, effects, and vocals. A live sculpture built of musicians, BOREDOMS stand at the center as 77 drummers on full 5-piece, 3-cymbal drum kits snake around them in spirals, like the coils of a boa constrictor.

The number 7 resonates on many levels to BOREDOMS. The Japanese people descended from the Amur, a primitive people living on the Amur River in Russia, to the North of Japan. The Amur were followers of Amaterasu, the sun god. The Amur River snaked down from North Russia to what's now known as the Sea Of Japan, delivering the Japanese people to Japan, who celebrate a cosmic connection with all that's north, or above, the world. 77BOADRUM helps reconstruct the river into a river stars in the heavens. On July 7 all of Japan celebrates Star Day. "7 is the number when we try to express sun as sound," says Yamatsuka Eye. "When I look at the sun, I see number 7."

The influence of BOREDOMS in underground, experimental, noise, and performance-based music cannot be overstated. Starting in 1987 as a hyperactive unit blasting quick sonic punches of chaotic intensity, their early albums and violently happy live shows won them great support in the Japanese underground and art scene. This incongruously lead to being one of the strangest major labels signings in music history, as Warner Brothers started releasing their albums both in Japan and the US. With support from bands like Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, and Nirvana, the band built a following in the US and won a spot on the 1993 Lollapalooza tour. Around this time BOREDOMS were beginning to evolve away from the chaos-rock of their past, zeroing in on tribal percussion, electronicized krautrock, and trance-inducing power rock, exemplified in the Super Roots series (1993-1999), recently reissued by VICE Records. Their most recent studio album, 2005’s Seadrum/House of Sun (VICE), and their recent live shows, takes another step toward the cosmic in the way of ecstatic long-form ceremonies of percussive intensity. 77BOADRUM marks another new chapter in the constantly evolving soundworld of one of music's most imaginative bands.

77BOADRUM music director Hisham Baroocha is a writer, photographer, and musician who collaborates frequently with BOREDOMS. The Japanese-born Baroocha was previously a member of Lightning Bolt and Black Dice, and performs currently as Soft Circle and in Pixeltan.

7BOADRUM is being produced by JellyNYC and VICE. JELLYNYC was founded on true creativity and the integration of many talents and ideas. The company is an inter-media collaborative specializing in creating one of a kind experiences for their audiences and partners. They seek to create and support projects of the highest artistic quality that resonate across the lines. The members of JELLYNYC are constantly pushing through barriers, seeking out new ways to bring people closer together on many different levels whether that is through great music or authentic brands. VICE is an independent media company founded in 1994 which encompasses Vice Magazine (distributed in 18 countries worldwide); VICE Records; VICE Films; VBS.tv, an online video network; and VIRTUE, a creative agency. VICE Records released seven BOREDOMS records in 2006 and 2007. 77BOADRUM is made possble by generous support from Nike Vintage Running, Scion, American Apparel, Sapporo, Howling Monkey Cola and Slingerland Drums.

more info:
http://www.viceland.com/77press

SO SICK!!!
I really hope this is filmed...

FFG - SIMPSONS #1

2007-06-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

MOEFACE

THIS JUST IN...
NECKFACE is now rumored to be the deranged 1/2 brother
of Moe Szyslack...

FFG - ADVERT #1

2007-02-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

Hungry Team Aqua Time light up signs.

Nice advertisments.

FFG - LOGO #1

2007-01-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

Kostas' Logo is very nice.

FFG - FILM STILL #4

2007-01-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Actually Film Stills...

FFG - INTERVIEW #5 - FRNKKZK

2007-01-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

Mr. Frank Kozik took a few minutes out of his hectic schedule
to answer a few questions about one of his newest toys,
the Usagi-Gon series.

We here at FFG really enjoy this monster toy.

FFG: Usagi-Gons, can you tell alittle about this new creature, what his name means, where he came from, what he was inspired by & any special powers.?

FK: "Lil Rabbit (monster)...basically its a kaiju version of my labbit character...special powers include power napping , bad attitude and excellent taste in hats.

FFG: Do you remember the 1st Japanese Monster movie you ever saw? How did it effect you? Positive? Negative?

FK: -probably the original (raymond burr version) of Godzilla. The deal where they dissolved the fish with the poison fraked me out and the roar was scary.

FFG: A friend of mine saw an image of your Usagi-Gon figure & he told me of a film strip he once saw years back in medical school where they were studying animal husbandry & in this particular film the idea of breeding rabbits, which are obviously known for their breeding habits, with other animals - one being an iguana. He couldn't remember the outcome of the experiment, but he was happy to regain this long forgotten memory. Have you heard of or studied this project at all? Can you share your thoughts?

FK: *never heard of it but it sounds like a tasty hybrid. nuggets.

FFG: How many versions of this new character will be released? A number yet to be deteremined or has the future army been all planned out?

FK: * no idea maybe 6-8 versions.

FFG: Can you tell us a few of yer favorite monsters
& why you like them?

FK: Kanegan, Gamera and Zagolan are my favs. dont know why.

Frank Kozik makes a lot of toys.
Go get some.

FFG - LYRICS #1

2007-01-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

A new feature here at FFG.
Pretty self explanatory.
We will post lyrics we enjoy & hope you enjoy them too.

I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
Ive had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of hope
Money for dope
Money for rope

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Money for dope
Money for rope

Im sick to death of seeing things
From tight-lipped, condescending, mamas little chauvinists
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth now

Ive had enough of watching scenes
Of schizophrenic, ego-centric, paranoiac, prima-donnas
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Its money for dope
Money for rope

Ah, Im sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

Ive had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

'Gimme Some Truth' - John Lennon

FFG - TRIBUTE #8

2007-01-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

You Will Be Missed...

FFG - TRIBUTE #7

2006-10-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

Mr. Red Auerbach.

Larry Bird on Red:

"For a man to be there as long as he's been there and accomplish what he accomplished, it's mind-boggling,"

"He always said a year's not very long," Bird said. "As you get older you realize that. It goes by fast. And you're going to have ups and downs. But you've got to have a vision and see which way you want to go. Stay the course."
(from indystar.com)

Career Highlights:

— Coached the now-defunct Washington Capitols to two division titles in 1947 and 1949.

—The 1947 Capitols’ .817 winning percentage remained the NBA’s highest for the next 20 years. The team also won 17 straight games at one point during the season, a streak that would remain a league record until 1969.

—Coached the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for the 1949-50 season.

—Coached Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966 winning nine championships, including a stretch from 1959 to 1966 when the Celtics won eight straight NBA championships. —In 20 years as a coach, he won 938 regular season games, a record that would stand until Lenny Wilkens broke it in the 1994-95 season.

—Led Boston to 99 playoff victories, fourth all-time behind Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Larry Brown.

—Finished with nine NBA championship rings, later tied by Phil Jackson.

—NBA Coach of the Year in 1965.

—Coached 11 Hall of Famers.

—NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time team coach (1970)

—Coached in the NBA East-West All-Star Game 11 consecutive years (1957-67) and compiled a 7-4 record.

—Enshrined as a coach on April 13, 1969 in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

—Won the NBA Executive of the Year award with the Celtics in the 1979-1980 season.

—Named the greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980.

(Stats from Canada.com)

1917 - 2006

FFG - TSHIRT #2

2006-10-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

We here at FFG enjoy good Tshirts.
We also enjoy Skeletons.
FFG is also a fan of the artist KAWS.
We here at FFG are not fans of paying $100US for a Tshirt.
Too bad...

Like that old guy on the street told me
as we passed a used porn DVD cart:
"It's good work (selling hundred dollar tees or porn DVDs, i guess...)
if you can get it..."

I didn't understand exactly what he meant,
now I kinda do...

FFG - INTERVIEW/INFO #1 - TOM LEACH

2006-07-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

We here at the FFG were able to wrangle an interview/info session with country singer Tom Leach.
At an interview/Information session we ask questions
and then ask recomendations. ok. cool.

For those who don't know,
we snatched this quick catch-up info off Mr. Leach's internet site:

Atlanta-bred tom leach has written hundreds of songs recorded primarily on 4 track tape. words and melodies praised by publications such as mojo, the village voice, no depression, cmj, and the wall street journal among others. a singer-songwriter embracing old and new styles in the country vein(excepting the mainstream "beer commercial" sound that currently rides the top of the charts), lo-fi honesty prevails. a voice capable of cash lows, tear-inducing hank highs and beyond. occasional pop melodies and acoustic laments. formerly with slow river/rykodisc where he released a self titled debut, a live set and a 7" duet w/vic chesnutt(featuring the starroom boys) on his own "doris days". new self-released cd ep "7 song tape/thank you for the coffee" available now at cdbaby.com.

Here we go:

FFG: What made you want to play music?

TL: Depression.

FFG: What was it like after you had written your 1st song?

TL: I felt self-indulgent.

FFG: are you a fan of monster movies? if so, what are your favorites? If not, what is your favorite documentary movie?

TL: Im a fan of horror movies- Italian/giallo, zombie, Japanese, low budget seventies, found on DVD at the dollar store, Hammer Studios, Romero, Argento: Deep Red, Dont Torture A Duckling, Audition, God Told Me To, Rabid, Zombi 2, Last House On The Left, Schock, Dont Look Now, Texas Chainsaw, Suspiria, The Brood, Suicide Club, Embryo. My favorite monster movie would have to be Larry Cohens Q: winged serpant lives inside the Chrysler Building. Favorite documentary: Dont Look Back.

FFG: What has been the best place to play a show & why was that?

TL: The Plough and Stars, Cambridge, MA is my favorite venue of all time because theres no stage, no worries, and I dont feel used.

FFG: Do you remember the 1st hip hop song you had ever heard? How did you like it? What did it make you think?

TL:Probably something by Kurtis Blow? I dont know from hip hop.

RECOMENDATIONS SECTION...

eight Country CDs Im Listening To Right Now In No Particular Order*

1. Waylon Jennings: Waylon Live The Expanded Edition
Blueprint for knowing what youre doing and what youve done. Waylon at his prime, the Waymors are amazing. Nothing sounds as good as this. The live record for one who dislikes live records. Do not settle for less than the 42 track double cd version. Trust me.

2. Kris Kristofferson: The Silver Tounged Devil and I
Travis Bickel got this as a gift on his date with the campaign worker before they went to the porn movie. Lovin Her Was Easier Than Anything Ill Ever Do Again. Leonard Cohen with jeans on. Youll forget the Blade movies.

3. Johnny Paycheck: The Real Mr. Heartache
George Jones says the guy taught him how to sing. George Jones never sang Pardon Me, Ive Got Someone to Kill. Irony-free.

4. Connie Smith: Connie Smith/Cute and Country
Her first two records from 1965, one cd. The only time I wish you werent gone is once a day, every day, all day long. Sounds from the studio that simply cant be replicated today, great voice and pedal steel. Best of all, shell never reach icon status.

5. .Freddie Hart: Juke Joint Boogie
Dont go for things with juke, joint, or boogie in the title, but. 53-59, sides cut under Ken Nelson (Capitol), and Don Law (Columbia). This guy didnt have a hit till the seventies (Easy Lovin). Drink Up And Go Home, The Keys In The Mailbox, Blue, My Last Dime. A voice to admire.

6. Eddy Arnold: The Early Hits Of The Tennessee Playboy
I Couldnt Believe It Was True and lots of others like it. Not his country-politan shit.

7. Gene Watson: Because You Believed In Me & Beautiful Country
Because You Believed In Me the better of the two albums. Let it play till track 10, then start skipping. Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall, Larry Gatlins finest (only) song. Best on Beautiful Country would be Cowboys Dont Get Lucky All The Time. Her Body Couldnt Keep You Off MY Mind is especially warm.

8. Carl Smith: The Sixties Hits Of Carl Smith
Having memorized The Essential Carl Smith(fifties hits), Ive moved on. Kisses Never Lie, You Better Be Better To Me, Triangle. Solid honky-tonk in stereo with some listenable duds.

*Two More I Never Stop Listening To

Roger Miller: King of the Road: The Genius of Roger Miller
Three discs. Always in rotation. Much more than You Cant Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd. Try Husbands and Wives, Absence, or A World So Full of Love. Skip to end of disc two, to the fadeout of Pardon This Coffin. Let play, unlisted ten minutes of studio outtake fascinates. Also: My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died.

Don Williams: 12 Greatest Hits
The real deal: Come Early Morning, Amanda, Atta Way To Go, Shes In Love With A Rodeo Man, Down The Road I Go, The Shelter Of Your Eyes, We Should Be Together, I Wouldnt Want To Live If You Didnt Love Me, The Ties That Bind, Ghost Story, Dont You Believe, I Recall A Gypsy Woman. Find all these songs if you cant find this and you will have a satisfied mind.

Check out -> http://www.tomleach.com

FFG - FUN TOY #6

2006-07-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

BOSCH's Bird Letter is out to getcha, all you urban vinyl suckas!!
werd em up..
this guy is made by Big Blocky..

FFG - MASK #2

2006-07-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

A hand made Moldovia mask.
Made of wool,leather and other stuff.
wild,

FFG - PACKAGE DESIGN #1

2006-07-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

FFG - PWL #1

2006-07-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

EDIE!

We here at FFG are very big fans of Edith Massey,
her portrayal of the Egg Lady was classic.
If you have any fond memories of Miss Massey,
please email us.

FFG - FUN TOY #5

2006-07-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

The artists Reas and Kaws made these Glittery Girl Dolls.

FFG - PORTRAIT #1

2006-07-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Fast Man.....

FRANK BLACK FRANCIS KITRIDGE THOMPSON IV
photographer: unknown at this time

FFG - FUN TOY #4

2006-07-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

SQUBEZ by FERG
produced by JAMUNGO
4x4x4

three hundred fifty black ones made
one hundred clear ones
fifty green

http://www.jamungo.com

FFG - TRIBUTE #6

2006-07-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

goodbye mister buttons...

FFG - MASK #1

2006-07-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

a nice NECKFACE mask
homemade masks are the best.
photo credit: GLOB (one of our favorite internet blogs)
go here & see it: http://www.anewyorkthing.com/wp

FFG - TRIBUTE #5

2006-07-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

a true punk...
SYD will be missed....

FFG - FILM STILL #3

2006-07-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

FFG - INTERVIEW #4 - CUPCO

2006-07-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to repsond with the very good and great doll maker CUPCO.
Please Read:

FFG: Einstein, Zombies, Vikings, Frankenstein, Bikers, Native Americans, Gandhi & Chinese Army Men: what do they all do which appeals to you at Cupco? What brings them together? if anything? How do you go about choosing your subject folks?

CC: you forgot suicide bombers and terrorsits and members of hamas and jesus and the devil and fidel castro and osama bin cupco. i usually choose people or subjects that i admire visually and/or politically. there are some subjects that id like to do which just wont work visually within the template that i work with. the basic design i use is pretty constrictive some people or characters are just not doable. there are other people i would never do because i hate them. i dont want to make george bush because he is a cunt and such an easy target and totlly overdone. really ill make any person if they have a distinctive look and i like or admire them.

FFG: Werewolves. Please pass on your thoughts.

CC: of course i love werewolves. who doesnt? i also love penguins. ive never made a werewolf but i have made a wolfman and also a loarge sized limegreen radioactive wolfman. whats the difference between werewolves and wolfmen you ask? wolfmen wear pants.

FFG: When did you make your first stuffed doll? How did it feel holding that first finished doll in your hand? It has been said that with many creative souls, when the first of something artistic is finally done or made that it holds a certain spirit in it. Did you sense anything with your first doll? Where is that doll now?

CC: i made my first doll about 2 and a half years ago and im up to about 150-170 now. ive totally lost count and various dolls have been sold and lost and given away around the world. the first one i made was a little evil cowboy and then i made jesus and the devil. and then i wanted to make more and more some evil ones and some cute ones and some ordinary ones. i realize at that time that if i wanted to make some kind of extreme dolls like suicide bombers and terrorists that it was necessary for me to balance those dolls with more cutesy and mundane dolls. that way it puts all the dolls in a certain context and they are all a big family. also, for that reason i didnt sell any dolls for a long time and hoarded them all together so for my first solo show in australia i could show all the dolls en masse and people could understand the whole dealy a bit better.

FFG: The CupCo Taxi Driver set has to be the best best dolls we have seen in a long while. Any interesting stories on this project/idea? Specific scene in the film which really effected you in a powerful/meaningful way?

CC: ummm. the taxi driver doll kind of looks like me a bit because ive been rocking he travis bickle mohawk for a few years now. also the medallion around the neck of the pimp (sport) is a very special medallionn that i got from the kyoto tower. when i gave it to the doll it was very tough for me! the movie was powerful for me because it was on of the first films id seen when i was a kid that seemed to treat violence in a very real way. i remembered being shocked that there was alot of blood in that movie. once i saw a man being stabbed in the paris underground when i was about 6 years old. that was scary too.

FFG: Tell us more about the world known as CupCo, new projects? next steps? future fun times?

CC: i just finished the CUPCO WORLD SAFARI here in sydney which was a big success. lots of people came and money was made (which is very rare in the world of CUPCO!) so we will be doing another safari next year at the Damien Minton Gallery in Redfern, Sydney. The next project is a show at the Super 7 store in San Francisco which is a city in the United States. That show will possibly be called "the Seven Sins of Cupco"and will start from September 1st. Im currently working on a
series of seven samurai dolls taen form Akira Kurosawa's classic "Seven Samurai". Check out Super 7 here:
http://www.super7store.com/ These dudes will be super detailed with cool swords and whatnot. The first Cupco! vinyl will be out in the near future through RedMagic: http://www.loveoriginal.com/index.jsp

photo by vinylpulse.

FFG: Do you rememeber how old you were when you saw your first real horror movie? How did it change your life, if at all?

CC: I remeber i saw someone get stabbed with a pencil in the achilles tendon in an evil dead movie and i was very scared and i ran and slept in my mums bed.

http://www.cupco.net/
http://www.cupco.net/cupcodolls.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupco

FFG - CEREAL FUN #1

2006-07-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Our 1st mini showcase of cereal fun is: CAP'N CRUNCH.

FFG - QUOTES #1

2006-07-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

In the words of John Winger, We wanna party with this guy!!

FFG - PHOTOG. #2

2006-07-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

BLOWFLY!

A classic photo.
We found this on Flickr, but did not write down photographers name on our scratch pad,
when we figure their name out - we will post it.

FFG - TSHIRT #1

2006-07-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

New OF/Kaws TeeShirt
Very Nice Halloween Boy design.
We want one.

photo by Vinyl Girl
http://forums.kidrobot.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2967

FFG - ART #2

2006-05-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

KAWS art for LODOWN 50 issue

We here at FFG are great fans of Dumb Donald.

FFG - ZINE REVIEW #1

2006-03-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

'HUMANS'
New Drawings, Designs and an Essay
by Mike Mills

This here full color zine is published by the great company Nieves.

As fans of the work of Mike Mills,
we here at FFG very much enjoyed this zine.
The zine begins with designs & drawings. The images are subtle, and at first look - very simple in nature.
But knowing the work of Mr. Mills, you know that there is more behind theses illustrations.
They do work on their own, but as a group and in the sequence shown - you know that there is more at work here.

The essay which follows the illustrations and ends the zine brings it all together. A second closer look at the images is needed & so much more is now seen.
You are brought within a period of time in Mike Mills life. Which is a great thing to do as well as a difficult thing to do within the pages of a zine. We decided not to go into detail of the essay in this review because it is more of an experience, and we believe the experience that is meant to be this zine, if you discover the details & meanings for yourself...

This zine is very much recommended.

FFG - CANDY ART #1

2006-03-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

FFG - TRIBUTE #4

2006-03-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

We are very sad to say goodbye to Mr. Knotts.
(great tribute image by the EHF Collective)

FFG - COMIC #1

2006-02-18T10:59:00.000-08:00

One of the best comics we here at FFG have seen in awhile:

We found a link on the web site arkitip that brought us to
Will Ainley's web site.
His work is awesome.
We hope to maybe interview him for the FFG.
CLICKA LINK

FFG - TRIBUTE #3

2006-02-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

R.I.P. HAROLD HUNTER...
1974 - 2006
Sad to hear news that Mr. Hunter has passed away.
He was a great skateboard riding man
& we also loved his performance in the movie KIDS.
The pool scene trick is always fun to do...

Thoughts...

FFG - FUN TOY #3

2006-02-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

PUSHEAD!!! x Kaws

FFG - SCULPT #2

2006-02-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

FAILE's Dog Graphic in 3 dah duh D!
It is being produced by Adfunture.
We are big fans of FAILE's work.

FFG - MT #1

2006-02-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

TMNTMT

FFG - ART #1

2006-02-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

more here.

FFG - TRIBUTE #2

2006-02-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

"...we saw a puff of white smoke, then when it slowly cleared there was what seemed to be a bat flying upwards towards the heavens."

R.I.P. Granpa Al Lewis...

FFG - NEW/NOW

2006-02-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK? NOW YORK!

FFG - INTERVIEW #3 - PETER BESTE

2006-02-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

FOREVER FIFTH GRADE INTERVIEWS THE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER KNOW AS PETER BESTE. (shown in center)
#1) Are you a big fan of Horror movies? if so, which are your top 2 and why. If not, what is one of your favorite rap related films?

I'm not a big horror fan, but I've been collecting loads of"underground" Houston rap DVD's. Quality Stuff. They're basically homemade "documentaries" that anyone with access to a camera and some rappers can make. The most interesting ones I've found so far are:H-Town Underworld and Soldiers United for Cash which is a loose documentary on DJ Screw's life.

#2) We like heavy metal & death metal & other metal. What first drew you to the Norwegian Black Metal scene? Was it difficult to befriend & photograph these music bands? Did you become close to any of the bands/continue a non-work friendship?

I contacted most of the bands via email, but once I got to Norway, I got along very well with many of these guys. I talk to a few of them regularly still. Most of them have great senses of humor, and I had loads of laughs with them.

#3) What was the most fun time you had at a Black/Death metal show?

I saw Carpathian Forest and Gorgoroth in Krakow, Poland. They were filming for a DVD so they had a very elaborate stage show. 120 freshly decapitated sheep heads littered the stage. Four kids (2 boys, 2 girls) hooded and covered in cow's blood hung naked from crosses on stage. the smell was unbelievable. This caused a huge outcry in Poland, and the footage was confiscated by the Polish authorities, and may never be released. (I will attach some photos of this)

#4) Did the venue know they were going to do this? Was the show shut down? Were any members arrested?

The venue knew because I think gorgoroth's contract stated they would be provided with pig heads and the "models" No one was arrested because the authorities didn't find out until the next day and everyone was out of the country by then.

#5) after hearing your description of this show & seeing a few of your photographs - it makes me wonder what these guys are like off stage.. Do they veiw what they do strictly as theater? or do they live what they perform in a certain degree?

Some are more theatrical than others, but i'd say that most of them are pretty much for real.

#6) Did you meet any bands or individuals that truely frightened you by how far they took their art on & off the stage?

I got used to it pretty quickly. Sometimes when people took it overboard it was funny to me, but other times it worked.

#7) I heard from a friend that a toy figure was going to come out that was/is influenced by your Black Metal series. Is there truth in this? & if so, can you tell us about this project?

I'm not sure. The only thing I know about is a Darkthrone Kubrick figure my Japanese publishers made in conjunction with my exhibit/book release. I don't know if they are still for sale, but you can find out here: www.norwegianblackmetal.com

(photo from: Kubism)

#8) Your 'Houston' series blew everyone here away. So great. I know, like most magicians, folks don't like to give out secrets & techniques, but how do you do it? Are you friends w/Scarface? The photos give the feeling that they were taken by a member of the crew. Were you initiated into any gangs or anything before or during the shooting of this series? favorite of this series?

I did it exactly the same as I did the Norwegian pictures. I felt like more of an outsider in Houston than I did in Norway, even though that is where I grew up. I became pretty tight with Dope E from the Terrorists, and he put me in touch with loads of people. They could tell I was trying to portray them honestly, and some of them gave me all access. Also, once I brought back my work to show them, they trusted me more, especially since I'd photographed some of the well known rappers with guns and other illegal substances. After seeing that, I guess they felt more comfortable. Each trip I take there I'm getting in more and more intimate situations. For example, over Christmas, AC Chill, one of the original Houston rappers died of a heartattack, and his family asked me to photograh at his funeral. Those photos can't be on my site, but they'll be in the book that will eventually come out. Also, a few weeks ago I was invited over to one of their studios to photograph one of them getting their ass kicked for stealing records. It was pretty fucked up, but i got a few decent shots. I would consider a few of them friends, but most of them probably mistakingly think book i'll release someday will make them famous.

#9) Did you ever find yourself in a situation that you felt could get pretty ugly?

Dope E brought me to Ganksta Nip's house to see if he'd be interested in participating in my project. The first thing he asked was how much I was going to pay him, and when I told him about my non existent budget, he got really upset. We stood there in his front yard while he ranted about the Nation of Islam, disrespect, and how I better pay him. I was convinced I was going to get my ass kicked. He grabbed me by the shoulder really hard, stared me in the eye and told me to come back
when I have some money to give him. That's when I looked down and saw the pistol sticking out of his pants. Luckily, Dope E cooled him off a little bit and we left. One year later, I saw Nip again at AC Chill's funeral. This time he was much more civil towards me, probably because he saw how I interacted with the rest of his crew. That night I finally got an opportunity to photograph him. He posed by AC Chill's open coffin, and I photographed him saying goodbye to his friend. He says he's going to use that photograph on the cover of his next album. I haven't gotten permission from AC's mother to use the photograph, but I think I'll be allowed to print it in the book.

I found a strange/funny interview with Ganksta Nip:
Gangsta Nip

#10) Have you ever drank Syrup? We never have. If so, how was it & how did it make you feel?
Do different crews mix it differently? Is it still a popular drink?

i just took a tiny sip...not enough to do anything. it's unbelievably sweet, and you can taste it on your tongue for almost 24 hours. I think i'm going to drink it next time i go.

BONUS BEAT QUESTION:
What records make you wanna jump outta your skin?

At the moment my faves are:
Z-RO - Look what you did to me
K-Rino - My Best of mix
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Sam Cooke - anything
Devin the Dude - anything

PETER BESTE!

RELATED BONUS INFO:
We found this recipe page online.

FFG - CARD ART #1

2006-01-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

FFG - FUN TOY #2

2006-01-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

Mr. Leon toy figure collaboration between the brand
Silly Thing & James Jarvis.
I like this guy. He looks mean & kind of weird.
We do not know when this toy will be on sale to the general public.

FFG - F/A/C #1

2006-01-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

F/A/C = favorite album covers of ffg

FFG - FILM STILL #2

2006-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

FFG - PLUSH #1

2006-01-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

CUPCO is BADASS

FFG - FUN TOY #1

2006-01-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a new fun toy figure.
Balzac Skeletor Bat.
のコウモリ

FFG - HOLIDAY #1

2006-01-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

≤

FFG - PHOTOG. #1

2006-01-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

Boogie.

FFG - I/P #1

2006-01-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hi.
We have recieved a few positive contacts over our #1DVD review, so we thought we would throw out a review type informative post.
If you have any type of thing that would would like to possibly get reviewed: such as; a video you made on VHS or DVD disk, a CD or tape, a toy, a book or zine… well, you understand...
anything like this...
What you can do is send us an electronic email and we can go over details. Thanks.

˚

FFG TRIBUTE #1

2006-01-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

RIP CHRIS PENN

We here at FFG are saddened to hear about Chris Penn.
We are huge fans.
If you have not seen 'The Wild Life'
- go out and rent the video - classic.
Other favorite Chris Penn moments:
- His interview on the Resevoir Dogs DVD where he tells a story about hanging out with Lawrence Tierney.
- As the bartender in the Jay-Z video "Can I Get A..."
-At Close Range
-of course 'Footloose' - c'mon!
(that's just the tip of the iceberg)
Feel free to email us any Chris Penn thoughts/Stories.

FFG - SCULPT #1

2006-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Sculpt by:
MUGSY

FFG - CONTACT

2006-01-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

º

TALK TO FFG

–

FFG - FILM STILL #1

2006-01-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

FFG - SKLLBRN

2006-01-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

We were just emailed by a friend to say that we were mentioned in an area on the skullbrain website. Thank you very much skull brain. We are fans of Japanese Monster Toys.
Pictured above is the Skull Brain toy exclusive figure.

RFSO

FFG - B.O.M

2006-01-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

creature wall paper from:
Box of Monsters

FFG INTERVIEW #2 - Raymond Castile

2006-01-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

FOREVER FIFTH GRADE INTERVIEWS RAYMOND CASTILE
-Owner & Operator of The Gallery of Monster Toys website-

1) I read the your favorite toy is a version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon doll. I heard rumor that a remake of CBL is going to go into production Summer ‘07. Any insight? Thoughts on best actor to play Creature? New toy possibilities could be nice..

Yes, a remake of the Creature from the Black Lagoon is in the works. There have been many attempts to remake the Creature over the last 25 years, but all have died in development. I will believe this new version when I see it. I hope the Creature is played by an actor in a costume instead of a CGI cartoon. I don't really care who plays him, so long as the design and concept is still recognizable as the classic Gill-man.

2) King Kong toys VS. Yeti toys VS. Big Foot Toys...Thoughts?

Toy makers never get Kong right. I have never seen an American toy that captured the likeness of the 1933 Kong. Most Kong toys just look like a generic gorilla. As for Bigfoot and Yeti, there are so few toys of these beasts that it is hard to compare. My favorites would be the Marx battery operated Yeti from the 1960s, the Tomland Famous Monsters of Filmland Yeti action figure from 1978 and the Kenner Bionic Bigfoot action figure from 1977. I really wish there were more vintage Bigfoot toys. A 1970s rubber jiggler would have been nice, but nothing like that was produced. Strange, considering how popular Bigfoot was in the 70s.

3) In your opinion, why have there been no new monsters in the movies (say in the last 5 years) that can stand up next to the classics? Do you have hopes there will be new monsters? And also, why do most new monster toys look horrible? New King Kong figures, I did not enjoy. Are there new monster toys worth searching for and if so – please tell us.

Why are there no new classic monsters? Maybe we are not living in classic times. Maybe people are no longer classic. They do not dream classic dreams. They do not have classic visions, values, aspirations, so they do not make classic movies. To have classic stories, you must first have classic storytellers. The classic monsters were spawed by classic 19th Century literature, reinvented for the new medium of cinema by film-makers who lived through two World Wars. It was not the same world we are living in today.

Once in awhile, a classic horror movie still manages to get made. I like the Hannibal Lecter films with Anthony Hopkins. I think Hannibal is the closest thing to a "new classic monster." I also like The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, Signs, Ringu, Audition, Buba Ho-Tep, Rob Zombie's two "Corpses" films and most of Tim Burton's films.

Are there new monster toys worth searching for? I liked the cheesy monster figurines sold last Halloween at Dollar Tree stores. They were just little unarticulated plastic statues, but they were cute and unexpected. On the other end of the quality spectrum, there are the Sideshow 12-inch dolls. Those are pricey, but the quality is certainly there. Classic TV Toys makes a line of Mego-inspired "Mad Monsters" that includes a Grim Reaper, Ghost, Witch and Devil. I have those figures sitting around my computer.

4) On the topic of Mr. Zombie, what are your thoughts on his first two films and the style in which he works? Will he help revive the classic feel of horror films?

On Rob Zombie, he is trying to revive the spirit of 70s grindhouse/drive-in exploitation cinema. I think it is an uphill battle, but he is fighting the good fight. Today's entertainment is very corporate, conformist and designed for mass consumption. Grindhouse cinema was aimed at a narrow market. It was cheap to make, so it didn't have to break any box office records. Today, every movie has to make $300 million and appeal to every man, woman and child around the globe. So all we get are McMovies with no individuality or rough edges.

5) Do you have any stories that may relate to monster toys & you that took place when you were in or around fifth grade?

I used to stage ridiculously elaborate games with my monster toys. I would dig a big hole in the garden and turn it into the Black Lagoon. The Adventure People would be the "humans," searching the Amazon. I had lots of Adventure People figures and vehicles. My AHI Creature Bend Ems rubber figure would swim in the "lagoon," tipping over their boats, coming ashore to attack, etc. Sometimes I'd throw in an Avon brontosaurus shampoo container so I could add the Loch Ness Monster to the Adventure Peoples' woes. I would turn the backyard into Skull Island with my Mego plush King Kong, the big Aurora T-Rex, other Aurora dinos, the Shogun Godzilla and Rodan, and that reliable Avon bronto. We had a wooden privacy fence which could double as the Skull Island Wall and the Empire State Building

The Gallery of Monster Toys

FFG INTERVIEW #1 - CHRIS RYNIAK

2006-01-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

FOREVER FIFTH GRADE INTERVIEWS MR. CHRIS RYNIAK

#1) What Horror film do you feel deserves more credit than it has gotten so far to date & why (if possible)?

I know it's not really a Horror film, but Eraserhead scres the living crap out of me. The cinematography is masterful and nice to look at, but sweet dear lord is it a messed up flick. If you haven't seen it already, force yourslef through it, it will stick with you.

#2) Tell us about your resin sculpture, The MIDWESTERN. I see him as a classic character that needs to live on in sculpture and possibly in film. Who/What inspired him? Will We be seeing more of him in the future

Well, he's sort of the embodiment of my painted characters in the third dimension. I've always collected toys and wanted to produce something that was toylike of my own. I hadn't really sculpted since I was in high school, so I gave it a shot, then I figured out the molding and casting process, and BAM there it is. I made a total of 42 of them, 30 pink, 12 albino, So I think that edition is done. There are plans in the future for an East coast, a west coast and a dirty south figure.

#3) What is your most favorite piece of work that you have done up until now? Tell us why it is so close to you.

There is a piece I did recently that I called "Kobacha". My work is my way of sorting out my life in image form, sort of a visual therapy. The image might not make sense to anyone else, but people usually
inject their own meaning into the peice anyway, to make it profound for themselves. So back to Kobacha, it was a very theraputic piece that just happend to make a really nice image. I can't give away it's secrets though, maybe you can figure it out?

#4) We have read that you recently have lost up to 95lbs. Can you please give an inspirational statement to those wanting to get in better shape & feel good. Any favorite new recipes?

Oh yeah, that, ha ha. Well, there is no magic answer to getting in shape and becoming healthy, diet and exercise is the key. When I say DIET I don't mean I went on some orgainzed diet or plan, I just decided to change my entire way of eating for good. I cut out refined sugar, coffee, alcohol (not that I really drank in the first place) white flour, dairy, soda, MEAT you know all the good stuff. I replaced all that with a vegetarian diet with a lot of green stuff (viva la broccoli!)and soy products. But the key was the aerobic exercise in the form of jogging. I couldn't run 2 blocks when I started 10 months ago, but I went 6 miles a couple of days ago. Aside fromjust being thinner, I rarley get sick, I sleep like a champ and I can keep up with my 5 year old son. I just learned how to make Falafel, which isn't the healthiest, but man is it good.

#5) In your website portfolio, I saw Painting #2. I was drawn to this piece I am a big fan of Adidas shell toe sneakers as well as apes ? and albino apes are all the more better. If you could, please play the role of College Art History Professor & go through this painting pointing out the meaning behind the subject matter as well as the hidden symbolism.

It's not as deep as it looks really. When I was in high school, I would spend 2 hours a day at an advanced placement school for art. The other students at this school sort of cultivated my love for hip-hop music (Run DMC, Public enemy, etc). The kids back at my regular school would blaze GNR all day long and I hated that shit with a passion. So this peice is about just that, my dislike of GNR and my love of hip hop music. The peice is called "Public enemy #1" by the way, and there are plans to do a 3-d version of the gorilla with real hair this year.

#6) Can you tell us more about the 3D version of this Gorilla?

I'm making the sculpture for display at the San Diego comic con, I'll be at Toy Tokyo's booth with that and some other new stuff, including my book and plush. There aren't any plans to mass produce it yet, it'll be more of a showpiece. It'll be about 12" tall.

#7) Do you remember the 1st ?R? rated movie you saw & how old you were when you saw it? Did it affect you in a good or bad way?

Alien, I saw it when it first came out on VHS so I must have been like 6. It gave me nightmares until I was 13.

RYNIAK

FFG - NEW WARRIOR CREW

2006-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

tadpole.

˙

FFG EGR

2006-01-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

GG+EGR

¬ … ,
…
Edward G. Art Fan Club. [FFG]

FFG DVD Review #1

2006-01-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

NECROPHAGIA
"Through the Eyes of the DEAD, UNCUT"

Necrophagia's DVD is classic metal footage at it's best
- the imagery here is all it can be... and more!

This band is influenced by extreme horror and each song is seen as a short script which will be acted out by them if given the chance as seen in the first video that kicks off the DVD that stars the drummer which includes self mutilation, murder, deer carcas, life after death, zombie like violence, guns, knives, blood shed, love making, human skinning & dancing with the dead - it is insane...

If you are not familiar with the style of music, lead singer KILLJOY states: "When I started singing I just wanted to sound like the girl from the Exorcist" - so now ya know...

Violent Music / Violent Imagery - the pairing works here.
Every aspect is covered,
Huffing spray glue out of a brown paper bag at the cemetary? - YES! it is here...
Nuns slugging whiskey? - YES!
Satanic Demon orgies & sacrifices? - YES!!
Impressions of Burt Young? - OH YES! it is here...

Bonuses include:
Video for the Cannibal Holocaust song the band did
- classic movie footage intercut with Necrophagia in the studio recording this instant classic.
Also, the much talked about 'Manson Meditation Tape' - kind of self explantitory, includes pleasing seizure inducing flashes of Manson and other violent imagery.
The best is the "They Dwell Beneath" video, which feels as if it should be followed up by a full length film inspired by the short. Demons, baby down the well, cannibalism, black robes, anger, claymation, devil books & a cool Anton LaVey painting.

This DVD is put out by Season of Mist.

[Still from the film Cannibal Holocaust]

Hoo Haa Haa Haa Haa Haa Ha..... Hoo Haa Haa Haa Haa Haa Ha..... Hoo Haa Haa Haa Haa Haa Ha.....

HH/SF

2006-01-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

˙ ˆ ¬ ..

can''t wait for summer.≥

FFG#1

2006-01-21T23:20:00.000-08:00

hello....
Welcome to Forever Fifth Grade. ,
˙ ˚