The Forensic Profile of JACK THE RIPPER... A journey across the pond.

Over many many years there have been the professionals, the sceptics, the film makers, the macabre and simply those who just hold a strange interest in such happens… but serial killer JACK THE RIPPER has baffled them all.

We have seen it fall into the Royal family, famous artists, police officers, skilled surgeons, sailors, authors,  and even supernatural happenings were to blame for some of the most horrific mutilations and killings of women the UK had ever seen.

Personally, I own LOTS of books on this subject and I find it very interesting; so many... if I put them all together it looks a little weird (so I don't.)

I have done the tourist walks in London and my very own Whitechapel and Shoreditch search tracing the cobbled alleys and footsteps these women once trod to their untimely and horrific deaths.

Within every incarnation of the story we are to believe that the Ripper took out body parts, mainly the kidneys and uterus of his victims with surgical skill and precision within the space of around 15 minuites… nothing has ever suggested otherwise.

That is until now.

Trevor Marriott is a former homicide detective here in England and he posits that Jack the Ripper was a German sailor from Karlsruhe.

He says he has used modern policing methods to overturn many of the old assumptions about the Ripper murders and gathered up much evidence that points to sailor Carl Feigenbaum, who was eventually convicted and executed for murdering Juliana Hoffmann in New York in 1894.

Marriot says;

“There is a case for suggesting he might have been the first trans-continental serial killer,”

Feigenbaum committed similar crimes in Germany and one in New York City, which he was later convicted of, it is incredibly fascinating and would make for a pretty riveting movie…

By combing over the hand written letters, police notes, dockland certificates between the UK, US and Germany he put together a pretty convincing theory.

It knocks down the facts that supported some of the alleged known things about who the ripper was thought to be.

Though the stories of the Royals, artists, elephant men, authors with sex addictions and nutty surgeons are a great read!!

I was quite happily to believe it could possibly have been James Maybrick as copycat attacks seemed to follow his travels to Liverpool and Manchester as well as having that heavy dockland presence to cover his tracks.

But here Trevor Marriot knocks it out of the ball park with his book.

There is no stone left unturned and what is even stranger he has pieced together a police description and drawings of what we could now know as the face of Jack The Ripper.

His forensic journey to darkest alleys of deprived Victorian London is sure an interesting one and a must read for anyone into ripperology, true crime or even a jumping on point to what has baffled many for over a 100 years.

Warhol And The Diva.

On Monday I went to Salford Quays to go and visit the exhibition at the Lowry gallery called Warhol and the Diva.

Andy Warhol’s life followed the glamour and lifestyles of some of the world’s elite, he loved it and his admiration for these people showed through.

Today, Diva is used far more readily within the spheres of popular culture to describe almost any powerful, tempestuous and often egotistical female- or sometimes male- performer, and Warhol lived and breathed this existence.

Hollywood and the American dream were huge influences on the artist’s work and by exaggerating and recreating multiple images of the people he admired; he made them iconic.

This exhibit is a look at the artist himself, he underwent transformations in front of the camera in a project by his friend Christopher Makos.

In these photographs, we see him sporting a selection of wigs and dramatic make-up, within a selection of Polaroid photographs and large scale prints.

He has an obsession with the Diva not only seen in the works of art he produced, but it also in his own identity and persona.

 Just like the people ( Divas) he admired, I guess?.

He wanted to be a superstar in front of the camera!!! and he was.

We see this transformation in the film and we see the make-up artists create Warhol into a superstar!!

As soon as the false eyelashes were on, he transformed his presence the way he held himself you could tell he felt beautiful!!

Plumping of his lips in scarlet read, the way he moved and expressed with his hands was quite something and I have to say at times he was quite pretty and attractive and others he was like Angie and David Bowie’s unholy star child!!!

Scary shit!!!

As well as the videos you get to see some of his most famous portraits and photographs all set up as a swingin’ pad… with lush surroundings and animal print beanbag cinema to boot.

If you are in or around Manchester at some point, it  is worth checking out, it’s here till the 25^th Sept and admission is by donation only.

Or if it comes to your town, be sure to check it out!

"When I think back on all the beauties we knew, I realize there was something special about the way they all held their heads and moved their arms."

Andy Warhol

(Images from Waholstars.com, bodyofart.com, Joancollinarchive.blogspot)

"Don't even try 'cause you can't ignore them".

John Kennedy Oswald born on February 1, 1964 better known to the public as Jani Lane the singer of glam metal band Warrant.

Yesterday Jani was found dead at the Comfort Inn in Hollywood presumably OD.

Sadly, this news is not overly surprising within the rock music circles as it was well known that Jani was fighting his demons with various addictions.

Probably his most famous record was Cherry Pie which peaked at number 7 in the charts.

Last year I had the opportunity to interview his ex-wife and mother of his children who maybe better known to some as Cherry Pie? (She is the girl in the video.)

Though they had their problems which were aired in public over the years she and Jani sorted out their grievences and remained friends.

For some reason or another the interview never got published to the web site I did it for.

So I present a very honest and frank interview with the lovely Ms Bobbie Brown in memorial to Jani and my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

1. A lot of people know you as ‘’Cherry Pie’’ and later you were married to Jani Lane and had a daughter with him. How did Cherry Pie come about and what impact did it make on your career?


the song was a last minute add to the warrent record for commercial sell jani wrote it in 5 min and has had more staying power in his career than any other song, i was on star search at the time jani saw me and hired me for the video, yes we did..and it has made a huge impact as well as staying power and the reason really anyone even knows who i am to this day...so positively i believe.... 


2. So what are you currently up to? If you want to plug anything this is probably the time to do it!


currently trying to finish this book, doing a pilot for a reality show, pray it gets air time, side project ideas for webisodes and a skincare book, lots of magazine interviews lately, and booking personal appearances, and radio shows... 


3. You were asked to pose for Playboy but you turned it down, why?


i allowed the men in my life to pursuade my decision, everytime, their insecurities won, and i regret that

4. Other than your breasts have you had any other plastic surgery done? Lipo, collagen injections, nose job etc and how do you feel about it becoming a trend with young girls?


i have not done anything except breasts and botox and fillers just recently, and young girls should really not mess with that until it's necessary or for any other reason than if personal, like if something will make them self assured or happier than i say sure, just never do it for anyone else or peer pressure or competitiveness... 


5. It’s well documented that whilst you were dating Motley Crues Tommy Lee he abused you. Tommy has now apologised, are you back on speaking terms and if so do you still see him?


yes, and yes we are close friends, see eachother not often maybe once a year when he's not in a relationship or home, which is very rare but we do keep in touch and love eachother as friends 


6. A few years back you had an impostor who was in Penthouse what effect did this fake Bobbie Brown have on your modelling career.

ugh, it truly has , but in a weird way, i personally think how can anyone truly paying attention to detail get confused, but low and behold i get it time and time again, it's so irritating..

  7. Do you think the groupie scene is dwindling today or has it just changed? if so how?


groupie scene i was never a part of although many throw me into that title, i think there are groupie scenes for anyone famous to a certain degree

 8. Have you ever had the chance to hook up with Led Zeppelins Robert Plant? And if so how would you rate him, 10 being the Golden God he appears to be?


haha no not ever, never met him nothing 


9. Who and why are your all time favourite band and rock star?


i am so in love with brandon boyd, and his music lyrics, everything about that man i adore, i'm such a dork about it too like a 16 year old, it's kinda pathetic, but worship him practically.....i'm exaggerating slightly, but only just..


thanks so much,,,lady..love bobbie

'' people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Bobbie Jean Brown.

Rock On, Wood!!

Radio is by far not a lost art in this modern world.  It’s one media that has adapted within this digital age; you’re finding it on your TV, computer, phone, and in the form of Mp3 downloads.

One of my favourite shows has to be Ronnie Wood’s.

From what we have seen of Ronnie over the last few years within the Rolling Stones, it’s a sorry state of affairs…

Here we are reminded of why you should love him!!

Here he is a FACE!!!

Not a Stone…

There is nothing finer than the rock n’ roll stories and antics those boys got up to in the day alongside giving us some of the most raucous riffs of the 70s with the most beautiful mandolin-flavoured ballads by Ronnie Lane and Rod Stewert when he was once good.

The shows vibe is definitley Ronnie Wood in your living with a guitar and friends… he has special guests from all eras playing, chatting and laughing.

We see Robbie Robertson,  Slash, Flea, Vic Reeves, Glen Matlock, important session guys like Andy Newmark and of course the rest of the Faces, (Mac, Rod and Kenney) to name but a few….

Hearing Rod and Mac singing “Ooh La La” physically made me laugh out loud, as it was sheer brilliance; my cats who were snoozing  on the sofa next to me gave the dirtiest of looks for spoiling their quiet-time.

Not only do we get the guests, we get the music that Ronnie loves that was inspirational - what he grew up on and what he thinks is cool today, so from Gus Cannon’s Jug-Band Stompers to Beatles and beyond,  we travel the breadth of music, from the most obscure, to the most popular.

Ronnie will open your ears to the sounds of real music that will pierce your soul, till the foot’s tapping and hips are shaking.

Be sure to check it out here!!

http://www.ronniewoodradio.com/

Dancing With Mr. D.... Retro-Active 70s was?....

When it was announced that Dan Didio Big Chief Ten Bellies of DC Comix was going to honour some of the classic vintage books I was intrigued!, and sad to say maybe a tad excited by the idea of it? When it was announced who was going to be writing them, I was up for it!!!

I don’t always get to my LCS weekly so sometimes I have a few weeks to catch up.

Last week I bought some of DCs RETRO-ACTIVE 70s series. They are little bit pricier but you get 46 pages split between new content and a reprint.

The idea was a group of one shots that were written in the spirit of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

BATMAN was written by Len Wein who wrote classic Bat 70s stories some of which are my all time favourite comics.

When he was writing back in the day you didn’t just get the apes in capes, you had sub plots and characterisation which made you care.

He introduced characters who are now well established within the Bat family like Lucius Fox which continued through his run.

Catwoman was brought back from not being yet another love interest 1st, cat lover 2nd and criminal 3rd or 4th? to making her the villain she once was at no. 1. 

I recall he may be the person to have brought back some Bat Mort Love to the genre with the likes of Crazy Quilt!? and Captain Boomerang!?

The new story was great, it had the feel of the 70s but the art totally transformed it from a pastiche as it was by the dark and wonderfully moody Tom Mandrake.

GOD I LOVE his style!!!

The villains we saw were the Terrible Trio looking a little more bad ass than when we may have last seen them and we find out who has been backing these guys. That is all I'm going to say as this is well worth picking up!!

DENNY O’ NEIL…

The wonderful  works of Mr. O’ Neil are seen twice in this 70s Retro-Active series.

First I shall touch upon GREEN LANTERN. Why this wasn’t Green Lantern and Green Arrow?

I do not know?  

I still dig this comic but it was pretty minimalist when it came to the actual story which isn’t very Denny.
The art work is big and easy on the eye drawn by Mike Grell which was a lovely partnership.

I’m sure I’m not the only one, when you say O’Neil you think Adams?… Grell will not disappoint.

So the double Denny whammy is with Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman has to do tasks to save Paradise Island.

The best thing about this comic is we see her in some of her best outfits and is set within the time of her all white groovy costume.

Other than that it was a little disappointing.

The final title I picked up was the FLASH.

Written by someone I hold in high regard, Cary Bates. It was nice to see his name back on the front of comics and the art was by Benito Gallego, he draws a damn fine gorilla!

GORILLA GRODD!!  He holds the one thing most precious to Barry as a weapon?... his wife and then genetically produces a child between her and himself. Super intelligence, super ape strength , accelerated aging  etc etc.

Nothing stands between a mother and her child, not even the love of her life Barry Allen.

This was so/so.

It hurts me to say this as seeing Grodd written in a modern comic, as a super intelligent genius without going on a rampage with human limbs and blood hanging from his mouth is pretty rare. (I’d prefer to ignore the fact that is due to it’s 70s homage.) But I was left disappointed... gutted.

There was also Superman and the JLA but I'd run out of ££s to spend so didn't grab them.

If you have picked up these comix I'd be very interested to hear what you think? I guess I'll pick up the 80s versions, but if I didn't get around to it.... well so be it.

Before I sign off from this blog... WHERE WAS ELLIOT. S. MAGGIN??? We could do with E. back at DC!!

Face To Face With The Joker Part 4: Hearts

So this final Joker blog is simply something with a little bit of light hearted flavour to share with you.

As I have said in a previous blog there has been a little bit of fun along the way with his development.

Jokers Recipe:

Uno-Dent- Alignate and stone powder.
Claydium- Nylon enforced clay.
Claydium- Terracotta.
Milliput white- Two Part Epoxy.
Tamiya- Surface Primer in Grey.
Tamiya- Olive Drab.
Tamiya-Racing Green.
Tamiya- Purple.
Tamiya- Semi-Gloss Black.
Citadel- Snot Green.
Citadel- Goblin Green.
Citadel- Skull White.
Citadel- Scab Red.
Citadel- Red Gore.
Citadel- Blood Red.
Windsor & Newton- White Acrylic.
Windsor & Newton- Sap Green.
Windsor & Newton- Ultra-Marine.
Revell- High Gloss.

So those of you who know me well, know that I have a fairly easy going policy on popping round, staying over etc.. my fridge is your fridge kinda attitude and if you fancy a drink just go and get one!!!

Joker fitted into family life very well.

Joker has a rather impressive self grooming regime... showered at least twice a day, a hair was never outta place eyes were glistening and manic smile ready to greet is awaiting public of four five year olds bearing batarangs, handcuffs, water pistols and brooms... He took it all in good part.

My oh my... they grow up so fast... Soon Joker wanted a place and a special someone to call his own.

He was known to entertain the local birds and he made a mean mojito!!... which any fancy female would find it hard to resist and soon found a soul mate in one of our long standing lodgers Vultch... the cuddly vulture.


Love was in the air.....

It's a rather sensitive subject and it's been very polite of you to have not pointed out... Joker has a lack of TORSO and limbs.


He never let this get in his way and soon found his favoured means of transport around the place looking like a reject from a Terry Gilliam excerpt buzzing around on his battery powered digger.

The nest was soon complete... but soon laughter was heard and all did not seem quite so right with his joy buzzard...

The final words heard were; This One'll Kill You...

Tha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hat's All Folks!

Turn Off Your Mind... and Relax with Grant Morrison.

Turn Off Your Mind Relax And Float Down Stream....

(John Lennon 1966)

If there was ever a lyric which describes how you should be before picking up a comic written by Grant Morrison? let this be it…

I read lots of people swooning over his magnificent plot heavy long running issues and loyalty to the characters he writes.

To those people who:

Just. Can’t. See. It.

Or maybe more to the point, just don’t get it?

I am one of those swooners!! For many years now I have had a not so secret crush on Grant Morrison... so last weeks comic shop trip got me all excited as I reached up to the top shelf and pulled down Grant Morrison's recently released book.

Supergods:  Our World In The Age Of The Superhero.

This is more than Grant Morrison's history of superheroes.

The introduction sets the scene of a little boy growing up in Scotland on the edge of the MOD testing station with his anti-war parents.

Then the American armed forces arrived and brought with them a child’s answer to all his fears... the wonderous world of SUPERMAN!

The first part of the book reads very easily, well-researched, very passionate and a very funny look at the start and origin of the major superhero companies and what goes with them in today’s modern society.

After this I feel safe to say that it turns into an autobiography.

We are on Morrison’s trip, and it’s the evolution of superhero comics and how they entwine with Morrison's own evolution of the comics genre...  This book is Grants Morrison’s SECRET ORIGIN!!

The early part of the books superhero history is wonderful! It gives Batman co-creator Bill Finger the well worth due that he deserves and the chapters on Captain Marvel (the Fawcett SHAZAM!-powered original) and Wonder Woman are filled with Morrison insight that I personally thrive off!!

He deconstructs Joe Shuster's cover of the original Action Comics #1 and discusses the issue of creator ownership in the Golden Age very openly and finds a middle ground between the view of the Siegel and Shuster families and the bosses at DC Comics which have been in the news over the last few years.

When talking about Batman, he focuses on his own drug use, due to death-traps and mad scientist villains, a theme that played heavily through the first part of his Batman run…. It reads as a portal into Morrison’s mind.

When we move forward in time to the comic greats such as Denny O'Neil and Jim Starlin the narrative in the book kinda changes and it amalgamtes as you can no longer see the separation of those comic books and  Morrison’s life...

Of course Morrison was a huge reader of  Bronze Age comics.

The book then splits as he talks about Jim Starlin's Captain Marvel whilst being very open  about personal topics like his father's marital infidelity, living on benefits, breaking up with his girlfriend and being unable to find anyone to have sex with him whislt at an all-boys school.

We take a look at Iain Spence's Sekhmet Hypothesis, which sadly is nearly impossible to find online.

This theory is: 

That the eleven-year cycle of the sun's magnetic field influences cultural patterns in the form of a constantly swinging pendulum between "punk" and "hippie" extremes, uppers and downers, materialism and spirituality. 

 This kinda stuff is why I HEART GRANT MORRISON!!!

Now… wait for this:

This hypothesis aligns with Morrison's life…

His experience being straight-edge in the '80s, experimenting with every drug and experience in existence in the '90s, and now new, settled-down, corporate-cool Grant Morrison.

But if this is to be believed Grants solar cycle will be coming to an end this year, as we enter what he posits will be a new psychedelic age.

I hope he’s right… and I hope that even if he is taking a back seat?  he is still on this ride with us?

Towards the end of the book we reach the 90’s and 00’s. For myself, Grants books are one of the only silver linings within the big two comic publishers in this era and he does a very good job at side stepping his own work and contribution he made to this somewhat dreary era of an industry.

This is where we get entertaining and  he enlightens tales of friends and acquaintances. He voices bitterness and regret to the likes of Mark Millar and Alan Moore after Watchmen.

Fun tales of cons with drinking buddies Steve Yeowell and Chris Weston and a Bizzarro!!

Nuff said.

I’m not sure how well this book would stand up to a wider audience as it ties in so closely to his life but if you are a fan, casual reader or hold even a slight interest in the writer or the comics industry this book is a must!

I’ve read it once but feel I need to read it again as just like his comics I’m sure I’ve missed bits.