My religion that is Slipknot.- R.I.P. Paul

Some people like music. Some people just don't understand the connection
between music and someone like me. It is a level that can't be explained, you
either have it or you don't. I fully believe the cliche "Music is the
soundtrack of our lives" I can remember exactly where I was when I heard
some of my favorite songs. That being said.....let me tell you a story........

In 1999 I was a metal-head. I still am. At that time there was a new kind of metal coming around. Korn had released Follow the Leader the year before, and the Grunge era was coming to a close. Guitar's were starting to get heavy again. Ozzfest was THE place to be if you loved metal. In San
Bernardino, ca, Ozzfest '99 was such a killer lineup. Black Sabbath was headlining, Rob Zombie,Deftones, SLayer, Primus, Godsmack and
System of a Down were all playing on the main stage.
Fear Factory (my fav at that time) was headlining the second stage, along with Static X Hed (PE) Flashpoint......and a band I have not heard of...
...Slipknot.


I had been in the pit most of the day, so we went up to the lawn to kick
back and watch Godsmack. I was there with my fellow band members (Flatline)
as well as a bunch of our homies. My drummer Eric and I were sitting on the
grass when our buddy Tanner came running up to us. "Dude!!!!! You guys have
to come see this band, they are fuckin rockin out and they are all wearing
clown masks!!!!" So off we went. Now if you have ever been to Blockbuster
Pavilion you know you have to go over this small hill and then down the
other side to see the 2nd stage. I will forever remember going over the top
of the hill and seeing about 1000 people with their middle fingers in the
air, all chanting "fuck it all, fuck this world, fuck everything that you
stand for." My life would never be the same.


At that time, Slipknot was this enigma. These 9 guys took it to a whole
nother level. There had never been anything like them. A couple months later
we went and saw them at this small as place called The Glass House. It held
like 200 people. It was Slipknot, Mudvayne and Hed (Pe). During Spit it out,
Slipknot had the crowd sit down.... really.....we all sat down. When he told
us to, we unleashed hell. It was the most insane moment of my metal life,
and I loved every second of it. To this day when I hear a live version of
Spit it Out I get goosebumps.


Slipknot became a cult to me. If you were a "Maggot" you were a friend. I
followed them and their words everywhere. They were not Rockstars, they were
a unit. They were a higher power. They were me and you. There was a heart and soul in their music and it matched mine.
They were not Corey, Mick, Craig, Joey, Paul, Chris, Sid, Shawn, and James...... They were numbers 0-8, they were The Clown, The
Pig, The Jester, Kabuki Guy, Evil Pinocchio, The Dreadlocked guy, PinHead and the Big Scary Guy.
At that time they were Gods.


What made them so unique was they're ability to connect with you. They have
always loved and appreciated their fans just as much as we've loved them.
They have defended our honor just like any of us will defend theirs. They
were fans of us, and we knew it, and it made us love them even more.
Slipknot is and always will be a single "knot", if you will. Sure there are
threads and strings in the rope, but once that knot is tied. It is solid.
Some people do not understand the dynamic between them as a whole unit as
well as with their fans. It is a bond that can never be broken. It will
remain....til we die. Just like my tattoo. I got the tattoo because I always
want to remember the impact they had on me.


I am writing this because I just received word that Bassist Paul Gray from
Slipknot was found dead in a hotel room.


My heart is breaking and
my soul is screaming. Deep inside, I know, Slipknot is done. Never again
will they be able to be the original Unit. Never again will they take the
stage, as the 'knot. In my heart, I am sad, but I realize that is what it
must be. They are the 9, and they won't go on without one. I am okay with
that. If they didn't, then the brick that they are would be false
advertising. They won't replace Paul. They can't, it is not in their nature.
I will sum this up with a quote, and what I believe, is the reason why they
won't go on. I would like to tell Slipknot Thank you. You have definitely
changed my life and I will always remember Paul.

From the song "til We Die

I never stopped trying
I never stopped Feeling
like family Is much more
than blood
Don't go on without me
The piece
That I represent
Compliments each
And everyone

I've never known
Trust like the nine
Let it be spoken
Let it be screamed
They'll never ever
Take us alive

From a heart-broken Dave Minyard

My (unbiased) Nightmare on Elm Street Review

Ok I just walked in the door from seeing Nightmare on Elm St and this is my honest opinion about it.

There are gonna be a whole lot of people who agree and disagree but this is my opinion and I am sticking to it.

I believe you have to watch this as an original movie and I am going to review it as such. If you think its a "remake" then you are going to try to force it to be a remake. It won't work, there are very few similarities that made me think of the original. I think the film was definitely changed enough to warrant it a "re-imagining" or a "revisiting"

This will be the last time I mention the original.

So here is my view.

What I didn't like about it:

Very few things actually. I think a couple of the deaths should have been dragged out a little more. They seemed too quick. They portray Freddy as a molester....kind of. But definitely a torturer. He liked causing pain, that is clear, so why would he kill quick? Like Jesse (the kid in jail) it was very fast. And yes, they insinuate that Freddy tortures him afterwords, but did he? Also, there were a few parts that could have been better done. The first is the bathtub scene, it was kinda anti- climactic. I was waiting for something very cool to happen that didn't. The next was Freddy coming out of the wall above Nancy. It wasn't as creepy as I wanted it to be.....(or I am just comparing it to another movie I have seen.....see how that a skews your view)


Here is what I liked about it:

The story was great, The actors did an awesome job and the dialogue was good. It moved at a perfect pace and I was never waiting for something to happen. I loved the plot as well as the back-story on Freddy. The whole was he or wasn't he idea was very well thought out and I think added a great deal of intrigue into the Freddy character. Is he doing it to be avenged or as revenge? Very interesting.

Now on to the characters.

Lets start with Freddy;

I had seen the make-up in full (cgi included) long before the movie was released. I have always though the same thing, amazing! He looked real. The only issue I had was the lips, it would have given more expression. But it was still great! Jackie Earl Haley was so near perfect I can't find a fault in his performance. I was nervous about his voice because in early trailers he had a slight accent. But, I think it was just those damn lips!! (or lack thereof) I liked the realness to his voice. It wasn't garbled with deepening effects or made to sound gruff. It was just normal. All in all, I was scared of Freddy (Thanks JEH) He was callous and he didn't over think or over do anything. He was there to torture and then kill you, not to tell jokes......(oops sorry)


Now Nancy:

A pretty damn good performance. Innocence mixed with a small bit of loner toughness. Perfect for that character and perfect for an adversary to Freddy. I think she might have been a little to ......um... UN-scared :)
I guess. I mean, she is being chased in her dreams by a maniac killer..... I think most people would be a little more scared than she acted. But, that is a really minor flaw. She was a very good actress and played the part well.

The rest:

I think every cast member was awesome. There were a few rough spots in the acting but nowhere near enough to hurt the movie. Katie, (the blond) was great and really had me believe she was scared, as well as Jesse, (the kid who goes to jail) and Quentin (Nancy's bf?) who were all great actors. Very surprised that the cast was so good. I think the acting was better than a lot of movies that have been coming out.


The cinematography was pretty good as was the directing. I think there could have been more Freddy shots, as well as gore, but I think all together, it was good. So my final words.......Nightmare on Elm Street kicked ass!!

I loved it and can't wait for the sequels.

I want to take this time to thank Jackie Earl Haley for making it scary to fall
asleep.......again.


One last thing..... To all those people who want to compare this movie to another film.....I think Freddy says it best...

"You think you can turn back time ?"
"You Think You Can BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE ? "

Well, do you?

By Dave Minyard