Author Archives: Jamie Blaine

About Jamie Blaine

As likely to quote Axl Rose as Saint Augustine , J.M. Blaine is a licensed sex and suicide specialist who has worked in libraries, haunted houses, psych wards, megachurches, rehabs, classic rock radio stations and roller rinks.

Metallica Rock City: A Conversation with “Into the Black” Authors Paul Brannigan & Ian Winwood

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Jamie Blaine

Metallica have plowed their way to the top, selling over 100 million records worldwide and becoming quite possibly the most successful heavy metal band of all time. Or have they? Monday Metallica Rock City talks the rise, fall and return of East Bay’s finest with the authors of the comprehensive two volume biography, Birth, School, Metallica, Death and Into the Black. (Da Capo Press) Continue reading →

Posted in Monday Rock City | Tagged Cliff Burton, Death Magnetic, Hammett, Hetfield, Ian Winwood, Into the Black, Jamie Blaine, kill 'em all, Lars, Metallica, monday rock city, Newsted, Paul Brannigan, Slayer, The Weeklings, Through the Never | 5 Comments

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Marky Ramone

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Jamie Blaine

J.M. Blaine sits down with Marky Ramone, the sole surviving member of seminal punk avatars The Ramones, to chat about Marky’s harrowing but heartwarming memoir, a rock odyssey detailing a legendarily dysfunctional quartet that included an addict, a hardcore Republican, and an OCD sufferer, all of whom, with Marky, forever altered the course of pop music, and all of whom loved Cracker Barrel. Continue reading →

Posted in Monday Rock City | Tagged Andrew W.K., Cracker Barrel, Dee Dee Ramone, Dust, Jamie Blaine, Joey Ramone, johnny ramone, marky ramone, P.J. Soles, Principal Togar, richard hell, Rock & Roll High School, the ramones, Wayne County | 1 Comment

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Scott Ian of Anthrax

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

Anthrax frontman and rock memoirist Scott Ian is definitely The Man, and he’s got The Stories. In advance of his rock and roll tell-all, still-going-strong Scott opens up to our own J.M. Blaine about time spent with Run DMC, Metallica, Public Enemy, and KISS, among others. Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Monday Rock City, Music | Tagged ac/dc, al jourgensen, Anthrax, iron maiden, Judas Priest, Kelly Bundy, KISS, Lemmy, Metallica, Motorhead, Ozzy, Public Enemy, Scott Ian, The Rock Show | 4 Comments

Rock & Roll Coffee: A Conversation with Anson Williams

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

SECOND GRADE. Every day after school I watch Happy Days reruns with my neighbor, Steffie Dougal. “Fonz is the coolest,” I tell her. “Not even,” she replies. “Fonzie’s always bragging and trying to act tough.” “Pff,” I scoff. “Who’s cooler … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Rock and Roll Coffee | Tagged Anson Williams, Arnold's, Chachi, Elvis, Fonz, Happy Days, Heimlich Manuever, Jamie Blaine, John Lennon, Jump the shark, Mr. C., Potie Weber, Potsie, Ralph Malph, Richie Cunningham, Ron Howard, Sammy Davis Jr., The Weeklings | Leave a comment

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Jimmy Wayne — Good Things Coming from Hard Times

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

Abandoned by his jailbird mama in a Greyhound bus station at age 13, singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne seemed destined for destitution and an early grave. But through the kindness of strangers – “God sends strange angels,” he says – Wayne rose to become a hit songwriter, author, and advocate for the homeless. J.M. Blaine gets some down-home philosophy from Wayne, plus tidbits about Ozzy, the Nashville song mill, and Daryl Hall’s indoor pool. Continue reading →

Posted in Monday Rock City, Music, The Arts | Tagged ac/dc, Hall & Oates, Homelessness, iron maiden, Jamie Blaine, Jimmy Wayne, Ken Abraham, Ozzy Osbourne, Stay Gone, Walk to Beautiful | 1 Comment

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Joe Perry of Aerosmith

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

Intrepid scribe J.M. Blaine chats with rock icon Joe Perry, lead guitarist and co-mastermind – with Steven Tyler – of Aerosmith, and it’s a helluva ride. Perry’s long-awaited memoir “Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith” drops this week, and the soulful brooder gives us all a sneak peek at his amazing, drug-addled, miraculous, and glitzy tale, which also includes advice on how to stay married for three decades, which may be his most amazing achievement of all. Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Monday Rock City, Music, Popular Culture, The Weeklings | Tagged aerosmith, Bee Gees, Brad Whitford, Chevy Chase, chuck berry, Jamie Blaine, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Johnny Winter, Sgt. Pepper, steven tyler, Tom Hamilton | 2 Comments

The Road to Exile: Biographer Robert Greenfield on Life with The Stones in the Early Seventies

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

In 1971, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World was bulletproof, and biographer Robert Greenfield was there, reporting well and truly on the continued rise of the decadent, determined, devilish Rolling Stones. Our own J.M. Blaine chats with Greenfield about his never-boring third installment of Rolling Stones reminiscences and interviews, “Ain’t It Time We Said Goodbye.” Continue reading →

Posted in Monday Rock City, Popular Culture, The Arts | Tagged Anita Pallenberg, Bianca Jagger, Bobby Keys, Charlie Watts, Exile on Main Street, gram parsons, Ian Stewart, Keef, keith richards, mick jagger, Robert Greenfield, rolling stones | Leave a comment