So I found out the other day that Joey Belladonna has rejoined the legendary thrash metal band Anthrax.  Joey sang for the group from 1984-1992 and then again in 2005-2007, performing on such classic albums as Spreading The Disease, Among the Living and Persistence of Time.  Joey was also featured on an episode of 'Married with Children' in 1992 titled "My Dinner with Anthrax".

I had the opportunity to meet Joey last year at Spooky Empire's Ultimate Horror Weekend Convention and he was one hell of a nice guy to say the least.  He was supposed to perform again this year at the show, but I would think that's all up in the air now as Anthrax will be in the studio working on a new album and most likely a North American tour to follow.

Here's some footage I recorded at last year's Ultimate Horror Weekend VIP party where Joey got up and sang a karaoke version of "Don't Stop Believin'" by the band Journey.  As well as some clips featuring Jason Lively of 'Night of the Creeps' fame rocking out to various Anthrax tunes.  Enjoy.

- BuZzKiLL

So I'll be heading up to Tennessee in a couple of weeks for my sister's wedding, which just so happens to be in the same area and the same weekend as Adventure Con.  I'll probably hit up the convention for a few hours on Friday.  Overall their guest lineup really sucks and there's not too many celebrities I'm interested in meeting or paying $20+ to get an autograph from.

Maybe I can ask David Faustino whatever happened to his brother Michael who starred in 'The Monster Squad'...or ask Billy Dee Williams and Fred Williamson what it was like working with Joe Spinell in several different films over the years.  It could be interesting I guess...

This will probably be the only convention I hit up this year, besides Spooky Empire's Ultimate Horror Weekend in October.  Conventions are getting way too expensive anymore and the stars are getting way too greedy.  I can understand why someone like Robert Englund, John Carpenter, George Romero or John Landis would charge $20-$30 for their autograph.  I mean they are legitimate celebrities who's autograph will only go up in value in the years to come.  But then you have people like Anne Gaybis who played a cashier in Friday the 13th part III...a bit role lasting about 5 seconds, in a film released 27 years ago, and charging the same amount of money as Robert Englund for her autograph!!  I'm sorry but you're not a "celebrity" and neither are any of the other countless EXTRAS who were lucky enough to get a few seconds of screen time in a movie that people care about.  They should charge no more than what it cost them to have the 8x10 printed up at their local Costco and be happy that there's anyone out there who would want their autograph in the first place.

And now the new trend at conventions is celebrities trying to hit up convention goers for extra cash by charging more money to take a photo with them.  It's happened to me several times over the years with people like Corey Haim, Elvira, Tippi Hedren and Linda Blair and I think it's clearly bullshit to the extreme.  If a fan has already paid you $20 or more to scribble your name on a piece of their memorabilia, the least you could do is be gracious enough to stand up and take a quick photo with them so they can cherish the moment.  Instead you're tarnishing the moment by being a selfish prick...squeezing even more money out of them.

I realize conventions are a business and the "celebrities" are there to make money, but at the same time they should realize who their customers are...THEIR FANS...and without their fans they would be nothing.  Stop trying to take advantage of them.