i love music, yes i do! i love music, how 'bout you?

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukka!

Happy Whatever!!

and happy birthday  to Mac Powell!! (from Third Day ~ today's his birthday!!)

A Happy Birthday to the one and only Ronnie Radke as well as the awesome Max (the ripper) Green!!!

i believe ronnie is turning 25 and  max is turning 24?  is that right? i think so!

Wanna know why? Cuz the underoath concert i have been waiting for for months i could not attend

wanna know why? the stupid freaking fires!! all the fucking freeways were closed!

i really feel horrible for the people that lost their homes as well, but seriously!!

i am so pissed off right now. sad, mad, angry! was gonna be my first time seeing them! i was so stoked... sucks....

hey  guys,  could you all pray or do whatever you do for the people in these southern ca fires???

i have a lot of friends, families, etc. who live here and their house are...burnt. and lots more people. so guys, this is horrible! we could use all the help possible!!

thanks!!

Recent Ronnie Radke interview. I dont know if we talk about Ronnie Radke too much in this group (heh) but I found this interview really interesting. Different lights on things.

K, well, I'm super stoked for the new ETF album!! But, as I was just surfing around I found this recent interview with Ronnie in jail! I had no idea about it! I just thought I'd share it.... here's the link:: http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/oct/16/dealing-his-own-fate/ He says more in the audio clip(which I definitely reccomend listening to), but here's the written one:::

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ronnie Radke in his Metro mug shot.

For all that’s been said and written about former Escape the Fate lead singer Ronnie Radke, the 24-year-old has a certain zeal in his voice. “It feels good to have someone to vent to,” he says with a laugh from his 12-by-14-foot cell in High Desert State Prison, about 25 miles north of Las Vegas. Since he and his former band broke out of the city’s music scene in 2006, Radke has been called a lot of things—rock star, junkie, killer and, most recently, fugitive. That one came after he bailed out on his probation and the suspended 18- to 48-month prison sentence stemming from the now-infamous May 2006 fight that left 18-year-old Michael Cook dead and co-combatant Michael Colquitt injured. Radke was convicted of battery with substantial bodily harm.

But no one has really wanted to hear his side of the story, Radke says, and in his first exclusive interview since his January sentencing and subsequent imprisonment, Radke speaks out about the fight, his capture, his battle with drugs, the fans and his ultimate search for redemption.

Take me through June 15, the day you were taken into custody.

[The Nevada Parole and Probation Department] put me on the news for a probation violation, but they said it was a parole violation, but it wasn’t. I mean, it got all fucked up; they said that I had been involved in murder, and they brought Michael Cook’s family on TV … and for the media and the public to see that, it was devastating. So I got picked up right after Father’s Day. The police … tapped my phone, and they tricked me into going out for something, and they had all these undercover cars and a helicopter in the air, and that’s how they got me.

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You were sentenced to probation for the fight. Why did you abscond?

The courts gave me a recipe for disaster. They said I’d have to pay $93,000 in restitution, $30 a month to the probation officers, $30 a month to a drug counselor, $30 a month for impulse-control, and I’m not allowed to tour with my band, and I’d have to get a real job. So I said, “Fuck you.” I mean, what else was I supposed to do? I even tried to get a job as a bartender, but I have a felony, so they didn’t give me my sheriff’s card. So I tried, but with the drugs piling onto me and with the depression getting so much worse, there’s only so much a person can take.

The homicide report claims you were in total anguish over the fight and the killing of Cook. With that said, why do you think you were the only one left holding the bag, charged and ultimately convicted for the fight that got Cook killed?

Because of my fame. I mean, my friend [Chase Rader, who fired his gun at Cook] saved my life, dude, and I don’t think he deserves any jail time, either. Yeah, of course we [Radke and Chase and Joe Rader] went there to fight, but … they started it … and if it wasn’t for [Radke’s longtime friend] Maxwell Greene, that fight would never have happened. I mean, I always stick up for Max, he’s a smaller guy, and I’d always be his bigger brother, you know, people would have to come through me first to get to him. But [brothers Michael and Marcel Colquitt, who had been threatening to beat up Greene until Radke intervened] started calling me and harassing me, saying they were going to come to my house and murder me. Then they started calling me “pussy” and this and that if I don’t show up to fight them. So I go there … and they had about 12 people with them, and we had four people. They ran up, pulled a gun out, fired it, my friend Joe Rader grabbed the gun, [Chase’s] gun went off three more times, and Chase gets self-defense, and that’s how I get stuck with the bag. [Editor’s note: Police reports differ slightly on the specifics of this incident.]

Does it kind of piss you off that Chase wasn’t brought up on any charges?

I’m just glad he didn’t get murdered, because you can only imagine how much worse it could have been.

You and new ETF singer Craig Mabbitt were once friends. How upset were you about the band’s decision to hire him after firing you?

Mabbitt was burrowing himself within the band … while trying to avoid me. And he’s not better than me. I’d fucking tear him up, and I’d tear him up onstage. I mean, look at him now versus before [when he was in Arizona hardcore band blessthefall]. He looks exactly like I did; he even wears his little flavor-saver moustache like me. I mean, come on. He went from little emo kid to hair-metal boy or whatever you’d call it.

With the band moving on, you’re writing music in prison, right?

Oh my God, man, there’s a storm coming. Here’s was what was supposed to go on. On July 19, I was supposed to fly to Virginia to record an album with ex-member Omar Espinosa. I was supposed to join a band with Espinosa, and the producer is pissed because he paid for the tickets, and then I end up on the news. [When I get out] I already have a band name, and I already have a band. I mean, I was supposed to record the album, and it sucks. I mean, that’s what hurts the most … But as soon as I get out, and the label Epitaph said if I stay off of drugs, they’ll drop the album for me. Everyone thinks that because I was kicked out of the band that I’m off the label automatically. I signed a fucking contract, and they tell me that since I signed a contract, no matter what I do, they own it.

What is your average daily routine in jail?

Well, I make three shanks a day [laughs]. I’m just kidding. No, no, it’s not as crazy as you’d think. I mean, my cellmate, Lucky, well, he has life, and he’s maybe the most insightful person I’ve met, and I’ve learned more in here than I ever have before. I mean, it’s not like what you see on TV and shit. I mean, sure, there are dark places you go, but those are for the idiots and the people who have no common sense. My routine is basically, I wake up, they pop the door, go to breakfast at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, come back, go back to my cell, wait about an hour, come back out, then there’s tier time, where you’re inside hanging out, and yard time, where you go out, hang out, play some basketball, do some push-ups, smoke some cigarettes and play handball, which is a really fun game, go back to your cell, go to dinner, get your mail, and that’s your normal day.

How many letters a week would you say you get from fans?

Probably 100 to 120.

Have you run into any fans in prison?

You know, the first day I’m in here, I’m nervous, and I get approached by this guy Shannon in the yard, and he asks if my name is Ronnie. And I’m like yeah, and he said his daughter wrote him to ask if he was in prison with me. Then I had a couple of other people who I had to sign their kids’ pictures and write a couple of other people letters, so I would say I got kind of a status in here, and a lot of people in here got my back, and I don’t have to really watch over my back every second.

What about the drugs?

I was approved for a drug rehabilitation program here in prison because I straight up said, “I have a drug problem, and if you just put me in the open, with the drug, I don’t want to fuck up.” So they’ll be sending me to this drug program, and I’ll only have six months left.

Are you afraid of being hurt or killed in prison?

You can smell death when you walk onto the yard. There are guys watching you with shotguns, and if you even pick a rock off of the ground, they’ll shoot you. Right when you get to the yard, it’s automatically crack, break or man up. You either have a mental breakdown or you be a man.

Do you feel that by going to jail you will have atoned for your sins?

You know, that’s my karma, man. I don’t deserve to be in here for the crime that was charged to me. I deserve to be in here for the things I’ve done to other people. Saying that, it makes me feel good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

disclaimer::: this interview isn't mine. aaron thompson=]

k, well, I'm super stoked for the new ETF album!! But, as I was just surfing around I found this recent interview with Ronnie in jail! I had no idea about it! I just thought I'd share it.... here's the link:: http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/oct/16/dealing-his-own-fate/ He says more in the audio clip, but here's the written one:::

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ronnie Radke in his Metro mug shot.

For all that’s been said and written about former Escape the Fate lead singer Ronnie Radke, the 24-year-old has a certain zeal in his voice. “It feels good to have someone to vent to,” he says with a laugh from his 12-by-14-foot cell in High Desert State Prison, about 25 miles north of Las Vegas. Since he and his former band broke out of the city’s music scene in 2006, Radke has been called a lot of things—rock star, junkie, killer and, most recently, fugitive. That one came after he bailed out on his probation and the suspended 18- to 48-month prison sentence stemming from the now-infamous May 2006 fight that left 18-year-old Michael Cook dead and co-combatant Michael Colquitt injured. Radke was convicted of battery with substantial bodily harm.

But no one has really wanted to hear his side of the story, Radke says, and in his first exclusive interview since his January sentencing and subsequent imprisonment, Radke speaks out about the fight, his capture, his battle with drugs, the fans and his ultimate search for redemption.

Take me through June 15, the day you were taken into custody.

[The Nevada Parole and Probation Department] put me on the news for a probation violation, but they said it was a parole violation, but it wasn’t. I mean, it got all fucked up; they said that I had been involved in murder, and they brought Michael Cook’s family on TV … and for the media and the public to see that, it was devastating. So I got picked up right after Father’s Day. The police … tapped my phone, and they tricked me into going out for something, and they had all these undercover cars and a helicopter in the air, and that’s how they got me.

You were sentenced to probation for the fight. Why did you abscond?

The courts gave me a recipe for disaster. They said I’d have to pay $93,000 in restitution, $30 a month to the probation officers, $30 a month to a drug counselor, $30 a month for impulse-control, and I’m not allowed to tour with my band, and I’d have to get a real job. So I said, “Fuck you.” I mean, what else was I supposed to do? I even tried to get a job as a bartender, but I have a felony, so they didn’t give me my sheriff’s card. So I tried, but with the drugs piling onto me and with the depression getting so much worse, there’s only so much a person can take.

The homicide report claims you were in total anguish over the fight and the killing of Cook. With that said, why do you think you were the only one left holding the bag, charged and ultimately convicted for the fight that got Cook killed?

Because of my fame. I mean, my friend [Chase Rader, who fired his gun at Cook] saved my life, dude, and I don’t think he deserves any jail time, either. Yeah, of course we [Radke and Chase and Joe Rader] went there to fight, but … they started it … and if it wasn’t for [Radke’s longtime friend] Maxwell Greene, that fight would never have happened. I mean, I always stick up for Max, he’s a smaller guy, and I’d always be his bigger brother, you know, people would have to come through me first to get to him. But [brothers Michael and Marcel Colquitt, who had been threatening to beat up Greene until Radke intervened] started calling me and harassing me, saying they were going to come to my house and murder me. Then they started calling me “pussy” and this and that if I don’t show up to fight them. So I go there … and they had about 12 people with them, and we had four people. They ran up, pulled a gun out, fired it, my friend Joe Rader grabbed the gun, [Chase’s] gun went off three more times, and Chase gets self-defense, and that’s how I get stuck with the bag. [Editor’s note: Police reports differ slightly on the specifics of this incident.]

Does it kind of piss you off that Chase wasn’t brought up on any charges?

I’m just glad he didn’t get murdered, because you can only imagine how much worse it could have been.

You and new ETF singer Craig Mabbitt were once friends. How upset were you about the band’s decision to hire him after firing you?

Mabbitt was burrowing himself within the band … while trying to avoid me. And he’s not better than me. I’d fucking tear him up, and I’d tear him up onstage. I mean, look at him now versus before [when he was in Arizona hardcore band blessthefall]. He looks exactly like I did; he even wears his little flavor-saver moustache like me. I mean, come on. He went from little emo kid to hair-metal boy or whatever you’d call it.

With the band moving on, you’re writing music in prison, right?

Oh my God, man, there’s a storm coming. Here’s was what was supposed to go on. On July 19, I was supposed to fly to Virginia to record an album with ex-member Omar Espinosa. I was supposed to join a band with Espinosa, and the producer is pissed because he paid for the tickets, and then I end up on the news. [When I get out] I already have a band name, and I already have a band. I mean, I was supposed to record the album, and it sucks. I mean, that’s what hurts the most … But as soon as I get out, and the label Epitaph said if I stay off of drugs, they’ll drop the album for me. Everyone thinks that because I was kicked out of the band that I’m off the label automatically. I signed a fucking contract, and they tell me that since I signed a contract, no matter what I do, they own it.

What is your average daily routine in jail?

Well, I make three shanks a day [laughs]. I’m just kidding. No, no, it’s not as crazy as you’d think. I mean, my cellmate, Lucky, well, he has life, and he’s maybe the most insightful person I’ve met, and I’ve learned more in here than I ever have before. I mean, it’s not like what you see on TV and shit. I mean, sure, there are dark places you go, but those are for the idiots and the people who have no common sense. My routine is basically, I wake up, they pop the door, go to breakfast at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, come back, go back to my cell, wait about an hour, come back out, then there’s tier time, where you’re inside hanging out, and yard time, where you go out, hang out, play some basketball, do some push-ups, smoke some cigarettes and play handball, which is a really fun game, go back to your cell, go to dinner, get your mail, and that’s your normal day.

How many letters a week would you say you get from fans?

Probably 100 to 120.

Have you run into any fans in prison?

You know, the first day I’m in here, I’m nervous, and I get approached by this guy Shannon in the yard, and he asks if my name is Ronnie. And I’m like yeah, and he said his daughter wrote him to ask if he was in prison with me. Then I had a couple of other people who I had to sign their kids’ pictures and write a couple of other people letters, so I would say I got kind of a status in here, and a lot of people in here got my back, and I don’t have to really watch over my back every second.

What about the drugs?

I was approved for a drug rehabilitation program here in prison because I straight up said, “I have a drug problem, and if you just put me in the open, with the drug, I don’t want to fuck up.” So they’ll be sending me to this drug program, and I’ll only have six months left.

Are you afraid of being hurt or killed in prison?

You can smell death when you walk onto the yard. There are guys watching you with shotguns, and if you even pick a rock off of the ground, they’ll shoot you. Right when you get to the yard, it’s automatically crack, break or man up. You either have a mental breakdown or you be a man.

Do you feel that by going to jail you will have atoned for your sins?

You know, that’s my karma, man. I don’t deserve to be in here for the crime that was charged to me. I deserve to be in here for the things I’ve done to other people. Saying that, it makes me feel good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

disclaimer::: this interview isn't mine. aaron thompson=]

im not sure exactly what we're supposed to put in these journals....

but...i found this joke that i think is hilarious. (but, if you know me well enough, you'll know that I'm easily amused)
anyways....enjoy=]

A Marine stationed in Afghanistan receivd a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend back home. It said:

Dear Ricky, 
 I can no longer continue our relationship. The distance between us is just too great. I must admit that I've cheated on you twice since you've been gone, and its not fair to either of us. I'm sorry. Please return the picture of me that I sent you.
Love,

Becky

The Marine, with hurt feelings, asked his fellow Marines for any snapshots they could spare of their girlfriends, sisters, ex-girlfriends, aunts, cousins, etc.

In addition to the picture of Becky, Ricky included all the other pictures of the pretty gals he'd collected from his buddies. There were 57 photos in that envelope, along with this note.

DEAR BECKY,

I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. PLEASE TAKE YOUR PICTURE FROM THE PILE AND SEND THE REST BACK TO ME.

THANKS,

RICKY

hehehehehhehe.

Well, i just recently figured out that Escape the Fate's new album leaked. Yes, i'm that slow.

But that's not the point. The point is....

if you are going to do what I'm going to do, and not listen to it until you get the actual album on the 21st, add a comment and tell me! We can do this!

If you've already listened to it...shame on you!
No, I'm kidding:)

Actually, I'm kidding about kidding.
Maybe.....

Be strong fellow Escape the Fate fans!!!

Family Force 5 is starting their new tour and they;re kicking it off on October 6 in Raleigh, North Carolina!
Tour dates:::

2008-10-07

Family Force 5

The Jewish Mother

Virginia Beach, VA

~~~~~~~

2008-10-08

Family Force 5

Recher Theatre

Towson, MD

~~~~~~

 2008-10-09

Family Force 5

Highline Ballroom

New York, NY

~~~~~~~

2008-10-10

Family Force 5

Xtreme Wheelz

Buffalo, NY

~~~~~

2008-10-11

Family Force 5

I.C.C. Church

Allston, MA

~~~~~~~

2008-10-13

Family Force 5

The Chameleon

Lancaster, PA

~~~~~~~

2008-10-14

Family Force 5

Theatre Of Living Arts

Philadelphia, PA

~~~~~~

2008-10-15

Family Force 5

Diesel

Pittsburgh, PA

~~~~~~

2008-10-16

Family Force 5

Mod Club

Toronto, On

~~~~~~

2008-10-17

Family Force 5

The Grog Shop

Cleveland, OH

~~~~~~

2008-10-18

Family Force 5

Madison Theatre

Covington, KY

~~~

unfortunately for me, i live nowhere near any of these places. the complete opposite coast, actually. hope you have better luck;)

i went to the -switchfoot- concert last night. freakin amazing!!!! i tried to take some video of it but i was totally rockin' out!!! but it was totally sweet!! if you ever have a chance to see them live.... do it!! -third day- was awesome too!! not quite as rockin as switchfoot....but good!! and poor jars of clay...they played when there was only around.....90-100 people there so far.....

anyone heard of -robert randolph and the family band-? i hadnt....until last night...he was there

hey guys. i am super stoked for two concerts im going to! one is of -switchfoot-, -third day-, and -jars of clay-! hopefuly thatll be good...but ive heard a lot of people say switchfoot isnt very good live?

but im most excited cuz on november 15 im gonna see -underoath- in irvine! along with -the devil wears prada- -saosin- and -the famine-

super stoked for those! anyone else here gonna be there?