by Daniel Robert Epstein

Marco Pirroni is a legend in his own time. Now some of you may be saying “But I don’t know who the fuck Marco Pirroni is?” Well you may not know his name but you’ve heard his music. Pirroni was major part of the punk scene in the late ’70s in his native England. He first played with Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1976 along with Sid Vicious and later he joined Adam & the Ants penning five number one singles. Since then Pirroni has worked with dozens of other musicians but he is forever looking forward and never backward. His latest band is The Wolfmen where he has teamed up with another ex-Ant Chris Constantinou.

Read our exclusive interview with Marco Pirroni on SuicideGirls.com.

by Damon Martin

Most people know Tom Morello as the guitarist from Rage Against the Machine or Audioslave, but now the Harvard graduate is moving into writing, specifically a new comic book called Orchid.

The book, which is written by Morello and features art from Shepard Fairey and Scott Hepburn, will be released by Dark Horse later this year

Influenced by the ladies featured on SuicideGirls.com, Morello’s title character is a strong female lead in a future world where the rich and powerful rule with an iron fist and the powerless are left with the scraps.

Morello, usually known for guitar innovations, has also added a new riff to his comic book set. With each issue, he will release a new track that fans will be able to download that will serve as the soundtrack to the story.

The book was unveiled last weekend at San Diego Comic Con where Morello sat down with SuicideGirls.com to give an insight into his passion for comics and what to expect when Orchid debuts.

by Jay Hathaway

John Linnell and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants have been making music for 30 years, and they still haven’t run out of things to say. While other bands with that kind of longevity just go through the motions and secretly hate one another, the Johns somehow manage to get along and keep making good records.

Their 15th record, Join Us, has been three years in the making. During that time, They Might Be Giants have been putting out wildly successful kids’ albums, and Join Us marks their return to “adult” rock n’ roll.

We were lucky enough to spend some time on the phone with John Linnell, trying to figure out what this record is all about. It turns out that after 30 years, a band can just make music without having to explain themselves. Join Us is a They Might Be Giants record: you’ll either get it, or you won’t, and Linnell is totally okay with that.

Read our exclusive interview with John Linnell on SuicideGirls.com.

by Aaron Colter

The bulk of this blog post isn’t about San Diego Comic-Con, I’m just using it as an excuse to get you to click on the title. And it worked. Fooled you, motherfuckers! You might as well stick around though, I mean, you did already click on the title, and you are already reading this sentence. The next one’s pretty good, you should read it too.

Comic-Con can actually be a lot of fun, but it’s expensive as hell and crowded as five pounds of shit in a four pound bag. If conventions are your type of party, there are smaller conventions around the country that are legitimately well-attended, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet with other fans and actually speak to creators about their work. If, however, you’re looking to blow a few thousand dollars, and can get a decent group of your friends to do the same, plan a year in advance, and set aside hundreds in cash for stuff on the show floor, then yes, San Diego Comic-Con is fucking awesome. If attending, my top three picks for things to get at SDCC are Mr. Hipp Strikes!, Any Empire by Nate Powell, and the 2011 Color Ink Book.

But, if you’re like me, and don’t really want to deal with all of that noise this year, next, or ever, unless absolutely necessary, then here’s some cool stuff that you can do this weekend that will still be pretty fun.

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by Fred Topel

Patty Schemel, former drummer for the grunge rock band Hole, is the subject of a new documentary. Hit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel profiles her time with the Courtney Love fronted band, her decline into drug addiction, and her subsequent resurrection.

What makes Hit So Hard more personal than the usual biography of a troubled rocker is that it is founded upon home video of Hole shot behind the scenes on tour. The film began when Schemel wanted to transfer her old Hi-8 video (a high end format from the early ‘90s), and director David Ebersole decided to follow the story in more depth.

Schemel’s story didn’t end with her drug addiction and recovery. She also struggled with coming out to her family, and now she is happily married to her partner, Christina Soletti. After leaving Hole, Schemel spent some time homeless, living on the street. Through her firsthand accounts, and commentary from fellow rock goddesses like Gina Schock and Nina Gordon, Schemel and Ebersole paint a portrait of her struggles, and a side of Hole you never knew. Some of the Hi-8 videos even feature Curt Kobain shortly before his suicide.

The film has played the festival circuit this year. It premiered in Austin at South by Southwest, where I sat with Schemel before the film even screened in competition. On her own, Schemel was a mature, reflective conversationalist, the evidence of her former life, her rock & roll tattoos only being visible when she rolled up her sleeves.

New Directors/New Films reunited Schemel and Love in person, and the film continues to play the country in festivals like Seattle International Film Festival and this month’s Outfest in Los Angeles.

Read our exclusive interview with Patty Schemel on SuicideGirls.com.

By Nicole Powers

Despite being grounded by a seemingly paradoxical levity, which comes across in the form of wry humor throughout our interview, Peter Murphy, a leading light in the gothic underworld, has remained an enigma for over three decades.

He first came to prominence with the preeminent goth band Bauhaus – their seminal cut “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” being forever imprinted in the minds of those who appreciate the dark side thanks to its inclusion, and Murphy’s mood setting appearance, in Tony Scott’s 1983 cult horror classic The Hunger (which starred Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon).

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by Aaron Colter

Here’s an easy way to make your July better – download this music, put it into a special playlist called “Happy Summertime,” go outside, listen, repeat. Really though, if you’re at work, get sick. If you’re at home, make yourself a cold drink and find some greenery. Get some speakers and some friends, or some headphones and good book, and get the fuck outside! This music will heighten the sunlight.

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