by Nicole Powers

Back in the early ’80s, Adam Ant was the king of the wild post-punk frontier. Mentored by former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and his fashion designer partner Vivienne Westwood, the London born art school dropout created a visually vivid world of pirates and dandies which brought color back to the palate of a culturally monotone and economically depressed UK.

Having amassed an avid US fanbase with his music, and after starring in a critically acclaimed West End production of the Joe Orton play Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Ant moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. However the price of fame took its toll. Alongside film and TV roles, he also aquired a stalker, which severely impacted his already fragile peace of mind.

Taking a break from the public eye, Ant moved to Tennessee before returning to London, where an altercation outside a pub thrust him back into the headlines again. Following the incident, Ant pled guilty to a single count of causing an affray. Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 21, Ant received a suspended sentence and court ordered psychiatric care. Unfortunately, due to the relentless nature of the British press, he was forced to pull his life back together under the tabloid glare.

Though his recovery was very public and far from linear – with every setback being exacerbated by its salacious documentation by the less savory contingent of the UK press – Ant is clearly in a much better place these days. He completed a string of dates in the US and Europe in 2012, before releasing his first studio album in 17 years. The intriguingly titled Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar in Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter was released on both side of the Atlantic in January of this year.

SuicideGirls caught up with Ant by phone after a rehearsal with his new band The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse to talk about his new album and his upcoming US tour, which kicks off in San Diego on July 17th.

Read our exclusive interview with Adam Ant on SuicideGirls.com.

by Blogbot

This Thursday June 27th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined by activist Kevin M. Gallagher (Free Barrett Brown), academic and author Gabriella Coleman, and journalist Dell Cameron (VICE). We’ll be talking about the strange case of writer and security researcher Barrett Brown and the connections between his “ProjectPM” research and the more recent NSA surveillance revelations exposed by Edward Snowden.

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Dell Cameron (@DellCam)

Dell Cameron contributes articles to VICE.com on national security, human rights and online activism. He is also project manager of the upcoming news website Muckraker.com. Some of his recent articles have followed the rise and expansion of the U.S. government’s surveillance programs, such as PRISM and CALEA (the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act).

About Kevin M. Gallagher (@FreeBarrett_ & @ageis)

Kevin M. Gallagher is a writer, musician and systems administrator based in western Massachusetts. He graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He’s currently pursuing activism on issues related to digital rights: freedom of information, privacy, and copyright; while also taking an interest in information security. He is the director of Free Barrett Brown, which is a support network, non-profit advocacy organization and legal defense fund formed for the purpose of assisting a prominent journalist and internet activist, for which he is in charge of all fundraising, public relations, social media and outreach.You can contribute to Barrett Brown’s defense fund here.

About Gabriella Coleman (@biellaColeman)

Gabriella (Biella) Coleman is the Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy in the Art History and Communication Studies Department at McGill University. Trained as an anthropologist, she researches, writes, and teaches on hackers and digital activism. Her first book on Free Software, Coding Freedom: The Aesthetics and the Ethics of Hacking has been published with Princeton University Press. She is currently working on a new book on Anonymous and digital media under contract with Verso. She has given numerous talks on hackers, digital activism, open source production and intellectual property law. For more info visit gabriellacoleman.org/.

**UPDATE**

ICYMI: This week’s show on the surveillance state and the criminalization of those who report on it featuring activist Kevin M. Gallagher (Free Barrett Brown), academic and author Gabriella Coleman, and journalist Dell Cameron (VICE).

Video streaming by Ustream

by Blogbot

This Thursday June 20th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined in studio by producers DJ Muggs and Andrew Kline, and uber geek and Safecast co-founder Sean Bonner, who with vocalist Brevi comprise the avant-garde band Cross My Heart Hope to Die. Journalist, podcaster, and SG Blog contributor David Seaman will also be in-studio to give us his take on the recent NSA surveillance revelations.

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Cross My Heart Hope to Die

Cross My Heart Hope to Die (@cmhxhtd) will change your perceptions of art and challenge your expectations of music. CMHHTD transcends musical boundaries – the music exists as just one part of a larger project, ever evolving. At its foundation, this collective balances tangible art with striking visuals and an all encompassing soundtrack to create a total experience – each element as important as the other.

The sound system is the spark caused by the collision of producers DJ Muggs (@DJ_Muggs) and Andrew Kline. DJ Muggs is best known as a founding member of the multi platinum rap group, Cypress Hill, as well as the producer of such hits as Ice Cube’s “Check Yo Self” and House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” The Grammy nominated producer has created remixes for U2 and Depeche Mode, and collaborated with UK trip hop artist, Tricky, on the album Juxtapose. Andrew Kline is a founding member and main songwriter of the Los Angeles based hardcore band, Strife. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Strife is heralded to be one of the most influential and defining hardcore bands of the 90’s. As a music producer, Andrew has worked with artists over a wide range of genres and has recently added video directing to his repertoire. Muggs and Kline, though from different musical backgrounds, share a love of a dark, cinematic music and the fusion of their talents creates something you would not expect.

This sound is complemented by the ethereal songstress, Brevi, who elevates the tracks with her sexy and hauntingly beautiful vocals. The attentive listener may recognize her from tracks with such musical veterans as 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Xzibit, Raekwon from the Wu Tang Clan, and more – though CMHHTD puts her in a spotlight like never before.

Sean Bonner (@seanbonner) adds an additional, indefinable piece to what is already a bit of an enigma. Sean is a hacker and curator who commands a noteworthy online network. With a history in both fine art and music, he helps to shape the public face and feel of this project, and his involvement is sure to blur the lines between fans and collaborators, audience and participant.

The first traditional release from Cross My Heart Hope To Die, a self titled EP, was released on April 2nd on Alpha Pup Records. The interactive art side of this collective, however, has been prolific and manifesting itself on the streets for close to a year. Unsuspecting pedestrians around the world have been enjoying and participating in this project – sometimes without even knowing it. Inconspicuous art installations and street music boxes have been hidden in such cities as Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Rome, Belfast, Prague, and Vienna. CMHHTD wants to manipulate the way people find music; to bring back the thrill of discovery. Something sorely needed in a digital age where we are constantly bombarded with aural stimulation.

Upcoming gallery exhibitions and a series of videos shot all over the world make it obvious that Cross My Heart Hope To Die is much more than just another musical project. Their actual scope escapes clear definition.

For more visit cmhhtd.com and Soundcloud.

About David Seaman

David Seaman (@d_seaman) is an independent journalist. He has been a lively guest on CNN Headline News, FOX News, ABC News Digital, among others, and on his humble YouTube channel, DavidSeamanOnline. Some say he was recently censored by a certain large media corporation for posting a little too much truth… For more, find him on G+ and Twitter.


**UPDATE**
ICYMI: Here’s the video-pod of last night’s show. We explore the intersection of music, art and technology with Andrew Kline and Sean Bonner of the innovative LA band Cross My Heart Hope to Die. Sean also measures our radiation levels with a Geiger gadget he made earlier and explains how his crowd-sourced Safecast project helps empower people with critical data about their environments. Plus SG’s Political Correspondent David Seaman explains to someone who gets naked on the internet – ie SG Radio co-host Juturna Suicide – why she should care about the fact that the NSA is spying on her.

Video streaming by Ustream

by Blogbot

This Thursday June 13th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined in studio by Dirty Sanchez and Joey Ryan of the Mexican masked wrestling burlesque comedy troupe Lucha VaVOOM. The group draw their inspiration from the bizarre world of ’60s Mexican Lucha Cinema, where brave, masked wrestling crime fighters save the world from evil with an obligatory stop at the local go-go club.

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Lucha VaVOOM

Founded in Los Angeles in 2002 by Rita D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn, Lucha VaVOOM is non-stop, action-packed surrealism where Mexican masked wrestlers perform breathtaking acrobatic feats in a fast-paced, fun-filled, character-driven style. Known for their far-out flamboyance, its quick, exhibition-style, one-fall Lucha Libre matches designed for maximum enjoyment and action.

Since 2002, LUCHA VaVOOM has regularly sold out 1,000-seat venues across the globe (Amsterdam, Calgary, Toronto, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and Philadelphia, among many other cities). When not on the road, the troupe calls downtown Los Angeles’ Mayan Theater–an elaborately appointed, 1927-built former motion-picture palace–home.

Earlier this year Lucha VaVOOM headlined the “El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar” at Australia’s Big Day Out 2013 Festival where Ben O’Shea from YAHOO.AU.COM noted (1/24), “Sex and violence – it’s a winning combination but you’re unlikely to find it done as successfully or with such feel-good humour as Lucha VaVOOM…”

Coming off their sold-out Sunday, May 5 Cinco de Mayan show at the The Mayan in Downtown Los Angeles, LUCHA VaVOOM is responding to public demand and will stage another Cinco de Mayan show on July 11 at The Mayan in Downtown Los Angeles. This marks the very first timeLUCHA VaVOOM–the high-octane mix of Mexican-style lucha libre wrestling, traditional burlesque and blow-by-blow comedic commentary–has performed their Cinco de Mayan show in July.
Tickets are currently on sale HERE.

For more on Luca VaVOOM visit their website, Twitter and YouTube channel.

**UPDATE**
ICYMI: Here’s the video-pod of last week’s show featuring Dirty Sanchez and Joey Ryan of the Mexican masked wrestling burlesque comedy troupe Lucha VaVOOM.

Video streaming by Ustream

by Blogbot

This Thursday June 6th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined in studio by superstar photographer Steve Prue and the tittysprinkle-tastic Tita Suicide. We’ll be talking about modeling and photography, offering lots of insider tips, and taking some naughty pix!

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Steve Prue

Steve Prue is a simple man – he likes coffee, big hair and instant film. Self-taught and hella-amusing, he manages to avoid a day job and gets to work with interesting people every day. Steve’s work can be seen in magazines such as Penthouse, Playboy, ZINK!, Auxiliary, Rebel Ink, Urban Ink, Skin&Ink, Inked, Inked Girls, Village Voice, Time Out NYC, CLUB, FOX, Velvet and other magazines in that “special” rack behind the counter at 7-11, as well as on SuicideGirls.com.

Having attended 15 schools by the time he graduated college (North Carolina State – Go Wolfpack!), Steve has a bit of a traveling jones and can be found splitting his time between Boston (wife & cats), Brooklyn (rent controlled apartment & his Ducati) and Los Angeles (lots of naked tattooed women).

Current projects involve working on a book of dirty Polaroids, finding the perfect cup of diner coffee, telling everyone how AWESOME it was to work with a circus elephant, and as usual, continuing to avoid working a day job.

Personal Quote: “The bigger the hair, the closer to God.”

You can see more of his work here at Teamrockstarimages.com and TeamrockstarNSFW.com, and follow him @tmronin.

About Tita Suicide

Tita does a lot of things. Getting naked on the Internet is just one of them. The self described “professional traveler, cupcake galavanter, fitness fan, and pantless wonder” clearly has varied interests, which far from being at odds, are in fact the very glue that holds her together.

A long time professional athlete, Tita’s lifestyle is a balance of discipline, and complete madness. From photo shoots, to producing video and viral content, Tita works in front of, and behind the cameras and computers, as a member of Team Rockstar with Steve Prue. She also helps to run events for SuicideGirls, and other alternative brands, mentors models and athletes, and runs a successful blog over at www.cupcakedujour.ca

Tita currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, but this pint sized ball of fury can often be found at conventions throughout the United States, and Canada. You can follow along with her adventures via social media, where she goes by “Cupcakedujour” for obvious reasons.

Tita’s plans for the future include continuing to contribute online and print content to media outlets, lifestyle and fitness brands, and to find a puppy partner in crime for her chihuahua Zapato.

But first, she’s off to Ink N Iron where she will assist Steve as they shoot content for Rebel Ink, Urban Ink, and various other publications. Tita will also stop in to say hello to her favourite SuicideGirls, work with The Blonde Locks, and shoot with notable photographers and artists based in LA. As usual it will be a whirlwind trip, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

You can see more of Tita on SuicideGirls and at cupcakedujour.ca. You can also get social with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr.

**UPDATE**
ICYMI: Last week’s show featuring sexy shenanigans from co-host Juturna Suicide and special guests Tita Suicide and Steve Prue. The fabulous Moxi Suicide also joined us by Skype. Plus Nicole Powers rants about the NSA / PRISM snooping scandal!

Video streaming by Ustream

by Blogbot

This Thursday May 30th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide will be joined in studio by rock supergroup Heaven & Earth. When we saw them play live recently at the record release party for their new album Dig they blew us away, so we’re thrilled that they’ve agreed to play a very special acoustic set for us. This is a show you won’t want to miss. Prepare to have your world seriously rocked!
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You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

**UPDATE**
ICYMI: Here’s the recording of last night’s show feat. an interview with – and an incredible live acoustic set from – Heaven and Earth.

Video streaming by Ustream

[..]

by Blogbot

We killed the bill dead. So dead that when members of Congress propose something that even touches the Internet, they give a long speech beforehand about how it is definitely not at all like SOPA. So dead that when you ask Congressional staffers about it, they groan and shake their heads, like it’s all a bad dream they’re trying hard to forget. So dead, that it’s hard to believe this story. Hard to remember how close it all came to actually passing. Hard to remember how it could have been any other way.

But it wasn’t a dream, or a nightmare. It was all very real. And it will happen again. Sure, it will have a different name, and maybe a different excuse, and probably do its damage in a different way. But make no mistake. The enemies of the freedom to connect have not disappeared. The fire in those politicians’ eyes has not been put out.

There are a lot of powerful people who want to clamp down on the Internet. And, to be honest, there aren’t a whole lot who have a vested interest in protecting it. Even some of the biggest Internet companies, to put it frankly, would benefit from a world in which their little competitors could be censored.

We can’t let that happen.

– Aaron Swartz, Hacking Politics

Hacking Politics is a newly released book that chronicles the extraordinary fight against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), which culminated in the unprecedented Internet Blackout of January 18th, 2012.

Edited by David Segal and David Moon of Demand Progress, and Patrick Ruffini of Engage and Don’t Censor the Net, the book features essays from those who were on the frontlines of the battle against these draconian pieces of legislation that threatened not only online liberty but the very fabric of the web.

Included in the book are first-hand accounts from Lawrence Lessig (of Harvard Law School), Cory Doctorow (author and editor of BoingBoing), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (a Democratic Congress member since 1995), Mike Masnick (CEO and founder of Techdirt), Kim Dotcom (founder of Megaupload and Mega), Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of Reddit), and Derek Slater ( a Policy Manager on Google’s public policy team), among others. The book also includes two chapters by SG Editor Nicole Powers: an account of SuicideGirls’ involvement in the online protests, and an interview with Julie O’Dwyer, the mother of Richard O’Dwyer, the British student who faced extradition to the US on charges related to copyright infringement. Poignantly, the book also contains essays penned by online activist and Demand Progress co-founder Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide earlier this year after being charged with offenses under the outdated and overbroad CFAA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act).

Though Swartz couldn’t see a way through his own fight, he and an unlikely coalition of left-leaning progressives, right-leaning tea partiers, non-partisan occupiers, blue chip corporations, underground activists, mainstream press outlets and fringe techno radicals successfully fought the Goliath RIAA and MPAA-funded political machine to defeat PIPA and SOPA.

Hacking Politics was put together to ensure that this epic battle is never forgotten, and to provide a greater understanding of the delicate and extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations that are required to mount such a successful grassroots campaign. Though seemingly spontaneous, the fight against PIPA and SOPA was far from unplanned. Hopefully Hacking Politics will provide not only the blueprint, but the inspiration for similar future online offensives against the onslaught of SOPA and PIPA-like legislation that threatens the freedom of the internet.

Hacking Politics: How Geeks, Progressives, the Tea Party, Gamers, Anarchists and Suits Teamed Up to Defeat SOPA and Save the Internet is available in paperback and as an eBook. For a limited time the eBook edition is available as a pay-what-you-wish download.