Rock N Roll Sideshow!

Oct 1st – DNA Lounge
375 11th Street San Francisco

Vau de Vire and Aria Entertainment present ERIC MCFADDEN & VAU DE VIRE SOCIETY, along with special guest

Jane Wiedlin (Go-Go’s),
RonKat Spearman (P-Funk Allstars),
Robin Croomer & Sam Bass (Loopstation),
Paula O’Rourke (Animals),
Gabby LaLa (Les Claypool),
Rob Reich (Gaucho) and more…

Expect an evening of circus and dance infused rock and roll, with Eric McFadden and renowned friends offering up the musical score to accompany a slew of Vau de Vire vignettes.

Comics Alliance

Thanks to Chris Sims at Comics Alliance for the love! 🙂

Q: What are the best comics (ostensibly) “created” by people who are “celebrities” but not professional writers? — goodthingsulike

A: There’s been a bunch of books over the past few years where a celebrity has attached his or her name to a comic, with people country music star Trace Adkins (“Luke McBain”), actress Rashida Jones (“Frenemy of the State”), and Seth Green (“Freshmen”) attempting to use their star power to lure a crossover market into comic shops. And while I generally skip out on that sort of thing, the cream of the crop is pretty easy to pick out: Jane Wiedlin’s “Lady Robotika.”

And I’m not just saying that because I have a total crush on Jane Wiedlin, the cutest Go-Go, either, although I can definitely assure you that that is in fact the case. More than anything else, what makes me like it is that together with co-writer/artist Bill Morrison — the long-time writer and artist on “Simpsons Comics” whose involvement was a big part of getting me interested — Wiedlin has addressed the major problem with Celebrity Comics, which is that the celebrities in question aren’t actually in them.

Rather than just being a comic with her name above the title, “Lady Robotika” is actually about Jane Wiedlin. Specifically, it’s about her being kidnapped by aliens and going to space to battle an evil space emperor, a space dominatrix and her sexy space-soldiers, which are referred to as “Iron Maidens.” And that is awesome.

It’s also really funny. It’s a little heavy on the pop culture references, even for a book revolving around an alien society that’s built entirely around interpreting TV and radio transmissions from Earth, but when they hit, they’re pretty darn sharp:

Also, there’s the whole thing where Jane Wiedlin fights a space dominatrix. I cannot emphasize that point enough.

Great review!

Great review for Issue #2 – “Of G-Strings and Galaxies” at Comics Bulletin:

Abducted by aliens loyal to a familiar looking reptilian dictator–no, not Cheney–Jane Wiedlin awakens on an extraterrestrial examination table and discovers a metallic shell grows over her left limb. Can things possibly get worse? You betcha.

Wiedlin and Morrison combine forces for a kitschy cool scifi pulp filled with sex, nanites and rock and roll. Again, I don’t know where the writers begin and end. I don’t know who wrote what, but I’m guessing Wiedlin had to at least sign off on the things that happen to her comic book avatar.

After an altercation in a forced concert, Jane ends up in the dungeon, and the singer/songwriter doesn’t skimp on abusing her character. Bettie Page lookalikes bring out the whips and a weird looking robot enters the abbatoir to induce even more pain.

Let me just point out that you’re not supposed to be taking this seriously. That’s why Jeff Moy is a perfect fit for the book. The Legion of Super-Heroes artist is known for his light, humorous touch. So although on the surface, there’s a ball-gag in Jane’s mouth, the Bettie Page Twins are serious about their work, the after effects of Jane’s torture amount to old-fashioned cross-hatchery on strategic exposures of her skin. Really. Don’t take this too seriously. Lady Robotika is meant to be a outrageous-anything-goes-science-fiction, and it succeeds beautifully.

Even the scene in which one of Jane’s band trades sexual favors with the dictator for her life should be enjoyed. Her name is T’antra. Come on. She had to end up in somebody’s bed. What’s surprising is that the creative team don’t simply use her as a throwaway gag. Instead, they make her an important figure in the story by having her lead the reader to a most awesome cliffhanger sporting a beloved sci-fi trope.

Issue #2 of Lady Robotika available at Tfaw.com

A message from Jane & Bill

A message from Jane & Bill:

After much soul searching and number crunching, Bill & I have come to the sad realization that we can’t keep producing our beloved comic: Lady Robotika, the way we are currently operating.

Despite rave reviews, orders have been low, and that’s driven our costs up to DOUBLE what the books actually retail for!

Holy negative cashflow, it’s a rough Universe out there for a new superhero!

We have decided to jump space-ship and come up with a new plan for galactic domination. We LOVE making Lady Robotika, and we are committed to continuing her story. One way or another, Lady Robotika‘s saga MUST be told!

Stay tuned for news regarding our new plan of action. Expect new LR comics and a CD of Lady Robotika MUSIC in the near future.

Many thanks to all of you who have rallied around our creation! We REALLY hope you will stick with us during this transitional time!
Love, Jane & Bill

A message from Jane

Dear Loved Ones,
You probably know I have been part of the charitable fundraising event Bowling for Boobies for many years now.

This event was started by my dear, late friend Edith Speed who herself battled breast cancer.  Bowling for Boobies raises money to help women who are currently battling breast cancer, to pay their bills.  Even with insurance, the cost of getting ill in this country is devastating, and this tiny group is a lifesaver to many women each year.

We need corporate sponsors, prizes and swag for gift bags: If your company is able to help with that please contact Stefanie LaHart HERE.

Donations: I need personal sponsors to pledge a donation to help my team The Speed Demons, raise the most money! You can pledge my team HERE. Yes, I may be a crappy bowler, but I want my team to kick butt at fundraising!

I am so proud to be part of a nonprofit organization that uses virtually all the money we raise to help actual women with breast cancer!
I am hoping you will help our event this year!
Lots of love,
Jane

For more information on Bowling For Boobies visit HERE.

Retro Junk interview w/Jane

New interview with Jane over at Retro Junk.

Caps: What were your pop-cultural likes growing up?

Jane: I loved music, especially the pop rock of the 60s. My favorites were The Beatles & The Monkees. My oldest brother thought I was a dope for liking both! I get his point…now. I loved watching Star Trek on TV with my family.

Caps: What were your school days like?

Jane: School was way easier back then and I breezed through it. Homework took maybe ten minutes, then all the kids would roam the neighborhood looking for adventure. We swam and played all summer long. I remember my childhood as extremely idyllic.

Caps: What inspired you to become an entertainer?

Jane: I always loved singing but I never thought I could actually have my own band until the punk movement started. The DIY spirit allowed me to form the Go-Go’s, even though i didn’t know what i was doing.

Caps: What jobs did you hold before entering the entertainment business?

Jane: I mostly waited tables, then while in design college, I started working in the garment industry as a pattern maker, and assistant to a designer. That was around the same time we started the Go-Go’s.

Caps: The punk rock scene seemed to be often misunderstood by those outside of it (i.e, the punk rock episode of “Quincy”). What movies or TV shows do you feel have the most accurate depiction of the punk rock
scene?

Jane: None that I’ve seen!!

Caps: What were the early Go-Go’s gigs like?

Jane: Drunken, chaotic, a blast! We knew everyone in the crowd then.

Caps: What was the inspiration behind the song “Our Lips Are Sealed”?

Jane: I was having a long-distance relationship with Terry Hall of The Specials. He was engaged to another woman, but claimed to be in love with me. Oh, the drama! He sent me those lyrics and I took it from there!

Caps: “Vacation” is a song about a troubled relationship, yet when it’s heard in movies and TV shows, it’s usually used as a backdrop for scenes of people relaxing. Does that ever bother you?

Jane: I never even think about it anymore! It just seems like a great, summery pop gem to me.

Caps: One of my favorite songs from your solo career was your duet with Sparks on the song “Cool Places”. What was it like to work with them?

Jane: I was a huge fan of Sparks and madly in love with Russell Mael when I was in high school. When the Go-Go’s got famous, we contacted them and I got the opportunity to work with them. They are such smart, funny, eccentric guys. It was kind of a dream come true!

Caps: Something that’s gained popularity on the Internet in recent years is the literal video, where classic music videos are made fun of because of the disparity between the images and the lyrics. Do you worry that
somebody might do that to any of your music videos?

Jane: I LOVE literal videos. They totally crack me up.
I think my favorites are “Total Eclipse of The Heart” and “Love Is A Battlefield”.

Caps: The song “Inside A Dream” was a song that helped guide me through some rough situations. I’ve had a lot of problems in my life, and I’ve really been inspired by lyrics like: “Only the dreamer can keep the hope alive. I’ll work and pray and sweat and slave until the dream is realized”. Did you intend the song to be a piece that inspires people to survive bad situations, or was it just a regular song?

Jane: No, I really thought it would be neat to write music that inspired and uplifted people. I vacillate between being a very positive hopeful person and an utterly depressed person, so I appreciate music that makes you feel good!

Caps: If I were to look in your CD collection, what 5 titles would I be most surprised to find?

Jane: Andrew WK, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Rammstein, Hank Williams Sr.

Caps: What 5 artists have you always wanted to work with?

Jane: David Bowie, Neil Finn, The B52s, Jack White, John Cameron Mitchell.


Caps: Do you feel that your recent injury will affect your performing abilities in the future?

Jane: At physical therapy today, they told me I may NEVER recover full use of my leg. That was a very depressing thing to hear. Right now I’d be thrilled just to be able to walk normally, let alone PERFORM!

Caps: As an actress, one of your most notable film roles was playing Joan Of Arc in “Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. What was it like to work on that movie?

Jane: That movie was a ton of fun, because all those “historical figures” were played by character actors, who are always so entertaining to hang out with. I never dreamed the movie would be so popular. In fact, it sat on a shelf for several years and almost never came out at all.

Caps: Several years prior, you had a quick role in “Clue” as the Singing Telegram Girl. I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories, many of them horrific, about Peter Guber and Jon Peters, the executive producers of that movie. Did you ever meet them, and if you did, what were they like?

Jane: No, my part in that film was so minor, I never really met anyone, except Tim Curry, who I’d actually already met before.

Caps: You’re well-known for your love of fetish culture. Many people are creeped out by that scene. What would you say to somebody to get them to understand its’ appeal?

Jane: Ha! That’s a bit like trying to convince someone who hates the taste of chocolate that chocolate is delicious! To each his own, I say. What goes on between consenting adults is nobody’s business but their own!

Caps: Something else you’ve become known for in recent years is being the subject of the comic book “Lady Robotika”. What drew you to being involved in the comic scene?

Jane: I’d been attending comic conventions for many years, as a fan of sci-fi, and then later, as a celebrity, for autograph signings. I met my writing partner Bill Morrison at a convention, and we became besties really quickly. Being two creative types, we wanted to collaborate on something. When Bill suggested a comic book with me as the superhero I jumped at the chance! Who wouldn’t?!

Caps: Considering how busy you are, what would be the perfect day off for you?

Jane: Sleep late/breakfast at a good restaurant/hike w the dogs/lunch at a good restaurant/nap/cocktails/sci-fi movie/dinner at a good restaurant/bed. Can you tell I like eating and sleeping a lot??!!

Caps: If you could go back to your youth with the knowledge that you have now, would you do anything differently?

Jane: I would definitely be a less-depressed teenager. I thought life was completely pointless when I was in high school, but just a few short years later I was having the adventure of a lifetime in a successful rock band!

Shaky Planet – Lady Robotika Shaky Globe for your iphone

That’s right!! You can collect a Lady Robotika Shaky Globe for your iphone!! 🙂
Download the free Shaky Planet App and then do a search for “Lady Robotika“!

SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 22, 2010 —Little Ricky Software™, LLC, along with Shadowline and Image Comics today announce the rocket launch of the Lady Robotika ShakyGlobe, the world’s first musical eCollectible ShakyGlobe for iPhone.

“Somebody needed to save the universe,” said Michal Anne Rogondino, founder and CEO of Little Ricky Software, and inventor of ShakyPlanet and ShakyGlobe eCollectibles. “I’m really glad it’s Jane Wiedlin and I’m mad honored to bring life to Lady Robotika’s very own, limited-edition, musical ShakyGlobe! Every iPhone lover on Planet Earth should be so lucky as to carry the Lady with them everywhere – in the palm of their hand!”

“The Lady Robotika ShakyGlobe truly rocks in your pocket with an exclusive Lady Robotika song,” Jane Wiedlin chimed in. ““Like Lady Robotika, this app is the first of its kind and the Slaveship to the Stars launch souvenir will always hold a special place in my heart and on my iPhone. I love my ShakyGlobe!”

“What the heck!” said Bill Morrison, the artist behind the world of Lady Robotika. “I am unable to sleep at night, dreaming up what comes next as these adventures into space continue and new ShakyGlobes – with crazy ShakyStars & ShakyAsteroids – flickering around our all-powerful leader, like a force field or, better yet, a dazzling display of her cyborgorgeous energy. Lady Robotika will be shaking up space so stay tuned, and make sure you download while you can.”

ShakyPlanet is the world’s first digital-merchandise ecosystem to offer eCollectibles. eCollectibles are media-rich digital objects depicting locations, characters, brands, music, and more, in a variety of formats that are already established as collectibles in the real world. eCollectibles “live” in ShakyPlanet on your smart-phone or tablet device, just like your music collection, videos, photos, etc. They are all in a single place that is easily transportable and that you keep with you 24/7 to view, to enjoy, and to share with friends and family (via popular social-networking sites or your email list).

Big Gay Ice Cream Song release date – AUG 22nd 2010



BIG GAY ICE CREAM TRUCK GETS COOL WITH NEW THEME SONG BY GO-GO  JANE WIEDLIN

“Big Gay Ice Cream Song” Hits Digital Download on August 22, 2010

August 18, 2010 (New York, NY) – Music and ice cream trucks go hand-in-hand, so when New York City’s Big Gay Ice Cream Truck needed theme music, they skipped over the obvious choices – Peaches and Herb are more likely to be a flavor than the music for this rolling love on ice-capade. Big Gay Ice Cream announces today the release of its new theme song, “Big Gay Ice Cream Song,” composed by Jane Wiedlin.

“Big Gay Ice Cream Song” is three minutes of sugary pop goodness, sort of like ice cream for your ears and will be available via iTunes and digital download services August 22, 2010.

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck began rolling the streets of New York City in June 2009. Described by The Village Voice as “a cross between Mister Softee and Mario Batali” their menu combines traditional soft-serve ice cream with imaginative toppings such as wasabi pea dust, Nilla Wafers, Dulce de Leche, olive oil and sea salt, and other rotating offerings. These are dispensed the way ice cream should be — with humor and good cheer.

While in design-college in the mid 1970s, Jane Wiedlin and Belinda Carlisle founded the legendary rock band the Go-Go’s amidst a burgeoning Los Angeles punk rock scene. The Go-Go’s were the first all-female band to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and released a slew of hits including “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got the Beat,” and “Vacation.” The band’s enormous success also included selling out Madison Square Garden, the Hollywood Bowl, and appearing twice on the cover of Rolling Stone. In addition to her work as a Go-Go, Jane has released six albums of her own, including the hits “Rush Hour,” “Blue Kiss,” and “Tangled,” which was featured in the movie Pretty Woman. Rolling Stone called Jane’s most-recent solo album Kissproof World, a “solo tour-de-force by an entrepreneur, an actress and rock goddess.”

“Big Gay Ice Cream Song” was produced by Travis Kasperbauer for the Painful Discs label, published by Wiedwacker Music/ASCAP. For additional information, please contact:  info@biggayicecream.com

15th Annual “Sinners and Salivation-Themed” Drag King Contest

Big Ball Holder, DragStrip Productions, wants you to fall to your immoral, depraved, degradacious, and deviant knees and seek salvation at their Altar of Shameless Self-promotion on San Francisco’s Sabbath of Studliness, the 15th Annual “Sinners and Salivation-Themed” Drag King Contest. The Power of Drag Compels You on Friday, August 20, 2010 at the Mecca of Manliness, The DNA Lounge.

Her Eminence, Reverend Sister Go-Go, Jane Wiedlin, guitarist of The Go-Go’s and ordained minister, who also performs wedding, commitment and vow reaffirmation ceremonies, will officiate. Can we get an Amen?

More info HERE.