ALMOST INFAMOUS - LEGACY OF BRUTALITY

by Bobby Black, Thu Feb 11, 2010

Rebelling against all the spandex and makeup of the LA glam scene in the early 1980s, a number of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area took a rawer, more no-nonsense approach to their metal.  Their relentless riffage and angst-fueled, socially conscious lyrics were the hallmark of what became known in the mid- to late ’80s as “thrash” metal. Among these pioneers of power were Metallica, Death Angel, Exodus and Testament.

Over the next two decades, Testament would cement their status as thrash icons, releasing eight albums and touring with heavyweights like Anthrax, Megadeth, Judas Priest and Slayer. Throughout their numerous lineup changes and personal challenges (including singer Chuck Billy’s being diagnosed with cancer in 2001), they never lost their passion, integrity or legion of devoted fans. But now, with original members Alex Skolnick, Eric Peterson and Greg Christian (along with ’90s drummer Paul Bostaph) returning to the …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - 2009 CANNABIS CUP GALLERY

by Bobby Black, Thu Feb 11, 2010

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - SMOKIN' WITH DR. G

by Bobby Black, Tue Oct 20, 2009

I sat in Barney’s Uptown perusing the new menu and enjoying a Jupiler ale while I waited for the restaurant’s owners, Derry and his wife Sissi, to arrive. We’d made plans to meet here for dinner and discuss how my coffeeshop feature was going.  When they showed up, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they’d brought along a guest—Dr. David Grinspoon, who was in town to sample a new strain named after his dad, Dr. Lester Grinspoon.

If you’re not familiar with the name, you should be. Over the past 30 years, this associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School has been one of the most respected, outspoken and brilliant advocates for marijuana legalization. His activist career began with his 1971 book, Marijuana Reconsidered—the landmark legalization bible that made the case for the legitimate value of cannabis. In the service of science and truth, Dr. Grinspoon has testified in dozens of trials as an expert …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - TRAILBLAZERS

by Bobby Black, Tue Oct 20, 2009

Growing up in Bensonhurst, the closest I ever came to camping was chasing chipmunks at my grandparents’ place in New Hampshire. But then, toward the end of junior high, I got a serious hankering for the forest. So my mom called up her friend Charlie (who happened to head up a Boy Scout troop) and arranged for my friend Mike and I to go on a weekend camping trip with him. Now I wasn’t exactly what you’d call Boy Scout material, but luckily, there was another option: Charlie also organized “unofficial” camping trips for a ragtag bunch of Irish teenagers from Gerritsen Beach—a dirty dozen of ginger punks in battle fatigues who called themselves the Trailblazers.

Mike and I were psyched. Along with our standard camping gear, we packed an assortment of Led Zeppelin cassettes and knives, plus a cigarette box containing a lighter, a pack of Bambú, a small corncob pipe and two dime bags. You know what they say: Be …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - TALES OF BRAVE BUKOWSKI

by Bobby Black, Tue Oct 20, 2009

By juxtaposing philosophy and philandering, the sublime with the obscene, and the profound with the profane, authors like Henry Miller and Louis-Ferdinand Céline created some of the most poetic, erotic and existential works of fiction ever written. But perhaps the grittiest and most misanthropic of this degenerate elite was Charles Bukowski.

The son of German immigrants raised in Los Angeles, Bukowski was the ultimate slacker anti-hero. He had no goals or ambitions, no money, worked shitty blue-collar jobs and screwed sleazy women. He didn’t care about politics, or wealth, or fame, or even art—all he cared about was horse racing, whores, whiskey and fistfights. Unlike the idealistic hippies who spent the ’60s engaging in social protests and free love, Bukowski spent them punching a clock at the post office and getting shitfaced in dive bars.

Through the eyes of his barely fictional protagonist Hank Chinaski, Buke explored and …READ MORE

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Rock Legend Dickie Peterson Dies

by Bobby Black, Tue Oct 13, 2009

Dicki Peterson, founder, frontman and bassist for the legendary rock group Blue Cheer, passed away yesterday (Oct. 12th) in Germany after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 61 years old. 

Named after a type of LSD, Blue Cheer emerged from the 60's psychedelic rock scene of Haight-Ashbury and began gigging at every club in San Francisco and Los Angeles, quickly earning the respect of fellow musicians on the scene. With their biker attitude and wall of Marshall amps, Cheer were considered by many to be the first American  heavy metal band, and were even the first to be named the World's Loudest Band by the Guiness Book of Records.

Cheer released their first album Vincebus Eruptum in 1968, and had a big hit with their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” which reached No. 14 on the Billboard chart. It wasn’t long before Cheer were touring with all the major acts of the day—Hendrix, Cream …READ MORE

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HIGH TIMES Presents: Coffeeshop Confidential

by Bobby Black, Wed Sep 2, 2009

tags: almost infamous, october 2009, coffee shops, bobby black, amsterdam, potcast 15    « add a comment

HEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY CONTEST: WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

by Bobby Black, Mon Aug 31, 2009

We get so many letters every day from people who are dying to work at HIGH TIMES that I finally decided to do something about it. So in the August 2009 edition of my column ALMOST INFAMOUS, I announced a contest that would allow one lucky stoner to become an honorary HT "Editor-For-a-Day."  The requirements were simple: a resume, a writing sample and some photos. There was also an option for an extra credit video resume to be posted on http://420.com. Kudos to those few of you who took the time and effort to submit a video. Some of you didn't even submit all of the components required, and lost points as a result.

The deadline for entry was August 1st. I'd received about 20 entries, and then on the last day I received about 20 more (shame on you, you procrastinating stoners!). Because of this, the winner announcement which was originally scheduled for …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - SMOKE ON THE WATER

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

After my cross-country tour, the next stop on my “Smoke the Vote” campaign would be Washington—State, that is. I’d never been to Seattle before, but our associate publisher, Rick Cusick, has been a featured speaker at Hempfest for the past few years, and had regaled me with such exciting tales that I volunteered to accompany him this year and run the HIGH TIMES booth.

We were staying at the historic Edgewater Inn, notorious stomping ground of British Invaders like the Fab Four, the Stones and Led Zeppelin. In fact, our room was directly adjacent to the Beatles Suite—the location of Zep’s infamous “mudshark” incident (Google it). Our buddy Gideon picked us up on Saturday morning in a golf cart and zipped us through the thickening crowds in Myrtle Edwards Park and over to our booth near the main stage, which we were sharing with Norml and the Emperor of Hemp himself, Jack Herer.

The festival started off …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - COPS & REEFERS

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

When it comes to pimpin’ cribs, few places can compare to the shagadelic Shangri-La that is the Playboy Mansion. Like so many other guys, I’ve fantasized all my life about someday visiting Hef’s pleasure palace; little did I imagine that when I’d finally get my chance, it would be for a party hosted—of all people—by the police.

“Let me get this straight,” said my outraged activist pal Todd McCormick. “High Times is paying for you to come to LA to cover a party at the mansion that’s being thrown by cops?!? But wouldn’t send you to cover my marijuana party there? WTF?”

“Not exactly,” I explained. “See, BC Northern Lights are one of the sponsors of the event, and the owners offered to fly me and Danny Danko out first-class to cover it. Rumor has it they’re going to have live pot plants in their grow boxes.”

“Wow—live …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - LET FREEDOM RING

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

During last year’s election, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was fond of saying that the real America can be found in small rural towns—attempting to demonize more diverse, urban states like New York and Massachusetts. Which is ridiculous, considering that New York was once our nation’s capital, and Massachusetts is practically the birthplace of America. In fact, it’s in Massachusetts that the battle for our civil liberties continues to be waged—be it the right of gays to marry, or the right of a responsible adult to smoke a joint. So I was honored when, last September, I was invited by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition to speak at their annual Freedom Rally at Boston Commons.

Things had been coming to a boil in Beantown for months. For the third time in the past decade, the city had attempted to suppress the rally by issuing MassCann a permit that didn’t allow for food vending, which is essential in funding the …READ MORE

tags: march 2009, bobby black, almost infamous, smoke the vote, boston freedom rally, presidential campaig 0    « add a comment

ALMOST INFAMOUS - DRUGS, ROCK & THE NEW REPUBLIC

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

Back in the fall of 1990, there was a Bush in the White House and a war with Iraq. I’d just entered college and had started hosting a heavy metal show at the school’s radio station. It was there, amongst the piles of promotional CDs, that I discovered an album entitled Last Decade Dead Century by a poetic protest band called Warrior Soul. It was some of the most intelligent, outspoken rock music I’d ever heard. Led by charismatically caustic frontman Kory Clarke, the band released five brilliant albums in as many years, including Drugs, God and the New Republic and Salutations From the Ghetto Nation. But sadly, after several lineup changes, Warrior Soul called it quits in 1995.

I didn’t hear the name Kory Clarke again until 2004, when my friends in the band Dirty Rig recruited him as their new singer. That March, the Rig played at my birthday party, and I met Kory for the first time. Turns out he was as big a pothead as I was, and we got …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - WEEDLORD

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

I’ve always been drawn to comic books. The grand and complex tales of superheroes are like modern mythologies that fire the imagination. So you can imagine my excitement when the creators of the stoner superhero comic Weed Nation Soldiers decided to base one of their heroes on me.

According to writer Kareem “KB” Butler and artist Roc Peebles, Weed Nation is a global force fighting against corporate and governmental corruption. “The Nation’s mission is to expose the lies surrounding the criminalization of marijuana and to thwart the evil pharmaceutical companies that line their pockets by denying us our personal freedom,” states KB. “Getting high—whether for medicinal or recreational purposes—should be one of our basic rights as responsible adults. I mean, it’s a fucking plant!

“Weed Nation began with a bowl of Kush, my favorite bong, Bruce Banner, and an ever-increasing frustration …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - THE FANDOM MENACE

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

One of my very first memories in life is going to the movies to see Star Wars. Sure, I was only four years old and the plot was beyond my comprehension, but the experience left my young mind awestruck. Like millions of other kids, I spent countless hours of my youth enacting stellar battles and intrigues with my action figures and vehicles. So 20 years later, when George Lucas announced his three prequels, there was an entire generation (now adults with disposable income, many with kids of their own) who were suddenly inspired to rekindle their childhood passion—gobbling up memorabilia, dressing in costume and sleeping outside theaters for opening-night tickets. Thus, “fanboy” culture was born—a phenomenon that’s celebrated in all its geeky glory each February at the New York Comic Con. This year, I decided to join that celebration.

After a quick puff outside the convention center, I hightailed it to my first session: a panel about the …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - YOU ROCK, I'LL ROLL

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

When I didn’t have the scratch to enter last year’s Reefer Poker tournament, my friend Sarah (owner of Bambú rolling papers) came to the rescue and fronted me the $100 buy-in. Well, she called in her marker this February, when she enlisted me as a judge for the Bambú Band of the Year Final Battle showdown. The contest—co-sponsored by Roc-Elle Records—was Bambú’s first such foray into the indie music scene. Every few weeks throughout the summer, bands competed at Manhattan’s historic Bowery Poetry Club and were voted on by the audience. Now, the competition had been narrowed down to four bands: Vicio, Captain Coconut, the Chosen and the Communication Corporation. Whoever won tonight would receive a prize package valued at over $5,000—including cash, banner ads on bambu.com, a record deal with Roc-Elle, plus a photo shoot modeling Bambú’s hip new clothing line for an upcoming ad campaign. And, of course, a …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - HEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t receive an email or letter from some idealistic young pot smoker saying, “You have the coolest job ever! How did you get it?” or asking, “How can I get a job at HT? I’ll do anything—I’ll even mop the floors!” It seems like stoners are willing to do just about anything to land a gig here. After much consideration, we’ve decided it’s high time for us to pay it forward and give someone out there the opportunity to step up and prove their worth. So this fall, we’ll be recruiting one lucky stoner to become an honorary HIGH TIMES Editor for a day—and it could be you!

If chosen, you’ll be invited up to the  HIGH TIMES offices to meet the staff and see firsthand what it’s like to work behind the scenes at the world’s most notorious magazine. You’ll also walk away with a one-year subscription to the magazine, copies of our Swimsuit, Grow and …READ MORE

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ALMOST INFAMOUS - MARIJUANA ON THE MARCH

by Bobby Black, Thu Aug 27, 2009

On the first Saturday of each May, tens of thousands of people gather in over 300 cities to march and show their support for marijuana legalization. But what many may not know is that this global phenomenon had its origin right here in New York City.

Back in 1967, a small but vocal political party dedicated to activism, anarchy and countercultural ideals was formed—the Youth International Party (or “Yippies” for short). Adopting a red star with a green pot leaf as their official flag, these radical hippie tricksters staged smoke-ins, pied politicians and masterminded the launch of the Alternative Press Syndicate. Among those involved with the Yippies were activists Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, poet Allen Ginsberg, satirist (and fellow HT columnist) Paul Krassner, HIGH TIMES founder Tom Forçade, and a guerrilla journalist/publisher named Dana Beal. It was Beal who, in the mid-1970s, began organizing an annual pot protest in New …READ MORE

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BOBBY BLACK ON MARIJUANA RADIO

by Bobby Black, Wed Aug 19, 2009

I was on MARIJUANA RADIO again last night to discuss the 22nd Annual Cannabis Cup this November, as well as our new Cannabis Cup Preview issue which features my expose of Amsterdam's cannabis industry entitled COFFEESHOP CONFIDENTIAL. Fire up a bowl and listen to it right here!

CHECK OUT THE OCTOBER 2009 ISSUE...
High Times-Oct-09

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Coffeeshop Insider: Amsterdam Run-House Gallery

by Bobby Black, Mon May 25, 2009

Head to Inside an Amsterdam Coffeeshop - Part Four for more on Bobby's experience in an Amsterdam run-house.

tags: coffee shops, amsterdam, almost infamous, bobby black, cannabis cup, october 2009 19    « add a comment

Inside an Amsterdam Coffeeshop - Part Four

by Bobby Black, Thu May 21, 2009

These past two days have been the most revealing yet. I’ve left the relative glamour of coffeeshop life behind and descended into the shady underbelly of the business—the secret life of the runner.

Runners are like delivery services for coffeeshops. They are responsible for supplying the shops with all of the weed they sell and must be on call at all times during shop hours to replenish whatever stock is running low. They operate out of hidden little rooms called “runhouses” or “drophouses” where they store, sort, weigh, bag, seal, label and deliver all of the shop’s inventory of strains. To experience what their job is like, I rented a bike and followed one of these runners on his rounds, helping him package and deliver a few runs. Then today, I met with the head runner, who brought me to the main inventory storehouse. I gotta tell ya, working at HIGH TIMES I’ve seen some pretty big piles of weed before, but this …READ MORE

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Coffeeshop Insider: Barney's Farm Gallery

by Bobby Black, Wed May 20, 2009

Y'all asked for a photo gallery? Well, here it is! More to come soon...

Head to Inside an Amsterdam Coffeeshop for more on Bobby's Amsterdam experience. 

tags: bobby black, amsterdam, cannabis cup, seed company, almost infamous, october 2009 25    « add a comment