Article #176: Remembering Ace Frehley

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“ACE Frehley, the comet has passed”
Dr. Rox Remember When Article #176
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

My childhood hero has passed on. On Thursday 16 October 2025 Ace Paul Daniel Frehley passed on.

Though I wrote an article on Ace many years ago, this one hit me hard enough to write my own eulogy on Ace. And it goes like this: it was the summer of 1976 in Jackson (Brandon), Mississippi. my neighbor Jimmy S. (his dad was the lead vocalist and keyboard player in the local band “Baker’s Dozen” they had a 45 Single out at the time and at this point in time my dad Bill Schwinden was the drummer in this band) Jimmy had just received KISS “Destroyer” for his birthday, one cloudy day we were out in the front yard playing tag or something like that and Jimmy kept going on and on about this song “Detroit Rock City” by a band called KISS, now I had heard KISS on the radio with “Beth” I was not impressed I had seen a TV commercial for K-Tel’s “Disco-Mania” with “Rock And Roll All Nite” again, I was not impressed. We kids were not allowed in Jimmy’s house so he put his stereo speakers in the window and we stood next to the wall and listened, I did not get why they had sound effects at the beginning of the song, I thought the song was ok, I guess, so I asked to see the cover. When he handed it to me I was blown away, of course Gene was the most menacing and a person’s eyes were drawn right towards him, I thought Peter was cool, simply because, he was a drummer and so was my dad, I was the least interested in Paul (which oddly enough I have portrayed him for the last 12 years in KISSin Time MPLS) but there was something that drew me to Ace, I can not say exactly what it was, perhaps it was the Spaceman, sci-fi thing he had going. As I looked over the song titles one in particular caught my attention, “Sweet Pain” it made me laugh out loud, I just couldn’t understand what this could be about (little did I know it was about S&M). And then … I heard Gene’s voice, this was the sound I had been looking for my whole life. I was hooked.

Shortly after this my childhood friends since birth Spencer and Chris C. came to visit my family from Iowa, turns out they were huge KISS fans already, there was an immediate bond, in addition too, we had all known each other since birth. The 1st KISS record (vinyl) I got a hold of was the 45 Single of “Rock And Roll All Night” b/w the Alive version. Then I got my own copy of “Destroyer” then “Hotter Than Hell” from my friend Greg A. then “Rock And Roll Over” from my friend David B. then for my 14th birthday my dad Bill (though he was broke at the time) ponied up for “Alive” The Cain family got me “Dressed To Kill” My friends Spencer and Chris photographed and taped KISS in Lincoln, NE. 20 Jan 1977, so I had a tape of that show before “Love Gun” was released. “I Stole Your Love” was my jam, lastly I got a hold of the “1st Album” I was greatly disappointed in the delivery of those classic songs, save for “KISSin Time”. Now Spencer wanted to be Ace, and Chris wanted to be Gene, I was regulated to be Peter as my dad was a drummer. I have a photo of me in Peter’s make up, from about 1978, I would guess. 1978 was a slow year for album releases, at least for me it was, then in the fall (Sept.) the 4 solo albums were released. Now my family being poor working class with 4 kids and only 1 car, I did not have the luxury of getting all the records I wanted. So what I would do is go downtown to Kresge’s and buy the newest 45 Singles that were out for the albums I wanted. I bought Ace’s “New York Groove” and Paul’s “Hold Me” (huge disappointment) I loved Ace’s “Snowblind” on the flipside so I bought his album 1st. I loved that album so much “Rip It Out” was the very 1st song I ever tried to sing in front of people (humiliating…) So I made sure we include it in KISSin TIme and in my solo band ‘StarChild’ (Playing 1 Nov 2025 Sat 7pm at The WetBarn in Somerset, WI.)

Before I was able to play guitar I would dress as Ace in makeup and the “Hotter Than Hell: time clock triangle” in fact in 1977 a rock magazine held a contest to “Design New KISS Costumes” so I entered. And in 1982 I had my Grandma Marge make this costume I designed for me, incredibly in 2009 when Tommy Thayer was in KISS, his ‘New’ costume looked very much like the one I designed in 1977, I still have it somewhere.

I was always so enamored with Ace’s guitar playing style, I wanted a Black Les Paul like he played, but in fact my 2nd real Gibson was a 1976 Tobacco Les Paul Standard, which was very similar to Ace’s 1973 and 1974 Les Pauls. I had a 2nd one a few years ago. Since I started playing guitar at age 16 (thanks to Mike and Jack Langley) I always tried to copy Ace’s style and play like him, sadly I never was able to master this, even to this day. Then finally a new KISS record “Dynasty” is released with 3 songs sung by Ace no less and one a Rolling Stones song which I had loved the Rolling Stones since 1968, if I would have to guess. I got to see the original 4 in Omaha, NE. 8 Oct 1979, I was amazed. I have a few great photographs of that show, sadly Asia Security was so strict we were unable to get the tape recorder in for this show. However our fried Brent H. his uncle was a security guard at the hotel KISS were staying in, so his uncle had us wait in the hallway of the restaurant, while Gene was eating with a female friend, the uncle had us stay there until Gene left and we got to see Gene go upstairs to his room … NO Makeup, now I was skeptical because this guy had an afro …. ? But alas this was in fact gene, I have the “US” magazine he was carrying as he handed it to us. Then we had to wait a whole year for the next album “Unmasked” (a real disappointment) but again 3 Ace songs, alright, albeit not great ones. Then Peter left, and a year and a half later “The Elder”. While I myself Loved The Elder (it helped me believe in myself when everyone around me was putting me down) it was very different and only really one Ace song.

So then comes “Killers” and soon after “Creatures Of The Night” now the article I read at the time Ace stated he would have a song on “Creatures” titled “Rockin With The Boys” (when I met him in April ’90 I asked him about this song, as well as “Queen For A Day” slated for “Rock And Roll Over” instead of being impressed he seemed put off that I knew about these unreleased songs. He did eventually release “Rockin With The Boys” in 2018, I found out from Gene probably in 1990 only the backing tracks were recorded for “Queen For A Day” by Gene, Paul and Peter, that Ace never showed up to add his Vocals and Lead Guitar). However NO Ace songs on either and to be honest, I could tell that it was probably Not Ace playing guitar on these 2 albums. Though Ace did a promotional tour and interviews for the band and KISS announced Ace would be making appearances at some shows in 1982-83, essentially Ace was out of the band.

Ace was ready to do his own thing. Here is a list of the songs that were scheduled to appear on Ace’s 1986 Bronze Album, (in no certain order) I Got The Touch, I Will Survive, I’m An Animal (Scarlet), Back In My Arms Again, Back On The Streets (Scarlet), Audio/ Video, Wired Up, I Heard An Angel, Give It To Me Anyway (Scarlet), My Girl (cover), Baby It’s You (cover). I have a photo of Ace signing the record contract somewhere, alas Bronze folded before Ace’s album could be released. I have to think those recordings are licensed to Bronze as Ace never released them or even re-recorded them, and in my opinion “Audio/Video” is one of the best songs Ace ever recorded. Ace did sign to Megaforce/ Atlantic records from 1987 to 1989; releasing 3 studio albums, a live EP and a VHS (back then the standard record deal was 3 to 5 releases in a 3 to 5 year period). While Ace and his band (Frehley’s Comet) played many one off shows on the east coast tri-state area from 1984 to 1986, he did not do full tours until 1987 with the release of his 1987 solo album. So the 1st time I was able to see and meet Ace was in April 1990 in Tempe (Phoenix) AZ. at Zia records, he was there for a meet and greet for his new album “Trouble Walkin”. I spent several hours with him there that day. He was very closed off and guarded, he would laugh and talk to his bandmate Ritchie Scarlet, and to a lesser extent John Regan. Things he talked about, he laughed at signing a girl’s dog he said “I have never signed a dog before” he told me he still had his “First leathers and Marshall stacks” he was impressed with some photos Lydia Criss had taken from Jan 1974 in New York. He suggested I buy a 2nd copy of his new album. I watched him shop for Cheap Trick CDs and flip through a sub sandwich like a deck of cards. I asked him if he still performed “Deuce” his response “You’ll have to go and see”. I did in fact go to the show, it was great, I remember Ace fixed his hair in the mirror every few songs.

The next time I saw Ace in concert was Oct 1994 here in MPLS at The Mirage, for a Halloween show, he judged a look alike contest, we waited for him after the show but his manager George Sewitt, came out and said “Sorry folks, it’s too cold for Ace, so he won’t be signing” I saw Ace a couple days later in Des Moines at Hairy Mary’s (yes, the Slipknot club) I met met George before the soundcheck, he asked “If I had a subpoena for him” I laughed and said “No, I just want to get ‘The Kid From The Bronx ‘ autograph on my Paul Stanley guitar, George responded “He won’t sign any guitars, after the Yamaha fiasco, why Did Ace play it ?” We waited at the hotel like George suggested, Ace pulled up in a cab, shook his head and said “Sorry I’m late for a meeting” so we went across the street and waited, Ace got out of a rental car and said “SO, you guys want an autograph, ok, only one per person” the club was packed and Ace had to enter the stage through an old coat check hole in the wall behind the main door. I do remember he said “You all want a guitar lesson and he played “Fractured” from his 1987 solo album.

I saw Ace a few more times after that 2008 MPLS, 2015 Hinckley, 2017 St. Paul, 2018 New Hope, KISSin Time actually performed that night, the band got our photo with Ace an invited him to come up and play with us, while he considered it his manager informed him he had to catch an early flight the next morning so Ace passed. I met him twice this day, the first time without my Paul Stanley makeup and the 2nd time in my makeup, I remember when I walked up to Ace, he took a good long look at my face and then my costume and muttered “You look really good”.

Of Ace’s later albums I really liked “Sister” “Fox On The Run” “A Little Below The Angels” from 2009, “Space Invader” “Past The Milky Way” from 2014, “Fire And Water” “Emerald” form 2016, “Bronx Boy” “Rockin With The Boys” from 2018, “Kicks” “30 Days In The Hole” from 2020, “Back In My Arms Again” “10,000 Volts” from 2024.

I totally regret not going to see Ace in Sep 2024 in Hinckley and Feb 2025 in Mahnomen, but I must have had something going on at the time, so I didn’t, and now he’s gone.

Rest In Spaceman, you had a huge impact on this kid’s life and music.
Until, we meet again … MrZerr0

Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show #321 Oct 2025
Shock Me: June 1977
Rocket Ride: (#39) Oct 1977
Hard Times: May 1979
Save Your Love: May 1979
Talk To Me: May 1980
2 Sides Of The Coin: May 1980
Dark Light: Nov 1981

Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show #61 Sep 2018
With guest Candice Biotch
Rip It Out: Sep 1978
Eugene: Crazy Joe and the Variable Speed Band: Aug 1981 w/ ACE Frehley
Love Me Right: Apr 1987
Rocket Ride Live ’87 Sept
Words Are Not Enough: Feb 1988
Juvenile Delinquent: May 1988
5 Card Stud: Oct 1989

KISSin Time: will be performing their 12th Annual Halloween Show on 31 October 2025 Fri 9pm at Big Guys BBQ in Hudson, WIS. Call: 715. 549. 6255 For ALL Info

You can hear Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 8am Sundays on Radi0 WDGY: AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. For 322 Episodes; Since 2017. You can hear the last 90 Shows at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can hear other past Radio Programs from MrZerr0 @ www.MixCloud.Com Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show (32 Shows) and Rick Burnett’s Hits And History (17 Shows).

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Article #175: Mr. Bobby Hart

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“My Man Bobby Hart”
Dr. Rox Remember When? 
Article #175 September 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

     When I was a kid growing up on the Westside of Sioux City, Iowa, in grade school I think we got out of school about 3pm or so, now I would run home to watch TV, because from about 4 to 5:30pm I could watch what I wanted, although then there were only 4 channels NBC 4, ABC 9, CBS 14 and PBS 11, even then we had a tough time picking up CBS channel 14 as it  was UHF and half the time on PBS there was not much to watch. I remember “Leave It To Beaver” being on all the time and no wonder as Jerry Matthers was born in Sioux City. Also “I Dream Of Jeannie” “Star Trek”. 

I had been actively listening to records since I was very young, as I have covered many times, the 1st music I was exposed to was by my Aunt Debby, that being Dave Clark 5 and Beatles, I discovered The Monkees on my own, from watching TV at the age of 3. Well in 1972 or so I had 5 Monkees singles and their 1st album. When I was sitting in my room listening to records I would read the labels of the other records I had. I noticed on The Monkees records I kept seeing the names “Boyce And Hart” on The Monkees records. Low and behold one day after school I am watchin “I Dream Of Jeannie”  (Season 3 Episode 6 Oct 1967) and there in living color is Tommy Boyce And Bobby Hart (also Billy Lewis who I later became friends with through Bobby Hart) on the show singing their own songs “Out And About” “Girl I’m Out To Get You If I Can” and “Love Every Day” I was blown away, now it didn’t sound exactly like The Monkees, but close enough for me, years later my buddy Eric DeW. gave me a copy of their album “Test Patterns” after that I slowly acquired more and more Boyce  & Hart records.   

Now admittedly Boyce said they chased the current hits on the radio writing “Answer Songs” to current hits, or writing songs in the vein of the current hits on the radio EX: “Last Train To Clarksville” to “Paperback Writer” and  “Let’s Dance On” to “Good “Lovin”. When it came to the duo themselves, I believe it was their idea to be similar to “The Righteous Brothers” that had formed in 1963, releasing 12 albums and 28 singles with 20 songs on the BillBoard Charts. With Boyce’s tenor vocals and Hart’s baritone vocals. While working at “RecordShop” in 1990 (Golden Valley, MN.) I met Larry S. who saw Boyce And Hart in concert on 18 Oct 1968 Bloomington at the Met. Ctr. for the Bobby Kennedy Memorial Event, where Sonny And Cher were scheduled to appear, although Cher was pregnant with their 1st child and was instructed to stay home. Hart said of the gig “When we found out Cher was not going to appear, we decided to do our show and get the heck out of there before a riot broke out and we got caught in the middle of it” Larry recalled “I saw the name Boyce and Hart stenciled on their road cases off to the side of the stage and thought how cool would it be to be in a touring band like that”     

I went to see The Monkees on 21 June 1986 in Des Moines, Iowa as me and my friends Gail and Kevin were walking down the street (no pun intended) Incredibly I saw a man on the street corner holding a red cassette boombox talking to some female fans, as I got a little closer (again no pun intended) I recognized that it was in fact none other than Tommy Boyce interviewing fans for his radio show in Nashville, TN. so I stopped and asked “You’re Tommy Boyce?” he responded “Yes, I am, how did you recognize me?” me “I am a huge fan of yours and Bobby” we proceeded to talk for about 20 min. when Boyce shut off his cassette recorder and said “Rik, your asking me so many questions I’m gonna run out of tape, and some of these I can not legally answer because of the contracts I signed in the 60s” 

In August 1990 Michael G. Bush held a Monkees convention in Chicago where David Jones, Boyce And Hart Appeared and performed, so I got to see Boyce And Hart in concert on 17 August 1990  and meet them after the show, they signed a record and a guitar for me, I also met Tommy’s 1st wife Bobbi the next day. Two days later I met Bobby in the hallway of the hotel and conveyed to him my friend John Jayne’s request for a copy of Hart’s single “Lover’s For The Night” to go into Joel Whitburn’s BillBoard Library. Bobby gave me his home address and said “Contact me next week and  Do not give this out” and that’s where my friendship with Bobby Hart began. In Summer 1992 I went to KIOA to present a proposal of a 1 hour radio show on Boyce And Hart, which was the genesis of my “PsychoGello Show” however DJ Dic Youngs informed me without a “Producer” I could never get this show on air. When Boyce passed away on 23 Nov 1994 I sent his widow Caroline a card in return she sent me one of Tommy’s favorite shirts and some artwork he had made for her. 

Many years later, in 2011, I met a woman who worked at Barbara’s in Nashville, and she remembered she had waited on Boyce many times and recognized the shirt his widow had given me. In August 1997 I set it up for Bobby to appear on radio KIOA (Des Moines) Dic Youngs’ Saturday Night Rock Roll And Remember radio show.  Dic said Bobby was the best interview he ever had on the show. In Summer of 1997 I put together a video proposal for a “Behind The Music” on Boyce And Hart, I sent copies to Bobby, Billy Lewis and Boyce’s widow Caroline. Bobby contacted me straight away “Rik this is really great we need to get this to MTV” alas they never picked it up for option, however many years later Bobby did appear in the documentary on Playboy Bunny Claudia Jennings (born in St. Paul) as Bobby was involved with her for over 5 years. 

Bobby Hart’s recording career.

1959 Radio Records “Stop Talkin Start Lovin” b/w “Love Whatcha Doin To Me” 

1959 ERA Records “Girl in The Window” b/w “Journey Of Love” Both Harshman

1961 Bamboo Records “Spider And The Fly” b/w “Girl I Used To Know” Harshman

1962 Infinity “Lovesick Blues b/w I Think It’s Called A Heartache” Harshman

1962 Infinity “Too Many Teardrops” b/w “People Next Door” 

1964 DCP “That’ll Be The Day” b/w “Turn On Your Lovelight”

1965  DCP “Jealous Feeling” b/w “Baby Let Your Hair Down” 

1965 DCP “Cry My Eyes Out” b/w “Around The Corner”  

Boyce And Hart
with Tommy Boyce (born Sidney Thomas Boyce Jr. 27 Sept 1939 Charlottesville, VA. 23 Nov 1994 Nasville)
4 albums
“Test Patterns” 1967. “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite” 1967. “It’s All Happening On The Inside” 1969. “Anthology” and were the backing band for Trini Lopez’s “Whole Enchilada” 1969. Unverified their 4th studio LP was to be on Aquarian Records under the title “Testify” including “I’ll Blow You A Kiss” “Smilin” “Wake Up Girl” “I Thank You” “Let’s All Take A Trip To Nashville”   
8 singles with 8 songs on the BillBoard Charts. including:
“Out And About” #39 July 1967 with a promo film
“I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite” #8 Dec 1967
“Goodbye Baby” #53 April 1968
“Alice Long” #27 July 1968 with a promo film
“L.U.V.” #111 
Theme songs to the films “The Ambushers” 1967 and “Where Angels Go Trouble Follows” 1968
on the TV Shows “Days Of Lives” Nov 1965 “I Dream Of Jeannie” Oct 1967 “Bewitched” Feb 1970 and “Flying Nun” Mar 1970 and regulars on the “Joey Bishop Show” 

1973 Chelsea “Easy Evil” 

1974 WB “Hard Core Man b/w “You And Me” from the film “Feebie And The Bean”  

Dolenz Jones Boyce and Hart
June 1975 to Aug 1976
2 albums “1st Album” and “Live In Japan” 
2 singles “I Remember The Feeling” “I Love You”
1 Betamax “D.J.B.& H. No Record”
Incredibly I saw this band on “American Bandstand” summer 1976, when I lived in Jackson, MS. They also appeared on “Rock Concert” and “Dinah Shore”  

Album 1979 WEA “First Solo Album” 

1979 WEA “I’m On Fire” b/w “First Impressions” 

1979 WB “Loneliest Night” b/w “Sometimes Love” 

1980 Ariola “Lover’s For The Night b/w Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” #110 on 20 Dec 1980

Book 2015 “Psychedelic Bubblegum”
Promo video for “Hurt So Bad”  

Bobby also wrote for many other artists such as Jay And The Americans, Little Anthony And The Imperials, Paul Revere And The Raiders, The Leaves, Del Shannon, Dino, Desi And Billy, Andy Willimas, Dean Martin, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Josie And The Pussycats, Austin Roberts, Scooby Doo, Helen Reddy, Partridge Family, New Edition, Robbie Nevil and of course The Monkees. 

I have made several radio shows on Boyce And Hart: PsychoGello Shows #6 Aug 2017 and #7 Sep 2017 and #317 Sep 2025. And Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” Program  #16 from 2019. And a “St. Cloud Buzz” Article #11 Feb 2012.

You can hear Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show on Radi0 WDGY 8am Sundays. AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. Since 2017. Hear the last 90 shows at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can hear the “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and Rick Burnette’s “Hits And History” with MrZerr0 for 17 Programs at www.MixCloud.Com. 

Until the next time ….. MrZerr0

Mr. Zer0’s 
*Est.2009
1744 Lexingtona Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING ONLY:
Music, Movies,
Toys, Shirts,
Video Games.
Where;
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Article #174: Def Leppard

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“Deaf Leopold”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #174 August 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

  So when I was in High School at West in in Sioux City, my good buddy Jerry “Leopard” Johnson brought this album to me and said “You gotta listen to this, it’s a bunch of kids from England and they rock” they were in fact Def Leppard. he handed me their 1st album “On Though The Night” released in March 198, admittedly, I was not impressed, I thought it as average at best, the stand out tracks to me were; “Wasted” “Answer To The Master” “Rock Brigade” I did find it interesting the band used Hamer Guitars, as so many at  the time used Gibson or Fender.  Def Leppard opened for AC/DC on 10 Sep 1980 in Lincoln, NE. It would seem several of my friends attended Jerry, Brett R. Brent H. because all 3 of these guys were raving on and on about Def Leppard.

The following year my one time musical partners Eric DeW. and Brett R. enlightened me to Def Leppard’s new release “High And Dry” released in July 1981, now I was out of school by this time but a lot of my friends were still in school. Now this was a revelation to me, as I thought and still do think “High And Dry” is what I like to call a nearly perfect album, one in which I, myself loves nearly every song from start to finish. Stand out tracks to me: “Let It Go” “No No No” “Mirror, Mirror”. Now I was clearly drawn to Pete Willis’ song writing and playing way over Clark’s, to me Pete Willis seemed to be the soul of the band, this time round I couldn’t help but notice all the members had curly hair, I remember thinking what are the odds of all members having the same type of hair, it wasn’t until much later I learned it was Joe Elliott’s idea for all members of the band to get perms to look like his hero Marc Bolan (NOT Tommy Bolin) of T-Rex, which I also heard Willis was not found of and felt they should focus more on the music and less on the look.

Well, 2 and half long years later, their 3rd release “Pyromania” comes out. Hummmm….. well Pete Willis is gone, Phil Collen of “Girl” (1979-82) is now on 2nd Guitar, and a whole new sound, not necessarily bad, just totally different. However the 1st single off of the album “Photograph” well, I just hated it from the first time I heard it. The stand out tracks to me “Rock Rock Til You Drop” “Rock Of Ages” “Foolin” “Billy’s Got  A Gun” “Die HArd The Hunter”. Now we are firmly in the age of MTV, and it seemed like MTV only played about 100 videos and so you could not tune in and not see Def Leppard. Well this was just too much for me. I was growing tired of Def Leppard. Then 31 Dec 1984 Rick Allen lost his arm in a car crash. My buddy Eric DeW. secured a copy of “The Def Leppard E.P.” I loved the songs “Ride Into The Sun” and “Overture”

I read a few articles back then, 2 excerpts that stood out to me:
Clark said of Willis “We met in drafting school we both played guitar, but I was self taught and he knew the rules”

Tony Iommi said of the guitar players in Def Leppard “I was talking to Steve Clark and he stated “If you want to learn how to play like your guitar hero, then go back and study his influences” and this made a world of sense to me”

Then almost 5 years later, completely unheard of for an artist at the time, finally a new album “Hysteria” is released in Aug 1987. At this time in the music biz, Cassette is the chosen format having 8-% of the buying public and only 1 month later the Music Industry makes the decision to END Vinyl in lieu of CD, which at this time is only about 17% of music sales. The 1st 2 singles they released had NO effect on me, finally the 3rd single “Hysteria” I thought was pretty good, but it was “Pour Some Sugar On Me” that really grabbed me (at the time) I thought this is the biggest hit on this LP. Little did I know I would have to hear it 10 billion more times after this, on an almost daily basis. The only other stand out track to me was “Love Bites”

Again almost 5 long years later, the band release a new album “Adrenalize” in March 1992. The only song that really caught my attention was “Tonight” otherwise this release slipped right past me. By now I have almost no interest in this band, however it is on this tour, it is the 1st chance I get to see this band live, so I go. I have seen the band many times, here are the concerts I can remember for sure attending.

15 Dec 1992 Des Moines, Iowa @ Veterans Auditorium.
12 Aug 1999 Des Moines, Iowa State Fair
27 July 2002 Mall Of America, Bloomington
3 Sep 2007 Mn State Fair
17 Aug 2014 Target Ctr
G3: with Phil Collen 24 Feb 2018 MPLS State

I met Def Leppard in July 2022, I would say the nicest ones in the band were Allen and Savage. Collen seemed a little aloof. Campbell was the most talkative. And Elliot … hummm.

Now one really cool thing I loved about Def Leppard was the fact that the “B-Side” to most of their Cassingles (Cassette Single) were Non-LP, so we, the fans got more songs from those albums we loved. I would say almost 20 Non-LP songs in total, that’s another 2 albums worth of songs, stand out for me are: “Ride Into The Sun ’87” “Only After Dark”  several were released on “Retro Active” in Oct 1993, albeit, all of the songs on this release have been altered from the original recordings.

The band did release about 8 other titles later on, but I grew tired of them I did like their cover of “Waterloo Sunset” and how they changed the lyrics to “20th Century Boy” besides a 2009 Release of a Sep 1983 Concert, I was pretty much done with Def Leppard. But it’s like I tell my long time friend Aggie S. Def Lep Fan Extraordinaire; “If you love Def Leppard, then do so, who cares what anyone else thinks”

The Def Leppard: PsychoGello Show 2025:
“Ride Into The Sun” Jan 1979
“Answer To The Master” Mar 1980
“No No No” July 1981
“Me And My Wine” Nov 1981
“Love Bites” Aug 1987
“Tonight” Mar 1992
“Only After Dark” Oct 1993

You can hear Mr. Zero’s PsychoGello Show 8am Sundays on Radi0 WDGY. AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. Since 2017. Releasing 320 Episodes. Hear back Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast.
You can hear Mr. Zero’s “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and Rick Burnette’s “Hits And History” with Guest MrZerr0 for 17 Programs at www.MixCloud.Com.  

Check back next month … MrZerr0

Mr. Zer0’s Inc.
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville-St. Paul, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING ONLY:
Music,
Toys,
Movies,
Shirts,
Video Games.
Where:
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https://patch.com/minnesota/roseville/mrzerr0s-def-leppard-memories-1979

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Article #172: A Father’s Day Legacy

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“Father’s Day Legacy”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #172: June 172
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

So June is the month of “Father’s Day” as I am a father myself, in an unusual situation, being; I am over 60 and my son is 5 and 1/2 years old, by the time he grows up I will be really old, if I am around at all. As i have been to many funerals I have heard what stories people tell about those who have passed, this got me thinking, I would prefer if people remember me for the the things I feel I accomplished in my life, and that someone would make my son Ashton Paul “Oblieon” aware of my accomplishments in life. So with this article I am going to take the time to cover the many things I feel are my accomplishments in my life I wish to be remembered by.

I received my 1st guitar from my Uncle Jeff at 8 years old, an Egmund acoustic. I started learning to play at about 16 years old. Admittedly while I was not very good I was able to sing and and play at the same time and I was/am a good entertainer. Here is a list of the bands, as far as I can remember, that I played with over the years.

*Bands
Magic Acid Band 1980 Sioux City
Palace Guard 1982 Sioux City
High Fever 1983 Rapid City
Scepter 1985 Des Moines
Black Diamond 1986 -1988 Des Moines
The Layabouts 1991 Des Moines
MrZERo 2012 St. Paul
KISSin Time 2013 MPLS
StarChild 2015 MPLS
BanG GanG 2019 Somerset
Tommy Bolin Tribute Band Sioux City 2021
Thee Mod Garage 2022 MPLS

Other bands I have sat in with: Rough House Rox, Mad Mike’s Funhouse, Rock Godz, Atomic Playboys, ACK, Jesus Chrysler, Party Army, KISS Army Young Executives.

While I was trying to learn to play guitar, which I found to be exceedingly difficult, I found out I could be quite funny, in the beginning I was inspired by The Monkees and later Steve Martin, I worked on my comedy skills rather than my musicianship. So a few different times I gave it a go at Standup Comedy or more so Comedy Story Telling.

*Stand Up Comedian:
1983 South Dakota
2013 St. Paul

I did much care for school but one thing I did enjoy was essay writing or story telling. I was pretty good at it, save for my spelling skills, well I was so bad, if you missed more than 30% you were required to write out the test words 10 times. I was so bad I used to write out the words for next week’s spelling test 10 times in advance and I would still fail. So I did end up writing for several publications, however most were facts or personal experience based.

*Music Articles
Purple Flower Gang Fanzine 1992 -1996
St. Cloud Buzz 2011 -2017
Lost My Stub 2012 – 2013
Roseville Patch 2011
MPLS Buzz 2018

Having written so many articles, occasionally my work would get noticed and used in other publications, sometimes without my permission or credit.

*Books
Monkees Archives By: Gary Strobl
U2: Concert Series
KISS: Alive Forever By: Suchs & Gooch
MIchael Nesmith: Total Control By Randy & Brad Masengil
Monkees: Day By Day By Andrew Sandoval

My Books in the works:
KISS History & Trivia
The Monkees On Tour
Tommy Bolin Encarta
Daniel’s Inferno
Future Now
Yes, This Really Happened

I did listen to the radio a lot when I was growing up because I was always wanting to hear new songs, and being poor I could not afford to buy all the new music I wanted to hear, so radio was a solution to that problem. I never really thought about being a DJ when I was young, although I did like the idea of programming music for a radio station. The very 1st time I was involved in a radio show was helping my then girlfriend Grace H. pick out the songs for guest appearance on a Des Moines station.

*On The Air Radio:
Jolene Jorgenson Live In Concert Radio Show 1992

WDGY: 2017 for 311 Shows
WFNU: 2018 -2019 “Early Morning Show” for about 20 programs
“Hits And History Show” with Rick Burnett 2019 – 2021 for 17 Episodes
Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” 2020 -2021 for 32 Episodes (20 still in the can)
KFAI “PsychoGello Show” as a guest of ‘The Pop Shop” 7 times 2012- 2018
WMNC 2 alive performances
AM950 “Ghost Talk Radio”
The Goat ‘Saturday Guest Show” April 2023

When I was younger the idea of an actor did appeal to me, one time being an astronaut, the next a cowboy or a caveman. So when I was asked to supply props for a local film “Attack Of The Moon Zombies” I leaped at the chance. This led to me having small parts in several films and a documentary.

*Films
You can find me on IMDB under Richard L. Schwinden
“Attack Of The Moon Zombies” 2011
“Not Quite Lyin Eyes” 2013
“Adjust Your Tracking” 2013
“The Giant Spider” 2013
“Lake Street Detective” 2017
“Guns Of The Apocalypse” 2018
“Beast Walks Among Us” 2021
“The Wad” 2024
2 others I contributed to “Attack Of The Moon Zombies” and “Wilson”

Besides being a “Rock Star” the only thing I ever really wanted to do was work at a Music Store, I struggled long and hard to get into and stay in the music business, and let me tell you it was not ever easy.

*Jobs
Terry Drea Presents: Sioux City 1982 -83
RecordShop: Des Moines 1986 – 1993
Wherehouse 1993 – 1995
Best Buy: 1995 – 1998
Wax Works: 1998 – 2000
Trans World: fye: 2000 – 2005
DiscLand: 2005 -2009
I opened Mr. Zer0’s in April 2009 wrote and recorded a theme song in January 2017
Music Go Round: Roseville 2023

You can hear MrZerr0’s PsychoGello Show 8am Sundays on Radi0 WDGY 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Con -Podcast. You can hear 2 of Mr. Zer0’s other Radi0 Shows at www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and “Hits And History” with Rick Burnett for 17 Programs.

Ok then … until the next time… this has been MrZerr0

Mr. Zer0’s
*Est.2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$elling & Trades:
Music, Toys, Movies,
Shirts, Video Games.
Where;
“Nerd Is The Word”

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Article: #171: April Wine

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“All Over Town” April Wine
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #171: May 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

    I hate to sound like my friend Rylan’s favorite comedian Joe Para when he discovers ‘The Who’ but the beauty of having a radio show of the past 8 seasons, that covers a specific band, every now and then I get to discover new songs or even a new band or artist, in some cases I get to learn more about some music I was only marginally familiar with. So this month’s “Joe Para” moment is April Wine. The songs I have on repeat on My CD Player are: Babes In Arms, All Over Town, Enough Is Enough, I Like To Rock, She’s No Angel, Roller, Money Talks, Rock Myself To Sleep, Tonight Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love (yes in my CD Player). Turns out I love this band, but as usual with most bands I like I hear “The Hits” and that piques my interest, then I get the full album and usually I like the non-single songs, and this band is no exception. Not only did I not really have access to MTV back in its heyday, I never really cared for what I saw …

I first heard about April Wine at West High school in Sioux City, I met a guy Brett “Strat” R. and he was in a band called “The Clique” and one of the songs they played was “I Like To Rock” now I didn’t really care for it as I was into The Beatles, The Monkees, The Rolling Stones and Steppenwolf, in which Brett says to me “I find it odd you don’t like this song as they play part of “Day Tipper” and “Satisfaction” by 2 of your favorite bands.”

I remember being on the road with ‘High Fever’ in 1983 and they also used to perform this song however on the setlist they would write it down as “I Like To F***” one time we were playing northern Minnesota and this blonde girl was reading the setlist and looks up and genuinely askes “Is there really a song called that?” we busted up laughing. It was ‘High Fever’ that really got me to take notice of April Wine, as they also performed the song “Babes In Arms” I really dug the half-step progression in that song. In July 2006 here in St. Paul when I saw and met April Wine, the 2nd thing I asked Vocalist, Songwriter, Guitarst Miles Goodwynn (23 June 1948 New Brunswick– 3 December 2023), what prompted him to write this song, he answered “I like the (1937) Rodgers And Hart Musical”. It turns out their original Bass Player Jim Clench (1 May 1949 Montreal – 3 November 2010) who I met this day, well I had seen him in concert before with ‘BTO’ in June 1978 in Sioux City.

In high school I dated a French Foreign Exchange student S.L.M. (I owned a Electra Les Paul copy, the “Zephyr” model by S.L.M.)  I remember the #21 BillBoard Hit (Feb 1981) “Just Between You And Me” ironically the final chorus of this song is in French, now while I was “Fool”in love at the time, even back then I thought “What a sappy song this is”. A little later when I worked at J.C. Penney’s the “bernies” I used to work with loved their song “If You See Kay” really? they would sing it and giggle …
Later on I moved to Des Moines with Brett and I used to hang out in The RecordShop (#67) at Valley West Mall, one time I saw a new release “April Wine’s Greatest Hits” and I said to Brett, “What did they have like 3 releases?” well the clerk working there must have been a huge fan because he overheard me and fired back “For your information April Wine has about 14 releases to date” I was taken aback. When I used to hang out with my good friend Kevin S. on Saturday nights and we would eat Godfather’s Pizza and drink Dr. Pepper, I vaguely remember April Wine being on the “MTV Saturday Nite Concert” unbelievably this show was filmed in Cedar Rapids at the 5 Seasons Ctr. on 24 Sept 1982 only 2 years earlier from when we watched it. April Wine played the Twin Cities for the 1st time 21 May 1981 in MPLS at the Orpheum and again 26 Sept 1982 in Bloomington at The Met Ctr.  

While continuing to search for bands to cover on Mr.Zer0’s PsychoGello Show, I have made shows on various countries and the rock bands that formed from there, EX: England, Ireland, Germany, 2 countries I have in the works was Australia and Canada, turns out one of my new co-hosts, one Leslee McKee was born and raised in Toronto, so I immediately went to work and created shows for “Oh! Canada” “Bachman Turner Overdrive” and most recently “April Wine”. Unfortunately I had already made shows on: Rush and Triumph long before I met Leslee.

This show was to air in April 2025 but we had a major technical difficulty which prevented it from airing when we wanted to air it.  
PsychoGello Show 2025
Episode #306: April Wine
with Co-Host (Canadian born) Leslee McKee
18 May 2025
Fast Train: (Canadian hit #38) Sept 1971
I’m On For For You Baby: (C #64)
Tonite’s A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love: (C #17) June 1975
She’s No Angel: 1977
Roller: (US. #4) March 1978
Babes In Arms: Oct 1979
I Like To Rock; Live ’80: (US. #86) Aug 1980
Sign Of The Gypsy Queen: (US. #57) Jan 1981

Catch MrZerr0 on Radi0 WDGY: 8am Sundays. 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1.
You can hear the last 90 Episodes of Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can hear 2 other Radio Shows by MrZerr0 at www.MixCloud.Com the “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and Rick Burnett’s “Hits And History” for 17 Programs.  

Mr. Zer0’s Inc.
*Est.2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville -St.Paul, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$elling and Trades:
Music,
Video Games,
Toys,
Movies,
Shirts.
Where: Nerd IS The Word

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Article #170: AC/DC

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“AC/DC: The Thunder From Down Under” 
Dr. Rox Remember When? 
Article #170 April 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 

   So recently my long time friend Mark E. called me up and asked me if I would like to attend an AC/DC concert in MPLS. I said sure. As I have been a pretty big fan since about 1979 hearing “Highway To Hell” on 8-Track with my West high school buddies Russ S. and Jeff P. riding around in a 70s Impala and a 60s Mercury. The songs that really grabbed me from that 8-Track were: “Walk All Over You” “Touch Too Much” “Beating Around The Bush”  Now admittedly I was not a fan at all at first, initially I thought AC/DC was a ‘Punk Band’ because why on earth would anybody dress in a school boy outfit like Angus does? I thought it was ridiculous, it was very punk to me. Wow, was I wrong. Now back in 1978 I had a friend David B. who was introducing me to some new music, one I specifically remember was ‘Triumph’ as we ‘RUSH’ fans were waiting around for a new album in 1979. I vividly remember David showing me his copy of the US version of “High Voltage” though it had been released 2 years earlier it usually took some time for things to reach Sioux City, Iowa (Tommy Bolin once made the same comment in an interview in 1976). David was telling me how great this band was, I just could not believe it. I would not give them a fair listen.   

I guess it was late 1979 when Russ and Jeff where really digging “Highway To Hell” (on 8-Track) and I was telling my Aunt Cat who was a another huge musical influence on me, about this “New” band AC/DC all I remember her saying was “you mean the band with the guy who has a guitar coming out of his pants?” Now I guess I had never really looked at the album cover close enough, so I was kind of surprised when I took a closer look and sure enough. So just as we were starting to get into AC/DC Bon Scott up and died. I remember breaking the news to Russ and Jeff in Bishops Cafeteria in downtown, strangely they didn’t seem to broken up about it. 

So later in 1980 around September I would guess, I had just started the school year and I was in a very serious motorcycle accident where I ended up in the hospital for almost 2 weeks as I recall. Now the really cool thing about this hospital stay was my Aunt Laura convinced one of the great crushes in my life Teresa M. to come visit me there. I was in heaven, also Mindy B. (from Uncle John Recordstore) brought to me my very first vinyl bootlegs; The Beatles “Help” and  “Get Back” containing one of my favorite unreleased Beatles songs “Teddy Boy” anyways, back to our story, while I was laid up the the hospital late one Friday (maybe Saturday, I was on morphine)  night, on the show “Pop Clips” (created by Monkees: Michael Nesmith) I saw for sure 3 videos of the “New ” AC/DC “Hells Bells” “Back In Black” and “Honey What Do You Do For Money” (I am told “Rock N Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” was also aired, however I do not remember seeing that one that night). I was blown away, I could not believe the “New Singer” Brian Johnson was nearly as good as Bon, and the songs were great. I remember telling Russ and Jeff about the new AC/DC album, and they had no clue they were still stuck on “Highway To Hell” I was way ahead of the curve, little did I know I people would still be discovering this album 18 months later. About this time Rock N Roll merchandise was in  its infancy, I like AC/DC so much so, that I made my own AC/DC hat, it was blue with a white logo, my Mom just hated it …. 

Back then I was dating a French Foreign Exchange Student Solange one friday night we were hanging out and her foster brother was playing music from downstairs and this song came thundering up from downstairs, I found it quite catchy, and she starts dancing and jumping around singing T.N.T. she was having so much fun I had to ask “Do you know this song?” she replied “No, I just heard it now, but it’s so easy to sing along with” so I had to ask him “Hey who is this band?” he said “AC/DC”. A little later this year in our local recordshop “Uncle John” I saw on the wall, the  Australian pressings of the first 3 AC/DC albums, now I was perplexed, as I had never seen an “Import” before I did not know what to think, these albums had different covers with some different songs and yet some of the same songs and they were 40% more than the usual albums, I didn’t buy them then, it wasn’t until many years later I obtained them. Smack dab in the middle on 1981 the song “Dirty Deeds” hit the airwaves, while I thought it was the best thing AC/DC ever released, I found it strange a song from an album recorded some 5 years earlier was just released in the USA, and with Bon Scott on Lead Vocals as he had been dead for 18 months by this point. Also being teens my peers (like Beavis and Butthead) and I got a real kick out of “Big Balls” 

Back in the olden days, a person could go see a concert film in the movie theatres. I saw many like this. Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter” Pink Floyd “The Wall” and once upon a time The Beatles “At Shea Stadium” well this is how I first saw AC/DC live The Orpheum ran the film “Let There Be Rock” my memory was how the guys in the band did not sound very intelligent when the were interviewed. And how Malcom changed into his stage clothes, taking off his light blue t-shirt and putting on his black stage t-shirt, I got a real laugh out of that. Now I am not sure it was left in the later versions of the film but there was a scene where Bon’s crotch blew out of his jeans. A few years after this I got a job at RecordShop #67 in Valley West Mall, I bet we sold a Cassette of “Back In Black” at least every single day of the week. so much so that almost every  employee had the Catalog Number memorized Atl #16018, in the mid 80s you could not go anywhere and not hear the Cassette (no one used vinyl by this time) of “Back In Black” playing in the background. While working there I met a singer/ dancer Ron Duncan, at the time he was a Michael Jackson impersonator, but in the early 90s he had switched to Rap/Hip Hop as that was the music trend at the time, changing his stage name to Ronny D. in 1994 he demoed for me his newest single, which used a loop of the intro to “Back In Black” that he had written a rap over. I remember thinking at the time, “Wow, this is a home run, a Rap single  with a Southside resident using Des Moines’s favorite song, this is sure to be a hit and blow up” sadly I don’t think Ronnie ever released it commercially.    

In the year 2000, “Wax Works” the record company I was with transferred me to St. Paul, about this time back in Des Moines my long time friend Chris W. formed the AC/DC Tribute “Big Balls” he called me frequently to join his band on Rhythm Guitar as their Malcolm, while I did not join his band I did sit in with his other band “Seven Hells” and performed several AC/DC songs such as “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” “Whole Lotta Rosie” “Sin City” “T.N.T” “Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be”, which was the very first prompting to get me to  return to playing “Live” music again after a 2 decade absence.   Sometime in 2011 my friend Ed H. formed his AC/DC tribute band “Old Voltage” I went to see them several times, as I booked the bands for CRYPTICON MPLS from  2015 to 2020, I booked them for CRYPTICON  2019, they were by far the most attended show I booked for the convention, the 2nd biggest draw was GraveZig a “Misfits/ Danzi” tribute (the 3rd was my own band KISSin Time probably because we were able to play all-ages shows in 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019). A few months  before I just saw AC/DC this time ’round I met 2 musicians from Scotland. One Craig S. and I delved into the discussion of is AC/DC “Australian or Scottish” as Both Malcolm, Angus and Stevie Young were all born in Scotland, as was Bon Scott. Drummer Phil Rudd was born in Australia. Their Bassist Cliff Williams was born in England, as was Brian Johnson. Their 1st Bassist Mark Evans was born in Australia. And 1st vocalist Dave Evans was born in Wales. Soooo, Craig explained to me that AC/DC is a shared pride between Australia and Scotland. 

I have seen AC/DC now 4 times
(Missed Them: 6 Oct 1985 Des Moines @ Vets) 
4 December 1990 Ames, Iowa @ Hilton Coliseum
2 September 2000 MPLS, MN. @ Target Ctr. 
19 January 2009 St.Paul, MN. @ Xcel Ctr.
AC/DC Concert 10 April 2025 Setlist:
1. “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”
2. “Back in Black”
3. “Demon Fire”
4. “Shot Down in Flames”
5. “Thunderstruck”
6. “Have a Drink on Me”
7. “Hells Bells”
8. “Shot in the Dark”
9. “Stiff Upper Lip”
10. “Highway to Hell”
11. “Shoot to Thrill”
12. “Sin City”
13. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train”
14. “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
15. “High Voltage”
16. “Riff Raff”
17. “You Shook Me All Night Long”
18. “Whole Lotta Rosie”
19. “Let There Be Rock”
20. “T.N.T.”
21. “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”

Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show Episode #29 Feb 2018
Love Song (Oh Jene) 
Hail Rock N Roll
Jailbreak
Live Wire
Aint No Fun Waiting Round To Be A Millionaire
Dog Eat Dog
What’s Next To Moon

   Tune into Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2025 on Radi0 WDGY. Sundays 8am. AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. Also you can hear Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show of 32 Episodes and Hits And History Show w/ Rick B. for 17 Programs at www.MixCloud.Com. 

So there you have it, fans, I guess in retrospect, I was/am a huge AC/DC fan, tune in next month for a new installment. 

Mr. Zer0’s 
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave.N.
Roseville-St.Paul, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING ONLY:
Music, Toys, Movies,
Shirts and Video Games.
Where
“Nerd Is The Word” 

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Article #169: Ireland Rocks

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“Ireland Rocks” 
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #169: March 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 

   So just before my son Ashton (Oblieon) was born my friend Imogene got me a “DNA Test” a little to my surprise the results came back that I was about 35% Norwegian, 33% Irish and the rest Eastern European. It was no real surprise as my Grandma Margie was half Irish and half Norwegian, and Grandpa John was full Eastern European. The shocking thing came to be that my son’s mother is about the same percentage of Norwegian and Irish but then Italian and turns out my son is about the same Norwegian, but then Romanian and the Irish. Now growing up with and spending a whole lot of time with my Grandparents I was taught a whole lot about their background and cultures. 

Growing up my family moved a lot, and I mean a lot about 19 times in 17 years, why in 1974 alone we moved to 3 different states in just that year alone, and so I attended 10 schools in 13 years, so I spent a whole lot of time alone we moved so much I was always the new kid and so not only was it hard to make new friends all the time, so I just got used to sitting in my room listening to music, reading about history and building model kits (planes, tanks, ships). Music was my escape from the torture of school. 

As I got older reading more about history and being Irish, I began to relate very closely to the plight of the Irish people, oppressed by the English starting in 1690, including the “Potato Blight” of 1845 -49, where over 1 million Irish citizens died of starvation until the “Easter Rising of 1916”. Between 1845 and 1855 over 2 million Irish migrated to the US, Canada (including my Grandpa Charles) and Australia to escape the dismal living conditions in Ireland. By 1855 nearly 1/3 of Manhattan NYC, was Irish facing much discrimination such as to be called “The Famine Irish” and an undergoing  Anti- Catholic sentiment as well as signs posted such as “No Irish Need Apply”. Now I really began to relate to this oppression, and I embraced it. I began to watch films on Ireland or based on Ireland, such as:   

‘The Commitments’ 1991
‘Far And Away’ 1992
‘The Crying Game’ 1992 
‘In The Name Of The Father’ 1993
‘The Matchmaker’ 1997
“The Devil’s Own’ 1997
‘Angela’s Ashes’ 1999

My old GF Grace (Napoli) used to quote Colm Meaney from the film “The Commitments”  “Well then The bloody U2 had better watch out” and she would laugh hysterically. Now I had heard McCartney’s “Give Ireland Back to The Irish” from Feb 1972 and Lennon’s “Luck Of The Irish” from June 1972 in response to “Bloody Sunday the Bogside Massacre” in Jan 1972 in Derry Northern Ireland. Trivia Time: The Beatles; Lennon, McCartney and Harrison All had Irish Grandparents. As well as Bram Stoker who wrote “Dracula” in 1987 was from Dublin. After hearing these 2 songs I began to delve into Irish Rock music, as I was told there really wasn’t much to choose from as Ireland is traditionally a very conservative country and culture. So here’s a list of some of Ireland’s rock music. 

Them: 1964 Belfast with Van Morrison 1945 Belfast.
Taste: 1966 Cork with Rory Gallagher: 1948 Donegal.
Skid Row: 1967 Dublin with Gary Moore: 1952 Belfast, N. Ireland.
Thin Lizzy: 1969 Dublin with Phil Lynott 1949 Staffordshire, England. 
Clannad: 1970 Donegal.
Boomtown Rats: 1975 Dublin with Bob Geldolph: 1951 Dublin.
U2:  1976 Dublin.
Stiff Little Fingers: 1977 Belfast.
The Pogues: 1982 London with Shane MacGowan: 1957 Kent, England.
My Bloody Valentine: 1983 Dublin.
The Waterboys: 1983 London.
Vivian Campbell (Dio & Def Leppard): 1962 Lisburn, N. Ireland.
Sinead O’Connor: 1966 Dublin.
The Cranberries: 1989 Limerick with Dolores O’Riordan 1971 Limerick.
The Corrs: 1990 Dundalk.
Snow Patrol: 1994 Dundee, Scotland
 Flogging Molly: 1997 Los Angeles, CA. 
B*witched: 1997 Dublin
 
I did create a St. Patrick’s Day PsychoGello Show  #185 March 2021. Which aired again this month on Radio WDGY. This is the PsychoGello Show’s 8th Season 8am Sundays on Radio WDGY. 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. Check out MrZerr0’s other Radi0 Shows at www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros the “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and Rick Burnett’s “Hits And History” for 17 instalments. 

You can see 3 feature stories on Mr. Zer0’s that aired 25, 26 March 2025 on FOX 9 KMSP www.Fox9.Com. 

https://www.fox9.com/video/161…
https://www.fox9.com/news/rose…

Until the next time …. hear MrZerr0 from  the stars.  

Mr. Zer0’s 
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING: ONLY
Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes.
VHS, DVDs, Laserdiscs.
Nintendo, Sega, XboX, PlayStation.
Vintage Toys Still In Package.
And Shirts too. 

April 2025 marks Mr. Zer0’s 16th Year In This Very Location. 

Where “Nerd Is The Word”

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Article #168: The Hollies

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

Dr. Rox Remember When?
“The Hollies from Manchester, England”
Article #168 Feb. 2025
By RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

So recently I found myself delving into The Hollies, while I had created a PsychoGello Show on them in March 2019, I did already know a lot about them, but I found myself singing “Carrie Anne” over and over, so much I started learning how to play it (I thought maybe to bring it to THEE MOD GARAGE for me to sing live). From there I really started to delve into their catalog, because most British bands from the 60s, they relied heavily on 45 Singles, usually with Non-LP B-Sides and sometimes even NON-LP A-Sides as well, and back then UK releases were often quite different from US releases.

I vividly remember hearing “Long Cool Woman” (#2 April 1972) on the Top 40 radio in Sioux City, I loved this song. I thought it was so cool. And later when we moved to Jackson (Brandon) Miss. hearing “Air That I Breathe” (#6 March 1974) even though I was so young I could feel the idea of loving someone so much, conveyed through this song. I actually met Terry Sylvester, albeit briefly on 30 June 2006 in St. Paul. In Winter of 1985 I met a DJ Bob at a local club, we met because he had an extensive Monkees audio collection, but it turns out his very favorite band was “Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young” and all of their many offshoots. The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, Stills-Young, Crosby-Nash, CPR and of course the 4 individual solo efforts. In fact I have made radio shows on these artists too. Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” #5 from Nov 2018 as well as PsychoGello Shows #104 Origins: CSN&Y and #105 CSN&Y both from Aug 2019.

As I have mentioned many times before my Godfather, Uncle Jim U. had a friend Vince H. who had a massive 45 Singles collection, and to my memory would sort of DJ get- togethers. Well many years later I was able to get many of Vince’s 45 Singles from my Grandma Margie. As the years went by I would play all of those records and keep the ones I liked the most, a couple were; The Hollies “Pay You Back With Interest” (#28 June 1967) and “King Midas In Reverse” (#51 Sept 1967). In 1991 I was working at RecordShop #66 at Southridge MAll in S. Des Moines, Iowa where I worked with one Mr. Robert and he loved The Hollies, he bought a “Best Of Hollies” CD and he turned me onto songs like, “Bus Stop” “Look Through Any Window” “On A Carousel” “Stop Stop” and ironically enough probably my favorite “Carrie Anne” which just happened to be the name of an employee we had at the time!

Now for a brief overview of The Hollies;
In their career they have released over 25 Albums and 94 Singles, with many Non-LP B-Sides, with 28 songs on the US Charts and 38 Songs on the UK Charts, making them one of the best selling British bands of the 60s. And 7 EPs, an EP is usually a 7″ Vinyl occasionally a 12″ Vinyl containing 3 to 5 songs. While not very popular in the USA they were wildly popular in the UK especially released between full length albums in the UK.

The Hollies performed here in MN:
1 Jan 1967 in Duluth, MN. at The Arena Auditorium
8 March 1968 in Bloomington, MN. at The Met Center

The band started out as The Deltas in the late 50s, and they changed their name to The Hollies in late Dec 1962 in honor of their love of Buddy Holly and it happened to be around Christmas time for this particular performance.

The main members of The Hollies:
Lead Vocalist: Harold Allan Clarke born on 5 April 1942 in Lancashire, England.


Vocalist Guitarist: Graham William Nash OBE born on 2 February 1942 in Lancashire.Bassist: Eric Haydock (born Haddock) on 3 February 1943 in Cheshire – 5 January 2019). Lead Guitar and Vocals “Tony” Anthony Christopher Hicks born on 16 December 1945 in Lancashire.

Drummer: Robert Hartley Elliott born on 8 December 1941 in Lancashire.

2nd Bassist “Bernie” Bernard Bamford Calvert born on 16 September 1942 in Briarfield, England.
Vocalist “Terry” Terence Sylvester born on 8 January 1947 in Liverpool, England.

*Trivia*
Eric Haydock was one of the first British musicians to play a Fender 6 string bass.
Tony Hicks played a 12 String Rickenbacker, adding the “Jangle” to their trademark 3 part harmonies.
Graham Nash Vox Phantom 12 String. I Met him briefly in 1994 in Des Moines however would not sign my CD. I remember seeing an interview with Nash where he talked about how he looked like Harrison, and they were born in the same month about a year apart and from roughly the same area of England. I remember hearing Nash’s solo hit “Chicago” in May 1971 #35 on the Billboard charts.

“Cover Up Show 2025”

Doris Troy “Just One Look” May 1963
Beatles “If I Need Someone” Dec 1965
Monkees “Yes, I Will” Oct 1966
Manfred Mann “Mighty Quinn” Jan 1968
Osmonds ” He Ain’t Heavy” Nov 1970
Albert Hammond “Air That I Breathe” Oct 1972
Linda Ronstadt “Can’t Let Go” June 1980
Micky Dolenz “Lullaby To Tim” 1991
Vince Neil “Long Cool Woman” June 2010

My “PsychoGello Show 2019” Episode #83 from March 2019
Lucille: Jan 1964
Yes, I Will: Jan 1965 #9 UK
If I Needed Someone: Fall 1965 #20 UK
Can’t Let Go: Feb 1966 #42 USA
Bus Stop: June 1966 #5
Stop Stop Stop: Oct 1966 #7 USA
Pay You Back With Interest: June 1967 #28
King Midas In Reverse: Sep 1967 #51
Jennifer Eccles: Mar 1968 #40
Sorry Suzanne: Feb 1969 #56
Mighty Quinn: May 1969
Long Cool Woman: Apr 1972 #2
Air That I Breathe: Jan 1974 #6

Tune into Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2025
8am Sundays on Radio WDGY (Since 2017)
740AM, WDGY.Com, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1
You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast
Check out MrZeros “Evolation Show” (32 programs) and “Hits And History” w/ Rick Burnett (17 programs) at www.MixCloud.Com

So there you have fans article #2 of 2025. As I have been writing this article since April 2011.
Check back next month for another installment …. for now this is MrZerr0 signing off.

Sponsored By: Benedict Guitars MPLS. 763. 242. 1137 in Cedar, MN.

Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2017
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING:
Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes.
VHS, DVDs, LaserDiscs.
Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, Xbox, Atari.
Vintage Toys Still In Package & Shirts too.
Where: “Nerd Is The Word”

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Article #167: MrZerr0’s Bands

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“MrZerr0’s Bands”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #167 Jan 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

So the year is 2025. Mr.Zer0’s Record Store opened in Spring 2009. I have been on and off the Radio since Fall 2012, with my longest running Radio Show on Radio WDGY, Since Spring 2017. Dave C. Zach P. and Mitch A. got me back into playing live music in Fall 2012. Currently I play in KISSin Time (formed in 2013), StarChild (formed in 2015), BanG GanG (since 2019), Thee Mod Garage (since 2022) and possibly still Bolin’s Dreamers (since 2021). So recently a fan asked me this question “MrZerr0, How many bands have you played in? and What were your favorite songs to play in those bands?” So for the very 1st Radio Shows of 2025 I thought I would answer this question with 2 new radio shows. And for the very 1st article of 2025 I thought I would discuss these 2 radio shows.

I first started playing guitar in 1980 with my good friends Mike L. Jeff P. and Brett R. and helped form the Magic Acid Band. I had an Electra “Zephyr” Les Paul copy and a Peavey Backstage 30. Later on I joined up with Eric DeW. and Pat C. in Palace Guard. After this I went on tour with High Fever. I ended up in Des Moines where I joined Scepter with Mike A. John T. and Shannon P. Then I formed Black Diamond with Shannon P. and Paul K. I suppose one of the last projects I had in Des Moines was The Layabouts with some friends I knew. I took a lot of years off from playing music because I didn’t really like the inconsistency of some people I was meeting.

Flash forward to 2009 when I started hanging with Chris W. Eric, Tony, Ronnie and Petey from 7 Hells, after over 15 years away from the scene they got me back on stage in Winter 2009. Not long after this I met Bakko of Jesus Chrysler and the other guys Treble, Knuckles and Duffy, they invited me to jam with them at a birthday party. I came to find out I missed playing live music. Which led me to form “MrZERo” with Dave, Zach and Mitch and off I went and I have been playing ever since. So here are some of the bands I have played with, sat in with or jammed with in the last 13 years and my favorite songs I played in those projects and The Original Artists who recorded them and when those songs were released.

Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2025

Episode #301 (5 Jan 2025) on radio WDGY

“Norwegian Wood” The Beatles: Dec 1965Magic Acid Band in 1980

“Chinese Rocks” Johnny Thunders & Heartbreakers: Oct 1977
Palace Guard in 1982

“What I Like About You” Romantics: Jan 1980 (#49)
Scepter in 1985

“Ah Leah” Donnie Iris: July 1980 (#29)
MrZERo in 2013

“100,000 Years” KISS: Feb 1974
KISSin Time in 2013

“Maybe I’m A Leo” Deep Purple: March 1972
BanG GanG in 2019

“Gettin Tighter” Deep Purple: Oct 1975
Tommy Bolin Tribute Band in 2021

“Happenings 10 Years Time Ago” Yardbirds: Oct 1966 (#30)
Thee Mod Garage in 2022

Episode #302 (19 Jan 2025)

“Jealous Guy” John Lennon: Sep 1971
Lilac Phase in 1985

“Day Tripper (live 1978)” Cheap Trick 1978
Da Rude Boys in 1988

“Talking To The Wall” Michael Nesmith: Feb 1972
The Layabouts in 1992

“Just What The Dr. Ordered” Ted Nugent & Derek St. Holmes Sept 1975
7 Hells in 2005

“Smokin In The Boys Room” Brownsville Station Oct 1973 (#3)
RoughHouse Rox in 2015

“Lick It Up (Live 1984)” KISS Dec 1984 (#66)
Rock Godz in 2016

“Sin City: AC/DC: May 1978
Anthony’s Neisen’s Jam in 2019

“Dead Flowers” Rolling Stones: April 1971
Marko & Friends in 2021

And so there you have it some of my favorite songs to play live.
Stay tuned next month for another installment of Dr. Rox Remember When?
MrZerr0.

Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2025
8am Sundays on Radio WDGY 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1 and WDGY.Com
Since June of 2017. You Can hear the last 90 Episodes @ www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast
You Can hear Mr.Zer0’s Evolation Show (32 Programs) and Hits and History Show (17 Programs) w/ Rick Burnett @ www.MixCloud.Com.

Sponsored By:
Benedict Guitars Mpls.
Cedar MN.
763. 242. 1137 Bill H.

See StarChild & The MPLS Starz: Alive
15 Feb 2025 Sat 8pm
in Hudson, WIS. 54016
@ Big Guys BBQ *Call: 715. 549. 6255 For ALL Info

Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
Selling And Trades:
Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes.
VHS, DVDs, LaserDiscs.
Nintendo, PlayStation, Sega, XboX, Atari.
Vintage Toys Still In The Package
and Shirts too ….
Where “Nerd Is The Word”

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MrZerr0’s 10th Xmass Show

Posted on by mrzeros2009@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

“MrZerr0’s 39th Xmass Show”
Article #166 December 2024
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

   When I was a kid growing up in the west side of Sioux City Christmas was my absolute favorite time of year, the only day that a person gets a really big score of toys, along with all the colored lights and decorations, and the TV Specials and myself, I loved Christmas Music, now I know a lot people don’t care for it but I do! So starting sometime in the early 80s I started to collect what little Christmas music I could find, as most of it  was released on Vinyl, and by the early 80s Cassettes had taken over the market with about 60 to 80% of releases sold, and there just were not any used record stores where I was living. Then in 1984 I had this idea to make a “Mix Tape” (on Cassette) of my favorite Christmas songs that I owned, except at that time I did not own enough Christmas music to fill up a whole cassette. But then in 1985 I had amassed enough to make my 1st Christmas MixTape (Show) I gave a few out as Christmas presents, now I am not sure if those folks loved them as much as I did, but playing that Cassette on Christmas Day in 1985 made a great day even BETTER! 

Then the following year in 1986 I met on of my best friends, because he owned a copy of a Monkees Christmas song “Christmas Is My Time Of Year” (from 1976), well being the huge Monkees fan that I am this launched me on a mission to create a 90 minute Cassette of not only my favorites but any Rock ‘N Roll Christmas songs I could get my hands on, which back then, most bands only released a Christmas song on Non-Lp 45 Single that was only sold  in November and December of any given year, so tracking these down was a real feat. 

The 1st year I was on WDGY (2017) I was quick to deliver a My Christmas Show, and so this article is about Xmass Show #9. I did also deliver 2 Xmass Shows for WFNU (2019, 2020). Well after 10 different Christmas Shows I was kind of running out of ideas, but then I had an epiphany, I have worked with a lady on and off for 8 years, who loves music too, albeit a little different than my preferences. So for this Xmass Show 2024 I let (Janet) DJ Moonlite pick out the songs for this year’s (2024) Xmass Show, Which Just  So Happens To BE: Episode #300 !   and away we go.     

> Xmass Show 2024<
with Co-Host DJ Moonlite (Janet)

“Under The Mistletoe”  The Harmony Sister: 1940s
This is a really obscure singing group as not much is known about them except they were from Finland, which is appropriate, since Minnesota has the 2nd largest Finnish population in the USA.  

“Let It Snow” Von Monroe: 1945
Born Von Wilton Monroe on 7 October 1 in Akron, Ohio, he passed on 21 May 1973. I was reminded this song was played at the end of the film “Die Hard” (1988)

“Cool Yule” Louis Armstrong: 1953
Born Louis Daniel Armstrong on 4 August 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, he passed on 6 July 1971. Now my best memory of Louis was when I saw a rerun of “What’s My Line?” and when Louis spoke the panelist guessed him straight away.   

“It Happened In Sun Valley” Jo Stafford: 1956
She was born Jo Elizabeth Stafford on 12 November 1917 in Coalinga, California she passed on 16 July 2008.
I  don’t have much  recollection of Jo, other than I was working at DiscLand when she passed.   

“Canadian Sunset” Dean Martin: 1959
He was  born: Dino Paul Crocetti on 7 June 2017 in Steubenville, Ohio and passed on 25 December 1995. I remember it well, I was at my Ex-Fiance’s C.K.S. when I got the news. I did a full show on Dean Episode #148 in June 2020. I sent a copy to his daughter Deana, who appeared in The Monkees Episode #56 from March 1968.   

“Jingle Bells” Jimmy Smith: 1964
He was born James Oscar Smith on8 December 1928 in Norristown, Pennsylvania he passed on 8 February 1985.
My memory of Jimmy was my 1st  boss Marc at RecordShop (Valley West Mall: 1986) was telling me how much he loved Jimmy’s music, his family used to eat at some pizza place and this kind of music would play in the  restaurant.  

“Scrooge” The Ventures: 1965
This band formed in Tacoma, Washington in 1958. In their career they have released at least 66 albums. Well besides performing the “Hawaii 5-O” (1968) TV Theme, my best memory is my nephew Cody, I got him a Black Strat for his birthday and one song he played  constantly was “Walk, Don’t Run” by The Ventures.  

“Old Toy Trains” Glen Campbell: 1968
He was born Glen Travis Campbell on 22 April 1936 in Billstown, Arkansas, he passed on 8 August 2017. I met Glen in Spring 2000 in Des Moines, Iowa, once a session guitarist for The Monkees. One of my all time favorite songs is “Wichita Lineman” (#1 Oct 1968). I plan on delivering a full show on Glen for WDGY in 2025 .  

“Toyland” Leon Redbone: 1988
He was born Dickran Gobalan on 26 August 1949 in Nicosia, British Cypress he passed on 30 May 2019. No I never really cared for Leon, but I do remember, my 2nd boss at RecordShop (VWM) did, so this was for you Matt M.   

“Snowfall” Manhattan Transfer: 1992
This group was formed in New York City in 1969. My memory of this group, the son of Tommy Bolin’s Godfather Mark Ingals became their tour manager after he stopped working with Prince.  

“Louisiana Christmas Day” Aaron Neville: 1993
He was born Aaron Joseph Neville on 24 January 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana. I saw Aaron in September 1990 in Ames, Iowa with Linda Ronstandt. 

“Mixed Nuts” Dr. John: 1994
He was born Malcome Rebennack Jr. on 20 November 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana he passed on 6 June 2019. My favorite memory of Dr. John is when Tommy Bolin performed on his album “Hollywood Be Thy Name” in 1975.

“My Favorite Time Of Year” The Miracles: 2005 
This group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. If you do your research Smokey Robinson wrote a great number of hits for the Motown Record Label. I saw Smokey in concert in 2002. I delivered a full show on The Miracles Episode #80 in Feb 2019.   

“Christmas Time” New York Voices: 2013
This group formed in New York in 1986. Another group I really  don’t know much about. But Janet picked them.

Tune into Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Radio Show on Radio WDGY 8am Sundays. Since 2017. on WDGY.Com, AM740,  Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 Episodes of this show at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can also hear Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” for 32 Programs and Rick Burnette’s “Hits And History” for 17 Programs at www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros.

Upcoming Shows in 2025: BTO, Oh Canada, Oi Aussie, Yellow Submarine Film, Magical Mystery Tour Film, Johnny Rivers, Cars, Gentle Giant, Cowsills, Paul Williams, Eric Clapton, Matthew Sweet, Lobo, Fats Domino, Pretenders, B-Sides of 1972, Association, Smithereens and more ! I usually deliver at least 30 NEW Episodes per year. With Kimbolita, DJ Flee and the return of Lesee McKee, and newcomer Phyllis Rutter. 

Come back  and visit us in the New Year. Until then …. MrZerr0 signing off. 

Mr. Zer0’s Inc.
*Est. 2009
174 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
$ELLING: 
Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes.
VHS, DVDs, LaserDiscs.
Nintendo, Sega, XboX,
PlayStation, Atari.
Vintage Toys In Package
And Shirts Too….
(IF it is NOT on This list you need to visit somewhere else)
Where Nerd Is The Word. 

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