Wicked Messenger
Jim Reed on music, film, TV, and pop culture. Plus the unique personalities and stories that epitomize the history and mystery of Savannah, Georgia.

Latest

Apr
20
Speaking with some of the world's greatest session musicians, and more

Speaking with some of the world's greatest session musicians, and more

Full, exclusive interviews with iconic players who helped create many of the biggest hit records of the last half-century ― and who will perform live in Savannah next week.
50 min read
Apr
17
Fake It To The Limit: Pay no attention to the Eagle behind the curtain...

Fake It To The Limit: Pay no attention to the Eagle behind the curtain...

What happens when one of the biggest classic rock bands in the world turns out to be little more than the Milli Vanilli of the Ford F-350 crowd?
16 min read
Apr
12
The underappreciated singer-songwriter Ed Snodderly

Letters from the Wasteland...

5 min read
Apr
09
Jazz piano legend Bob James, still on the road after 76 years

Jazz piano legend Bob James, still on the road after 76 years

The launch of Wicked Messenger has afforded me the rare opportunity to rediscover many interesting conversations I've had with all manner of creative individuals over the past few decades. And, to revise them for a new audience.
14 min read
Apr
05
Blowing out candles for Roger Corman and William Shatner

Blowing out candles for Roger Corman and William Shatner

To mark the occasion of Roger Corman’s 98th birthday, exactly two weeks after William Shatner’s 93rd birthday, I am pleased to present Wicked Messenger’s subscribers with an opportunity to see their forgotten collaboration in its full, uncut form, just as its creators intended.
9 min read
Apr
03
Saying goodbye to Joe Flaherty, SCTV's criminally underappreciated utility player and secret weapon

Saying goodbye to Joe Flaherty, SCTV's criminally underappreciated utility player and secret weapon

Flaherty, more than any other SCTV cast member, kept the flame of the series alive. The obvious enthusiasm and pride that he maintained for the show’s legacy is on display in the handful of interviews he gave on it over the years.
11 min read
Mar
29
Two images of guitarist Phil Manzanera wearing wild sunglasses.

Spotify is filled with AI junk – here's new music you can't miss

Today’s dispatch is a grab-bag of music-biz-related items, including new music not to miss, and an update on Spotify's terrible business practices.
6 min read
Mar
26
Literally Anybody Else launches their candidacy for the Presidency of the USA

What’s In a name? Literally Anybody Else launches their candidacy for the Presidency of the USA — an Exclusive Interview

A middle school teacher in Texas changed his name to "Literally Anybody Else" and is running for President against Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
19 min read
Mar
22
Ruby Dawn Reed with a dandelion

Points to ponder: Italian Star Wars clones and Vincent Price in 3D!

This week, we’ll delve into the world of Psychotronica with a classic Italian Star Wars clone, an exciting 3D project, and a Repo Man sequel?
6 min read
Mar
19
John Cougar Mellencamp was right: audiences are ruining concerts

John Cougar Mellencamp was right: audiences are ruining concerts

Let’s all be straight with each other.  If you’re the sort of person who occasionally attends public film screenings or concerts, you’ve seen this coming for a long time. I certainly have, and I can’t be alone. The downward slide began in the early 1970s...
15 min read