The Strokes worked themselves into a lather a couple years back writing a song about New York City cops not being very smart -- which leads us to believe a concept album about the law enforcement officials of Placer County, California, can't be far behind. The county jail there was placed on lockdown on Halloween after cops reported seeing an escaped convict at a local Taco Bell -- a specter that turned out to be a teenager who'd decided to dress up as a member of Slipknot to commemorate the holiday. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed before anyone got around to issuing a shoot-to-kill order -- the execution of which would've been a drag for the ever-shrinking gaggle of nu-metal impersonators peppering our fair land . . .
Since we've always wanted to see the world's most cosmic folk battle for philosophical supremacy in a no-holds-barred joust, we're happy to hear that Carlos Santana has announced plans to stage the Super Bowl of Consciousness next year. The guitar guru -- who's long been a card-carrying supporter of Methatron, an apparition that strikes us as the spirit-world equivalent of the Los Angeles Clippers -- says that he wants to bring together thinkers of all stripes for the event. He's already extended invitations to folks such as Maya Angelou, and chosen the Mile-High City of Denver, Colorado, as the site. While it's a bit too early to set a point spread, we're guessing that the team that snags Steven Hawking as defensive coordinator will roll over the competition . . .
Given the amount of time she's been forced to spend in the company of horse's asses, it's kind of surprising that Stevie Nicks would willingly plant herself amidst a veritable sea of them yet again. That's exactly what the on-again/off-again Fleetwood Mac singer did this past weekend, however, by taking a break from her Antipodean tour to present a trophy to the winner of the Stevie Nicks Plate -- a stakes race for fillies and mares that was held at Flemington Race Course in Melbourne, Australia. We're assuming that Nicks wasn't allowed to belt out her rendition of the country's national anthem, since the sound of a goat has been known to spook our equine brethren now and again . . .
If you're among the scores of folks pining for Anson Williams' musical comeback, we can offer the next best thing -- word that Happy Days creator Garry Marshall is plotting a musical based on the series' finest moments. It's not clear yet whether the show, which will be opening early next year in La Jolla, California, will afford a prominent spot to the most underrated Cunningham -- we refer, of course, to now-you-see-him, now-you-don't big brother Chuck. If it does, we'd like to suggest the role be given to the only man capable of filling those shoes -- namely Axl Rose, who went missing more than a decade ago without anyone taking notice.