If you haven’t heard of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, the premise is this: Since Bacon has appeared in so many movies, you can connect him to just about anyone through six connections or less. For example:

Bela Lugosi has a Bacon number of 3:

1. Bela Lugosi was in “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” with Vincent Price

2. Vincent Price was in “The Raven” with Jack Nicholson

3. Jack Nicholson was in “A Few Good Men” with Kevin Bacon

 Badda-bing, badda-boom.

Me?

One. Because I talked to Kevin Bacon last week. And thanks to my interview, which lead to this Ticket story, anyone who knows me can claim 2.

Bacon and his brother Michael proved to be pretty good interviewees. Though Kevin Bacon has undoubetedly done scores of interviews over the years, he didn’t seem bored like some celebrities we talk to.

The Bacon Brothers have a new album, “New Year’s Day,” which they will be promoting when they appear at the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival this weekend.  During our interview, I asked Bacon about a song he wrote called “Too Old For ‘Playboy’,” which was about another planned interview.

“I used to always look at those interviews, though I rarely read them,” he said. “They were kind of cool with black and white photographs. And that, as a kid, was on the list of those dreams you want to accomplish, like sitting next to Ed McMahon on the ‘Tonight Show’ or seeing your name on a marquee. Those things you kind of check off of your dream list. But one was to do this ‘Playboy’ interview. And it finally happened one day. My publicist called, and I was really jazzed about it. It was a few years ago — I think it might have been around the “Mystic River” release. And then they called back and there had been a management change – a new editor – and they decided to go younger with the magazine, and I was out. And I thought, ‘I’m too old for Playboy.’ And I thought, “That’s a good title for the song.”

While his acting ability helps him perform before crowds, singing is still a very different experience, he said.

“From doing theater, I’m used to that idea of stepping out into a live situation where anything can happen,” he said. “But by the same token, playing music, there’s no character between me and the audience. And there is something that’s very vulnerable about saying, ‘Okay, here I have this experience in my life, and I wrote this little song about it. Now I want you to listen to it and clap along.’”

The Bacon family was headed by their father, Edmund Bacon, an urban planner sometimes referred to as The Father of Modern Philadelphia, and their mother, Ruth, a teacher and liberal activist, who wouldn’t allow Michael to play loud instruments.

“She wouldn’t buy me a drum set,” Michael said. “I could take cello lessons, and oboe lessons and banjo lessons. But drums and guitars were not her thing, and she didn’t encourage it at all.”

 At that point in the interview, Kevin chimed in: “She let me get a drum set.”

To which Michael added: “Kev – I worked them over for you, okay?”

While doing research on the brothers, I found this video of Kevin Bacon singing the theme from “Footloose,” which he famously starred in.  

 As the Ticket story noted, Arroyo Grande’s own Zac Efron will be playing Bacon’s character in a remake of “Footloose.”

ShareThis

These movies typically feature surfers who have no actual job, but rather, spend their days surfing, leading the common (a..k.a., “working stiff”) surfer to say things like, “What a life!” and “I’d be pretty good, too — if I didn’t have to work all the time!”

Surf movies are clearly not created equal. The best ones will feature surf travel, a few quirky moments (say, a guy surfing a door or a surf board falling off a car top) and plenty of wipeouts because we surfers like to see other people wipe out - particularly if it’s a surfer who doesn’t have to work a real job.

In the best of all worlds, surf movies would also feature good music. But since most surf movies are made with low budgets – not enough to license songs from well-known artists — the music often sucks. But the surfer is a forgiving sort — as long as the crummy music is accompanied by the aforementioned wipeouts.

* By me

ShareThis

Okay, maybe not. But a couple of Australians did this because, well — they wanted to surf.

And they were in Idaho.

And that’s pretty much the premise of the movie “Surfing 50 States,” which will be featured in two screenings at the Palm Theatre Friday. The movie follows two Australian surfers, Jonno Durrant and Stefan Hunt, as they come to America and attempt to surf in every state.

Obviously, that’s do-able in states like California and Hawaii. But it’s a little more challenging in, say, Idaho.

But, as Durrant told NPR during their quest, “As long as we’re standing on a surfboard, we’re counting that as surfing.”

That may be bending the rules. But who doesn’t want to see quirky Aussies surfing irrigation ditches? Whatever they “surfed,” the film makers tried to do something that represented the state they were in.

Hence the potatoes. And lakes. And stairs.

As their plans progressed the two managed to get sponsors, including surf company Hurley, which provided them with a vehicle – a 1987 GMC ice cream truck that actually plays 32 ice cream truck songs. The truck didn’t always run, but it did provide a place to sleep some nights (though the Aussies usually found people willing to give them shelter.)

I haven’t seen the movie, but the clips look silly and fun. While many surf movies explore travel, this is pretty much the first to explore surf travel in places without surf.

When their trip was over, the two surfers said some of their best waves were in Alaska (6-foot cold waves) and Alabama.

We’ll see if they paddle out in San Luis Obispo County. Both Durrant and Hunt are expected to be at Friday’s screening to promote the movie, which opens this week.

Photos: Surfing50states.com

ShareThis

Whenever I watch an old movie, I can’t help looking at each of the actors and thinking: “I wonder if that guy’s dead.”

I don’t know why I do it — probably a morbid thing.

Definitely a morbid thing.

But I can’t help myself. If it’s in black and white, I’ll become obsessed. I’ll see an older actress, and I’ll think: “Oh yeah — she’s a goner.” If I see a child actor, I might think, “Well . . . that one has a chance.” But then I’ll figure out the numbers in my head and conclude: “But probably not.”

So as I was watching “The Wizard of Oz” last night, I was going through my morbid mental checklist:

Judy Garland: dead

Scarecrow: probably dead

Toto: long dead

And so on. Amazingly, there are still enough Munchkins around to be available for the yearly Wizard of Oz Festival, which is held not in Kansas but, rather, Indiana. 

The thing about old movies is that here these people are — alive, young and happy (at least happy on screen). In the movie you’re watching, these peolple were in their time, just like we are now. And now they’re no more.

(sigh)

Did I mention I have a birthday coming up? Yeah. Let’s not go there.

Anway, since not everyone in old movies is dead, I often find myself going to Dead or Alive?, which not only tells you which celebs have kicked the bucket, but it also categorizes celebrity deaths by cause (including by choking, plane crash, or surgical complications), which ones died before 30 (i.e., River Phoenix, Freddie Prinze, Brandon Lee) and which ones made it to 100 (Hal Roach, George Burns, Bob Hope).

You can be certain that anyone mentioned on Find a Grave is no more. Here you learn a little about the celebs and their tombstones.

A while back, my wife and I went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which lies in the shadows of the Hollywood sign in — you guessed it — Hollywood. Among the famous people laid to rest there: Cecel B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Sr., Rudolph Valentino and Mel Blanc. But the coolest tombstone of them all goes to Johnny Ramone.

ShareThis

MUSICAL MEMOIRS ROCKS OUT LIVE FROM ABOVE 

I almost hate to say how long it’s been since I saw my first concert. Because once I tell you, you’ll be like, “Wait — how old are you?” And I’ll be like, “Dude, age isn’t — it’s not how old you are, man. It’s how immature you act.”

Oh, what the heck — it was 1986. Go ahead and call me a geezer now.

Anyway, while other kids in my school were buying crap for the prom, I decided I was going to see John Mellencamp (formerly John Cougar, formerly John Cougar Mellencamp) live, in his hometown.  With Mellencamp at his peak and the concert set to coincide with the Little 500 bike race made famous in “Breaking Away,” it was going to be a big deal. So I decided I would wait in line overnight for tickets.

Waiting in line was, of course, a tradition for hardcore concertgoers. And even though I was just a teen, I was prepared to do what I had to in order to get great seats. So as soon as school ended that day, I rushed off to the College Mall, where I found myself 7th in line.

Fortunately, a friend and classmate was there — number 6, in fact — so I didn’t have to wait alone. And, of course, there was lots of Mellencamp music throughout the night.

When they started selling tickets the next day, I was pumped, thinking about how close I’d be to the stage. Some of my friends had seen Mellencamp around town — my sister-in-law actually cut his hair at the mall, others waited on him at the nearby Waffle House. But I’d yet to see him in person.

So you can imagine my surprise — and horror — when I learned that, starting with this concert, tickets for concerts would be sold randomly. Another words, the last person in line could get better seats than, say, #7.

In fact, if you look at this photo of Memorial Stadium, picture Mellencamp’s stage at the end zone closest to you. Then pretend to walk all the way to the other end zone, take a left and climb the stairs not quite to the top of the stadium but near the far most entrance tunnel.

That was me — #7 — prom night, 1986.

Despite my bird’s eye view, it was a great show. And the next time Mellencamp came to Little 500? Well, I got crappy seats again.

So I guess the key is, if you really want to get a good look at Mellencamp, go to Waffle House.

ShareThis

As you would expect, none of them could capture Hendrix’s blazing guitar playing. At the same time, though, no drummer could match Mitch Mitchell’s frantic percussion, demonstrated in this live version at Woodstock or this version at Royal Albert Hall.

Like Keith Moon from the Who, Mitchell was a wild drummer, who treated the drums as a lead instrument. Known for his fast snare work — “percussive ferocity,” as the U.K. Guardian newspaper called it – anyone who tried to play a Hendrix song like Mitchell would inevitably wind up with sore forearms.

They might not even make it through the entire song without a break.

The former child actor who played drums on “Manic Depression,” “Voodoo Child” and more died yesterday at 61.

As I noted in this blog entry in July, Mitchell was one of my top five favorite drummers. You can imagine how difficult it would be to support a guy like Hendrix. But Mitchell did it with authority.

Picture having a guy who can solo like this playing behind Hendrix, and you get a feel for how great the Jimi Hendrix Experience was. Sadly, no member of that power trio is living. Bassist Noel Redding died of liver disease in 2003, at 57, and Hendrix overdosed at age 27 in 1970.

Mitchell’s career outside the Hendrix Experience was pretty quiet. (He actually auditioned for Paul McCartney’s band Wings in the 70s, but didn’t get the gig.) But recently I re-watched “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus,” a TV special that never aired, which featured a very short-lived super group called Dirty Mac, featuring Mitchell, John Lennon, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton.

Incidentally, that special was reportedly pulled because Mick Jagger felt the Who had upstaged a road-weary Stones in their own show. It was the last public performance for guitarist Brian Jones, who died in his swimming pool a few months later.

Given the number of rock stars from the 60s who died young, Mitchell, by comparison, lived to be an old man.

 Photo: www.drummerworld.com

ShareThis

In light of the upcoming Lebowski Fest New York, I figured this was a good time for the latest installment of Things Surfers Like. This time we explore:

  THE BIG LEBOWSKI

It’s entirely appropriate that Jeff Bridges is a surfer.

Because his character from “The Big Lebowski” is so much like a surfer. He’s a Southern Californian with a laid-back attitude (aided, in part, by healthy amounts of weed), an apparent disdain for socks and a desire to work minimally, if at all.

In short, he represents the mellow lifestyle that is so often associated with surfers, whether or not anyone has ever met a surfer like the Dude. In fact, a penguin named Big Z – with a voice very similar to the Dude’s – is the closest any surfer has come to actually resembling the Dude. 

Ironically, there’s no mention of the Dude surfing in “The Big Lebowski.” In fact, he seems interested only in bowling — along with the occasional acid flashback. And, in fact, his friend Donny is the surfer — the one  who explored the beaches “from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo and up to Pismo.”

Nonetheless, the surfer loves “The Big Lebowski,” and — like other Achievers — will quite often recite lines from the movie, including (but not limited to):

“Over the line!”

“At least it’s an ethos!” and

“You’re out of your element!”

If these quotes can be used in conjunction with surfing, that’s a bonus. But it’s not necessary. 

ShareThis

So when you interview a surfer at the beach, and it’s a nice day, with good waves and sunshine, it just wouldn’t be right not to dip in the water yourself, right?

This morning, I spoke to Jaime Hannula, an up-and-coming surfer, who is going to be traveling the world competing on the pro tour. Since I also wanted to shoot some video for our web site, I had her get in the waves at Pismo Beach. (Paid parking — Grrrrr!) Of course, I didn’t consider that it was Veteran’s Day — ergo, no school — so the lineup was packed.

After a few waves, I had her move to Shell Beach, where it was pretty mellow. After seeing Hannula catch all those waves, I imterviewed her and decided I needed a little Stoke of my own.

Now I’m back at work, a little tired and mellow but totally stoked. Ten years ago, I couldn’t have imagined surfing on my lunch break.

Or surfing at all since, you know — not a lot of waves in Indiana.

Anyway, since I’m a little tired, instead of posting a long blog of insightful/witty/inspiring stuff, I’m going to include this link, which features some of the cutest photos I’ve ever seen. If you’re depressed, bankrupt, deathly ill or whatever, these photos — from the Sun in the U.K. — will brighten your day at least for a few seconds.

 Photo: The Sun

ShareThis

 DAWN PATROL 

 When everyone else is sleeping in on a Saturday morning, a surfer will force himself out of bed at some ridiculous hour so he can take advantage of the best surfing conditions.

At that hour, it may be cold, foggy and perhaps even dark. But it doesn’t matter. Because that time of day offers the best conditions (a.k.a., “glassy”) for surfing.

Now, of course, the surfer will certainly complain about waking up this early. After all, waking up early is no fun. In fact, a reasonable person might say waking up early sucks.*

Royally.

Especially if the surfer sees other people in his house – perhaps a wife or a child – who are sleeping cozily as he heads out the door at this ridiculous hour. This hour when he too could be sleeping cozily.

In fact, were it not for the surfer’s buddy, who was assigned the wake-up call, he might have been successfully tempted by further slumber.

But the surfer who waits – the lazy surfer – will find that by 10 a.m., the wind has picked up, the waves have taken a washing machine pattern and only the only surfers that remain – usually younger guys who stay up late – are lazy like him.

As painful as waking up this early is, once that neoprene wetsuit is on, and the surfer is in the water, all is right with the universe, and he thinks to himself: I’m sure glad I got up early!

*You know all those famous writers who start writing at 6,7 or some other insane hour in the morning? They’re insane. Because famous writers are also rich writers with no actual office or factory to report to, which means they should sleep in because, really, that’s the dream all of us working stiffs have.

 Tribune photo (of Shell Beach): Joe Johnston 

ShareThis

But my wife, Candi, and I were once in Santa Barbara, perusing books at the Barnes & Noble there, when we had an interesting celebrity encounter.

I was looking at some Jonathan Kellerman novel while Candi was thumbing through a copy of “Shopgirl” by Steve Martin. Then we both heard a voice behind us say, “I hear that’s a really good book.”

We turned around, and there was Steve Martin.

My wife, who remembered every line from “The Three Amigos,” was stunned.

I believe she said: “OH. MY. GOD!”

“You don’t have to buy it, though,” Steve said.

I call him Steve.

Anyway, in a near panic, Candi ran out of the store. (She’s a HUGE Steve Martin fan, by the way.) Then I was like, “Maybe you should have him sign a book.”

That’s why he was there, after all. Martin, who has a home in Santa Barbara, had dropped in without notice to sign a few copies of his new book.

So I managed to convince her to go back, and Steve did sign the book. I was hoping for something funny — you know, since we had established a memorable connection. At least something like “Best Fishes” from the poster above. But all he wrote was: “To Candi. Steve Martin.”

Kind’ve dull. But, hey — what a great celebrity encounter.

Having grown up in the Midwest, I didn’t have that many celeb sightings. I saw former Chicago Bears running back Neil Anderson outside a bar in Chicago once. I also saw former Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight in a tiny Mexican restaurant in Spencer, Indiana (He nodded at me), and North Carolina head coach coach Roy Williams at the airport in Santa Barbara. (He didn’t notice me.) And I once saw a guy who looked a lot like Neil Young stepping into a ratty old pickup truck in Monterey. But that’s about it for the random celebrity encounters.

Every now and then we’ll hear stories of celebrities hanging out in San Luis Obispo County: Minnie Driver, Mel Gibson, Dolly Pardon, etc. But I haven’t seen any celebs walking the streets.

I’m interested in hearing other people talk about their celebrity sightings, though. So share your stories in the comment section. Until then, best fishes.

ShareThis