Cover photo by Christina Hughes; Model: Pleasant Gehman
On National Packaging Design Day, I wanted to once again share the cover of my latest book, The Gypsy Smiled. This is the 2nd printing, traditionally published by Higher Ground.
I hired Pleasant Gehman to get permission to use her photo because she had the perfect look I wanted to represent the wonderful supporting character, Gypsy, who advises main character, Lucretia, that she needs to slow down.
It’s the late 1980s and Lucretia is a young gothic singer, living alone and burning the candle at both ends. She’s working two jobs while trying to pursue a career in music. She’s working so hard, but why isn’t anything happening? Only Gypsy knows!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta (Photo by John Carter, CEO “Go Pixel Yourself”)
January
New Year’s Eve weekend was a writer’s dream. I was contacted by Omni Publishing to write my 8th book, So, You Think You Know the Jersey Shore? (It was published in July 2023)
And ANOTHER dream come true! I was in Ian Hunter’s video “I Hate Hate” (Read all about it and see the video here: https://maryannemistretta.wordpress.com/2023/03/22/im-in-the-new-ian-hunter-video-i-hate-hate/). I listened to Ian Hunter since I was a teenager; and wow, this truly meant the world to me. Not only because I was in the video, not only because I love Ian Hunter, but because it’s a strong message. I was ecstatic!
May
My book, The Gypsy Smiled got picked up for a second printing by Higher Ground! Wow, how many authors publish two books in one year?! (It was published in October 2023).
June
The worst month of the year. My beautiful mom had passed on to the other side.
That same week I broke my writing record. I had eight articles that ran in three different publications!
From this point until October, mind you everything I was accomplishing was done in a “grief fog” mourning my mom. It took nearly four months before I started feeling myself again. But I kept going…
Earlier that month, we get a phone call in the evening. Whenever the phone rings at night these days you assume it’s something bad. With my mom very sick, and other stuff going on, we were worried. But it was a friend who saw us on the Svengoolie show! This was really cool, and quite the honor: https://maryannemistretta.wordpress.com/2023/06/04/we-were-on-the-svengoolie-show-on-me-tv/
July
And ANOTHER dream interview! I interviewed supermodel, Carol Alt, for the second time, to promote her movie “My Last Best Friend” which premiered at Union County Performing Arts Center. She co-starred with actor Eric Roberts, who I got to meet that evening (Carol Alt wasn’t in attendance). He was a total sweetheart! It was only a few weeks since my mom passed and I was feeling my worst at this point. I felt like I was drunk, but I wasn’t. I couldn’t enjoy this event as I wanted to. Anyone who lost a loved one will get what it’s like to be walking around in a dream-like fog state. That’s how I was that night. I couldn’t wait to get back home, but the event was truly awesome.
August
Normally I love August — my birthday month. My entire life I’ve embraced aging and am proud to be 60.
But sadly, as you grow older, you lose more and more great people in your life. Another dear friend passed in August — we have lost Richard, who I knew since I was a teenager. This was a hard one; the funeral was extremely sad. Rest in Paradise, Richard, you were truly an original.
Rik Fabio “Richard” (Photo by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta)
December
From August to December, it was a time of healing from the loss of my mom. My writing career was successful, my cat sitting business was successful, and I had several public speaking engagements throughout the year. Dennis and I went to many concerts, restaurants, day trips, theatre, movies (many of which were comps, thanks to my writing career).
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Dennis and I were thrilled to attend another Tuesday Night Record Club at Monmouth University last night; hosted by Ken Womack, professor of English and Popular Music.
I couldn’t miss this one because I love the first two (new) Fleetwood Mac albums, when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band. (Ken said they may do Rumors again in the future because they did it eight years ago, and it’s time to do it again — yay! Though it seems they have plans for albums well into 2024!)
This is always a great gig to attend because you get deep background info on tracks and even get to hear demos or early live versions; as well as history on the band. Ken hosts is both live and over Zoom. (I prefer live because I’m all Zoomed out). And Ken’s graphics on the screen are killer! He has a record player spinning while you’re listening to the songs. It’s mesmerizing and relaxing, just like listening to records at home. You zone out and enjoy.
I was a teenager in the 1970s when Rumors came out. I got that album first, then went backwards and got the simply titled Fleetwood Mac. Mind you, it wasn’t their first album, just the first album with the new line-up. The original Fleetwood Mac was around a lot longer.
This album is one that I’d call a 5-star, because every song is great, from start to finish. You have all the Stevie hits, “Crystal,” “Rhiannon” and “Landslide” (which now, every time I hear, I get choked up thinking of the sentimental Budweiser Clydesdale horse commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHU8rCjH_3Q).
And you have a Lindsey Buckingham masterpiece with “So Afraid.” That song still sends chills up my spine and I favor it over other songs he wrong for the album.
The late Christine McVie has several songs, but I favor “Say You Love Me.” It’s just a catchy rock/pop love song that never ever gets old.
Then there’s “Blue Letter” with Lindsey Buckingham on vocals and Stevie Nicks on background. The song wasn’t written by a Fleetwood Mac member but is credited to Michael Curtis and Richard Curtis. It’s a short, snappy, goose-bumpy tune; great to sing and dance along to. It was one of my favorites on the album as a teen; and it remains so.
Believe it or not, of all the bands I saw live, I never saw Fleetwood Mac for some reason. However, I did see Stevie Nicks perform with Tom Petty. It was one of my VIP seats as a journalist and I took Dennis.
Stevie Nicks was my favorite member early on, but today I’d have to say my favorite member is Lindsey Buckingham. His guitar style is just so unique, as is his voice. It’s on my list to get more Lindsey Buckingham solo albums.
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Factory Records, Dover, NJ (Photo by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta)
Rock ‘n’ Roll, what a grand thing to acknowledge! As so many know, I LIVE music. From being a little girl loving the music played by my mom, to finding my own love for music via Sonny & Cher, to loving The Bay City Rollers as a tween, and then discovering hard rock, prog rock, psychedelic, punk rock — you name it, I loved it. And so the record collection began.
I tried several instruments, and was even in a garage band as a teenager. We played a few gigs and though people loved us, that was that. I played a “sound gizmo” (Google it, it’s a real thing!) The band broke up over creative differences and after a few failed efforts to connect with the right people (I put an ad in a music newspaper seeking people to play punk tunes with, but the typo said “pink tunes” and a much older musician called, assuming I meant Pink Floyd tunes. Though I love Pink Floyd, I didn’t have the talent for that, so it was a total misconnect).
Moving forward, way forward, I was able to make music journalism a part of my career. I also wrote concert and record/CD reviews for various publications – The Aquarian Arts Weekly, music.com, Punk, tattoo magazines, body piercing magazines, etc.
I promised myself I wouldn’t marry anyone unless they had a record collection bigger than mine. Would you call me a gold digger for seeking out music gold? Perhaps. And I ended up marrying a bassist who played for a band I absolutely loved since I was a teenager! Music is always playing at our house. You may hear my husband, downstairs, playing Donovan or The Beatles. And me, upstairs, playing The Psychedelic Furs or The Professionals.
Yesterday, I received a call from a fellow journalist I haven’t talked to in 20 years. He remembered me as being a music person and shared that his teenager daughter loves music like I do.
When you breathe music, the journey goes on forever, writing about it, going to concerts, buying CDs/records, going to record stores, discovering new bands on You Tube.
It’s A LOT…but today I present a mere snippet, a hodgepodge of my life as a music lover in a series of photos. ENJOY!
I love rock ‘n roll, put another dime in the jukebox, baby!
My husband, Dennis, our dear friend Johnny (center), and me, in the famous Monkee Mobile!
Me with famous rock photographer, Mark Weiss
Me, with the late Smithereens frontman, Pat DiNizio
With the late Howie Pyro, who played in one of my favorite bands, D-Generation
L-r, Keith Beck, librarian Kim Christian, Me, producer and friend Rob Fusari. … I created a successful library series called “Learn & Listen.” I’d give a talk on a legendary musician, followed by live music. This one was David Bowie, but I also did Elton John (also with Fusari), Sammy Davis Jr. (with Stephen Fuller), Ella Fitzgerald (with several ladies), and Elvis Presley (with Rubin Castillo).
I’m with the band; in a hotel room prior to one of my husband’s shows with his band Pharoah
At my first book signing of my first book “On the Guest List” — a rock ‘n roll memoir, which is now out of print and selling on E-bay for close to a grand.
Posing with one of my husband’s many basses; just having fun in 2020 during the pandemic.
My husband took this shot of Brian May. We saw Queen twice together.
(And I saw them twice before we were together).
The legendary Todd Rundgren, we had third row for this Bowie tribute last autumn.
My husband and I had 4th row, Todd Rundgren “Celebrating Bowie” Tour at the Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway, New Jersey. (This beautiful old theatre is where they filmed portions of “School of Rock” and I’m always happy to be there!)
In addition to Todd Rundgren, other musical great included: Adrian Belew (Bowie, NIN, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads), and CdB creator, producer, and featured artist Scrote bring Spacehog’s Royston Langdon, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, and solo artist Jeffrey Gaines with saxophone great Ron Dziubla (Jon Batiste, Joe Bonamassa), Narada Michael Walden bassist Angeline Saris, and drummer Travis McNabb (Sugarland, Better Than Ezra).
With a cast of such great talent, so many Bowie songs were done to perfection. I loved the way the show flowed from one song into another without any talking, until near the end when the band was introduced. Throughout the show, some songs got me choked up, like Sound & Vision, Starman, and All the Young Dudes; others made me dance in my seat, like DJ, Boys Keep Swinging, and Blue Jean.
But the real magic happened when Let’s Dance got half the audience up from their seats. This was my opportunity to go to the front of the stage, where I remained until the end of the show. The last song before the encore was All the Young Dudes. I turned around to see my husband smiling and waving to me. I motioned him to come to the stage with me. Arm in arm, we experienced the magic. It was a heartfelt moment, that song is the truest Bowie classic.
As an encore, the audience went wild to Suffragette City and Heroes.
Here is the set list and more photos!
Todd Rundgren, and Angeline Saris on bass (Photo by Dennis Mistretta)
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
i watched you prance about on the Midnight Special
a Harlequin in a grand parade
School girl dreams evoked in many (those naughty diary entries!)
sought tidbits in Circus and Creem magazines
Mega Rock Star of my restless youth
Time turned you into my dear dear friend
i never met you,
yet all fondness remains
Freddie Mercury
a classic
much more than a memory
you’re still the Champion
Show Must Go On!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is available for blogging, ghost writing, writing. She is also available for book signings and motivational speaking engagements. She is the author of the following books :
The other night, my husband and I once again went to see our favorite Queen tribute band, Almost Queen (http://www.almostqueen.com/). Note that they have been around long before the successful Bohemian Rhapsody film. That said, if you’re a true Queen fan who loves the deep tracks, as well as the hits, be sure to check them out, as you will definitely hear some rare gems.
Anyway, before the show, I thought about how I’ve heard the stories of Freddie Mercury being bullied as a young boy because of his overbite. He was called a donkey by school bullies.
But did that stop him from becoming Freddie Mercury? Absolutely not.
If you’re having a hard time and being bullied, perhaps you have that special something that you can bring to the table by being YOUnique!
Check out my new video, where I speak about Almost Queen, Freddie Mercury, and how being bullied didn’t stop him from becoming a household name! (And if you like it, give me a thumbs up).
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is available for blogging, ghost writing, writing, and motivational speaking engagements. She is the author of the following books (in which she mentions Freddie Mercury in both, and how he inspired her as a child, teenager, and still today!):
If I had a nickle for every middle-aged or old person who stopped me in the street and commented on my tattoo, “I bet young people don’t know what that is,” I’d have a hellavu lot of nickles. It’s almost as bad as people asking me, “How’s Gilligan?” whenever I say my name is Maryanne.
I’ve never been a fan of redundant comments, especially when they are incorrect.
Allow me to school MY generation (Generation X), and those who are slightly older (Baby Boomers)…
YOUNG PEOPLE LISTEN TO VINYL.
Yes, they do! This is not something I am making up. It’s a fact.
My husband and I are vinyl listeners and buy on a regular basis. We score records online, in record stores, and in antique/vintage shops. We always see young people buying vinyl. On Record Store Day there are more young people around to buy vinyl than older people. Young bands put out vinyl records. And they’ve been doing so for some time now.
But I didn’t need an article to tell me that. In my line of work (writing/journalism/speaking) or even shopping for groceries, I chat with many young people who share their love for vinyl with me. Most of them get their vinyl/music passion from their cool parents. We’re living in a time where the generation gap is closer than ever. Kids are no longer at war with their parents. They bond. They do things together (especially going to concerts). So of course they share the same taste in music. That’s not surprising at all. Thanks to tribute bands, rock movies, radio stations that didn’t cave in to modern music yet, Sirius, You Tube, and many music stream stations, kids are exposed to the good stuff. Plus, there are so many bands around that emulate music from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Like all good things, you may have to dig for it, but it’s there.
Maybe 15 years ago young people disrespected parents, and older people in general. When I was in my late 30s and early 40s, I truly felt a gap from those 15, 10, and even seven years younger than me. It was uncomfortable and not fun. But young people today are the best younger generation ever. As a 50-something adult, I have to say I’ve never enjoyed talking to 20-somethings as much as I do now!
From those 30 and younger I’ve heard amazing things like:
“I’m sick of texting and considering giving up my phone.”
“Don’t underestimate me because I’m young. My parents have a record player in the basement.”
And in response to me sharing my story about oldsters commenting on my spindle tattoos, saying that young people don’t know what it is: “Of course I know what it is. How old do they thing my parents are?”
Young people checking out vinyl is also a matter of curiosity and exploration. During evolution, we have set backs, but life becomes full circle again. Young people have ears just like we do. They want to explore the sound on a record. Young people see a movie about Queen and they want more than what is just spoon-fed to them. Like it was when I was young, they want the records, they want the liner notes. It’s not just about Freddie Mercury and Queen’s greatest hits, they want to hear the deeper tracks.
For a very long time, we were experiencing a me-me-me generation. But that’s now a thing of the past too. In a month, I’ve had several young people ask me questions about my life, rather than just talk about themselves. This new generation is flipping the switch to something more positive and genuine. So why wouldn’t they listen to something more authentic like vinyl?
So, to all my middle-aged peers…
If you see someone cool in your age bracket with a 45-rpm spindle tattooed on them (and there are many — since I got mine in 1996, I’ve met at least three people with the same tattoo!) think twice before inserting foot in mouth…
I’m not dating myself. Young people know what a spindle is. And I predict within the next three years you’ll see young people getting spindle tattoos themselves.
Young people are COOL. Give them a chance and pay some attention to them!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is available for blogging, ghost writing, writing, and motivational speaking engagements. She is the author of the following books:
I am a die-hard Queen fan. I’d say they are probably my favorite band; and it’s nearly impossible to have a favorite band when you have over 1000 records/CDs in all genres of music. But I loved Queen so much when I first discovered them, probably around 1976, when I was only 12 years old. The first five albums were my favorites, but over the years I’ve expanded my horizons and embraced their entire body of work.
I was very lucky to have seen Freddie Mercury on tour with Queen in 1982, when I was 18. Though I envy my friends who are a bit older and saw Queen tour with Mott the Hoople.
When Freddie Mercury died, and there was a television tribute in his honor, I thought George Michael (RIP) would have been a phenomenal replacement. Then I saw Queen with Paul Rodgers and he was amazing. And so is Adam Lambert.
Always humble, Adam makes it a point, to the audience, that he is a Queen fan too. Throughout the show, he creates pure magic with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor; and Neil Fairclough who has been playing bass with Queen as long as Adam has been on board. And new kid on the block is drummer Tyler Warren who did a great duo with Roger Taylor.
This tour was a tribute to Queen’s album “News of The World.” But they only played three songs from that album “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions” and … one of the greatest moments of the evening “Get Down Make Love.” [Side note: I saw videos of them doing other songs from “News of the World” — and “It’s Late” blew me away! I wish they kept that song in the set, but there’s just so much in the Queen collection, perhaps they had to cut some out].
After the last tour, I said that “Get Down Make Love” would be the perfect song for Lambert to deliver. Because it’s camp and fun — and so is he. He’s just that kind of entertainer, you can look at him and smile. He’s simply great at making people happy. Lambert is a five-star performer. He loves dressing up, he loves working the crowd, he embraces being on stage, yet never takes it for granted; and is so honest to always share that with his audience.
Another key song for Adam Lambert to sing was “Don’t Stop Me Now.” I said these lyrics: “I am a sex machine ready to reload; Like an atom bomb about to Oh oh oh oh oh explode” should be “like an ADAM bomb…” This song absolutely sums it up — how electrifying Adam is. And, never taking himself too seriously, he was a total pisser riding a pink bicycle during “Bicycle Races.”
He also did one of his own tunes “Two Fux” which seemed to be his rebuttal to critics. (Or maybe his turn to answer to Queen purists who don’t approve him filling in for Freddie?) While a great song, Adam Lambert should never have to explain himself. He was chosen to be in Queen, by original Queen members. After five years, I’d say he IS a Queen member. Sure, nobody could take Freddie’s place (just like nobody could take retired member John Deacon’s place) or if the other original members left. The thing is — Adam Lambert is damn good and belongs with Queen. He has my stamp of approval as a great fit. He always did. Years ago I poo-pooed American Idol, but when my sister shared some of her video recordings of the show with Adam Lambert, I was hooked. Then when I heard he was touring with Queen five years ago, I said, “That is perfect!” I was right.
And it’s a beautiful thing to keep this music going on for generations to come! Adam Lambert is young, fresh, and exciting. He’s a team player and brings a lot to the band. I’d love to see a live album of this tour come out!
But back to the show … Guitar wizard Brian May is always mesmerizing, and hearing a bit of “Brighton Rock” during his solo totally wowed me. When May has his moments, you can close your eyes and be right at home on your bed listening to records — he is that precise. He also plays “Love of My Life” on his guitar (on the record Freddie played harp) and sings heavenly. And bassist Fairclough’s shining moment was naturally during “Another One Bites the Dust.” I was glad to see he’s still with the band.
Now, let’s talk about the stage show. This time around was off the hook — with lazer lights, videos of Freddie, and a gigantic robot from the cover of “News of the World.” I highly recommend You Tube — though you truly had to be there to capture the essence of what it was.
Other favorite parts of the show, for me, were “Somebody to Love,” “Under Pressure” (which brought tears to my eyes, now that both Freddie and David Bowie are gone!), “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Fat Bottom Girls,” “I’m in Love with My Car,” and “I Want to Break Free.”
And, this concert fell on Roger Taylor’s birthday, so the audience joined in to sing “Happy Birthday” to him! How cool is that? If you were there, you could personalize it and say that you sang Happy Birthday to Roger Taylor! At 68-years-old, he still has that sparkle in his eyes! I can’t believe, I’ve been a fan of Queen since they were all in their late 20s!
If I had to give any critique for the evening, I’d say I could do without the teazer — as hearing just part of a recording of “You Take My Breath Away” was a bummer. (I think back to 2014 when they played “Procession” before they came on and I was thinking they’d come out doing “Father to Son.” Keep dreaming, right?) Some of the other songs were cut short too, like “Bicycle Race” and to me, that’s like censoring a masterpiece. I understand a band can only play so long — and they played almost three hours, but I’d rather hear less songs, but played in their entirety.
But, yeah, still super high from the show that was two days ago. Another night with Queen that I’ll never forget! And hey, can I suggest another ultimate Queen song for Adam Lambert to do? I’d love to hear “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” live. How about it?
Me in front of Queen truck — That’s the logo Freddie Mercury designed based on the zodiac signs of the original members.
Last night Rob Fusari put on an electrifying performance at Paul Colby’s The Bitter End, on Bleecker Street, NYC.
The theme of the performance was The Beatles vs. David Bowie; with unique musical spins on both artists, as well as incredible originals in the mix. The show was put together in such a short time, Fusari joked that he didn’t even know the last names of the band members and introduced them simply as Matt (guitar), Mario (drums) and Dennis (bass). With four back-up singers known as The Constellations and special guest singer Andrea Martin, it was a surreal, five-star extravaganza — a true class act!
Songs included: “Heroes” (Bowie), “Under Pressure” (Bowie/Queen), “Young Americans” (Bowie), “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Beatles), “Don’t Let Me Down” (Beatles), Fusari’s original “Don’t Let Love Down,” and Andrea Martin performing a gorgeous version of “Paparazzi” (which Fusari co-wrote and produced for Lady Gaga).
I can go on and on and on, but I’m purposely leaving out major musical high points of the evening, because if this particular show ever happens again, one should be surprised! ❤
A big shout-out to Paul Colby’s The Bitter End! The staff was incredibly attentive to patrons with fast and friendly service. (As a side-note, I had the honor of interviewing the late Paul Colby in his Montclair home over a decade ago before his passing. I have an autographed copy of his book, “Hanging Out in America’s Nightclub” in my collection. )
Farrokh Bulsara (photo found via Google Search)
My tattoo of the 45 rpm spindle
Adam Lambert bows to original members Brian May and Roger Taylor 
Me in front of Queen truck — That’s the logo Freddie Mercury designed based on the zodiac signs of the original members. 
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta 
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