Lemon Jail

A tour diary of life on the road with one of Minnesota’s greatest bands—with nearly 100 never-before-seen photographs “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus” is Bill Sullivan’s motto, which will come as no surprise to anyone who opens Lemon Jail. A raucous tour diary of rock ’n’ roll in the 1980s, Sullivan’s book puts us in the van with the Replacements in the early years. Barreling down the highway to the next show through quiet nights and hightailing it out of scandalized college towns, Sullivan—the young and reckless roadie—is in the middle of the joy and chaos, trying to get the band on stage and the crowd off it and knowing when to jump in and cover Alice Cooper. Lemon Jail shows what it’s like to keep the band on the road and the wheels on the van—and when to just close your eyes and hit the gas. That first van, dubbed the Lemon Jail by Bill, takes the now legendary Replacements from a south Minneapolis basement to dive bars and iconic rock clubs to college parties and eventually an international stage. It’s not a straight shot or a smooth ride, and there’s never a dull moment, whether Bob Stinson is setting a record for the quickest ejection from CBGB in NYC or hiding White Castle sliders around a hotel room or whether Paul Westerberg is sneaking gear out of a hostile venue or saving Bill’s life at a brothel in New Jersey. With growing fame (and new vans) come tours with REM and X (what happens when the audience isn’t allowed to stand?), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Violent Femmes (against their will), and Saturday Night Live, where the band’s televised antics earn the edict You’ll never play on NBC again. Fast forward: You’ll never play Washington, D.C., again. Or Moorhead. Hiding in fans’ backyards while the police search the streets and pelted with canned goods at a Kent State food drive, the Replacements hit rough patches along with sweet spots, and Lemon Jail reveals the grit and glory both onstage and off, all told in the irrepressible, full-throttle style that makes Bill Sullivan an irresistible guide on this once-in-a-lifetime road trip with a band on the make.

"It's where Walt Whitman meets Michael Jackson. It's where Emily Dickinson meets Mary J. Blige. It's Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam, the lyrical, smart, hilarious, and searingly honest new show that has become a true phenomenon on Broadway, earning critical raves and drawing huge cheers nightly. Def Poetry Jam is an experience that's not to be missed: Nine gifted, young poets speaking from the heart about everything from love to sex, politics, and Krispy Kreme donuts. If Langston Hughes or Virginia Woolf were alive today, this is what they'd sound like. The roster includes both well-established and up-and-coming poets -- including Suheir Hammad, author of Born Palestinian, Born Black; Black Ice, a.k.a. Lamar Manson, the first spoken-word artist to be signed to Def Jam Records; Beau Sia, author of A Night Without Armor II: The Revenge, and a two-time National Poetry Slam champion; and Poetri, one of the founders of Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles. Essential for every fan of contemporary poetry, Russell Simmons Def Jam on Broadway ... and More is a cutting-edge and constantly surprising volume that takes a fresh, exuberant, sometimes insightful, sometimes comedic look at who we are and where we are today"--Publisher's description.

Spiritual journey, as moving as it is inspiring.

This anthology features Singapore’s best short story writers, who are ready to take the nation by storm. The stories range from utopic pasts to distant dystopian futures, from small loves to big losses and from unexpected deaths to beautiful births. You’ll discover fresh perspectives, learn new lessons and find a part of you in these stories. Plot Pourri is the result of a collaborative effort of people whose ultimate passion is literature. So, one thing this is for certain – these stories will leave a lasting impact on you. The authors featured in the anthology are: Leroy Lam, Mark Wong, Jayden L, Azrael Tseng, Jade Ow Yanhui, Ragnild, Victoria Li Dook, Terence, Oh Zhen Yin, You Zhen, Bae Huey, MJ, Sudeepa Nair, Thiagesh, Ashley Gor, Corrinne Kang, Joel Ong, Neeraja Sundar, Dalvin Chandran and Dr. P.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Md., I accepted the position of police officer to help protect and support the people in my community. A far more involved, gratifying and responsible occupation than I had initially imagined, or perhaps even the public realizes. At the tender age of twenty one, I was charged with the working understanding of the law and its enforcement, as well as aspects of training given to legal scholars, doctors, attorneys and psychiatrists. All in order that we could make life or death decisions within split seconds, with only a high school education to qualify us at the time. During my twenty five years, I had personal friends killed and injured in uniform and plainclothes, both on and off duty, while trying to enforce the law. I arrested three armed holdup subjects, purse snatchers, countless thieves, and an unknown number of routine arrests during my uniform and car duties. I witnessed the smoke and broken glass shattered in the streets of Baltimore during the 1968 Riots. My town was a blaze and looked like a war zone. In 1970 I had the privilege to serve in the elite Homicide Division with some great people. Their expertise, dedication and tenacity directed and assisted in numerous successful case conclusions. During which time I investigated homicides committed in every possible manner for what ever reason, including a serial murderer who dismembered his victims, a arson homicide that was unintended, as well as a residential killing that lead to cab holdups and murders. I witnessed remarkable acts of courage and sacrifice by both uniformed and plainclothes personnel. In this book I have attempted to relate personal stories and events in an effort to enlighten the general public’s awareness to the responsibilities, duties, sacrifices and the professionalism of our police. Thank them all for their “Tour of Duty.” May God bless and watch over each and every one who has taken the oath to become police officers throughout the world.