Posts Tagged ‘StarBuck’

Overnight Sensation album recording update

Posted: March 9, 2012 in Music
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I just finished a 3-day jaunt of vocal recordings at Drumforest Studios in Viitasaari, Finland with engineer Nikke Niemispelto and my good friend Christian Palin (Random Eyes, Beyond Belief, ex-Adagio) serving up a fabulous set of backing vocals to my leads.

Yours Truly mugs for the camera between takes.

I have to admit that Drumforest is one of the best places I have ever recorded at, and the fact that it is out of the way, in the middle of the forest, really helps the artist to relax and focus on the task at hand.  Drumforest also offers lodging, as their studio is built into an old wooden school building, which offers wicked acoustics with its 100-year-old bulky beams.  Acclaimed sound engineers such as Mikko Karmila (Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Swallow The Sun, Amorphis, Sonata Arctica, etc.) venture all the way out to central Finland to record artists at Drumforest Studios because of the superb quality of its acoustics.

Christian Palin shows who the gatekeeper at Drumforest really is!

Melodic maestro and vocalist extraordinaire Christian Palin brought a hell of a lot of useful ideas and background vocal arrangements to the fore.  This guy shreds on tape, and his work with Adagio and Random Eyes has been stellar.  I highly recommend him to any bands that need someone who can pull off Stryper-like melodic hooks and has a definitive knack for hit melodies.  Christian most definitely spiced up our Overnight Sensation songs, making them sound bigger than life.

Nikke Niemispelto, the boss at Drumforest Studios, tweaking the audio inputs for the vocals.

As it stands right now, with Overnight Sensation we have 11 killer, hard rock cuts for our upcoming Life’s a Bitch album.  I have finished all of the lead vocals, and only a few songs need backing vox anymore.  Next month I believe that the recording process should be entirely finished, and from there on out it’s all about editing and mixing en route to the dawning day of the album release.

For more infos check out Overnight Sensation either on our homepage or at Reverb Nation.

StarBuck vs. Jessica Love on March 11

Posted: March 3, 2012 in Professional Wrestling
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FCF Wrestling just announced a huge match-up for Punishment in Porvoo 2 on Sunday, March 11 in Porvoo, Finland: StarBuck vs. Jessica Love for the #1 contendership to the FCF Championship, currently held by “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä.

Gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love and myself could not be further apart as polar opposites.  Jessica embodies the alternative lifestyle of the modern age that is being pushed hard in the media and everywhere, whereas I represent the old school right down to the man being the head of the house and women wanting it that way.  Jessica is a high-flying risk-taker, I stick to the basics to get the job done as efficiently and simply as possible.

As much as we have traveled together to Japan to wrestle on multiple occasions, Jessica and I have never really gotten along.  We have more or less tolerated each other, for the sake of the business that we are in.  I know Jessica Love has never really cared for StarBuck, nor have I ever really cared for Jessica Love.  Perhaps you could say that in this respect, we are natural enemies.

Now, in one week’s time at Punishment in Porvoo 2, Jessica Love and myself vye for the #1 contender status as it relates to the FCF Championship.  I have held that title belt four times to date.  Jessica is still looking for that elusive first time to wear the FCF Championship.

Jessica Love will have to bring the damnedest fight that he/she has within him/her on Sunday, March 11th.  Anything less will spell 100% sure defeat for the gender bender, because Jessica Love knows that StarBuck shows no remorse and gives no quarter.

Jessica Love has quickly risen in popularity in FCF Wrestling and in Japan with the SMASH organization over the past two years.  I am sure Jessica would love to rise above StarBuck and cement a personal legacy in professional wrestling by one day becoming the FCF Champion – a title that has changed hands on two continents and has been held by five different nationalities since its inception, making it one of the most sought-after titles in the world of European professional wrestling.

There’s only one problem though.  That problem is named StarBuck.

Jessica Love will need more than Lady Luck to topple this veteran in Porvoo on March 11th.  Jessica is going to need a miracle.

For all your wrestling news and updates, GO HERE!

One hell of a Winter War!

Posted: February 26, 2012 in Professional Wrestling
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Last night at FCF Wrestling’s flagship show of the year – Talvisota VI (Winter War VI) in Helsinki – the fans on hand witnessed a truly memorable event that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best cards in Finnish pro wrestling history.

With a capacity audience on hand at the Helsinki Sports Hall, human tank Ibo Ten and gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love fought a wicked Tables, Ladders & Chairs match, which was stellar and absolutely breathtaking on every level.  In addition, it was dangerous beyond description and a very high risk affair, but the bad blood between those two finally came to ahead last night and Jessica Love walked away victorious.

In one of the most insane moments that I have ever witnessed live, Jessica leaped off of the scaffolding that was set up for the lighting around the ring onto a prone Ibo Ten lying on a table in the ring.  After the crash, the three-count was merely a formality, ending the war in 23:08.

I waged my personal vendetta against Mikko “Finnhammer” Halme at Talvisota VI, a match that was a tight brawl from start to finish.  Finnhammer really fought like he had a point to prove, and that very well may have been the case, but in the end it was all for nought, as I spiked Finnhammer with my trademark piledriver for the winning pinfall in 17:53.

New FCF General Manager Robert Holmström went out of his way to pour some salt into Finnhammer’s wound of loss, firing him from FCF Wrestling after the match.  Me personally, I think my old friend Herr Holmström is having a hard time wielding the scepter of power, as he has gone a on a few tangents and powertrips as of late.  If this continues, Robert is going to need more backup than his new bodyguard Murskaaja Mieto can afford him.  Just saying…

I was also just recently approached by SWS Wrestling out of Malmö, Sweden, and I will be making my in-ring debut with their company on March 24.  I hear a lot of good things about SWS drawing very good houses and rabid audiences in Malmö, so it will be very interesting to see what the wrestling business over there is like at the end of this month.

On a sadder note, I will be wrestling with SMASH for the last time on March 14 in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall in the main event alongside FCF Wrestling teammate Hajime Ohara against Yoshihiro Tajiri and Akira Nogami at SMASH.26.  The company is closing down due to directional differences between SMASH President Sakai and creative director Tajiri.  Having been with SMASH since its onset, I can only say that I am honored to be in this main event match with three of my good friends in the wrestling business, and we will give it our all on March 14 when the curtain closes for the final time.

Also coming up in two weeks time, FCF Wrestling’s Porvoo Punishment in the town of Porvoo, 40km east of Helsinki.  This card will feature international guest star El Generico in action, so get your tickets early!

For all of your wrestling news needs, GO HERE!

Team ZERO1 vs. Team FCF at SMASH.25

Posted: February 20, 2012 in Professional Wrestling
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I just arrived back home from Tokyo a few, scant hours ago.  Yesterday, I took part in the gigantic SMASH.25 event at TDC Hall in Tokyo, teaming with FCF wrestlers Hajime Ohara and Jessica Love to face the ZERO1 trio of Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani and Ikuto Hidaka.  In a fast and furious match, Tanaka scored the pinfall over Jessica Love with his sliding elbow strike in 12:40.  In the main event of the card, hard-nosed ring veteran Dave “Fit” Finlay retained the SMASH Championship (which he won from me on Nov. 24, 2011) defeating “The Japanese Buzzsaw” Tajiri in one of the most credible and awesome professional wrestling matches that I have EVER seen live in my life.  Also, Syuri finally defeated Kana for the SMASH Diva Championship in another absolutely stellar ladies match, that has to be seen to be believed.

Ohara also took Jessica and myself to eat at NOAH & PRIDE wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama‘s yakitori (chicken) Stomach Hold restaurant, which I must say has a brilliant name when you consider the fact that it is owned by a wrestler.  I had the pleasure of meeting the boss himself, who was a very friendly big man, along with his wife Natsuko, who helps run the place.  For anyone traveling to Tokyo, be sure to check out Stomach Hold, you will love the food there!

Hajime Ohara, Yoshihiro Takayama and StarBuck (photo: Satomi Kanau)

I also visited the world-famous Ribera Steak House in Tokyo with my Japanese friend Mr. Terasaki, and was pleasantly surprised to see my photo posted on their wall of fame alongside wrestling greats such as Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, The Funks, Dick Murdoch, Hulk Hogan and a slew of others.  All I can say is that it was a very humbling experience to join such esteemed company, knowing the significance of Ribera in the wrestling world.  The boss of Ribera even gave me a new black Ribera jacket as a present on this visit, and every wrestler worth his weight knows that those jackets are given like medals of honor to those who wear them.

Me with Veneno from Mexico at the SMASH.25 afterparty (photo: Shinobu Tanaka)

At the SMASH.25 afterparty, I was once again presented with gifts from the Japanese fans.  Among the items I received were seven DVD album box set releases, given to me my my superfan Mayumi, and a stunning framed portrait of my SMASH Championship win from October 2011, given by superfan Masa.  I must say that there is absolutely no other place on Earth that I am aware of, where the fans make the wrestlers feel like larger-than-life icons through their actions, such as noted above.  Just one more reason why Japan is indeed the #1 country for pro wrestling in the world, bar none, in my humble opinion.

Pointing to my photo on the wall of Ribera

I was also pleasantly surprised to see Finnish press from STT (www.stt.fi), who were at ringside shooting the FCF vs. ZERO1 match for Finnish media coverage.  This came totally out of the blue, as I received an email upon landing in Japan from the STT people, claiming they had seen the article on me in Finnair‘s Blue Wings magazine, and of course SMASH.25 was plugged in that piece.  They got in contact with the SMASH office, received accreditation, and were part of the official press crew at the event.  In addition, members of the Finnish Embassy in Japan were on hand, rooting for FCF Wrestling, which was very cool indeed.

Next up, Winter War VI (Talvisota VI) on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Helsinki, where I face Finnhammer Halme as part of a huge card.  Talisota VI will be topped off by the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs match) in Finnish history between gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love and the huge human tank Ibo Ten, and FCF Champion “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä defends his title against bad boy and media darling Johnny McMetal.  Eight matches altogether at Talvisota VI on Feb. 25, so be a part of the biggest show of the year in Finland this coming Saturday!

Buy your tickets online through http://www.wrestling.fi or get them at the door!

StarBuck returns to Japan for SMASH.25

Posted: February 13, 2012 in Professional Wrestling
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I am very happy to announce that this week I will be returning to Japan for the first time since losing the SMASH Championship to Dave Finlay back at the end of November 2011.

On Sunday, February 19 at TDC Hall in Tokyo, I will team up with FCF Wrestling representatives Jessica Love and Hajime Ohara to take on the Zero1 contingent of Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani and Ikuto Hidaka in a huge six-person showdown at SMASH.25.

It will be a great honor for me to step into the ring with especially Tanaka and Otani, who are two of the most revered pros in the game worldwide.  Many will remember Masato Tanaka’s match against Mike Awesome on the WWE version of ECW’s One Night Stand pay-per-view from 2005, while Otani was a legendary junior heavyweight in the early and mid-’90s with New Japan Pro Wrestling, holding both the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (beating the legendary Chris Benoit) and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in addition to a slew of others.

StarBuck vs. Finnhammer at Winter War VI

Posted: February 6, 2012 in Professional Wrestling
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Today, FCF Wrestling announced StarBuck vs. Finnhammer Halme for the biggest wrestling card of the year, Talvisota VI (Winter War VI) on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Helsinki, Finland.  The event will be held at the Helsinki Sports Hall in the Kallio area of Helsinki, and word is that eight matches are slated for the card at this point.

Finnhammer has a world of hurt coming to him for costing me my shot at Heimo Ukonselkä’s FCF Championship back in December 2011 at the Kallio Rumble event.  Were it not for Finnhammer’s meddling in the conclusion of the over-the-top-rope battle royale, I very well might be sporting the FCF title for the fifth time in my career at this point.

Get your tickets early for this big event, which will also feature the first-ever Tables, Ladders & Chairs match in Finnish history between the massive Ibo Ten and gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love; plus FCF Champ Heimo Ukonselkä defends his strap against bad boy Johnny McMetal, and much more!

For all of your wrestling news needs, GO HERE!

My Radio City interview (in Finnish)

Posted: January 26, 2012 in Life coaching, Music, Professional Wrestling, Social commentary
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For those in Finland or who otherwise speak and understand the Finnish language, my interview from this morning with Radio City is now online and can be heard here: http://www.radiocity.fi/audiovideo/vieraat/2/76

StarBuck chain wrestling challenge at Ringside Fight Night

Posted: December 14, 2011 in Professional Wrestling
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This coming Saturday evening, Dec. 17 in Espoo, Finland at the brand new Ringside Gym – run by my buddy, former European Middleweight Boxing Champion, Amin Asikainen, and his manager Pekka Mäki – I will be grappling with FCF sophomore sensation Kristian Kurki in a special chain wrestling challenge match.

The event starts at 18:00 and is entitled Ringside Fight Night, featuring four pro boxing matches in addition to myself against Kurki and FCF Wrestling’s human tank Ibo Ten against former 4-time FCF Champion, Valentine, in another chain wrestling challenge match.  The event is set to be streamed via the Internet, so keep your eyes peeled if you are not able to be with us in person at the show.

In the boxing portion of the card, it will be Finland’s Jarkko Putkonen (1-0) vs. Stanislavs Leonovs of Latvia (2-2-2), Finland’s Niko Jokinen (15-0-5) vs. Sergej Drob of Lithuania (1-1), Arne Ernstsen of Norway debuting vs. Maksims Semjonovs of Latvia (0-3) and Andreas Evensen of Norway (14-2, 6 KOs) vs. Sergio Prado of Spain (5-3-1, 1 KO).

Also on the same evening of Saturday, Dec. 17th, Kallio Rumble will take place in Helsinki starting at 19:00 with a Royal Rumble-style battle royale topping the card, where FCF Champion “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä must start the match and every two minutes a new man enters, until the man left standing at the end who has not been eliminated over the top rope then walks away with the FCF Championship title.

For more infos go to www.ringsidegym.fi, www.boxingnight.fi and Showpaini.com

StarBuck on the cover of FightSport

Posted: December 13, 2011 in Odds and Ends, Professional Wrestling
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Alas, so it is folks, that this good ol’ boy has found his way onto the cover of Finland’s leading, top-selling sports magazine, FightSport!  Indeedio, on this last issue of the year (FightSport 6/2011) you will get the lowdown on my trials and tribulations, valleys and victories, culminating with me winning the SMASH Championship in Japan a couple of months ago.  An absolutely STELLAR article by Kati Ala-Ilomäki, who really did a hell of a job, with both match photos and in-your-face posed photography by Mike Sirén of Pakkotoisto.com.  Check it out on newsstands across Finland NOW!

Finlay defeats StarBuck for the SMASH Championship

Posted: November 26, 2011 in Professional Wrestling
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European professional wrestling legend and 37-year ring veteran Dave “Fit” Finlay defeated me this past Thursday night, November 24th, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo at SMASH.23 to become the new SMASH Champion.

photo by SMASH (from SportsNavi Japan online)

Finlay fought like a ravenous beast, putting me on the defensive for the whole match, which lasted 15:58 before the Irishman was able to put me away and pin me following his jumping tombstone piledriver.  The Japanese crowd responded in shock as Dave Finlay was announced as the new champion.

There are very few men in the wrestling business who are as brutal and remorseless in that ring as Finlay.  The man is a legend in this sport, and I brought my A-game, but it just wasn’t enough on the night of November 24, 2011 in Tokyo.

photo by SMASH (from SportsNavi Japan online)

Many are already calling my match with Finlay as the match of the year in SMASH, which is saying a lot, as there have been numerous great matches throughout the year.  For a fantastic look at the action from the SMASH.23 title match, check out the ringside photos here.

photo by SMASH (from SportsNavi Japan online)

I was also given the opportunity to face one of my all-time favorite wrestlers in Keiji Mutoh (aka The Great Muta) in Tokyo the night before SMASH.23 at All-Japan Pro Wrestling‘s event, as I teamed with SMASH compatriots Akira Nogami and Yoshihiro Tajiri to face the trio of Mutoh, Kondo and Bushi from AJPW.  I pinned Bushi in 13:48 of a hot match following my trademark spike piledriver.  Check out the photos from that match here.

photo by AJPW (from SportsNavi Japan online)

On a separate note, I heard the sad news about the passing of American superstar Bison Smith (found dead on Nov. 22 in Puerto Rico) while I was in the dressing room at the AJPW event.  Bison was a big star in Japan, and his death at 38 – the same age as I am – is indeed an early passing.  The cause was deemed to be heart failure.

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