The entertainment world lost a legend this weekend when Dennis Hopper lost his battle with prostate cancer.

Most will remember his roles in “Easy Rider” and “Apocalypse Now”, but for me his finest performance is as an alcoholic former basketball star in “Hoosiers”.  Hopper was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor but lost out to Michael Caine in “Hannah and Her Sisters”.  I was most impressed with Hopper’s vulnerability in that role. He threw all that he had into this character who is redeemed at the end of the film. 

Few could play a psycho quite like Hopper.  His roles in “Blue Velvet” and “Paris Trout” come to mind.  Then of course, there is the classic trailer park standoff between Hopper and Christopher Walken in “Blue Velvet”.  Truly a brilliant scene.  If you have read anything about Dennis Hopper, he was an imperfect man, a man whose ego and vices sometimes got in the way of his talent, but in the end he will be remembered as one of Hollywood’s great talents.  May he rest in peace.

I will be hosting the Spring and Summer Fashion Show at Northgate Shopping Centre this Friday from 7-8pm in the center court.  Not only will you have the opportunity to check out the latest trends, but you also have the chance to score some terrific prizes!  A fresh bouquet of flowers delivered to your house, every month for a year from Rose Bowl Florists, or a great gift basket from the participating stores at Northgate Shopping Centre.

The best part about the Spring and Summer Fashion Show is the chance to see how clothes look on real people.  We all know it may look great on the hanger, but how will it look once you get it on?  This is your chance to quit wasting time trying to co-ordinate different outfits.  The pros have done it for you, all you do is sit back and relax as the models stroll down the runway at center court this Friday…and even better, all the outfits you see can be purchased right here in North Bay at Northgate Shopping Centre.

See you tomorrow!

Can music bring back a time and a place from your memory?  Sure it can.  It happens all the time.  You hear a song on the radio and a smile comes to your face as you remember a moment in your life.  Your first date.  That wild weekend graduation bash.  A long weekend bush party.  Your wedding song.  I could go and and on, but I think you get my drift. 

As I was driving out of town this weekend, I popped The Rolling Stones’ “Tattoo You” into the car stereo and was instantly transformed back to 1981.  I was fourteen and spent my first night away from home at a party with five buddies of mine.  We enjoyed a harmless beer or two and cranked that album!  Good times.

I also remember the summer after Supertramp’s ”Breakfast In America” came out.  You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing “The Logical Song” or “Goodbye Stranger” at a campground, at the midway, or anywhere else for that matter.  Somehow a tilt-a-whirl and vomit seems to go with that particular memory.

And then there’s that one crazy trip into the bush to the soundtrack of a monster boom box playing Pink Floyd’s “Echoes”.  The wind was howling and when we got there the bonfire was huge! Actually, I am surprised I can still remember that one.

I wonder how many people made some memories of their own this past long weekend – memories that will forever be tied to a song – a song that years from now will conjure up a pretty cool moment in their life…

The Big Trout First Nation has a mystery on its hands.  This picture was posted on bigtroutlake.firstnation.ca.  What is this animal that was fished out of a river in Northern Ontario?  Some say it could be the Northern version of the Loch Ness Monster, maybe a prehistoric creature, a water-logged bear cub…what do you say?

It looks like someone was creative with our sign overnight.  It should read “RELAY FOR LIFE JUNE 4 CFB NORTH BAY”, this is what it read on Friday morning…I must say, very creative.

Tom Petty is back with a new track called “I Should Have Known It”.  Fresh off his performance on Saturday Night Live last weekend, Petty and his Heartbreakers will release the new album “Mojo” on June 15th.  The guitar riff on this tune rocks!  Whaddya think of it? 

Click here to see the video!

May 2-4 has been known as the unofficial kick off to summertime fun, so here at The Fox we are set to give it a proper launch with our “Great Outdoors” Classic Rock weekend.  Starting Friday at 3pm, Ken Anderson will get it all underway with your favourite outdoor songs.  So whether you have plans to “Roll on Down the Highway” or “Take it Easy”, The Fox will be there every step of the way! So… “Let the Good Times Roll”!!!

The Great Outdoors

Northern Ontario’s only Scottish Festival is only a few weeks away as the 10th annual Celtfest is set for June 5th at Champlain Park in North Bay.  There is something about the sound of “Amazing Grace” played on the bagpipes that sends a shiver up your spine. 

When I first became the MC for Celtfest ten years ago, I took an immediate shine to the event and the people involved in launching it.  I researched my family tree on my mother’s side and found some Scottish ancestry(my mother is a Kyle).  It turns out that Old King Cole was actually Old King Kyle or Coel(pronounced Kyle).  It seems that along the way, the English changed the spelling and pronunciation as they misunderstood the Celtic pronunciation.

Tickets for Celtfest are ten dollars and will be available at the gate on June 5th.  I hope you can join us for a day full of great events.  The pipes will be a big part of it, along with heavy events like the popular cabre toss, as well as highland dancing and sheep herding.  Also new this year is a huge jam session, so if you sing or play an instrument be sure to show up at the main stage.

Let’s raise a glass and have a good time.  Slainte! 

Have you ever heard someone say “break a leg” to an actor?  I said that to Mitch today.   He is getting ready for his show tonight, Jacquels Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at Odyssee.  Anyway, I stopped and thought about it…what an odd thing to say to someone.  If you really wanted them to be successful, wouldn’t you just say good luck?  In the world of theatre it is considered bad luck to wish someone good luck…a little reverse psychology…so if you wish someone bad luck, I guess it brings good luck?

Some believe that the phrase comes from the days of Shakespeare, when people would throw money on the stage as a tip for a great show.  The actors would then bend to pick up the money, causing a “break” of the leg line…thus, the break a leg…of course, they would also throw rotton vegetables if they were not impressed…

I already promised that I would not bring any food to the show

To everyone involved in the show…break a leg!   

It’s the Champs against the Cinderella story of these playoffs tonight in the NHL.  Game 7 should be a good one as the Canadiens hit the ice in Pittsburgh.  Can Montreal pull out another improbable win tonight?  Win or lose, Fox listeners seem to be behind the Habs.  In our Fox poll this morning more than 60% said they were cheering for Montreal to win the cup.  We’ll see what happens tonight.  If Halak can stand on his head again the boys should be able to do it.  Looks like Montreal’s goaltender has inspired some Canadiens fans to make their own commercial.