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Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Sturgis Is This Weekend. Are You Prepared?
Half a million people descend on the otherwise sleepy town of Sturgis in South Dakota every year, making it the biggest motorcycle rally in the world. I've been three times, and no time is like any other time. Different weather, different bands, different America. They are expecting a record amount of attendees this year, so be prepared. If you're rolling there or if you're there now, here are a few things to know. Main Street The rally itself is a spectacle - streets packed with bikes, vendors hawking everything from turkey legs to tank tops, and strangers chatting like old friends. You walk. You look. You flirt. You eat. You marvel. 'Look at that bike.' 'Whoa, that one.' You are enveloped. You might catch a demo ride or find an aftermarket part to your liking, or a t-shirt or hat. They close parts of Main just for motorcycles. But don't make the rookie mistake of staying parked in downtown Sturgis. The surrounding Black Hills are why many riders come back year after year - take time to explore. A few must-sees: Mount Rushmore – Go early to beat the crowds. Crazy Horse Memorial – It's unfinished but epic. Needle's Eye – Granite spires like something out of a fantasy novel. Spearfish Canyon – Jaw-dropping cliffs, streams, and waterfalls. Take it slow. Iron Mountain Road – Tight pigtail turns and narrow tunnels. Not for the faint-hearted or under-caffeinated. Point your bike in any direction, though, and chances are you'll hit something worth looking at. It's that kind of place. Get ready to party Sturgis has a well-deserved reputation for no-holds barred celebrations, particularly as the sun goes down. By the end of the rally it's full throttle—music, mayhem, and a crowd ready to howl at the moon. If that's your scene, you won't have to look far. But if you're more of the sunrise-rider, mountain-lake type, that's no problem. You'll find plenty of like-minded souls just vibing with the wind and the ride and the feeling of being away from the world. What top bands are playing this year? ZZ Top – Friday, August 1 at 10 PM Gene Simmons – Sunday, August 3 at 10 PM Five Finger Death Punch – Monday, August 4 at 10 PM Jason Aldean – Tuesday, August 5 at 10 PM Nickelback – Wednesday, August 6 at 10 PM Marilyn Manson – Thursday, August 7 at 10 PM Stone Temple Pilots – Friday, August 8 at 10 PM Pop Evil – Saturday, August 9 (Time TBA)More stuff to know: It's not kid-friendly. Sturgis is a grown-up affair. Loud, rowdy, sometimes raunchy. Leave the kiddos at home. There Isn't A Suit Or Tie For Miles Leather. Chains. Bandanas. Tattoos. You'll see some of the most intimidating-looking folks alive. But don't be fooled. Underneath all that gear? Generous, warm-hearted riders who will go out of their way to help you out. During my first trip, for example, I got lost looking for a photo spot. A mountain of a man ditched his lunch mid-bite and led me there himself. That kind of thing happens all the time. Just avoid the jerks and drunks and you'll be fine. Breakdown on the side of the road? Someone will stop and help. We're all in this together. The Politics This isn't Burning Man. Expect to see a lot of right-leaning gear, flags, and slogans. If you're easily rattled by a MAGA hat or some blunt bumper stickers, you might need to breathe through it. Will I Spend A Lot Of Money? You'll bleed cash just standing still, unless you plan ahead. $9 hot dogs, $6 bottles of water are par for the course. Like any major event, they know you're not riding ten miles out of town to get a better deal for a sandwich. Want to save a buck, though? Hit a grocery store and picnic out of your truck bed like I did once with a buddy. Want souvenirs? Wait until the last day. Vendors are eager to unload what's left and prices come down fast. Helmet Laws South Dakota won't make you wear one. Neighboring states might. Bring it anyway. Your skull is worth it. Bottom Line Sturgis runs Friday, August 1, through Sunday, August 10, 2025. Whether you're going to rage, cruise, or quietly marvel, the place has something for you. Ride safe. —JM
The Herald Scotland
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Awesome Neil Young caps a blisteringly hot day at Hyde Park
***** True to his belief that it's better to burn out than fade away, Neil Young broke Hyde Park's strict curfew on Friday night. The sound was shut off by the venue, which meant that though the band could be seen playing the closing moments of Rocking' in the Free World on the giant screens that bookend the Great Oak stage, not a note could be heard. This was a genuine powerhouse of a set by Young. Backed by the Chrome Hearts - Micah Nelson on guitar and vocals, Corey McCormick on bass and vocals, Anthony LoGerfo on drums and Spooner Oldham on Farfisa organ - he delivered a two-hour-long set that fused classic songs with newer material. Perhaps characteristically, he opted not to play anything from the band's recently-released studio album, Talkin' to the Trees. He opened with Ambulance Blues, a rarely-heard song from his 1974 album, On the Beach. Its caustic line, originally written about Richard Nixon - 'I never knew a man who could tell so many lies' - had relevance in 2025, given Young's loathing of Donald Trump. Young had previously pledged that his run of shows would shape a 'summer of democracy'. He strapped on his electric guitar for a lengthy, bewitching Cowgirl in the Sand, from his 1969 debut, his guitar lines weaving hypnotically with those of Nelson. Later songs ranged from Cinnamon Girl to a reliably rowdy F——— Up (prefaced by Young telling the audience, 'Sometimes we do things wrong, sometimes we do things right'). Southern Man was followed by Young, solo and acoustic, on Needle and the Damage Done, which Randy Newman, no less, has described as the Canadian's finest hour. Harvest Moon and the plaintive After the Goldrush were audience singalongs, Young underlining his green credentials by updating a line in the latter so that it became 'Look at Mother Nature on the run/in the twenty-first century' from the original's 'nineteen seventies'. Not for nothing does the current tour go under the banner of 'Love Earth'. Be the Rain sees Young complaining bitterly that 'corporate greed and chemicals are killing the land'. His passion, his willingness to speak out, remain undimmed. Long may he run. Throughout the set, it was on electrifying numbers such as Love to Burn, When You Dance, Hey Hey My My, Name of Love, Throw Your Hatred Down and Rockin' in the Free World that Young, Nelson and McCormick, clustered together in front of LoGerfo, achieve an intensity that recalled Young's old band, Crazy Horse, at its most compelling. The sledgehammer power of Rockin' in the Free World, its repeated false endings and Young's unmistakable lead-guitar work capped a punishingly hot afternoon at Hyde Park that also featured Van Morrison, the highlight of whose own set was an awesome Summertime in England, and a buoyant Yusuf/Cat Stevens, who played his song The Little Ones, originally written in response to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in support of Palestine. Among the other support acts were Amble, a contemporary folk band from Ireland, who went down particularly well.
Ottawa Citizen
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Showdown with Jed: Mechanical bull heightens Bluesfest experience
Not many people spend their Thursday evening getting thrown around by a red-eyed beast named Jed. Article content But that was what Quinn Meeker and Jaden Scott-Lucas lined up to do first thing on Bluesfest's opening night. Article content Article content While the couple were initially there to greet friends who work at the saloon and to see headliner Lainey Wilson and the Red Clay Strays, they were quickly drawn to Jed the mechanical bull. With two massive horns and a large saddle, Jed was hard to miss. Article content Article content 'It's always fun to ride the bull,' Meeker said. 'I've ridden dozens of mechanical bulls. They're so much fun.' Article content Article content But it was the first time for Scott-Lucas. She said she had been to the Crazy Horse saloon in Kanata several times, but had never mustered up the courage to ride the bull. Article content 'It's less crowded at a place like this early on than it is at Crazy Horse,' she said. 'I've always been too scared to get on the bull.' Article content Scott-Lucas said the large tent behind Bluesfest's RBC stage made it feel just like the bar in Kanata. The tent was decorated with wooden barrels, loud country music and a Western-themed bar. The couple wore their cowboy hats and boots to stick to the theme for the show. Article content Article content Article content Since Crazy Horse opened in 2009, Kyle Louvelle has operated the bull every Wednesday night to provide entertainment for the crowd it brings in. 'There's a lot of excitement (riders) get right away,' he said. 'It's a unique experience.' Article content Article content For first-time riders, Louvelle tends to start off slow and ensure they can adapt to the bull's movements before turning it into a real show. The mechanical bull is also surrounded by a soft inflatable cushion, so riders can fall off safely. Article content 'As the night progresses, if they're really good, I crank (Jed) up and turn it into a real bull,' he said. 'It's nothing but enjoyment for them. All together, it's a brand-new experience.' Article content Mike Labreche, one of Crazy Horse's owners, said the Bluesfest set-up provided great exposure for the business, which was back at the event for the second year in a row after a 'phenomenal' run in 2024.
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Burlesque star Dita Von Teese bans zips from her striptease costumes
Dita Von Teese has "never considered" using a zip as part of her striptease. The 52-year-old burlesque star believes she is the "most famous stripper in the world", and as a result she doesn't want to take the easy option of ever using a costume with a zip - because Dita insists she should be doing something "more complicated than anyone else". Speaking to Harper's Bazaar magazine, she said: "I worked with a costume designer once who asked me, 'Have you ever thought of using a zip?' I said, 'No, I've never even considered it, not even once.' Instead we try and come up with maniacal ways of doing a striptease. "You can't be the most famous stripper in the world and not be doing some s**t that's more complicated than anyone else. "You want to figure out how to make it harder, how to level it up." Dita's costumes are her "biggest extravagance in life", and she even keeps a record of how easy or hard it was to get out of her incredible outfits. She said: "Costumes are my biggest extravagance in life and they have to be otherworldly. "None of the costumes in my show are things you can wear or buy on the street. "I have a little book where I keep a score: me vs the costume. "When I did Crazy Horse I wore this incredible pearl corset and it was like a Houdini trick to get out of, and that's the point. "I like to create something absurd that no one else would take on." Dita keeps in shape for her shows by doing weights, Pilates and barre classes, but she is not "obsessed" with exercise. She added: "I don't get obsessed with it. "I tell myself that my body is strong and I work out when I can. "Sometimes I choose between sleep and exercise. Doing the shows all the time keeps me at a certain physical level."
Daily Mirror
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dita von Teese admits regret over not having kids as she explains what happened
The Queen of Burlesque opens up exclusively about her incredible career, her very rocky romance history - and her candid thoughts on why she never started a family As the undisputed queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese has been entertaining audiences in little more than a corset for three decades. Now she's bringing a new show, Diamonds And Dust, to London. But despite her remarkable career, the humble 52-year-old, who has performed for international royalty, A-list celebrities and billionaire entrepreneurs, says she never anticipated global fame at the beginning of her journey. 'I carved out a space for myself when I first started performing burlesque shows in the 90s when it wasn't really a thing,' she says. 'Then I was headlining shows in Vegas and the Crazy Horse in Paris and London and travelling all over the world and I'm very proud of that. 'I never thought I'd be globally successful. Never, ever. Not even once. It's been a crazy thing to watch, but that journey keeps me motivated to keep continuously evolving and changing people's minds about what a burlesque show is and making the whole burlesque movement even bigger.' Helping her with that goal is none other than Taylor Swift, the one person who Dita would love to join her on stage this summer at the West End's newest theatre, The Emerald. The unlikely duo joined forces in 2022 – in giant Martini glasses – when the 14-times Grammy Award winning singer songwriter invited Dita to appear with her in the video for her single Bejeweled. 'If I needed a stand-in one night and she was in London, I'd definitely give Taylor a call,' says Dita. 'She could definitely pull it off.' 'Taylor is a super-smart girl,' says Dita, whose ability to seductively blend golden era Hollywood glamour and attention-grabbing stunts – like appearing in a giant powder compact or on a bucking bronco refashioned as an oversized lipstick – catapulted her to international stardom and the covers of magazines including Playboy and Vogue. 'We spoke on the phone first and she said she knew all about what I do and that I was an amazing performer, then she told me about the concept for the video, which was a sort of burlesque reinterpretation of Cinderella, where we both end up rotating in chest-high Martini glasses wearing just diamanté-studded bustiers. 'She said, 'I want you to appear alongside me in this video because I want people to know what you do.' She was extremely savvy and intelligent, and she just led the entire video shoot. It was amazing to watch her. I really enjoyed talking to her and getting to know her on that set.' In her personal life, Dita has been with her partner, designer Adam Rajcevich since 2014 – seven years after her tumultuous divorce from goth rocker Marilyn Manson. The controversial musician faced sexual assault and domestic violence allegations until California prosecutors dropped all charges in January this year. Dita is delighted that her life today is a million miles away from the media circus it had become when she and Manson, real name Brian Warner, were together. 'I can look back on my divorce and laugh about it now,' says Dita, who was born Heather Renée Sweet in West Branch, Michigan. 'I can be like, 'Whoa. Remember when you divorced the rock star?' It was crazy, but you learn stuff from every situation. I got sick of having relationships in the public eye and I don't want to be part of one of those celebrity couples that slings s**t at each other on X.' Dita is rarely photographed with her other half today and enjoys a discreet existence in her Tudor revival mansion at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. Adam is happy to pick up the domestic slack while she's in London choreographing and starring in her new show. 'The most romantic thing in my life right now is just that I can go off and do my thing, and I have someone who will take care of my kitties and call me every morning and send me video updates. That's super romantic to me. It's not like, 'Oh, you're gonna have to just take care of yourself,' or, 'Why aren't you here?' It really means a lot.' The star – who also appeared on screen in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and on The Masked Dancer – looks at least a decade younger. A passionate advocate of clean living, minimal alcohol and even more minimal exposure to the UVA rays of the sun, she was disappointed to have to answer accusations from ITV viewers that her beauty is anything but natural, when she appeared as a guest on Lorraine in January. 'I was like, 'I have had no work done. I haven't even had Botox,' then I started going, 'Does my face look weird? Does my face look puffy? Do I look like I've had some injections?' Because honest to God I've not had any work done. I was like, 'I haven't even got started on any of that yet,' and I thought, 'Wow, it's weird to have people accusing you of having plastic surgery when you just haven't.'' But she didn't engage with her critics. 'I just left it alone. Somebody else said to me, 'Just look at it as a compliment.' People will never be satisfied. If you say what you did, they'll be mad. If you say that you didn't do anything, they think you're a liar. I don't know what to say. It's complicated.' Dita has also grown tired of decades of questions asking her to justify her decision not to have children. 'Looking back at my life, I think, 'When would I have done that?'' says Dita, who has two sisters, Sarah and Jena. 'I do remember one time about 20 years ago Madonna telling me not to let motherhood pass me by and I remember thinking, 'Oh, well, I guess it has though.' Do I feel like she was right? I don't know. I'd just got divorced and then life happens and then suddenly you're like, 'Oh, here we are.'' The future for Dita may not involve motherhood, but it may well involve a new continent. 'After the fires, I'm definitely considering saying goodbye to LA,' says Dita. 'Do you think the UK will take me?' she asks. 'I can totally see myself in the British countryside. Maybe not London, but perhaps Ireland or Scotland.' But whether in California or Cowdenbeath, she has no intention of hanging up her corset any time soon.
