The Myth of Vincent Motorcycles' Black Lightning | Robb Report

The bikes created by British manufacturer Vincent Motorcycles are some of the most sought-after collector motorcycles in the world, and the Black Lightning occupies the top rung of this hierarchy. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that when it came out, it was the fastest production motorcycle in the world, even beating out the fastest production car of the day, the Jaguar XK120.

The bike had several owners, but it was in the possession of Australian motorcycle shop proprietor and racer Jack Ehret for the longest period—47 years. During that time, it smashed the Australian Land Speed record, hitting an average of 141.5 mph, and participated in numerous races. One of the most compelling things about the bike is that it is an original, which is exceedingly rare because of the beating they usually take on the track—a legacy that is still evidenced by the wear and tear that is still visible on the bike.

The Story of the Banjo, A Comeback For The Ages

Music is changing at a breakneck speed in today’s modern culture. Spurred by new technology and increased access via the internet, new genres are popping up nearly every day. EDM has influenced the popular music sphere, rap has gone mainstream, and thumping bass seems to be creeping its way into all sorts of music. If someone just a few decades ago flipped through today’s radio channels, they would be utterly confused by the futuristic qualities of the music. However, if a denizen of perhaps the 1940’s or 50’s flipped to a modern alternative channel, they would recognize something very familiar: the loud twang of a banjo.

To understand the banjo, we must first look at its history. It started as an African folk instrument fashioned out of a hollow gourd and sticks. Slaves brought the instrument over to the America’s where it slowly evolved. These slaves taught their masters to play the banjo and soon the instrument caught on in the popular culture of the South. In the mid-19th century, minstrels brought banjo music on the vaudeville circuit, exposing it to the nation. Many Dixieland Jazz bands featured the banjo in their arrangements at the turn of the 20th century, furthering its exposure as the Jazz became a wild hit nationwide.

Why Rock Stars Die Young

It’s been hard to avoid tragic tales of troubled musicians lately. Two recent documentaries, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (on HBO) and Amy (in theaters), chronicle the lives, and early demises, of Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, respectively, beloved singers whose struggle with drugs, depression and the consequences of fame precipitated their deaths at age 27. Another recent biopic, Love & Mercy, takes us inside the head of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, who only just survived such swirling forces and more in his own life.

The Oddities Collection of Ryan Matthew Cohn

A Kapala skull is a sacred human skull that has been decorated in semi precious stones and metals and used in tantric Buddhist rituals. The skull cap opens and is meant to hold ceremonial offerings such as blood.

Ever check out the show Oddities on the Science Channel? One of the recurring cast members Ryan Matthew Cohn always had a great collection of bones and skulls from the work he creates in osteology. These photos are from his instagram page and many more can be found there and over on his main site, have a look.

Evel Knievel And The Historic New Year's Eve Jump

Evel Knievel mid flight with the historic jump over Caesars Palace fountain in 1967

Back on New Year's eve of 1967 Evel Knievel jumped into history with his launch on a Triumph over the fountain at Caesars Palace in Vegas. Tall cans in the air to conquering more in 2014 and doing it the right way, through pure determination and balls to the wall attitude.

Tombstone Tales From Milledgeville Mental Institution

Stevie Tombstone at the Milledgeville Mental Hospital cemetery in Georgia

The Deep South holds many secrets,if you are willing to look in the right places. Sometimes all I have to do is travel back to my childhood in Georgia.

When I was a kid they used to say “watch out or they’ll send you to Milledgeville". We were told that they sent “crazy folks” there and the criminally insane and we would never come back if we didn’t straighten up our behavior. Little did I know I would find myself there almost 40 plus years later the morning after a show and late night (3 am) trip to the Golden Pantry (the best chicken biscuits I've had in my life, sorry Bojangles). As for Milledgeville Mental Hospital (as Granny called it) I soon found that what started out as a therapeutic facility turned into a dark cloud on Georgia history and the mental intuitions of the day as well.

Grand entrance to the Milledgeville Mental Institution

It is said that well over 25,000 folks were buried on the grounds at Central State Hospital, many unceremoniously and perhaps many more unaccounted for. It was originally called the Georgia Lunatic Asylum. The grounds and buildings reflect the dark but beautiful heritage of “Southern Gothic”. Many of the structures are in great disrepair with vines growing over the burned out windows and dark empty halls that once housed the unwanted from society and those who spoke against the status quo from time to time. Medical experimentation / shock treatment went pre-dominantly unsupervised at the discretion of staff members and the steady influx of "patients" created a large population that became the workforce on the grounds, as well building and farming among other things to make the Asylum self sustaining hell on earth to some. 

The grounds contain six neglected cemeteries and the interred were marked only by small metal posts with numbers inscribed if anything to mark the spot. These graves were moved, lost or forgotten about along with many of the markers. Today, Cedar Hill Cemetery is the site for the installation of markers in remembrance of the unhonored dead and to mark the past of Central State. 

The facility is still partially in operation on a much smaller scale and in adherence to modern out-patient procedures and treatments. Sprawling over 17,000 acres many come to explore, ghost hunt, photograph the architecture or just pay their respects.

One of the fringe benefits of my job is getting to enjoy a little weird history lesson from time to time as well as soak up the local flavor. Milledgeville, Georgia is a beautiful city to visit and has a rich history steeped in southern tradition. I’m lucky to have had the time to get to know folks there and see the rest of the sights during my travels.

Here are some more links to check out on the Asylum and if you are in the market for some late night culinary delights visit the Golden Pantry and tell em I sent ya.

Thanks to Matt McGee for photos, biscuits and real Southern Hospitality.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-pantry-store-no-96-milledgeville

http://themoonlitroad.com/central-state-hospital-milledgeville-georgia/

http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011/cdm/search/searchterm/Asylums—Georgia—Milledgeville

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_State_Hospital_(Milledgeville,_Georgia)

Visit my website to listen to my music and catch live performances, My new single Kevlar Heart is out now on Itunes , you can check it out right here on SoundCloud.

Stevie Tombstone venturing through the grounds at Milledgeville Mental Institution

Thanks To All Of Our Veterans

We give thanks today to all of our Veterans that have served this country. Thanks for the dedication, support and all the lives that have been put on the line, whether it is right or wrong as documented by our ever evolving history.

The colors may be dirty and worn, bu the symbol remains the same