February 2007 Featured User

ALinChainz

ALinChainz (moderator at DLR Army, but a great guy nonetheless)

Chelle: Where were you born?
AL: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Chelle: How many different cities have you lived in? What's the best thing about where you live in now?
AL: We moved 13 times growing up, so about 10. All in Michigan except for 6 months in Jacksonville, FLA.

Chelle: Why did your family move around so much?
AL: My dad was just like that, he was always looking for something better, he worked in many fields and areas, owned businesses, whatever he felt like doing, where as my mom worked the same factory job for over 35 years.

Chelle: What is your earliest memory?
AL: Cutting my finger on an ironing board at age 2 or 3.

Chelle: Do you have any siblings?
AL: 3 - older sister, younger sister, younger brother

Chelle: What were your interests in school?
AL: Everything. My dad was a sergeant in the Army, so being at home wasn't fun most of the time.

Chelle: What did you always want to be when you grew up?
AL: An athlete and sports broadcaster.

Chelle: Did you ever get to do that?
AL: I played some high school sports until I began to drink. I played in softball leagues for work and a lot of Gus Macker Basketball Tournaments. I obliterated my Achilles tendon in a league in 1992. Pretty much ended all sports for a long time. I wanted to take TVP in college (television production) but got a job instead, then had money to really party. Forgot all about school then.

Chelle: What's your day job?
AL: I currently am a radio dispatcher for a friend of mine who bought a second company (his competition in town) and let me in on it as a potential limited partner. He drives the trucks along with 3 other drivers, and I get to work from home. Its actually called "Dave's Towing".

Chelle: When did you first get into music?
AL: Right away. From the "Bear Necessities" to today, have always been into it. It takes you places you been before, and have never been.

Chelle: Do you play any musical instruments?
AL: A gift I wish I had.

Chelle: Did you play any instruments as a child that you don't play anymore?
AL: Nope. I wish. I played the drums at grade school. No patience as a youth. Who wouldn't want to excel at something like the guitar?

Chelle: Tell me about your musical interests.
AL: Basically classic rock. 60's, 70's, and especially the 80's. Most say I'm stuck, but I don't care.

Chelle: What was the 1st concert you ever attended?
AL: I believe is was ZZ Top & .38 Special at the North Star in 1982.

Chelle: When would you say you became a VH fan? What turned you on to VH?
AL: From the beginning. One of my friends who lived across the street from me had one of those older brothers who had the stereo systems that took up an entire wall, reel to reel, all of it. Eddie mowed us all down the minute the first album hit.

Chelle: How long have you been involved with the online VH community? Have you always had the same username?
AL: I entered just after the Army went down. All that was left was "The Wall". I have always had this username, except for maybe 2 posts at classicvanhalen.com, I think I was "Ice Cream Mick" there.

Chelle: Ever posted under an alias?
AL: I believe I did once, under a "community name" at the Army, and have thought about it, but figured, what for.

Chelle: Why ALinChainz?
AL: Like I said, I was a hair band, 80's type, that's when I was in high school and first out into the working world. The grunge movement came about and I wasn't the biggest Pearl Jam or Nirvana fan. Didn't hate it, but wasn't the same. Alice in Chains was the exception to that rule in my opinion. Just some real good shit with a unique voice for a front man. Not exactly wanting to be called "Alice", I went with AL and used a z. It wasn't any long process, but it is weird to react to someone using the name in the real world. My grandfather was named AL, but that never entered into it.

Chelle: You've been a mod at the DLR Army site for a long time. What's the funniest story you can share with us about your experiences there?
AL: I guess the most fun was when the band first brought Sammy back in and the entire Army would be fighting off various sheep that would come in and bash Dave, say how great Sammy was, etc. There was a lot of creativity going into mowing them down. Fun in the unity I suppose. The Roth Army Awards were fun.

Chelle: What is your opinion of the current state of VH?
AL: That there isn't a current state, only one of confusion. It is to the point where I cannot have the conversation anymore about the whole thing. Why they brought back Sam, why anyone would think Sam ever belonged in the band, all of it. Dave's last name isn't Van Halen, but anyone that thinks he isn't every bit as important as the sisters themselves simply don't get it and never will. Like the saying goes, "It Ain't Van Halen Without DLR". It's the truth.

Chelle: If VH reunited with Dave, but not Mike, would you go to the show?
AL: I would. And I'm sure I would be glad I did. But it would be a little weird I guess, and I'm not that big an Anthony fan, but he was part of it, and it does make a difference.

Chelle: Have you met any of the VH band members?
AL: Dave. Shook hands with him a couple times and only spoke real briefly on his EEAS tour in 1986. While they were getting set up and all the lights were on at Wings Stadium. I pushed to the front row at the show also so the second was more of a high five type handshake. We had to paint a brick building in the summer on a Friday day off from the factory to earn the extra money for tickets.

Chelle: Met any other celebrities?
AL: Lita Ford, Ted Nugent, shook hands with Barry Sanders at a Lions game. Have seen celebs at sporting events, but never bothered them. I would have liked to shake Tommy Hearns' hand at a Piston game I saw him at, he was one of my favorite fighters. Sat in a VIP section behind Guns N Roses at the Palace concert once, but didn't get backstage or meet the band.

Chelle: Have you ever been told that you resemble a celebrity?
AL: My aunt always tells me I look like Toby Keith. But she's getting old so her eyesight may be going.

Chelle: What single store would you choose to max out your credit card in?
AL: Best Buy. Music, Movies, and electronics.

Chelle: Do you have any hobbies?
AL: Sports (major fantasy sports fan), I have a fantasy site. Music, movies, TV, history, crosswords, kind of a neat freak, like organization, working on a degree in business and accounting. Bonfires in the summer, swimming. All the "hobbies" I had back in the day I had to quit, they about killed me, although I do still like to drink occasionally, just not as many occasions now (wink).

Chelle: Tell me about your fantasy site
AL: This is my second fantasy sports site. My brother and I started a Yahoo club and it grew into the first site, then some sports internet network bought it from us. We built another and just do it for fun, Fantasy Outlaws.com, and enjoy dabbling in sports writing and discussion.

Chelle: What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?
AL: Young Guns probably. I am a western movie fan, western history and lore also. Just reminds me of the good old days before responsibility and obligations. Everyone had a "gang" or "clique" and we partied together, played sports, and worked together. Probably seen it 200 times, so I know a couple lines.

Chelle: What is your comfort food?
AL: I'd say burgers. So many ways to have them, so little time.

Chelle: What is your guilty pleasure?
AL: Superhero movies and TV series. Good or bad, color or black and white.

Chelle: Who is your favorite superhero?
AL: Superman, he is a cultural icon in the history of media in this country, and easily the baddest of them all.

Chelle: If you could have a "super power" what would it be?
AL: I'm not sure, I am afraid of heights for the most part and am not fond of high speeds anymore, so whatever might make me the most money. I guess if I were just magic, that would be cool.

Chelle: Finish this statement: If I won a million dollars, I'd...
AL: Move to Iceland and become a Viking legend.

Chelle: What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
AL: The condensed version.

One night after a day or partying (drinking) with a friend of mine, about 2 am, we finally had to get home because we had a softball tourney the next day. He convinced me he could drive, and as he backed out of the driveway, he ripped the side of his car (pinto wagon which actually won our senior classes biggest piece of shit award) along a big 4x4 bumper that stuck out on the sides of the truck.

As soon as he turned off the dirt road, he told me, "watch this" and mowed down the first 2 mailboxes he saw. Laughing and on our way, we came to Croton Dam, which just past that is the "causeway", a long winding road similar to a bridge, but has banks down to the water. Flying about 75 in a 35, he spots a car coming way over on the other side. His knee hits the lights and they go out. Turning them back on and now driving on the wrong side of the road, he decides he would whip the car back into our lane. We started to slide sideways and all I could see was out his window and said "oh shit" a few times.

The car got traction and shot over the guardrail. I hit my head twice hard on the windshield and then everything stopped. I looked over to see if he was ok, he was gone and the water was about up to my neck. I said it was time to get out and had to pull my foot out of the floor and swim out of the window from about 30-40 feet down in the water.

Chelle: Wow! Was your friend ok?
AL: The funny thing about my friend. He jumped out, he was fine. He died of Lou Gerhig's Disease about 5 years ago. Out of the blue, it hit him. He was the picture of health.

Another friend I was in a rollover with after that, his girlfriend rolled his car into a ditch onto its top with him in the front with her, me in the back. I went to the hospital on a back board but was fine. He was waiting at a light to make a left turn with his girlfriend when a semi truck mowed them down, this was about 8 years ago.

Each time, I lived, and now they're gone. I'm still here. I've lost nearly all my relatives and about 8 of my classmates. Maybe I already have a super power, God's kept me around for something.

Chelle: What is your biggest pet peeve?
AL: Unorganized sloppiness. Can't have it. Gotta find stuff when I need or want it.

Chelle: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
AL: I once seen the Beastie Boys in concert because there was a woman involved.

Chelle: How much cash do you have on you right now?
AL: About $110.00

Chelle: Do you have a general philosophy on life?
AL: It's just too short and you have to live each day, not like it's your last, but like you're glad to be here. Not always easy to do.

Chelle: Do you have a myspace page?
AL: I do, but I don't use it.

Chelle: Anything else you'd like to mention that I haven't asked about?
AL: Just that I have met a lot of great people in the VH community, great friends from all over, hilarious and knowledgeable, and every site has been more than cool to me.