An interview with my friend… The Profit and Poet Paul Thorn

It’s not everyday that you encounter someone who you literally feel is living a parallel in a different dimension. I know you must think I’m losing my mind but the reality is that I’m not getting metaphysical on you I’m just stating a fact. A little more than 12 years ago I met Paul Thorn. I was driving to my radio gig at the Gary Burbank Show like I did everyday listening to Gary’s show before i got there so I actually new what the hell was going on.

I happened to be a very successful Personal Trainer that went on Gary’s Show one day and step in shit. Gary loved my laugh and the energy I brought to the studio and I haven’t left radio since.

On this one day I heard a very distinct voice talk about a battle that he had with Roberto Duran, stone hands himself. I couldn’t really believe that a former professional boxer was going to be singing anything meaningful on my buddy Gary Burbank’s show.

It was just the opposite and it blew me away. Paul sung “Hammer and Nail” a song that refers to the beating he received for Roberto Duran as well as getting cheated on 151 times from an ex-girlfriend and working 12 years in a chair factory. His life was laid out in one song and it was hilarious and dead pan serious all in the same breath. I was hooked from the moment I met Paul and his business/songwriting partner Billy Maddox. We have been friends ever since.

I used to go Michigan, Tennesee, Louisville, Ky and always the Southgate House in Newport, KY whenever Paul and the band would come to town. I live in Albuquerque now and only get to see Paul when I travel to Mississippi, Memphis or when he comes west. I never interviewed Paul and I don’t know why but when he played the Soiled DOve Underground in Denver, Co…I decided it was about time for me to interview him and for you to get a glimpse of my good friend, Paul Thorn.

Here’s my interview:

If you want to know more about Paul Thorn go to: http://paulthorn.com

Making Pizza in Rocco’s F@#ked Up World!

There’s been a pizzeria at 678 Shaler Boulevard in my hometown of Ridgefield, NJ ever since I was in grade school. Everyday after school we’d run down and grab the “special” 2 slices and a coke for $1.00 (yea…a dollar!). It was a place that all the neighborhood kids would gather and hang out…sometimes tormenting the owner, Alfredo “Goumba” Morano but always having fun.

23 years ago a friend of mine Richie Sargenti bought the place from “Goumba” and started his career as a “Pizza Man”. Sarge’s Pizza has been a landmark in Ridgefield from the second Richie opened the place. “Sarge” as with lovingly call him always makes you feel like your part of his family…and at one time almost everyone in his family worked there. The stories and good times that come out of Sarge’s Pizza are to numerous to count and leave you always out of breath from laughing so hard.

The aspect of Sarge’s and Richie himself is the generosity and the respect for humanity he has for his customers, the town and community that visit the corner Pizzeria. He’s been a football coach, wrestling coach and a community leader for as long as he has lived here. It has always been an honor to call Richie Sargenti my friend and brother.

Watch this hilarious video of Richie Sargenti teaching Rocco how to make a Pizza.

Sarge’s Pizza
678 Shaler Boulevard
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Tel: 201-941-5040
Menu | Map

Fun Rocco Fact: Before the property that houses Sarge’s Pizza was a Pizzeria it was a candy store called “Jerry’s” Candy Store where when Rocco was 7 years old his mother caught him stealing a “Ring Pop”

Giovanni Terzulli: The most famous waiter in New York’s Little Italy

My favorite place to go in the whole world is still New’s York’s Little Italy and my favorite restaurant when I get there is Florio’s Cigar Bar & Grille. Florio’s is located just off the corner of Grand and Mulberry Street, just across from Ferrara’s.

The owner, Lawrence Amoruso (or son of the owner) is an awesome host along with the other manager’s Frank and Tony. When you arrive at Florio’s you are instantly welcomed in and you realize this is home. I have been going to Florio’s for years and have never had a bad meal…ever! The food always tastes fresh and yummy.

Besides the food being awesome and the cigars to die for, Florio’s has a treasure very rarely seen. That treasure comes in the form of a human being named Giovanni Terzulli: The most famous waiter in Little Italy.

I had the balls to ask Giovanni to sit down and do a brief interview with me while the restaurant was hopping. He obliged. Take a gander for yourself.

Bruce Springsteen and Driving Down the Jersey Shore

I have been a huge “Boss” fan since I was in eighth grade.  While everyone was listening to Aerosmith and Styx, I was listening to “Mary Queen of Arkansas” wondering what the hell he was talking about:

Mary Queen of Arkansas, it’s not too early for dreamin’
The sky is grown with cloud seed sown and a bastard’s love can be redeeming
Mary, my queen, your soft hulk is reviving
No, you’re not too late to desecrate, the servants are just rising
Well I’m just a lonely acrobat, the live wire is my trade
I’ve been a shine boy for your acid brat and a wharf rat of your state
Mary, my queen, your blows for freedom are missing
You’re not man enough for me to hate or woman enough for kissing

When I finally figured it out I was 25.

I have seen him in concert more times that I can remember.  Two of my favorite concert tours were his “Born in the USA” and 1999 Tour…I got to see him with my girlfriend at the time Cindy Ketchum (probably the sweetest girl I have ever known) down in Greenboro, NC and I couldn’t believe someone else besides Mick Jagger could have that much energy and stamina.  Four hours later I was exhausted and couldn’t wait to find out where else he was going to be.  I saw him 3 other times that year.  The 1999 Tour really wasn’t a tour to promote a CD it was just him bringing the old E-Street Band and merging it with the New …it couldn’t have sounded any better if it were a dream.

It was a great 18 months I saw him in Chicago (bought a cool sweatshirt…I’m wearing it as I write this.  How friggin’ gay!), Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, East Rutherford, NJ and Madison Square Garden, NYC and every concert rocked better then the next.

My favorite memories of “Bruce” are of the Saturday mornings in the Summers of my youth loading up the car to go “down the shore” and cranking “Born to Run” “Hungry Heart” “The River” “Thunder Road” and singing so loud and out of tune in the graveliest voice I could muster.  By the time we got down the shore we had lost our voice and our hearing for most of the day.

After cruising the Boardwalk for “chicks” we’d kiss the ones we picked up, said good bye and “blasted” Bruce all the way back home.  Ahhh…the Summer’s at the Jersey Shore.

One of my favorite stories of “Bruce” was when I went to see Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at the Stone Pony.  I was under age but was bigger than most of the bouncers that worked there so they didn’t really question me.  If you’ve ever been to the Stone Pony you would know that it is the most intimate place to see a band.  Southside was rockin’ the house and all of a sudden who walks in the door, with a gutar slung over his shoulder…I don’t think you needed a hint…but “The Boss”.  He waved at Southside and the band as he stepped up to the bar, stood there talking small talk with the bartender.

“Southside” decides to take a break, walks to the bar shakes Bruce’s hand as “The Boss” whispers in his ear, they both shake their heads in acknowledgment and Springsteen walks up on stage and literally apologizes for the inconvenience but he wanted to “try out” a couple of songs for us…to kinda get “our” opinion.  I was thinking to myself…are you fuckin’ kidding me?…no get off the stage you freeloader… everyone was looking around in the same “awestruck” way that I felt I was looking…we let him play…it was the least we could do.  After he played “My Hometown” and a version of “Downbound Train”, he thanked us, went to the bar welcomed us to give some feedback.  Of course I did.

Ever since… I have been a huge fan of his graciousness and humanity.

If you have a favorite “Bruce” song or favorite story, please feel free to leave it as a comment.

Welcome to ROCCO’s F@#ked Up World!

Welcome to my F@#ked Up World.  This website is my commentary on not only my life but life in general as I see it.

I have been told that I have an opinion on everything…and I usually do!

You will be able to peak in to my life and the life of my friends and just the people I encounter along the way on my journey in this great experiment called life.

I am most known for being one of the Top Fitness Professionals in the world but many times when I am interviewed I am asked about many other aspects of my life and my opinion on human stupidity.

This is my homage to the human Stupidity that keeps me laughing everyday.  Here you will find art gallery openings because I’m a huge advocate of Art and Artists, My favorite indy music like my good friend Paul Thorn and 500 Miles to Memphis and sometimes commercial entities like Bruce Springsteen.

If yo have any artists that you think are great feel free to comment on posts and send them along so I could write about them…and of course listen and check out their art.

Thank you for coming into my F@#ked Up World.

Rocco Castellano