THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 18, 2025 Page 7 bustin’ beans with that great big smile of his! Happy birthday, Richie. Love and miss you always. Howdy! I’m The Old Ranger, Peter Levine, and Maldonia is my old stampin’ ground. Many’s the tale of adventure I’m going to tell you about these here five square miles – true stories, mind you. I can vouch for that! Boy’s Life, yet another look... Ah, the cruel fate of rock ‘n’ roll. Some bands ride the tidal wave of fame, while others, like Malden’s Boy’s Life, sink into the depths of obscurity, only to be resurrected decades later by crate-diggers and vinyl junkies in places like the Record Exchange in Salem. Their 1981 7" vinyl single “Two Doors Down” wasn’t just a song – it was a sonic postcard from Presley Street, a love letter to the ghosts of childhood and a testament to the raw, unvarnished magic of garage rock. The fact that it was inspired by a real-life neighbor (Billy Murphy) adds an almost cinematic quality, like a lost scene from a coming-of-age film scored by ringing guitars and teenage longing. It’s a sad truth that some bands, despite pouring their souls into every note/performance, never get the recognition they deserve. Meanwhile, soulless radio rock clogs the airwaves. But here’s the beauty of music – it never truly dies. Some kid from the burbs flipping through dusty LPs will stumble upon Boy’s Life, drop the needle and feel the same rush of discovery that I did, and that fuels the eternal cycle of rock ‘n’ roll resurrection. Speaking of Boy’s Life... I ran into BL drummer Robert Weiner last week, and just for the record, he looks marvelous! I have seen many drummers come and go in the Boston music scene of yesteryear, none better than Robert behind the kit. None. I realize nobody asked but here I offer my Top 10 drummers anyway, from that golden age of punk and garage rock in Beantown (late 1970s–early 1990s) – in no particular order: Robert (Boy’s Life), Mike Mangini (Extreme/Rick Berlin), Malden’s very own Dennis McCarthy (Prime Movers), Paul Geary (Dream/Extreme), Malcolm Travis (Human Sexual Response/Zulus), Mike Quaglia (The Neighborhoods), Walter Gustafson (Outlets/Gang Green), Paul Caruso (Atlantics), Joe “Pet” Petruzzelli (ITMB/Joe Perry Project), Mark Cuccinello (Stompers) and David “Doc” Vincent (Everybody on the North Shore). As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – on the 113th anniversary (April 15, 1912) of the Titanic disaster this piece was so good the first five times I printed it, I figured, why not again?! One more time with feeling... Hard to believe Jerry Lee Lewis’s righthand man, Gary Skala, has been gone 13 years now. Gary was a Long Island guy via Chicago and Florida who, along with the legendary Kay Martin, helped organize the original Jerry Lee Lewis Fan Club back in the late 1950s. Gary worked his way up the Jerry Lee Lewis food chain and evenEverett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! tually became his personal assistant/bodyguard/babysitter. Whenever our paths crossed, he would regale us with stories of life on the road with one of the pioneers of rock n roll, The Killer – JLL. But the most interesting story he ever told was perhaps a personal one. The story goes that in 1912 his grandfather was to be working his way across the Atlantic as a servant on the ill-fated luxury liner, the Titanic. Family lore has it that he spent the evening before the famous maiden voyage at a pub in Southampton “drinking whiskey, smoking cigarettes, and playing cards.” He never made it home that night. Instead, he passed out in the alley behind the pub and missed the launch. He ended up volunteering on ships destined to pick up survivors shortly after the disaster. Gary’s “Papa” emigrated to the States shortly after. Gary has a tall glass of whiskey every year on the anniversary for his grandpappy and for the “souls who lost their lives that night.” Gary Skala passed away on November 6 of 2012 at age 66 after living a life full of adventure and la dolce vita. Rest easy, old friend. Postscript: It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of (Special Assistant to the Mayor) Maria Luise’s beloved father, Gerardo Luise, on March 24 at the age of 91. A devoted family man, Gerardo was the heart of his family – a source of unwavering love, wisdom and warmth. From what I’ve heard he lived a life rich with cherished memories, embracing his Italian heritage and traditions with joy and generosity. His kindness, strength and gentle spirit touched the lives of all who knew him. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy of love and devotion will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Maria, my sincerest condolences. For Maria... “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”— Laurence Binyon —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol. com for comments, compliments or criticisms. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. 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