"JUST A FAN" is the just released book by R&R memorabilia collector Stephen Duncan.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blogs/celebrity-book-signings

This isn't the first time I have written about this subject, nor I am sure it will be the last.  However, someone PLEASE tell me the reason, other than to sell books and tell a story, does any celebrity write a book?  Having just written one myself, I can tell you that it is no easy process and my book is a very simple…

Like most of you, I am sick to my stomach of seeing so many FAKE and BOGUS autographs for sale on Ebay, in gallery malls, and on the entire Internet. Further, a few weeks back I was at the Hard Rock Cafe in Phoenix and my frustration continued as again I see (as in many of the HRC's) grease, dust, and the simple wear and tear of rotating the memorabilia starting to really take a toll on so many rare and precious signatures.

Further, take a look at how many…

http://www.neautograph.com/

I think we have talked about this company before, but not sure.  Been spending some time on the internet and on Ebay just seeing was is out there (new) and out there (still).  Seeing kinda what 2011 might have for us all by way of presigned items for sale, and all the many, many upcoming conventions (seems like another record year for in person convention style shows).

Anyways, came…

At the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles last night (11/2), and in cooperation with the L.A. Food Bank and whyhunger.org, held what was billed as an "All-Star" tribute jam to the music of John Lennon, all the while supporting local and world food banks and keeping the spirit of this mans music alive all for the causes set up by Yoko Ono in the name of her late husband. Edgar Winter, Dave Stewart, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, plus "very special guests" where to be there playing, and paying tribute, to…

Year after year I see Tom Petty signatures for sell on Ebay, and/or people email me examples that they want to purchase and/or examples of what they all ready purchased and/or asking if I will sell any of mine. Whatever the answers are/were, I see these 2 signed albums currently on Ebay that in my opinion, look really good and really consistant with the in person sigs that I have. I am not saying these are the read deal, but I am saying Tom is a tough cookie to obtain, and can sign anything…

http://www.ledzeppelin.com/timelinebrowse

http://www.robertplant.com/tour/

In the December 2009 issue of AUTOGRAPH, Roger Epperson wrote what I consider to be the BEST article to date of the authenticity of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham's signatures.

Led Zeppelin is one of rocks most requested bands, most collected…

All this talk about fake signatures and the crooks that are trying to rip you off, please keep in mind that there is a current BONANZA of autograph conventions being held in the next few months from sea to shining sea. Here is your best defense at fighting forgers that you are not not buying any of their junk, and instead support the artists that are attending the below conventions. Take a look:

http://www.zurkopromotions.com/ -…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebrities-Understanding-Celebrity-Autographs/129289450451856?v=info&ref=ts#!/pages/Celebrities-Understanding-Celebrity-Autographs/129289450451856?v=wall

New Facebook page that I will dedicate and post any and all information regarding this…

I have always enjoyed celebrity book signings. It is the simpliest and most guaranteed way to obtain an autograph. In the real world of collecting autographs, there isn't often much that is a sure thing, but attending a celeb's book signing is as close as it is ever going to get. In this world we live in of fans wanting autographs, very tough economics, and the cancer of fake signatures over taking collectability, I simply cannot understand why a celebrity will not allow one item of…

I will confine my frustration to just Rock and Roll autographs since that is my area of what I collect. I am so fed up with what seems to be every gallery I walk into, every internet website I visit, and the increasing amount of horror stories regarding the signed garbage that is currently in circulation for sale. From those 9 Led Zeppelin signed LP's I saw last year in Las Vegas to the current conversation on another blog here regarding The Rolling Stones fake autographs and at every corner…

Now, some of you younger readers who have seen the film, "The Warriors" on video or (worse) edited on television, probably watch that film and wonder where all the violence is and what really is the big deal. Compared to the real gangs of today, the gangs in the film look more like a Mad Hatter tea party than gangs we see on the nightly news. However, for us older readers, we can testify that when the 1979 film was released, it caused fights in the theaters, gang activity, and a media that…

I am at a thought crossing in my autograph collection: to sellor not to sell. Let me explain.

I love collecting autographs and always will. However, collecting has been a huge expense for me over the last several years. With so many fantastic autograph conventions across the country, in store signings, artists appeareing at so many local clubs, there has been a rebirth of my collecting. In other words, these last 5 or so years have been more fruitful and successful, than the…

On Friday night, July 2, the Cinefamily Theater on Fairfax in L.A., hosted a screening of the 1971 independant film, "Billy Jack" and the 1967 film "The Born Loosers". In attendance, was writer, director and actors, Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor. Prior to the show, there was an hour long Q&A where so much behind the scenes were discussed by the 79 year old actor and his wife.

Though the discussion session was interesting, and watching both films on the big screen once…

Once again, 2010 is indeed the year of the autograph conventions and autograph signings. Today, I looked on the internet and found autograph conventions in 9 different states between now and the end of this year. There is a HUGE Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in August; "The Hollywood Show" in Burbank has shows in July and October; "Super Mega Show" in East Fairfield, NJ and Dallas Doomesday Shootout in Toms River, NJ both in July; "Steele City Con" in Monroeville, PA in August; The…

Once again, I just chuckle and laugh. Once again, I need to tell myself to try and understand. Once again, I must remind myself that a signed book is all I was paying for. What I am talking about is the book signing for Pat Benatar Friday night, 6/18 at 7pm, at Borders in Westwood. For the price of the book, fans could get the pleasure of seeing classic '80's pop rocker Pat Benatar sign such book and say a few brief words to you, but that is all that you are going to get. Nada…

After seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert on 1980's "The River" tour, I knew I had just seen an amazing artist. However, it was the 1984's "Born In The USA" tour and the genesis of starting up my autograph collection at about the same time that I knew I just had to obtain his signature. But how?

Like many people fresh into collectability, I wrote to him. I wrote to him via CBS records, to Jon Landau Management, and to addresses found in Hollywood Celebrity shops that listed…

"Who's the cat that won't cop out, when there's danger all about, SHAFT!"

Before all the special effects and matrix style cop movies, there were characters named Paul Kersey, Popeye Doyle, Harry Callahan, Frank Serpico, and my favorite from all of that era, John Shaft. Sure you might say I am stuck in the 1970's and retro is all right for a little while and I need to move on and get with the 21st Century movie technology. I hear that quite actually all the time. However for…

Last night and this morning I am hearing some very sad news about John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach for UCLA who won 10 National Titles from 1964-1975, that he is "gravely ill" at a hospital here in L.A. Though he is 99, and described himself as "at peace with my life" in an interview a few months back, It would seem this news is not good.

I post this for two reasons. I have been lucky to obtain about a dozen of his signatures over the last 20 years, attending the many…

What a great idea and for a very worthy cause.

The ska band NO DOUBT is listing currently on Ebay a boat load of memorabilia and autographed items with all the proceeds going to several very worthy charities of the bands choosing. What a fantastic way to obtain REAL signatures from this very friendly, yet hard to track down and obtain in person, 4 member band. Known as one the friendliest bands for signing for fans, yet also known for some very sloppy autographs on the…