In Memoriam: Val Kilmer (1959-2025)

By: Jesse Striewski

Few artists ever achieve the level of greatness that Actor Val Kilmer was able to in his sixty-five years on this planet, but for over four decades, the world was able to witness that greatness firsthand with awe.

As a child of the ’80s, I simply grew up watching Kilmer’s movies. His first role in 1984’s Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker parody flick Top Secret! was a staple on Comedy Central back in the day, while his follow-up to that, 1985’s Real Genius, was another cable TV mainstay on stations like TBS and TNT, and remains one of my personal favorites to this day.

In 1986, Kilmer played bad guy Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in the massive blockbuster hit Top Gun. With its stellar aerial shots and rocking soundtrack featuring Kenny Loggins, it was a surefire hit of the time, one that I would often overplay on a dubbed VHS tape much to the chargin of my brothers and sisters.

1988’s Willow directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Warwick Davis of the Star Wars universe, was a fantasy film for the ages, part Masters of the Universe, part Lord of the Rings, and remains another standout role in Kilmer’s flimography.

His follow-up to this, 1989’s oft-forgotten neo-noir piece Kill Me Again, segued him into the role as legendary rock frontman Jim Morrison in 1991’s The Doors. Kilmer’s notority seemed to blossom after this, while also spawning my personal love for the rock biopic sub-genre.

1992’s Thunderheart and 1993’s The Real McCoy may have each paled in comparison, but his portrayal of Doc Holliday in 1993’s Tombstone helped solidify it as one of the greatest modern western films to date. An appearance in the ensemble flick True Romance (his third of 1993), would pave the way for yet another one of his most memorable roles, as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1995’s Batman Forever (coincidentally the first film of his I would see on the big screen).

Heat (also 1995), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) and The Saint (1997) were a few more notable appearances prior to a period of more obscure features (although his role as the villain Dieter Von Cunth in 2010’s MacGruber contained its own level of brilliance).

But by 2015, things began to look grim for Kilmer, with rumors of a tumor and eventually throat cancer becoming a reality, and chemotherapy and two tracheotomies taking enormous tolls on his health.

By the time the long overdue Top Gun sequel Maverick appeared in 2022, fans caught a glimpse of what life was really like for the actor by that stage, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the theater by the time Iceman’s funeral is reached.

I didn’t know Val Kilmer on any sort of personal level, but for nearly my entire life, he has simply been there – as both an artist on the screen, and as a figure worth looking up to – much like fellow Actor/film legend Gene Hackman (who unfortunately I was unable to write a similar tribute piece for after his passing last month due to my own recovering at the time from surgery).

But mourn these men not because we knew them, but because they brought a joy to our own lives we would’ve never known without their existence in it. Rest in peace Gene and Val – your legacies will live on for a lifetime in each of our memories.

Interview with Doors Guitarist Robby Krieger By Jesse Striewski/Photo By Scott Dudelson

Up until about a week ago, I truly thought the closest I would ever come to having any contact with a member of legendary ’60s rockers The Doors would be when I saw Ian Astbury – who at one time stepped in the shoes of late frontman Jim Morrison with The Doors of the 21st Century (a.k.a. Manzarek-Krieger) in the early 2000’s – on stage with The Cult back in 2001.

But alas, as fate would have it, the chance to pick away at the brain of Doors co-founder and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Robby Kreiger presented itself recently, and it was impossible to resist. Krieger just recently released a new album with The Soul Savages, an instrumental effort infused with jazz, and psychedelic rock that became our initial main topic of conversation.

One of the first things I wanted to know was what fans could expect from said new album. He stated; “I hope they can expect to hear me grow as a guitar player and writer…otherwise why bother?” He continued enlightening me with his personal favorite track from the record, saying “My fave lately is “Contrary Motion,” I think it’s pretty advanced musically.”

Krieger filled me in on the lineup of the band as well; “Kevin Brandon – who has played with me on other projects in the past – plays bass (quite well I might add). And (Lenny Kravitz drummer) Franklin Vanderbilt handles drums, and Ed Roth (keyboards) was the first guy I hooked up with for this project.” As far as any touring plans might go for the group he informed me; “Depending on how much radio play, I hope so. We’ll definitely do the local (California-based) clubs like The Baked Potato and Vibrato.”

I was also curious what his relationship with former bandmate and Doors drummer John Densmore was like today, and if there were any potential plans to possibly play together again someday. He told me; “We talk quite often and I’m sure we’ll play together again.”

There were two things regarding Krieger’s work while in The Doors that I really wanted to know; what his personal favorite track from the band’s catalog was, and how he felt looking back on the post-Jim Morrison albums Other Voices and Full Circle that he and late keyboardist Ray Manzarek each shared vocal duties on. He stated; “My fav lately is “Wishful Sinful.” And we wrote that stuff fully expecting Jim to come back from Paris and record. Would’ve helped a bit to have his voice there.”

If I had to pinpoint my introduction to The Doors, it likely came via the 1987 film The Lost Boys, in which Echo & the Bunnymen’s cover of “People Are Strange” plays a big part in the beginning. I was curious what his opinion of said cover was, and he declared; “Not bad! In fact I recently sat in with them at a festival in Long Beach. Was fun!” And keeping with the theme of The Doors in film, I also wanted to know how he felt about Actor Frank Whaley’s portrayal of him in the 1991 Oliver Stone film The Doors. He responded; “I thought he was pretty good, but not good-looking enough (Laughs).”

And lastly, I wanted to know what else was on the bucket list for Krieger; “Need to have an instrumental hit like Booker T…maybe it will come from this album!”

Film Review: Bob Marley: One Love (Paramount Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

Those who know me well, know by now I’m a sucker for a good biography – whether it be via print or film – and Bob Marley: One Love is certainly no exception to that. And with similarities to such other bio pics as the 2018 Queen-based film Bohemian Rhapsody, it was hard not to get instantly lost in the story line here.

With a brief message from Marley’s own son Ziggy himself on the big screen prior to the film confirming its legitimacy, I immediately had a good feeling about things. And although I wasn’t too privy to the previous work of Kingsley Ben-Adir, he does a stellar job in the title role, along with Lashana Lynch as his counterpart Rita Marley.

Rather than starting directly from scratch, the filmmakers decided to begin with the assassination attempt of Marley in his home in 1976, and viewers are instantly invested. From there, it follows Marley and the band recording the Exodus album in London, England (the brief scene featuring a show with The Clash is an especially memorable one), to his eventual cancer diagnosis, and inevitable early death in 1981.

The film also employees the use of flashbacks for key childhood moments in Marley’s life, reminiscent of 1991’s The Doors, among other films. By the time we reach the end credits (which simultaneously show footage of Marley in concert), it’s difficult to maintain one’s composure to say the least. Truly worth the journey if you’re a fan in any way.

Rating: 4/5 Stars