Letters

Liz has paid her dues. She can do what she wants and still be cooler than most of us will ever be. Her lyrics are some of the best I've ever heard. Her new CD is not far from Hole's "Celebrity Skin" in production value. I don't remember Hole taking such a beating.

Liz is sexier than ever, wiser than ever and free to do as she pleases. If she came out today as a new artist, the critics would eat it up and proclaim her the hero/mother/artist/rock star that she is. I prefer her early work, but what I think Gina and I are saying is give her the respect she's earned.

Jason Apodaca
Houston

Roth Wonders

Free ducats: I just wanted to thank you very much indeed for the two complimentary tickets to the David Lee Roth concert at the Verizon Theater. I had an absolutely marvelous time. It was loud, exciting and full of energy. Wow, it was like a Van Halen concert!

I'll be sure to enter your future contests for concert tickets. I've enjoyed reading your publication for over 15 years. Keep up the terrific service.

Jack Ballas Jr.
Houston

Pub Crawl

Credit, please: In reading the good article ["Lucky Boy's Confusion, by William Michael Smith, July 10] on my former bandmate, Mando Saenz, I understand my being omitted, as I left the band about a month ago. But I played and worked hard in Mando's band for about a year and a half. That includes helping arrange every new song written since "Watertown," as well as playing SXSW with him twice (including this year w/Lee Ann Womack), and countless gigs around Houston and the region.

What I don't understand is the omission of Troy Pidgeon, a great drummer, Mando's best friend, and an original and integral member of Mando's band.

I don't know if the omission was on Mando's part or the writer's part, but it is a shame that Troy missed out getting his deserved credit, as well as my missing out on some of what little reward I would have come away with for a year and a half's hard work.

That said, Mando is a true talent and the article was good. Thanks for covering him.

Eric Jarvis
Houston

Great Balls of Fire

Hot show: Your article [Playbill, by Rob Patterson, July 31] is the only one I have found on that Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis show. I cannot believe that the Houston Chronicle did not review it. Thank you for praising them.

I took my mom to see it and we both loved every minute of it! They both still have it! Thank you.

Laura Goodwin
Houston

Demon Digits?

Black Sabbath tutor: The late Anton LaVey, Church of Satan founder, told me during one of our conversations that the "horn hand" is a satanic thing ["Soaring on the Wings of a Demon," by Bob Ruggiero, August 14]. He said the middle finger folds down and the thumb crosses over, making an inverted crucifix. Then the number 666 can be seen with a little imagination in the curled fingers. The horns could be for Satan but more likely belong to Pan.

LaVey taught it to the band Black Sabbath during a 1970 welcoming party. LaVey never considered Black Sabbath satanic, and he always used classical and organ music for satanic rituals.

Christian Schantz
Streamwood, Illinois