State of the Jack, September 2024.
Jack Mangan has been really low key in 2024. What gives? Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
I actually have a lot going on.
Metal Hall of Fame: I’m still very active with The Metal Hall of Fame, writing meaningful articles about Metal’s Past and Present, keeping the website content as updated as I possibly can, and participating in board discussions with great people. Pat Gesualdo (the CEO) is driving something amazing and I’m proud of the work we’re doing. I look forward to the gala event every year.
MetalAsylum.net: Rich Catino and I are rethinking the best way to run his creation in the 2020s. We want to continue to support the great new wave of Heavy Metal bands as well as the classics, we’re just trying to do it in a different way than the past. The PR pros in our networks are fantastic people. I have always loved weeding through the new releases they send out and finding cool stuff to review. Rich and I are still onboard to do our part, we just want to do this in a fresh and still-relevant way.
What about the Livestreams? Man, I miss doing the Livestreams. Some of you do too, I hope. I’ll simply say this: I fully intend to return to Livestreaming, much in the way that we used to. Schedules have been difficult for a long time, but I do plan to get my ugly mug back to talking music in your Facebook and YouTube streams in the near future. Did you see that Kix interview? Or when I talked to Frank Bello? We had a great crew of regular participants in the past, we’ll get whoever’s willing to jump back on and rejoin us when the time is right.
Through it all, I’m still digging (discovering? studying?) new and old music as much as ever, and doing my small part to promote the artists that I care about through the avenues available to me. My earbuds are always full.
Spherical What? I’ve been sitting on a completed, full-length novel, entitled “Spherical Heart.” Tomi’s story is finally told. I will probably self-publish, rather than go through the traditional New York publishing. I did self-publish “Creature of God,” an old short story of mine unrelated to “Spherical.” I didn’t promote or track it as well as I should have, but I got some nice responses. I’d like to do more indy work in the future. Fiction writing is still strong in my past, present, and future.
Am I Evil? My “Am I Evil?” graphic novel (based on the Diamond Head song, famously covered by Metallica) has been out in the world for over year now. I’m so proud of this book. I have not done much to market and generate sales; for now, it’s just a special release. I’d like to revisit this in the future. My sincerest thanks to all who helped make that happen. We still haven’t fulfilled the t-shirt perk. I know.
Final vague note: I do have a very exciting new venture in the works – – mostly-unrelated to any of the above, but I need to not sacrifice any of the above things to get it to launch.
Other personal stuff.
I started 2024 with an exciting career change, which went into full effect in March. My new dayjob role has been rewarding and challenging, but it’s also taken up a great deal of my time and mental energy.
Family. Nothing is more important than family. My youngest has the most amazing mind and personality. My older daughter is a fully independent, responsible college student/adult. She is also one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known.
The greatest heartbreak of my life is as painful today as it was 8 years ago, and beyond.
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Final thing: I draw pictures for my daughter. I’m nowhere near pro-level, but I’m better than I ever thought I’d be. I usually look up a picture online and do my best to copy it. NO AI.