Led Zeppelin: The Ride
Hey Coaster Zombies, this weekend I'm on assignment in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a "press viewing" of the new Hard Rock Park (HERE). The 140-acre joint officially opens June 2; theme areas include "Born in the USA" "Lost in the '70s" and "Rock & Roll Heaven." There's an Eagles coaster ("Life in the Fast Lane"), and plans for a Bon Jovi suspended-car ride ("Slippery When Wet"). But the mighty centerpiece, the looping, barrel-rolling hammer of the gods, is "Led Zeppelin: The Ride," that sucker to the left: 150 feet tall, with speeds of 65 mph. If you believe the hype, Page, Plant and JPJ were heavily involved with everything from the soundtrack to the look of the cars.
Anyway, I'm a complete coaster/amusement park dork, so I'm pretty stoked -- although the Moody Blues haunted house, "Nights in White Satin: The Trip" (seriously), sounds a little suspect.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
Again I say: You have the BEST JOB EVER!
Love the roller coasters. I'm trying to figure out how to be a stow away on the coach bus taking my son's class to Six Flags Great America. "Mom, really. They have enough chaperones."
Posted by: Marissa | May 01, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Daly,
Make sure you get a seat by yourself on the Led Zeppelin ride. John Bonham will be your wing man. He told me so.
Hey, maybe you'll see another "Byte me" t-shirt courtesy of the Coaster Zombies. Have fun, my friend.
Posted by: chaps | May 01, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Hey Chaps -- drive on down to Myrtle this weekend! I'll put you up. My hotel has one of those lazy-river pools. So when I'm not at the park, my fat a-- will be floating aimlessly, hopefully with a margarita not too far away.
Posted by: Sean Daly | May 01, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Jugding from the picture of that beast, I have to wonder this: Do they have a contract with Depends Adult Diapers?
Posted by: Marissa | May 01, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Good question, Miss Riss. When I'm in line for that beast, I'll be quivering like a ninny for sure. But I never pass up a coaster. Love those things.
That thing looks like a monster, doesn't it? I'll let you guys know.
Posted by: Sean Daly | May 01, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Please post your thoughts on the Led Zeppelin centerpiece coaster. If the park can pull in just just a tiny fraction of Zeppelin's massive fan base it should be packed for years. Obviously someone already figured that out.
Posted by: bobby | May 01, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Sean, I hate to admit this, but you are made of sterner stuff than I am. Roller coasters terrify me. As I tell my daughters, if you got me on a roller coaster, I'd be screaming like a little girl.
Posted by: Bassnote | May 01, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Remember when rock-n-roll used to be about rebellion? Anti-authoritarianism? Sticking it to the man?
With the opening of a rock-n-roll theme park, it's official - rock-n-roll has become the man.
I'm eagerly awaiting the gangsta rap theme park. Imagine riding a roller coaster where you could get capped in a drive-by at any time.
Now that's entertainment.
Posted by: | May 02, 2008 at 08:16 AM
SD,
Be sure to bring Spearsy back a t-shirt from "A-Ha: The Tilt-a-Whirl".
It's an OK ride, but the operator gets furious if you only ride it once.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 02, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Do you think there will be a "Like a Virgin Fun House" anytime soon?
Posted by: Marissa | May 02, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Me? Totally waiting for the life size arcade game "Pinball Wizard" -- where you're the ball.
Watch out for those flippers! No tilting, dude.
Don't even ask what you have to go through to get to the bonus round.
Posted by: jane | May 02, 2008 at 08:37 AM
I wanted to try the "Pamela Des Barres Rock n' Roll Groupie" ride, but I couldn't.
There was a four-foot high sign in front of it:
"You Must Be Able To Suck A Golf Ball Through This Much Garden Hose To Ride"
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 02, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Isn't that next to the KISS Army Recruiting Station, which is complete with the "Rock & Roll All Night, Party Every Day" simulator, makeup station, platform shoe runway and Gene Simmons Tongue Fun House Mirror.
I'm also excited to see Rehab Land, the next area of the park scheduled to open -- right after they roll out Intervention World. (They tried to make me ride that coaster and I said no, no no...)
Posted by: jane | May 02, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Don't miss the chilling 3-D movie:
"House of Spandex: Night of a Thousand Packages"
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 02, 2008 at 03:09 PM
The first drop is the most exhilarating part of the coaster ride. After that it's easy-peasy ... unless, of course, one soils themselves.
Posted by: Marissa | May 03, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Stuck in a penthouse, eh? I'm sure there's going to be one heck of a right up for this one.
Posted by: Marissa | May 05, 2008 at 08:36 AM