The Pop Culture Road Trip

My son and I went to see the band Avenged Sevenfold last Friday in Irvine, which was an Orange County homecoming for the band (they are from here in Huntington Beach where we live).  The band’s drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan died last December, and since then I have written several newspaper columns on Sullivan,…

Never imagined I’d be typing those words but it’s true – in a month, my daughter and I set off to explore that most mysterious of continents to co-mingle with Emperor Penguin and explore. Much more to follow soon – this is how it all happened.

Returned home from a road trip to West Memphis, Arkansas recently. We were there to work on landmark #54 in the Hampton Hotel Save-A-Landmark program. In the ten years the program has been rolling along, we’ve visited many interesting places and met some incredible people. This trip though provided a first for me and the…

Today the president is in New Orleans, speaking about the five years that have passed since the levees there breached in the wake of hurricane Katrina – which actually did not hit the city full force. But it did hit Mississippi hard and yet, there’s little focus on the loss that took place there. I…

From here in Southern California, a trip across the border to Tijuana or Rosarita Beach used to be  fun, affordable road trip. But no more. The murder, mayhem and corruption fueled by drug cartels has made such a trip foolish, if not lethal. Look at some of the breaking news: CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (Reuters) –…

What was the best movie you saw this concert? The best concert? Best book you read? Tell us…

My son and I saw RUSH last week – and the show was incredible. As a 48-year old who grew up listening to the band get maligned by friends, associates and mostly critics, it remains stunning to me that this band does not get the respect it deserves.  Exceptional musicianship, a beyond professional attitude, respect…

Just got back from a trip to Memphis and as great as the city is anytime of the year, during Elvis Week it’s particularly special. I wrote this piece for AOL News on Elvis and then this one . What I’m curious about today though is, do you think Elvis is overrated? Were there other musicians…

All – on a bit of a pop culture road trip for Elvis Week down south and for another big Hampton Save-A-Landmark event. Back in a few, but in the meantime, thought you might enjoy these recent AOL News stories I’ve written. Chris

I’ve written recently about the band from here in Huntington Beach beach, Avenged Sevenfold, and their dedicated, passionate fans. This week the group achieved an impressive milestone – bumping Eminem out of the number one slot on the Billboard album chart with their new collection entitled “Nightmare.”  I’m writing a review of the CD for…

Chris Epting
about

Chris Epting

A pop culture history aficionado, Chris has a lifelong penchant for documenting the exact sites where things both great and small occurred. As an author, Epting has found that unearthing and chronicling ""hidden"" locations offers him a challenge. What began as an inquisitive hobby soon developed into the writing and photographing of 18 books based on his discoveries, including ""James Dean Died Here…The Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks,"" ""Elvis Presley Passed Here, Even More Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks,"" ""Roadside Baseball,"" and ""The Ruby Slippers, Madonna's Bra, and Einstein's Brain: The Locations of America's Pop Culture.""

As an extension of his efforts to chronicle the unique, Epting joined Hampton Hotels for a sixth exciting year as national spokesperson and consultant for the Hidden Landmarks program in support of the brand's national ""Explore the Highway with Hampton Save-A-LandmarkÔ"" campaign (the program recently won the President's award).
Chris is a frequent featured guest on numerous radio and television programs such as National Public Radio's ""All Things Considered,"" ""The Savvy Traveler,"" ""Access Hollywood"" and FOX TV's the ""Best Damn Sports Show Period,"" plus radio and TV programs around the world.
He has contributed articles for such publications as the ""Los Angeles Times,"" ""Westways,"" ""Travel + Leisure"" and ""Preservation"" magazine, and hosts the weekly syndicated radio show, ""The Pop Culture Road Trip."" Chris's latest book, ""Hello It's Me…Dispatches from a Pop Culture Junkie"" will be released in July, 2010.
Chris lives in Huntington Beach, CA with his wife and their two children.

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