December 29, 2009

I rarely if ever come right out and call someone a liar. Stephen Koschal, “you are a liar”.
Never in my life have I seen a snake like you that some car hasn’t run over yet.

You have no idea what Christmas is, going to church would be like or spending time with your family. You deserted them and left them to fend for themselves, even your small children. Why don’t you pay up you child support and ask your family for forgiveness. Cori Raiderman is to the autograph community what you are to being a family man.

Cori Raiderman is a pawn for these bad guys. He harasses the good dealers till you finally tell him off. He is a coward and hides behind fictitious names (like Koschal) writing lies any anonymous blog that will let him. Because it’s anonymous it’s hard to catch who these people are. But Mr Raiderman being the idiot he is wrote me this email:

From: Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 7:39 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Rip off and todd

Keep a eye out..

we got 15 accounts, so every time you post, we can repost a new item on rip off

and Todd is going to do a story EVERY day on you in his news section.

GOOD NIGHT NURSE for you....

This is called throwing you friend and yourself under the bus. I didn’t say Raiderman was very smart.

Now who is this guy that threatens the good people of the industry? My sources tell me he sells Rings from players of the Oakland Raiders. Ring dealers are a very small community and he has been traced to southern Florida using IP addresses from other states to try to throw people off his scent. He also is a low end scout for an NFL team whose boss will soon find out what he does in his free time. On Christmas Eve I got 19 threatening emails and I received 18 on Christmas Day. After he figured out I knew who he was he turned into a coward;

-----Original Message-----
From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 5:36 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Cc: SKoschal@aol.com; Todd-cell
Subject: Re: Rip off and todd

Re-read it!

WE

Does not say me, says WE!

Plus those are all copy and paste storys from autographalert and behindthegavel
And they even say on them FROM THOSE SITES!

Your just upset cause your busted being a fraud artist and a hot head who runs his mouth and now a judge told you to ZIP IT!

Now go sit in the corner and play with your toys!

GO RAIDERS! FIGHT ON TROJANS!!!!!
Sent from my I phone

Seems like his story is changing a bit; sorry but “we” also includes you. This is illegal.

Here I’m going to give you a sampling of crap I have to take every day from this jerk. Also note the emails that are being sent to him by one of the crooks that he hangs out with trying to tell him what to say. This first one is where he first begs me to let him off the hook then threatens me to meet him at a bowl game. I took him up on his offer and have yet to hear back from him.

-----Original Message-----
From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 6:06 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: Rip off and todd

I don't know why your so damn shitty with me!

All I did was tell u people were coming after you and they did!

Since you have so much to say come say it to me. I'll leave you 2 tickets at will call for the bowl game on thus.

I will be there for most of the game but will have to fly back to CA for the party at the mansion.

Come run your mouth in person....

This of course was my response

On Dec 28, 2009, at 8:13 AM, "Roger Epperson" <rogerssd@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

Let's meet
roger

Typical coward as he never followed through.


The next few are just random rants that he does;

From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 9:26 AM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: GOOD job ROGER!!!!

I did nothing wrong!

Your the one that did the criminal acts and have been caught!

Face the music bitch!

GO RAIDERS! FIGHT ON TROJANS!!!!!
Sent from my I phone

________________________________________

From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:51 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: GOOD job ROGER!!!!

Good Job Cori,
 
Keep asking him the same question saying 3rd request, 4th request , etc.
 
He does not answer your queston, after all what can he say...he authenticated moden items signed by people who were dead 22 years. His responses are from a very sick person. Keep this clown fired up!

The one above is great. This is Cori’s coach egging him on to what to say. With the bad punctuation and the misspellings it looks like Mike Frost’s work.

________________________________________

From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:35 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: GOOD job ROGER!!!!

So you go from knowing it,
To a friend of mine saying so, to having somebody admit it, to what else?

You'll be laughed out of court....
Roger "HERO OF THE STUPID" Epperson

GO RAIDERS! FIGHT ON TROJANS!!!!!
Sent from my I phone

________________________________________

From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:20 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: GOOD job ROGER!!!!

Hearsay does not hold up in a court of law.

You will soon learn that the hard way.

If I were you I would be worried about all those court dates and small claims court cases and how you can say dead people are signing albums, and artists spelling names wrong on just your items.

Worry about yourself!
Roger "FORGER, FRAUD ARTIST" epperson

GO RAIDERS! FIGHT ON TROJANS!!!!!
Sent from my I phone

Please note the dates of these emails too. Wouldn’t you love to sip a warm cup of cocoa with Koschal, Frost and Cori? Maybe they just sat under the mistletoe all day and giggled and played.

Now who’s lost their minds, you decide?

Now remember folks this is the guy Stephen Koschal who writes autograph alert. This is Mr. Family man getting ready for church. He must be wrapping these as Christmas gifts for his dearest friends. Make sure the eggnog is nice and warm. I sprinkle mine with a little nutmeg.
 

December 21, 2009

I Hear 5 Parties Are About To Sue Me…

I guess the truth hurts.

----Original Message-----
From: Cori Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:22 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Wow!!!

So chris morsllas is suing u for a million and the other place for less and then the 3 cases in small claims court....

What is dodger roger going to do?

File for bankruptcy?

GO RAIDERS! FIGHT ON TROJANS!!!!!
Sent from my I phone

Cori Raiderman writes me about three to five times a day. He must have a lot of time on his hands. Recently he’s been getting his kicks telling me I’m about to be sued for defamation. For once he may be right, because I’ve heard it from a reliable source, too.

And that tells me one thing… This blog is working.

I don’t say anything without the evidence to back it up. Real evidence—not the fabricated kind some have spread about me. And it’s telling that rather than rebutting what I’ve said, either for me to print or publishing it elsewhere, they’re resorting to SLAPP lawsuits to try to scare me off.

I’ve never been sued before. I don’t look forward to it, but I’m not afraid to fight for my cause. The truth will come out, I’ll win, and my insurance will cover the legal fees.

So to those trying to shut me up…

Bring them on.


And on another note I have been told that the IADA (Mike Frost) does not accept my LOA’s anymore. 

#1 I have never issued them one.

#2 Who are they?  Do even the members know?

December 15, 2009

Breaking news from the 20/20 website!

ARA provided "20/20" with e-mails from its California supplier that purported to explain the guitars' provenance -- where and when they were signed.

But there appear to be problems with some of the supplier's claims.

For example, the supplier claimed Don Felder of the Eagles signed guitars at appearances at two California book stores in 2008. But "20/20" spoke with store managers who say they were there during the appearances. They said they do not recall Don Felder signing any guitars. In fact, they said he specifically asked them to announce in advance he would not sign memorabilia, only books.

As for the signatures of the other band members, Eagles spokesman Larry Solters told "20/20": “In reviewing the available information, we do not believe that these guitars were personally signed by members of the Eagles”.

Led Zeppelin guitar great Jimmy Page told "20/20" through an attorney for the band, George Fearon, that his supposed signature on one Led Zeppelin guitar shown on the ARA Web site was a forgery. The supplier had claimed to ARA that the band's bass player, John Paul Jones, signed the Led Zeppelin guitars in Asheville, N.C., on December 11, 2007.

But according to the band's attorney, Jones said he wasn't even in Asheville on that date. The supplier also claimed that Jones signed some of the guitars at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles on February 10, 2008. But, again according to the band attorney, Jones says, not only was he not at the Mondrian on that date, he's never been to that hotel.

Barry Stevens had already lost faith in his Led Zeppelin autographed guitar. He returned it to ARA in exchange for a painting signed by Tiger Woods.

But he still has a guitar-size hole in his collection... and he's almost ready to go guitar shopping again.

Seems like Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones agree with my opinion!
 

December 14, 2009

Rock Autograph: Who Signed This Guitar?
Man paid $2750 for a Led Zeppelin guitar that expert says is a big fat fake.

There is quite a lot that went on “behind the scenes” to expose this criminal act on selling items with “doctored” photos to increase the value of these non-authentic signed guitars. Years of research and many hours were devoted to show the public what kind of fraud is going on in the autograph world. Thank God for the few good people who helped put this together. Steve Cyrkin you are truly a saint to the collectors worldwide.

Below you will find the show as it was aired on ABC’s 20/20. It was the number one watched show for that time slot hitting 7.3 million households in the US. (sorry but I could not remove the commercial). Please watch this then continue reading…

The victim of this fraud was Barry Stevens, a collector from North Carolina. He emailed earlier this year and asked me my opinion on this signed Led Zeppelin guitar. I told him that in my expert opinion that the signatures were not genuine. He told me they even have photos of the members signing this guitar and a COA from Christopher Morales. Neither swayed my opinion. Now please note that Jerry says he uses an “independent court certified forensic document examiner” to look at his items when the one he used, Christopher Morales, is on the executive committee of the company he bought the guitar from Gallery of Dreams. He contacted his sales rep at ARA and explained the problem. She talked with owner Jerry Gladstone and he and Barry talked in length. He explained to Jerry that he had showed it to me and I doubted the authenticity. After all was said and done Jerry told him to return the guitar and he would refund him the money. Barry left to run an errand but called me to tell me what happened. I didn’t believe that Jerry was going to refund him his money. He returned to his house an hour later with a message from Jerry saying that he wanted Barry to send me, Roger Epperson the guitar. If it failed then, send it back to him (Jerry) and he would refund the money. Barry takes apart the beautiful frame job and ships the guitar to me. I look at the guitar and come to the same conclusion. I took a photo of it and issued a certificate that it was not genuine. I shipped to Jerry myself. After 2 weeks of calling Jerry, Barry was told that he was not going to refund him his money. (Wow what a surprise) After a lengthy argument Jerry told Barry that he would give him a Tiger Woods signed item. Now I don’t think the item he sent him was worth $2750 but something is better than nothing. Now of the allegations against Tiger the item Barry received is nearly worthless, just like the guitar.

Here’s a letter from the victim Barry Stevens from the American Royal Arts scam that aired on 20/20.

From: BARRY STEVENS
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 8:49 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject:

Roger,
 
I just wanted to thank you for helping me with my Led Zeppelin guitar I bought from American Royal Arts. Although I didn't get my money back, at least I got something. When I first had doubts about it's authenticity, I didn't know where to turn. I looked at my COA and contacted Chris Morales, I contacted ARA, then talked to everyone I could find. I wanted to believe my guitar was real. Luckily, I had dealt with you in the past and trusted you.  You provided me with good information and you had stated you didn't think it was authentic from the beginning.  By you taking the time to look at my guitar you were able to determine it in fact was not authentic – and by doing that at least helped me get something for my money. As it showed on "20/20" you were right!
 
Thanks for being in my corner!
 
Barry Stevens
 

There are too many people like Barry that have been burned by such unscrupulous dealers of signed memorabilia. Now on-line sites like Stephen Koschal’s Autograph Alert and others are defending Mr. Gladstone with press releases being published on their sites while continually bashing the honest dealers in the autograph world. There really are some bad people out there taking advantage of the general public. Others like Mike Frost and Todd Mueller have joined the crew by hiding their identities and are slamming good dealers and authenticators while promoting themselves other anonymous sites. Mike Frost is doing it with the IADA-CC. He is running a banner ad for his company PAAS while stating that they don’t recommend any third party authenticators as it would be a “conflict of interest”. On the same site he writes false claims about yours truly and says the IADA no longer accepts LOA’s from me. So let’s get this straight; he slams me, a competitor on a non bias autograph organization web site (which he is president of) and runs a banner ad using club money to advertise his business. But wait, there’s more,

Date: 2/27/2008

By: AUTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATION

Country: United States

P.A.A.S. IS PICKED BY THE IADA AS THE TOP AUTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATION SERVICE

P.A.A.S. - PROFESSIONAL AUTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATION SERVICES HAS RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE I.A.D.A.. THE NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS IS WWW.PAASAUTOGRAPHS.COM .P.A.A.S. HAS MADE A SPECIAL OFFER TO ALL MEMBERS FOR $30 PER SIGNATURE,PLUS THEY WILL RE-AUTHENTICATED ANY OF PSA/DNA ITEMS FOR FREE.

Unique to the autograph collecting hobby, the Professional Autograph Authentication Service team of experts consists of several of the most respected documented professionals in the industry. The P.A.A.S. authentication service is unparalleled! Unique to our industry, each P.A.A.S. professional is highly qualified with documented credentials. Each has been trained to handle your autograph treasures with the care they deserve.

The extraordinary experience is second to none. Each expert is a scholar of philography who has studied autographs well before entering the business. This team has worked closely together with all the leading experts of the past.
Combined, the team has written over 200 published educational articles and signature studies on the subject of collecting. We have created over a dozen educational autograph courses. Dealers and collectors worldwide have utilized these publications and courses. 

Our autograph authentication service is recognized internationally by the most respected and knowledgeable autograph dealers and auction houses. Every Professional Autograph Authentication Service authenticator is a proud member of the IACC/DA and adheres to the strictest code of ethics in the autograph industry.

P.A.A.S. Authenticates Autographed Material in all fields for collectors, dealers, government agencies, public and private institutions, and auction houses.

see www.paasautographs.com for all the information of authentication.

Above is an article in the club’s news that states that his organization PAAS was picked as the IADA’s top autograph authentication service! My what a coincident this is. This is the same Mike Frost that authenticates for ARA! Yes the same ARA that was on 20/20. Please also notice the date he won his own award, February 27, 2008. The club had not even been re-formed yet. There were no members or dealers. Does this look like a scam or what? Seems like Mike picked up right where Stephen Koschal his longtime friend and liar left off. Where did the old IADA’s money really go when the club broke up? There were two of you left, Mike Frost and Stephen Koschal when, Stephen packed up and left the club in typical Koschal fashion. As we speak some of the best dealers in the world are resigning from this sham of an organization.

When unscrupulous dealers and authenticators are exposed they attack back with posting lies and inaccuracies on credit-less on line websites. Here is an email from one of these spineless cowards telling me it is being done.

From: Raiderman [mailto:raiderman_16@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 7:39 PM
To: rogerssd@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Rip off and todd
 
Keep a eye out.

we got 15 accounts, so every time you post, we can repost a new item on rip off and Todd is going to do a story EVERY day on you in his news section.
 
GOOD NIGHT NURSE for you...

These low-lifes create false identities and write on any blog that will let them. There goal is to get Google to pick them up thus discrediting people when they search their names. Well good try but this won’t work this time.

When will this end, I hope for everyone’s sake soon but time will tell.

Real and Fake

Latest Update!

December 8, 2009

Real and Fake

Latest Update

December 8, 2009

Let’s take a look at The Allman Brothers!

This story is a study of the Allman Brothers Band signatures over the years.  Early ABB signed stuff is very scarce and only pops up once and awhile.  Duane and Berry died so young they had little time in their career to have signed.  I was very fortunate to buy a collection of autographs from a Houston music journalist, Larry Lent that was fortunate enough to have met them and even interviewed them.  (I have a copy of that too) 

The early lineup was Gregg and Duane Allman, Richard Betts (usually called Dickie or Dickey), Butch Trucks, Berry Oakley and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson (Jaimoe). 

To the right is a very rare test pressing of their first Album signed by all 6 original members of the band. All but Butch Trucks signed “in the era” of the LP. This LP was mailed to Larry Lent in advance of them coming to Houston to play the Music Hall. Note that in this early signed item Mr. Betts signed this as “Dickie” Betts. Also note the very rare version of Gregg signing his last name with a lower case “A” for Allman. I have only seen this done a few times ever. Also note the very cool and rare way “Jaimoe” signed his name; he signed Jaimoe then JJ Johanson, Berry also added “Allman Brothers Band” after his signature. On the interview tape you can hear Berry and Duane tripping out that Larry had this LP.

Here is a rare signed check of Berry Oakley signed in 1970.

Here is another from 1970 signed by Duane Allman.

Above is an endorsed check from 1970 signed as Richard Betts. Notice the formation of the last name is exactly the same as him signing as Dickie.

Here is a cool one signed Gregory L Allman with a lower case “A”

Here is a very unusual endorsed check from Feb 1970 with Jaimoe signing as Johnny Lee Johanson.

Here is an early promo photo signed by Gregg (as Gregory) and using an Upper case “A” in Allman, Duane and Butch Trucks. They were all still working on how they were going to sign their names in the early part of their career. Duane was the one that stayed the most consistent.

Here is a signature from around 1995 and a signed photo from 1996 of Gregg. This style of signature stayed pretty much the same from the late 70’s throughout his career.

Here is a guitar I got signed back in the late 90’s. Note Gregg still signing the same way and Dickey has now been signing as “Dickey” for some time. This guitar also has the late Allen Woody on it.

I Hope the study helped clear up some of the myths and just plain ignorance of other so called web sites thinking they have a clue about music autographs. 20+ years of experience in music autographs says a lot and I always have the information to back up my statements.