**Welcome to Red's Road Blogs**
Intro: "I Have A Dream"
Seriously folks, don't get me wrong...I really am living the dream. "Living Like Kings" I have often heard George Benson say. It certainly is a mixture of low life and high tech worlds colliding. You certainly can loose perspective going from 5 star hotels and then getting lunch catered to you from McDonalds. Not that there is anything wrong with that cuz I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Sushi makes me sick and I just don't eat that much fish so.....
You really do have to love what you do to withstand the elements and situations many "Road Guys"...we prefer "Technicians" and "Engineers" endure. Please don't mistake my realism for sarcasm and interpret it in a negative way. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to travel to far away distant countries and partake in culture and customs that others only dream of but,...
...the grass is always greener on the other side. It sure beats working ! Good work if you can find it !! We often only see the insides of busses, airplanes and hotels. Often trading daylight for the darkness of the inside of a venue but, that all seems so trivial as long as the show goes on and the crowd enjoys the performance.
"Living The Dream"
May 16 2003----It all starts with an overview of the past 2 years with George Benson. It has been a dream working with such a legend...this tour was my first. I've done my fair share of 1 offs and local nightmares before my expedition with GB so, that makes this all the more sweeter.
I've seen London and France...I've seen grown men in their under pants..(yuck). I've seen Italy and Germany.. and all "the rain that falls mainly after you get off the plane" in Spain. The Grand Canary Islands were paradise....The Ukraine, Russia "Red Square", and The Montreax Jazz Festival (Smoke on the water) I wish you all were there. Christmas in Thailand was sweaty but the temples were magnificent. Ireland and Scotland were cold and wet but the people were great. (I won't even mention the airlines loosing our fly pack of gear and seeing it sit on the runway in the rain as we push back and continue on the flight). Holland was quite an experience and Monaco on the 4th of July was 1 to remember. South Korea was very much a pleasure. Australia and New Zealand were most inviting...the Gold coast was where I enjoyed hanging out the most...I could see moving there someday.
I've met remarkable people along the way and seen incredible sites. I hope to continue my adventures with my "Benson Road Family" for sometime.
See a list of past George Benson Dates
...Preparing for Culture Shock.
I must say it is truly a blessing to be involved with a camp that I love and respect so much. This is much more a comfort zone for me. I have enjoyed the Benson camp and personnel but I have been a metal head for more than a couple years. So this truly is a treat.
"On With The Show"
January 2005 ---- I have spent most of the month preparing for the European leg of the, "Blackmail The Universe" tour for Megadeth. Much of my time had been spent on the phone preparing tour supplies and consulting the coordination of the fabrication of the new "MegaKit". I was very much looking forward to getting out and attending the 2005 Winter N.A.M.M. show. It was my 2nd N.A.M.M. show attendance but the first one last year was overwhelming. This year would turn out to be a little different. The band was scheduled to play the ESP hospitality bar in celebration of ESP's 30th anniversary (Congratulations!!!). As you can imagine things were a bustle of frenzy with all the attractions and attendees of the convention so, load in was a typical hurry up and wait. As soon as we got there the real gravity of the situation revealed itself. The crew had been notified in advance this was a very cut down version of the show...and boy was it ! The stage was literally 15' x 20' and that is being generous. So as the backline began to show up we started to carve out what was to be our setup for the night. Being the consummate professionals we are it turned out to be no problem. Now enters George Lynch and his crew....great bunch of guys. Amongst the crews and George it was decided that sharing a drum kit with our right handed setup and their left handed drummer was not gonna work so....in comes another kit, Leaving George and band about 10' of stage to work on. All was well and everything worked out. There was an opening act that just doubled up on the rented backline and the whole night was a success.
Being it my first show with Megadeth I was a little uneasy... Setting up, meeting Dave and the crew ,and new drummer Shawn Drover kept me busy for the day. The convention floor closed at 5:pm and I missed the whole damn thing! Oh well ..there is always next year!
"Blackmail The Universe"
Europe
February 1, 2005 ----Our 1st date and rehearsal is in Dublin Ireland. I am very anxious to get the "Megakit" unpacked and functional because here we are in Ireland and I am the only person to see this thing and I am a little concerned. I want everything to be just right. After we load in and set up I feel a lot more comfortable and the band guys come in a little early to help with the transition. Once again, things go very well. With a little adjustment and some tweaking...everything comes together. Thanks to our endorsers: Pearl, Gibraltar, Sabian, Remo, VicFirth and the guys and gal at Ferguson Fabrication, all is well (Damn those casters!!!)
In an overview of the month in Europe and Spain all was well....seeing metal fans in other countries I must say is quite a treat. Its good to see what I said to be a dying breed to still be alive and kicking (with both feet). Spain and Germany have a very strong metal vein and the fans went crazy. Meeting Diamond Head and working with those guys has been one of my most favorable experiences in my career. (Andy and Simon it was a pleasure). Oh yea.. I hate Euro 2 story busses.
Japan
April 2, 2005 ---- Tokyo---After too many hours on an airplane and loosing a day across the International Date line, I am happy to be anywhere ! But arriving in Japan is awesome. A country rich in tradition I find my self way out of place.... 6'2" albino with red hair is very out of place! I have never...and probably never will again...been treated with so much respect. I felt like King for the day. But after about a week of that you really want to have someone insult you and punch you in the face just to bring you back to reality. I had the best perspective of gigging while in Japan. The crews are meticulous and things go very well other than a few late load ins due to early morning flights and a couple AC issues.
April 4, 2005 ----Hiroshima---Wow, after taking a sobering visit to Ground Zero I was ....shocked at the devastation. I have not gotten the opportunity to visit Hawaii...Pearl Harbor more specifically. But I can not imagine the fury unleashed upon this region and after seeing the remains, I don't even want to. What a terrible thing we do to each other... Can't we all just get along???
Australia
April 11, 2005----Brisbane----All right, now this is what I'm talking about. A few days off in Australia is always welcome. Rest and relaxation is on my agenda...take a trip to see some friends on the Avril Lavign tour also in Brisbane for the day and my schedule is wide open. Try not to spend all my per diem on my days off and enjoy the partially sunny weather. The laid back demeanor of the Aussis is so inviting. James and I made a day of walking around and met some locals who took good care of us (Another round of Stella's?) Thanks to Craig and the crew at the Irish Pub.
This trip to Australia really was too quick...I never have enough time to enjoy all the sites and everything it has to offer.
"Surviving The Dream"
Summer Euro Metal Fests
June 2005,---- With a long month of June through countries I though I would never see....Bulgaria, Romania, Israel TEL AVIV, Finland, Turkey, and Greece and many more..... Megadeth and "Metal" still boil in the veins of Metal Heads no matter where they are located globally. It was a rough schedule to say the least...back and forth through countries 2 and 3 times. The band bus had no air conditioning and both drivers were fresh to the tour bus driving experience and spent most of our time lost in limbo looking for directions that they wouldn't follow anyway. "STRESS ME NOT"......."OOOOOKKKKAAAAYYYY" ......Stoney
We all supported each other through the roughest times and pulled off many impossible situations....Sweden Rock, Download @ Castle Donnington, Gods of Rock Fest, and many more packed with thousands of fans. What doesn't kill you sure makes you stronger.
July 2005,----Now were talking............Working for the Headliner on a summer multiband metal fest!!!! What the hell was I thinking???
It's only just begun....
Aug 2005, ---The 9 Band Line-up is a finely oiled machine smashing obstacles in it's way...the crew and bands are all top shelf..!.! We have seen some challenging venues on our journey...but we still march on ! Headed to Canada next week....Looking forward to that.
Oh yea....Hoot is the man !!!!!!!!!!!! Despite the bus fire .........and all of the pyro cues going off without a hitch .....I had a great time. Yea a great time scrubbing pyro sparks off of too many cymbals...not bad work if you can find it but still a pain in the ass.
Sept 2006, --- Here we are in the Great Northwest ending the tour in Portland. It has been a blast...a pleasure to cross paths with such great individuals. I'm looking forward to G2 starting up sometime in May of 2006.....or June...or July...or
Oct 2005 --- Ok after about a 1 year hiatus from GB I was looking forward to the last shows of the year back in GB's camp... I was missing my other road family. After the usual phone calls and preparation done mostly by Bob Cowan (What a great Tour Manager, Production Manager, Audio Guru, and friend)...I really do enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the band and audience in comparison to the smoke and rage of the Gigantour Stage. But I have to admit George won't be hiring any killer pyro for this production.
-Tour of Unemployed Life 2005-
End of 2005 --- I have had a great year and all good things must come to an end. As most people in the industry find work consistently, many of us have a few "Winter" months we spend searching and not finding, So enjoy the good times when you have them and prepare for the times you don't. 2006 is full of promise but I know it could go either way. Live, Love, and be happy. Sounds corny but I don't care !
HAPPY 2006
Going to Dubai (UAE)
Feb 2006 -- Kewl....I think....After much concern and weeks of planning for rehearsals a lot of press has occurred about the United Arab Emirates. Not a lot of good press I might add. But, after going through rehearsals and breaking in a new bass player for Megadeth...(James LoMenzo from Black Label Society) a lot of "Bad Press" has turned to good information. We are all looking forward to going to Dubai and rockin out Desert Fest. Dubai is one of the largest tourist destinations in the area. The amenities are top shelf second to nobody. So I'll update ya on our adventures.
March 2006 -- Great Time were had in Dubai....all inclusive with a fireworks display to boot ! ! ! Local Dubai band Mannkind was in full force and had a great following..... Testament kiked some of my favorites and had the kids stompin up dirt in no time. SAXON was a no show bcuz of some "Political Issues"... Reel Big Fish threw down some heavy metal ska riffs and kept the crowd ragin. 3 Doors Down loaded up on hits to keep the females in the crowd screamin the lyrics and MEGADETH just pounded em' ! ! Tight show for everyone.
July 2006 -- The wheels on the machine are greased and ready as we head to METALWAY FESTIVAL in Gernika and Jerez Spain. A hop across the pond and a mad dash south we flew in on the soon to be on strike Iberia Air. The heat was in full effect and so was Megadeth ! ! The whole festival for that matter was huge !
GIGANTOUR 2006
Aug 2006 -- Now we're talkin'. . . . . . . . . . Dates Released.
Sept 2006 -- Let the games begin. After some rehearsals in L.A. we shot off to, "Metal Capital ", Boise Idaho to start pre-production rehearsals with full production. There were a few new faces this year and a few familiar ones too ! Welcome -- Lamb Of God (LOG) , Opeth, Arch Enemy, OVERKILL, Into Eternity, Sanctity, & The SmashUp. The bands are all great and a good time was had by all. What a cool line up we have again. As the rehearsals finish up and the tour begins it looks to be like a fun summer end tour.
Soon there after the challenges begin....it always seems I prepare myself for most anything in hope that I won't look stupid when I get tossed into the fire and have to act quickly. But you can't prepare for everything. Without going into details let's just say my work load doubled and all hell began to break loose. It took the rest of the tour to get my bearing straight again and I never fully recovered. Things were made straight but I still have a loss for words about what happened and how it happened. Needless to say...or I guess needing to say.... that I may not understand the things that happen around me but, I faithfully believe things work out in the end ! Good or bad they do work out. Some people may have heard the rumors...some may have not. Some of the rumors are true....some are not ! For those of you who know me you might get me to tell you a story or two in a private conversation about Flying V's.
On the lighter side the tour was an even bigger success than last year and good times were had by all. I learned a few things this year:
1. If you're gonna tell a joke...it better be funny.
2. Don't trust everybody (I knew it but had to re-learn it).
3. Pack spare underwear.
&
4. There is no "Border Crossing" between San Diego and L.A. (unless your Hispanic or carrying fruit).
Once again this year I have gained a few more names in my friend column and lost a few more hairs. We'll see what happens as the rest of the year unfolds.
JAPAN 2006
October 2006 -- As we roll into 3 days off waiting for 2 club dates and 2 days at Loud Park, the crew and band thoroughly enjoyed some rest & relaxation time to catch up on sleep. Arriving in Japan we are happy to see a few familiar faces and we know we are in good hands. I always enjoy working in Japan. It is just a different experience.
Not many places do you take the bullet train at 9-10:am to your gig the morning day of the show. Only to arrive and have most of your backline already set up. I love the work ethic.... but keep that damn sushi away from me. I am truly sorry Brian Humphries and myself opted out early one night and missed a few boys in the crew ...(whom of which will remain nameless to protect the GUILTY ! !).... performing at the Karaoke Bar ....wayyyyy past midnight. I hear Mikki has a few Blackmail Videos she wants to talk about !!!!! Damn I wish I was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!rrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
GIGANTOUR 2006 "Down Under"
Megadeth, Soulfly, Arch Enemy, Caliban
End of October 2006 -- Do you come from the land down under ?? No but it was nice to be there. It seemed hot as hell and it was just Spring Time for the Aussi's. We again had a couple days to acclimate. As we prepare for our final 3 shows of Gigantour 2006 most of us are weary and looking forward to getting home. So most of us stayed low profile and stuck to McDonalds and tried not to spend the rest of our per diem.
I must say...I have been luck to see many great drummers up close on tours but I feel inclined to mention Joe Nunez from Soulfly....that mother can play the hell out of 3 drums !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a pleasure to watch him over the last 3 shows.
I am definitely ready to get home to my wife and two daughters just in time to celebrate my oldest daughters 12th B-day. I do hate missing the important things in life but someone has to "Survive the Dream" and pay the bills. It beats selling shoes...but I've never sold shoes before !
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
October 31st 2006 -- Here we go last show of the year as far as we know it !! Wouldn't you know it my flight out of Colo Spgs is cancelled and I end up flying in on day of show 30 minutes before the bands sound check....CRAP ! ! (as Willie Gee says) But my fellow crew members pick up my slack and I slide in just in the nick of time.
(Thanks soo much you guys ROCK !!)
The gig is a private party for X-Box releasing the new game "GEARS OF WAR". Just so happens Dave has written a new song entitled just that. Of course we love giging at amusement parks and of course we rode the roller coasters. It was truly the best way to end the tour.
And then the airlines lost my luggage on my flight home...I ended up with it the next day but I thought it was rather ironic.
And so are the days of our lives ! ! !
November 12 2006 -- Spending sometime at the end of the year to consolidate the gear into storage and deliver some stuff to the studio near San Diego called Big Fish Studios where Megadeth will finish they're latest disc........United Abominations.
November 21st 2006 -- I get the privilege of accompanying the boys into the studio ( www.bigfishrecording.com ) for some new drum tracks to add a few new songs to the disk coming out . They end up redoing most of the disc with new producer Andy Sneap. What a bad ass individual...I very much enjoyed learning from such a vast array of musicians and masterminds at work.....who am I kidding ...this is even cooler work if you can find it! ! In between takes we all seem to spend way too much time with a morphing program on the studio computer and end up taking hundreds of pictures of our selves and laughing uncontrollably while rolling on the floor. All in all it was unforgettable....My hat goes off to Ken who was the saving grace making sure all the loose ends got taken care of...I hope you got reimbursed ! ! You always get paid from the label...... right away..... No this time wasn't so bad.....really. I got to meet new Artist Manager Mark Adelman with AzzoffMusic...I look forward to 2007 with someone of his caliber in the hot seat.
During my stay in the studio I'm getting updates from the hard road traveled by my colleague B.C. I won't mention the tour (it starts with Dan- and ends in -Zig) telling me the usual horror stories from behind the wheel. Only to end up pulling some wild hairs from his buttocks and delivering as he always does in full on B.C. fashion. I can't wait to hear some more of his Road Stories.
December 2nd 2006 -- Got home and I think I'll take some time and enjoy the end of the year !! Concentrating on some local work and rehearsing on my kit....writing and recording. Get into the x-mas spirit and relax with family and friends.
December 13th 2006 -- Just missed my buddie Hot Carl Hughes on Trans-Siberian-Orchestra. I do hear the load in is long and hard...just the way he likes it !!. I want to see the show next time.
December 16th 2006 -- Had a gathering at the house of old friends and new friends...Erik Phillips was in town...Terence Bayley and kids, Harrison Wilson, The Hepners, Mark & Garrison and their band "FootMob" were jamin all night in my studio. In between I got to jam with them.... and Damir & Brooke...what a great voice she has ! Hey who invited my MOM ? ? Good thing she's pretty kewl ! !
H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S 2007
TUNE IN FOR MORE ANTICS in 2007 ! ! !
-Tour of Unemployed Life 2007-
January of 2007 --- As usual GOD has granted us another great year ....and all good things must come to an end. I am looking forward to April when we are slated to gear up for Megadeth 2007 tour schedule. We shall soon see what is in the works.
And in the works it is.........
Feb 13th 2007 - As heard and seen round the world of METAL.....HEAVEN & HELL 2007.....Former members of BLACK SABBATH reunited with Ronnie James Dio for 2007 tour. Megadeth is slated for the Canadian Leg starting March 9th - 29th with Down in opening slot.
SWEET.......Kik ass tour and Megadeth won't even be headlining ! ! Will I be able to see some of the show ! ? Oh well I said it....now its ruined. It was great while it lasted !! Just kidding...I am so looking forward to it. So I'm gonna start packing my long underwear and give ya updates as I hear them.
Oh yea...I've been getting boned by the "NEW" Cingular....."NEW" AT&T what ever the hell they call them selves......ever heard that story ????? I wrote a song about it....wanna hear it???
It goes......I got boned by the Cingular/AT&T shaft....doo....dah.....doo....doo....dah
STATIC-X
Feb 24th 2007 - Took a couple really bad flights.....my first time to experience PUKE on an airplane.......not me but the lady 2 rows behind me. I guess I've just been blessed with the crying babies and the Nick Gold booked middle seat between 2 larger than me sized guys on overbooked flights...well that's mostly international flights though.. I know you know what I'm talking about...or is that just me he hates?), But no puke...!! until now. Beyond that it was a good time had by all (oh the missed connecting flight in Houston was already expected...nothing new). Bruce invited me out to cover a date for JB who was unavailable for this show. Cannibal the new release is due out April I think... but they did a few tunes off of the disc and it was heavy. They crushed the crowd and left them wanting more and Nick Oshiro is an octopus up there bangin' the hell out of some skins...he shredded a PwrStk3 in 1 song of sound check.!.! Late to bed and early to rise that's how this camp rides.....so as I head home with greater ease I just need to get some sleep . Hey...here's one for the books....My paycheck almost beat me home for the first time in ever. Great camp I hope to get a chance to fill in on another date some time....THANKS GUYS !
Pre-Production for MEGADETH starts....KIK ASS !!!!
March 3rd 2007 - So pre-production kiks in and all is well...at least for prepping the gear. So piggy backing gear on the headliners truck space is never a good idea !!! promises ...promises...so with a few phone calls we are off and running...to Vancouver BC for some rehearsals ....in a small room...!!!
We ended up in STUDIO
55 at
in
Vancouver BC...in a small room.
March 18th 2007 - We now find ourselves halfway through Canada and quickly sliding into home...45 minute sets are fun....Touring Canada in March rocks !!! Don't forget to pack your short sleeved pants and your golf clubs ! ! (Ha Ha)
March 28th 2007 - Here we are in Ottawa...this is the end...my friend....of the Canadian leg of the Heaven & Hell tour. BUT, We will see you in the U.S. because we got extended for the U.S. leg.
Oh yea.........The show kiks...H & H with Ronnie James Dio rocks ever sooo hard, sounds great and looks insane. (Is that a castle ?) Phil from DOWN had gotten real sick after the 1st show and missed quite a few show causing Megadeth to have to extend their set to a blistering 60 minutes (how dod they do it?)...so the 1st few were a bit akward without them but , thank god they came back and blew the doors off of a 40 minute set. After working with headlining acts for so long and remembering the Gigantour schedule...it sure is nice to see how the other half lives for awhile ! !
Let's go home for a few weeks ! ! !
Heaven & Hell U.S. Leg starts April 20th in Phoenix !
It was a sheer pleasure working with the Heaven & Hell crew...they pulled off some incredible stuff. I hope to cross paths with them in the future.
Machine Head was great ! ! I loved getting to know those guys...first time an artist has walked up to me and introduced themselves to me......and their crew was great to hang out with as well. Mudd made some kik ass-wings and fajitas and we had a kewl after show hang more than once.
What an education this tour ended up being !!
I have edited my following statement to that of a more level headed individual. Sometimes in life its difficult to make sense out of things. So given a chance to remove my emotions I can now say thanks for the experience and the opportunity to serve !
With much contemplation on what to do I have bowed out of the Megadeth Camp. I have absolutely loved working for them and have made many connections along the way. We had created a tight family and I will miss my Mega-Family. But sometimes your integrity and unwillingness to accept things that are substandard out weighs the feeling of belonging.
I now understand more about accepting the norm....not many people are compensated for going above and beyond...let alone recognized for it. So a wise friend explained to me....."Do these things if they make you happy...not because you think its the right thing... or that people will even notice the difference in you going the extra distance .......Don't do these things because you think people will notice how much you care about what you do and wish to protect your investment in someone else's project".....
Do them because they matter to you ! ! BUT don't be upset when you end up caring more about their situation than they do.
So as always only god knows what's in store from here on out.........
GOD BLESS US ALL ! ! ! P l e a s e !
June 1st 2007 - I have been getting some phone calls lately giving me support for making a jump. Thanks for your kind words....I appreciate it ! Looks like I'll be filling in on the European Leg of STATIC-X for J.B. He was committed to some other dates before STATIC confirmed Europe. SO SWEET !! See ya in EUROPE !!
July 2007 - WOW.....After a few years of road living this was a tour of a lot of firsts for me, Some I can mention and some I can not. My first wonderful experience I'll share with you is flying into London Gatwick airport and out of London Heathrow airport...no real big deal.....but its a $60 ticket and a 45 - 60min. bus ride with your luggage and the whole re-check in.....I hope management saved thousands of dollars bcuz that is a PAIN IN THE ASS ...in a 3 hour time period.
My next first after years of touring was bus failure....or more like our driver Leroy had a bad habit of downshifting from 4th to 2nd gear while doing about 60mph....apparently this was his second blown engine and eventually his last (at least for this company........a blown engine is not a big deal in its self.....until there are no replacements. Just for your helpful insight....9 grown men in a passenger bus is no way to tour Europe but, it does bring you closer together. We never did get a replacement and it ended up being the demise of the Euro tour and really was a drag...as much as it sucked I don't think anyone wanted to end the tour that way. We did spend enough time on the bus to be woke up by an odd sound I wasn't expecting to be heard on this bus............Def Leppard & Journey rocking from the back lounge....kik ass music like that just doesn't get made like that anymore !!! Long live the 80's !
Before we ended up in the passenger van we were lucky enough to get picked up and "dumped" off at the Grasspop Festivale...and I do mean "dumped" by a double decker passenger bus. The mechanic/driver had to be back to the shop like 2 hours before he picked us up, and we were only 4 hours late to load-in. Luckily enough the band before us had cancelled and we were do on stage in less than an hour so that gave our driver plenty of time to unload our personal effects in the parking lot. Now I wish I had left my first "dump" in a tour bus bathroom in the toilet for the driver instead of a sack that I personally had to dispose of.
OK, this first hurts...Sitting in the hotel lounge waiting to get news of the tour cancellation and tickets home....Tony pulled a nick name for me....I've had lots of nicknames in my life but," Michael Bolton". ! . ! . ! I would have broke into song but I myself do not celebrate his catalogue.....so I replied "This sure isn't a group of guys I would expect to be giving ME shit about my new hair-do". Wayne replies "I reserve the right to give shit to ANYONE about hair-do's". Totally hilarious but you would have had to of been in that Birmingham England ,way overpriced lounge for the 3rd day praying to get home to fully enjoy it !
So despite all the "fun" I really did have the Static-X band and crew are great to gig with and I'm glad to have shared so many firsts with those guys. But I now understand why J.B. had double booked his time and decided to stay state side. I'd fill in for him again....almost anytime.....almost!
The hi-lite of the tour was the Grasspop Festival.....seeing Chris Cornell throw down a powerful performance from front of house was inspiring and then seeing Aerosmith from side stage was unbelievable.....those guys are truly incredible artists.
August 1st 2007 - I am in deep consideration of my early retirement ! I have quickly achieved everything I have set out to do ! I have truly been there and done that ! I have met a lot of great people and done a lot of great things in a lot of great places. I am blessed to have accomplished so much in such a short time. I want to thank everybody who played a part in my career.
I want to spend more time playing drums and hanging out with my family. Touring takes it's toll on the family life and I would rather concentrate on a few other things that are more important to me at this point in my life.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ! ! !
Stay tuned ! ! !
H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S 2008
January 2008 - Happy New Year.....I am proud to announce I have been chosen as drummer for HABITUAL. This year should be full of excitement. It feels good to be back in a band and I'm having the time of my life....so far....if you can believe it.
We're spending some time writing and trying to put some plans together for the future...Let's see what happens.
April 2008 - After many futile attempts to sway the band to finish writing and recording all the new material before breaking out...the urge to play out locally was too enticing. I was unable to currently deliver the amount of attention to the project at this time to accommodate the bands needs. So I respectively bowed out with a heavy heart. I really loved writing and the prospects of playing live with this act. I wish them much continued success !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2008 - And if it wasn't 3 days before I got a call from my good old buddy BOB COWAN......Pack your bags we need a tech on TOKIO HOTEL.....you fly TOMORROW ! ALL RIGHT!!!!!.....I had heard the single "SCREAM" from the Germany Super Group but had never seen anything about them. I look forward to meeting the camp and getting an opportunity to work with them .
May 2008 - Sweet !!!!!! This was a hoot. The most fun in a long time ! The boys are great to work with and the show is 60 minutes. All up beat pop tunes that keep my had bobbin'....Spent the most days off in NYC in my career...I had been there but never had a day off in the city......Lots of walking around and experiencing the sites, sounds, and smells the "BIG Apple" had to offer. But I always love sunset at Santa Monica Pier on the West Coast MUCH Better !! I'm looking forward to more dates later this year with this camp !!!!!!!!!
Stay Tuned !!!!!!!!!
