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Issue #76, Part 1 - 30 June 2007
Sorry about that - been busy.
First off - thanks to the band and the chaps in the crews in England and the U.S. Their support was tremendous. Murphy's law is now Trevor's law, but his unbridled enthusiasm made many a traveling day lighter. I think the infrastructure is in a pretty sad state all over. Airports can be nightmares and I'm happy to be out of traffic jams -for a while at least. It's weird, the minute you can't control a situation - it goes pear shaped. On the up side, the hotels were good - we're better organized (praise be to James) and the gigs themselves were great fun. All the sound guys we used were great and I must congratulate the local monitor guys, too; they seem a lot better these days.
So, I'm not answering May's stuff because it's gone anyway. As I said, I read through it and you all seem happy with 'Shrunken Heads' and that's the main thing. Thanks to those of you who are actively helping to get it around. We even heard it ourselves a couple of times on the radio. I missed a few people who needed info on certain gigs (Chip and Patty come to mind) but we weren't here, so I read the May stuff only yesterday. So….
Mark: 'Play 'Bastard' at the Coach House.' We didn't.
Andy Dunkley: My favourite DJ!!! Dunkers old chap! Don't worry - there are many of us who are socially secure these days!
Dan Hathaway: On 'Wasted'. Good lunch with that.
Eric: 'Only you can make sitting in Washington, D.C. traffic a pleasure.'
Joe S.: 'Shrunken Heads' - the track itself is kind of English.
Alexander Sorsdal: We haven't been able to come to terms.
Torsten says we have friends in Sweden. We knew that. Best Quo song? Dunno. Like Quo but can't pick a favourite.
Bill Harrity: The only thing missing from the perfect set in Louisville was half the money!
Tim: Am I getting more political? No, I just don't like ineptitude.
Blake: Canada? I'm up for it, but nothing seems to get worked out down at the agency.
Francis L. : 'Shrunken Heads' electrifying. How does it feel to be compared with Bob?' C'mon now.
Masako (Japan): 'I am flying to your gigs in October. You are older than my father but you're soooo attractive! Sweetest voice! Now I'm studying your lyrics - checking my English - Japanese dictionary.' Sorry - I had to put this one in!!
Kelly Wallace: Says he spent a day with Leslie West and Leslie said 'Shrunken Heads' was great. Leslie's great, too. Great guitarist; great vocalist.
Getting Happy Birthdays - thank you all.
Andy Allison: Best of luck in the future.
Luther Center: 'Drove to see Jason and the Scorchers over the weekend. Guess who played the last hour and a half of the show with them? Andy York!!! I spoke to him and it turns out he's been a Warner Hodge fan since he started playing. We talked about his work with you and I thanked him for his guitar in 'Dead Man Walking'. What a swell guy.' He is indeed.
Garrett Lee says there's a large body of an unofficial IH appreciation society in Stockport. Garrett's in a band - they did 'Once Bitten' and it went down extremely well. Nice one, Garrett.
Michelle Pearce: 'Had a great time at the Pigalle, but felt sorry for the folks standing. Can you do 'God' in October?' I don't think there's going to be room for it. Doing a lot of new stuff.
Fred + the Hat People: 'Oscar is now a fan - just 16.' Hey, Fred. I was nice seeing you all in Gothenburg.
Mark Hughes: Thank you, Mark.
Clyde Hartman: 'The Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the NBA finals for the first time in the team's history. Fans were yelling 'Cleveland Rocks.' Hope this gives you more exposure.'
Ralph Greco; School's out.
Bill Sylvester loves 'Shrunken Heads'.
(I can't get back to all the people who are just saying they love the record - but I appreciate it.)
Jim Grant: Did I?
Constance Van Beek: Overdubs were done at Guitar Hangar Studios with Rick Tedesco engineering. Ronno's guitar is there, but we didn't use it.
Pat Smillie: Only just read this, Pat. Good luck with the band.
Gareth sends all the Happy Birthdays from the message board. They all seem to think I'm 68 for some reason!
Shugster: 'Hope you've got enough breath left to blow out the candles!' Up yours - in the nicest possible way!'
Janelle says 'Shrunken Heads' is a masterpiece, but could have done without 'Read It 'n' Weep' - 'That was cruel.' Not too sure about Wales. We've got no problem with it.
Nanee Ween: Have you ever done 'Going thru the Motions' live? Nope. Do '23A' in Ferndale (did we?), and I don't know the last one nor care to!
Ignacio Imaz was in Madrid and loved it. Loves SH.
Ray Waters: 'Great acoustic show a the Pigalle (shame about the venue) and the full band at Wychwood. Can't wait for Glasgow in October.'
Joe, PA: 'You've painted a masterpiece - proof positive that one does not have to be complacent with age. Surprisingly, I'm not surprised that you had this one and 'Rant' in you, and have remained relevant when other haven't.' Thank you.
Gerry (Glasgow) says I'm the only one who does love songs without sounding naff. Coming from a Glaswegian that is a true compliment and I'm humbled.
Andrew Field: 'How come you didn't introduce the violin player in Glasgow - best looker on stage, obviously.' (Seething resentment!) 'Why was she kept in a corner?' You just answered your own question. Laura McGhee's the lady's name - she plays a mean fiddle and is a Glaswegian. Hey Laura, - if you see this, thanks for sitting in - you were great. 'With reference to Shrunken Heads - how much did it cost in relation to Rant and Schitzo? It was a little cheaper than Rant and a lot cheaper the YNAWAS. 'What's the difference between using a pool of guitarists rather than just one?' None, if you use the right guys. It's obviously fresher when you haven't worked together for a while. Jeff did his vocals in Chicago because he was playing there the following day.
Jon Rosbrook: Our former (Ronno and my) tour manager extroadinaire! 'How goes it, Ian……..: (congratulating me on the RS review.)
Roxette: I don't know - but we'll keep you posted on this site.
Kevin, Newcastle: 'Shrunken Heads superb - gets better every time I hear it. Driving the wife mad….' That's what I like to hear!
Alexander Falk Jr. wrote a song during the Chicago gig - that's good. His son's name is Ian. 'Band awesome - you are the leader, right?' We don't really need a leader - we just pitch in.
Keikka: 'Great new album.'
Tom Lupo: 'Is 'Read 'em' and Weep' a sequel to 'Irene Wilde'?' Actually, 'Irene Wilde' came later on.
Chris Sazack: Do a mini concert on Howard Stern? Haven't heard from Howard's people as of yet.
Joe Barranco: Computer illiterate, Joe.
Kevin Mcallister gives SH a blazing review. Thank you, sir.
Julian Richards: Noted.
Art: 1) The sound guy replaced our guy who had to go into the hospital at the last minute. He didn't know us. 2) I'd strained a muscle. I was worried and just trying to do the gig. 3) We don't have the luxury of playing all ages unless it happens to be one of those gigs. This is promoter/agent stuff. 4) 'Book a bigger stage.' I'm fine with that. 5) Loved the set list. 6) 'Get a bigger venue - too many turned away.' It isn't up to us. Nice one.
Dean Roecker: 'Where's my trousers?' Hidden.
Steve from Tulsa: '1,600 miles round trip to see you in Chicago. Worth every mile - band great.' And this goes on. Thanks, Steve. Give my regards to Leon Russell.
Keith Holcombe: We actually did 'Marionette' recently. It's not on the list at the moment.
Luther Center: 'Dead Man Walkin' had him in tears in Cleveland.
Steve Potter: 'Can't stop telling people how good this cd is.'
Wade Stapp: The Mike Mitchell interview on fans - it's all true.
Bart: 'Just saw you in Cleveland - why no live album - you sounded amazing.'
Donovan: Brutally accurate, but let's not encourage dialogue on the matter.
Larry Nelson: I've no idea.
Pat: Roslov Zabo did most of the Mott the Hoople artwork. I think the girl on the Hoople cover was Cari-Ann (who was Brian Ferry's girlfriend at the time).
Lisa: I've no idea.
Bruce Stein says we were outstanding in Detroit. (Another said the sound was bad.) Sometimes it's where you're standing.
Kelly: 'Dad said Glasgow was great. Pregnant!' How time flies.
Don Wayne: Ferndale awesome.
Dave Griffiths: 'After listening for two weeks I think SH is your best ever.'
Larry Lee: I said that to the band too, but they said they would have never thought what you thought and I thought - so 'bridge' made it in by the skin of its teeth.
Donn Deniston: 'I wish you all the success you can stomach.' I like that.
Buckeye Randy: 'I was appalled at the people hanging out looking for autographs that had no intention of going to the show (a pathetic bunch aren't they). They just want signed merchandise to sell on eBay. (don't buy it). It ruins it for fans like me who want an autograph to treasure.' This is a problem. The one guy you turn down may well be genuine and the others you sign may be a-holes. Kinda like people who want their music for nothing. Short term thinking - shrunken heads. 'Will you ever do a farewell tour and retire or will you just say at the end of some tour - that's it?' Don't know.
Ward W.: 'What English artists influenced you?' Lonny Donegan; The Stones; The Beatles. There's a lot of English artists I like - I like Paul Carrack a lot, and Richard Thompson. The list goes on.
Richard Denham: 'Pigalle superb - any more gigs like that?' There's talk of eight acoustic shows next February - more on that later.
Rob: Thanks.
Dirk's fed up with White Snakes version of 'Once Bitten'. Errrr - wasn't that Great White?
Terry Birnie: Passed this on.
Anthony Caminiti: 'New CD better than anything on the radio.' Most radio's money, Anthony. 'I tried to call and email stations; no one listens to me.' Well we're doing OK in Chorley!
Martin Bradley saw Birmingham, London and Oslo - brilliant! India Mae (7) and Bailey (4) know all the words. India Mae did a presentation at her primary school in Hertford on IH and 'Shrunken Heads' and so impressed were her teachers that she did it three times in three days and her form teacher is now asking for a copy of 'Shrunken Heads'. How cut is that!!
Steve Serber: 'Jimmy Buffett says there are eight songs fans expect to hear and he bases his set around those.' Do I do the same thing? Well, it's usually 'Once Bitten' to lead off because the instruments come in one at a time and give the sound guy a chance. That's about it until the end. I usually do 'Saturday Gigs' and 'Dudes'. Probably 'Memphis'. The rest depends on what I'm doing at the time.
Mike Ellis: One out of five ain't bad!!
Kevin Mayes: 'Cleveland - brilliant - any thoughts on Warren Zevon and Hunter S. Thompson?' Danny Goldberg managed Warren Zevon - he now manages me along (with his partner Jack Leitenberg) other than that - not really.
Stay tuned for Part 2 ...
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