News From The Road

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
At MSG the guys seemed to turn it up a notch. Before the show Joe and Paul Stanley did a quick photo shoot for a possible feature in "Guitar World" magazine. The cover was shot by none other than Ross Halfin. Ross had a brainstorm of having the 2 guys up against a closed freight elevator. While the backdrop looked really cool a problem kept coming up..... And down and up and down again. The elevator was a working elevator and every time the doors would open about 25 people would come out. The first time it was funny seeing all these workers of MSG piling out wondering what the f' was going on in front of them. Many would mill around trying to get autographs or get themselves in the picture. This pissed Ross off and he began yelling at the 85 year old guy who was working the damn thing since the Rangers won the cup in '45. The second time Ross yelled at him you could sense the guy wasn't gonna take his British shit and find him a place to sleep at the nearby Meadowlands next to Jimmy Hoffa. Ross cooled down and the shoot ended with about 50 employees of the old barn cheering the master of cool and the starchild on.

Lenny Kravitz was in the house and spent his time bopping between the KISS camp and Steven and Joe's dressing room. Here's a little bit of useless info. Lenny has appeared on both bands albums in recent times. In 1993 he was on Aerosmith's "Get a Grip" album on "Line Up" and he appears with Stevie Wonder on Kiss's "Kiss my Ass" album singing "Deuce."

Frank Vincent introduced Aerosmith that night. Frank is a friend of theirs and has appeared in a movie with Brad called "This Thing of Ours" which should be out soon. You may remember him as "Billy Bats" from Good Fellas and Joe Pesci's paisan in Casino. Mr. Perry also did some music for the soundtrack as well as the Porch Ghouls. One of my favorite drummers of all time "Marky Ramone" was also hanging backstage and I am still kicking myself for not saying hi to this legend. Joey Ramone was always at Aerosmith shows in NYC and he was sorely missed this night because he loved both bands and would have had a blast.

WASHINGTON D.C.
We left early on this day to visit the Walter Reed Medical Center in DC. This is the hospital were all the guys and girls from Iraq and Afghanistan go to when they are shipped home because of casualties. It was pretty eye opening to see the men and woman of this war up close and personal. I don't want to sound cliche but they are the true heroes and for this afternoon the guys were in total awe of them. They went to several rooms and spent time everybody signing autographs and posing for pictures. The show was dedicated to them and it was an experience the guys will never forget.

MANCHESTER
Before the show Tom and Joe stopped by WZLX in Boston and basically took over the station for 2 hours. They were interviewed by DJ's Chuck Nowlin and Carter Allen. Carter has been around the Boston scene since this writer has been has been allowed to drive and he is one of the main reasons U2 is as big as they are today. Needless to say the band really love this guy.

Steven headed to the venue early to tape an interview with the local ABC affiliate for a show on the "Victory Program." The Victory Program has been helping people get and stay sober (as well as supporting Boston families with other health and housing needs) in Boston for decades and it happens to be a pet project that Steven and Joey hold near and dear to their heart. They have both been donating their time to the cause for a while now and have raised a lot of money for a very worthy cause.

BOSTON
Home Sweet Home! As you know the guys usually cook up something special for the hometown crowd and Thanksgiving Eve was no different. If you donated a certain number of canned food to the "Boston Food Bank" you were allowed access to a private sound check before the show. The guys played about 5 or 6 requests that night and really got the party started. It was a taste of what was yet to come later that night. An appetizer if you will! The guys kicked ass and left the old girl somewhere around midnight. As the last band vehicle left the Fleet with cheers and confetti floating in the air behind them some poor bastard left through the security entrance with my video camera bag and briefcase. Seems the sticky fingered fan made his way backstage and lifted my goods. But never fear the crack security team at the Fleet had the guy on video and had my bags back to me before my turkey got cold the next day.

TAMPA
After basing at home for the next week we headed down to Tampa for a show at The St. Pete Times Forum. It's great to be in Florida this time of year. The weather is great and the fans are crazy. The joint was rockin and it brought out Celebs such as Wade Boggs, Hulk Hogan and Boston Bruins great, Phil Esposito. It seemed Steven and the Hulk really got along. The Hulk plays bass and I'm told he's pretty good. Phil Esposito came with his wife, Bridget, and Steven gave him a tip of the hat before a song. Phil helped build the venue we were playing in and if it wasn't for him the Tampa Bay area wouldn't be the great city it is today.


Phil Esposito and John B.
talk hockey and canoli's...

Next time we will just about put a fork in this tour. It's been great and I'm
sure next year will be just as exciting starting off with "Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve."

See you on the road!

John B.