News From The Road

Happy New Year to everybody!

I figured out I slept in my own bed 22 days in 2005. This year looks to be just as busy. At the Milwaukee show old friend, Rick Nielsen, jumped up on stage to play “Train.” It kicked ass! Rick spent most of time before the show in Joe's dressing room jamming. Lenny also came by to give props to Rick. Our favorite shutterbug and postcard peddler, Ross Halfin, had his Nikon charged up and his finger on the trigger the whole night. He also threatened that he will be at the Fort Lauderdale and LA shows. I quiver with anticipation. I will put the kettle on for my favorite tea bag! Ross asked me why fans keep coming up to him at shows and pat him on the back and I told him it must be your sparkling personality. Joe and Brad went by the crew's catering room to check out the local cuisine and were impressed with the ice sculpture the chef made for the guys.


Detroit was rocking as usual. The band was presented with special plaques for selling out 12 shows at the Palace. It really is a home away from home for the guys. All the them spent the day off -before and after the show - Christmas shopping in the local town of Birmingham, MI. This is also the town where the band was holed up when the show with KISS was postponed due to the power failure a few years back. This time a mid-December blizzard threatens to cancel this show but the gods were with us on this day and the show went off without a hitch.



The last show of the first leg was in Grand Rapids, MI and the band flew home immediately after the gig.

The second leg is now under way starting in the great state of Florida. Another home away from home as 3 of the guys have abodes there. Steven, Joe, Tom and Joey all spent some of the break in the Sunshine state and I got to ring in the New Year with Mickey and my family. As I wandered around Disney World I noticed all the characters being chased by young bambinos with their autograph books out clutching pens the size of baseball bats, their parents close behind with digital cameras out and ready. They are like rock stars to those kids. I heard one of them screaming “I just met Minnie, I have been a fan of hers for at least 4 years.”

This weeks “Employee of the Week” honors go to Mark Langley. He's Joe's bus driver and can always be counted on for getting us from point A to point B even if he goes via point C sometimes. He has been with such great people as Lenny Kravitz and Bill Ward from Black Sabbath but also has Insane Clown Posse on his resume.

See you on the Road!

John B.