May 31, 2008
Hello all, It seems I have been remiss in my posting on the forum lately. It's weird. I really didn't have anything to say for the longest time, and then I got SUPER busy.
It all started when I was just beginning to think my days as a guy on the road were over. Doug and David started the record, and I was going " UH OH!!!" What the hell do I do now? I started to talk to Kip about another Mob or solo cd, and then right out of the blue, at the best possible time, came Night Ranger.
It was one of my favorite bands growing up. When I heard Brad Gillis on MTV, I rushed right out and bought a guitar with a whammy bar. Now, I can't play without one. You can really hear his influence on the first Winger album. Pterodactyl screams are all his, but they are frequently ripped off by me. It was such an honor to play with him. He is such a strong, moving, unique guitarist. He came into the first day of rehearsal and played the first song like he was possessed. I stood there with my mouth open. It was so fun playing songs like "Don't tell me you love me", with the double solos from hell. Brad and I spent some great nights partying and drinking and laughing. One night I made him laugh so hard that he fell on the floor in the fetal position and stayed there for some time.
It was a great experience all around.
Then I was back to Winger, who are all my dear friends from long ago. I have to say that I prefer touring on a bus to doing fly dates... big time. I spent hours in Chicago and Dallas, with cancelled flights, and ungodly bar tabs. I slept on the floor with like 500 people one day in Chicago. Flying blows. Anyway, I have videos of the bizarre nights we would have on the bus making amazing music. I play my cig fiddle, which is a killer sounding little four string guitar which is made out of a cigar box. Johnny plays acoustic, and the crew does percussion on whatever is laying around. One guy shakes two cups taped together with corn flakes in them. Anyway, we make up songs and party all night and sleep all day.
I think the most memorable part of that tour for me was the show for the victim's families of the Great White fire. I think of my experience there for inspiration. It certainly was eye opening for me. Basically, it taught me just to be thankful for the way things have gone so far in my life, and that giving comes back to you. It also taught me to appreciate my loved ones even more, when I didn't think such a thing was possible.
So, Winger went right into Whitesnake, literally! I had a Winger gig, 9:00am rehearsals with Whitesnake all day, and then the last Winger gig, where I had to bail on the last show after party. It's the one in which Kip gets notoriously hammered. He doesn't drink or party at all because of his voice, but on the last night, look out!!!
Whitesnake is a totally different animal. You can't be fat in Whitesnake. It's a serious organization that is designed to put on a perfectly executed giant rock extravaganza. I drink less, I eat less, and I go to the gym. On stage and at rehearsal, it is like having a P.A. for monitors. It is so loud and good up there that I get off hard almost every time. David is amazing, and I want to be at my best for him.
The first show was opening for Ozzy in New Zealand to 50,000 people. Before the flight overseas, I hung out with Brett Michaels for a while in the lounge. Being from around Pittsburgh himself, he loves my Pittsburgh-ese impression, which I'm told I do well. "Hey MUM, Quit runnin a sweeper up pair! We're tryin to lisin ta hity n na bloaoofish dawn ne... Uh, Even if you were there, you wouldn't get it, but he asks me to do it every time I see him, and completely looses it. He is a nice guy. I have done two Poison tours, in different bands, and he was always very down to earth, and respectful to everyone. He says the new season of his show is going to freak everyone out.
It was the first time I had done a big rock show in awhile. There was a giant dragon that came out of the ground that it took twenty men to operate. It breathed fire and had lasers for eyes. They had fifty cheerleaders that would have been hot if they didn't have zombie make up on, and I am talking KILLER zombie make up ( no pun intended.) Oh wait, that was Thriller! Doh!!!!!! They danced on one stage while the fire dancers, who literally lit themselves on fire, were on the other little stage. Both little stages were behind the big stage to the right and left, so the people could watch while Ozzy played. I hung with Zakk a bit, who, as usual, put me in a headlock and kissed me. It was great to see him. We had a beer and talked about old times.
The new drummer Chris Frasier is a monster. Hats off to him for the wonderful job he did at being so prepared, and injecting a new style effortlessly into the band. His solo kicked my ass. I've had the opportunity to work with the best rock drummers around, and I was truly impressed.
I think the new album is strong, and Doug and David did a great job. We are learning half of it, and we'll see which ones stick live.
We started this current leg in the Amazon jungle. I don't recommend getting the shot for yellow fever and going out partying all night. They painfully inject you with a live virus in the fat, fleshy, underbelly of your arm. I spent the next day drooling in a bucket. I'm not sure if I would have needed the bucket, had I not had the shot. I certainly have never needed one before. The shows here in South America have been incredible, to say the least. The audiences are amazing . They appreciate and enjoy every note.
Doug and I are playing together like two guys who have been in a band together forever, and I think we have never been tighter. We even go out there and just jam on two guitars with no agenda. People say they enjoy the diversity of our different styles. It's very fulfilling, and the crowd loves it. They can tell we are just making it up as we go along. We play to 8000 people every night, who seem to enjoy slam dancing to "Love Ain't No Stranger", for some reason. It doesn't strike me as a "mosh pit" kind of song, but they all form a hole and start running into each other, and it's like a gay cavemen mating ritual...not that there is anything wrong with that. Sorry. "Hello Reb Bitch and I am South American fan that mosh dance and say you are giant poopy man!"
So, I'm looking forward to our big rock shows in Europe with Def Lep, one of my favorite bands. On the few times I have worked with those guys, I found them all to be so approachable and fun. I think it is a great double bill, and I am hoping it can come to the States one day.
Thanks so much for all of your well wishes and support. I couldn't do this without that. You all give me the confidence I need to do my best. I hope to meet all of you again, or for the first time, out here on the road. Here we go again!!!!
Cheers!
Reb
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