johnstonezone

Pistol River Wave Bash

2010-06-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

The reality is that I have been hooked into the sport of windsurfing since my first taste at age 22. That's how I ended up on Maui 9 years ago. Living in landlocked Steamboat Springs, CO necessitated annual trips to Hood River, Oregon to fulfill the need for consistent sailing conditions. This journey was realized 9 times during my stay in the mountains. When conditions become hot and windless in the Gorge, wind seekers venture on to the Oregon coast. It is peculiar to me that at this point I find myself going back to the land of sandy beaches, majestic headlands and frigid waters to participate in the resurrection of the Pistol River Wave Bash.

http://www.1bluescorpion.com/PistolRiverWaveBash/

More than just a wave competition, I believe this event represents something larger. It is an opportunity for like-minded, wind-addicted souls to convene and perhaps get back to the reason we started on this journey.

I am completely thrilled to be a participant and equally charged up to perform music at this event! Thanks to Sam Bittner for the invite and her stoke for the sport! More to come!

Check out this video by Les Stansell.

http://stansellguitarmovie.com/Pistol_River_Beach.html

State of Euphoria in New Zealand

2010-03-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Upon arriving in Auckland, we sought food and were directed to an area downtown where there were many pubs and cafe's. Aucklander's describe their city as "more of a town than a city." The traffic and the skyscrapers had me fooled. Construction and machinery sounds abound.

The place has a really good vibe. I dropped into a bookstore and brushed up on my Maori art and was struck by the similarities between the Maori and the Hawaiian culture. New Zealand was the last place on Earth settled by the Polynesians only about 1,000 years ago. As Maori legend has it, the demigod Maui created the North Island with his fishook, thus making it "Maui's Fish." The South Island is "Maui's Canoe." We stayed mainly on the North Island, but played in Christchurch and Napier on the So. Island.

I didn't have the nerve to get that facial tattoo.

Napier, NZ is a town rebuilt after a 1932 earthquake in the Art-Deco style.

Sunrise over Christchurch.

A 45 min. ferry ride takes us to Waiheke Island where we were rewarded for our efforts with a guided tour of the island. The island is has recently become the home of many wineries. We visited the Mudbrick Winery and enjoyed their great hospitality. The weather was perfect and the laid-back vibe on the island induced a state of euphoria. The Chardonnay delicious. The guide took us all around the island before we returned on the last ferry.

http://www.mudbrick.co.nz/

On the ferry with Auckland in the backround.

Quiet harbor. Sailing is huge down unda".The nets are to prevent the birds from eating the grapes. The wineries on Waiheke are quite small and some of the wine never leaves the country...or the island I suppose.Farm-raised oysters.

A black sand beach. Evidence of NZ's volcanic past.

Waiheke has a "little beach" and a "big beach" as does Maui.

Farewell Auckland! We left on Tues. Am and arrived Mon. PM! What a great tour and a very interesting trip to the land down under.

Lizotte's! Fine Food With a Musical Mood. Yeah!

2010-03-04T03:48:00.000-08:00

Every now and then on the road, you come upon a place that has simply "got it." Lizotte's in Newcastle is one such place. Brian Lizotte has been a professional caterer to rock n' rollers for years. Weary of the the road, he has pursued his vision of creating a venue which features a dynamic blend of visual, aural and taste sensations. His motto is that "the touring musician runs on his stomach" and he couldn't be more correct. "If you guys are happy, then everyone else is too" he said to me. His establishment is in a very unassuming area of town and occupies a hundred-year-old theater turned supper club. The food, the wine (esp. the white) and the staff were extremely accommodating. We were pleased that this tour brought us to Lizotte's twice to perform our "long set" sans Michael and Boz. You guys missed out!!

At the end of the second night, we reached for instruments which adorned the wall and had a brief and humorous "blowing session." I would love to see a place like this on Maui. We desperately need a world class supper club. Any ideas?

Yes!

Sutton Grange Winery in Queensland

2010-03-04T03:18:00.000-08:00

The subtitle of this blog is "where you never know what's going to happen next." This tour has certainly lived up to that. Leaving the grandeur of our Sydney hotel, we embarked on a sojourn which brought us out into southern Queensland. The venue was a place called Sutton Grange Winery in the Bendigo region.

The Eucalyptus trees were many, but no sign of Koalas or Kangaroos.

You know you are out in the country when your promo is affixed to hay bales. The Maui boys still wearing their shorts and slippahs, were watching carefully for venomous creatures.

The event was well attended. The folks from Bendigo were quite enthusiastic and the flies were many!

On of the highlights of our set is the portion where Rick and I trade off on Black Magic Woman. It is different every night and allows us the opportunity to stretch out a bit. The Peter Green (original) version is somewhat different than the Santana rendition in that it ends up as a double time shuffle and retains it's identity as a blues tune.

Tom Kopecek, Mick's drum tech on this tour is from Melbourne and has done an outstanding job! We'll see you on Maui, mate!

Mick wears his patented red shoes.

The folks at Sutton Grange took excellent care of us. The home cooking and the wine were much appreciated by all. We dined in the "Grange Hall." where it looked like many bingo games had been played. An unlikely venue for a concert, but a pleasant surprise for all of us who partook in the festival beneath the ever-expansive Australian skies.

Rock on, Sutton Grange!

Long Day's Journey....

2010-03-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Riverstage in Brisbane was the site of our rainy show. Dampness was no deterrent to the enthusiastic pancho-clad audience.

We were in Brisbane for less than 12 hours. Our schedule dictated that we would have to travel back to Sydney and then fly back up the coast to Port MacQuarie the following day...two flights and a couple of van rides. Michael MacDonaldSeveral hundred miles and a couple of flights brought us to the town of Port MacQuarie. At last I was able to check out the beach which was only steps from the hotel. The wind was onshore and the waves were sloppy, but still there were many bodyboarders and a couple of surfers enjoying the point break. The water looked iviting, so I jumped in and washed off the residue from the long day's journey. It wasn't Maui, but it certainly did the job!

Farewell Shangri-La

2010-02-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

Undaunted, our merry crew assessed the damage incurred by last nights onslaught of expensive cocktails and made their way down the coast to Wolongong. Despite our weariness, we pulled off a rocking opening set and were well received. The drive time was about 4 ours there and back for a 45 min. set. Cheers to Bobby, our driver for delivering us back to Sydney whereupon we embarked on yet another night of cocktailing and merriment. The club we had visited the night before was happy to see us back!

The club on the 36th floor of the hotel was the starting point for last night's adventure. Great view of the city. $20 cocktails. Typical city rates. Upon checking out, I was made aware of the expense of using the room phone. 12 bucks for two local phone calls. What????? Farewell Hotel Shangri-La! Great accomodations, but in the future, beware of hidden expenses. Off to Brisbane!

Hi-Fi Bar

2010-02-26T03:29:00.000-08:00

We played our first show at a club called the Hi-Fi Bar in downtown Melbourne. The opening act was a three piece led by Josh Owen. They are comprised of acoustic guitar, bass and percussion. They delivered a tasty set of original acoustic rock.

The audience at the Hi-Fi bar was exuberant! They dug our two hour set or rockin' blues!

Sydney!

2010-02-25T18:07:00.000-08:00

This one goes out to Rusty, Richie, Tom and the rest of the Road/Tech crew without whom none of this happen. Hats off to these guys who show up early and set things up. They are often faced with adversity, such as moving road cases like this:

up staircases like this!

Did I mention that "Blue Again was nominated for a Grammy?

We had a day off in Sydney, so I had a chance to check the place out. The first stop was Allen's music. It was sort of a Kmart of music stores, but still much larger than anything on Maui. I always enjoy hanging out in these places. Often times you will hear someone trying out an instrument and playing something really cool. Sometimes not, but in a large city like Sydney, which hosts a conservatory, it is likely that there are some very skilled players around!

The next stop was the Australian Museum for some culture. On the way there, I spotted my first Ibis. They were just hanging out like pigeons in the park waiting for handouts. How strange they appear.....

A statue of the infamous Captain Cook graces Hyde Park. In Hawaii he is not the most popular character...

Mick and Rick by the harbor with the Opera House in the backround.

The water taxi took us across the harbor to a place called Doyle's. The trip took about 15 minutes and provided an excellent perspect ive of Sydney and it's surrounding coastal communities. Australians love to be outdoors and especially on or near the water.

At Doyle's we dined on Sydney rock Oysters, calamari and fish and chips. The food was excellent, the view down the harbor toward the city was surreal. Thanks Mick! The giant fruit bats came out at dusk and swooped around a large fig tree. We were astounded by their enormity and their freakish vocalizations! I must get those photos!The return trip was fantastic with the illuminated skyline ahead of us.

While at the museum, I learned of the Johnstone's Crocodile. It is a rather harmless fresh water animal found in the Northern regions. They tell me it's good eatin'.

Today we are off to Wollongong which is about a 90 min. drive from Sydney. We will play our 45 minute set with Michael MacDonald and Boz Scaggs to follow. 5 down, 7 to go! Hello Cleveland!

Down Unda!

2010-02-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

After a good wave session at Kuau and a margarita at Milagro's in Paia, it was off to points South! Way South! First a stop at Sammy Hagar's bar at the Kahului Airport.

Air New Zealand is the best airline I have flown on thus far. The planes are clean, with plenty of leg room, and the attendants are on it! They served dinner and breakfast, both of which were of above average quality as far as airline food goes. They offered us beer, wine and champagne. The VIP lounge at the airport was also outstanding. Good food and drink. A beer at 9AM? It's 9 AM somewhere! Cheers!

Our journey to Australia brought us through Auckland and then on to Melbourne. After about twenty-two hours of flight we checked into the Crown Hotel. The hotel is across the river from downtown Melbourne and features a casino. Rick and I went to grab a bite to eat at one of the many riverfront eateries. The weather was sunny and warm.

Mick is recognized worldwide. Here he stops in the airport to sign an autograph and chat with a fan.

Keep a walkin'!

The Yarra river runs through Melbourne. Designated as the Sri Chinmoy "River of Peace," it reminds me of the Charles River in Boston with all the rowing teams in training. A pedestrian bridge takes you across the river to the downtown area which is an interesting blend of older architecture and newer skyscrapers. The river represents the peace which flows from one's deeper self out into the ocean, which is the world. I like that. Bummer it looks so polluted!

The exchange rate is nearly 1:1 between the US and Aus. dollar. The prices, however, are a bit higher. With a thirst for some local brew, I dropped into a liquor store and was blown away by the price of booze. Beer prices run about double what they do in the States. I picked up a 6-pack of Cooper Ale for about 15 bucks. I had been told that the Aussies really enjoy their drink, but I wondered how they could afford it. The liquor store attendant informed me that many folks spend their whole paychecks on booze, which doesn't seem hard to do! He was amazed that we only spend a little over a buck a beer for a decent libation. Looks like a good time to go on the wagon! Hmmmm.

Tip of the day: Don't bother asking for an "Americano" at the cafe'. Just say "Strong Latte" and they will know what you mean.

Today we have a tech-rehearsal to make sure everything is in order for tomorrows gig at the Hi-Fi bar. http://www.thehifi.com.au/events/mick-fleetwood-7631/

Thanks to Tad Craig for lending me his point and shoot!
www.tadcraigphotography.com

Grammy Reflections

2010-02-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

We returned home from the Grammy's with a suitcase full of memories, but nothing for the trophy case. Yet!

We did show some face on the Red Carpet however...

To be nominated is in itself an honor and one must acknowledge all of those who work relentlessly at their chosen endeavor and are never recognized. In my case, I feel as though it is a signal that I am indeed headed on the right track. Music is a central part of my being and I am among the blessed who are given the opportunity to pursue it as a career.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" Seneca 5BC-65 AD

I also view it as a mandate to continue ahead. As Mick said in an interview, "it is an affirmation that what you are doing is worthwhile."

We are looking ahead to the Australia/New Zealand Tour which commences on 2/17. We will be traveling in Eastern Oz mostly and on both NZ isles. Part of the time we will be sharing the bill with Michael MacDonald and Boz Scaggs!! I can't wait to hang with those cats!

http://www.vectorarena.co.nz/index.cfm/PageID/2/EventID/121/Event/Boz+Scaggs,+Michael+McDonald+The+Mick+Fleetwood+Blues+Band+/

Ramblin' Jack Elliot received the Grammy in our category and certainly not without merit. This was his fifth nomination. A contemporary of Woody Guthrie and an big influence on Bob Dylan, Jack received his award in true rambling fashion. Here is a tune I have always enjoyed from his record. It's an 8 Bar Blues.

Check this out. We were seated in front of Taylor Swift when she was called up for her first Grammy. Watch closely.

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Road to the Grammy's/House of Blues

2010-01-30T17:19:00.000-08:00

The House of Blues on the Sunset strip is said by many to be LA's premier live music venue. It has three floors, a full-size balcony and several bars. The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band played there on Thurs Jan. 28th. as part of a Haitian Earthquake Benefit.
http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/sunsetstrip/

There was some talk of guest artists such as Billy Gibbons and Slash, but our start time kept getting pushed back. We went on close to midnight and played a rockin' but abbreviated set.

One highlight for me was to play the house's Hammond B-3 organ. It is a unique beast. Each one a little different. I visited my friend Gene Argel a few days before leaving Maui to get a few tips on how to drive it. "You gotta relax on this thing" is what he said. He was right. The is very little action on these things, so extraneous finger movements can end up sounding like slop (unless that's what you're going for!) and as I found out, you must be careful around the "preset" keys. If you hit one by mistake, you may end up with a totally different sound then you wanted, or none at all. The latter is what happened in my case. I hit the stage, went to hit the keys and NOTHING! Quickly, however, I noticed the errant key and dialed it up in time for the down beat. What a pleasure to play through such an expressive instrument. You simply cannot beat electro-mechanical with digital. The rotating Leslie speaker is a must!!!

With any luck, I will be playing more of these in the future!

Another highlight was re-connecting with the lovely Hesper and her friends. Thanks for hanging out so late on a Thursday!shaka!

Mick's Custom Cocktail Kit

Lenny and Mick

Vodoo doll

Road to the Grammy's/Hollywood

2010-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Hollywood is the city that can't stop talking about itself . The endless chatter, the traffic, the "in your face" backround music. Slow down Hollywood, take a deep breath...put down that phone...well on second thought, don't...you might hurt yourself.

Lenny meets a new friend. You can have a photo with Bugs Bunny, but he's gonna turn around and ask for money!! Another hustle, and this town is full of them!

We arrived on Wed. night at the Roosevelt Hotel. It is right on Hollywood Blvd. Built in 1927, it was the sight of the first Academy Awards.

A martini at the LIBRARY LOUNGE was the first order of business! Thanks Carl!

All the cool cats hang out at the Tropicana Bar, the site of many movies.

Lenny and I found a cool pizza joint. Great sauce! Cheap eats! OK, there is hope.

Night scene on Hollwood Blvd. First pink stretch Hummer Limo I've ever seen!

By day...

Your name here...

2010-01-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

Mick Fleetwood Blues Band performed at Shep Gordon's annual New Year's Eve party at Mala in Wailea. This year proved to be just as much fun as last year with such notables as Chad and Mike from Nickleback, Alice Cooper and John Mayall (pictured) sitting in. Mayall, who's band spawned the careers of many British Blues musicians (Mick included!), sang two tunes. I can't remember the name of the first, but I do recall him showing me the piano part at sound check. It was a sort of Boogaloo thing. The second tune was "Help Me" by Sonny Boy Williamson, a minor blues. Mayall was real cool and personable. He played some harps that Mick had hanging around his house. He broke it down in true Mayall fashion. He is a consummate performer who knows how to entertain!

Alice Cooper was great as well. His self-deprecating comments were hilarious! "I never play these songs like the album" he said. To which Mick replied "Don't worry, I'll make sure of that." We rocked " School's Out" and I think "No more Mr Nice Guy" and rung in the New Year. Due to resort regulations (the fun police) we had to stop shortly after midnight.

Chad Kroeger sang the hell out of "Born on the Bayou." I don't know anybody who can come close to John Fogerty, but he can.

Alice Cooper with the "Cooperettes"

So the next big news is that "Blue Again" has been nominated for a Grammy in the category "Best Traditional Blues Album." We are all very excited to have even been nominated. On Jan 28 we will play the House of Blues in Hollywood to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims. Then two nights off before the Grammy's. Look out LA!

Back on Maui

2008-11-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Back on Maui. Anyone know what day it is? Funny how everyone here says "you're back already?" Time seems to accelerate here. Blink and a week goes by. We arrived at baggage claim to the sound of people rejoicing Obama's victory. From my experience overseas, I can guess that the rest of the world is quite excited as well. People over there really don't like Bush. It's embarassing.

The first thing I did when I hit the island is drop in on Dave, at Milagros. He always makes a big fat Martini and keeps me up to date on the musical events on Maui. Good to hear that the shows he promoted were successful. It's not easy getting people out here on the island. Cheers Dave!!

The second thing I did was drop into Simmer, my surf shop employer. A 9'0 longbaord caught my eye...used to belong to Ray, who lived and surfed and sailed in Kuau, but recently passed on. Looking forward to catching many waves with Ray's old stick!

Maui has greeted me with 6 straight days of wind and waves. It was exactly what I needed after a somewhat sedentary lifestyle on the road. Unbelievably, I'm in bed by 10pm....still on euro time perhaps. We'll see how long that lasts...

I picked up a waterproof digital camera. As soon as i figure it out, I will be sharing some action video soon!

2008-11-02T03:22:00.000-08:00

When you're out on the road, it is important to be with the right people. One couldn't ask for a greater bunch of guys to tour with....Mick, Rick, Lenny (aka Sammy), Bill, Blaine, Dennis (aka Deano), Kris, Frank, Fraggle, Tom, Todd, JT, Matt, Adam, and Hano (Chef d'excellent). This one goes out to you all for making this the best experience possible (even when it's not that great!) See you on the next one....

Newcastle upon Tyne

2008-10-31T13:12:00.001-07:00

It snowed on the way to Newcastle from Liverpool. Not much, but enough to stick to the grass. The journey across Britain's heartland took about 3 hours. We were alll quite pleased to check into our styly Hotel located right downtown ! Newcastle, home to a university, is a happening little town. we were fortunate to spend a day off there, taking in the sights and digging the vibe. Its full name, Newcastle upon Tyne, indicates its positon along the banks of the river Tyne, which links it to the North Sea. One of the central features is a castle which has been defended for centuries. The city was once surrounded by a wall with the castle at its center. The castle dates back t the 12th century during the reign of Henry II. Before that, there is evidence of a Roman settlement there around the time of Hadrian. No shortage of history here.

The show was a success. The venue was called City Hall. About 700 people attended. We signed cd's and met the folks. The accent gets thicker as you move north. after the gig, explored the nightlife around the hotel. There were many bars and nightclubs frequented by the local "hipster" types. There was live music as well as DJ's. The next night we spent at a pub across the street listening to a trio of bass, guitar and vocals. The played some standards, bossa nova and Blues. The singer's name was Sarah. She is from Ireland and sang beautifully. Surprisingly, we didn't find Newcastle Brown ale on tap, so we opted for Duvel, a Belgian beer with quite a kick. Good fun. Nothing that a bowl of porridge and an Earl Grey tea couldn't fix the next day!

The castle offered a good perspective on the town and its surroundings and history.

Some chaps were playing funky jazz in this outdoor mall. Brrrrr!

Liverpool

2008-10-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

I took a few things away from my experience in Liverpool. One, is that Blues music speaks universally across a wide social strata. Secondly, it occurred to me that idolatry has its seamy underside. And lastly, that the music you want to write is all around you.

Blues music makes people feel good. It's direct. It's naked. It doesn't aspire to be intellectual, yet is wise. It's relevant to peoples lives and that is the real reason that it is considered by some to be America's original art form. "Keep it Greasy, Baby!"

Lenny, Bill and I took a Fab Four taxi around Liverpool. It cost 45 pounds total and took about 2.5 hrs. Terry took us in his little black taxi to a the birthplaces of the Beatles, the home of Brian Epstein, the church where John and Pal met, The barber shop on Penny Lane...it was classic! We listened to the songs as we saw the sights which inspired them.

http://www.ajdale.com/TAXIROOT/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

However,

It reminded me of a poem by Jack Kerouac:

I’d rather be thin than famous,
I don’t wanna be fat.
And a woman throws me outta bed, callin me Gordo,
and every time I bend to pickup my suspenders from the davenport floor
I explode loud, huge grunt-o and disgust everyone in the familio.
I’d rather be thin than famous,
but I’m fat.
Paste that in your Broadway show.

Jack Kerouac

At the end of the day, we're all the same. Regrettable that fame becomes a self-imposed prison for some. Assured that someone will be there to capitalize. That's the business. And so it goes.

Keep it Greasy, Lads!"

Frosty in the UK

2008-10-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

Frosty morning in the UK. At last a day of rest. While the others went off to see Stonehenge, an ancient pile of rocks, I opted for a quiet day of blogging and jogging. As I made my way through the English countryside, I had visions of men on horseback, knights and knaves, all that Robin Hood imagery. As a young lad, I had been drawn to the works of Sir Walter Scott; fuel for the imagination. I also took care to watch for traffic coming at me "from the right." From what I can gather, the English way of driving stems from those days on horseback. When one encounters a foe on the road, it is to one's advantage to be on the left as they approach so as to engage the enemy wth the sword in the right hand. Thus, it was explained to me that the circular stairways always descend counter clockwise in order that one may defend his castle. Doesn't say much for the Lefties. (myself included). As I jogged along, I came upon a small herd of deer, some rabbits, and a random dog. No jousting required!!!

My comrades found what they had sought, but I was content to remain out of the van for a moment. Off to Liverpool!!

No Pressure

2008-10-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Canterbury, the destination of millions of pilgrims for centuries on end. This place has so much history it's mind-numbing. Our visit coincided with an October festival, per usual. We played at the Marlowe theater to a full house which included the lovely Christine McVie. (No pressure). She sat behind the sound board and coaxed Dennis for "more piano." We keyboardists have to stick together. I met her briefly backstage. Very charming. Peter Green was due to attend, but had family matters.. Hope to see him on this tour. After all, we are honoring his music. (no pressure). We had some time to kill before sound check so we set out to discover this town located in the "Garden of England," County Kent. There was a film crew at the gig (no pressure). I hope to have a copy soon. Here's some photos. There's the Cathedral. On my way in, the wind blew my hat off as if to say, "Please take your hat off, Sir."

Looking up @ the Cathedral
Our tour manager Bill Pie' @ the "Pie" House

After each gig, we have a meet and greet autographing session. Our new cd is called "Blue Again." As of this post, we are #45 ON THE UK CHARTS!!!!!!

The fact that I am sharing the stage, the cd, and signing autographs alongside such a wonderful group of musicians, Mick, Rick, and Lenny, fills me with tremendous gratitiude. Thanks to Blaine, Dennis, Frank, Fraggle, Kris, Bill, Adam, Matt, for making my life easy...you rock!!!!!

6 more to go!!!

Rockin' the UK

2008-10-27T06:51:00.001-07:00

Our merry travelers arrive in the UK. After locating our ground transport, we set off in a van (r.h. drive) toward the town of Peterborough, a few hours north of London. On the way in, I managed to snap off a photo of the Thames river and London Bridge from the plane. I prefer window seats for that reason. Plus, when I get situated on a plane, I don't like to move for anything. I'm like a rock. It bewilders people that I can hang for an eight-hour flight and barely leave my seat.

Here we are, cruising down the "wrong side" of the highway, it's getting dark and we are all hungry. Many people have said that the UK is best noted for bad food, but I am here to refute that claim. With the help of Bill's (tour manager) Iphone and google, we happen upon this old inn just off the highway caaled the White Hart. Built sometime in the 1700's perhaps, this place turns out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip. More serendipity. This place was like a portal...a nexus. An oasis for the weary traveler. I ordered the "pie of the day" which was steak and potato shepherds pie and it was delicious! The caesar salad was top notch..lots of parmesan and real anchovies. The wine we ordered was an Australian merlot/cab called "Blue Cutting Road." For dessert an Apple Crumble with ice cream and custard. It was so good I had to take a photo. The house music was playing old Beatles tunes. How apropo! As we dined we talked about the upcoming shows and what to expect. Mick mentions that his friend and bandmate Christine McVie will be attending the Canterbury show and I kid you not, as soon as her name is mentioned, the song "You Make Loving Fun" comes on the radio. A moment of disbelief and then we acknowledge that we are in the "zone." We finish our meal, take photos with our lovely waitresses, Ela and Natalie (they were starstruck) and on the way out, this gentlemen at the bar stops Mick and they embark on a conversation which reveals that he knows Mick's sister, brings up the topic of Colin Blunstone (the Zombies) and this really trips us out. We had just been talking about this stuff! Weird. I can't even describe fully how synchronous all this was. Right place, right time. Maybe just dumb luck, nonetheless, worthy of acknowledgement.

Mick reminisces with the fellow at the bar......

A few more miles down the road and we arrive at our hotel. Chat it up in the lobby lounge. And retire for the night. The gig in Petersborough was at The Broadway Theater. A venue which holds 1200. We only had bout half that, but the crowd was responsive and the acoustics superb. The theater had a

We are happy to welcome our caterer, Hano, to this leg of the tour. He's from Germany and is a great chef. We can always look forward to a good hot meal before sound check. Cheers Hano!

cool retro 70's decor.

Light Reading for the Road

2008-10-26T05:16:00.001-07:00

Two nights in Denmark, now back to Germany for two more shows. We gathered up what was left of our brain cells and headed south. Our first destination is the Park Hotel in Bremen. On my way out the door on Maui I randomly grabbed some reading material for the flight. Honestly, I really didn't remember what this novel was about, I simply remembered that I wanted to check out Kurt Vonnegut. He passed recently. At any rate, for those who aren't familiar, the book speaks about the atrocities of war, mankind's worst manifestation, and namely the fire-bombing of Dresden toward the and of WWII. "nice light-reading for the road"

I thought the book was well-written. A mixture of prose and historical fact. His dark humor provides a sound vehicle for what is a pretty heavy topic. And so it goes.....

The park hotel was just outside the center of Bremen, so I decided to hire a Bicycle for and hour (4 euros) and set out on my own adventure into another unfamiliar city. In typical fashion, I immmediately headed in the wrong direction, asked a nice fellow, got set straight and hit the town. There was an October celebration going on (per usual) and there were folks out enoying this brisk fall day. Biking is the way to go. Just follow someone who seems to know where they are going and pay attention to the seperate bike traffic lights. People are really aware (at least in this town) of where the bikers are. Perhaps I stood out a bit with my Hawaii sweatshirt and ski cap. I parked old #13 near the center, walked around for a bit, ate a bratwurst, drank a Beck's and headed back to the hotel (w/directions!) and made it to the awaiting van and my comrades.

The cathedral in Bremen.

Notes on Copenhagen

2008-10-23T04:16:00.000-07:00

It was a 5 or 6 hr journey from Krefeld to Copenhagen, which includes 45 min ferry ride. We arrived at the hotel in Greve only to find that the rooms, although quaint, were closet-sized. Certainly not large enough for the "big man." I had started to unpack, took my usual photo of the uke on the hotel bed, when a knock came on the door. I struggled for a moment to get it open. "Mark, ve are not staying, do't unpack!" Ok, it's been a long day, but I'm going with the flow. We proceeded to soundcheck at Portalen. A really cool venue. The title translates as "portal." They had a great caterer and spacious dressing rooms. Even a super deluxe iron made by Bosch. It was the Mercedes of irons.

Copenhagen....land of Tuborg Classic, and Elephant beer (we used to consume in college due to its high alc. content). Land of blond hotties on bicycles. Walk in the bike lane and you are sure to get regulated. Our first excursion took us across the river to Christianson (sp). It's the more liberal side of town where hashish is sold openly on the street. We did our best to keep together, but got separated, as Sammy went back to retrieve his hat. We waited and waited. Finally Sammy appeared sans hat. So easy to get lost in an unfamiliar place.

We made it back to town and ran into Mick, who was browsing the shops. We sat down at a grooovy outdoor cafe and had fish and chips all the way around . Perfect. Thanks Mick!!

Back at the hotel, Blaine and I decided to go for a little walk. Actually ended up being about 5 miles. I think we covered most of the city. We were like pebbles in a stream of enless hot-looking girls on bikes....

Later on that night, after we celebrated Rick's birthday at an Indian place, Blaine and I sought out to find some nightlife. We ended up at this local joint where we spent the rest of our Kroners on Mowgli's and beer. Mowgli's are made with vodka and bailey's. We talked to some of the local folk who informed us that our hotel was haunted and that there are some places in the city where locals won't go.

Copenhagen takes the prize thus far. We were fortunate to have a night off. The hotel Phoenix was right in the center of town. Glad we checked out of the fleabag closet the day before. Good move!!

I could definitely spend some more time there....next time rent a bicycle!

Krefeld

2008-10-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Herr Johnstone here... Back to Germany. 3 countries in three days. The video crew showed up and made a killer video of the show with 12 cameras. Definitely feeling like a rock star. I'll have a link to it soon. The Venue was called KUFA. It used to be meat packing facility. It's a non-profit as far as I know. The catering was outstanding. As usual, there were autograph seekers awaiting the bus. Some of them are so sincere. Some of them just want to cash in buy selling the stuff on ebay.

The Hague (Den Hague)

2008-10-22T08:59:00.001-07:00

The Netherlands..at last. Never thought I would ever see this place. Since Amsterdam was a solid hour away, Lenny and I decided to go on an adventure to Den Haag. The train was right near the hotel and I followed some vague directions which I got from the bartender the night before.

The train system was a bit confusing. There were devices on the train which dispensed tickets, but of course you first have to know where you're going!!

Which brings me to the most important lesson for the traveller:Rule#1 If you don't know where you are JUST ASK! People are happy to help out....So, we figured out where we we were headed and tried to buy tickets from the train to no avail...this round trip is on the Dutch. We ended up at the North Sea. It reminded me of the Atlantic. There were people out and about enjoying this brisk autumn day, and even a surfer. The way back to the hotel was a bit interesting. We made it to the train station, but what train?? Lo and behold there's there BARTENDER from last night. How fortunate! "you don't want this train, he said. "you want the one downstairs"...but wait, I thought those don't look like they're going the right way...At first it seemed like serendipity running into a semi-familiar face in a large train station. On second thought, his advice proved WRONG. We followed our instincts. Got on the "wrong" train and made it back to the hotel(about 40min). It was a bit harrowing, however, as neither Lenny nor I recognized the landscape going the other way. So, I asked this girl who confirmed hat we were right. I asked her if she wanted to go to the show, but she never showed. We made it back to the hotel well before sound check and celebrated with a really tasty Heineken on tap. Rule#2. Don't believe all of the info that you get from people. Sometimes it's wrong.

The show was at a facility called Boedirij. There was a "special" coffee shop downstairs. That might explain why the people of Holland were so very warm and appreciative. Most spoke English. They were definitely "hand-shakers." So far, the only place we've been offered beans for breakfast. Good power foon. Not so good for your van-mates!!!

Zurich

2008-10-22T08:30:00.001-07:00

Zurich...If there were more time, this is a place I would like to explore some more. We were housed in a nice hotel right downtown in the business

district. Lots of folks dressed in business suits, expensive boutiques...etc . The hotel had a really cool shoe shine machine...The gig was at an old theater called Kaufleuten. The show was well attended, the hospitality was great. After the show, I was greeted by the lovely Ursina, a Zurich native who I actually met on Maui several weeks ago. We cruised the late night streets of the old town...ate a falafel, ended up at a jazz club which hosts a wednesday night jam session. Good timing. The local cats were throwing down everything from "Blue Bossa" to a very interpretive version of Horace Silver's "peace." I was impressed by the guitarist who played with a lot of fire. Sort of Scofield but more "loose." I heard he's well known in Zurich. It is very cool to see how the Europeans embrace jazz and the blues. I was just getting ready to sit in when the sound guy came up and pulled the plug...oh well. I had a brief talk with the piano player. He said gigs are pretty hard to come by...lots of competition. Zurich is home to several schools and there are quite a few qualified musicians about..."whatever" I thought to myself. He just doesn't want anyone to move there!!!! No really, he makes most of his money teaching, but I know that Zurich probably has a corperate scene with elegant private parties.. The place screams money....Switzerland....I'd buy me a nice watch if I could afford it. A beautiful city...Zurich

2008-10-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

This just came in. Were #99 on the Top 100 in Germany Billboard chart. Want to give a shout out for Jonathan Todd for working so hard and keeping us all stoked on this tour!!!

Cologne

2008-10-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

After climbing all the way to the top, Blaine and I rewarded ourselves with a beverage down by the Rhine.

I have no shots of the gig, but all I can say is that it was the smokiest room I've played in a long time. It's called Harmonie in Bonn, Germany.

We popped into this Bier joint and were greeted by a rather salty bartender (bitter-beer-face)and an automated oom-pah duo.

Here's a shot of the author and Dennis Mays, our front of house sound technician in front of the cathedral. Dennis is one of the best in the business. His list of credits is endless! Includes multiple Fleetwood Mac tours and American Idol. Rock on Mays!

The architectural details are astounding. Everywhere you look there is something interesting like this door handle.

This is the most compelling image I found. It portrays the cathedral in 1945 and present day. Much of Cologne was levelled during the war. The church itself sustained 14 hits, but still stands

The Cologne Cathedral is world famous. It boasts the largest facade of any gothic cathedral. It took around 600 years to complete and was started in the 1200's. It is the dominant feature of the Cologne (or Koln) landscape. Blaine and I had a couple of hours to kill so we thought we might venture up the 600 or so steps to the top.

2008-10-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Bra! Where's Dakine????

Really uncomfortable bar stools in Hamburg...very stylish

Hamburg

2008-10-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Da Band.......Rick Vito's Birthday!!!!

Kurt was Here....

Hamburg is the largest port located in Northern Germany. It took hours to get there. Along the way we stopped at a truck stop with impeccably clean bathrooms and a salad bar. Europe has got it's shit together in that respect. They are also energy conscious. windmills abound.

The gig was at a really cool old warehouse/club called Fabrik. It was recorded for airplay at a later date. Best show yet!!! The dressing room was loaded with signatures of those who have come before. Hamburg loves its rock music. Later on. we visited the red-light district for a looks-see. Sorry no photos. That is where the Beatles honed their skills.

Erfurt

2008-10-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

After several hours of driving, joke-telling and schniztel-eating, we roll into Erfurt, a former Eastern-bloc city. With a couple of hours to kill, I decide to venture out on my own to give the legs a stretch. I decide to head to higher ground where I came upon the Petersburg Citadel, a 17th century fortress. There was an Octoberfest going on with carnival rides. The church you see is actually a university. The venue was an old opera house. It had many doorways leading to strange rooms. Who knows the stories this building could tell? I love the architecture and the outdoor cafe' atmosphere of the town. Here's a photo a Blaine sitting by a cool fountain. Later, after the show, we went out to a club called the Centrum. It was open until 4am. Lots of boomsy music and questionable characters. The highlight was the autoban Mercedes cab ride back to the hotel..good fun.

Wendlingden

2008-10-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Check it out. Here we are rolling across the german countryside when we come upon this circus-type tent called Zeltspektakel. It was quite spectacular indeed, right down to the gypsy wagons and the bearded ladies-no, just kidding. This was a really cool gig. It's been going on for 26 years and this was the last one. Too bad my photos got lost. Oh well. We rocked and the people dug it.

Joke of the day: What do you call a guy with no arms or legs in a pile of leaves?.......Russel! Thanks Blaine for that one.

2008-10-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Playing Hamburg tonight. View the tour details at www.mickfleetwood.com

Germany!!!

2008-10-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

Germany! Travelling across the pastoral German countryside, our intrepid bluesmen seek only to rock like they've never rocked before. City to city, hamlet to hamlet, armed only with amplifiers, and yes, a very tall drummer, they plug on. 2 down, 18 to go!!!

Aloha you all, welcome to my blog. I am currently on a European Tour, with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. A four-piece grooving machine led by the inimitable Big Mick under the direction of Rick Vito, a consummate bluesman who's sizzling guitar work and soulful vocals invoke the spirit of the original Fleetwood Mac. That band was formed in 1967...the year I was born!!!! What a trip!!

After 20hrs of travel, we descend upon the city of Regensburg. The Danube runs through it. It is accented by the towering St Peter's Cathedral. We had a little time before the gig to cruise the cobblestone streets and shop and generally get the feel of things.

The gig went really well. One thing I noticed was that the German fans don't dance. They just kind of stand there. It's not that they don't enjoy the music, I guess they just kind of absorb it.

I had the opportunity to meet a 92-year-old Bluesman named David, "Honeyboy" Edwards, with whom we shared the billing. What an honor. He's one of the last links to Robert Johnson. Should of asked him if he knew Skip James. He was very friendly and happy to share a few thoughts.

2008-09-30T02:23:00.000-07:00

Awesome. Welcome to the Johnstonezone, where nobody knows what will happen next.