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Issue #61 - February 17, 2006

Ah ah!

Klaus Wache has a song for me, but I've just recorded fourteen new ones of my own so we'll leave that for now.

Joe S. asks if I've heard Cobra Verde's cover of 'Rock 'n' Roll Queen'? Joe says it's catchy. I haven't heard it yet. Come to California - we will.

Kelly Wallace has finally converted his wife with 'Rant'. Good one!

Gaz Stoker met Joe Elliott at one of our gigs (he's a great bloke) 1) How long have you known him? I think its 25 years or so. 2) When did you first meet? I think we first met at a gig in Doncaster when he was a lad. He couldn't afford to come in the front door so I let him and his mate in the back.

Andy Sibson suggested album titles from various chaps. I like, 'The Mixed Up Original Kid'! 'Worm's Eye View' is another possibility. Thanks to all - we'll see what happens.

Bob Pomilia: I've no idea where you can find this. Try eBay.

Tom Boone: Another Title for the album. Nah.

Sally says my music makes her happy. Would I write a book? Not while I'm still standing.

Jeffrey: Weird weather actually. Not sure what to make of it, but most enjoyable.

Brian Calingaert: Stick with the brochures!

Willie: Have you put a band together yet for the album? Yup. The backtracks are already done. Andy York, Jack the Mechanic, Steve Holley, Graham Maby, Andy Burton and James Mastro. We're doing overdubs. Sounds great.

Ziggy Rokita: Ronno *was* good that way, and he always saw things in things that other people didn't. One of his many talents. Thanks for the stuff.

Gary Taylor: 'Why did Bowie have nothing to do with Mick Ronson's testimonial gigs in London or Hull?' Well, there's probably a few reasons why, but you'd have to ask him.

Joe Breakdown asks if I write on keyboards or guitar? It's about 50/50 at the moment. I probably favor piano slightly as the left hand can change the complexion of things. I don't think you have to know much about an instrument to write a song on it. In fact, the less you know - the better. Once you 'know' an instrument - everything's relative. If you're ever in a guitar shop, pick up different instruments - they've all got a song in them. Joe wants to plug his band. www.myspace.com/thebreakdownsband. Good luck!

Keith Wharton remembers the gigs at Liverpool Stadium. Yeah, lots of fun. Dressing rooms smelt a bit off though. Those wrestlers never used deodorant methinks.

John Melllencamp (real name) writes, 'Only an asshole would refer to Christmas as 'Xmas'. What's the point in that you pathetic old man.' Well, all I can say is 'Xmas' is a lot shorter than 'Christmas' when answering multiple greetings messages. Wears the old hand out.

K.L.: Tour in 2006? Autumn.

Jeffrey Raubach: 'How did you come to record the Alejandro Escovedo song and rework it in your style?' His manager asked me through James Mastro. I picked up an AE record and chose a rocker as I thought most of the others would cover his slower songs. We didn't really rework it - we just did it and let nature take its course. I've been familiar with Alejandro's work for a while. He's covered songs of mine so I returned the compliment. Lovely man. What a great name for a band, 'The True Believers.' Love that.

Bruce Shedden: Congrats on songwriter award. Says his son has taught a number of kids on the school bus, 'Irene Wilde'. Good oh!

Wyatt: 'Please play 'Sweet Jane,' 'One of the Boys,' or 'Rose' when you come to Cleveland. Please, please, please.' I'll try and remember, but I might forget!

Phil Wood's son is 10, so we have to do the Astoria on a Friday or a Saturday evening as it's not a school night. We'll see what we can do.

Vyt Iskeliunas - Cheers!

Greg Wheeler asks if I've listened to Nick Cave? Upon occasion. The stuff I've heard was good.

Charles Reece: 'I have a lot of half finished songs. Only seem to be able to write as long as I hold onto an original inspiration for the song. When the feeling leaves - so do the words.' I'll give you an example. 'Ships' took six years to write. I had the verse; I had the bridge - but I didn't have the chorus. Max Weinberg said something in conversation one night and it just clicked in my head and I had it. I've written them in an hour - but they don't all come that way - and you have to hang in. Don't kill the song. If it won't come, go to something else and table it for a while. Come back to it with new energy and perspective. I like it when I've got maybe five on the go at the same time so I can flit in between. Inspirations great, but perspiration plays a big part too.

Alan Waugh: You tried Michael at Paradise? Perhaps it's because I've got nothing scheduled at the moment. It has to be tied into a route with other shows. Call him again when I give the heads up here.

Dan Kenna asks if I can see a trip back to Akron? Sure I can see it, but not at the moment, because I'm recording.

Hope Campbell is back in the dog walking business. 'The more I get to know people the more I like dogs.' Me too, plus all that fresh air!

Ian Mant's three year old daughter asked for 'Big Time'. 'Who's idea was it to say, 'you in the glasses …' to the crowd?' I think that was me.

Steve/Ottawa: 'Barker Street Bus Station every night.' I think is what you're looking for.

Kelly is getting married (traitor!) 2nd February 2007. WOW. How time flies. Congrats to you all.

Willie corrects me, well sort of, by telling me Trudi does appear in a video - Todd Rundgren's though not mine. Actually, Trudi is in one of mine - 'We Gotta Get Out of Here' (the disco scene). Now this won't get you 'Salvation' Willie!

Jeff says last HM was good.

Tony Day: 'Do a couple of festivals in England.' I never seem to be considered for festivals and I really don't know why. I'm asked to do them elsewhere. In truth, I do prefer gigs.

Bill Martino teaches at Kent State. 'Who's doing the maniacal laughing in Marionette?' The esteemed Ariel Bender, no less.

Gennation: 'Tail'

Rooster: Play Penn State! We'll see.

John Senker is happy about us doing New York this year. He says IH and the Grateful Dead are his two favourite bands. You have somewhat eclectic tastes, John.

Kelly Wallace: Nah - I don't flog my stuff anymore. Trudi gets angry.

Gerard York: 'If you had not contributed to 'Por Vida' I might not have become familiar with this great artist.' That's the way it works.

Jeffrey Shapiro: I'm cool with it, but as you can see there's not much interest.

Crash Street Kid: 'You say the album is softer and more political than 'Rant'. Well, I did say that, but there are some heavy duty rockers on there too. I just counted five. Came out brilliant.

Dave P. I'm sure it will be looked into when the time comes. Thanks for the information.

Edward Shirley says he likes the swagger as I walked away from the piano at the end of 'Memphis' on the Astoria DVD. Do I walk around like that all the time? Dunno. I'll have to have a look. Never been accused of 'swaggering' before!

Stano: 'Sitting in a bar in GOA, singing along to 'Dudes' on the juke box.'

Jack Galaydick: North Pennsylvania? Don't know yet.

Bill McCue: It's possible, but everyone's spread out.

Jeffrey says we had an artic blast on January 22nd. Probably stayed in bed. No, we were in preproduction. Never noticed!

Michael: Do I play different guitars around the house to the ones I use on the road? Sometimes. I like the Rainsongs - they're pretty loud and they're percussive. I have a '62 Strat that I mess about on. Really it's up to you. I don't know exactly how many guitars I have, but I usually pick up the one nearest to hand. It's true that I favor the less knobs the better, but keep in mind I'm a rhythm player, not a lead player. Obviously, a lead player prefers more of a variety of sounds.

Jan Reeves: We've been talking to the folks at Rockpalast, but as far as I know it hasn't been worked out as of yet. Obviously, contracts have to be agreed first. The new album's great but it will be a while. It'll be done and dusted by April, but we still have to go through the record company b.s. There's quite a lot of interest even at this stage, but we'd like to try and step up a little with this one so it's going to take a little time to work out what to do for the best. Be patient. It's worth the wait.

Derek Anderson: A new arrival! 'He's a total charmer with a great sense of humour (even if he drool a bit). Sounds like me in the not too distant future! A son to Derek and Jeanelle - Ian Hunter Anderson. Congratulations. Couldn't be prouder! Actually, there's a few of them and some of them turn up at gigs and they're twice as big as me!

Ralph Cohen asks when are we playing the North West as the Mills not good enough. His mate's got a dog called 'Foxy' named after the MTH song and Ralph says the dog resembles at rat. Mr. Aspinall (Ralph's mate) got the rat from the RSPCA after Xmas. Er. you can't say Xmas, mate, it pisses certain people off.

This is up to Tuesday, January 24th. From there forward Trudi was unable to retrieve any emails and is checking things out with Justin.

Update: Justin checked it out and the file on the server got corrupted somehow and everything after the January 24th messages is missing. He is posting to this effect on the messageboard, requesting people to re-submit their questions.

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