I'm writing this right now from Cologne, Germany. Lisa, Regan and I are here for work-related stuff for Lisa. In our spare time we are taking the opportunity to visit some Christmas markets that this town is well known for. It's all very charming and we have been able to pick up a few knickknacks and goodies.

Today would have been my mom's 55th Birthday. :-(

Speaking of birthdays, My birthday was on the 16th. Lisa had my friend John Graphia come over to belgium for the week. The two of us topped off the week by flying to Stockholm, Sweden and going to see Iron Maiden at the Globen Arena. They were truly awesome. You would never know how long they have been around. Everybody is healthy, in great shape and playing better than ever. We ran into Nicko McBrain, Iron Maiden's drummer at a coffee shop in the train station the next day. We chose not to bother the guy. All in all, an Awesome trip. I had a great time. Stockholm is a cool city. I'll have to take Lisa there before we move back to the USA.

November, a month full of Birthdays. My dad's was on the 6th. Happy Birthday (again).

I have a NEW MySpace page. My other one is still up but I could not get it changed from a "Personal Page" to a "Band Page" so I had to create another one. Get there with this address:

http://www.myspace.com/richardkendrickmusic

The latest release from Versailles Records is another tribute to Van Halen. Some of my work has been remixed and rereleased on this disc, along with some new artist's contributions.

A Motley Crue Tribute will be the next release by Versailles Records, sometime in early 2007. I will feature prominently on four songs with a guest appearance by fellow SJS member, AJ Caruso on backing vocals on three of those songs. The music is coming right along and sounding great. Next, I get back to work on the SJS CD. More news on all of that as it arrives.

Thanksgiving was a Pizza. Lisa and I did Turkey on Sunday after we figured out how to use the P.O.S. oven in our house. I hope everybody had a great holiday. I missed the USA quite a bit more on that day.

Lisa, Regan and I will be in the USA for Christmas. That is going to rule. I have not been back in over year.

I have LOTS of new Regan Pics, going back through Halloween but I have not had time to update her website. I'll try to get to that A.S.A.P.

Well, that's all I have for now. I sure miss everybody.

This is the artwork for the latest offering from Versailles Records, "Three Lock Box: A Millennium Tribute To Sammy Hagar". In Stores NOW!! Featuring current/former members of Hanoi Rocks, Skid Row, Lillian Axe, Dio, Saigon Kick, Zebra, Richard Kendrick, Randy Cantor, the RadioVipers, One Bad Son, Marko Pukkila, Chris Catena, Chris Heaven, the Slashtones, and others!!!

The family and I flew to Prague a couple of weeks ago. It was a welcome contrast from Belgium. I actually got to have some KFC and some TGI Fridays. I was in Heaven! The TGI Fridays even had fresh-brewed Iced Tea... and it wasn't carbonated... and it didn't have any fruit flavoring. AWESOME!! Prague was neat because so much of it was very familiar -- as it has been the backdrop of so many movies over the last few years... XXX, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Hostel, and many many more.

Several current and former members of SJS are now on MySpace.com. AJ Caruso, Neal Bernard , Richard Kendrick, Sergio Yetta, Phil Wang... SJS.

Speaking of SJS, AJ Caruso and I have been getting together via phone and internet and working on the upcoming (long-awaited) SJS CD. Things are really going great. I think it's really going to represent the band very well. Lets just say that with time and experience many of these songs have matured.

By the way, Neal just got a bad-ass new bass, AJ just got a awesome new bass, And I bought a smokin' bass a few months ago as well. You can bet your ass, the next time SJS gets together for a gig we're going to have to play "Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap. "....Talk about mud-flaps, my girl's got 'em..."

Bring Back "FIREFLY" for a second season! C'mon FOX or somebody!! For the love of GOD, Bring Back "FIREFLY" for a second season! You guys suck if you don't bring that show back! Oh My God... It's a no-brainer!!

Regan started SCHOOL today. Holy Cow! (Tears... Tears...) My baby is growing up. :-( She seems to have had a really good time. She didn't even care when I showed up to bring her home. She was crawling around in a sand-box... getting very, very dirty. Sorry to say, there are no new pics posted right now on her web page. Just not enough hours in the day lately. There are lots of new pics though... I'll get those up as soon as I find time.

I neglected to mention my wife, Lisa's Birthday on Saturday, (Sept 2). It was also my little brother, Brad's birthday. Happy birthday y'all!

"Panama" .... For those of you that don't want to pony up for an entire tribute album you can now purchase a copy of my version of "Panama" at the iTunes store for .99. Jimmy Crespo (Aerosmith, Billy Squire etc....) played the lead on the track. American Dog played the bass and drums.

Well, I certainly waited a long time to update the site... Sorry. I have had a really busy couple of months. Where do I begin? Here goes...

I went to the Shwung Festival last month in northern Belgium. The bands included Dio, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Thunder and a few others. I was there as a guest of Keri Kelli, Alice Cooper's guitarist. There were a few mix-ups and I never got to the back to hang out... but I did get in free (Thanks again Keri) and that was pretty cool. The show was a lot of fun. Alice Cooper can still "go". All of the bands were super. Great show.

I also attended a great Kiss convention in Belgium this last month. I went as a guest of Joop van Pelt, the publisher of Kiss Kollector Magazine. He also runs http://www.kisskollector.com.... Definitely, the unchallenged authority on ALL THINGS Kiss... Super nice guy too. Anyway, Joop organized a terrific event. They had a really good Kiss tribute band and the guest speaker was former Kiss manager, Bill Aucoin. It was neat to hear him tell some stories about his years with Kiss in the early days of the band. This event was the organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kiss playing for the first time in Belgium and was held in the same venue that kiss originally played. Thanks again Joop I had a really good time.

Lisa and I spent two solid weeks on vacation last month. Along the way, we went to Italy (Rome, Florence and Venice) and France (Paris and Normandy). Lisa's family was in town for the trip as well. It was good to see some people I know. We were able to leave Regan with Lisa's mom at our house for a week while we traveled to Italy. That certainly made things easier. It was the longest I have ever been away from the baby. Anyway, we had a great time. I'm really not sure why they call it vacation though, because I did more walking and exhausting stuff than I have done in total since I moved to Belgium, eight months ago. I'd love to go into detail here but I really don't have time. Lots to catch up on that I have let slip by over the last month... So here you go.... Ding Ding Ding... The clear winner of the cool city competition has to go to Rome.

Talk about a surreal experience.. During my trip to Rome I found myself standing next to Dee Snider in The Vatican Museum. I thought about taking a picture -- but I decided it would just be rude because he was with his family. I think he was waiting on one of his kids to come out of the (Vati) can. By the way, that dude is in terrific shape! He must watch what he eats and hit the gym every day.

You can read an new interview featuring Jake Brown, president of Versailles Records, regarding the new Guns'N'Roses tribute that we recently released. Pretty interesting stuff.

I spent the last couple of weeks flat-out recording and putting some last minute touches on songs for an upcoming Sammy Hagar tribute. I recorded guitars and bass for "Three Lock Box" which Kelly Keeling, the singer from the band Baton Rouge (and quite a few other notable projects) promptly kicked ass all over it. The drums were played by Matt Starr (Beautiful Creatures, Bang Tango). I think it will be the best track on the disc.

I'll be back to work on more music projects over the next few weeks. I have some more tribute stuff as well as some preproduction for the long overdue SJS CD. There are plans to write a couple of NEW songs for the disc actually. I suppose I'll be working on that next. I feel the need to do a little writing for a while before I get back to recording covers. From what I hear lately, AJ seems to be in the writing mood right now as well. It will be interesting to see what we are coming up with now, in 2006.

You can listen to a new interview broadcast on RenegadeRadio.com by Becca Vaughn, featuring Steve Blaze, guitarist for Near Life Experience and Lillian Axe. He talks a great deal about the state of the music business... What he has to say is so true.

Read a new review or two of some of the more recent CDs by clicking here.

Well, I guess that catches me up on the news on my website for a little while.... boy does it need an overhaul.... Not enough hours in the day. Anyway, I guess I need to go and fix up the myspace.com page now too.

Oh yeah, Regan's Picture Page has been updated.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to my baby daughter REGAN. She's ONE year old today!!

Lots of tribute CDs coming up in the next year or so. Hopefully, some SJS music on the horizon as well. I don't want to say too much yet.... Always seem to jinx things. Either way, I'm going to be one busy dude, recording anyway. Been buying some new guitars and recording equipment. I'll post some new pics when I get some time... And when I finally get around to cleaning up the studio enough to take some pictures. :-)

I haven't done any work to get it looking good yet, but I do have a myspace page. http://www.myspace.com/richardkendrick. When I finally find some free time, I'm going to update that thing (and this website) and get it looking pretty.

Regan's site has been updated with pictures from the last few months. Lots of new pics to see.

VERSAILLES TRIBUTE ALBUM UPDATE:
Versailles Records is excited to announce that Grammy-winning pianist/arranger Randy Cantor will contribute piano tracks to forthcoming tribute albums to Guns N' Roses (Don't Cry), Def Leppard (Love Bites), Sammy Hagar (Dreams), and Motley Crue (Afraid) Cantor's resume includes multiple Grammy nominations, and two awards. Additionally, he has collaborated with artists including the Fugees, James Taylor, Ricky Martin (including arranging and playing keys on 'Living La Vida Loca', for which he received a Best Arranger Grammy Nomination), Sting, Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Bon Jovi, and more recent collaborations with Tim McGraw, Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood, the Rascal Flatts, Scott Storch, and Shaggy among others. Additionally, Cantor worked as an in-house arranger, producer, and engineer alongside legendary rock songwriter Desmond Child between 1998 and 2002."

I hate to get off the subject here but I'm more than a little irritated with LA Senator Mary Landrieu and the rest of the States Politicians. I decided to reply to her idiotic Letter to the President with an idiotic letter of my own. Enjoy.....

RE: http://landrieu.senate.gov/hurricanes/images/06.04.04PrezLetter.pdf -- An open letter to the president.

Senator Landrieu,

I am living outside the country right now... a work related situation from which I will return within the next couple of years. I would like to come back to my home town of Baton Rouge but have recently begun to rethink this idea. I see a slippery slope of laughable (if it weren't so sad) leadership in our state. Always a "zig" when there should be a "zag". Frankly, the prospect of bringing my newborn daughter back there is giving me more than a bit of pause. That being said, Louisiana is my HOME and the home of my family and friends. I listen to 1150 WJBO over the internet all day, every day. and I read the local news. I.E. I stay on top of what is going on there better than many of the residents.

While I respect your desire and latest attempt to improve the situation in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, I find your approach considerably flawed... perhaps even expressed in solely a partisan way and used in reality as just a political tool. I think THREATS in an open letter to the President are NOT the way to get things done. I also believe if this were a President of your political affiliation your approach would NOT be the same. Have you considered perhaps giving the President a little public praise for things that HAVE been accomplished, or maybe taking the "high road" in acting like you want to work WITH the President to actually get something done in Louisiana? YOU and the rest of the state government are failing to get the necessary things accomplished in this recovery (which, by it's nature are going to take WAY LONGER than any of us hope it will to fix) and you are simply pointing fingers of blame.... Passing the buck. Many things being done and said lately in the state's name are frankly, embarrassing. You are exhibiting a "welfare mentality"... It is never your/our own fault for the situation that you/we are in.... Never taking your/our own initiative to fix the problem.... Always with your/our hand out. Anyone can sit down and write a scathing letter as you have done (and now I have as well). In cases such as yours, if you have a political perch to preach from, you will get "attaboys" for your "initiative" from your "faithful".... you'll get headlines.... as if you have actually done something other than your REAL GOAL of taking a political potshot at the Presidnet and pointing the finger of blame away from yourself... and actually accomplishing nothing productive in the process. However, threats in an open letter to the President are NOT going to get you/us anything but IGNORED by the masses. Who wants to help someone that sticks their hand out, gets in your face and says, "GIMME!!... GIMME!! OR ELSE!..."? Who wants to help someone if they receive only constant public RIDICULE for their efforts? This is a BIG country and there are other things on the collective plate than just our state's issues (which I feel are being met in ways better than I would have expected nationally). If it is the President's job alone to fix our big mess, then what do we need YOU for? Grandstanding? Then get out of the way. Please Senator Landrieu, you and many of our state "leaders" are hurting our cause.... Please change your approach to one of cooperation and save the political games for a time when the state is not in CRISIS. There is more going on here than your ego (and reelection). You and the rest of the state government should lose the posturing and start doing something productive. I would like my daughter to know the place where I grew up as something other than the laughingstock that it is perceived to be. I know there is a lot more to our state than that.... but I may not be back.

Thanks for your time,
Richard Kendrick

----------------------------------------------------------------

You know, I'm also getting sick of the argument that "the Presedent stood there in Jackson Square and said, 'we will rebuild... blah blah blah'." Did the president say that "we" would rebuild LA immediately? The feds are helping and they will continue to -- if Louisiana doesn't screw it up with all the goddamn bashing. I know we are looking at another hurricane season but Rome wasn't built in a day and this will not be fixed in a year... Or several. Let's be realistic... Or should we perhaps financially cripple the country and pay to fix it all at once?

Okay I feel a little better now.

Anyway, I have been in France this week. I took alot of pics of Regan and Lisa. I will post those to Regan's site when I get back to Belgium. Check back soon.

"Its So Easy:

A Millennium Tribute to

Guns N' Roses"

In Stores

April 25th, 2006,

from

Versailles Records

GUNS N' ROSES TRIBUTE DUE IN APRIL:

On April 25th, 2006, Versailles Records will release Its So Easy A Millennium Tribute to Guns N' Roses, featuring current and former members of Heart, Guns N' Roses, Ozzy Osbourne Band, Motley Crue, Love/Hate, Adler's Appetite, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Riot, Lillian Axe, Warrant, Every Mother's Nightmare, Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd, Ratt, White Lion, Bang Tango, LA Guns, Lita Ford Band, Metal Church, Slash's Snakepit, Brides of Destruction, etc, as well as Versailles artists the RadioVipers, Richard Kendrick, One Bad Son, and Jasy Andrews.

01) "You Could Be Mine" - Richard Kendrick
02) "Its So Easy" - Radio Vipers
03) "Rocketqueen" - Derrick LeFevre
04) "Sweet Child O'Mine" - Jizzy Pearl / Gilby Clarke / Tracii Guns / Randy Castillo
05) "Patience" - Jasy Andrews
06) "Night Train" - Marko Pukkila / Phil Lewis / Kerri Kelli / Chad Stewart
07) "Mr. Brownstone" - Valerian
08) "Think About You" - Drama Queen Die
09) "Civil War" - One Bad Son
10) "Paradise City" - Joetown Ftr. Jim Bell
11) "Pretty Tied Up" - The Slashtones (Featuring Tony Moore, Arno Hecht, Harry Slash and Joe Lynn Turner)

This is actually the first of two Gn'R tributes Versailles will be releasing.

I just completed recording the music for and mixing "Rocketqueen" for Derrick LeFevre. It came out pretty nice. The guitar solo is over the top and Derrick is singing his balls off.

Life here in Belgium is still unfolding. I have spent a bit of my time lately baby-proofing our stairways and balcony. Can't have the little one falling down the stairs or from the second floor.

Speaking of "the little one", her website has just been updated... finally. You can check that out by clicking here: http://www.richardkendrick.com/regan.html

I'm supposed to be going to Paris next weekend. Finally getting out and seeing some of Europe. So far, this experience has been nothing more than just existing, cooped up in a house with a baby. Hopefully, all the places we get to see while we are in Europe will make the move here worth it. It will be neat to see Euro Disney next week with the baby. I guess she won't know much of what is going on but it should still be fun.

By the way, there are a buttload of rock festivals coming to Europe around June. If anybody wants to come check some of these out with me, let me know ASAP. Here are a couple that I'm thinking of going to:

The Bang Your Head Festival (in Germany) and The Sweden Rock Festival... There are a bunch of GREAT bands playing.

Well, that's about all I can think of for now. Check back soon. If I think of anything else I'll post it.

Guitare Attitudes

Heroes

In France there seems to be a disc floating around including some of the stuff I have done in the past with Versailles Records.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUITARE-ATTITUDES-HEROES.....

This CD was not sanctioned by Versailles Records. But who am I not to count it as a CD I have been included on... Especially when you see who else is on there.

I couldn't resist............. I went ahead and bid on that damn CD and got it so I could own a copy. :-) Go figure.

Here's the Ebay Comment the guy left for me: "Bon acheteur et paiement rapide. Recommandé !"

I'll try to post some more news as soon as I think of something.

Happy New Year! Good riddance to 2005.... Fuck that year.

New Christmas pics of the baby are up. Go here: Regan's picture page.

• Fiancee:
• 01) I Know Why
• 02) One Life Stand
• 03) Don't Fly Away
• Forsaken:
• 04) Start Again
• 05) Sherri's Song
• 06) Share This Tender Moment
• Fame, Faith, Farrago:
• 07) Don't Touch
• 08) Questions and Prayers
• 09) Now I'm Alive
• 10) Losing My Place
• 11) The Pieces
• 12) How Many Times
• Flight:
• 13) Freedumb
• 14) The Flood
• 15) Laughin' Myself Goodbye
• Finale:
• 16) Reprisal
• 17) The Attitude Song

"Murder and the F-Word" has finally been added to the iTunes store. That's very cool.

You can also pick up Versailles Records recording artist, Jasy Andrews' new CD "Little Girl" at iTunes by clicking here.

Well, my birthday sucked ass. I spent the day dragging Regan around with me and looking for housing with a relocation person while Lisa was busy at her job. We've been staying in a (not so well) furnished apartment in Brussels until we can find a house to rent..... Lisa was going to fix me some Toll House Cookies for my birthday but the apartment DOES NOT HAVE A FUCKING OVEN!! W.T.F.!! That sucks!....

....You know what else is bugging me? They've got no Hi-Def here yet! Now, what am I going to do with my plasma? Gee Whiz! At least I can download "Lost" from iTunes for $2 and watch it on my PC. They need to add more shows to their library. It's a good thing I've got a bunch of stuff to read because out of the thirty or so channels they have on TV here, only four of them are in English. And the shows are just BAD. I guess I'll have to check into getting SKY TV from the UK (That is not really "allowed" over here though).

We have not set up our Lingo internet phone system yet but Lingo is forwarding our Texas phone number calls to our apartment's phone number for the time being. This just means that we can't call you in the USA like a local call but you can call us for whatever it costs you to call Texas.... Just not after 5:00PM Central Time please.

Howdy, As most of you guys may know by now, Lisa, Regan and I are moving to Belgium for (up to) a couple of years. It is a job-related move (Lisa's job that is... We all know I'm a bum!) that we could not pass up. We will be heading out on Monday, November 14th.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that we got an internet-based phone set-up called Lingo (that is very cool) and our current Texas phone number (for those of you that already have it) will not be changing. You will still be able to reach us at that number. However, remember that we will be seven hours ahead of most of you -- so please don't try calling us after about 5:00 PM Central time -- as that will be MIDNIGHT where we are. There may be a month-long (or so) delay in being able to get in touch with us by that phone number though. It will depend on how fast we get our high-speed internet set up and running. We have to find a place to live first. I should have that number set up to forward your call to my cell phone (have to get one of those too) within a couple of days.

My e-mail address will not change either -- but for safety sake I will always be reachable if you send email to me at rik@richardkendrick.com. Forgive me if I don't get back to your e-mails right away... this move and everything else that has gone on this year have really been kicking my butt and I fear I will be playing catch-up for a long time.

I'm certainly going to miss most of you. :-) I do plan to get back to The States as often as possible.

I will continue to post pictures and some video of Regan at this address: http://www.richardkendrick.com/regan.html. There will be nothing added for at least the next month while I get settled in over there.

For the time being, my plan is to continue to do music-related projects and stay heavily involved in upcoming Versailles Records releases. I plan to be recording a ton of stuff while I'm gone. And as things get back to a normal life (Ha Ha Ha... Parlez vous Anglais? HELP!!) I will start updating my website a lot more regularly than I have been this year. Make sure you guys come back here every couple of weeks for updates -- if you don't have anything better to do that is. I'm sure I'll have lots to say. Other plans... I'm going to try to book some NLE shows for Europe. I'm not ready to be done yet man!! :-) I've had a great time with those guys this year and I'm looking forward to working on the next record, "Golden Dragon," and also getting back here and playing.

Lisa will, of course, finally get to realize her dream of seeing all of Europe -- one weekend at a time.

Thank god for the internet.... and my new PC. They will be making this move a lot less painful and this world a lot smaller.

Congrats to all of you guys and gals with new babies. It must be something in the air. Babies are popping up everywhere.

All of you that have sent me e-mal in the last month or so and have not received a response. I apologize. I will get to all of you as soon as I get some free time in a couple of weeks.

By the way, on a related note to my move, here is the latest NLE/Lillian Axe news from Steve Blaze:

>> Hello everyone. Long time no see. Well where do I start? As you all know life has changed fairly dramatically over the last 5 weeks for lots of people. Things have changed inside of my head as well. I have come to some great realizations about mankind and life itself, some good some bad. I cant get into it right now because it would take days to cover it all. Maybe we can set up an online chat soon. On the Near Life front, we are bummed to report that our latest greatest addition to the band, Richard Kendrick, is moving to Belgium for a year to a year and a half in the next 2 months. He has added so much to NLE and complements us so well as a player and a person. We will continue on by having either Sam Poitevent or Bob Bearden, the original 2nd guitarist, sitting in with us. On Oct. 22nd at Click's in Baton Rouge, Richard will play his last show with us for a while. However, we will not miss a step. We are in pre-production for a new NLE album now. It will no doubt be our finest album yet. I feel the intensity of creative outpuring at this moment in my life. We will be revamping some of the old NLE songs as well as some brand new things. Richard will record from Belgium.We need to spread the word about NLE and get the music out there to labels, websites and magazines. Dont forget the websites esp. www.nearlifeexperience.com www.nlesecretsociety.com www.lillianaxe.com www.stevblaze.com. Also there is a near life experience page on myspace. It is the time to kick things into high gear. Never again will I wait 3 years to release another record.

On the Lillian Axe front. We are finishing and mixing the Waters Rising album. I am very pleased with the sound. It's different and full. The songs are deep and timeless. Derrick sounds amazing as do my bandmates. We promise to tour as much as possible. There are cities all across the country we plan on hitting this coming year. Start spreading the word. Email every website and call every radio station you can and put the bug in everyone's ear.
I have started writing my 2nd solo album as well. You can imagine what this one will be like.
We will commence prepping for the Tao of M in November as the French Quarter rebuilds.
I miss the way things where but the future holds hope and brightness. Stay strong and trust in God and each other. Even though so many people have disappointed me in this hurricane aftermath, many more have shown amazing kindness and consideration.
Much love, sb. <<

Here is some other stuff.... I went to see Stryper last night at a local Houston club. They were awesome as usual. They played a lot of stuff off of their new CD, "Reborn".... What a great record. Finally a classic band puts out a new disc that sounds like what they sounded like before. These guys can still go. And Michael Sweet sings his ass off.

I never got to talk about Katrina or Rita or the anything that occurred as a result. There is so much to tell, but we all seem to have our own family hurricane horror stories now, so I think we can all leave it at that for now. The Gulf Coast and New Orleans will rise again.

Regan is nearing six month. My, how time has flown by!!

I want to send a shout out to my Aussie mate, Andrew McNeice who runs melodicrock.com... Which is the greatest AOR news website going. GO CHECK IT OUT RIGHT NOW!! and make a donation to keep the site up and running. Anyway, Andrew's wife is expecting their second child very soon. Congrats Dude!

Okay, well, that's it for now. I know I'm forgetting a lot of stuff I wanted to say but I can't get my head cleared up right now. I'll post again soon. Make sure you guys try to stay in touch with us! I'll try to get some new pics up as soon as I can. I have a few from the last couple of shows I played with NLE as well as plenty of new pics of Regan.

Take Care,
RIK

For all you people pestering me for an update... I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get around to this update but I have had a lot of good reasons....

First of all, Lisa has finally gone back to work from her maternity leave so I have now become a "full time dad". Let me tell you what, this can be a time consuming job.

The second and main reason I've taken so long to update is because I could not bring myself to write about this.... My beloved little Kitty Cat, the love of my life, the reason I've bothered to get out of the bed for the last couple of years -- K.C. died a few weeks ago. Two days before the W.A.S.P. gig in fact.

Early in the morning of Sunday, July 24th she was playing up a storm. I think she was trying to wake me up to keep her company. She was going around knocking things over and making a mess. Well, she knocked over some medicine that Lisa has been having to take for a few months -- some anti-seizure medicine called Dilantin. The cap came off the bottle.... Needless to say, the Miss K.C. did something she would never normally do -- she ate it. Long-story-short, she spent the rest of the week being shuttled between the vet and the animal hospital daily. We finally took her home on Friday afternoon -- as the vet said that they were not doing anything for her that we could not be doing for her. She had been improving very slowly, yet steadily but she was still really bad off. It really seemed like she might have a chance to pull through all of this, but sadly, she died that evening at about 10:30. I was getting ready to feed her (through a tube in her neck) and I had just checked on her. When I came back to her I could not believe my eyes. I really wasn't sure for a minute if I was imagining things.

Anyway, that evening may have contained the most emotion I have ever felt. I have since been just heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief. No words will express my pain. I have never felt this much loss. I know it seems silly.... I don't even like cats... but this little, sweet creature that we found in the gutter charmed me and loved me so much... I know I will never completely get over her. She brought me more happiness than anyone will ever know. A big piece of me died with her.

Goodbye Miss K.C.... I LOVE YOU my little Stinky-Face-Kitty. I miss you so much! :-(

As I'm writing this right now New Orleans, my former home through a big chunk of the 90's, the place where a majority of my friends live, home of my wife and her family and a city where I learned to be the person I have become is under a Hurricane watch. Not just any hurricane... We're talking about a Cat. 5 that might fuck the whole place up in the morning. There is not much I can say that everyone isn't feeling or thinking. I'm hoping everyone got out of there okay. I'm thinking about you all. Be safe!!...

By the way, if anyone knows how to get in touch with Ross these days, would you tell that motherfucker to call me? Thanks!

The W.A.S.P. show NLE played a few weeks ago was very cool. I really enjoyed doing a show like that again after several years with nothing like that. I had lots of fun. They bands treated us really well. Everyone played great. All the groups sounded awesome. I was really impressed with W.A.S.P. I also had a great time seeing and hanging out with good friends that I have not encountered in many, many years. I realized how much I miss a lot of you guys.

Regan is still a pain in the butt. Click here to see some new pictures.

I ordered a new laptop from Hewlett Packard the other day. I'm pretty excited about that. My current machine is so old and outdated. It barely functions. I've had it for like 7 years. Remember when Windows 98 was new? This new computer is a hoss. Check this out:

HP Pavilion zd8000 Customizable NB:

- Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition (With Duel TV Tuner and PVR)
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 650 w/HT Technology, 3.4GHz
- 17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Wide Viewing (1680x1050)
- 2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM, 533MHz (2x1024MB)
- 100 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
- LightScribe 8x DVD+/-RW&CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer
- 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) X600 Video Card
- 54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth

There's a lot more cool gack and I have been buying a bunch of new goodies and toys to go with it -- but you get the idea. I'm going to be in computing heaven.

By the way, all of these new Versailles Records releases are now available in stores and on the internet. I have added pages with a little more info for each disc. Click the cover to check those out. Thanks for the visit. More news soon.

NLE will be playing at The American Metal Blast 2005 in New Orleans on Sunday, July 31st. The event is being held at South Port Music Hall. We will be playing with W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns and Stephen Pearcy (Metal Church, listed on the poster, will not be on the bill). Come check out the show. I'm sure it'll be a memorable evening of Classic Metal!

Don't forget, we're going to be at Clicks Billiards in Baton Rouge this Saturday (July 16). Make sure you get off your aging, rocker asses and get out there and party with us. There are no more Baton Rouge gigs booked at this time.

Anyway..... Baby Baby Baby...... That's mostly what's been going on lately. It's hard to get much else done.... Hard not to get FAT too. :-)

I updated Little Miss Regan's Photo page. I dressed her up like her daddy.... And If you know me, that's pretty funny. I'll be using the studio to record an award winning crying fit in the next few weeks. I'll make sure to post that on her page for downloading soon. You Won't Want to Miss THAT!!

God Damn Spammers keep hitting my guestbook. I'm going to have to try to find another way to keep that going without all the hassle. If you have any ideas how to deal with that, shoot me an e-mail.

This comes from the Fangoria Magazine Website:

July 7: Vampire stalks New Orleans in TAO OF M

Velvet Life Productions and Isis Films are currently deep into production on TAO OF M, starring Steve Blaze as Midael, a vampire who terrorizes New Orleans. Eric Morris also stars, and members of the rock group Twisted Sister are slated to portray a group of “false priests” who get on Midael’s bad side. James L. Bills is directing the hi-def production, produced by Milena Merrill and featuring makeup FX by Matt Green, director of VICIOUS; the moviemakers are aiming for a world premiere this Halloween. TAO OF M’s official website, which includes a lengthy trailer and stills, can be found here. —Michael Gingold

Now this is very cool... A trucker has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives in 9/11. The trucker 's name is John Holmgren from Shafer Minn. He has been "pulled over" numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck. Click for a larger view:

Never Forget!		Never Forget!

Lastly, check this link out at Blabbermouth...

As some of you may or may not know, my wife, Lisa was supposed to have labor induced on Wednesday, May 25 as the result of some "complications". Well, the baby had other plans. On Friday May 20 at 11:30 PM Lisa's water broke (three weeks early for her due date) and at 9:14 AM, Saturday, May 21 my daughter, Regan Ireland Daspit Kendrick came into the world.... 6 pounds 10 ounces..... 18 3/4 inches long. She's got a head full of (what is becoming blonde) hair. She has a mean friggin' grip. She can lift her head and can even almost lift herself onto her hands and knees! I'm sorry it took me so long to announce this but I have been swamped with my new daddy chores. :-) She's a handful but Lisa and I are adjusting. Everything is finally settling into some normalcy after a couple of wacky months. Thank you all so much for all the encouragement (and all the baby stuff too) we've received in these last few weeks.

As a result of my new addition to the Kendrick family, I had to bow out of playing a gig at Clicks in Baton Rouge on Friday May 27. I need to thank Sam Poitevent again for filling in for me that night. The band debut a new song that will be on the next record called "A New Life". I hear it's good. I have not heard it yet. :-) Would someone please send me a copy of the fucking song already!

Rob has started to lay down drum tracks for the next NLE CD. A lot of people have been asking me about it. You guys will finally get to hear studio versions of songs such as "Golden Dragon" that NLE has been playing in our live set for a while. Stayed tuned.

The NLE gig at Tab Benoit's on June 10 has been CANCELLED!! Also, we will not be playing The North Texas Road Rally on July 15.

I recently built a new guitar. I bought the body on ebay and the rest I built from pieces parts that I had laying around. I had to do some repairs to the neck but it seems to have turned out great. Heres the breakdown: Body - Charvel San Dimas , Neck - 22 fret Warmoth (I believe) , Tuners - I have no idea, Pickup - Seymour Duncan Invader (Just like all the rest of my guitars), Bridge - Jackson Licensed Floyd Rose tremolo. It also has one black knob on a 500k potentiometer and an original Charvel Neck Plate. It's pretty damn cool and it plays well. Should be perfect for what I'm doing these days in NLE.

While we're on the subject of musical equipment, here are some other notable gear changes I've made recently... I replaced all the Rockman gear (and other stuff) that I was using forever for my clean sound. In it's place I have started using a Line 6 Pod Pro XT. After much tweaking, its' been awesome so far. I'm finally happy with my clean sound for the first time in a long time. I also replaced all my wireless stuff with a Shure SLX and a couple of extra receivers. Amazing is the only way to describe this stuff. I need to thank Gary at Shure for taking the headache out of a situation I was dealing with regarding the place I bought my new transmitters. Very, Very cool guy that took care of some thing for me that were not his job to deal with.

A few weeks ago I got hooked up with a great company called In Tune Guitar Picks. I had them make me some new picks for NLE. The picks are dark blue and have the NLE Logo and My Signature on one side and RichardKendrick.Com on the other side in silver. I would scan it and post the picture but my scanner died. Take my word for it, they look very cool and In Tune Guitar Picks do quality work. Excellent!

My song, "Share This Tender Moment", off of Murder and The F-Word, has been included on an upcoming NuMetal Records release along with 29 other songs by other artists. I believe the street date for this record is July 12, 2005.

I also appear on three songs on an upcoming Versailles Records release"Little Girl" by an artist named Jasy Andrews. Some of you will remember that she wa on that Tina Turner Tribute that I did last year. I play acoustic guitar on this record. I think you will dig Jasy's stuff. It's very laid back and pretty - with a nice coffee house vibe. Great lyrics and piano playing. Check it out. The street date for this record is July 19, 2005 and It's a double CD.

Also In Stores July 19th, 2005! Featuring current/former members of Motley Crue, Warrant, Ratt, The Scorpions, Love/Hate, L.A. Guns, Brides of Destruction, The Scream, Lillian Axe, Union, and Versailles artists (yours truly) Richard Kendrick, Jasy Andrews, One Bad Son, Corey Craven, and John Spinner, as well as Coli Brice, Tony Janflone Jr., The Issues, and Drama Queen Die, this is the most current and definitive tribute to Bon Jovi’s greatest hits!...

For this Bon Jovi Tribute record I performed "Blaze Of Glory" and I did all the backing music and backing vocals for "Living On A Prayer", which was sung by Derrick LeFevre, the new lead singer for Lillian Axe.

There's no new news on the Straitjacket Smile record at this time. I'm hoping to get Ross Stephens over here and into my studio to start working on the vocals as soon as we can find time between our schedules. I'm still hoping to get that out this year.

I went to see King Diamond again this year over at The Engine Room a few weeks ago. Not as good this year. I was bummed. Cost a lot of money too. Oh well. Most likely the last concert I'll get to see for a while.

Now I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of my sweety, K.C. who is also still my baby. :-)

Don't forget, well be playing in Baton Rouge at Clicks Billiards tomorrow night (Friday). Come out and hang with us. It's going to be a lot of fun. We've got Black Label Society's sound guy for this one. It should be SMOKIN'!!!

A little reminder... If you wish to access my NLE page -- Until I rework my website, the link for my NLE page will be on the front page of my web site - just below the photo and just above the show dates. It looks like this :-)

Well, I guess it has been a long time since I've done a real update so I'm going to try to take care of that right now in the few minutes I have to sit here and type some of this stuff out. I have been putting this off because I have a SHIT-LOAD of new pictures that I want to post of NLE. In doing so I wanted to revamp my entire website... The problem is, I have no extra time to do that.

Anyway, I have posted some new pictures here. There will be plenty more (Actually including the rest of the band) as soon as I find time to work on the web site.

The Bon Jovi Tribute will be out in July. There is just a little mixing left to do and mastering. We added Lillian Axe's singer, Derrick LeFevre to a track. That really came out awesome. Thanks to NLE drummer Rob Hovey for handling the recording session for those vocals at his studio.

Speaking of Lillian Axe, they will be playing tomorrow, Friday, April 15 in Houston at Forgetta'bout It Too. Go check 'em out.... Still one of my favorite bands.

Make sure you check out the Upcoming Dates for NLE shows. We may be in your area in the very near future. There are new shows being added all the time. Those date can be located on the front page of my site.

Velvet Life Productions (The Production Company formed by Steve Blaze, Eric Morris and James Bills) has just entered into a joint venture with Isis Films to shoot the full-length film titled “Tao of Marious.” Pre-production starts this month & shooting for the film begins July 11. This is the full length film based on the half hour indie film “Slayer Zed and the City of the Dead.” Release date is slated for October 31, 2005 (Halloween night). Stay tuned for more details as production commences.

Got "baby classes" tonight. I have to learn how to do that "Daddy stuff"... Yikes!

For those of you that remember my "Wall Of Cleavage" -- go here and check out somebody else's version. They've got a few scary ones on there but for the most part, nicely done!

That's all I can think of off of the top of my head. I'm sure I have forgotten something important..

MURDER!!

Pepper Kreeger Kendrick

1988-2005

Miss Pepper,
I know I have always given you (and Lisa) a hard time. But I want you to know that you ARE a beautiful kitty cat and I love you very much. I am so glad to have had you in my life all these years. You have given me company and affection that I will always cherish. Thank you. I Love You Pepper Kendrick. My good pet.

Richard

The recent NLE shows have been really good. I'll update the music news when I'm not so down.

Here are some of the latest Near Life Experience promo pictures. Click for larger view.

There should be some video of this up here some time soon as well. I just have to find the time to edit it and load it up here.

Lisa and I do not wish to know the sex of the child beforehand. If you can tell the sex, PLEASE DO NOT TELL US!! Thanks.

And lastly, this is the latest Versailles Records press release (I have seen it up at several music websites such as melodicrock.com this week):

"New GUNS N' ROSES Tribute Album To Feature Members Of MÖTLEY CRÜE, RATT, SCORPIONS - Jan. 27, 2005 - www.blabbermouth.net
Versailles Records is presently completing work on a forthcoming millennium tribute to GUNS N' ROSES, which will feature current and former members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, FASTER PUSSYCAT, RATT, SCORPIONS, LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, THE SCREAM, UNION, ADLER'S APPETITE and THRILLS FOR KILLS, as well as Jasy Andrews, Richard Kendrick, THE ISSUES, Ross Stevens of STRAITJACKET SMILE, Andrew Walker of DRAMA QUEEN DIE, John Spinner, and Corey Craven. Release is set for late summer 2005 in the U.S., and a licensing deal has been secured with Netherlands-based Mascot-Provogue Records.In related news, Versailles Records has finalized deals with several new independent acts, including Canadian rock band ONE BAD SON, featuring Shane "The Impaler" Volk on lead vocals; longtime Versailles collaborator Corey Craven, and Nashville-based singer-songwriter John Spinner. Look for a late summer, 2005 release date on Jasy Andrews' and John Spinner's respective debut albums, as well as the double-LP debut of STRAITJACKET SMILE, featuring Ross Stevens, Richard Kendrick and A.J. Caruso in the later fall of 2005; and spring/summer 2006 release dates for ONE BAD SON and Corey Craven's respective debut releases.Lastly, Versailles Records recording artist Richard Kendrick has recently joined Steve Blaze's (LILLIAN AXE) solo band NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE on lead guitar.Versailles Records is based in New York/Nashville, and is distributed by Big Daddy Music Distribution in the United States.
Versailles Records is presently completing work on a forthcoming millennium tribute to GUNS N' ROSES, which will feature current and former members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, FASTER PUSSYCAT, RATT, SCORPIONS, LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, THE SCREAM, UNION, ADLER'S APPETITE and THRILLS FOR KILLS, as well as Jasy Andrews, Richard Kendrick, THE ISSUES, Ross Stevens of STRAITJACKET SMILE, Andrew Walker of DRAMA QUEEN DIE, John Spinner, and Corey Craven. Release is set for late summer 2005 in the U.S., and a licensing deal has been secured with Netherlands-based Mascot-Provogue Records.In related news, Versailles Records has finalized deals with several new independent acts, including Canadian rock band ONE BAD SON, featuring Shane "The Impaler" Volk on lead vocals; longtime Versailles collaborator Corey Craven, and Nashville-based singer-songwriter John Spinner. Look for a late summer, 2005 release date on Jasy Andrews' and John Spinner's respective debut albums, as well as the double-LP debut of STRAITJACKET SMILE, featuring Ross Stevens, Richard Kendrick and A.J. Caruso in the later fall of 2005; and spring/summer 2006 release dates for ONE BAD SON and Corey Craven's respective debut releases.Lastly, Versailles Records recording artist Richard Kendrick has recently joined Steve Blaze's (LILLIAN AXE) solo band NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE on guitar, backing vocals and keyboards.Versailles Records is based in New York/Nashville, and is distributed by Big Daddy Music Distribution in the United States."

Not much today...

In case you missed it, I added some Near Life Experience show dates to the bottom of the front page of this site. I'm looking forward to finally getting back on stage after so much time off. Practice has been going really well. The set list is all put together and we are just tweaking specifics now. We also recently took some promo pictures and shot a video that should be available for download sometime soon. I'll post that info when the time comes.

Lisa and I have been spending a bunch of time at Baby's R Us and a few other places, planning our kids room and trying to get all the furniture and stuff like that we will be needing soon. I guess I'll be in there painting some time in the next few weeks. :-) I already put up some new curtains.

Check out my friend Jason Keller's Home Studio. He finally got all his baby stuff going smoothly and had some time to set everything back up in his new place. Looks great Jason.

Lots of stuff to go through today... A couple of BIG ones too. I'll try to make it quick...

Lisa (my wife) is pregnant. Due in June. We think it's mine. :-) I got to hear it's heart-beat a couple of weeks ago. That was very cool! That kid's got rhythm. We're still trying to come up with names. And since we're not finding out the sex, that makes it double tough. Shit, It took us a month to name our cat. Anyway, there you go.

Sorry I have not gotten the news up sooner. A few of you have e-mailed me and fussed. I have been very busy lately with Christmas shopping and I have also been trying to get my guitar-gear back into fighting shape as well as learning a bunch of songs because.......

I have recently joined Steve Blaze's (other) band Near Life Experience. I will be playing guitar and keys and singing back-ups. For those of you who don't know, (Who the hell doesn't know this?) Steve is the guitarist and founding member of Lillian Axe (they are currently recording a new record and will be playing out live, a bit, very soon). I have been putting off mentioning this on my website until we could get some of the promo stuff worked out but the Christmas holidays have made doing that a bit difficult. You can expect some promo and pictures up on all the appropriate websites, including this one, sometime after the start of the year. I will also be posting gig dates. So far, there seem to be a few dates booked in February and March (at Clicks in Baton Rouge). I'll post those when I get the details.

I don't know what to say about the Damageplan gig shootings. That is just so fucked up! I used to know Darrell a little back in the early 90's. Back when I played with Dark August we used to open for Pantera once in a while and we would rent them our PA. system.... This was right before they became mega-stars -- right after "Cowboys From Hell" came out. Every once in a while I might run into them in Metairie at the "Last Stop" if they were in town. Darrell was always cool with me. He seemed to enjoy life and just having a good time. It is very sad what has happened.

I am working on a Bon Jovi tribute album for Versailles Records right now. It should be out at the end of February (I guess).

I recently played acoustic guitar on three songs for a forthcoming album by Jasy Andrews. Some of you may remember, she performed "Privet Dancer" on the Tina Turner Tribute record I did a while back. She's a very talented singer/song writer/pianist. If everything goes as planned, I should be mixing that album In February.

Everything else has had me pretty busy, so I've had to take the last month or so off from working on the SJS stuff. I'll be back to work on that in my spare time after the first of the year.

Here is a little of what my buddy, Jake Brown has been up to lately in addition to running Versailles Records:
Former Motley Crue singer John Corabi's authorized autobiography is finished, and currently being bid over by several publishers. Expect a summer, 2005 release date. Co-author Jake Brown will begin work in April, 2005 with Hanoi Rocks on the band's authorized autobiography with Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy. In other rock biography news, in March, 2005 Brown-authored "Behind the Boards Volume 1", the first installment of a 3-volume rock producers anthology will be released. Volume one features interviews with producers Scott Humphrey (Rob Zombie, Motley Crue, Methods of Mayhem) with Tommy Lee, Andy Jonns (Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Joe Satriani), Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Kiss, Alice Cooper), Tom Werman (Motley Crue, Cheap Trick, Poison, Twisted Sister, Ted Nugent), Dave Jerden (Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains, Social Distortion), and James Michael (Meatloaf, Motley Crue, Sammy Hagar)."

Congrats to my friends Jarred and Brandy, "down the bayou". They have a baby due in April. I think we know what they were up to on the 4th of July. :-)

I hope everyone has a great RomaHanuKwanzMas. Be safe!

09-30-04

Looks like AJ and I will be getting together in a few weeks to work on this SJS record. My living in Houston and his living in Atlanta have been making this project a lot more difficult than it should be. I'm looking forward to the trip. It's been quite a while since we have seen each other. It's going to be a lot of fun.

The plan, right now, for the CD is to have a 2-disc set that will include just about all the SJS songs we used to play live as well as a few songs nobody ever heard. There are even plans to write two or three new songs. We will also be covering a few of our favorite songs if there is any space left on the CDs.

BUT WAIT!!.... THERE'S MORE!!

As if that wasn't enough, we are also hoping to make disc two an enhanced CD that will give you access to some special goodies at straitjacketsmile.com. There will be more newly recorded studio songs and maybe some old demos and possibly even video to check out. We're going to clean out the vault. We hope to have that out by the beging of the summer. Stay tuned!

By the way, send me some suggestions for the name of this CD.... Maybe I should have a contest.

I ran sound for Ross's cover band, Trick Bag the other night in Clear Lake. It was rockin'. Ross is singing great and is going to be terrific on the album.

That's about all for now.

Geaux Saints!

Geaux "W"

(Photo from May 1988)

Friday night in Mobile, Alabama one of my best friends in the world was killed in an automobile accident. I knew her as Heather Knight. Heather was a very talented musician. She was also super smart and her sarcasm was unmatched. She fit right in with the guys I hung out with. As a teenager I spent a lot of time playing music with Heather in one project or another. She was a terrific keyboard player and sang pretty darn well too. Her home felt like a second home to me, as well as Wen Thai Liu and John Vaughn, my band mates/friends. Heather's mom and I would work HUGE jigsaw puzzles on the coffee table and wind up staying up all night trying to finish.

I wish I could tell you all about Heather... what I know of her life's story, but that would take me a while and not really do her any justice.

I had not seen Heather for the last few years. She was married and having a good life. She signed my guestbook a couple of years ago... Yes, it's still there. We kept in touch enough these days to know the basics I guess. I feel bad that we did not get to speak more often. I guess that's how life is. I still loved Heather like a sister and she knew that.

Heather was always such a great friend and person. I will miss her.

The viewing will be tonight from 6:00 to 7:30 and the funeral service will be on Tuesday, June 8th 12 noon, at Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street in Mobile, Alabama, 36606.

02-06-1911 -- 06-05-2004

(A.P. Photo)

Here is a glimpse of Versailles Records' next release "What's Love? A Tribute To Tina Turner" This CD willbe released on June 15th. You can read the track listing by clicking on the picture.

I will be going to see a bunch of great classic rock bands at Arrowfest in a couple of weeks. The roster includes Styx, Kansas, America, Nelson, Peter Frampton, Blue Oyster Cult, Grand Funk Railroad. I can't wait! And after that, we have Kiss and Poison coming... and after that we have VAN HALEN with SAMMY HAGAR!! Aerosmith and Cheap Trick are coming and so is Tesla. :-) It's going to be an expensive but rock-concert-filled couple of months.

Lisa and I spent a week in Mexico recently. That was a lot of fun. We snorkeled in a couple of caves and climbed a pyramid. We visited a bunch of ruins and did a lot of swimming. We stayed in Tulum, which is about 90 miles south of Cancun. It was very pretty.

I am back at work now, mixing Anisette's album. It really rocks. Those guys are getting a lot of attention these days.

Thanks for the visit.

RIK

Hey all, I guess it's about time to update the news...

My cover of "Panama", featuring a guitar solo by guitarist Jimmy Crespo has been added to Cleopatra Records/Big Eye's latest "Tribute To Van Halen". I guess you can get that in all your favorite record stores.

The Tina Turner Tribute is done. We mixed it last week and it was mastered this past weekend. I'll have the art work for that up here shortly. I had a great time hanging out with my buddy Joe Viers up in Ohio. That dude is a mixing/recording god. I expect to continue working with him for a long, long, long time.

I'll be spending the next few weeks finishing up the mixing of Anisette's up coming CD release. It's going to be smokin'!

Time for me to get back to work.

Last Sunday I flew to Tennessee to hook up with Jake Brown for one of these crazy "road trips" he likes to partake in from time to time. Monday morning we went to Fido's, a coffee house near down town Nashville, for coffee and conversation with Kip Winger. He's doing a track on this upcoming Tina Turner Tribute record. Afterwards, we went to his recording studio and listened to some music that will be released sometime in the near future... Not a solo album but a new band. Great stuff too. I had a killer time. He's a lot of laughs.

That afternoon Jake and I drove to Maryland to visit his parents.

Tuesday we drove to Boston, met up with Jake's friend Adam, had dinner and then turned in early. Wednesday we picked up Adam, and went downtown to Bristol Recording Studio where we would be recording Nancy Kerrigan for the Turner Tribute. Adam spent the day filming her for a DVD of the making of the album. The Boston Herald showed up and took pictures of the session as well. Their story ran the next day on the front page of their local section.

Olympic ice princess - and sometime warbler - Nancy Kerrigan belts out the Tina Turner tune, `Simply the Best,' yesterday at Boston's Bristol Studios for an upcoming tribute album to the rockin' diva. (Staff photo by Michael Fein)

Later that evening, Jake and I drove to Lenox, Massachusetts, up to Stonover Farm Bed and Breakfast, which is run by Tom and Suky Werman. For those of you that may not know, Tom Werman was a record producer for some of the best selling rock acts of all time: (See Left column below)

We had dinner and discussed all kinds of things related to his work. I could have listened to his stories for days. He and his wife are very nice people and I had a great time.

Artist Info/Album credits. Babylon A.D. - "Nothing Sacred" - Producer, Percussion
Blue Öyster - "Cult Mirrors" - Producer
Boy Meets Girl - "Boy Meets Girl" - Producer, Synthesizer
Charlie Daniels - "Volunteer Jam", - Vol. 7 Mixing
Cheap Trick - "In Color" - Producer
Cheap Trick - "The Greatest Hits" - (Expanded) Producer
Cheap Trick - "Heaven Tonight" - Producer
Cheap Trick - "Dream Police" - Producer
Cherie & Marie Currie - "Messin' with the Boys" - Tambourine, Percussion
Dokken - "Tooth and Nail" - Producer
Falk & Bod Robey - "Kentucky Gambler" - Percussion
Four-In-Legion - "Four-In-Legion" - Producer
Gary Myrick Gary - "Myrick & the Figures" - Producer
Hash - "Hash" - Producer
Holland - "Little Monsters" Vocals (Background), Producer, Percussion
Jake Trout & The Flounders - "I Love to Play" - Vocals (Background), Producer, Percussion
Jason & the Scorchers - "Still Standing" (Bonus Tracks) - Producer, Percussion
Jeff Beck -"Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live" - Executive Producer
Junkyard - "Junkyard" - Producer, Mixing
Kix - "Blow My Fuse" - Producer
Krokus - "Change of Address" - Producer
L.A. Guns - "Cocked & Loaded" - Producer
Lita Ford - "Dangerous Curves" - Tom-Tom, Producer, Mixing
Mcqueen Street - "McQueen Street" - Producer
Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' with Disaster" - Producer, Percussion
Molly Hatchet - "Take No Prisoners" - Producer, Percussion
Molly Hatchet - "No Guts...No Glory" - (Epic) Producer, Percussion
Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' with Disaster" - (Expanded) Original Album Producer
Molly Hatchet - "Molly Hatchet" - Percussion
Molly Hatchet - "Beatin' the Odds" - Producer
Mother's Finest - "Another Mother Further" - Producer, Percussion
Mötley Crüe - "Shout at the Devil" - Producer
Mötley Crüe - "Girls, Girls, Girls" - (Bonus Track) Producer
Mötley Crüe - "Theatre of Pain" - (Bonus Track) Producer
Mötley Crüe - "Shout at the Devil" - (Bonus Track) Producer
Mötley Crüe - "Theatre of Pain" - Producer
Mötley Crüe - "Girls, Girls, Girls" -Producer
Off Broadway On - Producer
Pariah - "To Mock a Killingbird" - Producer, Percussion
Poison - "Open Up and Say...Ahh!" - Producer, Mixing
Poison - "Crack a Smile... And More" - Producer
Poison - "Sight for Sore Ears!" - Producer
Scarecrow - "Scarecrow" - Production Consultant
Spunk Crud Dust - Producer
Steelheart - "Tangled in Reins" -Producer
Stranger - "Stranger" - Producer
Stryper - "Against the Law" - Producer, Percussion
Tearaways "Ground's the Limit" - Producer, Percussion
Ted Nugent - "Cat Scratch Fever" - Vocals (Background), Producer, ?, Percussion
Ted Nugent - "Ted Nugent" - Producer, Percussion
Ted Nugent - "Live at Hammersmith '79" - Percussion
Ted Nugent - "Weekend Warriors" - Producer
Ted Nugent - "Free-for-All" - Producer, Percussion
Ted Nugent - "Double Live Gonzo" - Producer
Ted Nugent - "If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em" - Producer, Executive Producer, Percussion
The B'zz - "Get Up" - Producer
The Producers - "The Producers" - Producer, Percussion
The Producers - "You Make the Heat" - Producer
Twisted Sister - "Stay Hungry" - Arranger, Producer
Various Artists - "Metal Age: The Roots of Metal" -Producer
Various Artists - "Rock Star" - Producer
Various Artists - "Drivin' South: Southern Rockin' Smash Hits" - Producer
Various Artists - "Frezno Smooth" - Producer
Various Artists - "Ready to Rumble" (Clean) - Producer
Various Artists - "Ready to Rumble" - Producer
Various Artists - "Rock: Train Kept a Rollin'" - Producer
Various Artists - "Southern Rock Essentials" - Producer
Various Artists - "Geffen Vintage 80's Presents: It Rocks" - Producer
Various Artists - "Fizz Pop Modern Rock, Vol. 1" -Producer
Various Artists - "Mullets Rock!" - Producer
Various Artists - "Dogtown and Z-Boys" - Producer
Various Artists - "Poptopia! 70's Power Pop Classics"- Producer
Various Artists - "Private Parts" - Producer
Various Artists - "Rock the First, Vol. 9" - Producer
Various Artists - "California Jam 2" - Producer
Various Artists - "Johnny Be Good" - Producer, Performer
Various Artists - "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - Producer
Various Artists - "Rock the First, Vol. 5" - Producer, Mixing

Jake and I stayed over-night at Stanover Farm and on Thursday Tom fixed us breakfast (a goat cheese omelet and bacon) I stepped outside and snapped some pictures of the place and then we had to get on the road. We drove back to Maryland and to Jake's parent's house. That night we had Outback Steak for dinner and plenty of conversation.Friday, Jake and I hit the road back to Nashville. I finally got my first real look at New York city from a distance... Neato... New Jersey too.

When we got back to Nashville, I helped Jake rebuild the Versailles Records website. All the content has not been updated yet but the format is all new. It should be completed in the near future. Saturday I flew back to Houston and I have been trying to play catch-up ever since.

I'll be in Ohio at the beginning of April to mix the Turner Record.

I'll post some more news up here in a few days when things are back to normal.

Thanks for checking out the site.

RIK

For a week or more, Lisa and I were hearing a cat meowing when we were outside. It was cold and sometimes it was raining and we would here this cat -- we thought some of our neighbors must be jerks because they were not letting their poor, sad cat in.

Anyway, on Super Bowl Sunday, right before the kickoff, we found the source of all the racket... A skinny, shrivled-up, confused, dizzy, female, Flame Point, Himalayan. The poor thing had gotten down in the storm drain below our street and had been, more or less, swimming and freezing for over a week. I don't know how it survived -- or could still yell that loud for that matter. I felt like a real asshole for not hunting for this thing sooner. I have neighbors that spend a lot more time in the front than I do. I know they must have heard it too.

So, we fed, and bathed this cat and the next day I took it to the vet. It had a cold and some big sores (infected holes) on all its little, pink paws. Besides that, and the weight loss it is fine. By the way, it weighed four pounds when we found it and the vet says that this cat is about four years old.

I put fliers up all over my neighborhood but no owners have called yet. We would keep this cat in a heartbeat. She's a sweet "lapcat" and she is litter trained. We took her in the back yard and she acted like she had never seen grass before. She did not know what to do with it... She walked slowly and carefully on it.

But, getting back to our keeping it...

I would love to keep it, but we are having to just let it live in our garage right now because we have a 12-pound, black, Maine Coon (Large, ugly, longhaired cat) named Pepper that is scared of her. Pepper does not do well with other cats. She hisses and growls and shakes. She's a real butthole about it. The little Himalayan, to her credit, does not even really notice all the hissing and wants to be buddies. It's pretty funny. I'm not really sure what to do to calm Pepper down towards this cat.

Well, I just thought I would tell you about my recent cat adventure. You can click the pictures to get better look.

Not much other news right now. Still mixing and recording, recording and mixing. Blah Blah.... Weeeeeeeeee......

GEAUX TIGERS!!! -- LSU, Football National Champions. FUCK YEAH!! What was that Christmas e-mail I got from you Dave? Go Sooners?

Maybe "Later".

I have still been working on the backing music for this Tina Turner Tribute record. I'll be in Nashville, Washington DC and Boston at the end of February... I'll be producing vocals for Nancy Kerrigan, the skater at some point while on this trip. I'll be in Ohio to mix this record some time near the end of March.

I recently had Ross Stephens over to my house for a few weeks and we got some vocals on tape for his contribution to the Turner album. We got a couple of other things on tape as well.

I also had Anisette over from Baton Rouge for about a week to record a CD. I'll be mixing that over the next few weeks. It should be out, and I'm sure available on their web site and at gigs, in a couple of months.

If you think your getting fat (Yes, I'm talking to you) your should think about one of these "low carb diets". I have been on a "low-carb diet" for about a month now... Lost about 19 lbs so far. I'm going a bit stir crazy, missing a lot of the things I love to eat, but I'm not feeling hungry. I'm going to stick with this. I'm back in fighting shape.

Finally, I will be at the "Super Bash" next weekend. Going to see Sammy Hagar.

Rock on!

And on to other news...

I'm going to go see Trans-Siberian Orchestra tonight. I can't wait. Gunna' miss the Saints game though. :-(

Weeeeeeeeeee.......

(I don't know who to credit for most of these pictures. I hope they won't mind that I used them.)

Holy Shit! The new Dream Theater CD, "Train Of Thought", is SMOKIN'! -- It's aggressive and FILLED with shred. If you like that kind of thing, go out get this record. Stop what you are doing, a go now! It's like Dream Theater on speed. I think John Petrucci must have had something to prove on this one. I've never heard him doing stuff like this. Awesome!

Going to go see Cheap Trick, for the umpteenth time, tomorrow. I can't wait. I never get sick of those guys.

Happy Birthday to Terri, my half-sister, on Saturday, 11-15-03.

It's a really nice day here in Katy, Texas. I'm going outside.

A Big Happy Birthday to my Dad today. He's older than dirt.

:-)

Lots of stuff today and a bunch of pictures that you can click and make huge.

I got back from my California road trip on Saturday and I have been recovering and catching up ever since. Let me tell you, when you do that trip as a straight shot, with no stops other than to get gas and piss, it well beat your ass. And if you do it twice in one week... Well anyway, the trip was a lot of fun. I'm not even sure where to begin really. I guess I'll just take things in order.

As Jake and I drove into CA. on Tuesday morning, we were greeted by all the smoke form the So Cal fires that were/are burning out of control. I hope they catch the sick fuck(s) that started that! And I hope they burn the mother fucker alive!

Even though we were all beaten up from our long overnighter, we drove around town a bit and checked out "The Strip" and some of the other sites. Finally, we ended the day off with some Taco Bell and a lot of sleep.

On Wednesday we made the rounds to a few music producer's houses for interviews and photos - Jake is writing a book and has landed quite a few big names.

First off, we met James Michael. He has written songs for and produced such artists as Taylor Dayne (which he was working on when we showed up), Meatloaf, Motley Crue, Sammy Hagar, Saliva, Orgy, Céline Dion, The Backstreet Boys, Wilson Phillips ...and many more. We had a nice chat with him. He is a very down to earth guy. He hangs out with a lot of rock stars, but he does not act like it. He still seems to be a fan of the music. He has an excellent little recording set up at his house that really has a nice vibe. You would have never known it was anything but a house if you were not inside. I could have hung out at his home studio all day a shot the shit about music. I walked away knowing that If this guy isn't already, he is going to be the next big thing... VERY CUTTING EDGE!

Next, we went to Scott Humphrey's "Chop Shop" studio. Now, this guy has a serious studio! And quite a track listing. I could never get it all to fit here. Gold and Platinum records all over the walls. He has produced and/or engineered artists like Motley Crue, Rob Zombie, Coal Chamber, Andrew W. K., NSYNC and lots and lots and lots more (Here is a link to a more complete list). And in addition to all that, he is also featured in "The Dirt", that book about Motley Crue.

While we were at the "Chop Shop" we were treated to something a bit different and I'm sure helpful to Jake's book -- Tommy Lee, Motley Crue drummer and solo artist, famous for his rockin', his hot woman and his dick, who was asleep upstairs when we got there, came down and participated it Scott Humphrey's interview. It added a really nice dynamic to the whole thing -- as they both assumed their rolls as producer and artist. You could see these guys were used to working with each other and enjoy it very much. Their approach to things seems to be to stay on top of all the latest technology. This was a very neato experience and Tommy Lee came across as an enthusiastic, charming, approachable guy.

Next we moved on to Dave Jerden's studio. He has produced or engineered just about everyone... Alice In Chains, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthrax, Herbie Hancock, Jane's Addiction, Spinal Tap, The Offspring, The Rolling Stones, and so many more (here is a link to a better list).

We sat around a table and did his interview. He is a very nice man. We talked a lot about the lost art of making records. His producing style is exactly the opposite of Scott Humphrey's, where he feels that technology, things like ProTools, in some ways, takes away from the human element of the recording process. Jerden is not a big fan of the music that is being stuffed down our throats these days. I have to agree with him there.

To end this day off, we went by Ventura Distribution Inc. to meet with Mitch Mallon (Vice President of Music Videos) to discuss some of the details about the forth coming Tina Turner Tribute DVD that Jake has in the works. During the drive out there, we evidently missed a 3.7 earthquake. We were riding in the car and I guess we just didn't notice it. We were told about it when we arrived. Anyway, Mitch was a real HOOT!! and a pleasure to meet. We discussed the possibility of their company re-releasing a lot of old metal concerts and releases that never made it to DVD yet. I hope his company does some of that. There are a lot of old shows that I used to have on VHS tape that I would love to get my hands on now. We mingled with the gang at Ventura for a while and then we went back to our hotel for more Taco Bell and more sleep.

Thursday, we were off to Karma Recording Studio to meet with ProTools-meister, Michael Rich. Michael’s resume’ lists some of the most prestigious studios in CA. such as "Record Plant" in Hollywood, "Enterprise" in Burbank, and many others. We were at Karma to record vocals by Deniece Williams and Tiffany.

Both of these ladies were pros. They had completely different approaches, but the results were very nice. We spent part of the afternoon hanging out with Tiffany. She is super-duper nice. She's all grown up now and still sounds great. I think we will be working on future projects with her. You will be able to check out moments from their sessions, as well as interviews, on the corresponding DVD that Versailles Records (Jake) will be putting out.

That night Jake and I had a couple of burgers at "The Rainbow" on Hollywood Blvd. It's a pretty neat place. It was all decorated for Halloween, so I guess the place usually looks a bit different. My burger was really good though. We started to go out, but I think we realized we needed to rest for our long drive home.

Friday, I woke up two hours before I needed to. That Sucked! I could not return to sleep. And so, we said goodbye to California and did the reverse drive back to Texas... All day and night.

Saturday, we got in mid-day. I had to burn a few CDs for Jake to take back to Tennessee with him. It took me a long while to finally go to sleep. All in all, I really had a good time. I'm sure Jake, that crazy mother fucker, is going to have us back out there on the west coast again really soon. He really seems to like doing that trip as one big long drive... hes a real gluten for punishment.

One final bit of news, it seems that Phil Wang, former SJS bassist, managed to reel in a Spector Bass endorsement recently. Phil wrote "Laughing Myself Goodbye", which wound up on "Murder and The F-Word".

Anyway, congrats Phil! Here is the ad from the Spector site. I don't know who to credit for the picture. I hope they don't sue me.

Meet Philip Wang, bassist for two bands in New Orleans, including the band known as "the Greatest 80s Tribute Band on Earth", The MollyRingwalds! (Can you say Wang Chung?)

As you can see, when Phil plays to sold out shows, he uses a 4-string and a 5 string Spector, and he's taking delivery on a new
US Bolt-On 6-String bass.

Thanks Philip for choosing Spector!

Howdy! Not much news today...

I ran across one of AJ's picks the other day, so I decided to scan it and put our picks on the website.

The Tina Turner tribute tracks are sounding very good. It has been a nice change of pace... But I'm looking forward to going back to what I know best...

This reminds me, I'm hoping to get back to work on that SJS CD sometime soon.

The picture to the left is of some of the last remaining Marine troops in Iraq. I just wanted to share the picture.

I'll be in California at the end of the month recording a few vocalists for Versailles Record's forthcoming Tina Turner tribute record. I will also be assisting Jake Brown (of Versailles) with obtaining footage and info for two DVDs and a couple of books he is working on. It will be a very busy trip but it should be fun.

In case I don't get to add more here for a few weeks...

Happy Halloween!!

With all the babies my friends seem to be having lately, I totally left one out... I need to congratulate Ron and Dawn Comisana on the recent birth of their first child ,Connor Champ. It was actually a little while back now. In my spare time, I used to work with Ron at the Baton Rouge Riverside Centroplex under my assumed alter ego "Dick Stagehand."

There are two birthdays to mention that will happen tomorrow. My wife, Lisa will be... Well, I really can't remember. And my little, knuckle-head brother Brad will be... Hmmm... I can't remember that either... He'll be one year uglier. :-) (Damn did he say that?) I mean older.

Also, Drummer, David Campbell's birthday was August 20th. Happy Birthday you old Fart.

Happy Birthday Ya'll !!!

I ran across this old photo of Mudbone from our two-week, 1996 trip to Key West. We were pretty baked from an afternoon of snorkeling. I just thought I might post it here. Seems like only yesterday... but it seems like a really long time ago too. We had a blast.

If you have any old pictures of Mudbone, Straitjacket Smile, Alibi or Dark August please send those to me.

MTM Music recently licensed the "Best Of Both Worlds" CD for some over-seas distribution. This is the new cover art for some of the other parts of the world. Neato...

I'm still getting settled in here in Texas. I have been building and installing a lot of stuff in the new house. Things are finally starting to look like a home. I started setting up the studio recently and I have been playing my guitar. Lots of recording right around the corner.

I'm about to start work on the backing tracks for three or four songs slated for a forthcoming tribute to Tina Turner being released by Versailles Records. Some of the artists lined up for this release include: Tiffany, Deniece Williams, Jeff Healey, Alannah Myles, and Darlene Love. I'll have a full rundown of that line-up here when it is all set. There will be a DVD of the recording of this tribute that will include interviews and other material.

Lisa and I got a new TV ... Pioneer 50" Plasma ... Nice!! There won't be any Christmas or Birthday presents to each other this year. There won't be much of any other new stuff around here for a while either. $$$$Yikes!

One of my best friends, and former singer of Alibi, one of my old bands, John Vaughn, got married a couple of weeks ago in Dallas. I went to the wedding with John-John Graphia, Jimmy Stutts and Lisa. We had a great time. It was good to see John Vaughn after Soooo long. Congrats John Vaughn!

My deepest congratulations go out to Jason and Tama Keller who just gave birth to their first child. Christian Luther Keller was born at 11:51pm on August 14, 2003. He's 8 pounds, 2.5 ounces, 20 inches long, and absolutely wonderful. Both mother and child are doing very well.

And on a musical note -- one of Jason's songs, "Un-American" was chosen as an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. That is pretty fucking awesome! Congrats on that as well Jason.

Well, that seems to be all the news I have for today. Thanks for the visit.

Okay, I made it to Texas in one piece. I never realized how much stupid crap I own. I have spent the last couple of weeks sifting through things, installing ceiling fans, drawer pulls and whatever I can think of to customize this sumbitch. I have been trying to figure out where everything goes around here. And I am quite sick of looking in every cabinet except for the correct one, when I am hunting for something in the kitchen. And on a final note about relocation, all I can say is, THANK GOD FOR CORDLESS DRILLS!!

Anyway, Versailles Records has relocated to Nashville and Jake Brown has a bunch of new projects in the works for the upcoming year. I should be overly-busy with at least two tribute records (More details about those as things are firmed up) and the SJS disk to work on. Hopefully, I should have some nice new gear to hack around with that might expedite some of my studio noodling. Hey, I can't wait to be finished moving in here so I can start playing my guitar again.

WalMart and K-Mart have picked up the Roth/Hagar tribute record that we put out this month. Those CDs should start showing up in there in the next few weeks.

I went to see Dream Theater, Queensryche and Fates Warning at The Vorizon Theater the other night. Awesome! I'm going to like living in Texas -- if for no other reason than real bands actually still play here. While I was standing in line, I ran into Kevin Bernard (great guitar player) the brother of SJS Bassist Neal Bernard. It turns out that we live only a couple of miles from each other. Looks like I might actually know someone in this town after all. And Neal will have no excuses not to come see me now. Two birds with one stone Bro. And hey Neal, you should move to Katy now. They have a lot of 24 hour video storesaround Houston :-P.

The photo above is of the new house. I tried to squeeze everything into the picture without going across the street. Oh well. You get the idea. It's a house...

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS:
On May 27, 2003 Versailles Records will release Best of Both Worlds - A Tribute to Van Halen's David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. A first of its kind in the world of Tributes, this record features hits from both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar's solo catalogs, as well as hits from the Van Halen catalog covering both the Roth (1977 - 1984) and Hagar (1985 - 1996) eras! The final track listing is as follows:
Panama - Jimmy Crespo/Richard Kendrick . Shy Boy - George Lynch, Tony Harnell, Jason McMaster . Yankee Rose - Enuff Znuff . Ain't Talkin' Bout Love - Jet Black Joy . Tobacco Road - Corey Craven . Take Your Whiskey Home - American Dog . Mas Tequila - Full Tilt . Why Can't This Be Love - Gravity Pharm . I Can't Drive 55 - Shane 'The Impaler' Volk . When Its Love - Richard Kendrick . Right Now - 5150 . There's Only One Way to Rock - Steve Whiteman

David Campbell, my drummer for the last several years, has moved back to Oklahoma. Things got kinda' slow for us for the last little while so I guess he did what he needed to do.

Durring his servcice here in Baton Rouge Dave was part of our frat-house touring band, Mudbone. He also played on several of the recordings I've done for Versailles Records over the last few years and even sang lead vocals one of them.

I know Dave is gunna keep on rockin'. Were gunna' miss ya' Dave. I wish you a lot of luck. I hope you don't become a stranger (or any stranger than you already are).

Take Care My Bruthuh.

Hmloage........

A while back I had former Stompin' Ground drummer Blayn Coupell come over and do some recording at my house. I just thought I would post a photo from the session.

And while I'm thinking about it...

.... Well, it seems I let Todd at Clicks Billiards talk me into pulling the band out of the mothballs for a one-time gig. It will be on May 16th and will feature Ross Stephens on Vocals, Jason Keller on Bass, Blayn Coupell on Drums and Me, my sequencer and my guitars. We will be covering a lot of Classic Rock and 80's Metal. It is going to be an absolute blast and I hope to see all of you there. I might even let you guys get me drunk.

And finally, a note to all you young, starving drummers out there --

CHANGE YOUR DRUM HEADS ONCE IN A WHILE!!! -- Get a job or find yourself a little groupie with a job and get her to BUY YOU SOME FUCKING DRUM HEADS YOU NUMB-SKULL!!

This is a picture I took at a recording session I did recently with a band called Switch. The picture is of a floor tom that we (NO SHIT) had to duct tape a padlock to to get it to stop ringing. While we were working on our drum sound the drummer would put his hand on the head of the drum while he was hitting it and it would sound great. So I looked for something heavy to stick on there.... The recording actually came out quite good.

Yeah, I know the updates have been slow lately. I SUCK!!...

Actually, I went on a trip to Europe for a few weeks. Lisa and I flew to London and stayed in a bed a breakfast for a couple of days. We went and checked out "We Will Rock You," which is a play put together around song by Queen. The show was good and the band was terrific.

From London we drove to Harwich and and got an a GIGANTIC Ship called Brilliance Of The Seas... Almost 1000 feet long -- 13 Stories high. We cruised to Oslo, Norway which was beautiful. I looked for some Ronnie LeTekro (from TNT) CDs in a record store... No luck. Then, we went to Copenhagen, Denmark for a couple of days. Their taste in music is bizarre and there are a lot of drunks there. We were supposed to head to Stockholm, Sweden next but the winds were too high in their ports to allow a boat of our size in, so the captain skipped it. That's why we stayed in Denmark for an extra day. Oh well. Next, we went to Helsinki Finland. Lisa and I walked all over the city. Cool place. Pretty modern. Next up was St. Petersburg, Russia. I could talk about this place all day, but I will spare you. Lets just say that I thought it was really neat to be in this historical city and St. Isaac's cathedral is amazing. I bought a Russian stacking doll of some New Orleans Saints players from a merchant across from The Church Of The Spilled Blood. Pretty funny. We were there for a couple of days. I'll never forget it. Lastly we went to Tallinn, Estonia, which used to be part of The Soviet Union. These poor people have been conquered by everyone over the years, but they seem to be getting their shit together now. There is a large problem with amount of Russian emigrants there that don't speak the local language... Anyway, It was a very pretty city. After all the sight seeing, we cruised back to Harwich, hopped a bus to London and flew home. All in all, I would have to say that I ate way to much food on the ship. Steak every day. Oh my.

Since the trip I have finished recording "When It's Love" for "American Hair Bands" that comes out next month. Keep an eye out for it. I'll add links to websites where it can be purchased once it is released.

I'll add some changes to the site when I get a chance. Thanks for your patience.

No news for an entire month huh? I suck! Well, I'm going to keep it short and sweet right now. To the left is what I believe is to be the cover of the next record I've been doing work on. It is called "American Hair Bands" and is filled with all kinds of good stuff. (Hey AJ, if you look hard enough, you will see that you and Ross made it onto the cover with me HaHaHaHaHa... not sure how that happened but you'll be nationwide and in Metal Edge.) On the CD, I'm doing a cover of VanHalen's "When It's Love." I started working on it last week. I think it is coming along nicely. Just lead vocals and a guitar solo remain to be done. You'll have to keep an eye out for this one sometime in or around September. More news about it when I hear more.

Looks like Jason Keller has lined us up a bass player for his Drivenmore project. He has also been writing even more songs for that (and tweaking the ones he already had written). We should be putting together a nice recording of those songs in coming months as well as playing some gigs.

Go check out some mp3s by Stereo Crisis. They are a band from the Mississippi Gulf Coast that I am buddies with. The drummer Ray "Christian" Bollier was in my band, Alibi back in the late 80's. That was a really fun band to be a part of. Anyway, his new band Stereo Crisis is kicking ass and getting noticed.

Well, that's about it for now. I'll update the news again in a couple of weeks. I should be doing a major overhaul of the site in a month or so.... I'll try to get the pages to load a little more quickly.

The latest... I saw my CD and "official place holder" at Virgin Megastore in New Orleans the other day - along with The Cult Tribute CD. The stuff is out there to be found. Jake Brown gave me a picture of himself holding my CD and "official place holder" from the Virgin Megastore in New York, Time Square. Thanks Jake.

I recently jammed with Jason Keller and David Campbell on ten of Jason's new songs. The stuff sounds really good. I still have a bunch of guitar solos to write.

For the fun of it, we've been thinking of putting together a set of good old 80's Metal and playing out, three-piece, to open for some friends of mine. It just might happen.

I recently rented Hedwig and the Angry Inch on DVD. It was a really terrific musical/movie. I recommend it. The song writing is really brilliant. The lyrics are very on point. Even the deleted scenes were funny. I need to thank my friend Wen Liu for turning me on to it.