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Newsletters;
02/04/01 - 11/30/01
11/30
Heartbreaking Nuze,
I have had a sick, empty feeling in my
heart all day today. Beatles are not supposed to die. I feel
like I lost a family member today.
I met George Harrison in the hallway at
the old Record Plant Studios on 3rd St. in 1976. It was so
exciting to come face to face with one of my heros, I have no
idea what I said to him, something dumb I'm sure, but he was so
gracious and calm. He just smiled. I was nobody to him, he could
have totally blown me off, but he chose to be cool. I'll never
forget that moment. He reacted to me just how you hope he would.
Kindness radiated from him.
He will be missed greatly.
kC
11/06
Hello Nuze Fans,
The 2001 touring season is over, and
another amazing one it was...thanks to you guys!
But first, the 2001 baseball season is
over as well, and Dave Amato's guitar picks have done it again.
This past spring Dave and Bruce went to Dodgers Stadium for a
ball game as guests of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They sat in the
D-backs dugout and made some friends while they were there.
Arizona won the game, and since then Manager Bob Brenley and
slugger Luis Gonzales have kept Dave's REO guitar picks in their
hat and shoe respectively. Well, as you may have heard they won
the World Series, so the "magic picks" obviously
worked! Congratulations to the entire team and staff. (Thank God
they won, Dave has been a nervous wreck)
It was tough not to root for the
Yankees this year, considering what that city has been through.
But hey, it came down to the 9th inning of game seven, it was a
classic series that both teams and their fans can be proud of.
When we hit the last note of 157 in
Tucson last Friday, it felt great to have completed the 30th
year of REO Speedwagon's touring history. How fortunate we are
to have fans like you guys still supporting us and our music to
this day, and onward.
The end of a tour is always a bit
bittersweet because of the friends we make along the way who we
won't be seeing for a while. We have a tremendous road crew, a
dedicated team of guys who put up the show (as well as put up
with us), and keep it rolling on a nightly basis. We absolutely
could not do it without them. So to Shaeff, Gaz, B, Ringo,
Danny, Borga, T-Byrd, Rosie, Rudy and of course Ricky (the man
who never sleeps) YOU GUYS ROCK! We love you all.
As we sat in the dressing room after
that final show, we were already throwing ideas around for a
whole new set list and stage set for 2002. I don't want to give
anything away too soon, but next year will be a whole new
ballgame. We are ready for a big change and I guarantee our next
tour will be new and improved and exciting. Stay tuned for
details as we solidify things.
I have fallen terribly behind on my
"listening". I am still reading about Behind the Music
related topics, but I have some time this week so I'll ketchup.
Have I mentioned that my wife threw me
an outrageous bash for my f-f-50th. I was given some amazing
gifts as well. Our managers John and Tommy sent Dave out to
Norman's Rare Guitars to find something special for me, and boy
did they come through...a 1960, mint condition Martin D-28 to
add to my collection. It is one of the most beautiful acoustic
guitars I have ever played. Neal, Bruce, Bryan, Dave, Joe and
Diane Vanelli and my good friends Adam, Shelly, Lance and Karyn
all chipped in on one of them there new fangled titanium
cornputers, so now writing the nuze is more fun than ever. My
buddy and collaborator Randy Cantor sent me a set of Spinal Tap
action figures (complete with miniature cucumber!).
My friend John Wolk totally blew my
mind. He works over at ABC television and he went around and got
a bunch of the stars there to autograph photos for me. Who knew
that Sipowitz from NYPD Blue was an REO fan. Not only that, but
Heather Lockyer said I don't look a day over 30. (Wait a minute,
I smell forgery.) He got me a bunch of way cool autographs, now
I understand our nightly after show meet and greets a little
better.
We are taking the month of November
off, time for a little R&R (rest and relaxation, that is),
but I will keep in touch via this site.
Keep Pushin',
kC
PS. Just checked out the
"listens" page, thanks for all the birthday wishes. I
am always entertained and even enlightened by your comments and
questions.
10/25
Nuze Quickie, (Hey I always say, a quickie
is better than none at all.)
Wow, what a weekend!
So many amazing bands, so many hard
working crew members, so many generous fans...I could not
possibly capture the energy, excitement and emotion of the
Volunteers For America benefit concerts this past weekend.
Luckily there is a documentary in the making.
I was so busy behind the scenes that I
missed so many great performances. I can't wait to see some
video myself. I hear that Tommy Shaw has posted a number of
backstage photos on the Styxworld site. I plan on checking them
out when I find a spare moment.
I spent this morning on a full on play
date with Holly, Josh and Shane. We started out at one of our
favorite destinations, the car wash. We love that place! (Bumped
into Frankie Avalon there...only in LA).
Then off to an awesome indoor
playground in the neighborhood, followed by an elegant luncheon
at Wendy's. Gotta love the drive through on the same day as the
car wash, next time I may want to consider reversing the order
of events.
It is good to be home, and at the same
time I miss the camaraderie of all the fine musicians/people
this past weekend.
More on the Volunteers Concert when
time permits. (When exactly will that ever be?!)
OK, kC
PS. I can see from his photos that
Webmaster D was in Atlanta, his name was on the ultra-exclusive
backstage list, and yet no sign of da man...hmmm.
PSS. to the Nuze Quickie,
Just heard from Tommy S that we raised
1,000,000 dollars over the weekend! That ROCKS.
kC
10/19
I spent this evening with Tommy and JY,
Neil Schon and John Waite. Everyone is getting into town here in
Atlanta tonight for tomorrow's rehearsals. It is very life
affirming to hear all the various feelings my fellow rockers
have in light of the cause we have all gathered for.
Spirits are high here. Everyone is
psyched up for a couple of kickin' ass shows this weekend.
We are all running over to the Atlanta
baseball stadium to sing God Bless America during the seventh
inning stretch on Friday night. The game is televised on Fox,
and they have guaranteed that we will actually be seen in the
telecast this time.
Thanks for all the nice birthday
wishes. Lisa threw me an awesome party at the Canyon Club in LA.
We had a big jam. It was so great to see so many of the people
who have put up with me all these years. My motto
remains,"50 ain't as old as it used to be".
We are hoping to see Webmaster D at the
Atlanta show.
Well, the twins woke up earlier than
usual this morning, and I have been traveling all day, so I will
sign off now. I'll let you know how things go as the weekend
festivities progress.
OK, kC
9/14
No one needs to be reminded of the
horrific events of the past few days. Our entire band and crew
are safe. We flew out of Dulles Airport to Los Angeles on
Sunday, and fortunately, were all home with our families. I was
reading stories to my sons on their 2nd birthday when I got a
call from our manager suggesting I turn on the TV.
My sympathy to anyone whose life has
been affected on a personal level by this. Our tour manager
Brian lost one of his best friends. Brian had known him since
junior high school. He was traveling home from Boston to be with
his wife for the birth of their second child, when his flight
was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center. I cannot
begin to understand the depth of sorrow being experienced by
that family. Our thoughts are with them.
As far as our decision to play on, we
just went on instinct. We felt that to cancel our concerts was,
in a way, allowing ourselves, and our fans, to be beaten by
terrorism. Even so, as I sat on the bus yesterday, I was unsure
how I would handle the emotions that performing during this time
would summon. But it turned out to be a catharsis of sorts.
Songs like "Keep Pushin'", "Riding the Storm
Out" and others took on new meaning. We needed to play
those songs, and judging from their response, the thousands who
came to the concert needed to hear them.
And so the healing process begins. I am
doing my best to stay calm, and urging people to be careful not
to judge entire ethnic and religious groups harshly, based on
the despicable actions of a small number of extremists. I am
expressing my grief and anger, and looking for ways to channel
my emotions into positive energy. And I find myself appreciating
my family and friends, being more patient with life's minor
hassles and having a general sense of connection with my fellow
Americans. Good luck to everyone in dealing with this crisis.
Keep Pushin',
kC
9/07
I hope you were able to catch the REO/Styx
shows this past week, we picked right up where we left off in
February. We talked about getting together and touring in the
winter of 2002, everyone is excited about the idea. Just need to
work out the details. I'll keep you up to date as we get closer.
I have read so many amazing letters on
the kC listens page, it is mind boggling! I wish I could respond
to everyone personally. Let me once again say thanks to you all
for your interesting and inspiring comments. Sometimes there is
a certain topic which seems to capture the curiosity of many of
the kC listens letters, so I can make some general responses to
those comments...
I feel no bitterness
toward Gary, nor have I felt any from him. There were some very
emotional moments for me during Gary's BTM interviews. Maybe
there will be a time when Gary and I can work together, in some
way. It would be great if we could both be at a place in our
lives where that could happen...who knows, we'll see.
A lot of people have
been interested in finding out more about my nutrition/exercise
program. I have been pretty health conscious since around 1985
so it kind of comes naturally for me at this point. I am
thinking about trying to organize my thoughts on this subject,
and maybe get a bit more specific so I can pass on some ideas to
people who are thinking about getting into shape. Hey, my new
motto is,"50 ain't as old as it used to be."
Speaking of which, I got a call from
"The Nuge" the other night. In his inimitable way, he
reminded me that we better be ready to rock on Saturday in York,
PA. because we are following him on stage that night. Man, we go
back so far with him, I'm talking the Amboy Dukes, various
REO/Nugent stadium shows in the 70s and 80s. It is great to be
playing with another rock'n roll survivor. I say, "Bring it
on Ted!".
Ok, I'll talk to you soon, keep pushin',
kC
8/28
A little PS to my nuzeletter...
After pouring through a number of your
notes on the kC listens page, it seems like Behind the Music
left many of you with the idea that I could just pick up the
phone, call Gary, and Presto!, he is back in the band.
Please understand that although the VH-1 special may have
implied that there was just a little ego problem between Gary
and me, it is not simply a case of who will phone who first. The
problems are far deeper than what comes across on BTM.
I think Neal summed up my feelings
best. He said, if he had been out of this band for twelve years,
and knew months in advance that there was a Behind the Music on
REO coming up, he would work his ass off to look and sound his
best, and to make a strong impression. We all feel sadness about
Gary's problems, and we are hopeful for his future, but Gary
Richrath did not seem like a changed man to me.
Dave Amato has worked so hard for
twelve years, always has an amazingly positive attitude, is
reliable, honest and ready to rock, plays great guitar and sings
his ass of every night. That is what it takes to be the guitar
player in this band. Dave has earned his spot, and earns it
again on stage and off, day in and day out.
OK, can I really stop talking about BTM
now...please!
8/27
Nuze, nuze and more nuze,
Where do I start? This is what I get
for letting so much time pass between nuzeletters.
Well, I must say that the kC listens
page has been extremely active. Behind the Music has stirred up
a variety of emotions and memories, not only among those of us
who were a part of the experience, but in our fans and
supporters as well. I have read some of the most thoughtful
messages over the past few days...thanks for joining in and
expressing yourselves. There are so many people that I want to
respond to, I just can't type fast enough. But, as always, I
read all the messages, and they affect me.
In general, we thought that the BTM
special did a great job of bringing the history of REO
Speedwagon to life. All the band members, past and present, were
open about some rather personal situations, and I am proud of us
all for that.
My main criticism is in the ending. In
watching and listening to Gary's interviews, I am surprised to
hear him say that he feels that he is ready to join this band at
this time. Gary has made some choices which have had tragic
results in his personal life, as well as in his music. We could
not let his choices be our choices, so, as difficult as it was,
we moved on. That is what Behind the Music failed to bring home.
Gary deserves a great deal of credit and respect for the huge
contributions he made to REO, and I feel he got that from the
VH-1 show. But twelve years have passed, and in that time the
present lineup has built this group back up from near
extinction, into one of the biggest touring bands in the world.
Dave and Bryan deserve to be recognized as key parts of our
renewed energy and popularity, and in that Behind the Music came
up way short. Dave is our guitar player, now and forever. Bryan
is our drummer, now and forever. OK, can I quit talking about
Behind the Music now. (By the way the new, reedited version airs
again this Thursday at 9:00 PM.)
Politically Incorrect was a gas. I was
just a little nervous going in! They sent me a questionnaire in
advance to see where I stood on a variety of serious issues. You
actually have to think to be on that show. As it turned out
Monique and I are fast friends, Ray Allen invited me to sing the
National Anthem for the Bucks on opening day, and get this, the
young lady who sat next to Ray (the conservative activist whose
name presently escapes me), ran up and asked me for an autograph
after the taping. She is a very sweet person, although we
disagree on most other things. The producers asked if I would
come back and do the show again in the future, and Neal said he
thought I did a good job, and he is the hippest guy in the band
so I must have done OK.
Speaking of hip, the Arch Allies are
back! Two awesome, sold out shows with REO and Styx. We just
picked up right where we left off in February. Good fun, good
music and good friends make for a great concert experience, and
the crowds have let us know it!
More about the tour soon, but my two
index fingers have taken just about all the abuse they can
stand...hey I need them to play guitar tomorrow in Allentown,
PA.
Keep Pushin', kC
8/19
Quick NoozeNote,
I know I need to get a proper
noozeletter out ASAP, but things are pretty hectic around my
house right now. I'll be back on the road this coming Thursday,
and I promise to nooze down right away.
One quick note: As of today the
re-edited version of Behind the Music is the official version.
From this point forward all broadcasts will include the new
footage of my family, which was left out of the original show.
Lisa, Holly, Paris, Josh and Shane are a huge part of why I
continue to love life and make music, and deserve to be
acknowledged accordingly.
See you Tuesday night on Politically Incorrect.
kC
8/09
Good nooze for all you cyber-party-ers...The
one and only Webmaster D is ready to unveil the new and improved
"kC Cyber-Party Central". This chat room was always a
very popular cyber hang out, but D has outdone himself. With
this month's REO visibility rising, it will be cool to have a
place to talk about it all. This weekend's Behind the Music will
answer many questions, but it will inevitably raise some new
ones as well.
My ubiquitous guitar tech, the
inimitable "Borga", has been gratious, or is that
gratuitous, enough to grace these pages with another exciting
and insightful interview. I have a question..."Dear Borga,
When I look over at the stage right wing during a concert and
scowl menacingly, who am I looking at, and why? Just wondering,
kC"
But seriously, Borga is my right hand
during our performances, is responsible for keeping Neal, Bruce
and my gear in tour shape, as well as acquiring the latest state
of the art equipment for all of our needs. I will be unveiling
my new piano, the "Blue Monster", on stage soon, and
Borga was the force behind making it happen. I wish you all
could see his "world" over on stage right, it is down
right scary back there! Forget my guitars, we need some pictures
of "Borga's Stage Right Asylum and Curio Shop" here on
the site.
So check out all the new and improved
stuff here at kC.com and have a great REO weekend with our
friends at VH-1.
Keep Pushin', kC
8/01
I am starting to sound like a broken
record, or should I say a smudged CD, but what an outstanding
weekend. We played in front of 80,000 raging REO maniacs in
three days.
It all began in Kettering, Ohio, just
outside Dayton. The weather was perfect, the audience and the
band were totally in tune with one another, and the sound was
right in the pocket (thanks to our sound men Neil and Kevin no
it is not mandatory that our crew members have the names of band
members, although come to think of it we do have two Kevins, a
Brian and a Neil). Comedian George Wallace stopped in and warmed
up the crowd just for the fun of it, he is very cool and very
funny.
Then on to West Bend, Wisconsin. A lot
of people in the Milwaukee area were wondering why we did not
appear at Summerfest this year, and anyone who saw the show in
West Bend found out for themselves...all 30,000 plus!! We
decided to throw our own party this summer, and what a party it
was. The band smoked. We played for two hours, until we had
given absolutely every ounce of energy we could give. And the
crowd gave it right back to us...thank you all for an amazing
night.
We thought that there was no way
Stillwater, Minnesota could possibly follow that show...until we
got there and saw for ourselves the 50,000 plus people who had
gathered on the shore of, actually I forgot exactly what shore
it was, but I'll tell you there were a whole bunch of REO people
as far as the eye could see, and then some. The Mayor of
Stillwater told us it was the most people that had ever been in
the town at one time. Once again we played until we dropped, and
the crowd let us know how much they appreciated our effort.
Three shows...three inspired nights. I
love it.
Hey I just found out that my appearance
on VH-1 Rock'n Roll Jeopardy is coming up on August 11 at 11:00
AM. Then Behind the Music on the following day...it's a regular
REO weekend on VH-1.
OK it's getting late and the Twins wait
for no man, especially in the early morning hours.
Over and out, kC
7/20
Man, this summer is turning out to be another amazing ride. One
sold out show after another, setting attendance records left and
right, and of course having as much fun as can be had with our
clothes on. (With the notable exception of Las Vegas, where it
was much too warm for clothes.)
Muskegon Michigan is a little town full
of big time rock fans. The city holds a week long concert series
that gets better every year. Our "Allies", Styx came
through a couple of days earlier, we'll see them in a few weeks.
We had a sold out crowd and what a great audience. We played
until we literally dropped. Thanks for all the letters of
appreciation on the kC listens page...I do listen! By the way,
at the beginning of "Ridin' The Storm Out" I yelled
the same thing I yelled on our 1977 Live album..."Last song
people".
Next we played up in northern Minnesota
at a three day rock festival called "Moondance Jam"
with our buddy George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers. I
had met George at a Fathers Day brunch in Malibu. Our daughters
started playing together, so I went over to see who this cute
little girl's parents were, and her dad was George. We became
fast friends, and he threw out the idea of doing some shows
together. Well I want to tell you that those guys blew me away,
what a great band. And George is awesome, he is the genuine
article. Hopefully we will play together in the future, I could
totally see touring with those guys.
Two more full houses in Beloit,
Wisconsin, where we saw so many of our friends and family,
including Mille and Ted (my Mom and Dad). Then we rocked Council
Bluffs, Iowa. Other than my suitcase getting left behind, we had
another great night.
We arrived in Colorado Springs three
days in advance of our concert date and checked into an amazing
hotel called "The Cliffhouse" in Manitou Springs.
We're talking Pike's Peak for a backdrop, gorgeous rooms,
gourmet food, and the friendliest staff you could ever want.
Radio station KKFM invited us in to celebrate their 15th
anniversary, and we did it up in style. We started off at a
party, in which we sat in on the local band's equipment, and
probably blew most of it up...sorry guys. We played some golf
with the radio jocks and wound things up with a show at the
beautiful World Arena, including one of the most elaborate after
show parties I can remember. Thanks again to everyone involved,
it was a true community effort, and one that will go down in REO
folklore.
Well, the bus awaits the short ride up
to Cheyenne, Wyoming for tonight's concert. Hope to see you all
soon.
Keep Pushin', as always,
kC
7/04
We had a great weekend, three sold-out
shows in San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno. Our new, ever-evolving
set list is keeping us on our toes...and the crew guys love it.
Borga and Za are never quite sure which guitars to have ready.
At one point Za was holding three of Dave's electrics at once,
waiting
for a signal.
Those of you who came out to see us saw
what fun the band is having. I don't understand why a small
number of cyber-terrorists are spreading trash around the
various REO-related websites. I do understand that I was accused
of "bouncing off the stage from an overdose of percodan",
and "yelling a string of profanities at the crowd"
this past weekend. Give me a break! Whoever is behind these
gutless, truthless attacks needs to find something better to do.
I will not comment further on this matter.
Hey, it's the 4th of July. We have not
been home for the 4th since I can remember, so I am going back
to the house and hang with the family. Enjoy your holiday, and
we will see you on the road.
Remember, August 12, Behind The Music.
Keep Pushin', kC
6/21
Nooze doods and babes,
What a bizarre, yet awesome, weekend.
First, on Thursday night, my flight
from Chicago to Saulte Saint Marie gets canceled, at 11:00 PM,
after I have sat around O'Hare Airport for over three hours
waiting, because of bad weather. So I, luggage in hand, make my
way to Hertz, I rent a car (actually it was a bright orange
Mustang...pretty cool), and head off into the night. Guess what,
it is a long way from Chicago to S.S.M., about 10 hours if you
take the route I chose.
I get to the gig on Friday, just in
time for sound check, and find out the show may be canceled, bad
weather again. I go crazy. REO does not cancel shows. We play
through tornadoes, hail storms, you name it, we ride out
the storm. But this show was one of the few where we were forced
to cancel, the health risks to the band as well as the audience
were too great.
But we are ready to rock, there are
people who came to hear us play who are ready to hear us rock,
so we head down to see what's happening. The next thing I know,
I was in the bar, singing "Livin' La Vida Loca" with
the karaoke machine.
Never having attempted karaoke before, (not to mention having no
idea how to spell it), the words were flying by on the screen, I
was totally lost. Finally in a last ditch effort to salvage the
moment, I decided to make up my own words and melody and began
shaking my groove thang Ricky Martin style.
From that point on things really got
going. Somehow we made it to the bus, and took off for
Wisconsin, relatively speaking, in one piece. We always try to
make the best of our circumstances and have fun in the face of
adversity.
Again, we love coming to Saulte Saint
Marie. We appreciate everyone who came out to see us last
Friday, and we are working on plans to reschedule the concert
later this summer.
All that pent up rock' n roll energy
from the night before came out on Saturday in Wisconsin Dells.
It was one of my favorite REO concerts ever. We played for over
two hours, threw out the set list, did a bunch of different
songs, and had a great time. We are doing a number of
"evening with" type of shows this summer, which allows
us to cut loose and do whatever we feel like on stage. La Vida
Loca may not be a permanent fixture in our set, but one never
knows...!
Our "Behind The Music"
special has an official air date, August 12. VH-1 needed a
little extra time to finish up, and that date works out to be
better for promo purposes as well, so we are all happy.
OK, gotarun, kC
6/12
NoozeFlash...
Well, I gave it my best shot, but I
cannot keep up with the inquiring minds here at KC.com, you guys
are too much! I really enjoy hearing what's on your minds. I get
lots of ideas from reading your questions, but I am having a
hard time keeping up with actually answering all of you, so...
"Ask kC" is officially
morphing into "kC listens". So you can tell me what
you are feeling, old road stories, suggestions, I especially
enjoy your compliments!, whatever you want to communicate to me,
this is the place.
For all of you whose questions I never
got to answer, thank you for participating, and please know that
I read every question that comes in.
Our rehearsals went great, we
definitely have some surprises for our loyal fans this summer.
Can't wait to see you out on the road.
Keep Pushin', kC
6/06
Hello Noozesters,
We have been looking for some new music
to bring us on stage this summer. The "American Bandstand
Theme" has served us well for the past year, but we have
heard it a few too many times. The intro music needs to get the
audience going, but we need something that gets us off as well.
In the past we have used the "Pink Panther Theme" (for
the 9 Lives Tour), "What You Need" (for Life As We
Know It) , etc. After all these tours, we have come up with
something totally original (to my knowledge) and very cool, (if
I do say so myself). I'll keep it as a surprise for now, but if
you come to a show, don't be late!
We are in the final process of OKing
the "REOSPEEDWAGONLIVE plus" artwork. We were
calling it Plus 3, but Neal suggested simply "plus",
he is just too damn hip, the Paul Schaeffer of REO. Tom Drennon,
who was the art director for "9 Lives" and
"Decade of Rock'n Roll" came through big time with
this new package. Great design, cool photos and copy. Producer
Joe Vanneli, yeah Gino's little brother, made us sound great
once again. It is nice to hear the whole St. Louis show straight
through. The DVD looks and sounds unbelievable...you are
virtually sitting in the front row.
We start rehearsals tomorrow for the
mini-tour. We are working up a bunch of songs which have not
been in the set list for years. Possibly even something from,
gulp, "Good Trouble". We are gonna have some fun this
summer, can't wait to see everyone out on the road.
Well, I believe that The Key is to
Blaze Your Own Trail and watch out for Lightning...so if you
will Let Me Ride I will simply Say Goodnight.
kC
5/23
Howdy Friends,
I have admittedly been keeping a rather
low profile for the last couple of weeks. It has been years
since the press has beaten up on us like they have lately. I had
actually forgotten what a drag it is to have lies about us
reported as facts.
My old friend Howard Stern called this
morning after he learned the story, which ran on the API wire
about our canceled show in Arizona last week, was full of
misinformation. Howard and Robin had goofed on us pretty hard
based on the API story, and wanted to give us a chance to set
the record straight. Howard was totally cool with me, and other
than being woken up at 3:30 AM, I had a blast doing the show, as
usual. Anyway, for those of you that slept in this morning, here
is the true story of the infamous Queens Creek Arizona
incident...
As you know we are keeping our schedule
pretty light so we can spend time with our families this summer.
We got an offer to play a free concert for KSLX, a Classic Rock
station that plays our music in Phoenix. We were told it was a
three day festival, with REO, Billy Idol and Loverboy playing a
free show on the first night, and numerous other bands filling
out the bill for the next two nights, which had tickets on sale.
The station was to give away over 40,000 free tickets for our
night, which sounded very cool. I could fly out in the morning
and be home in time to tuck in my daughter that night, so we
agreed to do the show.
Next thing we know Howard, Dennis
Miller, CNN and every newspaper in the known universe are
reporting that the show, now, by the way featuring REO, Kansas
and Steppenwolf (What happened to Billy Idol and Loverboy?) is
canceled because we could only sell 400 tickets. Funny how the
"facts" mysteriously changed.
The good news is that API ran a new
story clarifying the situation, and it looks like the promoter,
who stiffed all the bands as well as KSLX, is in even hotter
water as the local press in Phoenix looks deeper into his
affairs. By the way, it was his wife who leaked the original
flawed account of events to API.
Hopefully this is behind us now
so we can enjoy our light springtime schedule, and prepare for
our tour which starts heating up around the middle of July
through mid September.
Behind The Music has finished up all
the interviews and research, and is now in the final stages of
production. We will see the finished product the same time you
do, when it airs on VH-1 on July 22.
The "REO Live Plus 3" DVD and
CD is almost ready. The music is completed, we are now in the
process of approving artwork and completing the extra goodies
(including an extensive REO Trivia Game, interview footage and
backstage video) for the DVD. We are all very excited,
especially about the DVD, it looks and sounds purty dang hap'nin.
No word from VH-1 on the air date for
my Rock and Roll Jeopardy appearance. Actually I am in no rush
to have the world see just what an idiot I am capable of
being...oh well, anything for a laugh.
OK, I can put off my daily work out no
longer, gotta run.
Keep Pushin', kC
5/06
Hey you noozehounds,
So I get a call to do Rock' n Roll
Jeopardy. It was last minute, but Eric Luftgrass, who first
invited me to play in VH-1's Fairway To Heaven golf tournament
(I was on the runner up team in 1999, if I do must say so
myself. Hey, have you guys heard about Dave's victory in the
Mark and Brian golf extravaganza...we have!).
Anyway, they promised I would be home in time to tuck in the
twins, and I had passed on two invitations to appear on
"The List", and I do like VH-1, so I do it.
So I am a little apprehensive, in light
of the lack of killer instinct, among other things, which were
so apparent in my performance as a member of the Shaw/Cronin
team on R&R Jeopardy's short lived predecessor,
"My Generation". But I did get a couple of correct
answers during the pre-tape run through, so I had that going for
me.
The actual show started out with a
bang. At the first break I was tied for the lead with Jimmy
Jam...0 to 0. Lief Garrett was a close second at -300. It was
obvious that all of us were applying similar strategy.
I don't want to give the whole show
away, but I should tell you all that the "Final
Jeopardy" portion of the program is not really worth
staying awake for. I suggest turning off your TV, or clicking to
another show during that last commercial. Comedy Central or ESPN
usually have something of interest going on, or the Discovery
Channel could work. Just don't waste your time watching that
"Final Jeopardy" segment. I mean, they try to make
such a big deal out of it just because it is the climax of the
whole game. I mean, who cares about "Final Jeopardy"
anyway. Just a little heads up from a guy who was there!
@&*%#?
OK, I can't type any more, must kick
back and gather my energy, Lisa and Holly are out of town, Mimi
the Nanny has the next few days off, so it is Daddy and the
boys, holding down the fort. I'm hoping Paris can make it by
tomorrow, that would be very cool.
kC
PS. I did tape some "video
clues" to be aired in future Jeopardy shows. One of them
was, "Rock band named after a river in Haddies, who
recorded "Come Sail Away". Duuuuhhhh. But in the the
show tonight I did get some points for a Styx related
answer...something to do with having time on my hands.
5/01
This afternoon I got an impromto
interpretive ballet performance of the "Ballads"
album. Little Holly surprised me in the studio, and began
dancing along as I was listening to "Just For You". We
are considering a remix and a new vocal for that song in hopes
of stirring up some interest in Hollywood... seems like an
obvious love theme to us we shall see.
The Behind The Music production team is
amazing. It is no coincidence that it is the highest rated
program on VH-1. They put forth so much time and effort. The
scary part is that we have no control over the finished product.
That's it, I'm not watching it.
I have to run, I'll get to some ?s over
the weekend.
Over and out, kC
4/21
Hi Boys and Girls,
Man, we had a blast at Blueseville last
night. It is a 2000 seat club just outside Memphis, perfect size
venue for us to have let loose and have some fun. I understand
people came from as far away as Oklahoma, Florida and
Kentucky...you guys are awesome. We played a couple of songs we
hadn't done in quite a while. The place was full, and the club
knows how to treat bands right. I imagine we will be back there
again. I think it is a great place to see us. Great sound system
and all the seats are good.
Even though we are trying to keep our
touring to a minimum this summer so we can spend more time with
our families, we continue to get offers we can't refuse. We are
steering clear of major cities, but it looks like we may end up
playing between 40 and 50 shows before the summer is over. Check
Speedwagon.com for the complete itinerary.
Behind The Music continues to take up
more time and energy than I expected, but it is well worth it.
It is very important to us that our story be told accurately,
truthfully and respectfully. Everyone is committed to telling it
as they see it, regardless of whose feathers may be ruffled. I
had a great meeting with our producer Doug Rittenhouse last
week, and I feel confident that our BTM will be entertaining,
informative, and inspirational as well. The tentative air date
on VH-1 is July 22. Stay tuned.
Dave and I spent the last two weeks
shuttling between REO rehearsals and Blue Moon Studios where Joe
Vanelli is busy mixing the remainder of the tracks from last
summer's show at Riverport. We couldn't fit the whole set on the
"Arch Allies" CD and DVD because we had to save some
space for those Styx boys. The mixes are finally all done. The
most exciting part for me is the DVD. The sound is mixed in 5.1
surround. Watching it on a nice TV monitor with the surround
sound cranking is unbelievable. Now I have to go through all the
backstage video footage, which will also be a part of the DVD.
The working title is "REO Live -1+3". (minus 1 band,
Styx, and + three songs not included on the original "Arch
Allies" set). Should be available in late July.
I had hoped to get to some of your
questions today, but it's time to begin my show night ritual. We
play in Valdosta Georgia tonight. Talk to you later...
Keep Pushin, kC
4/04
Yo, I got your nooze here,
Well, this little VH-1 thing is getting
pretty interesting. They interview everyone separately so no one
has any idea what anyone else has said. The first time we see
the show will be when it airs.
Dave and Bruce did their bits at
Bruce's house last week. The crew went up to Santa Barbara to
talk to Alan as well. Gary is set for later this week. One nice
effect of doing BTM is that it is bringing us all together.
OK, your inquisitive minds want to
know...
I met Ozzy back stage at Live Aid. I
think Black Sabbath went on right after us. He was cool, what
else.
We have played some funky venues
through the years. We played a club during our
"rebuilding" period just after Dave and Bryan joined,
where our dressing room was connected to the balcony of the
strip club next door. We were a bit late going on that night! On
that same tour we shared a dressing room with a ventriloquist in
Mexico City. See, it's not all glitz and glamour.
I can't possibly fulfill all the
requests for autographed photos etc. Thanks for asking, but I
don't have any here.
Being the only rock band on big country
music festivals is a gas. It definitely challenges us, but we
love it. It gives us a rare opportunity to reach people who may
not ordinarily come to an REO show.
I have no formula for song writing.
Sometimes the melody comes first. Sometimes the words come
first. But the most important thing is the feeling which
inspires me to start the process. The stronger the feeling, the
stronger the song.
We did play a festival in Chile in
early 1989. We played two nights in Vina del Mar, and it was a
blast. I stayed for a while and visited a friend whose family
lives in southern Chile. My plan was to make it all the way to
Tierra del Fuego...maybe next time.
We used to play "I Saw Her
Standing There" for an encore sometimes. It is a great song
to play live.
OK, time to take Holly to her first
dentist appointment. Wish us luck.
kC
3/31
Hello my inquisitive amigos,
I am trying my best to keep up with you
guys, here goes...
I have been known to play "In My
Dreams" without warning in the REO set from time to time.
It is one of those "audibles" that my fellow band and
crew mates love so much.
The most difficult song for me to
finish was undoubtedly "Can't Fight...".
"Building The Bridge" was maybe the most emotional,
even though I literally wrote the whole song on the spot.
"Keep On Loving You" is up there with the most
emotional as well.
We normally choose a few old, album cut
type of songs to work up before each tour. It just depends on
what we feel like getting into at the time. We do pay attention
to requests which come in from our fans, so let your preferences
be heard via this site or the REO site.
Lisa uses any liquid laundry soap, with
the absolute exception of Tide. (I couldn't pass up this
question)
We had a great time at the 1999 Oak
Lawn show. Being introduced by my Dad, and having my Mom singing
backgrounds was heart warming for me.
In order to have a golf handicap one
needs to play on a regular basis, which regrettably I no longer
can. I at one time played to a 20, and would like to get out and
work on bringing that number down. Same for Laker games, love
them, but no time.
I talked to Alan Gratzer last night. He
is being interviewed for Behind The Music as we speak.
157 Riverside Ave. is the address of
the house the band lived in while recording the first album. It
is in Connecticut.
I like the Foo Fighters a lot. They
rehearse at the same studio as us, and we sit in on each others
sessions occasionally. The first time I met them a roadie gave
me some ear plugs. I'm thinking he is crazy. After all I'm in a
rock band too! Guess what, after a few minutes of sitting in a
small room with D, Grohl's Marshall stack, I put those puppies
in. They are great guys and they ROCK. They have a solid
appreciation of bands like us and our contemporaries, which is a
tremendous compliment. I also like Fuel, Lifehouse, Matchbox 20
and Creed.
By the way, thanks for all the kind
words, I appreciate your appreciation.
Keep Pushin', kC
3/30
Hi Gang,
I'm back......
Jim Peterik's World Stage concert was a
huge success once again. The show was sold out. Don Barnes (38
Special), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger) and of course Jimmy all
played and sang great with the help of an amazing band of
Chicago studio musicians. Shows like this are so much fun. I had
a blast.
Since I was committed to be in Chicago
with Jimmy, I was unable to participate in the annual Mark and
Brian Golf Tournament here in LA. So Dave Amato sat in for
me...and came in first place! Congratulations to Dave on his
victory.
Those of you who may have been
listening to the Conway and Steckler Show on 97.1 here in LA
heard a wild interview I did with them last week. They are
looking for a theme song, and someone sent in a tape which Tim
thought sounded like REO. I played along with the bit, but
between you and me, that tape is not us. Just Tim Conway Jr. and
me having some laughs.
The Behind The Music show is in full
swing. More interviews over the next few weeks. The research
staff raided my attic, my studio and my Mom's REO closet, and
found all sorts of goodies. My sister Maura had collected press
clippings from all around the country, old photos , etc., which
are coming in very handy now. We found tons of old T-shirts that
I didn't even remember saving. Quite a trip down memory lane
sorting through all this stuff.
We go into Joe Vannelli's studio next
week to finish up mixing for the full REO live CD and DVD from
last year's St. Louis concert. It will consist of our entire
set. Look for a late summer release date. Personally, I would
have preferred to include the whole set in the original
"Arch Allies" package, but the record company had it's
own ideas. Oh well.
Now for a little "Ask kC"
action...
We think it is awesome that so many
young people are being turned on to our music. REO fans are all
young at heart.
My all time favorite
CDs..."Crosby, Stills and Nash", "Madman Across
The Water" "Rubber Soul" and "J.T."
We would love to return to Europe and
the UK and hopefully we will have the opportunity to play over
there in the future, but currently no plans are in place.
I have gotten so many messages from
people telling me that "Keep Pushin'" has helped them
through rough times. I feel that is the most important
contribution a songwriter can make. Actually that song has
gotten me through some rough spots too.
My favorite touring guitar is my
Ovation Red Sunburst Viper. Ovation just made me a custom Purple
Pearl Viper that I will unleash soon.
"Regis" was a nick name of
original REO bassist Gregg Philbin.
The people who came back for our rain
postponed show last summer in Denver are AWESOME. Both us and
Styx were blown away that all but 75 out of ten thousand people
showed up for the rain date.
"Time For Me To Fly" is
played in an "open D" tuning. From the low string it
goes as follows D, A, D, F#, A, D...have fun.
That's all for now, I have to save some
finger strength to practice my guitar.
Keep Pushin', kC
3/16
Hey Nooze Doods,
It is so cool to hear from REO fans of
all ages. You are awesome! Some of your questions are of a
nature which answering them accurately would require me to write
a short book. But I will respond to as many as I can, and I
really do enjoy reading each and every one. Here goes...
"Into The Light" is turning
out to be the most popular song we never recorded. The band is
stronger than ever, but it might be fun to put out some of my
"solo stuff". At this time I have no idea, and no
time, to get very serious about this idea, but eventually I will
get around to it.
Glad to hear so many people dig the new
song "Married Man". We only played it a few times in
concert and have not recorded it. Again, I'm sure it will turn
up eventually, I'm just not sure where or when.
I agree that our last few CDs were
grossly under-promoted by the record companies, with the
exception of our most recent "Arch Allies" live set.
CMC put a lot of energy behind that record, and are still
working on the project. They are currently waiting for us to mix
the remainder of the songs we played live in St Louis last June.
The plan is to put out a CD, video and DVD of the entire REO
set, separate from the Styx portion of the show, for release in
August.
You could say that "Just For
You" is connected to "Can't Fight". The love
expressed in the lyrics of JFY could not be experienced by
someone who was actively fighting their feelings.
My favorite golfers are the members of
Jake Trout and The Flounders, Peter Jacobson, Mark Lye and the
late, great Payne Stewart. I played and sang on their CD, and
they recorded a golf parody of "Time For Me To Fly"
for that record.
If you want a pick you've got to work
for it... you have to catch one that I throw from the stage.
I wish I would have had a teacher who
was an REO fan, I might have been able to finish college. I love
school teachers, you rule.
We played "Building The
Bridge" at a private show in Seattle last week and it felt
great. I imagine it will be showing up on our set lists in the
future.
Holly's favorite song : Brittney..."Oops
I Did It Again". Every time my little daughter sings,
"I'm not that innocent", Daddy chimes in, "Oh yes
you are". I don't know where she hears this stuff,
certainly not in this house!
The singers who joined me in the studio
on "Hard To Believe" were my friends Richard Marx,
David Crosby and Bill Champlain (Chicago, Sons of Champlain).
It would be fun to re-record some of
the songs which were "mal-produced" before we took
control. Realistically, it is even more fun to record new songs,
which is where my energy is concentrated.
OK, OK everybody wants me to listen to
"Good Trouble"... but I'm scared to...
I am feeling as energetic as ever on
stage. I love to play live, I eat a pretty healthy diet and I
exercise a lot...I have 18 month old twin boys, so I get plenty
of aerobic activity chasing them around.
I never took a piano lesson, although I
desperately wish I would have. The only songs I know on piano
are the ones I wrote on piano. Actually, I wrote "Can't
Fight" on piano and I was never really able to master the
part I wrote.
The most challenging aspect of being in
a band at this time of my life is that it keeps me away from
home so much. I work very hard to keep a balance between family
and career.
More to come, kC
3/15
Finally Some Actual Nooze,
Neal and I spent two full days being
de-briefed by VH-1 for the upcoming Behind The Music episode.
Luckily I was wearing boxers...but seriously folks. ( insert
Henny Youngman rimshot here ). I hear that Neal was his usual
quick-witted self. I, on the other hand, talked for so long and
in such depth that I will most likely have very few friends
left, if any, by the time this thing airs.
Actually it was a very enjoyable, as
well as emotionally stirring experience. Now I just have to hope
that nothing I said will be taken out of context (yeah, right).
Next the BTM research team begins
rummaging through my attic looking for photographs, magazine
articles, old video footage etc. Get ready, the lid is off.
I am heading to Chicago for a mug full
of green beer this Saturday. Oh yeah, St Paddy's Day in
Chi-town. I will be joining my friend Jim Peterik for his annual
World Stage concert at the Norris Theatre. I understand that the
show is sold out, but I am not positive about that. Last year we
had a great time and this year should be more of the same. I am
thinking about doing an acoustic guitar version of "Can't
Fight" just for a change.
I am clicking off to the Q&A page
to field some more of your inquiries....
Keep Pushin', kC
PS. I sent the following e-mail to Webmaster D. last night to
clarify a passage from my last "noozeLetter"...
Mr. Big Shot, Mr. "The office will
send me a copy of the new Henely CD", went out to Tower
Records and bought it earlier today. I couldn't wait. It's
AWESOME. I have not been inspired to run out to Tower in way too
long.
"EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW"
is my new favorite song.
Oh Yeah, Also, It may have been an
overstatement on my part to say that Don Henely is,
"Managed out of our office". Henely's Manager is the
one and only Irving Azoff. The great thing is that our Managers,
John and Tom, are back working together with Irving on a bunch
of cool projects.
Good Night, kC
3/13
Hey Fellow Noozies,
Did anyone see Don Henley on SNL this
past weekend. That first song he played, "Everything Is
Different Now",
blew me away. It was the first time I heard that song, and I
have not been so inspired by a new song in a long time.
I am running out to buy his CD today. Well, actually Don is
managed through our office now, so they are sending
one over, but I would have bought one, I swear.
We are getting psyched about the VH-1
show. The first interview, all day long with Neal, is scheduled
for 9:00 AM
Tuesday. I go bright and early on Wednesday.
A few more A's to your numerous Q's :
We have played so many shows that it is
difficult to choose the most memorable. One would have to be at
Royals Stadium in Kansas City in the summer of 1978. We
headlined a bill consisting of Ted Nugent and Fleetwood Mac,
among others. Mother Nature was less than cooperative all day
long, but during our opening song the power went dead, and a
tornado was spotted three miles from the stadium. I walked back
on to the stage, against the wishes of the promoter. I held a
flashlight over my head so people could see that we had no
intention of bowing to the furious weather conditions which
surrounded us. At last the power was restored, we played a full
set, and amazingly, no one left...the stadium was full of REO
fans, their clothing drenched, but their spirits undampened. We
truly rode out the storm together that day.
The story of the Flying Tuna is a long
and sordid tale, which surely will be covered in Behind The
Music...stay tuned.
There was a time in the early 90's when
Bruce and I were playing club dates in the LA area under the
name, "The Strolling Dudes". We had tons of fun, and
made some pretty interesting music. We recorded some shows, and
Epic considered releasing an album, but ended up bailing on the
idea. They were afraid of conflict with future REO releases. I
never quite understood their reasoning, but then I usually
don't. In 1971, I had just broken up with my first love, high
school sweetheart Suzy. A guitar player buddy was leaving for
Boulder Colorado to visit some friends of ours, and I needed a
change of scene. One night I picked up an acoustic guitar that
belonged to one of the guys who lived there, and found it in an
open tuning. I experimented with some chord formations, finally
landing on a Richie Havens style thumbing technique. I wrote the
verses to "Time For Me To Fly" that evening on the
porch, looking up at the Flat Irons, a beautiful rock formation
above Boulder. But it would be nearly six years before I wrote
the chorus and completed the song. Come to think of it,
"Time For Me To Fly" is my favorite REO song that I
have written!
These questions are cool, they jar my
mind and bring up some great memories...thanks you guys.
Keep Askin', kC
3/12
Hello my inquisitive friends,
I am suffering from post-haircut
depression. It happens every time, even if it is a good haircut.
I guess I went for so long without getting haircuts that it
still freaks me out a bit when I get one now.
Also my wife and daughter are out of
town, so it's daddy and the twins ... oh yeah and our faithful
nanny, Mimi. Tonight me and the boys watch the Lakers on TV.
With Lisa and Holly gone I have a
little more time to answer some of your questions, so here
goes...
Let me say that our summer plans are
still materializing, but we would be thrilled to play in Toledo,
Toronto, Cincinnati, Santiago, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Caracas or
New Mexico if and or when we are booked there. Thanks for
wanting us to visit your home towns.
My biggest writing influence: Stephen
Stills, Life influence: Lisa, Favorite REO song: tie...Can't
Fight This Feeling/Building The Bridge/Roll With The Changes.
I have been threatening to put all of
my unreleased song demos together, including Into The Light, and
get them out somehow. How and when are still large looming
questions. While I would never rule anything out completely, the
chances of a reunion get slimmer as the present line-up becomes
more established. I love this band, we are having big fun
together, and it just keeps getting stronger.
Biggest tour pet peeves: late room
service, delayed flights, too many beautiful women exposing
various body parts and causing other band members to lose their
places in the song arrangements.
I not only took guitar lessons, but I
supported myself through high school by giving guitar lessons. I
recommend lessons, but don't start your kids too young or force
them if they are not truly interested. If your child is taking
lessons, they need your encouragement to practice at least one
half hour every day. Good luck.
I have always had a weakness for
Wisconsin babes, hey I married one didn't I.
Gotta run...more to come,
kC
3/10
Hi Gang,
Wow, I opened the "Ask kC"
page last night for the first time and smoke started pouring out
of my laptop...you guys are wild. I had no idea so many people
would have so many interesting questions.
I will read every letter, I love to see
what everybody is thinking about. But I think the best way for
me to be able to keep the "Ask kC" page going is for
me to incorporate answering some of your questions into these
noozeLetters. I wish I could answer every one, but I guarantee I
will read every one.
Many of your questions will be answered
in the course of the VH-1 Behind The Music show. We played a
private show in Seattle last night, we return to LA today, and
we dive head first into BTM on Monday. I'll let you know how the
show is progressing.
So, now I will attempt to answer some
of your questions :
We changed our son's name from
Nathaniel to Shane when he was two days old because he just
looked like a Shane, (and Daddy likes that name a lot).
My main problem with the "Good
Trouble" album is that we were rushed into it, and rushed
into finishing it. I have always been mad at myself for allowing
that to happen, because that record could have, and should have
been stronger. I should probably listen to it some day,(I never
have since we recorded it), maybe I could appreciate it more
now.
Those plugs I wear in my ears on stage
are sound monitors which allow me to hear my voice at any volume
I choose.
The REO boxed set/anthology is
something we will get around to eventually. I have always said
that I need Gary's help to do it right.
Where is this KC message board I keep
hearing about. I am so computer incompetent.
We encourage people to support the
Vietnam Veterans with donations of clothing, furniture,
appliances etc, or with monetary donations. They are the
forgotten Americans and they need our support.
I think people should wait as long as
possible before they have children. You increase your chances of
being an effective parent as you get to know yourself better.
Rehersals for an REO tour are normally
20% playing music and 80% sitting around telling stories about
what we have all been doing since the last gig.
More answers to come, keep those cards
and letters coming in...keep pushin',
kC
3/04
Hello Noozefreaks,
The old reliable "KC
Newsletter" is out, and now the new and improved "kC
Noozeletter" is where it's at. This way I will feel OK
about the fact that there is rarely anything resembling actual
news in my letters any more. I think the term nooze, (as in
snooze), more aptly describes the current contents.
Gotta run, over and out...kC
3/01
OK, I have performed in front of a billion
people at Live Aid, played back to back, sold out shows at the
Astrodome and the Superdome, headlined Madison Square Garden and
guess what... yesterday I played the toughest gig yet. Back in
the bar band days we would regularly play five sets a night, but
I haven't played multiple sets since then...until yesterday.
Yes, yesterday I played a big time, high pressure, four set
extravaganza at my daughter's pre-school!
I can stand in front of thousands of
adults and young adults...no problem. But a classroom full of
four year olds, now that is a true challenge. And if I stiff, I
bring disgrace upon my own child. But alas, I rocked those
munchkins.
Check out this set list : I open with
"Old MacDonald Had A Farm", complete with gag animal
lyrics (big laughs here). Then right into a rising tempo version
of "She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain", that song
killed. Then the ever reliable favorite "Wheels On The
Bus". And I closed with an original "C'mon Now Holly
(Oh Yeah) ".
If I may say so myself...I ruled!
I have done some incredible shows in my
life, some of which I mentioned earlier, but the look on Holly's
face yesterday made me feel so great...being a dad is awesome.
We start filming next week for the
upcoming REO, Behind The Music. I am happy to hear that Gary
Richrath will be involved. I need to call that guy. I can't wait
to find out once and for all whether I quit the band in 1973, or
if the guys kicked me out. I have a feeling many questions will
be asked and answered over the next month or two. Hang on
tight...here we go!!
The band is getting together next week
to play some music. We don't like to go too long without playing
together. I want to work up "Building The Bridge" for
our upcoming shows. I love to sing that song, and we re-wrote
the solo section, which makes me want to play the song again.
2/19
Things are getting back to normal around
here. Boy, that first week home is wild. I become so accustomed
to that huge adrenaline rush we get on stage every night, I
think I go through withdrawals when the tour ends.
I finally picked up a guitar today. My
fingertips are a little tender, but it sure felt great to just
sit and play and sing. If I play long enough I usually come up
with some ideas that end up on my walkman. I have literally
thousands of cassettes full of song ideas scattered around these
rooms. Someday I should actually listen to them!
I have a lot of technical work that
needs to be done here in the studio. My computer system has
slowly but surely become obsolete. Looks like it is time to
update. And then by the time the new gear gets installed, there
will be new stuff that is 50 times as powerful. Oh well.
Thanks to Tony F for finding so much of
the memorabilia that adorns the walls of this studio. Even
though none of the electronic stuff works, the vibe in this room
is awesome.
Did you catch the Journey, Behind the
Music on VH-1 last night. We are working with the same crew for
the upcoming REO BTM. Now that Journey is done, we will be
getting to work on ours. Should be fun, and according to the
Styx boys, lots of hard work as well.
We are currently trying to figure out a
way to keep our road crew together in the off season. We have
such great chemistry with these guys, they are up there with our
all time greatest crews. It is tough because we are sticking to
our plan to keep a low profile this year. We will be doing a
handful of shows, just a few shows a month, this summer. We want
to play just enough to keep ourselves sharp, but not so much
that our kids forget they have daddies. It is coming together as
we speak. In everything we do we adhere to an unspoken code that
we refer to simply as the "REO Way". We have lived
according to this for thirty years now, and it has worked pretty
darn well.
2/15
Well the trucks pulled into LA today and
our crew downloaded all the REO touring gear into various
storage lockers throughout the San Fernando Valley. I would have
been down there lifting amps myself, but I have a newsletter
toget out. It's a tough job, but...
It's official, my 4 year old daughter
Holly has a crush on our guitar player. Dave called to tell me
to check out a Bon Jovi TV special on Fox Family Channel. (Richie
Sambora lives down the street, so I have to keep up on what the
neighbors are doing.) Anyway Holly answers the phone and is
smitten. She asked if Dave could come over to our house. It was
pretty sweet.
I promised myself I would take off a
solid week after the tour ended and not pick up a guitar or go
into the gym...I miss my music and my workouts, but I guess a
break will do me good.
OK gotta run, keep pushin'
2/12
Well I just laid one of the twins down for
his nap, dropped off my daughter at pre-school, my wife Lisa is
out shopping, Sonia has the vacuum cleaner on full blast, there
is a guy hanging wallpaper outside my bedroom...guess who is up
in the studio hiding out.
Hey, being home is awesome, I just wish
I could ease into it a little. I used to stop off in Cabo San
Lucas or Big Sur for a few days at the end of our major tours
for a short re-entry period of rest and relaxation. Are those
days gone, or what? When the astronauts come back from outer
space they aren't changing poopy diapers that night, no, they
hang out on an aircraft carrier and soak up some rays for a week
or so before they go home.
What an amazing tour we had. Quite
possibly the most enjoyable REO tour ever. It is so weird...for
the last nine months the band, crew, and Styx's band and crew
have been our family. Then over night everyone scrambles off in
different directions. I know I am very lucky to have a loving
family here at home, as well as a great extended family when we
tour.
Uh oh, the twins have a doctor
appointment in less than an hour...gotta run. I'll be in touch,
these little sessions are good therapy.
As always, keep Pushin'
2/04
As the " Arch Allies" tour winds
down I am already feeling nostalgic. We have met some awesome
people on the road over the years...
In 1972, on our first real tour, we
opened for " Black Oak Arkansas" . Jim Dandy kind of
took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. I watched him
every night. And I would have learned so much more from him, if
only I could have understood what the heck he was saying.
In '76 we went on the road with
Aerosmith. Joe Perry came into our dressing room, introduced
himself and welcomed us to the tour. We had an open invitation
to their after show meal/party every night. I learned a little
about being the front man in a rock band from the best...Steven
Tyler. When I bumped into Steven in Bora Bora a few years ago he
was still as cool as ever.
We have played a million shows with
Cheap Trick over the years, and had way too much fun to mention
with Rick, Robin, Tom and Bun. If only they could loosen up a
bit on stage! But seriously, they are the real deal. It's been a
while since we have played together...I miss those guys.
Richard Marx and I first met when he opened for us in 1987, and
are good friends to this day. Same goes for Jimmy Peterick of
Survivor in 1985.
And then there is the " Arch
Allies" tour. Anyone who has been around this monster has
seen how REO and Styx have become one big band and crew over the
past year. I have never experienced anything quite like it. This
tour has been such a pleasure. Luckily we are doing some shows
together later this summer.
Thanks to all of you who have come out
and supported us on this amazing tour.
OK, time to join the rest of the guys
for our Super Bowl party here in
Ashville, N.C.
Keep Pushin'
KC
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