Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Sexy Shoes
August 3, 2006
We’re rolling through the mountains of West Virginia on our way to Charleston. I climbed out of my bunk around 2 o’clock this afternoon and since Ken can’t work the VCR, he asks me to put in a tape. The ferris wheel turns and carnival lights whirl – we’re watching another freak porno.
I’ve taken a few days off the bus and staying at home while we were in the Northeast – so last night it was back to rock and roll party time. New Haven, Connecticut.
We played a cool joint – legendary old rock club – Toad’s Place – everyone’s played there. Todd Rundgren, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, man, the list of names painted on the walls goes on and on – and when you’re playing the same stage as the Stones. Well you’ve gotta go party after the show.
The crowd was awesome – packed and chanting “Start The Show…” at 3 minutes past our scheduled start time. Some guy bought me a shot of Jager at the bar at intermission and it just never stopped. After the show Danyella autographed that guy’s ass. I signed some sexy boobs, and we finished off the bottle of Jager and the cases of beer they put in our dressing room. And then we started to kick off the rock and roll party. I pulled out a second bottle of Jager and Angela Ryan pulled out another. We drank all three. It’s a miracle we got our gear out of the club at all – and I had three girls – but one of them turned sour about having to share and beat me like wild. She was just a little skinny girl – so it was kind of fun – until she hit me in the face with her shoe – but I was in such a good mood – nothing could bother me.
We’re rolling through the mountains of West Virginia on our way to Charleston. I climbed out of my bunk around 2 o’clock this afternoon and since Ken can’t work the VCR, he asks me to put in a tape. The ferris wheel turns and carnival lights whirl – we’re watching another freak porno.
I’ve taken a few days off the bus and staying at home while we were in the Northeast – so last night it was back to rock and roll party time. New Haven, Connecticut.
We played a cool joint – legendary old rock club – Toad’s Place – everyone’s played there. Todd Rundgren, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, man, the list of names painted on the walls goes on and on – and when you’re playing the same stage as the Stones. Well you’ve gotta go party after the show.
The crowd was awesome – packed and chanting “Start The Show…” at 3 minutes past our scheduled start time. Some guy bought me a shot of Jager at the bar at intermission and it just never stopped. After the show Danyella autographed that guy’s ass. I signed some sexy boobs, and we finished off the bottle of Jager and the cases of beer they put in our dressing room. And then we started to kick off the rock and roll party. I pulled out a second bottle of Jager and Angela Ryan pulled out another. We drank all three. It’s a miracle we got our gear out of the club at all – and I had three girls – but one of them turned sour about having to share and beat me like wild. She was just a little skinny girl – so it was kind of fun – until she hit me in the face with her shoe – but I was in such a good mood – nothing could bother me.
Back in Town
August 9, 2006
Runway lights blinking through the little window at me remind me that we’re still on the ground. Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m flying out to DC to hang out with a friend for a few days before going to West Palm Beach for the final OZZ Fest of the summer. Maybe ever.
It was wild being in Raleigh today. When was it – ten years ago? Almost – in 1997 I was here for the whole summer. I left NYC with the summer off college and came to stay with my sister in Durham. Trolling about for a summer job amongst the auto part stores and ice cream shops – I found an ad for a costume mascot at an amusement park. On my application I listed fire-eater & juggler as my experience – and John, the owner of the park – Silver Lake Water Park - said I may as well just do my own show there.
Cool – but I didn’t actually have a show yet. So I ran out to the magic store, the juggling store, the hardware store – made a bunch of props and showed up the next day.
It was a great summer – my “costume” was the same as every other employee of the waterpark – a red swimsuit. I rode my motorcycle to work in the morning - got tanned during the day and drunk on the lake at night – it was awesome.
Well, I still had to be a costume mascot in between my 5 shows a day – and prep chili dogs for the concession stand too. But it was show biz (kind of) and it was awesome.
The summer ended and I strapped my one bag to my ’66 Triumph and rode back to NYC to finish school. At the end of another grueling year – I decided to leave New York again – but before I did I went for a walk on the beach and happened past the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. I knocked on the door and stayed for another 7 years before I went back out on the road a couple years ago.
It seems like so long ago that I ate fire on the beach in a red swimsuit – and I wouldn’t trade in that summer for anything.
This time I pulled into Raleigh on our tour bus – drank a cold beer before breakfast and stepped off the bus into the sweet southern summer sun. The big top was already set up - as the crew hung up the last banners and I stepped on stage I wondered if I’d see anyone from that summer – but it was so long ago and I’ve been traveling the country and haven’t really kept in touch with anyone. I’d hoped that my Mom or some of the family would come out to the show – but when you’re too busy traveling to make holidays and birthdays for anyone else – I guess it’s only fair.
Instead I met two kids who said they skipped school today to come to the show and watched the sideshow 3 times in a row. I kissed pretty girls, shook hands, met cool people, and had thousands of people in front of me.
Seems amazing that it’s the same town and the same life. My only complaints now are that there were no more seats in first class and that my plane is still on the ground. That and I miss the waterslide.
Thanks John – really it’s all thanks to you. And it couldn’t be better.
Runway lights blinking through the little window at me remind me that we’re still on the ground. Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m flying out to DC to hang out with a friend for a few days before going to West Palm Beach for the final OZZ Fest of the summer. Maybe ever.
It was wild being in Raleigh today. When was it – ten years ago? Almost – in 1997 I was here for the whole summer. I left NYC with the summer off college and came to stay with my sister in Durham. Trolling about for a summer job amongst the auto part stores and ice cream shops – I found an ad for a costume mascot at an amusement park. On my application I listed fire-eater & juggler as my experience – and John, the owner of the park – Silver Lake Water Park - said I may as well just do my own show there.
Cool – but I didn’t actually have a show yet. So I ran out to the magic store, the juggling store, the hardware store – made a bunch of props and showed up the next day.
It was a great summer – my “costume” was the same as every other employee of the waterpark – a red swimsuit. I rode my motorcycle to work in the morning - got tanned during the day and drunk on the lake at night – it was awesome.
Well, I still had to be a costume mascot in between my 5 shows a day – and prep chili dogs for the concession stand too. But it was show biz (kind of) and it was awesome.
The summer ended and I strapped my one bag to my ’66 Triumph and rode back to NYC to finish school. At the end of another grueling year – I decided to leave New York again – but before I did I went for a walk on the beach and happened past the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. I knocked on the door and stayed for another 7 years before I went back out on the road a couple years ago.
It seems like so long ago that I ate fire on the beach in a red swimsuit – and I wouldn’t trade in that summer for anything.
This time I pulled into Raleigh on our tour bus – drank a cold beer before breakfast and stepped off the bus into the sweet southern summer sun. The big top was already set up - as the crew hung up the last banners and I stepped on stage I wondered if I’d see anyone from that summer – but it was so long ago and I’ve been traveling the country and haven’t really kept in touch with anyone. I’d hoped that my Mom or some of the family would come out to the show – but when you’re too busy traveling to make holidays and birthdays for anyone else – I guess it’s only fair.
Instead I met two kids who said they skipped school today to come to the show and watched the sideshow 3 times in a row. I kissed pretty girls, shook hands, met cool people, and had thousands of people in front of me.
Seems amazing that it’s the same town and the same life. My only complaints now are that there were no more seats in first class and that my plane is still on the ground. That and I miss the waterslide.
Thanks John – really it’s all thanks to you. And it couldn’t be better.
One More Day
August 12, 2006
Bright orange sunset beams in from the far side of the plane deep down below us on the western horizon. My window looks down on an even floor of white clouds far below. Flying out of DC down to West Palm Beach, Florida for the last and final date on Ozz Fest – though not our last day of tour. I almost don’t know how to feel about it. I can’t believe we’re so close to making it through a Bros. Grim tour that has all gone relatively well.
Ozz Fest has been amazing – but we’re carny to the core and we’ve been outsiders on this whole tour – never really hanging out with the bands – and keeping our own schedule.
I have barely felt like I’m on tour for two weeks now – ducking out after the shows – not sleeping on the bus with the cast – but going home when we played the Northeast and sleeping on the gym mats at home with the dog and the Peach.
This last week I’ve been staying in DC with my new favorite and today it’s back on the road again – but really we’re so close.
One week from today I fly home to NYC to start my new life.
A couple years ago I went out on the road for four months straight – a third of a year – and so much changes. It’s a miracle that I’ve been blessed with success in show biz at all – but that tour Danyella de Meaux told me – “Touring ruined every great love affair I ever had.”
I came home from that tour to find that my girlfriend had broken up with me – lost 40 pounds and repainted the apartment.
I’ve come so close so many times. It’s a miracle that I have even a portion of the wonderful life I have now. But it’s all about to change and who knows what can happen?
The Peach is still there – but our house is being packed up as I continue taking on the world one state at a time – and by the time I come home – it will all be boxes if it’s there at all.
It seems she’s found us a new apartment in a new neighborhood – which is very exciting – but amazing to think that I never really get to go home again. But that’s the gypsy life – and I can’t help but just feel lucky to be living at all.
She’s found us a new apartment and I’ve found us a new partner – the Gypsy. Who will be at home waiting for me when I fly back home from tour.
So after three magical days in DC partying and barely leaving the house at all except for food and drinks and dog walking – we’ve been holed up and hiding out from the world and it’s been wonderful.
Now I’m soaring south through the night sky for one more Ozz Fest. I’m a little sick with a sore throat – and can’t help but worry about that with my job as the talker and the sword swallower with 12 shows to go tomorrow.
Ozz has been just that - a magical trip through a magical land. All of us are just happy to show up and be there every day – to see thousands of people line up waiting to get in to the show in the morning. Eat catering and clean up in the shower trailers with all the bands every day.
It’s a far drift from what I imagined this tour would be like – but how could sideshow go anything but strange?
Bright orange sunset beams in from the far side of the plane deep down below us on the western horizon. My window looks down on an even floor of white clouds far below. Flying out of DC down to West Palm Beach, Florida for the last and final date on Ozz Fest – though not our last day of tour. I almost don’t know how to feel about it. I can’t believe we’re so close to making it through a Bros. Grim tour that has all gone relatively well.
Ozz Fest has been amazing – but we’re carny to the core and we’ve been outsiders on this whole tour – never really hanging out with the bands – and keeping our own schedule.
I have barely felt like I’m on tour for two weeks now – ducking out after the shows – not sleeping on the bus with the cast – but going home when we played the Northeast and sleeping on the gym mats at home with the dog and the Peach.
This last week I’ve been staying in DC with my new favorite and today it’s back on the road again – but really we’re so close.
One week from today I fly home to NYC to start my new life.
A couple years ago I went out on the road for four months straight – a third of a year – and so much changes. It’s a miracle that I’ve been blessed with success in show biz at all – but that tour Danyella de Meaux told me – “Touring ruined every great love affair I ever had.”
I came home from that tour to find that my girlfriend had broken up with me – lost 40 pounds and repainted the apartment.
I’ve come so close so many times. It’s a miracle that I have even a portion of the wonderful life I have now. But it’s all about to change and who knows what can happen?
The Peach is still there – but our house is being packed up as I continue taking on the world one state at a time – and by the time I come home – it will all be boxes if it’s there at all.
It seems she’s found us a new apartment in a new neighborhood – which is very exciting – but amazing to think that I never really get to go home again. But that’s the gypsy life – and I can’t help but just feel lucky to be living at all.
She’s found us a new apartment and I’ve found us a new partner – the Gypsy. Who will be at home waiting for me when I fly back home from tour.
So after three magical days in DC partying and barely leaving the house at all except for food and drinks and dog walking – we’ve been holed up and hiding out from the world and it’s been wonderful.
Now I’m soaring south through the night sky for one more Ozz Fest. I’m a little sick with a sore throat – and can’t help but worry about that with my job as the talker and the sword swallower with 12 shows to go tomorrow.
Ozz has been just that - a magical trip through a magical land. All of us are just happy to show up and be there every day – to see thousands of people line up waiting to get in to the show in the morning. Eat catering and clean up in the shower trailers with all the bands every day.
It’s a far drift from what I imagined this tour would be like – but how could sideshow go anything but strange?
