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- We have been to Shizuoka, Kanagawa,
Yokosuka, Hachinohe, Sendai, Akita, Yamanashi,
Utsunomiya, Chiba, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Nagasaki,
Hakadate, Sapporo, Asahikawa, Niigata, Toyama
and Shimoda since my last posting! Our first night at Sendai
was amazing... so much energy and the crowd was fantastic really
pushing us on.
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- We managed to miss all the big quakes
so far !!!!! I guess you heard about them back home. The shows have
been really fantastic and we are all having a great time. We did a
surprise club show in Tokyo at The Zepp club the
other, night which was electrifying to say the least! True rock 'n'
roll delivered in the time honoured tradition! Yeah, that’s what
it's all about... getting it on in front of 2000
good people, all going with you, bouncing up and down! Just
seeing them all moving with the groove has got to be the ultimate
turn on for a drummer. Yazawa
was just awesome, and loving being back in his roots. What is
it about doing these kind of shows that really makes the meaning of
communicating through music so great ? (answers on a postcard
please.)
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- We stayed at a hot springs hotel a few
days ago and after a midnight dip in the top floor hot pools
(watching the boats come into the harbour), we all got into the true
Japanese spirit and got our Yukata's on and according to tradition
stepped out into the street to find a bar for a drink. What a
bizarre feeling walking around like that, but in these towns with
Spa hotels everyone does so we were not alone. Quite an experience
and one I won't forget in a hurry. (When in Rome !!!). We
said our goodbyes to our new friends that have been playing at the
Hotel in Tokyo Nick, Craig
and Carrie from Oz. They are
great people and fantastic musicians. It will be strange going
back to the hotel to find them not playing in the bar anymore. I had
a great bit of news that Rob's
Greatest Hits album had gone to Number 1, so I had a small
celebration, as that was my 21st no 1!
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- We are now in Osaka playing at
the Jo Hall Arena for 2 nights. We have a 5.1 surround sound
PA system and I gotta tell you it's unbelievable! We have the
sound of 20 Harley Davidsons charging round the room at one point of
the show... it's so loud the band just seems to disappear but it's a
great effect.
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- I gotta tell you I'm sorry that the
diaries have been a bit short this time around, but there has been a
lot of work to do and not much time for anything via e-mail, so
apologies but hope this makes up in some way. We were in Hiroshima
and I went, of course, to the Peace Park just to remind
myself. What a tragedy, and I think everyone should be made to go
there and see what a total waste of life war brings. (Enough of my
preaching now!) It really gets me everytime.
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- For some reason it's still hot out
here and very sunny (global warming, another subject I am
particularly anxious about!) The guys are all playing great
and we are rocking out to the max every night! Toshi Yanagi,
our guitar player is amazing. He's Japanese but has been
living in LA for sixteen years, so he's developed that sound. We
went to catch Michael Landau play the other night, and Tos
Panos was playing with him. What a fantastic drummer he
is, and a really decent guy (don't some people just make you sick).
We hung out a bit after the show and it was great to meet Michael
again. What a player. His sound is immense... he seems to be
able to really make soundscapes through his guitar.
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- The Yazawa
fans have been great as always. They are so devoted, and so
passionate about his music. What a legacy to leave the world! I have
to say thank you to all the fans that have brought me gifts... it's
really touching. I had a tin of Spam, a bottle of Guinness
and a Toblerone the other night !!! Ed has kept us in
stitches, as he always does. He has to be the funniest man on
this continent right now. Earlier on the tour one of our riggers
fell from the truss and broke both his legs, his arms, and hip
bones. Luckily I didn't see it happen, and we weren’t told
till after the show... but it just reminds you of what a dangerous
job they do on our behalf. He's going to be in hospital for 3
months, and then another 3 months recovering!
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- Tschuie,
my tech and I have
come across the most beautiful drum finish. It is called 'Blue
Satin.' They used to do it on 50's Gretsch
kits! I have fallen in love with it! He has sourced some of
the finish for me out here! I'm going to get a new kit made up with
the finish and have matt silver hoops and nut boxes etc on the
kit. I think it will look amazing! (Any thoughts anyone ?
).
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- Well the 5 Budokan shows have
just ended and after 6 months out here it's time to go home. Thanks
to everyone who has made me so welcome here and see you all next
time!