DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME;

"Good to be home, but no jammin' with JAZZMAN"

Sorry for the 2 days off but the Diary has had a bit of a throat infection and
has been lying in bed, watching SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS. Today's July 6, 2
days after America's Independence Day. But some character in England sent me
an e-mail suggesting that a nation as powerful as the USA had no business
naming a holiday after a run-of-the-mill movie. Everybody's a comedian, huh?
That reminds me, I think people understood "Fred's" request in that last
e-mail. instead of people e-mailing advice for the confused and destitute lad,
they were e-mailing me with their problems; "dear mike, what kind of shampoo
should I use on my hair" and stuff like that. So, sorry Fred but you are on
your own...

So yesterday, I stopped by (with no voice!) TrueTone music, where Rusty,
Chapple and myself buy alot of our gear and get our guitars repaired, and
checked out some new pedals. I have decided to switch my analog delay for a
really cool digital delay with "wacky" add-ons. So if you hear some crazy
sounds on stage, that's me! Also, I took offense to JAZZMAN's (see Love's
message board) statement that I hate to jam. Now, for the record, I like to
jame with people who can JAM. Arthur can jam. Robbie Krieger can Jam. Now,
Rusty won't jam...you couldn't pay him...and I've jammed with JAZZMAN, who
toured with us in '96 (he's one of Arthur's closest friends) and who plays a
mean ass harmonica. But I don't care to listen to jams on tape. But JAZZMAN
loves that stuff...

Imagine being on an over night train (the kind with beds where you sleep as it
travels) and in the bunk above you is JAZZMAN, blasting (thru his headphones)
Hendrix bootlegs and Wes Montgomery bootlegs...in the middle of summer, which
means the sun was out forever! And I also remember, after we played Amsterdam
in 96, we were on our way to Rotterdam (the ROTOWN club) and i had a full metal
hangover and JAZZMAN was blasting some Uli Roth bootlegs of him doing Henrix
covers and I thought I was gonna puke in one of those dutch cannals, right out
the window. See, I can't handle that stuff but, JAZZMAN,...you should see his
place. he used to live in Brentwood (he lives in Santa Monica now, just 6
streets from Rusty and myself), and I came by one day and his wall was COVERED
WITH JIMI HENRIX bootlegs!!!!! JAZZMAN is a Hendrix fanatic!!!! But he likes
to jam, bless his heart...

So it's about 2 weeks before we hit the road again...funny, when you've been on
the road, you miss home and want to get back to everything you know and love.
but then, after a week or so, you feel weird, like, aren't I supposed to go to
soundcheck at 5pm? But everyone's doing their own thing now. Rusty's still in
Europe but comes back sunday. Gene is on holiday in Spain. Arthur just moved
into his new place. Chapple and Daddyo are doing their things that they like
to do...I know Daddyo was happy to see his dog, Urma! I went out for Sushi
last night and I can't say enough how good that felt! You just can't walk into
a Sushi place in Liverpool; they'll stab you. well, they'll stab you anyway,
in Liverpool, but they'll REALLY stab you if you ask for something like Sushi
(or if you wear a Manchester United cap.)

I'm going to buy a new amp as well (yes, I know, who cares...but these are MY
DIARIES, DAMMIT!)...I just have to check out a bunch and see what I think will
do me right. It's been warm here but not like New York where it's outrageously
hot. But I was at the beach for a bit and it was hot but with a nice pacific
coast breeze. people just take it slow out here, in the west (unless they're
on the 405 freeway). It was nice, the chicks were looking nice, with their
beautiful snobby, stuck up attitudes and daisy dukes. I love Los Angeles. But
it IS always nicer when you come home and that plane flys over all the traffic
and thru the thick purple haze (don't get excited, JAZZMAN) of smog and lands
in LAX. Good to be home, but can't wait to hit the road...

Mike Randle
mike@lovewitharthurlee.com

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