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