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December 21, 2005
BILLY DOES DALLAS
Dallas is the land of retail, football and food. And I am immersed in at least two of those right now!! Thanks to a swift change of flight at the very last minute, my flight out here was quiet, uneventful, and full of Battlestar Galactica, courtesy of the Video-Pod and the new TV Shows area in I-Tunes. The talkative Australian lady next to me got the message pretty quickly as I smiled directly at her, while putting my headphones on. Three hours later, I emerged from my small screen slumber and she was still talking ‘at’ me about the benefits of luxury cruises in the Caribbean. The car took me straight to dinner at a beautiful restaurant called The Mercury, where the family thing was in full effect. ‘On your marks……Get set …… GO!!!! More Xmas shopping, a quick bite for lunch, buy a few more things, eat a little snack, visit some shops, time for a nibble ….. oh yes, these Texans know how to do it!!.
It’s nice to be away from LA for a few days, although the internet connection is a little sketchy for me. Relying on the good old Starbucks Hot Spots right now (which is kinda cool, cos it just means I have to buy yet MORE coffee every time I try to log on!). But no matter what’s happening, just the simple fact of being away from my guitars, the studio, the phone and the daily shit in LA means it’s a kind of vacation. Hopefully, we can translate it into a proper beach week somewhere hot after Xmas Day.
Santa has hopefully sourced an X-Box 360 for me (seeing as I have been a good boy this year) but they are very hard to find right now. The rest of my pressies have really been had already – a new watch, dunks for days ….. I think my whole year has been Xmas for me, so I am concentrating on making an effort for other people this year. Hence a visit to the Galleria here in Dallas later today. I am gonna try and visit Dennis (from ProTone Pedals) in the next day or so, but other than that, there’s not a lot on the cards. Knowing me, I’ll be bored by lunchtime!!! But I will tell you this. I have decided that any gift from Brookstones is actually a mark of disrespect!! Having been in there today, I realized that it is the last bastion of the desperate shopper. The place to go where all else fails. When inspiration has run dry and the person in question actually doesn't really deserve a gift ..... but you feel you really should get them SOMETHING .... go to Brookstones. A golf tee that doubles as a clock??? Gimme a break!
Daniel – Actually, I HAVE heard the ‘Walken’ comparison many times when my hair was shorter. Not a bad guy to be looking like!!!
RedPil – Cables are ALWAYS a problem in a studio. A maid is the best solution!! That way, someone else has to dust behind the racks!! But cable ties and having cables made to the exact length is a great way to minimize the birds nest of home wiring!!
Jay – Good question about my touring days with Stimulator and Into A Circle. And one that I will have to rack my brains about. Without sitting down and pouring through the narcotic haze of 85 – 95, I wont be able to think of one band!! But I will make the effort.
Hankwood – Throw all the rack gear in the trash, buy a Marshall, and turn it up!!! Seriously though, it sounds like the Noise Gate is set way to high, and is not allowing any sound through. Try messing with the gate side of the Behringer.
Again, I have to say thanks for all the well wishes and cards. My mailbox was full the day I left, and the emails have kept coming. Just know that I appreciate it all. I did a new piece of King Mob art last night, just for all of you lot. Check it out in the Art section of www.kingmobmusic.com. I can keep doing that stuff all day – I love it. More Cult diaries going up soon as well. I can now hear the mating call of the Lesser Spotted Female Shopper as my wife prepares to hit the Mall ….. again!! Peace and love to everyone.
Billy
Posted by vivelerock at December 21, 2005 02:24 PM
Comments
Billy mate, have fun and enjoy the season!
Posted by: Simon at December 21, 2005 07:11 PM
Im glad Texas is showing you a good time! With luck we'll work out the logistics of getting together and have a good time.
Take care- happy holidays to all!
With gratitude,
Dennis
Posted by: Dennis at December 21, 2005 07:11 PM
Hi Billy :)
So, Massive Attack and sex with strangers huh? Well I,..well I, well I'm not going to touch that one. I'd probably write something too blunt. ha ha
Along those lines I'm cracking up on the title of the current blog. Spreading that holiday cheer to those Texans, what a good man you are. You go Debb...I mean Billy...lol
Also wanted to thankyou for answering the questions about the legality of playing songs live, etc. At the same time, its nice to see you having to take time off and relax for a few days. The way I see it, industry stops this time of year for a few days, and everyone gets cozy and all with the friends and family. You might as well take advantage of one of the few times of the year when you can get away with massively slacking off and relaxing.
Have a great holiday!
Muse
Posted by: Musemelodic at December 21, 2005 10:08 PM
Love the beautful photo!
Posted by: Gina at December 22, 2005 12:13 AM
Lovely pic today Billy!
Posted by: Cori at December 22, 2005 09:00 AM
billy,
have you always been such a work-aholic or is it because your sober now and like to stay busy to keep the demons away?
thanks,
leon
Posted by: leon at December 22, 2005 11:55 AM
That's so funny. I'm from Texas too, and there have been numerous early morning flights into DFW for Christmas only to get picked up by the family and head DIRECTLY to the Galleria. Followed by Town East, and then wrap up the day at Irving Mall. Why would one Dillard's be any different from another? Only a true Texan can answer that question. But apparently they are. And then they try to pull the infamous, "But it's only 9:00 PM your time!" GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Posted by: Stephanie at December 22, 2005 01:31 PM
Ahh Billy...you and your Brookstone lothing! They do have a lot of random stuff, and I did in fact say "let's go into Brookstone to get some ideas" ha! But when you're in there you see stuff and think that would be PERFECT for so-and so. Anyway, Happy Holidays to all!
Posted by: Abby at December 22, 2005 01:56 PM
Billy,
After numerous mentions of the great Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction around here and on CFR, I thought you'd find this interesting.
Apparently Kid Chaos will be known as Dr. Stephen Harris in the very near future.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-12-21-dyslexia_x.htm
What a story..
Thanks to CultMD from thecultweb.com for the link.
Happy holidays,
Jay
Posted by: Jay at December 22, 2005 03:02 PM
Jay...thanks for the link! Interesting indeed....although I think "Dr. Kid Chaos" or "Dr. Haggis" would sound so much cooler!
Daniel
Posted by: Daniel at December 22, 2005 03:15 PM
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: ylais at December 22, 2005 09:33 PM
When you go out places, do people like stop you and come up to you? I always wondered how celebrities went shopping cuz I would think that the wouldn't be able to get anything done cuz people would be all over them. You can have people do it for you I guess, but for x-mas shopping, that would be rather impersonal (is that even a word), so what is a celebrity, such as yourself, to do?
Posted by: Twisted Angel at December 23, 2005 10:18 AM
Merry Christmas man! (first time poster, long time reader). Old episodes of Jackass, Grand Theft Auto and wireless internet capabilities on my PSP got me through 11 hours of planes and layovers from Vancouver to Tulsa, Oklahoma yesterday.
Good luck on the Xbox 360 too man. You will not be disappointed! Do you ever play any of your games online?
Posted by: Shad at December 23, 2005 02:16 PM
holyshit...another reader from tulsa,ok. what are the odds.........
Posted by: leon at December 23, 2005 03:07 PM