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January 11, 2006
NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE
Here we are again, with another Video Blog and another rambling post from your host! Another large file size, so PLEASE BEWARE, all you dial up users. It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Los Angeles and I will be spending it indoors, in front of a few computers. I have a bunch of work to get done that involves sifting through about 4000 Camp Freddy pictures, trawling through about 100 hours of video footage, and compiling it all so that other people can understand it. I made a start yesterday and realized that this will take TIME!! So I’ll do a few hours a day until its done.
So – here we go. Circus Diablo began with some songwriting sessions with Billy Duffy, Ricky Warwick and myself. For no reason other than to write some rock songs and have some fun. We ended up writing quite a few tracks, and we have begun to record a few of them over at Drac Studios, owned by Matt Sorum. He has been playing drums on the recordings (as well as co-producing the tracks with us), Billy and Ricky have been recording the guitars, and I have ….. well, I appear to be the singer! It feels good to be able to express myself in this way. (I haven’t done that since Stimulator). All three of us have a myriad of other commitments, so this is just a homegrown, cottage industry-type affair. But we have enjoyed writing music together, and we are definitely enjoying recording music together. If schedules permit, we might even go and play a few shows together. But we are doing everything ourselves, and are not out there thinking about deals, tours, release dates etc. Take it for what it is – a reason to be creative, a reason to make music. So there you have it.
What else is going on? Well, I should have a trailer for Tripping Forward that I can post soon. It really is a funny movie, and they have now introduced a website. Click HERE to see it. My role is a small one, but it was great fun to do, and it really gave me the bug. More movies in 2006 please!! And I am having a few bits of video from the UK transferred to NTSC so that I’ll be able to post them on the sites. Does anyone have any interest in seeing me have my eyebrow pierced live on UK TV??!!!! Its quite funny – the piercer talks about how there wont be any blood at all, and then promptly puts a needle into my head and blood starts flowing!! I’ll get it up here soon. And check out the pic, taken by Camp Freddy’s manager, Brent Bolthouse. It captures the moment perfectly – Brandon and myself, frantically running through a song, just minutes before going onstage to perform it. Ahh – the beauty of Freddy.
Also, I want to give a shout out to Dave and Jenny over at www.bandweblogs.com - they are flying the Blog flag high and have been linking this blog and giving it love. Go over and check out their site. Done for the love of music, and championing music blogs in general. Way to go guys.
OK – questions have been answered in the video blog, I have rambled on long enough, and there is work to do. I’m gonna fire up the new Flavia coffee machine (hmmm….think I’ll select a Mochachino with a creamy topping!!) and get to it. See you all soon, and keep watching the sites. In the immortal words of Arnie ……”I’LL BE BACH”
Peace
Billy
Posted by vivelerock at January 11, 2006 11:22 AM
Comments
Billy I detest the use of LOL but you really did make me laugh out loud when I saw the Flavia. That is too funny. The video blogs are great, you need to show us the bird [the feathery kind outside your window] if it's still there.
Forgot to send you a link when I finally put my Pitchshifter pics online line last year, but do you recognise the blue haired guy in this one -
http://www.dwez.freeserve.co.uk/PSI_album/milton/target13.html
There's more PSi stuff on there if anyones interested, just delete bits of the URL to egt more free stuff. I particularly recommend the JS Clayden superstar desktop pattern. I'm sure he'd appreciate seeing that on your monitor the next time he pops round ;)
Stay frosty.
Posted by: d_Wez in da Haus at January 11, 2006 12:08 PM
C.D. sounds like a great project!
Have fun, thats what its all about.
take care all!
Dennis
Posted by: Dennis at January 11, 2006 12:13 PM
Billy, definitely- thanks for all the advice you give when answering our questions. we appreciate you being very open to us!
Posted by: hankwood at January 11, 2006 12:36 PM
So are you gonna try out all the flavor varieties? I'm a flavor kind of girl, but my honey likes his coffee like he likes his women....dark and rich. Unfortunately, I'm neither of those, but he keeps me anyway. heehee.
Kudos on Circus Diablo. Nothin' wrong with having some fun. And you're SO good at that!!
Loving the blog. You should do a "cribs"-style feature for us. That would rock.
~Bonita
Posted by: Bonita at January 11, 2006 12:47 PM
Billy
The music project sounds awesome pure balls out rock n roll with Duffy and Warwick on guitar and a rock legend on the skins. Get that shit up and then get the F**k over here and let us hear it dude. I live in N.Ire but would pay to see you guys in London. With Ricky's love for SLF how bout a cover song Suspect Device you guts could rock that shit for sure even incorporate it into CF live set. If you do it get the Videolog into that studio man.
Can't wait to hear that shit. Keep drinkin the Black fuel my friend.
Junkie
Posted by: junkie inc at January 11, 2006 12:50 PM
::swoons:: thanks for saying my name!
gotta love a coffee maker that gives you a hot cup in 60 seconds. :) enjoy!
-darree
Posted by: healtopalm at January 11, 2006 12:54 PM
Billy,
I finally got the Cult:Music Without Fear DVD (was at the show) and I have to ask a question.
(Thinking of a PC way to phrase this)...Ahh, On a scale of 1 to 10, how nuts do "most people" think Ian Astbury is?
Posted by: Digger at January 11, 2006 12:57 PM
All kinds of exciting info in that post!
I have a useless degree in film production, would be HAPPY to help you sort and log through hours of photos and footage!
By the way, do you smoke cigars?
Posted by: beth at January 11, 2006 01:27 PM
Some live footage… a little Diablo news… a brief review of the movie I am going to see tomorrow night… a glimpse of a new fangled coffee machine… the perfect video blog.
How was Flavia’s Mochachino with a creamy topping? Does this mean that Starbucks will be seeing less of you?
Oh… if you need any help sorting through the Camp Freddy pictures/video, I would be more than happy to volunteer!
Sue
Posted by: Caffeinated Sue at January 11, 2006 01:28 PM
Almost forgot, the new episode of Lost airs tonight. I have to admit, my enthusiasm has waned a bit during this extended break... but I'm sure I'll still tune in.
Sue
Posted by: Caffeinated Sue at January 11, 2006 01:37 PM
Billy i loved the shot with you an all your guitars in the back. where do you get your guitars set up and worked on? who does all the work for you? or do you do it yourself? well i was just wondering. well i will talk to you soon Billy thanks
Alec
Posted by: Alec from Camp Teddy at January 11, 2006 01:44 PM
Billy,
So with the intro to the V-Blog, are you getting into the visual concept of music? Or having fun with various creative endeavors?
Posted by: Mike C. at January 11, 2006 01:54 PM
Once again, thanks for sharing the cool shit with us all here, Billy!
I too dig the segway into the flavia as well as the Les Pauls behind you at the end!
Posted by: Spencer at January 11, 2006 01:59 PM
mmm... coffee....
I like your couch too.
Hey, I've got an idea for a V-Blog... could you give us a tour of your house? Kinda like how MTV does that show cribes...that is of course if you don't mind. Some people like to keep their personal space private, which is cool too, but if you don't mind, I know that atleast I would be interested in seeing where you live. Thanks :)
Posted by: Twisted Angel at January 11, 2006 01:59 PM
I love Flavia, we had it at my old job. Try the mochachino with french vanilla coffee...yummy!
Are there any other Doheny recordings you can post? Or have you gotten sneaky and hidden them somewhere?
Hope everyone is having a great day!
Steph
Posted by: stephanie at January 11, 2006 02:00 PM
I got a coffee machine for xmas, but it isn't as fancy as yours Billy! :P
Posted by: ylais at January 11, 2006 06:58 PM
Billy,
Absolutely thrilled you went public with Diablo, congratulations.
Now, seeing how the project is a laid back affair I thought you might want to whet the faithful's appetite with a Diablo bone so to speak.
Maybe a snippett of a CD tune for the loyal throng?
A little encouragement for Mr. Morrison community..
We're probably going to need Diablo swag at some point as well you know..
Enjoy the process Billy.
Thanks,
Jay
Posted by: Jay at January 11, 2006 07:37 PM
Levi Strauss debuts iPod-ready jeans
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Call it the 21st Century watch pocket.
Denim giant Levi Strauss said Tuesday it had designed jeans compatible with the iPod music player, featuring a joystick in the watch pocket to operate the device.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/01/11/levis.ipod.reut/index.html
Posted by: Caffeinated Sue at January 11, 2006 09:49 PM
Great stuff with the video- keep it up!
Any CF dates coming up?
Q
Posted by: QQQ at January 11, 2006 11:01 PM
God Bless Levis!!
EXACTLY what my life is missing...a joystick in my pocket! : )
Belated New Year greetings to you all xxx
Billy, Billy, Ricky & Matt...I know you're calling it Circus Diablo but sure sounds like New Edition to me. hehe
Billy - your videoblog rocks! I love how you're so into exploring this stuff & not afraid to take us along for the ride.
Thanx xx
Posted by: laurie tuttle at January 11, 2006 11:11 PM
ooooh - check out my post time on the previous post spooooooky
Posted by: laurie tuttle at January 11, 2006 11:14 PM
Billy, I have to tell you I'm LOVING the video blogs. It's a good thing I'm sitting in front of the pc alone most times, because people would think I was seriously crazy laughing away here all by myself.
Thank you for letting the kitty out of the bag with Circus Diablo. I'm excited...what can I say... it's two Billy's. ;-)
Much love monkeys!
Posted by: flamingheart at January 12, 2006 12:08 AM
Love the Vblog, one small thing, I dont know if anyone else has this problem but the soundtrack seems about 3 secs out, doesn't spoil it though.
60 seconds to make a cup of coffee, great stuff, but does it take 10 minutes to clean it after?
Hey Lisa!! I bought you that coffee machine, don't be ungrateful :) If you want a Flavia I will get you one next Christmas.
Posted by: DaveC at January 12, 2006 02:35 AM
Rofl @ DaveC. See what happens when I let him on the computer?!!! :P
Posted by: ylais at January 12, 2006 02:49 AM
flamingheart you ARE crazy ;b
Billy, thanks for the info on Circus diablo, it sounds awesome and can't wait to see what comes of it. I'm with flamingheart on this, 2 billys, how can it not be awesome. ;)
love, tina xoxo
Posted by: tina at January 12, 2006 04:55 AM
Hi there Billy, the blog looks awesome, as usual.
AWESOME news regarding Circus Diablo, and, as Jay, I too hope we can get to hear those tracks in a near future. I'm looking forward your solo album as well. Good music is never enough you know.
All the best.
JRoberto
Posted by: JRoberto at January 12, 2006 05:22 AM
Now, Billy, you told us not to get dramatic over Circus Diablo, so I'm being very cool.
:D
(YEAH! 2 Billy's!)
Diablo? Have you read Carlos Castenada's books?
Posted by: ylais at January 12, 2006 05:58 AM
Yo Billy the power of the net right!!! I was at this guitar tab site and look what i found. A news article about a new supergroup.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the_cult_velvet_revolver_members_form_supergroup.html
How fast good news travels!!!!
Posted by: junkie inc at January 12, 2006 09:22 AM
Here's a question for everyone, you too Billy?
Which character in Lost do you most identify with? Why? (if you wanna say why..)
I was thinking of that myself, it just popped into my head, after watching it last night (last 2 episodes of 1st season) and I had to say it's Hurley.
Posted by: ylais at January 12, 2006 10:31 AM
Junkie Inc.~ that was picked up originally by Blabbermouth website, and that website picks up everything..I think it's like a major RSS feed thing going on there..it picks up everything Dave says on his blog, as long as he mentions a couple of musicians, or groups, bamm..it's on Blabbermouth..
then another website gets if feeds from there..and so on..
Posted by: ylais at January 12, 2006 10:36 AM
Great job on the vblog as always. I'm really looking forward to hearing what Circus Diablo has to offer. Just for fun is fine by me! So much fun!
Questions questions, eh? I saw that row of guitars behind you in the last shot... how many do you own?
Posted by: Kate at January 12, 2006 12:29 PM
Hey Billy, how did you guys choose the name Circus Diablo? Did you guys sit around a table discussing what names to use or did one of you just pick it and the others ran with it?
Cheers
Posted by: Simon at January 12, 2006 12:54 PM
Ooohh, I need one of those Flavia Coffee makers!! I am the only one in my home who drinks coffee so that would be the best. I think my mom was gonna buy me one and I said I didn't really need it D'OH!
Posted by: Abby at January 12, 2006 11:07 PM
