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February 24, 2006
THE DARKNESS
I gotta say - being creative has huge upsides. The feeling of being able to communicate feelings and emotions through playing music and singing is a fantastic one. Enjoying a good life, and doing what I love to do should never be underestimated. But when the darkness strikes ...... boy, does it hit hard!!!
I just spent a week fighting off the demons - demons that we all have. Isn't it weird how the head can tell us stuff that just messes with us. How despite, on paper, things can appear to be all sweetness and light, we can perceive it all to be crashing down into a huge pile of shit around our ears. So after a week of watching Netflix and Tivo, and just staying out of my own way, I feel better. Sometimes I just need to check out of the human race for a while. I used to get loaded to do it - now I think I've found a somewhat healthier alternative!! Either way, I wanted to check back in and say hi to everyone. Obviously there has not been a lot going on in my world. I can discuss 24 or the Imax series of Shark DVD's!! But music has taken a back seat, so not a lot to tell. We have finished recording and mixing the Circus Diablo record. Ten songs in 24 days. Now THATS speed recording!! I'll be spending one more day in the studio very soon, getting all the 24bit files together to send to mastering, and that will be that. Now we have to figure out 'The Plan'. Obviously with Billy out on the road with The Cult, playing shows is difficult. But not impossible. We will be looking closely at schedules, and we all agree that sometime this year, we would like to do a string of shows in the UK. We'll see what we can come up with - and work it out with the release of the record.
So I am sure that the coming weeks will be full of meetings, discussions and planning, to figure out the best way to get the record out and available to you lot. I have begun working on the artwork, and we will all be listening to the record and seeing what tracks should go to radio. From now on, I am pretty happy with whatever happens. It was more about writing the songs and getting them recorded for me. And I am very happy with the way it sounds - raw and exciting. The rest of it is all beyond my control. Sometime in the summer is my guess for release, but I will keep you posted as details arrive. All I know is we did a great version of Ants Invasion, the Adam And The Ants track from Kings Of The Wild Frontier. I was a HUGE Ants fan back in the day, and it was a blast re-doing that track 'Diablo style' - loud guitars and massive Sorum drumming. I'd been singing the track for years anyway in my head, so singing it was a breeze. Maybe I'll bust it out on CFR tomorrow - whaddya think?
Right - it appears that business is back to usual here on the blog. So I should get that camera out and give you lot another video blog. Apologies for the break in service, but we all gotta take care of the craziness, right?! Thank you all for being here, and its nice to be heading towards the light again!!! I put up another pic of the new band, just because I like the cross-processed color they used in that shot. And I also put up a very 'Brokeback' looking pic of Dave tattooing my stomach .....
See you over the weekend.
Billy
Posted by vivelerock at February 24, 2006 08:36 AM
Comments
Awesome !!
Do you know if Matt is touring with The Cult, and if not, who else is touring besides Billy & Ian ?
Thanx.
Posted by: JOHN DICKERSON at February 24, 2006 09:13 AM
DEFINATELY play the Ants Invasion on CFR. Wow! I love it..that you guys did that. And Matt on drums!
Right on. :)
Loads of love and hugs
Lisa
xoxoxox
Posted by: ylais at February 24, 2006 09:47 AM
John D - Along with Ian and Billy there are John Tempesta on drums and Chris Wyse on bass.
JRoberto
Posted by: JRoberto at February 24, 2006 10:00 AM
Welcome back man, glad to hear you found a healthier way to move through the darkness, I guess we all have our ways to deal with it...I use to writte it out of my system in the shape of poetry...helps a lot.
JRoberto
Posted by: JRoberto at February 24, 2006 10:02 AM
Wow. Go towards the light...we'll be waiting.
Posted by: beth at February 24, 2006 10:11 AM
Nice pics today Billy...thanks! Dave looks like he's taking his responsibility very seriously :D
Glad you're feeling better...have a beautiful weekend!!! :)
Posted by: Cori at February 24, 2006 10:13 AM
GLAD UR FEELIN BETTER BILLY.....TRY NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING TO SERIOUSLY.....FIRE UP THE BONG.....LISTEN TO SOME MARLEY......
"DONT WORRY, BOUT A THING, CUZ EVRY LIL TING...GONNA BE ALRIGHT NOW"...
ALL OF US HERE LUV YA MAN....BE WELL
Posted by: UncleCreepy at February 24, 2006 01:16 PM
We love you Billy! x x x
Posted by: KCee at February 24, 2006 01:33 PM
billy,
glad your back in action and i cant wait to hear the new stuff. not to get to personal but does your recent bout with the demons have to do with the creative "high" you've been on comming to an end? just wondering. glad your back, rock on.
thanks,
leon
Posted by: leon at February 24, 2006 02:01 PM
Glad you found the doorway outta the darkness Billy. I know those damn hallways can be a bitch.
ANYTHING Adam Ant is looked forward to immensely! Oh please oh please oh please!!!!!
Posted by: Kate at February 24, 2006 03:55 PM
Billy , Thank you so much for your honesty. It is nice to know I am not the only one that goes through that at times.;)
Adam Ant! I was a huge Adam Ant fan. I cannot wait to hear the song.
I am very excited about the Circus Diablo cd! I cannot wait to have it in my hands.
Scheldue us some dates in the southeast US please!
Luv xxx, Terri
Posted by: Terri at February 24, 2006 04:31 PM
Cool Billy!
Nice to have ya back. I don't feel that pic is brokeback. I do love the "brokeback" term though.
You know, it's no wonder ever musician advice site I've ever seeen has anti suicide links...
Please do play that track, it'd be rad to hear on CFR!!!
Posted by: Spencer at February 24, 2006 09:50 PM
looove the band picture and yes please please please play the song on CFR!! Everybody would love to hear it.
Posted by: amy at February 24, 2006 10:06 PM
Is it just me or is that pic of Billy and Dave really HOT? :-P
Posted by: flamingheart at February 25, 2006 12:20 AM
No, my dear, it is definitely NOT just you!!
Hi Billy!!
love
jezzi
Posted by: jezebel at February 25, 2006 12:21 AM
String of shows in the UK???
I really hope that one comes through.
Posted by: DaveC at February 25, 2006 05:04 AM
I am glad you're feeling better. Ants Invasion? Anyone that is a Adam Ant fan is ultra cool in my book. I still have his EP with Kick and Cartrouble, and the original Physical. Beat Me would be a good remake, haha.
Anyhow, glad you're back on it!!
Cheers
Posted by: Stardreme at February 25, 2006 11:39 AM
correction....the song is "Beat my Guest"....but I hope you know what I meant!! I'm old...it takes a bit for things to "come to me"...I had to pull out albums to check my memory. They don't get much air these days.
Peace
Posted by: Stardreme at February 25, 2006 12:02 PM
Billy, that pic of you and Dave really makes me think naughty things.
I love it!
can't wait for CFR.
Posted by: Nichole at February 25, 2006 01:45 PM
Billy, any thoughts on this?
love,
jezzi
Posted by: jezebel at February 25, 2006 03:25 PM
I'm a HUGER fan of Adam and The ANts than any of you, and you too Billy, muhhaahaahahaaa and I'll take you all on in a mud wrestling match to prove it! Let's go motherfuckers!!!!
Posted by: ylais at February 25, 2006 05:19 PM
And here's the letter the PiStolS left to the Hall of Fame ppl:
http://www.johnlydon.com/jlhome.html
(Jez, I saw that this morning the Pistols thing :D had a good laugh about it)
Posted by: ylais at February 25, 2006 05:38 PM
That tattoo picture is, um, NICE. *cough* Yeah. Got any more? ;)
Posted by: Alchemy at February 25, 2006 11:36 PM
Hey Billy, hope you're feeling better. Went through a bout of something this week myself... never fun.
Got a question for you (if you're not tired of answering Cult related questions yet...)...
Did you watch the Cult perform on Friday night? If so, what did you think? Did it feel weird not being a part of it? Honestly, do you think any different of what's going on with them right now with the Circus Diablo stuff going on?
Posted by: Shad at February 25, 2006 11:48 PM
Hey Billy,
Taking the family on a 5 week holiday tomorrow so I'll probably be without internet access for most of that...so don't post anything too exciting without me! :)
Catch ya when I get back...
Daniel
Posted by: Daniel at February 26, 2006 12:58 AM
Hey Billy ,
There is a new A&E biography of Ozzy. I watched it yesterday.
Can we have Circus diablo t- shirts, too?!
Luv, XXXXX, Terri
Posted by: Terri at February 26, 2006 06:08 AM
hi billy , hows about some CIRCUS DIABLO t-shirts for your loyal subject here??
ANYWAYS HERES MY QUESTIONS....
1. have you ever met AXL ROSE
2. have you heard the new GN'R demos causing a storm latly?
3. WHERE CAN I GET A DAMN CAMP FREDDY HAT THE SAME AS MR SORUMS????? I WANT IT!!!!!
Posted by: paul at February 26, 2006 10:55 AM
Hey Billy, Dave has said that he gets more inspiration from Trent Reznor nowadays than any other artist. Wondering who, if anyone, that is still out there making music today gives you inspiration or does it all still come from the past? ie. the sex pistols etc.
What ever it is mate, keep it up because what you are doing is amazing and i thoroughly enjoy it and loved the track you played yesterday on CFR. Take care.
PS. Do you still listen to the wolfmother cd?
Posted by: Simon at February 26, 2006 11:39 AM
great show last night, dear Billy!!
thanks for the new track!
love,
jezzi
Posted by: jezebel at February 26, 2006 11:54 AM
hey billy 1 more thing -im from the uk as u might remember(yeah its still crap and full of oiks) and i just listned to the camp freddy podcast all i can say is -FUNNY AS FUCK AND ORIGINAL!!!!
i need more and as u were on about films -have u seen the buisness ull love it ,set in the 80's in spain.
love ya billy keep it rockin!!!
Posted by: paul at February 26, 2006 04:47 PM
hiya billy!
great CFR. i loved Ants Invasion. thanks for sneaking it in. :D
hugs
Lisa
xxxx
Posted by: ylais at February 26, 2006 07:23 PM
So, I just got home from Vegas, and I made a point to head over to the Hard Rock, and,just as promised, Camp Freddy in the front entry side by side to Kimi Hendrix! Crazy! Good stuff. Billy, thanks for all you do, and for Camp Freddy!
PS. Don't walk to the Hard Rock from the strip. Its not close ;)
Posted by: Anonymous at February 27, 2006 02:15 AM
ummm...clearly I meant Jimi Hendrix, noticed taht of course AS I was hitting the buttin ha! But Kimi Hendrix is kinda funny....I need to get to sleep!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 27, 2006 02:16 AM