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November 29, 2006

FULLY FEATURED

Fully Featured is a term that really should scare me! I mean, I really buy into it, and whatever it is that is "fully featured" needs to work perfectly, with ALL functions as they should be, or else I am reduced to an obsessive compulsive mass of twitching jelly! Computers, TV's, cars, ..... anything that has a mass of different things on it - thats what I'm talking about. And so, this is how I find myself in Best Buy for the THIRD time in one day around 9.30pm last night, tweaking on wireless keyboards for my Playstation 3. Not really so bad, you might say, but if you then understand that I was late to meet a friend over at the Alice In Chains show, you start to get an idea of just how ..... er ...... focused (!) I was last night!! Of course, I realized late afternoon that the PS3 can go online (hence a very excited comment from me yesterday!) and it dawned on me that a wireless keyboard and mouse would enable me to browse the web from the comfort of my own couch ...... while watching it all unfold on the big screen TV. This was too much for my brain (already fried from playing Resistance Fall Of Man for hours!) and the search for the keyboard began. Suffice to say that I am on my third keyboard now, and still trying to get it all to work correctly!!!

Alice In Chains. FULLY featured. What a band, and what a show. Even with new singer William Duvall, they have a force and power to them that so few bands manage to capture these days. The Wiltern was PACKED last night, and the band sounded SO tight, heavy and menacing. The one/two punch of Them Bones, followed by Dam That River took me back to a dark place in my life ....... those two songs played back to back just like they are on "Dirt" were the soundtrack to MANY less than salubrious moments!! Great night and great band.

So as you will see, Camp Freddy did actually finish making their Christmas single, and actually arranged a release date for it!! December 12th will see the band release their cover of Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody on I-Tunes US, UK and Europe. We also plan to release a video for the song on the same day on YouTube, the Camp Freddy site, 6767, and BillyMorrison.Net. I'll link it up fully from here so stay tuned. We will be filming some of next week's show where we hope to get it together and actually play the song live!!!

Circus Diablo. Also, I believe, fully featured!!! I know its been quiet for a little while, and we are all really wanting to tell you what's going on. But we don't want to entertain any jinxes, hexes, or bad luck, so we are keeping quiet until we have everything sewn up. Suffice to say that the record release looks very promising, as does proper touring for the first part of 2007. When ink is on paper, I will tell all!!

Matt S - I have all my gaming consoles connected, so I dont get rid of anything really. PS2, PS3 and X-Box 360 games are all part of the daily experience!!!

Vixen - Yes I did see Casino Royale, and I gotta say your description of why it was excellent is WAY better than anything I could have written!!!!

Beth - All good questions, but lowly artists like myself have no idea how much a tank of diesel is! I can tell you that promoters book the venues, not the bands. And only if we are strong-armed out by teams of heavily armed police, do we leave a hotel at Noon!!

Paul - Touring abroad requires a lot of pre-planning. Some gear flies on the plane you are on as checked luggage, some gear gets shipped ahead of time, and some you rent.

Ylais - I am ALWAYS Xmas shopping! But yes, I get your point, and yes, I have a few nice pieces under my belt for the wife. The rest I'll sort out while I am on vacation.

Mary - I think we actually try and ignore the whole cyclic thing. If you try and rely on the fact that in 18 months time, everyone is gonna sound like Elvis, then you're not really understanding the point of being creative. Certainly when we wrote the Circus Diablo record, we were all just throwing in Rock riffs, cos thats what we all like, and we didnt try and guess whats around the corner, stylistically.

Kelly - I do not have my own personal MySpace page, cos I just couldnt keep up with it all if I did! Circus Diablo has a page, and I check it regularly, so get adding!! CLICK HERE FOR THE CIRCUS DIABLO MYSPACE PAGE.

Dennis - I actually have no idea if I will be doing NAMM. Last year I went down for Gibson, so I'll check and see whats going on and let you know.

Max - I gotta tell you that I didnt choose Los Angeles. It chose me. I came here WAY back in the day, because something told me that I would feel at home here. And from the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I was in the right place. England never held my attention for more that three minutes at a time. So I kept coming back, followed the rules, and I actually chose to think that Destiny played a part as well - the job with The Cult, meeting the woman I love here, the whole Camp Freddy thing ...... I am just going with what seems to be the greater good.

To the person who has no name (??) ...... EVERYTHING runs in 1080p wherever possible, I will be going to see the new Rocky movie .... and get a name so we can welcome you to the Morrison family!!

OK. All questions answered. Pictures today are from Todd Newman. I am off to mess about with the keyboard/mouse thing for the PS3. Gotta tweak till it works. Dont ANYONE give me ANYTHING else that has ANY features on it! Cos my life cannot take any more 'fully featured' technology right now. Moving on to the weekend, and CFR, with DRIVE A as in-studio guests, and then onto next weeks INDIE Christmas Party at The Avalon. Then we release the Xmas single and video ...... and then I am off to do some Scuba Diving. Seems like a beautiful way to end a fantastic year.

Billy

(CLOSED)

Posted by vivelerock at November 29, 2006 07:14 AM

Comments

Todd's got some mad photography skills! I love the top one! And here we just thought he was Dave's comedy sidekick on SRL ;-)

No one can ever replace Layne but from some of the lives clips I've seen and heard William has some chops! I wish I could have picked up tix for NYC but both times were impossible!

I guess getting a wireless keyboard and mouse for your PS3 is all good as long as the wife doesn't wake up to find you bleary eyed in front of the TV with your ass stuck to the couch! ;-)

Can't WAIT for the CD news!!! Especially the tour dates!!! :-D

Posted by: Robin (Peebs) at November 29, 2006 08:26 AM

"I have a few nice pieces under my belt for the wife."
snicker snicker ;-)

Thought I'd beat Uncle Creepy to the punch. By the way UC, where have you been?

Posted by: Beth at November 29, 2006 09:08 AM

Good Morning every1,
Billy thanks for the review of the the Alice show!! Glad you are having fun with your new stuff~
clk

Posted by: Carly at November 29, 2006 09:20 AM

Billy - you just made me squeal!!
Thank you for your reply.
X

ps: the PS3 is such a funny image. Mentally I got you attached to the console surrounded by empty plates, carton debris, your heavy lids propped by matchsticks and a poignant note - left on your guitar case by your wife, saying she went to bed. 3 days ago!

Posted by: Vixen at November 29, 2006 12:42 PM

Aww, that's all rad chief. I love the pix as usually, always so many fully featured Les Pauls to gawk at, ahaa!

Posted by: Spencer at November 29, 2006 02:49 PM

Thanks Billy,

Love them toys.
Can't wait to download the new song and to see it on video. Will we be able to download that too?

Now that you know where I work. You know I see a lot of people. Lot of old timers that still think their shit don't stink too people that think they're famous and act like they are famous but you've never heard of them. What I'm trying to say is, It was a relief to see that you and the (Camp Freddy) band are so down to earth. You are in person like you are on this site. REAL.

I had a great year. Thanks for being part of it.

Thanks alot,

Matt s.

Posted by: Matt S. at November 29, 2006 07:22 PM

Billy - I wandered over to Circus Diablo on myspace and impulsively had an idea so I sent you an email there. You said you checked it regularly! If you are at all interested - you know where I am and well... I'm already swooning at the prospect and how much I would love to do it etc. If not, thank you anyway and it's lovely to be able to ask at least!
Have a lovely week.
x

Posted by: Vixen at November 30, 2006 01:13 AM

hiya! thanks for answering my question. Glad you got my point, though right now I'm not even sure what my point was. (lol)
How does one know when something is fully featured? When does something become fully featured rather than at the not quite fully featured level? I'm guessing there's always another feature that could be slapped on something.

Question: You've been talking about writing a book.
I remember back when Dave Navarro's book was released a few of us asked you on here if you'd write a book; and at that time, you said you wouldn't. What made you decide you wanted to write a book? Or write? other than on the blog, but feel free to answer that as well :) I always enjoy your writing.

Cheers
Lisa
xxxx

Posted by: ylais at November 30, 2006 01:01 PM

ps. whatever you want done I'll do it! :)

Posted by: ylais at November 30, 2006 01:08 PM

To Vixen: It takes a real person to admit wrong-doing (GWB not here) and so with that I have read at least 2 reviews, Rolling Stone being 1, that mention the new line, which whatever, I think sucks cos I want as much to be new and fresh from the movie when I walk into the theater. ("Do I look like I..") I guess that's wierd but ya know what? I am. So sorry if I was a bit put off, you are sweet heart and it was a good review~

Posted by: Ananeemost at November 30, 2006 02:05 PM

Billy,

I have been checking out your stuff on youtube & for the life of me, I cannot figure out what you do with your cigarette in the beginning of the Ziggy Stardust clip. How is the not smoking thing going by the way? Also do you still like or ride motorcycles? Caught that from the Breathe clip. I hope you are enjoying your California weather, Kansas City went from 71 degrees on Tuesday to an ice storm on Wednesday to 4-24" of snow today/tonight!!! I am definitely a summer person myself. I am really looking forward to CFR w/Drive A this weekend. Take care & enjoy all!! Niki

Posted by: Merc957 at November 30, 2006 04:31 PM

Hey Billy!!!

Recently our only "rock/alternative" station got the boot from our local radio. It was ran by Citadel Broadcasting Corporation. Basically I am fed up with our local radio and how do you feel about the radio industry big wigs?

I do own an ipod and have the adaptor to run it in my car, but I always seek new things that are premired on radio for the 1st time, its just like they way it should be.

Do you think it might be wise to invest in XM radio or Sirrus (if that's what it's called)? Help or anyone here help this deprived girl from Alabama.

Frustrated Call Me "T" Mess.

Posted by: Frustrated Mess at November 30, 2006 06:59 PM

Thanks for answering my question Billy!!

Question - What is your most memorable show you have played and why?

Posted by: Kelly at November 30, 2006 11:58 PM

Thanks for apologising.

Posted by: Vixen at December 1, 2006 01:44 AM

Billy, I have a question.
I was wondering how you felt about the copyright laws? There's been some stuff in the news this week about copyright not being extended past 50 years. As a consumer I think art does at some point have to become part of itself - ie absorbed by culture (!) - but then suddenly everything fell into perspective and I realised that the Beatles were rocking in the 1960's and that's 40 years ago and that's gone so fast and those songs are still so much a part of current ear candy / daily life. So I wondered how you felt as a songwriter? Does it bother you? It seems (from interviews I've read) that you love performing - bringing that buzz to the audience - that music is your passion and you thrive to share it, so does it mean you are less inclined to get itchy about things like copyright? Would it affect you?
Thank you.
x

Posted by: Vixen at December 1, 2006 02:10 AM