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December 31, 2006
2007 IN THE HOUSE!!
Well thats it. Another year bites the dust, and we all inexorably roll over into January tonight. Can't believe how quickly all this shit happens. Its been a lot of fun, and I am SO happy that this year, at midnight, I will be onstage, doing what I love to do the most. Camp Freddy plays in Las Vegas tonight at The Hard Rock, and I pack one last overnight bag for the trip (its been a lot of packing and unpacking recently!!) and head out to Sin City. I'm back tomorrow and it will be business as usual. I have enjoyed taking a couple of weeks pure vacation, with Hawaii and the desert really chilling me out. But I am ready to get on with it all now, and tonights Freddy show is a great way to bring on the New Year. Once all the business types are back from their holidays (they all seem to stop work on Dec 1st and dont start again until the middle of JAN!!!) we should be able to confirm Circus Diablo plans for 07, and we will continue to plan out some weird and wonderful Freddy happenings for next year as well. I personally will also continue messing about with doing the radio show, acting, writing, DJ'ing and anything else that comes my way. And of course, we will all continue to meet up here, and enjoy being a part of the Morrison Family.
I cannot thank you all enough for checking out this site, posting your comments, sending in the tattoo pics, listening to the Podcasts of CFR (big thanks to Paul), emailing me and generally helping to build an online community. Lets spread the word even further in 2007, and I promise to build up both this site and the fledgling Morrison TV site over at YouTube with as much stuff as I can. I put up one of my all time favorite pics today (huge respec' to Wendybird!!) that captures pretty much how I feel when I am onstage. My New Years Resolution is to feel like that more!!!
You are all awesome. Have a wonderful New Years Eve, and may 2007 bring your dreams alive. See you all next year.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 07:55 AM | Comments (26)
December 25, 2006
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE
Please note that this is a large file size. A high speed connection is preferred.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!! Yep - thats right folks. Ever the consumate rebel, I SHUN the new politically correct version of ....."Happy Holidays" ...... and I am going straight in with the heretic's version. .....gasp!! - you cant say that anymore!!! Well, you know what? Fuck You!!! Here it is again. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope you are all having a great day, and plan to eat WAY too much and sleep it off this afternoon, before doing it all over again in a few hours from now! A big, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who posted, emailed, and sent me Holiday greetings. E-Cards, real cards, posts, emails ..... you guys are the best. I love you all, and heres to a fantastic New Year. Camp Freddy will be ringing it in with style - we will be onstage in Las Vegas, performing at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. And here's to more Freddy, Diablo and Morrison in 2007. I am blessed to lead the life I do, and have an awesome family, the most amazing friends, and an incredible online community that ride it all with me. Wow.
Last weeks CFR was great - good to be back in the saddle with Dave - and I believe that Donovan and I will be bringing you another show this coming Saturday, to prepare everyone for the New Years Eve madness. Enjoy the V-Blog, enjoy the Podcast of CFR, and enjoy your Christmas Day. Oh - and dont forget to thank Granny for the blue and purple socks, the hand knitted Xmas scarf, and the picture frame from Auntie Doris. CLICK HERE FOR LAST SATURDAYS CFR PODCAST
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 11:50 AM | Comments (23)
December 23, 2006
BACK FROM THE BRINK
Actually, there was no brink at all!! But I am back in LA ...... for one day. Back to unpack, re-pack, get a quick live All-New Camp Freddy Radio in, and then I'm off again for another week, and this time to the place in the desert for more of the same. But I am very happy to be doing the radio show tonight - feels like I haven't been there in ages. And Dave will be coming in as well, so the team is ON!! Obviously, its a pretty busy day, as I only got back from Hawaii late last night, and have tons to do before leaving tonight, but I wanted to let you know that a V-Blog will be up over Xmas. Jen got some great footage from the Shark Tank dive ...... ranks up there as one of the Top Five things I have EVER done. The picture of the Hammerhead shark above? ........ taken by me in the tank ..... and YES it WAS LOOKING AT ME like that!!!
And I LOVE the picture of me taking a picture of the Caribbean Reef Shark thats swimming VERY close to me, and I am oblivious to just how near it is. I was just so excited to be diving with so many sharks. The Tiger shark (which was too erratic to get a good picture of) was just over 10ft long, and let me tell you ....... that thing looks WAY bigger underwater. Especially when its swimming right at you and kinda looking at you like we look at a Big Mac with cheese when we are hungry. Absolutely amazing dive - just me and the guide in a tank FULL of sharks and rays for 45 minutes. Next stop? In a cage in South Africa with the Great White Sharks. Now that HAS to be the ultimate rush. Oh, and if you cant tell what the picture below is, lookb carefully for my tattooed arm feeding the Spotted Eagle Ray - amazing feeling as she gently grabs a handful of mussels from my hand, and lets you stroke her as she eats. With all this 'National Geographic' type blogging, I think I'll start cultivating a kind of Rock And Roll Discovery Channel image!!! Hmmmm ...... not a bad idea!! What the hell - you guys get it twice a year from me, and the rest of the time, its all guitars, music and Hollywood. So enjoy the change of pace!!!
Gonna go do all the last minute Christmas stuff, and I'll be on air at the usual time of 6.00pm LA time on Indie 103.1FM. Have a great weekend, and keep your eyes open for a full on V-Blog including answers to all your questions over the holidays. I have the footage, and will be editing it up while I am hanging out in the desert. The Camp Freddy New Years Eve show at Body English in Vegas (at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino) will be a great way to kick off 2007, so I will be resting up until we jump on the plane to do that show. But I am so greatful that I get to be onstage at midnight on New Years Eve, doing what I love to do best. Playing guitar VERY loudly!!! Happy Holidays Everyone.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 07:27 AM | Comments (19)
December 19, 2006
LOSING MY MIND
I think I'm losing my mind. Something happens to me when I start diving again. I begin to push the envelope. The usual "oh look, its a fish", transforms into, "oh look, its a big fish and its brightly colored" and has now morphed into a potential "oh look, its nine white tip reef sharks, four hammereads, a couple of black tips ..... and a fully grown Tiger Shark!!! ..... and I am gonna dive with them and feed them." Yep - seriously, I signed up yesterday to get into a tank FULL of sharks and manta rays and feed them. I saw the Tiger as it swam past .... its about nine or ten feet long. Thats not to mention the other 15 sharks that are swimming about in this tank! So if Jen manages to look (she's not doing it, but she will be manning the cameras!) I'll post some pics and a vid on Thursday or Friday. That is, of course, if the Tiger isn't too hungry!!!!
Todays diving doesn't begin until 4pm this afternoon. First dive is a twighlight wreck dive at 100ft, and the second dive is a night dive - lots of different stuff comes out at night. And if you ever wanted to know what darkness REALLY is, get into the middle of the ocean at night and turn your lights off. Scary stuff.
Hope you are all gearing up for some nice time off over the holidays. Maybe you do the full on family thing. Maybe you have a quiet few days with a few friends. Maybe you do what we did, and get the hell outta Dodge!! However you choose to spend your holiday time, I hope you have a great time, get relaxed, and head into 2007 with hope and prosperity. Thats it from me for now. I will try and update after the shark feeding thing, but I am gonna stay clear of V-blogs and questions until I get back. That all takes up too much time - and I am on vacation after all!! See y'all soon.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 10:07 AM | Comments (19)
December 14, 2006
CAMP FREDDY VIDEO/NEW YEARS EVE
Hi kids. And as some of you have very astutely pointed out, it seems that Camp Freddy is, in fact, performing in Las Vegas this coming New Years Eve. Our decision was left a little late however, and unfortunately, Dave had already accepted another engagement in Vegas. So due to circumstances completely beyond anyone’s control, we will be performing without Dave. But we WILL be bringing Freddy regular, Mr Jerry Cantrell, along with Chester Bennington, to augment the line up for a few songs. Who knows who will be in the house that night – so don’t discount anything from happening!! I am pretty much in the dark on the whole thing and probably know as much as you guys right now!
And later on today, we will be releasing the very first Camp Freddy video, for Merry Xmas Everybody. It will be up on this site, as well as 6767.com, YouTube/MorrisonTV, CampFreddy.Net and anywhere else they manage to put it!! Check back later on for the exclusive first look. And if you haven't already, check the single out on I-Tunes. CLICK HERE FOR THE CAMP FREDDY XMAS SINGLE.
Although I am not taking a computer on my vacation (I KNOW, I’ve said that before, but I mean it this time!!!), technology is omnipresent these days, so I will be able to check in, see what you guys are all up to (behave yourselves!!) and throw a few random pics up here from time to time. But I am resisting the temptation to take my work with me – sometimes I think it would all fall apart without me, but the truth of the matter is that everything will carry on pretty much without incident, and that my absence is not the earth-shattering event I imagine!! I am leaving both recent posts open, so you can comment on either one - I'll get around to the questions when I can. Have fun and see ya soon.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 07:57 AM | Comments (21)
December 13, 2006
ODDS AND ENDS
No groundbreaking, earth shattering news. But the observant among you will notice I finally got around to changing the front page You Tube video. The new one (thanks to Jay) is a very rare appearance by Getting The Fear, the band that preceeded INTO A CIRCLE. Bee (the singer) and Barry (the bass player) were in both bands, and I joined them in Into A Circle. I actually found some live In2AO video (see below) - the audio is bad, the video is dark, but its definately us. I'm the stoned guy on the left with red hair that kinda wanders into frame every now and then!!. And while I was messing with the YouTube stuff, I updated my YouTube videos page, so now we are moving onto a second page of favorite vids. Also, seems like AOL Online enjoyed the show last week at the Avalon Theater. Many thanks to Steve Baltin for enjoying The Freddy Experience and writing such a glowing review. CLICK HERE FOR AOL CAMP FREDDY REVIEW. OK - Its Question Time with Morrison .....
Peebs - The Merry Xmas Everybody idea was all 100% Donovan. He had the idea, he pushed the band to do it, to get into the studio and co-ordinated the whole thing. Big up mad respec' to the Leitch Massive.
Anonew - I'm glad we can put a smile on your face after all that! CFR is there to entertain, so hopefully you'll keep the dial right where it is.
BirdVaczine - I havent watched any Bros And Sisters, so I cant comment. Whats your take on it?
Sue - Most bizarre present must be a tie between a bottle of Tequila (I dont drink! And havent done so for 12 YEARS!!!) and a strange, ceramic jewelry box that looked like it was made by a seven year old with a nervous twitch.
MB - If there are any presents at all, they get opened on Xmas day. But I prefer to do all the $$ on a holiday, or something big, that needs to be bought before Xmas, so the actual day itself is spent chilling quietly with no big tree/present dramas!!
Danni - Nope. Knocked the canned Starbucks on the head. And the new Gwen track is .... er .... not really my cup of Java.
Max - Its nice that you are so passionate about your likes and dislikes. I fully support that. I also advocate allowing others their opinions and their choices. So I am sorry that you dont like the recent choices of Def Lep, The Towers and My Chem on CFR. But guess what. You dont have to listen. If you dont like the music we play (or that I play, specifically) - then turn it off. I appreciate your support here, but I will continue to play the tracks that I enjoy listening to, and that includes the Towers Of London. I dont really care where they come from!
Vixen - I dont really think about the copyright laws, but I do know they are there for a reason, and they do protect our creative works. Is that right that it becomes public domain after 50 years? Hmm - not sure how I feel about that. What about the families of the creators? More research is needed. NOW you got me thinking!!!
Martin - WOW!!! I cannot believe that we made up this whole 'imaginary listener' ..... and he EXISTS!!! No. Do not feel insulted. Feel strong and empowered!! Email me, and we'll get you on the phone on CFR. We HAVE to talk to you now!!
Jezzi - As I will be out of town this week, you should hit Dave with the 'more light' request. I'm sure he will oblige.
Merc - OG Van Halen rules. These days ..... well, lets say I like to listen to the old albums!! And no, I havent taken part in the Cabo jams, although Matt Sorum has a story or two about some 'South Of The Border' expolits!!
Other than that, I am trying to keep my head down and out of trouble. Sometimes thats harder than it seems!! But we live and learn, and I am no stranger to that process. Thanks to all of you for your support - we'll keep building Chez Morrison in 2007, and I hope you enjoy the ride. The PROCESS is the END RESULT. The JOURNEY is the DESTINATION. I have to keep remembering this shit. Proceed ......
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 08:28 AM | Comments (17)
December 11, 2006
NOT A LOT GOING ON
Good morning everyone. Dont have a lot to say today, seeing as I did the EnormoPost at the weekend!! But always happy to answer more questions, so feel free to ask. The Podcast from the weekend is up - thanks to Paul and Larry who single handedly battled the Internet Streaming Gods and somehow managed to put it together, even though there was a lousy stream on Saturday. Thanks guys. And we move forward into another week. I'll be heading out for a little R+R at the end of the week, and intend to spend the earlier part getting my shit in order and finishing some stuff off for the year. Got a few decent Netflix titles to work through - Season Two of MI5 (or Spooks), Slither, See No Evil ...... I'll let you know. And thats really it. Roll on the Holdidays, the sitting around doing nothing, the opening of bizarre presents, and the onset of a New Year, with new convictions, new surprises and new challenges. Back before the end of the week.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 08:26 AM | Comments (29)
December 09, 2006
THE ENORMO-POST
Please note that this is a large file size. A high speed connection is preferred.
Another great evening of Rock And Roll at The Avalon Theater in Hollywood. I gotta tell you that my job doesn’t suck. Not only did we get to play all the usual great rock songs with our friends, I also got to watch Jonesy and his Neurotic Outsiders play three classic punk tunes …… AND we were able to raise a bunch of money for a great charity. Now how’s that for a good night out?! The evening was a complete success, starting with our very own DRIVE A who rocked the place awake when the doors opened, and quite frankly left a lot of jaded old Hollywood hacks with their mouths open. How many times do you see THIRTEEN year olds rocking like they’ve been doing it for years? A great band, and ONE TO WATCH!!
The Ringers and Lily Allen also played, although I didn’t see them ….. I was busy getting ready, doing press, and generally warming up for our hour of madness! The set was shorter than usual, so that we were able to make way for the Neurotics reunion. But we did change it up quite a bit anyway – EMI instead of PrettyVacant with The Pontiff, a killer version of the Clash’s Police And Thieves, with Elan on vocals (awesome) and Tony Kanal from No Doubt hitting the dub bass lines, and even a run through of the new single, Merry Xmas Everybody, with Terri Nunn and Steve Issacs giving us a helping hand in the choruses. Which reminds me ...... CLICK HERE TO BUY THE SINGLE..
A really good night out, and I saw a few familiar faces in the front rows …… even a Circus Diablo ‘Made In Hell’ shirt staring at me from the front row. I LOVE it!!! I did actually answer all your questions on camera as part of the V-Blog, but it was so long that the Blog became completely impractical …… it would have taken a week to download it!! So I removed the answers, and figured I would keep the V-Blog to three minutes, and type the answers to the great questions you’ve been throwing at me. So here goes ……
Sue – Well, I think the cleverest YouTube video is the one that’s been on my front page under ‘New Items’ for months!! (Ahh, the irony ….) – the animated album covers. Funniest? …. Well most of the funny ones I’ve seen, I put on my YouTube page on this site. Have to say that Mastercard is STILL one of the funniest, although Ketchup Effect is way up there too.
Max – I don’t really practice playing as such, because between the two bands, the sessions, the studio stuff and writing songs, I tend to be playing guitar most days anyway. But I have definitely improved 100% as a player standing alongside Navarro, Cantrell, Diuffy, Slash etc. There is no doubt that being in Camp Freddy has pushed me to be a better player. And I didn’t have ANY plans for ANYTHING!! No back up plans whatsoever, but no real Main Plan either!! I just kinda stumbled and winged my way in life. I just try and stay focused on what makes me happy, and try to stay out of the results and enjoy the process. THAT is not easy, but I try.
Merc – Watch carefully. Head back, deep breath …… and bang! I spit it out and up and away, just before I start singing! A little dramatic maybe, but I couldn’t figure out what else to do with it, and I was about to sing!! No, I don’t own any bikes these days. I ride other peoples or rent occasionally, but as my father and my uncle both rode professionally, I grew up on two wheels, and wrecked more bikes by the time I was 21 than most people EVER do in their life! I love to ride, but only on vacations now.
Jay – Not being funny but I really CANT describe that feeling! Steve Jones is one of the nicest, coolest guys I know, and obviously getting to play Pistols songs with him is amazing. But if pushed …… it’s a very personal, internal sense of emotion – pleasure, anger, rebellion and happiness all rolled into one!!
Paul – Yep. Not a lot I can add to that Guns And Roses paragraph. It’s the same for them as it is for The Panic Channel or anyone else. Your album now gets thrown out into the world and they hope people figure out that its available. No marketing dollars anymore kids!! Last CD? – Killers new album. But mostly I buy from I-Tunes, and that would be the Def Leppard covers album, Yeah. Top band of 2006? – The Panic Channel without a doubt. Best Live Act of 2006? – either Alice In Chains, or NIN (was that this year or last?). Most overated band? – 99% of all of em!! But Lily Allen has to be up there!!
Kelly – GREAT question!! Well, one little secret is that at least 50% of the time, I cant see ANYONE!! The lights are so blinding that a lot of the show I’ll be smiling and pointing at someone in the crowd ….. and I just cant see em!! But the other half of the set is very clear, and I can see everyone (at least, now I had Lasik!!). I find myself thinking about why that guy at the front looks angry. Or where that girl got those jeans. Or sometimes I even start thinking about what I’ll have to eat later, or whats on TV, and I’ll have to drag my head back on stage!!
MB – The WORST Xmas gifts are always the ones that have NO thought behind them … that make NO sense!! A pair of Argyle socks! Or how about one year … a pair of soccer boots!!! I don’t PLAY fucking soccer!!!! Best gift? My wifes present to me of my solid gold guitar pick, with my name engraved on one side (in case I forget!) and the word CHAOS on the other. Most thoughtful? ….. anything that anyone has chosen because of WHO I am.
That’s it. If I missed anyones question, just ask it again, and I promise I’ll get to it. This just became the ENORMO-POST!! Lots of text, the V-Blog, the links …… I have to stop now!! Tonight is an all new CFR – Dave is not going to be there, but I’ll be holding down the fort, and maybe Dono or Matt will come join me. Who knows. Either way, the show must go on, right??? Get out there and buy the Camp Freddy single, and spread the word. The video will be up on YouTube, MySpace, and all associated sites next week. OK. Done. Gone. Finished. Bye.
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 08:37 AM | Comments (35)
December 07, 2006
THE AVALON THEATER TONIGHT
Its the Indie 103.1FM Xmas Party tonight at The Avalon Theater over on Hollywood and Vine. Dubbed 'Wreck The Halls' ..... (oh how witty someone must have felt when they came up with THAT one!), it features Drive A, Lily Allen, The Ringers and Camp Freddy. We will be playing around 10pm, and for those of you who REALLY know and appreciate their Punk and Rock music, there will be a surprise performance towards the end of our set. I am afraid if you dont have tickets now, then its game over, because the show is Sold Out. However, the venue normally holds a few tickets back for when the doors open, so go down there and try ...... nothing to lose, people!!
All questions will be answered in the V-Blog that I will get up online by the weekend. Today is a busy one, but I wanted to get in there and say hi to you all before the madness starts!! Have a great day, and see some of you at the show tonight.
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 08:07 AM | Comments (29)
December 02, 2006
THATS ENTERTAINMENT
I have to say that when we are on, we're ON!!! Sometimes, doing Camp Freddy Radio can be a grind. Sometimes, you just don't wanna go in on a Saturday night, deal with the idiots in line at Starbucks, figure out some different music to play, find some interesting and witty shit to say on air. And sometimes it really is a completely fucking hilarious and awesome experience!! Tonights CFR was, at least for Dave and I, one of those nights. Drive A came into the studio and hung out, Jerry Cantrell called in and talked to us about this years AIC tour, and we had a blast for two hours. Thanks to Paul, who stepped in again and handled the Podcast duties, the show is up in the Podcasts section of the site, or it will automatically download in your I-Tunes if you have subscribed to my world. And if you haven't ..... WHY NOT??!!.
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Posted by vivelerock at 09:45 PM | Comments (35)
December 01, 2006
MUSICARES FOUNDATION
Just an added piece of news for today. There is a watch currently on E-Bay that has my name attached to it, as I donated a leather jacket that got made into watches by Nixon. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUCTION. It is a lot of money, but the cause is a good one and one thats close to my heart. If you are feeling generous or the Xmas spirit is grabbing you by the short and curlies, then maybe a moment of madness will grip you and you'll place a bid. Saving lives AND owning a cool watch. Niceness!!
Peace
Billy
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Posted by vivelerock at 08:40 AM | Comments (22)