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January 30, 2009

WEEKEND

It's been a successful week for me here in LA. Got a couple of Freddy dates getting put on the calendar - one is a private event in Dana Point in a week or two, but a possible show in Texas is looking good as well. More details as and when they come through. Some Scuba for me and the Mrs is getting booked, so some sun and surf is in our future (always a nice thing). And some really exciting news for me today which I will share with you once it's all systems go. Basically, I go into the weekend happy, satisfied and excited about whatever comes my way. Also, I have a couple of web articles for your perusal. One, bizarrely, is a Circus Diablo interview thats maybe 18 months old, but just came out!! CLICK HERE FOR A PARTICULARLY LATE CIRCUS DIABLO INTERVIEW. And then we have a review of the Sundance Camp Freddy show. CLICK HERE FOR CAMP FREDDY @ SUNDANCE.

Other than that, I need to offer my commiserations to Kate - having your car broken into sucks. Having personal shit stolen .....that's just nasty. Glad you are ok. I just watched this video and completely cracked up so please, cheer yourself up and take a look at this. One of the funniest things I've watched in a LONG time!!! Finally, I wanna say that I hope the usual suspects are still out there - its been a quiet start to the New Year on here - spread the word and the love and build your own community. I always endeavor to provide content whenever I can. Until next week - have a good one. Be nice. Play safe. Turn it up loud!

Billy

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Posted by vivelerock at 06:06 PM | Comments (13)

January 23, 2009

BACK IN ACTION

So first of all, I had a great time at Sundance this year. Got a little bit of skiing in over in Deer Valley which was awesome, and the show at Harry O's was a lot of fun. The video above is of the Billy Idol song, White Wedding. Steve Stevens was over on stage right for this show and it's SO much fun singing Idol songs with him - he does all the moves and plays like a demon! Billy Gibbons came on and did a couple of songs before the finale of I Wanna Be Your Dog - and we were joined by Shaun White (X-Games/All Around Snowboarding Superstar!!) who was awesome doing one of the solo's on that song! Although I crawled back to LA feeling like I hadn't slept for a week (which was sorta the truth) it was another successful trip to the snow for Freddy.

We have a show in Feb scheduled that is a private affair in Southern Cali, but hopefully we will be able to announce some public shows soon. Rest assured that we are always throwing ideas around and we'll do whatever we can if its possible. In the meantime, I am in full on "screen" mode for the next few weeks, with movie and TV stuff on the table. Meetings, pitches, discussions, more meetings....gotta love a good meeting in this game! I also need to figure out what I am going to do musically this year. had an interesting email conversation with one of my peers (who happens to be in one of my all time favorite bands) which might pan out into something fun. There is aways something brewing in Chez Morrison!

Finally, check out this piece of art - by LA artist Louis Carreon. If you live in LA and are into the art scene, Louis has a show coming up on Feb 13th I believe - and I will be DJing the event. He has a fabulously irreverent take on certain things and I have actually been wearing his "Los Angeles Crimes" stuff for years. Now he's hitting the canvas and doing some great pieces. CLICK HERE TO VIEW LOUIS CARREONS SITE. If I am allowed a few names on the list I'll find out and let you know. And finally, the VELVET LOUNGE at The Key Club is back on this coming Monday. I will be DJ'ing for Matt as he hosts his club night, and might even grab a guitar and jam with the Darling Stilettos again. Gotta jam - its friday night and ..... I got some video games to play!!

Billy

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Posted by vivelerock at 09:01 PM | Comments (5)

January 18, 2009

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Day one of the trip to Utah. Nothing much has changed since last year. The streets are jammed with people, the strange habit of 'gifting' is in full effect, and Park City is absolutely gorgeous. A winter wonderland. I miss Jennifer (who stayed in LA to get on with some work of her own). Went out last night to the Chefdance thing (each night is a different world class chef preparing food for about 100 invited guests) and will be returning tonight for my friend Kerry Simon's night. Also hung out last night at the Rock Band lounge (the game, Rock Band, you know....?) that Donovan is hosting and again, I will be back there tonight as I am the DJ for tonight. I am off to get a few hours skiing in right now. Back later for more updates. See ya.

Back again - getting some rest before the nights activities. The skiing was absolutely amazing. Deer Valley. Beautiful pristine snow, and some nice trails in powder between the trees. Went over to the Gibson lounge and watched Sting jam some blues there before heading down Main Street to watch the football. When I got back here, Paul had posted the link to the Gibson Dark Fire video I did. So it's posted above here for you all. I think it looks good and shows the Dark Fire to be the cool fucking thing that it is. Nuff said. Nap time!

Back in LA. Lost my voice. Feels like I haven't slept in days. But a great time was had (as always) and the gig was rockin'. We missed Dave but Steve Stevens nailed it over on stage right for the whole show. Other guests included Billy Duffy, Mark McGrath, Shaun White, Corey Taylor and Billy Gibbons. Here's a piece from the Salt Lake Tribune.....

Harry O's: Night Five: Raw Power / The Salt Lake Tribune:
The best night of music so far in Park City this long weekend was Monday night's Harry O's performance of Camp Freddy, a rock-star supergroup that played covers for 90 minutes. I originally wasn't going to make the trip to Harry O's from Sugar House because I was battling a fierce cold which make my voice feel the way Tom Waits' voice sounds. But I couldn't pass it up. The band's Monday incarnation was a who's who of rock: Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Matt Sorum (Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver), Billy Morrison (The Cult, Circus Diablo), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), Donovan Lietch Jr. (Nancy Boy), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol's band), Shaun White (pro snowboarder/skateboarder) and, not least, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. It was great to get up to the stage and fist pump (although mine was covered in snot). Here's some of the highlights: Gibbons and the band launching into a heavy version of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" that initially sounded like they were going to cover "Nookie" - Stevens playing the guitar behind his head during two Idol songs, "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" - McGarth doing his best Johnny Rotten impression when singing the Sex Pistols' "EMI" - The band dedicating a cover of the Cars' "Just What I Needed" to Barack Obama - Taylor screaming a manic version of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades," and then remarking, "I just had a fucking aneurysm" - McGrath saying Robert Redford requested the band play Ted Nugent, so they played "Cat Scratch Fever" - The entire band closing with the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog"

B

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Posted by vivelerock at 07:53 AM | Comments (11)

January 16, 2009

ROCK BAND

Posted by vivelerock at 01:50 PM

January 08, 2009

CAMPING OUT IN UTAH

A quick visit to the Blog for me before running out to get some food. We did confirm a Camp Freddy show at the Sundance Film Festival on Monday 19th January. We have played up there a few times and it's always a blast. Lack of oxygen + altitude + rock n roll = good times!! Unfortunately, Dave has previous commitments so he will not be joining us. And I miss him already. I will also take advantage of the winter wonderland and the many events happening that week or so, and I will be DJing on the Sunday night at a "Rock Band" event. I will give you more details when I get them in case you happen to be strolling down Main Street in Park City, UT at just the right moment!!

And on a completely non related tip - things that are currently making me smile .... the new Nip/Tuck, Resistance 2 on PS3, Matt Sorum's Velvet Lounge on Mondays, Nike ID, "Superhero" by Janes Addiction, the Re-Search book "Modern Primitives" and Jamie Reid artwork. Including this awesome new paintjob I had done!! I take delivery in a couple of weeks but the guys at RS GUITARWORKS sent me some pics to whet my appetite. And OH. MY. GOD!! Its fucking amazing. If you own guitars and wondered who and where does the absolute best finishes, all those custom paintjobs you see.....well wonder no further. Its these guys. If you've been thinking about getting a custom paintjob, CLICK HERE TO SEE RS GUITARWORKS WEBSITE. Tell 'em Morrison sent you!

Answers to questions: Danni - Flock Of Seagulls never quite floated my boat, although the hair was quite spectacular back in the day!! Peebs - well, I have just honestly not had any decent chunks of time available to me to sit and go through video. As much as i wanna put up new V-Blogs (and have the footage), I am either moving at 1000 miles an hour, or I am comatose on the sofa trying to relax. When the balance returns, I'll throw something new up. And the best piece of advice I had came from a good friend of mine who told me, "Be nice on the way up, cos you'll meet em again on the way down"!! Jay - all I meant was that I am writing and recording new material (have been for a while with Patrick Cornell) and that if the winds blow in the right direction and a couple of my friends are around, it might well end up being album #2. But WAY to early to figure that one out!! Sean - thank you for your kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the Roxy show. Beth - I will be at the Gibson stand on 15th at NAMM. And the whole "reaching out" thing is kinda cool, as long as people are respectful. Grabbing a fistful of guitar strings and yanking hard is not exactly a good idea. But contact with an audience is the whole point of it all, mentally, aurally and physically. Mary - I would like to tackle painting on canvas but you need a good physical space to do that. Maybe one day I'll have the warehouse with the cars and the guitars and the paints and all that good stuff!! Personally, I would like to accomplish a smaller waist!! OK - losing my mind. Got to eat. Bye bye all!!

Billy

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Posted by vivelerock at 05:38 PM | Comments (5)

January 04, 2009

ART AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS

The usual work vibe is slowly creeping back in - and I don't mind at all. I have had enough time to rest up and enjoy the holidays. Now my head turns to 09. I know that I will be going to the NAMM show - I believe I will be doing something at the Gibson Guitars Stand for the new Dark Fire guitar (the one I played in December at The Roxy) - and I think its on January 15th. I will get more details but if you are a guitarist or a tech head, drop by and say hello on that day. I also hope to be up at Sundance after that - either with Camp Freddy or DJing, although confirmations are still to be had. And as always, its not for sure until its over! One event that I do know about is this art show at The Pop Factory on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles on Saturday January 10th. The artist, Rome Apple, is a friend of mine, and I already have a piece by her. If you are into Pop/Modern/Contemporary Art - give it a look. I love her work. Once I finally finish playing Resistance 2 on the PS3, I will get my head into gear and start thinking about some new music - Billy Morrison/Circus Diablo - who knows how it'll see the light of day. But I feel another record coming on this year in some form or another. More Freddy as well for sure, as and when it happens. Until then - hit me with yer 09 questions.

Billy

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Posted by vivelerock at 09:01 PM | Comments (10)