« July 2009 | Main | September 2009 »

August 31, 2009

CAMP FREDDY IN VEGAS

Posted by vivelerock at 08:41 PM

August 29, 2009

THE ROLLERCOASTER OF LIFE

It's been an absolute pleasure to write and record a track with Ginger Wildheart. The last three days have been a pretty heavy emotional rollercoaster for me. The highs have included hearing a pretty phenomenal track come together in Matt Sorum's studio, and an extremely cool, high energy gig with Ginger, Michael, Scott and Beans. I also lost a dear friend to the fucking disgusting disease that some of us suffer from - and I am feeling pretty drained right now. But tomorrow is another day, and I jump on a plane to Sin City to do a Camp Freddy gig at The Hard Rock. A day or so with some great friends, people that I respect and some wonderful creativity. I think that's just what the doctor ordered.

Adam - I'll miss you. You were a shining light and I pray you are in a better place. God Bless.

Billy

Posted by vivelerock at 08:10 PM

August 26, 2009

OZZY OSBOURNE TRIBUTE

I know that this event is an invite-only deal, but I wanted to post it anyway cos it's fucking cool! So don't go calling the HOB asking how much the tickets are.....cos there aren't any!!! See you guys at the Viper tonight for some unadulterated Wildhearts action. Bring yer earplugs!

Billy

Posted by vivelerock at 09:17 AM

August 20, 2009

THE SCHEDULE

It seems that a bunch of stuff is happening right now, so as much for my benefit as yours, I figured I'd put what I can remember down here on the site. That way, if I forget, I can just look on here!! It's been a great week, making music, getting some meetings happening, having ideas and making plans. Feels good, and I am extremely grateful for it all.

August 26th - GINGER AND FRIENDS @ The Viper Room. An intimate evening with Mr Ginger Wildheart and yours truly, along with Michael Butler, Scott Lipps and Beans. A complete set of Wildhearts songs for a $10 ticket (which are moving fast, so get 'em from the Viper Room now!). We are going to attempt to stream the whole show, live, on the world wide web. I'll post details the day before the show.

August 30th - CAMP FREDDY @ The Joint in Las Vegas. It's a private party for Activision Games, but that's what they invented Twitter and YouTube for.... we'll let you all in to as much of the action as we can.

September 10th - CAMP FREDDY @ The House Of Blues Los Angeles. It's the Sunset Strip Music Festival and we kick it off with a set at the opening night honoring of Ozzy Osbourne. And if that wasn't enough for me, apparently I am hosting the whole evening! Good Lord, I have no idea what that means, but I'm already nervous!!

September 26th - ALL STAR BENEFIT @ The Roxy. A benefit show to raise money for our friend Scott Ford, who finds himself on the sharp end of the healthcare system stick. Read the posts below for more details. And then buy a fucking ticket and come down.... do something nice for someone AND get an earful of some great rock n roll.

October 9th - CAMP FREDDY @ Surfrider Foundation Benefit. More details on this one as we get 'em.

November 17th - RELEASE DAY FOR EVILUTION AND BASEMENT JACK. The dvd's of both horror movies I did get released on this day. And I am scheduled to do a few signings on the same day. I know one has already been put in for the evening. Can't remember the details but I'll get around to it nearer the time. Come down, get a DVD and let me scrawl all over the cover for you! Hahaha!

Throw in a bunch of meetings, recording time, a guitar release to get together, a movie to shoot and a swift trip over to the UK and I think we're good.

See ya!

Posted by vivelerock at 10:16 PM

August 18, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

Today is the five year anniversary of this blog. Five years. I can't quite believe that I've been rattling on about whatever I feel like for that long! And to celebrate, I am posting a free MP3 - a cover version of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, that I recorded with Patrick Cornell last year. It's part of a set of songs that I will be releasing with my Gibson Les Paul when that hits the streets. The release will be digital only, but there will be an exclusive hard copy CD with full artwork and one extra track that will only be available with the guitar. But I couldn't let this five year birthday go so I decided to throw this cover up here for everyone. I hope you enjoy it - free, gratis and with no cost to you whatsoever!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE TRACK - "ZIGGY STARDUST" - FROM THE FORTHCOMING BILLY MORRISON SOLO EP.

So - five years gone and I have to say it's been so much fun. I've made music, released music, gone on tour, played with some absolutely amazing artists and met a bunch of you lot. I've made music videos, V-Blogs and various web video pieces. I've made movies and TV, written screenplays and treatments and hosted a radio show. Shooting ranges, scuba diving with sharks, motorcycle riding...... even five nights of The Sex Pistols in good ol' Brixton. But the most important reflection for me is how my relationships have grown and how I have grown as a human being. My friends are second to none and have shown up for me time and time again. Lessons have been learnt and mistakes have been rectified. Looking back over the last five years, I regret absolutely nothing. This is quite possibly a direct result of a) not shooting drugs into my body and b) simply getting out of bed each day and trying to be the best I can be. Seems like a good plan to me.

Looking forward, I cannot believe my life today and how grateful I am for everyone and everything in it. We still get to rock the house with Camp Freddy. We have shows on the calender and are all still having a ton of fun playing the greatest rock and roll in the world. I get to play with Ginger Wildheart, a guy that has written some of the best, unique pop-rock songs ever (and someone who is also one of the nicest guys I know). I am involved in writing new music with a bunch of guys that are respected, talented and down to earth (more on this another time). A Gibson Les Paul guitar that has been designed to my specs is, as we speak, being produced (a prototype will be landing in my grubby hands soon). Two movies that I am in get DVD releases in a couple of months and I have another movie to do before the year is out. A few literary things that started as germs of ideas also keep making progress in the real world. And with all of this going on, I wake up every morning with a smile. Married to a beautiful, hot, loving girl....with friends that actually give a shit. If the next five years hold even a portion of what the last five years have delivered, then I will be a happy man. Thanks to everyone who checks this site and supports the cause. I have had a blast and I hope you have too.

Peace

Billy

Posted by vivelerock at 07:29 AM

August 14, 2009

BENEFIT SHOW AT THE ROXY

The below-mentioned benefit show for our brother-in-arms, Mr Scott Ford, will take place at The Roxy Theater on Sunset Blvd on September 26th. Expect an all star line up, some fantastic rock and roll, and a concerted fund raiser to help Scott pay the ridiculous medical bills that his condition has brought about. Tickets will be on sale shortly. Do a good thing and come to the show. I can promise a great evening and an even greater feeling of actually giving back.

Posted by vivelerock at 06:19 PM

August 09, 2009

SCOTT FORD NEEDS HELP

OK people. Time to step up to the plate and give back. Camp Freddy's original bass player and current member of The Twilight Singers, Mr Scott Ford, is sick and as usual in this country, has found himself shafted by the Healthcare system. His words are way more eloquent than anything I could write, so please...click on the link below and read his blog. And then, click on the "DONATE" button and help out. Scott needs support and needs it now. A group of his friends and associates are planning a pretty cool Benefit concert which will take place in September in Los Angeles and more details of that will emerge as we get closer. Expect an all-star rock and roll show to help out a brother-in-arms. But for now, you can make an immediate difference by donating. I urge you to help Scott.

CLICK HERE TO READ SCOTT FORD'S BLOG AND MAKE A DONATION.

Posted by vivelerock at 08:31 AM

August 02, 2009

GETTING FLASH WITH GINGER!

A wonderful time was had by all last night, here in the City Of Angels. Camp Freddy played our annual X-Games show (the sixth time we have done this one) and as usual it was a festive frolic through some classic rock music at a ridiculous volume level! New songs included Deep Purple's 'Highway Star' (executed with style by our own Donovan Leitch), Kiss classic 'Cold Gin', with none other than Mr Ace Frehley on vocals and guitar, the massive anthem by The Darkness, 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love (with their frontman Justin Hawkins blowing people's mind with that voice of his) - Justin also helped us revisit the Queen song, 'Fat Bottomed Girls with Steve Jones on guitar - and another 14 or so big rock tunes, featuring Duff McKagan, Naveen Andrews, Franky Perez, Billy Duffy and the one and only Mr Ozzy Osbourne. Check out the video below of 'White Wedding', with Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan and Steve Jones on guitar. If you're my friend on Facebook, the version there is better quality. What a great night. It felt comfortable getting The Freddy together again, and we now set our sites on Las Vegas at the end of the month.

In the meantime, check out the Flash file that good old Edwin made up for us for the Ginger Wildheart show at The Viper. Big round of applause for Edwin, please! As I have already said, we will attempt to stream the WHOLE show, live, from The Viper Room on Aug 26th. If you are going to be in LA, we have kept the tickets at $10, so there is no excuses...... we'll be playing a full set of Wildhearts songs, including a few we didn't play last time. Get yer tickets, get down there and get ready for some maximum rock and roll.

I am done. Spent. Knackered! Gonna play some video games and chill for the rest of the day. I fucking love what I do, and am blessed to be able to continue doing it. Thank you.

Billy

Posted by vivelerock at 02:22 PM

August 01, 2009

SHOWTIME

This week was a fine example of just how things can turn around on a dime in 'The Business'....from all quiet on the western front, to full speed ahead, in one day. I find myself awake on Camp Freddy show day about three hours before I should be....head full of a million different projects! Last nights rehearsal was dynamite. A few of our guests came down and we went at it for about 6 hours. Normally we don't rehearse but as its been a minute since our last show, and we wanted to do a few new songs and had a couple of new guests, we figured....what the hell, it can't hurt, right?? So we did what we do, and had a fucking blast doing it. At about midnight, sushi seemed the right call, so a few of us headed up to Sunset Plaza for a bit of Yellowtail and a Sunset Roll (mmmm.. you gotta try it!)

And after about 5 hours of sleep, I find myself deep in the virtual world, Twittering away, chatting on Facebook, updating the blog here, with a voice inside my head saying "go to sleep you moron." I feel a nap coming on later! The gig tonight is shaping up to be a good one. We also have another show on the books in Las Vegas on Aug 30th - I'll try and find out some details on that one and let you all know. And it seems that something is happening in LA on Sept 10th as well, as part of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, but as per usual I know nothing about it. I'm sure all will be revealed soon! I'm also starting work on a TV thing that should be really exciting and fun to shoot, and will be even more entertaining to watch! That world is full of "don't say anything yet" types, so for now, that's all I can say. Hopefully when we shoot, I can persuade the 'powers that be' of the value of letting people have access - the odd bubble-tweet, or video blog, or something! We'll see.

The prototype Les Paul Billy Morrison model guitar is expected to be in my grubby little hands in the next week or so. I am so excited to see how it is - basically I look it over, play it, make sure its all good, and then it's off to the races. Until that approval happens, nothing can be done. So with any luck, it'll be close to what I imagined and we can start showing you guys exactly what it looks like. Also, the project with Ginger Wildheart was so much fun (and sounded so good) that we decided to do it again. The Viper Room in LA on Aug 26th - and this time we are going to attempt to stream the whole show live on the web. Yep - not content with learning and playing an hour and a half of pure classic Wildhearts songs, we want to let the world in. The Viper Room have been wonderful and agreed to let us do this, so technology notwithstanding (and we all know how that can be), at 10.30pm PST on August 26th, Ginger Wildheart, Scott Lipps, Michael Butler, Beans and Yours Truly (plus a couple of friends) will be appearing live, direct, hot, sweaty and beaming.... on a computer screen near you. We will post the link and the directions nearer the time. Lets make this a worldwide broadcast and show people that it's possible to provide fantastic entertainment for rock music fans everywhere - for FREE.

Finally, I wanna send out love and respec' to my homie, Danny-Boy from La Coka Nostra. First of all, their album dropped....and it's a monster! Only for grown ups, ladies and gentlemen. Go get "A Brand You Can Trust", turn the volume up, and let the beats and rhymes mash your head. And secondly, he is one of those guys that just....'has an eye'.... check out this design. I LOVE it. Danny - you rule. Right. I got some Facebooking to do - if you are in LA tonight, go to the House Of Blues, bribe the security, flash a bit of leg, buy 'em a beer, look for an open window, pretend you're a roadie, do whatever it is you guys do to get into a show. I promise its a good one! Have a fantastic day.

Billy

Posted by vivelerock at 08:44 AM