If this is HELLFEST I don't want to go to HEAVEN(fest?)

Bienvenue!! WOW what a great weekend. We just got back to Hotlanta (fucking 95 degrees here) from Two fabulous shows in France! First we rocked Paris at The Nouveau Casino with none other than the infamous VOIVOD!!!

I was a big Thrash MetalHead in the teen 80's and these guys were definately on my short list of heros. I never had the chance to see them back in the day and as the years progressed I was scared to see them potentially devastate me by A) being a bunch of assholes or B) Suck Live, even worse than being assholes. Thank God it turns out A) they are super cool, friendly, smart and funny and B) RULE LIVE!!!! I was so relieved. Not only do I have a new favorite band I am also justified in loving them all these years. I phoned my mom to tell her VOIVOD STILL ROCKS!! I'm sure she was very relieved. Here's a shot of me and Blackie from the Vods.

Next day we drove to Clisson, only a few (5) hours from Paris, just far enough for us to get there really late and Miss both all our interviews AND our Autograph signing session (we are VERY SORRY) but we did not miss our slot of paying at 3:50 - the hour of ROCK that day! Wholly Shit what a great event. We did our thing, with maybe a little extra this time, because face it - we have no shows for at least two more weeks so what the fuck, whatever I do to myself onstage has plenty of time to heal before the next show!!

Our show was fantastic, a few technical problems, but to quote GIRLSCHOOL, 'that's what you get for being us!' But the Audience was on Fire. All 20,000 of them. The party continued off the stage and into the next day. As usual most of my recollections are one big BLUR but I know we had a ball with MAD SIN, the P-Shockabilly band from Germany. Two Tons of fun, and that's not just the lead singer. Here's Blaine with Hellvis of Mad Sin. And a shot of them on stage.

Some of the other bands playing were Motley Crue, Buckcherry, our homies from ATL- MASTADON, Girlschool, CLUTCH, HEAVEN AND HELL with DIO, DOWN, Backyard Babies, St.Vitus, Anthrax, WASP, The Entombed, Marilyn Manson, Machine Head, Kiling Joke, Misfits, Karma To Burn, Sacred Reich, The Cro-Mags, Manowar, Queensryche, Suicidal Tendancies, Orange Goblin, Napalm Death, KMFDM, and VOIVOD! needless to say, everyone's favorite band was the PASTORS OF MUPPETS - a 12 piece horn band with a drummer that played metal classics with lots of Metallica, done perfectly!

Needless to say - this was one of the most fun times we've had, and we have had our share, and a few other people's share too I'm sure.

The last few photos are of Dez Cadena of Misfits after a job well done and our Amazonian buddy Lucy from London who was in charge of 'artist comfort' - like spending 5 hours decorating Motley Crue's backstage in a Pirate Theme and a Dinosaur themed room for Clutch!

Thanks to everyone who was involved, can't wa it til next time! And finally a photo of 'the Australian Soup' for sale along with the SOUP OF DEATH!!

And by the way, Black is still the new Black.

See y'all down the road!

ruyter

Hot Summer in Atlanta continued... (this got edited out)

We head back to France next week for two spectacular shows, both with none other than VOIVOD!! The first show is in Paris at the Nouveau Casino on the 18th and will be an 'intimate' affair. The next show is the opposite - at one of the biggest Rock Festivals in all France. HELLFEST in Clisson on the 19th with HEAVEN AND HELL headlining. If they are anything like they were when we saw them in Chicago, it will be a spectacular event, I hear 100,000 people come to the three day event.

Summer in Hotlanta!!

Hey Everyone, How the hell are y'all? We are having a blast on our 'time off' here in Atlanta. It is just starting to get really fucking hot. 80-90 degrees if it doesn't rain. I've actually got my garden planted and Blaine and I have even made it to one Braves game so far. We got to see Unplugged/Unwigged Spinal Tap accoutic show at the Fox Theatre which was utterly historic.

  Blaine and I spent 10 days in Lexington KY recording the new NINE POUND HAMMER album. They recorded a bunch of country songs - Hammer style and Hammer songs-Country style. So far sounds excellent. I was even called off the bench to contribute some mandolin. We'll be back this summer to finish up. If you check wikipedia it says the new Hammer album is out already and has a hilarious title.. I ain't gonna tell you. But like Homer Simpson says to Bart, 'Don't worry about Wikipedia, we'll change it when we get home'. Regardless it will be out, but we'll have to finish it first.

  Also on our 'time off' I manged to play an accoutic gig with Mr. Eddie Spaghetti himself here in Atlanta's Gravity Pub in East ATL. Talk about an unexpected blast. We had so much fun and I actually managed to learn 9 songs for the gig. The show sold out  and the audience was on fire. One of the locals closed the show by eating lightbulbs and sword swallowing for the last standing drunks (most of us). It turned out the lightbulb eater and his wife were being filmed for their episode of Wife Swap!! I can't wait to see the show.

  We head back to France next week for two spectacular shows, both with none other than VOIVOD!! The first show is in Paris at the Nouveau Casino on the 18th and will be an 'intimate' affair. The next show is the opposite - at one of the biggest Rock Festivals in all France. HELLFEST in Clisson on the 19th with HEAVEN AND HELL headlining. If they are anything like they were when we saw them in Chicago, it will be a spectacular event, I hear 100,000 people come to the three day event.

  So last week, we're watching this movie called "I'm Through With White Girls' and there's this scene where a guy is buying vinyl records and trying to impress the woman at the store. She comments on his Thin Lizzy purchase and he says "I like Nashville Pussy too". Pretty damn cool. what can I say, the guy's got taste.

Geordie's Rule

Swansea was a DUMP!!! Eddie Spaghetti said on stage the club was so sticky it's like the floor is made of DUCT TAPE! Fucking funny. I had to see how far I would get on my knee slide and I pretty much went about a foot before I stopped short. Pretty funny. We have another gig in Wales in a week - so we are not out of the fire yet. So far all in all England has been fucking excellent. We had a few shit shows - Swansea and Birmingham of all places (hard rock capital of the world practically, in the 70's) but Manchester was 'Top' and last night in Newcastle we were 'Mint'. Both nights we played SUPER early- like 7:30 - because it's the weekend and to quote Blaine - 'the entire country turns into a Disco at midnight'. Luckily everyone knows this so the rockers come out early for the show - and we all can go to the pub together while the children do the disco.

We are in Glasgow today- got here early and I have to say- the rock gods seem to be smiling on us because for the second time here - the sun is shining and it is actually beautiful out. I am doing an interview in the GUINESSS factory when we get to Dublin on our day off - so I think everyone is going to tag along for that one. Oh and yes, the quality of the Scotch has improved immeasurably already!

We had an amazing experience after the Birmingham gig. Our tour manager Simon pulled some magic strings and had one of the best Indian Restaurants in the world stay open late for us. Supposedly Chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Birmingham as well as Cobra beer. We didn't even order - they just started bringing us food. What a glorious evening. One of the dishes was Chili Paneer - a super spicy and sweet sauce over fried paneer cheese. Very much like that Indian/Chinese food we've been enjoying in Atlanta. Anyways we were ecstatic, Rogan Josh is one of my new favorite dishes - though I keep forgetting the name and call it Seth Rogan or Josh Rogan, check it out- it might just be British ...

Wish us luck - we are off to Belfast tomorrow! And the Hawks are in the playoffs starting Tonight!!!

love and steak and kidney pie! - I'm eating HAGGIS today!

Ruyter

Proper Fish and Chips!

We are at the beach in Brighton enjoying the fish and chips. We have a wonderful day off on this bank holiday while the Supersuckers have another show. The sun is shining and the place is crawling with tourists, we met a guy on the beach who said we must have brought the good weather with us. It is absolutely beautiful out. Almost nice enough to lay on the rocks on the beach. I tried to relate to the argument as to why rocks are perferable to sand ie 'rocks don't get stuck in your nooks and crannies, won't get in your food etc. But it still looked kind of uncomfortable.

Last nights show went really well. We played very early, 7:55. And on Easter Sunday. I think most people had just come from family Sunday dinner. We definitely played to a lot of new people which is fantastic. We had a very positive article and album review in Classic Rock magazine, 8 out of 10 stars. So hopefully we'll win over some fans here cause we'd love to come back.

Our London show might have been the best London gig to date. The club ULU is part of the University and unlike our shows at the Garage, Underground and Astoria, this was not frought with technical mishaps, tainting the show. No electrocution, no power outages and no fires! What a relief to finally be able to play a proper gig on a stage high enough that everyone can see. We had a really good performance and had an excellent time after catching up at the Crowbar with friends in town. At one point the bar was so full at the bar I think I was lifted off the ground and moved a few inches.

To end our perfect day in Brighton we had an excellent typical pub meal. I had the Cumberland Sausage Toad in the Hole style and Blaine had a steak and ale pie. Then we wandered the tiny crooked streets trying to find landmarks we only know from Quadrophoenia. Finally in search of local fried dough and sugar we hit the famous Brighton pier which has indoor gambling and games for all ages and an outdoor amusement park at the very end. It looks amazing at night all lit up. We found our dessert made by a machine called the Donut Robot and served by a young blond named Hedvig.

Next time we have to see the garden that Lewis Carroll based Wonderland on. Supposedly there is a 'rabbit hole' that is essentially a tunnel that travels from a field to the sea. Now it's a big gay hookup area. Maybe it was back then too.

Lotsa love from sunny England, off to Bristol where tonight I get to visit with a girl I used to babysit!

Ruyter

Back in the UK!

We just got off the ferry from Calais and are en route to London. Dover's filthy chalk cliffs never looked better! The immigration guy had seen us play before in London and he gave me one of his picks. His band is called Die Fishboy! He told me to Youtube it!

We are back in the short bus and trying to sleep as much as we can today as last nights sleep was broken up by gear transfer and packing and moving into shorty here.

The tour is at the halfway mark.

R

Leaving the Continent ...

We are driving on the road to Calais, we switch from our huge double decker back to the short bus AND lose our incredible merch woman Anika from Holland. We are sad to lose her to Cradle of Filth. Then we start the UK part of the tour. I only hope we can downsize all our souvenirs to fit the new mini bus.

The last show on the continent was spectacular. We sold out the Astrolabe in Orleans and made Jean Juc proud. We drank the Nashville Pussy wine from Chris the wine man from Bordeaux with our new crew and old crew. It was delicious. It had our Jesus logo and Blaine's lyric on the label 'he walked on wine'. Fabulous! Stefane our old TM was back from Darfour where he worked with Doctors Without Borders, and Steven was there who did our sound for years and Remy for 10 years ago and Bertrand and on and on. I had the honour of giving away a Gibson SG on stage to a lucky winner. Nice fucking guitar too!

The show was very very good. It is a pity we have to leave France so soon. But London will be a nice reward! We have a lot to do in the UK. And most of it is eating!!! And rocking too.

Much love from the road!

Happy Easter

R