Year 2004

December 18, 2004

Hello Friends,

I'm in Phoenix with my Damn Yankees band mates, getting together for the first time in 10 years at the request of our pal Alice Cooper to take part in his annual Christmas Pudding Benefit.

After a couple of false starts, actually starting off in Burbank, but then taking limos to LAX when the jet was switched to another company, we rocketed off to Phoenix. Jeanne, Keith and I boarded a private jet with most of Alice's band members yesterday in Los Angeles for the trip over.

Teddy Z, Ryan, Chuck, comedian Mike Wilson and the rest of us had fun telling band stories and talking music all the way to Arizona where we were picked up and checked into the Ritz Carlton before heading to rehearsal. A poker game broke out about halfway there and we all had to switch seats to get the right group together for that.

Here we are in the middle of High Enough, and you can see Jack and me watching each other as Ted digs in for the solo. It took a few minutes to shake the cobwebs off the Yankees tunes, but soon within minutes it was right in the pocket and it felt just like putting on a pair of old comfortable, broken-in boots.

It was great listening to Alice rehearse with his band, and Jack and I couldn't resist jumping in and singing the chorus of Eighteen with them. Alice was laughing because he said he's never heard the chorus with harmony in it before. Spreading the Damn-Yankee-ness all around...

Alice and I went over Chuck Berry's Run Run Rudolph for the encore tonight. It's gonna be something.

More to come...

December 7, 2004

Hello Friends,

Last night in Manhattan we played a 45 minute set to Q104's premier listeners, all selected for their dedication to the station. They call in, play contests, show up for station promotions and are on the top of their list of supporters. We loved the chance to win those who might not have been our biggest fans and that's just what we did. It was short but sweet and action packed with the best of what we play, including "I Am The Walrus." We showed them all the video on three large video screen just before the show began and I have to tell you, the response was so huge I was wondering I we could follow it. For STYX this is something we've been waiting for since we reorganized in 1999. It's really been a rebuilding process, one we've enjoyed every day of. When bands get our of whack, chemistry-wise, when the group spirit gives way to power struggles and differing goals, no matter how good you are at masking it to your fans, it can't help but ultimately reflect in your performances. Bands are only human, and joy is a powerful elixir, one I'm happy to say we've been enjoying since the first show in July of 1999. And now, after playing more shows with this band than I ever did in the pre-'99 STYX, we have developed an audience that is embracing Lawrence's performance of "I Am The Walrus."

I am sad to hear that there is still some resentment from a couple key Canadians (in Toronto) after we had to cancel a radio performance during the SARS scare in 2003, days before we were set to embark on our STYX Journey REO tour. Sadly, because of this they have kept you from listening to "I Am The Walrus." Thing is, every so often things don't work out and it's a drag, believe me, for all of us, but you move on. Some radio people, and it is thankfully a very small handful, are the types who might do you a short term favor for you doing them one which requires bringing in your entire group, support team and trucks full of gear, then drop you like a hot potato. But when something like what happened with the SARS scare, they will hold it against you for years. It's silly, but the music business is no different from the jobs most people go to every day. Some bosses are cool, some are tiny-brained idiots who only talk to their small circle of yes people. You know the types. But just like every day jobs, time weeds them out and the cream rises to the surface, and let's be real, some radio management can be just as brutal to their staff as some of these guys are to artists, so I guess it's understandable when they feel the need to pass the pain down the food chain. Fortunately, there are SO many GOOD people out there in the music business, good, talented journeymen and journeywomen in radio whom we've had great relationships with for years, who are opening their doors to us every day now and putting "I Am The Walrus" on and giving it a shot, and YOU are calling in and giving them good feedback. It's still that simple.

Last night was a perfect example. All you have to do is look at the list of personalities on Q104 and you can see what I mean. It's a who's who of radio stars. We've had ups and downs with most of them and they only remember the ups. Same here. Life's too short!

I'm not that big of a follower of astrology but my wife has sent me a couple of forecasts in the last few weeks that nailed me to a T. I'm driven and have always been when it comes to the band, to the music and all that it encompasses, and sometimes I will let it drive me crazy to the point where I lose sight of how good it is, wanting to win EVERY struggle and holding on to the bumps and bruises, but because of the good people who surround me, I welcome the little tap on the shoulder or the thump on the head every so often, like Cher's reminder to Nicholas Cage in whatever that film was where she smacked him and said "SNAP OUT OF IT!" And I do. These two recent forecasts busted me out of it like the slap in the face Nicholas Cage got. You're as good as the friends you keep, no question.

Friends like Kevin Weinstein and Krista Wallhagen who came last night, the Krista whose photo you see on the "I Am The Walrus" cover and which you'll see again in the opening seconds of the video and whose artwork you see on Jimmy Johnson's GORGOMYTE. In case you haven't seen it, Jimmy is marketing the amazing polishing cloth he's used on my fretboards and frets for years. I introduced him to Krista and she created the images on Jimmy's packaging. Through friends in the guitar business, doors are opening everywhere now for Jimmy, and rightly so. This stuff is that good. He got so many compliments on our shining guitar necks over the years he felt like it was time to share his secret weapon and guys like me, Neal Schon, Dave Amato, Jeff Watson and others who are already completely spoiled by it know it's just a matter of time before it is in the kit of every serious guitarist. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy either.

Okay, time to go in search of breakfast. And how about another shout out to Kim Ouellette for nudging me that it was about time to give this site a face lift and start paying more attention to it myself. Kim is another great friend I have made as a result of being in STYX. In fact it was Kim who suggested we call Lawrence Gowan when we needed a new keyboardist/vocalist. If THAT's not enough for a lifetime All Access Pass, what is? Thanks for the new site Kim. And it's still growing too.

Any way, I've rambled enough, but hey, this is my web site, so ever there was a place where self indulgence should be allowed, this is probably as good a place as any.

We go to VH1 today

Cheers to you all and have a happy holiday.

December 4, 2004

Hello Friends,

Jack Blades invited me to play with him and Night Ranger when he heard I was invited to last night's All Star Jam in Las Vegas. They learned "Blue Collar Man" and "Renegade" and we tore it up together before breaking down to acoustics and performing their "Good-bye." Toby Keith, Charlie Pride and Lone Star came out and then the Jam really got going full steam with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Take it Easy, Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, Is Anybody Going To San Antone, Sweet Home Alabama" and maybe more, after a while it was just one Wand Dang Doodle, all night long. The holiday season is in full bloom now, "no bout adoubt it."

TS.

September 15, 2004

To everyone who sent me greetings and good wishes on my birthday--Thank you!
After my big Five-O party last year I was more than prepared for a quiet, ho-hum birthday this year but boy was I mistaken. Thank you for reminding me that every birthday is a big deal.

Love to you all,

Tommy

March 24, 2004

Hello Friends,

Happy Spring to you all. Although the weather man may not have evenly distributed the mild warm weather to everyone, just knowing it's coming is a good thing.

We are inching closer to completing our stage for the May-June STYX-Frampton-Nelson tour we've been planning for months. We're all looking forward to it. For us it will be a real treat to close every show, playing a longer set than we have in the last couple of summer tours.

There is a 2 CD STYX career Anthology coming out in May, a 5.1 CYCLORAMA DVD Audio Remix due in May as well, and on top of that Universal will be releasing a DVD featuring 5 classic STYX DVDs in April.

For the first time in our career, we have taken on a sponsor, The Hard Rock Café. We are very excited to have them on board. All of their history with Rock memorabilia and the uplifting, "Love All Serve All" are things we are proud to be associated with. We will probably add "Rock All" to that list, since that's OUR job.

Our dog Clyde turned 2 on February 24 and he's getting better every day. He goes off leash now most of the time and responds to voice commands more often than not, which is what needs to happen with such a big friendly dog as he is. Bubba is still the boss. Some things don't change.

We've been spending more time at the beach lately, knowing that the day is coming when we'll be in hotels and STYX stages and not at home. People can give California a hard time if they like, but it's hard not to love the California coast.

Jack Blades and I have been working in our spare time on a CD that is all cover songs. 60's and 70's from our youth. We're not sure what we're going to do with them. For now it's something we're just having a ball with. Jack's solo album is now available and let me tell you it is one of the best things he's ever done. Song after song you'll experience the talent of this great songwriter/singer/musician/producer.

Well, Jeanne is telling me she's going for a walk on the beach with Clyde and Bubba, and as much as I enjoy being on line, well, I think I'm going to join them!

See you soon...

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