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selected writings - http://kevthecave.blogspot.com/
______________TuesdayJuly31st2007London, ENGLAND
Just a tad ornery today - Joe Bonamassa and his band are in the UK for some shows, so we all had dinner at an awesome Indian restuarant called The Red Fort in Soho. It's really very good food, and then we saw in the wee hours in a mojito frenzy discussing the State Of The Business! 'Twas fun to see my buds Rick 'n Carmine again, and all the lads but I woke feeling a touch seedy and took a much shorter bike ride to a much closer Starbucks! Joe had a 9am call as he has Press all day AND a show tonight, so he's gobna be beat after it! I'm back in the studio mixing for the day............ scream for me........... ______________MondayJuly30th2007London, ENGLAND Hi, from London. have NEVER had jetlag so bad! I'm just not getting over it. I start work at about 11 and around 2.30pm I'm unable to keep my eyes open and nap for a few hours on the sofa in the studio and at night I wake at 3am as narcolepsy sets in. Its retarded! So, I took Sunday off. And as I was all awash, what better time for an interview/chat with Cameron Crowe than 6am Sunday morning? He's writing something for the upcoming Zep "Song Remains The Same" release and said he got such a rush listening to it, it took him back to the days when he would watch from the side stage and he felt the same thrill all over again, which is as much as anyone could wish for, I guess. Chat over and I went for a big bike ride along the rain-sodden Thames, and after scrubbing the mud from every nook on my person, I attempted to take in the first, 12.30pm, showing of the Simpsons Movie, and promptly feel asleep as Homer's antics unfolded into oblivion. Got an email from a guy reviewing the new Joe Bonamassa release. "This is the best sonic treat I've had in years. Don't think I've ever heard such meaningful articulation. Sloe Gin should define the blues-rock genre for years to come, on several levels, not the least of which is the art of recording. My ears, brain, and heart thank you". So, that's self-explanatory and thrilled me ... I do love the guitar and Joe's playing the Blues is just awesome. Its just an extension of his body, I think, like Beckham playing soccer or the L. Hamilton's doing their thing - Laird on a big wave and Lewis in a fast car! . After writing all this from my bed, on a cell phone, I'm getting up to roar an early 20 miles on my bicycle and take in a Starbucks before I bury myself in a heavy metal concert for the day! Really is a fabulous life, because once I get through this, I'm going home to welcome a new lad into our family, and the world. If he's anything like his brother and my first-born, I've surely been touched by an angel.... Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld ______________FridayJuly27th2007London, ENGLAND I do try and like London - and usually do after a few weeks - but really, it's mostly just dreadful! It's definitely the unfriendliest city I have ever visited, and unless you have a network of people, it can be very lonely. I have a book! They're also so pompous about "being British" like it's the curse of being so perfect and beautiful - well, you can keep your warm beer, thugs and hooligans, stodgy crap food, and infernally awful weather thank you very much, as well as your attitude. I'll have a cup of Starbucks with that, thank you........ Just saw this on the Led Zeppelin website. Now you know what I've been up to in London.
New Led Zep Releases in November: Mothership & Song Remains the Same DVD/CD
"We have revisited 'The Song Remains The Same'," says Jimmy Page, "and can now offer the complete set as played at Madison Square Garden. This differs substantially from the original soundtrack released in 1976, and highlights the technical prowess of Kevin Shirley, who worked with us on 'How The West Was Won'. When it comes to 'The Song Remains The Same', the expansion of the DVD and soundtrack are as good as it gets on the Led Zeppelin wish list." Check the Billboard Press release for more info. ______________SundayJuly22nd2007Malibu, CA
Ross Halfin dropped by the studio today, en route to Macau, Singapore, Dubai, London! That lad sure gets around. He did some shots of Maarja and a Polaroid of me to test the light, while she was getting made up, then decorated it - misspelling my lovely wife's name! He's a character....... you gotta love him! I finished sequencing the album, and readied it for mastering, as I'm off to his 'hood on Tuesday. ______________WednesdayJuly18th2007Malibu, CA Finishing up Maarja's album. Have to have it finished this weekend as I'm in London next week, again. Been getting a great response from everyone - uber-manager Merck Mercuriades came up yesterday, and took in a few tunes, between Axl and Elton stories. Thorughly enjoyable.
Supagroup went for radio adds yesterday, for "What's Your Problem" and came out pretty strong. I don't know how you do it, but call your radio station and ask them to play it (apparently!). I 've never done that tho.............. well, I don't even listen to the radio! Someone said to me, yesterday - "you must have heard the new Avril Lavigne song, she's totally stolen the chorus"... and I honestly haven't! Actually, I could care less............ ______________FridayJuly13th2007Malibu, CA Oy! Been swamped! Jared and I mixed an album for an Aussie act called Damn Arms, then we've been tracking a new heavy metal record for Maarja, who hails from Estonia, as well as a gazillion other things, including lots of work - some for one of the greatest rock bands ever, but too famous to mention! Here are some pics from the Maarja session, which sounds really good. My son, Josh has been working with us, which has been awesome, and we nailed all twelve of the tracks in seven days - and have another week to finish them, vocals and mixes, before I go to London to do more work for an awesome metal band, also too famous to mention in these humble pages!
Arranging the Maarja songs: KS, bassist Scott Metaxas and guitarist Paul Crook
Jared mics up drummer Brian Tichy
Arranging songs outside: Paul, Brian, Jared, KS and Maarja.
Scott, Maarja and Paul
Maarja gets scary while keyboard wiz Derek Sherinian checks his fan mail. It's Friday the thirteenth. The last Fri 13th, my son lost his choppers! Hope this one goes better!! K. ______________FridayJuly6th2007Malibu, CA
New album's cover, for Joe Bonamassa's Sloe Gin. In the studio with the previously mentioned musicians of 7.03 cutting a metal album this week, and it's going great - 5 songs in 3 days! Had a good party for the 4th celebrations, my bud Ken and his family from Las Vegas showed up (he's the funniest cat in the world!) and Russ and Keely, who play drums and sing/dance respectively in the Barry Manilow band. I have actually popped in to see the show, but to be honest I couldn't make it past 3 songs, but I had stayed for Mandy, as it reminded me of my youth and a girlfriend I had when I was 16 (named Mandy) who used to go ice-skating with me. Awwwww..... now that's a bad story. ______________WednesdayJuly3rd2007Malibu, CA Got back from Tahiti to a slew of birthday greetings - many thanks! Started a new album yesterday - a Heavy Metal Chick - and a great band! Paul Crook on guitar, Scott Metaxas on bass, Derek Sherinian on keys and Brian Tichy on drums - and a fab singer fom Eastern Europe! Got back to many messes - amongst them, the new Joe album had hit a few speed bumps while I was away, costing the Bonamaster a buck or two, but it's all onstream for an August 21 release, and with a little luck...... He's off to Norway with the dance troupe that is his band tomorrow, and then around Europe - be sure to see him if you can - he's the deal. Happy 4th tomorrow - we're having a party!
______________WednesdayJune28th2007Moorea, TAHITI Big ole day, yesterday. Everyone was feeling a little contrary - myself included. Went on a spectacular sunset cruise. It's only boring if you need hedonistic evenings - those don't exist here. I like! Ross had warned me..... .
Dusk onboard a catamaran
Locals paddling an ourigger canoe
A sacred mountain on Moorea - resembling a woman looking towards the heavens.
KevTheCave (c) Caveman Productions Inc. 2007
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