Thursday, March 28, 2024

Walking on Planet C

See You On The Dance Floor!

March 2, 2012


Here's our Australian tour book

Here's our Australian tour book. The Playground Weekender was rained out (sad face). Now our first gig will be Monday, March 5 at The Metro Theatre, 624 George Street, Sydney.

I've gotten the promoter to agree to allow me to have a FREE BOOK SIGNING before the concert. It will begin at 17:00. We didn't travel all this way to let you or ourselves down.


If you were planning to go to the Playground Weekender please come to The Metro. We will funk TWICE AS HARD to keep you dancing to the point of delirium.

Here's the current set list (and the artists I originally did them with to refresh your memory). We'll also keep some other gems in reserve just in case you still have an ounce of energy left at the end of the night. See You On The Dance Floor!

 

Hover over the dots and enjoy!

Hover over the dots and enjoy!


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No WiFi On-Board (LAX » SYD)

March 1, 2012
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Currently en route to Australia with The CHIC Organization for a string of show dates. Let's catch up after this 15 hour flight from Los Angeles, CA to Sydney Australia since there will be No WiFi On-Board.


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In Da House

February 29, 2012


Yesterday I had to do a number of interviews, so I spent the whole day in the kitchen in my House

Yesterday I had to do a number of interviews, so I spent the whole day in the kitchen In my House. In between every phone call I'd dance around and break into House songs, which made perfect sense to me.

"That's The Way Love Is" by Ten City was the jam that kicked off my kitchen party, followed by Inner City's "Good Life," Moloko's "Sing It Back," Snap's "The Power," and Raze's "Break 4 Love." Of course that last song popped into my head naturally because I had a little break before my last interview.

After I chatted with the final journalist I sang "Lady" by Mojo. This song's built on a sample of CHIC's "Soup For One," how apropos. In between the last two interviews I had a bowl of chicken soup In Da House.


Ten City "That's The Way Love Is"


Inner City "Good Life"


Moloko "Sing It Back"


Snap! "The Power"


Raze "Break 4 Love"


Modjo "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)"


CHIC "Soup For One"


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Countdown To Good Times

February 28, 2012


My NYC Apartment's master bedroom

I spent yesterday morning resting in my NY apartment. I realized I was feeling much better than the previous two days and walked briskly for almost a mile.

I went over to Sony Music for a great meeting. After the meeting, I headed back to Le Crib Studio in Connecticut and worked on some productions.

Today, I'll do last minute preparations for the Australian tour. I'm really looking forward to playing our new show, seeing the lads in INXS, and meeting up with other friends old and new - like Tina Arena and Sam Sparro. I'm now in a Countdown To Good Times.


Approaching the Sony Music building


After the meeting, I headed back to Le Crib Studio in Connecticut and worked on some productions


INXS


Tina Arena


Sam Sparro


The crowd in Brussels before the show, counting down to Good Times


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We Always Rehearse at SIR

February 27, 2012


Today we had our second and final rehearsal before we go to Australia - Me, Folami and Ralph

Today we had our second and final rehearsal before we go to Australia. I'm still feeling sick and more tired than usual, but playing the music temporarily made me feel better.

We always rehearse at SIR, as do many artists - and some of them have autographed posters on the walls. They even had one by INXS, whom I will see in a few days.


Today we had our second and final rehearsal before we go to Australia - Jerry and Selan


Today we had our second and final rehearsal before we go to Australia - Kim and me


Today we had our second and final rehearsal before we go to Australia - Rich


We always rehearse at SIR


Signed INXS poster on the wall at SIR


I'm still a little sick and more tired than usual, but music always makes me feel better


Rehearsing at SIR with my Plexiglass Guitarman


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This Could Only Happen To Me

February 26, 2012


Today is the first day of rehearsal for Australia and I feel very sick

There is no shortage of irony in my life. A little over a year ago, CHIC was playing its very first gig with Earth, Wind & Fire. I've been wanting to play with them for most of my life. The night of the show, I was stricken with a neurological event that caused me to loose muscle strength in my right hand. I couldn't hold my guitar pick and played the entire night with my fingers. It was almost impossible to imitate my normal "chucking" style with my fingers, but somehow I got through the show. It was one of the worst nights of my life.

Yesterday, I woke up with a fever and felt very sick. It was the first day of rehearsal for our upcoming gigs in Australia. I've been looking forward to playing Australia ever since our sophomore album and it's lead single "Le Freak," which went triple platinum and #1 on the Australian charts. We leave in just two days and I'm deathly ill.

Music has always given me extra strength to overcome incredible odds and I'm depending upon it to pull me through again. Everything's been going so well lately and I guess this is part of the Yin Yang of life. Whenever I think things are perfect, something bad happens that catches me off guard. I'm doing everything I can to try and nurse myself back to health. I'm very happy in general but sometimes I think, This Could Only Happen To Me.


Earth, Wind & Fire


"Le Freak" single sleeve


Music has always given me extra strength to overcome incredible odds


Yesterday's rehearsal stage plan


I feel horrible but I'm trying to get through rehearsal


I can always depend on The CHIC Organization to prop me up on Platinum crutches


No matter what I feel like, as long as there's an once of breath in me I'm going to give it my all


My Final Night in Bremen on our last tour, and though I was really sick and the doctor had just visited me, we still gave a strong performance


My chucking style is almost impossible to imitate with my fingers


Though I'm generally happy, ironically I think sometimes This Could Only Happen To Me

CHIC, Earth, Wind & Fire, Scissor Sisters, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena and MORE

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I Can't F-ing Believe It

February 24, 2012


Yesterday I couldn't wait to get to the studio and play on Scissor Sisters' new record

Yesterday I played on the Scissor Sisters song that I'd heard the day before but couldn't record on it because I was booked for an important meeting. I haven't had the time to indulge in my old life of producing records lately because I've been writing my book and composing two musicals over the last few years.

Going to a recording studio and playing on a new record almost masquerades as my old life. I get to create the parts and carefully craft the textures with the artists, producers, and engineers.

A little more than a year ago I was diagnosed with very aggressive cancer, and my future was uncertain. Now, I'm writing, performing, and playing on more records than I have in quite some time.

After being attacked by The Big C, everyday of my life feels great and I Can't F-ing Believe It.


Being in the studio almost masquerades as my old life


I get to create the parts, and carefully craft the textures with the artists, producers, and engineers


Now I'm writing, performing, and playing on more records than I have in quite some time. Me a few days ago doing another record


Jake from Scissor Sisters taking a picture of me taking a picture of him


Mark Ronson in the studio producing Scissor Sisters


Me, Jake Shears, and Mark Ronson in the studio


And I get to wake up to this every morning - I Can't F-ing Believe It

CHIC, Scissor Sisters, Mark Ronson, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena and MORE

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Fu**. I Can't Believe This

February 24, 2012


Like most days this season, today was warm

I woke up today and it was like most other days this season - warm. My handyman Nick was fixing the kitchen cabinets and I asked him to come outside and take a few pictures of me at the dock. Though it’s February, if the boat were unwrapped we’d have taken it for a spin.

The phone rang and it was musician/producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson. He asked if I could come down to the studio because he wanted me to play on a record. Just imagining it thrilled me. I’m at my happiest when I have a guitar in my hands. The only problem was I had a prior engagement - a big meeting with some big-thinkers held by the cutting edge independent ad agency Droga5. The guest of honor was Morten Albæk, CMO of Vestas (wind turbine company). One of the best things about my life is that there’s always so much going on.

I went to the studio to say hello to Mark and members of one of my favorite acts of the last few years - Scissor Sisters. I didn’t have time to play on the record and do the Droga5 meeting, but I hung out for as long as I could and they played the song for me. The song was hot and as they played it, I jammed along on a 12-string guitar. I wanted to record with them but sadly I couldn’t do it. Fu**. I Can’t Believe This...

(To be continued)


I asked my handyman Nick to take a few shots of me at the dock


If the boat were unwrapped, we’d have taken it for a spin


Musician / Producer extraordinaire, Mark Ronson


A big meeting with some big-thinkers held by the cutting-edge ad agency, Droga5


The guest of honor was Morten Albæk, CMO of Vestas (wind turbine company)


I went to the studio to say hello to Babydaddy and some Scissor Sisters peeps


Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters


The 12-string guitar I was jamming on and some Scissor Sisters gear


Taking a quick photo while waiting for the elevator as I was leaving

CHIC, Scissor Sisters, Luther Vandross, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena and MORE

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I Can't Help Some Crazy Things I Do

February 23, 2012


I had to go to my apartment in NYC for a meeting with a producer

Many people who are new to my daily blog, which is a celebration of being alive since I was diagnosed with cancer last year, don't know that I sing to myself all day long.

Yesterday, I had to go to my apartment in NYC for a meeting with a producer for the musical that I'm composing. Before my journey, I rummaged around my house looking for my favorite white sneakers. I've been wearing them almost all winter because it's been unseasonably warm. I'd kicked them off the night before and I didn't remember where they were.

I took pictures because I thought they'd be in a stupid place and I wanted to document it and show my housekeeper. I'm always influenced by things that I see and songs just pop into my head to underscore the situation. It's weird, but I Can't Help Some Crazy Things I Do.


The living room was spotless - No sign of sneakers and I was singing Luther's version of "House Is Not a Home"


They were not in the asian puppet room - I was still singing the Luther song


The gym was spotless - I was singing "Pump Up the Jam" by Technotronic


I knew they were not in the studio guest bedroom, but I checked anyway because it's near the gym


I found my sneakers under my kitchen table and started singing "Running Away" by Roy Ayers and went to NYC


During my meeting, workers on a scaffold dropped past my window.


I ran outside and snapped the workers while singing "(I Want To Take You) Higher" by Sly and the Family Stone


When I returned home I'd gotten an email from Mark Ronson who was in the studio


I've known Mark almost his whole life - Here he is at my house WAY back in the day

CHIC, Luther Vandross, Roy Ayres, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena and MORE

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I'll Sneak In a Live Song or Two

February 22, 2012


In a few days I'll be in Australia for the first time with The CHIC Organization

In a few days I'll be in Australia for the first time with The CHIC Organization. I'm completely excited and I want to do something different. I have no idea when I'm going to get another opportunity like this again and I'm trying to make the most the trip.

I'd like to combine this concert with a book tour. I have a new memoir which gives people insight into who I am and why I do the music I do. I talk about everything from dropping acid (LSD) with Dr. Timothy Leary and cleaning Mr. Frank Sinatra's airplane at fifteen years old, to my early career at the Apollo Theater and life before and after the formation of CHIC.

This sounds like it makes a lot of sense. Here's the problem, book tours are FREE! Typically, in the media business one company doesn't want to help promote another company's interest and I understand this.

Yesterday, I decided to at least give it a shot and to my surprise everybody wants to help out. Look forward to the announcement of my FREE book tour - where I'll sneak In a Live Song or Two.

CHIC, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena and MORE


In the book, I talk about David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, INXS, Hall & Oates, Tina Arena, David Lee Roth, Grace Jones, Steve Winwood, Thompson Twins, Bryan Ferry, Cyndi Lauper and more


Signing an original 80's CHIC tour book


Kyle MacLachlan, Angela Yee, me, Gayle King at my 1st book event


LSD Hippie Guru, Dr. Timothy Leary


Frank Sinatra's Lear Jet which I've cleaned many times


An early free live book event where I sneaked in a song or two


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