The Weblog Of Dr. Dot Stein
Project Object Tour Dates:
Oct 27 Toad’s Place New Haven, CT
Oct 28 Jillians Albany, NY
Oct 30 The Met Pawtucket, RI
Oct 31 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
Nov 1 BB King’s New York, NY
Nov 2 World Café Live Philadelphia, PA
Nov 3 Regatta Bar Cambridge, MA
Project/Object with special guests… Ike Willis and Ray White !!!
The Music Of FRANK ZAPPA..and more
IKE and RAY's FIRST TOUR TOGETHER IN OVER 25 YEARS!!!
Featuring: Ike Willis, Ray White, Andre' Cholmondeley, David Johnsen, Eric Svalgard, Jim Ruffi
WINTER TOURDATES BELOW !!
Hello and how are you?!?
Hoping you had a great Christmas, Chanukah, Solstice, Kwaanza, Pagan Sun Worship day — or Atheistic hangout movie night!! Whatever you did or are doing, it's all good.
We are putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a historic and fantastic run with the two and only IKE WILLIS & RAY WHITE ….!!
Ike and Ray, as you know – remain two of Frank Zappa's most beloved and listened-to frontmen/vocalist/guitarists. Between them they appear on over 25 of Zappa's releases from 1978 onwards.
Ike and Ray have not toured together in over TWENTY FIVE (25) YEARS !!!.
The 1984 tour ended on Dec 23, 1984, Universal Ampitheater, Universal City. Since then, as you well know, Ike Willis has toured with Project/Object for nearly 15 years, and in that time Ray White has performed with us a handful of times in San Francisco and at Festivals around the country. Those occasions remain the only times these legendary performers have shared the stage since Zappa Tour 1984…..
Now… we bring you an opportunity to see them on an exclusive New Year's/Holiday tour with Project/Object.
This tour also marks the return of an old friend and Project/Object Alumnus – Drummer Jim Ruffi. Jim did a few short runs with Ike and the band back in 1999, and he and I have been involved in several live and studio projects, including recordings with Ike Willis and unsung genius songwriter Chris McKenna. Really folks, check this man's wonderful music out…. I already know you have great taste in music !!! http://www.myspace.com/chrismckennamusic
Anyway…….Jim Ruffi ably steps into the drumchair as a result of Eric Slick's leave of abscence. Come check him out !!
As always, the setlist will feature some old P/O favorites, some new items from the vast Zappa catalog, and, but, especially material that Ike and Ray are known for separately and together. Just hearing these voices together in harmony is a thing of wonder. Take a look on youtube at the clips of the famous NYC Pier, August 1984 show, immortalized on the "Does Humor Belong In Music" DVD to get an idea of the dynamic these guys whip up. We hope to see you there, say hi!!!
ALSO– as always we have our "Project/Object Local Crew Program" in effect. Many of you know what this is and have kindly participated — For those new to the idea — what we do is solicit volunteers from our fan base to be "roadie for a day" and help the band in/out of the club, assist with setup etc. In exchange the "roadie" gets a free ticket to the show, a beverage or two, access to soundcheck, pictures with the alumni, and autographs from Ike and Ray on their raggedy LP covers dug up from their basement.
We still need to fill in a couple cities on this tour — especially the new ones. If you are interested in this venture —please email me (guitartour@earthlink.net) for further details and make the subject line "P/O LOCAL CREW <city of the gig> ".
Please don't write back with the actual words <city of the gig> in there. That will, sadly, be a failed cognition test, and we need you to be able to follow simple instructions. Being a musician -or- having a knowledge of musical equipment, and a willingness to schlep gear are all you need to qualify !
ALSO — thanks again for all the well wishes and support. My partner Cheri Jiosne is still valiantly fighting her battle against breast cancer. After 6 months of a chemo program, she reached a plateau. For about 6 weeks now she has been on a very promising program specially geared towards her type of tumor. So far — so good — and we are staying upbeat and positive every day. Still — even though some kind of beginning of a change in the US health system began yesterday with the Health Bill being passed – that won't help us financially anytime soon. I will be donated all my proceeds from this tour -as well as the profits from T-Shirt sales – to her cause.
I continue to reach out to anyone that wants to help – (THANK YOU!!!)
There is info on www.projectobject.com, scroll down to the "THANK YOU" blog post, or you can just email me.
We have TWO options:
1) sending her a check directly (email me for address or check the site)
2) donating directly via PAYPAL : send it to the address "projectobject@earthlink.net". Note: my first name "Hugh (Cholmondeley)" will return in the confirmation email.
Every penny counts!! Even $5 will go to very good use for medications, travel to treatment etc. This sh*t is expensive!!
NOW…LET's CRANK SOME FRANK !!
SEE YOU ALL ON THE ROAD!!!!!!
-Andre' Cholmondeley
Project/Object with special guests… Ike Willis and Ray White !!!
The Music Of FRANK ZAPPA..and more
IKE and RAY's FIRST TOUR TOGETHER IN OVER 25 YEARS!!!
Ike Willis, Ray White, Andre' Cholmondeley, David Johnsen, Eric Svalgard, Jim Ruffi
DECEMBER 2009
SUN 27 SELLERSVILLE PA Sellersville Theatre
MON 28 BALTIMORE MD 8 x 10
TUE 29 PITTSBURGH PA Rex Theater
WED 30 CLEVELAND OH Beachland Ballroom
THU 31 EAST LANSING MI Mac's Bar
JANUARY 2010
FRI 1 CHICAGO IL Martyr's
SAT 2 CHICAGO IL Martyr's
SUN 3 MILWAUKEE WI Miramar Theater
TUE 5 HARRISBURG PA The Abbey Bar @ Appalachian Brewing Co.
WED 6 PLAINS PA River St. Jazz Club
THU 7 NEW YORK NY BB King's Blues Club
FRI 8 CAMBRIDGE MA Regatta Bar
SAT 9 TROY NY Revolution Hall
SUN 10 NEW HAVEN CT Toad's Place
And check out the new and ever-evolving website: www.projectobject.com
Ray White will be at the July 4th show, yay!
Napi and the rest quit after an insulting offer of getting half of what they were being paid for on their 2nd tour, so they left and I guess that is what is happening again? The Zappa Family Trust simply must learn, you can not fight all the fans, alumni and Zappa tribute bands/ festivals and do well. Like they say “if you can't beat em, join em”. Why not have Zappa Plays Zappa headline a touring Zappa festival in which all Frank Zappa
Saturday night (last night) was pretty entertaining. Met up with Aaron Lewis , singer of Staind who is by FAR the Dot Bots favorite client. He gets a massage pretty much every single day of every tour he does and he LOVES our massage team (the feeling is mutual). He is super generous, funny as hell and a good challenge (he expects EXTREME deep tissue, like no other!). Anyways, Aaron had his two hour massage then we went over to the Franz Club where the Eagles of Death Metal were playing.
I have not been to the Franz Club for years, so when we (Aaron and I) got out of the taxi, I asked the very first people I could "which way exactly is the Franz club?" – but I said it in German as it IS Berlin. The guy, looked at me like I was nuts and I said it again in English- and added we are looking for the backstage door to the Eagles of Death Metal. He said "WE ARE the Eagles of Death Metal" ha ha. I didn't recognize the singer, Jesse Hughs, as his hair is longer now..There was a video camera rolling the whole time, but I wasn't sure why- there was a massive soccer game tonight so I just assumed it was the local news, but it was a tv crew following the singer and drummer of the Eagles of Death Metal around outside for some reason, lol. So, I say "I am Dr. Dot and this is Aaron" and he said "I know who you are" and then he shook hands with Aaron and gave me a hug. I was perplexed as I had never met him before and he could not see my Dr. Dot shirt under the umteen sweaters I had on – eh? Guess he knows the Dr. Dot massage team and assumed I was just one of the Dot Bots lol. ANYHOW we all went backstage and had a BLAST.
Jesse Hughes , singer of The Eagles of Death Metal ^
Jesse, Aaron and Eagles of Death Metal drummer, Joey Castillo ^ who also plays with Queens of the Stone Age
Guitarist of Eagles of Death Metal, Dave Catching ^ was super cool to talk to. He played me some OLD Roxy Music on his iPod and I have to admit, I will be looking it up online and buying it. Sounded great. It was before the Talking Heads had formed and you can tell the Talking Heads must have been heavily influenced by early Roxy Music (the Brian Eno connection going on too)
This was taken months ago ^ just thought I would toss it on here again
We came so early to the Eagles of Death Metal show and Aaron and I both couldn't be bothered to see the opening act, so we booked it to White Trash for some yummy grub and ARROGANT service. The hostess there pretty much SCREAMED at us to get out of the big booth and move to the tiny table Wolfgang the owner reserved for us. JEEEZE. Even Aaron could not believe how fucking bitchy they are there. White Trash is fun and the food is great but they are FAMOUS for snotty fucking service. Not kidding. Their french fries are called "Fuck you fries". lol
Took these pics of Aarons new tatt's while awaiting our grub.
Aaron had his hands tattooed not so long ago ^ looks mad cool.
He told me who certain songs of his are about, he said no one knows except him and his band. Felt privileged to know that inside info. I swore to secrecy, so I will just have to leave it in my will. lol
Ate and ran out of there to make it back in time to the Eagles of Death Metal gig. They still had a half hour before show time, so we had some laughs. Some cute groupies slinked back stage, oooh la la:
Electrical Tape bra. She must be a Wendy-O fan ^
Their tour manager, Louie and I go WAY back. I have known him since 1989. He used to tour for YEARS with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Great to see him again. "Rock and Roll never forgets"
Two minutes before show time. Jesse is pumped up and ready!
Drummer Joey waiting til the very last minute to put sticky tape on his drums sticks so they don't slide out of hands.
"The band's on stage and it's one of those nights, oh yeah
The drummer thinks that he is dynamite, oh yeah
You lovely ladies in your leather and lace
A thousand lips I would love to taste
I've got one heart and it hurts like hell
If you can't rock me somebody will
If you can't rock me somebody will"
Rolling Stones
The Franz Club was beyond sold out. This was a special record company gig, super hard to get in if you didn't have a hook up. The band sounded fantastic. VERY energetic. Their intro song (before band comes out) was "Ladies Night" super funk!
Well, gotta get to bed, the Staind show is tomorrow at the Columbia Halle, gotta rest up.
x
"Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
Dizzy with eternity.
Paint it with a skin of sky, brush in some clouds and sea
Call it home for you and me.
A peaceful place or so it looks from space
A closer look reveals the human race.
Full of hope, full of grace, is the human face.
But afraid, we may our home to waste.
Theres a fear down here we cant forget hasnt got a name just yet
Always awake, always around singing ashes to ashes all fall down.
Now watch as the ball revolves and the nighttime calls
And again the hunt begins and again the bloodwind calls
By and by again, the morning sun will rise
But the darkness never goes from some mens eyes.
It strolls the sidewalks and it rolls the streets
Stalking turf, dividing up meat.
Nightmare spook, piece of heat, you and me, you and me.
Click, flashblade in ghetto night. rudies looking for a fight.
Rat cat alley roll them bones. need that cash to feed that jones
And the politicians throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes all fall down.
Commissars and pin-striped bosses role the dice
Any way they fall guess who gets to pay the price.
Money green or proletarian gray, selling guns instead of food today.
So the kids they dance, they shake their bones
While the politicians throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes all fall down.
Heartless powers try to tell us what to think
If the spirits sleeping, then the flesh is ink.
Historys page, it is thusly carved in stone
The futures here, we are it, we are on our own.
If the game is lost then were all the same
No one left to place or take the blame.
We will leave this place an empty stone
Or this shinning ball of blue we can call our home
So the kids they dance, they shake their bones
While the politicians are throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes all fall down.
Shipping powders back and forth
Singing black goes south while white comes north
And the whole world full of petty wars
Singing I got mine and you got yours.
And the current fashions set the pace.
Lose your step, fall out of grace.
And the radical he rant and rage, singing someone got to turn the page
And the rich man in his summer home,
Singing just leave well enough alone
But his pants are down, his covers blown
And the politicians are throwing stones
So the kids they dance they shake their bones
Cause its all too clear were on our own
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
Its dizzying, the possibilities. ashes, ashes all fall down."
The Grateful Dead 'Throwing Stones'
Is there light at the end of the America Bashing tunnel? Lets hope so, I am tired of people giving me shit for being American. I didn't vote for Bush, nor did ANYONE I know. Strange how that system works in the USA. Hoping Obama can clean up the fucking mess G. DUBBYA left behind. Pfft.
I feel like Joe Btfsplk lately. Not because I am dirty or scruffy, but because there is a fucking storm over my head wherever I go. While I was in NYC last time, it was cold and wet the whole time. Everyone said "This is SO weird, as it was gorgeous before you got here". While freezing in NYC, my friends in Berlin bragged about the hot weather and blue skies every day. I get to Berlin and it's fucking raining every day, gray skies and freezing. Wtf? Oh well. I guess one advantage of missing out on the sun is lack of sun damage to the skin. Many ask me how my skin stays so nice. I tell them "I never fucking see the sun". I either sleep too late, work on the computer and get out when it's already dark or wear 50 SPF sunblock if I do get out when the sun is out lol.
Anyways, I STILL haven't gotten done uploading all my France and Italy pictures. I mean, why even fucking bother now. UGH. I am so busy, my massage team is growing like MAD and my sex columns keep me busy too. Then there are my massage clients, friends, 300+ emails a day. OMG, I need a break. Leaving again next month back to NYC for a long haul. I will miss Berlin. Not sure how long I can stay away from it this time as I have really FINALLY grown to love it. Sure, there are things I don't like about it, but you will have that anywhere you go. One good thing about Berlin is there are no forest fires, floods, hurricanes, tornados, earth quakes or many shootings. ha.
Jasmine is in town, but I only saw her once. Not happy about that. I find it hard to blog if I am not happy. Why log on here and dump a bad mood on you? I just can't. There is ALWAYS someone in the world that has it worse than you do, so my motto is, if you haven't anything FUN to say, shut up.
Joe Jackson came over this week for a massage. He is probably the only star (no, I forgot, Jerry Garcia too) that I have massaged but never asked for a picture or even an autograph. At this point, Joe and I are friends, so it would just be STRANGE. He, and Jerry, are just not the type. You never even get the feeling of wanting to ask them (yes, I fucking know Jerry is long gone, I mean, when he was alive). They both have this "I am not a star, so don't act like a fan" vibe. It's really cool. Joe doesn't like the whole show biz crap anyways. He is so down to earth. He loves the Beatles and Zappa as much as I do, so we get on perfectly. Only thing we butt heads over is the smoking vs anti-smoking arguments. He smokes and hates the idea of a smoking ban. I hate smoking and smoky places and LOVE the smoking ban. ha.
Anyhow, here in Berlin I don't massage nearly as much as I do when I am in the USA. There I massage ALL the time until my fingers hurt (and that takes a long time to happen). Berlin is just so laid back and slow paced. No one gives a FUCK about earning money (OR spending any). They really do live for today. Hippie bastards. Ha ha. Just kidding . I am the ONLY cunt in my building that listens to anything even remotely "hippie". The others listen to techno shit. ew. I blast Led Zepp, Beatles and Zappa right back at them. (Frank would roll his eyes if he heard me mention his name in the same paragraph as "hippie". It is 7am and I am still awake. I have a massive sleep disorder. When you work at home, and there is no one nagging you to "come to bed" you can end up working all the time without any structure. But I actually love the fact no one tells me what to do. Freedom is one of the most important things to me.
" Give me my freedom for as long as I be.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me,
And all I ask of dying is to go naturally.
Oh I want to go naturally.
And when I die, and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born
In this world to carry on,
to carry on." Blood Sweat and Tears
x
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So another birthday has come and gone (Friday was my Birthday and naturally I will just let you wonder how old/young I am )
Jasmine and I spent most of the day at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, at their Spa. Jasmine has never had a facial or anything of the sort, so it was funny to see her experience it all. The service was great, but their techniques were half ass. Not worth the 600 euros is cost, at all. They rushed us, left Jasmine's face a mess and didn't have time to do my manicure (had to do it at home). Just warning you if you were thinking of spending money on the place.. The lady who does my facials since 10 years at the Europa Center is the best, by far. I guess I shouldn't have cheated on her 🙂
The last few days have been very eventful as my friend Arturo Vega (art director for the Ramones) has been in town. He just turned 60 but does NOT act it or look it. A youthful Libra, like myself, heh heh. I have known him since I was 15 years old. When I first started dating Joey Ramone. Anyways, Arturo is in town for some art exhibition he is taking part in. He designed EVERY single Ramones album/cd cover. He invented THAT Ramones symbol most people know, in fact, he even got it tattoed on his back:
< Arturo Vega
Some pics of us over the years…..
^ 2002 NYC
< 2004
I have one of us together when I was just 16 and I just tried to find it, but it will take days to find that one pic. When I do find it, I will post it as it's hilarious.
Below are some pictures I took the other day, showing Arturo around Berlin.
Arturo near the Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz
Jewish Monument near Brandenburger Tor ^
^ The typical Brandenburger Tor (gate) pose 🙂
Artie loved this building with the big D on it ^ . I am pretty sure it's an Art related/performance hall- building, but don't quote me on that.
We stood in line for ages to get to the top of the Reichtag (like the White House of Germany). The view was nice, I just wish we got there earlier, as it was kinda dark as you can see..
Unfortunately they were cleaning that glass dome, which you can normally walk around, literally. There is a winding path inside that you can scale, but we arrived at an awkward time, as they were vacuuming and mopping.
The middle of the dome, looks so futuristic ^
View from the top of Reichtag ^
No trip to Berlin is complete without a stop at Tacheles, the broke down building that squatters took over after the wall fell in 1989. They took over, making it into a bizarre art museum of sort. One artist, Tim Roelofs, is so successful, he has his own, rather permanent, shop on the 3rd floor. I even bought a piece from there, for my Dad for Christmas (keep that info on the down low 🙂
No, this is NOT the piece I bought for my Dad. But I find it entertaining and thought it was worth sharing.. (also by Tim Roelofs)
There are many freaks who live and/or hanging out in Tacheles. Never a dull moment. This girl from Sweden for example, has the longest Dreads I have ever seen on a chick. She was asking me if I had any weed to share. Didn't have any on me, lol, but I gave her some spare change for posing for me and to help in her search.
Be happy she has her mouth closed. Her tooth (and I mean TOOTH, not teeth) was rather disturbing.
Arturo was not impressed much by Tacheles like most people I drag there. He said he has seen similar/better/worse places in Holland for example. I guess at his age, and the fact he hung with the Ramones for over 25 years, you pretty much have seen it all. The Ramones signed their first ever record contract in his kitchen. He has pictures of that in his flat, which is like a Ramones museum.
Speaking of Ramones museums, our friend Flo, who is probably the biggest Ramones fan I have ever met, runs the Ramones Museum in Berlin. Arturo has been hanging out there every day since he's been there. I will go and film there tomorrow..
Click HERE to see the museums myspace page..
I gathered together with some friends at White Trash, the night after my birthday….just to have some laughs, no big woop…
Arturo talking to Paualo and Martina (one of my best friends & also a Libra 🙂 ^
Me ^ wearing the "DD" charms (in the usa, people call me 'Double D') I bought myself for my birthday. ^ Daniel givin' us the Dr. Evil pose.
Sansi, my friend and drummer and his lovely girlfriend Chrissy (also a Libra) and Bjoern, an old friend of mine since many years (who sometimes also acts as an agent for me).
It was fun, but after 3 hours of White Trash, I had to bolt with Freaky and Arturo to sing some karaoke. The first time since my tonsillectomy one month ago. My pipes are in working order again, it was so fun to sing again, and finally Arturo got to witness the madness 🙂
x
Art work by Tim Roelofs ^ (notice the "woman" to the right holding her penis) Ahem, welcome to Berlin.
