Summer 2014 on Fire....

JUNE 19-JULY 4

On the 19th we played the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf. Peter Bagel came to the show, which was most kind of him. I got to see him briefly in the VIP room, then proceeded with my duties and playing the show

The next day we were off to Rome, to play Circus Maximus.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS

Wow, this was definitely an historic event. While there have been some free shows played there in former years, this would be the first ticketed event there since the Chariot Races! Amazing. To boot, my pal John Mayer would open up for us. On the 21st, we arranged a dinner with John and my Italian friend, Maurizio Glielmo. Maurizio is also a good guitar player, and I’ve played on one of his CDs. We’ve known each other for a long time, and it was good to see him again. Of course he was totally buzzed to be going to dinner with John...he’s a big fan. We wound up going to a nice restaurant somewhat a distance from the hotel, but in a very nice setting outdoors up on a hill. I was a bit surprised that Mick and his party had also chosen the same restaurant...so while we did not sit with him, we did have the chance to acknowledge each other and for him to say a hello to John.

It was not only a nice dinner, but so great to catch up with John and spend some good time with him Maurizio was fairly quiet during all of this...his English is quite good, but I had the feeling that he had trouble keeping up with all of our conversations. Nevertheless, he certainly enjoyed the meal and being with us. I had suggested to Mick and the band that John sit in with us again on “Respectable”...John accepted the invitation and was excited to do it.https://youtu.be/CbOpct15cSI

The show the next day was just amazing....to be on stage and view the ancient ruins surrounding us was something I’ll never forget. John had a great set....I was able to hear a good bit of it. I was also able to spend some time with some of his musicians that I’ve worked with in the studio with John. Sean Hurley, bass player; Aaron Sterling, drums; Doug Pettibone, guitar; and I met some of the other members of his band...Zane Carney on guitar and Andy Burton on keys....Tim Ries and I had actually helped Andy to get that gig as I was unavailable for it working with the Stones. We recommended him to John. John’s performance on “Respectable” was fantastic, as it has been the other times he’s played it with us. He totally killed it...burned it up. So fun!

SHOPPING ON VIA VENETO

SIPPING CAPPUCCINO

We enjoyed being in Rome for a few days, and made our way to Madrid on the 23rd. The show there was on the 25th...another fine show. The band playing very consistently now. The 26th we flew to Brussels....and it was mine and Rose Lane’s 41st anniversary. A wonderful place to spend it. We had a fine dinner together in a nice romantic setting...and the restaurant catered to us lavishly for the occasion.

We were able to see our good friend Walter DePadwa and his girlfriend Alex for a short time while in Brussels...we usually get to go to Walter’s house, known as The Boogie House, but it was not to be this time. They came to visit us in the hotel for just a little time, though. Walter is a radio personality there known as “Dr. Boogie” and plays great vintage rock’ n roll on a weekly basis. We were also able to see our friend and visual artist, Geronimo there. He gave us a nice present...it was a blown up version of an early Rolling Stones LP....a cool piece of art that we would eventually put in our Savannah house.

We had received the sad news while we were in Brussels that the great singer/songwriter/guitar player and a friend to all of us, Bobby Wommack, had passed away. As a little tribute to him, we did “It’s All Over Now”, a song that he wrote and that the Stones covered many years ago. https://youtu.be/79IFPeSjKkU  We put his image up on the big screen as we played it. After another great show for the “Classic Rock Festival”  in Werchter (we drove there from Belgium), we soldiered on to to Stockholm on the 29th. There we had a Tour Party that included all of our crew personnel  . Always fun to get everyone together to celebrate the tour as is comes to an end. In Stockholm, Rose Lane and I did some shopping...I bought some nice sports jackets at Armani Colleczioni. Rose Lane picked up some nice things there as well...for the upcoming wedding of our daughter Ashley and her betrothed, Peter Tziros. We enjoyed a couple of nice meals in Stockholm along the famous pier area.

Our gig in Stockholm was at the Tele Arena...another packed house, and smooth set. Now getting to the end, we all had our homes in mind. But...one more show to do.

On July 2nd, we flew to Copenhagen, where we would stay at the D’Angleterre Hotel...where we have stayed many times. But the show would actually be in Roskilde, at the Roskilde Festival. We enjoyed what little time we had in Copenhagen...roaming around the wonderful walking streets there, and having a nice meal in one of the casual restaurants there. Again, by now all of us were thinking mostly of our plans to get home and all that we would have waiting for us when we got there. But of course we wanted this final gig to be a great one, and it was. It was quite a big Festival, and Outkast

OUTKAST

would be opening for us. The grounds held 60,000 fans, so it was a big one to end on.  We rocked it one more time...with that mixed feeling of having completed another great tour, but with some sadness knowing that we would all be going our separate ways the next day....but with excitement to know that we’d be getting home and to know that we still have Australia and New Zealand to do later in the year.

The next day, July 4, we had our bags packed up and loaded for our flight to Atlanta. Our loyal Charlane Plantation employee, Hal Hamilton picked us up and drove us home. So great to get there...see our dogs, sleep in our own bed. Now we could settle in to other things on our plate...including Ashley’s wedding in Savannah in   October. Lots to do!