Saturday night, at home

Went out last night with a bunch of friends (most of them are from my band Bitchfest) and a couple others too, to karaoke and had a great time, then out to eat THEN to Tacheles again. I can't BELIEVE they now charge 3 euro to get in (this is an old squat that artists took over when the wall came down in Berlin). Funny how it is so commercialized now. The whole point of the place was to rebel and do art, now there is a cinema in there (two actually) and so many bars I lost count. Even the back of it, the sandy area, the humongous courtyard, charges to get in. woah!

I was supposed to go out tonight to see Joe Jackson's show (seen him many times before) and then to sing live karaoke with a band, but I just can't be asked. I need a massage instead. One of my Berlin Dot Bots is on his way over to give me two hours of PAIN! I need DEEP tissue badly! Poor guy. I know it is hell to massage me. haha. I pay well though!

 So I decided to take the new flat. I will miss this one BUT my bedroom window is RITE next to the freakin' paper and glass recycling and that will NEVER change so I am out of here. I can't sleep in this flat, it is just too LOUD. Cheap as FOOK but too loud. I have to renovate it and that will suck donkey balls, but it has to be done. Perhaps I will find some cheap help for hire and it will be easier, but no doubt about it, moving sucks. BUT change is always good. 

 

It was a crazy week, my daughter got arrested and thrown in JAIL here in Berlin (at the LKA ). She was in a protest march about the new military style that the Germans have, I guess it is very similar to that of the Nazi times and so many anti-facism/racism protesters took to the street ( I was NOT there so don't ask me ) and her poster which she designed had an anti-swatstika painted on it, like a soldier walking but his body resembled a swatstika. So she was grabbed by undercover cops and dragged into jail. They found the TINY can of pepper spray she ALWAYS has on her for protection and she got another charge for that too, as I guess it is considered a weapon and they are not allowed at public gatherings and the swatstika symbol is NOT allowed, even if it's an ANTI-swatstika symbol. Oh lord. They kept her in that cell and did NOT give her the one free phone call everyone is supposed to get in jail!? eh!

AND they strip searched her (totally naked). I thought the cops would spend more time fighting the nazi-skin head, right wings fucks than the left wing protesters. Baffles my mind. So we are now awaiting her sentence. I hope it is not too strong. Yikes!

 

Anyways, my door bell will ring any minute and I will get my two hour massage, aahhhhh. This to me, is better than any sort of party or karaoke. Massage RULES!

x

Berlin, July 2009

 

Some pictures I took this day and night (some were taken with Blackberry, some with camera, hence the difference in quality)

 


This gorgeous shot was taken by Scruff with his camera ^ He is an amazing photographer 

This is the waterfall at Kreuzberg park aka Viktoria Park, near my house. 

 


 Reichtag ^ (Berlin's Capital building)


 

 

 The most disgusting toilet I have seen in a long time ^ inside Tacheles

Scruff in Tacheles (he was in a great mood, don't know why he looks so serious here) 

 

Me and my old pal Robin ^ ( I haven't seen her in TEN years!). We all went out to eat together and it was great catching up with her. She is American and used to live in Berlin. She now lives in Glasgow and is married with a child. LOVE HER. 

 

FINALLY! Project Object plays in Berlin! The BEST Frank Zappa tribute band ever!

Click link below to see in original format:

http://www.liveatdot.com/program/details.php?id=334

 

 

 

Project/Object (US) + [trap.] (CA/D)

am 13. Aug. 2009

The members of PROJECT/OBJECT feel that Frank Zappa is one of the 20th Century's greatest and most important composers, and they are on a mission to bring his music to the masses by faithfully recreating the live Zappa experience.

PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early '90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre' Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa's music in more cities and larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank's vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

Frank Zappa was extremely influential to many musicians and bands, especially many jambands, including Phish, moe., and Deep Banana Blackout. While many jamband fans are aware that Frank Zappa was influential, they are largely unfamiliar with his music. Of those who are familiar, many were too young to have seen him in concert. PROJECT/OBJECT is the closest they will get to the live Zappa experience, and the band has been enjoying increasing support from this growing scene.

PROJECT/OBJECT is now and always will be the world's ONLY ZAPPA TRIBUTE BAND that has played so many gigs and complete TOURS with so many of the ACTUAL PARTICIPANTS in Zappa's Musical Universe – musicians from virtually EVERY Zappa lineup…from the 1965 band all the way to the 1988 band!! Other acts may outflank them with big budgets and fancy, misleading ads, but PROJECT/OBJECT is the World's ONLY band to go to for fans that want an intimate, excellent evening with ACTUAL, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL ZAPPA ALUMNI…..

In every new market they visit, PROJECT/OBJECT converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, who never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was.

[trap.]: innovative international power trio shaped of :
Merlin Ettore (Canada) :: hybrid drums
Matjö Pe (france) :: explosed trumpet/mad keys
Elektremi (Germany) :: intuitive electronics

Recently based in Berlin, [trap.] have been spawning raw power and future in sound in the studio and on stage.

[trap.] is known to hand over to their audiences energy packed beat fireballs surfing on hypnotic silky sounds waves.
Expanding it’s horizons, [trap.] is know to collaborate with a wide range of instrumentalist wonders of various musical scenes.

[trap.] is currently in production recording an EP.
Release in Berlin scheduled for late May 2009.

[trap.] is endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals and Ableton software.

Berlin is freezing (very belated Rock am Ring blog)

My flight to Berlin was about 8 hours long and so I worked on my column and cropped some photos etc. So here are some pictures from last summer, omg, how embarrassing that it took me so long to post these. I went to Rock am Ring festival last June with one of my massage assistants to work on all the bands.

We were invited by INCUBUS as their special guest. They treated us like Queens. Massage QUEENS. It was so fucking fun!

Woman beaten up over high asparagus prices in Berlin

Next time you go to the farmer's market, you may want to take some protection with you. At least in Berlin.

Reuters is reporting that a motorist in Berlin beat a 24-year-old woman selling white asparagus because he was upset about her asking price for the springtime vegetable.

“The motorist said her prices were totally over the top,” said Dietmar Keck, police spokesman for Havelland district west of Berlin, without adding how much she was asking.

The man screamed at her that her asparagus was overpriced, and punched her in the face and threatened to unleash his attack dog at her. She fled and called police.

Prices for white asparagus fluctuate wildly during the short spring season, peaking in the early season at 10 euros per kilo. Prices now range from 1 to 5 euros per kilo.

Jay Z meets Dr. Dot

More vintage video footage, this time it came without sound). Jay Z , the famous rapper and husband to the gorgeous Beyonce met me back stage and disdcussed his massage. He really seemed to love my 'WHO' t-shirt, as you can see.

Dr. Dot on German TV (ten years ago)

Just getting around to uploading some of these old videos. In this flick I am massaging the guitarist of the Puhdy's, a popular German band. God I miss this apartment. Took me ages to paint the walls so psychedelic. In this video I am just saying I do not give erotic massage and why I love ot massage musicians, same old same old.

Staind in Berlin on Super Bowl Sunday 2009

The Staind show was moved to Huxleys Neue Welt as they sold so many tix they were too big for the Columbia fritz club. 

Aaron does NOT mind people filming their shows. He showed me loads of videos of his band on youtube and said I could film what he calls the "last song" as in, he comes out for the encore alone, with an acoustic guitar and sings without a microphone or amp, nothing, just singing. Takes a while to get the rowdy crowd to be quiet so they can hear him sing.. The song he is singing in this video is called "Intro" 

 

STAIND "INTRO"

 "thank you to the people in my life
for putting up with me
and thank you for the time you sacrificed
all on account of me

[chorus]

for all the times i didn't say
the times i didn't say
for all the times i didn't say
the times i didn't say

fuck you to the jaded and the fake
like to see what you would do
fuck you and the judgements you make
we're not all perfect just like you,
like you, like you

[chorus]

all the times i didn't say [x2]
thank you to the people in my life for putting up with me"

 

Aaron stood in the EXTREME cold weather for at least 45 minutes signing autographs for dedicated fans. I got fed up after ten minutes and waited on the bus, I can't stand that cold whipping post weather..brrrrrrrrrrrr Key West, I miss you so!

Once he got on the bus, the whole band, apart from the bassist and the crew all went to the Hard Rock Cafe to watch the Super Bowl.

 

Mike ^ the guitarist, me and drummer Jon and Fran, band video/photographer holding the Pittsburgh Steelers "terrible towel" lol

Mike HATED that towel as he was routin' for Arizona. Jon, Fran and a few others were for Pittsburgh. I didn't give a toss as I hate American Football. Too much padding and stop and go. I prefer Soccer and then Basketball. I don't get why they call it "Football"when they are allowed to use their hands. It's just plain padded Rugby. Padding is for pussies (and bras)

 We were the loudest fucking group in the place. There was NO doubt in the German's minds we were all yanks. (one roadie was from the UK).

 

 For-mentioned ^ roadie, Aaron and production manager/sound man/stage manager, erm, think his name is Scott? Matt? I am bad with names! I communicate mostly with the tour manager who stayed behind with the bassist. BAD WITH NAMES I am. sigh.

That's pretty much all I have in me to write. Hurricane Staind came to town for two days and I am BEAT. It was well worth the fatigue though ๐Ÿ™‚