frank – Page 2 – Dr. Dot's Blog

"Dot, I have something terrible to tell you and I know it is going to hurt. It is with heavy heart that I tell you that we had to put Frankie down. Around the holidays he attacked Athena and nearly killed her. The vet told us to contact the dog warden and that we had to quarentine him for 3 weeks. By then things had started up with the new children…

and Frankie went on the back burner. Wednesday night the dogs were out on the deck eating as it was a nice day. Tom went to let them in and saw that Frankie had attacked Athena (the 14 year old tiny dog) again. He broke them up and crated them both as the children were watching all this.

There was blood all over the deck. Athena was crying out in her crate and we tried to keep the children away. After they went to bed we checked on Athens injuries and discover that she died of her injuries. We weren't agnry at Frankie because he was just doing what dogs do, but we knew we could keep him any longer. In December we tried every rescue league we could find and none would take him. It was long over due and I'd like to think that we gave him a long and love filled life. "

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

Baltimore honors native son with 'Frank Zappa Day'

Posted: Dec. 21, 2009

BALTIMORE — Baltimore's mayor has declared a "Frank Zappa Day" on the birthday of the late rocker and native son.

Mayor Sheila Dixon declared the special day Monday. The eccentric musician was born in Baltimore on Dec. 21, 1940. He died in 1993.

Last week, Baltimore's public art commission decided that it will erect a bust of Zappa outside a public library.

The bust was given to Baltimore by fans of Zappa from Lithuania, where his music was popular among the avant-garde in the early 1990s. A similar bust is a tourist attraction in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.