By troypatrickfarrell

 

 

 

Episode 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Final Tour diary entry, episode, whatever…can you imagine this was really worth finishing? (no). Am I afraid of the possibility that my 15 seconds of “shame” are ending?  Why did this take so long you ask?  I guess I really wanted to have a final entry that I didn’t have to participate in, and let all the other guys be a part of it, Joey our soundguy, Ellis our driver, whoever…but most declined are were more lazy than I to help, or didn’t reply at all.  I even gave Eric from Znuff to have a chance to give his side of the story like when he almost got left in Florida, or when he and Znuff decided to play over in Michigan, but he just took the hi road and called me Troy Patrick Swayze which is genious!

 

 

 

I actually wanted to stretch this out longer than Alex from Anti Product’s diary, I’m sure he’ll write from Istanbul about some uprising in some club sometime soon!

 

 

 

Plus it takes me much more time to even try to get as witty as Ratt’s Jizzy Pearl, I love his diaries; short, sweet and very clever…

 

 

 

So on with the show, or whatever!

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday March 23, 2005 Omaha, NE The Ranch Bowl    >Sokol Underground

 

 

 

We left my home turf of NW Indiana to head back west…where I call home..but not after a long day of driving in the cornfield bliss of Iowa…I’ve done the drive on I-80 a few times, and something exciting has yet to happen.

 

 

 

We were headed for the Sokol Underground…the original venue had some scheduling conflicts that were never verbalized to anyone.  Our agent didn’t even know…I found out when I advanced the Gig.  That’s always nice and scary when venues change and no one who should know, doesn’t.  Will the millions of fans in Nebraska know?

 

 

 

We were booked at some weird hotel.  We were close to the area that Tramp and I played in 01, and that didn’t really make me feel more comfortable.  Some of the memories of this gig were vague, I know my cell got turned off and I had to cab it to the Sprint PCS store, I should’ve gone to the Titty Bar across the street instead, I would’ve felt my money was better spent.

 

 

 

I recall logging in on the “Business Center” computer to find a XXX Sex Dialer and the home page was some porn site.  What fool goes the Business Center of the Motel 6 or whereever the fuck we were to yank himself?  Is that really necessary?  I guess so….I ended up installing Ad-Aware on the PC and cleaned it up…hey why not!  The hotel seemed greatful, but were unaware of any issues…

 

 

 

We drive to the venue, which was like 30 minutes away from the hotel?  Who the fuck booked this hotel and why is it so fucking far from the venue?  That means we go to the venue and really have no chance to go back to the room to get out of the bus.  This tour was on it’s last legs and those moments of sanity are too few and far apart.

 

 

 

We pull up and some fans are hanging out…the marquee is nice and low and behold…Motorhead crossing paths with White Lion again…well, not really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were sad that we wouldn’t be able to hang in town for Blood Cow….  If you notice the marquee says SOKOL AUDITORIUM….well…we played SOKOL UNDERGROUND.  It looked like a cafeteria…perfect for a rock show.  I remember one of the opening acts trying to duplicate the Metal Skool thing, or at least the Omaha equalivent.  Omaha 80’s Hair band (tries to be) equal to LA’s Metal Skool is the same as Omaha Chicks (try to be) equal to LA Chicks.  You get the drift.  The drummer got ebay happy or something and purchased Rod Morgenstein’s Winger Kit…it was this bizarre kit on a small stage with some custom rack..it just looked like a mess….and he had a splash cymbal.

 

 

 

Nice enough guys, but the band sucked, and I guess I just didn’t get it.  I did love the promo vid we got for the bus though…I think I’m using it to even out a table or something.

 

 

 

We experienced the typical monitor change between sound check and show time…(note to self:  the bigger the monitor wedge, the less you’ll hear it.)  I couldn’t hear anything and during Lights and Thunder (which we played 30 times by now) got way fucked up.  Jamie our guitarist went to a wrong spot and because I couldn’t hear my monitor, I followed, but he corrected, I didn’t and it became a fucking mess.  (I know, I sound like Ashley Simpson).  It shouldn’t have mattered, but I couldn’t hear anything but some guitar, and that made me a little insecure….and therefore just butchered the 1^st song…  The only way to recoverd was to kick ass every song after that..which we did, but the stage had this low hum, Tramp was bitchin about it most of the night and  it really wasn’t a great vibe…

 

 

 

That can kill a show..and you try to be pro…and 9 times out of 10 you are..and you muscle thru it…but this night, I just didn’t.  I can only hope there are no boots of this not so spectacular show.  I bailed on the meet/greet and just sat in the bus like a jagoff.

 

 

 

 

Thursday March 25, 2005 Denver, CO The Bluebird Theatre

 

 

 

We left Omaha to head to Denver where we got to see some snow… I got my zodiac tat on my wrist (that is often confused w/ a favorite sexual position) fixed.  This hotel was nice and packed w/ Phish fans or something.  I just remember all the guest smelling worse than we did.  Filthy people….  The staff was way cool in letting us use a XXX Sex Dialer free PC…in fact they even let us in the Administrative offices to use the net…You do meet some great people on these runs…

 

 

 

I remember the desk girl being a big White Lion fan..so maybe that helped.

 

 

 

Tramp, Claus and I all went under the needle to get some ink in Denver.  Tramp’s got an eye for tattoo artists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Show, Another Tramp Marquee Pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe this was a bad idea after all?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Army Recruit Poster…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So Ellis decided we would roll out at some crazy hour.  I remember not getting much sleep.  At the end of this Denver Gig, a guy who was fucked up was crying about someone dying?…I think it was Stevie Ray Vaughn.  He wanted to talk to Tramp about it.  I was in fear of my life as he was bangin on the bus window slobbering all over the fucking place.  I really thought about what I was going to do to take this guy out.  He was drooling all over the place, it was bizarre.

 

 

 

I ordered a great sandwich from some sub place @ 4 a.m. and we were leaving @ 6 or 7 a.m.  The last thing I did before we left Denver was take a pooh in the womens bathroom at some cool diner Chip and Ellis were eating at before we got out of dodge.  I think I was in there from the time the order was taken to the time Chip called a cab for some “fan”….  We were now going “back to Cali”….

 

 

 

Friday March 26, 2005 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theater

 

 

 

We had a day off, but Ellis was determined to drive straight to Satan Ana…We were all game to get into where this all started.  The drive was fast, Ellis got the Train a Rolling.  We stopped in somewhere @ a Truck Stop, and Ellis was going to wash the bus.  He quickly determined we needed to be across the street to get the wash and the gate master or whatever wouldn’t let us out.  He wanted $12.00 or he wouldn’t open the gate.  Ellis was either going to do one of two things:  Drive thru the gate, or Beat the shit out of this guy, then drive thru the gate.  Gatekeeperguy got it, and opened the gate.

 

 

 

We arrived @ the Hotel in O.C. (which was to be paid for by the venue, but wasn’t (Chuck?, Anyone?….)

 

 

 

The next day was show day, I arrived late to the venue to find Archie’s Ice Cream Truck.  It’s the rock n roll Ice Cream truck…they were sofa king cool to us.  I got the last shirt of the Cheap Trick Design which I totally dig!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claus and Jamie in the Archies Ride!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tramp Holding up some Archies SWAG!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“TRAMS White Lion” Huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

All is now good after the “kick the wall” episode!…

 

troy and Jamie!

 

 

 

Donnie Vie decided to show up..and it was cool to see him play w/ Znuff, singing the songs he sang once before.  Monaco is great, total team player, and he took the job cause no one would…and no one is better than Johnny, but for me, it brings back good memories of Chitown seeing Vie sing his stuff..!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny says “who the fuck are you?”

 

 

 

 

(LEFT TO RIGHT), The Singer of Enuff Znuff w/ the singer of Enuff Znuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vie and Tramp….

 

 

 

The night was cool here…We recorded w/ Video and Audio, and I think some snippets of this show will be on the upcoming Fall release of the Double Live w/ DVD Tramp USA tour thingy. (produced by Michael Wagener)

 

…..we had one more night to go, Los Angeles, HERE WE COME!!!  (okay..Malibu, whatever)….

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday March 27, 2005 Los Angeles, CA Malibu Inn

 

 

 

So, we finally end up in Malibu…not LA, but Okay..close enough right?  Malibu Inn is actually pretty cool.  The staff is nice and it was interesting to end the tour here.  The guys from Freak of Nature showed up…that was Tramp’s band after the Real White Lion.  DJ Will made an appearance along w/ Photo Genius Neil Zlozower.  Also some of my friends who frequent the Cat Club in LA…..

 

 

 

The only thing I remember as I picked up my truck in Burbank to tote the Trailer of Gear back home after the gig, was the fact that someone ate my stupid meal I got on the rider.  I was a little pissed….Chip was kind enough to make up for it, and get me a sandwich, which was followed by a bill for 11 dollars!..

 

 

 

What the fuck was that?  Eat my sandwich, then get me another one, then try to make me pay for it?  I don’t think Chip ate it, but someone in somebody’s party did, and since Chip was replacing it, I should just get over it and blame him!

 

 

 

The gig was good.  For me personally, I just wanted to get this over with, but actually was probably my best show…  My head was elsewhere, knowing this was over, and I had to return the trailer to Riverside, return all the gear, get back to home, and figure out what to do next…

 

 

 

Here’s some pix from the last night…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me playing “Wait” one last time….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Lion, Freak of Nature, Dio, Mike Tramp (solo) and Courtney Love bassist Jerry Best w/ Claus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Monaco doing his best Mike Tramp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour bus shitting out a merch guy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry Best, Dennis Chick (Chop), Tramp, Kenny Korade (4/5^ths of Freak of Nature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chip Znuff after being told Pot might be Illegal in the US.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tramp, Hot Chick, and the Zloz

 

 

 

I tried rounding up EVERYONE to get their take on it…here’s what I got:

 

 

 

Ellis White (Driver): didn’t return calls or emails…

 

 

 

Joey Rega (sound):  Entertained the idea w/ some email correspondence, but never put together anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The many sleeping positions of Joey Rega!!

 

 

 

Claus Langeskov (bass/Tramp’s White Lion): Not only did Claus do his own diary (which I used as a guide at times!), he submitted something here too!!

 

 

 

He he he he…….hehehehe…!!!!!

 

 

 

Troy asked me to write down my thoughts on the TWL/EZN US tour and I’m very happy to see my own writing on Metal Sludge. That’s sumtn’ and it shows that I’m finally a fucking rockstar.

 

 

 

First of all I’m so relieved to, after all those years, jump out of the closet and show the world that I’m a fag. I have written tour diaries from the last two tours which clearly show that I’m a fag just like Troy. The hard part will be to tell my special lady, my parents and especially my son Albert. Well they all saw the pics with me wearing black nail polish and eyeliner talking to biiig hairy men – so Troy can I stay at your place for a while….?????

 

 

 

It’s no secret that I had a wonderful time in the US. It was my first time crossing the Atlantic and being a hillbilly Dane I was quite impressed with all the Tittybars I saw (Thanks Chip). I met a bunch of friendly and nice people that I’ll remember for the rest of my life – at the Tittybars ;o).

 

Danes and Americans have so many things in common besides fighting a war together in Iraq and it was a pleasure finding out while visiting your beautiful country. You’re so open-minded (especially the girls at the Tittybars)

 

 

 

When I write tour diaries and do interviews I usually speak my mind and give shit to what people think about me and whose toes I’m stepping on. Also this time, when I claimed that the US fans are better than the European ones. I know it’s a very square way to put it but I can explain why at any time. Man was that a little pep-talk to the European folks…?

 

 

 

You made me an expert on Pepperoni Pizza’s and lap-dancing. Human bananas and Terrorizing marketers. You showed me palms, the Dakota building where my hero was shot and killed, and you showed me that rock’n’roll’s still alive and kicking just to mention a few things.

 

But best of all you made feel at home like no other place the world – and that accounts for my own country as well.

 

 

 

Uncle Sam – I love you. You made me a rockstar..!

 

Claus “The fag” Longwood

 

 

 

…I’ll be back…(you can read Claus’ own diary HERE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Law (guitar/Tramp’s White Lion):  He finally has email, but has yet to email me back…I think he’s having a hard time getting his beer out of the Coaster that pops out of his computer.

 

 

 

Adam (tech, A/V guy):  Politely Declined as he edits video for the upcoming live DVD. 

 

 

 

Johnny Monaco (guitar/singer of Enuff Znuff):  I tried to get Monaco to add something as he can be funny and witty as fuck.  This is what I got from Johnny: hey man…   sorry i didn’t get right back to you.  I didn’t really wanna add anything to the diary cause I think you did a great job with it, good details, good picture it’s perfect how it is.  I would have wrecked it but  thanx for the offer though anyway.  talk soon. j

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monaco pulls a Rubin…

 

 

 

Chip Znuff (bass of Enuff Znuff): I know he’s been Tapped for this, but doesn’t do the internet, and his thoughts would have to be transcribed, and it just never happened.

 

 

 

Rubin Znuff (merch/rider guy): Was interested, and he even sent over some pix, but never a diary…only got this: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chip has cut me off from using his computer.  He is an ass.  So we have a problem getting his.  I keep forgetting,  I’ll do it.  I have my own Comp.  Why are you in Germany?  Gonna see Henning?  Tag!  Rubin

 

 

 

Eric Donner (drums of Enuff Znuff): I sent Eric some emails…and he sent this to all of us:  Hey all!  It’s good to be back home…I’d just like to echo Claus’ statement of how cool this tour was for me and how grateful I am to have met some really great people.  I think this photo says it all…Keep in touch my Danish/ German/ Australian friends,  Erik Elvis Donner

 

 

 

P.S. – I’ll be sending more pics in the future.  Email me if you would like any.  You can check out my myspace page and see a few that I’ve added so far.  Also, you can check out my band’s tunes on this page and let me know what you think.  I sing, write and play guitar in this one.  www.myspace.com/atomicgents.

 

 

 

I then tried once again and he said:  Hey,  Thanks, but I’m not interested.  Erik

 

 

 

Sludgeaholic Jim Bob Dwarf supposedly interviewed them..maybe Sludge will contact him and get some excerpts?

 

 

 

Mike Tramp (singer of Tramp’s White Lion):  I know better!  He’s down w/ the Sludge but from early on, I knew he didn’t really want to be a part of it…I appreciate that he was cool w/ me doing this…

 

 

 

Henning Wanner (keys of Tramp’s White Lion):  This what the German had to say:  “This is Henning Wanner speaking. I am playing the keyboards in TWL and I try to sing some backing stuff when I don´t suffer from the flu as we all did on this tour. Besides that it´s my job to bang my head every night on stage and to raise my fist and yell because noone else does this and one has to do it. I am from Germany as you might notice that I talk and write in a strange accent and it was my first time in the USA. I really loved it! My job on the bus was to keep the “Ordnung muss sein” theme. It means I had to make sure that everything was in order and discipline was on a high level like it is where I live…or let´s say this is what everyone is expecting from my Country. Back in Germany I play in two bands: In JADED HEART I play the keyboards and sometimes the rhythm guitar (please check at www.jadedheart.de ) and in EARTHMOVER I am the eccentric vocalist (www.earthmover.de – but the site is under construction at the moment). Jaded Heart is good old melodic rock which fits to the sound of White Lion and we are right now in the middle of our next studio production which will be released in Europe at the end of October. The sound of Earthmover is influenced by Kyuss, QOTSA and Monster Magnet and we just rock like hell.

 

 

 

Well, concerning the last four shows we played in the US I have to state that I really enjoyed them and especially the rides between them. The places were Omaha, Denver, Santa Ana and Malibu, so you see it was quite a few miles to go in five days. I was the one who played the tourist sitting or standing next to our driver Ellis. In one hand the video cam and in the other the photo camera – I took hundreds of pictures and hours of video material. The others were picking on me like they always did when it came to souvenirs and such things. On the way through the desert from Colorado to Nevada I fought a hard battle against two Danish guys (guess who…) who pretended to be well educated regarding history and daily news, but I stroke back in my titanic German way so it was a draw after all. In addition to this we had one great bonus for the long rides: Johnny Monaco from EnuffZnuff. This guy is most talented in so many ways! He knows tons of magic card tricks and there in the desert he imitated all tour members. Best of all was his parody of Rubin who was the good heart of the tour. He did the merch for both bands and he was always in a good mood – someone you really need on a tour like that – I love him. I think I added pictures of Rubin and of his mini-me.

 

 

 

The shows were great. I remember some bad technical problems at the show in Omaha which forced us to fuck up Lights and thunder for the first and only time on the tour. There it was like playing in candle light as it was so dark on stage.

 

 

 

In Denver it was raining! The city with most sunny days per year in America but we had German weather there…in spite of this the venue was a killer: Bluebird theatre. Cool show and I had some visitors in Denver who are friends of my band Jaded Heart. Before I joined this band they recorded one album in Denver in 1999 produced by Bobby Barth, so there are many friends around there – kisses to you!

 

 

 

In Santa Ana finally the sun was shining. One day off and time to relax before we entered the stage at the Galaxy theatre. My friend Anna from Germany who lives now in San Francisco surprised us when she appeared to see the show and to confuse everyone again (she met us around SF before that)…she left some broken hearts (I love that song!) on the bus…little sweety…

 

 

 

Malibu – what can I say? Beach, sun. This is where you wanna be. Unfortunately we had to leave instantly after the show and pack the gear for the flight back to Europe. No time for long good-byes and when Claus and myself were sitting in the plane the next day we felt like overrun as we had no sleep for days.

 

 

 

That´s it. The chapter is closed, but PLEASSSSSSE (with another strange accent) ask for more TWL so maybe we will be back (…and one more accent – you might know what it sounds like…) soon. To say it in German:

 

 

 

DANKE FUER DIE GEILE ZEIT,

 

 

 

EUER Henning.“

 

 

 

So that’s it…we’re all done…this was the LAST pic taken:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tramp’s White Lion/Enuff Znuff and Crew 05, Malibu CA

 

 

 

The Double Live CD w/ DVD should be out before the years up…here’s some artwork:

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL THX TO:

 

METAL SLUDGE, FRAMUS AMPS, NEIL ZLOZOWER, CHRIS WHITEMIER, JERRY BEST, ARTISTS WORLDWIDE, SNUGGLES (FROM THE TRAMP BOARD), JACK (AtoZ SIGN-KICK DRUM LOGO), CHIP’S NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF POT DEALERS, EVANS DRUM HEADS, SABIAN CYMBALS, DW DRUMS, DANABGOODS, CENTER STAGING, WARWICK, GK, GIBSON, VATER DRUMSTICKS, ADAM, JOEY, ELLIS AND ALL THE COOL PEOPLE WE MET, FROM PRESS, TO CLUBS, TO PROMOTERS AND OF COURSE THE CRAZY ARAB GUY WHO CALLED ME A “STUPID PEOPLE”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BONUS TOUR DIARY:  BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL GERMANY JUNE 05

 

 

 

I’m such an ass…I know..I just can’t let go of the past….

 

 

 

In a nutshell, I got a call on a Tuesday, left for Amsterdam on the Wednesday…1 show, 30,000 people @ Germany’s Bang Your Head Festival.  Was such a blast…We played w/ Dio, Twisted Sister, Hanoi Rocks, Bach, and more…..I just wanted to throw in some pics….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tramp in Germany w/ the backline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me w/ Dio’s Simon Wright

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myself, Ronnie James Dio and Jamie Law

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myself w/ Bas and the Guitarist of Hanoi Rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Tramp and Sebastian Bach

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of the road, Copenhagen Denmark w/ Claus, Me

 

Kim and Dennis (Tramp’s Bro’s) Tramp and Jamie.

 

 

 

 

 

It you made it this far, you must be really bored…… You can catch me w/ CC Deville 8/31 @ the Joint doing Samantha 7 and on tour w/ Hookers N Blow (w/ Dizzy Reed of Guns) in Sept and Oct..

 

 

 

thanks for entertaining me with this!…troypatrickfarrell  www.drummertroy.com