December, 2001
NOTES FROM A TOURING NUTCASE
The case of Alan's case on tour in case you were interested... Touring can be a strange place. In Europe it's OK, in Eastern Europe it's different. Alan White, that determined Drummer of the band Yes, got himself a new suitcase for this tour, YesSymphonic Tour of 2001 in winter.
The fond memory of Chris Squire standing on the already-broken case in point, which broke in the entrance to the first Polish customs, and seeing Chris standing there was a sight to behold. I believe it took half an hour to get it fastened. In Russia, then in Finland airport, then again in Germany, then just last night in Italy (Milan airport to be correct). Alan, please get a new suitcase, please... but NO... he will make it work the whole tour, I believe. He always has a fondness for his suitcases. Last tour he had the most bizarre looking case. He pointed it out to me on many occasions. It was like a giant oblox, just totally a strange shape. Our tour 'dude' Paul hated it with a vengeance, calling it "The Behemoth". It was fun to watch it come down each conveyor belt, rumbling tumbling. Anyway so much for the case of Alan's Cases...
We are on tour. The fans love the show, the new songs just get better and better. It is so amazing how audiences change from country to country. Some are quiet and respectful... Sweden. Some just go crazy... Italy, who seem to want more and more. Yet at the end of every show they all look the same, happy and in great spirit. Eyes looking at us with such warmth and love. Yes music does have this wonderful effect on people around the world. It's a fantastic feeling to be in the band. We believe in our music, and are very thankful to be still around.
Oh yeah - I had to give the shirt of my back to the Russian border patrol, and my last CD of "Magnification", so that we could get out of Russia. I was the only one with a Yes T-shirt, and I was wearing it. Touring can be so strange at times.
Here we are in Hamburg, Germany playing to a wonderful crowd, who loved every moment. From now on we are on the way to England via Paris and my daughter Deborah. Best girl in the world. Writing great songs everyday. Painting, and loving the French life, like her dad. My love Janeeeeee is as wonderful as ever, keeping my heart in the right place. We have the best times walking around each city, looking at the sights of the world, and the people. People are the same everywhere we go... happy, sad, uptight, bright and sometimes a bit crazy... poor, wealthy... good vibe types and down in the mouth types. It's true when they say you create your own face... so smile as much as you can.
I get sad about stuff, you know, kids in war, kids being treated badly by supposed adults, when they should know better, but then some people never grow up emotionally, and treat kids so sadly. Like slaves. Kids as we know are our future. When will we learn to understand we learn who we are from our children.
The gig last night in Hamburg went well. It's so great to see Chris, Steve and Alan, play so well every night. Good old Tom Brislin on keyboards. And the guys behind the scenes - David, Franky, Robi, Ben on lights, and Shooz, Steve's roadie. Poor Shooz fell thru' the stage the other day. He's had a tough time, he's OK now. Erica runs around backstage keeping things going. Her hair is a different color every other day... good fun. Great food on the tour we have a company called 'Eat to the Beat' - Stuart, Ben, and Pauline. Amazing food, better than most restaurants, much better.
On to Amsterdam for a few days, we are doing a Video there. Should be a bit crazy, wonderful, etc. I'll let you know...
On the road to the next gig, Janeeee and me just finished watching a movie. We create a movie house in the back of our S.U.V. as we travel around. Silly movie, "Mission to Mars". Great visuals. Love the actors. But all a bit 'done before'.
Paul Silveira drives us crazy... sorry, what I mean is, he drives us everywhere. He's our tour boss dude. We call this the "happy car". The other car is the "grumpy car", but we love 'em. Even Steve got happy when he came for a ride with us. The best road trip was Zurich to Milano, thru' the Alps. Janeeee started singing 'Sound of Music' stuff. This police dude makes us make a detour, so we decided it was because we were singing along with Janeeee... ooops... so off we went around the tunnel and found our way up and down the mountains, to eventually come out the other end of the detour in Italy a mile ahead of tons of held-up traffic, including the grumpy car that was supposed to be half an hour ahead of us. They were rushing as usual. Uh-oh. So we decided songs from 'Sound of Music' have a magical quality to them. Things that keep us going...
The sweet people in the Orchestra are just the best, all of them from Poland, very young, big Yes fans. They all travel on a big bus. So many hours all on the bus. Yet every show, they are there happy as ever. They were held up for hours going in and out of Russia, poor souls, yet they play great every show. We played "Magnification" on stage for the first time last night, sounded cool. I'd better send this e-mail soon...
Why is there so much corruption in the world. And too much gossip. Those kids, learning such rubbish. Christmas soon, why is it just Big Business????? Children all need love more than presents. It would make a change, just give small things that mean so much... Oh well, I don't want to get Scrooge-like.
We are filming the show tonight here in wonderful, wonderful, Amsterdam, isn't there a song there? I wish I could sing in Dutch.
Chris is having so much fun with the stories of his son Cameron. He's that age were he is always in mischief, Cameron, that is, not Chris...
Steve plays his guitars so amazing every show, I think he spirits up such high energy... same as Alan, well we all do really, thanks to the Divine, and to our fans all over the place, who believe in us, and Yes music. I wrote this story about the band, where we have met before in other lifetimes, pretty cool. I should find it and put it on the web site... Anyway I've got remember the lyrics to "Magnification" tonight...
Well, all is well, here we are in beautiful Paris. We had a fun time with Deborah, she is in the perfect place in Paris, very artistic. She came with friends to see the show, really had the best time. The crowd was in fine form. The band really has got its second breath, and is playing so good. Today Janeeee and myself will walk around the sights with Debs... she has the best dog, called Oscar. He's a 'mutt', but could talk one day, he's just that kind of dog. If you ever get the chance to travel, Paris is truly a marvelous city. We've had some crazy hotel bad luck this last week. We wake up to people wallpapering the hallway outside our room at 8 o'clock in the morning in Amsterdam, talking at the top of their voices in Dutch, which is a strange language anyway. The next morning, a lady decides to vacuum the same hallway at 7 o'clock. Now here in Paris they've decided to rebuild the hotel itself, bang, crash, bang... all morning. Oh well we've got to get out in the sunshine anyway. We will have dinner at Deb's apartment in the groovy part of Paris, St. Germaine du Pre, I think that's how you spell it... then off to Manchester tomorrow.
Had a blast in Manchester, great fans everywhere. Dublin was wonderful. Janeeee and myself walked around the parks, lovely people in Dublin. Now in London, had a son and father time with Damion. He's writing such fantastic music, a bit ahead of what you hear on the radio. He loves life so much. Very spiritual, yet in touch with the real world. We have our first show in London tonight, should be fun. I got a chance to meet my sister Joy the other day. It's great to be able to hug so much, hugs are really important...
See ya...
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