AZ's Diary of a Damned Man

"First and foremost it should be noted that she should be the inspiration of all girls young and old big and small. Her message is mostly for them and she's not slurring on Letterman, playing a fool being four hours too late for court. She isn't flashing her nipple in any attempt to generate publicity. Tairrie B does not need to go on television and play bi sexual superstar and kiss to pop princess's. She's not posing for Playboy in the Girls Of Rock issue. (or 1/2 nude in Blender) Instead Tairrie B sets a good example of what a woman in rock should be about. Rocking your fucking world. I've said it before and I'll say it again. She rocks harder than the guys out there. If you can't accept it, then fuck off, you don't know diddly when it comes to rocking out, and performing it.

Sunday we were up with the sun and yours truly finished cleaning and motor booty spent hours making her famous salsa. And believe you me she finished just in time for our guests who began showing up. The award for the longest drive goes to Jim, Dez and Kelsey. The shortest stay is for Dolph and Shannon. The longest Kevin and Sam. Laura wins for best desert. Kevin again for best tequila. We all mixed and had fun. I was surprised that Terry Mac the great photographer came with 2 Ultra ViXXXens, he is always a great guest and friend. I Love Rich win for sexiest. By Chicago standards this place is pretty big and though there is lots of space, we have lots of "stuff". Each of the rooms in this place has a unique theme, in our ultimate wisdom we planned it that way and it has become quite interesting, especially for guests. All in all there was lots and lots of food and lots of beer and wine. And I had a wicked wicked hangover on Monday which wasn't good since the SOiL and MY RUIN show was that night and doors were at 6.

MONDAY 3/22 So as I spent Monday pulling my head together and my heart from the floor I knew the closer it got to 6 the better I was going to feel. If not deafer as well.

John and Marcos gave me a lift to Metro and Motor Booty met me there. I hammered the line with fliers for the Tuesday show. Promotion had been very thin being we only had 3 weeks to put it al together and get bands to support etc. So armed with about 500-600 fliers I hit the line and once inside anyone unfortunate enough to run into me. The security were seriously out of control this night. We had VIP passes and they would not let us see the band so I found someone who knew me to at least get Tairrie for me. She came out said hello and hugged and let us know the Metro would not allow them as openers to have any guests backstage. That was fine with me as I knew I'd see them all the next day, and I mostly wanted her to see the fliers and let he know I was there working it. So we went upstairs and had a couple drinks and enjoyed the show from the vantage of what is left of the VIP section of the Metro after the E2 Club shit and Great White fire.

The reaction to MY RUIN was amazing. I looked around and checked for approval for all the hype I've worked up for this band over the last few years. Just to see this band play the Metro in a set longer than the one I saw over a year ago at The House Of Blues was a true luxury. You can tell they truly love to perform and they put (literally) blood sweat and tears into every performance. Yael just smiles away as shit pound the be out of the drums which is set up in the manner very similar to Jimmy Marinos and more recently Johnny Kelly. Mick is just totally rocked the fuck out. I love to watch that mofo play. He has a gift for his way over and about a guitars neck and as it has been said he is truly the best kept secret in rock n roll music. His manner and style as far as a player is now my favorite just passing Mr. Kenny Hickey of Type O. Mick is just pure rocker 100% and there will never be an imitator. I've NEVER seen a person play like this guy. Meghan also owns a style of her own. She's so quiet in person and onstage an animal is let loose. And their front person. What can I say that I haven't about Miss B?

First and foremost it should be noted that she should be the inspiration of all girls young and old big and small. Her message is mostly for them and she's not slurring on Letterman, playing a fool being four hours too late for court. She isn't flashing her nipple in any attempt to generate publicity. Tairrie B does not need to go on television and play bi sexual superstar and kiss to pop princess's. She's not posing for Playboy in the Girls Of Rock issue. (or 1/2 nude in Blender) Instead Tairrie B sets a good example of what a woman in rock should be about. Rocking your fucking world. I've said it before and I'll say it again. She rocks harder than the guys out there. If you can't accept it, then fuck off, you don't know diddly when it comes to rocking out, and performing it.

Actually I need to re-state the fact I mentioned in the last paragraph. Tairrie B sets a perfect example of what ANYONE in rock should be about. PERIOD.

One of the things I admire about her the most is her unapologetic honesty and telling it like it is. Some people don't like that. Fuck it all the cowards who were afraid to vote for Howard Dean were afraid of him because he told the truth and says it how he sees it. Tairrie is all about that. And it's too bad is scares some people because it makes you blind when you're afraid to open your eyes.

Onstage she does just that, through her lyrics and thorough the message she delivers between numbers. And to see this woman onstage is just exhausting. How anybody could write around the floor like that, putting sheer energy and passion and raw emotion into her performance simply astounds me. Bruised and bloody she leaves the stage, tends to her make up and injuries and comes out to join her friends.

After they played we said hello to Meghan and hung out and walked around with Yael for awhile. We checked out SOiL play to their core audience in their hometown to a show that sold out over a month ago and YES they deserve the fame they are developing.

The funniest moment of the night had to be when we walked back stage with Yael through the upstairs VIP door down the steps and came out past the very large man who gave us the most shit and problem trying to touch base with MY RUIN. Now, I don't look for trouble, it normally finds me, however though it wasn't funny till we thought about it the next day, the look on his face and the look of death he gave us when we walked out of the back stage with Yael was pretty fucking hilarious in hindsight.

We were told to go next door to the Ginger Man to hang out with the band. And since Fuel closed this is where people go, however, I LOATHE this fucking place, and being it was for MY RUIN I went anyway. We hung out with Rodney, Doug, Steve, Scott Davidson and Jamie Duffy for a little bit and then after two beers and all that cigarette smoke and the crowd making the room smaller I had to go home. I was already sleep deprived and extremely tired not to mention I hadn't really had a good meal in several days, I was completely exhausted. So we made our exit after saying goodbyes and missed the band who came in right after we left.

Tuesday 3/23 I was up at 4AM the next morning MY RUIN were scheduled to do JBTV and call me for arrangements to arrive at the studio. However being they were staying all the way out by the airport and they had a long night I imagined when they hadn't phoned that they needed what rest they could get. I didn't want to call ad wake them in the event they were resting or if they were lucky still sleeping. (sleep or at the least rest is another luxury when your a hard touring band) And I figured I'd just catch up with them during load in at the Bottom Lounge.

Once again, I was awake a lot earlier than I would have liked. Part of this being that the new curtains in the bedroom are a much lighter in shade than the heavy black drapes I have become accustomed to. The other was my stomach was a wreck. My blood sugar was so low it was causing me to shake. So I took my medicine and vitamins and avoided coffee and waited the day out. By noon being I hadn't heard from the band I contacted JBTV and Jerry was very understanding and informed me of new FCC guidelines regarding the show now in the age of the JJ nip slip. (Oh sorry, wardrobe malfunction) Brigette and I went out to run some errands and have some wonderful Thai food at Duck Walk just around the corner from the Bottom Lounge. After eating I went over and caught Mick and shook hands and gave him my list prosing to be back around 6 for the doors to open for the MY RUIN show. (with guests American Heritage, Smoke and Ditchwater).

After changing we got a pretty good parking space and carried the magazines in to give to those attending the show. We ran a tab at the bar and began mixing with old friends, meeting MY RUIN fanatics (Ruiners) and making a few new acquaintances (Jander K). The band circulated throughout the club and we hung out a lot with them and friends who stopped in. Messy had been wanting to meet Tairrie for a long time. We took a lot of HILARIOUS photos and thanks to Dan Locke who shot somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 photos of MY RUIN live.

For whatever reason the club decided to book 4 bands, 3 of which were local. Now if this would have been in my control I would have had 1 local band with a strong following and a $5 door. However, after I set the show in motion it was out of my hands and it was a $10 and 3 bands 2 of who I had never heard of. And being a lot of people saw the show the night before with a 94 cent door, the 10 buck charge was a little ludicrous, but what would I know!

I tell you this for the small crowd that showed MY RUIN played with as much gusto and energy if not more because the fans could get closer, than they did the night before. And that fact is highly admirable. Most bands especially who have the stature of MY RUIN would be pissed and reflect that if the room was not completely full. This is a band who loves their fans, and the girls in the room were up against the stage singing with Tairrie, as they held her up and she did most of the songs with them allowing them to sing the verses into her mic. One particular girl if not others cried as she sang along. To justify what I wrote earlier, this is a band who speak directly to their crowd through their lyrics to deliver their message, and it is a heartfelt one.

So at 10 the show was over and the band went outside to meet anyone not 21 and over since anyone under were forced to leave the property. Again, most bands wouldn't take the time or effort to meet every fan, sign anything and get a photo with everyone and anyone who wanted one. As many times as I've heard Gene Simmons speak for KISS about how if you pay $100 or $500 they won't leave till everyone gets to meet the band, I know it's bullshit and that (for the lack of a suitable word) SUCKS. MY RUIN did. For the record Glen Danzig does, but he doesn't make his fans feel the way Miss B does. And as a male who feels her music I am speaking from experience.

When they finished Mick came in and began to DJ. He kicked off with the Alive I version of Deuce by KISS and followed with Danzig. He was playing the music WE love. Sometime after the witching hour I couldn't hang anymore. What happened to the day when I used to go all night? Anyway, we said our long goodbyes, and see you next time arounds, and headed home.

WED. 3/24 And I got my just deserts the next day, Brigette, my Lil' Miss Motor Booty was hungover. HUNGOVER! But that meant we got to lunch at Luna Mexicana, home of her favorite nacho chips and some fucking AMAZING cerviche. (and $21 pitchers of tasty margaritas). And with the fatigue, sleep depravation and bar tabs, not to mention loss of constructive/productive work hours I must ask myself, was it fucking worth it? HELL YEAH for MY RUIN anytime and any place.

Many many thanks to everyone who came to the last MY RUIN show of two, to everyone who loves this band, to all the friends and supporters who came just to support something I believe in and finally the bands who took the time to open the show on such a short notice. I really love you guys (in an Eric Cartman tone).

And my eternal love, devotion and dedication to one rocked out rock n roll band, thanks for rocking Chicago. Hope to see you soon.