How are these people not extinct???

Yes, that's a new band picture. We've got a big month coming up. A cd release party, a television appearance, and a few touring shows. However, I felt fortunate we weren't touring to Kansas after reading this article. And the U2 line, "I can't believe the news today" leapt to mind for all the wrong reasons.

Man gets amputated foot back after police seize it briefly

LAWRENCE, Kansas (AP) - Ezekiel Rubottom now has his left foot back exactly where he wants it - in a bucket on the front porch. Police in Kansas has returned the amputated foot to him after seizing it during the weekend to check out just how it came to be there.

The 21-year-old man's foot was amputated three weeks ago after a series of medical problems, and he started keeping it in a five-gallon (20-liter) bucket filled with formaldehyde.

It came to the attention of police after a call from a parent whose child reported seeing the severed foot. Officers who went to the home late Saturday night found the foot, and some of Rubottom's friends, but no sign of Rubottom himself.

Unsure of what to make of the unusual discovery, police confiscated the severed foot and put it into evidence storage.

"We had to make sure that no crime had been committed," said Sgt. Dan Ward.

Rubottom, an artist, recovering methamphetamine addict and occasional hip-hop master of ceremonies, said he was born with a clubbed foot and has dealt all his life with pressure sores and infections. An infection this summer became so severe that doctors at Lawrence Memorial Hospital decided it should be amputated.

Rubottom asked to have the severed foot. A pathologist at the hospital checked to make sure it wouldn't be a hazard and told him he could have it, provided he kept it in a container labeled with instructions for handling the formaldehyde.

After a friend picked up the bucket at a hardware store, Rubottom added several objects as well as the severed foot - including a porcelain horse and can of beer - to make what he called "a collage of myself." He also cut off two of the toes, saying he was considering giving them to friends.

On Monday, police returned the foot to Rubottom after taking him to the hospital, where he signed a release allowing them to see his medical records.

"It's cool. It's all good," said Rubottom. "Now I've got my foot back. That's all I wanted.
"I'm not sick or, like, a danger," he said of his decision to keep and display the foot. "I just wanted my foot ... I just figured I'd do with it whatever I pleased."



Wow. Welcome back. I'll bet that guy throws a helluva pool party. Just don't ask him about the pickled weiners.

THIS JUST IN!!!

I read this on the internet, so it must be true. I happen to be in an Indie band and I'd encourage anyone who drives a car to buy our cd. It's in the best interest of your health. I volunteer to be the poster boy for this campaign.


New Study Finds That Listening To Indie Rock Can Save Your Life

(ChartAttack) A new study says listening to indie rock keeps drivers more alert, while hip-hop is considered to be distracting. According to a new study, listening to Pavement will not only turn you into a music geek, but it'll improve your driving as well.

CBC.com reports that a new British study has found that singing along to music while you're driving helps you concentrate more, which means you won't fall asleep at the wheel. So dust off those old Thrush Hermit albums and get your Arcade Fire records ready, because the study also says that the best type of music to listen to while you're driving is rock and indie rock.
Not only will Stephen Malkmus' warble help you avoid falling asleep on the road, but it'll do a better job at it than talk radio, silence or even talking to a friend about indie rock.

Rock 'n' roll isn't the only music that'll keep your car from slamming into the guardrails — easy listening and soothing classics should keep the blood pumping and the eyelids open as well. However, if you like taking chances with your life then throw on some Eminem or 50 Cent. The study reports that hip-hop or aggressive classical numbers can actually distract drivers.

Now, if only someone did a study on how to change your CDs without driving over the median.


(and cue the rainbow and "The More You Know" graphic...hold it, hold it...star wipe aaaaannnnnd we're out.)

Rock and Roll 101

I need to go back to school. There's about 30 subjects that I - apparently - should have taken if I wanted to be in a rock and roll band. And here I thought you just needed three chords and the truth (ok, and some booze from time to time). But, the more I talk to people in the music industry who have been doing it for quite some time now, the more I realize you have to be a lawyer/salesman/stock-broker/great white shark/business owner to really get a band off the ground and levelled out. The illusion of 'they'll just dig us for the music' has long since been wiped away and now I realize just how much damned work it is to be successful.

Don't get me wrong. I'm up for the challenge. I'll put in the work. I just didn't realize how many hats I needed to wear in order to do the work. Thank God I'm surrounded by talented and generous people who are just as keen for us to succeed as I am. I think they're partly keen for us to succeed so we'll shut up about 'the band this and the band that'. And they're partly keen for us to succeed just because they're good human beings and you always like to see other good human beings go the distance.

I had lunch with one of these friends yesterday. His name is Wes Williams. Some of you may know him as Maestro Fresh Wes. He's one of the nicest people I've come across in my life. Funny, generous and compassionate and really, really talented. He's a person who had a great deal of success when he was pretty young (You know, some Gold records, a few Juno's - no big thang), but has had a more difficult time as he's grown older. Really, where do you go after hoisting a Juno at the age of 21? I think I'd be happy to plateau there for a while. Anyway, he's still doing exactly what he wants to be doing, but it's always tougher to do things on your own terms. He's learned some tough lessons. And - unlike a lot of people - he's willing to share his mistakes with other people who want to walk a similar road to the one that he's walked. He was so great to talk to; giving affirmation to some of the things we're doing (chasing down radio stations, booking our own shows, working on our video) and opened my eyes to things I hadn't considered (sending our cds to record companies in Germany, Japan, Australia, England & Italy because often bands succeed internationally before they succeed in their own country - we're so self-centered in North America). But beyond the really good music advice he gave me, it was just good to talk with him because he loves music. I guess you'd have to if you're still slugging it out after 15 years of making records. He's got this great tune out now that's a redux of Gowan's 'Criminal Mind' (it's on his greatest hits album that's out August 23rd - if you like rap/hip hop/r&b/rock, get it - it's really fucking good) and Gowan's in the video, which just shows you the kind of respect and appreciation he has for rock, for rap, for any kind of music (well, I'm not sure he likes country - I'll have to ask). Anyway. Despite all the ups and downs music has given him, he still loves it and he still loves to help other people chase that same dream. Why else would he sit down with me for a few hours yesterday and school me on the good, bad and ugly of the music business?

So, what's the lesson here? The lesson is - seriously - be cool, kids. Stay in school. These days even rock stars need multiple University Degrees, 'cause the times they are a changin...

A letter to the editor...

I was going to write such a letter. I've never done it before, but there comes a point in everyone's life where they've had enough. Where they get sick and tired of reading the same outlandish bullshit (ie, that Billy Talent is a good band). In this case, I was sick of all the folks bashing Live 8.

I read last weeks tirades in all the papers about over-age rock stars kissing each others asses and patting themselves on the back and I was almost sick. Not in the direction of the musicians, mind you. I think they're on the side of right. I wanted to vomit on all the 'journalists' (which I think is becoming a pet word for narcissistic, near-sighted prick) who missed the goddamned point. So when I read the article titled 'More than a feeling' by Michael H on page 18 of this weeks NOW, I felt vindicated. Not Michael Jackson vindicated, but properly and deservedly vindicated. Read the article. It's fantastic.

I watched Live 8. It was my 31st birthday and I was at my parents house with my girlfriend. The tv was on the whole day and I watched a good 75% of it (although it must be noted that A Simple Plan & Bruce Cockburn lulled me to sleep). There was so much sincerity by every artist that was there. And so much poignancy. All these people wanted to do was raise awareness. And I think the effort's doubly incredible given all the media naysaying and resistance they were forced to endure. Sting singing 'Message in a Bottle', Tragically Hip singing 'Ahead by a Century', U2 singing 'Beautiful Day', Green Day belting out 'American Idiot' and - the moment that made me go 'Wow!' - Stephen Page of the Barenaked Ladies tacking 'Tears are Not Enough' on to the end of their set. These artists weren't just promoting a new album or trying to revive a fading career. They had a legitimate message and they were there because they saw a problem they wanted the rest of the world to see as well. I think more of us should follow the lead of visionaries like Bob Geldof. I was aware of the problem in Africa. But I had no idea the scope of the problems. And I watched this huge rock concert and it opened my eyes a little wider. And 25 million + who signed up on the website clearly had a similar experience. If that's not raising awareness, I don't know what is. Becuase these politicians will come off looking like monsters if they don't do everything in their power to make some serious changes.

I'll take so many moments away from the concert and a re-invested belief that rock and roll can change the world. Imagine (if you didn't see the show) 200, 000 people singing along with Sting,

"Sending out an SOS
Sending out an SOS
Sending out an SOS
Sending out an SOS..."

That's goddamned right.