The picture here is from the ferry crossing the Fjord of Trondheim in Norway on the way to the airport this morning to fly to Denmark.
The tour is going great.
Four weeks to go!
It's been a wonderful surprise to have so many sold out shows!
Especially in the bigger cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Oslo and our upcoming Amsterdam Paradiso show, which sold out before we even left the States!
Thank you Germany, NL and Norway!!
This tour has restored my "Road Faith." Largely because I realize how many real friends we've made over the past couple of years in different countries and cities.
Finally, I had two full days off and we spent some quality time with our old friends in Norway and made some great new ones...including a green-eyed, stray black kitten whom I dubbed "Weegie."
I may just bring her back home to NYC with me. In addition, I saw some fantastic historical sites and some of nature's most miraculous creations.
Two months out is pretty daunting, especially with so many shows in a row and so few days off, but I am "Living On" the support of my great band, and of course the energy of all our incredible audiences.
Our new, young drummer, Piero Perelli is just killing it and brings a special energy every night. Piero doesn't have internet in his small village of Luca, Italy. Now each night in his hotel, Piero is furiously downloading every bit of music we tell him to reference. He's been indoctrinated with the idea that I need John Bonham meets Mitch Mitchell meets Charlie Watts meets Buddy Rich. :-)
A tall order, but just like with English, which he's studying daily on the bus and letting us quiz him, he's so damned talented that he's picking it up at an almost alien-like pace and the shows are just exploding.
With the re-release of my first record "Lonely For a Lifetime" I can now call any song from any cd and know he'll nail it and then some. Piero is also just a blast to hang with.
My Indonesian Warrior, Walter Latupeirissa is rocking solid with us on bass and keeping me laughing on and off stage every night. His monster bass playing and silly sense of humor puts it all into perspective.
Jon Diamond and I still disagree *ahem* over the dumbest things, for instance, which table to sit at during dinner or which restaurant will be better, but we laugh loud and enjoy our adventures together more than ever. One German fan took this photo and called it "The Real Guitar Man."
Can't add to that!
This is surely more than just livin' on a prayer.
Although, like I say at every show, I'll take whatever help I can get from the Gods. Be it Buddha, Allah, Yahweh or Father, Son & Holy Spirit!
Love and Blessings,
Dana