Dana Fuchs Blog

Almost Heaven (West Norway)

2011-10-29T13:03:00.000-04:00

Almost Heaven (West Norway)

Here's a view from my room in Sandane Norway where I sit having my coffee reflecting on this past year and our "Love To Beg" tour.

We're honored to be headlining the Sandane Fjord Festival tonight.

Our last few shows in Norway have been sold out. Again, a real honor.

Wild to think how I got here from a small town down south!

Sandane is on the west coast of Norway and is purported to be one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Not hard to believe!

Tomorrow our hosts will take us up to a glacier for some hiking.

(More pics to come!)

Only 9 days to go on this 2 month tour.

Left home at summer's end feeling strange that we had to pack winter coats, sweaters, hats and gloves. Time has certainly flown by.

This has really been my favorite tour to date. Jon and I have been incredibly touched to see how the past few years of touring relentlessly have paid off in building such a strong fan base as well as making life long friends.

Homesick as I am I will be a bit sad when this tour ends.

We will take a break when we return to NYC on Nov 7 until mid January to continue working on and writing new material for our next CD.

Denmark, hope you'll come celebrate the end of the "Love To Beg" Tour with us next week!

Love, Love, Love

Dana

PS. I am happy to report that my little black stray Norwegian kitty "Weegie" has a safe home now right in her own neighborhood!

Half Way There (Not Just) Living On a Prayer

2011-10-11T22:04:00.000-04:00

Did I really just (almost) quote Jon Bon Jovi?

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

Here Goes Another Sleepless Tour...

2011-09-29T20:33:00.003-04:00

I'm 10 days into my last, long tour of the year which ends in Denmark on November 7th! I've been in Germany, Switzerland and Austria so far, playing some great famous venues throughout each country. All of the shows have been packed and it's been incredible to see so many familiar faces and to make so many new friends.

Tonight, I'm back in Vienna, Austria. Last time I was here I set my hotel room on fire trying to dim my halogen lamp with my hoodie. Two large, beautiful Austrian firemen came to my rescue. (Maybe I should do it again!) ;-)

A much needed day off tomorrow in Berlin, after 7 shows...ahhhh. Then Saturday, we'll play the famous Berlin Quasimodo (which is almost sold out!) I love Berlin and am looking forward to a nice dinner at one the supreme restaurants!

Then we're on to Hamburg where we'll meet up with some friends and play another legendary venue (which is also almost sold out!!)

I'm loving being back in the Father Land and I'm also super excited to see our Dutch fans again in a few weeks.

Our first show at the iconic Paradiso sold out weeks ago.

I hope to see each and every one of our European friends somewhere between Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway!

US Fans - it was wonderful to meet so many of you this summer and you can bet you'll be seeing much more of us in 2012!

I'll close and say in German tongue/type...

"Alles Gut!"

Love,
Dana

p.s. It's been a pleasure to have our talented friend John Allen from the UK doing some shows with us this first leg. His voice may even have more gravel than mine! He's a great dude, too.

Home Is Where The (heavy) Heart Is (and Survives)

2011-09-21T16:40:00.000-04:00

Woke up today just before 5pm (arrived hotel 8am from NYC and went to sleep 9am); breaking my cardinal rule of never sleeping more than 4 hours on arrival day! Will be interesting to see what time I can fall asleep tonight/this morning.

Piero, our "adorable" Italian drummer just arrived from Pisa and Walter will join us here tomorrow for our first show of the 7 week (FINAL) "Love To Beg Tour" which starts tomorrow in Lorsch, Germany and ends in Denmark.

I am so excited and nostalgic to be back in Germany at almost autumn time. Autumn 2008 was mine and Jon's introduction to Germany and when I fell in love with the culture, the scenery and a few amazing people!

Walked all over town this evening and now just arrived dinner at the very place I had my coffee with Jon hours ago.

He and Piero are now discussing drum cymbals as I sip a local white wine (believe it or not the german whites are some of the best!) and stare at this gorgeous view (attached).

Germany, my heart is especially heavy AND excited to see you since my January tour was cancelled to be with my brother Don.

With my deepest love and gratitude,

Dana

Remembering On The 10th Anniversary of 9/11...

2011-09-10T19:57:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone is having a peaceful, meaningful and reflective 9/11 anniversary weekend. Thank you all for your generous donations toward the free download of my 9/11 song: "Moment Away."

Remember, the tune is free.
No donation necessary, but anything you choose to donate will directly benefit the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11.

Either way, enjoy the tune and keep peace alive by never forgetting those who have lost their lives, loved ones, or peace of mind, due to acts of useless and misguided violence.

Download "Moment Away" here for free or make a donation of your choice in any amount.

Love,
Dana

The Tenth Anniversary of 9/11/01: Only a Moment Away

2011-08-09T23:04:00.000-04:00

In honor of the men, women and children who lost their lives, alongside those brave people who gave their lives, and the heroes that responded to the emergency on 9/11/2001, I'm offering a commemorative download of my song, "Moment Away".

I wrote this song with Jon Diamond during the first weeks after the 9/11 attack, inspired by the true stories of those left in the aftermath searching, without answers regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones

Download Moment Away here for free or make a donation of your choice in any amount.

All proceeds will directly benefit the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11.

When it Hits Home.

2011-07-26T14:46:00.001-04:00

I am so saddened by the acts of terror in Norway.

Growing up in a small town down south in the US, whenever I would hear such news about "far away lands", I would give pause, say a little prayer and be grateful such suffering "didn't hit home", as the popular expression goes.

However, as I say at every one of my shows, I know now that home is truly where the heart is and Norway has been in my heart ever since I first took the stage there in 2010, falling in love with the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the countryside and the beautiful people who became my friends there.

My young Norwegian friend Oda, whose company I shared for 4 days, speaking of politics, feminism, and our mutual desire to bring peace and joy to people, was going to meet up with friends at the camp on the island of Utøya. Fortunately, she was not there on the day of the massacre but sadly several of her friends were and did not survive.

Knowing Oda and everything she fights for as president of her high school student council, the feminist organization she rallies and leads protests for, the volunteer work she's done and so on, her friends were no doubt like-minded young leaders with great potential.

I heard from Oda as the tragic events were unfolding and she had this to say,

"This tragedy has taught me one thing. We'll never stop fighting for socialism, peace, and anti-racism."

This exemplifies the courage, determination and compassion of the Norwegian people.

To the people of Norway, my heart is with you now and always.

Last night, at my show in Trieste, the Italian audience joined me in singing a tribute song for you.

Further proof of how love "hits home" everywhere and can bring us all together anywhere we are.

I wish you healing and love and I will bring every bit of my heart and soul to you in Notodden next month when I return.

Stay strong.

With Love and Peace,
Dana

Taking a tour of the old Norwegian homes with Oda, her Dad and our other friends last year in Notodden.

Thunderbolts and Lightning - Very, Very Frightening Me!

2011-07-02T21:11:00.000-04:00

30 minutes into our flight from Copenhagen to Dusseldorf, just as I was starting to doze in my comfy exit row seat right over the left wing, I heard a big boom, felt the plane jolt and saw a burst of red and silver on the wing.

Lightening struck the plane!

For a second, I thought we could be going down. From the expressions on the neighboring passenger's faces, I'm guessing it crossed their minds, too.

It was a strange, numbing, smaller than the universe feeling.

The pilot came on immediately to announce that we'd be turning around to land back in Copenhagen to try and score a new plane.

This was our 2nd flight of the day. All with the hope of delivering us safely, or at least alive, to the Hookrock Festival in Belgium!

I was bleary-eyed on the first flight after playing a late slot at the Nibe Festival in Denmark, followed by a later hang with band & friends from Germany, DK and Norway, when I heard the pilot nonchalantly announce that en route to pick us up in Copenhagen his plane hit a flock of birds and that "blood and feathers were now being cleaned from the engine."

BIRD STRIKE

Pretty straight shootin' Captain, I'd say.

Let's just say, I'm delighted to be safe and sound on the ground gingerly racing across the Autobahn on four wheels at 210kph to reach our show in Belgium.

It's been a strange last few weeks.

Last week in DK, I came upon a beautiful old Cathedral. Everything else in the entire town was shut down except for the church, so I went in for some quiet time.

I found myself talking to Don and Donna and had a vision of them playing as kids together in the sunshine, basked in a yellow glow.

An hour later, my Mom wrote to tell me that a perennial they had both pitched in and planted for her on Mother's Day in the mid 70's had just bloomed two flowers...after two decades without blooming.

It's hard to call that a coincidence with Don just passing and the anniversary of Donna's death approaching on July 7th. Even for you cynics!

Speaking of July 7th...

I really, truly hope to see many of you that evening for our benefit show in Tarrytown, NY.

Please come help me celebrate both Don and Donna's short, precious lives and the gift of music they bestowed upon me.

I should remind you all that Tarrytown is only 25 short minutes from NYC!

The night will be filled with so many special guests who's company I am honored to share.

The price of your ticket will go directly to the Roy White Foundation and the Don Fuchs Fund.

Thank you all in advance for your love and support.

I'm flying back home from Brussels tomorrow, so let's hope lightening really doesn't strike twice.

Love,
Dana

Hallo Don.

2011-06-25T21:18:00.000-04:00

Those that know me have rarely known me speechless. I am sobbing and speechless now as an expression of humanity and universal compassion has knocked me off my feet.

A man named Hans and his friends and family from Stuttgart, Germany went out of their way to come to Haderslev, Denmark to see my show and honor my brother Don's memory in the most fantastically thoughtful and human way possible. Their grace is simply elegant.

A group of people caught my eye in the crowd during our set with a sign that said "Hallo Don".

It didn't even register in my mind until after the show when Hans and his people came to see me and presented me with this card.

On the left is a note to Don that was written before he passed. On the right is a note written to me after he passed.

They waited and came to find me miles away from my home and miles away from their own to express their condolences and share this with me.

I have only known such compassion in my heart of hearts. The loving gesture made by these people makes me sob. They never even knew Don, except through me and my songs.

I am overcome with grief and gratitude.

I wish Don could have met these people in this life. He would have never stopped thanking them and for that matter, neither will I. Thank you and your friends and family, Hans.

I'm honored and humbled to have made your acquaintance.

Love,

Dana

Instant Travel Karma's Gonna Get You...

2011-06-23T14:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, while boarding Delta Flight 70 for our long overnight flight, after much recent travel stress, Jon and I were held up when my boarding pass was swiped and my name came up in ominous flashing red as "Passenger Not Cleared".

Uh-Oh!

But, as my mind began to reel with possible Patriot Act implications and being grounded in the States, the gate attendant tapped my arm and informed me that I had reached some sort of Delta Skymiles-stone, stepped us aside and proceeded to walk us BOTH to business class seats!

It was like winning a contest!

Instantly, Jon was tripping out as they brought us champagne and instead of giving him the usual shit about his gear they put it all away for him with a smile! Civility on Delta? Could it be?

Jon opened his special biz class travel pack and we snapped pictures like amateur first class travelers.


Now we're in business!

Ahh, life was good for a minute, until the commonplace air traffic delays at JFK had us sitting on the runway for over 2 hours.

Finally, we were in the air.

While the attentive in-flight staff served a several course dinner with wines and cognacs to match, making for quite a hedonistic airplane affair, and Jon's thrill with it all was most infectious, alas, our standard travel karma won out in the end.

We left NYC so late that we missed our connecting flight to Hamburg and got stuck in the Amsterdam airport for 10 hours.

Fortunately, we found a hotel and slept for a fleeting 5 of them. We made our later connection and have touched down in Hamburg feeling rested and ready for upcoming shows in Denmark and Belgium!

Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo!

:-)

Love & Gratitude,
Dana

The wind of heaven blows between a horse's ears...

2011-06-12T21:48:00.000-04:00

I finally got back on the horse and did two festivals in Denmark this weekend. The audiences didn't know me or have any reason to care about my heavy heart, but when I braved telling them of the loss of my brother I was flooded back with love. Thank you to the people of Denmark. These were a strange couple of shows for me and I could not have mustered it without your heartfelt response.

Today I spent my day off cycling through Copenhagen and everywhere I turned there was some beautiful flower blooming, or a lily covered lake with baby swans, ducks and geese.

I saw life in full force. Then I saw my brother Don and my sister Donna as the innocent children they once were, back in the light of their true precious nature. I felt so connected to them both in this beauty. Don actually spoke to me in a dream here in Copenhagen. He spoke so fast and excitedly that I couldn't make out a single word. Upon awakening, I was overcome with chills and a smile. It felt good and it was good. Thanks to all of you for the gift of your caring and support over these past few weeks. It would surely be a lonely road without you all. I hope to see many of you on July 7th in Tarrytown NY to celebrate Don's life, love and music.

Denmark, I will see you again in a couple of weeks!

Until then...

Love and Gratitude,

Dana

In Loving Memory of My Brother Don...

2011-05-30T16:28:00.001-04:00

My brother Don has moved on to the next phase of his journey.

I was fortunate enough to be with him in his final conscious moments in hospice care. His last request was for a "foot rub" so I gave him a massage. His last words were, "That felt nice, I'm just going to rest for a while now."

Don then went into a deep sleep and I just held his hand, prayed over him and encouraged him to let go when he was ready. I told him it was time to go home and suffer no more. Then I said goodbye.

He took his last breath Friday, May 27th at 1:05pm.

Don wanted to be laid to rest with my sister Donna in Florida, so I will take his ashes and have a small ceremony with the rest of our family once I am ready.

I am so grateful to all of you for the love and support you've shown me. I've been so touched and comforted by the personal stories that so many of you have been brave and generous enough to share with me.

I believe we are all so interconnected and when someone we love passes on, they are always only a thought away. A wise teacher recently told me to keep sending loving thoughts to my brother and sister because their "subtle" minds will always hear them.

In fact, we can all do that for each other whether in this world or another.

With My Deepest Love and Gratitude,

Dana

This picture of Don singing Karaoke is from his birthday in December when we flew to Florida to unite with family.

The July 7th show at the Tarrytown Music Hall will now be a tribute to Don and a celebration of his life and the gift of music he passed on to me. The proceeds will go toward The Roy White Foundation and The Don Fuchs Benefit.

Calling all Friends & Fans: July 7th - Benefit for My Brother Don at Tarrytown Music Hall

2011-05-20T13:30:00.001-04:00

On July 7th I will be playing my first show the the famous Tarrytown Music Hall. It has been a goal to play this room for some time and now I've finally been invited.

I have decided to make this a benefit for my brother Don who is battling terminal brain cancer.

It's no secret that health care in this country falls short for many who can not afford decent insurance coverage. While Don does have insurance, as usual, there are many limitations as to what will be covered.

I will donate all of my proceeds toward helping get Don the best care possible. The show's promoter Murray Bauer has generously decided to donate his proceeds to both my brother Don and his dear friend, former New York Yankees legend Roy White will be in attendance that night.

The following celebrities have also agreed to attend the Fundraiser for Don Fuchs and the Roy White Foundation:

o   New York Met Legend Ed Kranepool
o   New York Giants Sean Landeta
o   New York Yankees: Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers, Mike Torrez.
o   Hall of Fame baseball sportswriter and author Bill Madden.
o   ESPN columnist and author of the forthcoming book “Derek Jeter” Ian O’Connor.
o   Legendary entertainer Jay Black (Cara Mia, This Magic Moment, Come a Little Bit Closer, Walkin’ in the Rain). *Jay Black has said that “Dana Fuchs is the most fantastic talent to come along in 30 years.”

The Roy White Foundation provides financial assistance to young adults and children whose desire to further their education is inhibited by financial complications. It is our mission to help these individuals pursue their dreams and aspirations by easing the frustrating burden of monetary obligations.

Your support on this show will do more than you can imagine, so if you're free to attend, I promise you a powerful night of music and a celebration of love and life. Interestingly enough, July 7th happens to be the anniversary of my sister Donna's death. The date was certainly not planned that way, so I imagine it's all part of the mystery of the universe.

Please get your tickets for the July 7th Benefit here.

With All My Love and Deepest Gratitude,

Dana


My Brother Don Fuchs

'LOVE TO BEG' GETTING TONS OF LOVE IN THE US & EUROPE!

2011-04-23T19:12:00.002-04:00

We're so excited for all the great press and radio play we've been getting for "Love to Beg". Remember you can get it in stores nationwide, online or at our shows.

I'm really enjoying touring the US and seeing so much of my own country for the first time - wonderful meeting so many "Lovers" in my own back yard.

Our next run will be Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver so please be sure to send some West Coast Love our way.

Here are the dates:

4-26-11 The Triple Door – Seattle, WA (ALL AGES!) 7:30pm Tickets

4-27-11 Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland, OR 8pm Tickets

4-29-11 The Yale Hotel – Vancouver, Canada 2 Nights! 9pm Tickets

4-30-11 The Yale Hotel – Vancouver, Canada 2 Nights! 9pm Tickets

Please come out and tell EVERYONE you know in the area that we will rock them! :-)
California and Colorado, we'll be coming to you later this year so stay tuned! Thanks for all the Facebook requests!

Italy and Holland see you in May! We'll be doing National TV and Radio in NL, the country where it all started for us overseas!

Lastly, thanks again NYC for a great, magical sold out show!

Please keep checking our website, Facebook and Myspace for updates and don't forget to follow us on Twitter!

Love,
Dana

"Love to Beg" In Stores Today, Highline Ballroom This Friday & Golden Eyes Music Video!

2011-04-12T14:23:00.001-04:00

The new studio CD "Love To Beg" is available in stores nationwide and online today! So far the press and reviews here and abroad have been nothing but great and we're also starting to get some good radio love. We're super excited!

It's been so wonderful to be back home playing in the US and meeting so many "Lovers" I never even knew existed!   Looks like we'll be spending all year bouncing back and forth between the continents. Lucky me!

As many of you know already, we'll be celebrating the release of our new CD this Friday at Highline Ballroom!
PLEASE NOTE NEW SHOWTIME - 7PM.
(We'll be ON STAGE by 7:20pm).

We've got some great guests on board for this one. Here's the line-up:

THE USUAL SUSPECTS:
Yours Truly - Vox & Percussion
Jon Diamond - Guitar
Brett Bass - Bass
Tom Curiano - Drums

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Glenn Patscha - Keys (Olabelle)
Craig Dryer & Friends - Horns
Vivian Sessoms - Bkgnd Vox (Joe Cocker, Pink)
Jenny Douglas-McCrae - Bkgnd Vox (Pink)

I really can't wait to celebrate in my home town Friday night. You guys are all my First True Lovers!

Many of you are asking about the new video I shot for Golden Eyes.

We had 2 long, amazing days on rooftops overlooking the entire city and at Pier 59 Studios with fire-breather and circus marvel Keith Bindlestiff. The video was co-directed by Mark Anton Read & Doug Trumbull. I can't say much more about it now, but it was shot using experimental, never before seen 3D technology, invented by the legendary visual effects master Doug Trumbull, who worked with Stanley Kubrick, invented Imax and shot the Rolling Stones "At The Max".

Stay tuned for more on this later.
But for now, here's a glimpse behind the scenes.

Hope to see you all on Friday for our annual NYC show and a big celebration for the Ruf Records release of "Love To Beg". Please go out and buy a copy and tell everyone you know to do the same! We need your support.

All My Love & Gratitude,
Dana

Home Away From Home

2011-02-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

My home for most of the last couple of weeks! (You can't see the cute little table and chairs!)

Touring in Denmark is pretty easy, since nothing is more than a couple hours drive away.

So this has been our base hotel in the city of Odense.

Odense is the home of author Hans Christian Anderson. I've been to his house-turned-museum many times now.

Denmark is made up of the large peninsula and several islands.
Bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Pretty beautiful coast line.

We will move on to Copenhagen on March 2nd then home!

I'm actually gonna miss my cozy little room in this old hotel when we go to Copenhagen.

But, I'll sure be glad to be in my own bed back home again!

Love,
Dana

Our Love To Beg 2011 World Tour is in Full Swing!

2011-02-25T15:04:00.001-05:00

Every show in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Denmark has been packed!

Many sold out shows!

Looking forward to playing Copenhagen next week. A new Copenhagen show has just been added for March 2nd, so please check my tour dates!

The new CD "Love To Beg" was released in Europe on Feb 11 and we've gotten only amazing reviews on the CD and the shows. We've also had lots of great radio exposure.

My last few days off in Denmark, I've spent visiting friends, great art galleries and learning to ice skate on plastic. Ouch. See the video.

Hysterical. So I've also attached a backstage yoga shot to redeem my balance! :-)

I can't wait to see my NYC friends on April 15th at the Highline Ballroom!

We'll have some great musical guests that night.

All My Love,
Dana

Love To Beg Album Release TODAY in Europe!

2011-02-11T13:06:00.001-05:00

The “Love To Beg” Tour is off to a fabulous start!

Oh sure, we’ve had the usual tour stress of harsh travel, delayed flights, lost luggage, Jon's food poisoning, etc, but that's what keeps life interesting!

We're getting great press on the shows and great reviews of the new CD "Love To Beg" which is being officially released in Europe TODAY!

The title track is up on MySpace check it out!

All of the shows have been packed and the audiences have been so great.

I feel so much support from you all for my brother. Thank you all for the signs at shows, the letters after and the love throughout!

It wasn't easy to leave home this time, so I truly thank you for making me feel at home every night.

I am having a great time with Jon, Walter, our new drummer Tom and our wonderful, steady, patient tour manager George. (George is from Bavaria and comes from a long line of horse breeders. He was also a history major so he's quite fascinating to rap with.)

We're now en route to the Duisberg for 2 more shows in Germany, then a few days off in Hamburg, then off to Denmark!

HEY USA: "Love To Beg" will be officially released in the US on April 12th and we'll have our CD release celebration show with some great guests on April 15th at the Highline Ballroom. Get your tix early so you don't get left out!

Speaking of releases, the film I did last year in New Orleans entitled "The Mortician" starring Method Man is opening at the esteemed Berlin Film Festival tomorrow, Feb 12!

In addition to my role as "Ava" in the film, Jon and I did a cover of the great Bobby Bland song “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City” for the soundtrack.

As always, please keep checking our tour dates because we are adding new ones every week!

Look forward to "Loving" you all soon.

Love,
Dana

"Love To Beg" Tour Coming to a Town Near You!

2011-01-27T14:52:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Just a quick note to say that I'm really looking forward to starting the "Love To Beg" tour on February 3rd in Erfurt, Germany! It's the month of love, and a great time to be a DFB "Lover"!

I’m happy to welcome aboard our new drummer, Tom Curiano.

We know many of the same musicians in NYC and I heard he was great, but when Tom came in for the audition, I was floored. You'll certainly hear why soon. He's also a killer singer so we'll have some sweet harmonies. We've had a lot of fun doing late night vocal rehearsals at my apartment. Of course we'll be joining up with our dear friend and bassist Walter Latupeirissa in Hamburg on Tuesday for more rehearsing, then we'll hit the stage.

Man, I need this. I need you all!

On a personal front, my brother Don decided 2 weeks ago to give treatment a try. Hallelujah. While there's no cure for Glioblastoma, with treatment he can have a little more time with us. I have many of YOU to thank for this. Your emails telling me of people you knew who've gone through this treatment with good results were so helpful and encouraging to Don and the rest of us.

So far he's doing well with the treatment and the side effects have been minimal. Doctors think he's young enough to possibly get another 12 months. Of course I am hoping for miraculously more, but as we know, these things are out of our hands. I have another trip planned with him in May in between tours. So, please continue to keep him in your thoughts, prayers, chants, rain-dances, whatever! Who knows, maybe he'll even join me on stage in NYC this April for a song!

Speaking of April, tickets for the Highline Ballroom show in NYC on April 15th are now on sale!! This is the US CD release show and we'll have some very special guest musicians on stage. It promises to be a show like you've never seen!

Please follow us on Facebook, MySpace , Twitter and DanaFuchs.com for the latest news, music give-aways and tourdates which are still being added!

All My Love & Eternal Gratitude,
Dana

PS. For those of you who've been asking, we WILL have the new CD 'Love To Beg" available for sale after every show starting Feb 3rd! Come say hi and get your copy signed.

Click HERE to see the tour so far!

Thank You For Holding The Thread.

2011-01-09T17:32:00.002-05:00

Wow, I have been overwhelmed by all of the incredibly touching and inspiring notes from friends all over the world. I cannot tell you what a source of comfort it has been and I truly thank you for letting me share this experience with you all. I spent the Christmas Holiday reading your beautiful letters.

I took Don to Florida to see the family last week. My other 3 brothers, their families and my parents were all there. Being a musical family, we jammed every night ‘til the wee hours!

In fact, on Don's birthday we took over the hotel bar and he performed for a real audience for the first time in years.

It was incredibly beautiful. No talk of death, just us all enjoying being alive together. What a lesson in life death can teach us if we are open to it. Based on some of the letters I've gotten, seems many of you already know this all too well. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

I truly believe we are all connected and this just proves it.

Thanks again for your love.

Have a Joyful, Peaceful, Wonderful New Year.

See you all very soon.

Love,
Dana

Love To Beg & Live Like There's No Tomorrow: (Record Deal, World Tour & Personal Note)

2011-01-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends...

I’m excited to announce that we've signed with Ruf Records for the worldwide release of our new studio album "Love To Beg". We’ll be touring extensively in the US and Europe beginning early 2011. We’ve already had some great press and reviews on this long awaited studio album and I can’t wait to share it with you all soon.

Unfortunately, with this exciting news, I also have some very sad personal news....

I've had to postpone the kick off of the tour, which was scheduled to begin January 21st in Hamburg, Germany.

My oldest brother, whom many of you know as the Bible Baby, was just diagnosed with terminal brain cancer over the Thanksgiving holiday.

He has decided to forgo all treatment, so death is imminent. We’ve been told he has a matter of months, although now he feels and looks great, so we are hoping for more time.

Don and I have been quite close over the years, especially after the suicide of big my sister, Donna, my "Songbird" and his little sister, best friend & music partner. After Donna’s death, Don was never quite the same.

Together, we deeply shared this pain and we've shared the passion for music all our lives.

Our Aunt Sally and I are the only family he has in the New York area, so therefore with love and honor we are taking over the care for his final days with our hands and heart.

By Don’s request, I will take him to Florida this week to say goodbye to our parents and 3 other brothers. We’ll celebrate the holiday and his birthday on December 23rd.

Then, we will return to NYC where I will make sure he is comfortable with hospice care until his time comes.

I need time here to set my brother up properly, as his peace and comfort are my only concern right now.

Then I will fulfill my honor and duty to carry the torch of music for Don, Donna and all of you who help us keep it burning.

In light of all of this, and after learning that pop sensation Lady Gaga, whom regardless of your taste in music is undeniably talented, calls her audience her "Little Monsters."

I love it. I started to think: "What I would I call all of my dear friends who support our shows and music all over the world?"

As you know, our last tour was "The Church of Love" tour and the upcoming tour is the "Love To Beg" tour.

Therefore, I thought maybe I'd call you guys my "Lovers". I mean that in the most soulful sense!

The idea came to me after many of you in Germany & Holland, who already received this news last week, showed me such love and support. Thank you dearly for your comforting notes to me.

It also seems to fit right in with the experience we all share together at our shows. So, I hope you'll consider keeping the love alive for us all.

While I'll miss many of you in January, I will see all of you at some point during the year. The tour will now start in Erfurt, Germany on Feb. 4th, for 4 weeks. Then I'll come home for a bit to spend more time with my brother before heading out again.

Until then ... May we all live today like there is no tomorrow.

Love, Peace and Joy to You All,

Dana

DANA FUCHS BLOG (Present to Past)

2011-01-09T17:25:00.001-05:00

October 25th 2010: THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME

"Thank You"

"...Little drops of rain, whisper of the pain, tears of love lost in the days gone by..."

Thank you so much for the amazing support and donations many of you gave for the Suicide Prevention Walk on Sunday. I more than doubled my goal and the organization surpassed their goal as well raising over 100k!

I was so moved to get notes from so many friends and fans. Some who were at my first shows in
NY and others from around the world! I felt so proud and so connected to you and to my sister.

The walk was great over the Brooklyn Bridge. It was indeed an emotional day.

In fact, a friend who just lost her younger brother last year, weeks after his 21st birthday saw my email and joined us to walk!

This is exactly the sort of thing that makes me so grateful to be able to carry on my and my sister's dream of music.

All My Love & Gratitude,
Dana

*****

Oct 20, 2010: WALKING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IN NYC – SUPPORT ME?

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, October 24, 2010 at City Hall Park I will be joining thousands of people nationwide to walk in AFSP's Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

I would greatly appreciate any support from you for this worthwhile cause.

Those of you who know me, know my story. I lost my sister Donna to suicide and as you know, I dedicate every one of my shows to her life with a performance of Songbird (Fly Me To Sleep).

Please help me continue to celebrate her life by helping to prevent further loss of life.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 33,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.
I hope you will consider supporting my participation in this event.

Of course, any contribution will help the work of AFSP, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Donating online is safe and easy and no amount is too little!

Thank you in advance for your support.

If you have any questions about the Out of the Darkness Community Walks or AFSP do not hesitate to visit www.afsp.org

Sincerely,
Dana

*****

September 23, 2010: DIED AND GONE TO TELLURIDE … AND WHAT A RIDE!

I have been to some beautiful places these past few years (Norway & Italy some of the top) but man, I think Telluride just might be one of the most stunning places I've ever seen! I can't help but attach some lame old blackberry shots. Again, my drummer Carter (who is quickly becoming a pro photographer and has even begun selling prints from our many tours) has the good ones and I did get one from him of me and the crowd, which I attached. When he makes a public page of all the tour shots, I promise to let you know. For now, my berry will have to do!

Okay, so I could gush about the beauty of Telluride for the whole blog and about my private tee pee dressing room! But what I REALLY want to express is how AMAZING it felt to play for such a great US audience! As most of you know, we've spent most of our time the past couple of years touring Europe, simply because that's where most of the demand seemed to be. I was blown away by you Telluride! You guys had me crying like a baby on stage. It was truly a spiritual experience for me, and the band. I vowed that day to myself and to you, that I will spend MUCH more time in the US next year! I can't wait.

I was so happy to hear that you guys would love to have more of me!!! I am soooo ready to have more of you!

Thanks for the love, the laughter and the tears in Colorado!!!

Can't wait to see you all a ton more in 2011.
That goes for the rest of my beautiful country! :-)

Meanwhile, Norway, I'm so psyched to be coming back to you next week for the Orland Blues Festival where we'll be on right before our amazing and dear friend Walter Trout !!

Also, I want to thank our dear friends who joined us for the great Tegelen Bluesrock Festival in The Netherlands last month. We were so excited to play before (& then hang out with after) one of our fave bands & new friends the Los Lonely Boys. Their show was just incredible. Everyone should see these guys live. I just watched the documentary on them called: Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields to Crossroads. So touching and inspiring. The guys are truly the real deal!!!

Ok, US, thanks so much for the love and the BIG reminder that it's time I play my own backyard!! See you in 2011 for the "Nothing's What I Cry For" Tour!!!

All My Love and Gratitude.

Dana

*****

Sep 13, 2010: HIGHLINE, BLUES & BREWS & BACK TO NORWAY

Hey All!

Sorry for those of you who bought tickets to see us next month at The Highline Ballroom in NYC.

We are rescheduling the show to coincide with the release of our new CD - so please stay tuned! The CD release is imminent.

I'm excited we're playing the Telluride Blues & Brew Festival this week!

Next we've lined up two more festivals in Norway on Oct 1st and 2nd.
More details to come on those.

Then I'm home for the holidays at last!

Songs from our new CD will be made available to our great fans in advance so stand by for info on that...you know who you are!

Love and Happiness,
Dana

*****

Aug 20, 2010: WOW! WHAT A TOUR

With 3 different drummers, 12 different airplanes and 7 different countries...we survived and made amazing new friends both on stage and off.

The last part of the tour following Norway was 3 days in Warsaw where we spent every free moment with our new Polish family (Agnes, Marcien, Peter, Mary, Chris & Ziti). They showed us such amazing and traditional Polish hospitality, which included for my poor band mates, quite a bit of buffalo grass vodka!

What warm-hearted, wonderful people the Poles are. They treated us like royalty.

The food, the laughs, the stories (and the vodka) never stopped for 3 days straight. Oh and there was show too of course. ;-) The last one on this tour was with our great Swedish drummer and friend, Kjell Gustavsson

Then we said goodbye to Kjell and the Poles and headed for our other home in Holland, for 2 shows. This is where we switched to drummer number 2, our original Dutch drummer, Nicky Hustinx.

First, we played a packed house at one of our favorite rock clubs Borderij, in Zoetermeer which is just outside of Amsterdam. What a great audience all smashed up against the stage sweating and singing with me.

I love the Dutch audience. They really get rowdy!

The next stop in Holland was the famous Huntenpop Festival an hour away where we ran into some fellow friends & musicians and rocked the crowd again.

Unfortunately, we had to bolt right after our show so we could try and get some sleep before a 7:30am departure to our last show in Sardinia, Italy.

We arrived totally sleepless but ready to see some old friends, drink some good wine, eat some damn good food and meet our Italian drummer Alessandro Atzori, for the first time! He was awesome!! We held our rock 'n roll Church of Love under the stars for another amazing audience. They pounded the stage with their fists though out the show and we all hugged, kissed, danced, sang and cried together again.

Like I say, THAT is church and it ain't got a thing to do with religion!

After this last show, I was taken to see the local potter create his beautiful ceramics. I even signed some of the fresh pieces, which he had miraculously crafted in seconds on his wheel right before my eyes!

He gave me a finished piece of some famous Sardinian Tribal King from the Middle Ages.

Then we all drank some local home made wine and it was time to leave for "home".
Which is by now just wherever I lay my head. Only I'm referring to NYC.

It's always so hard to say goodbye to our friends along the way. Some I know we will be seeing much more of for years to come. Others will just stay in my heart and memory.

All have touched me forever.

I hope to see many of you again soon.

Love,
Dana

Big PS:

Next stop Ridgefield, CT for the CHIRP Festival on 8/31.

We'll had back to Holland 9/4 for the famous Tegelen Blues Rock Festival where we'll share the stage with Los Lonely Boys.

Then on 9/5 it's back to Southern Italy for one last festival for the year.

On 9/17 we'll head to Colorado for the great Telluride Blues and Brews Music Fest.

Look for an NYC show soon and we'll keep you updated as to when we will officially release the new CD!!!

Oh and one more thing, my next film starring Method Man (Wu Tang Clan) is due out later this year! In fact, as soon as we get home, Jon and I will produce and record a tune for it as well! It's a great Bobby Bland song called "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City".

There's truly no rest for the weary AND the willing.

Thank Goodness!

*****

Aug 7, 2010: NORWEGIAN WOOD – ISN’T IT GOOD?

Yes, it is.

I've been in Norway for the Notodden Blues Festival festival since Thursday. What a scene! Music and musicians everywhere! Spontaneous jams erupting and 3am nightswimming in the Heddal Lake, nestled right in the heart of the mountains of Southern Norway!

Our first performance was for a live radio show in front of a couple thousand people. A select few artists were asked to perform a song for the broadcast kicking off this historic music festival - one of Europe's largest in Notodden Norway.

I had no idea I was chosen to kick start the broadcast and festival! Afterward, there were several interviews and pictures. I awoke the next day and I had made the front page of the paper as the New Kid In Town. I can't read Norwegian, but apparently, the review was favorable because our show the next night was sold out!

I was so nervous to play for this new audience because I was warned they had very high expectations for me! So I started the show asking them to make the agreement of heart and soul. To give and take. They sure delivered their end of the agreement!

For 90 minutes we all danced and laughed and cheered and cried together in the Church of Love! Stretching our arms out during the whole show just to feel each other. Wow.

Tonight we have another full show so now I'M the one with high expectations!

Sunday, I will join two amazing, well-known, Norwegian female singers, Rita Engedalen and Margit Bakken for a bluesy acoustic set. We had a blast rehearsing yesterday in the back of the giant Bolkesjø Hotel which reminds me of The Overlook Hotel
from The Shining! (I've attached a photo from the breakfast patio and one of Jack!)

Like I said, there's just music being played here all the time. Our hotel reception guy is even a monster piano player! The vibe here in the hotel with hundreds of musicians and festival workers is just utterly infectious and the festival grounds are alive with people who come from all over Europe for the occasion, which is in it's 25th year. Two of my friends from Germany were in the front row last night! What a wonderful surprise.

I will be sad to leave here Monday, but I am excited for my first show in Warsaw Poland at The Progresja Music Club! There's even been a tour of the city arranged for the band on our day off in Warsaw!

Ok - wish me luck for tonight and the rest of the tour!

All My Love,
Dana

*****

Jul 30, 2010: GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES

No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam.

Wow, where to start? I’ll try to be brief.

I’m on the last few weeks of my last European tour for 2010.

I just took a swim in the Mediterranean and am now lying on the beach in Sicily reflecting on this extraordinary tour.

We began in Udine, Italy (near Venice) in mid-June, and then we covered Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, USA and Canada.

We will end with shows in Norway, Poland, Netherlands and then back to Italy for our last show on the island of Sardinia!

It was during our recent trip to Canada was where we started to hit some harder times.

The audiences were great! I wish I could say the same about one of the promoters, however, I think he heard it loud and clear from the thousands of audience members in London Ontario who chanted “BULLSH*T” when our set was cut short!

Good people of London, thank you for all of your support at the show and your kind notes afterward!

I’ll be back and we’ll pick up where we left off.

This was my first time in Canada and every festival we played (Ottawa, London & Windsor) was totally inspired by the energy of the most incredibly passionate and spirited music-loving audiences!

We were sleepless, road-weary and mostly starved! ;-) But we prevailed.

The bad news is that my drummer Carter McLean came down with Bell’s palsy the day we arrived. Unfortunately, Carter contracted Lyme disease a few months back and Bell’s palsy (facial paralysis) is a common symptom. Amazingly, he still played his ass off on every single show. Such dedication really brings me to tears as I type!

We had to get Carter home though. Fortunately we had 3 days back in US before starting our month-long tour of Europe. Or so we thought...

Our last show in Canada was just outside of Detroit, so we had an easy flight home on Spirit Airlines scheduled for 4pm that Monday. Carter's doc would see him Tuesday, give him medication and we'd leave Wednesday. Sounded good and Carter seemed up for it.

However, air traffic in NYC was the usual hellish mess and flights were getting pushed back. Spirit had us board, de-plane, then wait. Board, de-plane, then wait again. Board a THIRD time, de-plane and wait again! 9 hours later they said they couldn't fly and that there were no more flights to NY for 2 days. No other airline would help us. They also announced that there would be no vouchers for cars, hotels or food. 230 people were losing it. Many of whom had been bumped the day before!

Anyway, we had no choice but to rent a car and drive 11 hours, sleeping on the road half way.

Carter did not get back in time for his doc and his situation only got worse, therefore he had to cancel the tour. Understandably!

We had less than 24 hours to pack for a month and find a drummer for a tour I felt I didn't have the heart to do without my drummer! Carter is doing much better now since he's been able to finally rest and get treatment! We miss him but are staying in touch from the road!

The hardest thing in this business is that no matter what - the show must go on.

So, I cried my tears and then got to work spending the next 24 hours finding a new drummer, sending him our music and booking 6 flights for him!

His name is Kjell Gustavsson. He is a dear friend and great musician from Sweden. Kjell is one of the first European musicians I ever played with and fortunately he was available for us after his own tour was canceled.

He's been a great companion and a blast to work with.

Unfortunately, next week he has to leave us, so we will play our Netherlands show with our original Dutch drummer Nicky Hustinx. Nicky has also been touring the world with his own band but he’s home for the 2 days we are in The Netherlands!

So there it is. The show must go on.

There have been more canceled flights and other strange hardships these last several weeks, but I have also had midnight moonlit swims in the sea, impromptu soccer games, music jams with new friends in Italy, along with tons of laughter, good wine and great food!

Most importantly we’ve had amazing audiences at every show. Thank you all!

Please keep Carter in your thoughts and prayers! We can't wait to rock with him at home again in the USA this fall!

“I know what it means to be alone, I sure do wish I was at home.
I don't care what the neighbors say, I'm gonna love you each and every day.
You can feel the beat within my heart.
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part.”

Love,
Dana

*****

Jun 30, 2010: NAKED SOUL @ THE RUBIN MUSEUM

I'm so psyched to be performing again in New York City! As you know it's rare we're home these days, and this show is a very special one.

So come join me & Jon on July 9th, where we'll be performing a completely unplugged show at the Rubin Museum of Art. NO MICROPHONES & NO AMPLIFIERS! Just Jon on acoustic guitar, me on vocals & percussion ... exactly as this music series is named: NAKED SOUL.

The venue is extremely intimate with only 137 seats, and is an all cherry-wood lined theater with amazing acoustics. Perfect for the "Church of Love" ;-)

I hope you'll all come help us take it to a whole other spiritual realm!!

Can't wait to see you after what has been a long year of touring.

And now...We're almost home! (Well at least for 9 days!!) :)

See you on July 9th.

Love,
Dana

PS. Did our show in Cologne Germany last night opening for Joe Cocker. I wept through most of his set. It was so surreal to share the stage with one of my idols in front of thousands of people!

*****

Jun 27, 2010: HELTA DELTA, JOE COCKER, ITALIAN COUTURE
& OTHER NEWS FROM THE ROAD

And so it goes...

After 13 hours at the airport last Tuesday night our flight to Italy was canceled. Got back home 3am and flew out Wednesday night. Again, our flight was several hours delayed.

THEN after having been up about 24 hours straight, when we finally landed we learned that Helta Delta had also lost our luggage.

Mind you, 3 airline agents at JFK assured us our bags were on that flight.

These steerage (ie; economy) seats cost us $1200 a person (way in advance).

At least they gave us meal vouchers. For $6 each. Unfortunately all of the restaurants in the Delta wing were closed. Oh and the entire wing gets no service for cell use at all. We were told that if we walked about 1/2 mile away outside, we could MAYBE get a signal.

Ok for us, but for the 70 year old couple from India who spoke no English, another story. Don't worry, we took care of them. Their son called me to thank me and "the airline I work for" for taking such good care of them. It almost broke my heart to tell him I was just another passenger who saw them being thrown into the JFK Jungle, but I couldn't let that lousy airline get credit!

So, the only clothes I had on me were dirty baggy sweat pants that I wore both nights to fly and a white, shirt with holes! Shame on me for being such a schlub! But who knew?

With only 5 hours before Thursday's show, I had to decide whether to sleep or shop for clothes, my least favorite thing in the world to do! So I decided that in Italy I could gamble on 4 hours of sleep leaving one hour to shop.

In 45 minutes I had 2 great looks that fit perfectly. The only other time I encountered this situation I was in Rome having to perform a benefit with Sharon Stone. In 1/2 an hour I was well appointed and them some!! Ah, now THAT IS Italian!

Well on a brighter note, being home in NYC for 2 whole weeks prior, we did a crazy, full on rock and roll photo shoot for new CD and other stuff at Duff's Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What an awesome vibe! We were jumping on tables, sliding on bars, taking up the sidewalks and all from 10am-3pm. Never knew I or my band could pull something like this off before nightfall!

The New CD is now completely done and soon to be printed. Already getting some interest too! I'm really proud of this new album. I just posted another of my fave tracks on MySpace. It's called Summersong.

Hope you enjoy it!

Ok so by now we've had a couple great shows (in brand new clothes) and a day off in Italy! I'm so glad to be here.

Tomorrow I CAN'T WAIT to play with Joe Cocker in Germany!

All My Love,
Dana

PS. Another Tour Tip: Bring an extra outfit in your carry on!

*****

Jun 2, 2010: NEW SONGS ON MYSPACE!

Hello!

My new (as yet untitled) album is done! Well, we still have to shoot the album art and print the thing...but the tracks are DONE and that's what MySpace is for!

So I just uploaded two tracks from the new album tonight.

I am so happy with this new record! I really feel like I finally captured all of the styles I am most influenced & inspired by: soul, rock, blues, gospel and roots.

It was so fun and inspiring to see my songs materialize with great musicians in a studio environment where we could really experiment with sounds, different instrumentation, tempos, etc.

There were times when I was in the vocal booth recording with the band and had tears streaming down my face.

Other times we'd listen back to our long day's work and even though it was late & we were tired, we'd end up dancing around to some of the really upbeat stuff.

This is only my second studio album and while I have a special connection with my first record, as well as the live CD we've been touring on, I feel this new one just expresses exactly who I am, and what I am about musically!

All of the songs are original except a song I covered by Otis Redding: "I've Been Loving You Too Long". I am a huge Otis fan and have fantasized about covering this song for a long time!

I guess you can say, I am really proud and excited about this album and I had a blast making it!

I'll let you know when the album release date is and be prepared to celebrate wherever we are. But for now...enjoy the first two tracks!

I've just been playing shows in Italy and, as always, I've shared the love with some incredible people. I wined and dined with the theater director of "Across The Universe" & the Italian 'Sadie' in Milano! What a trip!

Now I'm The Netherlands for some choice shows.

Prepare to hear some new tunes!!

Love,
Dana

*****

Apr 14, 2010: THE REAL (AND NOT SO PRETTY DEAL) ABOUT TOURING

It’s f**king hard. Period.

As I sit crunched in “economy class” flying home after almost 7 weeks out, sandwiched between large (and beautiful) Vikings, sleepless from a last minute press trip to Norway, 3 days after I was supposed to be home, I reflect on what I’m doing with my life.

As I type, I laugh at the insanity of it all, get teary-eyed over the incredible memories and connections, AND, thank some sort of GOD, that the hellish, physical discomfort is over!!
I’ll explain. Briefly.

Touring in Europe has a whole other side to it: Castles, cultural variations, great beer (especially in Germany), great tube meats with great mustard (Germany and Denmark run neck and neck), exotic landscapes, and the fun challenge of learning new languages and names: Finnish still the hardest—Dutch and Norwegian tie for 2nd place; Germany 3rd. Denmark 4th because it is strangely like English in a swoony, drunken-sounding, baby-like way, and Italian is a cinch! Only because I learned Spanish a few years back!

BUT…

Here’s the catch: If you’re going to tour in Europe, coming from the US (especially for 7 weeks straight) you should know a few things:

1. All flights over are essentially overnight. If you’re bedtime is before midnight you’re screwed (Unless you’re small and sleep on planes; and/or flying first class). If it’s after midnight, you’ll land around 6am, which is midnight US time, and be settled in hotel within the hour. DON’T be dumb enough to take breakfast. Just go to bed! The cornucopia of lox and salami and ham and rolls and cheese is still seducing Jon, (who remains sleepless every tour after gorging himself upon landing and missing his window of sleep). AND don’t be dumb enough to sleep more than 4 hours once you do go down, because you’ll never adjust to Euro time IN TIME for the grind that awaits!

The Grind: wake up, jump into van, get coffee and something in your stomach on the road from the gas station, get to venue, sound check, eat whatever they give you, do the show, meet and greet people (if you’re lucky enough for them to want to meet you. Fortunately we were) drive to hotel, check in, take a long shower, go to bed. Get up and do it all again the next day!

2. Be smart enough to invest the $$ to go at least a day early so you can have your 4 hour nap upon landing, get up, have coffee and a small breakfast item, immediately followed by dinner, because kitchens will close soon thereafter (and you’ll likely still be up for a while.)

Then force yourself to bed by 1am Euro time and stare at the ceiling until 6am (which is only midnight for you). This adjustment takes several days. Eventually you’ll start getting to sleep by 2-3am Euro time and sleep until 10-ish am. (So don’t ever pay the extra money for breakfast. You’ll never make it. It ends between 9:30/10am.)

3. Pack an eye mask because most hotels have sheer curtains and the sun floods in by 6am. Especially in Scandinavia! If you’re as neurotic a sleeper as I am (hey my instrument is not in a box and requires 8 hours of sleep in order to do 4-5 nights in a row of 2 ½ hour high energy shows) then pack something to black out your windows like we did.

BLACK OUT: Jon invented the ultimate blackout!! (Even though his instrument DOES go in a box. I guess he’s just neurotic in general). Jon particularly liked the extra large, black, Hefty garden/lawn bags and the super sticky German duct tape (we have great videos of Jon demonstrating how to “black out” our windows using such simple basic tools. It was black divinity!) Then, stick in some good ear plugs (the moldible wax are best) and bring a white noise machine (or download that app onto your Mac laptop or iPhone) and you’re golden! Sweet dreams!

4. MAKE SURE THE PROMOTERS READ YOUR HOTEL RIDER!!!!! If not you will end up with a large Dutch woman at the foot of your bed, screaming you out of a dead sleep (all the while noticing the garbage bags taped to your windows, as she yells “CHECK OUT NOW” at 10am over the ROAR of your white noise, as you lay comatose in a black eye mask!) You must insist that all hotels have no earlier than a noon check out!

Learn how to write “Do Not Disturb” in each language. Many hotels don’t have the signs. This way you can stick a note on your door with your sticky duct tape and anything you can find to write on. Just to be safe Jon often draws a picture of a stick man laying flat on a line with zzzzzz’s coming from his face. Works every time.

5. MAKE SURE THE PROMOTERS READ YOUR CATERING RIDER!!!! If not, you will end up for 6 hours (from sound check to show) hungry, on a cold wooden bench with stale snack mix, peeing in large glasses because there’s no private bathroom anywhere nearby. Fortunately for us, (and especially the venues) our rider was honored and then some! Thank you to you promoters who understand how simple it is to help an artist give you a GREAT show!!!

When the rider IS honored, be sure to have a spare bag for all the extra fruit, water, beer, wine, snacks, etc. (in Jon’s case Whiskey which we had lined all around the base of the Sprinter bus by the end of the tour) because there will be days off AND cheap promoters.

*NOTE TO PROMOTERS: We don’t ask for much. You want an AMAZING show??? Put us up in a decent hotel and feed us!!! It’s really that easy! I promise!!!

6. DON’T TRY DOING LAUNDRY! The wacky public machines combined with the language barrier could cost you a day to figure out! Pack enough clothing and wash essentials in your sink. Laundromats are hard to come by and hotels need 24 hour turn around and you’ll likely never be in the same city that long!

7. TEST YOUR WARDROBE GIRLS!!! Never wear an outfit for the first time on an important show!! I did this our last week in Denmark, (which was being photographed & reviewed by press) and wore a shirt I hadn’t tried yet (was my last clean one) and after 3 songs and much sweat, it loosened up so much that it literally fell to my waist, exposing a brand new bra that didn’t quite have enough “nipple” coverage. Fortunately our critic that night appreciated the fact that I just said, “Fuck it” and never stopped the show. I made a few jokes about it, got a few whistles, then we all moved on to the final moment of baptism in our “Church Of Love”. The critic did mention something about nipples and love juices, so I’ll need a Danish translator to fully understand. But I assume he meant nipples, all the kissing we did, and my sweat and spit. Sounds about right!

8. BOOK YOUR HOTELS FOR OFF DAYS IN ADVANCE!!!!! Who knew our last day in Dusseldorf there would be a “Wire and Tube” convention filling every hotel in the area???! Jon and I found out the hard way because we had to stay on tour a bit longer than the rest of the band to fly to Norway for a last minute press/TV performance, (promoting a huge festival we’re playing in August just outside of Oslo called Notodden Blues Festival—with over 40,000 people!) To make a very comical story short, last night Jon and I had to share a tiny room with 2 twin beds. We survived.

AHHHHHH. Don’t get me wrong, I really do LOVE what I do, and the AMAZING people that I do it with!! And I don’t mean just the band, (which goes without saying) but the audiences especially. I feel like I don’t play for you I play with you. Thanks to you all!!!

I am so grateful to you all for packing every single show, and giving me your heart and soul. It truly filled MY heart and soul. And I LOVED kissing you!!!!

Peter and Crew at Fermatten in Herning, DK, thanks for the amazing send off! What a wild show and night of love!!! (I had a blast teaching “The Hustle” dance to you guys! You were our first ever DK show last year, so it was really special to end our tour with you!!!

Stay tuned for some pics and videos from the tour.

Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Finland and US - I can’t wait to see you all this spring, summer and fall!!!!!

Prost,
Skol,
Servus,
Salut,
Grazie,
Tak,
Danke,
(In other words, CHEERS & THANK YOU!)

Love,
Dana

*****

Mar 30, 2010: THOSE THIEVING BASTARDS!

The night before we embarked on our journey to Denmark we got a 7:30am wake up call (well, Jon did) from Europcar that our car had been broken into! The windows were all smashed, but it seemed they took nothing! (not even Jon's whiskey...which he conveniently keeps in the car!)

But then...we got to our first gig in DK and realized that they had stolen my entire in-ear monitor system (and the awesome bag I kept it in). Fuckers. Oh well, their Karmic return won't be pretty. I got it replaced in Denmark. Onward and Upward We Go!

-Dana

*****

Mar 28, 2010: THE LUNG AND GRINDING ROAD

Hello From Tour Everyone!

I'm 4 weeks in and 2 to go! It's been a journey of ups, downs and all arounds per usual. I'm gonna lay it out as it were and preface it all by reminding you:

Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always.
The tour started rough. Jon and I got terrible bronchitis on the 1st leg through Germany. I have never experienced such pain in my lungs while singing! A week in, it got so bad they sent a doctor (I'll call him Dr. Walt) to my dressing room after soundcheck and he said I was a mess.
Doc stayed for the whole 90+ min show and then waited another hour for me to sign CD's and greet fans! (He said I should have given everyone in line his card!) The next day, he insisted on seeing the whole band!

He took our blood, fully examined us, with rubber gloves, and gave us all antibiotics. Full service for no payment! (hint: YAY US Government.)
Dr. Walt advised me to cancel my show for the next night and I took his advice. (Sorry, Erfurt!). But I needed the day off because we had a TV performance on Rockpalast in Cologne that was 2 days away with interviews, photo shoots, etc...so I knew I had to get better!
Plus, it just f**king hurt to breathe - let alone sing! I suffered through about 5 more shows (did anyone notice?) and then by the time we did our last show in Hamburg, I was on the mend.

Thank you Dr. Walter Schellert of Aschaffenburg!!
Thank you to all of the people who gave me herbal teas, onion juice (which is actually quite tasty!) Glögg wine, and a whole lotta love!
This has been dubbed the "Church of Love Tour" because every night me and the band baptize, and get baptized back, by the audience! (don't get hung up on the word.)

I made a new policy for shows vowing to give all my heart and soul if the audience promises to give it back. We start the show by making this promise to each other and wow has everyone delivered! Thank you Germany (and DK so far!)

We're finishing our first week in Denmark. I just had 2 shows just outside of Copenhagen and today spent the day right in the city. We went to the famous 'hood where in 70s the hippies disassociated themselves from Danish law (all law) and built their own shanty-town!

It is truly like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome!! Totally post-apocalyptic with big garbage cans full of fire all around, shanty-homes, shanty-bars, (some with live music), cafes, bakeries and hash stands. They made a real community in there. It's called Christiane. (Amanpour!) All a bit sketchy at night, but we went in and had a beer. I loved it. We all agreed we'd never seen anything like it and I just had to explore! Alas, it was too dark to get any pics on my bberry.

We saw the Queen's Palace (Christiansborg) earlier in the day with the guards that wear the big high fur hats, carry the giant guns, pace toward each other, then stop and click heels to each other, and pace back the other way. Back and forth. Day and night. I would lose my mind. But they look cool...and I could totally break into that palace because I timed their moves! ;P We've been so well received by the Danish audience. I was worried that it would be anticlimactic after all the shows in Germany being so packed every night. (Thank you Germany and Thank you Denmark!)
Carter has taken so many amazing photos and videos in every city and country. I'm finally going to make a Flickr page of all the tours when I get back. Despite the rough beginnings, we're having an amazing time together and with all those we've met along the way.

Time to love up my band!
Jon Diamond and Carter McClean, with me from stateside, and Walter Latupeirissa on bass guitar. Walter is my one and only Indonesian Warrior and truly one of my best friends.

Hope to have church with all of you soon!

All My Love,
-Dana

*****

Feb 28, 2010: GERMANY AND DENMARK: THE ROAD AND RILKE

"We make our way through Everything like thread passing through
fabric: giving shape to images that we ourselves do not yet know."
-Rainer Maria Rilke

And so it goes, once again I awake tomorrow to begin a 2 month touring
adventure in Germany and Denmark. I'm so excited to reconnect with
all my "old friends" as well as meeting all of you new ones!

The big news is that I just finished my new album this week(!)

Well, we recorded and mixed 15 songs and once back from tour
I'll decide what makes the cut and print that sucker!

I'm going to be trying some new material (from the record) on all of you while in Germany and Denmark.

I'm really excited for this record and to all of you who have been
inquiring and clamoring (ahem...ever so politely) please look out soon

for some tunes available online in advance of the physical printing of
the record. God I love technology!
I'll be in touch with words and images from along the way!

Love,
Dana

*****

Jan 30, 2010: PHILLY SOUL & BAPTISM BY KISS

Hey All!

I wanted to send a quick note to express my gratitude for the support we were shown in The City of Brotherly Love last night.

If you were at the show then you'll understand completely that we all just may have 'baptized' each other with hugs and kisses. Whatever it was it felt like human love.

Those of you who know me and those who are just meeting me now ;) should be reminded that I am basically a Secular Humanist with a Gospel background and some Buddhist leanings of late :) So let's not get too hung up on the baptism thing, okay?

Suffice it to say, last night you folks in Philly blew me away. I so needed that.

I'm one week away from the completion of my new studio album. I can't thank you all enough for the support, encouragement and feedback on the new tunes!

As I'm about to start my year of touring abroad I need to go out of my way to shout out my friends in NYC & Philly. Having that kind of support in my own backyard puts me forward with renewed faith. Thank you.

Hey Schenectady and Brooklyn, have I got your attention yet?

Please come see me before I go.

All My Love,
Dana

Oh and here's a new phenomenon...y'all know my hair is everywhere...mostly in my mouth and throat...but this shot (thank you Penny & Glenda) is evidence of a whole new deal and you have no one but my Yoga teacher April Martucci to thank for it!

*****

JANUARY 29th 2010: PHILLY FLAT TIRE

Dear Friends,

Just a reminder that we are playing TONIGHT (Friday, 1/29) at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA.

Last time we played there it was sold out...and we don't want you being shut out in the cold!

Hope to see you tonight in Philly!

We blew a tire on the way down!

Check out the handy Jon Diamond changing the flat!

Love,
Dana

*****

Dec 28, 2009: I’LL BE ON STAGE WITH GOV’T MULE

I am thrilled to say that I will be part of the New Year's Eve festivities with the amazing Gov't Mule at The Beacon Theater in NYC!
One of my guitar and vocal heroes, Warren Haynes, has invited me to be a featured guest in the evening’s theme!

Get ready for three 90 minute sets of Gov’t Mule musical mayhem, and as usual with these guys, you can count on some surprises! ;-)

I hope you'll come hang & sweat & scream & cheer with me and my good friends Gov't Mule to ring in the New Year!!!

NOW IN OTHER DFB NEWS:

I just finished filming my next movie with Method Man in NoLa (that's New Orleans for the uninitiated) and upon my return to NYC, we’ve just completed the basic tracks for our new CD studio album.

I have a few days off after NYE and then it's back in the studio to finish recording before we leave for a 2 month European tour in February.

BUT BEFORE ALL THAT - be sure to check out our website for info and tickets on our next US shows.

All My Love and Happy New Year!!!!

Love,
Dana

*****

Dec 10, 2009: NEW ORLEANS TO NYC AND BACK AGAIN

Hey Everyone! Happy Holidays!

My film shoot is going great. New Orleans is a magical place and I have seen so much!

Method Man is a true gentleman and great actor!! We both were "virgins" by way of "sex scenes", although this one is a quickie since I am a "working girl", so it was fun, and painless! All of our scenes have been amazing. He's super smart, fun and funny! :)

I've met so many great people in New Orleans, every one of them with incredible stories, pre and post Katrina. I shot one scene in an abandoned house and what a haunted feeling it was!

I'm back in NYC this week spending every last minute in the studio recording basic tracks for new my cd along with some of my favorite musicians and people.

We've got Whynot Jansveld on bass; Carter McLean on drums, Jon Diamond (of course) on guitar and our co-producer, Kenny Aaronson.

We're recording in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at Cowboy Technical Services with world class engineer, Tim Hatfield, who has recorded many legendary musicians!

I'm going back to New Orleans this weekend to finish shooting next week and I'm then back to the studio soon as I land! Whew!

I just wanted to let you all know that I've been *ahem* a little busy!

I miss and love you all!!

Have great, safe, and peaceful holidays.

Love,
Dana

*****

Oct 28, 2009: METHOD MAN AND ME: MUSIC AND MOVIE NEWS

Hey All!

I am psyched to be doing another film, which is shooting next month in Louisiana. This time I will be working with the very talented Method Man (and I will NOT be playing a singer.)
It's a fun, racy, juicy part and a really smart script.
I'll keep you posted on the blogs!

Our November 6th headline at the Highline Ballroom is sold out. We plan to make this a very special night. We will be performing some tracks from the new CD and the show is being filmed.

Boston, we'll see you the very next day as we headline the Middle East on Saturday, November 7th. Then I'm off to Louisiana to film, and will spending the holiday season finishing the new CD. We'll be leaking tracks out later in the year to give you taste of what's to come.

Germany we will be coming to you in March for a month-long tour! Can't wait. Denmark see you in April.

Netherlands, Italy and other parts of the US, we'll see you in the late spring.

Thanks truly for your continued love and support.

All My Love,
Dana

*****

September 27, 2009: DUTCH CARNIVALS, JON’S DRUNKEN POLICE ESCORT & OTHER SORDID TALES FROM OUR FINAL 2009 TOUR

Don’t worry, Jon isn’t really the alcoholic I’m making him out to be - but he sure gets into some strange whiskey trouble on the road!

After our first successfully packed show in The Netherlands, we met up with some NL friends back stage and celebrated. Knowing the hotel was only a block away, Jon wasn’t worried about taking the wheel to drive us back, and neither were we. Until…

…Our US Navigation system (which doesn’t know the difference between bicycle paths and roads for cars - and there are more of the former than the latter) had us driving quite a bit more than a block and before we knew it…we were getting pulled over by two young, stern looking Dutch policemen. As soon as they stepped out of the car I turned to Carter who sat in the back seat and said: “Dude, we’re screwed.”

The cops came up, demanded Jon’s license and asked: “Why are you driving in the middle of the road?” To which Jon replied: “Because my navigator sucks.”
The scarier looking officer then asked: “Have you been drinking?” Jon replied almost eagerly, “Yes, Officer, I have had a bit to drink.” Jon then went on to explain that we had just done a show at the well-known rock club nearby. The officers said Jon would have to take a Breathalyzer and went to retrieve the “tube”. At that point, I turned to Carter again, and this time I said, “We’re F**KED!”

Jon, once again too eagerly, took that damn tube and blew it like he was trying to blow the Little Pigs’ house in! You could almost hear his guts churning. Oh sh*t!

The officers told us to stay put and walked back to their car. Carter then asked Jon why the hell he had to blow so hard?! Jon’s response was that the only way to charm the police was with honesty. I thought to myself, ‘what an idiot.’ BUT then the cops walked back up to us and said that since Jon had his driver’s license for more than 5 years, they wouldn’t take him to jail. Instead, they gave us a police escort to the hotel and I gave them a CD! In fact, one of the officers just wrote me on MySpace to say he loved the CD and is now a big fan.

I guess if you consider the fact that you can order pot with your coffee in this country, this story isn’t really so strange.

Also very “trippy” was the fact that on our days off in The Netherlands, we seemed to keep stumbling into carnivals that had fun houses called “New York”. Carter actually filmed us on some crazy roller coasters, which he couldn’t stomach, but which appear to be my specialty. We made some more ridiculous videos, one including the NY Fun House, which has Jon hilariously wiping out on the “surprise” moving floor.

The tour was a blast and I really want to thank all of our German, Belgian, and Netherlands friends for traveling to pack every show we played in NL.

We just finished 4 shows in Denmark - our first time there. Every night we got a standing ovation! Thanks Danes (and our Dear Friends; Bastion, Rachel & Tom for making the trip from Holland and Germany)!!

We’re looking forward to going back to Denmark next spring.

Now it’s time to fly home to the US...although as I tell you at our shows…my new mantra is: Home is TRULY where the heart is. Which means now I have quite a few amazing homes.

We’re getting back into the studio in October to record our new CD. We start another tour in March ‘10 beginning in Germany and hitting the major German cities, which means Hamburg look out we’re finally coming to YOU!

Plus we’ll have more Europe and US dates. Stay tuned!

All my love and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Love,
Dana

*****

Sep 10, 2009: OUR LAST TOUR OF 2009 – THEN WE’RE MAKING A RECORD!

Hey Everyone!

We're on our way back for our last tour of 2009 in The Netherlands first and then we head to Denmark. We hope to see our friends (and make some new ones) before we disappear into the studio to finish the new CD. We'll be debuting a few of the new songs at some of the upcoming shows.

If we don't see you in these next few weeks, we'll see you next summer.
Thanks for all the great support. We love you all!!!

Cheers,
Dana

*****

Aug 26, 2009: SARDINIA, SCOTCH AND SWEET PEACHES

Hi All!

I played a festival last night on the Italian Island of Sardinia. Our show was a big success, but the kick off to this tour was a bit rocky indeed!

First - our flight to Rome was several hours delayed, typical for Continental Airlines to Rome!

Jon, me and Carter (my new US drummer) got to our hotel in room around noon, and having been up for almost 24 hours, it was time to crash! But, when flying overnight and facing a 6-hour jump forward in time, one must be cautious not to sleep too much after landing, or you'll be up 'til 6am (Europe time) with not much to do but read, starve and stare at the ceiling.

So I allowed myself a 4-hour nap. Woke up, had coffee, stretched, recorded a voice over for MTV, emailed it back to NY, then it was dinner time!

At this point Carter was awake but Jon was not yet. Knowing he was in for a long night (little did I know what was even coming) I tried to wake him.

Midway into dinner, Jon joined me and Carter. Having just woken up (8:30pm) he ordered a double espresso then a coffee, then antipasto immediately followed by a white wine then an octopus salad and then a whiskey! He had a short window left for meals, so I guess he was going to have them all at once in order!

The astonished waiter didn't seem to mind and was even quite accommodating, which was lovely except for the fact that he allowed Jon and Carter to open a large bottle of whiskey, which I had purchased for them in a duty free shopping spree I had on the long plane ride over where I got a massive amount of Godiva chocolate bars and a free necklace for reaching a purchase quota! Too bad the chocolate was quite old.

Anyway, by 1am I was ready for bed and said goodnight to the boys, thinking they were soon to follow my lead. Not the case. They decided it would be fun to drink the entire 1000ml bottle.

At 4:30am I woke up to the knock on my door by a very drunk and giggling Jon, who was shooting strange films in the lobby. By 6:30am, Jon was no longer giggling, but waking me up again.

If he hadn't been so funny (and eventually sick) I would have killed him!

Carter passed right out and was fine the next day. Jon stayed up videoing a group of fat singles tourists eating Italian meats for breakfast and slept only one hour before we had to fly to Sardinia for our show.

By the time we reached the island (I love saying that) it was almost time for sound check with a little extra time for a much-needed nap. However, just as I settled in, we got word that our bassist Walter had missed his flight from Germany and was not able to get to Sardinia for the show. Uh oh.

But Italians are amazing! Everyone was super understanding and the show was a success! We got raunchy and wild on stage imagining what Led Zeppelin would do.
(My knees are seriously scraped today).

After the show we signed tons of autographs and feasted on fresh seafood, antipasto salads (meats and pasta for the boys). Then went to bed for 12 hours. All of us.

Today we spent the day off in Sardinia at the sea, swimming in the clear turquoise water and eating giant grapes and the sweetest peaches!

Tomorrow we head to my favorite place in Germany - Burghausen. It was written up in the NY Times Magazine as "the stuff fairy tales are made of".

Well, life right now certainly seems like such.

Ciao and Love,
Dana

*****

Aug 9, 2009 MY ITALIAN BAPTISM AND THE REALITY OF IMPERMANENCE

Got back from Italy a few weeks ago and have spent most of my recent days down South with family after my mom suffered a heart attack. Two weeks ago, she had a massive surgery that included replacing her entire aortic valve with a pig valve. (No more pork for her!) She’s doing great now, and while it has been a scary, and emotionally volatile ride, I have come to know and appreciate both of my parents on a whole new level. In fact, it has brought my family together in an inexplicable way.
All of my brothers, sisters-in-law and precious nieces have really come together. Something I will relish for as long as life allows. (Now I truly understand why Buddhists meditate on death!)

This all went down as my mom fell ill a week after I got home from the last leg of our Italian tour, which was incredible and had I been able to stay longer in Italy, I’d be a big fat wino with a deep dark tan, because man it’s HOT, the food is great and they love their wine!!

So now for the tour update, Jon and I arrived in Italy before the rest of the band to do some radio interviews and acoustic in-store performances. We also got to hike the Italian Alps. Wow.

One of the in-store performances we did was at a famous real deal, old school record/book shop (the most famous in all of Italy) called Disci Caru, owned by our now good friend Paolo Caru.

Paolo also owns the famous Buscadero Magazine, which is the Italian version of Rolling Stone or Mojo Magazine. Paolo knows everything about music, and has interviewed many of my favorite legendary artists (his Tom Waits interview is a great story!)

Last year, before we ever met, Paolo gave us a rave review in his magazine and bought a stock of our live CD to sell at his store. We found this out way after the fact, wrote him to say thanks and that we’d like to meet him. Once he knew we were touring in Italy, he had us do an in-store performance at Disci Caru - a labyrinth of great music and books. Then he took us to one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Paolo knows as much about food and wine as he does about music, and that’s pretty damn substantial!

On a side note, Paolo and his wife just arrived NYC for vacation so tomorrow I get to take THEM out to dine in the Lower East Side and then see my dear friend and talent extraordinaire Jim Campilongo! (Google him!)

Anyway, after our exquisite meal with Paolo, the following day Jon and I took a hike in the Alps. We started by driving 4000 feet up to the base village of Alpe Devero, which was described to us by our agent as “paradise". That was understatement.
We hiked all day to tops of waterfalls, past winding rivers, roaming donkeys and blooming wildflowers that flaunted every color imaginable. By 9pm (which was as bright as if it were 6pm) we were starving and asked where we might find dinner on our way out and down the mountain. Turned out there was a place right there in the mountains that only locals (and relatively fit people — read on for further explanation) knew about.

To get to this unmarked, word-of-mouth restaurant was no small feat. We were fortunate enough to find some locals who just happened to be heading there and invited us to follow. And they meant follow, as this place required a hike at least a mile STRAIGHT UP VERTICAL dirt, rocky path! Shockingly, as we panted our way through the door drenched in sweat, (and dirt) we reached a beautiful 5-star restaurant, filled with families, small children and even some elderly folk! Wow, I thought I was in decent shape but boy did Jon and I look pathetically winded! So much so, that the owner laughed and offered us a free drink! (I still wonder if this climb is a prank for tourist and if all those children and elderly had a secret entrance.) But I really couldn’t find one.

THEN (and this is the best part!) after we wined and dined for hours (again, on some of the best food I have ever tasted) we had to hike back down that same, vertical, rocky hill, in what would have been pitch black had it not been for the almost full moon and close proximity to the stars. The owner/chef was concerned enough to ask if we had a flashlight, and fortunately our cell phones were good enough for him. ONLY in Italy!!

I haven’t been to many places in this world, but I have to guess that Italy is one of the most beautiful! Including the people. Every show was outside, and faced either exquisite bodies of water - like the Mediterranean Sea; The Adriatic Sea; a giant lake (which one of our stages was actually built in the middle of) - or the mountains. Some places even both.

I made a point to baptize myself in every body of water we were near. Mostly a moon-light skinny-dip. I got busted at midnight alone in the Adriatic by security guards. Well worth it though.
Fortunately I was only topless.

I will be returning to Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark for late August through the end of September with Jon (my guitarist, co-writer and now comedic videographer) along with our new US drummer, Carter Mclean. We will still have Walter Latupeirissa (our Indonesian Warrior) on bass.

October through December, Jon and I are home to record our new CD, which will be finished by the end of the year and released in Europe and US around February. (We’ll be leaking some tracks out way before though.)

Some of you have asked about the last recording we did: Yes, we DID already record and mix a studio CD last year, with an amazing producer (Craig Street), but I’ve decided to release it at a later date as I’ve since written another new body of material that I feel represents where I am at right now. So stay tuned!!

Really enjoyed seeing some US friends at our recent show this week.

Also psyched to get back to Europe.

REALLY looking forward to getting into the studio this fall!

All My Love,
Dana

*****

Jun 30, 2009 THE WILD ROSES OF ITALY AND TIRAMISU

It’s been quite a spring and early summer!! Been on tour since April
through Germany, The Netherlands, and Italy; then went home for 2 weeks
for some US shows, and now back in Europe.

This past weekend we had back-to-back festivals in NL, then Germany,
then NL again. MUCH zig-zagging.

2 nights ago, we played The Parkpop Festival in The Hague, Netherlands
(Den Haag) for several hundred thousand people. I still feel high. We
got incredible press. 15 minutes after we cleared the stage, Jon and I
got to watch one of our favorite bands/female vocalists/songwriters -
in the world---THE PRETENDERS - who went on right after us

What an amazing show they put on. I wept through most of it. I lost
my voice from screaming through THEIR set (as opposed to screaming
through my own!) ;-)

Jon got to meet Chrissy and Martin Chambers (their trailer was right
next to ours) while I was doing press. I am so jealous (but grateful
for the press!)

After the festival I slept with all the musicians!!! (Well, at the same
hotel but in my own room--much to the dismay of one African musician!)
at The Atlantic Hotel in The Hague. Situated right on the North Sea on a beautiful unspoiled beach.

After ParkPop I had my first day off in many weeks and took a 6 mile
run on the beach, cycled with Jon through trails of wild roses, ate
fresh mussels, watched the sunset directly over
the sea, and SLEPT!!

Just arrived Italy today for two weeks of promotion and festivals.

I am certainly tired, but totally thrilled.

My room looks out into the Italian Alps. For the next 5 days.

Just when I start to wonder if this vagabond world is for me, I smell
the wild roses of Italy and eat Tiramisu. Mmmmmmmm.

All my love AND ...

RIP Sir Michael Jackson.

Love,
Dana

*****

June 25, 2009: GONE TOO SOON

Hey All,

I know it's been a while...Jon and I are still on tour (since April). We came home to the US briefly to do a few shows...shout outs to all the great people we met in Buffalo NY and Pittsburgh PA (Let's Go Penguins!)

We're psyched to be back in The Hague, Netherlands tonight and then we're heading back to Germany and Italy. We've met so many amazing people and made so many friends on this tour. I have a lot to catch up on with all of you...suffice it to say there has been a lot going on in my life.

But I was prompted to write tonight from The Hague NL, because as I was grabbing a late pub dinner I saw people flocking the streets crying and screaming that Michael Jackson had died.

I had heard word hours ago from my friends at MTV that Michael had a heart attack but I still wanted to believe it was just a rumor.

Sadly, it was not.

I am shocked, sad and forever grateful for the artistic legacy he gave to us and left with us. He'll live forever in our memories.

My love and well wishes to you all.

More to come soon, I promise.

Love,
Dana

*****

May 5, 2009: I SET MY HOTEL ROOM ON FIRE

How’s that for Rock N Roll????

It’s true unfortunately. Our last night in Vienna, I started a real fire in my room! (No, I didn’t do it just to have good material for my blog); I did it because the “dimmer” switch on my main lamp didn’t work, and I wanted ambient lighting at 2am (not able to sleep, and listening to sad Lou Rawls songs about lost love.)

Knowing nothing about halogen lighting, I threw my jacket over the 2 meter high lamp to dim the light for a nice glow. I began to undress for the shower and just as I started to swoon to the music, I started to choke and cough. I opened my eyes to a room full of smoke. At first I didn’t know where it was coming from. Then I saw my tall lamp looking like the torch for the Olympics. It was a mass of flames on the top! Of course, the smoke alarms for the hotel then started screaming. Terrified, I grabbed my burning jacket and threw it into the tub. Soon after, the hotel manager and 2 giant, handsome fireman came up to my room. They were so very serious, as I nervously tried in my bad 10 words of German (mixed with my mortified English) to explain what had happened, and that it was all under control. They weren’t convinced until I grabbed from the tub the soaked (and still smoking) jacket. Out of nervousness, exhaustion and relief, I broke down laughing to th e point of tears. 10 minutes later, these 2 giants looming over me, also broke down laughing. Then in a very Arnold Schwarzenegger like style, the younger Austrian fireman said to me: “Be more careful”. This made me laugh even more.

Hotel says I may have to pay for the firemen’s’ “house call”. Okay that’s fair. But I told them that they really need to make sure the “dimmer” switches work on the lamps from now on!!

Anyway … Our first 2 weeks have gone great. We have had great success so far in Germany and Austria. Last night was our first show in The Netherlands, where we played for a few thousand people at the Moulin Blues Festival in Ospel. We were the last act of the night and the crowd would not let us off stage.

So far I have been given stuffed foxes (Fuchs means fox in German if you’re just tuning in) and tons of flowers. Our first show in Germany at “Otto’s Place” in Erfurt, we were welcomed with American flags, American songs, banners and my own private masseuse! (Unfortunately there was no time for a massage after a 10-hour drive, a 2-hour load in, a 2½ hour show, and a 3-hour meet and greet). But the idea was nice. By then all I really wanted was some chicken.

We then moved on to our next 3 shows in Germany and every night an amazing audience. More fun press saying that I am the fox that steals the townspeople’s hearts as opposed to their livestock! (Maybe Jon should stop the request for “chicken” in our rider.)

Then it was 2 days in Austria. Such an interesting country! You really get the feeling that this place is the birth of powerful music and brilliant shrinks. (Or maybe it’s just that these are 2 things I can’t live without). The coffee really IS amazing.

For some reason, when we arrived in Austria, Jon got possessed by an alter ego he now calls “Hans”. When Jon is Hans he shoots films of everything going on and narrates with an Austrian accent.

All I can say is that you MUST see the video of “Hans” discovering (at 3am) that the caretakers of our first hotel in Austria, had their dead cat stuffed and perched on the desk. We noticed that the cat was often moved to relax in a new spot during the 24-hour period we were there.

I love places like this! We often have the good fortune of staying in places that are off the beaten path. The other night we stayed in the outskirts of Frankfurt at a mom and pop restaurant/hotel, with a 70’s theme (different in every room) and a local wedding going on. We got in late, and as we dined on whatever the kitchen would feed us (which Jon somehow determined was “pressure cooker” chicken?), we watched drunk young girls dancing to typical disco and R&B wedding songs. (Amazing how wedding music is the same almost anywhere!)

Just got to Berlin to play the famous “Quasimodo” club on May 6. We have 3 days off and are staying right in the center of the city.

Should be interesting….

I desperately need a laundromat. Or maybe just some new bras …

Love,
Dana

*****

Apr 29, 2009: GOING PLATINUM AND ON THE ROAD

My “Across The Universe” cast mates and I were each just awarded our own beautiful Platinum Record for the soundtrack selling over a million copies!

Arrived in Germany Wednesday morning and am now en route to the first show. I am sitting in the very back of our 7 meter (that’s 21 ft) van, typing this blog while jamming out to Al Green with my headphones on, as Jon teaches our Dutch musicians the difference between a “MILF” a “Cougar” and a "Wolverine". I will spare the lesson (sparing myself in fact, hence the headphones) but let it suffice to say that it has nothing to do with animals.

Tonight kicks off the first show for our 6-week tour through Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Italy. (Not in that order).

I am back to living on what a long lost friend always called my “monkey breakfast” which is a banana with tons of coffee; lunch is any sort of thing I can find in the nice gas stations including Wurst!); and dinner is whatever the venue decides to make. (Often times quite interesting and usually pretty tasty, especially in Germany—can’t wait to see what they give us in Italy!!)

I am thrilled to be touring again with Jusso Whistler on drums, Walter Latupeirissa on bass and Bobby Van Derberg on keys. I am equally thrilled that Jusso is driving this bus, as Jon and I still can’t seem to fall asleep before 6am here and this makes waking up at 10am a bit challenging (and Jon behind the wheel a bit frightening.) Even though Jusso is a Dutchman, fortunately he drives more like a German so we are making good speed!

Also fortunately, today was an 8-hour drive so I napped for the first few.

Our 2nd day here, we met with our label in Rotterdam to pick up several boxes of merchandise to sell at shows. We spent the night in what used to be the Red Light District of Rotterdam in the only hotel available, which was clearly a “business man’s” hotel. I witnessed pimps, hookers, drug dealers and whatever else could go on in that lobby they all used as an office. All the while trying to write a spot for MTV from my laptop with a weak wireless connection (for a new show Taking The Stage - the reality tv version of “Fame”. Sweet show actually).

Finally ended up going across the street to the sold out Hilton for high-speed internet, decent food and a more wholesome environment. (Not that watching those pimps do their thing wasn’t f**king fascinating. I even started a new song based on that - and Jon’s whiskey-soaked insomniac all night business emails) entitled “Whiskey Business”. Maybe we’ll try it out here. I think it should be a rompin’ Tom Waits-esque blues. We’ll see.

I am so happy to be back here again. Tonight’s show is in Erfurt, Germany (have never been) and then it’s pretty much non-stop from there.

Will keep you posted along the way of the bumps and downs and the Wurst and wineries and castles and sleazy hotels.

And of course the amazing friends I can’t to see again in Germany and NL, and the new ones I look forward to making in Italy and Austria.

Cheers, Servus, Ciao, Prost!!!

Love,
Dana

*****

Feb 18, 2009: NEW EUROPEAN TOUR DATES FOR SPRING 2009 ADDED!

The Dana Fuchs Band will be back in Germany, The Netherlands and Austria in Spring 2009!! See our Tour Dates Page for details. Keep checking - new dates will be added!

*****

Dec 23, 2008: HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (HOME IN NYC UPDATE)

I've been home for a month now enjoying some down time. New York City is downright magical this time of year! I live right next to Central Park and it's currently a Winter Wonderland!

Lately, I've been trying out some NYC stuff I usually don't see much of and this past month I've seen some strange & interesting shows.

FIRST - was Liza Minnelli's opening of Liza's at The Palace on Broadway (where I sat not far from Shirley McClaine, Sandra Bernhardt and many other notable Liza worshipers). It was truly one of the most bizarre and amazingly inspiring things I've ever seen! (I don't know much about the cabaret world and thought I'd hate it but wow what an incredible performer AND woman). GO LIZA (with a Z)!!

THEN - last weekend I went to see The Transiberian Orchestra Christmas Rock Opera as a guest of my dear friend Alex Skolnick of Testament (who happens to be one of the best rock & jazz guitarists on the planet and is now touring with TSO). The show was at The Izod Arena at The Meadowlands and is a spectacle of EPIC proportion featuring dueling rock violinists, multiple singers, a Dr. Seussian slash James Earl Jonesian narrator talking about angels flying down from the stars in the skies over Russia, replete with snow falling on the audience and stage flames so high that they that almost burned our faces in the front rows. That doesn't even begin to cover it. I took my two brothers and sister-in-law from Florida and we all had a blast hanging afterward singing and dancing with the cast. Then our limo driver got lost (looking for another friend's car) so we had some more fun hanging in the limo on the NJ Turnpike!!

NEXT DAY - I went to my old acting school to see a play written and directed by my former teacher, Wendy Ward about the Hurricane Ike devastation in Galveston Texas. They built the piece around one of my songs "Almost Home" and used some of my other music as well. I cried through the whole show. It was hard to believe I was watching actors "in training". They were all so very good! Wendy raised a nice chunk of change for the Red Cross Hurricane Ike Relief. I was honored to be part of it.

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS - Almost Home: The Galveston Project is a Ward Studio production benefiting Red Cross relief efforts in Galveston, Texas. This one-act collage piece, based on survivors' stories from Hurricane Ike, features two original songs by Dana Fuchs of Across the Universe and The Dana Fuchs Band. Inspired by a series of photographs, the show incorporates video projection, poetry and music.

AND - last week I witnessed a time honored and wacky NYC tradition (not for me because I was a virgin!) where twenty or so well-known and highly acclaimed conductors, orchestra members and opera singers lead a sing-a-long of "Handel's Messiah" at Lincoln Center in Avery Fisher Hall. I went with some friends who've been going for years and they had some serious soprano shit happening. I was lost trying to read the alto, tenor AND soprano parts (as well as trying to determine which part was best for my voice - none of which came easily) but I loved every minute of it! So cool to see people in their 20's to 80's singing their hearts out. It was the 41st Anniversary and there were a few people in the audience that night who had been going ever since!

NEXT UP FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE - is Alvin Ailey (my favorite dancers!) at Lincoln Center. If you don't know about Alvin Ailey, look them up! The African Dance to David Byrne music is surreal and phenomenal. I've seen this a few times and can't wait to see some of the new pieces.

I've never gone to Times Square to watch the ball drop. And I never will.

Come 2009 I'm really going need to see a good solid rock show. Then I'll need to DO one!

However, it's time to get back into the studio this winter as I'm planning to have the new Dana Fuchs studio CD ready for our Spring, Summer and Fall tours through the US and Europe. (Germany and Netherlands I can't wait to see you again!!) UK, France, Italy and Austria, HERE I COME!! :)

Right now, I'm in negotiations with new management and keeping busy producing and writing smutty and silly commercials for shows on MTV, as well as, doing voice over work there too. (You can always hear me on the channel if you want a different side of my voice!) I say things like: "Is this the end for Heidi and Spencer"? and "Come get a double shot at love with Vikki and Rikki Ikki" (Yes that's really the name of 2 hot Playboy bunny twins looking for love from a man or a woman and they're not sure which sex they prefer yet...God help us all)… and then there's always..."On an all new Real World". (Which, by the way, The Real World Brooklyn is coming next month.) I'm not sure yet how I feel about those drama queens invading NYC!!

So there are some fun facts for those of you who often ask what I do when I'm not touring and what I've been up to since I've been back home in NYC :)

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Have a Great and Happy New Year!!

Love,
Dana

*****

Nov 23, 2008: I’M MOVING TO EUROPE

Just kidding (at least for now). But, I sure left a big chunk of my heart there. The tour was at times lonely, grueling and sleep deprived, but that all PALES in comparison to the beautiful, inspiring, and culturally stimulating experience with a cast of characters who will be in my heart and memory forever. (gush gush gush).

Our last few shows in Germany were sold out thanks to the press we were getting from previous shows. My favorite German press mention, translated in Google says this: "This Fox (Fuchs) did not the town's fowl keep, but their hearts". I can't decide if that's the most poetic or ridiculous thing ever said about me.

Our very last German show was in Bavaria just at the tip of where The Black Forest begins. The promoter, Freddy, an amazing, angelic, ex-hippy, music freak, went all out for me and Jon. He made a private dressing room for me on a late 1960's double-decker VW bus.

The show was PACKED with Bavarian hippies, rockers and young people. At this point, Jon and I were on our 12th duo show with very few days off, and pretty wiped out, but we had really found our sound with electric guitar, harmonica and me using my percussion (tambourine, shaker and cowbell) to pummel to death every microphone I used. (Those last few days I had to replace a few - well worth it as I found there's nothing more cathartic than getting on my knees on stage and pounding microphones to a pulp while singing.) Audiences seemed to love this too. Although one critic from a previous show said we were great but he was made a bit "nervous" by my "aggression" and "hot temper" on stage. I suppose it WAS a bit shocking for a Jazz Club.

After our last show in The Black Forest (Horb Althiem - The Rainbow) we had a few days before meeting our band in The Netherlands for a rehearsal and 4 back-to-back shows. However, Jon and I just weren't quite ready to leave Germany so we drove halfway toward The Netherlands and stopped for a day and a half in a gorgeous Bavarian city - Bad Honnef on the Rhine River.

After walking through the town stopping for great coffee and strange savory strudel pies (which we thought were chocolate and were most surprised to taste salty meat---a little early in the day for salty meat pies but they sure were amazing) we decided to climb to the top of the city. Yes, climb. This is a mountainous region. As we hiked an hour to the top of the city we ended up at a trail in the woods and saw that it led to the top of a small mountain. We decided to get to the top. Half an hour later we made it to the top only to stumble on a tiny little wooden church in the middle of nowhere on Fuchs Lane! Drenched in sweat but freezing cold, I sat there and meditated. Ah. Then I had to pee and if felt too sacrilegious to soil this little piece of heaven in the woods, so we started to make our way down in the leaf covered woods where I could lose all the coffee from earlier.

What a magnificent way to say goodbye to Germany. (The church part not the peeing)! OH and in Germany, there is NO SPEED LIMIT on The Autostrada! As someone who was often in trouble with police for speeding (and even lost my license at one point due to too many speed traps) this was marvelous!! We had a Mercedes C-class wagon that held at 95mph beautifully. (that's miles per hour NOT kilometers!) Believe it or not, this was NOT an acceptable speed limit for the fast lane. Those lead-footed Germans cruise at least at 180km per hour, which is about 110 mph. It was intimidating to say the least. They tailgate you and flash their headlights until you either speed up or move over. Toward the end, I just sped up. ;-)

Next day we were off to The Netherlands. Had a 4 hour rehearsal with our Dutch bassist Walter Latupeirissa (we played with him in Holland and Monaco over the summer--he is one of the deepest musicians I've ever played with) and our Dutch drummer, Jusso Whistler whom we were meeting for the first time. What a band! Walter is Indonesian-Dutch and was raised in a rough refugee camp where music was his only solace. Jusso is half African and half Dutch, and we now call him the professor because he truly knows everything (giving Jon a run for his "History" money) We got some great history lessons! The rehearsal was so inspiring that I had a good feeling about the shows to come...

But little did I know that every show in The Netherlands would be packed with hundreds (our last show sold out at 700) of fans we'd made from the Bospop Festival last July, (and some now dear friends who came from Germany--you know who you are!) all due to the great press we've gotten over there since summer. I did a second interview with the guys from Music Maker magazine who had bumped me the week before for Oasis. (I forgave them) ;-) They came an hour and a half to interview me and this is the Dutch equivalent to the UK's Mojo Magazine. (Thanks Harry and Henry!!)

It was pretty mind blowing to be touring in a country for the first time and playing for such big, adoring, high-energy crowds in the areas best venues! I felt completely possessed and out of control on stage at every one of these shows. My new rhythm section was a massive assault. What a great time. NOW I honestly know why I'm doing this!

Looks like we'll be going back quite a bit to both countries next year. Can't wait.

For those of you reading this who came to the shows: Thanks for letting me stomp, spit and sweat on you (and throw water all over you in Weert!). YOU ALL ROCKED OUR WORLD!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE,
Dana

*****

Nov 6, 2008: GERMANY TOUR PLUS HARSH AND HILARIOUS REALITIES

Tour is going great. Although I must admit I haven been a bit homesick the last 24 hours during this monumental time for US History. BUT, the Germans' support of Obama and the celebratory state we've felt from them here has made us feel right at home. In fact, last night during the show we all cheered Barack and his potential win, together.

We have been in the Bavarian region this past week. It is the land of castles, baked pretzels, great butter, breweries and wineries. Did I mention castles?? Holy cow. Ancient buildings, forts, castles, cathedrals and walls are as common here as Starbucks is in the US.
What we think in the US is old, makes them laugh.

Prior to arriving Bavaria, we had a few shows back to back still in the eastern part of Germany where we also made some great friends and learned from such smart inspiring people about the difference of the east, the west and Bavaria! My new friend Tom from Hamburg just sent me an email with a notice he saw from the U.S. Consulate General of Public Affairs in Hamburg about the big Obama celebration happening there and the wait to get in that attendees should expect. What an amazing indication of how invested the rest of the world is in our new President. (I am so proud to be an American right now! Something I have never felt while on tour in Europe.)

The response at shows has remained incredible. In fact, last night we played Club Bastion just outside of Stuttgart, in a room that was once a real deal torture chamber in medieval times. (We saw skulls with bullet holes and all.) Maybe this is why I felt the need to end the set with a Gospel tune (I love the Bobby Bland version) called "Turn On Your Lovelight". I insisted that everyone in the audience kiss the cheek of the person to their left and then their right. And they did it! We ended the night cheering for Obama's potential win, then many of us headed to the local brewery for dinner where we were fed some incredible food and, of course, beer! (I'm not a big beer fan, but I did taste the local beer and it was like a sweet and sour meal in and of itself). The gracious owner, chef and beer brewer, gave Jon a great lesson in the brewing process!

Monday night we played in the most amazing city I've ever seen: Burghausen … A city that has thrived since the 9th century and boasts the longest Castle in all of Europe. We went to this castle and it was dizzying! We were wined and dined by our promoter, Muk, his girlfriend Sabine and the famous and brilliantly bizarre well-known artist of the area who goes by the name "Knox". Knox is a 58 year-old mad scientist of an artist who seems to never sleep. He paints (and makes videos for YouTube on his digital camera) around the clock. He stays dressed in a white coverall suit that he wears over his clothes.(like the sperm characters from the famous Woody Allen film "Sleeper". In fact, Jon and I said this at exactly the same time and Knox even finished the sentence knowing exactly what we were talking about!) He is truly something out of a cartoon, and one of the most fascinating and lovable people I've ever met. We all met for breakfast (of fresh baked pretzels, rye bread, cheese, bratwurst, fruit, etc., to name a few things!) before leaving this magical place. Knox had all kinds of gifts of art for me and Jon. This was the highlight of our tour for sure! The Mayor was at our show and insisted on seeing us off and is already organizing our return in the spring. We did some photos for the newspaper and hit the road!

We still have 3 shows left here in Germany. Everywhere we have had great energy from the audiences and often the feedback is that "this is a rare reaction from Germans."

Well, whatever Germans are "supposed" to be like at shows, I don't know. All I can say is that our experience has been they are spirited, vocal and so much fun.

Lastly, I must close by giving you a taste of the harsh and hilarious things that being on the road in a foreign land entails. Such as:

Jon desperately trying to black out large windows to avoid the inevitable early sunlight. In fact in Berlin he was put up at the local Pastor's empty apartment (we were playing in a church as part of an artists' series) and the apartment had no curtains, so he ended up stacking several mattresses inside the 12ft high window and lining the bottom half with several quilts. (I still have no idea how he pulled this off--I'm talking Egyptian Pyramid kind of mystery!); then there's the eating lunch everyday at gas stations along the road (that are actually better than most restaurants in the US); planning escape routes from local drunks and stalkers after each show; sharing band houses with Finish musicians who never sleep; and lastly-- showing up for sound check after traveling for hours (to a venue in Dresden) where we, and the other band, arrived cold, hungry, tired and thirsty, yet every time we asked our sound man where we might rest, eat, etc., his reply never wavered from the nervous, twitchy whisper "we must wait for the master." I thought I was in a fucking Hitchcock film.

Ah, the glamor of it all.

OH, and my last name is everywhere and ALWAYS accompanied by a cartoon fox doing whatever the ad is selling (making pizza, dancing, dentistry, composing and so on).

One more week to go then off to The Netherlands for a week!

Stay tuned …

Cheers AND congrats to us all on our 44th President, Barack Obama!

Love,
Dana

*****

Oct 29, 2008: NOTES FROM THE ROAD 3 DOWN – 10 TO GO

Been a great, but tiring few days. Am still trying to get on Europe time--finally getting to sleep by 4am, and trying to be up by noon (ok first couple of days 1pm)

Today and yesterday we had off in the ancient and historically rich city of Magdeburg, so I have been forcing myself out of bed by 11am to do some sightseeing. Well worth it! From Cathedrals dating back to 900 AD, to Prussian ruins, to wonderful cafes and winding cobblestone streets.
Ah. Could use a few more days here.

Am now back at the hotel, having just washed my favorite gig jeans, sweats, and supportive, (yet sexy) gig bras in the tub! Now, time to blog about what's been going down!

The German audience is amazing AND quite demanding (in a wonderful way)!

Our shows are supposed to only be 75 minutes each, but so far they just won't let us off stage even after 90! (and this is all of our original music in a language many don't even speak! However, I do try to gesticulate the drama of the song. Hope no one is video-ing)

Our first show in the western part of Germany (the lovely city of Oldenburg--at a popular venue that was once an old house dating back to 1776) we played for 2 1/2 hours straight! Every time we did what we thought was our final encore, we'd leave the stage and the crowd would start stomping and screaming until we came back out. I was exhausted but incredibly honored!

Wiped out and starving after this first marathon of a show, we discovered that it was too late to find dinner anywhere, so we went to a gas station (all European gas stations have little restaurants too—thank goodness). Road weary, jet lagged and retarded, we went to the small window (as the main part of the station was closed) to order what we FORGOT was call "Wurst". So, Jon described it by saying "Schwantz" which is German for penis. The attendant looked at us like we were crazy; then we pointed to a VERY long wiener of meat and he laughed and said "ahhh". I put a glop of mustard on that baby and went to town!!! Yummmmmmmm.

I shared this story on stage at our next show, telling the crowd how much I LOVED eating German penis. The men cheered that one for sure! The women sheepishly laughed and applauded. A good start to our tour indeed!

Our second show in the Eastern German city of Schewerin (it is most UN-PC to say "East" Germany) was a bit of a drive. So we basically woke up and hit the road. With our GPS Navigator we can get anywhere. (She really pronounces the street names badly though.)

What a different world in the Eastern part … at least visually.

The modern architecture seems much more stark and drastic, but equally as beautiful as the "Western" part. (ahem). There is a certain forlorn, but poetically quiet vibe. Maybe that is just my association with the darker communist history.

No matter where we are, the German people are so incredibly warm and wonderful! I could almost live here … Especially if McCain is elected.

This second show in Schwerin was at the well-known, Speicher Club (the CRAZIEST room I've ever seen ie, chairs in the form of monkeys with giant hearts on springs!)

This time I was set for 90 minutes. But we still ended up doing 3 encores! After the 3rd encore (almost 2 hours later) I had to tell the audience "THAT'S' IT!" But they still clamored for more. Yet with another show and a long drive ahead, I could not give in and do 5 more encores again! So Jon told them to buy the live CD so they could hear us as long as they wanted! (Brilliant, Jon! We have sold so many cds here!) :)

Our 3rd show was in the ancient and historically rich city of Magdeburg at a club called Festung Mark, where, as I mentioned earlier, we have had 2 days off, and have had a great time exploring. You really should Google Magdeburg!

This venue was an old fort from 1860 made of red brick and stone and many winding staircases to the water closet (that's European for toilet in case you don't know!) One of the most beautiful rooms I've ever played. They lit candles all over the stage, which was stunning, but, as most of you know, I am not a slow-moving person, so unfortunately, one by one, my candle tower came down. Fortunately each one went out before crashing to the floor. whew.

Again, we did our 90 minute set and were called back on stage for several encores. I knew I had 2 days off after this one so I gave them some extra! (Plus this was the first club ever, in the world, to honor our ridiculous band rider of: 6 towels (??), FRESH vegetables and hummus dip, Jameson whiskey for Jon, etc.) Jon made this hilarious rider, which even details exactly what hummus is (and has thus far, perplexed EVERY German promoter—one in fact, who gave up and bought us a bunch of vegetable juices!) I felt horribly guilty having enough vegetables, hummus, fruit, towels and whiskey to ward off multiple invading armies, so I packed all the fruit and veggies in a Ziploc baggie. They were rancid and foul by the time I woke up. Hence, further guilt. (I was raised Catholic).

After every show we had lines to buy our CD and do autographs. There are so many people named Christian here!

Jon and I have been photographing everything and will soon have galleries on our site for this tour (and every other tour we've done).

Okay, off to dinner to the place we went last night, which has a salad so large, it could give every chain restaurant in middle-America a run for their money. "Thungafisch" is quite popular here!! -- It's canned, but somehow taste better in a setting from the 18th century with some kraut and a good Pilsner.

Heading back North tomorrow for 4 shows in a row and some radio station interviews/performances. Our German agent says: "The German Infection has begun!" (Let's hope that doesn't mean I return home with bronchitis again!)

Can't wait to see Berlin!!! And I’m jonseing for CNN!! GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
d

*****

Oct 26, 2008: NOTES FROM THE ROAD: DAY 2 IN GERMANY

Woke up this morning at 2pm. (But hey, that's 8am to my body!) Had to bolt to another town where a lovely German amp-maker was loaning Jon an expensive, custom-made, amp for our entire tour because he and his partner think I'm famous. With no coffee, no makeup, and dirty sweatpants, I signed posters, CD's and did photo opps. Then Ferdie, the German amp maker, made me a horrid cup of coffee …with love. Arrived 9:30pm to the destination of our first show in the city of Oldenburgh, (just south of Hamburg) Only thing open near our hotel was a tiny pizza joint, where a seemingly harmless, tipsy, German man decided he should translate the menu! (Pizza was pizza; and gyro was gyro. BUT, salad was "salata". Whew. Good thing he was there!)Tried a glass of wine which was just plain awful; and frankly, I'm just not enough of a drunk to drink bad wine, so I scarfed my iceberg lettuce "salata" and smiled. But then...The friendly tipsy "harmless" guy turned out to be the local dunk who wouldn't leave us alone and tried to grope me 3 times. Seriously, I had to FIRMLY grip his wandering hands, and tug free from his powerful bear hugs and slobbery cheek kisses. (At least he's coming to our gig tomorrow.) The waitress was a young Polish girl who didn't even understand any of the German menu orders (that we even pointed to) AND (this is the best part!) The young manager/food maker/bartender, asked us who we wanted for President, and was disgusted that we wanted Obama! He LOVED Bush AND loves McCain! (His name was Ali, and he is an Arab, born-again Christian, living in a small German town). All-righty then. Ok, so we rushed to this 3-table-having pizza joint, cuz it was only feet from our hotel. Jon adamantly rejected my suggestion that we drive into town for a REAL restaurant, (I knew the area we were booked to perform looked a bit hipper) BUT, he was PANICKED that he'd go without food; so I conceded and endured the torture. BUT; we ate fast and couldn't wait to get away from the retarded waitress, the McCain-loving Arab, and the groping drunk translator. Soooo ... then we decided to drive 3 miles to the area we are playing; and Lo and Behold, TOTALLY awesome, modern city, with killer looking restaurants and adorable cozy pubs! Jon is now having a double scotch at a place where the menu looks amazing; Bemoaning the bellyache he got from the chewy old shwarma. (In fact, he just darted to the car for some antacid as I type!) Need I say more??!!

Enjoy!
-Dana

*****

Aug 24, 2008: NOTES FROM THE ROAD: OUR EUROPEAN TOUR

Just back from our European adventures and finally have a moment to prepare my blog, which you can read below:

First trip was The Netherlands, where Jon and I flew in to Germany, slept a few hours, drove to Belgium and rehearsed with our Dutch musicians, whom we were meeting for the first time!

Rehearsal was on the 3rd floor of a popular little bar in the city of Eindoheven (2nd biggest city in Belgium). Upon arrival we met: Drummer Nicky - a twenty something, brilliantly spoken (he's totally into languages) handsome Dutchman; Organ Player Bobby - half Dutch/half Indonesian, short stud who has played with many legendary classic rock artists in Europe, and is amazing on the Hammond B3; Bassist Walter who was raised Dutch but is full on Indonesian - a bit startling at first to see this small, long-haired Indonesian with his 5 string bass, but man he was incredible (and had the same resume as key man Bobby) They were all great players and great people. We’re now friends for life. In fact, we just used Bobby and Walter in Monaco but that part of the story will come later.

As we launched into our first song in rehearsal, I was chilled to the bone at not only how great these guys were, but how they learned mine and Jon's songs note for note and clearly studied our NYC band on the DVD.

I stood in this hot little 3rd floor room, staring out at an old and beautiful European city, with tears streaming down my face, singing my heart out and marveling at how lucky I was to experience traveling the world and getting to bond with musicians from all different parts of it.

After rehearsal, we all sat and shared our stories, which are never dull when it comes to road-weary musicians.

The next day Jon and I were free to roam, so we took a 1/2 hour train to Amsterdam. Wow, what an incredible city. We rented bicycles from a cool bike rental/garage/bar/cafe (yes all of that) as the owner was making pigs in a blanket and baked cheese for guests to celebrate the new location of this bike rental place. Music was cranking and the scene was quite festive (we did not partake but were invited to) and while the bike rental place was supposed to close in an hour (5pm) they said Jon and I could keep the bikes til 10:30 as "they'd still be partying." Perfect! We toured all over the city exploring back alleys and paths along the many canals. We then had dinner and caught the last train back to our hotel.

Then it was on to the festivals....

The first was in Belgium for about 10,000 people. Turned out we were just before the headliner and people had already been listening to us on the internet anticipating our arrival. We did our show and the crowd went crazy! Afterward I spent hours signing and selling CD's for our new Belgian fans.

The next day was the famous Bospop Festival in Weert, Holland with thousands and thousands of people. The most amazing part of the show came just after we finished our 3rd song (Songbird). As we were gearing up to start the next tune, the crowd started singing the chorus to Songbird, completely unprompted, and long after the song had ended. After the show I did 7 hours of press (holy hell that was tiring) and every journalist said they couldn't believe that the audience had done that, and all agreed that they'd never seen such a thing at Bospop, even with a well-known national act performing a hit. Jon and I were thrilled!

These very journalists were also quite intrigued at how I was able to keep only one button of my shirt closed, revealing just enough flesh. (Actually, I meant to have 2 buttons but one broke as I launched into the first scream of Lonely For A Lifetime.)

After 7 hours of interviews, radio station performances, etc., it was time to watch the headliner: ZZ Top.

Oh man, am I now ever a ZZ Top fan. I've seen almost every legendary artist alive at this point and this show has to be in my top 3! I was in tears! I was never really a big ZZ Top fan only because I didn't know much of their music. Damn those guys have it down. They are the most stylish thing I've ever seen in the way of live music - and to hear that much incredible sound from guitar, bass and drums is just something you have to hear to believe. I'm dying to see them again!

Next morning we had to fly back to NYC to get music to our Swedish band for the tour that was to begin on July 24th. Unfortunately, I got acute bronchitis and had to cancel the first week in Sweden, BUT I made it for the bigger shows where we started in Monaco then Sweden, then back to Monaco...

Arrived Nice, France on 7/29. I sat next to Woodstock Legend Richie Havens the entire flight and got a lesson in science, metaphysics and astrology that was mind blowing. What a gentle, beautiful and totally bizarre man.

Our first night in Monaco, Jon and I were free to roam and we stumbled upon a kids' carnival where we were able to ride the Euro Splash water roller coaster. I convinced Jon into taking the ride as he thought it "looked lame." I knew better. When we climbed the highest part, he became terrified. (Jon is going to put the picture up that was taken by the park where you can see evidence of his hilarious terror.)

Our first show in Monaco was a festival with Richie Havens and Alvin Lee. The festival was called "Legends of Woodstock." (Not quite sure how I ended up there, but glad I did nonetheless!) My dressing room was larger than my home, with tons of candy, salads and strange pink couches. Ah, the perks of rock and roll.

We did our thing and they liked it so much we were asked to do the Red Cross Gala with Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones the following day; but we had a show the following night in Sweden and were flying out bright and early in the morning to get to it. Barely.

Ooooh Sweden. Still my favorite European Country (granted I haven't been to Russia yet) but I am in LOVE with Sweden AND the Swedes.

Our flight to Stockholm from Nice was delayed (of course) and the first festival was 2 hours north of Stockholm. We were slightly nervous about this, as well as the fact that we had never met the Swedish bassist and drummer we'd be hitting the stage with in a few hours.

Funny enough, it was they who picked us up from the airport (in a tiny car that only Jon could figure out how to pack -- which he did so efficiently and quickly, they applauded and hugged him). A nice first impression!

I was still coughing up chunks of my lungs at this point, and operating on very little sleep, so I tried to pass out in the car as Jon got to know our new (and soon to be) great Swedish friends and rhythm section.

We got to the festival with enough time to eat, freshen up and jump on stage with these guys we never even rehearsed with. As I suspected, they were fucking awesome! We bonded that night for life. Did 3 more incredible shows together (one being a famous club in Stockholm where young audience members were yelling for our songs). Our song "Misery" was one that a few people yelled for, but we had forgotten to tell the Swedish band to learn it. Fortunately they had both already at least listened to it and, I must say, they played it almost better than any great rhythm section we've worked with to date!

The Bassist, Ulric Johansen, was an adorable, Russell Crowe twin with a comedic timing that had me laughing to the point of pain (the bronchitis didn't help) and gave Jon a comedic run for his money! The drummer Kjell Gustafson, was a seasoned, handsome, cat-that-ate-the-canary sly looking smiley guy, who's looks and slight build completely belied his crazy powerful rock drumming.

We spent 4 days straight with these guys crammed in Kjell's tiny car, laughing, philosophizing, sleeping and sharing our lives.

The last festival we played just north of Stockholm, they threw a party by the lake for us, and most of the musicians traveled to it on a floating sauna captained by local stud Peter Therderan (a former teacher turned musician). Sauna is big in Scandinavia and great for the vocal chords, by the way.

Again, we were put up in castles, 500 year old manor houses and cottages, and fed and beveraged like royalty. In fact, after our first festival, Jon and I had to decline an invitation to another lake party, and when our driver, Jonas, overheard us saying that maybe we should have gone to the party since that's where the food was and we were starving, he insisted that we stop at his "house" along the way to our "hotel" to "whip something up." Okay, his "house" was a giant 200 year old manor house with a kitchen the size of a small restaurant; his "whipping something up" was a crazy delicious, homemade savory pie, a plate of many different gourmet cheeses, bottles of fine German wines and fresh fruit; AND our "hotel" was one of many private, stone fireplace having cottages, nestled in acres of stunning forest.

The day after our last show, we were all back in Stockholm (where Ulric and Kjell live) so Ulric had us over to his home for his special homemade pizza, which was incredible. His wife, Anna Marie, is my new Swedish best friend. We pigged out, danced, talked and sang. Their neighbors (another awesome) couple joined us. She was a teacher (so I learned some great Swedish words) and he an expat from England who had spent much time in Africa (a place I am obsessed with) and told me so many great stories.

I taught them "The Hustle" (a famous 70's dance) and then we tearfully parted ways.

It was back to Monaco for me and Jon, and for 5 more grueling shows back to back. Yikes. I still miss my Swedish band.

We got to Monaco where it was hellishly hot and crazy expensive BUT were embraced with many new friends we'd made through our NYC drummer, Mark Greenberg, whose girlfriend had dated the Prince of Monaco when she lived there for a few years.

The remaining 5 shows were all at a new venue in Monaco called Moods. We had a rocky start at soundcheck due to our rock volume, and the stress forced Jon into downing a bottle of whiskey and eating an entire large jar of mini-bar gummy worms. This not only made him, well, drunk of course, but even more agitated, and brutally terrorized by heartburn.

Boy, did I have a night on my hands ahead of me.

Fortunately, we ended up being (after the first night) the club's favorite band and getting standing ovations every show. We did these shows with our awesome Dutch boys (Bobby and Walter) along with our NYC drummer, Mark, and after every show we pigged out on French cheese & wine, and compared stories of the fascinating people we were meeting.

Each day we had free, so Jon and I ventured to a small village in France (10 minutes away from Monaco) on the Mediterranean Sea where we swam and ate. It was stunningly beautiful (again pics coming soon).

We became good friends with a local orthopedist named Johan and his stunning wife EJ (who once dated Mick Jagger). Johan and EJ are dear friends of our drummer Mark and his girl Cynthia (ex-girlfriend of Prince of Monaco) who is the Godmother of Johan and EJ's new baby Leo. (Scrumptious little chap).

We met all of Johan and EJ's friends too. One a known beauty-cream maker named Daniel De Winter (who gave me an awesome moisturizer that would probably cost $300 here -- but you still can't get these products in the US due to FDA regulations); and another cool couple from Italy who now live in Monaco (Monaco is tax haven for the wealthy by the way) named Tom and Laura. Tom is the inventor of Cling Wrap (and is also great friends with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards). Funny enough, they were having an "Across The Universe" viewing party at their home the day we were leaving. :(

Our drummer, Mark, and his girl stayed and said the house was "ridiculous." (And that everyone loved the film).

I now get passes to any Stones show. Hope I get to meet Mick. God help him if I do.

My only real complaint of Monaco was how expensive it was. After 2 nights of room service totaling $400, (no joke) Jon and I decided to venture to the nearby market, which was the land of French grocery! We walked through the aisles of cheeses, meats, seafood, wines, etc., taking pictures (and blocking aisles to do so) like big dumb Americans.

Then we got smart! We bought a bunch of food, photographed the contents and placement of all items in our mini bars, then removed the contents, and stocked them with OUR food!

Laundry was another issue. The hotel charged $9 for a pair of underwear and $40 for one shirt!

Thank God we had a terrace and tons of dreadful heat so I could hand wash in my tub.

I must admit, I never washed my jeans, which still reeked of salmon from the Swedish lake party 5 days earlier (where at one point our host, a Swedish farmer and fisherman, dumped buckets of old dead fish for bait just as we were eating. It was the most gagging, revolting smell I've ever encountered. I can only imagine now what a decomposing body must smell like and why in all the tv shows and movies someone always gags in the homicide scene.)

All in all, we made many new fans and discovered that we actually already had quite a few out there, who were just waiting for us to get to them. What a great feeling.

Mostly we made friends with whom we'll continue to play music and share stories of our different lives and cultures.

Next European trip is 2 weeks in Germany followed by another week in The Netherlands (where we've grown quite popular) and are starting to appear press mags and blogs)!

BUT FIRST THE US TOUR IN SEPTEMBER!!! Starting in Northhampton Mass, then Boston, then Philly, then NYC, then the Midwest!

PLEASE get your tix NOW!!

Go to www.danafuchs.com and check out our tourdates page.

Love to you all. It's great to be home … for a few weeks at least. ;)

As I said, we're heading back to Germany and Holland for most of the fall, so see us in the US while you can!!

Love and Peace,
Dana

*****

Mar 16, 2008: NEW NEWS – CMT MUSIC VIDEO

Thanks for the great turnout at The Blender Theater in January! Please be sure to get your tix to our show at NYC’s awesome Highline Ballroom, Saturday, April 12th, 8pm sharp! (NO OPENER) ALL DFB, ALL NIGHT! Just as you’ve been requesting! We will be selling hot-off-the-press copies of the latest CD, "Live In NYC"!!

Exciting news: My song "Almost Home" was chosen by Paramount Pictures to promote the new film "Stop Loss" starring Ryan Phillipe, which is about our troops coming home after completing their tours and being sent back. It’s based on a true story and directed by the brilliant Kimberly Pierce . I was given the awesome opportunity of screening this film early on and overseeing the cutting of some of the trailers hitting TV now. Paramount thought "Almost Home" was so perfect for the film, that they had MTV shoot a music video of me performing the tune which will start airing on CMT (yes, that’s Country Music Television--yeeehaaw!) as of March 21st.

Check out the video here:
http://www.cmt.com/videos/dana-fuchs/217098/almost-home.jhtml

The acoustic single of "Almost Home" will be available on iTunes this month so watch out for it! The new CD, which features a wide range of tunes (many you’ve never heard before) entitled, ’Broken Down’ will be released early summer. Keep you posted.

BOSTON, PHILLY, NORTHHAMPTON, NEW JERSEY, SWEDEN, AMSTERDAM, BELGIUM, GERMANY HERE I COME!!!

THANKS TO YOU ALL!

Peace,
Dana

*****

March 16th 2008
Dubious Dubai - Featuring Sharon Stone, Kenneth Cole and My Saudi Attacker!! (Not to mention some SERIOUS Arab Royalty!)

I’ve been getting so many emails from friends and family wanting to know more about my travels over the past months and 1/2. Starting with Dubai (for amFAR again), then Vegas, then Barcelona, and just last week (the night before my Blender show, I got back from Singapore! The last 3 places were for a strange corporate tour.

Of course I’m journaling everything for family, friends and fans, as it’s been an incredible, and an incredibly fascinating little journey, but since some of you have been asking, here’s the first about Dubai!

DUBIOUS DUBAI

So, if you’ve been following the journals, my last encounter with Sharon Stone and amFAR was in Rome for the crazy last minute pretend surprise performance of "Let It Be" and then my $30k performance (auction finale) of "The Rose".

Upon returning to the US, I received an email from Sharon and company asking if I might be willing to travel to Dubai (Saudi Arabia) for another amFAR dinner/auction. First class airfare, 5 star hotel and land of the BIZARRE? (And bizarrely wealthy!) This time I would be the featured entertainment at the amFAR fundraiser hosted by Sharon Stone and Kenneth Cole and taking my keyboardist, Ben Stivers to accompany me on 5 songs.

I must start with the first class travel on Arab Emirates Airlines. Firstly, I can’t imagine what one would do in coach for 14 hours, especially anyone 6 feet tall and up. Fortunately, I didn’t have to ponder those options because first class was seriously, first class!

Shortly after takeoff, I was approached by the flight attendant and given s full (5 star) dinner menu with options of 4 different appetizers (I chose the pastry crusted portabella mushrooms); 4 different entrees (I chose the seared ahi tuna in a ginger bisque with grilled lime asparagus); and 4 different deserts (I passed on all) BUT could have had anything from: molten chocolate cake, to, "goat cheese soufflé". (I drove right past the " yelling "20 Minutes! 20 minutes!" (what the ???) and go to the after party; and proceeded to play some video games

My seat/bed looked a lot like the hibernation sleep tanks in "Aliens" (that’s the sequel to "Alien") only it came with a private 20" screen that had: every movie JUST hitting theaters; every cable/network TV station; a music library that held every artist and his/her/its catalog you can imagine; and lastly, every board and video game known to the last 3 generations (I played some serious Yahtzee and Trivial Pursuit with my keyboardist, Ben Stivers---who had amazing stories of life on the road with megastar Ricky Martin).

14 hours has never gone so fast. Yes, it’s a 14-hour flight.

Upon landing in Dubai, Ben and I were told to look out for our "driver" who would be holding up a sign with our names on it. We found our white-robed, white-veiled-with-black-headband guy immediately. He told us in broken English to collect our bags, then "head to front of airport where car will await". Cool.

Not really. We collected our bags after considerable time and chaos, then proceeded to make our way over to even more chaos and about 200 hundred men carrying signs. I didn’t bother even looking at what name was on their signs because OUR guy had the white robe, white veil-with-black-headband thing going on. So, I knew that’s what we needed to look for.

After not finding our guy in the crowd, I suddenly looked through the next set of doors and saw the white robe, white veil-with-black-headband Saudi standing there! Oh the relief after 14 hours in the sky and 3 hours of airports and NO sleep! I grabbed Ben’s arm and said, "THERE he is!" At which time Ben chuckled and asked "Are you sure?" Then he pointed to the right of my would-be savior where there stood at least 30 more of them in the same garb! I laughed ‘til I cried all the way to the FREE taxi stand in the next terminal (we discovered we were entitled to a free car service for flying first class) Screw "our guy"! I had a ride!

We hopped in that free taxi praising Allah! That was until about 20 minutes later when I realized I had left my laptop outside on the pavement of the taxi stand. FUCK!

When I finally summoned the nerve to tell free taxi Muslim Man (in all BLACK garb with black headband) he starting yelling, "OH ALLAH! OH NO! NOT GOOD! SO FAR! SO MUCH TRAFFIC! OH ALLAH!"

In fact every time I moaned "Oh God" sickened at the thought of losing my laptop, he would echo "Oh Allah" right after.

I was shrinking in the back seat. Yet he wouldn’t let up. The whole way back he never once stopped moaning and groaning in a passive aggressive volume about the inconvenience of it all.

Exhausted and bumming about possibly losing my laptop, and sick of hearing his pleas to Allah, I got defensive and said: "Hey! You were the one who loaded the car!" (BIG mistake. Those Arabs like to argue.) "I loaded the car"??! He yelled, "YOU own the luggage!" he screamed. " You think it’s MY fault? "OH ALLAH!" and so on…

30 SCORCHINGLY HOT minutes later, we were back at the airport and taxi stand and there was my laptop! (Praise Allah!)

Once the relief of retrieving my laptop hit, I realized I should make up with this guy. After all it was my fault and a big hassle for him, so a tip was in store for sure. There was no ATM in sight and I only had US currency on me (dollar still very strong in Dubai) so I gave him a $20 bill as soon as I got back in and said: "Sir, I’m sorry and thank you for your patience and help."

All of a sudden I was "Oh Miss Nice Lady! Good lady!" Suddenly, everything was "Oh, very okay, Miss. Sun is shining, Miss. It’s a NICE day for drive, Miss"; and "Allah has been kind and you are good lady so God brings you good return…." and so on and so forth. Again, he wouldn’t let up. This was much more pleasant a rant though. You get what you pay for.

Now to Dubai…

I checked into my hotel room, which was a 1200 square foot suite overlooking the Arabian Sea, as well as a sea of construction; cranes, rock piles, etc.). Pretty much all of Dubai is still under construction. However in a few years Dubai-ins will be able to live anywhere in the world without every leaving their native desert! Much of the desert (and that’s a lot of desert) outside of the city is being recreated to mimic "the world". So you can own your home in Andalusia coming soon, yet have a vacation house only an hour in way in Africa. I wonder how they’ll do the colder climate countries.

I slept most of the day, as, to my body, it was the middle of the night. Later that evening after an amazing dinner with Ben at an Arabian tent palace, I couldn’t sleep (it was now afternoon to me but after midnight there) so I decided to wonder the grounds. That’s when I found trouble.

First I just went to some crazy scene in one of the many hotel’s 3 level restaurant/bars "Buddha Bar" and saw probably a thousand people draped around building-sized statues of Buddha, lying on chaise lounges, sitting in tents, surrounded by more Buddhas, hookahs, pillows and bean bags. It looked like what my Grandmother would say to be Sodom and Gomorrah. Except for the thumping techno music.

I couldn’t help but wonder what brought so many people to Dubai. So I decided to find out. I began approaching people (mostly groups of young girls from Australia) and, (sleazily using my MTV ID card as proof of my journalist credentials) I started asking questions.

Unfortunately nothing too interesting or surprising, people on holiday to party, where there’s warm weather and beaches. Other people there for business … mostly real estate.

One group of women from Merrill Lynch Australia, who were there for a girls weekend getaway, were very funny. They said initially they were going to go to Scotland, but decided to opt for some fun in the sun Disney style instead. They had already ridden camels, gone sand boarding (the desert equivalent of snowboarding - only to one girls dissatisfaction without the thrill of speed). They were all professionals and single. Funny enough, I sat checking them out for an hour before approaching them and later found out they thought I was some single girl who’d been stood up and was looking for a man! If I was single and looking for love in Dubai, I don’t think I would have been sitting in sneakers and sweats scarfing free snack mix and guzzling water from a plastic bottle with my hair in a bun, no make up on wearing eyeglasses. Hmm. I guess I can see why I stood out in this incredibly chic place!

Bored and still wide-ass awake, I decided to explore the surroundings outside my hotel. That’s where the trouble started.

After venturing pretty far from the hotel (now after 2am) I came upon a marina surrounded by construction, of course. Ugly, but peaceful. Just as I started feeling relaxed and slightly amused, out of nowhere a man jumped out and grabbed me! He had a tight grip on my arm and he kept saying, "10 minutes! 10 minutes!" With all my might I freed myself from his grip and yelled get away. Then I started to run. Well, he started to run right after me. Now he’s chasing me!

Angry and terrified, my instincts took over and I whipped my head around, hair flying big and hissed in a truly demonic voice: "Allah will bring trouble to you!!"

I have no earthly idea what made me think of that.

That man looked at me as if I were god, the devil or medusa and bolted fast!

Shocked and relieved, suddenly the humor of it all just hit me and I laughed a guttural laugh the whole walk back to my hotel. Oh the expression on his face! Ben later informed me that any western woman walking alone in the Arab world uncovered is mistaken for a prostitute. Ah ha! That explains why he went from 10 minutes to 20! He was upping the stakes thinking I turned down 10 minutes because it wasn’t worth my time. (Well if I WAS a whore, 20 minutes and a dirty construction site wouldn’t have done it either!)

Finally I fell asleep. Got up just in time to be picked up and driven to the SPECTACULAR Resort venue where the amFAR event was being held in the middle of the desert an hour away from all other civilization in Dubai proper. Thank Allah.

The resort was stunning and decorated in an Moorish fashion with muted earth colors and thousands of small golden lights and hundreds of torches. Surrounded by a sea of desert with fountains and pools everywhere.

Did a quick sound check and was told that Gloria Estefan would be the "surprise" guest and that Sharon wanted to have Gloria and I sing "Let It Be" together at the end of the night. Shannon likes the whole "pretend surprise" thing so I, too, was to pretend to be surprised when she called me up to sing with Gloria. I think I may have overacted that part in retrospect. I played it more shocked than just surprised. I could tell just by the way Sharon was looking at me in a shocked manner of her own.

The festivities began with fashion designer Kenneth Cole (who I sat next too all night and he was gracious enough to loan me his jacket every time he wasn’t on stage because it got chilly).

Kenneth’s daughter was actually in "Across The Universe". She played Emily, Lucy’s high school girlfriend in the beginning of the film. Kenneth was quite upset about the line Max delivers about "Emily growing tits". He begged Julie to take it out, but picture was locked.

His wife, Maria (Mario Cuomo’s daughter) was lovely and told me later that her brother Chris was a long time fan of my band. Nice!

Kenneth was a blast to sit with. He’s a really funny guy. He enlightened me to the fact that the burkas being worn by the Saudi Royalty at the event, were decorated with diamonds and underneath he insisted were $30,000 (minimum) couture dresses underneath, that no one would ever see, except their husbands!

Let the festivities begin! Sharon got up to do her auction thing. Tight, low cut, black sleeveless gown. Did I say tight? Low cut? Well she looked hot all right. My keyboardist was drooling.

In Rome her over the top "Basic Instinct" sex act won the crowd big time. However, in Dubai, not so much. At times you could feel the tension in the audience heavily. Especially when she’d huskily demand things, like: "Oh come on now, buy this diamond bracelet for your wife OR your mistress." OR "You know you want it and I REALLY want to give it to you". Often these remarks would be followed by awkward silence.

Although, I gotta give it to her, at one point she took that damn bracelet and went back and forth between 2 tables of Arab Royalty and sat on the men’s laps forcing them into a bid against each other and she auctioned that thing off for a huge chunk of change!

Bold woman. She’s actually pretty spectacular and really raising quite a sum for AIDS.

But, the best part was when some poor waiter in the kitchen dropped what sounded like HUNDREDS of glasses resulting in an amazing crashing smashing sound, while Sharon was in the middle of a teary-eyed speech. Without missing a beat, but clearly missing some marbles, she cheers, "Mazel Tov!" (Uh, Sharon, we’re at an Aids crisis benefit in the Arab Nations here, not a Jewish celebration.)

This was followed by another silent awkward moment. Kenneth’s wife and I buried our faces in laughter.

Finally it was time for me to sing 2 songs … all this for 2 songs. 28 hours of flying, a 1200 square foot suite, for 2 songs. (I was supposed to do 3 originals and 2 covers, but we ran out of time). Oh well.

The first was "The Rose" by Bette Midler, then the finale of "Let It Be" with Gloria Estefan AND an off key, but spirited Sharon Stone.)

The 3 of us hadn’t worked out who would sing what and when, and it started to get a little sloppy and weird. I was trying to be polite and give chunks of the tunes to the other ladies. Gloria has a beautiful voice by the way! But, she didn’t know the song so well and Sharon (who I think was a bit tipsy) was swaying and singing in deep baritone voice.

Finally a bold woman stood and up and screamed at me pointing: YOU SING! The crowd then cheered in agreement, so I took over the tune and gave it the Aretha vibe that I had worked out with Ben before I knew it would be a duet. (Or Trio-et!)

I finished the tune, the crowd stood and cheered and before I could say another word, Ben and I were literally whisked away to the airport to make a midnight flight out, which we barely made.

We took our seats on the plane, recounted the whole bizarre 52 hours; lamented that we didn’t get more time to schmooze, then played digital board games til we passed out.

Not a bad gig.

Cheers,
Dana

*****

December 1st 2007: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE IN ROME! MY AMAZING EXPERIENCE

Featuring Julie Taymor, Sharon Stone and Julius Caesar. Oh, and American Airlines! AND Saudi Arabia!

Some pretty crazy stuff…Enjoy!

DAY 1:
Arrived in Rome Wed afternoon around 1pm Roman time. Had only a few hours to get to my hotel, try to sleep (flying all night – no sleep) then doll myself up for our Roman Premiere at the big International Film Festival.

I had to seriously scramble to make the 5pm flight as I had been out late the night before at a small party following my show at Joe's Pub, then up at the crack of dawn for a full day of producing and writing promos for MTV's reality hit shows like "A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila" (the bisexual girl looking for love who can't decide if she wants a man or a woman, so 16 lesbians and 16 beefcakes move into the same house with her and vie for her affection - you'll just have to Google that one to believe it) which had to air that evening.

I made it to the airport just in time to sit on an unmoving, unventilated plane, because, thanks to what has become the frequent "maintenance issue" with American Airlines EVERY TIME I fly, we were delayed about 6 hours. With no real information, explanation or ventilation, of course.

I started to feel very sick and seriously considered getting off the plane after 4 hours and no word … and no air. I discreetly suggested to one of the flight attendants that I might just like to get off the plane and was suddenly surrounded by all 4 of them asking if I had medical or mental issues. By now the entire plane is looking at me. I wanted to say, yes, I do have mental issues and this flight is really putting them to the test.

One of the attendants said it would really delay the plane to let me off, get by bags, drive back to the gate, etc. That it would be unfair to subject the other passengers to such a delay. (!)

"What do you think is the cause of you feeling so bad?" she asked. "Was it something you ate? The flu?" (Was she serious?)

Well, maybe it was the lack of sleep, the lack of air, or the lack of patience, that caused me to start laughing and crying until I could choke out the answer, "The injustice and lack of air!"

With that, they walked away speechless and 5 minutes later the pilot announced that we should all deplane and go the "lounge" until further notice.

Hmm. Maybe I got through. (Now there's a new Bill of Rights Act for air travelers, which demands that passengers are let off the plane after a certain amount of time. Hopefully less than 6 hours!)

So, the flight that was to leave at 5pm, left around 11:30 pm getting me to Rome just in time to walk the red carpet with tangled hair, puffy red eyes and a wrinkled outfit.

Meanwhile my gorgeous cast mate TV Carpio (Prudence) who is a BRILLIANT vintage shopper showed up in a 1950's gown, pillbox hat and gloves. Smashing. I cringed when they asked us to stand together on the red carpet (in the pouring rain holding giant red umbrellas with the festival logo). The next day the film and all of us got RAVE reviews, but the newspaper had cut me out of that particular picture, leaving a lovely Prudence in a Mary Poppins like pose with the festival umbrella! Frankly, I was too relieved to be offended.

My mortification went away soon thereafter when the film finished and the Italians went CRAZY! It was our best audience yet! Here's a funny aside for those who have seen the film: The first big laugh and cheer came toward the end of the film where Prudence and I try to keep the cops from kicking Jude off the roof as he starts to sing a very mournful version of "All You Need Is Love" with the hope that Lucy is out there somewhere and will hear him. Just as Prudence and I jump in front of the officers sweetly singing "love, love, love", the audience erupted for the first time with laughter and big applause! Julie turned to me right away and said, "That's the Italians for you". They really DO believe that "love is all you need". Okay, red wine and pasta too.

After the film, we were whisked off in Mercedes limos to the after party for dinner in our honor at…get this…JULIUS CAESAR'S SUMMER HOME!! The place was buried at the bottom of a mountainous hill and we had to descend a long, ancient (obviously), stone staircase built right into the earth, which they had beautifully lit up to the very end,

As we entered we gasped at the 60+ foot ceiling largely still in tact, with all the original detail and the large arch shaped windows closed over by bricks, circling the entire interior about 40 feet above our heads -- each one displaying various giant prints of scenes from our film!!

We were told that this Caesar's Palace (not to be confused with the one in Vegas - this one's a tad older) is NEVER opened to the public and only used for very special occasions. The main room was beautifully lit with candles and lanterns.

Then we were taken with Julie to our private dining area where the most amazing food I've ever had was laid out before us. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it's currently "porcini mushroom and chestnut season" in Rome right now and one of the dishes was a savory bread pudding of both. Homemade pasta, tons of meats and cheeses and never ending amounts of fine wine. (The Italian Paparazzi LOVES for you to have a glass of wine in your hand for every picture). In the states that is strictly taboo when doing press. Again, that's the Italians for you!

After stuffing ourselves, Julie insisted we all go into the main room and dance (where's the vomitorium when you need it?)

When we walked in they were playing a great old Prince song, and we just had at it. I was teaching Julie and cast the "hustle" (it's a disco dance I once learned from a crack head. No joke.) As we twirled and bounced and laughed and sang, I suddenly notice that not a single other person in the room was moving. They were starting at us in what seemed to be disbelief. Then some John Travolta-esque (from his Saturday Night Fever days) Italian man joined in, and he and Julie started doing some strange tango like interpretive dance. Thank god we all had our cameras because I think it's my favorite moment of the whole trip. I really got a sense Julie's inspiration for her puppetry watching her dance …it’s hard to explain.

Then the night ended with me signing records (yes, actual albums they had made of our soundtrack just as collectors' items from the event) and practicing my Italian to some very patient Romans who all spoke almost better English than I.

DAY 2…(here's where Sharon comes in)

We were invited to a big Aids fundraiser (amFAR) hosted by Sharon Stone. We knew this before leaving the states. I was told "black tie" and planned to fake it with a 5-year-old Betsy Johnson dress that I've worn to every wedding I've had to attend in the past 5 years. (There's been quite a few.) It was a bit rumpled and still had some sort of chalky white stain on it (wedding cake icing maybe?) so I figured I'd have the hotel press it. Cool. Brought my only pair of black pumps and all I needed for the event was a pair of stockings … easy enough.

That is, until I got a call right then at my hotel in Rome from the amFAR producer that Sharon Stone had requested I sing a song at the event … something "uplifting" accompanied by a piano player who was booked all night.

I suddenly lost my appetite for the giant breakfast feast just brought to my hotel room. (All I asked for was an all white veggie omelet and it arrived with a large plate of fresh fruit and a tower of pastries.) Seriously, it was a 4 tiered tower filled with chocolate croissant, cheese Danish, currant scones, etc. I suppose I should thank Sharon for that part as well.

The only uplifting song that both the pianist and I decided (over the phone) that we both could wing without practicing was "Let It Be". I quickly downloaded the Aretha version to my computer (gotta love iTunes!) and began to play it over and over and over again in my room, trying to nail some of the high gospel riffs. I can't imagine what my neighbors thought as there was a community courtyard outside everyone's room so you could hear EVERYTHING going on around you. I had one neighbor who was a chain smoker and another who MUST have been on her honeymoon …ahem.

As I practiced caterwauling I started to pull my outfit out.

Suddenly a rumpled 5 year old Betsy Johnson dress, a purple Sgt. Peppers-like Jacket and black pumps with one heel that was yellow because the black had all chipped off, wasn't making me feel very confident about standing up and in front of a room full of celebrities and press singing a song I've NEVER song before.

I had 1 hour before I was being picked up and remembered, hey, I'm in Italy I can find SOMETHING! Time to go shopping. After all, I did still need the pantyhose.

THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GETS CRAZY….

At 5:30 I walked out of my hotel -- which was at the top of the famous Spanish Steps, by the way. Went down the steps, fighting off all the free (yeah right) flower offers, etc., turned a corner that looked promising for shopping, walked into the very first store I saw with black clothing in the window I gotta say, I HATE shopping and I NEVER do it unless I'm desperate and I knew this was a long shot. However, the moment I walked in, this beautiful young Italian girl said, "you look a very nervous for to finding a something" (No that's not a typo, it's verbatim.) I explained to her that I had a black tie function and also had to perform.

She looked me up and down and said: "Hmmm. Aha. Come this way." She opened the curtain to a dressing room and said: "Please stay here and a give to me your trust and patience and I won't be a moment." Fuck, this is weird. But I've got less than an hour to find something AND get ready. This is my only shot.

She returned in LESS than 10 minutes and that is NOT an exaggeration, with the ENTIRE ensemble. Never even asked me my size. I put on the dress, (holy shit); then the jacking (fucking hell!) then the shoes (What the????). Everything was a perfect fit. She then held out 2 options for bags and I grabbed the one that I could cram a few extra pieces of makeup.

Quickly stripped down, handed everything to her and said: "I'll take it all".

She was so confident and said: "Of course you will.”

My car arrived and I was totally ready!

Got the event and was complimented all night by my outfit.

Now the fun begins….

There was first a red carpet where we spotted George Clooney. I was put on the carpet again with TV (Prudence) and this time felt I could hold my own and would NOT be cut out of the pictures!

Then we entered a back alley courtyard garden where drinks and hors d' oeuvres were served. Mingled a bit there, but I'll admit, I was starting to get nervous, so I had to pass up the salmon mousse, bruscetta and tuna stuffed olives.

After an hour or so we were led down another long spiraling staircase (indoors this time) to a dining room/ballroom the likes of which I've never seen and can barely describe. Crystal everywhere, on the tables, hanging from the ceilings and so on.

I was at table 28 with TV and some very rich Italian benefactors as well as 2 very plastic-surgeried women. One had lips the size of the balloons hanging from the ceiling and funny enough they were even painted the same silver color as the balloons! (I wonder if she planned it).

It turns out the evening was an auction, which Sharon conducted. Incredibly, I must add. The woman's sharp. Man can she raise money. Her low cut dress didn't hurt either.

Mid way through, she stopped and said: "Okay, I think I saw Dana Fuchs in the house and I'm wondering if she'd be willing to give us the gift of a song tonight". (GULP! Here we go…)

Suddenly a spot light was on me and the crowd was staring. All I could think of is "should I go for that big high Aretha note??"

I got on stage, Sharon introduced me as an "up and coming singer starring in the new Julie Taymor film" and we pretended this was all impromptu as we tried to figure out a song. I suggested "Let It Be" and she said "Oh my favorite!"

She then hugged me and whispered "thank you" in my ear, then told me to "plant my feet on the ground and thank God for my talent".

Then I gave the pianist my key and we hit it. I barely remember anything I sung, but I did go for the Aretha note at the end and the Italians were screaming and cheering when I came to.

I thanked them all (and Sharon) for the honor and privilege to be part of such an important mission and told the audience that while "I was not rich enough to partake in the auction, I was happy to donate my time and performance."

Sharon then RACED to the stage and with her actress-like passion said: "Wait a minute people! Dana just said she's not rich enough, but how many of you think she is VERY rich?! Rich indeed with her gift of voice!" I thought, what is she doing?! Then she launched right back into auction mode and starting taking bids for me to do another song!

The bid started at $500 and made it up to $15,000! (Do I even need to say what kind of pressure I felt?)

In fact, Julie jumped up to bid $10,000 and I was terrified she was going to have to pay it until some older gentleman bid the final $15k.

Sharon turned to me and asked what I might sing for these people. (Again—FUCK!)

Well, earlier on the phone the pianist had mentioned "The Rose". Funnily enough, that's the very first song I learned to play on piano and sing as a little girl. My sister and I would always harmonize together. I knew that I could remember every single lyric!

I said to Sharon and the crowd that "The Rose" might be lyrically appropriate for the occasion. Again, the crowd went wild. (I think the Italians just love to cheer!)

I sang the first line and by the reaction of the crowd, it was abundantly clear that this was the right song.

I finished to a standing ovation and hugged Sharon Stone telling her she was a Goddess. She really is.

Then I went back to my table and PIGGED OUT!!! (Now I've been asked to do the same thing in Dubai, Saudi Arabia on December 10th. Only this time my bandmate & killer keyboardist, Ben Stivers will accompany me.)

The next (and last day) Julie and her husband took us to a village in Tivoli just outside of Rome. We had a very typical 3 hour lunch of pasta, pizza, cheese, fish, pork, prosciutto, salami, wine, biscotti, etc., until we begged the 'mama" of the place to PLEASE stop feeding us! Nothing was less than crazy amazing. Not to mention the restaurant sat at the bottom of a hill and was built into an ancient temple. We sat under olive trees and ancient ruins outside.

We spent the rest of the day on a walking tour through Villa Adriana. One of the most spectacular places of all the Roman ruins …also in Tivoli. Julie shot most of her film "Titus" there and was excited to show us the crazy bat infested tunnels, the infamous Roman baths, the banquet rooms and, of course, the vomitoriums!

We walked around until sunset taking pictures of each other and being silly. Taking in the sights and having philosophical discussions … a truly magical day.

My Rome experience was capped off that very evening with a dinner party we all attended at the home of a well-known Italian production designer and friend of Julie’s. Chonchita worked on Titus, as well as almost every Scorsese and Fellini film!

She had a small gathering in her home with such a wonderful group of warm, sincere and thoughtful people.

The best though, was the homemade chestnut gelato.

Now THAT's Italian!!

Ciao,
Dana

*****

October 8th 2007: Movie/Music News

Hey Friends and Fans.

You can now get The Dana Fuchs Band songs on itunes! Check out the new CD 'Dana Fuchs Live in NYC'!! Also, our debut CD, 'Lonely For A Lifetime' is up there as well, so please show the world we have some fans and buy our songs on itunes! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW THEM!!

The Live CD will also be available for purchase as a hard copy for you die hards who don't download. It's been a wild ride, this whole film promotion, and I've been so very touched by the emails some of you have sent regarding the film and am truly appreciative of your sharing with me the awesome reception it's getting in the theaters. I have been sharing these emails with Julie and cast, so thank you from ALL of us!!

It's certainly been a whirlwind of globe trotting promotion!

As you know, we kicked off the premiere at The Toronto Film Festival where it received a standing ovation in a house of 2,000 people. Twice!!

Then we came back to NYC for our home premiere. (Thanks to all you friends who came out!!) Had our NYC after party and hung out with Manson 'til 3am, then got picked up to sing on Good Morning America at 5:30am!! (Now THAT was interesting!)

Then we set off to LA where for the Hollywood premiere and a crazy fun VIP after party at The Viper Room where we all sang songs from the film til the wee hours of the morning with a back up of British session musicians who know EVERY Beatles song recorded!

We also had our SAG Awards Screening out there and the 6 of us did an ensemble Q&A for the SAG audience - moderated by Julie herself! What a blast. (I got a bit overly graphic telling the story of shooting the Helter Skelter scene with the song sped up and me puking in between … but it was an audience of aspiring actors, so they understood!)

We ended our stint in LA with an "in theater" appearance before the first public showing there. That was weird … but fun.

JUST got back from the UK (where I got to hang with Bono and The Edge!!) They're soooo awesome. They're also short.

A lot of walking red carpet press lines and being asked bizarre questions like: "What do you think of Brittany Spears attempted come back?" My cast mate Jim Sturgess gave the best answer to that (you must read with British accent for full affect): "I wasn't really aware that she had gone away"

The Soundtrack for 'Across The Universe' is also on iTunes and doing well so be sure to check it out. There are 2 available. One is a double CD with every tune from the film. You can even hear my version of "Come Together" which was really only recorded as a guide vocal for Joe Cocker at T-Bone Burnett's request. (What an honor!!!)

More news to come …

Thanks for checking in!!

Peace & Love to All Across The Universe!!

Dana

“AND IN THE END.. (our last day)

2006-02-02T22:56:00.000-05:00

“AND IN THE END" (our last day)

... the love you take, is equal to the love you make" (from the Beatles' song "The End").

We said it felt more like the end of an era than just a film. After 8 months of experiencing together the biggest thing that's ever happened to any of us, that's almost how it felt.

The last 2 days were a completion of the first 2 days (which were shot up state in the woods if you recall). Only now there was no way we were going to fake "summer" in upstate New York, running around in skirts, tanks, shirtless, etc., pretending that the bare trees were ripe and lush or that the water wasn't ice. So everything was done on what they call "blue screen" which, again is really all green walls, floors & ceilings on the set around us, so they can later computer generate the scenery. (Hmm. Now that you know this, let's see if you'll be able to tell once you see the movie which shots were really done outside and which were not!)

First was the "tank" scene. After wandering through the woods where Dr. Robert (Bono) has dumped us on his way back to California, we stumble into Mr. Kite's (Eddie Izzard) circus, where we find Prudence (who's been missing) playing "Henry The Horse"!

Now we are all together again for the last time before the film takes its dark turn.

The "tank" is the lake we come across and decide to take a rest at as the LSD begins to wear off. We all end up in the water.

This was supposed to be the big nude scene, but in PG-13 movies you can't show any nipple, but crack, nothing! So only a few of us had to bear it all because Julie decided that our colorful clothes floating around would look much more interesting than a bunch of organless barbie dolls. However, Max, (who's about to go to Vietnam and is starting to lose it) rips all of his clothes off so we have him floating about all naked and crazy looking; then Jude and Lucy get naked for some underwater love play. (They are able to beautifully hide their private parts by wrapping around each other. It's an UNBELIEVABLY exquisite shot where they do a John and Yoko like wrap and kiss underwater for a very long time).

The rest of us had to twirl around under the water singing, and let me tell you, having spent my entire childhood pretending to be a mermaid in any body of water I could get into, I thought this would be a piece of cake! Oh no. I had to twirl about in my clothes, dance around JoJo AND sing the song "Because" all under water WITHOUT making any bubbles AND while staying exactly in the middle of the water's depth!! Oh and again the whole 48 frames (song sped up) thing. (Which at least made it easier to stay under water for the whole verse because it wasn't as long!)

Turns out I'm incredibly buoyant (maybe it's the boobs) and JoJo sinks like a giant boulder! We tried to balance each other out because it was imperative that we stay in the middle of the water, not too close to the surface or to the bottom, so we remain in the right camera frame for the whole blue screen thing.

Once we'd go under water and hear "action" then the beginning of the song, I'd start my singing & twirling only to go bobbing straight to the top. After a number of takes trying to stay down long enough to sing with no bubbles, and while trying to twirl and look sexy, floaty and peaceful, they finally thought to put an ankle weight ...around my thigh). After that, I was Sadie the f**ing Mermaid!! I flipped and twirled and wrapped around JoJo, singing and seducing. It was a BLAST! My ears were filled with water; my nose, (having drunk almost as much water as my mouth forced me to gulp down -- yuck), was burning like mad; AND, in the last take, (once I figured out how to REALLY make the ankle weights work for me even more) I did this diving down flip thing, and my pants completely split open. Bearing all! The wardrobe department said I'd start a trend of velvet chaps. Another tortuously wonderful scene indeed!

The last scene left to shoot (except for Jude who finishes the beginning of the film in Liverpool this month) was us at the circus tripping on Mr. Kite, the Blue Meanies, the Hendersons, and each other.

Most of all, I think we were all just tripping on the whole crazy, amazing, bizarre, exciting, confusing, challenging, dream-making, trip of it all.

We were all reduced to tears as we were officially "wrapped" one at a time.

I wonder if I will ever again work with such beautiful, and uniquely talent people.

Thank you, Julie Taymor.

Thanks all of YOU for letting me share with you the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of.

Hope to have many of you at the premiere next Thanksgiving!!

“HELTER SKELTER” (with stomach flu & stunt double!)

2006-02-02T22:53:00.000-05:00

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide, where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride, til I get to the bottom and I vomit again......yeah yeah yeah.... Helter Skelter, Helter Skelter..... And that was pretty much how it went!

After being in bed puking for 2 days straight, it was time to shoot my most physically demanding scene in the whole film. So much so, that they even hired a stunt double because they were concerned about the state of my neck after hours and hours of what our choreographer, Daniel Ezralow, referred to as "tribal head thrashing". In light of this and the fact that the next few days, I'd be singing another song with the whole cast at double speed in a tank of water, they hired a professional dancer with hair like mine.

I got to set, my pride took over (not a healthy pride one has when running a 101 fever and fresh off the cool tiles of a bathroom floor only hours after pulling my head out of the toilet) but this pride of mine took over and I demanded they send the stunt double home. I'd do my own tribal neck thrashing and body gyrating, thank you.

So, nauseas and wobbly, with racoon-like eyes (Julie insists Sadie is NOT into lipstick, but LOVES her eyeliner) and a dress that looked more like a spider web I'd stumbled upon (In the coolest way. The dress ROCKED and Julie's assured me she'll see to it that I keep it for press interviews) I climbed the ladder to this very high makeshift stage where one giant spot light burned behind me.

I was so blinded by the light, I had to feel around with my feet to determine how much falling room I had in front of, and behind me. There wasn't much. The knowledge of this made me that much more wobbly. And Nauseas.

Sensing my shakiness, our A.D. (Geoff Hansen) asked if I needed them to add an additional platform in front of the stage. Pride did not prevail this time (in retrospect, I thank god for this) and I said yes, PLEASE.

So, they put another stage in front of me and now I had 4 feet of frontward falling room as opposed to about 6 inches. What were they thinking???? Not only did I have to jump and thrash around to perform the song, but I also had to do it at 48 frames. This means, the song was sped up by 4 times it's normal speed and I had to thrash, gyrate, dance AND lipsync at this pace.

It was only after a few normal takes that they broke this news of the 48 frames business to me, and seeing as how I was already about to puke on everyone's head, my neck felt like I had just had a major car accident, and my knees were already bleeding, (because I decided Sadie should go down at the end of the song and fall back--Which of course, again, meant a repeat of this stunt over and over, because Julie realized after I did it, that at this point of the film EVERY cast member will be seen falling: Max in the fields of Vietnam; Lucy in the middle of the Columbia University riots; Jude, after trying to rescue Lucy from the cops at the riots: and Prudence falling into peace and harmony (and a lake) with the Hare Krishna she's run away with) I figured, hey, let's have a go at this 48 frames thing and see what else there is left to gush out of me.

First they had to see if I could lip sync to something this fast. They called me to the monitors (where crowds of people stand around viewing everything you're doing) and on command I had to sit there (in front of everyone) and lip sync to what sounded like an Alvin and The Chipmunks demonic Christmas song. It took a second for them to convince me that this was not just for the sake of great out takes and their amusement. So, like a freak and much to everyone's surprise (but not my own, I was ALWAYS challenging the kids in school to speedy tongue twisters, obsessively so, in fact), I sang right along with the chipmunks and everyone laughed their asses off and applauded. Then I was asked to go on stage and do it again, only this time adding the sped up gyrating and thrashing about.

See, the whole idea behind this sped up thing is that once they get it at 48 frames, they then slow it down to normal speed and the result is pretty amazing. Especially for the whole hair movement thing. It both captures and creates movement with the hair and body that would otherwise not be possible.

After the first sped up take, I was soooooo much more dizzy and nauseas. However, my neck actually stopped hurting because I think my head just completely fell off of it. No such luck.

Everyone was laughing and clapping when I "came to" from the intentional fall (which turned out to be a welcome rest every time I did it--bloody knees and all) and Julie wisely asked me to come see how cool it all looked before telling me she needed it a few more times at various profiles.

I must admit that after seeing it, the torture was well worth it, and my devilish pride and all the attention pumped me up for another 5 or 6 takes. I truly lost count at this point. In fact, the only thing I remember cogniting on was someone asking if I needed anything and I said: "I could really use some ginger ale and saltines." Next thing I knew about 10 people were on walkie talkies demanding: "We need to get Sadie some ginger ale and saltines, pronto!" followed by, "Copy that". followed by: "Can someone please see who's on the saltines for Sadie?" followed by: "Not sure if we have saltines, will Ritz do?" followed by: "Uh, can we find Saltines?” "Copy that". This went on a bit longer and I finally intervened to say that any salty cracker would do. Next thing I knew, there was a big plate of crackers and a few cans of ginger ale. (God, I'll miss this part when the film is over!)

I quickly scarfed some crackers, gulped some ginger ale, and like a bloody warrior, said "Let's do it!"

I then climbed back up the ladder, felt the burning light behind me and proceeded to thrash about for another few takes. After the final fall, I stayed down, letting them all laugh and applaud some more, while smiling to myself and thinking "I'm so fucking sick, and this is SO FUCKING AWESOME".

“BONO DOES THE WALRUS”

2006-02-02T22:50:00.000-05:00

... No, this is not a twisted porn flick, nor is it a silly dance.

The last few days have been a haze. Really. (Lots of smoking.) But also, 15-18 hour days. Including Sunday.

We had Bono again, and AGAIN I had make-up with him! Both at 8am AND for our after lunch "touchups". Crazy.

I played it much cooler this time and only stuttered once or twice before I could just thank him for the tickets he gave us all in October as well as the Beatles medley he sung from the stage after hearing us yell to him “hey Dr. Robert!!” Then I went on to tell him how hard I tried to get to the stage to help him remember the lyrics to a very old U2 song, (which was ONLY from a live import and not a song they ever recorded in the studio) called "Party Girl". Some fan yelled it out when Bono told the crowd to pick an old one. He was caught off guard, but being a man of his word, he went for it, admitting that he couldn't remember the lyrics. Well, you betcha I knew EVERY last one of them and I'd be damned if I wasn't going to sing that song! So, after trampling a number of small teenagers (hmmm, reminds me of a particular whale watching trip I once took) to get up front, I stopped myself and decided that I'd feel really uncool (and more importantly I'd LOOK reeeeeally uncool) charging my way any further. Hey, I had a movie with him and all, right? So, I settled for SCREAMING EVERY LYRIC OUT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS from a bit further back in the crowd and to the obvious dismay (and pain) of fellow concert go-ers.

Sometimes being so tall at concerts is a blessing AND a curse.

Well, when I relayed the story to Bono he said: "Ah, Sadie Darlin', had I seen you out there I woulda pulled ya on stage to sing it".

FUCK.

Never again will I let shameful looks from strangers who make me feel like a complete and utter pathetic loser, deter me from a childhood dream.

FUUUUCK!

Okay. Moving on. We then had a great conversation about the Dylan documentary and shared what inspired each of us. Once I just started rapping to him about music, I started to feel in better command of my tongue and jaw, and began to sound less like a deaf mute trying to speak, and more like a confident young woman who might know a little bit about music.

It was time to go to set. What a set. I feel like I keep saying this, but Julie just keeps surprising us!

Set for the last couple of days was a loft apartment on 1st and 1st, which we had to enter by way of some rusted out old auto parts store.

Upon passing through the garage, there is a large courtyard which offers 3 separate floor-to-ceiling glass doors (which all lead into the same gargantuan home) surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

Inside was another galaxy entirely. Not another world, not another planet, but another galaxy. I guess "Across the Universe" IS truly an appropriate title for this film.

Our incredibly unique, brilliant, and monstrously creative director and art department, (led by designer, Mark Friedberg ) had turned this place into a Mod 60's Party Palace! There was the “bubble room": a large red room with nothing but GIANT balloons--each the size of a truck---where gorgeous people wearing dresses and/or beehive hairdos that light up, rolled over, under, around and then some; there was the dining room: a long multicolored room---maybe 100 feet----with a long wooden dining table that had to be at least 70 feet, covered with colorful, but unappetizing, appetizers (too weird to describe. Really.) and BIZARRE blown-glass art. Turns out the owner is a famous and wealthy glass blower. All righty then. Then there was the "main room" where Dr. Robert (Bono) performs his speech and promotes his book, before launching into the first half of "I Am The Walrus" (remember, we did the second half on the magic bus) as all the party go-ers, merry pranksters, I and my cast mates danced, smoked, tripped, tripped, tripped. Tripped. In fact, a few of my mates actually took the opportunity to trip on mushrooms. Brave. I didn't need anything. I had Bono and the engaging company of Bill, the sleazy record label guy who brings us to this party, which is being hosted by Dr. Robert's publisher, Luna Park.

Bill is played by the wonderful actor (he was Robert Crumb in "American Splendor"--great film!) and a funny funny man, James Urbaniak James does the best Tom Cruise impersonation there could ever be. His interpretive dance to any song I throw at him rocks too! There was a lot of standing around to get the right shots of Bono, us getting high, Bill and I making JoJo jealous, and worried looking GOGO girls hanging upside down from gravity boots or swinging in giant white bubble seats that hung from the ceiling beams. It was a pleasure to stand next to James for 12 hours (with one break only) and get some good laughs, good film recommendations AND good acting tips!

Luna Park was played by a 50 something asian actress who wore huge false eyelashes, a light-up dress, and an eternal, ever so creepy, giant smile, as she kept accidentally calling us all by our real names. (Fortunately the boom mic wasn't always close enough to hear our "background party chatter" and her gaffs.) By the way, one of the things I learned from James (Bill) is that when you have to fake background conversation (which means it will only be seen and not heard) and you have to do it for many hours, you simply say "peas and carrots" a number of times, occasionally throwing in a "rhubarb". This makes the mouth move in all the right ways for believable dialogue.

It really does. Try it at home!

I also learned from James (after Julie told me to "lose the huffing") that there is a thing known as "The Hollywood Huff" which is basically a "huff" to show frustration or surrender or whatever. Anyway, it's an economical way of showing an emotion that should otherwise be expressed in a more creative way. Apparently many young and amateur actors rely on this. (So do many of our older not-so-good actors out there). Think about it. You KNOW you've seen the Huff! Now I know to never do the huff again. Very cool. Thanks, James!

The rest of the rooms were filled with super models, REAL 1960s rejects, and more strange blown glass.

I spent the day standing or sitting for various scenes in various rooms at various times of the party. My favorite was when I was perched up about 8 feet to sit in the middle of a giant white wall, dangling my feet and pretending to look troubled as Bill continues to try to sell me on signing with his label and gets a bit too pushy while JoJo watches from afar. (Actually this is when the huff went down. But fortunately you'll never see it.)

By the time we got to the part where Bono gives us his speech and sings, (after shooting his mere entrance to the party for 5 straight hours) he was tired and again could not remember his lines. After the first few flubs he yelled: "Hey, I'm really going to need my line shouter today". We didn't really know there was such a thing. But I guess Bono did.

Julie gave the lines to that same PA. Poor guy also had to hold up giant 6 foot cue cards with lyrics to the song.

What could we say? This was the man who persuaded our president to relieve a 3rd world nation's debt, was 2 days away from completing his millionth grueling, nonstop world tour, unrelentingly still fighting the AIDS epidemic in Africa and now currently in the midst of press junkets for the new U2 album and tour, as well as meetings with world leaders about human rights matters, and here he was shooting a film on his only days off! (Whew. I'm exhausted.)

Tired, cranky and clearly on a tight schedule, he managed to completely blow us all away again. And he wasn't even really singing this time!

Once the scene was nailed. He said his good-byes, told us he'd see us at the "wrap party" and took off.

We stuck around for a while to finish the "trip".

“I WANT YOU”

2006-02-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

... And some hot pastrami with mustard and a bowl of matzoh ball soup wouldn't suck too bad either. And it Didn't!!

(Hope the subject line of this E-mail doesn't land me in the spam folder with those ads offering giant hard penises to all who are lacking.)

If you haven't been to Katz's Deli, you ain't a New Yorker! And if you AIN'T a New Yorker, (well, you should consider becoming one) then you're excused.

Katz's Deli was started in 1888 by a Russian immigrant family in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a place that, at the time, was quickly becoming home to many millions of newly emigrated families. The success was (and still is) attributed to Katz's recreation of "Old World" flavors using the real deal traditional methods (smoking, pickling, etc.) which predated refrigeration.

During WW2, the owner of Katz's had 3 sons in the armed forces serving overseas and the family tradition of sending food over began and sealed the slogan "Send A Salami to your boy in the Army." The original poster is still there.

There is also the never-ending wall of fame where the owner has a picture of himself with infamous politicians/crooks, celebrities and foreign dignitaries. Now I will be on that wall. I don't know what category I'd fall under unless they create one for binge eating actresses (and we know there's more out there!!)

You see, I got busted eating the props and when the owner saw me, he groaned and a look of panic seem to wash over his face. I was certain it was sheer annoyance at having to dole out more free pastrami and matzoh ball soup for the shoot, but he was really just incredibly concerned that my first taste of his pastrami (and actually pastrami in general) was not fresh! Well, since lunch was pushed back to 7pm and I'd only had egg whites at 9:30 and it was now 3, I was ready to let him lavish me in cured meets. I can't believe I was EVER a vegetarian. Then again, hours later when that dearly departed cow, possessed like the devil my gastrointestinal make-up, I was wishing I still was.

Anyway, I suppose my enthusiasm for his deli delights won his heart, and when I asked if the picture we'd all just taken with him could go on the wall of fame, he said, "Of course!" Hope he remembers.

By the way, the famous Meg Ryan fake orgasm scene from "When Harry Met Sally" was shot here as well as the Katz's scene in "Donnie Brasco" with Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. We are the 3rd film to shoot and keep it "Katz's." Very cool. Each film portrays a different decade as well.

This was, I think, my favorite scene yet. It was the six of us having a late night snack after Sadie's gig (first one with JoJo) at the Cafe Wha?

In this scene, Lucy (Evan) has just handed her brother Max (Joe, aka the blond-blue-eyed-brit who can do anything, and with an American accent to boot) a draft letter she brought from home (Massachusetts).

Knowing Max is desperate to dodge the Vietnam draft, we start coming up with all kinds of crazy ideas as to how he might do so.

The great thing was that Julie just let us riff on this. As we've all seen each other just about every day since June and it’s now October, it wasn't hard to keep the banter and the silliness rolling.

This short little scene took about 8 hours to shoot. (That's nothing, believe me!) This was the first of many scenes relating to Max’s draft. Most of which will be done to the "I Want You". However there is one part in Sadie's loft where I'm seducing JoJo (singing the line "I Want You") for our first night together and our dear Prudence is sitting out on the fire escape singing the line to herself about Sadie! (to be shot and journaled soon). The bulk of the tune is sung by sergeants with giant square-jawed faces (made of latex), young soldiers and new recruits, all surrounding Max as he goes through the induction. Whew!

We are all often wondering which of the many incredible, incredibly weird, incredibly powerful and all-at-incredibly-varied-angles, scenes will actually make it on the screen. (And which of those, will be ours--okay, mine!)

It almost doesn't matter (almost). This whole crazy experience will be with me always (and hopefully in many people's DVD collection for years to come).

Here's hoping...

“OH DARLING” (My biggest day yet!)

2006-02-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

Today we shot my first big moment of drama in the film....

At this point in the movie, Sadie is on her way to fame and is headlining the Filmore East. She's also on her way out the door as far as her band AND guitarist/boyfriend are concerned. Seduced by the powerful record label exec, she's decided to move on. Unbeknownst to JoJo, her lover and guitarist. At least that what she thinks, but JoJo's a perceptive guy and will make it clear to her on stage, that he's Hip to her Hypocrisy. As in, what's really going on between them, juxtaposed, if you will, to the words she's singing in this beautiful Beatles song "Oh Darling".......

Pick up was originally supposed to be 6am, however, due to strict union rules for the crew (they have to have a certain amount of hours to sleep--how dare they??) who had pulled an 18 hour day the day before (wimps!), I received word at midnight that my call time was now 11am. Thank you Jesus, Mary AND Joseph!

I arrived to set fully rested (and caffeinated) for the first time since I started this project. It almost didn't feel right being completely awake. Having full faculty of my senses and motor skills while singing/dancing/acting in front of cameras, crews, cast mates, extras and all under GLARING lights, gives me way too sharp a sense of awareness. This can only lead one to bouts of severe neurosis. Speaking of which....

Got to wardrobe only to find out that my favorite outfit in the film had been replaced by something Julie considered "darker" (figuratively speaking) and more dramatically suited for the scene. Bummer, but hey, choose your battles, right? Well, I chose to battle this one. (But only in my tortured, neurotic mind, I do have SOME control.)

So, I got into the 1920s vintage-store black slip, which had been beautifully butchered by the wardrobe elves in an effort to fit my so-very-NOT-1920's size! In other words, what should have been an awesome and sexy cleavage revealing cut, was, on me, (someone twice the average size of most homo sapiens from that time) something a nun could have pulled off in Mass.

"The right beads will make it simply fabulous, Sadie, Honey." The hillarious Chris Peterson, Albert Wolksy’s wardrobe assistant assured me. "Throw it on with those brown (men's) cowboy boots and that green velvet robe and you'll be rocking the Sexy Sadie vibe!" he cheered.

I had my doubts.

But, time was of essence. We were already starting to shoot 5 hours later than planned, which meant we'd go 5 hours later than usual. (Usual is about 11pm. You can do the math. Oh boy.)

So, I threw on my costume, a smile, TONS of jewelry and got to the set. Which was awesome! Hundreds of extras standing in front of the stage anxiously awaiting my arrival!! --(Okay, Sadie's arrival. Yes, they were acting.) All the same, it definitely got me pumped up and I was able to forget for a moment that I felt as though I looked like a cross between Maud and Mrs. Roper!

It was time to rehearse the big scene. Which I'd done countless times since I auditioned for this film; since I came in again and again and again to help them find my on screen boyfriend for this film; since my first on screen boyfriend got fired from this film (after days and days of killing my vocal chords because he just couldn't get Julie's direction AT ALL for the big Sadie/JoJo moment in this film); and until they finally found the right man for this film, the amazing Martin Luther--who nailed both the song AND the stage fight, first try! Yippie.

God, am I SICK of this song.

The pressure was on today. I had 3 big scenes to shoot and it was already 1:00. Julie was not only nervous about the time, but she was nervous about how the scene was going to work. (the fighting on stage through song, perfectly timed to the track, perfectly lip syncing as I perfectly unplug JoJo in the middle of his OBNOXIOUS solo!) The on stage fight she wanted both believable and musical. And NOT like a "musical." Thank Goodness.

Fortunately I've had some experience with the whole "battle of the egos between Diva and guitarist/boyfriend!"

We began to rehearse the scene and I felt ready (as long as I remembered to force out the images of Mrs. Roper and Maud.)

I had to do a combination of lip sync and live singing. I'd spent the entire day and night before practicing my "lip sync" and live fighting/singing in my apartment, with "Oh Darling" BLASTING on my speakers. If my daily vocal exercises haven't already convinced them, surely now my neighbors believe I'm insane.

It was time to "Roll Camera." Martin stepped on to the stage looking SMASHING! I was immediately jealous that he showed more cleavage than I did! (Mrs. Roper BE GONE!---Please!)

Then I heard: "Camera's up! Rolling! Playback (which refers to the prerecorded song) and ACTION!" I let out the first "Oh Darlin'" and the crowd went wild (Man that's an addictive feeling!) Just as I opened my mouth to fake the next line, I heard "CUT"!

Julie hopped on stage, looked me over and said: "Wait a minute, can't we get this dress ANY lower? This isn't sexy!!" I wanted to say: "I KNEW IT!!" but instead, I just said: "Well, I guess people just weren't this giant in the 1920s".

Based on her very puzzled expression, she clearly had NO CLUE as to what in the hell I was talking about (Julie doesn't know where wardrobe people get the stuff!) She just shook her head and sent me back to wardrobe to put on the original "Filmore East" outfit. Yey---I Won!!

I was RUSHED into my trailer, followed by a host of wardrobe elves, (male and female) and putting all modesty aside, I did the fastest outfit change (which included boob taping as the dress doesn't allow for bra and I didn't want to be flopping around while I'm stomping around") in front of the whole lot of them! In fact, one of the wardrobe gals, taught me a trick Raquel Welch used to "Tape her giant girls up”. This required bending completely forward so your "utters" can dangle as you put the band-aid like tape underneath them. (This is where my dark past as a stripper proved to be somewhat useful. At least for the lack of modesty part! (And no, I never "dangled my girls" upside down while taping them on stage!)

I made it back to set in a flash, and we started the scene. It felt SO REAL! I really imagined being at the Filmore East back in the day, in front of thousands of screaming fans, with Jon playing way too loud and totally pissing me off!

We got a GREAT take on the FIRST take! Everyone was thrilled and relieved! (Especially me, Julie and Martin, who knew we could FINALLY move on from this scene that had been beaten TO DEATH since rehearsals last spring!) I think Martin and I scored some points with the crew as well. Moving through it and nailing it this quickly, we were really able to make up for lost time and maybe some sleep that night was in store for us all after all.

In the end, we got the scene to a place that far exceeded all of our expectations.

The other scenes were a breeze. And lots of fun. I got to be drunk and ornery. Drunk and sad. Sad and angry. The latter for the final scene of they day, where I had to run out into the street in the rain (real rain) at 1am crying as my sleazy new label picked me up in his awesome 1960s ride.

A crowd of people stood and stared (they'd seen his face before, know that he was really showing he was from the house of Lords....) Sorry, I digressed into a Beatles Lyric from "Day In the Life".

A crowd of people did stand and stare. I ran into the cold, wet, late night/early morning street a few more times, crying, then we called it a day.

I call THAT a "Day in (this strange) Life" for sure.

“WHY DON’T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD”

2006-02-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

.... In Red Hook Brooklyn even??

A very long and interesting day in a very interesting part of NYC, with quite a storied past - Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Pick up was at 7am. Nice and late again. Hallelujah.

Today we were shooting Sadie's first performance scene in the film at "Cafe Huh?" (again, a takeoff on the once very hip and infamous, but now very cheesy night club, Cafe Wha?).

Upon first glance Red Hook looks almost dismal and post-apocolyptic. However, in doing a little research on the area, it's a rather colorful place both historically and as far as some of the current trends and ambitions to revive this centuries old shipping neighborhood, which had its "heyday", shipping grain, from the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's.

A few fun facts:

1. Al Capone got his start (AND his nickname "Scarface" after he was wounded on the docks) as a petty criminal in Red Hook before moving on to Chicago in the 20's where he took it to the next level.

2. The famous 1954 film starring Marlon Brando, "On The Waterfront" was a dramatization of the dark side of life on the docks of Red Hook.

After the decline in it's shipping industry in the late 50's/early 60's (humans were replaced by containers and cranes---of course) and also due to the fact that Red Hook is completely isolated from the rest of NYC (thanks to the Gowanus Expressway built in 1946 and the Brooklyn Battery Park Tunnel whose entrance sits at the tip and further isolates the neighborhood---hmmm, sounds like a Real Estate boom in the making!) the neighborhood, largely deserted by it's line of shipping families, fell into decades of crime and obscurity.

Interestingly enough, it's having a resurgence thanks to farming (??) and glass blowing (???!). That's NYC for you. Land of opportunity indeed!

Well, this was MY opportunity in NY to strut my stuff as a Rocker, and boy was I going to seize the moment!

So, I brilliantly decided at 8:30 in the morning, to take a part of the song "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" and let out a GUTTURAL scream, while doing a FULL ON backbend, WHILE holding the mike stand and microphone straight up in the air over my head. I was caffeinated as hell and on fire!!!

Julie of course approved of this move, which meant I would be repeating it over and over and over and over again, for 14 more hours. HOLY F*CK!!!

Okay, so I learned a good lesson about filming---never do ANYTHING you can't or don't want to have to do A THOUSAND MORE TIMES for MANY more hours. In a row. Without a break. On the first day of your period. Stuffed into tight leather pants.

Here's the best part! By 2:30 in the afternoon, having nothing in my body since 7am but caffeine, egg whites, and a very full tampon---sorry guys) I started to get a little "woozy". I was asked if we could just get the last shots at this particular camera angle before lunch break. I said "of course" and prayed.

At this point, the only sound that was allowed was my vocals. We (the band, the 100+ extras, the crew, etc.) all had ear wigs in so as to hear the song). In other words, I'm singing, but the audience has to pantomime the yelling, cheering and clapping.

When I got to the part where I do my best Robert Plant (back bend/gutteral scream) I looked out at the crowd, (which at this point they looked more like a special ed class as they did the pantomime clapping) and being punchy, woozy, hungry and WAY in need of a tampon change, I lost all control (of EVERYTHING) and fell right on my ASS!! The microphone went flying from the stand and across the room!

The assistant director bellowed out: "Keep Rolling!!!!" then more quietly, "Dana, you okay?"

In a desperate attempt to save some of the scene and the vintage microphone (which was about to be crushed by the giant roaming camera on what looks like a mini trolley car), I pulled myself off the floor, and began to wildly reel the mic in by the chord.

The retarded looking crowd was still silently cheering and clapping until Julie finally yelled, "Cut!"

Then the entire place just EXPLODED with laughter, which must have lasted for a solid 5 minutes!

After they saw that I wasn't hurt (other than my pride!) they began to reset. During the 15 or so minutes of down time, I could hear from the stage my guttural scream for the back bend shot coming from the monitor, followed by hysterical laughter coming from Julie, crew and anyone standing close enough to the monitor to see. They were watching the playback of my wipe out over and over!!

Finally I yelled "okay, that'll be enough". Then Julie said, "Well, here's our first great out take for the film".

I then I replied that I want extra pay for that!

After we broke for lunch, I watched my moment of humiliation. And while it WAS quite ridiculous, it was also quite funny.

So, I donated it to the out takes.

The rest of the day was spent getting this scene at different angles, including shots of the action going on with my cast mates who are in the audience, and their reaction to this Sadie character they've all just met.

Needless to say, we got some good reaction shots from the wipe out.

Needless to say, I had a GREAT time in Red Hook.

“COME TOGETHER”

2006-02-02T22:31:00.000-05:00

... And man has my life Come Together. Read on....(this journal may turn out to be for mature audiences only. Mom & Dad be warned. haha)

Last week was indeed a beautiful thing. Don't know if any of you have read all the press we got for the recreation of the East Village circa mid 1960s, but it was amazing. Click here to see a little bit although it doesn't even remotely do it justice!
http://www.curbed.com/archives/2005/10/06/lower_east_sides_amazing_technicolor_dreamcoat.php

I'm told Saturday's New York Post had a 2 page article all about it.

The best part for me, was that this part of NYC, was where I first landed -- broke, alone and COMPLETELY messed up at 18 years old! Where I spent day after day "Strung Out" on Avenue B, insisting to every homeless guy or drug dealer who would listen, that I was going to be a singer! Now here I was shooting a film. Wow.

The first scene to shoot was my coffee meeting with "Bill", (the sleazy record label guy who's trying to steel me away from my band and sign me to his label) at a cafe near my loft in the East Village. As Bill tries to convince me that he'll "make me a star", the "magic bus" rides by. Upon inquiring in Sadie fashion (with a southern accent mind you): "What the Hell was that?!", I learn about our soon to be guru, Dr. Robert (Bono) and his big party happening that night, which I later bring my 5 cast mates to. (We will shoot this party scene with Bono the night before Thanksgiving. As you can well imagine, I cannot wait!)

It was a short, but painful scene. I mean physically painful. In movie time it's dead summer, but in reality it was freaking cold. In light of this, (and the fact that again, Julie wants EVERY angle covered) we had to do the scene over and over because a scantily-clad-freezingtodeath-background person would be shivering, chattering and/or hugging his/her self and the camera would catch it! Of course Bill and I knew the cameras were right on us, so we just pretended it really was August in NY-- A challenge to my acting skills indeed, since I'm in an almost sheer summer dress. Although I DO have on a GIGANTIC Pink hat with a HUGE velvet brim. But I think the hat was more ridiculous than it was warm. (but I loved it!)

The great thing about being a "principal" (which I've been trying to learn not to feel guilty about) is that in between EVERY SINGLE TAKE (even if only for a fraction of a second) there's someone literally running over to cover me in coats and blankets until the camera starts rolling again. Most of the time they just get the crap on me and the A.D. yells: "OKAY, COATS OFF!!!" This was to be the call I heard almost as much as action for the next few days on Rivington and Clinton....

The next set of scenes were night shots. Still August. Still Freezing. Probably not for the 50 dancers, who take after take, slithered and jumped and spun all over the streets, ALL night long (and beyond--They were AMAZING!!! The film is worth seeing just for these guys and gals) to the song "Come Together", which is sung by Joe Cocker. Joe plays 3 different characters throughout the song: A Homeless Bum (which Julie decided should just be how he looks naturally. Ouch.) A Pimp (which we all agreed he should keep this look in real life); and A Crazed Religious Fanatic (No Comment).

All I had to do for this scene was walk with JoJo, whom I just meet after he auditions for me at the infamous "Cafe Huh?" (Out front of the Cafe Huh -- a take off on the infamous Cafe Wha?-- is a large poster with a picture of me that says: "Sadie and The Po Boys Performing Tonight". Very cool.) JoJo and I stumble into the bizarre "pied piper-ish" dance scene. (I was so hoping I'd get to dance in this film, but I guess Sadie IS WAY TOO COOL TO DANCE!) I suppose I'll be grateful for that in the long run as I'm not the most graceful 6 footer. JoJo is played by Martin Luther, the amazing singer who joined me for a song at BB King's in August. He becomes my boyfriend in the film.

This scene took ALL NIGHT LONG. Largely because the wardrobe people kept running up and down the street to the calls of: "COATS ON!" and "COATS OFF!! --NOW!!!" Again, the royal treatment still left me feeling guilty, as the dancers and background huddled in front of an outdoor heater while we were brought coats and coffee. Yet they did most of the work!!

No one seemed to mind though. We had all kinds of people coming to watch us, the set was sheer magic and "Come Together" was blasting all over the neighborhood, AND the entire block smelled like MAPLE SYRUP!!! (Did anyone else smell this mysterious smell which according to NY 1 News people were smelling ALL OVER Manhattan AND New Jersey?? I frankly find this a little creepy. But that's a different kind of journal for my conspiracy theory mind!)

MTV News came down to interview the six of us. (One at a time.) My interview was done right in front of my Sadie and The Po Boys Poster. I don't remember much of what I said. I know I rambled. Found out later that my cast mates felt the same way about their interview. MTV News seemed most excited about unveiling the mysterious identity of "The 10Spot Lady." (I will let you know when this will be aired.)

It was wild to know that after all the years of being the anonymous 10Spot voice on MTV, I'm now being interviewed as one of the stars of what's turning out to be a pretty talked about film. What a trip!

Even better was the "trip" I took down memory lane, as I snuck down to my very first apartment in NYC:

There I stood only blocks away from the most amazing thing I've ever been part of, yet WORLDS away from that lost and messed up little girl who once wandered these blocks aimlessly, handing out $20 bills to junkies named Billy, and drug dealers named "Popo". In fact, my 2 biggest drug suppliers (each disguised at the time as a ratty deli) had both completely transformed:

The first skanky deli on B & 10th became a high end French restaurant. (I shudder to think). This place holds a special memory for me. It's where I once gave the deli-owning-drug-dealer my TV (deciding he could use it more than I, and I could use the drugs more than it), and later that afternoon he was shot (hopefully not for the TV). I actually woke up from a nap to the sound of the gun going off. Turns out he was shot, but survived, then shot and killed the burglar!

The second place, was my dark-home-away-from-dark-home. It was run by Popo my drug dealer friend (??) (who, funny enough, my dear friend and DFB guitarist/co-writer, Jon Diamond, has been nicknamed after ever since. I still call him that---a long story, but a very sweet and innocent one---COMPLETELY antithetical to it's origin)

This particular rat infested, deli fronted drug joint, (where I once hid under the floor boards during a police raid and short shoot out!), interestingly (and movingly) enough, became an all-vegan health cafe called, "Live Life Good".

That one really hit me. "Live Life Good".

Man. I'll be damned if I ain't tryin'.

“SEXY SADIE” (my screen debut!)

2006-02-02T22:24:00.000-05:00

“Sexy Sadie, what have you done?” (That's the lyric to the song, "Sexy Sadie")

After that scene with Bono, I have no idea anymore.

I don't know how "sexy" I was feeling for my big screen debut in that the-white-with-pink-splotches Kamona, but I guess I'll just have to take it from John and Paul that Sadie IS sexy.

This was the day we shoot my introduction in the film, which is also my introduction to the world (especially if the buzz on this thing turns out to be right!) as an actor and singer. I didn't really think about this while shooting. Thank God.

I can't even begin to describe what "Sadie's Loft" is like. Completely fabricated but INSANELY real down to the scuff marks on the hard wood floors to make them look decades old instead of brand spanking new. I kept knocking on the brick walls because I just couldn't accept that they were only paper mache and dry wall!

There was rambling poetry on all the walls, crazy art work and, get this, a GIANT collage of me! (Pictures I guess the art department took from my website and stills from what we've shot so far.) This was a wonderful and strange surprise. (hope they'll let me keep it).

The scene outside my window was so real that by midnight, I was still convinced it was 3pm on a cold November day.

This is toward the beginning of the film when our 2 main guys (Jude & Max) decide to split for NYC, right after Thanksgiving dinner at Max's where he announces he's dropping out of Princeton University.

The two end up at my door responding to an ad in RAT Magazine, (A popular rag back in the day) advertising a room for rent in my loft.

I take them on a tour of my loft showing them all of the crazy rooms, then I introduce them to my cat, Rocky. (Who can guess THAT reference!). A gray tabby with raccoon eyes and tail (ooops, just gave it away).

Rocky was pretty amazing. He had a 14 hour day without one bitch fest. Impressive. HOWEVER.....

....His trainer seemed to know how to keep him content. Liver snacks and chicken flavored Gerber baby food. Yum. 14 hours of this (and my having to pick him up and put him down a thousand times to be shot at various angles) did not bode well for his gastrointestinal functions, if you will.

By 11pm we were down to the final shots. Or so we hoped. After my 3rd 15 hour day in a row, I was pretty punchy, as were Jim and Joe (Max & Jude).

Julie likes to get EVERY scene at EVERY angle.
The rest of the crew (on their 18th hour) was ready to get home. (Today was supposed to be a short day!)

The pressure was on for me to get the final Rocky scene right! This really meant just picking him up, and placing him in exactly the same spot I had for hours and takes in a row, and perfectly positioning him so that Max can trip over him as he had done accidentally in an earlier take, (which of course Julie loved, as it was perfect then, but now how to be recreated).

With my being so punchy and Rocky being so stuffed to the gills on liver snacks and Gerber chicken, this scene was harder than I thought.

With minutes left to the midnight hour, which was the crew's cutoff time, the goal was to nail the scene and wrap!

Upon hearing action, I picked Rocky up from the sofa and began to walk with the boys behind me and all the cameras on me. Suddenly I was enveloped in the most heinous of stenches I have EVER encountered in my life!! A mixture of putrid breath and foul, foul gas wafting up. As I spoke, it crept straight into my mouth and I tasted all of Rocky's savory snacks of the day.

I literally began to gag. As in eyes watering, throat pulsing, gagging. Knowing the cameras were only on me for the first few seconds of this scene, then on the boys as I pass through the room, I quickly turned my head to the side so my hair would block the gagging. Jim and Joe, being well aware of the stench and now seeing my head turn to them gagging, had to do everything in their power not to lose it. Seeing this and coupled with my nervousness/punchiness, I COMPLETELY LOST IT, dropped the cat and fell to my knees laughing.

I made my way out of camera range and they kept rolling. Jim and Joe had the most incredibly bizarre expressions on their faces as they fought so hard to stifle laughter and remain in character as the 2 nervous boys hoping to get the apartment from this strange rock n roll girl, the likes of whom they'd never before encountered.

Finally they made their way passed the camera and from the other room we heard Julie: "CUT!!! Dana, what the hell is going on???" At this point the 3 of us were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe (not that we wanted to in the cloud of noxious gases)!

All I could choke out was: "Julie, I'm so sorry. But you have no idea what's happening with this cat."

Our producer, Jen Todd suggested we watch the playback as they thought my laughing may have been off camera enough, and that Jim and Joe's odd expressions might work with the scene, seeing as how some of things Sadie says to them are quite strange.

As we watched playback, we were even more crippled with laughter. Jim and Joe looked like 2 very confused young lads who might also puke at any second.

Julie LOVED it!! Her exact words were: "Oh my God, you guys look so weird! It's perfect." She then turned to me and said with a smile, "Okay, Sadie, it worked this time, but you can't do this again."

So that was the scene. When you see this movie you'll be part of our inside joke.

I laughed all the way home. For so many reasons.

Oh and by the way, I've met Joe Cocker. He told me he loved my guide vocal for his version of "Come Together" and was very touched when I told him that he was one of the main vocalists I studied when I came to NY to sing, AND that I auditioned for the film with HIS version of "With A Little Help From My Friends".

I also got to meet Elvis Costello, who just came by to visit T-bone Burnett (who's helping me get my own material together! ). Elvis told T-Bone and I that the engineer of the "Sergeant Peppers" album just wrote a book telling the world he really co-produced but never received proper credit for this from George Martin. Elvis backed him up on this and even wrote a forward for it. He said it's a fun read.

Elvis isn't in our film. Joe Cocker is though. He'll play a few different characters as he sings "Come Together". I'll say no more!

I watched Joe record "Come Together" the other night. He NAILED IT! In 5 fast takes.

I cried. For so many reasons.

“THE WALRUS”

2006-02-02T22:22:00.000-05:00

…Screw the “egg man” (although his omelets I still look forward to everyday!),
I just spent 10 hours less than 5 feet from Bono. I'm not usually star struck. Of course this is the first time I've worked with a star.

Man, was I struck.

Although, had someone told me years ago that he was so short, I may have gotten out of bed on time for school more often, sparing myself (and probably my family) the humiliation of running through neighbors' yards to make the next stop, or simply chasing the bus down in tears. (Remember those days Mom)? The cool thing is that all of those little daydreams came true for me today. At least the PG-13 ones did. Heh hem.

As always, the day began with the teamster van picking me up at the crack of night. I had trouble sleeping because I was actually a little nervous about meeting one of my biggest childhood idols. Due to the unrelenting weather, we couldn't shoot in the woods so we did the outdoor scenes indoors at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, using what is called in the film world "Blue Screen." Which is a giant GREEN screen. (This allows for computer graphics to place the proper elements around us later).

As I sat having my make up done, one of the PA's came in to ask the other make-up girl if she had finished the rest of the cast and was "ready for Bono." I thought I was going to puke eggs. Knowing my nervousness and excitement, the girls gave me the option of finishing me in a hurry OR slowing down. I chose to seize the moment and meet Bono. At 8am, under fluorescent lights and pre-caffeinated nonetheless. Moments later he came in singing a Johnny Cash song in a very raggedy (he played the garden the night before) voice, and practicing his western accent for the role of Dr. Robert, our California guru. He was in full western wardrobe with, of course, those damn sunglasses we never see him without these days.

He introduced himself to me and I just laughed as I took his hand. Yes, because I was nervous, but also because I was thinking "of course I know you're BONO!!" Anyway, once I regained composure (somewhat) I said something stupid to him like, "I'm trying to just tell myself that you're a normal person, but, you're not, you're BONO!" He laughed and replied with his western accent that he is not normal and he'd prove it to me later. (Read on)

I finally tore myself away when one of our make-up artists said loudly: "Okay, Dana, you're done and now you’re just gawking". Bono just laughed and told me not to worry, that we'd talk plenty on set.

The first scene to shoot was the last scene of this song sequence, where Bono (Dr. Robert) lands us in front of "The Headquarters of the League of Spiritual Deliverance" and proceeds to give us a lecture on "transcendental perception" (??). It was still early morning and Bono was still half asleep. He kept flubbing his lines. After numerous flubs, (I was starting to worry and I wasn't the only one) a little tension started to creep in, but Bono brilliantly broke the ice (and caught us all way off guard) with: "I'm sorry people, what can I say? I'm a rock star." We all had a good laugh at this. Then he NAILED the first scene, in his first film ever.

We were then positioned on the roof of our magic flying bus which was made from an old fashioned school bus that the art department completely gutted, graffitied and designed to be a very hip hippy traveling home with bunk beds and a spiral staircase leading to the roof. The scene begins with Bono singing to us "The Walrus" as he (and the LSD) transports us to The League. In between a GAZILLION takes of various scenes we swapped stories about life, love, music, religion, politics, drugs and Hitler. And Hitler on drugs. Cocaine to be exact. With childlike awe, Bono enlightened us all to the fact that it is now common knowledge that Hitler was indeed a coke head. He was so strangely excited by this.

Anyway, it was time to party and trip. (Like I wasn't already?!)

With Bono's AMAZING rendition of "The Walrus" blasting all around us, we climbed and danced and writhed all over our magic bus with 10 giant fans blowing "the wind" in our hair. As the crew rocked the bus (literally), Bono ROCKED "The Walrus." We just danced and screamed and ooooooooohed all around him slowly working our way inside the bus, where we sprawled ourselves out on the carpets, bunk beds, staircase (you just have to see it!) and began to shoot what turned out for me to be THE MOST AMAZING SCENE I JUST MIGHT EVER HAVE!!! Still singing The Walrus, Bono started at the back of the bus where pranksters and cast mates were all piled on top of each other by now. He worked his way up to the front of the bus where I sat banging on bongos. When he got to me he suddenly decided to improvise by grabbing my arm and licking it, sucking my fingers, pouncing on me and teasing me with almost-kisses and singing to me with his mouth less than a centimeter from mine. OH MY GOD I was the chosen one!!

I was praying that we’d have to do our usual numerous amounts of takes to get it from all angles. The A.D. asked if we were ready for the next take or if I needed a cigarette first. My work ethic took over so I suggested we just do this over and over until we get it right. It just got better and better. Bono said to me later that he hoped I didn't mind his "deciding to have a go at me." I said, "Oh PLEASE, have a go! Have a few!!"

We wrapped the scene by 7pm. Bono had to split. We all hugged him good-bye and he said he'd see us in November (when we shoot the party scene with him!). He also invited us to the show tomorrow at the Garden. We're going!!

The rest of the evening was spent shooting me and the gang partying in the bus. Still so high on our experience with Bono, we went CRAZY. Julie wanted things in fast motion, slow motion, bizarre motion. We danced and climbed on top of each other, busting open bags of multi colored beans and jugs of water (the props) and pouring everything we could find as well as ourselves, all over each other, singing and squealing and so on and so forth.

I can't believe I'm actually getting paid for this!

We wrapped about 9 and were taken to our vans.

It was gushing rain as we crossed the Manhattan Bridge. I looked out the window thinking this is a long way from Wildwood, Florida.

... AND, FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE

2006-02-02T22:19:00.000-05:00

What a day, what a spectacle -- what a world!

Watching Eddie Izzard do his thing was an amazing lesson in "performance." Wow.

The day began for me with a nice LATE pick up of 7am. Halllefuckinglujah! I actually slept more than 3 hours!!

The teamster van arrived at 6:50 with our star (Evan) dead asleep in the back. I, however, was wide-awake and very excited to shoot our circus day on a giant farm in Katonah, NY. So far, we had only heard about the 50ft paper mache man, the peasant women with heads 5 x's the normal size, the human cows, the Blue Meanies, the pop up circus tent surrounded by torches, and, of course, Eddie Izzard.

The gang and I spent the first half of the day a mile from set where our "base camp" (i.e., trailers) was, while the above-mentioned madness was costumed, organized and rehearsed. This left plenty of time for more cast bonding - by now the 6 of us have gotten quite close, and quite silly. Flu (for 2 of us) and all, we rolled down hills, jammed out with blades of grass as horns (after a lesson from cast mate Joe, the blue-eyed blonde Brit who can do ANYTHING, who learned this from a local while shooting a film over in Africa--of course) Then, wearing off most of our 3 hours old make-up, we challenged each other in gymnastics. Joe won. He can walk on his hands for miles.

After all of this hard work, we broke for lunch and were taken on a "gator" (a large tractor-like mobile) deep into the woods and down what seemed like the yellow brick road, until we came upon THE SET just before the catering tents.

None of us could believe our eyes. This was definitely (and I quote our director) "a big-budget movie day." As most of you know, Julie Taymor is famous for her puppets and life-sized (in this case way-beyond life-sized) paper mache/cardboard characters. There were fields of "hands" the size of SUV's, dancers in cow costumes, (so real that we were ooohing and ahhhing over one particular calf who was so convincing until we saw his converse sneakers peaking out). and a 50ft man towering above it all. (Of course then came the jokes that finally someone in this film was taller than me.)

After lunch we were gatored back to base camp to be "retouched" as it was almost (finally) time to shoot.

Us girls got into ours skimpy "summer of love" outfits, accessorized with giant, down overcoats. It was NOT summer in Katonah.

Went back to set & briefly rehearsed our scene with Eddie, and then broke for dinner. My stomach was confused by the strange meal hours, so instead of dinner, Evan and I hit the sweets table and got busted (Again) shamelessly sticking our fingers in cake frosting, pie filling, and brownie icing (there are no calories if you don't have an actual piece right?) The same tough, salty, woman reminded me that others might like some of those deserts that we were making a disgusting mess of. In retrospect, it did look pretty revolting when we were done.

Then we sat with Eddie where I ratted Evan out for knowing his entire performance of "Dressed To Kill" verbatim. I kid you not, Verbatim. He was most impressed when she finally got the nerve to demonstrate by answering my bold question "Are you gay, Eddie or do you just dress in Drag for fun?" In Eddie’s voice (this girl can sound like anybody. It's really scary) and using Eddie's EXACT dialogue from "Dressed to Kill", she proceeded to explain to me how we was NOT a Drag Queen, but a Transvestite wanna-be-lesbian and how there are 3 categories of Transvestites and that J. Edgar Hoover was really just a freak pervert and so on. It was Hilarious. Eddie was most impressed. Eddie is brilliant and his take on U.S. AND foreign politics enmeshed with the history of the world, is not only an education, but also a fucking riot.

Finally we were all called to set. Time to shoot! It was 6pm and the sun was going down fast. Bruno Dubonelle, our DP (cameraman) was panicked (the sunset always seemed to have this affect on him). So there went the idea of pulling the great prank the gang and I had planned for our first take, which in this case would have certainly cost us a $70,000.00 shooting day (I forget where I got that number, but you get the idea). Another day. Hopefully the documentary crew that follows us everywhere will get it on film!

Eddie stood in front of the tent surrounded by Blue Meanies. (Yes, I said Blue Meanies). We were positioned up the hill about 100ft from him in the field of cows, giant hands, peasant creatures and a hundred other people holding 6-8' 3-dimensional cardboard chairs. (No, I have NO idea.)

We ran down the hill pretending (???) we were still "tripping", got to the tent, and feigned surprise and delight while Eddie performed "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite." We squealed and applauded until we heard CUT and I smelled my hair burning. I had gotten too close to the torch. A joke was made that my now-dyed-three-times hair, was almost red enough for the director, and that fortunately I have plenty of it to spare.

We got our take though. And called it a day.

I got home at Midnight. Showered and CRRRRRRAAAAAAASHED!

I had the strangest dreams last night.

Still dreaming..........

Oh, by the way, the film has been officially titled: "Across The Universe".

How Appropriate.

“DON’T LET ME DOWN”

2006-02-02T22:16:00.000-05:00

..from the rooftops of Manhattan! (and they haven't. For days.)

Thanks to all of you who have been checking in and requesting more journals. Last week was a blur of more woods scenes. I've now been to Tarrytown, Harriman and Catona) Frolicking about with my castmates and tons of extras (our "Pranksters") to get the footage we'll need for some of the films bigger and wackier scenes to come later.

New location this week (NYC!) and still going round the clock with enough time to get home, shower, feed and go to bed. Finally starting to get used to the 5 am pick-ups. I wake up at 4:45, stumble to the street, get into my van or car (usually not knowing where I'm even going on any given day) and am taken to my trailer. Which Rocks. Couch, frig, and a better TV/DVD/stereo system than my own at home.

I listen to NPR waiting for my omelet to be delivered, sipping the coffee I've brought in my giant Thermos. By the time my motor skills are functioning enough to eat, I'm seated in the make-up trailer. A world in and of itself. The Make-up trailer starts bustling around 4am. By the time I arrive the music's going, the coffee's brewing and Santa's little elves are working their magic. Since we're shooting many of the later scenes first, everyone (except me) gets hair, hair and more hair. Sideburns, afro's, long bangs, extensions, etc. Julie has made it clear that "Sadie's" hair just stays "wild and unruly" throughout the film. (what's she trying to say)? So, I'm easy. This leaves me a little extra time to chat with the cameral man (who I just found out shot "Amelie" among many other films that have been touted for their "beautiful cinematography--lucky me). I'm smart enough to know that HE's the guy you want to befriend. So befriend I have. A quiet and serious Frenchman. Of course I've already gotten straight to the important questions like: "Does the camera really add 10 pounds? Do I look "stocky" in the purple pants? Am I giant looking compared to the rest of the cast?" And so on. With his heavy French accent and wonderful smile he responds: "Madame, what is this "sssstocky"? I say, "you know, thick." He now replies with twisted, puzzled face (stuttering on the "th" sound): "ThhhhICK"????? I say: "Yeah; "bigger, rounder". He says: "Dah NA"! You look, ah (contemplative pause)... Tall." An even bigger grin spreads over his face.

He then assures me that only amateurs can make you look 10lbs bigger and that I have nothing to worry about! (I now LOVE this man). So I leave him to enjoy his coffee. Relieved. (hey, I meant me, but I know what you're all thinking!)

I'm then taken to the rooftop of the ABC Carpet Building in Union Square. Wow, what a view. What a set up!

As I walk down the street from my trailer, surrounded by the Walkie Talkie people, it's 8am and NYC is waking up. I feel like I'm in a movie already as I hear my own voice blasting around the block and I'm making my way through civilians who are staring at the girl with big red hair, way too much make-up, tons of jewelry and SUPER tight jeans. I find myself wanting to sing along with my track (out loud) so they know that it's me they're hearing and that I'm doing something special and important right now and that I'm not just some hooker or madam being shuffled off to jail by FBI!

[In fact, I snuck away at lunch to do a little voice over for MTV and the cab driver told me I looked like a "Beautiful Mafia Queen." I decided I'd better not tell this to the director OR our famous wardrobe guy - Who by the way is Albert Wolsky - the man who's done 70 major films and has received many Oscars. He did "Grease"!! I don't think he got an Oscar for that one though). I also decided to change next time I leave for lunch.]

We spend the day(s) shooting my rooftop performance of "Don't Let Me Down" as well as mine and the gang's version of "All You Need Is Love". All sorts of things are happening in the film at this point. Crucial love things which I can't give away.

Sorry. All I have to say is you'll have to see the film. Our lead guy and girl, Jim Sturgess (Jude) and Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy), are devastating. I'm tearing as I type remembering each of them do this scene.

Tomorrow I'm back in the woods to shoot the "Circus" scene with Britain's own Eddie Izzard. If you haven't seen "Dressed To Kill," (Eddie's critically acclaimed standup performance done in San Francisco) you should rent it. Immediately. Eddie is "Mr. Kite." I can't f***ing wait!!!

We don't shoot with Bono until mid-October.

We don't do our nude scene until Julie gets the budget approval for "The Tank."

It's so exciting to know that I KNOW NOTHING as to what's really in store for me over the next few months.

And I don't dare try to think BEYOND that.

A HARD DAY’S NIGHT- Day 2

2006-02-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

...While I should have been "sleeping like a log", I was actually laying on them. All day.

I can't believe I thought a 7am pick up call was early.

A "teamster" van (and those drivers look and act EXACTLY as the term sounds) came for me at 4:45am. Shortly after I'd gone to bed. I was so f***ing tired that I was nauseous, yet as soon as I landed back in Harriman, I B-lined straight for the hot food truck. (Obviously that omelet really made an impression on me.) The AD kindly asked that I let her order my breakfast so I could join the others in make up. It was then that I looked around and discovered that I was the ONLY actor trying to move in on the food, which the camera crew who'd been there for hours hadn't even made there way over to yet. Some things never change right?

After getting the layers of our "face on", we changed and were led deep into the woods to shoot our beatific morning-after-trippin-on-LSD scene, where we lie in the grass and sing a beautiful and languid tune, in multiple harmonies. With wind machines and fake sunshine we did our lip sync rolling around on the ground getting stabbed and scratched by thorny bramble. Bug spray was an afterthought only AFTER I made a joke about ticks and Lyme Disease --which my Asian, London and African American cast mates knew nothing about. I immediately enlightened them with wonderful horror stories about the little ring leaving bloodsuckers. Afraid I'd started trouble but it turns out that our star (originally from North Carolina) actually had it a few years ago and was quite relieved when the discussion arose and prompted a hosing down of watermelon scented bug spray. (Couldn't really get a read on the ticks about this stuff, but the ants seemed to LOVE it!)

The scene was interrupted about every 3-5 minutes for a short, quick downpour, forcing the crew to run back and forth in a panicked hurry with a 4-poled tent to shelter us (now that was comedy) so we could stay put and not lose our perfect flower-shaped position. All the while a smiley, blonde, female medic reassured us that the ticks "do NOT like the rain and wind" and that NOW we were at least educated on the subject, and could be on the look out for the infamous bulls-eye ring of a rash.

Uh, okay. But what about fake wind???

Finally we had a moment of no rain and it was time for "ACTION". I, being so punchy from no sleep and rolling around in muddy wet woods, simply lost it and couldn't stop laughing. Of course, we all know how contagious this is. Before I knew it we were all in hysterics. (Although our vibe WAS to be on LSD, this wasn't what Julie had in mind for the scene.) However, I don't think any of us cared at that moment. About anything.

Then the rain came down. Hard. This time we were called out of position and asked to put ridiculous rain suits over our clothes. (Where's the camera when you need it??) I was transformed into the Michelin Tire Man.

The rain finally gave us a break. We were "touched up" and sent back into the woods.

We laid in a tight circle: sticky, sweaty and muddy for what seemed like (probably because it was), hours. We all had to pee beyond belief, were itching from head to toe from wet grass and desperately trying to ignore the ant bites, until finally the A.D. called "action". Suddenly our voices seem to come from the sky (which was a speaker on a crane hidden somewhere above the trees that played our pre-recorded track).

As we soared above and beyond the noisy generators and wind machines, singing along to our version of one of the most beautiful Beatles songs I've ever heard -- "Because"-- I knew that all of this was exactly "why" I came to New York City.

Until next time...

A DAY IN THE LIFE- Day 1

2006-02-02T20:30:00.000-05:00

Car arrived at 6:30am. My pickup time was 7. He was EARLY!! And GOD that's early. Concerned (and surprised), I called the AD who said "just make him wait; you don't have to get into that car until you're ready." Wow. That was weird. Well, you know I was gonna milk this one! Besides, I knew it wouldn't take an hour and 1/2 to get to Harriman State Park. One of the benefits of being the only local cast member. They get the out of town per diem (that's daily allowance to live on, for you non-industry folk) and I get extra sleep.

Call time was 8am at Sebago Lake in Harriman. (A place I've been hiking for years--who'd have thought?) Upon arriving I was greeted by a variety of crew people all with walkie talkies confirming that "Sadie has arrived" and "can we get a check on the hair?" (which had just been dyed red. Very red). Breakfast orders were being taken for the cast and when I asked what my options were I was told "anything." Impressive. After coming too a little more, I ordered an egg white omelet with "all the veggies you've got." I'll be damned if they didn't whip up an amazing egg and veggie masterpiece. I can't think of a vegetable that wasn't in it. This was prepared a mile up the road in the "hot food truck."

Then I wandered around waiting for my call to go to "make up." Found a hiking trail and got a good 10 minutes into it, only to hear my name reverberating through the woods. Hustled back up and was very politely told that it's best not to wander off too far. So, I went to make-up. Spent an hour getting the "natural look."

By 11 am I was told to hang tight until noon lunch break. So, I took another hike. This time much further and once again my name rumbled through the forest. I returned to find the place completely deserted except for the poor PA who got stuck looking for me in the woods. I didn't realize that lunch was at the location a few miles up the road (where naked Asian woman danced on water to the song "Across the Universe". SO cool) so they had to send another van for me. Ooops. Okay, now I get it.

The food was quite good! (and the thousands of bees and wasps MUST have agreed!) Lunch was fast. Literally. We had to walk around eating so as not to be swarmed--and I mean SWARMED--by wasps and bees.

I ate fresh snapper and a giant salad. Being in a mid drift and hip huggers made it easier to resist the carrot cake, peach cobbler, pecan pie, macaroni.... you get the idea.

By 1:00 we headed back to our trailers for more touch ups on our natural beauty (heh hem).

Then there was more waiting. One cast mate said, that Paul Newman said, that "you're not getting paid to act, but for the time you spend waiting around." Seems like. (Frankly I rather enjoyed such rare downtime! However, ask me about this in January.)

Finally at 3pm it was time to shoot our first scene (which is actually toward the end of the film). Me and my 5 castmates were led into the woods, positioned around a GIANT paper mache hand, and waited for the director to yell action so we could frolic down a hill for about 10 seconds until we heard "CUT." We did this 3 more times and by 3:30 the A.D. announced "That's a wrap" you can all go home.

Whew. Make-up is exhausting!

We changed, piled into a van and drove back to NYC tired and excited saying "holy shit, we're making a real f***ing movie."

We'll have 3 solid days/scenes with Bono next week. I think I'm going to be star struck.