In Ghosts and Ballyhoo, one of the Lessons Learned is “Watch for Patterns,” pages 273-274. Watch for the patterns. They might help you perceive your destiny, make the right decisions, dodge a lot of grief, and endure that which you thought you couldn’t. A month ago, my cardiologist told me that I’d lost all the…
The best concert I ever saw
February 10, 2024
I can’t count the number of concerts, live shows, or performances I’ve seen. The most professional was David Lee Roth in Tokyo, with Steve Vai on guitar, Gregg Bissonette on drums, and Matt Bissonette on bass. There was literally not a single wasted second. I’ve never seen a band work harder for its money. After…
Excised Snippet Number Four
February 6, 2024
This is the fourth passage from my novel Invisible Idiot, which became Chasing the Last Whale, Volume Two of the Ghosts Trilogy. It was necessary to remove these scenes, but since I like them, I’m publishing them here when I get the urge. Mike Albee and Lura Dold of Sandpiper Publicity—who defrauded me of $40,000…
Mike Albee heads for the hills
February 3, 2024
UPDATE: Now Sandpiper Publicity’s Website is back up. Since this was a fun post to write, I’ll leave it up too. * * * Mike Albee has taken down the website for Sandpiper Publicity. When things get too hot for Mike and his lovely wife Lura Dold, they close up shop. But he’ll be back….
Gratitude for Mister Thunes
February 1, 2024
Scott Thunes is in the hospital. He has a preliminary diagnosis of unstable angina, a treatable condition. After he comes home, he’ll have to make some changes. People rarely discuss the healing power of gratitude. I understand why: It’s not emphasized in our culture. We’re taught to say, “Thank you,” but as we grow up,…
Time to embarrass Scott Thunes
January 22, 2024
Well, it’s time to embarrass Scott Thunes. I’ve written two books that are mostly about him, In Cold Sweat and Ghosts and Ballyhoo. I’ve interviewed him several times. Requiem for a Heavyweight? Scott Thunes: Unghosted. Scott Thunes on the Ghosts and Ballyhoo Album. Although it’s blasphemy to say so, I listen only to the Zappa…
Scott Thunes plays my bass
October 31, 2023
A member of Talkbass.com sent me a message: Finally I got to see Scott Thunes live! Hi Tom Last night I was fortunate enough to see Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels being performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London - the full BBC concert orchestra plus a huge choir. Before the show, Scott, Gail Zappa,…
My friends are…
September 30, 2023
…pretty amazing in terms of what I don’t know about them. Joe Cady hadn’t found it necessary to tell me the story below until we had a conversation about cigars. When I was in high school, my friend Bobby-Bob-Bobby and I stole a couple of his father’s cigars. The day my family met Bobby-Bob-Bobby in…
Hella Gothic
September 24, 2023
My friend Joe Cady just saw my Website for the first time. “Hella Gothic,” was his impression. Really? I don’t think so, but I hope it attracts Goth women. It’s easy to figure out why I like that style. Bad girls, saving, being the only one who understands, naughtiness, excitement, drama, etc. But I don’t…