Today I had to sit down with my new cat and have a talk about drugs...I thought she was zipping around a bit more than usual. I wouldn't have caught her, but I went in her kitty drawer, and look what I found!
So...cruising right ahead! The dates are slow coming in but I'm not too concerned...Bernie is talking about a possible cross country tour in the fall to celebrate our 50th. Actually it's our 51st, but who's counting? As I've mentioned, folks are trying to get us on The Walk of Fame. It's not my Number One focus; gotta admit. For something like signing the petition, it has to be worked every day or so-and I just don't have the time.
My number One focus is keeping in good health. That means walking 10,000-20,000 steps/day and doing my "breathing exercises." The breathing exercises I've been doing for almost 50 years as well. They're for the Intercostal Muscles, the Abdominal Muscles, and to make the diaphragm more "resilient". In between I do exercises to strengthen my legs and to keep my flabby stomach from getting flabbier. (is there a word?)
I usually get up early. That's why no one wants to room with me when we're on the road. I'm talking 4:30-5:30A.M. Once I run a wet cloth across my face & put in my false teeth (yup, they're fake. Where did you think that gap in my upper plate went???) and head out to get my coffee and paper. When I'm in Canada it's Tim Horton's and The Toronto Sun, although even the Sun has lost a lot of credibility in my eyes. Here in Florida I buy my coffee at Racetrac, where the sign says, "Best Coffee in the World." Yes, best coffee and worst cups! I have to check the lid every time I put it on so the coffee doesn't spill all over my Honda CRV. As for the paper, I read the New York Post, the only credible newspaper in North America (in my opinion) and also the oldest. Miranda Devine is my favorite writer.
Once I get home I throw on the news while I read my newspaper and drink my coffee. The habit of reading the newspaper every day began way back in Grade 3. My teacher at the time, Inez Haid, announced to the class that each week we'd have a current affairs test. Being a big brown noser, I started reading the Kitchener/Waterloo Record, which was thrown out at the end of our farm driveway once a day (except for Sundays, of course). When I finally went on the road in 1975/76 there were no TVs in the room, so I'd read every paper I could get my hands on. It's also where I developed my heavy coffee drinking habit. I've read where coffee cuts down prostate cancer by 50%. That means I'll never get it, I guess.
Once I've read my paper, drank my coffee, and done my exercises, then it's on to whatever dominates my day that day. Three weeks ago we were at The Regent Casino for an almost sold out show with Kickaxe. After the show I went to the merchandise booth as I do after every show. After glad handing and picture taking and signing autographs I went directly to my room and got sicker than f**k. The next morning we all congregated for breakfast-the band, Mike & Teresa Edgar (the SINGER for Nuthin But Trouble), Joe Kohn from Body Thredz, and a few others. Everyone got infected and sick over the next couple of days.
I had to fly back with everyone to Toronto on the Saturday. From there I was to go with Daryl to Iguana Studios, where we're working on a "secret" project with Vic Branco in North York. I cancelled that and once we hit Tronta I got my rental vehicle and Randy, Daryl, and myself headed for the Hwy. 6 parking lot where we dropped off Daryl, and then we headed back to London, arriving late.
That night I had the sweats & shakes. By morning I was starting to get a little better. Took it easy for the rest of the day, went back to sleep in the evening, got up at 1A.M. and drove back to Toronto & Pearson. By noon I was back in Fort Myers, the sunshine, bright colors, and warmth. However, it still took me over a week to feel 100%.
Then, two days after I got home, my tenant at my Airbnb moved out. When the cleaner got there she discovered that he'd knocked not one, but 58 holes in the walls. There was streaks down all the walls and furniture, stains on the new mattresses in both bedrooms...It happens. Being a landlord is not easy. It's the bad apples that screw it up for everyone else. But the Times, they are a changin'...
So I had to handle that disaster from 3,000 miles away. Luckily I have people back home that I trust that can go over and handle things. Thank God for friends!
Then two days after that, I was going to get my newspaper at 5:30 A.M. Got to the intersection of Tamiami and suddenly I had no transmission. I was able to coast to the curb with half the car still in the outside lane. Some time later a cop came along and threw his flashers on behind me. He helped me to get a tow truck and a tow back to Bayshore Village. Thankyou officer. From there I used Lynda's CAA to get towed to Honda. $3,700 US, a rental car bill, and two tow truck bills later, I had my car back. I tell ya though, that Toyota Sienna I rented was pretty sweet. Might be a transportation change in my future. By the way, it wasn't the transmission. Part of the axle broke that's connected to the transmission.
Also been talking a lot with Stett Howland about shaking down a few U.S. dates for us. Realistically, we could do a run of Detroit/Chicago/Millwaukee on a weekend, followed up by another weekend the weekend after that. The trick is to get the dates all together so the U.S. work permit can be done for all dates at the same time and costs can be allayed by having less transportation costs. It's all a mater of crunching the numbers as to whether it will work or not. Stett is out there with a variety of bands all the time, and knows the halls where we can go. He especially knows that circuit 'cos his last long time spent on the road was playing these venues with Metal Church.
Pics: With Cam Dick (Everybody loves a dick!) & Lynda at Stett's on Winkler.
On our last date in Winnipeg. Kaleb is in this picture 'cos Mark was getting surgery on his hand. Chich is now 100% and ready to go.
With Howard Mansheim, one of the oldest serving DJs in Canada who worked at Citi FM with Andy Frost.
Our new cat: Dynamite. (the name fits)
At our friends Mike and Kim Tackabury (taken in October)
#rocknroll#rockmusic#rock#helix#howardmansheim#canadianclassicrock
My number One focus is keeping in good health. That means walking 10,000-20,000 steps/day and doing my "breathing exercises." The breathing exercises I've been doing for almost 50 years as well. They're for the Intercostal Muscles, the Abdominal Muscles, and to make the diaphragm more "resilient". In between I do exercises to strengthen my legs and to keep my flabby stomach from getting flabbier. (is there a word?)
I usually get up early. That's why no one wants to room with me when we're on the road. I'm talking 4:30-5:30A.M. Once I run a wet cloth across my face & put in my false teeth (yup, they're fake. Where did you think that gap in my upper plate went???) and head out to get my coffee and paper. When I'm in Canada it's Tim Horton's and The Toronto Sun, although even the Sun has lost a lot of credibility in my eyes. Here in Florida I buy my coffee at Racetrac, where the sign says, "Best Coffee in the World." Yes, best coffee and worst cups! I have to check the lid every time I put it on so the coffee doesn't spill all over my Honda CRV. As for the paper, I read the New York Post, the only credible newspaper in North America (in my opinion) and also the oldest. Miranda Devine is my favorite writer.
Once I get home I throw on the news while I read my newspaper and drink my coffee. The habit of reading the newspaper every day began way back in Grade 3. My teacher at the time, Inez Haid, announced to the class that each week we'd have a current affairs test. Being a big brown noser, I started reading the Kitchener/Waterloo Record, which was thrown out at the end of our farm driveway once a day (except for Sundays, of course). When I finally went on the road in 1975/76 there were no TVs in the room, so I'd read every paper I could get my hands on. It's also where I developed my heavy coffee drinking habit. I've read where coffee cuts down prostate cancer by 50%. That means I'll never get it, I guess.
Once I've read my paper, drank my coffee, and done my exercises, then it's on to whatever dominates my day that day. Three weeks ago we were at The Regent Casino for an almost sold out show with Kickaxe. After the show I went to the merchandise booth as I do after every show. After glad handing and picture taking and signing autographs I went directly to my room and got sicker than f**k. The next morning we all congregated for breakfast-the band, Mike & Teresa Edgar (the SINGER for Nuthin But Trouble), Joe Kohn from Body Thredz, and a few others. Everyone got infected and sick over the next couple of days.
I had to fly back with everyone to Toronto on the Saturday. From there I was to go with Daryl to Iguana Studios, where we're working on a "secret" project with Vic Branco in North York. I cancelled that and once we hit Tronta I got my rental vehicle and Randy, Daryl, and myself headed for the Hwy. 6 parking lot where we dropped off Daryl, and then we headed back to London, arriving late.
That night I had the sweats & shakes. By morning I was starting to get a little better. Took it easy for the rest of the day, went back to sleep in the evening, got up at 1A.M. and drove back to Toronto & Pearson. By noon I was back in Fort Myers, the sunshine, bright colors, and warmth. However, it still took me over a week to feel 100%.
Then, two days after I got home, my tenant at my Airbnb moved out. When the cleaner got there she discovered that he'd knocked not one, but 58 holes in the walls. There was streaks down all the walls and furniture, stains on the new mattresses in both bedrooms...It happens. Being a landlord is not easy. It's the bad apples that screw it up for everyone else. But the Times, they are a changin'...
So I had to handle that disaster from 3,000 miles away. Luckily I have people back home that I trust that can go over and handle things. Thank God for friends!
Then two days after that, I was going to get my newspaper at 5:30 A.M. Got to the intersection of Tamiami and suddenly I had no transmission. I was able to coast to the curb with half the car still in the outside lane. Some time later a cop came along and threw his flashers on behind me. He helped me to get a tow truck and a tow back to Bayshore Village. Thankyou officer. From there I used Lynda's CAA to get towed to Honda. $3,700 US, a rental car bill, and two tow truck bills later, I had my car back. I tell ya though, that Toyota Sienna I rented was pretty sweet. Might be a transportation change in my future. By the way, it wasn't the transmission. Part of the axle broke that's connected to the transmission.
Also been talking a lot with Stett Howland about shaking down a few U.S. dates for us. Realistically, we could do a run of Detroit/Chicago/Millwaukee on a weekend, followed up by another weekend the weekend after that. The trick is to get the dates all together so the U.S. work permit can be done for all dates at the same time and costs can be allayed by having less transportation costs. It's all a mater of crunching the numbers as to whether it will work or not. Stett is out there with a variety of bands all the time, and knows the halls where we can go. He especially knows that circuit 'cos his last long time spent on the road was playing these venues with Metal Church.
Pics: With Cam Dick (Everybody loves a dick!) & Lynda at Stett's on Winkler.
On our last date in Winnipeg. Kaleb is in this picture 'cos Mark was getting surgery on his hand. Chich is now 100% and ready to go.
With Howard Mansheim, one of the oldest serving DJs in Canada who worked at Citi FM with Andy Frost.
Our new cat: Dynamite. (the name fits)
At our friends Mike and Kim Tackabury (taken in October)
#rocknroll#rockmusic#rock#helix#howardmansheim#canadianclassicrock
https://youtu.be/P_h92nEJdpw?si=GSXbKb-9w5VcVciJ
Here's the video for the song DON'T GET MAD GET EVEN from the NO REST FOR THE WICKED ALBUM. This was the second Captitol/E.M.I. release in Canada. The video was filmed at the Massey Ferguson plant in Toronto by Rob Quarterly of Champagne Productions. I remember our manager William Seip, complaining about the bad lighting throughout, but at $75,000, they weren't going to film it again. What we got is what we got.
The song was written by Tim Thorny & Lisa Da Bello. I tried writing with Tim at his place during this period, but we didn't produce anything. My fault probably...I also remember Lisa Da Bello coming to the studio to hear the song. We went for a ride in my car and talked and talked. About what I don't know. Can't remember....She was supposed to be Canada's answer to Kate Bush, but it didn't happen. Great artist though.
The only time I remember doing this song (it was hard to sing-very high) was at the very beginning of No Rest for the Wicked's release, and one other time-with Cindy Wiechmann at the London Fair. Cindy has a great voice and did the song proud.
#rocknroll#reelsviralfb #reelsviralfb #rockandroll #rock #FM96 #capitol #EMI Indie Tunz Records
Here's the video for the song DON'T GET MAD GET EVEN from the NO REST FOR THE WICKED ALBUM. This was the second Captitol/E.M.I. release in Canada. The video was filmed at the Massey Ferguson plant in Toronto by Rob Quarterly of Champagne Productions. I remember our manager William Seip, complaining about the bad lighting throughout, but at $75,000, they weren't going to film it again. What we got is what we got.
The song was written by Tim Thorny & Lisa Da Bello. I tried writing with Tim at his place during this period, but we didn't produce anything. My fault probably...I also remember Lisa Da Bello coming to the studio to hear the song. We went for a ride in my car and talked and talked. About what I don't know. Can't remember....She was supposed to be Canada's answer to Kate Bush, but it didn't happen. Great artist though.
The only time I remember doing this song (it was hard to sing-very high) was at the very beginning of No Rest for the Wicked's release, and one other time-with Cindy Wiechmann at the London Fair. Cindy has a great voice and did the song proud.
#rocknroll#reelsviralfb #reelsviralfb #rockandroll #rock #FM96 #capitol #EMI Indie Tunz Records
Helix - Don't Get Mad Get Even
Album: No Rest For the Wicked, Year: 1983, Brent Doerner guitar, Paul Hackman guitar, Greg "Fritz" Hinz drums,Mike Uzelac bass,Brian Vollmer lead vocals
Here's a great track from the WILD IN THE STREETS album 1988. Occasionally we still play this song in the electric set and it's a staple in our acoustic set. Filmed at the old Massey Ferguson plant in Toronto, same place we filmed Heavy Metal Love, Kids are all Shakin', Don't Get Mad Get Even, and Wild in the Streets. Produced by Rob Quarterly of Champagne Productions.
https://youtu.be/L97Tw42hwxc?si=K_Y6JiGC_kwNCU0b
#rocknroll #rockmusic #reelsfacebook #reelsviralfb
https://youtu.be/L97Tw42hwxc?si=K_Y6JiGC_kwNCU0b
#rocknroll #rockmusic #reelsfacebook #reelsviralfb
Helix - Dream On (SUPERSCALED TO 4K) 🇨🇦
Wild in the Streets was the sixth album by the rock band Helix, released in 1987.The album went gold in the band's native Canada, but only managed a disappoi...
Just Announced:
CORNSTALK
Taber, Alberta.
Sunday, July 26/2025.
HELIX w/Prism/Tom Cochrane/Northern Pikes
Picture: Helix in Attawapiskat/August 2024. In background: Sixth Beatle.
#tabormusic #CornStalk #harlequin#harlequinmusic#harlequinrockband #tomcochrane #northernpikes #rocknroll #albertarock #rockmusic #canadianrock
CORNSTALK
Taber, Alberta.
Sunday, July 26/2025.
HELIX w/Prism/Tom Cochrane/Northern Pikes
Picture: Helix in Attawapiskat/August 2024. In background: Sixth Beatle.
#tabormusic #CornStalk #harlequin#harlequinmusic#harlequinrockband #tomcochrane #northernpikes #rocknroll #albertarock #rockmusic #canadianrock
