Monday
So I see there has been a bit of drama around here. Let's just get each other's backs shall we? I have not banned anyone but I have deleted some posts that were pushing the envelope. Anyway, sorry I haven't been around in a while. I have just been deeply involved with the music, my marriage and life that Internet time has become somewhat short over here. Billy, Dono and I had a killer time on Indie last Saturday. The show is now available on the radio. Please note that the Panic Radio has a new location. Your old bookmarks may not work. Thanks to Chase and Robert for making this all happen. Today, we go back into the studio for a final week of overdubs. It is going well, but, I can't be more descriptive than my partner Steve over on his blog. For a more in depth look at what we have been doing, check it out over there. We are really very close to done with the recording process.
1. Dave, have you heard the new Nine Inch Nails song "The Hand That Feeds" - if so, what do you think to it?
I love it. I love anything that guy does.
2. I just read the Power of Now and figured why not post?
One of my all time favorite books.
3. Has it (nonsmoking) effected your patience and tolerance in the studio?
Definitely! For the first week I was a mess, but I think I am leveling out now. This is more a question for those guys. Of course, I think I'm fine!
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March 28, 2005 at 11:33 AM | Comments (181)
New CFR
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March 27, 2005 at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
Mid-Week
Damn these weeks fly by fast. Today is all about finishing up Blue Bruises and Awake for me. We have the schedule staggered now so I work for a few hours and then Steve works for a few. It seems to be a lot easier on the head and soul this way. It's not just 12 straight hours in a row, all perspective lost. Today also marks 2 full weeks off the smokes for me! Just checkin in to say hello... Not much to report.
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March 23, 2005 at 09:40 AM | Comments (111)
New CFR
Last night's show is now posted. You may have to empty your browser's cache in order to hear the new file. Steve and I played our new song, Blue Bruises and had a blast chatting with our guest Madchen Amick. She is even lovelier in person. The rest of the Freddy boys took part in a fashion show for Rock & Republic and jammed on stage as scantily clad models threaded themselves in and out of the set. I spoke to Billy this morning and he reports an awesome time and was joined by such guests as Mark McGrath, Steve Jones, Billy Duffy, Jerry Cantrell, Josh Todd and Cypress' Sen Dog & Be Real. Perkins filled in for Sorum. (I still maintain that Isaacs and I had the better deal.) Today I am gonna just do some light reading (I'm With The Band, by my friend, Pamela Des Barres.), some gym time and some quality "wife time" at home. Tomorrow we head back into the studio for week two of our final recording month.
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March 20, 2005 at 01:11 AM | Comments (73)
Carmen Electra, You Are My Hero!
10 days off the smokes! Hell yeah! Anyway, sorry I haven't been checking in lately, I have been working away down at the studio for like 12 hours a day. Steve I. has been keeping a log about the progress over on his site. Clearly he is much more diligent than I when it comes to multitasking. Perhaps I'll be more available when he is doing his vocalizing and hypnotizing. So today. We are out of the studio for the weekend, but Camp Freddy has a gig at some fashion show tonight. I, however, am not gonna be playing as I have my wife coming home from Malaysia. She had been doing some South East charity stuff over there and I want to spend time with her. Both Perk and Chaney will be at the CF show, while Steve I. and I will be hosting tonight's CFR. Talk about multitasking, we are kind of franchising the Camp Freddy experience by being in two places at once. Plus, my wife has helped me arrange to have my favorite actress come down to the studio for a little appearance. Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks, Dreamlover) will be joining Steve and I in house around 7:30 tonight. "Carmen Electra, you are my hero!" Also, a special highlight will be another acoustic jam from Steve and I. A tune called Blue Bruises.
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March 19, 2005 at 10:37 AM | Comments (45)
7 Days
Day one down over at the studio yesterday. We got basics for Teahouse and Awake. Perk and Chaney just nail that shit. Today we focus on Blue Bruises, the only song we have never played live, then on to vocal and guitar overdubs for the remainder of the time. By the way, today is day 7 off the smokes. Yesterday was the first time in my life that I spent the day in the studio without smoking. It was hard, but easy if that makes any sense. Some have asked me what I have done to stop so far and here it is:
I started counting how many I had a day, then tried to decrease that number each day. For instance, I would only have one per hour. I did this for three weeks. Also, during this period, I saw Constantine, which pretty much fucked me up about it all, not to mention that Johnny Carson died of emphysema around this time. So, I had all that on my mind. Then I started to focus on the treatment for smoking related illnesses, not the death. I have done a lot of dangerous things in my life and death itself really isn't the scary part. We all die. What IS scary is the clinging to life on medication and plugged into tubes and monitors part. THAT, I could do without. I mean, it's not like you just might die one day from this, it turns into months and months of agony and hospitals and doctors and sadness. If the consequences were just a random, "lights out" one day, I might not be so concerned. That would feel more like gambling and living on the edge. But when the option is more about "clinging" to the edge, it all sounds less romantic. Anyway, after all that for about a month, I went to the patch. I dunno if it will stick or not, Lord knows I have gone back to harmful actions in the past, but I'm giving this my all for the time being. I never thought I would end up ranting about the dangers of smoking! Maybe the ranting in itself, is all part of my therapy. Anyway, enough said.
I spoke to Madchen Amick's manager yesterday. There is a chance that she might be calling in next Saturday down at CFR. Billy and the boys have a prior engagement that evening, poor guys, so Steve Isaac's will be filling in and co-hosting with me.
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March 16, 2005 at 10:44 AM | Comments (114)
Post Rehearsal
(Thanx to Wendybird for the photo.)
Well, last night we had a kind of showcase for some friends, family and associates. We played 7 songs:
Awake
Said You'd Be
Loophole
Half Hearted
Bloody Mary
Left To Lose
Teahouse of Spirits
All in all it was fun, but it was one of those rooms that just sounded bad. I dunno, to me it was as if the whole mix was going through a transistor pre amp with the treble cranked. Really harsh sounding. Whatever, what are you gonna do? It was cool to be able to rock a couple of new ones before we go in today for our final recording weeks. We paln to track the three new ones we wrote over the past two weeks and finish the overdubs on the old batch of tunes.
March 15, 2005 at 10:04 AM | Comments (3009)
Sunday 10
Last night's CFR is up on the Panic Channel Radio...
RE: Mail and IMs. I honestly cannot answer every single personal message I get, but I do read each one and appreciate hearing from you all. TPC has been super busy trying to create music and our spare time has become more and more short.
1. Dave, can you see The Panic Channel being a massively successful band?
Oh wow, I don't know. I mean, massive? I honestly couldn't say. I'd love to be heard and make a living, but the truth is that we are still in the phase where we just can't believe how cool it is that we are making a record.
2. Did you quit smoking Dave?
Yes. This is the fourth day I have gone without smoking. I'm using the patch, which makes for really cool and vivid dreams. It's going OK, so far, but I have to go day by day. After 22 years, it's kind of a tough one. I have kicked harder stuff, but it's not like you walk into a bar and people are slamming heroin everywhere.
3. Have you ever rocked the stage with an erection hidden behind that fret board of yours?
Me? Never...
4. Dave, remember your cribs where you showed off the picture that Manson painted of you, if I recall it was really dark and depressing, was that painted during your time of addiction?
It was indeed, however, with Manson behind the brush, I'm sure it would have come out the same if he painted it today.
5. I was wondering if you are familiar with Mark Ryden and his work.
I am. Not only do I love his work, he painted the One Hot Minute album cover. I have a tattoo of the fairy from his painting on my right arm.
6. Would you ever invite or hope to jam with Eddie Van Halen with Camp Freddy down the road?
We have asked him in the past and schedules never aligned. He has a standing invitation to the dance.
7. How do you keep "it" where it belongs? i'm not tired yet (8yrs!!) but, spring in nyc is almost unbearable....what's your secret?
I just think it through. Imagine your girl as if she were 8 years old on a swing set. How could you hurt that little thing?
8. Leather or Vinyl??
I'd have to go with leather. It seems more timeless to me. Vinyl has kind of an 80's vibe to it, but it's great for the hardcore vegan.
9. Do you plan on reading the book WHORES?
I'll more than likely skim through it but I have a feeling I'll get plenty of highlights here.
10. Were you happy with how "Three Days" the dvd came out and do you have any plans to produce again?
No plans at the moment but I loved how that movie came out. It really captured how fun and insane that tour was.
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March 13, 2005 at 09:45 AM | Comments (102)
CFR Saturday
Just checkin in, nothing really new going on. Yesterday was our last day in the rehearsal studio for a while. We have a weekend to ourselves and then into the recording studio to finish up the tracking of our album. Tonight is another installment of CFR on Indie. Billy and I will be holding down the fort while playing music, having some laughs and hitting the phones. I'm trying to get a hold of Madchen today, but it is last minute so I doubt I can wrangle her in today. Who knows? Perhaps I can hook it up for next Saturday.
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March 12, 2005 at 10:13 AM | Comments (47)
Mid-Week
So my wife is working on the sitcom, "Joey", for the week. She is deep in read throughs and rehearsals and all that. She does a lot of this guest star stuff on TV. She comes home the other day and says, "Dave, you'll never guess who is on this show I'm doing!" "Who?" I ask.
"Madchen Amick."
"My second favorite girl in the world? No Way!"
She proceeds to tell me how she has asked Madchen if I can call her from the radio show one week and she appears to be into it. What a wife, man. Hooking a brotha up!
Madchen there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Madchen all the people
living for today...
So, that might happen which is really exciting. Either way, my wife rules for even trying.
Another day of rock rehearsal. We have finished three new songs. Awake, Tea House of the Spirits and Blue Bruises. We begin tracking on Monday! The final weeks.
1. Future Goals of every member of the band:
I can't speak for everyone, but for me, to be creative and happy.
2. Personal Achievements of every member in the band:
My personal favorites are the Ritual Album, my marriage and putting down the drugs.
3. If you didn't make it as a “rockstar� what would you have wanted to be?
A film maker.
4. Dave, do you prefer to be a guitarist in a band or guitarist and singer on your own?
I had a great time doing my solo record and plan to do more someday, but my favorite thing to do is simply be a guitarist in a band.
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March 09, 2005 at 09:16 AM | Comments (127)
WCC
Riss and I went down to West Coast Customs yesterday to check up on the Grand National. That place is like an Automotive Disneyland. So far the car is looking sweet. Fresh all black paint, smoked tail lights and an all new black leather interior. They really do amazing work down there. We saw a couple "Pimped" rides that were ridiculously cool. I'm not pimping mine, just getting it all new like. No flat screens or Playstations, just tight gangsta/rock/white trash. The best of all worlds in one fine automobile. Should take about three more weeks or so. Blacked out rims, new exaughst system, music and some custom Panic logos on the wheel caps and floor mats. Dope, dope, dope, son. I'm probably sinking in twice the original cost of the car, but I'm not much of a shopper or spender, so I feel like I can justify it. More rock rehearsal today.
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March 08, 2005 at 09:42 AM | Comments (71)
Monday 4
This morning Riss and I are going down to West Coast Customs to check in on the Grand National. I'm gonna be picking out my rims and all that good fun. It's been in the shop for two months so I'm psyched to see it. I'm thinking that bitch should be done relatively soon, so when it is I'll put up some pictures. Later we go back into the rehearsal room to finish up our final week of preproduction for the record.
Here are the remainig four from the Sunday Ten:
7. In your JCM900 what kind of power valve do you have?
EL34 sounds about right.
8. Have you guys tried laying down drums for a song and then completing it with the rest of the tracks before moving on to another song?
Yeah, that is a lot of fun, but it gets expensive. We do all our basics together and then move on so we don't have to continue paying for a studio with a big drum room for overdubs.
9. Did you have any legal trouble from the makers of The Italian Job for using the name Camp Freddy, or did they even confront any of you about it?
So far, so good!
10. Dave, I heard Steve Vai talking about making a definitive statement on his guitar, before age plays into his physical limitation on his instrument. Does that ever cross your mind?
Never, but I think Steve's playing is a lot more physically demanding than mine.
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March 07, 2005 at 09:36 AM | Comments (61)
Sunday 6
John, my sincere condolences. The only advice I have is to just hang in there, it will get easier with time.
Boots, Happy Birthday!
Chad, Thanx for the Messy Comics!
The CFR show from last night is up:
1. If TPC tours, will it only be in clubs? Just wondering.
We are hoping to do the clubs as well as open for another band in larger venues. A little six of one, half dozen of the other.
2. So Dave your honest opinion... Love it or hate it? (TPC tat)
Well, I absolutely think it's awesome! I just hope you like our record. I appreciate the vote of confidence in us.
3. What things did you do to clear away the "emotional baggage"?
Gave up the drugs and found a spiritual way of life that works for me. It was important to me that a spiritual way of life was of my understanding and not necessarily a predetermined religion, although religions fortunately work for zillions of people. In short, a simpler and broader way of thinking as in a Big Picture sort of way has been the key for me. Make any sense?
4. Are you watching the new America's Next Top Model? What do you think so far?
I love going from subjects of spirituality straight into America's Next Top Model, but, hell yes, I watch that shit! So far? I can't tell as I am having a hard time picturing any of them winning. I just hope for catty drama and the ruthless Janice Dickinson. That's really all I ask for from that show.
5. What have you been Tivo-ing while spending all this time in the studio?
All the Law & Orders (not sold on Trial By Jury, yet), CSI, ANTM, Surreal Life, American Idol, Intervention, People's Court, House, Cold Case with a forensic wishlist kicker! I think that's it, but my season passes change quite often cause I burn out on stuff. A lot of this stuff is just "laying in bed to fall asleep" type of programming.
6. Dave I have a really important exam on Wednesday.....got any ways I can get out of it?
Dude! That is three days from now! My advice? Study for it. "It ain't like ya don't got the time!"
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March 06, 2005 at 11:06 AM | Comments (75)
CFR Saturday
Tonight on CFR Steve Isaacs (The Panic Channel) and John Claydon (Doheny) will be joining Billy and I for a little in studio acoustic stylings. Steve I and I will be doing an acoustic version of our song, Outsider. I have missed the last couple of weeks down at the station and I am looking forward to going back home to Indie 103.1. The show will be re-broadcasted on the Panic Channel Radio for those of you who cannot listen live.
1. If you could get a call from anyone tomorrow for a guest appearance, who would it be?
Madchen Amick!
2. When you play a cover song how do you play the guitar solo, is it a loose interpretation or do you play it as written?
It depends. Some songs, like Zeppelin, I try to stay fairly true in a loose kind of way, yet in other cases, such as The Clash or Sabbath or T. Rex, I pretty much just make it up as I go along.
3. Could you ever evolve that section (She Won't Last - outro) into it's own song, because it almost seems like it would do it more justice that way?
Dude, we are right there with you! Thinking the same thing!
4. Where did you get your patent leather Ponys?
They were a gift, so I don't know, but they for sure are my favorite shoes.
5. I was wondering if you know anything about a book that is coming out next month call whores - an oral biography of Jane's addiction? The description says you made some comments for the book with Perry. Is that true? If so have you seen it completed yet?
I haven't seen anything on this yet, but it was done by the guy who did the Spin article on Jane's a while back. My comments were pretty much only for the article so I have no idea what the rest of the book says or how it came out.
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March 05, 2005 at 10:04 AM | Comments (61)
Friday
Still in the writing process and coming up with some new jams. We have written three new songs to track on the 14th now as we have pushed back our recording schedule a week. It turns out we were asked to loan our producer, Brian "Gummo" Virtue, to another band while they mix. We were more than happy to oblige as we can always use the time to work out any kinks in the tunes and get them as solid as possible. You know what they say, "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail." It aint so great when you are in the studio without a solid direction. So far we have done all of our writing in the rehearsal studio and done all of our preproduction before tracking. I have been involved with records that have been primarily written in the studio and there is always a lack of cohesiveness in the outcome. Not to say that they were bad records, they just don't sound fully realized. OHM was a lot like that to me. A great record, but we did most of it in the studio and to me, it sounds like it. We just don't want to go "fishing" when we get in there. Arrangements, lyrics, melodies, dynamics... done.
New Camp Freddy Radio tomorrow with special guests, Steve Isaacs and John Claydon.
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March 04, 2005 at 11:24 AM | Comments (43)
Checkin' In
The past couple of days has been all about writing and band stuff. A photo shoot, some new songs. Steve has a new one called Blue Bruises. I am really loving this one. "One of my favorites." I know that some have asked, "Why have B-sides or extra material, why not just have a longer album?" I think that the point is that we would like our record to be around 45-50 minutes. Some of my favorite albums are double albums such as The Wall or The Fragile, but those records do require a lot of work to get through. I think we are shooting for a cohesive and solid first effort. Plus, those double records are from established bands. We are brand new. Double records are also, more expensive. In any event, we are gonna carve it all down to the collective 10 or 11 favorites and lead with those.
There are a couple of new jams up on the Loop Experiment page. For those of you who are new to this site, we have started a kind of online jam/writing situation which I think is really cool, creative and unique. These people have created music without even knowing each other while living in different countries. All done through the Internet. Good work everyone! For more information, check out The Panic Community. Click on the Loop Experiment thread. Let's be the first to have an online created, podcasted album!
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March 02, 2005 at 10:44 AM | Comments (88)