So What If There Are No More Hits?
Mood:  a-ok
Keith Richards said in 1997:

"I want to make really good stuff. If we get hits out of it, fantastic, but if not they'll be damn good records, and they'll still last, and they'll be around a long time. The immediate gratification left me a long time ago. If you don't get it, you ain't been there, but maybe you'll get it further down the road."

I am so sick of people saying to me "The Stones haven't had a hit record since 1978 or 1981" etc. Who cares? Hit with who? Do you listen to the crap that's on the radio these days that is considered to be "hits"? A bunch of teeny boppers who don't play any instruments, don't write any of their own material and get choreographed dance moves. Or, worse yet, the ones that constantly "sample" other artists hits to make their own "hits" instantly recognizable.

I don't care if the Stones don't release what today's industry considers a "hit" album. What they do do is release consistently good albums.

The Stones are a "live" band. How many people heard "Out of Control" on Bridges to Babylon or "Don't Stop" on 40 Licks and said "Ah, it's an ok song" only to hear it live and go "Hey that's a great live track". That's what the Stones do best. They take a studio track and they push it into another realm on the stage. That's why we can go to hundreds of Stones shows and still get something new and refreshing, even if it's a song we've heard 100 times.

So what's with the fans on the boards actually bitching about another live album? I can't understand that at all. People try to infuse the reasoning that we all have bootlegs of the live stuff...but a well mixed polished official release can't compete with even the best bootlegs. I for one am looking forward to the live album, especially disc 2.

So as Keith said above: "If you don't get it, you ain't been there, but maybe you'll get it further down the road."

Maybe you won't, but then that's your tough luck.

A banner week for me
Mood:  not sure
Well, things started out on a sour note with the announcement of Charlie's throat cancer. Ironically, I had just posted an "ode to Charlie" in the appreciation column on RS.COM. I do wish you well Charlie and I think of you every day.

The week got better (well better for news, but not for my ability to act on it) when I was invited to the San Francisco Art Exchange to see Ronnie Wood's exhibit, which he is due to appear at on Sept. 2. Unfortunately for me, I am already booked to be in Wildwood for a Stones fan gathering from Sept 2-6.

And so that also cancels out my attending the Rod Stewart concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 30 at which Ronnie will be a special guest. Damn.

But then I got good news from RS.COM mid-week and also from Jane Rose yesterday, so things in my Stones world always seem to balance out.

This coming weekend I will be in Annapolis, MD and on Saturday I'll be meeting a few more Stones fans for a lunch get together. Should be fun!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone :-)

Prayers for Charlie Watts
As many of you have read, Charlie Watts, was diagnosed in June with throat cancer and has been receiving treatment since that time. He is doing well and a full recovery is expected. Please keep Charlie & his family in your thoughts and prayers as he goes through this difficult time. We LOVE you Charlie and look forward to seeing you on tour in 2005!

Satisfaction Tribute Band
Mood:  chillin'
Tonight I am going to see the Stones tribute band Satisfaction at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Prospect, PA. They tour the country quite a bit and are known as one of the greatest tribute bands in the US. Look for a story on them in issue #16 of Stones Planet due in the Fall.

Bottom Line Washington, DC
On Friday April 2nd a bunch of Stones fans got together at the Bottom Line Saloon in Washington, DC for their 5th annual gathering. We have been gathering here each Spring ever since the Stones played the MCI Center for the No Security tour in '99. Fun, food, drinks and Stones music from the DJ...even the wait staff joins in on the fun. We had Keith, Mick & tongue stickers for all. Photos will be posted shortly. Thanks to all who attended!

Keith and Mick at R&R HOF AWARDS
Both Mick and Keith will be in NYC on Monday March 15 for the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Keith will induct ZZ Top and Mick will present an award to Jann Wenner from Rolling Stone Magazine. Will they both take part in the jam session? Wait and see. Show will be broadcast on VH-1 March 21 at 8 & 10 pm in US.

Patti & Alexandra
Patti Hansen, wife of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, hosted the Fashion Week event and got to watch her daughter, Alexandra Richards, new to the modeling circuit this season, float down the runway in a billowy red chiffon gown by Zac Posen on Feb. 6.

Keith in the Sun, Daughter in NY
While Keith is whiling away the winter freeze in the Turks & Caicos, where he reportedly has a new house, his daughter Alexandra is in NYC preparing to walk the catwalk for Fashion Week, which kicks off today.

She's So Cold
Mood:  chillin'
Heading to Florida for a few days to get out of this hellishly cold weather here in Pittsburgh. Highs of 8-14 and lows of 1-5 degrees do not make me happy. So off to Naples where, "She Was Hot".

Last Year on January 10th...
Mood:  vegas lucky
Last January 10th the Stones were in Pittsburgh to play the Mellon Arena. It was a great night. In fact on the 9th we got to see all the Stones walk into the hotel and I spoke to Keith as he got into the elevator. On show night we were 2nd row on Keith's side and it was breathtaking, and at the B stage we were front row Keith's side. I had a scarf for Keith and before I even had the chance to give it to Keith, Tony told me "Keith would love to have that scarf" and took it from me to give to him after the show. Later, back at the hotel Tony told me "Keith loved the scarf, he said it was the best gift of the night and has it hanging on his lamp". On the afternoon of the 11th when Keith was leaving the hotel, Tony stopped Keith and pointed to me, I came over and Keith put his arm around me and said "Thank you darling" and kissed me on the lips! It was the culimnation of a dream come true after waiting 22 years!