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DECEMBER - 2004
Road
notes below - scroll down for previous post.
BACK TO TRAVELS WITH DAVE MAIN PAGE
Due to server problems...with the posts being far and few between this month, I
have made one HUGE post to make up for the time the site has had problems over
the last two months. Take your time and enjoy!...thanks, dp
12/23/04 - THOUGHT YOU NEVER HEAR FROM ME AGAIN? - HOME
Hello friends, so you thought you wouldn't see an entry for December 2004 huh?, well neither did I. It has been the longest between posts ever in the history of davidparksonline.com. As I would take the blame for any neglect occurring on my site, this time it has not been me. Server problems have kept me from updating the site successfully and I will be amazed if this post actually makes it to the web. I've wrote a few posts only to be lost in cyber space somewhere as I will place what all was NOT lost below for a game of catch up. Some things that have been updated that you may not be aware of are: New Video, New Photos and soon to come, a Year In Review. Enjoy the catch up below. Following the "past post", there will be a updated post.
- What would have been posted -
11/22/04 - WELCOME TO...THE GROOVE MACHINE, got groove? - HOME
Hello friends, I know it's been a while, but I blame it on being busy and computer problems. We (The Van-Dells) were in pretty rare form at the Glasgow, KY show a few weeks ago, everybody was just ON that night, we were very tight and played very well if I say so myself! The new Christmas record, "Presents from the Past" was officially released that night also. Everyone was in great spirits! Last Friday, I was able to catch one of my favorite bands of all time, again, Kings X here in Cincinnati, OH. It was the smallest place I had ever seen them but it was killer to see them that close. Some friends met me at the show to hang out and enjoy the show, afterwards I talked to all the guys in the band. One friend (ex roommate/best friend/KbJ guitarist) Mike Hicks couldn't make it so I had Doug from Kings X call him on my cell phone. Ty Tabor (KX guitarist) who mastered the GSP "In the beginning..." record, sat and talked about that album and other recording things for a while. He mentioned that he had the "ITB..." album cover on his wall in his studio, that made my night. I knew that another favorite of mine, "Delbert McClinton" would be playing in Louisville this month also at the very same venue that the Van-Dells perform often. I called the promoter and found my way into the show and going backstage. I have met Delbert before, but never had a camera handy...I came prepared this time. I've seen him a number of times also, but this by far was the best. He was in VERY RARE form that night. He was only contracted to play for 75 minutes but played almost 3 hours. His band was just smoking...great players! A best friend and ex Van-Dells crew, Brian Allinsmith (Mongo) went with me to the show. We both had a great time hanging with Delbert and the band backstage. I had one of my very first "got groove?" shirts on and I had brought another one along with me. I gave one to Delbert as a gift, he seemed to like it a lot and later I heard from the road manager that Delbert gave him specific instructions, "make sure this gets to my bunk on the bus, this is one cool shirt, this one's a keeper". If you're not up to speed on either one of these groups I'm referring to, here are some links. http://www.kingsxonline.com/ & http://www.delbert.com/ . Delbert's drummer and I talked the rest of the night about drumming and the business and it was son time to head back home. I'd have to say this is BY FAR the best show I've seen in a long while and very much so, the best I've ever seen Delbert. Thanks to Mary Powell for getting me the comp tickets and especially backstage to meet the man. She said, "you owe me big time", and that I do. She made me promise to make a mention of our upcoming concert in Louisville, KY at Coyote's. Check out http://www.van-dells.com/ for more info on ticket information. I'm actually packing up tonight to make my early flight tomorrow to fly to meet up with the guys in Atlanta, then we'll all fly to Jamaica to board the cruise that we'll play this week. Once back on land, I'll update my road notes as we hit Grundy, VA then to Louisville. It's gonna be a long haul and time away from the fam, that's the only downside to what I do. I'll be keeping my head into my work on the ship as I have a pretty big project ahead of me as I've already started as of last week. I don't want to say much about it now, but it is cooking. I'll announce something sometime after the first of the year. Oh yes, reunion photos. Thanks to everyone who has sent them in...I'm organizing like crazy and will post more once I'm back with more time. However, I noticed Paul Doege had some posted on his site, check it out at, http://home.att.net/~padoege/home.htm Once again, thanks for reading...I can't express enough how much your support means to me...check out the photos below of Kings X and Delbert...Have a great turkey day and c-ya in December...rock on...dp
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1. David and Kings X - 2.
David and Lynn Williams- 3. Brian & Dave backstage waiting on Delbert-
4. David & Delbert- 5. Delbert & Brian- 6. The front marquee at Coyote's
- notice the Van-Dells next to Delbert!
Photo #1 - Nov. 12 - Cincinnati, OH /
Photo #2 - #6 - Nov. 20 - Louisville, KY
The following is the only post
that was salvaged from the Cruise in November 2004.
Nov - Cruise - 2004
Nov. 23 - 24 2004
Vicky, Hailey and Dustin drop me off to the airport. The night before was
sleepless and stressful knowng that the next day I would be in another country
away from my loved ones. Jeff called a few days ago to let us know he wouldn't
be making the trip with us due to a broken hand. At this point, since Duke and
his family boarded the ship a few days prior to our arrival, he has no clue
about Jeffs hand or that he's not hear to play, this could be interesting. I
hear that an old friend/musician Wes Henly is on board, we're hoping he can
borrow a guitar and get us throught atleast the first show. Glenn and I flew out
of Cincinnati to Miami were we met up with Mark, Rod and Paul. Another flight to
Montego Bay, Jamaica. The landing wasn't as bad, but still a little shaky (link
here) Hey, haven't we been here before this year. Yes, and in fact we were even
in the very same immigration line. The same band that I videoed on the BIG
BONNANA (link here) were performing in the same spot. "Good to see they're still
working" Mark sarcasticly said as we all gave a half hearted road worn chuckle.
At this point it even hurt to laugh, but we didn't know what we had in store for
the rest of the day. After immigration and baggage check, we met with our driver
who said the hotel was about 70 or so mile from the airport. We thought, we
don't really want to be in another vehicle, but at least we get to see some of
the island this time. I haven't forgotten the way they drive down here, on the
left side of the road and it seems that rules don't apply. Speeds increase with
last minute moves to dodge head on collisions. Passing someone is called a TAKE
OVER and very well said as it's almost a contest. You hear cars honking non stop
as if to say, "get out of my way pal!" If I didn't know better, I would think
the whole island were in a race with each other and it was a life or death
situation, EVERYONE is in a hurry and it's chaotic...in a very dangerous way. We
would all make jokes about the crazy driving down here to deal with our
situation knowing that each of us are thinking we could become a news headline
at any moment. Nerve racking to say the least but with traffic and the curvy
hilly roads, that 70 miles took nearly 2 hours to drive, and the roads here are
just about a smooth as rock canyon. The ride beat us up pretty harshly. Once at
our resort here in Ocho Rios, we check in were the front desk is placed in a
gazebo style hut open to the air. No walls, Glenn and I shared room wich our
"bell boy" took us to with luggage. The keys wouldn't work so he had to find us
another room. Once settled in, I see a lizard scurring across the floor, it was
tiny...I awoke to one this morning the size of my shoe on the wall! After
settling into our rooms, we all met up to eat. I don't know if I was just that
hungry or the food was just that good, but we all had the fish and chips, and it
seemed to be the first last and meal I ever had. I just dropped my camera, it's
parted on the sides, I'm hoping to fix it. We'll see I guess if it works the
rest of the trip. Here's a video from our "not so" great landing...(just like
the first time) in Jamaica.
A NOT SO BETTER
LANDING, IN JAMAICA.....AGAIN!
"Other road notes were taken from this trip, but lost due to again "server problems". The end result was Wes Henley played guitar for the next two shows on the cruise and did a FABULOUS job. Thank the good Lord he just happened to be on the ship. It was a nice trip, though I missed my family a lot. We were in several different countries throughout the trip and I was reminded harshly of my little girl at home. Once during the show on the ship, I seen this little girl in the front row, then I started to think of Hailey. Later that night I ran into that same little girl at the eatery, I spoke to her of how she reminded me of my daughter...and as I asked the little girl her name she replied, "my name is Hailey". Needless to say, I was blown away. Another time was in Nassau, as I was walking around the shops, I passed by a married couple carrying a baby, as I passed them I heard the mother say to the father, "hey honey, let's go in here to find a dress for Hailey". At this point, I was convinced the lord was torturing me. We had a good time and good shows and extra space on the plain due to Jeffery not flying with us. The plane ride home was hell as we were dropped at the airport in St. Thomas at 9:30 AM as Delta didn't open til 1:00 PM. It's an open aired airport which means it was hot, HOT HOT! We plopped down right on the hard floor and slept the best we could. Made our way to a snak bar later to pass the time. My middle name is Glenn, as Glenn is the first name of one of the singers, when we fly together as we often do, we have a million problems with the tickets especially with international flights. This one was the most odd as Glenn's ticket had my name on them as mine did also, going through security with these were odd to explain as the Delta people would not help change them back over. Once inside, we had another 4 hour wait to even board the plane. Needless to say, a very long day.
"NEW POST"
I wasn't sure if I would be
posting about the murder of Dimebag Darrell as it did it very close to home for
me, but again who am I to make my views of something as tragic as this known. I
decided to post because it did hit so close to home for me, as a musician, as a
family man, as a fan and as a human. I seen Pantera over eleven years ago in
Evansville, IN. I met Vinnie Paul (brother of Dime) that night also. I was a fan
of their music and had much respect for their musicianship. It's a damn shame
that something like this can or even would happen. The night of the murders, I
heard about it less than two hours after it happened. Needless to say, I was
VERY much in shock and still am when I wake up each morning and think, "did that
REALLY happen"...cause it all seems like a very bad dream. Other musicians and
rockers poured out their sympathies and grief at his memorial service as Eddie
Van Halen even gave one of his guitars that Dime had longed to own to his family
to bury with him. Dime and Vinnie had just went to see Van Halen on their recent
tour and left Eddie a phone message which Ed played over a mic at the memorial
service. It's a very sad and tragic thing that happend...Dime, will miss you're
wonderful playing and uplifting attitude on music. God Bless Vinnie and all
those who are in loss, my prayers are with you all!
Links to other memorial sites for Dime and others.
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE AND ADULT CONTENT ON THE
FOLLOWING LINKS:
http://metal-sludge.com/main/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=847
http://metal-sludge.com/main/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=848
http://www.damageplan.com/
THE FOLLOWING WAS POSTED ON www.redrocker.com
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