lost in translation?

after our show in Den Bosch, Netherlands
(our second show with Marco and it's already cooking, thank you)
two gentlemen approaching me for an autograph began in this way:
"Adrian, you are getting OLD"!!!
"we have seen you so many times now."
they went on to tell me each venue I had played
and with which band, but I had stopped listening at the word "old".

I figure I'm on my second life.
having met literally many thousands of people
while playing concerts around the world in cities multiple times
and having traveled perhaps a million miles doing so
in cars, vans, trains, boats, and planes
I figure I'm already done with my first life and have seen more
than most people ever will in one life,
so now I'm on to my second life.

and yes, it's true in my first life I am probably "old"
and maybe tired and jaded and should have retired long ago.
but in my second life I figure I'm about 23 years old by now,
full of spunk, and raring to go!

the next gentleman who approached me seemed also to be struggling
with the concept of complimenting someone you admire.
I do believe he admired me but he began by saying,
"so, Adrian, you are not the greatest guitarist",
uh huh,
"and you are not the greatest singer",
please, do go on,
"but you have such an ENERGY!"

they ADORE me over here!

post-it's from abroad

Newcastle, a city I'd never been to turns out to be
some kind of architectural wonder.
a maze of winding streets and alley ways surrounded
by huge old brick industrial behemoth buildings
sandwiched between modern glass structures
and a couple of amazing bridges which
were the first of their kind anywhere in the world.
a surprisingly good city for walking around.

sid smith was at our first- ever UK show in Newcastle.
he interviewed me after the show.
sid's a lovely man and the only fan/friend who will be
able to claim seeing both the first and last shows.
sid's coming to our final show in Sweden.

our first show in London was a smashing success.
a great happy audience in a packed dark rock club
with a power trio absolutely on fire!!!

Tobias played perfectly through his two-show tour.
he is a fabulous drummer and a super-sweet guy.
Julie, John, and I loved working with him.
I highly recommend Tobias for anyone needing
a drummer who can play anything he wants.
thank you so much Tobias.

speaking of a drummer who can play anything he wants:
for our night off in London we had Bill Bruford for dinner.
he was very tasty, as always.
Bill regaled us with his stories, his wit and charm.
his take on the business of making music is as thought-
provoking as ever, and we had loads of laughs.
Bill is on the short list of my all-time favorite friends.

Amsterdam remains my euro-city of choice,
which is where we are at the moment, about 20 minutes
outside Amsterdam on the day of show in nearby

last night I took a bus down to Leidesplein, the exact same
area I spent a week in recently and there I met Tom Trapp
in the exact same Italian restaurant we last ate in (Peppino's)
and we had a fablous meal
and walked over to my favorite hangout Bilblos
and met with our favorite barmaid Celine.
Tom and Celine and me, just like old times. it was great.
then John Sinks and Julie joined us (they had been walking
through other parts of the city) and everything was perfect.

just met up with Marco in the lobby checking in just in time.
in two hours we will be doin our sound check.
with one whole month of shows left
the Adrian Belew Power Trio v.3 is officially back!!!

41 days and nights....

here we go again!
all across Europe on the longest tour any of
the power trios have done yet.
having witnessed and participated in the creation
of this tour and knowing the incredible amount
of work it takes to make such a thing happen
I can only say this:
DON'T MISS THIS CONCERT !!!
you never know how long it may be before we can do this again.

last week Julie and Tobias arrived for two days
of rehearsal officially crowning the birth of ABPTv.4
Tobias turns out to be a sweet guy and a fabulous drummer
who came well-prepared and enthusiastic.
he will be the perfect addition for our two shows in the U.K.
we even learned another crimson song we've never done:
indiscipline.

the tour includes 4 clinics as well
so if you've ever wondered how this wacky stuff happens,
here is your chance to ask and learn.

needless to say we're very excited.
there will be many new places for us to conquer,
many new faces to see, and foods to devour.
here we come!!!