this is 53

Well, for those who actually read my blogs, thanks so much! Here's another one for ya (to quote David Coverdale...)

I turned 53 years old on November 2nd, and am very proud of that. Some people freak about getting older but not me. I embrace it. It's better than the alternative, right?

Last Sunday I had rehearsal but not with Mike Sabatini. HUH? Don't worry, he's still playing on the next album. But another drummer will be making a guest appearance, someone that I've been friends with for close to 30 years: TC Tolliver of the Plasmatics.

Yes you read that right.

I met TC back in 1993 when he joined TM Stevens' band (bassist with Steve Vai/James Brown/Miles Davis, etc) and he was one of the best drummers I ever saw and heard. And as fate would have it, TC played in my band back in 2012-2013, a few shows here and there, but wow he played that kit like it owed him money. And then another twist of fate: TC and I played together in TM's band between 2012-2014. Lost touch over the years, as lives got busy and such.

But Mike asked me "What do you think about having TC on your album?" and I said "What about you?" He said he wants to still play on it, but thinks TC would add a bit more oomph to things. Jammed with TC last weekend on one tune and it was like we never stopped playing together. That vibe came back, or did it ever leave in the first place? 

We rehearsed the song a few times and then agreed "Leave it alone, sounds great the way it is." If the planets line up, TC will come up to Mike's studio to lay down his parts. So in one respect, the new album is already being worked on. Still have more songs to do with Mike, but it's nice to see things grooving well.

So while this will be the 9th album (!!), it will be the first album to feature TWO drummers. That's never happened before. Only in my world...

BTW: I won the #1 spot on Monday for Instrumental Artist Of The Month with the ISSA! Nice to see people took the time to vote for me, as quirky as the music is. 

This is 53, people.