Happy Birthday, America!

Yes, I'm proud to be an American. Not always proud of the way our leaders handle things but overall, very glad to live where I do.

I'll spend today with family, watching parades and saluting veterans, watching fireworks and eating barbecue.



I admit, I hold dual citizenship, and sing two national anthems. One for my country:



and one for my band:



Hope you all have a happy Fourth!

~ Hath

New Biscuit Posted

I may end up being one of the few people banned from Twitter for writing porn in 140-character chunks. I had a wee bit much to drink this evening, and tweeted a bit o'Jonny love. I've posted it in the Biscuits section.

Lord help me.

~ Hath

Why Jon Got Prettified

So remember how a little birdie had told me that Jon had hired a stylist? Methinks he was getting ready for the Prada Congo Benefit Party that was held earlier at The Double Club in London. I have no idea where Richie was; can't seem to find any shots of him all duded up.

Still in London...

... where are my UK Devotees? The guys look like they're in good spirits.

Anyone else love that their friendship shows through all the time? I mean the playful mugging for the cameras --- this looks like goofing around stuff I'd do with my girlfriends... So nice to see them relaxing and enjoying themselves.

Hopefully their happiness means the mixing is going well and they're ahead of schedule. I don't know about you, but I didn't get to go to JazzFest or Vegas or the HOF performance or Summerfest or Montcon. It's been almost a year *snif* since Central Park.

BOYS! Listen up!

I NEED A NEW TOUR!

and while I'm making demands, BUY NEW CLOTHES! I swear to God, I see you guys in these same duds waaaaaay too often. I'll volunteer to personal shop for you. Please. Guys. Seriously....




~ Hath

Here Comes The Sun...

What is that big yellow ball in the sky?

Seriously, the weatherman says it's gonna rain for a week, and THAT'S what they get right? Rainy days and Mondays may always get me down, but five or six of them in a row make me downright homicidal (I love myself way too much to be suicidal).

But now....

Can it be?

BLUE up in the sky?

REALLY?

In celebration, here's one of my favorite covers of the George Harrison classic. I believe it was from a memorial show after George passed. I listen to this on the iPod all the time.



And some of my favorite screen caps from the video:



Enjoy!

~ Hath

Happy Anniversary (of a sort)

On this day in 1983, after having been together for less than a year, Bon Jovi signs with Mercury Records.

And oh, how grateful we are that you did.

~ Hath

Sadly, not looking good for the AFL...

The AFL's board, citing debt and higher expenses, canceled the 2009 schedule in December and hopes to play again in 2010.

“We get to keep the [Arena Bowl] trophy for two years because we’re in suspension,” Bon Jovi said with a smile at the Marriott Marquis Hotel before he went onstage to receive his Songwriter's HOF trophy.

“But here’s the truth,” he said. “If we come back, we will set a new benchmark for what is sports ownership.

“This is more than a lockout. We’re on the brink of the abyss. I can tell you thousands of man hours are spent trying hard to keep those players employed and keep our fans satisfied. This is my first comment about this process and I’m already regretting giving it to you because I don’t want to talk out of school. We all love it so much that we are working. I swear to you we are working everyday. There are phone calls at seven o’clock every night about what we’re doing to try and keep it afloat.”

Bon Jovi said the league’s chances for survival are “50-50.”

Eventually, he would like to explore ownership of an N.F.L. team. “Yeah, why do you think I’m getting this education?” he said about his A.F.L. experience.

~ Hath

Who Dares Wins

I've always been partial to the winged guitar, myself. I just think it's beautifully done, and the words, "Who Dares, Wins" is a fantastic life lesson: Know who you are, take command of your life, and go after what you want. Oh, and don't take any shit from anybody. Doesn't get much simpler than that.

It's also the motto for the UK SAS branch of the British Army. No lie. Probably others, too, but that one for sure. The SAS emblem is below...



There's some argument over whether this is a dagger, or the Sword of Damocles or Excalibur, but I don't think the sentiment changes depending on the blade's definition. Though I kind of like the Arthurian reference myself.

Of course, if you interpret it as Damocles' sword, well, that kind of makes Temptation take on a whole different meaning, no? I mean "I'm gonna hang my head down tonight on Damocles' sword" of course makes reference to Damocles wanting a taste of the good life of his king, Dionysius...until he learned that the king always had a sword hanging over his head by a horsehair.

In the song, the hero is leaving what he knows for the temptation of something better, in this case, a beautiful woman. But is it really better? Are there hidden dangers that he doesn't see? He can't seem to resist

Twist my wrists/Tell me I should resist/But the flesh is weak

though he knows he should; he knows he's in trouble.

Temptation / Go home lord / I'm walking straight into the ocean / Tell the tide I'm on my way

But if Richie's tat is based on the SAS badge, and the blade is "Damocles' sword", then laying your head on Damocles' sword could represent leaning on your brother, your best friend, when you're in trouble, and relying on him for help. Laying your burden at his feet as it were.

That's probably way too freaking deep for 5:30 in the morning.

In any event, I'm rarely philosophical or quasi-insightful this early in the day for a reason, and I should stop it right now.

Want a tat like Richie's of your very own? Here's a larger drawing to take to your tat parlor.



~ Hath

Monton Setlist and Video Links

Montcon SetList

GLAD ALL OVER
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
LOST HIGHWAY
BORN TO BE MY BABY
RUNAWAY
LAST MAN STANDING (clip)
RAISE YOUR HANDS
SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD w/ Takin' Care of Business
MAKE A MEMORY
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
SOMEDAY I'LL BE SATURDAY NIGHT
WE GOT IT GOING ON (Richie's Solo)
IT'S MY LIFE
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Richie Sambora lead vocals)
SUMMERTIME
HAVE A NICE DAY
KEEP THE FAITH
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME (clip)
BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout

Encore:
HALLELUJAH
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

SummerFest

SummerFest Setlist ~ Video for most

1. Glad all over
2. Bad Name
3. Lost Highway
4. Born to be my baby
5. Runaway
6. Last Man Standing clip 1 clip 2
7. Raise your Hands
8. Sleep When I'm Dead (David-centric yum!)
9. Make a Memory
10. Whole Lotta Leavin
11. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (clip)
12. We Got It Going On
13. It's my life (clip)
14. I'll Be There for You - Richie
15. Summertime
16. Have a nice Day
17. Keep the Faith
18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
19. Bad Medicine / shout (Jon jumped into the crowd)

encore
20. Wanted
21. I love this town
22. Livin on a prayer

There are lots of good reviews. Big Apple Jovi Girl has an honest review, the others are all far more complimentary. I recommend BAJG's :)

Other Review...

~ Hath

da Boyz in London

Jon and Rich, seen leaving Claridges Hotel in London...


OOOOH!!!! Does this mean they're mixing today?

~ Hath

A Little About Soraia

Philly hard rockers Soraia warmed up the stage pre-Jovi at Summerfest, with a half-hour of blistering songs that harkened back to an earlier era.

Named after the lead singer, Soraia "Sue" Mansour, the five-piece band is the protege of Bon Jovi producer Obie O'Brian. They're currently in the studio working on a follow up to last year's debut, "Shed the Skin," which Chicago blog The Screen Door called "nine all-killer no-filler transporting blissful meditations filled with golden harmonies, funkadelic riffs and spiritual soul bearing lyrics."

You can read the interview Sue gave here.

But, here's what she had to say about Bon Jovi:

Well, I'm really grateful -- and they didn't tell us to say this -- we had our send-off show last night in Philly, and the guys in Bon Jovi want to take care of us so much. They're giving us a longer sound check just so we're comfortable up there. They've been doing it for, what, 25 years? They're at a much different level than us, but it doesn't change the fact that they're still human and they still took that into consideration. They've just been going out of their way to be supportive of us, and I think that's awesome. I think that's really cool. I don't know that every band at that level does that.

~ Hath

Poor Jonny

The 45,000 fans who watched Bruce Springsteen play out of his skin at Hyde Park last night may have thought they had the night of their lives.

But the show could have gone on even longer had it not been for the health and safety kill joys.

Waiting in the wings at Hard Rock Calling was none other than Jon Bon Jovi, who was due to join The Boss and his E Street Band for a special encore.

But their duet had to be scrapped after Bruce ran over the 10.15pm curfew.

The pair are both from New Jersey and have sang together before. This time they had planned to perform Hungry Heart.

But our source said: “The show had run for three hours, and sadly had just nudged over the curfew limit when the organisers have to shut the sound off.

Jon was waiting at the side of the stage, ready to go, but when the plug was pulled it was just too late.

“It would have been an incredible ending to the show, and it's a huge shame it couldn't happen.

Bruce and Jon were gutted. It's probably just as well the crowd didn't know he was waiting on the side of the stage, as they would have been gutted as well.”

The London crowd were a little too polite for the first half an hour, prompting Bruce to ask: “Are you there London? Is anyone there?”

But he was soon left in no doubt that the crowd was behind him.

The boss wasn't too worried about the time at Glastonbury the night before, where he persevered and played through the curfew there — earning a £9,000 fine in the process.

We're a little surprised that Bruce didn't “stick it to the man” this time for the sake of his pal Jon. But, at 60, he's probably tired of being a rebel.

~ Hath

source

Stories Updated

Told you so...


Online has a new chapter up.

Joker has been updated.

and

Believe has another installment posted.

*whew*

Rings should be ready soon; I've been out of touch for a while and need to call Terri :)

Hope you enjoy what's been posted!


~ Hath

More San Fran Goodies

In my SanFran folder on my SkyDrive: an ET bit, and an interview from CNN. Folder is here...




~ Hath

Stand By Me

You've got to check out this video... Jon and Richie show support for the people of Iran by singing parts of the song ‘Stand By Me’ in Farsi, along with local celebrity Andy!

Bon Jovi’s lyrics in Farsi are:

dast beh dast (hand in hand)

hamsedaa (sharing a voice)

to baa man hamvatan (you and I are compatriots)

dardeh to (your pain)

dardeh man (my pain)

ba man bassh (stand by me)

Wow.

The MP3 is in my bits and bobs folder.


~ Hath

I'm Back!

I was away for several days with Mr. Hath and the Hathlet, getting some sun, and going on WAY too many amusement park rides.

I have over 150 emails to get through, not to mention all my Google Alerts, but slowly but surely I'll get everything up -- you just have to give me a couple of days :)

Cheers!
~ Hath

PS: And because you're being so patient, there will be new chapters of Online, Believe, and Joker tomorrow :)