More peaceful times...

Last night's out of control debauchery was quite the sight. As the boys mentioned a number of times through the course of the night, it was their last performance at Morgan's while it is under the ownership of longtime band supporter Brad Pilling. You will remember that it was Brad who resurrected the band's career, giving them a shot to regain the crown of hair metal supremacy. A three show tryout in 2002 has turned into a life changing run of city-wide (if not worldwide) domination. They owe part of their fame (and fortune...?) to their very own Colonel Tom Parker...Brigadeer Brad Pilling?

A night like last night makes you realize how easy it is to forget the quiet times the band has had in their roller-coaster past. The days when Johnny Emaxx did a brief stint in a seminary, until he discovered that it had nothing to do with inseminating anyone. The year-long journey of Dannii Lee Damage to find a community that was in touch with his quest, driven by his OCD and psilocybin abuse, to live in a town whose name referenced circumsized penises, which drive him to Taumatawhakatangihangakouuauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronuk- upokaiwhenuakitanatahu, New Zealand. And Likki Stix' record run of meditating for six consecutive months, without break. Many people often forget the band's spiritual (and often drug induced-) sabbaticals, some voluntary, some brought on by the rise of grunge.

But none of those periods of relative calm can rival Tommy Gunns' year of solitude. On a quiet autumn day, Tommy borrowed an ultralite aircraft from childhood friend John Denver. Unexpected weather conditions wreaked havoc with his flight plan. He got blown miles off course and, much like the crew of the S.S. Minnow and their friends, his three hour tour turned into a year of day-to-day survival on a desert island (well, deserted island...well, seemingly deserted...) off the coast of California. Gunns survived on roots and berries until he decided to walk around the island and discovered he'd only landed on a restricted government beach on Catalina Island. Had he ventured out earlier he wouldn't have lost 113 pounds and grown a beard that birds and small rodents found homey. But he did have a nice quiet year, so he's got that going for him.

Alas, no longer do the band have time for such foolish things. Their relentless touring schedule keeps their calendar full of thrilling nights like last night. And it's always nice to see, at the end of the night, that it`s Brad that is unconscious and not one of the Toyz!

Party on...

Eli Finkelstein (Cy's kid)