Happy Holidays All, Update

I know some people were wondering where the hell I've been. Well I'm alive (I think).

I took some time to relax and contemplate what I was doing since my last venture in making something wicked happen in Windsor.

First off I'd like to thank those of you who helped get the word out years ago when The Zebra Room started and there was a genuine desire in Windsor to have a kickass club night! I'd also like to thank those that came out regularly (especially during the first two years).

Secondly I'd like to thank those that were supportive when we had the chance of a lifetime to start something incredible at a place like Club O a few months ago. Even though things didn't work out, it was worth a shot and I appreciate those that tried to help get the word out, and supported the night with their patronage and drinks.

It just became very evident to me that the cards were stacked against Windsor this year (and the last couple years) to make the scene work well. It is just impossible between the border turning our American neighbors around at the border and taking their costume props, the decline in the number of people into the scene in Windsor, people moving away, the lack of new students into the scene in Windsor, the stupid delusional drama that never goes away with a select few, the economy turning to crap, and bars in Windsor hurting in general.

I wish things were different but they aren't. It became obvious I was taking it far too personally when I started playing other cities and the US, that it wasn't my fault. These other places went nuts, and were thriving and positive. Windsor is just in a bad state right now, which is unfortunate because there are some really great people here that deserve a big night of their own. And I know not everyone can afford or can cross the border all the time. I apologize to you, I was trying to make that happen at Club O, but we just don't have the numbers for it right now.

I haven't been happy behind the wheels in Windsor for years anyways. All I do is reminisce about the days when Fridays were jam packed at Zebra every week, and the border was cooperative, and the BS was far less prevalent.

I do not wish to celebrate mediocrity by throwing a night that isn't top notch, or doing it at a club that isn't nice. I wanted Windsor to have something that was exceptional and WORTHY of supporting, and legitimately made people come together and happy. It's just impossible right now.

Since I have removed myself from the loop, I have recuperated and realized that channeling my efforts into remixes for www.theelectricfront.com radio and big bands that I am honored to be working with now, I am furthering my career instead of putting it on the shelf all these years.

A lot of people don't know the thousands of hours in prep time, making audio and video remixes and events went into The Zebra Room and the latter Club O. It's impossible to do that, and run a big online station AND do my debut album and official remixes.

Guess what I always did? I always put people and the club first, and my career got put on the back burner for years. One good thing that came from it though, is the fact that I have the contacts now, and a studio that can make ANY sound I imagine now. A few years ago my album would have been a compromise in my own mind, and maybe I wouldn't have met the connections I have now to get my career going fast!

Now I have had the incredible pleasure of working officially with people I idolize like Icon Of Coil, Apoptygma Berzerk, XP8, Zombie Girl and a few more that I cannot divulge right now. The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity in starting my music career.

Being published with bands I love is already a dream come true (was an honor to be included on the Nitzer Ebb tribute CD with Seb and Azreal doing Nitzer Ebb whom I idolize). There are 4 more CD's coming out soon that I did remix or backing tracks on!

My last project before doing my album is a ten minute mash up for Apop and a club remix of the new APB song Love To Blame. I can't wait to get started on it next week!

When the APB work is done, it's finally time to start my album. The title of the album will be called "What Bends Does Not Break".

I'm very excited to have invites to do shows on both sides of the ocean upon completion of my album and I plan on doing a DJ AND band thing and arranging a tour of sorts on my own first, and THEN hopefully opening for someone incredible.

The station is blowing up and I will no longer be able to do EVERYTHING on it much longer, so If you'd like to write news articles, reviews or anything else let me know and maybe we can set something up. Until the station goes to satellite or professional account where I do all the royalty payments myself and accounting, the jobs cannot pay right now, but TRUST ME, the exposure could be priceless. You never know whos listening or reading!

2006 is going to be a huge year, and I can hardly wait for it to start!

As for the Zebra and Club O in the past, I knew what each one of you liked and wanted before you even asked, and it was that familiarity that made it feel like family back in the day. I will miss that.

I didn't like the cycle of if you play something new, noone dances even if it kicks ass, but then when you get asked to play the shit they request, then you're guilty of playing the same bloody crap! I don't miss that!

I don't wish to remember the negative, because it was far outweighed by the positive the first 2 years of The Zebra. Besides those few who were negative creeps have the worst payback ever. They gotta live with themselves the rest of their life!

I'll never forget the Candle Opera Fashion Shows, or the Nightmare Before Xmas parties, or Halloween events, or Contest nights, or Fetish shows, or Suspension Shows, or MARDI GOTHs!

Here are a few of the people I'd like to thank for the memories I had in Windsor.
(In no particular order)

-Chantale for her thankless hours of work in Windsor doing incredible fashion, and the work she put into the Candle Operas, and her dancers and models during the first year of The Zebra Room. (and being a wonderful person)

-Andrew and Dan Janus back in the day helping to get the word out when the scene was just frickan dead at the time!

-Rob and Kyle for doing the incredible human suspension shows that just blew people's minds.

-Dave, Rich, Keith (pinhead 4eva), Shannon, Brenda, Steph for trying to bring out so many people at Zebra.

-thanks to VXV and Alisa, Sarah and Duncan for trying hard to get the word out to the University for Club O this fall

-to Chris (who moved to Toronto), and VXV, the DN's from Detroit, Melissa, Grayson for stomping holes in the floor and making the dancefloor incredible back in the day

-the DN's Sid, Jen, Hippy, Chris & gf, Mike & gf, Sara & bf, and all the rest of the Americans that used to brave the border every Friday night and dance and drink like nuts!

-Joe Darque for promoting his events in Windsor as well as Detroit.

-Noir Leather, Scailles, Jennifer Lopez and the various clothing designers from Windsor, Michigan and London, D:Konstrukt, Things Outside The Skin, and all the other bands and acts that came to Windsor to do incredible shows. (also thanks to Noir Leather and Scailles and Hot Topic for letting us promote Zebra Room Events in your businesses)

-all the people that loved NIN, Apop, Icon Of Coil, Manson, VNV, Ohgr, And One, KMFDM, Rammstein, Depeche Mode, Flesh Field, Mindless Self Indulgence and all the other great bands we used to play!

-those people that noticed the incredible amount of time I put into making remixes for the weekends. Thanks for noticing and enjoying them. I don't think alot of people even realized alot of the stuff I played was remixed or somewhat edited to sound better than the originals. (I think alot of people assumed the remixes were just singles I bought).

-those who put aside their differences with others in the scene in order to have someplace kickass to go to!

-and all those who were positive, friendly, drama free and had a great time and supported the club with their requests, their attendance and drinks! I miss you all!

I am very busy with getting my career projects completed as fast as possible, and while I cannot do a regular night currently in Windsor, IF YOU GUYS WANT special events, I could get Friday Nights at the Zebra Room here and there for events, like contest nights or fashion shows, or remix nights, or all the old things we used to do, but that is only if you guys want it (and there are enough people interested, and enough support with buying drinks at the club instead of at home or elsewhere). I am not going to plan anything unless it seems like people want something big in Windsor again once in a while on Fridays. Either way is fine, just let me know. I just cant do it regularly anymore as my days of being in Windsor regularly are most likely numbered.

Nothing would be cooler though, than to do big Friday nights that are packed once in a while, and even when I'm on the road or busy with studio projects, come back when I can to do them still like the old days!

At any rate....so much has happened that I can't go into right now, but I hope you are all doing well, and having fun!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And no i dont celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, but I do value it as a day of the year to let the people you care about get some gifts, and get some in return. All those who want to take Christmas away, well screw you! Christmas doesnt even have to be religious at all, don't take everything away from the kids! MERRY FING XMAS YOU BUMS! Celebrate any holiday you want whenever you want, and mind your own business! Noone's forcing you to pay attention to Santa.

Ok anyhow, take care everyone. I may continue using LJ as a post to informally list tracks I'm releasing or remixing, or general news on events and shows I'll be doing in Windsor or other cities.

Don't be strangers y'all. I wish you all the best in 2006.