The tour was an awesome ride of chaos!

The Colucci brothers quit Chameleonize.   If you wanna know why go ask them!

We need a drummer pronto...we're still jammin and writing new songs.   We got plans to move forward.  If you wanna audition contact us.  We'll be trying people out in September.

Thanks so far for all of your support! 

long live CHAMELEONIZE!!!    Viva viva!

we'll folks its 8:13am on Dec.3 2006 and we're one hit away from 10,000 profile views! Thanks to everyone for checking out our little corner of the internet universe...ROCK ON!

Darrell

"True Growth is usually progressive, somtimes exponenetial but never immediate..."

we must Grow together with our fans...

Guess who's the 74th biggest unsigned band in Canada according to myspace?...that's right CHAMELEONIZE....horray for 74! we're 74!  we want more!.....ok that's enough...

A few weeks ago Indie Can hosted an episode with Chameleonize and Psychotic4.   Chameleonize performed three new tunes!   You can hear everything, including interviews at http://www.indiecan.com/radio.htm
 Thanks to Joe Chisholm for having us!  CHECK IT OUT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!

I can't belive it! I've never been through that before.   I mean I've read about it in books or seen it in movies, but to just walk out on somebody...Buddy that's cold!!!   I'm a real sinner, I am a real sinner and a real cocksucking asshole! I know I know...why did I do that? well I'm still asking myself...

She thought that I was a GOD!  I've never received so much love in all of my life...except when I was a child or some shit.   She idolized my body in the moonlight, changed her thoughts for me and reminded me how much she loved me every single day!   Except she always said it either in Spanish or a cute little Mexican accent...damn I loved that!

I tried hard today...I really wanted it to work.   Perhaps I knew all along that this was just one last good-bye.

I helped her move into her new apartment today.   Bought some decent Italian Red wine, got a haircut and even shaved...(everywhere)...I thought that maybe we could have a romantic evening cleaning her new place, drinking some wine and making love...Alas the only thing this achieved was a return to yesterday.

In contradistinction to Mr. MaCartney's version, the old agruements returned in some form or another and stuborness or rightgeousness took...what the fuck is rightgeousness anyway!   Fucking overrated bullshit! why can't we just get along!

I thought I had everything under control...I've been living on earth for 25 years and I feel like I've seen more than most.   Wicked ole world we live in, I'll tell ya that much for free.   All the schools...all the teachers...all the bosses...all the girls...all the women...all the rules!

It's always been about rules and I thought I had it all figured out by now.   I thought I knew what love was...sorry let me re-phrase that...I think I know what love is...but I don't...all of this ego and massive confidence.  

When I saw her in the coffee shope that first time, I thought..."man I wanna fuck her"...what a dirty old asshole I am!   but you know after I got to know her I realised there was more to it.    "man I wanna fuck her everyday!"...

and then..."man I wanna see her everyday"...and then "man I love this woman"...I really did, I thought I did...then I realized it...Everything that I thought I knew, everything that I had tried to tell myself about women was gone.   I didn't know anything...I dont know anytihng.  

Things changed, I changed inside and I reallly began to care deeply for her.   What else could I do, I've never felt so comfortable with anyone before in my life...just so calm...When I was young, I'd freak out when I smoked weed.   When I'm with her I just chill right out, no bad trippin'.  I mean how can u not chill out when the woman you're with thinks that you're a GOD!!! 

She never stopped reminding me how much she loved me and how special I was.   And I didn't catch on to it until it was too late.  Sure I brought her flowers and surprised her...said many nice things, sang to her, cooked for her...made relentless passionate love to her... 

But it was never as sincere...she knew it...I guess my heart was somwhere else.   But I still love her (atleast I think I do), in a different way.   I found out what it was the day that I awoke to find no strings on my electric guitar.   Not only that but there hadn't been any strings on "her" for 6 days and none of my other guitars had a full set of strings either. 

She was more sincere towards me with one tear drop than I will every be towards anything for the rest of my life.   I wish I could borrow some of that passion, some of that love for one minute, long enough to write the most beautiful song ever written.   But I can't and I walked away from it...but why but why? you ask...

People spend their entire lives domesticating themselves so they can procreate.   People wanna make babies, buy a home, start a life...thats what we do.   We do this in that hope that we will bring a child into this fucked up world who will fulfill their lost dreams... to be the next Prime Minister, rock star, sports hero ...whatever....the live a better life and good life.   People also do this so that they can achieve immortality.

My life is a like a train...you can't always get on but you can always jump off.    Just remember that you're always taking a piece of it with you and that the train never stops. 

I will never be negotiated, over-rated, re-educated, mammalated, alienated or laminated.  I will never be NORMAL in short...

nor will I be domesticated, over-rated, negotiated, or eradicated ....or DONE     

This train never stops and it will run you down...I am not normal, I am the dream and I am not done yet!   And when I saw that guitar sitting there with no srtings on it I was begining to see that train slowing down and that dream fadeing away.  But like I said I AM NOT DONE YET!  

After a few days, I was back to my old self.   The guitar had stings on it and I was playing it everyday.  I was starting to feel the old blood flowing again, that feeling that nothing can stop me...and then after 3 days it hit me.. I was damn lonely! and I missed her alot! and not just the sex, but her!   It was then that I really realized how much I loved her.   But this made me realize that I couldn't go on treating her like this.   She needed someone who was not gonna leave her side, not some bum ass musician who doens't sleep at night and can't put strings on his guitar.   I really did miss her...I really do now...

So today came and like I said I tried everything (hair cut, wine, food...quiet night etc) to make it a special night and to make it right.   I wanted to give it one more try because she is worth that and so much more.   But after she fell asleep, I left...like a coward I crept out of that room.  I walked all the way home to meditate on what I had done.   It damn near took me an hour...But in the end I realized that I had to stop hurting her.   I could never be the man she wanted inside...I didn't leave because of a lack of emotion, its because I loved her too much. 
No, no, no, it ain't me babe, it ain't me you're looking for babe...

D 

This can only be decribed as a complete dive into the depths of the deepest muscial religious experienced possible...to the point of pure esctasy!

I don't see many concerts folks...but I can tell you that this one was worth it!  For starters he began playing at 8pm and didn't stop until 10:35pm...most high paid "famous" performers of his caliber leave right after they make their $100,000 for the night...but not this guy!   Then again, most can agree, there are not very many perofrmers of Ben Harpers caliber.

I showed up with some friends who had lawn seats, in fact we all did (that's all we afford really :)...It was a very rainy night they brought tarps and rain coats.   I couldn't hack it though (the rain I mean) it was too damn wet out for me.  

I found a way to sneak right up to the sound engineer's mix position, and stayed the rest of the night.   I had given up my friends and their weed for a better view...damn it I had to!!! I wanted to hear and SEE this show, and I'm glad that I did.   I ended up next to a nice lookind blonde, who looked just like Nicole Ritchie, I mean the new thin image of her,..not in a bad way though!  (no offense mystery lady if you're reading this.)   Anyway, this beautiful young swan had what seemed to be an endless amount of pot.   So we were high all night...and it was a very good high.  

Harper started with some of his more familiar work, including "steal my kisses from you". He proceeded to go into a lenghty set of B-sides and improv. that could only be rivaled by the likes of....let's just say.."Band Of The Gypsys"!....read on.   His bass player took a real heavy solo in the middle that blew me away...He was so technical, graceful and tasteful, that is forced me to cry "Heavy Motherfucker, Heavy Cat!" three times after he had completed his 5 min journey!  Alhough it was 5 mins, it seemed like 20...in a very very good way!...The middle of the set was also highlighted by a Harper improv on Lap Steel that had the weather outside fighting with him in Cresendos.  This literally brought me to tears...(for the record no one has ever brought me to tears for their live show).

The night went on and everyone on stage displayed their skills and tastefulness, including an impromtu by Harper and Damian Marley...I'd have to say that the whole band was incredible...there are very few bands in the world who are that tight and tasteful.   The only band I've ever seen that were that tight is Deep Purple! 

By the end, the storm had come in full attack and people everywhere were drinched wet.   How many encores...u ask?...One encore? Two? Three full ones!....By the end of the second, a tried and tired Harper said in a surprised and shocked tone..."You people are Incredible"...Ths show went on for another 35mins!...unbelivable...

Towards the end he broke into some fan favorties including "Sexual Healing" (which in listening to right now :) and "Burn One Down"...That led Harper's band into percusion a battle between the Drums, Bass featuring Djembe.   It got so intense at one point, that Harper started to "fan" his Djembe player to "cool him off"...everything was followed by laugher, ohhs, ahhs and cheering by an extrememly appreciative crowd.

Finally when Harper reached the end he went off with "Better Way" (new single)...It was the heaviest Gospel Jam I've ever heard or imagined!...He capped it off by thanking everyone, including his band and looked to up say "This is for all of you up top on the lawn!!!...for all of you who braved it out, this is for you!...I know where you are (and what you're going through)...THANK YOU!"...this almost made me bow my head as if to say "Sorry Master I cheated....but wholly fuck was it ever worth it!"    : )


D

The following story is real.  This sotry is meant to warn fellow musicians about the tribulations of this industry. The names of some of the characters in  " " have been changed to avoid any legal action from third party.


So it's official HEX entertainment (our management company) has decided to wash our hands from "Poor" Records.   The relationship between both parties was short and sour to say the least.  

Here goes...You're "Johnny" you are the owner of "Poor" Records.  You have one of the biggest EGOs in the world. You want complete control all of the time over everything.   Somone disagrees with you what do you do?  Well "Johnny" threatened to back out of our gig 24hrs before it happened, ohh yeah he also severely insulted me family and said that he would "kick my ass"...

'give him back his toy Bob, he's crying!'

First of all HEX ent booked the gig with the club.   We wanted to play a two band bill with Chameleonize and "K.C."   About a week later "Johnny" says that he would like for the gig to be a showcase to represent "Poor" acts.   The night would start with a "Poor" act and Chameleonize would play second.  We thought that might be a possibility, however we are not a "Poor" act, so what do ya do?  

"Johnny" offers to produce us and after hearing us suggests a (six) album contract.   I read a sample of the contract show it to my band and we all agree that it is the most one sided contract ever written.  (ever hear of Sam Philips and Sun Records?)
I talk to "Johnny" and tell him that we will only sign for one album and that his contract is rediculous.   Things start to get ugly...

We print off complimentary tickets for the show, flyers and posters, which total about $150..."Johnny" says that we will get re-imbursed the night of the gig and that all of profits will go back into "Poor" Records.  We are never re-imbursed.   "Johnny" doesn't like our posters, flyers, so he prints off his own and delivers them to me to put up.  He says to start putting them up and that he will help put up the second half. I end up putting up 2300 posters by-myself and no one helps me, it takes 10hrs to complete. 

"Johnny" suggests other forms of advertising.   HEX entertainment finds him a radio interview on CIUT 89.5 Toronto, with Tracy BN on Ear Candy (for free).  

The week of the show, "Johnny" suggests that he must display 3 "Poor" acts together and that Chameleonize must go on 1st or last.   I remind him that we:
a) booked the show
b) did all the work
c) got him a radio interview
d) are not getting paid
e) did the listings for 2 local newspapers
f) have already told our fans and industry contacts that we would play 2nd

"Johnny" gets angry and ignores my calls for 3 days.   24hrs before the show "Johnny" calls me and informs us that he will pull out of the show.   He is not interested in playing if Chameleonize goes on 2nd.   He says that Chameleonize sounds like a high school band.   He insults my family saying that I was abused as a child.   He says that he will ruin our career and threatens to "kick my ass".   His associate ("Billy") takes the phone and we talk.  I tell him that we are interested in playing between 11pm-12 and that's it!...He suggests that we can play at exactly 12, and that his acts will begin at 9:30 or 10pm.   I ask him to promise, he agrees...the night is to showcase 3 "Poor" acts between 10-12 and Chameleonize after 12...

The night of the gig...

Chameleonize arrives at 7pm...we do a full sound check and feel confident about the results.   The "Poor" acts do not arrive until 9pm!  By the time they are sound checked and ready to play it is 10pm and fans have arrived.   No one from "Poor" takes the intiative to work the door.   HEX decides to do it and members from Chameleonize take shifts.  "Johnny" comes by only to say that the names on the chalk board are all the wrong size (as if he is the manager of the facility).    He proceeds to write "$10 cover is suggested donation"...then agrues with Chameleonize over how many people have already arrived and leaves.   "Johnny" approaches me and threatens me saying that our people on the door are cheating on the band tally sheet.   He's tells me to "watch out"....   "Poor" brings their own sound tech, who completely changes the settings and configeration of the sound system, making it something new.  By now the time has escallated past 10pm, 10:30pm and is approaching 11pm!!!...

I ask "Billy" when is his 1st act goin to play?  He says "relax man we'll play when the crowd is big enough, if u dont go on at exactly 12 what are YOU gonna do about it?"....I suggest we go talk in the back and he says "my BOYZ are back there, are you sure that YOU wanna go back there?"...I tell him that I'm not afraid of him or his "BOYZ" and that we need to talk.  So we talked and "J. M." hit the stage around 10:45pm.  

Shortly after that one of our industry conatacts arrived.  I'm not goin to attach his name to this, but he is a very well respected producer, musician and engineer on the Canadian scene.   I bought him a drink and he talked...he said that he could not stay later than 12:15 and seeing that this was the first act...well...it was getting late fast...he listened to "J.M" and "K.C"..he was not impressed and I was forced to apologize and and suggested that he leave.   The night dragged on and thing became more intense..."T.P.J." played 3rd and didn't finish their set until 12:45...By the time we did out change over, it was almost 1am...We were tired and fed up.  

Some of our fans and ALL of our industry contacts had left...most die hards stuck around, but it was making us look really really bad....I scrambeled to re-wire the stage as we changed the backline.  The next thing I know "Johnny's" girlfriend aproached me asking for the money box.   I told her that I didnt' know where it was and that we could sort it out after the gig.   She then took the power cable from the mixer and sent two goons up to the stage to threaten Chameleonize and the Club saying that they would literally tear the place appart if they didnt get the money box.  The club owner got involved..etc...needless to say it was the most unprofessional egotistical thing I'd ever seen in my life!!!  
"Johnny" pushed me and challenged me to a fight.  At which point I said "listen asshole, we've done everyting you've asked us to do, now let me go on stage play my set and do my job!....after that if you wanna fight ok with me..but for now get the hell outta my way!"...

Most of this was happening in front of an ever tireing frustrated crowd.  Finally the money box was found, it had been put into the equipment room by one of the people helping our band who was conversing with friends on the other end of the room, during this ordeal.  

By now time had gone past 1am, we had no time to adjust our levels properly, the sound system had been completely changed and "Johnny" had directed most of his people out of the bar.    The sound was not good and the mood was dark...however...The good news....

Chameleonize still KICKED ASS and stole the show!!! and 50 people were still there to congradulate us after the gig, all of them saying that we were the best band there that night.  After our set a fight almost broke out and we ended up with $45, because of the intervention from the bar owner.   Otherwise, I fear they would have run with all the money.  

My opinion is that we should have kicked them off the bill.  Atleast everyone would have had a better time.  

LESSON LEARNED:

1.   If you have bad karma before the gig, it will get worse at the gig...so cancel the show



Feel free to comment on this page about that night or other experiences you've had with similar people.

D

Last night Chris Cornell performed at the EDGE studio on Yonge.    He did 4 tunes acoustically and a 20 min interview, I was there, it was awesome!  

As many of you may have guessed his vocal style has a huge influence on me.   I can only think of three others who can reach those kinds of note with as much power -
1. Rob Halford - legendary singer of Judas Priest
2. Bruce Dickensen - from Iron Maiden

and last but not least
3.Ian Gillian - from Deep Purple fame and the voice of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar

This vocal style is unique and very difficult to do.   I've been spending the last year trying to perfect the techniques.   These singers make Scremo or Emo or whatever the fuck they call it, look like little girly men!...(to quote Schwarzenegger)

At times Cornell's voice was so powerful that he completely clipped (aka distorted) the mic.   They also played a couple of cuts from the new audioslave album, which kick ass...I will be first in line to buy it!  

A small crowd of 200 appreciative fan gathered around 8pm.  There were a couple of working class oblivious motherfuckers standing around laughing and talking (without realization of what was taking place saying "what's goin on here? me me me me me and I I I I I ...etc) so that the rest of us couldn't hear.   However they shut up pretty quick when Cornell began playing "Blackhole Sun".....and as he sang "and wash away the rain...." it started to rain outside unkown to him.   The whole thing was magical and he capped it off with a killer rendition of the new single "Original Fire".

He then exited as fast as he had entered...waved goodbye and that was it.

D

chameleonize is on jamwave.  Our sound tech Andy made this page, whck it out it' awesome! 


jamwave.com/chameleonize