Hi kids, greetings from the dust bowl...NO! not that dust bowl, the one over here in Iraq. Or as we affectionately call it, I RAWK! But seriously folks, Cowboy Mouth, John Thomas Griffith, Regina Zernay, Jonathan Pretus and Fred LeBlanc, are in Iraq supporting the troops the best way we know how...bringing the time honored tradition of classic rock-n-roll to the boys and girls in uniform. We are honored to be here, flattered that we were asked to perform and proud of these guys and gals wearing the United States of America uniform. As for the terrain and the atmosphere here, i don't even know where to start. I can't imagine being here for a couple years much less a couple months. The dust alone gets into everything you own. I think all of us in the band and crew as well, Dwight Maddox(Romeo), Ruben Cantu(Ramirez) and Adam Heaney(Goulet), have been soaking up the magnitude of what we're doing here so much so, that we forget how tired we are. Plus some of us have discovered the Armys energy drink of choice, called 'Rip-it'...yummy!! As Adam puts it, Grip It and Rip it!!
As for the guitar of choice for this tour, the American Flag Gibson Les Paul has been a surefire hit! As duly noted in the photos...I want to thank Jim Felber for allowing me to bring it along as my companion. Jim, lunch is on me...12 noon, Chateau Marmount, you name the day....And speaking of surefire hits...Regina has been a mega hit with the troops, both male and female. I'd like to think it's the Gibson SG bass she rocks out on, but let's be honest, it's either the pig tails or the go-go boots. hmmm? I think it's the pig-tails, myself.
Well, we are stuck overnight in a town, about a 30 minute Blackhawk ride south of Bagdad. We had to cancel our other show this evening due to Dust Storms, which are very prevalent here. We were told at the beginning of our trip that we would most likely miss at least one show due to these conditions. Oh well, I've got dibs on the couch!!!
I'll keep this short, but know that these folks in uniform over here don't get much entertainment. Some camps we've played for have only one television for the  entire company to watch and guys are living 6 to 8 guys to one room. And the rooms ain't no palace, dude. Not to mention, they have families they haven't seen in six months to a year. Not only are they putting there lives on the line for you and I, so we can have the freedom to buy Les Pauls and motorcycles, if and whenever we desire, but mostly they are spreading love and joy to the communities outside the walls of the camp, by establishing youth programs and setting up programs for women to prevent domestic violence, to name a few. It's not just all about blowing shit up...
I'm glad I came, and I'm proud to be from the United States of America. God Bless us all.
John Thomas Griffith, Texas Guitar H.O.F.