Well I'm a month or so behind on the MM update. I finally have some down time...it's in Winnipeg but a day off is a day off so I'll do my best to enjoy it, even if its 2c (36f).

The tour went well. In my humble opinion Heaven & Hell should have headlined every show. Not because I work for the band, but because they were the best band on the bill. Not slagging JP but H&H has more musical integrity ,and again my opinion, the songs they play are far more enjoyable to listen and sing and air guitar along with.

This short tour covered a lot of the same cities that H & H played last year as many of you from the north west have reminded me. There are some other cities we missed that the band wants to get to as well. Be patient, from what I have heard, unconfirmed rumours and nothing official, there will be an extensive tour in '09 after the new album (cd...whatever they call it these days) is finished.

Testament was great to see live again, when time permitted, I can't remember the last time I saw them live. The new album (cd) is a good listen. I haven't listened to it enough to offer an opinion. Look for Alex Skolnick on the east coast version of Trans Siberian Orchestra this winter.

Motorhead continued to provide comic relief on this tour as they have on past tours I've been on with them. I have posted a few pictures of myself with the band.

I did not have the chance to see Judas Priest but I did get to hear them everynight. While I like some JP songs, there are some poppy type 80's metal I don't really enjoy listening to but they do have some good headbanging I do like.

Check the official sites for news and updates on the progress of the new album (cd) and future tour information.

I'll be out driving the Trans Siberian Orchestra tour around North America this winter. I don't know if I'll be on the east or west coast tour but I will be on one of them. Janice is doing fine and I will be welcoming a grandson late December or early January so there is a lot to look forward to, Kaylyn will have a brother to torment and love.

I am also looking forward to seeing all of you again next year. Thank all you for all the kind messages on myspace and in person when possible. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

Cheers!

Steve

Thanks for all the messages about the lack of a MM blog. I will do one soon. I headed out on the road driving the day after the tour ended and I have not been home for more than a few hours here or there since Sept. 2nd ...

Steve

We spent a whirlwind weekend in Bilbao Spain. I haven't taken the time to do the calculations but I think I spent more time flying than I actually spent on the ground in Spain.

The festival was o.k. One of the fringe benefits of my job is getting to meet  "stars". This weekend was no different. We had a short chat with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and renewed old aquaintances with Rob Halford, Kerry King and Eric Singer. Some would think thats a big deal. For me it got better...I got to meet George Lopez which was the absolute highlight of the weekend for me. I have been a huge fan of George's for a long time and was thrilled to meet him...awesome! check him out www.georgelopez.com . Turns out George is a huge DIO fan and we all got to hang out for a while...awesome! Thank you to Lorenzo for spotting George and bringing him back.

As soon as my plane touch down in Toronto I was on my way to pick up a truck and headed to Montreal for the Jazz festival. Loaded in the Leonard Cohen show and off to my hotel room for a few days of sleep.

For the next few weeks I'll be driving some local shows around the Country. Then I believe the lovely Janice and I will be taking a short vacation that will end in New York for the start of the Heaven and Hell tour.

I arrived back home yesterday from what was an unbelievable two week 9 show DIO tour in Europe. All the shows were brilliant and the band was nice and tight. Ronnie was in fine form everynight. Craig played great and his solos were brilliant. Rudy continues to be one of the greatest bass players I have ever heard. Simon beats the shit out of the drums night after night.

It was great to be back out with this band and crew and to see the worlds greatest fans everynight. Thanks to all of you for coming out to see the band and say hello. Your all great.

The setlist was comprised of DIO and Rainbow material. Since Ronnie covered all the Sabbath material last year on the Heaven and Hell tour he brought out a few more classics. I particularly enjoyed Sacred Heart, Temple of the King, Kill the King and Catch the Rainbow great songs I haven't heard forever and really complimented an awesome set list.

Set list:

Holy Diver

Killing the Dragon

The Eyes

Don't talk to Strangers

Drum solo

Sacred Heart

Rainbow in the Dark

Temple of the King

Kill the King

Guitar Solo

Lord of the Last Day

Rock and Roll Children

Stand up and Shout

Man on the Silver Mountain

Catch the Rainbow

Long Live Rock and Roll

Encores

Last in Line

We Rock

We have one more show later this month in Bilboa Spain. The we're back for the Masters of Metal US tour in August.

To those of you that have sent me messages about the new Heaven Hell album. Nothing new to report other than the writing continues and management will let you know the release date when they have one. Keep checking the Official sites because thats where you will get to most accurate and up to date information.

Now its time to get some laundry done and cut the lawn before it gets to hot outside. I get to babysit my granddaughter this afternoon which I'm really excited about. I feel a trip to Dairy Queen coming up.

See ya'

Steve

The new year is rollin' along nicely so far. I finished driving on the TSO tour and I am out driving for Queensryche's Take Cover tour until March. Apart from the sub zero freezing cold and snow one day to + 45 (f) temperatures the next day. I am enduring Mother natures wrath just fine thank you.

I've received a few enquiries about DIO or Heaven and Hell tours this year...I've heard the same rumours you've heard. I listen to Sirius radio and read Blabbermouth, but have heard nothing from the office so they are what they are...just rumours. My best advice is to keep checking the official sites for any updates...you will hear or see them there first.

See ya'

Steve

Better late than never...Happy New Year to ya'll.

I spent New Years Eve in Birmingham Alabama. On Dec. 28th I had to fly to Little Rock Arkansa on a couple hours notice after one of the drivers on the Trans Siberian Orchestra tour had to leave on extremely short notice. Needless to say my New Years plans with the Lovely Janice were cancelled. While Janice understands the nature of the business, it wasn't fair to her...yet again.

I finished the TSO tour and did the returns to Winnipeg on January 8th and flew back to balmy Ajax for a couple days to get things organised at home before I fly back to Winnipeg on Saturday to pick up my truck and head to Seattle to load the gear for the Queensryche tour that I will be driving on.

I have spoken to a few people from the DIO camp and corresponded with others. Everyone that I have been in contact with had a good Christmas and New Year holiday. I'm not sure what this year will bring for us but I'm sure it will be great...as usual.

Other than that life just keeps rolling merrily along. See ya' on the road.

Steve

Well its been a crazy month for me. I haven't really had much time off since returning home from the Heaven and Hell tour...and yes I miss being out with the band and crew.

I did manage to get out and see Trans Siberian Orchestra in Toronto with the Lovely Janice and her parents. I also saw TSO (west) in Grand Forks ND and Minneapolis MN last week. The lighting designer (Brian Hartley?) for TSO should be winning awards for what he put together this year. Truly unbelievable.

I was out in the Prairie Provinces and States last week. I'm still undecided if minus 45c is better than the foot and a half of snow I came home to...oh well it is winter, just have to deal with it.

I've been out driving for the Detroit auto show as well as Anita Baker, Paul Anka and Feist...not all on the same bill. Just a few one offs here and there. Anita and Paul were nice people...Feist was great. Feist has gotten so big so fast they didn't even know they had semi truck carrying the bands gear. I talked with Leslie Feist a couple of times. She is a really nice down to earth person. I hope she does well at the Grammy's, nominated 5 times... Nice to see a Canadian band doing well.

I am pretty sure I'll be around the house for Christmas...I can't see the plans changing much...but stranger things have happened. I'll be spending Christmas at home with the family for the first time in a couple of years so I am looking forward to that. This will be the first Christmas with my grandaughter and I'm really excited about that. Now all I have to do is start my Chrstmas shopping which I am NOT excited about.

I hope this Christmas brings everything you all wish for and the New year is a good one for you as well. Thanks for all the great messages I have received from all of you over the past year.

God Bless and Merry Christmas,

Steve

Well after 9 great months the Heaven and Hell tour has come to an end. Over the past months there were 98 shows...all of them great. I had the privilage of touring with great musicians and a great crew who worked extremely hard to make every show a magical one.

While I've only been home for one day and am looking forward to some well deserved rest. I know in a few days I'll be missing everyone involved with the tour and wishing we were heading out for another leg...who knows what the future holds, maybe we'll all be together again for another round.

I must thank Ronnie, Tony, Geezer, Vinny and Scott Scott for the great times and fantastic shows...you guys are awesome. The crew for working their asses off every night and every show: Roger Summers, Pedro Howse, Big Scott Sentinella, Lorenzo Banda, Chris Leckie, Mark Scrimshaw, Andre Bargman, Terry Welty, Joe "Fluffy" Denham, Chuck Smith, Orlando "Fozzy" O'hare,  Mike Clement,  Charlie Lewis and Sian Balogh. Also the team of managers Gloria Butler, Ralph Baker and your staff. A very special thanks goes to Wendy Dio and Diana DeVille. Who have always treated me great and supported me...Thanks !

And to my very dear friend (and boss) Ronnie: "keeping you sane while letting you drive me crazy" is without a doubt the greatest gig I've ever had and I wouldn't trade it for anything...even Copenhagen... I love you.

I also want to thank all of you that I met while we were out and to those of you who kept in touch through email and other posts. Music is an international language that we all speak and understand...you fans are unbelievable.

Now its time to get some rest. Spend some time with the family...then next week get behind the wheel of the big rig and hit the highway with Paul Anka...

See ya'

Steve

Well two more Countries done. Japan was cool. The band played two Loud Park shows in Tokyo and Osaka and two other  headline shows in Tokyo and Nagoya with Trivium as support. Trivium is a great young up and coming band that are making their name and music well known around the world. Part of their crew are DIO alumni so they are definatley on the right track. Beau and Melissa King handle tour and production management while Josh "Hippy" Williams handles FoH.

We also hit Singapore, the first time I've been there. Great little Country. Hot, humid, muggy and beautiful. Way too many shopping malls for me.

We met some very nice people. Per and Sarah from the Grand Hyatt treated us exceptionally well and were very gratious. Per is from Sweden and is one of the most knowledgable DIO fans I've ever met. Both Per and Sarah took us out to the Brix night club after the show and a good time was had by all. A special thank you to Uncle Tom and Andy who looked after us in the lobby bar. Megadeth played the night before us and we had the chance to chat with Glen and Shawn (fellow Canucks) for a while.

It was a long 33 hour trip home for me...compound that with  - 4 c temperature and frost on the ground in Toronto...not ready for the cold yet. First stop was Tim Horton's for a real coffee (actually 3) then a quick visit with my good friend Rick...I always threaten to visit him at work and never do. Then it was home for a nice long 10 hour nap. Now its 1:30 a.m and I'm wide a wake. I'm going to try and stay on this schedule until after the U.K tour.

Time to grab a couple beers and take the dog for a walk around town. Night time in Ajax is kind of cool and interesting...I'll be dressing warm !

See ya'

Steve

I've just checked into my hotel next to LAX for my flight home in 3 1/2 hours. The 2nd leg is now complete and we have 8 days off before we head to Japan and Singapore then to the U.K to wrap this baby up.

This leg of the tour went great. All the shows were as usual f**king awesome. Alice Cooper and Queensryche were great people, band and crew...thanks to all of you for making things run so smooth.

I've posted a few more photos from various shows. Thanks to all who have sent me messages and it was great to meet some of you along the way.

I'll update this once we get to Japan...in the mean time I'm going to spend some time with my family...and enjoy a good old Canadian Thanksgiving meal when I get home.

See ya'

Steve