[SPOILER] Nicko McBrain Checks In
Los AngelesOn board flight SQ 011 From L.A. to Tokyo
Time: 5:30pm Japan.
23rd October 2006
Well, well, well here we are traveling at 40,000 feet over the ocean on our way to Tokyo. We were in LA last night rocking to 15,000 fans at the Irvine meadows show. It was a blast. I again didn’t have the best night at work but we still played our socks off and the audience was well into it I can tell you!!!
In the afternoon I had a round of golf with me old mate Pat Perez and an old school chum of his, Kevin. We played at a course named Strawberry Farm. Not a bad track but the tee areas were a little scratchy to say the least. We had a tee time at 11:52am. Pat picked me up at the hotel around 11 and we went straight to the course had a wee warm up and then hit the links. It was a smashing day, sun shinning and about 80 degrees with light breeze a perfect golf day. Praise the Lord!!
Well, I was amazed at watching Pat do his stuff so close up, he is an amazing player. He clobbered his first drive 320 yards down the pipe, dead straight as well. A thing of beauty. We had a blast. Pat shot two under par for the day what a round it was I was blessed and honored to play a round with him. He had not played in almost 6 months due to an injury to his elbows, the dreaded tennis/golfers elbow. ‘Kin two under. He should have that problem more often,TEEHEE!!!!!!! Kev did well too, he had only played 4 rounds of golf before that day but he has after all got a great teacher in Pat. His best drive was almost 290 yards. What’s that all about??????
I didn’t do me best round but I sure had a great day and it was going to get better.
We finished at around 4pm and went back to me hotel to shower and change. Pat and Kev used my room and then they went to the bar to meet Kevin’s brother Chris and his mate Jeremy. We all met in the bar for 6:30pm and went over to the show.
I got the guys settled and then went to check me tubs. All was well there and then I went to get changed ready for the show. We all had a few nerves as you do on these kinds of big gigs and were slow in getting ready, well, I was especially. I then went and did me little routine on my practice kit.
We hit the stage at 9:15pm. The show seemed to go by very quickly and it seemed like all of a sudden we were at the end. The crowd was amazing. Thanks L.A.
After the show I went and met with my friends Kelly Paiste and her chums Erin, Gary, Justin and Mike. We had a couple of drinks and then decided to head back to the hotel and have a nightcap. Well, the ‘Kin bar was shut it was after all only 1:05 in the morning. There were two barmen at the bar when we arrived, they were cleaning up. I asked them why they were closing up shop so early and the geezer said Welcome to Newport Beach, cor blimmy mate what’s up with that.!!!
So we said our farewells to one another and I headed up to me room. I had a few things to pack so I got that done and was pretty much spent by the end. I got showered and hit the hay.
I got up at 9:30am and was ready to meet my car for the ride to the airport at 10:45am. It was another beautiful day. When I arrived at the check in, Steve and Ian were already there. They had just got their boarding cards but they waited for me to get mine and we all went through security together. It was very easy today not too many people at the security screening point. We went to the lounge but had to take a bus there. Strange deal never had to do that before. I guess that the airline were having there lounge rebuilt.
So that’s about it for me. I’m going to try and send me diary over the free internet that the airline offer. Hope it works.
Speak at ya later.
Stay safe and well.
God bless you all
=Nicko=
Hotel room in Newport Beach CL
Time: 6:30pm
21st October 2006
Well, well, well, Chicago, Chicago, I love it. What a great show. We were on fire and all having a wonderful time.
We arrived from Detroit the night before at around 1pm. I went straight to me bed while the rest of the chaps went out for a bevvie.
The next day I popped out to a vintage drum shop that me old china, Bill Ludwig, suggested. It was Steve Maxwell’s Pro Percussion on North Michigan Drive. What a great shop loads of vintage Rogers drums, not too many Ludwigs, which is what I was more interested in. I perused around there for about twenty minutes and then headed back towards me hotel. I was on the hunt for a new pair of shoes. I found a pair in a shop just around from the hotel. I headed over to my room for a rest.
Harry and myself left for the gig at 5:30 pm and arrived at 6: 30pm. He went and had a massage and I popped up to check out me tubs. Tonight was the last show with Bullet. A big Thank You to them for being such a good bunch of guys and playing their socks off each night. Good luck too you guys!!!!!
A few of me chums turned up and I had a chance to see them back stage before the show. Sorry too all for the ticket problems that we encountered but these sorts of things happen from time to time. Great seeing, Lisa Ludwig and her chums, Darren Sachs who by the way gave me a wonderful golf shirt, (that got used today)
Paul and his pal from Willow Creek and to everyone else that was there. Thanks for coming.
We hit the stage at 8:35pm and had the best gig of the tour so far. I didn’t play my best but the rest of the guys rocked the house down. No major problems reared their ugly head and all went great. The audience was on fire and was with us all the way. We are at our peak now and things are really hitting up. The crowd was right there. They loved the new stuff live and rocked even harder when we kicked into FOTD. It was a truly great show.
We did a runner after, but had to drive to Midway as the plane could not land at O’Hare. We were at the airport at around 11pm and were airborne at 11:15pm. Ian had arranged a beautiful G4 for our long journey over to L.A. It was a larger plane than we were using before. This one had places for 15 people. Lots of room. We played some cards to while away the journey and of course drank copious amounts of red wine.
We arrived into LAX at 2pm and we all went our different ways.
We all are staying in our preferred hotels. Most of the guys are in Santa Monica but I like where I am. Steve is over here with me but in a different hotel and Ian is at my hotel.
Yesterday I got up and went to have lunch with my friend, Kelly Paiste, unfortunately Erik her husband is over in Switzerland on business so it was just the two of us. After lunch I went and met a friend of hers to play some golf. His name is Gary. We teed off at 2pm and were joined by another friend of Gary’s on the 9th hole. His name is also Gary so I had to address him as G man. (funny that, because today we played again and I had on my FBI shirt that Darren had given me). We had the best time; I wasn’t playing very well until after G-man’s arrival with a six pack of Coronas. Great what a libation can do for you I can tell you!!!!
We finished up and had a farewell drink together. Kelly had arranged a limo to take me back too the hotel so I was back in my room by 7:30pm. I had a wash and went for a stroll. I found a great restaurant about half a mile from the hotel and treated meself to a lobster dinner. It was scrumptious.
After dinner I walked back to the hotel and then went to bed early. I had arranged to play golf again with Gary. He picked me up at 9am and we were on the tee for 9:50am. G-man arrived and so we had a threesome. Sounds rather rude don’t it!!!!!TEEHEE.
We finished the round and I didn’t do as well as the day before but a good time was had by all.
Funny, we are going to dinner tonight, Guess where. Yes, you got it. The Lobster restaurant. I can’t wait. Well I best be off as I’m in need of a shower and I have to get ready.
Take care and be well
God bless you all.
Ta Ta.
=Nicko=