About a month or so ago our ever energized manager, Jim DelBalzo, invited Simon and I to lunch at Dallas BBQ. Jim had a revelation to share, an idea of gargantuan proportions.

“Here is what I’m thinking we should do with Iranian Democracy. We put together a concert or maybe a whole bunch of concerts for Iranian Democracy. I was at Colombia records when Geldof decided he was going to do Live Aid. You know what he did? He just called people. He sat there and he just called everyone he knew. So that is what you are going to do. I mean, I could call people, but you are the one who has to sell the idea. It is your passion for the cause that is going to convert them. So, what I want you to do is go home and start calling everyone you know and see if you can make this happen.”

That is how the idea was born. Over the next couple of days I compiled a list of everyone I knew in the music industry and have now started to contact them individually. Pulling this off still seems a little out of my reach and ability, but as they say where there is a will there is a way!

Tags: Bob Geldof, Buddahead, Colombia records, Concert for Iranian Democracy, Dallas BBQ, Iranian Democracy, Jim DelBalzo, Live Aid, Simon Gibson
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We are confirmed to play at Arlene’s on September 19th @ 7pm.

Tags: Arelene's Grocery, Bryan Smith, Buddahead Live, Raman Kia, Rich Scanell, Simon Gibson, Toby Evers
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The Case for Chinese Democracy

It was probably 1994 when Axl Rose started writing Chinese Democracy. The album reportedly cost a few million to make as well as a few more million that Geffen records paid Axl Rose over the years to bribe him to finish his own record. I say, his own record, because non of the other members of Guns & Roses are in the band anymore anyway. Although Chinese Democracy, lyrically or stylistically seems to be in no way apropos to China’s democracy, it still went on to sell 2.6 million copies, which makes it, probably, the biggest platinum selling flop of all time. In the meantime, China remains an undemocratic country with infrequent elections, corrupt results, and no real free press.

The Case for Iranian Democracy

It was probably a month ago when I started thinking about Iranian Democracy, the EP, not the democratic movement in Iran. The EP has not cost anything to make because it features two songs from our album Ashes and an older song, recorded in various studios while touring, called Radioactive, all of which seemed lyrically very apropos to the democratic uprising in Iran. The songs feature Buddahead’s long standing members: Toby Evers, Simon Gibson, and Rich Scannella; our newest musical whiz Bryan Smith, and the incredible Nick Sneblen, who used to play with us all the time. The EP will probably go on to sell 2.6 copies, which may make it, the most profitable flop of all time. In the meantime, Iran remains an undemocratic country with frequent elections, with allegedly corrupt results, and no real free press.

So, all in all, I think Iranian Democracy and Chinese Democracy come out equal. But, then again, Iranian Democracy cost less than 1 millionth of the cost of Chinese Democracy, so Iranian Democracy wins!!

Why did I write this? I have no idea.

Tags: Axl Rose, Bryan Smith, Buddahead, buddahead ashes, Buddahead Radioactive, Chinese Democracy, Geffen, Guns & Roses, Iranian Democracy, Nick Sneblen, Rich Scanella, Simon Gibson, Toby Evers
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Last Saturday night Rich, Bryan, Simon, and I, played a show in a fire station for a friends charity called the The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation.

We played the show with a band originally called Drop Trou who changed their name, respectfully to Stage Fright, in honor of the organization they were playing for. They were cool and let us use all their equipment.

The night went well and the big auction piece which was a guitar signed by all members of Bon Jovi sold for about $3500. Gregg Pizzi whose wife Christine is suffering from a Desmoid tumor was awesome enough to ask us to play and I would never say no to him. When I had no job and no money, he was the one who employed me on the trading floor and gave me a sense of self-respect. We wish his wife all the very best.

Also, must thank Scott Randolph, another great soul, who also gave me a job in his acoustics factory when I had no job or money. I couldn’t keep down a job in a factory, covered in glue, everyday, and gave up on him back in the day. Still, Scott came through again and stepped in to play Bass for the show while Toby is recovering from back surgery, and let us wreck his beautiful home studio that afternoon. Not sure how he persuaded his wife to be okay with a group of us turning up and being rock n roller in her nice suburban house, but still thank you.

Last, but not least, must thank Bryan. He finished his day job, being pro-tools editor for the Tony Awards, at 6AM, slept a couple of hours, put on his Bjorn Borg head band, got on the NJ transit train and made his way to Flemington NJ, crashed by the second verse of Fix you in our rehearsal, stayed awake only by drinking Slap, and then crashed moments after the end of the set.

The photo says it all!

Tags: Bjorn Borg Head Band, Bon Jovi Guitar, Bryan Smith, Christine Pizzi, Coldplay Fix you, Desmoid tumor, Drop Trou, Flemington NJ, Gregg Pizzi, Libert Corner Fire, Rich Scanella, Scott Randolph, Simon Gibson, The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, Toby Evers, Tony Awards
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Hi All,

Slight change to the plans. The add date for radio is now March 30th!!

We are extremely excited becauseStanding Still is going to be our first single from Ashes.  Things may change but as it stands Feb 23rd is our drop date for radio.  Emily Gibson (Simon’s sister) who does all our artwork, came up with this awesome logo to go with it.  We also have Paul Brown from Red Hat 22 helping us promote it, and of course Jim DelBalzo, the ever feisty man at the helm is on board too.

Fingers crossed – with your support – you will soon hear us on your favourite radio station back to back with other contemporary classics like Kelly Clarkson, Lil Wayne, Lady GaGa, and The Pussycat Dolls. Actually, thinking about it the competition does seem stiff….

Tags: Buddahead, buddahead ashes, Buddahead Radio, Buddahead Standing Still, Emily Gibson, James Delbalzo, Jim DelBalzo, Kelly Clarkson, Lady GaGa, Lil Wayne, Paul Brown, Paul Brown Red Hat 22, Red Hat 22, Rocky DelBalzo, Simon Gibson, Standing Still Radio, Standing Still Radio Single, The Pussycat Dolls
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