Butch's diary:

Sept. 11, 2001: A busy day is ahead. The crew leave the hotel early to set up at XFM radio for a live interview/DJ session with E and a taped performance from the band to be broadcast at a later date. At 1:30pm I go and have a nice Italian lunch by myself. At 2:30pm I leave to go to a coffee shop and order my usual. A customer sees my cowboy hat and asks If I'm an American. I say "yes" and he turns a pale color and says "It sure is a bad day to be an American." Flustered, I say, "have a nice day," and leave, assuming that Bush or some arrogant American has shamed us once again. I quickly head back to my hotel room where I switch on CNN and then I'm lost in a surreal reality. The towers are just about to collapse and that's where I come in to the tragedy. Phone calls are placed to all different parts of the US to see what's going on and who's involved in our EELS family.

Sept. 12, 2001: I'm camped out in my hotel room all day watching all the coverage and making calls to see what's going on at home. We consider canceling the remaining shows but quickly realize that we can't go home even if we want to. And, as E has learned in the past, it's better to try and make some good energy in the world at a time like this, so we forge on.

[diary originally published on Eelstheband.com - copyright © 2001. Used here uncut and as originally published by BUTCH]