Butch's diary:
Nov. 2 and 3, 2001:: Days off in Paris as Mr. Parish is called back to duty in England to serve time with some old cronies and to get a transfusion of rock, away from us. Well, country, really. He's been called to serve duty at something called "Beyond Nashville" where they get some people (many English... I guess it's WAY beyond Nashville) to play country music that doesn't suck. He joins his friends Sparklehorse, Giant Sand, Polly Jean Harvey and others in London. When he rejoins us in Paris, he says the concert was a rousing success, but the look of disappointment is clear on his face. He is thrilled to be back./p>
During this short time away from John Parish, we all sleep in fits and have terrible dreams. Backline tech "Smoooth" is jarred from his bed that night when he has a horrific nightmare wherein a drunken John Parish is wearing a Beatle wig while trying to get himself up from the floor to go onstage. Smoooth offers JP his guitar slide, but JP slurs, "that will NEVER do, Smoooth. NEVER." E has a recurring dream wherein no one can find Koool G until E opens the bass cabinet flight case, and there is Koool, bleary-eyed and ready to rock. Chilling. The next day E, Smoooth, Guitar Joe, and myself set up camp at the base of the Eiffel Tower and discover the delicious delights of chocolate waffles. Sumptuous.
Nov. 4, 2001: Paris. Today we play the "Elysee Montmartre." We LOVE to play in Paris. I see the crew leaving early today and I feel a sudden pang of anxiety rush through my body. We've had two days off and I feel the call of rock coming on strong. She is a demanding mistress, Lady Rock. And it is up to me. I am the only one that can quench her insatiable thirst. I leave for the venue early today so that I can spend some extra time with my drums. My dear, sweet drums. How I love you. Daddy may let me down; you don't. The audience will go home; you're still here. Tomorrow is another day, and thank God I can spend it with you, my beautiful drums. If it were legal, I'd marry you.
Uh, anyway, the extra time with my beloved pays off as show time nears. I hear the crowd applaud and cheer as we enter the arena and I'm now feeling confident again. I sit down behind my darling kit and tell it how much I appreciate it. She answers back the only way she knows how: she rocks the fucking house. We slam through one of our best sets ever and as I leave the stage E gives me the nod. It's time, once again, for a little more of Butch. I stagger to the drums and after a little hesitation I feel the muse calling.
[diary originally published on Eelstheband.com - copyright © 2001. Used here uncut and as originally published by BUTCH]