Greetings to one and all from Tranquility Base!


Well, i'm late with this. i had a small problem with my account here
at Yahoo, in that someone hijacked my Axe_Victim account and changed
the password. It took me ten days, and many countless hours of
frustration at an automated world, before i finally was contacted by
flesh and blood and was able to prove my identity. It then took two
minutes to get a new password and back into the account. That's why
the diary entry was made LAST WEEK and you're just hearing about it
now. My apologies.


Okay, first of all let me quell any fears you might have about
the "Flashlight Dreams and Fleeting Shadows" DVD by Bill. It DOES
play in the US just fine. i watched my copy a couple of weeks ago
and i thoroughly enjoyed it. Its marked on the back as being for
Regions 1 and 2, which means the US and Canada, and Northern Europe.
Links are at The Flame in the Discography and Record Store sections.
click here to start:
http://www.billnelson.com/start.htm

[For more DVD information click here: http://hometheaterinfo.com/dvd3.htm]


Second, there is a new diary entry. Talk about the new sauna
installed this summer, courtesy of the weather, upcoming
performances, and the possibility of a Be Bop reunion this
September. Whetted your interest? Click here:
http://www.billnelson.com/diary.htm


Thirdly, there are just a few tickets left for Nelsonica (see diary
above if you need a reason to go). Alan Myers graciously sends along
the following words:

i include a Nelsonica link at the Flame:
http://www.billnelson.com/rwbv

---------

OK folks, bear with me here. Some of this is a repeat of recent weeks
news for Nelsonica but you'll have to read this again because hidden
amongst it all is some new and very exciting information regarding
the band. Once again, this may, or may not happen but it is looking
ever more likely especially as.... Oooooh, I nearly gave it all away
there. Read on...

If you are planning to get to Nelsonica 03 this year and have not yet
purchased your ticket, now is the time to do so. Tickets are in
limited supply and won't last forever. Remember, in with the ticket
price you not only get a chance to see all the fabulous events we
have planned for this year's convention, listen to the live music,
have a chance to meet the man himself and participate in exclusive
auctions, you also receive the superb Luxury Lodge CD. People I have
played this album to have been extremely impressed by it. A few have
even commented that it is the best album Bill has produced for a long
time. Now that is praise indeed because some of Bill's recent albums
have been extremely good.

I have had quite a few e-mails asking me about who will be playing in
the Band on Bill's tour in Sept/ Oct. The answer to that one is NO-
ONE! Bill is touring solo. The only chance you have of seeing Bill
perform with a band this year to date is at Nelsonica 03. Last year
he and The Lost Satellites performed six numbers in all, including
two Be Bop numbers. Although the band performance is not yet
guaranteed, there is a strong possibility that it will happen. Bill
has clarified this in his latest diary entry over on the Permanent
Flame website. He has also alluded to the fact that if the band does
happen there is something really very exciting in the pipeline that
is NOT to be missed. And what is that something special? Well, for the
first time in around 30 years Bill will be on stage performing with a
band that will contain 50% of the original line-up of Be Bop Deluxe!
And what will he be playing? Well you'll have to wait for that but I
have an idea that there MAY be one or two be Bop songs in the mix
somewhere!

Some people have asked if day tickets are available. The answer to
that is no I'm afraid. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, it
would be very difficult to control numbers if day tickets were
issued. There are a finite number of places at the convention due to
the physical size of the venue. Also, the price of a day ticket
would only work out at around £15-£20 cheaper than a 2 day ticket
because of all the hire charges and expenses involved. If there are
tickets still available nearer the time I MAY be able to release a
few day tickets but this is a VERY big MAY as it looks as if we will
have another sell-out on our hands again this year.

Nelsonica is quite different from 'The Romance of Sustain' tour. It
is a 2 day festival celebrating the works of Bill Nelson. There are
many events including a performance by Honeytone Cody (maybe with a
guest appearance by a certain someone but we'll have to wait and
see), a Solo set with Bill at the helm and the possibility of a band
performance again. In between the live performances, there is a
chance to preview new and very rare material, view new videography
and participate in auctions, quizzes and the Grand Prize Draw. There
is also an opportunity for you to meet the man himself to get your
Luxury Lodge CD signed. As if that's not enough there's also.....
I've rattled for long enough. Have a look at the Nelsonica 03 page at
RWBV for more details and to see a copy of the provisional timetable.
This has been recently updated with a slot for a new piece of
videography by Bill entitled: 'Dream Worlds That Really Exist'....

Coming Soon on the Almost Opaque label exclusively for attendees of
Nelsonica 03. A RWBV production for Nelsonica 03

This album is a real 'must have' for Bill Nelson fans. I have been
fortunate enough to have been listening to it for a while now. The
album works on several different levels and contains amongst other
things some STUNNING guitar work. You won't be disappointed. Every
second is a treat.
Track Listing:

1: FLUX OF DESIRE
2: GOLDEN BALLOON
3: RELAXIN' WITH BILL AT LUXURY LODGE
4: I SWEAR THAT THE GIRL IN THE PAINTING MOVED
5: THE BIRDS IN THE SKY SAY HI!
6: SMOKE AND VINE
7: PRETTY LITTLE BUBBLE OF DREAMS
8: HANK AND DUANE IN REVERBLAND
9: WONDER OF THE MOMENT
10: MOON ROCKET HIGHWAY

As the observant amongst you will have already noticed, the album
contains some material that has been bootlegged in the past as well
as studio versions of previously unreleased live tracks. The rest of
the album is made up of new and archive material. For your
information 'Wonder of the Moment' is the correct title given to the
superb little tune that has been doing the bootleg rounds as 'Time
and Distance'. Don't miss out on this album. Not only will it rapidly
become a collector's item, it is truly a superb collection of music
and will feature heavily in your playlists.

--------

Now, a word from me about 'Luxury Lodge':

This is a stunning album. Flat out and hands down the best thing the
man has put out in many years. Think back to how fresh and
alive "Practically Wired" sounded the first time you heard it. It'd
been many years since Bill had featured a guitar on an album before
Wired, and the sound just leapt out of the speakers at you. That's
the same way i felt the first, second, and twentieth times i listened
to LL. In addition to Alan's comment about "Wonder of the Moment",
those who saw Bill in New York and San Francisco with the "After the
Satellite Sings" shows will also recognize "Moon Rocket Highway" as
being track ten here. But you've never heard it as good as it is on
this album. The ONLY complaint i have about LL is that it just isn't
long enough. i want another two hours of this music, or could i get
that with "The Romance of Sustain"?..... Guess we'll just have to go
to Nelsonica and see. See you there....


Thanks for stopping by this week, and i apologize again for the delay
at getting you this update.

___
chuck bird
webmaster of the permanent flame
--Keep the faith and play it loud!