DRIvIN' RAIN

                                       Summer News Letter  9/17/01

      The dog days of summer are on us once again. And mass groups of people around the country beg for DRIvIN' RAIN. And don't worry friends that cool refreshing rain is on the way.  This summer as been a very hard and hot one on the band. Many things have changed, but still the Rain rolls on.

          DRIvIN' RAIN's CD was to be released on July 4th 2001. However just days before the band was to enter Digital Labs Studio to begin recording, studio owner and friend Rich Como lost his battle with cancer on March 31 2001. DRIvIN' RAIN frontman Timexx Nasty said "Rich was always so full of life and one of the most brilliantly eccentric people I have ever met. We only worked with him on one project (The City Of Roses Rocks 2000 cd) and it is a memory none of us will ever forget." Raingang drummer Bradman told us "We were all shocked when we got the news about Rich, And we feel a great loss with his passing" Rich Comeau also played in the band Storybook. And his song "Outside The Lines" opens the COR cd. As he told us all not to be afraid to color outside the lines. Rich will be missed and never forgotten.

      Not letting the loss of the bands producer weigh them down. DRIvIN' RAIN hit the road again to play a wild bunch of shows. Stopping in Carbondale at Boo Jrs. The boys jammed out two night. "One of the best things bout the Boo Jrs show was meeting the guys from Krimzin." said Tommy DeWolf. Krimizin is a three piece band from Mt. Vernon. And they were the opening band on the two Carbondale shows. DRIvIN' RAIN's booking team says that Krimzin will be opening other dates for DRIvIN' RAIN this fall and winter. Greg Wolf said "We had a great time hanging out in Carbondale, and you gotta love a hotel that gives you free condoms."

       Next the Raingang packed it back home for another show at Jeremiahs in downtown Cape. At this show the boys had a all girl punk/metal band called Eve's Downfall (aka Dickless) open the show. "Man they were cool as hell" say Timexx Nasty about them. "They were like a punk Go-Gos! And was great to see girls get up and ROCK!"  DRIvIN' RAIN hopes to see the girls open more shows for them this year.

         Recently DRIvIN' RAIN made it's long awaited return to Mt. Vernon Il. When the boys were asked to play at this years TREYAPLOOZA event at the Holiday Inn's Off Broadway Club. A huge light show and a massive PA was rolled into the club. The packed house was treated to a wide range of Rock. From classic rock to EXTREME metal TREYAPALOOZA had it covered! DRIvIN' RAIN was thrilled to play with some of Southern Illinois hottest bands like BLACK HORSE who opened the night with some down right rocking classic and southern rock. Metal Core Master LUNATIC who rocked harder than anyone that night. Christian Rap Core band KOD RED mixed it up great as they slammed through their set. Local favorites 16'TIL played hard and heavy. DRIvIN' RAIN ended the night and recorded several songs live. And will add them to the web site as MP3 soon. The songs DOWNWARD SPIN and CRACKS IN THE ARMOR should be added very soon. Timexx, Greg and Tommy did some very cool interviews in the WDML Rocking Rhino mobile station. Timexx told us "This thing is bad ass, it looks like a huge rolling rhino. And Ted Nugent set in the same seat as me and did a interview." Nasty added "I could still smell the raw meat and gunpowder in the air!" Over all the event was a blast and DRIvIN' RAIN would love to come back next year. "Only next year we want to play earlier so we can drink sooner!" added Tommy. The Raingang had a great time in Mt. Vernon and look forward to coming back soon.

     However on August 1 2001 Bradman announced his departure from DRIvIN' RAIN in a press release on his personal website. Brad stated "We were together for a long time, but I decided to leave the band for personal reasons and under the best of terms." Brad says details about his new project will be announced soon on his website. He promises new photos, video clips, showdates and details on his next CD will be forthcomming. "I'm working on the preparations for my next project now." Brad added. DRIvIN' RAIN singer Timexx Nasty stated "We think alot of Brad and we send a laural and hardy handshake to our brother. We wish Brad and Steve the best of luck and they will always hold a special place in this band." Timexx wanted our friends to know that "Brad had let us know over the last few months that he had a strong desire to follow other musical directions." Guitarest Tommy DeWolf said that "We wish Brad the best, and he knows that without us having to say it. We'll always be friends no matter what. And the same for Steve too!" Bassest Greg Wolf sent his best wishes to Bradman and said he's looking forward to seeing what Brad does next and ended by saying "It was great to have played with you man!"

     The following day DRIvIN' RAIN announced that Brad's replacement will be G.P "Geep" Clark formally of DC TRYAL. Geep is a native of L.A. and is a power house drummer. Many of you have seen Geep with his last band on the road with DRIvIN' RAIN over the last year. Clark is also a former member of the west coast band with a east coast name NEW YORK ROCKS with Tony Matuzak of LIZZY BORDEN. He later joined Southern Illinois band DC TRYAL and was featured on two independently released CDs. G.P.'s influences are Tommy Aldridge, Buddy Rich, and Neal Pert. Timexx says "Geep is kind of a old new member of the band. He's been friends with us for a long time now and were happy to have him as a official member now."  Geep added "I'm ready to play and I can't wait to hit the road with these guys. And I'm very happy to be jamming with a real bass player like Greg and getting crazy with Timexx and Tommy." More details on Geep, NEW band photos, and more show dates will bw added to the website over the next several weeks.

     Geep's first "Official" show with DRIvIN' RAIN was August 18 2001 at The Band Of The Hands show in Eminence Missouri when DRIvIN' RAIN opened for Jim Dandy's BLACK OAK ARKANSAS. The boys had a blast meeting all the other bands and spending time in the hills of Missouri. "We met some very cool bands from around the country and had a blast hanging out with all of them!" said Greg. ALSO as a big surprise guitarest Tommy became a father at this show. His girlfriend Krista gave birth to a wonderful six pound baby girl in West Plains Missouri. She went into labor while the Tommy's band was playing. She left the concert during Black Oak Arkansas' set to return to the cabin then was taken to a local hospital where she gave birth. The baby was named Anna Marie and is doing great. Fran from the Banding Fest told us "Anna is the first Official Banding baby. And we want to hang up a photo of her on the stage." Timexx added "We always seem to come home with more stuff then we left with." The event was a blast and DRIvIN' RAIN hopes to be back next year to play the BAND OF THE HAND Fest 2002. More details on Tommy, Krista, and little baby Anna will be forthcoming. CONGRATULATIONS TOMMY AND KRISTA!!!!

       The next show was at MUDDS MEMORIES in Ashly Ill. Drummer Geep Clark said "We had so much fun there and we can't wait to come back and play again. MUDD was great to us and we loved the giant pussy he let us play with!" (Mudds has a huge cat that lives in a specail roon in the club) Watch for the rain to roll back into Mudds in late November.

        DRIvIN' RAIN would also like to send a specail Welcome to the bands new booking agent for Illinois. Ryan "CrAsH" Overby will be handing all bookings for DRIvIN' RAIN in Illinois. "CrAsH is great!" said Timexx "He is a good friend and he's going to keep us very busy."  He's already got the boys booked into Mt. Vernon,  two shows in Ashley, and says other Illinois shows are in the works. Watch for the band to puul into POPS again soon. You can contact him at CrAsH@...

     Your next chance to see DRIvIN' RAIN will be SEPTEMBER 28 & 29 when the Raingang returns to The 5th Annual CITY OF ROSES FESTIVAL in downtown Cape Girardeau Missouri. Where DRIvIN' RAIN will be opening for classic rockers EDDIE MONEY and LEE OSKAR (of WAR). DRIvIN' RAIN will do three shows at this years event. Friday night they boys will slam the COPA with Steppin' Out, Coeli, and Krimzin. Then on Saturday they will open for EDDIE MONEY who achieved world wide acclaim in the mid 80s with massive radio hits like "Shakin", "Two Tickets To Paradise", and "Take Me Home Tonight". Also on the main stage that night will be LEE OSKAR who is a former member of the band WAR. He helped to comose the hits "Low Rider", and "Cisco Kid". Lee will preform with the ACME BLUES BAND (with BRUCE ZIMMERMAN and The Water Street band). DRIvIN' RAIN will then storm the outside stage at Mollies on Spanish Street with heavy hitters Tribal Dust, Emaciation and Dillagence later that night. ALSO at this years event will be the CLASSIC ROCK ALL STARS that includes former members of SURGERLOAF ("Green-Eyed Lady), BLUES IMAGE ("Ride Captian Ride"), IRON BUTTERFLY ("In Da Gadda Da Vida"), REAR EARTH ("GET READY"), and CANNIBAL & THE HEADHUNTERS ("Land Of A Thousand Dances"). Pluse over 50 other bands and solo acts at 10 clubs at this years COR FEST. Tickets to the festival are $10.00 and on sale at Official Ticket Outlets in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky.

    DRIvIN' RAIN would like to that all of the new friends they have made on the summer tour, and are ready to make even more new friends in the Fall. New show dates and even more info will be in the FALL NEWS LETTER so keep you mouse on www.DRIvINRAIN.com and we'll see you on the road!

                                               Keep it Wet and Hard!

                                        DRIvIN' RAIN

Timexx Nasty, Tommy DeWolf, G.P. Clark, Greg Wolf