Time flies!

How long has it been since I have written in this blog? I know I started to write a few posts but never published them.

Apparently, my story was far too intriguing to pass up, and so it was made into a "novel."  Funny as it really happened, but yet it is so unbelievable, it was written and is marketed as FICTION. I do not care, really. I prefer people think my ordeal was just the musings and imagination of a crazy rock star... After all, I've seen this amazing woman in mirrors since I could SEE a mirror, so how much crazier can they say I am???

I am not allowed to give away TOO much about the book, which was written by award winning author, Christine Church. The events are all true, but written as fiction. Marketed as fiction.

Because of all this legality, I have to be careful what I put in this blog.

All I can say is, read the book! Yes, it happened! There are many dimensions in the fabric of time and space. Wow, I can't even comprehend it all. I saw it, I experienced it... for 12 lifetimes, and yet sometimes I still cannot comprehend it.

Many will not believe, and that is ok. I actually prefer that, and asked this "memoir" of mine to be put out as FICTION. No one needs to know what is really out there!

I have a headache and we have a tour scheduled, so I need my "beauty" sleep.... so, good night loyal fans. I will talk to you soon!

Rain, Floods and Death

I am writing this from the bus on our way to Oklahoma. Bruce is going out of his mind because he heard about all the floodings and rain back home in South Carolina. He hasn't been able to get through to his home or his wife, so he's going nuts. They have a small son and so he is worried beyond belief. Even the cell is not getting through. I just hope he doesn't decide decide to cancel the tour... Not sure he can! I am positive someone will get through eventually.

I have contacted my own home and Edna assures me all is fine, albeit very soggy. I heard Columbia was hit hard and that is only an hour from my home! I guess the president sent disaster relief funding to the areas hardest hit, including Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, and Williamsburg counties. Several of these counties abut mine.

The coastal areas where Bruce resides were hit hard as well. Right now we are all hoping everything will be ok. Bruce, of course, keeps praying!

I must admit I am concerned myself. I've heard much about deaths, homes lost, etc. All the other band members reside on the coast. But, thus far, Bruce is the only one unable to contact home.

I will keep all in the loop.

In the meantime, a view on the road.....

Dane is BACK!!

This is Stephan again! I have written nothing in Dane's blog since December after he disappeared. The trail was so cold I was sure he was gone forever, no one ever knowing what had happened to him. We still do not know, and I have yet to see him, but he is back.

I moved home to my own house back in February. There was simply nothing left to look for and, although Edna is very nice, she was just too... accommodating for me. I guess she missed Dane quite a bit.

I guess I will leave the remainder of this blog to Dane, once he recovers and is out of the hospital. I am hopeful, though many express concern. He has not yet regained consciousness. The media has been all over this! Of course they have. This is big news--rock star found by housemaid, bloody and tortured, in torrential storm.  At least that is what one headline stated.

That gives a basic idea of what happened. I will not go on, as this is Dane's story to tell. Like I said, I am hopeful. At this writing, he is in the hospital in a coma. What he went through, what happened, and how they took him with leaving absolutely no trace, remains to be determined.

Here's a photo from a couple years ago...

Stephan here-- No News on Dane.

I am feeling so helpless. Today, I went to the studio in Atlanta to lay down some of the bass tracks for the latest album, but I don't think it's my best work. I cannot concentrate. At what point do you consider someone dead? Or give up on finding them?  It's been over a month. Nothing. No sign. No clues. Dane is just--gone!

Damn it. Why did I have to be the one to agree to stay here at Dane's home and take care of things? To basically live his life looking for clues as to my friend's disappearance?  Every day is harder than the day before. Though I am also learning things about my friend I never knew. And I'm hoping to find a clue within his life somewhere.

I get up in the morning (which, for me is usually around 11am), go down to the vast kitchen to find my coffee already made by Dane's housemaid, Edna (who calls him Mr. Dane). I sit at the kitchen island and drink my coffee and read the paper (apparently, Dane never read newspapers. Only history books and some novels). So, I started having the paper delivered here. 

I always have the dog and several cats for company as Edna goes about her duties managing the staff, which I counted as 3 people; two for cleaning the mansion, one for taking care of the horses--though I think that is 2 since there's weekday and weekend help. It is amazing how much help Dane relies on. Edna is sweeter than pie. She takes care of the indoor animals. She takes care of Dane. But he is not here so she has been trying to take care of me, but I am rather used to taking care of myself. She makes all his meals, cares for the cats (how many I don't know. I swear I see a new one daily), cares for the dog and manages the staff.

More fans have come by in the last weeks, both male and female. I rarely invite them in. Just the occasional hot chick. But, as time goes by, my worry is starting to effect me in other areas. I am desperately trying to find even the hint of a clue. I don't understand how someone can just...vanish!

Trying to get into Dane's head, his life. The only thing that keeps coming up is that woman both Dane and Bruce saw in the mirror onstage back in December. But who is she??? Does she have anything to do with Dane's disappearance? I need to follow that lead. It's the only one I have. I need to find this woman!

As I always do, to please fans... band photos:

Dane coming out of the shower

Adrian daydreaming

This was a fun shoot of me    

Bruce at some backstage thing about a year ago

The orchestra girls. We do hire local, but these gals are with us most tours.

Hello Fans, it's Me -- Stephan. So Many Theories Behind Dane's Disappearance

Hello Dark Myst and Dane Bainbridge fans, readers of this blog. This is Stephan Gale. I have not written on this blog until now due to the fact that this has been very hard on me, as I see Bruce mentioned in an earlier post.

You see, though it seems stupid, I persuaded Dane to start this blog. For some strange reason, that's kept me from typing in it. Made me feel like I was stepping on Dane's personal space or something. But, my buddy has been missing over 3 weeks now, the police have given up the search because the trail is cold, as they said. They are convinced he up and left, but they don't know Dane as I do. He would never do that! Those of us who know him best are certain of it.

And I am certain we will see him again. I just feel it! I can't speculate on where he went. Dane has never said a word to me to indicate he would go anywhere. But here is what I do know... and this is not new news, as the police and detectives have questioned all of us on everything, especially me since Dane and I are closest personally rather than only professionally. The night of the concert in MN last month, Bruce said he saw someone in one of the mirrors onstage. I didn't see her, I was faced away and didn't look until I heard the squeal of the amps when Dane dropped his mic. By that time, I turned to see my friend disappear into the heavy smoke machine fog. I threw off my bass and ran over.

Bruce admitted he saw this girl in the mirror onstage! Police thought he was seeing someone from the audience but he insisted she was ONLY in the mirror! Detectives assume a crazed fan took Dane... or that he ran off with her. Bruce said something about thinking this girl may be behind Dane's disappearance in some way, but he wasn't sure Dane took off with her voluntarily. Apparently, Bruce told Dane after the concert that he saw this girl.

Like I said, I didn't see her, but Bruce said she just vanished. I guess there were people behind the mirrors but none of them looked like her and no one saw her. They all said they saw just the back of a big mirror. No one saw anyone go by, nothing. Especially not a woman dressed the way Bruce claimed. Our fans can at times have some interesting dress codes, but nothing like that. I would think she would have been noticed, and Bruce insists on it.

Personally, I think there's something about her that is behind Dane's disappearance. Is this some elaborate prank someone has played? I don't know. I would think nothing of the image in that mirror if it weren't for the fact Bruce saw her. Bruce makes up nothing! WTF??

Mostly, the detectives say they think he ran away with this girl. They all say because there's zero evidence of any foul play,  and because he's a rock star (which, by their terms means unstable), and by the amount of booze bottles found in his house they think he's an alcoholic or something, so they say he just decided to go on a wild trip somewhere. Um, no! Dane wouldn't just up and leave.

Somehow, I have to find this girl. Based on a description from Bruce, the police have come up with a sketch of her, though they have no leads on who she is or where she might be.  One of their theories is that Dane ran off with her. They apparently don't know him as I do.

Anyway, this is the sketch.

police sketch of the woman who Dane apparently ran away with! Yeah right!

Jesus, I have seen better sketches by 5 year olds! Not much to go on...

Anyway, it's "sketchy" what she looks like. Bruce (and apparently, Dane) saw her, but so far no one else has. The police are interviewing a LOT of people in this case. So far, Bruce is the only one admitting he saw her, but Dane obviously did too. Apparently, he was staring at her when he collapsed. What is this--some sort of fucking fantasy novel?? How can a woman be there, yet not exist? I wish I had seen her, I have a feeling it would give me more information. But I have none, and it is frustrating the crap out of me!

OMG Dane... where are you?

Some pics I found on Dane's computer....

Dane with a rescue cat. Not one of his. He's a cat guy.

Some party. I am not sure where this was taken.

Wasted at some party. What else is new?

Here's one of me I found on Dane's computer.

Please keep positive vibes going for Dane's safe return.
Thank you!
Stephan Gale
South Carolina, January 2015

Post from Bruce Tomkin. MISSING!

I am sure by now most have heard the news that Dane has gone missing and no one knows where he is. It was in the Aiken news, as well as all over the world, I am sure. I have not been watching, as all of us are very concerned.

I did not even know he was keeping up with this blog until I came here to his home yesterday and saw it open on his laptop. I looked through it to see if there is any clue as to Dane's whereabouts, but it says nothing and gives no hints. I decided since his fans read this, I would put up this post on Dane's blog in order to reach out to all. If anyone has any clues, please let us know!

All I can tell you is that when his maid, Edna came to work yesterday morning, Dane was not here. She said his cars were in the garage, nothing was touched. The house doors were locked from the inside and no windows were broken. Police said they saw no signs of a struggle of any kind.

I can't really tell you any more than his blog already has. He stated he was going for a ride on one of his horses, despite the rain. But both horses were stabled. The stable hand who cares for the animals stated to police that she saw signs Camelot had been ridden by some "unbrushed sweat marks on his back." but, she said, all the tack was hung up and in its usual place, so that rules out the chance he had fallen and was lying in a ditch somewhere. In any event, there is a massive search on in Aiken and especially around the area of Hitchcock Woods near his house. They are fingerprinting everything, and I had to get special permission just to post on his computer.

They have scoured the house thoroughly. The police said it looks like he had showered and shaved, and they found a recently used towel in his bedroom. Otherwise, he's just--gone!

I have to tell you we are all very worried. We had rescheduled our tour for January, after Dane's collapse onstage this month. And I have to be honest, I wonder if there's any connection to the woman I saw in that mirror onstage before Dane collapsed and his going missing, though I cannot imagine how that would be. Having spoken to Dane about it, this is not a new occurrence for him.

For now, we cannot even speculate on what might have happened to him. We are just hoping he shows up (alive, please), and this is some strange misunderstanding.

--Bruce Tomkin, Aiken, SC

Talk About a Buzzkill!

What a day! I was up super early because I had one HELL of a nightmare last night. I don't even want to talk about it!

The entire day I felt like a zombie... or a Walker, if you watch the Walking Dead. Have you ever had a really terrible dream that refused to let go of you all the next day? The rain did not help! Around noon sometime Wolfe barked and my cat jumped off my lap. To be honest, I didn't even know he was ON my lap! I was that out of it! Maybe I am still exhausted, as the doctor had said?

I went over to the monitor to see who dared disturb my misery. Some chick was outside my gate. She was quite attractive... black hair, busty, long legs. Yep! So, I opened the gate!  It was time to get my ass out of the slump. A good roll in the sack is always a pick-me-up.

Her name was Dalia... a Georgia peach! Lovely. She'd brought with her a gift for me, a get well card with a poem inside she had written. It was all about this love she felt for me. Yeah yeah... they all do. I got her a glass of wine. Just the thing to warm her up on this chilly and wet winter day.

As it turned out, she didn't need much warming up. She wasted NO time in finding her way into my jeans. Oh yeah! There's was only one major problem! She wanted to be in my bedroom... on my bureau... the one with the huge antique mirror! WTF.

My favorite opera was playing... (Yes, I like certain operas)... Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. I somehow feel I can relate to this opera.  The words, man... it's CRAZY! If you know archaic Latin you will get it!

“O Fortuna, velut luna, statu variabilis, semper crescis, aut decrescis, vita detestabilis, nunc obdurate, et tunc curat, ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem, dissolvit ut glaciem, Sors immanis.”

O Fortune, Like the moon, You are changeable, Ever waxing, Ever waning, Hateful life, First oppresses, And then it soothes, As fancy takes it. Poverty. And power, It melts them like ice.”

And not just the first act, either. Listen to that entire opera. It's powerful!

That ended and the Scorpion's "Rock You Like a Hurricane" pounded through the mansion. Have you ever banged during that song? I have written several songs with the same power-beat, but that song is the king of all sex music!

I had Dalia's ass on the dresser, I was so close...her warmth was right there!!!  Then You-Know-Who had to arrive just in time! Yep The Mirror Lady killed my boner! Talk about a buzzkill. Hadn't she tortured me enough by showing up onstage and killing our tour???  WHY CAN'T SHE JUST FUCKING GO AWAY???!!! Ok, big breath.

Dalia wasn't exactly happy. That was it. The end of any amourous encounter today. Sucks! I had to escort her out without explanation. This is frustrating. These illusions are destroying my sex life! Maybe I need to get on some sort of medication or something!!

After that, several drinks were in perfect order! Vodka... Rum... Wine.... anything I could find. I'm still messed up, but at least the alcohol kills the reality of what has happened--of my LIFE!

Merry fucking Christmas, Dane!!

For our fans, always a few tour pics, though the tour was cut short, I try not to disappoint.

Bruce looks like hell. He's all worried about his wife!

Adrian relaxing on the bus.

Hospital and Home and Confusion! Is This really the Life of a Rock Star?

Not sure if this had made news or not, I have not seen the news in several days. I am extremely disappointed, as well as confused and a fragment of my former self. Huh? Yeah, I know. I am most definitely going crazy, which is good for the image of a rock star! Anyway, the most vital part of our stage set did NOT arrive in time Saturday to make the stage. I am not sure whose idea it was, but mirrors were put in place around the stage... massive mirrors. I don't even know where they came from!! Who thought of this?? I guess they felt they needed to fill the gaps where our missing stage dragons would have been! The problem is, they did not know ME!!

So, throughout the concert our laser show bounced off these mirrors, giving all of us headaches! And mid-concert, I saw HER!!!! I can't be sure what happened after that except I landed in the hospital. I really despise hospitals!! I got out as quickly as they allowed. Oh, and remind me to KILL Stephan. He left me with no street clothes, so I had to walk through the hospital in my STAGE COSTUME of all things!

So glad to be home!

If you haven't seen our show, here is a digital rendering a fan made awhile back depicting our stage set, though not an exact replica, it is close.

We have a castle... (ok, not stone and mortar real, but built as a stage set, not digital). Laser lights, pyrotechnics, and so much more. The dragons are the greatest! Set on each side of the stage, staring at each other, laser lights shoot from their eyes and fire breathes from their mouths at certain times. It's all choreographed in perfect timing. One must be careful, however. I was burned once from the fire when I was not in the right place at the right time!!

For parts of the set, I am on a platform behind one dragon that makes it appear as if I am inside its mouth, or on top of it! I use swords as part of my routine.  We have THE most elaborate stage set and routine of ANY rock band that has ever existed... even beating out KISS. Our regular stage show blows their show off the map!!!  We are truly, the "bad boys" of symphonic rock/metal.

And we hope to one day make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Anyway, I certainly didn't expect to be home so soon!!  What a disappointment that our manager cancelled the entire tour! C'mon, this is just a bump in the road, but he says "You have not been yourself lately, Dane. Get some rest."  Now, what does THAT mean???

I showered and changed and Edna had dinner for me. OMG she had this entire spread! Nothing is a small affair with Edna. My dining room looked like we were having Christmas company. Edna's family stays at the mansion when I am on tour, however, they had gone home when she heard I was coming home early from "exhaustion." Since I was supposed to be on tour no family outings were planned.  It was just me, Edna and the animals.

Anyway, I invited Edna to join me since she cooked such a terrific meal. The real reason I wanted her there was because I needed to vent. I told her everything!  Of course, she had all these crazy ideas on why I see this image, this illusion if you will, in my mirrors. Home mirrors, fine... But mirrors onstage??? This is too fucked up to understand!

She brought up some past life regression theory. Oh really? Why in hell would I relive a past where I see this ginger-haired woman as a reflection in mirrors my entire life???  Does that sound sane to you?

So, I sent her home early, Not because of her theories, mind you, but because I just needed time to myself.

My 30th birthday is SOON... too soon. On the 24th. Thirty. Why does that seem so old to me?

Wait.... Martha said her brother's birthday was the same day. He looked like me. But he lived in the 1920's. Can't be connected. Weird.

I'm going to bed now..... what is next???

I am Not a Chick Drink Drunk!

Today was one of those days we call a "band business" day. That's a day when all we do is... well, band business. We're getting our shit together for the tour.

Sitting in the studio, waiting, I had my bottle of red wine and a glass. Hey, what the fuck's wrong with pouring into a glass? Is it more "manly" to drink from a bottle?  I used to drink rum and flavored vodka.... But when I couldn't get my pert ass out of bed to get to rehearsals and sound checks, I switched to wines. I have a wicked sweet tooth anyway and I have enough sweet wines to hold me day by day.

Adrian was drinking some concoction of Bailey's and Schnapps.

So, Bruce tells me I'm a "chick drink drunk" because I drink wine. Shit... I prefer to see it as a higher class of the male species! Of course he said nothing to Adrian... the guy's prettier than many of my fucks anyway!!  So I guess it's ok he drinks girl drinks.

One of these days I am going to lay Bruce flat if he keeps it up. I knew he was only teasing to release tension. His wife is dangerously close to her due date (which is around New Years) and we're leaving again. I felt we should postpone this tour until after the baby is born, but hey, what do I know? The new album is selling well, and he wants to get out there to make sure we stay chart toppers. He and the managers are boss!

Adrian caught in the limo. Hmm what's he thinking?

Two weeks left until the tour. The buses are getting all their safety and maintenance checks, as are the trucks that haul our stage sets and equipment.

Completely off topic, but I have develop some weird rash on my hand. Just my left hand so get your minds out of the gutter! It's mostly on my fingers, but itches so badly, I have managed to scratch the skin off without thought to what I was doing.

Of course, Edna, my ever loyal housemaid and caretaker, put some sort of voodoo on it... I don't know... she is originally from Louisiana and she called it a "home remedy," but seems like a voodoo potion to me. As long as it doesn't turn me into a frog, I'm ok. HAHA!   That's funny. Of course I do not believe in voodoo or curses, or any of that!

Although, I was cursed by a hearse once. No shit! I parked beside a big hearse once, thought nothing of it, even took a photo. For the whole next day everything went wrong!!! I called it the Curse of the Hearse.

Cursed Hearse

Ok, early morning. More "band business" tomorrow.

Night all, my fans! Sleep well and have lots of sex!

Not a Normal Life

It's not like my life has ever been normal. But today pushed the boundaries of that normalcy beyond even my limits. Since the Jag is still laid up, I took the Ferrari out to that new music and book store I told you about previously. Of course, since today was the release of our latest CD, which stupid me forgot because Bruce the slave driver has me working furiously on this new song, I walked into this store unprepared. A storm was brewing. Then I walked in and found my own face right smack in front of me on one of those cardboard displays, but what was worse... the huge TV displaying one of our music videos in concert. Ugh. I generally would disguise myself with brown contacts and my hair up in a baseball cap. All I wanted was a book for Christ's sake. A little time to be a human.

I ran to the back of the store to the History Department. Anyone who knows me knows how I love to read history books.  I didn't even think, I just grabbed some leather bound book off the shelf to hide my face. I still felt like I was being watched!

Long story short, this old lady accused me of being dead!! How the hell can I be dead when I am right here?? I guess I resembled some guy she knew back long before I was born! WTF!

After leaving the store, in my car, I thought I saw "her" in the rear view mirror, but when I looked, I saw only myself. Phew.

To make a strange day even stranger, I bought that book and went home to finish working. After being reprimanded for my tardiness on getting this song done, Bruce left.  Christ, the tour isn't for another month! And it's a short tour.  But Bruce is so on edge because his wife is so close to her due date. He nearly snapped my head off, though, when I mentioned postponing the tour. He wouldn't have it.

I finally was able to relax in my library with my dog and read.  What the hell happened after that, I can't explain very well. Words can't compare. I read a passage about some knight way back in the 17th century in England.  I got dizzy, and the strangest feelings came over me. I swear I had only one glass of wine. Nothing else!

There's something in my life that is complicated and cannot be explained through rational means. I just do not yet know what it is. The rest is such a blur. Now you know why I feel that I am crazy and keep much of this stuff hidden. I've been lucky the media doesn't find this blog or they'd have a field day. Not that rock stars aren't well known for being nuts, but this is a whole different type of crazy.

Some weird revelation came to me tonight about that knight I read about in the book. But, it must be just my imagination playing tricks, right? I was in my room when it came to me. After, I went down to the kitchen for a glass of wine! Now, it's after 2 am and I need sleep!

Welcome to the bazaar life of Dane!!!

Might as Well be Home

Hello all. I cannot believed the weather here in South Carolina lately. I might as well be home in Connecticut--I think it's actually warmer there. We've been having exceptionally cold weather down here. I want to go back to Greece!

No, actually, I am quite happy to be home. Touring is an evil necessity of being a rock star. Ok, it's not hugely evil. I meet many gorgeous ladies and seeing new towns is... well, ok, so I never really get to SEE the towns as we are always either working or sleeping! Once in a great while I get to play tourist.

So, a few photos of the band from a photo shoot in Europe.

Me

Adrian

Stephan

So, now that we are home for a short time (we will be doing the last leg of our USA tour in December), I have time to sit back and NOT relax. Writing new songs for future gigs and albums. More work in the studio. Yada Yada. Nothing you will be interested in.

Anyway... my 30th birthday is next month... so strange. 30 years. Wow. I feel old.  Then again, Bruce, who will be 40 next year, thinks I am a baby.

OK, I am going to go pass out now. More maybe tomorrow! What do I have planned?  Not sure really.

Later......................!

Relaxation... Or Not! Fifty Shades of What???

Hey, it's me... your favorite sex addict schizophrenic rock star, Dane Bainbridge... at least I hope I am your favorite. I've been writing this blog thing for a few months now and I am not really sure if anyone's reading it, which is okay because I have turned this into my personal diary and reveal things I don't think I would want the media to find out. They have enough of a field day with my "schizophrenia" as they call it.

Here is today's topic.... sex. Oh, what a surprise. Yes, I am drinking. Of course I am. I am not on tour right now, so what else is there to do (and even when I am on tour, what else is there to do? Don't answer that!)

Actually, when I came home from tour I met this girl named Katrina at the store (Yeah, I did her... hard. LOL)... anyway, we were lying in bed and she kept talking about this novel called "Fifty Shades of Grey." She wanted to do some pretty kinky stuff based on this book.  I am not really the kinky type, except for a few safe "excursions" here and there.  I had never heard of this book so I didn't know what it all meant. After she left, I decided to go and buy this book. I have read, I think, the first 2 chapters and I am bored already!!  I will give it a bit more time to get better. How exciting!  This Christian Gray fella sounds like a real control freak loser if you ask me. What girl with any self worth would put herself in such a position to be dominated in such a way?  Hey, I may be addicted to sex of all types, but it has to be completely mutual. And no tie downs unless the girl asks for it specifically. I'm a horse guy... tie downs are for horses, and not in a sexual way.

I don't know... I am a sex addict, but the romantic type. Katrina wanted to try some things she read in that infernal novel. I let her have her way a bit here and there, but I drew the line at gagging and whipping... with real whips.

What do my fans think of all this? Have they read this book? Do they think it is over the top or do they like it? Let me know.

By the way, if you're really hot... I like in Aiken, SC, toward the south-west edge of Hitchcock Wood. :-)    Just look for the Gothic Revival mansion with a spider web wrought iron gate, long drive, and a stable out back.

Home for Now

We arrived home to a deluge of rain and storms. Fortunately, my property didn't receive any damage, other than a small tree down by the barn. I guess farther west they weren't so lucky. I saw on the news about tornadoes killing people and damaging storms. I admit that's always been a fear of mine since moving south--they do tend to have much more severe weather down here than I ever remember from growing up in New England.

Anyway, it is nice to be home where I have only 2 mirrors in the whole house, very little worries, where Edna makes all my favorite foods, and I can go for midnight rides on my horse or cuddle in front of the television with one of my cats and my dog.

I am heading to my jacuzzi now for a nice long bath and spa, hoping that will kill this jet lag and allow me to get some shut eye.

A few tour shots.... Enjoy!

Me (night in Spain)

Stephan reheasing

Adrian... just being himself

Bruce caught unawares

Have a great night. Stay safe!

Weather and Band Stuff

Why do women have such an aversion to men farting in bed at night? Really, ladies, is it that bad? I mean really, you live with us, you see us at our best and worst, so why does a little fart freak you out so much? And... as if YOU don't do it? Hah!

On less icky but not more pleasant news, is the weather report here in Aiken, SC. We're not really any different than the rest of the eastern part of the country, though. I expect this weather in the south, hot and humid (actually, it's not that hot at the moment, but the air is tropical), but I talked to my mom in CT and she says it's just as bad up there. Doesn't look that bad on this screen shot I grabbed from my computer, but it's been back and forth rain, storms, sun, heat. My horses don't know whether they want to be in the cooler barn (I have fans running in there) or outside grazing. They're just kind of in and out. I've been watching them from the house all day. I worked on a new song a bit this morning, but mostly it's hiatus time so I get to hang about, watch The Walking Dead reruns on TV, listen to Jessica bitch about the heat, even though she's with me in a climate controlled mansion (she claims she wants to go out and do something but the heat bothers her).. neither of us are native south, but I've lived down here longer so I guess I got used to it.

Tour Bus Crash

I think this was the scariest thing to happen to me during my entire life on the road. We're touring through Kansas somewhere. Who knows where, as all the roads start to look the same when you're in a tour bus continuously with no breaks between gigs.

It was snowing. I was asleep in my bunk. What all the others were doing, I don't know. Apparently, from what I found out later, a white-out came through in the form of a big snow squall. Cars and truck started skidding all over the place. I don't recall much except being thrown from my bunk and hitting my head on a cabinet. And then chaos!

I think I was in and out of consciousness because I have vague memories--flashes of people running around, someone in my face saying my name and asking how many fingers they were holding up. I remember seeing flashing emergency lights. I awoke in an ambulance. My head felt like someone had put it into a vice. I was released the next day and found out everyone made it out alive. Adrian was in the back of the bus watching TV, so he was ok except for a couple bruises when he fell off the sofa. Stephan sprained a wrist and Bruce received some sort of whiplash. It wasn't a big accident, but we are on leave from pre-tour until we have all recovered.

I came home today, only to find out that S. Carolina is supposed to get hit with snow!! I won't be out in it. I have a concussion and have been relegated to bed for a week. I am not sure about the rest of the pre-tour. The dates and venues are booked far in advance to coincide with the next "real" tour. I think we might cancel the rest of this pre-tour and get everything ready to out on the road for the real thing in March.

Jessica came to see me when I came home. Apparently, she sees our relationship as more than just a dating and physical thing... I guess we're in a relationship now. We will keep my escapades on the road secret.

I have to admit it was nice to see her pretty face. She made brownies and she and Edna have been spoiling me, which I cannot complain about.

I have stitches in my head... fortunately along the hair line so no scar will show and didn't effect my hair. If they had had to cut my hair or shave my head I would have gone into hiding until it grew back! I have an image to uphold, ya know.

So, while Jessica spoils me and I get rest and recover, I will keep everyone informed on what's going down with the tour schedule and the like.

Thanks to all the great fans who came to see us play during the shortened pre-tour. Sorry to those who we cancelled on... the bus has to be repaired, as do we.

Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll

If you can't handle the truth of life on the road, then don't read this.

Sex, booze and rock and roll. I don't do any kind of hard drugs, a little weed once in awhile after a show to unwind. Unlike many famous musicians, drugs were never my gig. My entire life has been spent in mass delusion all on its own, so why would I?  Drink, on the other hand. It helps unwind me. I don't smoke cigarettes (quit in 2008). My voice is important and made me millions. I'm not about to compromise my livelihood.  As for sex, well...

I have to admit it. I'm a sex addict. There is nothing that calms the nerves like a good roll in the hay with a perfectly gorgeous woman! On the road, it's easy. One or two a night, move on to the next city. Two or three, move on again. I keep a list on my cell phone with a photo file. I can never remember names. They are in alphabetical order by city. Some have red X's beside them. Those are the chicks to steer clear of... to make sure they do NOT get backstage passes! I keep my road manager in charge of that one. He knows my type, if I have one. I prefer dark hair. And dark eyes. I have black hair, but my eyes are blue. Like  silver blue, which is weird, right? Sometimes I wear brown contact lenses just to appear more "normal."

Being the 'front man,' the women flock my way anyhow (plus, Bruce is loyally and sickeningly married, Stephan has a gal (for now) and Adrian... well, we're never sure what his deal is. Is he gay, is he straight, somewhere in between? We don't really know. We've never seen him with anyone at all. He is married to music and that seems to be what gets him off. He is shy and prefers to stay behind his drums. Maybe all that rhythmic banging is compensation for something. We tease him mercilessly on the road, but he never talks).

Back on subject, after all the confusion last night, I really needed a "fix." I couldn't call Jess because she was part of the problem. Living out here in Aiken, SC, there's very little temptation, which is part of the reason I moved out here as opposed to living along the coast where the rest of the band reside. I like my private life, and though I do bring girls home, and sometimes they find me, most of the time it is just me, Edna, the animals and the house staff. Most of the songs I contribute are written right here at home and if I allowed my addiction full rein here I'd never get any work done. So, I ride my horses, choreograph sword fights I can later use onstage, and work on music to get out any frustration.

Tonight, however, none of that would do! So, I went out to a local bar. I'd never been there before, but I was recognized immediately and ushered through the door to a prime location and free drinks. Normally, I don't want the attention on me, but tonight I did. And I got it. Several gorgeous brunettes raped me with their stares. The hell with it. I brought two of them home! They just left, as I didn't want them sleeping in my house all night. I had my driver bring them wherever they wished to go.

At least that released a bit of tension. Perhaps tomorrow I will call Jessica and see if she wants to get together and go out again.  What is it about that girl??

The Strange and the Lonely

I'm sure it's no secret by now that I live in Aiken, South Carolina. I get a lot of letters from fans asking me about my childhood, since I really don't speak of it much.

The truth is, even though I was raised in a very normal suburban area in Connecticut, my childhood was anything BUT normal. I have a secret, a big secret, and just mentioning this fact, I'm sure, will get far too much media attention. And since I refuse to reveal the entire secret, there's little more to tell. But I will try to skip around the private part of my existence and tell you what I can without landing me in the loony bin. (though, if you read this blog regularly, some of my secret was revealed a bit back. But that's all I will say on it).

Ok, I grew up in Stafford, CT, living not too far from the Speedway. I was never really too big into cars, though I did like speed (not the drug). Whether it was visiting a race track with horses or speeding cars, I was hooked on watching things move fast.

When I was 14, I worked in the pit crew of a friend, helping to change tires, check engine fluids and more. I also worked for short times up at Suffolk Downs, a completely different atmosphere than engine exhaust, fuel and burning rubber. Horses, unlike most speed car fanatics, I found just as amazing and fascinating as the metal machines with horse power.

Music, though, is what kept me out of trouble--actually it helped keep my mind off that little secret I refuse to talk about. Yeah, it's a secret that affected every part of my life and made me who I am today. Though, sometimes I wonder.

Ok, so that's the "Dane Bainbridge confession of the day."  I will leave you with that... and some food for thought. Don't fret the small things in life. Trust me, there are far worse, more dangerous things out there than you can imagine. Not in your wildest nightmares. Stay ignorant my friends. You'll be much happier that way!

Signing off. Time for some shut eye. My dog is in my bedroom, warming up the bed, even though he is not allowed on it. I have to go kick him off to make room for myself. Early morning again at the studio. All new material I think the fans will love.