Hi guys...

Really busy today...so...I am just going to post what I wrote on the bus for my diary entries...I am currently in a hotel in Johnson City...seems like a nice place!

Raleigh, North Carolina

Once I left for the venue I began to wake up. We had played this place years ago. I remember it because Daryl had been hammered at the one show. It was the last show of the tour. He stayed on the stage singing “We are TSO” after the show was over. I remember him passed out on the bus…I had been sober the whole tour. That night I fell off the wagon after the show and was a mess on the plane home. I even left my passport on the airplane!!! I hit the venue and ate lunch…not much because I am fasting to get in shape for my solo tour. We have dates to be confirmed very soon. I was practicing singing…it is time to get serious. I also had a live interview with the JJ at the local radio station! The show was great. The crowd was a lot better than the last time we were there. Not that the last show was bad, but this crowd was great. I am still getting my rap together. But, it is developing fine. I had a long talk with Kemp. She just shot pictures for J-Lo. It was cool because my friend Andy Hilfiger co-owns the company She was leaving for Japan tomorrow to do another Vidal Sassoon commercial. Stevie and I sat up all night talking about Daryl after the show….I should have rested because I have a radio interview and acoustic show in a few hours….goodnite!

Charlotte, North Carolina.

The wake up call came at 7:30. We went to the radio station to do an acoustic show…We had done this show before. Very nice people. Bob and Sheri. I forget the call letters!!! It was James, Alex, Bob, Meeun, Jen, Tany and myself. The acoustic stuff was fun, but I was so tired. I headed back to the Hilton and signed on-line to do business. I am close to confirming some European dates. I also had a phone interview with a radio station in Johnson City. I got to sleep until 4, I was still so tired. Our bus broke down on the way to the venue…fuel line problem. We are on it now and it is fixed….PHEW! I ate dinner and did sound check, it was about 90 minutes from show time. I met my childhood friend Mike McCorkell. He graduated with me, He is running the Carolina street team. I got a new hat and outfit for the tour. Funny stuff. Red neck Santa! It was time to get onstage. The show was packed and went great. Except for the snow…it was shooting into a catwalk instead of out into the audience! My “Stairway to Heaven” idea is working better every show. I also have got a few new lines for my rap. Slowly I am getting it together. The autograph line was very friendly, we hung out after and just had some Sonny’s barbque….I am finishing this and writing a couple of mails then crashing! First time in Tennessee for TSO east tomorrow! Talking to Stevie, Dave and Jeff about music as I type.

I am going to get back to work!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Chris

EASTER!!!!!

Hi Ya'll...

Yup...it was November 19th and 70 degrees in Johnson City. Fans had told me that trees and flowers were beginning to bud again as if it was spring.

I walked off the bus in the AM to do some business on-line and was amazed at just how warm it was. By noon when I walked to go shopping it had passed 70!

I was looking for a book store. I needed to buy a few things. Can't explain about one 'cuz it is a secret...I also just wanted to buy something to read .I bought a book called "The Haunting of the Presidents". It is about ghosts and the White House and past Presidents and first ladys. pretty interesting reading. I also bought "A Red Neck Christmas Carol". I read a passage from the book onstage. Priceless!

I broke out my Red Neck Santa outfit last night...some people said I looked like the Christmas Pimp....I just answered Ho, Ho, Ho!!!

For our first time through things were great! The crowd was really loud. It is funny because we hear them applaud and stand for different things every night. The band is just about on auto pilot now, this is where it gets to be really fun and relaxing on the road. Well...if it was not for the zillion other things I am doing!

I spent some time reading, then working on my book, then doing business and fan mail, then working out my voice...

Everyone was so friendly on the autograph line...One thing has been bothering me, actually kinda why I can't sleep right now...there was a young boy, I would say around 8. His Mother was saying how he really liked me and I had no guitar picks left, I usually give them to all of the musicians, people with Savatage shirts and kids first...unless people ask for them! I did have a "Faces" CD on me that I was going to give to a radio person. I had more on the bus so I gave him a CD...I wanted to run out the door and tell his Mom that the CD had a few songs that may not be suitable for him at his age...when I recorded "Faces" I was battling a lot of problems in my life personally. This frustration could not be expressed without certain enforcement of some "explicit" words. This is why the warning is here on the message board. I kinda forget that a lot of the TSO fans are very young and that they look at me as a Christmas figure...

If this family ever reads this, I apologize for not giving you a proper heads up about this. I have had some very young people come through the line with the Faces CD and their parents and they both say they love it...but they bought it...I just feel responsible because I gave it to him. So...I am sorry!!!

This is a tough situation sometimes...I have even changed the title of the US version of GDWAR to The Damn War...I realize that TSO is selling to a religious audience and I wanted to make sure they knew that I respected that. I kinda censored myself. The US is a bit weird about this. Europe seems to be more true to the freedom of speech and expression that we fought wars to overcome here...but in my case...I do lead a double life musically, so I want to try to maintain as much of a level of respect to my fans and to the TSO fans as possible. I appreciate every one of you.

I was even thinking about this when I was working on my Children's book...it is tough for me to leave my sense of humor out of my writing...so, I am going to have 2 versions of the book. A very short traditional "Golden Book"-esque childrens book. AND...a longer more BUGS Bunny -esque, PG-13 book...no foul language...just a lot of sentences with double meanings and sarcasm that I feel some parents may not want to have to explain to their kids.

OK...it is 8AM and I really need to sleep1 I just wanted to write about this 'cuz it was bothering me...

Looking forward to tonite in Greensboro!

Goodnite/morning/whatever time it is when you read this!

Redneck Santa!!!

Hi!

I am sitting in my hotel room in Columbia. I justy got back from the gym. I wrote a small report on Greensboro last night before I went to sleep...here it is...

Greensboro

Another day another routine….not exactly. I checked into my day room and wrote you all about the night before. I went back to sleep and then went running with James Lewis. He is feeling a bit ill. I did notice that there was a Hooters in town, so I eventually wound up there for lunch. Health food ya know! I arrived back at the venue for sound check. I am having really bad golf ball head aches…for those of you who do not know I was hit by a golf ball in the head in 1994. I had a brain bleed. It gets bad every once in a while. The weather has been odd…so, the head aches are worse. I went to the bus after I took a shower and slept for an hour. My Mom called to tell me that a rabid raccoon was in the barn. Always when I am not home! I woke up and did some vocalizing. Then I had a visitor. Sgt. Steven Hewitt showed up to give us gifts. He presented 2 American flags to us. One to myself and one to TSO. They were flown in combat missions. Last year I wished his wife a happy birthday when he had to leave for Iraq. Thanks and it was the least I could do! The show was great, even though the snow has been really bad! Tonite it looked like bad dandruff!!!! My head was killing me! The crowd was great…the band did great…James is a bit sick so he took it easy tonite. The crowd gave a standing ovation when I introduced DDP. This made me so happy. Afterwards the autograph line was very friendly again. Lots of special people there. I gave out a few posters cuz I had some extras on me. Tomorrow Jon Oliva arrives. Should be a fun day! After the show we quickly ran down the street for some lyrical inspiration and made it back exactly at 12:30AM for bus call. Tomorrow is Columbia….Quackin’a!!!! I need to take more pictures…sorry, I am so busy! Goodnight!

Now I sit in Columbia and it is 2PM...Jon Oliva is in town. He is at a sports bar watching football. I would go find him, but I am afraid I may not make the show tonite if that happened!

Thinking of going to the hospital this week...golf ball headache is here 24-7 now. Can't figure out why...I could possibly be run down, but I did get a lot of sleep last night. Who knows!? Tomorrow is a day off...I need it! So far 4 of the radio stations presenting the shows have added my Christmas stuff or will add it in the near future! Not bad for a metal guy on a small Greek Label! Many more to come I hope! Keep your ears out and man the phones if you want to hear more!

I am going to work on my book and another CD I am planning to record next year...solo CD...different theme...

Talk to you from Virginia!

Chris

Hey!

Really quick...I will write more later. Slept til about three today. Then I went to the mall with Daniel, Dina and Alex. Raining here...yuk. Head still sux...

Got my picture taken with Daniel and Santa!

I will talk to you later!

C

Howdy...

I just returned to my room from dinner. The gym was uneventful...but is it ever?

I met up with Danielle and we headed over to a restaurant that Jeff, Dina and Alex were at. Some ale house with over 400 beers. I had 5 large glasses of H2O. Still can't kick this headache. Bob soon joined us as did Kyle and Tristan our pyro tech.

Good food...not drinking beer left room for desert anyway!

Things around here are closed up pretty early so I returned to my room about 15 minutes ago. I am watching the Patriots beat up on the Chiefs.

I am excited because I think I will get to hunt for 2 days in December. I talked to John West and there is a late bow season. I have a day off in Syracuse. He lives very close! So...I am getting kidnapped to hunt that afternoon and the next morning. Looks like I will have to give up a night at the dinosaur, but it is worth it! I can do lunch there...leave for the woods and be settled in a tree stand by 3PM! My sister is coming to Wilkes-Barre so I am having her grab my bow and clothes from Mom's!

South Carolina was a great show! I never made it to the Quack Inn....I think that was the place. Someone was yelling out Quackin' eh! I had forgotten about it during the rap. I have so much I want to say...then add in the headache factor.

Kyle left my 2nd wireless pack on during Good King Joy so I had a special in and out version for a bit! It was so hot onstage. I felt like I was going to die. The lights are so much more intense this year...add in the warmer weather and you have a sweaty guitar player. Oliva was in the house. He was in a very good mood. I never got to see him at the sports bar, plus he gave away my copy of his CD! Thanks!!!

Funny note from the autograph line. A security guy told me that someone asked how they would be able to speak with us if they did not speak "Siberian". I thought that was funny! Another guy had a Chris Caffery "Pisses ME Off" license plate made. It is so cool...I am contacting the company that made them about selling them on the site! I saw a very cool lighted Christmas ring on a girl in line. I asked her if I could have it. Her name was Libbs...she said only if I married her...so...I agreed! I have heard she posted about it on the TSO site. She was very nice! As is everyone we meet! A lot friendlier than a Pistons game!

I went to sleep kinda early and slept most of this day. I dunno, maybe I am just exhausted...can't imagine why?

I am going to get to work on some new music now...Allie Sheridan called before, she lives in Virginia. I believe we will see her Wednesday. Have not seen her since she bacame a Mommy...too cute.

I was standing in the rain waiting for a taxi at the mall. It was Daniel, Jay Pierce and myself...I had such a weird Daryl moment. Daryl always wore his laminate. Mostly because he was always so proud of being in the band.He would wear it to the mall on days off...I looked and Jay standing freezing in the rain and I noticed that he had his laminate on...there is such a positive spirit in Mr. Pierce. I really like him a lot. Still strange decorating my hotel room today without DDP laughing at me!

I have to run...can't stay up too late, I have to get to the gym when I wake up and meet Alex for Indian food at 1PM. I am so glad he is back, we are a pretty deadly guitar team!

Goodnight,

Chris