Hello from Chicago...

This is the first time for TSO East here...BUT...not for myself with TSO. The very first tour we played in Chicago. The tour with a single TSO. I remember the date very well.

Actually I think I was a bit hungover from the tour bus ride. We had a lot of fun on that tour!

I was offered a ride to the hotel to shower but I know about Chicago traffic! I was not sure where we were in the city, but we WERE in the city. So...I decided to stay in the theatre and watch football. The people who left for the hotel got stuck in hours of traffic, some never even got showers. True the venue was an old theatre with ancient plumbing, but I got to go shopping locally, shower, sit and watch TV in the dressing room...I loved the old couches!

I remember our tour manager T-Boy who is currently with TSO West. He was dealing with the complaining from the traffic on the phone. He walked into the dressing room and I was there with I think Johnny Lee or Jeff. He had a classic quote. He saw how relaxed we were and happy...his quote was...

"You know when you look at the pond every year and there is that one duck that always seems to live...certain people around here are that duck."

My road experience had payed off a lot! Still does. I am now just getting warmed up on this tour. When I am really settled in it will be over!

The first Chicago show was fun. It may have been the first show ever that I wore a Santa hat when I talked. I remember Paul O'Neill coming out onstage and saying that "Detroit...you are the best audience we have ever had"....Wanna get away?

I screwed up the beginning of "First Snow" really bad...it was more like "Worst Snow!"

Since then every night before I start it I play the riff with my volume off to be sure it never happened again!

I can't wait to play here tonite! Chicago was one of the biggest Savatage cities in the US. I know there will be lots of familiar faces!

Cinncinnatti was a great show! The day was dark and gloomy. Odd...because so was the day after the death of Daryl Pediford. I am still numb over the Dimebag thing. What a cowardly display. For some reason I do not think he would have gotten to Ted Nugent! Hail Uncle Ted!

I was playing this new video game I bought in the Mall in Toledo. Seems it may be illegal! OOPS! Not my fault. It was $60 and had all of the old thoughtless games that I love....Pac Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Duck Hunt, Outlaw....about a hundred mindless fun video games. Screw trying to jump into the stone wall to find the key that frees the Princess...I want Ms Pac Man...eat the frickin dots and watch out for the ghosts! That is about all I have to offer mentally these days!!!!!

The voice feels great. I have another live radio performance on Saturday on WNCX in Cleveland. I am going to play Christmas Is again. I was singing to GDWar before the show. Fun when I am starting to learn control!

I had a talk with my US publicist and radio people. Things are getting underway very soon. I can't wait for "Faces" to hit the stores here...The War CD will have 2 more tracks than the European version. "Fright Knights" and another unreleased tune...

Remember if you want the CD's now you can order an autographed European Digipak here on CC.com or different formats through The End Records online.

The Euro CD is a cool item because the War CD is called God Damn War there. I avoided the censoring "Freedomless of the speech" possibilities of having my CD removed from stores in the US by calling the CD... "The Damn War" here.

Funny thing is it will get more attention because it was changed. Censorship usually does that...

The band is playing so well...it is great to have Stevie B back in action...

I ran a gambling joke in Cinnci...couldn't resist....sorry Pete...you asked for it!

OK...it is 7:40AM...I am done with business for this part of my odd schedule...back to bed. No worries about the trip to the hotel today...I can see the arena from my room! It is right next to the hotel!

Goodnight...

Chris

p.s. Lots of new "Faces" here on CC.com recently....welcome aboard. We are not your typical nut house. Stick around...you have no idea just how nuts things will get in 2005!

Hi!

We are on the bus rolling from Chicago to Cleveland. It was the first time for TSO East in Chi Town and it rocked! I got a bit of sleep. I had a good friend come by to visit. We went to Chili’s for dinner and then to Target to try to find a target! For my bow that is. Ironically, I could not! I did manage to buy a snowboard and a large plastic container. I stuffed the container with stage towels and boxes and taped it shut, I then taped the snowboard to the container. Tomorrow I will try it out if I have time! I put a duct tape deer on it too. It is really silly. I must admit I was actually nervous before the show tonite. Even during it. I am so self conscious of my job and making people happy. I wanted Chicago and the people that had never seen me with TSO to be happy. I believe we were very successful. The crowd at one point yelled louder than any one single crowd yet. The ovation after Christmas Eve the first time was the best all tour. There was only one follow spot working, but the band did great. I threw in a few extra jokes for fun. I think everyone liked me. I dunno…if they didn’t they did a good job faking it! Lots of Savatage fans there. This place was the last place I played with Savatage on the Mt King tour. Same venue…different name. Chicago has always been a really big Savatage town. I played there in 1990 with Testament at the Vic Theatre. Lots of great memories in this city! The Thirsty Whale, Metro, H.O.Blues...lots of great gigs here. The signing line was very friendly and supportive. I was happy to see some fan club members and Faces CD’s in a new city for TSO East! We hit the bus and feasted on some Italian food. I have to get up early to do a radio show. I am so excited to sing again! I am going live on WNCX with Kasey. Then it is lunch at the Winking Lizard and off to the Gund arena for 2 sold out shows. I think we play for over 28,000 people today! Paul O’Neill is in town which always makes crazy even crazier! Gotta love him!

Thanks Chicago for a great night and warm welcome back!!! Goodnight!

Chris

(posting as I wake up and search for remaining brain cells in a hotel in Cleveland!)

Dec 11….Cleveland…

OK…I made it to the hotel at about 8AM. I knew I had a massage appointment at 9. I thought I would have been in earlier. Maria is the band’s Ohio massage therapist and I am a frickin’ mess…So, she came to the hotel and I was helped immensely and ready to go the radio station for my interview. Dave Jockers showed up at the hotel with his wife Leslie and their baby boy Adam. He got so huge! These people are such good friends and supporters. I arrived at WNCX about 10 mins late…not too bad. I talked for a bit with Kasey the DJ and then I played Christmas Is again. I was a bit horse from screaming every night so the morning voice was a bit rough…but it went well….we talked about Faces, Daryl and the shows. I was there for about an hour. From the station I went to The Winking Lizard. I had to do that! I got Wings and my special Preferred Chris-Mess chili fries!

The sound check was running late…it was set for 12 and happened at 2! The show was supposed to start at 3 and actually was not too late! We hit at about 3:20PM. Barry from Belkin was there..Walter from WNCX, Michael Stanley…the whole crew. Everyone at the Gund was so nice. I finally had an A/C adaptor for my camera sent to the show! I am so happy! It was from …….I thank you so much! The show was great. I think it was almost perfect until I went out in the crowd….the lights were not focused right. So…I was in the dark in the balcony! Long run back to the stage…barely made it! We finished at about 6PM. Only 2 hours til the next show. There was such amazing catering, but I can't eat that close to showtime.

I went and took a shower…then I went to shoot my bow. I was doing great until security told me it was too dangerous to do in the Gund Arena Garage! I am so sorry!

Yup…it was show time before I knew it. Ripper Owens was in the house. So was Greg Hildebrandt…the artist who did the new CD. He is very nice.

We began the show which was introduced by Bill Lewis from NCX…he did an amazing tribute to DDP!

I broke a string in the first song! Figures!

From there the show went amazing.

The crowd was the largest ever in the history of TSO. Nearly 15,000 people! I love the big crowds.

Everything ran smoothly until my last rap when I mistakenly called the Cleveland Browns the Chicago Bears! I think I was possessed by DDP!!!! I said it right in the matinee, so it was just a brain fart. We were in Chicago the night before. Browns, Bears…what is the difference!

We finished with the second performance of Cleveland Rocks for the day. Over all this was just about the most amazing TSO live experience ever! So intense.

There was a fondue and a red bull bar backstage! This was a present from Belkin productions! I love those people!

I said hi to Ripper, changed and made my way out a very long line. It did not end until almost 1AM!!!!!

Greg sat in the line with us. I gave him picks to give out! He is such an amazing guy.

Paul O’Neill was there all day and he seemed very happy with us. I had to lose my Wood joke…I guess it was too falic for Christmas.

My friend who gave me my long hat from last year was there. She is so nice, I got a new scarf. I think people learned tonite that the end of the arena line is the wrong place to be to get extra time. We got through everyone, but some almost got thrown out!!!! Thanks Cleveland for an amazing experience…I am sorry for the Bears thing…it will have to happen again now! Long Live DDP!

Talk to you in Dayton!

Chris

Off to NYCity

I am currently in the back of my bus with Kyle my tech. We are rambling about everything! Great shows today. Jay Pierce was born and raised here. I was happy to introduce him and his Mom at the show! The people at the venue were so nice. I love it when they are so excited to have us back. I was really tired when I got onstage for show one, but by the middle of the set I felt like I had not had a show in days. I am on autopilot now. Good crowd for a matinee. I had to change up my rap a bit as per a discussion with Mr. O’Neill. Always a challenge, but I made it work. After a short break it was into the shower and back to the stage again. Ronald McDonald was in the house again. He actually had tails made for the show! I took more pictures! Also in the house was my friend Butch’s Sister Karen, her husband Mike and their kids. They are the ones from the beach story. I was happy to see them, but sad cuz I had no time to really spend with them. The main thing to speak about tonite was an e-mail I received earlier in the week. It was from a US soldier in Iraq named Mark shields. I am going to print his mail now because I don’t think I should change what he said. I cried when I read it, I cried onstage when I said it…

      Chris.
      I will be brief. My daughter, Rachel Shields, will be attending your Dec 12th evening show in Dayton Ohio and I would love it if you would say"Rachel Shields, Your daddy is trying to find his way home". Before the song" find our way home". Now the reason for this request. I am at this time in Iraq with my unit. I took her to the show last year and she is going to this show, and I quote her reason" For my daddy." If I were home I would take her, but I am as you can see , I am unable. If you are unable to do this please let me know. I just need to know this message got through. I am not sure if this will even get back to me if you send it.
      Thank You.
      Mark Shields

Sometimes we forget just how lucky we are. We are heading to NYCity. On Tuesday morning we will perform on “Good Morning America” I have a day to run around NYCity. I am looking forward to it. Lots of things to do and friends to see. I will talk to you from there….Back to Kyle!

Chris

Hi!

I just returned from the studio. Our hotel was across the street! SO was Virgil's BarBque...this is where I ate last night! Yum!!!

Yesterday was great. I got to go home for about 2 hours! I dropped off some excess stuff. I saw Igor for a bit and grabbed some mail.

I had to meet a friend in the city for dinner so I headed back in about 6PM. Kyle just happened to be sitting at the table next to me. I guess they were sectioning the long hairs together in Virgil's! This place is amazing.

From there we all wandered to Rockefeller Center and took some pictures. It was really cold so we had to stop at a few bars and restaurants to keep warm!

Good Morning America was fun. I lke the live audience...the people there are so nice too. I got my picture with Diane, but it is kinda blurry...I will still try to post it soon....

Lots of photos will arrive shortly. My camera is up and running again...so the next hotel with high speed will get the photos on their way!

We have to leave here in an hour to drive to Baltimore. Long day, but I can sleep on the ride.

I love GMA, I hate waking up! 5AM wake up call...6AM rehearsal! YUK!

I need to round up my stuff and get out of here...

Talk to you in Baltimore...

Goodnight World!

Chris