John Montagna: Blog

Day off in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Drove thru the night from Glenside, PA, pulled in just about 2 hours ago (it's 2pm as I write this). Our hotel has a pool, a sauna, and free laundry. Guess what I'm the most excited about? (Hint: it ain't the sauna or the pool.)
So let's jump right into it: I do not enjoy being on stage left. I need to be stage right. I'm right-handed, which means that all of my bass playing action happens to my left. I need to look at my left hand working the neck, and see the entire band just past that. It's the only way I can truly connect with my bandmates, "direct traffic" when necessary, etc. When I'm at stage left, it's as if the band is behind me, and I'm constantly looking over my shoulder at the band. Doesn't look good, doesn't feel good.
But: there's two other bassists on this tour: Gerald Johnson (Dave Mason's guy), and Charlie Torres (Rick Derringer's guy). Both monster players, both sweet cats, BOTH LEFTIES.  (What are the chances?)  Hence, [...]

Day off, Philadelphia. Tomorrow nite we play the Keswick Theater in nearby Glenside, PA. Last month we played the Keswick with Happy Together; the nite before that gig was a nite off also, and we spent it here at the same hotel.

Nights with no gig are rare, so rare in fact that I don't even know what to do with them. I already wandered this section of town last time, and I'm not feeling compelled to do it again; nothing against the town, I'm simply exhausted. It sounds like a good idea: nite off, explore the town you're in, take in some sights, etc. But a nite spent in a room that isn't moving at 70mph means an opportunity to get just a little more human; sleep the nite thru in a queen-sized bed, re-organize your stuff, and take a proper shower. Most venues have showers that will suffice, but nothing beats a long, piping hot hotel shower, the kind where you stand under the thick powerful jet spray of water and think about what you're doing with your life.

Dinner plans? Hmm. [...]

Chumash Casino Hotel in Santa Ynez, CA.  George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice" is playing on the iPod thru my speaker dock.  Having a hard time waking up, need coffee and a hot shower and some stretching.  
Happy Together is just too much friggin' fun.  This gang of artistes, band and crew puts on the most enjoyable 2 & 1/2 hours of music I think I've ever been involved with.  Last nite at Chumash was our last show for a few days, and even though it was a "casino set" (20 minutes each, all artistes slashing their set lengths down to "sampler plate" size) we all rocked it hard.  So proud impressed with all of us, with our level of cooperation and communication to make huge changes on the fly with no hassle whatsoever.  Special mention to stage tech Ray, who switched out a blown 4X10 cab so fast that The Association hardly noticed anything unusual going on behind them!  We really are Happy Together.
Today is strictly a travel day; the band [...]

Waking up slowly but surely, my first morning back on the bus.  The second leg of Happy Together started last nite, kick-ass show that capped off a long-ass day for the NYC band (3 hour flight to St Louis, 4 hour drive to Springfield).  
 
Ozark Fairgrounds was HOT.  Literally, as in real-feel temps of 104.  Giant outdoor festival stage, covered only with a lighting rig.  Amps and DI boxes hot to the touch.  Stage almost burning my feet thru my shoes.  Sweat dripping in our faces during soundcheck.  Honey bees circling the catering area during dinner.   I would like to thank my beloved Spector Rebop bass for coping so diligently with the drastic changes in climate: cold overhead bin, hot rental van, cold tour bus, hot stage, my sweaty hands.
 
What else happened…oh yeah: Jim Yester, vocalist and guitarist and founding member of The Association, didn't make the gig.  Not sure what happened, possibly a cancelled flight, faulty [...]

We all saw this coming, didn't we? I dunno…for some reason I thought that she'd clean up, make a few more albums, maybe marry an English businessman, have some kids and live out her life quietly and gracefully.

But no…we have to settle for a sad, familiar ending to this story. Found in her apartment, age 27.

Really? That's it? For someone who made music that was so well-crafted, so strong and engaging, her demise just seems like a cliche, like a B-movie about a "troubled pop star." And yet, we hoped that she'd pull it together. But how could she? It was too much too soon.

Her reps said that when she left rehab after only one week, she would continue outpatient treatment that "would not interfere with her summer tour." Excuse my french, but are you fucking kidding me? I am in the music business so I can't possibly be objective about this. What European tour is so goddamn important that it can't be postponed until she's well enough to stand up straight and get through [...]