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30.07.2004 -
Hi
Everyone! It's time for a break. I can't believe I actually have a
month off. It's been an incredible ride so far. American and Canadian
audiences have been really special which I will never forget. Now it's
time for me to play the other important role in my life: father and
husband.
While some of
you may think I have the best job in the world (so do I) it does come
with a price. I haven't been the active father and husband I would
have liked. I am very fortunate to be in a position to express myself
as a musician but there are other people who have been left behind. Am
I selfish? I think to be successful in most fields you can't help but
be this way. I like to call it 'driven'. I am so looking forward to
spending a whole month with my loved ones. Sometimes when I meet some
of you I hear of your sons and daughters taking up the guitar and I
feel happy for you and them. But I also feel sad because I know you
will see them in a few hours and I won't see mine. This is why I try
to put everything, my whole being into the performances on tour. It
wouldn't be worth it any other way. I often think of my children while
I am playing music and try to dedicate every ounce of creativity I
have to my love for them. You get my drift.
This last tour
has been a great one on many levels. It's the first time I have had
the pleasure of meeting a lot of you before and after the shows. I
feel I know you better and I can say I love you all. Some of you have
noticed I have been playing the "Star Spangled Banner" during my opening
set. There are three reasons for doing this. I have always been a Jimi
Hendrix fan and listened to the way he played it with his own
personality or mark. I felt is was my obligation to do the same.
Another reason was because I genuinely love the United States and its
people and this was a way of expressing these feelings. We were after
all invited to play there. I don't like to get into politics or
champion/endorse any 'side'. The side I am on is the American people
who want to feel good about their country and themselves. I can say
what I mean better with music than with words. Some musicians
embarrass me when they champion various causes they quite frankly
don't understand fully. The other reason for playing the Star Spangled
Banner was, to be quite honest, to get you to listen. It's difficult
getting people's attention while they are buying drinks and going to
their seats. This made people stop what they were doing, think and
listen. The reward for me was to meet some of you after the set and I
feel I know or understand Americans better as a result. I like what I
see and feel from you. You are hard working people who value the
important things in life such as family and friendship. I relate to
that. We are friends forever.
So now to the
break. I will be going to the South of France on Sunday with my family
and do ... nothing. I just want to see my loved ones and enjoy their
company. I won't be taking my guitar (which is a bit of a worry). I
won't be taking my computer (some people can't relate to that) and I
won't be taking my ego. I will be taking memories of an unforgettable
experience in America.
Finally, I
want to thank you all for all your letters which I love reading and
responding to. But for the month of August I will be 'incommunicatto',
i.e. will not be checking my email or website until I return on the
1st of September. I don't want to lose touch with you so please don't
be offended if I don't communicate for a while. I am really looking
forward to continuing our relationship and with the next USA tour at
the beginning of September.
Until
then, Love,
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