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Dominic Miller
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31 December 2004
Hi everyone!
I hope you are all
recovering from Christmas. I hope you are not too broke and that you and
your families can just put your feet up in front of the telly and relax.
Somehow I fear not for some of you moms. It's OK, leave him on the couch
because he might need the energy later on. If you wake him up he'll only
be cranky and might accidentally step on the kid's new toy or worse.
We had a lovely holiday in Austria. Very idyllic and Christmassy. A lot
of walking in the sunshine and snow and great food there up in the
mountains. Fanny, Pablo and I met other couples with kids who were nice.
But on a few occasions I wanted to give them a piece of my mind because
they would often look at the three of us and then say "It'll get better
when he is two or three", or "They grow so quickly, just cherish every
moment", or "Benjamin used to do that but now he's grown out of it".
It's almost as if they knew everything there was to know about babies
and kids. I had to stop myself from saying "Excuse me, but you were
still in high school when my eldest was born. He is nineteen, going to
college, an accomplished artist and musician, good looking and... nice".
My second is eighteen, in his last year of school, a talented writer,
charming and drop dead gorgeous, my third is twelve, plays guitar,
piano, sings, plays soccer and can do anything he puts his mind to, my
fourth is ten, she is talented beyond belief, she can do all the above
and the rest, she is charming, polite, gracious and stunning. Oh, and
this is Pablo, my fifth child who I hope doesn't grow up to be like
yours. Have a nice dinner"... but I didn't. That's the evil Dom (or
Demonic Miller as Vinnie Colaiuta used to call me) coming out again.
I am just having a laugh as you can see and only thought these things.
Pablo is Fanny's only child so it would have upset her. The truth is
they were being nice and approachable and I was and am being cynical.
 On my return I opened up my emails to discover
hundreds of well wishes for Christmas and New Year from all of you. I
was truly overwhelmed. I seem to have made so many friends (as I like to
call you) which is wonderful and I hope this continues. This little
website has turned out to be more than I could have dreamed of. It's not
a 'fan' site, more a site for people to air their feelings on many
topics. This is why I am also thrilled to have interacted with you on
the last question (or debate) about performance. You sent me some very
insightful and interesting essays (as I like to put it) which have had
me thinking about my own performance. And it helps. I am sorry I haven't
answered all your emails and Christmas wishes because there have been
too many. But I HAVE read them all and will continue doing so. I still
enjoy opening all of your emails, hearing your stories and then sharing
my experiences with you. Sometimes I don't respond because some of them
don't call for a response. Please keep writing to me because I am still
interested in your lives, loves, hopes and desires. We share many of
them.
Finally, I am off to Asia on tour on the 8th of January. I am really
looking forward to this, particularly Japan, a country I love very much.
I have no words to describe my feelings regarding the disaster that has
struck many parts of South East Asia other than to say PLEASE TRY AND
HELP. Just giving a bit of money to the Red Cross (www.ifrc.org/index.asp)
can and will make a difference.
I wish you all the best 2005 has to offer. You deserve the best!
Love always,
8 December 2004
Hi everyone!
I am in Zurich as I
write this very excited to be going home tomorrow night after the show
in Copenhagen. It's been another wonderful tour.
Europe v. USA? It's
impossible to say. I love being in the US
but there's something about Europe (could I be a diplomat?). What I like
about Europe is the diversity from one country to the next. Europe and
USA are virtually the same size yet there are dozens of languages and
cultures to be found here. I think the highlight would have to be Italy.
The Italian audiences have been fantastic. So energetic and generally up
for it. Of course there have been other great shows but Italy tops it
for me. Plus I love the food. Another reason I loved it so much was
because my wife and kid came to Milan for a few days. I am always is a
good mood when they are around. We had an interesting experience walking
into a restaurant. We walked in and I asked the girl at the entrance if
we could have a table for two and a half and could she provide a high
chair for the baby. She gave me this incredulous look whereupon the
owner of the restaurant whisked me aside and told me the woman I was
speaking to was from the Lebanese Royal family, either the Princess or
Queen. This would explain why there were security people (big scary
Russian guys) giving me funny looks and why there was a fleet of limos
outside. Anyway, we had a great meal and then went shopping. I saw some
shoes I really liked and asked the lady if she had them in a 43 or 9.
She gave me a quizzical look and gently informed me they were women's
shoes. We exited the store immediately and my wife hasn't stopped
laughing. The only comeback from that was to take her shopping. More
rock and roll. Put it this way: kind of like buying a new car. It was
quite romantic because when we saw it, she said she didn't think she
could wear it so we walked out empty handed. When we got back to the
hotel I secretly went to the concierge and asked him to go and get it
(with my card) and have it delivered to her while I was at the sound
check for the show. This worked a treat! I get such a kick out of these
little games.
For the British leg
of this tour we rode on a bus. This was a new experience for us because
we normally use a private plane for each journey. Either a G4 (Gulfstream)
or a Falcon. These planes are the height of luxury and go like rockets.
It's really downhill from there. But being on the bus was fun or
different. I sat in the front with the driver and had a chance to
reflect on where we have been, where we are now and the road ahead. Here
are some thoughts.
We are lucky because
we see all kinds of people, cultures and places. But people are what get
me going. I always learn something new everywhere I go. Because we play
everywhere we are exposed not only to fans but musicians as well. Some
of them very serious. Sting bands have always attracted these types and
this tour is no different. I have received so many incredible CDs from
such people and some of them have blown me away. We all receive many CDs
or demos but truth be known, seldom listen to them. Now I do because I
want to and am genuinely interested. But the real reason is because when
I used to send material to musicians I aspired to they never responded.
What is that about!? Wouldn’t it be arrogant of me to ignore other
musicians, because had I not listened to them I wouldn't have heard some
of this great music? We should support each other. Please keep them
coming.
I have also met some
ordinary people (i.e. non-musicians) who have moved me. I am always
interested in meeting teachers. It is no easy job but judging by those
of you who I have met it looks like you have a good life and a rewarding
one. Is it? I have met social workers, doctors, nurses (Hi Nurse Clare),
lawyers, accountants, plumbers, actors, police, etc. But the top of the
list and most inspiring is mothers. Or Domestic Engineers. This is a job
and role worth admiring (especially if it doubles with any of the
above). You guys are the best and have my total admiration. You work
your asses off and know about life. You are my heroes. I have five kids
and have gone (operative word) to follow my dreams while you (so to
speak) have looked after them. Sorry guys, but our wives deserve more
than is imaginable. It is ALWAYS worth treating and rewarding her. Plus
it's fun. Go for it!
I had a conversation
with someone I am very close to about the dynamics of performance. I
asked him a question: "GIVEN THE CHOICE would you rather go to sleep
having done the performance of your life, where everything worked
exactly the way you wanted but the audience was lukewarm or go to sleep
having done a lukewarm performance with mistakes but the audience were
moved beyond your imagination and an emotional connection was made". My
friend chose the former and I the latter. This made for a very
interesting debate which went in all directions but was definitely food
for thought. I am interested to know what your thoughts are on this
question applied to your profession or walk of life. Please write to
me.
The last few months I
have been working on the same piece of Bach music. It's a fuge from the
lute suites. I was so in love with the opening bars (or measures) that I
just couldn't leave it there. It's been hard because it goes on forever.
I love the process of learning a new tune. It's like meditation or yoga
or both. I just could not stop myself from discovering the following
bars of music and then the next and the next. I have another half page
to learn and am so excited about it. I suppose you could equate that to
a great book. You cherish the moment you will have some time to go
further. But this is ****ing difficult to play and well worth the
effort. It's kind of like learning a prayer. This one feels more like
the Koran yet it's only (only!) five minutes long. (It's amazing that
some people do know the Koran from an early age). Anyway this is my new
prayer. When learning a new piece, poem, prayer yoga or anything by
heart it is important to first just learn it in a kind of methodical
way, then and only then find the essence or meaning of it, try and make
it your own or even try and imagine it was written for you. Thanks Bach
for this gift. Actually, Bach is kind of like my friend or companion on
this tour. He doesn't ask nor expect anything from me but is always
there when I need him. Kind of like God.
I am going on too
much. Thanks for reading. It’s that time of year again. I really wish
the best for all of you and your loved ones. I would like to say hi to
Epiphany, Michelle, Anna, Frango Girl, Irene (the boss), Levke, Edith,
Poems, Nurse Clare, Sistermoon, Trish and Dee aka the Mi Fe crew. I love
you guys!
Off to the Far East
in January. Can't wait. I love being there and I look forward to sharing
my experiences with you all who I love so much.
Yours,
27 October 2004
Hi everyone!
The North
American tour is over and what a fantastic tour it has been on many
levels. I can categorically say this has been the most memorable leg of
any USA, Canada and Mexico tour I have ever been on. Having Annie Lennox
and her band open for us every night has been a great joy. We had an end
of tour dinner with her band and crew (paid for by Annie) in Toronto and
Sting made a short speech where he said, among other things "following
you (Annie & band) has been a big mountain to climb every night". This
is so true. But I think it's fair to say the bill was a perfect one
because it was two icons from the eighties (and beyond) whose music
complemented one another. I would like to openly say thanks again to
Annie and Sting for giving me the great opportunity of opening every
show with my 'fifteen minutes'. This has been such a thrill if not a
little daunting at times. I have never known nerves like that. I managed
to conquer them, by the grace of God, every time but it sure was a
challenge playing acoustic guitar, no vocals, in front of audiences as
they were coming in, grabbing popcorn and generally not knowing who I
am. Thankfully I found a way (or shall I say gimmick) to make people
take notice; play something they all know and don't expect: The Star
Spangled Banner. This worked really well and on some occasions
became very emotional. I saw people carrying beer and food literally
stop what they were doing and listen. I had to remember NOT to play it
in Canada and Mexico. Imagine that! After a few shows I found my way and
stuck to a set which included JS Bach's Air on a G String and
tunes from First Touch.
Sting was a real
gentleman and caring 'older brother' for closing my set on Shape of
my Heart every night. It's quite a profound feeling playing
classical music in front of some American crowds but it worked and I'll
never forget. The other great thing about opening was the opportunity to
meet some of you while I was signing CD's. One thing is to sell a lot of
albums and another is to see and briefly get to know who's buying them.
Seeing some of you has really helped me understand this dynamic and what
I have learned is I am no different to you nor you I. Of course I am the
'artist' but you and I have a lot in common. You are parents (some),
hard working, fun loving people who just want to get on with life on
life's terms. I have really enjoyed meeting some of your kids and thank
you for exposing them to our music. I remember how impressionable I was
when I started going to concerts. I hope I can live up to their
expectations as they get older and try and be something like a good role
model. This is not easy but it's worth it and I will try my best. Kids
are so important and are easily taken for granted because although some
of you see them every day it's the absence of seeing my children that
really hits this home. I have chosen to be a musician which is a very
selfish existence or has become so because I didn't expect to be this
successful which has meant endless long tours around the world.
We had a
fantastic last show in Tampa. It was great seeing Frango Girl there as
she has been a great, fun fan for a long time now. Annie's band were all
quite emotional because it was their last. We all gave each other big
hugs and there were grown men (roadies included) showing tears. Annie is
such a beautiful, sincere, honest and kind woman. Oh, and talented? It's
kind of ironic she has an album called Diva because nothing
could be further from the truth. She has no entourage. I will never
forget the experience of working with her and her band. A lot of people
were taking endless photos with each other. Not me. I have stopped
taking pictures because I like to have them in my mind. Sometimes seeing
a photograph actually blurs a memory somehow cancelling it out. It's
like going to see your kid in the school play. These days they seem more
like press conferences because most parents are quite aggressively
trying to get the best position to 'capture' the moment. Here's my tip
of the day. Try and see the school play with your eyes and your heart.
Not a lens and some digital film. It works. Plus, who will EVER want to
see it again anyway. Your daughter won't let her boyfriend see what she
was like aged four, will she? There I go again, bitching.
We had an
interesting time in LA for Sting's birthday in Malibu. What a party!
I've never seen anything like it and I have been to a few of these
things. Fantastic experience and full on. There were celebrities
EVERYWHERE. Not just anyone but trust me, they were 'A-listers' by far.
I won't mention any names but I think Pamela Anderson's ***s have gotten
bigger. Actually, looking around, my wife and I realised we were the
only people we didn't recognise. At one point I thought 'who am I?'
Thanks Sting and Trudie for a memorable night.
I would like to
say that I really enjoyed being in Canada more than ever this time. You
are all such cool people. I particularly enjoyed being in Calgary and
Edmonton because we rarely go there. I do believe I was there on the
Soul Cages tour back in '91. I always love being in Toronto and
Vancouver but sadly we couldn't go to Montreal this time. I think
Montreal is my favourite city in Canada. I look forward to seeing you all
again soon I hope.
Off to Europe
now for another leg. This should be a good one and I am really looking
forward to seeing all of you. Unfortunately I won't be doing the opening
slot but I can't complain. We have some trumpeter guy doing it instead.
However, I am on the subs bench on the ready! Hi Gitte, Stepanka, Diana
(I have the watch ready for you), Sophie, etc etc etc. You are all
wonderful and I know we are going to make this a fun tour.
I would like to
let you know that I check the website almost daily and recently have
been very amused with the Mi Fe correspondence in the Forum.
You guys crack me up. I am sure we would get on really well! Thanks to
Poems, Michelle, Dee, Edith, Levke and many others for giving me all
this entertainment. Sometimes I show my friends what you are writing and
they find it amusing too. Please keep them coming.
You are probably
wondering if I got anything for my wife re what I said in my 'fifteen
minutes'. Well I have and thanks to all of you for your support. She was
into Heavy rock and will always be. I am afraid to say she is now into
Heavy Metal. Better make an album again soon!
Enough said. I
just want to say thanks again to all you Americans, Canadians and
Mexicans for a memorable experience playing in your cities and Europe
here we come again!
Love to all,
4 October 2004
Hi everyone!
I am in San
Francisco as I write this. You guessed it, in the business centre. There's
a guy next to me making some power calls to his employees or slaves or
whoever oblivious to the fact I can hear what he's saying. I am so glad I
am not at the other end of that call. Little does he know or care that the
guy next to him is a musician who is looking for some peace and quiet (and
is also an employee to another type of boss. So I am on the side of
whoever he is talking to). If he takes it any further I will have words of
my own for him. Every so often he smirks at me or appears to look down on
me. It just occurred to me I probably make more money than he does. I am
probably not the 'punk' he thinks I am. OK, enough paranoia Dom, let's get
on with this. Any analysts out there?
Another amazing
month. We started the tour off well enough until we had to cancel the
Florida dates due to some wind problems. I must say all Floridians have
really had it rough this summer. For those who don't know, Florida and
some of the southern states of America have been hit by some horrendous
hurricanes. What's going on with the planet? My friend Donny (drum tech on
the tour) has a tree farm and has lost some of his trees, poor guy. I
think they ended up in Wisconsin or are on their way to Russia. Palm trees
in Russia. Great photo op. This had an effect on our tour. If it's not his
voice (or His voice) it's the weather. We cancelled some shows and ended
up in Mexico.
We were probably
at the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my life. Los Cabos (the
bit that sticks out south of California). But no matter how amazing, I
wasn't on holiday. I didn't have a room, more like an apartment on the
ocean. Stunning. I even had a butler for chrissakes but couldn't think of
anything to ask him. 'Oh, will you please go and get me some macadamia
nuts...' No use on me. I was frustrated because I wasn't on holiday or
honeymoon. It was annoying going to the bar for an espresso sitting on my
own at a table fidgeting while watching a young couple or two gaze into
each other's eyes, probably wondering what the **ck they have just done.
The wedding probably cost 100 grand and now they have to be with each
other for ever. I must admit I was smirking myself fantasising where they
would be in seven years. Two point two kids, three point one affairs
and... he's got love handles and watches TV too much and snores. OK,
enough Dom. The point is I was not meant to be in such a beautiful place
and they were and actually they were fine. I was just thinking 'dark'. Fun
though isn’t it... Imagine my pleasure when MY wife and Pablo arrived (the
others couldn't because of school. I'll bring them back one day). Suddenly
these couples seemed alright. I was showing off a bit with my crew. 'This
how it could be'. Actually they probably never even noticed me. Why is it
we musicians think everyone is watching us all the time?
We have had some
great shows I will never forget. Denver, Nashville, the Carolinas, Dallas,
Houston etc. We've been in Los Angeles quite a lot commuting for all our
West Coast shows which have been great. We had a great show in Las Vegas.
The great thing about Vegas is that it's a melting pot of all Americans.
People from Montana to New Mexico to Alaska and everywhere else. Fantastic
people. I have had some great (all of them) opening shows. I get such
pleasure from meeting you all because you are so lovely. I mean that.
Meeting you and hearing your stories gives me a sense of purpose. It
inspires me to make music and make it fun.
We are in San
Francisco now and have three weeks left before we go to Europe again
(again!?). I am already starting to feel sad or teary because I love being
in America. I feel so welcomed here and just love the place. You are so
kind and I will say again, my kind of people. I don't know when we will be
back here again but I hope soon so we can see each other again. I am
interested in your lives, children, jobs, ups and downs so please continue
writing to me and I will continue writing back.
Love,
2 September 2004
Hi
everyone,
I am in the Atlanta hotel business centre as I write this. I don't travel
with a computer as it is too much hassle and I find that not having it keeps
me off line. I see people around me with their computers on what seems like
all day. They even carry it around with them while they are on line. What
has the world come to? When I go to the business centre it is always empty.
Why? Because everyone has their own lap-top. Take this as a top tip!
I had a wonderful holiday in the South of France. I am feeling relaxed,
re-charged and generally better than ever. It was so great spending time
with my family. I am so blessed to be a part of their lives. Sometimes it
does feel like I am looking in from outside (in a kind of Dickensian way) at
this happy, smiling group of people. It took me a few days to realise I was
a part of that.
One thing I have noticed is I have more freckles than ever. I bet I have
more freckles than you have pixels on your digital camera. More freckles
than there are people in China or the world for that matter. An astronomer
could probably give me a reading from my freckles. Anyway, I didn't get
sunburned thanks to the factor 60 cream which was applied liberally. My legs
are still pink though. Just as well noone has to see them. I don't mind
admitting that there is a bit of a tummy going on down there because I
haven't been doing yoga full on. It was time to relax and that I did but
unfortunately with guys my age the love handles pop out. Actually it feels
kind of nice in an obscene sort of way. I WILL have to lose it pronto if I
am to carry on with the role of guitar player in a band. I don't know why
but I always thought guitarists should be the skinny f***ed up looking ones
in a band. It always made sense to me but I still don't know why.
We had some good barbecues which I was in charge of. I am not a natural at
lighting a fire. With some of the dryest wood on the planet, special coal,
kindling that would light just by looking at it and a copy of the entire
Sunday Times (including the gardening section...who reads that?) I couldn't
get the f****ng thing alight. It just kept going out. I got the hang of it
eventually (it's the placement of the paper, kindling and timing of the coal
application). I looked the part. My wife gave me a really good tip: Add
rosemary herbs to the meat. This gives it an incredible flavour. I also
learnt about the hight of the grill. At first I had it too low which meant
that the steaks or burgers were charcoal on the outside and raw in the
middle. If you raise it you get a better result.
The Olympics were on TV all day evey day. I thought they were fantastic.
Being in France we saw it from their point of view, featuring their athletes
most of the time. There was a lot of fencing. There's something quite
romantic about fencing. It's a real duel and exciting to watch. It's about
'getting the girl' or something. The French did really well with that.
Actually they came sixth all round. Better than the British. The Americans
were as dominant as ever especially in track and field. I was particularly
impressed with Kelly Holmes (Great Britain gold in 800 and 1,500 meters).
She's a real hero. I became a bit more of an expert than I should have in
the women's beach volleyball. The male sprinters in track made me feel
somewhat inadequate with their tight outfits and lunchboxes in full view. Is
that entirely necessary? All and all a great tournament. Well done Greece
(Hi Sophia!). For those of you who don't know, Greece won the European
soccer championships this year. I am also proud and surprised to say
ARGENTINA ARE BASKETBALL OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS. Who would have thought! And they
won the soccer (don't they always?)
It was great being in the country but it's not for you if you have a problem
with bugs. Bugs everywhere. Iguanas, lizards, bees, mosquitos, wasps and
SPIDERS. I hate them. There was one occasion when I saw a big one which I
swear was wearing leopard skin trousers and had long hair. Kind of like the
rock star of spiders. While I was jumping behind the couch Pablo wanted to
play with it and be friends. He just wants to play with anything that moves.
Incredible. Harley and Misty are more like me. City people. I am not very
good with the sea either which is why we had a pool. When I look down in the
water all I want to see are tiles and/or kid's toys.
We had a few guests who came to stay a few times which was great. It was a
big house so there was room for everyone.
Now it's time to hide those pink legs, put on some tight trousers and do
what I am supposed to do. Shut up and play my guitar (as Frank Zappa said).
I haven't touched it once so I am eager to see how it goes. I am feeling
inspired thanks to a really great break. My wife, family and friends are the
greatest and I love them all. I am looking forward to seeing and meeting you
on this next American leg (also you guys in Europe... I still have the watch
Diana but I went in the pool by mistake).
That's it for now,
Love always,
30 July 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,
Dominic
10 July 2004
Hi everyone!
I thought I would write to you to let you know how it's all going here
in USA. I am enjoying this tour more than any other. I know I say that
often but it's the truth. Being here in the States in the summer is a
real thrill.
Here's a typical day: I wake up at six thirty am and have coffee (and I
hasten to admit, a cigarette). Then I go out of the hotel to get a sense
of where I am and sometimes speak to other people who might be doing the
same. I am in the 'early bird' club and so are many others. We have a
common understanding. I love mornings because it's a chance for me to
perhaps be one of the only people in my industry actually wandering
around just appreciating life and what it has to offer. I come back at
around 10am which is when I usually check my emails and read and respond
to your letters. I then like to call my family back home. This grounds
me enormously because just hearing each others' voices is sometimes all
that is needed regardless of how trivial a conversation may be. At
around 11am I usually spend two hours practicing Bach which really
relaxes not to mention improving my technique. When I do this I try to
play without emotion because for me, that's what practicing should be.
Restraint from feeling is a discipline in itself, as absurd as that may
sound. I like to save that for later.
At around 1pm I do an hour of yoga which is quite intense but very
rewarding. Yoga helps me with strength, balance and flexibility not just
physically but mentally and emotionally. After yoga I usually have a
small siesta (or power nap as some people say). Coming out of this rest
really puts me in the kind of condition I need to be in to take on the
rest of the day. I feel pumped! We usually drive to the airport at
around 2.30 to take the flight to the next show. On the flight I either
play chess with Sting or Jason. We are addicts. This helps me get my
brain going. We arrive at the venue at around 4 or 5pm and do a
soundcheck. This is when Sting always has subtle changes to the set or
songs. It's also a chance for the crew to get a good sound and feel
adjusted. Then Annie does her soundcheck. Then I do a mini soundcheck
for my set. This takes three or four minutes. Between 6 and 7 I might
play another game of chess with Jason. Then I will have a serious warm
up for my set which usually starts around 7.15. I go on and do my set
which so far has been going really well. I am loving it.
I then watch Annie's set which is always great! When she's done I go to
the merchandise stand and meet the fans and sign autographs with my
album etc. I love doing this because it gives me a chance to interact
with people who appreciate what I am doing. I then have a quick change
and get ready to go on with Sting. I love this moment because it is why
I am here and what I have prepared for all day. I say a little prayer
and we go on. While I am on the stage I am transformed into what feels
like another being. I 'am' the songs and live and breathe them. No words
can describe how that feels. We finish the set and do a 'runner' to the
vans and go straight to the airport and on to the plane. Sting and I
usually play a game of chess and we are usually in a jovial mood. We
arrive at the next destination and check into the hotel. I usually go
straight to my room, exhausted but always grateful to still be the
luckiest guy on the planet.
Thanks to all of you for making this a possibility.
Love always,
Dominic
28 June 2004
Had an amazing day yesterday. I started
the day off by taking the train to Philadelphia to appear and perform as
the special artist on a TV show called "Studio Jams". The musicians they
got for me were Will Calhoun (Living Colour) on drums, Doug Wimbish on
bass (Living Color) and Howard Levy on harmonica. We did Shape of my
Heart, Otis, Air on a G String and Rush Hour. I played
electric on all. Fantastic experience! I will let you know when it is to
be aired and where.
I opened Sting's show which went great! I started with my own version of
the Star Spangled Banner in a 'first touchy' sort of style. Then I did
Rush Hour, then Air on a G String and then Sting came on to join
me for Shape of my Heart. Annie's set was AWESOME. She is
fantastic. We did our set and Annie joined us for We'll be Together.
The crowd went nuts!
Busy day all and all. Had a good night's sleep and ready for Boston
tonight.
Dominic
22 June 2004
Hello everyone!
I know it's been a
while since my last message but as you can imagine I have been quite busy. I
have just returned home from Geneva where we ended the European leg of this
tour. In the fifteen years I have worked with Sting this has been the most
exciting leg of any tour I have ever done. We have played to some of the
biggest audiences I have seen. 400,000 in Budapest, 110,000 in Lisbon and
150,000 in Rome. I am told these are conservative figures so it was at least
that amount. We have also played in some smaller theatres like the Olympia
in Paris and the Royal Albert Hall in London (I never would have imagined
years ago saying these were small venues). We have had some exciting shows
in great cities like Barcelona, Verona and Berlin. We have cancelled shows
in Scandinavia and UK. All and all it has been an eventful and memorable
tour. I have also done some late night club dates in Germany (Berlin,
Cologne and Munich). These shows were brilliantly organised by my record
company Decca and Q-rious music. I was fortunate to be indulged with having
the greatest 'orchestra' in Mike Lindup on piano, Rhani Krija on percussion
and the amazing Neil Stacey on guitar (flash git!). These shows were some of
the best fun I have had in years. We weren't very well prepared for them for
obvious reasons so I chose musicians who could handle the musical situations
I put them in which they more than did. We did quite a lot of jamming and it
couldn't have been more fulfilling. The audiences were fantastic and were
very much part of the 'ride'. They (you) know me well enough now to know
that that's what these shows are about so it's like a joint effort. The
audience also know I do this for the love of it and not to 'prove' myself as
a guitarist. You know me well enough now to know I just want to reach you on
an emotional level. Sometimes we connect and rarely we don't, but this time
you and I know we did. Thank you for making it what it was. I will never
forget. The biggest surprise on this leg was being asked by Sting and Billy
(tour manager) if I wouldn't mind opening his show in Wiesbaden with twenty
minutes notice. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and it went really
well. That was the biggest crowd I had played solo to until the next night
in Hannover (18,000). Yes, they asked me again. To all of you who were there
who read this, thank you for being a part of this experience with me. You
were fantastic. It's hard to describe what it feels like to play solo to
that many people and still be able to hear a pin drop. You were all
listening to me and making it possible for me to express myself. The only
sound I could hear other than the guitar was birds singing and you clapping
and cheering between tunes. This is something to tell my grandchildren about
(I am not that far off you know... Rufus is nineteen...).
Now it's reality for a
few days before we start the second American leg (I leave this Saturday).
Reality means not seeing thousands of people in front of you every night
listening to you. It means spending time at home with your family and in
your own bed. It means not living out of a suitcase. It means a depletion of
ego. It means not dialling 9 to get an outside line. This is reality and
it's not always pretty. It's like falling off a cliff but the difference is
you know you can (operative word) land safely. My bag is full of dirty
clothes. The last few gigs I was in recycle mode meaning starting back from
the beginning. On a big outdoor show you can't smell me but I was worried
when I did the club shows and you were right there in front of me. I was
even more worried when I could smell myself. Time to go home Dom. I had to
laugh at myself during the last song in the last few shows A Thousand
Years because in my head I was singing A Thousand Shows. But I
had a smile on my face because I am for ever grateful to be in this
position. I have everything I ever wanted. I am working with someone who I
consider to be the best all round songwriter, performer m---- ----er of all
time, I have a record company who is willing to allow me to express myself
through my interpretations of classical music, I have another label who
allows me to have total solidarity in my own compositions and finally and
best of all I have a connection with you. You are the ones who make it all
worth it.
Some of you may
already know I will be opening the shows in America soon. The excitement
never ends. I hope I see you there.
Love always,
20 May
2004
Hi everyone!
Tonight is our last night at
the Albert Hall. I must say I have really enjoyed these dates more than ever
before. Even after almost fifteen years and five world tours with Sting I
feel that I have reached my peak with him. I can't imagine it being better
or more fun than it is now. Mind you, I have always thought this. I seem to
be incapable of getting bored with this music. It occurred to me that I must
be approaching one thousand shows soon. Instead of 'a thousand years...' I
will be singing 'a thousand gigs...' in my head with a smile. As usual it
has been great seeing you all. You may have noticed I have had all my
children (except Pablo) come which is why I haven't had a chance to hang out
with you before or after the shows. I am sure you understand. So, tonight we
will try and make it the best one of all (actually that's what we try and do
every night, no matter where) before we leave the UK and venture into the
rest of the world with all its surprises and wonders. Some of you might like
to come and see me with Mike Lindup and Neil Stacey at the after show club
gigs in Germany, details of which are on the site. They should be good fun.
So, that's it for now and I hope I see you soon.
Love,
8 May 2004
Hi everyone!
As you can imagine I
am quite frustrated with all these cancellations. I can assure you no-one is
more disappointed than we are, particularly Sting. We are scheduled to
resume the tour in Birmingham on Wednesday the 12th of May. Fingers crossed!
The consolation prize is that I have had a chance to spend some time with my
family. I went to Misty's birthday party (which she wasn't expecting).
Rufus, Otis and Harley were there. I have also been playing with Pablo. He
loves it when I play guitar to him. Sometimes he tries to climb on it. But I
am still in tour 'mode'. I feel like I am in the fire department just
waiting and ready to go to action.
We had a strange but
fun day in Rotterdam because all the gear was set up for the show and we
knew we weren't going to do the gig. Sting, not being the idle type, decided
to use this as an opportunity to do a rehearsal but without singing and
being where the audience would have been. Some of you were there to witness
what it's like when we rehearse. I am glad because now you can see the hard
work that goes into putting these shows together. You can see how the songs
evolve. The 'audience' consisted of Corinne Muller, Diana Zeelenberg (I love
the watch!), Gitte Betz, Ingrid Van Lammeren, Jurgen Lakens, Jutta Jondral,
Luuk Schroijen, Lydia Dicorato, Nadia Tortora and last but not least, the
one and only, Peterlein Soels. I was really glad to se you all and chat with
you. I hope you all feel it was worth the trip. It might be interesting for
you to notice all these little changes we made next time you see the show.
I am going to Italy
tomorrow (Monday, 10th) for Shapes promotion. It seems the album is
doing really well there! I will be going with my friend and pianist Mike
Lindup who used to be in Level 42. He came to Sweden with me. He's a great
musician with sensitive ears. I suppose he is now part of the 'Dominic
Miller Orchestra'. We are doing a TV show and some radio. We will also be
doing a gig. More details will be on the website. Then I will fly directly
to Birmingham for the Sting show...hopefully...
I will be recording
some guitar duets with Kaori Muraji soon. She is a fantastic classical
guitarist from Japan who is also on the Decca label. This is going to be an
exciting project. I think you will enjoy it. I will be doing a small
showcase in Paris (Le Reservoir) on the 27th of May at 11pm. More details
are on the news page.
Finally, I wish you
all the very best and look forward to seeing you soon.
20 April 2004
It's 4.30 am and I am waiting for a car to take me to the
airport to catch a flight to Copenhagen. I will be doing a show case for
Decca/Universal in support of Shapes followed by a breakfast TV
show the following morning. Then I fly straight to London, wait in the
airport and fly to NY on Sting business. A day after that I fly home for
a couple of days and then on to Berlin for more Shapes stuff.
Then home for a couple of days and then to Helsinki to start the
European tour. People often ask me if I ever get tired of all this.
Never! I actually feel better than I have in a long time and I am loving
every minute of every day. Who could complain, rushing around the world
playing different styles of music? I am very grateful to all of you who
make this possible. I really look forward to seeing you on this next
part of the tour. I know you will enjoy it. Thank you for all the emails
which I love reading and responding to.
I love you all!
22 March 2004
Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for all the birthday
wishes. This means so much to me. It was a day off when we travelled to
Montreal from Toronto. We had a nice day (very cold) and went out to
dinner. It's near the end of the North American tour now so we are all
excited about going home. It will be nice to have a break and see some
of our loved ones and friends. I haven't seen Rufus, Otis, Harley and
Misty for too long now so I am really excited and I think they are too.
I have some nice gifts for them! I am really looking forward to being in
Europe and seeing you. Hopefully I will try and do some solo gigs while
I am in Europe. We are trying to set up some late night club dates in
Germany. Keep checking out the site for news. To all you American and Canadians
thank you for making this a really fun tour. You have been the best
audiences ever. It's so much fun seeing you there. I hope I see you
again in the summer. To all you Europeans, HERE WE COME!
Love,
5 March 2004
Hi everyone!
Thanks to all of you who showed your
support for my show last night at Joe's Pub. I was really happy to see
some familiar faces (Wanda, Maeve, Manami etc...). I know Sting won't
see this but thank you Sting for showing me what a great leader you are
by supporting your musicians in what they do outside of your world. Some
of you may wonder what he's like - now you can see he is a true
gentleman. I am proud to be working with him. It was also great to see
and meet all my new friends at Universal/Decca. Meredith, Jodie, Randy,
Olga and of course Chris Roberts. I also had the chance to meet some of
the sales team who are very much a part of this thing. I feel like I
have joined a new family and I like it.
Chris Botti, you excelled
yourself as ever. Your rendition of Ave Maria was truly
inspiring. I am proud to have you on the record and really look forward
to doing more.
Shane Fontayne is every bit the musician I imagined he
would be. It's strange because he and I are in the same industry, being
guitar accompanists to artists. Some might say we would be rivals, but
nothing is further from the truth because the mutual respect is there
and our styles of playing and sound differ in many ways. I love playing
music with Shane and hopefully he can join me for more shows in the
future. Jon Ossman is one of the greatest bass players I have ever heard
(don't worry Pino, so are you). His contribution and dedication to this
show was remarkable. Rhani was as much fun and brilliant as ever. He has
now officially become my surrogate younger brother. I love the guy and
his music. Matt Lees and Dave Kuhn from Chris Botti's crew helped me out
with the sound and backline and were fantastic. I just want to point out
to all of you that everyone did this because they wanted to. I will
never forget all of you. I will admit I was nervous but I was ready.
Preparation worked in my favour. There were some mistakes but the
general vibe was good. The reason I felt good about the set was because
I was backed by musicians of world class calibre. Thanks again to all of
you.
Now back to the best job in the world: Being Sting's guitarist. I do
have to pinch myself daily. Sometimes I wonder what I may have done
right in a previous life to deserve this.
Bye for now,
12 February 2004
Hi everyone!
I just want to share with you what a great
tour I am having here in USA. It feels more exciting than any other for
various reasons. One of them being that there is so much material to
choose from that we can't really go wrong. If we had our way we would
(and could) play for about four hours. The new material is great to play
because there is so much one can do to it but still keep the 'meaning'
of the songs. I have heard some of you say that Sacred Love is a
grower. The same applies to us when we're performing these songs which
is more fun and challenging that I can remember. The songs are evolving
daily which is what it's all about. The mood in the band is fantastic
and Kipper has me in fits of laughter every day. I have to pinch myself
every morning to remind myself what a lucky m**********r I am. I can't
wait to see you!
Thanks to Dave and Wendy for keeping a great site going. It is fun for
me reading and responding to your questions every day. I also really
enjoy reading the forum which always brings a smile to my face. As you
can imagine being on tour keeps me away from my family which is tough
but it feels like you guys are kind of like that for which I am
grateful. It also helps keep me sane. So please keep your Workshops
coming. I love them.
I am also excited about the launch of Shapes at Joe's pub in NY
on the 4th of March. It should be a great night and I am sure we'll have
some fun (as usual). Sometimes my music sounds quite deep and perhaps
too soul searching I know, but those of you who know me know I am just a
regular guy who has a (warped) sense of humour just like you do.
Not much to report on Third World because I am focusing my
attention on Sting's tour and the release of Shapes. Some of you
know that my intentions on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd albums are not
commercial. They are actually intended for you and you only. Anything
else I have always seen as a bonus. I am not in it for the money, just
trying to make a spiritual connection with you. Do I sound wacky?
Perhaps I am.
Finally, thank you for all your support. You know it means the world to
me and gives me a reason to carry on playing music.
I love you all,
8 January 2004
Hi everyone!
I have just returned from doing the show
in Cologne. It was for me a great night and a sad one. I really enjoyed
playing to all of you who were there. I know you came from long
distances which touches me very much. I felt a really warm connection
with all of you which got better as the performance went on. I played
some First Touch and Second Nature tunes I had never
attempted before which were hard but very rewarding in the end. The
Third World tunes are even harder but I am glad you saw past that
and just sat back and enjoyed them. It was a sad night because I won't
be doing this for a while. Even though it is possible for me to do one
off gigs around the world I am not or won't be in the right mind-set
because to do these shows I have to be 100% 'there'. Being on tour with
Sting is the best job in the world. When I am doing his shows it's not
just the two hours (plus sound-checks) a day of living in his music, but
I live and sleep with his music as well. It's hard to explain but in a
nutshell it's a form of devotion to his world, not mine. I hope you
understand.
I am leaving tomorrow morning for Miami where we rehearse for three
weeks and then go straight on tour in America. I haven't packed yet. I
usually do that an hour before I leave. I just throw everything into a
bag and forget about it. Of course I don't forget the important things
like passport, license, money and stuff, but I want you to know about
some of the things I will NOT forget to bring with me. These are
the memories we have shared in the last couple of years. All the one off
concerts you came to where we had a chance to chat and joke and just
have fun exchanging stories will stay with me for this tour. I know I
will see some of you on this tour but as you know this is different.
Thank you for all your support and for being not just fans but good
friends.
With love,
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