21 December 2004
After months of negotiations, Suzanne Brown's CD is finally out!  It took us a while to track down the owners of the copyrights to Minnie Lawlers' songs, but we managed to get their consent and include the three tracks on the CD.

In other news....
My friend Nick Kravec just had a baby boy!  Latte is in the process of putting together a benefit concert for the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre in January!!  Look for dates here soon.
All the best of the holidays to everyone!
Flavio

10 November 2004
OK - here's the big surprise:
When I dislocated my shoulder, I started working on the basic concept for a comic strip about life in a Rock band with Jonathan Standing.  When we were satisfied with the way the characters looked, we presented them to Muzik / Drums Etc. Editor Ralph Angelilo who had expressed interest in having a strip in his magazine.  He loved it!  And so MEET MY BAND was born!  This week will mark the release of the first strip to appear in the magazine and the launch of the new site.  Check it out: www.meetmyband.com and as usual, don't forget to sign the guestbook!
Cheers, Flavio

23 September 2004
Wow! Been a long time! Loads has happened since June 12th.  The biggest news is I missed out on touring this summer because I dislocated my shoulder in a freak accident.  Yes folks, I fell into an open manhole while walking my dog Dante and was out of commission for 7 weeks.  MAN IT HURT!

In other news...
Jungle's album is in the mixing stages and should be completed very soon.  Looks like we'll be doing a Halloween gig together.  Suzanne Brown's album is finally set for release.  It took a while to get all the legals in order, but it's all come together.  She is very excited to get the ball rolling!  On the horizon are albums by Emerald Doyle, Sarah Andrade, and Valerie Shearman.  I am presently working on an 80s tribute I started a long time ago, have been out on the road with country artist Shari Lynn and there is something HUGE on the way.  I can't speak of it yet, but it will be posted here very soon!
Cheers, Flav

12 June 2004
A long time ago, I was asked to contribute to a book on life in the music industry.  The book is now finished and is for sale online.  It was compiled by a writer named Michael Yahn who has since become a good friend.  It is full of insight from people at all levels on the industry and is worth the read.  You can purchase it by following this link.
Cheers, Flav

23 May 2004
Latte D. Kyd's EP is finally finished and pressed.  Looks great and is starting to get attention from fans and industry types.  Expect to see her perform very soon.  The Just Drums Catalogue has finally gone to press.  The 104-page "LOG" took a long while to complete due to a number of delays.  Suzanne Brown's CD was recently sent to Suite Sound Labs in Vancouver to be mastered and should be out in a few weeks.  Also, the Chain Gang are presently reviewing preliminary mixes for the possible release of the performance that took place after Suzanne's set.  We finished recording Jungle's album on Friday and begin mixing very soon.  Look for her album to be released in mid to late June.

Got to see my buddies Jay (drummer for Copyright) and Dave (Default's Bassist) a little while ago. The other dude is a great bud of mine named Cory - DANGEROUS!.   Check out their sites - they're really snazzy.

Cheers, Flav

21 April 2004
Just received a copy of a Sing Sing Dead Man CD entitled "Skin" from 1994.  There is a track on the album that I co-wrote with Owen Belton and Mike Rashed.  Check it out!

22 March 2004
Just found out that Marianne Baker's CD "How Did We Get to Here?" is charting!  Way to go Marianne!  It peaked at number 6 on the Chart Attack Top Ten Jazz / Blues Albums on March 12th, 2004!

14 March 2004
Tour Diary:
-Meet up with band @ 4.45am.
-Drive in freezing van from Toronto to Ottawa.
-Arrive at venue more than one hour early.
-Deal with asshole promoter who thinks he knows everything.
-Do soundcheck - promoter (not soundman) announces band is too loud.
-Discover there is no food on the rider.
-Do three one hour shows - 2pm, 5pm, and 8pm.
-Pack up and get back into van, this time sitting in the front seat where the heat is cranked to 1,000 in an attempt to warm the back of the vehicle.
-Drive home arriving at 3.30am

Why do we do this?  Cause it's art man!!

That's how I spent my Saturday.  It was however great to meet Matt and Steve.  You have to check out Matt's site - It's one of the best I've ever seen.  Steve took this picture.  We'll be smokin' stogies soon!  All the best to you!

10 February 2004
Another sad few days.  Saturday I rushed to Montreal to visit a very close family friend who was dying of brain cancer.  I made it in time to tell him I had made the trip to ensure the nurses had properly fluffed his pillows.  He laughed, and though he was drugged and almost asleep, he recognized that I was there.  He died Sunday at 6.10pm at age 60.  Cancer sucks.  I hate the word.  Please help find a cure.

Patricia, Nick, Dayle, and Alex - Victor was an important force in all our lives.  Without him I would have never passed algebra!  He is still with us in our hearts and in our memories.  My thoughts and prayers are with the four of you.

Much Love - Flavio

27 January 2004
Wow - First update of 2004.  We've been busy!  Latte D. Kyd's album and site are finally completed.  Sounds great and has already started getting some attention from industry types here in Toronto and in Vancouver and Los Angeles, though the official release date is not for another month.  The site features artwork by a good friend named Jonathan Standing.  As I understand it, he'll have a site up very soon.  You need to check out his stuff!  Very cool!

Spent a week in Los Angeles at the beginning of January.  I had the chance to attend NAMM for the first time thanks to Dave Hamilton at Just Drums.  We are almost done putting together his catalogue.  It was postponed to accommodate all the new products that were released at the expo in Anaheim.  Had a great time.  Thanks to Dave, Sean Browne from Yamaha, and Peter Stairs at Sabian for the trip and the great parties.  Darry, Roger, Jeremy, Mike, and Ken - It was great to see you again!  Miss you guys tons.  Wish we all lived closer! (Check out Jeremy and I during an early morning Roland presentation!)

While I was in LA I had the chance to re-connect with a very good friend named Mike Landolt.  He produced the SugarCandy Mountain CD and half the Velour disc many moons ago.  He also engineered and mixed the Maroon 5 disc that I think is awesome!  He is a mentor of mine and I was very happy to spend a few hours with him.  We may work together in the near future.

For the next little while, we will concentrate on the Just Drums Catalogue, and prepare to record albums by Suzanne Brown, The Chain Gang, Tshongo, and DUHdly.

All the best - F