(some of) What really happened during our Christmas getaway.

Restoration of the Iceboat wasn't completed, so there was none of that  over slush & water stuff hapnin (the Lake was barely frozen) but we raced these terrible junky cars on an oval track. I don't think we ever exceeded 90 km/h w/ our tires somewhat deflated for better traction on the "inclemency". The cars had no glass, like demo derby cars, but they DID have lights. Sherri and I had '70s Toyotas and there were several small-series Honda Civics. Our host Dave drove a Datsun (remember that name once used by Nissan?) pickup which was pretty quick! This
had to be the first time I'd driven a car unaccompanied since the previous millennium and despite the modest speeds, it WAS fun! I hope we get to do this again next year. ~ The food was too good -- I had to limit my portional  intake to keep to myweightlossdiet.ca ~ All in all, a GREAT 3 1/2 days!!

I saw a CRAFT last night.

It was on a trailer, towed by a big SUV and was kind-of SHIP-shaped. It was open, w/ a big wraparound windshield, so I'm pretty sure that it was man-made, maybe
 from the 1960s or '70s. Why it was being transported overland at this time of year, I have NO IDEA, but pojgfy pojr [poth] hmmdfl immn prahh kjner linf O-trap hilim
grr.

EXCLUSIVE! to Van Leer website!

Four "grey" aliens traveling in a late '50s sedan  trying to look inconspicuous!
  What a great start to the 2012-13  Winter! Man! Don't the "greys' look like a

middle-aged bunch of Caucasian "rockers"? I surely think so! And you thought only reptilians could  'shape-shift'! ~ The "greys" 4sure blew it with the CAR, though --
that 3-tone sedan doesn't look inconspicuous AT ALL!

Expose' In The Making:

Did STARLINGS teach Santa's reindeer how to fly?

A 'toasty' post, wherein I fracture a few carols.

Yet in Big Dork Street shineth / Too many Christmas lights. / My hope, my dear,  this time of year / (is) not to slip and fall on ice.  ~~~~~  Glad tidings 2U and 2all of mankind. We'll drink and we'll drink 'til we're totally blind.  ~~~~~  Santa Claus is coming in heat!  ~~~~~  Have y'rself a merry little Christmas. Don't let it be a drag.
{*We'll pig out on peanuts s and Crackerjacks. Who's gonna care if we're half in the bag? So it's root,root,root like a root-hog. We'll probably miss the last train / and if
one damn' thing goes too wrong, watch us shift. the. blame!*}  [from] the valley of the jolly Red Santa! Ho, ho, ho! ~  BTW, {*} is sung to the tune of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"

Lee Van Leer wishes y'all ...

A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, and may 2013 be BETTER for you than any previous year!

We (END-OF-THE-WORLD BLUES BAND) are SO...

...stoked! enthused! excited! 2B gigging after a 4-month flippin' hiatus!  ~ R U Red-E
Turoq, dance, bounce, slide, eat, drink,  and in gen-rul BE PART OF THE PARTY? ~

'Brethren and cistern', sing along if U know the lyrics!

Destiny awaits.

The abandoned Peckerd-Beniskowski house at the corner of Dundalk & Cow. This is a true mansion due to the presence of a music room w/ typical overlooking balcony. In the music room we found a Bell upright grand piano and a 30A Leslie
with its companion Hammond organ long gone. We also found a classical music
event program autographed by Rudolf Serkin -- I wonder what that's worth? Joyously the piano & Leslie have been unmolested by vandals (or Visigoths for that matter). Curiously the 2nd floor is completely devoid of furnishings -- duhh, gawrsh, Mickey! In a carriage-house-type outbuilding, there's a gas pump of the old type with the cylindrical glass portion and a "pit" for the servicing of cars from
underneath. Surprisingly, a  couple of wire-spoke wheels are still present (without
tires). Ford? Maybe, but probably not, or they'd be gone. The fact that tree cover
makes the house invisible from the road for most of the year has probably saved it from depredation.

UPCOMING EVENTS, December 2012!:

   NOTE: Van-Leer-
the-band is now on Winter hiatus, SO,  End-Of-The-World Blues Band is THE
ONE to see, hear and ENJOY!

There's a CHIP inside my head.

It was relocated there from atop my shoulder. I have an AXE to grind. Now I just need a bench grinder (beep). Together we must [relmfu, utf-8, = related] (whirr).

First, you take the one on the left. I'll (click)...

Lie Of The Week (I hope u enjoy it.)

I was born in Hawaii. Both my parents were professional surfers. As a youth I spent more time wet than dry.  <><><><> Truth of the week: I was born in Ontario, Canada on Oct. 6, 1943. I swim but never tried surfing. In mid-October I'll be three years sober!! In 1969 I had a chance 2buy a functional '59 Buick for $40, but passed on the opportunity.

Hey! 5 LIVE BANDS on Hwy. #5. Come on out and catch them LIVE!

On Hallowe'en,Wed.  Oct. 31st! Come to WiseGuys, Danforth Ave. @ Patricia Ave. near the Honda dealership. FIVE bands, starting @ 7: p.m. ~ VAN LEER will take the stage at 9: p.m. w/ organ, guitar, bass and drums  with THREE lead vocalists  -- howzat for

a band?! R U Red-E turoq? ~ CDs will be available (autographed!) for $12 ea.

The Day We Ran Aground.

Non-post, NO text.

BODY PARTS FOUND AT FOOT OF SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS!

An adventurous explorer who wishes to remain nameless discovered the body parts this morning while hiking around the Lake Ontario shoreline. Body parts seen were a passenger side front door and a trunk lid, believed to be from a '53 or '54 Chevrolet. Local police "aren't very interested", saying that several  years ago a nearly complete automobile was found at the same site. Oh, well.

Today,for only the 2nd time in MANY MONTHS, I played my Jillard Custom guitar

I played pretty well, despite arthritis in the base of both my thumbs. I think that I'll try to play more often.

September Song? [Random observations + birdcalls.]

When I first heard "Smooth Criminal" by (chirp) Alien Ant Farm, I had (caw) NO IDEA that it was a (kluk) Michael Jackson tune. When I DID hear the orig. (kwak)
recording, I still preferred (honk) the AAF cover which, BTW, I've (kuku) recently
Bookmarked. [Can I insert an (eagle scream) in here?] Annie, you're O.K.! ~ Did
[insert Van Leer-the-band member's name here] ever date Katie Bryan? A film actress of modest success, Katie. I think she went on to work in a Burger King...
...or did I make that up 2B snide bcuz Katie wouldn't date ME? Katie dismissed me as "too big, too ugly, too old". Damn! [Add 4 of your best birdcalls here:] (   ) (   ) (   )
(   ) Don't be (cheep). Man, those '51-'53 Hudson Hornets surely were FAST! ~ Does

anyone know what sounds a cormorant makes? The cormorant was the bird depicted for years by the graceful Packard hood ornament. Bird's the word!
  The above pic only shows 2/3 of my Peavey backline -- There's also a Peavey-
powered (modded) Leslie. Will u be Red-E Turoq on Sat. Sept. 29th at The Grover?

There's bound 2B some Peavey Power there! Peavey Black Widow speakers RULE!

A Pack Of Lies

Lee Van Leer...
Won a Lott Tree (wha?)
Is dating a Kardashian
Was dating a Manoogian
Fellated a stallion at the Crispy Ranch
Is hoarding first-year Pontiac Bonnevilles (that's 1957)
Has six fingers on each hand
Wrote a novella with a nearly-unpronounceable title
Wishes he'd never...
Wished he had...
...danced on the Qwerty at Burlingame
is leaving for Garden City, Kansas NOW!

! CONFIRMING ! ANOTHER Van Leer gig!!

SAT.,  SEPT. 29th @ The Grover Pub & Grub, on Kingston Rd., just N.E. of Main St., another multi-band charity Event. Start time: 7 p.m. ~ Van Leer-the-band will be onstage on the main floor at NINE p.m. --
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS! We hope to have as feat. V. Spl. Guest. Mr. STAN ENDERSBY of  The Ugly Ducklings and other recording bands. ~ "Be there or feel despair" at missing ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT OF ROCK & ROLL, CLASSIC R&B & BLUES, yo!! ~ BTW, keep visiting "Lee's Blog" for news of "THE STAN & LEE SHOW" in future posts, thank you.

LEE VAN LEER GIGS UPCOMING!

Sat. Aug. 25 @ the BRIGADOON, Victoria Pk. @ St. Clair E. Lee Van Leer will be feat. guest w/ Mike Murphy, John W. & Jimmy K. (The Hinges) ~ Start time: 10: p.m. (approx.) ~ Copies of "Thumbs Up!" CD will be available, of course, still only $12 ea. w/ inside of jewel case insert Autographed to the person(s) of your choice. ~ See you there!

Sing:

The East African Fishing Cat
Silently sits on the shore.
When the fishes swim by at their feeding time
He SLAPS out a dozen or more!

Lee Van Leer, 2010

Collectible '80s FENDER t-shirt SOLD!

Frontal image is of the '57-'58

Fender catalog COVER. My dear friend Dave D., born in '57, bought the T-shirt on Aug. 1st.
Thank you, Dave. Enjoy!

Bye, bye, Baldwin.

Baldwin "Encore" organ SOLD to a friend. He's a guitarist, but this is his second Baldwin organ!  Duhh, gawrsh, Mickey! Now I have some sp-a-a-ace in
my tiny apartment . ~  BTW, I played a Baldwin on the road w/ John Ellison, writer 
of "Some Kind Of Wonderful."

FINE " Acoustic Mondays" @The Black Swan!

It will likely continue through the Summer!  ~  154 Danforth Ave. (ground floor) Hrs. 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. ~ Host: Sebastian Agnello and Friends.  ALL are welcome! ~ Relaxed atmosphere... "like a kitchen party", says Seb. ~ Orig. material definitely encouraged! ~ There's a SIX - channel p.a. on-site... "I'm the sound man", says Seb, SO "lightly amplified" BASSes are also permitted. ~

I really want 2buy (or trade for) another of THESE:!!

YAMAHA PS-55, PS-35 or PC-1000 49-note portable keyboard instrument in proper working order. ~ ~
Mfd. in 1983-4 but NOT collectible, their market value in good wkg. cond. has sat at

$75 (or less) for years. ~~ Pic shows a PS-55. Pls also see Ad posted June 14, 2012 on
Toronto Craigslist - Musical Instr. - Pianos, keyboards. ~~ Thanks for viewing!

InfoSnippets:

Liquid laundry detergent Lestoil was taken off the market when it BLEW UP a
couple of washing machines. ~~ NSAID Advil is NOT made from grapes. ~~ Wine is made from grapes, whine is not. ~~ The peanut is not a nut. It's a bean, sort-of,
which grows on a vine. ~~ Does the grey squoil have a favorite nut? ~~ Taxidermy
has nothing to do with grapes regardless of what the taxidermist eats. ~~ The tomato is a fruit which grows on a vine. ~~ Holly Woodenvine? Nah, just drop me off at the corner of N. Gower, thank you. ~~ Respect the Lake Hollywood Reservoir.
Voir dos de la boite? ~~ Tirez sur la ligne whatsis, SVP. ~~ Butch Annistock: a real
person? ~~ Does this communique now tr                                                                            
                                                                                ai                                                                      
                                                                                   l                                                                           
                                                                                     off?                                                             

Sergeant, we KNOW the 3-tone car's not a Chrysler. Its fins are too small. [Xrcise
xtreme caution. It may be booby-trapped!]  Yes ,Sir!   [I think we should recon what's beyond those trees, men. Our sensors detect more 'vintage tin'.] ~~ Do any
of u readers know what the description "inclined and overhanging" refers to?
Winner will rcv. a date or a fig with Lee Van Leer.                                                           

                                                                                    

The Hinges are DISBANDED!

Mike and  John discovered that there were several other bands bearing that name. ~~

Long live ALCOHOLIC VOLUME, Which is Mike Murphy, gtr. and vocals,John W., drums, Billy D. on bass and vocals, and sometimes Lee Van Leer, organ, gtr. and vocals. We expect to be a most capable successor to The Hinges. Gigs will commence in venues larger than the Brigadoon, commencing in July. ~~ Alcoholic Volume -- now there's a really distinctive band name!

IMPORTANT! See text body below.

E-mail contact point for potential live music venues is near the bottom of this website.

HollywoodNorth(dot)whatever

 This
"kid from nowhere", Gary Gaines, wrote a script... and I LOVE IT and its working title "Toy Piano Meets The Mechanical Singing Birds From Bloody
'ell". And, IMHO, that "desert" set with the "creepy sports car" is priceless! I've seen stills of several other locations, and they exude the same level of "wha??" 
'Stay tuned' to Lee's Blog, friends and followers.

SWAN SONG!! White Swan @ 836B Danforth Ave. CLOSED 4EVER!!

'Twas (sometimes) fun while it lasted. ~~ Now we (3 bands) are seeking a mid-week venue in which to stage weekly Events. ~~ Venue must be in area bounded by mid-
Scarb', Eglinton Ave. E., Don River & N. shore of Lake Ontario. If you know of such a venue, pls. contact , thank you. ~~ Contact point:

[a sidebar re: the indie film I'm NOT in.]

Hold this shot for 8 seconds, then cut to the mechanical singing birds. THEN it gets creepier! (Who knew that automatons could slither?)

My possible return to the big screen? Uh, NOT!

This week I'm auditioning for a role in an indie film whose working title is TOY PIANO MEETS THE MECHANICAL SINGING BIRDS FROM BLOODY 'ELL. I hope they
keep the title -- it drew me to the project in the first place. It includes several bizarre sub-plots, one of which... <><><><>UPDATE!! <> JUNE 21st UPDATE!!  I
DIDN'T get the part. S'cool, though -- it went  to another 'rugged-looking older guy'
with a LOT more film experience than I. ~~ Probably just as well, considering
the huge pile of  stuff  on my plate in July & Aug. incl. dental appointments (shudder) & other stuff, much of it quite un-glamorous. ~~ Friends & followers,
be safe, be well, and have a GREAT summer!                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                              

My focus:

Regrettably, I'm FAR out of condition for gymnastics, SO, I'll put my whole heart & soul into MUSIC.

HERE we are, the SOUL INSTIGATORS.

This is from REHEARSAL -- that's why we're not dressed ELEGANTLY.

Paper covers rock...

...but sharpened flint can SHRED paper!  Heh,heh,heh!

Sat. April 21st Lee Van Leer will appear as "Spatial" guest w/ The Hinges at The Brigadoon.

SE cor.Vic. Pk. & E. St. Clair. ~ "Spatial" guest bcuz I'll be Taking Up Space. I will Sing & play
GUITAR (an instrument u haven't seen me play in a long time!)

Knights of the Sound Table: Get Up!

Fax & Falsies, uh, I mean,
FACTS and FALLACIES about (the) Soul Instigators:
The band does NOT tour in a Cadillac ambulance. ~~ (Some members of) the band own many Peavey amps and speakers. ~~ The band does NOT mic a tambourine through a Leslie. ~~ The band STILL has no female vocalist. ~~ Lee Van Leer does NOT raise chickens on an apartment balcony. ~~ cursor: pointer; cursor:hand;width; Wha? ~~ The band has NEVER performed south of Hwy. #5 (Danforth Ave.),
though Van Leer did, once. The band did NOT release a single called "On The Qwerty".

Waitaminit! Could this be...

OMG, it surely looks like... (Sunonthebeach!!)

WHY! didn't SHOTGUN MESSIAH rise to the top...

...instead of ORDINARY bands like Ratt & Faster Pussycat? Czech out Shotgun Messiah, esp. lead gtr.
Harry K. Cody & be AWED.

I want Page Not Found and About: Blank to get 2gether...

...and form a really kick-ass band! Sorta like The Quireboys/Hustler/ v. early Rod Stewart & the Faces -- the way Henchpeck & the Magnatones ought to sound! R YOU also hoping 4this2 hapn? LET'S
HEAR FROM U!!

In the beginning there was, like, NOTHING...

...and God thought, "this is Inadequate", and said "Let there be Light" and, yo, there WAS Light.
God said, "Well! Now we know what Nothingness looks like!"

"Jill", my Jillard 'Lee Van Leer Custom' gtr. & case.

Blonde is good. More about this beauty in a 2011-10-13 post. Thanks for viewing or Following "Lee's Blog".
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Aha! Lee & Sandy, affectionate & happy, caught on camera!

(by Carol L. Cain). Sherri R., on the other hand, forbids me to post pics of her/us in "public
places", so I DON'T.

THIS is the organ timbre I emulate with my modded, Peavey-powered Leslies.

What are these 5'
tall walnut furniture pictured here? some of you may ask. Well, I reply, from 1949, MAYBE earlier,
Leslie (organ speaker) cabinets looked like THIS 'til 1958 ('til '60 by spl. order only) and YES, I
used to OWN one. I even-traded my 1st Leslie (a 22H whose amp didn't work) for one of these "tallboy" beauties and modded it so it wd come apart in 2 pcs. for transport uprt. in vans & big
stn. wagons (& a Chevy BelAir w/ back seat removed!). I DIDN'T "chop" it -- only FOOLS who don't
understand the TRUE PURPOSE of these [model 31H] Leslie cabs "chop" their overall height. ~ Digression: the purpose of a Schnauzer is to schnauze -- that is, to retrieve ducks. The PURPOSE of
the 31H Leslie cab is to have a HUGE, FULL bass sound alongside the xpected "screaming" treble. ~
Don Leslie, founder of Electro Music and inventor of the organ tone cabinets which bear his name
always said that his fave model of all time was the 31H (and presum' the rare-by-comparison 31W).
TO HEAR 'EM IS2 UNDERSTAND and LOVE 'EM! ~ MY 31H had a type II (30W RMS) amp & was hooked up to
the Hammond BC which I sold to Josef "Joey" Chirowski (The 5 Rogues, Mandala [?], Crowbar) That was the 1st of my 5 Hammonds. ~ GO! on the 'net & learn more about the model 31H Leslie and its
(kinda weird) predecessor, 30A (also 5' tall). ~ By using Leslies w/ upgraded spkr. components
powered by bass or gtr. amp heads, I've been able to make non-Hammond organs & SOME kbd. synths
SOUND LIKE an old Hammond thru a 31H. Can you say "in CHURCH!" and "early jazz organ combo
recordings"? Sacred! Glorious! TONE!!

Kanye, I mean, CAN WE reply to a Q. from several...

...friends & neighbours which was: WHEN was your [total left hip replacement] performed? I answer:
"On Feb. 5th, 2010, by superb! surgeon & overall nice guy Dr. Stuart Wright at the Sunnybrook
Holland Centre." ~ No problems w/ it BUT I was counselled "to keep your bionic hip trouble-free, DO NOT RUN or play tennis, handball, jai alai or suchlike." I used to run most every day, but now I don't even consider doing so. I walk quite briskly in short bursts, though. ~ A friend of mine, a
longtime nurse at the Holland Ctr., when I asked her, recommended only two surgeons: Dr. Wright and
Dr. Hugh Cameron, so there's the story, morning glory!

MIJ Fernandes FL-598 Str*t-oid w/ bag: SOLD.

Finally! Big Thank U to Chris B., and to Paul B. & his team @ Paul's Boutique, 69 1/2 Nassau St. -- an HONEST, FAIR-DEALING indie music store. ~ To "tjnugent" & anyone else asking, gtr's a 2003. ~
Friends, viewers, followers, MAY 2012 TREAT YOU WELL.