Jan. 8th, 2011 IMPORTANT UPDATE!!

Van Leer-the-band DID NOT APPEAR anywhere 3 a.m. Jan. 1 -- event was cancelled. ~ NEXT GTA Van Leer gig is multi-band Event @ Birchmount Tavern Sun. Jan. 16th running 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. ~ VAN LEER hits the stage at 5 p.m. Other bands include The Hinges,
Scarpelli (Gino S., long-time member of Goddo) & AT LEAST 5 others. It's a charitable benefit, so there's a $10 cover charge. Big stage, big p.a. & lights, biggish menu, u r gonna love it! ~
May your 2011 be excellent. ~ Pls watch our GTA Appearances Schedule, BUT if it appears incomplete or non-current, do PLEASE return here to Lee's Blog, where we'll
ALWAYS keep u up2date on Van Leer gigs in the GTA, and any Lee Van Leer guest showcases
w/ other bands. ~ The Birchmount Tavern / Cactus Pete's is highly visible in the
Birchmount Plaza, N.E. corner of Danforth ROAD & Birchmount Ave. ~ R U Red-e turoq? Hopefully we'll see you there!

Event, not2B missed!

THIS SATURDAY, VAN LEER WILL PERFORM IN PUBLIC 4THE 1st TIME SINCE JANUARY 2010, at the Alpine Hotel again on Kingston Rd., E.of Vic. Pk. This is a charitable event w/ 4
other bands, so there'll be a cover charge.~ Start time is 8p.m. ~ 4sure u wanna be there!

Don Paveling & Declan Doran: Heroes, IMHO.

On New Year's Day 1961, used car dlr. Ernie Barnhart introduced me to Ronnie Hawkins.
I heard "Robbie" Robertson play his Tele and on the leads I thought it sounded "thin"
and I formulated A THE0RY, to wit: all u need4 a gd blues tone is 2 pickups & a metal
playing surface on your bridge. ``` ` ````` ` `` ````` ```` `` ` ``````` ` ` `````
``````` ``````` `` ```` ``````. I mean, look at Freddy & Albert King! Don P. & Declan D. played '54-56 LP gold-tops when others around them were buying Teles, and their tone was excellent! SO, I drew a CONCLUSION. Soon Mike Bloomfield, E. Clapton, J. Page & J. Beck were also playing LP's and sounding great. TONE to the BONE, my brothers! Case closed, nya-nya, nya nya-nya. I'd rather hear these gtrs. than attend the Sandy Claws Parade ANY year!

ENDORSEMENTS!

Lee Van Leer and Gord "Wayne" Munzy play Lado and Jillard guitars & basses exclusively, strung with Belltone Strings, their life extended by Stringtreat. Amplification is by Peavey Electronics. ~ Pls visit: www.jillardguitars.com ~
We have no idea who makes our kazoos.

My alien abduction.

When I was visiting Arizontal, Arizona, I was accosted by four Mexican nationals who possessed no documentation whatever. Three of my abductors looked like, uh, mid-30s male hispanics. The fourth was completely covered in curly, off-white fur, and she BLEATED. The three males lifted me and loaded me into a white Ford van with a cereal box where the rear license plate should have been. Their apparent leader asked of me many questions in heavily accented English, including if I knew the location of a peyote cactus. When I replied that I did not, my interrogator became very agitated
and smashed a plate of poutine into my face. ~ 2B continued.

Did you ever see/hear The Soul Instigators?

No?, well the day will come again in early 2012. ~ Pete Aube', Scott Sharp, (or John W.),
Mike Murphy<---(optional), Lee Van Leer and importantly, Wayne Munzy, bassist. Keep watching or following this Blog for more news. Meanwhile pls view PICS on my 2911-01-17 post. Be safe. Be well, my friends & fans, and thank you! for viewing and/or Following this Blog.

A very interesting day...

...is what I had at the MTV Bldg. 888 Yonge St. T.O. on Wed. Nov.10. While
there I had lunch with noted Cdn. film director Bruce MacDonald. (Cool, hey?)
As to what else took place there during my 7 hrs. on-site, my lips are sealed 'til
March 2011.