Welcome to my blog
I’m new to blogging. Well, at least in the modern sense. But I’ve been keeping online journals of one sort or another ever since the late 80′s and the days of the Tandy TRS-80 computer…
…with its wonderful acoustic cups that always looked to me a bit like a male mutual masturbation device.
Modern blogging has all sorts of new ways for guys to jerk off, but I will try hard to refrain from doing that here.
It’s about twenty days until the start of my tour — the first in over 15 years, which is a long time to be away from rock’n'roll. So long, in fact, that until a few weeks ago my three children had never seen me perform. They’d seen tapes of MTV videos starring some guy that had hair, and heard other kids’ parents refer to me as a ‘former rock star’, but for all their short lives I was just a business guy who went to work every day with a briefcase.
Why choose now to get back into music? Well, for a start it was never meant to be a 15 year hiatus. Certainly I was pretty fed up with the music business and when I left LA in 1994, I washed my hands of the whole thing. But in the back of my mind I always thought I’d get my appetite back within a couple of years. Music is the only thing I really know how to do well. I can do lots of things ok — including writing, directing flims, starting a business, computer programming, soccer, and sailing boats and boards — but I’m only world class at one thing and that’s music.
Then there’s technology. I’ve come to realize I only function well when I’m using tools that are unrefined, ill-defined, unexplored. That’s the way it was when I started making electronic music in the mid-70′s using primitive synths. The same thing happened when music videos took off in the early 80′s but nobody knew what a music video was supposed to look like. And in the 90′s, virtual reality, video games, the Web, and finally mobile phones and content caught my imagination. In each era I was drawn to a new technology and its possibilities for self-expression. When I moved to Silicon Valley, I was right in the crucible of all technology, and it was irresistable to me. During that period, I watched as technology turned itself inside out more than once.
In 2006, the new horizon for music is the Internet. And I don’t mean MP3 piracy, which is old news by now. It’s taken a long time to arrive, but I feel the true Internet music revolution is finally upon us. I’m talking about musicians having the ability to reach out to their fans and make music in close to real time, in their own back room, while never having to put themselves in hock to large corporations.
I believe we’re about to enter a fascinating new era for musicians and music fans, and I want a front row seat. So I’m putting my enterpreneurial activities behind me, and going back on the road. This is just the first step — before embarking on new songs I’m feeling a strong need to reconnect with my original music and my core fans, who (unbelievably!) have never stopped arguing about my songs and lyrics, even with the total dearth of fresh material. Certain music has the ability to become part of the fabric of your life, and it’s something you never outgrow. This tour will be a way for me, as well as the audiences, to rekindle the old excitement. Getting road-ready is a complicated process, but it’s fun as hell. I’ll be recording some of the process here on my blog. Hope you enjoy it!
Thank You Thomas! I am so looking forward to this tour (Hitting 9 shows on the East Coast)
so Glad you are back and having fun at it!!
Welcome to the blogosphere Thomas! From a longtime fan who missed the opportunity 22 years ago in CT, thanks for going back on tour. (Looking forward to seeing you in Sellersville.)
The dearth of material you mention was never a problem either. So much of what it is that I and probably most others hear in your music is still as strong today as it ever was, whether you ever release something new again or not. (I hope for the former of course.)
Interesting comment when you said you funtion well with unexplored tools. I‘m curious if that exploration is harder for you now because there’s just so much more out ‘technology’ out there for the novice and pro alike making their craft easier. As you know, designers, musicians and filmmakers now can pretty much create/produce/edit almost anything now on a Mac and a few software titles at home.
By golly Thomas, I might not even be able to make it to a show but I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to hear you’re getting back into music again. The cellphone is just too small a medium to contain your genius my friend.
I hear you with the “now is the time of the internet artist” thing. Technology has finally pushed bandwidth prices down low enough and there are enough homes wired for broadband that more than jpegs and ultra-low quality mpegs can be transfered online. Now artists can distribute CD quality music and DVD quality video to their audience. They can choose the business model that works best for them and there’s nobody in suits getting in the way.
Now success or failure is entirely in the hands of the artist and although that may sound like a scary amount of responsibility I’d much rather fail due to my own error, misjudgement, or just plain and simple suckage than fail because I got dicked around by someone in a suit. Artists have finally been given the kind of power we could only dream about in decades past. I’m glad to see you’re eager to pioneer these new frontiers.
Best o’ luck, and would it kill you to do a show in Hamilton?
Thomas,
whe I found out that you were not only on tour, but that you’d be performing in Pittsburgh of all places, I nearly fell off my chair. I’ve always hoped to see you perform live one day, and until a couple of days ago, I was sure those hopes were dashed. But lo & behold, your tour makes a stop in the home of the Super Bowl champs–Pitts-freakin-burgh, PA!
I not only enjoy your music, but I must say that it has infiltrated my very being since 1983. Ever since I heard Magnus Pike Cry out:”Science!”, I’ve been hooked.
Since then, I’ve been getting my grubby lil’ hands on every cd, album, single, remix, video, etc that I possibly can. If you had come out w/an album of you coughing, or making bathroom noises, I would have bought it.
So, as you can imagine, I am beyond stoked that you are coming to my part of the country. By the way, my tix for your show on May 11th just arrived in the mail.
Speaking of your show, will there be an opportunity for a ‘meet & greet’ session? I’d like to shake your hand & get a photo if you don’t mind. Thanks.
Thomas,
I’m a long time fan and I’m looking forward to the Sellersville show! I second the motion (or should I say notion) that you consider a meet and greet for your dedicated fans. That would be wonderful. I have this near mint 45 of urges/leipzig with a perfect sleeve I’ve always wanted autographed.
Oh, and if there’s any chance of a request for the show, The Flat Earth would make my night!
Thomas -
During our darkest hour you return to liberate the noble proletariat from the corrupt burgeois influences of cookie cutter pop.
You gave me my first taste of freedom with Europa and I have stood upon the battlements waiting your return with only my Blinded Me with Science ringtones to keep me company. As Howard so eloquently put it, we would buy an album of you reading stereo instructions. Just let us buy it using PayPal.
How about coming to Dallas because in your heart you know it is truly flat.
Yuri
Thomas – it’s so lovely to know that the music that inspired me so much is getting another airing. And I can’t wait to hear some new stuff too. But please – do a venue gig or two around London while you’re over – i’m really looking forward to seeing the full set.
Oh and by the way – any chance of hearing Weightless live? It’s my favourite song of all time!
Another long time fan here, and looking forward to seeing you live for the first time at Hyde Park in June. Congratulations on being one of the few celebraties brave enough to start their own blog. I’ll be reading with huge interest!
And another longtime fan…
Saw you at the Mighty in S.F. It was the first time I’ve heard you play live, and it was great! I really enjoyed the version of Airhead you put together during the encore.
Can’t wait to hear the new material, and it’s great that you’ve got a blog now. Your presence on the Alloy list has been missed…
Looking forward to the future of Dolby!
To Mr. Dolby: I join the others here–and those I’ve spoken to in different parts of the country–in expressing tremendous/verging-on-giddy excitement about your return to music. Very much looking forward to your NYC shows in early May, and I’m looking forward to bringing old friends and new fans-to-be. To those who’ve never seen a Thomas Dolby show: I was lucky enough to see him twice on the “Flat Earth” tour and three times on the tour for “Aliens Ate My Buick,” and the shows and the music were always GREAT! A buddy of mine in SF saw the show at the Mighty, and he reports that this tour is definitely different AND definitely cool. Counting the days… and listening to “The Flat Earth” a lot!
I’m really looking forward to seeing you live here in Seattle! Last time I saw you was during the “Aliens Ate My Buick” tour at the Wiltern in L.A. but I and my friends saw you a few times drinking at Boardners. Funny—I left L.A. in ’94, too, but I will always equate L.A. with “Pulp Culture”!
Thomas Dolby has a blog and not only that, a good one too… with rss and everything. Consider it added to my collection of aggregators.
Don’t worry about “gear wanking”. There are enough artists out there who’s “blogs” consist of activity purely around publicity time and I always suspect are just the work of PR people. Most fans you’ll find will be happy to read an artist talking about their kit and the trials and tribulations involved and I always find it interesting to read someone writing about their interests and what’s close to their heart.
May I also take this opportunity to drop a cheeky hint: http://www.electricpicnic.ie/ I’ve already ordered my ticket for this years festival in September but the lineup is incomplete as of yet and since you are on the road and all…
I already know attendees as well as myself who would be amazingly pleased to see Thomas Dolby added to that already great looking lineup. I know you’d fit right in and we’d love to see you here on stage in Ireland if possible. I’ll even buy you a beer if you like.
Since requests are going out for tour songs:
Eastern Bloc is all I ask, and then I will be able to die in peace.
(If you can’t get EVH to appear live for the solo, that’s ok, pre-recorded will suffice.)
;-p
Much as everyone here, I’m so looking forward to new material and it will be interesting to see if you rework any of your older songs… I cant wait!
Finally! And about time too! How did you expect us to cope in a non-Dolby musical wasteland for all these years?
Anyway, looking forward to the gigs. Saw you play in Harlesden in London in the early ’90′s (originally from UK myself) with the band and that ROCKED. I know the new tour is going to be just as magical.
Good to have you back, sir.
Looks like I am a couple of days late, but I wanted to join in welcoming you to the world of blogs.
Looking forward to your tour.
Hi Thomas! I saw you at the HOB (Sunset) – great show. I’m so happy you’re touring. I really enjoyed your concert at the Greek
Theatre (’83?) Looking forward to seeing you at the Canyon Club.
Hey Thomas,
Please try to come and play in New Orleans some time.. I know you have ties here and we NEED a great concert in this post-Hurricane Katrina world we now try to call home. Concerts and shows are basically non existent since ths storm. Have you been around to see the devastation?
I have been a fan since before you hit it big on MTV and it’s a dream to see you live. Play House of Blues or something..
Great being able to say hello and thanks for the music all these years!
Kirk
Kirk, I would love to play NO which as you know I feel a strong connection with. I have dear friends there who live in the Garden District so were mercifully spared the worst of the storm. We talked to House of Blues but they were not interested, seems business is slow to get back underway. Feel free to go there and lobby Sonny the buyer! maybe I should come down and just play the Maple Leaf or Tipps?
Please do play Maple Leaf or Tipps, Maybe try TriRopa, Erasure has played there.. Anything that helps the economy and gets things going culturally is needed. With lack of shows and events, the ones that are here seem to do too well. I will call HOB and see what is up there. Thanks for trying!
Kirk
Thank you so much for returning!! Your work has meant so much to me throughout my life.
I was too young to see any of your shows in the early 80s -and had always wished that I could have.
Despite living in NC, I will be travelling up to the Rams Head and be front row (such as it is) on Sunday night.
My daughter -now 11 yrs old- wishes she could come as well but alas Rams Head wont allow her (underage). She has Retrospectacle on her MP3 player and loves it.
Airwaves has always been my favorite and it would mean so much to me to hear it live. Thanks so much!
Bob
A diffident, ancient but mostly ardent fan here, and a blogger (and I hate that blogger is the word that is winning). Thank you for having a blog. You are as I hoped you would be, human, and just yourself. I hope you are enjoying both the blogging and the touring.
Looking forward to reading more,
Perlandria
As complex as the set-up may sound to many posters, I’m sure that Thomas would agree that the old days of incorporating load times and over-heating synths into the live set was far more demanding!
I only ever dreamed of owning a fairlight when I started out – but now I also run Logic Pro 7.2 through Tiger on my G5. Live I’m triggering BFD kits and a whole host of soft synths and pluggins not unlike TD’s set-up. I’m inspired by your work and would love to talk tech and perhaps work together on a project – I love to know what you are using in your studio right now!
I read about your blog at Doug Wyatt’s. It makes me happy to hear embarkment is pending. I’m a longtime admirer.
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