Ok, first of all, I wrote Tuesday there yesterday, though it was Thursday. Just a little mixed up in the head right now. Or actually then…. I’m in bloody Germany now writing this one. Yes, you heard me, in freakin Germany… so a little change with the landscape here, ha? I’m in Hamburg right now and Teemu and Pasi went home last night from Helsinki. I took the next flight here. I can tell you I was tired as hell when I got here. I even couldn’t think straight. But now it’s good. When I finally have my suitcase also here… it came after me because they managed to fuck it up in Paris. Well, shit happens.
But if I guide you through the last days in L.A? Well, there’s really not much of a choice here because I didn’t have the time or the energy to do it earlier than this. So this is how it went:
So day 5 which was Thursday, we went to Santa Monica beach and had a few beers in there. We went down to the , I don’t know what you call it, the Pier, the famous pier which you can see in a bunch of movies and tv series. It was nice. Totally different side of L.A. They were shooting some new tv series there while we were there… we heard that Kiefer Sutherland was in it, but we didn´t see the guy. But it was nice to see how things are done behind the set. A lot of work for a few second shot. A lot of work. And a lot of workers.
Well, after that pretty much straight to the studio again. I don’t know if there is really anything special to tell you about that evening and night. We worked until 6 o’clock in the morning. We did some re-arranging ( I don’t know if it is spelled like that) with the other song and it took time. And also some new lyrics, and they seem to be the hardest part always. At least for me. And the first two attempts with new lyrics ended up Jimmy saying it’s bullshit! And he was right I guess. So we all wrote the part together with Jimbo steering the boat. And once again Teemu was singing great.
Day 6
Or actually day 7. I didn’t write about the first one really, so this is why it’s pretty messed up. Well, it was the last day during the first visit in L.A. And I miss it already! We did some shopping after the breakfast. There were so many cool shops there with all this Marvel superhero stuff that my little boys love! I just hoped I had more money on me at the time. Well, I got them something they really like when I get back home. Which is the next Saturday by the way. A week here in Germany. Well, after the shopping we went back to the hotel to do little packing cause we knew that we were going to work late and pretty much go straight to airport from the studio. The last day was hard working. Specially Jimmy did one hell of a job. And Teemu too. But I have to say, that everybody were really tired. We only had like 20% of the energy that we had on the first few days and nights. But I have to say, we are so happy that we did this with Jimmy because he is an excellent producer. Genious! And Tom also….I have totally forgot Tom’s last name, sorry Tom! A great guy. It was a real pleasure and really inspiring to work with such professionals with so much heart and soul!! Thanks guys! And what we achieved there like the music wise was really why we left there in the first place. With this two songs we updated Winterborn sound, but still kept that some thing of ours, if you know what I mean. And great thing about Jimmy was, and is, that he really made it happen. And Teemu’s singing went to a new level. And Jimmy gave Teemu a couple of nicknames: Matti or lehmä (cow). Well, we were talking about making more stuff, or the whole album with Jimmy, but first we need to work hard to make it possible. Now comes the shitty part guys! We need start negotiating with labels and others about how to make this happen. But I think we can really do that with these two new songs. They sound good as hell! Like said earlier, beyond perfect and most epic ever!! Kyllä se kuulostaa!
Well, we worked to 3 o’clock, so we had a little time for a sleep, like 2,5 hours before heading out to LAX. And if we thought that the hardest part was over, we were so wrong! So wrong! The hardest part during the whole trip was the INSANE taxi trip to the airport. FUCK! The cab driver was insane! A pure madman! I.. we, have never ever been so afraid than we did that trip. Words cannot tell how fuckin insane was this guys driving. We was driving like he wanted to die..and of course take us with him! Oh my god, at one point I was thinking that I would tell the maniac that he will get like 20 dollars extra if he would just slow the fuck down! But then looking at him convinced me, that it is better not to say anything to him. He was literally out of his mind. Mentally sick? On drugs? I don’t know, just really glad to be alive.
Well, then the next 30 hours or so in the air. The first landing was in Dallas, where we changed the plane…and we just made it on time, because the flight from L.A was delayed. And the same thing in Paris also.HEY! A funny thing happened in Paris! There were few French girls there who recognised us! In fuckin Paris. To see people who like our stuff in there. That ( unfortunately) doesn’t happen that often, if you are not on tour anyway. Well, the Paris gig we did on last tour, it was one of our best I have to say. so, it is nice to see that not everybody have forgot about us. It has been so long since we have done anything..like a record or tour. But now things our happening again…hopefully we can make things happen quickly this time. But it isn’t usually up to the artist these things.
Well, when we landed in Helsinki, they told us that our luggage didn’t make it to Helsinki. So, I had to leave to Germany pretty much straight away without my suitcase. Well, they delivered it here to my hotel to day, so all well that ends well.
Now I will start working to get these songs moving on ( and to make a little “documentary” about the trip). I mean the songs and band moving on.. to get a GOOD contract ( which is really really difficult these days)…to get a video done…who knows, perhaps in L.A, and making still new songs and so on…. the ultimate goal of course is, to get back on the road touring Europe, hopefully some new territories like U.S, Japan or south America. But that will take time my friends, that will take a lot of time. But the day will come! And after this Hollywood sessions, we are more inspired than never before. Now we just have to transform it to working mode.
Days 3 and 4 12-Apr-2012
Day three, or actually day 4, but I’m talking about studio days here. We woke up at noon, and headed out to our now regular breakfast place on Hollywood Blvd. The best bacon and eggs we’ve ever tasted. And juice fresh as hell.. they make it there when you order it. That’s good for hangover. Then just little bit walking around checking out some places before going back to hotel. A funny thing happened when we were going back to studio later on. We were getting some coffee from Starbucks and this is what happened: Pasi K ordered his coffee, and around here, they always ask your name because they write it on the cup.. and Pasi of course answered Pasi with an English twist on it. Well, the girl behind the counter was really like smiling and went: Are you kidding me? Is that your name really??? And Pasi was like, yes, we have a little different kind of names in Finland. And then when the girl wrote Bussy on the cup, we realised that she had probably heard that Pasi said Pussy. That was funny man. We shouldn’t twist or pronounce our names in English way…there might be some misunderstandings there.
So now we have two pussies and one Mexican in the band…( I forgot to told you, that on the first day we got here, the hotel manager, a great fuckin guy, Max ( big Indian guy) , asked where we’re from, and when we told Finland, he was like saying to Teemu, that he thought he was Mexican!) So we went to the studio and actually did nothing. We just didn’t get anything done. No energy there. So, we went to L.A Guitar Center to get some new strings, and what a cool place was that! Amazing! A little different than our local Laitehävitys in Kokkola. It had a lot of cool stuff there used by all the legends. After a quick bite and a few beers and then off to work. Well, at that point, it was pretty late and Jimmy’s best friend from Finland was coming with his girlfriend, so we threw a little party there in the studio. Some drinks, teguila and wine and some snack. Well, you can imagine, not a lot of work got done, but Teemu managed to do some spine chilling vocal tracks that night…or morning. It depends how you put it. We were back at the hotel 7 o’clock in the morning. What a night! And hey, I bought the jacket I was talking about earlier….You will see it in the next promo shots we are going to make with the band.
And hey, one thing I almost forgot. We were laughing like bunch of lunatics on that night. I don’t remember when it was the last time I did laugh so much. And we actually got now some new standards from Tom and Jimmy from the studio. When they make something, it will be either “ the most epic ever” or “ beyond perfect”. That’s the goal folks! Or you can say these same things in finnish, and it would be like “kyllähän se kuulostaa”
Day 4 ( the day off)
Ok, probably after last night, I don’t have to even mention, that we slept a little late. But I was still having a breakfast at noon again. Tired and hangover as hell… and the local Jesus girls tried to offer me salvation, nice. Well, during the day we went to see Sunset Strip. We checked out Whisky a Go Go, Roxy and of course Rainbow Bar and Grill. No, we didn’t see Lemmy if that’s what your asking for. Unfortunately. But cool place. At the next table there, there were these lawyer and manager guys with suits on, talking about doing heroin. L.A style, what can I say. It seems the drugs are everywhere here.
But you know, nothing really special happened during the day, and we we’re so tired, that we got back to the hotel about 9, and started sleeping straight away. Now it’s Tuesday, we woke up early and are going to Santa Monica beach. Get back to you soon! Be good!
Bussy V, Bussy K and the Mexican.
2nd day in the studio 11-Apr-2012
Allright, the second day in the studio now behind us…or if we are accurate, the second night in the studio. And what a night it was! We were rockin it until 5 o’clock in the morning. And Jimmy and Teemu were on fuckin fire! And man, Teemu’s singing was amazing! Jimbo couldn’t believe his ears. The songs will definitely rise up to a whole new level. And we actually got to do some playing with Pasi also…. making bass and guitar tracks. You just gotta love Jimmy. What a producer. The vibe and passion in the studio is incredible. We were so frickin tired last night but Jimmy and Teguila got us going again. Great! And I have to say, the stories, true stories, you hear in this place, wow, it is insane. The life here. Nothing like back home in Finland.
And what else is good, we finally did get some real sleep in here. It was like 4 days without a decent sleep. Few hours per night and that was it. But now, we have some new energy and are just about to head out to the studio again. We are really looking forward to it! And then the next day we will take a day of, and head out to Santa Monica beach and Rainbow Bar & Grill, and of course Whisky a Go Go
Pasi V
Breaking news from Hollywood (not CNN) 09-Apr-2012
There`s no business like show business!
Well, this aint`t actually news, but we didn`t manage to get the blog working so we put it here instead. Who gives a shit.....
It`s Hollywood and Winterborn is in town. And it is really great to be here. This is the place to get your creative juices flow when you consider rock`n roll. The whole atmosphere here is just right and a life long dream of mine, making music in America, in L.A, in Hollywood, has come true. And I have to say that last night in the studio, I experienced some real fulfilment and pure joy listening and watching our producer Jimmy Westerlund working on the song. At that one point, I just realised this is it. Now our music is going to places I always wanted it to go. Jimmy and his companion in the studio, Tom, they really are delivering the goods I was hoping for. And the enthusiasm that this guy has!!! What a hell! It´s ridiculous man. It is just great to watch it and to be part of it. And what a location man, studio on Hollywood Blvd, Walk of Fame. Just get out the door and your there. It is great just to go and have a drink or two and then go back and continue working. Although Jimmy is doing most of the work actually. He is really going for it, digging deep in to the songs. And last night, when Teemu sang the first lines in here, that was a spine chilling moment for all of us there!! What a fuckin voice! After all these years hearing him sing, now listening to it in whole new environment, it just came back to me. And reactions of Jimmy and Tom when they heard him sing! A great moment. And to get recognition from a local professionals about the lyrics, that was rewarding too. I always felt it hasn`t been our strongest point, but now on these new songs, I have really been concentrating on that one with care.
Now in the hotel trying to get some sleep after delicious breakfast. The sleeping is something that we haven`t been concentrating on at all. You don`t want to sleep here. You can`t sleep here. You just want to work and hang around in town. Can`t wait to get back to work. And by the way…I found a really really good looking jacket from this store here. It was pure rock`n roll. I just have to go and get it.
And hey! Few thoughts about the trip here. The U.S customs! Jeesus! That`s ridiculous. It is not easy nowadays. But luckily it went allright after being quite nervous about it actually. We haven`t been in L.A before, or in the west coast, so the flight here really reminded us how big this country really is. And watching the scenery from the plane in the way here, well, it was nice. A whole different world comparing to Europe.
Well, signing off right now. Have to get at least some sleep. And now the fighting outside has stopped, so it is nice and calm. Yes, there was a real fighting going on outside and bloody hell, there was these guys trying to ran over somebody with their car! Welcome to the jungle! We will get back to you all. Cheers!
