Lifting Shadows Paperback Now Available To Order

The updated, paperback release of Lifting Shadows, The Authorized Biography Of Dream Theater is now finally available to order.

Head on over to www.liftingshadows.com to pre-order the book and get yourself a discount!

Hey Guys

This is the last blog post on this site. New blog as well as the archive for this blog can now be found over at the newly revamped and flash free http://www.rich-wilson.com

See you over there!!

The Tangent

Seems my review of the latest Tangent DVD has caused a bit of a stir (understatement).

Admittedly, some of my comments were probably a touch harsh and I have since been in contact with Andy Tillison and we've had a frank exchange of opinions. What I would stress is that I am a fan of the Tangent's music and I can't wait to hear their new CD. In my defence of the DVD review, I'd just like to stress a couple of things:

Whether the release was intended for "fans only" (in itself an odd description as I can't imagine any "non-fans" buying it), I was given a DVD to review. In doing that, I have to give my honest opinion about the visual contents as well as the musical. Although many didn't agree with my criticisms, I feel they were in part justified. It is a low budget film, with no fan interaction to enliven things, and it just looks done on the cheap. Could I therefore recommend that people spend money on it? In my opinion, no. It may be aimed at fans and paid for by fans, but last time I looked it was still on sale on their website and as such can't be treated any different from any release. It's simply not what I personally would be looking for in a live DVD. Others may find it awesome. I guess that's what opinions / freedom of expression is all about. This might sound patronising but I honestly think the band deserved better. Musically, they have always been top notch and the soundtrack on this DVD continues that. But as a visual experience, it's just not one for me. On a more general note, it is irksome how there are people out there who believe that just because something is prog, that it has to be great!!

I know Andy was upset by my comments, which I have since apologised for as I am fully aware he's an honest and decent guy who is determined to make a success of the band. I think he understands where I was coming from, even if I did make my point too bluntly. He's also been gracious enough to ask me over to his place in order I can listen to the new CD - an offer which I hope to take up very soon.

Roger's Last Laugh

It all began in Montreal in 1977. Incensed by the boorish behaviour of a "fan", Waters gobbed into his face. That incident generated a thought that it would be far better to build an onstage wall between the "fans" and band - a place where the band could perform away from the cat-calling, beer swilling, shouting morons who at that time had started to infiltrate Pink Floyd's stadium and arena shows. It was also perhaps the catalyst that led the notoriously grouchy Waters to become even more isolated and acidic, and he would regularly dismiss stadium shows for years to come.

"Who let all of this riff-raff into the room? There's one smoking a joint, And another with spots!If I had my way, I'd have all of you shot!"

Zip forward to 2011. Waters is grossing - by my reckoning - somewhere in the region of £750,000 per night as he recreates Pink Floyd's masterpiece The Wall in large arenas around the globe. As Roger will tell you every night, he's a far happier man than he was all those years ago, yet nothing has really changed. The same morons are still inhabiting these gigs, happy to pay seventy five quid to talk loudly with their mates, and get up to go for a piss / beer / fucking hot dog every five minutes, delighting in disrupting the gig for every other poor fucker who is sat on their row. My only chance the see The Wall ruined by the same type of selfish cunts that you always seem to get going to gigs these days.

Roger doesn't mind though. At least he can get his revenge on these bastards by charging that £75 per ticket and getting them to pay another £35 for a t-shirt. Good on him I say. I'd be happy to pay £300 to sit behind the wall with him next time around.

Website Revamp

Spent much of the last few days trying to revamp the rather tired looking http://www.rich-wilson.com/ Just a few bits to finish off but it certainly has a more up to date feel about it. There was some stuff on there I hadn't updated since about 2003 which is piss poor by any standard!

Must. Stop. Researching.

340,000 words and counting all stashed away here in Word docs. Help.

This Is Gonna Be Epic

Right. That's now 280,000 words of research on the mystery band. In a few days I'll be done. Then it's a case of starting the interview process with those willing to speak to me, and finally to start to knit thit beast together and write the bastard. Watch this space . . .