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Eric Althaus is the Founding member and drummer of the progressive rock/metal band Equinox. In early 1996, Equinox's major label debut "Color of the Time" entered foreign hard rock album charts at #19 in Japan, #31 in Germany, and similar Top 40 positions across Europe, South America, and Asia. Today, Equinox songs still receive airplay in nearly 50 countries.

To read more about Eric and his many endeavors including music, magic, horror, Martial Arts, ancient weaponry, etc. visit the about page.

7/14/2006

Just a few things for this update...

I had previously mentioned my collaboration with the band January Voodoo. That has come to an end as of this week. The band has made peace with their original drummer, and they will be releasing their album using the original drum tracks that were laid down earlier this year. This is not a negative thing at all, as I'm first and foremost a fan of the band. Their material is worth your time to listen to, and I'm very confident that they'll have a lot of success with this new release when it comes out. So many of you have sent me emails asking about JV, and now I assume I'll be receiving several more emails looking for the 'inside story'. Let me just say that the band and I are on great terms, and I'll help them in any way I can. It's tough to mess with the chemistry that the group already has with their original drummer, and now that they've patched things up - it only makes sense for me to move on. I recommend all of you visit their website and MySpace site frequently for release information and to hear their songs - which absolutely ROCK!!! ;-) I'll miss playing those tunes, and the opportunity to record them, but I'm cheering my new friends on from the 'sideline' and really looking forward to hearing the finished CD!

Speaking of MySpace sites, mine has now received over 1300 hits since I mentioned it for the first time publicly right here last month. To those of you that have stopped by and posted comments or sent emails - Thanks! Most of my comments have come from fellow musicians, and their sentiments regarding my playing and Equinox in general have been inspiring. I'll be posting some different musical material on that site at some point, so be watching for those songs, as well as any news that happens to come up. Not that you won't find all that here on this site, but it tends to be published on www.myspace.com/ericalthaus first - just because it's easier to access to make the updates. 

Last time I mentioned that I had joined the Nation's Top-Rated Heart Tribute Band - Bad Animals. My first performance with the group will be August 25. The musicians in the band are top-notch all the way, and I'm more than excited to join the band! The rest of the year will have us performing in large, upscale theaters as both headliners and the opening act for several national artists. The future looks pretty bright for the group, for sure! It'll be a nice change in venues from the smaller clubs I normally perform in with Luna Sea (which I'll be continuing to do ;-). The best of both worlds! Check out The Bad Animal's website.

On the equipment front, I recently received a new snare drum that I invoiced directly from Yamaha. A new Maple Custom Absolute model in Cherry Wood finish. Its a beautiful instrument, and after a month's worth of performances, its just about broken in at this point. I deviated from the typical piccolo size snare drums that have become a huge part of my sound recently, in favor of a 5.5 inch deep snare. The result is a 'beefier' sound combined with the tight, high-end 'crack' that I love. I had hoped to use it to record the drum tracks for the January Voodoo material, but I'll have to wait for the next recording adventure that comes along. ;-) 

As always, thanks for taking the time to visit my website. I appreciate your time, interest, and support!

6/6/6

666 - Being such a HUGE HORROR FAN, I just HAD to make sure that I documented something I did on this day...even if it is something as lame as a website update. But as luck would have it, I actually have a LOT of things to bring up for this update, so I get to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak).

First off, I must say thank you to all of you fine folks that have taken the time to visit my website over the past few years. I see that the visitor count is now over 50,000!!! And yes, it really did start at 1, back in November 2002. Of course I check it every week or so to look at the comments in my guestbook, and lots of you visit pretty frequently, so it's not like I've had 50,000 actual visitors to my website, but it HAS been visited over 50,000 times now, and I'm extremely humbled by that. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Last time, I mentioned that I had joined a new band, January Voodoo, and I can't wait for the opportunity to have you all hear some of the new tunes that will be released on the upcoming CD. Similarly to my own situation with Vox Tempus a few years ago - when I decided to leave that group, the band hired drummer Gregg Bissonette (drummer for David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, Joe Satriani, ELO, and many others) to finish up the drum tracks - I'm going to be re-tracking January Voodoo's drums next month. Their previous drummer had recorded most of the drum tracks, but the group and I feel it best to have me re-record them. The material is VERY well written, arranged, and performed and we all have high expectations for it. I think it will be well received by not only my own, JV's, and Equinox's fans - but by melodic hard rock fans everywhere! Keep checking out January Voodoo's website and MySpace site for updates.

Speaking of MySpace websites, yes, I've finally succumbed to putting my own out there - www.myspace.com/ericalthaus. I actually had signed up for one last year, but never got around to tinkering with it until a couple of weeks ago. And this is the first time I'm mentioning it publicly, so please come visit me there when you get the chance. I posted a song that features the first time that Lonnie Melland (Equinox, duh!!! ;-) and I ever recorded together. It's a track from 1988 with our funk band, Renaissance, that was recorded for and released by [then] A&M subsidiary New Generation Records. I was happy with the way the track came out, as it features some fun drum fill action in the middle of the tune! Check it out! And speaking of Lonnie, I met up with him at a show a couple weeks ago, and he says "hello" to all you Equinox fans out there!

Last month I had a blast watching VH1 Classic for their Metal Month. They always play old 80's metal videos, but it was cool to see the new shows and performances they aired as well. I'm stoked to see and hear more from the "Supergroup" they put together. I've been a big fan of all those guys (except Evan - didn't know who the hell he was) for a long time. I also liked checking out the concert they aired of Heart and Friends. Ok, so Heart isn't exactly a metal band. But they DID have some pretty solid rockers once upon a time, and Ann's voice is one of the best ever. EVER. And as a funny little update, I'm actually going to be performing some shows this summer with a Heart Tribute Band called Bad Animals. I'll share more about them in my next update.

I also mentioned last time, that my studio had become a storage space while the lower level of our house was getting finished. Well, I'm happy to report that the work is basically done! YAY!!! The last piece of the 'puzzle' is to have my studio doors installed, and that is scheduled to be done within the next couple of days. Then I'll be getting rid of the storage items, and setting up the drum sets and other PA equipment. I CAN'T WAIT!!! ;-)

That'll about wrap things up for now. As always, thank you for taking time out of your day to check in on me. I sincerely appreciate it.

-E

5/10/2006

Plenty of news going on here in my little corner of the world. I've previously been mentioning that I've been working with some musicians on various projects while Luna Sea 'takes it easy' over the late-spring and summer months...and yes, between 4 and 6 shows each month IS taking it easy for us this year!!! ;-) Everyone knows how much I've missed the opportunity to work on original material over the past few years. One of the new 'projects' that I'm working on includes former Warlock and Hericane Alice members. Talks have been in the works for a while now, and new material should be forthcoming soon. One more artist that I'm planning on working with is singer/songwriter MJ Kroll. MJ is an extremely talented songwriter, and I'm looking forward to recording some tracks for her upcoming CD "Resonate" over the summer months.

The BIG NEWS for this update however, is that I've actually joined a new band. Yes, you read that correctly. Unlike having my only involvement with a group happen through the phone and emails - I'm actually a member of the band January Voodoo - and will be able to be in the same room with every member for writing sessions and rehearsals. No flights out of Minneapolis to Los Angeles or anywhere else required!!! Hell, no trips TO the airport are even necessary to get together with the guys. WHAT A CONCEPT!!! January Voodoo is a kick-ass original local band from right here in Minneapolis, and their material encompasses elements that remind ME of Hoobastank, Godsmack, Tool, Creed, and several others in the hard rock/metal genres while managing to maintain a unique identity. In addition to the aforementioned references, they also have an incredible sense of melody, and the musicianship is rather accomplished, as well. Check out their website and MySpace sites, and listen to the sound clips from their EP "Eyes Open Wide". Neither site has been updated to reflect my membership yet, but such incidentals will be completed as time allows (it's nice to NOT be the 'web guy' for a band for once ;-). I'll be recording tracks with them in the near future, and I'm sure that we'll offer little snippets in the coming weeks. I'm going to be putting some serious effort and attention into January Voodoo, and invite you all to enjoy the ride along with me! ;-) Initial reviews from friends and industry acquaintances alike have been very positive, and I expect some good things for this band. As always, feel free to email me with any of your comments regarding anything here on the site. I look forward to hearing from you!

This update wouldn't be complete without mentioning all the work my wife and I have been doing around the house lately. My studio has become a temporary storage facility while we have the lower level of our house finished off. We've been painting, cleaning, etc. and have the carpeting scheduled to be installed in the next couple of weeks. Then we just have the trimmer to worry about (plumber too, but he's only got about 30 minutes of work left...YAY!!!). With any luck, by this time next month, the house will be done, and I'll have full use of my studio again!

Thanks for visiting, and I'll have more updates soon...

-Eric

4/25/2006

Seems like I'm always mentioning how busy the previous month has been. This past month is certainly no exception. Aside from the performance schedule, we had a busy (but fun) Easter this year. Every year, our neighborhood conducts a huge Easter egg hunt for all the residents and their extended families and friends. Hundreds upon hundreds of people turn out for this event, and let the kids go wild looking for the "Golden Eggs". My daughter won the event a few years ago, when she found the golden egg for her age group. That all took place on Saturday morning, and then I had to perform that evening. Of course, I didn't get home from my gig until 4am Easter Sunday, so I went to bed for a few hours before my family all went over to my parents' house. In addition to my family, my in-laws and my 'second' folks were there. My youngest daughter got a new soccer ball, so my brother, dad, daughter, and I all went out and kicked the thing around the yard for quite a while. All in all, we had a great day.

This past Saturday, my wife and I were walking through a local Guitar Center...just looking at stuff. The guy there handed me a pair of sticks, and I walked by all the different drums and cymbals on display and managed to get at least a single hit on each item. Then I came to THE ride cymbal to put all others to shame! Because I had just struck the thing a few seconds before, it took me a moment for the tone to sink in to my brain. When it did, I literally stopped in my tracks and immediately went back and proceeded to play around on it. It has the perfect stick 'ping' definition for ride patterns, and the bell tone is so full and amazing. Very little wash undertones will make this a great cymbal for recording.

I didn't buy it on the spot, though. Rather, we went a few miles down the road to Ellis Drum Shop, and I went walking through the place hitting things - just as I had at G.C. I did manage to find two awesome snare drums that I'd be very happy to add to my arsenal, but that's all for another time. I walked through the cymbal room, and tried the same brand/type cymbal that I liked at G.C., but none had the sound I was looking for. This just reinforced my thoughts as to just HOW special THE cymbal actually is. I mulled it over for the rest of the weekend, and when I was out getting lunch today, I just went and bought the darn thing! It's a BEAUTIFUL Paiste 20" Signature Reflector series Dry Heavy Ride. 20" is actually fairly small for the ride cymbals that I like to use (I typically go for the 22"...except for my vintage 16" Zildjian jazz ride ;-), but like I mentioned, THIS one just sings incredibly and still has the fullness of the larger diameter cymbals. Click on the link to hear samples of this cymbal series on Paiste's website. Now, I must admit that mine is far superior to any of the given samples, but just listening through them will show you the quality of these cymbals.

Watch for it to show up in some upcoming performance pictures!

3/20/2006

It's been another busy month. Before I explain too many details, let me first say HAPPY EQUINOX, EVERYONE!!! Yes, today is the vernal equinox, which is always a special time of year for me, since it represents everything that my fellow Equinox colleagues and I felt that our music represented: light melodies and dark melodies...basically an equal amount of both, which is how we ended up defining ourselves. We loved writing a beautiful ballad as much as an intricate progressive passage that left everyone wondering what time signature it was. We enjoyed the freedoms we allowed ourselves to explore musically, and our body of work speaks for itself, and Lonnie, Jamison, and I are extremely proud of it!

This month, Luna Sea introduced a new member to the public - keyboardist Jon Wheeler. Jon comes to the band from another group that has been around the local Minneapolis scene for quite some time, and plays all the "A-list clubs". Jon comes from a classical background, and has a real passion for 80's style keyboard playing. In less than one week, we were able to add nearly twenty new songs to our repertoire, and we literally had 200+ people dancing on the floor in front of the stage all night long. Not that that's such an obscure happening - we certainly see masses of people dancing frequently - but witnessing it happen for the duration of the entire night was all we needed to justify our decision to keep working with Jon in the lineup. The Luna Sea website hasn't been updated to reflect Jon's inclusion yet, but the site is undergoing a complete overhaul that will be completed over the next couple of weeks.

Regarding my own site, right here - I'm still updating certain areas of it, and have been working on creating some of the new sections I mentioned in my previous update (FAQ, videos, and other suggestions you've had). I expect to have the entire site finished within the next few weeks. I still have some other tasks to handle before spending too much more time on this project...but I assure you that it will be finished soon - new sections and all!

I'd like to say "Thank You" to everyone that sent me emails with birthday wishes this month. I appreciate your thoughts and sentiments. My wife and I got to spend a few days away at a nice hotel suite at one of the casinos here in Minnesota. We really like it there, and they always treat us great, so we'll definitely keep going back! ;-) One of my b-day gifts was the God of War video game for PS2 - which I conquered inside of a week (bragging rights amongst friends), and now I'm getting my but kicked throughout 'God' mode. We picked up some new Xbox games too, and my wife and kids have been tearing through those. I've also had my eye on a new watch (some of you know how much I LOVE watches), but I haven't picked it up yet. Maybe soon...maybe not. Still debating...just thought I'd share. ;-)

This month marks the 10th Anniversary of Equinox entering foreign hard rock charts at #19!!! Go ahead and click the pictures to the left to see for yourself! It's hard to believe that it's been ten years since "Color Of The Time" was released by JVC. For a short moment in time we felt like we were on top of the world. We appeared in numerous magazines, had some hit singles on the radio, and had an extensive list of requests for our time. Aaaahhhhh.......the good old days. ;-) I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss it a little bit, but then again, life these days is pretty awesome as well.

I've been meeting with some people about working on a new musical project. Over the past couple of years, I've had a hard time finding like-minded musicians to work with...that aren't just interested in how I can help them 'get a deal' or sell their CD's. The idea of working on new original material is a welcomed opportunity, and the players on board with this thing will be great to work with. I've been so busy with the variety band shows and other projects, that I'm happy to have rediscovered the creative bug. ;-) I'll post updates as they become worthwhile to share. In the mean time, if you live locally around the Minneapolis area, or will be here in town at some point, I hope to see you at one of my performances!

As always, thanks for visiting my website!

-Eric Althaus

12/19/2005

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, etc. !!!

I can't believe that another year has come and almost passed. Time certainly flies when you're keeping busy...and having fun, for that matter. Hopefully you are in the same boat - keeping happily busy! ;-)

I don't usually focus my update specifically toward drummers, since most of you visiting aren't. But I do tend to get several emails each week regarding certain aspects of my playing, or experience(s). I've just been becoming such a big fan of playing drums again (funny after nearly thirty years of playing them, don't you think?), and Christmas reflects the time of year when I received my first drum set all those years ago, that I just can't help but start thinking of drumming. Because of that, I've decided to offer the following generic response to several of the drummers that have asked my opinion about certain things recently...

I was privileged to receive the new Neil Peart DVD from the folks at Rounder, before it was actually available to the public. It's no secret that Neil has long been one of my favorite drummers. As a kid I simply wanted to BE the guy. As my playing matured a bit, I just wanted to PLAY like the guy. After a little more experience with drumming, I realized that its always best to BE YOURSELF. I remember the day I actually recognized the fact that I had developed my very own identity on the drums. It wasn't told to me by anyone else or anything. I just had a break-through one day and realized that I had taken so many ideas from so many different drummers out there, and had applied and developed them further to my own liking and style, that TRYING to sound like any ONE in particular would be too limiting (not to mention down right impossible) to what I always wanted to accomplish as a drummer. I began to appreciate the fact that I had the necessary skills to play just about anything I've ever heard my influences play...only I could play them MY way. I've known and worked with several musicians over the years that get too tied up in sounding or playing just like their idols, that they don't posses any unique qualities of their own that music fans would want to see and/or hear. Sure, this guitarist can sound and play like John Petrucci, Steve Vai, or whoever, but the world already has those artists, so why does it need someone else pretending to be them as well? (I think that's also one [of many] reason that I've been losing interest in the Prog genre as of the last few years.)

Now, that's not to say that I can play with Stewart's feel, Neil's brashness, Lombardo's foot speed (2) and finesse, Nikko's foot speed (1) and finesse, Buddy's intensity, Terry's independence, ...the list can go on for miles. BUT, what that does say is that I can play MY style because of developing the ideas and techniques I learned from watching and listening to these (and many other) players, applying them as useable tools whenever appropriate, and combining that with continued studies of music teachings.

Now, almost seventeen full years since making that 'discovery', I find myself returning to square one, in a sense. I watched Neil's new DVD and thought to myself "Wow. I should pick up DVD's of as many of my drumming influences that I can, if for no other reason than pure inspiration!" Another plateau along my own drumming journey, I guess. Now I'm actually getting back into drummers from a more appreciative and inspirational standpoint, as opposed to 'I want to play just like so-and-so', or 'I want to be as good or better than so-and-so'. I might not be the most famous or talented drummer in the world, but I can hold my own in just about any situation (and I'm prepared to do so), and I've had some commercial success in several parts of the world, as well as thousands of accolades and "atta-boys" along the way. I got there by being ME...with the help of some influential drumming friends along the way. ;-)

To you drummers out there - be yourself! The world has had the other guys to do what they do. Take the torch down a different path...yours.

Anyone still reading? Have a safe and festive Christmas and New Years, everyone. See you in 2006!

11/24/2005

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American visitors out there! For all you folks outside of the USA, I'd like to say Happy Holidays!

Where to begin...

Well, Halloween was a blast this year. Luna Sea played for a huge party (pictures can be seen on the Luna Sea website), and we all had such a blast! (My costume can actually be seen in the previous entry, posted on 10/20/2005 - just down the page from here.) My parents and in-laws were in attendance, as well as many friends. The other members of the band had their friends and families there, too - which helped make this particular performance a little more memorable for us. ;-)

I'm actually writing this on Thanksgiving morning, since this is the only window of 'free time' that I can see for myself for the next several weeks. It's funny how time always seems to be just beyond my grasp these days. I love what I do, so keeping busy isn't a burden - it just means that I have to literally 'schedule' every event and occasion that comes up. Luna Sea only has about eleven shows to play between now and the end of the year (including two tomorrow and Saturday, where we'll be performing at a luxurious resort a few hours north of the Twin Cities here). We've purposely planned our way through the Holiday season so as to be able to accommodate everyone's personal lives, as well as satisfy the increasing demand for for us to perform. Since we have well over 100 shows on the year so far, we figured this would be the only way to remain sane. We're attempting to keep the same planning method throughout next year, too - so 2006 doesn't seem like just one big blur! It's actually going to be a bit easier for us, since we've been adding some new, bigger venues (and better paying ;-) around the area to our 'roster'. I know many of you musicians out there can relate, and maybe others of you wish you could - but I've developed a whole new respect for any artist that is actually performing at a rate of over 100 shows per year (one-third of the year). At least I get to sleep in my own bed every night (except for the resort gigs ;-) ...I can't imagine how that type of schedule would work for you touring musicians out there. And some of you even do it for 200+ shows! My hat's off to ya!

My light show production is finally just about complete. I received my additional scanner lights and truss system within the past couple of weeks. I have to admit that I went COMPLETELY overboard with purchasing lights and other visual production enhancements (as my wife keeps reminding me). But it really has bolstered the band's shows. Most bands - especially ones around here - don't travel with production like this, and it really sets us apart from the other groups around town. Keep watching for new pictures at Luna Sea's website, as I'm sure you'll have some really good views of all the gear we employ in some of them.

That's about all for now. The recording schedule, and other music industry related events are pretty much over for me for the year (except the live shows). Everything looks to pick up again right after my daughter's birthday in January, though, so I'll update you at that time!

Have a great Holiday season, everyone!

-Eric Althaus

10/20/2005

...Here is my costume from Halloween 2005. It was the only thing I had around that I could actually perform a show in. Not very original, considering it's my actual Tae Kwon Do uniform - but it served it's purpose...YET AGAIN!!! ;-)

Halloween is rapidly approaching, and I couldn't be any more excited! It's the time of year when you don't get questioned for burying things in the yard. ;-) Luna Sea will be playing the weekend leading up to Halloween, but I'll still have plenty of opportunities to celebrate this year. The kids and I have been busy with all the decorations around the house. We have tons of severed limbs, blood, guts, and characters everywhere. It's a beautiful site to behold! Next up: visiting all the local haunted houses, mazes, and trails!!!

I recently picked up some more lights for the band's set-up. This time I got a bunch of scanner lights (robo-lights), and an awesome control board that works with my standard par lights AND intelligent moving lights, lasers, and color changers. It's been fun trying to learn the ins and outs of programming the thing, though it has been quite the learning experience. One awesome feature of the board, is that I can program and record an entire show to be played back at the push of a button. It will even reconfigure it's own program to accommodate multiple stages - basically it will recalculate and realign the commands, angles, movements, etc. based on the specific dimensions of any given stage. This will give us a consistent light show that works in every venue we play!

I talked with Lonnie Melland last week, so I can report that he's doing well these days. His own cover band is one of the most popular around, and works as much if not more than Luna Sea - only he's been doing it for several years now. I've seen them a handful of times, and I have to admit that I sure do miss having Lonnie around. My current guitarist, Jeff Johnson, is one of the very best players I've ever heard (and he can play seemingly anything) - but Jamison and Lonnie are my musical 'soul mates', and whenever I see or hear them, I'm just in awe. Anyway, Lonnie is doing well, and I just wanted to pass that on to all of you that ask.

My best friend, Shawn (from my days back in Milwaukee) and his wife had a baby last week. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I can't wait to meet the new bundle of joy, and of course to see my buddy again. ;-)

Rumor has it that Luna Sea will be opening some shows for a famous national act after the first of the new year, but I can't share the details yet. Keep checking back here or at Luna Sea's site for details.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to sign the guestbook and let me know whatever's on your mind. ;-)

8/25/2005

OK, so it's been quite some time since my last update. With Luna Sea playing three nights a week, life just seems to cruise right by, and I have a hard time keeping up with so many tasks (including this website). Sorry about that. I've noticed that this site has been getting visited around 250 times each day. Thanks so much for stopping by! I sincerely appreciate all the support.

My family went on vacation at the beginning of this month. Luna Sea wrapped up a Saturday night show, and as soon as I got home (about 3am), we headed out for Montana to see some relatives, tour mountains, and do and see many things that we haven't done as a family before. Aside from meeting up with relatives (hello to each of you), we visited Yellowstone National Park, went sapphire mining (where we each found hundreds of sapphires and garnets - some are large enough at a couple of karats to be cut into jewelry), went to the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand), drove in and through the mountains, and just had one hell of a time everywhere we ended up! It was great to have the kids along to see all these things that I've been familiar with all my life. I think they each had a lot of fun.

I got several new toys for the band recently. New Par lighting, a 5-laser beam system, awesome stage washes, strobes, and all sorts of additional goodies. And more keep coming all the time! ;-) All these things seem to really impress the people that come out to see us every weekend. Of course, we have a brand new PA system as well...awesome JBL mains, monitors, etc. and some mega-powered Crown amplifiers (three to be exact) to drive it all. I've never realized just how much fun a cover band could be, but I have to admit that I'm having the time of my life with this group - and things just keep snowballing for us. We keep getting bigger and better gigs, and more and more performances keep getting booked all the time. We're nearing the 100 show mark on the year so far, and there's no sign of it all slowing down!

7/7/2005

Finally some new pictures to show you. I know it took forever, but here you can see my new drum set. More pictures can be seen at Luna Sea's website - www.lunaseaband.com. There, you can see more detailed photos, and get a better idea of the color - which is a deep purple fade with a nice lacquer finish so that the wood grain shows through. Of course, you already know that it is another Yamaha kit with a brand new DW (Pacific) rack system.

This past weekend, Luna Sea performed at a large local festival - the Taste Of Minnesota. That was an incredible experience, and I was overjoyed to be playing near a nacho stand! ;-) Again, pictures can be found on Luna Sea's website.

The following day, I performed with the Mindy Gunn Band in Algona Iowa at the 2005 Iowa A.B.A.T.E. Freedom Festival. We went on stage around 9:30 pm and opened for the evening's headliner CROW. The following evening, Great White headlined and the parties were a plenty. We played before an audience around 20,000 strong. Here is a picture that my wife took from the side of the stage while we were playing. Again, more audience photos are available for viewing at Luna Sea's website. I was happy, because I got to play a solo I've been working on for several weeks now - and the crowd seemed to really enjoy it! Our autograph session lasted for what seemed a lifetime, but it was extremely flattering, and quite the ego boost to say the least. I can't count how many drumsticks I threw into the crowd, but I ended up autographing a whole bunch of them at the 'Meet & Greet' after the show. Famed photographer Terry Orr, from Easy Riders Magazine, (and who happens to be pictured in front of my drums in the above photo) was on hand to take pictures, and he made it a point to capture my drumstick in mid-air as I juggled them around. When I got off stage, he showed me some of what he had taken with his digital camera, and it all looked pretty darn cool!

Of course, it was great to hang around with the other artists that were on the bill. It was a party environment all the way, yet everyone was respectful of each other. All the musicians just sat around and 'talked shop' without a hint of a competitive vibe from anyone. That was one major difference I noticed right away from playing with rock & roll musicians versus playing in the prog genre...no competition, or attempts to show anyone up. This was a concept all new to me, but I welcome it whole heartedly! ;-) And if it keeps me in front of crowds like this, then all the better. More festivals are in the works as I write this. I'll keep you posted as I hear the news. Here you can see me with CROW drummer Norm Steffen. Norm is one of the best drummers I've seen recently, and one hell of a nice guy, as well! If you get the chance to check him out - DO SO! I also got to hang out with Dave Wagner - CROW's lead singer who was inducted into the Minnesota Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. Check CROW out at www.crowtheband.com.

6/7/2005

The performance dates continue to pile up! It's always a good feeling to be working regularly, doing something that I truly love to do. Although, I do welcome the occasional weekend off. ;-)

The next four weeks are going to get extremely busy, as far as my performance schedule is concerned. Especially so, for the 4th of July weekend. Thursday, June 30, Luna Sea is performing at the Taste Of Minnesota - a large annual festival around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, featuring live entertainment, hundreds of vendors, and hundreds of thousands of attendees. Then, I'll be joining my Mindy Gunn Band colleagues on July 1st, for a performance at Iowa's ABATE Freedom Festival. We'll be performing before a late-evening crowd of around 40,000 people, as we warm up the headline act, which will take the stage immediately following us. July 3, will have Luna Sea playing at an outdoor festival in Saint Peter, MN. Then on July 4, I'm playing with some friends for a private neighborhood block party. Busy, indeed!

I know I've been promising pictures of my new drum set, but the lighting at the last few venues hasn't been cooperating. With all the upcoming summer shows, I'm bound to be able to get some great pictures before my next update. It's a priority of mine, I assure you! ;-)

5/10/2005

Been keeping extremely busy these days. I received another copy of a magazine review featuring myself and my fellow Equinox colleagues. It was sent to me directly from a fan in Japan, and it continues to remind me just how good it felt to be on top of the world for a brief period of time, back when we released our first *real* album. ;-) I'll post it in the Media section of this site as soon as I can.

Luna Sea continues to perform multiple shows every week. It's been a lot of work getting that band off of the ground, but we're experiencing the rewards now. We get to play in front of bigger audiences at fun venues, and we're playing some of the most fun songs! People keep asking me why I'm playing in a cover band these days, and the answer is that I love performing, and this is the perfect situation, because there's no touring involved - I get to spend time with my family, and sleep in my own bed! We're playing songs I've loved for years, but I've never had an outlet to play cover songs before. As strange as that might sound, it's true...I've never been in a band that wasn't focusing exclusively on originals, so this is actually new and exciting for me. Of course, I still work with select artists on original material, and have upcoming CD releases planned, and I still do recording work. I won't ever limit my musical career to any one particular scenario, so I am keeping all options open. I'm just really enjoying being a member of Luna Sea at this moment! If you're in the area, come on out to a show, and see what all the fuss is about! ;-)

Hopefully, by the next time I update this page, I'll have some pictures of my new drum set available for you to see. It sure is pretty!

READ OLDER NEWS HERE

As always, thanks for visiting my little corner of cyber space, sharing your comments, and showing your support for me in my many endeavors. I appreciate your time!

-Eric Althaus

***This site is maintained by E L A Media, Inc. Copyright 1994 - 2005, but is updated by Eric Althaus whenever possible.

4/16/2005

Well, I have been extremely busy this past month-and-a-half. I think we've performed about ten shows since I last updated this site. Luna Sea has just been taking off in a HUGE way...and we keep adding new shows to the books every day! Unfortunately, this means less time to spend updating this site. I'll continue to do my best, though.

My wife woke me up last weekend, and asked if I wanted to go pick out a new drum set that afternoon. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?! Unfortunately, I didn't find anything 'in stock' that I wanted, so I didn't pick one up...*THEN* ;-) ... I have [since] ordered one exactly the way I wanted it. I should have it in a couple of weeks, and I'll be sure to publish some new pictures of it, too! I won't tell you the color or brand - you'll have to be surprised. And for those of you that might be wondering - NO, I haven't gotten rid of my beloved Yamaha set (or "Jennifer", as she's known around our house). In fact, I still plan to use it (her) very frequently, and I don't really plan to EVER get rid of it (her - I'm just selfish that way ;-). I have to say a special "Thanks!" to John over at Midwest Percussion in Chicago, for helping me out with the specifics involved in ordering my new set.

Now, comes the fun part - I get to ACCESSORIZE!!! You can't buy a new drum set without getting a bunch of additional goodies (cymbals, cases, a new rack system, and toys, toys, TOYS!). Next stop, a visit to Tim at Ellis Drum Shop - I can't wait!

Until next time, Keep Rockin!

3/3/2005

I've been so busy since my last update. Lots of shows with Luna Sea, and just lots of work coming my way in general. Right off the bat, though, I'd like to thank everyone that sent along birthday wishes. I'm not all that excited about being another year older, but I appreciate your sentiments just the same.

I finally had a weekend off from playing last week. The first one since all the way back in December. Got to spend some extra time with the family, and my wife and I actually had the opportunity to go out with some friends - so we got to pretend that we actually have a social life ;-). It was also our anniversary this past month, but we're actually celebrating by taking a vacation right after the Luna Sea show this Saturday night (March 5). Getting out of town for a while, and just relaxing a bit sure sounds good to me right about now.

Anyway, I have so much that I should be mentioning - but I can't organize my thoughts coherently enough at the moment ;-). Sorry about that, but I hope to be able to tell you all about the stuff going on - in person - at one of the upcoming shows! Until the next update...whenever I have time to do that one...keep rockin'!!!

1/27/2005

It's always fun when I show up to a gig and find a die-hard, rabid Equinox Fan! This guy is wearing the original T-shirt and matching hat that were printed up for our 1995 tour. Wow! Ten years ago already. Ho Hum...my how time flies.

Luna Sea has been very busy this January. We've played every weekend, and the crowds keep getting larger and larger. It's been a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. The website that was published on January 11, has already received over 6,000 hits! Many of those are coming directly from the links here on my own site. For those of you that have surfed on in to check out the Luna Sea Website from mine, I sincerely thank you for your support. Overall, the website has been a HUGE success for the band, and it's not even finished yet! ;-) We will have a lot of interactive areas for you to visit, and it should be a lot of fun.

Speaking of Luna Sea, the group played a corporate party last weekend, and we had a blast. We gained a lot of new fans that signed up on our email list, and have had several inquiries about our availability for other engagements. Thanks to everyone associated with Eschelon Corporation - we had a great time performing at your party.

1/18/2005

Exactly one month since I last updated this site. So much has happened. I hope the Holidays were nice for everyone. I had a very special Holiday season, myself.

Unfortunately, Reggie White is no longer with us. The former Packers great passed away on December 26. As a Packers fan, this was very sad news to receive. Reggie was always a positive influence in so many communities he was associated with. He represented true class within the Packers organization.

Been performing a lot of shows lately. Hopefully I'll be able to see you all out at one of the upcoming shows that Luna Sea will be performing. Speaking of Luna Sea, the band has a new website that has finally been published a couple of days ago. It's still a work in progress, but does have all the details regarding Luna Sea and the band's performances. Check out the site at http://www.lunaseaband.com and don't forget to join Luna Sea's email list.

12/18/2004

What a roller coaster ride this past week has been. My youngest daughter was hospitalized for three days, and none of us got any sleep during that time. I'll spare the details, but the best news of all is that she finally was able to come home yesterday afternoon. We're all relieved at this point, and look forward to a great holiday season now. On the positive side of things, my oldest daughter scored a perfect 100% on her big Social Studies test this week! Not that she isn't ALWAYS a great student ;-). We are just so proud of her continued efforts and results now that she's in junior high.

In the midst of all this week's happenings, we finally ended up buying a brand new vehicle. Decided on one that can handle all my drum gear, while keeping them in a climate-controlled environment ;-) ...yes, I'm talking about a van. This thing is nicer than our first apartment! The kids can be watching DVD's and/or playing video games in the back, while my wife and I enjoy our pleasant drive time. The doors are all powered remotely, so you never have to lift a finger to open or close them (well...you DO have to push a button ;-) and the seats all fold directly into the floor, so I can get literally anything to fit in there. I'm very happy with it overall - in case you can't tell.

Speaking of the van, I get to put it to the test tonight when I haul my gear to New Germany for my final performance of 2004 with Luna Sea. Actually, I might be playing with the acoustic trio on December 23 in Mound, but with my daughter being ill, we had to put off some other family obligations...so I still need to figure out what's happening when. I might not get to update this site again before New Years, so I'd like to wish all of you a very safe and happy holiday season!

12/7/2004

Been a very busy several weeks since I last updated the site here. And it is going to be a lot busier as the Holidays approach. I've done more session work, and of course all the shows that Luna Sea has been performing - and there's much more of that stuff coming up. I'll do what I can to keep everything updated here. Of course you can always keep on top of what's going on with the current band projects by getting on the email list.

Last night my daughter and I went to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in St. Paul. My parents were in attendance, as were my good friends Ray and Kathy Probst and Joe Shaughnessy and his son. Special events like this are always better shared with good friends and family. The show absolutely ROCKED!!! The musicianship and material selection was incredible. This was my second TSO show, and they keep getting better and better each time. I HIGHLY recommend everyone go and see them in the future.

Thanks to all my family and friends for coming out to see me and the band over the last month. Playing shows all the time is always fun, but when I see you guys out there, it gives me more energy and makes it a certified PARTY! ;-) We've had guest appearances by so many great entertainers, that you just never know what to expect out of these shows.

I hope you can all make it out to at least one of the upcoming shows through the Holiday Season. We have a lot of surprises in store for you, and it's always just great to see everyone there!

11/9/2004

Haven't had a lot of time for updates here, so I'd like to once again thank everyone that made it out to the show in Lester Prairie. I've updated my calendar to include all the upcoming dates I'm aware that I'll be playing. These shows are going to be with the surprise band - Luna Sea is the name for now - and I hope to see all you local folks out there for these!

The past week I've been working a lot on recording tracks for Torok's upcoming album. It's been a lot of fun working on this one, and I can't wait for everyone to hear it. I think you'll be surprised.

I did pick up a new toy for myself last week...a new DW 9002 double pedal! This thing ROCKS!!! Up until now, every time you've seen me playing a single bass set up, I've only used a single pedal - and I may continue that a lot - but now I have the option of playing double bass on the single bass set too ;-).

See you soon!

10/23/2004

I know I said in my last update that I'd be uploading a recording that has resurfaced featuring Lonnie Melland and myself...but I just bought a new pc, and haven't set up all my software yet - specifically the mp3 conversion software - so it has to wait until my next one.

Last week's 'surprise' show had us playing at the 4 Alarm in Rockford. Thanks to everyone that came out for it, and everyone that represents the 4 Alarm - as you guys were great! We can't wait to come back and rock the place out. I was surprised to see how many people that are on the email list turned up. I didn't think anyone paid attention to the email s they get from me ;-). Once again, lots of family and friends came out to support the performance. We called ourselves Lunacy for that show, and the normal cast of characters were in attendance. Our guest performer for the evening had to cancel because of illness, but insists on making it out for another up-coming show. Next up is Saturday, October 30th in Lester Prairie. Get on the email list to make sure you get all the details.

This past week, I received another endorsement opportunity. I'll get you up to date as soon as I've had more chances to really work with the product(s), and when I actually ink the deal. I can tell you that it's certainly a revolutionary approach to drumming equipment, and I can't wait for the marketing campaign to begin.

The Holiday season is upon us once again, and along with it the jingle session work. I have two sessions set up next week, and six more on the books moving into November. In addition, two of the jingles I recorded last year are going be used again this year. Working the new session work around my schedule will be much easier this year, as most of the shows I'm playing are weekend gigs at local clubs, so there's no concern of touring plans getting in the way. This actually frees up more time for session work, so I'm going to be pushing for as much of that work as I can get this year.

That's all I have to report this week. Hope to see everyone this weekend in Lester Prairie!

10/3/2004

Thanks to everyone that came out to the South Side Music Cafe this past Friday. I got to see some friends that I haven't seen in nearly six months, and others that I see all the time ;-) ... and even my brother, brother-in-law and sister-in-law showed up. You guys all ROCK! [well ok, I had to pay my brother to be there, but he sure makes a good drum tech - lol]

The 'no name band' for the evening called ourselves "The Reign", and featured guest guitarist Phillip from KidzX (and another band you've seen on MTV - but he doesn't want too much information out there about that right now). Quite a long way to come for the poor guy - being from London, but we all had a lot of fun with him up there.

Earlier on Friday, before I left for the show, my newest best acquaintance from Los Angeles, David, scored me a low-pitched set of clear octobans. Those of you that chat with me frequently know that I've been looking to get clear ones for many years. They are rare indeed. I've even began looking into making some for myself, and was involved in conversations that led the Zickos Drum Company to create their own version - called BamZ (which I highly recommend you check out). These guys made the original see-through drum sets back in the day - for everyone from Keith Moon to Bill Ward. The only reason I don't have a nice new set of theirs, is that they don't offer the configuration I'm looking for yet...but they will...and I WILL have them. Anyway, THANKS DAVID!!!

Next up, show-wise, is an appearance on October 15th in Rockford. Get on the email list, as that's the only way you'll hear about all the details ranging from who the evening's players are and what the band name will be, to the name of the club. Remember, the goal is to keep this low-key and fun, so this is the only way to pull that off. Do yourself a favor and get on the list!

The next update should include a new sound clip featuring original Equinox guitarist Lonnie Melland and myself. Keep checking back and watch for it! I have it on my computer now, and just need to find the time to convert to mp3.

CIAO!

10/23/2004

I know I said in my last update that I'd be uploading a recording that has resurfaced featuring Lonnie Melland and myself...but I just bought a new pc, and haven't set up all my software yet - specifically the mp3 conversion software - so it has to wait until my next one.

Last week's 'surprise' show had us playing at the 4 Alarm in Rockford. Thanks to everyone that came out for it, and everyone that represents the 4 Alarm - as you guys were great! We can't wait to come back and rock the place out. I was surprised to see how many people that are on the email list turned up. I didn't think anyone paid attention to the email s they get from me ;-). Once again, lots of family and friends came out to support the performance. We called ourselves Lunacy for that show, and the normal cast of characters were in attendance. Our guest performer for the evening had to cancel because of illness, but insists on making it out for another up-coming show. Next up is Saturday, October 30th in Lester Prairie. Get on the email list to make sure you get all the details.

This past week, I received another endorsement opportunity. I'll get you up to date as soon as I've had more chances to really work with the product(s), and when I actually ink the deal. I can tell you that it's certainly a revolutionary approach to drumming equipment, and I can't wait for the marketing campaign to begin.

The Holiday season is upon us once again, and along with it the jingle session work. I have two sessions set up next week, and six more on the books moving into November. In addition, two of the jingles I recorded last year are going be used again this year. Working the new session work around my schedule will be much easier this year, as most of the shows I'm playing are weekend gigs at local clubs, so there's no concern of touring plans getting in the way. This actually frees up more time for session work, so I'm going to be pushing for as much of that work as I can get this year.

That's all I have to report this week. Hope to see everyone this weekend in Lester Prairie!

10/3/2004

Thanks to everyone that came out to the South Side Music Cafe this past Friday. I got to see some friends that I haven't seen in nearly six months, and others that I see all the time ;-) ... and even my brother, brother-in-law and sister-in-law showed up. You guys all ROCK! [well ok, I had to pay my brother to be there, but he sure makes a good drum tech - lol]

The 'no name band' for the evening called ourselves "The Reign", and featured guest guitarist Phillip from KidzX (and another band you've seen on MTV - but he doesn't want too much information out there about that right now). Quite a long way to come for the poor guy - being from London, but we all had a lot of fun with him up there.

Earlier on Friday, before I left for the show, my newest best acquaintance from Los Angeles, David, scored me a low-pitched set of clear octobans. Those of you that chat with me frequently know that I've been looking to get clear ones for many years. They are rare indeed. I've even began looking into making some for myself, and was involved in conversations that led the Zickos Drum Company to create their own version - called BamZ (which I highly recommend you check out). These guys made the original see-through drum sets back in the day - for everyone from Keith Moon to Bill Ward. The only reason I don't have a nice new set of theirs, is that they don't offer the configuration I'm looking for yet...but they will...and I WILL have them. Anyway, THANKS DAVID!!!

Next up, show-wise, is an appearance on October 15th in Rockford. Get on the email list, as that's the only way you'll hear about all the details ranging from who the evening's players are and what the band name will be, to the name of the club. Remember, the goal is to keep this low-key and fun, so this is the only way to pull that off. Do yourself a favor and get on the list!

The next update should include a new sound clip featuring original Equinox guitarist Lonnie Melland and myself. Keep checking back and watch for it! I have it on my computer now, and just need to find the time to convert to mp3.

CIAO!

9/18/2004

Sorry about the delay in updates. Things have been far too busy recently...

For those of you that made it out to the surprise show at JJ's in North Branch last Friday - it was nice to see you. Keep watching for more tip-off emails ;-). If you aren't already on the email list, click here to be added! Our "No Name Band" will be performing at many surprise locations throughout the rest of this year. Currently, upcoming dates include September 25, October 1, 15, and 30, and November 20...and we're adding more all the time. But you'll have to be on the email list to get the info, so get on it now!

My obligations with the Mindy Gunn Band are pretty much over for this year. We may accept some future dates being offered, but there's nothing on the books at this time. Everyone is looking forward to some time off from the mini-tours that have consumed most of our schedules. Now, I personally am able to focus on the other projects going on - like the surprise band I listed above. I won't tell you who the players are, as we're truly keeping it on a fun (and secret) basis, but I know that we'd love to see you out at the shows! Trust me, just show up and you'll be glad you did.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Oh yeah, it's Packer season again. First up, we creamed the reigning NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. Next up - 'Da Bears'. To say that this game is among the most important for the Pack to win, is a huge understatement. I can't think of two teams that hate each other more (in football, anyway) than the Packers and Bears. Living in Minnesota now, I see how much the Vikings hate the Packers - but trust me...the Vikings are an insignificant blip on the radar screen to the Packers, in comparison to the feud with the Bears. And all the other teams in the league THINK they hate some other team more than the Pack/Bears hate each other - but they have no idea what a TRUE rivalry is - hell they've only been around for a short time in comparison. OK, so I wrote this little section to boast about my beloved Packers, but I also did it so I'd have an excuse to show my Lambeau Field pictures, taken from my trip there this Spring. Check them out!

See you soon...

9/4/2004

I only have a brief moment to update the site here, so...

Last weekend's show at Owatonna's Riverbend Music Festival was a somewhat fun experience - playing-wise, anyway. Even though Mindy Gunn's performance was during the afternoon, we still managed to see several hundreds of people in front of the stage! Even our friend Ron (owner of Racer's in Sexton) made it out. That's like a 4 hour trip for the guy. It was great to see him and his crew show up, but I have to admit I was disappointed that he didn't bring any of that wonderful Mean Gene's Pizza he has at his club! ;-) The one complaint I would personally have toward this event, would be directed to the event's promoter. This guy was an A**HOLE!!! Accommodations for the bands were very poor, and he didn't want to honor his contracts with every band he booked (even though he was charging $40 per ticket to the event). None of the bands that were on the bill are interested in coming back. Mindy had people grabbing for her legs on stage, and there was insufficient security for the event. To make matters worse, the promoter (Ken) was passed out drunk (in the middle of the afternoon ;-) while everyone was trying to 'square up'. I had fun playing the event, and the concert goers were mostly fantastic...but I'll never be involved with any situation dealing with Ken again. A very unprofessional prick indeed!

Anyway, the next show is set for Saturday, September 11th at the Eagle River Raceway in Wisconsin. I'll provide more information as I get the chance. This will likely be the last outdoor event of the year, so I hope to see you there!

Also, I see that the former colleagues that I recruited into Equinox/Equinox Opus (depending on which era they were brought in), are finally having their debut album released this month on a small, new label - Progman Records - that will probably promote and market them well in the U.S. They formed a band called Vox Tempus, and replaced my previously recorded drum tracks using Ringo Starr's drummer Greg Bissonette. I listened to their samples and prefer my own tracks (of course ;-), but since I declined to continue working with them a couple years ago - I'm sure they just wanted to move on. I still like the music we wrote together, and they are very good players that should go far in the prog genre. I encourage any prog-heads out there to check them out, as they're getting great reviews.

8/6/2004

What an interesting couple of months it's been since I last updated this site. I've received literally more than 200 emails asking what's been up. I'm glad that so many of you out there actually read this stuff, and continue to support me. Thank you! I'll try to catch you all up...

I'm in the middle of another redesign for this site. It's quite dated now - at least it seems that way to me. And I have so many different things going on all the time, that I really want to start featuring more important people, events, hobbies, etc. that I'm involved with...my family, Martial Arts, magic, weaponry, and of course more music. I hope to have a new site published in a month or so.

I've been so lucky making my living from nothing but music for quite some time now. Touring, recording, commercial jingles, small labels, major labels, airplay, publishing, managing, promoting, marketing, Top 20 album, Top 40 album, Gold Records, etc. (not to mention sleeping until noon ;-)...and, oh yeah - DRUMMING! I have so many great memories and consider myself a very 'lucky' person (though I did work VERY HARD and SMART to get to where I've been, and surrounded myself with very talented individuals ;-). I realize that I've had things work out in my favor throughout my musical career, that so many others have only dreamt of. It feels weird to announce that last week I accepted an I.T. position with a large corporation that has a local branch in Minneapolis. Yes, I'm officially a computer geek! I will still be continuing my session work, local club dates and mini tours of large-scale festivals each year throughout America and Canada (or wherever else), as well as releasing albums with the artists I work with. I'll just be doing it all at a more pleasant and manageable pace. This career move will allow me to focus more consistently on other pursuits that are increasingly important to me...and I STILL get to sleep in until close to 10am and I have weekends off ;-) I hope to share all sorts of stuff with you here in the near future. Until then...

Come out and see me on Saturday, August 28. I'll be performing with the Mindy Gunn Band at the annual Riverbend Festival in Owatonna. This is the band's fifth appearance at this event, and we are on stage in the afternoon (I think 1pm-5pm) - so get there early, drink lots of beer, and listen to some great classic and blues rock music. Don't be shy - come on up and introduce yourself if you get the chance, too!

6/19/2004

This past week I've been working on a few websites for my clients, and working on my yard's landscaping. All I have to say is that I'm very sick of shoveling and transporting rocks all over the place. Fortunately it's nearing completion, so I'm almost done...YAY!

While I was in my studio drumming the other day, I came up with an exciting new pattern/idea (at least it's exciting to me ;-). Once I develop it a little further, I plan to record it, and I'd like to post it here so you can hear it for yourselves - instead of having me try to explain it. It incorporates a groove-oriented ostinato into another 'free-form' ostinato that I've been working on. The combination sounds pretty cool to me, and I hope to share it soon.

Until next time...keep rocking!

6/10/2004

Wow, I hadn't realized it'd been almost a month since I last updated this site. Sorry about that. I see that I've been getting quite a few visitors lately, and I certainly appreciate everyone's time for dropping by!

Lots of things have happened over this time. My daughters have finished school for the year, so we treated them to a day at Camp Snoopy in the Mall Of America. For those of you that don't know, Camp Snoopy is a huge indoor amusement park. We went on every ride the place has to offer, and even my little one worked herself up to the challenges. It was a fun time. Let's see...oh yeah, we've managed to get out to see Shrek 2 and the new Harry Potter movies. My wife and I have had a couple of evenings out at a fancy live jazz club that's right downtown Minneapolis. I love watching jazz masters do their thing! One of my favorites, Spyro Gyra, will be performing there next month, so I'm all excited for that too!!! 

Mindy Gunn will be performing a few acoustic shows around the Twin Cities this month. Ray (bass) and I won't be involved in those specific shows, but we'll be heading out on tour with the band at the end of the month. I'm told that the show with Bad Company is still being 'worked out', as the promoters are currently working out terms with the group to come and play the new theater that's opened in Duluth. There's a huge racing and classic car event that happens every year, that the promoters want to tie Bad Company into. I'll keep everyone posted as to the developments.

That's all for now - hope to see you all very soon! I'll post the tour dates/cities as soon as I receive the information.

5/12/2004

So...my wife and I were sitting with our neighbors on their deck last week, and the topic of lawn sprinkler systems came up. Seems they had gotten quite a kick out of watching me fight with the damn hoses while trying to water my lawn over the past few years. Jerks. Anyway, he mentions that he's going to just call the guy that put his in, and see what I'd be looking at for a price to have it done. The next thing I know, my wife starts agreeing with the idea, and I'm talking with the guy and scheduling the work to be done! Wow...that was fast. Now, I have to admit that I've been 'planning' to get this done at some point anyway. But to just go from drinking a beer to literally having the guy come out and get the whole thing going, was a pleasant shock for me. One of my biggest thrills in a while has been to just sit on my deck and watch the sprinklers turn on. It's been like Christmas around here ;-). Of course, my biggest thrill this past week has been watching my youngest daughter finally get rid of the training wheels on her bike, and ride around with all her older friends. They grow up so darn fast.

Not much new in the music world for me this past couple of weeks. I've got some more session work coming up, but no immediate shows until Mindy Gunn starts touring in June. So for the next few weeks, I have a lot of extra time on my hands to get more projects done around the house. The next thing on the list (while we have crews coming in and out working on finishing our lower level) is some landscaping. We have lots of ideas for things to try this year, but who knows what we'll actually end up doing. See you all soon!

4/27/2004

Alrighty then...

Thanks to everyone that came out to the shows over the past couple of weeks. We had a great turn out at all the shows, and I got to see several friends that I haven't seen in a while. Unfortunately they had to travel to two different states to see me, but I appreciate their support!!!

The shows in Algona (Racer's in Sexton) were a lot of fun. The band showed up in the afternoon, after driving through dust storms (my first experience with one), and rain. The crew at Racer's were so friendly, the drinks were great, and the pizza was phenomenal!!! I have the distinct honor of being THE only person that Ron has made a pizza for at 3:00 am. And I have to tell you, it was the greatest. It even came complete with a little of Ron's own special art on the box ;-) Nice picture, big guy. I even saved the box top! That puppy's going in the studio.

The cancer benefit up in Grand Forks was a success. I don't know how much money was raised in total, but the experience was tremendous. We met the little twelve year old girl that the benefit was for, and she was so nice. It just rips your heart out to hear about situations like hers. Hell, I'd go back and play a drum solo all night if it would help raise more money for the family. Everyone treated us so well up there too. This was one hell of a biker party, for sure!

Of course when you're on the road, it always seems like it takes forever to get to the next city. So Ray Probst (bass) and myself decided to do a little something about it ;-) Yes, that's a VW diesel Jetta with only 90 HP, flying over the road at 122 mph! There's something to be said for German engineering, I must say. It is quite a zippy car. And even with that, we had an Audi keep ahead of us for almost 50 miles. She was a-flyin'. All-in-all, we turned a 5 hour trip into about a 3 hour trip. Not too bad at all.

4/24/2004

I had a great time in Iowa playing shows last weekend. I'll share some stories and pictures in my next update. I just have been too busy with the logistics involved in two to three day touring stints each week recently. Hey, this full-time musician gig is hard work sometimes (but it beats having a day job ;-). I'd like to send a shout-out to Ron and the entire crew at Racer's in Sexton (outside of Algona) for making us (and me, especially) feel so appreciated for doing what I love to do! You guys ROCK!!!

I just wanted to make sure to send out the information about tonight's show in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The show is actually a cancer benefit. It's directly tied in with the official biker rally up there this weekend, and will be held at the famous tattoo artist Magoo's ranch!!! Mindy Gunn will be taking the stage at approximately 8:00pm, so get there a little early! Just follow the rally signs ;-)

Just a quick note about upcoming shows, we have festivals booked starting up again in June, and going throughout the early Fall season. In July, I'm told we're also opening for Bad Company, so watch for further information about these, and other high profile shows right here!

4/15/2004

WOW!!! We just got back from our family's spring break vacation. Our journey included stops in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and the Wisconsin Dells. Since we were in these cities during the week, there wasn't much competition for the hotel swimming pools, so the kids were very happy. Of course while in my hometown, Milwaukee, we had to see the Ancient Egyptian Treasures exhibit at the museum that is on loan directly from Egypt. I just love that stuff. The kids seemed to get a little bored at the place until we got into the dinosaur area. Then they (the kids) started to come to life a bit ;-). My personal favorite area (since I was a small child) is The Streets Of Old Milwaukee exhibit. It's done up great, and the buildings are so realistic. Of course, my second favorite area has always been the Living Ocean exhibit. The specimens on display there just rock my world.

And I can't go back 'home' without taking the brewery tours ;-). This time, it was the Miller Brewery. I've always had a special place in my heart for the famous Miller Inn Tavern. I mean, what's not to like about getting free samples (mine were huge glasses of Miller High Life, Miller Lite, and Leinenkugels ;-). The kids got this really awesome orange-cream soda. Tasted just like a Dreamsicle!!! 

But I must admit that my personal highlight of the trip was going to the Packer Hall of Fame, and then walking through the famous "Tunnel" out on to historic Lambeau Field. Being on the same turf that the Packers battle on every Sunday during the season was just a great feeling. Of course, wearing the official *real* NFL jersey that I'd just paid nearly $200 for, made it even more special. Of course in retrospect - I can't believe I actually bought the thing ... but what the hell ... when else will I have the opportunity to buy the *real* home jersey of a 3-time league MVP, from the very stadium he plays at? Well, probably many times - but it just felt right to get it this time. The kids had a lot of fun there too. They played in the Kid's Zone area of the Hall of Fame. We have awesome pictures of them, so ask to see them the next time you run into me ;-).

Anyway, the next several days will have me in Iowa playing with the Mindy Gunn Band. You folks down there can hear us on the radio on Saturday afternoon. I've received many emails from people that will be in attendance for both shows Friday and Saturday nights. I look forward to seeing everyone. Just make sure you're at Racer's in Sexton (5 miles east of Algona). We'll be rockin' out all night long, each night.

Hope to see you all soon!

4/2/2004

I keep getting emails from people wanting to know where they can hear my drumming online. The individual band sites have samples posted (in most cases), but just to make things easier for everyone - I've created a new Sounds Page. I'll get more stuff out there in the near future, but for now, enjoy!!! I even put a never before released Equinox demo out there. The quality is terrible at best - but the song is as priceless as it is timeless.

3/29/2004

Lots of things have transpired since I last wrote earlier in the month. One of which, of course, is the fact that I've finally received over 10,000 visitors to this site! Only took me two years or so, but I did it ;-). I realize it's nothing compared to the 70,000 or so hits the Equinox site gets every month, but hey - I'm just the drummer ;-)

I suppose the biggest news is that I'm going to be an uncle again (for the second time). The kid is due on Thanksgiving this year. Thank God I like my in-laws and extended family, because I have this feeling I'm going to be seeing a lot of them, come Holiday season ;-) Of course, the second-biggest news for my family, is that we FINALLY got our new furniture delivered. I love suede! 

My girls have started in their soccer leagues, so I now have their games to look forward to. It was pretty funny for us when we drove up to register them a few weeks ago...we pulled into the parking lot, and I swear it looked like we were on a car dealer's lot that was selling mini-vans. Every other vehicle there was a mini-van. It looked quite funny to us. I guess we'll need to get one now too, to be considered *real* soccer parents ;-) 

Rehearsals for Torok have remained on hold while I get the lower level of my house finished. In the interim, the guys have been recording, and working on some newer material.

Rehearsals for Mindy Gunn's band have been going steady. I'm getting anxious to play my first official shows with the band in a couple of weeks, and I can tell the group is just as anxious to get back out on the road. The first shows I'll play with the group are April 16-17 in Algona Iowa. As I've stated before, I've never been to Iowa, so I don't know what to expect - but at least I'm getting paid well to be there ;-) Things look to be shaping up for the following weekend, which will have us playing in Grand Forks. Many other shows have been confirmed, and will be posted on the Mindy Gunn website - just as soon as it's redesigned and published again. Should be ready in about a week from what I understand, so don't be discouraged if you don't find it yet.

3/3/2004

Well now, where to start? Our friends (and backyard neighbors) had their second child last week. His name is Hunter, and he's got the most hair I've ever seen on a newborn in my life. Sure is a cutie.

The plaques for our Equinox Gold Records have finally come in. I immediately hung it directly behind my drums and had pictures taken with it. It sure does 'brighten' up the studio ;-) . More should follow.

Thank you to the many individuals that have sent birthday wishes my way. I've received a bunch of emails and cards, and I'd just like to thank everybody that thought enough about me to do that.

Jamison, Lonnie, and myself all got together yesterday for an autograph signing that was requested from a very special fan. I'll spare the details, but I will say that it truly is a very humbling experience when you realize that your music has touched someone to the point that our music has seemed to touch our fans. If there's ever anything that we can do to brighten a fan's day - we're always up for it!

2/20/2004

The past month has been a rather fun one. My oldest daughter's birthday was in the middle of January, and the party she had was a blast. And my wife and I celebrated our anniversary this past week at Treasure Island Casino. We stayed in a large 2-room hot tub suite, and gambled the evening away to our hearts' desire. The food was great, as was our luck. We didn't win big, but we only lost $40 when all was said and done. A truly great time.

Rehearsals have resumed with Mindy Gunn's band. As I understand it, we'll be playing April 16 and 17 somewhere in Iowa. I've never been to Iowa, and now I can say that at least I'm getting paid to go there ;-) . No offense intended towards Iowans - I've just never had any need or desire to go there. I'm looking forward to a couple days of pure fun though, so come on out and enjoy some great music.

We are in the process of finishing off the lower level of our house. Two weeks ago, we had some workers there to do all the prep work necessary for the sheetrock crew to come in and get that part done. All the final framing adjustments were done, and they got to have fun taking our windows out in order to fit the shower stall we ordered. The area for the fireplace has been designated, and my bar is now officially framed up ;-) . The sheetrock crew should be in soon, so we won't have to keep looking at unfinished walls anymore. I'm about as excited about this process, as I've been excited about nearly anything that's happened over the past year or so. I can't wait to get the pool table set up, the bar stocked, the much anticipated new furniture and theater equipment set up - not to mention the 'secret passage' to my studio. It's going to be hard to leave home ever again ;-)

1/05/2004

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wow, it's hard to believe that another year has gone by already. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. I had a wonderful holiday season with my family and close friends. Made it out to some movies, an indoor water park, gambling at the casino, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert, and throughout it all - the Packers keep on winning!!! It's been a tremendous month indeed.

I have some session work scheduled for the next few weeks, as well as resuming normal rehearsals with Torok. I will also begin rehearsals with Mindy Gunn's band very soon, as they get ready for some late winter/early spring shows. They are also being booked for some large summer festivals that will also feature many top artists. 

In addition to all that, Lonnie Melland and I should start getting together on a regular basis to develop new material. Jamison Masters is just too busy these days for any serious commitment toward music, but we're fairly confident that we'll still be able to all work together on an un-pressured, limited basis. ;-)

I also have plans to re-ignite my ideas for a new musical project in the coming months. I've had the desire to do it for a long time, and this year I'm determined to get the ball rolling with it. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that it's likely to be considered in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra type of genre - though myself and the people that I'm planning this with can see that it's more than that. If you or someone you know might be interested in a project such as this, please feel free to email me the information. We're looking for musicians and singers. Any age, any instrument, any talent level. This project will be all about the spirit of music, and all are welcomed to be involved in one way or another. Being located in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota certainly helps, but we will also be working with artists from around the world while in the recording process...but that's WAY down the road yet. ;-) 

12/06/03

Had a terrific Thanksgiving with my family. We all went to my in-law's place (my folks went too ;-) and stuffed ourselves silly! Unfortunately the Packers got their asses kicked by the Lions [of all teams], but it was still a very enjoyable day.

On November 24, Jamison's wife gave birth to their second child. I talked with him shortly afterwards, and could really notice the excitement in his voice. Now, the rest of us that have more than a single child, can consider them 'real parents' ;-) . After all, that first one grows up a little, and has little accidents that you know they caused...unlike with two, where they both blame each-other for things. It's just more difficult to keep your eye on two, rather than one. You parents out there know what I'm talking about :). Anyway, congratulations go out to the growing Master's family.

Mindy Gunn didn't play a show after Thanksgiving, as previously thought. We are now scheduling rehearsals around everyone's Holiday commitments, and should be out there after the first of the year.

I recorded another commercial last week. This time for a major toy company, and it sounds like this one might be televised as well as on the radio. Should be cool. I hate not being able to say much about these sessions I do for my clients, but it's stated in the paperwork I sign with the advertising company, that I'm not supposed to mention the names of the companies and products until after the campaign(s) have been made public. Oh well...the experiences have been great so far, and I really enjoy working with these people. The money has been great too :)

I'd like to thank everyone that's been visiting my site lately. It's nearing the 10,000 visitor mark! Also, those of you that have been chatting online with me by using my new drummeric@msn.com MSN Instant Messenger account - it's been great hearing from all of you. It's been especially useful in chatting with all my new over-seas friends!

In case I don't have the opportunity to update this site before the Holidays arrive, I'd like to take this moment to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season. I know that the new year holds a lot of plans and opportunities for me. Hopefully, it does for each of you as well. I hope to include as many of you as possible in each and every one of them! At the very least, I hope to be able to see you all in person very soon ;-)

Take care, and have a happy and safe Holiday season!

10/31/03

Well, what an interesting 6 weeks it's been around here! Where to start? I suppose the beginning...

My family went out to a resort to spend the final weekend of September. We went horseback riding, pontoon boating, and just had a lot of plain old fun.

Next up - the following two weeks I had jury duty! (Hurray!!! ... NOT). Actually, it wasn't too bad, I just had to interrupt a few things in my life that I'd rather not have at the time.

Then we come to the Torok show on Friday the 10th of October. The show was killer, and we had one of the largest crowds there that I've seen in that place in a long while. I believe they have new photos on their website. I haven't seen them yet...BECAUSE...

I'll spare all the details here, but to make a long story short, I had my gall bladder removed last week. I had been having serious pains for a whole week - went to the doctors and everything, but still ended up in the emergency room last Tuesday night, and was admitted to the hospital later Wednesday morning. Had to stay in the hospital for a couple of days because of the severity of my particular case (I'm told that most people are only admitted for a day). So now, I'm just recovering from surgery and looking forward to getting back to my normal life ;-)

I've been asked to play with Mindy Gunn's band once again. If everything comes through in the logistics department, the show should be on the Friday following Thanksgiving. I'm not sure off-hand what that date is. I'll keep everyone posted here on my site.

Also, the coming week or so represents a period of a year since I decided to leave the Equinox Opus (now Vox Tempus) lineup. Lots of memories good and not-so-good about this time last year, but I'm still happy with my decision. I'm sure their cd will be released anytime now, though I haven't talked to any of them so I don't know what their plan(s) might be. When it is released, I'll be among the first in line to pick one up...and I encourage everyone out there to do the same - afterall, the music was a big part of all our lives...and it was something that made us all proud ;-)

And finally, I'd like to thank everyone that continues to visit my website. Over 9,000 visitors in two years so far. Closing in on 10,000!!! I never figured anyone would be interested in some Martial Artist/Drummer/Magician-wannabe (especially me), but I'm very humbled by everyone's support. Thank you all very much!

9/12/03

It's been a while since my last update. Things have been very busy this past month and a half. My wife and I took the kids out to our local Renaissance Festival a few weeks ago. Everyone had a great time, and we ate lot's of great junk food! We also made it out to the State Fair this year. While my wife shopped in the grand stand area, I got to hang out backstage for a while and watch the sound checks for Night Ranger and Boston. I had a previous engagement, or I would have stayed for the show, too.

Torok played to a very lively crowd back on September 4th. We had a lot of fun, and were invited back to play on Friday, October 10th. Be sure to make it out to the 4th Street Station in St. Paul that night. It's a blast! For this past show on the 4th, one of the owners of the club (Rob) had a beautiful stretch limousine drive out and pick up my wife and my mother for the show. My dad also made it out to the show - like normal - right after his fantasy football draft. No limo ride for him though, since he was already down in the cities. (He actually picked up Michael Vick in the 7th round - what a steal...for the 7th round?...come on, you can't beat that ! ;-)

In my last update, I provided a link to a song that Equinox Opus had recorded for a Journey Tribute CD. That link apparently didn't work, so keep trying - I'll get it figured out sometime ;-)

Other than all that, I've done another studio session, finished more websites, and have finally gotten set up with an online messaging service on MSN. Feel free to chat online with me at drummeric@msn.com . Keep in mind that I DO NOT respond or even read email coming to this address, so please don't send any - I won't receive it, and it will be automatically deleted. I'm only using it for online messaging. If you need to email me, send it to itsme@ericalthaus.com .

Recent News - 7/22/03

The new Flash website is finally available! Click here. 

The radio jingle business has been very fun for me. This past week, I found myself at a private studio in Golden Valley working on a commercial for a major brand of chewing gum. I'm not allowed to reveal anything more than that at this time. But I will admit once more, that I really enjoy these sessions, and this type of work in general.

I completed another website this week. This time, my client was a large local construction company - Sierra Corporation. I even managed to score a couple of stylish shirts from them, as well ;-). I've also picked up two more design jobs, and am bidding on a third. As always, if you refer anyone to me and they become an actual customer of mine - I'll give you $50.00! All of my business so far has been from word of mouth. I'd like to keep it that way as l