| my sn is THUG PUNX BENJI use it |
[07 Aug 2005|11:13pm] |
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Love Is Illness /// Atreyu |
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Basically I have nothing to say other than I've had a great first half of the year. A lot of memories had gone down and I did a lot of thinking, got to see my favorite country and actually play on the Vans Warped Tour for another time in my life. I'll try to make this as long as possible because I actually hate writing here but a lot of things have been going on and I can't remember what I talked about in the last entry so hopefully I don't overlap, or even worse, forget anything amazing that has taken place.
We did our own little thing overseas, doing shows for kids that we love to play for and when we came back, we shot some tv shows for MTV and VH1 and then I went to Chicago to hang out with the Nsync kids. Challenge is definitely a highlight of the summer for me. Although this time I felt a little out of the loop since my brother didn't tag along. Usually I'm the only one that gets invited but Joel shows up anyways, but I guess he had prior arrangements and didn't feel like wasting a day for charity. I say waste because that's pretty much what he probably thought it was. I could only spend one day, and I spent it bowling and chilling with the best people on the planet, but he must've been too jetlagged to even try. It was a long time ago and I've bitched repeatedly for him not showing his lovely face, but you know how that shit goes. In one ear and out the other.
After a shortlived Canada leg of the tour, we had a lot of fun playing in Winnepeg and Montreal, ect ect, but I think the highlight of the month of July (is it possible to have two highlights?) was playing Warped Tour. Kevin is definitely a genious and I am so happy that he keeps this festival running every summer. It gives kids something to look forward to whenever school lets out. I know when I was younger that's pretty much all I wanted to do. I couldn't wait for the DC warped because I knew there would be amazing bands that I love, bands who I'm good friends with today, so music makes life happen, kids. It really does. Music is life and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We played out set in Quebec and it was pretty amazing. A 30 minute set in the dead of summer is always awesome. I was sweating like a fat bitch on a treadmill, but you know, there wasn't a face that I saw that wasn't red-cheeked and their hair wasn't wet. Every single person I looked at was giving their all in that pit, trying desperately to make a circle pit happen, and you know, I think I did see one whenever I watched my boy Tim and his band called The Transplants play. I wanted to take a sneak at the Fall Out Boy set since Joel's been talking to Pete a lot lately and I heard such great things about their live show, but I really didn't get a glimpse. MCR was awesome as always. Never a dull moment with those boys. Mikey, thanx for the starbucks man, I really needed that kick.
Uhhhh, now we're in Japan doing absolutely nothing. No, I'm kidding we did some acoustic stuff and we finally made the decision to cut the cord on DC FLAG and actually work something out and buy some other label. Everything's a mess with that ordeal so I don't wanna touch it right now, but we're fixing to have a break here in a few. Joel's trying to get everything in a straight line with this VMA's shit. Apparently MTV is paying him and Hilary a ton of money to do something crazy to "bring out" their love or whatever. Everything's fake and over the years, I've decided that MTV is probably the fakest piece of bullshit that I've ever laid my eyes on. We worked for them for a long time and we got to see a lot of the behind the scenes shit that a lot of kids don't see. Which sucks because it's a let down. It's pretty ridiculous. I wish all these kids knew how fake half of those "reality" tv shows are. The Real World? A joke. Road Rules. JOKE. Even that dumb ass Laguna Beach is the trashiest shit that I've ever caught myself watching. The girls are cute, sure, that's about all it has running for them. I'm pretty pissed about television, but the Disney Channel just made my life right now with showing the second Harry Potter movie. Maybe I'll get lucky and see Hilary's new video during a commercial. I still have yet to see that and everyone's so hyped about it.
Speaking of Hilary, her new album comes out next Tuesday. I'm pretty excited because Joel, John and I worked really hard to put out this new sound for her on the songs we wrote and produced for her. I think she's definitely stepping up into the light that she wants to be at, and I have to say that this new wave shit that we created is absolutely amazing. I won't lie, I listen to pop music and everything. I'll be the first to admit that I love waking up with my iPod in my ears and Lindsay Lohan singing in my ears. I actually wish it'd be the real lindsay with those lips pressed to my ear, but I'll take the generic version (hey lindsay). Anyways, back to the point. Buy Hilary's new record on the 16th, and definitely give it a try. It's awesome. Hopefully soon the dead exec's will be working for all of you guys. Beyonce, I'm dying to do a track with you, girl.
My brother is trying to get me to go out to some club and I'm not feeling it. Maybe I should, but I'm tired of that whole scene since I've been djing around LA. I could definitely show Tokyo a thing or two.
Peace.
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| Useless babbling |
[25 May 2005|01:12pm] |
Wow I'm a month overdue but I'm back and I have a lot of things that has happened embedded into my mind so hopefully this update goes smoothly and for all my fans that read this, you might be happy, but everyone else that doesn't give a shit about my life might be a little disappointed. I tend to write a lot in my journal and it's funny because I spill my heart and all the events that are going on within my day atleast once a month, and I can't even write "hi" in my blog on the official site. I think I like the fact that I can close this up and monitor who sees this, I know that there are some psycho and creepy people on the internet, myself and Joel included and I know if I kept everything public, they would use it to their advantage. I did run into some hackers and some rude people when my screenname got leaked to the public. It's a good thing that I don't normally use that name, and I just imed that girl with it just for the sake of it might get released and whenever it did, I wasn't surprised. I guess the whole getting to be our friends thing is what our fans want and I'm cool with it, but then in another sense...I don't know you? They should put theirselves in our shoes and let them be the rockstar for a minute, and let me ask them the weirdest shit that they ask me and see if they get uncomfortable. I'm not complaining because the last thing in the world that I need to be doing is complaining, and whenever we signed our names on those dotted lines, I realized that my life is pretty much public, and you know? I was actually hoping for it to be. I wanted to be out in the spotlight, I wanted to be famous and most of all I wanted to rub it in every person's face that was within a 100 mile radius of Waldorf, Maryland. I won't go into how shitty of a life I had when I was younger because to be honest, it really wasn't that bad. Yeah, I got beat up...but I'm alive and look how far I've come? It amazes me sometimes and it hits me in the most awkward situations, and I just get this burst of happiness that spares me for the rest of the day. It's awesome.
The last time I wrote, we didn't even leave for tour, and now that we're a few weeks into it, I have nothing but great things to say about it. The guys from Simple Plan and Reliant K are amazing and it's great to be touring with such awesome guys. We've known Simple Plan for a long time, and I have to say that with them, it's like a party every night. They have so many girl followers and so many groupies that I don't even know what to do with myself. (Just kidding) I think the person that I hang out with the most is David, we chill every night and I'm on and off that bus more than when we were touring with Mest and that's saying a lot. It's cool to tour with friends that you've lost touch with, and secure that bond that you had years ago, you know? It's a good feeling and to be honest, when this tour ends in about a week, it's going to be a sad goodbye. It's always cool to see familiar faces pushing their way to the front and digging bands that we bring along that they had no idea about. Touring is always cool like that, you bring bands that aren't well known and by the time the tour is over, they've gained so many new fans, fans that had came soley Good Charlotte fans, and now they're leaving with a Simple Plan or a Reliant K t-shirt. Touring is a beautiful thing.
Speaking of touring, after we wrap this up next week, we have a few weeks off and then we're heading straight to Japan and some of Asia to do a mini-tour. I might actually head over a little early and do some aid work for the tsunami vicitims. Whenever we did the show and actually announced that we were going on tour with Simple Plan, I stayed a little bit extra and helped with volunteer work and I have to say that that was one of the best moments in my life. I like being able to help people, and I feel that if I would've wasted my time sitting at home and watching tv, I don't think I could've been able to live with myself. There are more unfortuneate people that need some help in the world, and I've donated a lot of money to this charity, and I feel like...if I have it, then I need to give it. If it's just rotting in my bank account, and people are starving in all of these countries that I love from such a natural disaster, I figure why not? I think it's secured my spot in Heaven. No, I'm just kidding.
After Japan, we're going straight to Canada and touring up the life there. We still haven't decided if Simple Plan is going to help us out or not, but it would be pretty awesome if they did because they're actually from Canada. It's always cool to play your home and whenever we played in Balitmore for the FHS a little bit ago, it was truly amazing. Joel and I used to go to that all the tiem when we were younger and it's been a festival in our hearts for a long time and I will play that show until they kick us off the bill and say that we aren't allowed to do it anymore. This year was pretty amazing...with Social D and a lot of other awesome bands. It was time well spent, and I'm so glad we did that gig. It always brightens my day and always puts a little spot in my heart whenever we play close to DC. It makes me feel like I'm 10 again, and going to see that favorite band, you know? It's a good feeling.
We have a few here and there events to attend to over the course of the summer. We're playing ENDFEST in Sacramento at the end of June and I can't wait to play that just because I actually lived in San Jose with my brother and his ex-fiance for the longest time and our friend MAXXX who used to tech guitars for us lives there too, so it'll be awesome to actually see him and the rest of our Norcal friends. Endfest, Edgefest, all of those fest are pretty great, and eventhough I'm not looking forward to sharing the stage with Tyler Hilton, I'll get over it. The Black Eyed Peas are going to be there and I can't wait to say my friendly hello to Miss Fergie. Oh, and in July, thanx to the Nsync guys, Joel and I are going to do our third year in the row with the Challenge for the Children gig that they do annually. This charity event has become pretty dear to us and we love doing it. I'm glad that it isn't in Miami this year, eventhough I love Miami, but it's just so hot, probably too hot to do shit, but it'll be cool to have it in Chicago. I noticed some of the people that were announced to do it, and it sound like it's going to be a cool group of kids. I can't wait for the parties, and the late night booze....no, I'm kidding.
Star Wars came out on Friday and I would've been right there to see it, but we got the honors of playing the Skywalker Ranch a few weeks ago and snagged our DVD copy of the new release. We got to see a pre-screening and I have to say that I'm a huge fan of the Star Wars collection, Joel especially...we both love those movies and to be able to go clear to the Skywalker Ranch, play for them, and then see a movie that no one else will see for another few weeks is just mind blowing. I know that it's not a huge deal to most people, but it was for me. We got our pictures taken with all of the characters, and to be on the set of such an amazing ranch just...it was awesome. A key point in my life, that's for sure and I know that I didn't stop talking about it for a long time.
We're in Philly right now and we have the day off tomorrow since we have to go clear to Atlanta, we're just giving ourselves some time to get across the US. I'm excited to go down South since we've been up North for the longest time, but you know? All of these states seem like home to me just because they're surrounding Maryland. I was just home but I think I'm getting homesick again. My mom is at the show, my sister too, and I think my brother Josh is going to ride the train down so he can hang out. I'm not sure, it'll be cool if he does but...I don't know if I've talked about this before but my sister is in this band that is getting pretty known in the DC area. It's called "Her Daily Obsession" and if you haven't heard anything, just go right over to http://www.herdailyobsession.com and check it out. There is a few downloads and probably some dates up since they're playing clubs and shit, but hey...we support her, so you guys should too. Her band is pretty sweet and I think it's cool that my little sister is following in her big brothers' footsteps. So, support HDO, and with that note, I think I'm out.
Peace
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| what's up hilary? |
[14 Apr 2005|05:18am] |
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Story At Three /// AFI |
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Hey, what's up guys? I realized that the last time I wrote in this thing we were doing the Grand Prix thing in Florida and now that the weeks have passed and some more shit has been dropped onto my plate, I figured that I should give you guys something to chew on.
So, The Grand Prix thing happend and that was pretty awesome. The crowd was doing amazing and they accepted us as much as they could seeing as to how probably more than half of the people there could've kicked our asses. We played a full set right when the sun was about to go down, and it was pretty warm so I was fucking sweating my ass off, but when you're playing shows and everyting you sweat anyways. Uhh...when we got back into California, Joel and I decided to show up at the Butterfly Ball, which is this thing for charity. That was pretty fun and I saw and met a lot of people that I'm friends with, and people who I'd like to be friends with.
Shooting the shit in the studio with my friends and hanging out with a bunch of other people. It's really cool to be caught up in what you're doing and not really have anyone to pay attention to. I think Starbucks down the street have Joel and I's order by heart, the one Chinese girl is really starting to go ahead and make it without me even have to remind her of all our modifications. When you're in LA or a huge city, there are starbucks practically right next to eachother since it's such a high demand and shit, and I think that one is the only one I'd go to. It just seems cleaner and once you go to one for so long, you hate to change...especially since they're doing your shit right, you know?
I just hung out today. I tried to attempt some movie that looked pretty good on Paid Per View, but I got about a half hour into it and I had to pass out. The flick bored me so much that I was litterally dozing off in the opening scene. Okay, maybe not that boring, but still...it sucked pretty hardcore. I don't even remember what it was about other than it had Nicholas Cage in it and it sucks, so any previews with Nicholas Cage that you see on PPV that you want to order, don't do it. I'm warning you guys right now. I'm not Roger Egbert, but I'm telling you that this shit sucks.
I got a few emails on my sidekick today about the publications that are floating around in Europe. Kerrang magazine always does huge inserts about us when we make trips to the UK and they put up an article about us with some pictures and this 50 hottest stars or something. I think I made like 34? I'm not sure. I'm like the 34th hottest star, which is pretty amazing, right? I'd like to thank the little bitches back in LA PLATA HIGH when I went just for the simple fact that they made me want to make myself a little better, care about my appearance, and you know...I'm sure, actually, I know they're kicking themselves right now. All of those girls I had to drop my balls to ask out, I'm sure they're kicking themselves in their huges asses or their huge fake noses right about now. I remember Joel saying something about how this girl wanted to chill with him once when we were back home, and he said he would, saying he'd meet her somewhere and never showed up. That's something I would do...hopefully I run into some snotty bitches when I go back home soon. Anyways, back on the magazines. There was this 'love' article with my brother talking about his sex life and giving sex advice or whatever, but he was in some doctor's get-up, so he thinks he's some hot shit right now. Getting sns like DR JOEL MADDEN and harrassing me while I'm trying to download some porn (hey jenna). I just click out of the shit, but you know, I can't help it. He makes me laugh because he comes up with the stupidest shit to sign onto, and I get these accept messages and it just, it's funny, okay?
Tomorrow, I have no idea what I'm doing. Hopefully I don't get any calls and I can sleep in because I just want to. It's 5am right now and I haven't slept yet. I tried a little earlier but I caught this movie on TBS with Richard Gere and some old hot blonde. I think it was called Unfaithful. If no one has ever saw that movie, you should really just for the sex scenes alone. It's about some happily married woman fucking around on her husband (played by Richard Gere) with some Latin heartthrob. You know, I always wished some hot blonde broad would cheat on her husband with me. I'm no Latin heartthrob, but I'm Irish, and I could maybe...give you little red-headed kids, dress them all in green and grow up to be alcoholics? No, I'm just kidding. It was a hot movie though, the sex scenes were pretty nice, if I could say so myself.
On Friday is when all the big shit starts to happen. We're shooting the video for We Believe in Hollywood in some abandoned area. It seems like most of the videos we're doing now-a-days are in abandoned area but the theme of the video is pretty awesome. It's basically us performing for no one but ourselves, kind of like we're practicing in this large playhouse in the middle of nowhere. There's a big movie screen behind us, and it's showing imagaes and movies of the war in Iraq, the poverty levels in the world, the South Asian tsunami and everything else that's happening. We wanted to keep the video simple and realistic just basically because that's how the song is. It's a heartfelt song and if you guys haven't heard it, please download it...ask me for a copy, whatever, because it's a love song. And pretty much what we're saying in the words is we want everyone to come together, to believe, and love one another. We can't just sit back and live our lives and not realize what's going on around us. We're a world at war, and it amazes me how so many people don't even care about that. We have troops dying day in and day out, and it's a pretty scary thought. To bring the hope and light to everyone watching the video, we shot people around the world holding up signs that say "We Believe" in a couple different languages, people holding hands, just signifying that they're trying to come together, and make peace at such a frightening time. Towards the end of the video, we're shot again in the playhouse, except there's light shinging through, saying that we got through, and we made it one step closer to making this world a better place. Listen to the song, guys...love your neighbor and take care of your country. You make this world what it is today.
After getting all sentimental and heartfelt, I think that I should probably end this. I've been trying to hang out with a couple people since I got back and my phone hasn't been really ringing. I guess it's alright though because I've been pretty busy, but now that I don't have much to do tomorrow, maybe all of you that I've been planning to get with for months should hook up with me an we can go have some dinner. I know I've been trying to chill with Kelly for a long time and everytime we're about ready to head out, she never calls me back. I think she likes teasing me...I just want some free Country Buffet, something all you can eat so I can pig the fuck out. Rachel Bilson, too. Where the fuck are you? Hey xy, britney, brody, and whoever else that's just chilling. I'll call you girls later, I need to head out of here.
Noise To The World Tour starts May 03rd in Tulsa, Oklahoma but eventhough this shit hasn't started yet, we're already having some problems. Chris is still out with his "family problems." I hate to have some bad blood but my ass is on the line here. It was cool at first because Rob has been being a godsend and helping us out the best he can, but a couple weeks before we head out on the road, he breaks his wrist. He can't drum and even if his wrist was healed up, he still can't drum. I feel like we're getting shafted with this Chris shit, just because we lied for so long to fans about his muscles and now it's finally out in the open that he hates our guts or something. Whatever. After begging Derek (he's in the Alkaline Trio and he's drummed and filled in for us before on the last US tour) to please save our asses, he's come through once again, so for any fans that are reading this...still no Chris, homies. But say hi to Derek. He's a nice guy, and he won't bite. He's kind of good looking and I know you kids like that, I heard some talk on the last tour about him, so go say hi. Don't be shy. He's famous too, and he's in an awesome band. If you haven't heard of the Alkaline Trio, then you guys should definitely buy one of their records because they're an amazing band. Matt Skiba is a boy genious, I say that just because his mentality is of a rock. No, I'm just kidding. I kid, you guys. I kid. Matt's amazing. The Alkaline Trio is amazing, and you guys would be amazing if you picked up one of their albums. But for now, you can jump on the road with us...go to a show and just hang out with Derek. And just think, if you've heard his band, you can name drop and tell him what you're favorite Alkaline Trio song is. He'd be pretty impressed, I promise you guys. If you wanna know more about N2TW Tour, go here.
Peace
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