thanks for helping me stageit!

So…
How much fun WAS THAT??
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Just when I thought our 30 minutes were almost up
A little ‘ENCORE’ button popped up on my screen
More?
Yes please
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You guys helped make it such a fun gig for me
A big thank you to ALL of you who were watching all over the globe

The setlist was completely made up of your requests
And no, I didn’t get through them all…I could do whole ‘nother show with just the songs I didn’t get to
I’ve never done anything like that before
And I gotta say
Me LIKEY!
Will we do another one?
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Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?
I think we all know that answer to that.

 

say hello to my little friend

My red guitar has been with me for years
We’ve been everywhere together
Only separated when the airlines did what airlines do, and ‘misplaced’ her. I’ve actually lost count how many times that happened
But no complaints here….because I ran out of swear words for those fucktards got her back
Every. Time.
She’s been my gigging buddy from Japan to New Zealand, England to the USA, South Africa to East Timor, Ireland to every corner of Australia. And we did most of those destinations more than a few times together

She still sounds great
She has a few dings in her, or ‘love bites’ as Dad calls them

But her boobs are as perky as ever
And she will always be known as my ‘boobie git-fiddle’

She’ll still come to some gigs with me
As a spare
Because I’m shit at changing strings and sometimes it’s easier to carry two guitars
Also, I’m lazy
Or maybe I’ll just bring her along just to embarrass my nephews, should they ever decide to come to another show
 

So while I’ll miss my red boobie git-fiddle

I’m pretty stoked
‘Cause when I get to Australia (Sydney tour, April…giddyup!)
There’s a new little beauty waiting for me
A brand new, custom made Maton Guitar
Handmade by the über talented head luthier and all-round top dude, Andy Allen
Andy has made all my previous guitars, and each one sounds and looks better than the one before
So I’m ridiculously excited to get my hands on this

And somewhat shitting myself to see what he’s painted on the back of this one.

bugger me basingstoke!

And when I say ‘bugger me’, I mean like, ‘fuck me dead’
I guess what I’m really trying to say is holy fucking shit you guys made that the most amazing show. Good GOD it was awesome.
For those of you that don’t know, this tour, is Dad’s final one of the UK & Ireland.
And to answer the bazillion dollar question; NO, he is not retiring. But he IS scaling back on big tours. While he *may* come back over here and do  a couple of shows (he may not either…sorry) he won’t ever tour the country again. It’s a pretty intense schedule we keep, and aside from being committed to other projects for the next 3 years (which will make him 68) he just wants to slow down. As he should
He’s been touring on average, 120 shows a year, since his first album came out back in 1984.
But he’s been traveling around the world as a musician since he was 16. So yeah, I reckon he’s earn some ‘take it easy time’. It’s important to him, and Mum, to enjoy the life they have, while they’re still young enough to get out there and enjoy it.
But retiring? That’ll never be him.
Whether he plays live or nor, he will ALWAYS write and record new songs.
So you’ll always have that!

After touring England for almost 30 years, last night was the last England show of the tour (before we headed of to the Ireland shows)|

Now, I have been touring with Dad, on and off for many, many years. And this tour….jesus….THIS tour has been like no other
The way the fans have come out in DROVES to salute Dad, tell him they love him, what he means to them, how much his music has been a part of their life – well, I’ve got to tell you, that, has been fucking incredible
I guess I take it all for granted. He’s my Dad.
But this tour has shown me something amazing. You guys have had us in tears on more than a few occasions, with your kindness and appreciation
It just doesn’t get any better than this.

And don’t think we don’t know it
In a career that has seen Dad work with SO many different people. Hundreds. Some fantastic, and some absolute cunts not so much, along the way.

Touring can be hard slog on a good day. I’m not saying it’s not the best job on the planet, because I know, for me it is.

But a long tour like this can take it out of you. But it’s the people that make it worth it.  The people that buy tickets every night, and the people backstage, that make it all happen.

It has been better than super special to have a team on this tour, that just couldn’t be ANY better.  When you get the right people around you, this whole touring business is a fucking dream.

But you guys…YOU…just added about as much awesome-sauce as we can handle

And Basingstoke, what a way to say goodbye
I truly can’t thank you enough

Last night, and the 37 shows before it, have created so many brillliant memories for all of us on this tour.

If I could give you all a big kiss, I totally would.
And yes, there’d probably be tongue involved.

See you all again next year!!