KasimInfo Site Blog
Blog 62 (02/04/04 - 02/19/04)
Thursday 19th February 2004
Wednesday 18th February 2004
Tuesday 17th February 2004
Monday 16th February 2004
 KasimInfo.com translated into Portuguese
Sunday 15th February 2004
Saturday 14th February 2004
Friday 13th February 2004
Thursday 12th February 2004
Wednesday 11th February 2004
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Kasim Sulton Solo Gig @ Dock Street I became a Todd Rundgren/Utopia fan in 1984 when I saw and heard Utopia's song "Crybaby" on MTV (I was seventeen years old at the time.) I became a Kasim Sulton fan as soon as I heard his singing and bass playing on what I still consider my favorite album of all time: Utopia's "Oblivion". I eventually came to own and study everything Todd and Utopia ever released (and didn't release as it were!) Each video, album, and interview played a major role in shaping my life as a musician. I loved everything about this band and it's members, so even after they disbanded in 1986, I continued to follow all of their musical endeavors. Aside from Todd (who in my book is, in fact, Godd), Kasim seemed to maintain the highest public profile, playing live with a slew of artists (Joan Jett, Hall & Oates, Meat Loaf), releasing his Price/Sulton album with old pal and drummer Thommy Price (Billy Idol, Mink DeVille, Joan Jett), and doing countless gigs as a session musician..... As I began to take my music more seriously, I became fascinated and inspired by Kasim's tenacity and perseverance at staying alive in the often times cruel and unkind music business...... Fast foward to the year 2001. Something posesses me to write Kasim a letter (who the hell do I think I am?!) offering him my guitar playing services for a solo acoustic show he had booked in Philly (where I had been living since 1989, playing in my band Isle Of Q). Long story short, I wound up sitting in with Kasim on a few songs at that show which slowly led to my role as his live guitar player. We've done a couple of small "tours" in the last three years (driving around together, getting lost together, and making each other laugh (we do a lot of laughing together.) The ultimate was when I got to play on his latest solo album Quid Pro Quo (Sphere Sound Records)..... At this point I like to think of Kasim and I as friends. He's like a teacher, a buddy, a big brother, and a role model wrapped in one. I treasure these last few years of playing with Kasim and getting to know him. I'm not sure it ever will sink in that this has actually happened to me. Quite literally a dream come true...... In any case, onto this past Saturday night! I arrived at Kasim's house around four thirty and was pleased to meet his Meat Loaf guitar tech Charlie. Charlie is Kasim's right hand man on the road and also happens to be a great guy. I learned a lot just by watching him out of the corner of my eye as he prepped Kasim's guitars and solved problems.....The Dock Street pub is located in lovely and scenic downtown Staten Island, right by the waterfront. Kasim had specially (and personally) prepared about eighty CDs of his various live performances opening for Meat Loaf to give away to his fans that evening. A classy touch. I was happy to meet Dave, Kasim's new website designer, at Soundcheck. He and his beautiful girlfriend were a pleasure (check out Dave's work at KasimSulton.com)..... SHOWTIME! The place was packed to the gills with fans from as far away as England and as close by as Staten Island. Sitting in the front row were Kasim's lovely mother Ernestine, his brother Lance, and what appeared to be everybody that Kasim had ever known from growing up on the Island.....Kasim's brother Alex sat in with us on bass for a few songs and he was teriffic. This was the first time in forty one years that Alex ever performed on stage with his brother. That alone was worth the price of admission!.... Kas kicked off the show solo with three tunes in a row. He then gave me a very nice introduction (he didn't even refer to me as Phyllis! ((Kas likes to embarrass me whenever he can which I love and look foward to)) ) ..... I hopped up onto the stage where I remained for the rest of the night (until the closing number "Across The Universe"). As Kasim was having the show filmed for a future DVD release (by a great guy called Steve Herrig), I had really worked hard at being prepared. The last thing I wanted to do was screw-up on stage and ruin a song! In fact, after the show, some of my friends mentioned that I didn't look around and smile as much as usual. This by no means was because I wasn't enjoying myself, but rather focusing on the job at hand: NOT SCREWING UP! Hahaha I hope I succeeded!...... Many of the kind folks who frequent this website (my buddies) were in attendance. Pebbles & her Sis, Rebecca & Lou (thanks for the tie!!), Gina, The DeCotis Clan, David & Dawn, Jennifer, Shelle, the two Doreens, Kris, Kristy & Sue (neither of whom I got to see or say hello to...damn!), Rita (thanks for the lip balm!!), Farnk (sic), and everybody else who I've had the pleasure of meeting through Kasim's music. I even got to shake hands and chat with Utopia drummer and pal of Kasim's Willie Wilcox! I'd met Willie once before and he seems like the world's nicest guy. It was just a wonderful evening all around..... After a manly hug goodbye back at the Sulton estate, I wished Kas luck for his string of upcoming Meat Loaf dates in AUSTRALIA with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As Meat's musical director, it's Kasim's job to make sure the band and orchestra are on the same page. Quite a responsibility, but just par for the course in the life of jet-setting pop star Kasim Sulton. My friend. |
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Tuesday 10th February 2004 21.00 - There's a new message from Kasim on the front page of KasimSulton.com, plus his Journal has been updated. 11.15 - Also on Doug Kennedy's website Steve Herrig (Pushing Red Buttons) has said that he hopes that Kasim will be playing on his CD that is due to be released in 2005. 11.00 - On Doug Kennedy's website there is an interesting thread about Kasim's gig on Saturday including Doug's guitar solo on Alone. 10.45 - Doug Kennedy has coined a title for the live CD that was given out at Kasim's gig at Dock Street on Saturday: Kasim Sulton - Live In Europe! It is currently one of the CDs in Doug's CD player this week. 10.30 - According to a post on The Rockman Record (a messageboard about Jim Steinman) by someone who may or may not be Kati Mac (anyone can post under any name on that board), Bat Out Of Hell III is currently slated to be released in 2005 and she is supposed to be recording some vocals for the album in Fall 2004. If this does prove to be true then presumably Kasim Sulton will be recording around that time too. 09.00 - The release date of Todd Rundgren's forthcoming album Liars is currently 17th March in Japan and 7th April (a day before the tour starts) in US.
 The cover of Todd Rundgren's Liars album
Monday 9th February 2004
Friday 6th February 2004
Thursday 5th February 2004
Wednesday 4th February 2004
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