ON THE ROAD WITH MiG
In the upcoming weeks and throughout the tour, this new page on mig-music will be updated with pictures from the tour, mini-diary entries, backstage sneak peek videos, as well as other 'On the road with MiG' mig-music exclusives. Until then check out the ROA US - TOUR promotional video below, and be sure to visit the TOUR page to see when the show is coming to a city near you!
THE REVIEWS ARE IN
CHICAGO...
"MiG Ayesa, who plays the rocker Stacee Jaxx, has a killer voice and delicious sense of humor."
Doug George - Chicago Tribune
"...Stacee Jaxx (a very chiseled MiG Ayesa) arrives to turn Sherrie's head."
Scott C. Morgan - Daily Herald
"...MiG Ayesa plays Stacee Jaxx. He is terrific and just as talented as Maroulis... He has a big voice, washboard abs and great stage presence."
Connie Wilson - Associated Content
"...the wonderfully madcap MiG Ayesa..."
Alissa Norby - Hollywood Chicago
"The supporting cast is rendered in perfect two-dimensial charm, from MiG Ayesa as Stacee Jaxx, the embodiment of Axl Rose..."
Brian Hieggelke - New City Stage
"Sherrie is drawn to a user named Stacee Jaxx (heartthrob MiG Ayesa)..."
Lawrence Bloomer - Steadstyle Chicago
"MiG Ayesa gives plenty of vocal power in his portrayal of Stacie Jaxx..."
Scotty Zacher - Chicago Theatre Blog
"...MiG Ayesa, a talented actor who plays a spoiled and wanna-be rock star Stacee Jaxx. He's funny in the role and tempers silliness with a bit of flair that's amusing."
Phillip Potempa - NWI Times
BOSTON...
"MiG Ayesa as the debauched rock god “Stacee Jaxx” is the ace up the sleeve...Ayesa is money."
Mike Cole - The Mike Stand, WCVB TV
"Stacee (played by MiG Ayesa, who hilariously incarnates the quintessentially egomaniacal rock star)..."
Don Aucoin - The Boston Globe
"...MiG Ayesa (Stacee Jaxx, the rock star who plays the Bourbon Room... ) also give standout performances...Ayesa’s Jaxx swaggers, postures, and seduces with hilarious arrogance and self-absorption."
Alyssa Machado - The Arts Fuse
"MiG Ayesa plays the self-absorbed Stacee Jacks with wonderfully comic rock brio."
Robert Nesti - EDGE
"As Stacee Jaxx, the burnt out rocker who got his start at Bourbon Club and agrees to play his farewell concert there, MiG Ayesa is a pro with an incredible sound."
R.J. Donovan - OnStage Boston
"...remember MiG Ayesa, who came in 3rd on Rock Star INXS? He was absolutely hilarious as the drugged-out rock star who steals Sherrie away from Drew. I didn’t recognize him at first, he’s that good."
MJ - MJ's Big Blog
MINNEAPOLIS...
"It was all a good deal of campy fun, to be sure, but it fell to a supporting character, “Stacy Jaxx,” played flawlessly by MiG Ayesa, to take the show to “Let’s rock!” From fronting the seriously good on-stage band, to hustling the waitresses, to puking off the stage, Ayesa didn’t miss a single nuance available to him."
Janet Preus - How Was The Show
DETROIT...
"...recording artist MiG Ayesa scores as rock star Stacee Jaxx..."
Gary Graff - Oakland Press
"...lead singer of Arsenal, Stacy Jacks (MiG Ayesa). He’s got Jon Bon Jovi’s voice, David Lee Roth’s swagger, Axl Rose’s moves and Bret Michael’s makeup."
Stephanie Casola - The Urban Life
"...narcissistic rock star, Stacee Jaxx (the delightfully outrageous MiG Ayesa)."
Andrea Blum - The News Herald
PITTSBURGH..."MiG Ayesa plays the self-absorbed Stacee Jacks with wonderfully comic rock brio."
Robert Nesti - EDGE
"As Stacee Jaxx, the burnt out rocker who got his start at Bourbon Club and agrees to play his farewell concert there, MiG Ayesa is a pro with an incredible sound."
R.J. Donovan - OnStage Boston
"...remember MiG Ayesa, who came in 3rd on Rock Star INXS? He was absolutely hilarious as the drugged-out rock star who steals Sherrie away from Drew. I didn’t recognize him at first, he’s that good."
MJ - MJ's Big Blog
MINNEAPOLIS...
"It was all a good deal of campy fun, to be sure, but it fell to a supporting character, “Stacy Jaxx,” played flawlessly by MiG Ayesa, to take the show to “Let’s rock!” From fronting the seriously good on-stage band, to hustling the waitresses, to puking off the stage, Ayesa didn’t miss a single nuance available to him."
Janet Preus - How Was The Show
DETROIT...
"...recording artist MiG Ayesa scores as rock star Stacee Jaxx..."
Gary Graff - Oakland Press
"...lead singer of Arsenal, Stacy Jacks (MiG Ayesa). He’s got Jon Bon Jovi’s voice, David Lee Roth’s swagger, Axl Rose’s moves and Bret Michael’s makeup."
Stephanie Casola - The Urban Life
"...narcissistic rock star, Stacee Jaxx (the delightfully outrageous MiG Ayesa)."
Andrea Blum - The News Herald
"MiG Ayesa is delightfully amusing in his broad but just-right portrayal of Stacee Jaxx..."
Alice T. Carter - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
BALTIMORE...
"MiG Ayesa has the Axl Rose physique and clarion vocal cords to flesh out the crude character of Stacee Jaxx."
Tim Smith - The Baltimore Sun
"MiG Ayesa has the Axl Rose physique and clarion vocal cords to flesh out the crude character of Stacee Jaxx."
Tim Smith - The Baltimore Sun
COLUMBUS...
"...MiG Ayesa goes deliciously over the top as a prima donna, sex-crazed rock star."
Michael Grossberg - The Columbus Dispatch
LOUISVILLE...
"Australian recording artist MiG Ayesa also turns in a hysterically over-the-top turn as Stacee Jaxx, creating that elusive animal known as the “lovable villain.” He practically steals every scene he’s in."
Craig Nolan Highley - The Arts Louisville
"Australian recording artist MiG Ayesa also turns in a hysterically over-the-top turn as Stacee Jaxx, creating that elusive animal known as the “lovable villain.” He practically steals every scene he’s in."
Craig Nolan Highley - The Arts Louisville
SEATTLE...
"MiG Ayesa as the sleazy rock star Stacee Jaxx, a perfect composite of Nikki Sixx, David Lee Roth, Dee Snyder and every long haired, kohl eyed lead singer of the era. Mr Ayesa is a fine comedic performer and a power belter and he has an amazing set of abs...which are constantly on display in this show."
Michael Strangeways - Seattle Gay Scene
"MiG Ayesa as the sleazy rock star Stacee Jaxx, a perfect composite of Nikki Sixx, David Lee Roth, Dee Snyder and every long haired, kohl eyed lead singer of the era. Mr Ayesa is a fine comedic performer and a power belter and he has an amazing set of abs...which are constantly on display in this show."
Michael Strangeways - Seattle Gay Scene
"Stacee Jaxx (MiG Ayesa), ...is called upon to save the day – and the bar – by performing Arsenal’s final show on the Bourbon stage. His big, blond hair, skin-tight pants and rock-hard abs are the requisite sexy for the era."
Maia Jannele - Seattle Post Intelligencer
"Ayesa is deliciously nasty as the hard bodied head banger, Stacee Jaxx, with ego and attitude for days."
Jay Irwin - Broadway World Seattle
Maia Jannele - Seattle Post Intelligencer
"Ayesa is deliciously nasty as the hard bodied head banger, Stacee Jaxx, with ego and attitude for days."
Jay Irwin - Broadway World Seattle
LOS ANGELES...
"The addition of the explosive, heroin-fabulous MiG Ayesa is a welcome shot of cheap liquor after a day’s work. And no, that’s no typo. Ayesa first made his big-M, little-i, big-G name famous as a finalist on the short-lived reality show Rockstar: INXS. Don’t write him off as C-list fodder just yet. Although he paints his eyebrows on his face, the man can absolutely carry tight jeans, a circle scarf and glittery tank tops with the swagger of a young Bret Michaels and can screech like Gene Simmons in his heydey. Ayesa takes command of the character’s raw sexuality and eerie eccentricity like no other actor before him."
Clare Sayas - Daily Trojan
"Another standout performer is MiG Ayesa as Stacee Jaxx. His parody of an empty-headed pretty-boy rock star living the classic rock star life made for some great moments of fun theater."
Michele E. Buttelman - The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
"...MiG Ayesa, who stole the show with his comic performance as Stacee Jaxx..."
Jenny Peters - DailyNews Los Angeles
Jenny Peters - DailyNews Los Angeles
"...MiG Ayesa, who played an over-the-top rocker and was able to duplicate the high falsetto that characterizes these songs."
Robert Machray - Blogcritics Culture
Robert Machray - Blogcritics Culture
"...Stacee Jaxx, (played with brilliant theatrical glam by Aussie MiG Ayesa)..."
Zevon Odelberg - Rock World Magazine
COSTA MESA...
"The entire cast excels, with standout work from... and Ayesa, whose Stacee is an egocentric drama queen with a randy nature and Roger Daltrey-esque persona."
Eric Marchese - Orange County Register
"...MiG Ayesa, who plays the lecherous Stacee Jaxx. Even though his character is primarily responsible for “effing” up things between the two romantic leads, you can’t help but love him because his performance is nothing short of comedic gold. It pays to keep an eye on him every second that he’s onstage (or on the video monitor or wandering through the aisles in the darkness) or else you might miss some of the best laughs the show has to offer."
Review - World Of Stage
"...MiG Ayesa an almost impossibly chiseled, sexy Stacee Jaxx."
Steven Stanley - Stage Scene LA
Zevon Odelberg - Rock World Magazine
COSTA MESA...
"The entire cast excels, with standout work from... and Ayesa, whose Stacee is an egocentric drama queen with a randy nature and Roger Daltrey-esque persona."
Eric Marchese - Orange County Register
"...MiG Ayesa, who plays the lecherous Stacee Jaxx. Even though his character is primarily responsible for “effing” up things between the two romantic leads, you can’t help but love him because his performance is nothing short of comedic gold. It pays to keep an eye on him every second that he’s onstage (or on the video monitor or wandering through the aisles in the darkness) or else you might miss some of the best laughs the show has to offer."
Review - World Of Stage
"...MiG Ayesa an almost impossibly chiseled, sexy Stacee Jaxx."
Steven Stanley - Stage Scene LA
ON THE ROAD WITH MiG BACKSTAGE SNEAK PEEKS
19 March 2011 SO NOW WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE ROAD Well, for some of us anyway. Costa Mesa was the last stop of the journey for Rebecca Faulkenberry and myself. It has been such an incredible adventure full of joy, laughter, where life-long friendships were bonded and a time I will never forget. This has to be the greatest group of people I have ever had the honour to work with, definitely tour with. It made the pain from being away from home so much more bearable. They were my brothers and sisters in arms and they will always live in my heart and fond memories. It was a very emotional goodbye. I am so glad we had our last day in Costa Mesa. It's such a beautiful place with such a perfect lifestyle. A short drive to Laguna Beach was all it took to escape from any troubles in the world. What a beautiful part of the world. As I find myself deep into rehearsals for the Broadway show, I relinquish this on the road blog to Patrick Lewallen, who I'm sure will entertain and inform you of all the goings on for the rest of the tour. I have so many pictures that I would like to share with you, and will present them in the very near future. As well as present a new, with even more exclusive content and features ROA page, that will be available on my site soon. Stay tuned to my site mig-music.com for all those details coming soon. For now, I bid you all a farewell, thanks for tuning in, thanks for rocking out and making this one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. Sending you all groovy vibes from New York City, this is MiG, signing off... Xxx
27 February 2011 CITY OF ANGELS (ROCK OF PantAGES!) Where do I begin about our time here in Los Angeles?! It has been an amazing trip from the word go. Every night has been filled with celebrities, stars, actors, rockstars...it's all about HOLLYWOOD! We took ROCK OF AGES home and the homecoming party has been out of this world. Opening night was awesome. We were so buzzed, we probably were a little too enthusiastic in our delivery, I think we literally busted our guts delivering this baby. We had so many guests every night, but I just have to mention what an amazing thing to meet the new Stacee Jaxx in the upcoming ROCK OF AGES feature film, Tom Cruise. He and his beautiful wife Katie Holmes could not have been nicer or more gracious, taking photos with all of us on stage, and being such a great sport as I sprawled over the seats in front of him. I know he will be an amazing Stacee Jaxx. It's like looking in a mirror... in my MIND! The next day, we were all blown away by the graciousness of Matt Damon, his wife Lucy, Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski, who could not have been cooler, meeting us all backstage and allowing us to take photos with them. I apologize if we were all clambering for a photo, but we were all peaking that these people came to see our little show. Don't even let me start about Steven Tyler...Wow. I'm sounding like a crazed fan but I have to admit, I was starstruck by all these amazing talents coming to see us. I'll post some of those pics on my 'MiG & Friends' Gallery, so check them out on my site. Don't mean to name drop but... Hey! I hope you can excuse me for being like this. This is Hollywood after all. On a personal level, it was such an overwhelming return to a city that was my home for two years. It brought back so many memories of ROCKSTAR:INXS, and the excitement of arriving in a new city, a new country and a new life here in the USA. Although New York is my home now, LA will always hold a place in my heart. I am actually exhausted catching up with friends, and I don't think I've even covered a quarter of the people I wanted to see. So many friends, so much traffic, so little time... I am sorry to those I missed out on this time. The good news is that we are in Costa Mesa next week. It's just a short drive from LA. In other news, we lost a dear member of the company in Joey Calveri who is joining the Broadway cast of WONDERLAND. He is missed much, but I will see him in New York when I join the ROA Broadway company (!!). The good news is we welcomed an awesome member of the old Broadway ROA company, Justin Sargent. Can't believe that we'll be performing tomorrow on the same street, and just a stone throw away from the Oscars tomorrow. It's going to be chaos, but the excitement will be amped to 11! Thank you LA LA Land. It's been nothing but a good time, and it don't get better than this!
14 February 2011 SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE I am not sure if it's the change in time zones, jet lag, different magnetic pulls of the polar caps, the bed in my hotel or the excitement of being in this amazing city, but I just could not get my sleeping patterns right this week at all. I literally was 'sleepless in Seattle'. Damn you Tom and Meg! Having said that, can I say how beautiful Seattle is? I can say it is one of my favourite, if not THE favourite city of the tour thus far! I know it's a big call, but I have just fallen in love with it. Not sure what I expected, but this was a wonderful major surprise. Immaculate streets, funky neighborhoods, spectacular scenery, actually great coffee, beautiful architecture and such warm people...what's not to love? Even our Paramount Theater was gorgeous. This was also the epicenter of music through the 90's with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as well as the city that gave us Jimi Hendrix. The locals say they try to keep it a secret, but truly, I'm definitely coming back. They tell us we are so lucky with the weather we've had, so maybe my vision is tinted, but I'm no stranger to rainy cities. We got to do a little sightseeing but not enough. One week is not enough for Seattle. But we find ourselves getting ready to board a plane for LA. This could be the climax of the whole tour. We are taking ROCK OF AGES back home, to where it is set, and to where it all began. The journey has come full circle...and timing could not be any better with the green light a few days ago for the film to go into production. Tom Cruise as 'Stacce Jaxx'! I can't wait to see him. I know he's going to make it amazing!! Think Lestat without the fangs, but we know he still bites. If he can kill it as Grossman in TROPIC THUNDER, he will hit 'Stacee' out of the park! Can't wait to see my friends in LA. My wife and dog are flying over to be with me there for the 2 weeks. Bliss!! Maybe that's why I can't sleep...
7 February 2011 KENTUCKY FRIED ROCK Louisville Kentucky was an awesome unexpected surprise. The scene at the end of Main Street was very cool indeed. The chic pink penguined adorned 21C HOTEL with adjoining PROOF Bar/Restaurant could proudly stand amongst the coolest Manhattan has to offer, and its art gallery had me intrigued every time I visited. Growing up Australian, I never really knew too much about baseball, but I did know that the Louisville "Slugger" was the official bat. So no visit was complete without a tour of the factory. My nephews are going to love their mini personally engraved sluggers. I just hope they use them to hit balls, not each other! LYNN'S PARADISE CAFE was a kooky, crazy dining experience that was even quirkier because the outside wonderland was covered in fresh Kentucky snow. However, it was a pity that almost everything on the menu was a no-no for my Stacee diet. Speaking of which, I even had to resist eating KFC...but I did get a photo with the Colonel. Thank you to every one at the KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. You are all amazing and I miss you already! We had a very busy week, what with TV appearances, publicity calls and an acoustic gig at the HARD ROCK CAFE. We definitely welcomed the week off. I just had the BEST week in New York, spending quality time with my girls and catching up with friends, breathing in NY and loving being home like a normal person. One of the highlights was going to the JAZZ AT THE LINCOLN CENTER and experiencing the wonderful Anika Noni Rose perform songs from The American Songbook. She captivated her audience for the entire time she was on, singing 18 songs with perfection despite her admission that asthma was kicking her ass. Watching her sing with her amazing band with the backdrop of Columbus Circle and Manhattan behind the huge glass windows beyond her was an unforgettable and romantic experience. We had to pinch ourselves, how did we ever get so lucky to be here? But I am writing this as we are hurtling through the sky towards Seattle, Washington in an awesome JetBlue Airbus 320. This is my first visit to this city and we know it's going to rock...being the home of grunge, GREY'S ANATOMY and Starbucks, what's not to love? I can just tell it's going to be as finger lickin' good...
27 January 2011 FLORIDA It's been a couple of weeks since my last journal. Physically I've been in the wars. Just as I felt my voice getting back to normal from my laryngitis and feeling my spirits rise as we head towards sunny Clearwater, I get a cold! WHAT?! So I spend all day trying to keep myself well and healthy. I've got to say though, for a few days between illnesses, it was so amazing to be in the warm winter of Florida! I had a few amazing jogs around the waterways, and even got to spend a day at the gorgeous Clearwater Beach. Florida is such a beautiful and diverse state and our time there has been amazing. The crowds have been so receptive and wonderful and as warm as the weather. Florida rocks, full stop! Next destination, we find ourselves in the home of the Slugger (and am not just talking about the heavy-weight slugger, Muhammed Ali): Louisville, Kentucky. It's been snowing since we've been here. A far cry from Florida, but still a fascinating city. I haven't ventured out too far as I would hate to get myself sick again. Am playing it safe for a while. Sleeping as much as I can and feeling my voice get back to 100% slowly. The whole cast have been hit by this sickness and we have gone down one by one, which has allowed the swings and understudies to really shine the last few weeks. Sean Jenness playing 'Hertz' one night, and then 'Lonny' the next; Josh Sassanella playing 'Franz' one show and then 'Drew' the next; Holly Laurent playing 'Sherri' one night and then 'Constance Sacks' the next...it never ceases to amaze me how talented our company is. The show goes on no matter what, and we all pull together to get through and we get closer as a team and as a family. Thus it was so hard to say goodbye to our leader, our stage manager and best big brother Ken Davis as he joins 'The Lion King'. Hakuna Matada to you our dear friend. You are dearly missed, but we are thrilled to welcome Michael Danek who has just been a stellar replacement. We are back as a full unit, people are recovering from this plague that has beset upon us, and we rise stronger, more resilient and more powerful than ever before. Look out Kentucky! We're not going to take it anymore...!!!
12 January 2011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY (cough!) FROM FLORIDA It's been a pretty crazy couple of weeks since I last wrote. Yes, we flew in on a private lear jet and like rockstars we did the show and all went as to plan. Fort Lauderdale was so beautiful. The Broward Center right by the Riverwalk was a top-notch facility and for such a relaxed town, the crowds really rocked it out. Even the FOH staff rocked out. We just got to Orlando and opened last night but I found myself yesterday with a horribly sore throat. It turns out I've got laryngitis. And a lot of the cast are going to Universal Studios and Disney World, and I am in bed. And it's my birthday. Booooooooo! Go Joey Calveri! Hope to be back soon...
28 December 2010 WHITE CHRISTMAS (or at least the day after!) I am stuck. Snowed under in New York City! The massive snow blizzard yesterday was spectacular! I have never seen so much snow fall in one day. I love the snow as it changes the whole world around you so dramatically and I find nothing more beautiful than fresh snow over trees, and over EVERYTHING! One problem though…kinda big one. All flights are cancelled today. We were supposed to fly to Fort Lauderdale this morning. Not going to happen. We are still waiting to find out how we are going to make it to tomorrow night’s show. I know they are working on it, but for now, I am stealing more unexpected sofa time with my girls. My bags are packed, ready to go by the door, but they are a mere symbol of extreme optimism. Love having this extra time at home, but this uncertainty about getting to Florida is getting me a little anxious. This is way beyond our control, so am going to Central Park to slide down a hill on my bum. The past 2 weeks at home have been blissful and eventful! Went to the world premieres of TRUE GRIT and LITTLE FOCKERS, hob-nobbing with A-listers and wannabes. I suddenly had to fill in for a sick performer for 2 performances of HANDEL’S MESSIAH ROCKS in Schenectady NY, and Hershey PA (learning 3 new songs in the car on the way there, holding lyric sheets seconds before stepping onto stage!). But my favourite things have been spending quality time with my wife and dog and family, doing very festive things, attending parties, building furniture, playing house and actually being a present husband. I have spent so much time away, any chance of me being home is priceless. New just in… us stranded in NYC are flying on a private jet to Florida! Now THAT’S the only way to fly. Rockstars!! Ha! Stacee is back…. See you in Fort Lauderdale. Hey Mr. Lear Jet, “Can you take me high enough…?”
12 December 2010 ANOTHER PLACE, WHERE THE FACES ARE SO COLD If only it wasn't so cold! Columbus is a great town with so much to offer. The capital of Ohio, it really is a marvelous place. From Short North, to German Village, to the Cosi across the river, it's so beautiful and the people have been awesome. They have been so accepting and welcoming and warm. The crowds have been pumped, even the crowd for the Sunday matinee! It started to really snow heavily today, and it looks like the really, really cold snap is looming in. I hope our plane to New York will not be affected tomorrow morning! I cannot wait to get home to see my girls. I have been away so long. I LOVE my job, but it is nothing compared to being home with family. I'll be coming home for Christmas, and I am counting the minutes!! One more show to go here in Columbus. The last show before we all separate and go home for 2 weeks. The next time most of us will meet will be Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after Christmas, where we can thaw out. What a perfect schedule!! Here we go again Columbus, it's going to be a doozy!!!
7 December 2010 SO MUCH MORE TO BALTIMORE Yet another unexpected surprise. Baltimore was such an amazing experience, but again I find us being in a new city for just one week, just not enough time! It takes us a few days to settle in, get the show on its feet, explore our area and know where we really want to hang. By that time, the weekend has landed, 5 shows in 48 hours, and then we pack up and have to go to the next city... I so wanted to stay in Baltimore a little longer, as I did in Pittsburgh. The cold turn in the weather turned us all into some kind of hermits, snuggling up in our plush robes beside our goldfish at the magnificent Monaco Hotel. We did manage to do a few things though, like play as THE MOST HANDSOME MEN IN THE WORLD (that is a very funny name....) at Angel's Rock Bar at Power Plant Live on the Wednesday. That was so much fun and kicked us off into Baltimore with a bang! We had an excursion to the amazing National Aquarium. It's such a beautiful complex which was impossible to see everything in just one afternoon. From the dolphins to the jellyfish, it was a fascinating journey of discovery. Fell's Point is probably my favourite part of Baltimore, but really did not get the chance to explore it this time. Last time I was in Baltimore, I spent the whole day there with my wife, and kind of felt like I didn't want to go back there without her. Nevertheless, we had a BALL in BALLtimore. Just too short. Not a fan of these one week tours. Thanks to all at the Hippodrome, at the Monaco, Angel's Rock Bar and Alewife. Missing you already... mean it! I find myself a little bit with a cold as I sit and write this in my hotel room, a little afraid of bracing the -7ºC (19ºF) temperatures outside, sliding over the snow to find breakfast. We flew into Columbus yesterday, and I am yet to really go out there properly. This cold weather is brutal! I normally love the cold, but when you feel a little under the weather, it doesn't seem that inviting. From what I saw out of the bus window, Columbus looks like a majestically beautiful city. Let me just get over this cold...
29 November 2010 OH MAMA I'M IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE Pittsburgh. Loved it. What an amazing week. Why we were only there for one week, I don't know. I could have done another week easy! From the moment our bus broke through the hills to enter the city, it felt special. Pittsburgh has been voted the most livable city in America and I can see why. It was such an unexpected joy! Our hotel, the William Penn was spectacular. The architecture, the staff, the facilities, the beds and probably in the lobby, the most beautiful Starbucks I have ever seen. The Benedum Centre was first class and gorgeous from its volunteer FOH staff to its band of professionals backstage, it was a joy to play. Thank you to the Cozza family who invited us orphaned gypsies to their beautiful home for a home-cooked Thanksgiving lunch. Unbelievable hospitality from such an incredible family. Your warmth (and turkey, and pecan pie, and pumpkin pie and cherry pie and apple pie and...) we will never forget!! Who knew that RENEGADE was the song of the Steelers?! On opening night as I sang that song, the audience were so enthusiastically clapping along I had to subdue them before I could continue. I just thought they were loving ME! Little did I know the Steelers had adopted the song as their own. So the next night I planned a little treat for them by sneaking on a 'Terrible Towel' for the number. I thought a few might be slightly amused by my prank. However when I stepped out with it after singing RENEGADE, the whole house erupted in a roar that blew us all away!! Either I thought I was going to be sacked from my job, or that I would be allowed this one indulgence. No one seemed to mind or stop me so... Go Steelers!! My brilliant week in Pittsburgh was cut even shorter by a day as I had been asked to sing the National Anthem for the naming ceremony of the largest cruise liner ever built, THE ALLURE OF THE SEAS. I was also asked to sing a few songs from ROA on board as the ship set sail on its maiden voyage. It was a publicity opportunity too fantastic to resist. I had never been on a cruise before but they invited my wife and I to be special guests on board for a charity overnight cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. I have never seen a ship like it. It's truly like a motorized city on the sea. We got a cabin for the night (very lovely!) and ate and drank to our hearts content and were even lucky to catch the BLUE PLANET show which could rival any Cirque show around. It was truly a magical experience of which I will never forget and such an honor to be asked to be part of such an important ceremony of a totally awesome super structure!! Thank you Royal Carribean, for allowing me and ROA to launch your new leading lady. Very sexy indeed... Me being away for Sunday meant that Joey Calveri stepped up to be 'Stacee Jaxx' and from what I saw in rehearsals I'm sure he hit it out of the ball park!! Nice one dude! Had a chance to hire a car today and swim in the ocean off Miami's South Beach with my wife before heading back to NY (am writing this on board a very turbulent US Airways flight to Laguardia!). We saw snow flakes fall on Saturday and sun baked on the beach today. Off to Baltimore tomorrow for what looks like another week of rock and mayhem. Good morning Baltimore...here we go again!
23 November 2010 JUST A CITY BOY Detroit was such an unexpected blast. From the moment we landed, it was such a buzz. One of the coolest things we did was visit the set of the drama DETROIT 187, shot entirely in Detroit City. The warehouse sets were awesomely detailed and through the invitation of the very gorgeous Erin Cummings (Dr. Abbey Ward) we spent the day watching the talented cast film an episode.The cast and crew were super friendly and super excited as a lot of them had come to see our show the week before. So it was a mutual appreciation society for a while. Playing cops and bad guys must be as fun as playing rockstars. Thank you to all at DETROIT 187. If ever there is a part for a dark haired, Aussie/Filipino...let me know. I also got the chance to visit the Henry Ford Museum and geeked out all day at the amazing things in there. From the car in which JFK was killed, to the rocking chair on which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, this place did not disappoint. But there was more to this place than dead presidents. Planes, trains, automobiles, houses, clothes, pop culture artifacts, including the exact bus in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat which sparked a revolution. It was one of the most incredible museums I have visited in a long time. Bye bye Detroit! We will miss the amazing people at the Fisher Theatre, the Hyatt Dearborn and the audiences who rocked out hard with us! From the Majestic, to the Magic Bag, we will miss you! We just arrived in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and are excited to be staying right in the centre of town. We are only here for a week, so we have no time to waste. Be afraid Pittsburgh, be very afraid....
17 November 2010 MOTOWN It's been crazy here in Detroit. So much to see and do, and so much to explore! A lot of the cast and the band went to a very special record launch last Friday for a very dear friend of mine, and ROCKSTAR:INXS alumni, Brandon Calhoon at the Magic Bag. His new cd "Satisfied" is phenomenal and I cannot recommend it enough. It's a follow up to his AWESOME EP, "Detroit City", available on iTunes. He is truly one of the most uniquely talented artists I have heard in a long time. Brandon then returned the favour by coming and seeing our show on Sunday and he was so overwhelmed by ROCK OF AGES, he swore he'd come again. Better still, Arsenal & Friends (aka "THE MOST HANDSOME MEN IN THE WORLD") did an impromptu set at the Majestic on Monday night, and Brandon came and joined in for a bit, and the sheer awesomeness on stage was unbelievable! Everybody has fallen in love with Brandon Calhoon, and he has become a dear friend to us all... Josh Sassanella finally had his ROA cherry picked by hitting the stage as Joey Primo last Saturday. That marks the moment that everybody has had a chance to go on. The swings have swung. We were blessed with the presence of the 'trés magnifique!' Mr. Richard Maheux, who took over for Brandon Ethridge in the weekend. Your awesomeness still burns in our brains! We are visiting the set of DETROIT 187 tomorrow. I can't wait. We met Erin Cummings, who plays Dr. Hailey Cork on the series, as she and many of the cast and crew came to see our show last week. She couldn't stop gushing about the show, so invited us all to see her show. Hope to have some awesome pics about that soon! Must go to sleep now, it's 3am. Time has become irrelevant these days...what day is it?....where am I....?
12 November 2010 DETROIT, ROCK (of Ages!) CITY We finally find ourselves in Detroit. Home to so many things, like Ford and the American automotive industry, tecnho-music and of course, Motown. We had the privilege of visiting Berry Gordy's original Motown studios as soon as we arrived. The building itself is a pretty modest house on Grand Boulevard, but what went on in there was nothing short of magical and legendary. Stepping into Studio A was like stepping into a portal not only transporting us back in time, but to a place where a revolution of art and love was founded. This was a movement that not only changed the face of music forever, but was a voice of a people who wanted to be heard and whose echo reached the farthest corners of the earth. The story behind the birth of this phenomenon was inspirational enough, but what it created will forever move of us and define us. Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few, all recorded here. No wonder that Detroit gave birth to so many amazing acts like The Stooges, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and Suzie Quatro, Eminem and The White Stripes. Much of the reason why I wanted to be a musician is because of what happened in that studio. I am still shaking... As far as the show, they don't call this Rock City for nothing. The crowds have been phenomenal and the Fisher Theatre is exploding every night! This is going to be an awesome leg of the tour. I feel it already. I am excited to check out my old mate's record launch in Detroit tonight after the show. Brandon Calhoon (another ROCKSTAR:INXS alumni) is releasing his new CD at THE MAGIC BAG in Woodward Ave, Ferndale tonight. His voice, his musicianship and his larger-than-anything-you-could-ever-possibly-imagine persona will rip your heart out and make you want to stomp your soul!! I will be on track with catching up with all my 'ROCKER' friends, and to see Brandon play anything is a feast! Still much exploring to do here. Went jogging yesterday and ran through Henry Ford's estate. Wicked...!
8 November 2010 ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL Well that's it. We are just minutes away from the final show here at the Aronoff Center, Cincinnati. We've been here for two weeks and it's been an experience for sure. Thank you to the people of Cincinnati and from North Kentucky. Thank you to all at Nicholson's, Righteous Room and Madonna's. To the amazing crew at the Aronoff Center... your hospitality and good humour made coming to work like coming home. We are actually taking a coach all the way to Detroit tomorrow. 4 and 1/2 hours on a bus with crazy rockers. May God have mercy on us all!! Look out Michigan... Here we go again..
4 November 2010 HALLOWEEN 2010 Still in Cincinnati and feeling the change in weather for sure. Snow predicted on Friday. Winter is coming! The show is doing great and the swings have certainly taken the spotlight of late. Sean Jenness filled in as 'Lonny' for the first week here and really made it his own. His voice is phenomenal and his natural comic timing was spot on. Holly Laurent went on as 'Sherrie' for a couple of shows on Sunday and was spectacular in every way. I am so in awe of the talent in our company. It never ceases to amaze me and thrill me. We had special visitors on Halloween with Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo who actually have a house here in Cincinnati. They were so cool and down to earth and seemed to really enjoy the show. Such a gorgeous, glamourous couple! Sorry about the Bengals... Halloween was a blast though. The head carpenter Keith Martin and I came as Sonny and Cher (I was Sonny). He needs help with his make-up... a lot.
30 October 2010 DOWN BY THE BANK OF THE OHIO Ok, I'm sorry it's been a while since my last diary entry but so much has happened since the last time I wrote. Minneapolis was awesome. It so surprised me. We had a ball there and met the coolest people who so took us in and made us feel so welcome. All the staff at The Orpheum just rocked! Can't believe we were only there for a week. It's almost like, "Did that really happen?". I met this producer Tim Andersen on opening night and he invited me and Arsenal to come into this brand-spanking-new studio called Waterbury Studios to record a track. I have so many songs that I wanted to put down, so chose to record ONE SUNSET AT A TIME with the guys from 'Arsenal' (Dave Gibbs, Chris Cicchino, Alan Childs & Jon Skibic). We laid the track down in this amazing, 2 week old studio and got the track back in a day. It sounds great, and I will post it on this site as soon as I get the final mix. What a treat it was to do that, but it is just indicative of what Minneapolis was all about. Surprise after brilliant surprise. Thanks to Tim and Derek, and Eric and Todd for the opportunity. The studio is brilliant. You have to check it out... It was an emotional connection in Minneapolis for me too, as I got to connect with my beautiful friends, the Yared family and their friends. It was a very healing time for us all. I love you guys like family. But the connections did not stop there. Meeting Tricia and Jeff Tollefson was an inspirational event in itself too. Such amazing people who have enriched my life in such a major way in such a short time. Let's just say, this is only the very beginning!! But here I am in Cincinnati for the first time ever. I am still exploring the place and today was a breakthrough for me. I was jogging past the football and baseball stadiums by the banks of the Ohio river, when I stumbled upon Cincinnati International Friendship Park. An awesome place to jog by the river and with the crisp air and fall coloured leaves, I could have ran for hours, until I stumbled upon a rainbow-painted piano which was kept under a stone bridge, open and ready for anyone to play it whomever wishes to. So I sat down and started to twinkle the multi-coloured ivories, when suddenly I realized I was surrounded by all these school kids who started to clap along and dance to my music, and then asked if they could play me some music too! So they all got on the piano and it was as though I was in some Hallmark movie. Kids singing and clapping and dancing to this rickety (yet surprisingly unvandalized and kinda in tune) piano. These kids were part of a theatre school group from Kentucky whose teacher then told me that she saw the opening night of ROCK OF AGES on the Tuesday before...Well! Then the cameras came out and it became a true love fest. This kind of thing only happens in the movies, but for me today, it was my reality and my reminder of how simple things can just blow you away. These awesome kids showed me what it was like to just enjoy the magic of music and the thrill of the spontaneous. I wish I had my camera with me, but it would never do justice to the magic of the moment. I just had to share it with you... It's getting cold here.
21 October 2010 MINI-APOLIS There's nothing too 'mini' about Minneapolis. It's a great city with so much to offer! Am bummed we're only here for a week, but we're making the most of it. The show has been going great. We lost Patrick last night to vocal fatigue but Sean Jennes stepped in to do an amazing job as 'Lonny' for his first show ever last night. Not an easy role to just 'step into'. We shall herald the ROA debut of Ericka Shannon tonight as she fills in for Teresa Stanley this weekend as 'Justice'. The swings are in full swing!! Off to jog by the Mississippi River now, so will write again soon. Greetings from Minnesota...You betcha!!!
17 October 2010 BYE BYE BOSTON Just getting ready for the last show in Boston. What an amazing place. Thank you to all the amazing people at the Colonial Theatre...you are wicked pissah and I will miss you!! Thank you to the kick ass people of Boston who tore up the place with us. Thank you Equinox, Boston Common Coffee Co., & U Foods Grill! How did it get so cold so quickly? Rugging up now for our wintery trip into the deep Mid West... Goodbye summer, goodbye Boston!
15 October 2010 AND THE LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT IN MASSACHUSETTS Let's just say I love Boston. What a wonderful town! It reminds me of London in so many ways yet is distinctively American and so beautiful. Walking through the streets transports me back in time. I am trying to soak in the atmosphere of this epicenter of intelligencia, jogging through the MIT campus, visiting Harvard, and am just about to experience the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall... A far cry from ROCK OF AGES, but just as kick-ass!
7 October 2010 PYROMANIA What an explosive start to our first show in Boston. Seconds before Arsenal were to take the stage for the beginning of the first show, a piercing fire alarm rang out and caused a complete evacuation of the Colonial Theatre! Cast, crew and patrons all hurried out into the side lane as officials checked out to see the cause of the alarm. As we figured, it was just the excessive smoke from the Fogmaster 5000 triggering off the alarm, and we were soon allowed to restart the show. It's true it's the hottest ticket in town, but that was just crazy! Thank you to a very warm and understanding audience who relished the excitement of the event and the promise that it was a very unusual and special experience to have on an opening night! The weather is cold and rainy here in Bean Town, but the theatre scene is on fire!! Rock on Boston, here we go again!
6 October 2010 Building evacuated just before the first show of ROCK OF AGES! We're just smoking hot we set off the fire alarm! All ok, false alarm! Let's rock this Puppy!!... Nobody sing Def Leppard's 'Pyromania', as it was a false alarm. Show on as scheduled! Thanks Boston for burning the house with us!!
4 October 2010 CHICAGONE Come on Illinois! Girls rock your boys! We'll get wild! Wild! Wild!! Goodbye Chicago. Thanks for starting off the tour with a bang that can be heard throughout the nation! We could not have asked for a better start or a better town to get us under way. Everyone at the Bank of America Theatre was first class and we will miss you all. Next stop: Boston. Look out Bean Town. No prisoners!! Make sure to watch Constantine and Rebecca with Arsenal on the Jay Leno Show tonight! Promises to be AWESOME!!!! So great to see Jessica Robinson from Rockstar:INXS come to the final show with her hubby Brandon. She looked great and is still rocking hard. It is as though we just saw each other yesterday!
29 September 2010 ROCKSTARS REUNITED It was such an awesome pleasure to see Marty Casey, a native Chicagoan at the show. I always try to catch up with him whenever I am in Chicago, but this time he came to one of MY shows. He was the first friend I made on ROCKSTAR:INXS and I know we will be friends for life. Much like all the 'Rockers', we are like war buddies. He truly is one of the greatest people I have ever had the honour to know and it was so cool that he spent his birthday at ROCK OF AGES. I hope to catch up with all of the rest of the crew as I travel this country... So stay tuned...
28 September 2010 AND IT DON'T GET BETTER THAN THIS... We finally opened the show last week, and with continuing tune ups and tweaking, we think we're on our way to a very successful tour! Most of the reviews have embraced us and we couldn't have asked for a better start. Mitch Jarvis had to fill in for Patrick Lewallen as 'Lonny' at the last minute as his laryngitis had forced him to step aside for the opening. Where this may break some people, it actually empowered Patrick to the point of that when he came back to work a few days later, his opening was a triumph and such a great example of the human spirit defying all odds. I love my new job and my new comrades. I can see this as the beginning of a beautiful relationship with all of them! Now to really get my teeth into Chicago and all it has to offer with a few days free to explore...
22 September 2010 ROCK OF AGES World Tour Premiere. Chicago. Tonight. 7.30pm. Chookas. Strap it on, turn it up, here we go... and may God have mercy on our souls...
20 September 2010 Feeling 150% and ready to ROCK Chicago!!
19 September 2010 Ok... Am confused. In The Queen's English, we spell it 'THEATRE' yet in American, it is spelled 'THEATER'. However in Chicago they spell it like us Aussies and Brits as 'THEATRE' ...?! I probably should know why this is so. In fact I will find out today. Just woke up feeling a little woozy, but not horrible. Definitely have a cold of some sort, but don't think it's bad or disabilitating. I'll just man up and suck it up! More rehearsals today, before our first 'gypsy run' in front of invited guests tomorrow. We're getting there. This is such a major operation. So many pieces of the puzzle to connect and refine. Time to get up and get my daily Argo Tea, which has become my new favourite place. Yummy and healthy... HEALTH HEALTH HEALTH I say!!
18 September 2010 Not going to lie to you. Feeling a little under the weather today. Maybe it's being a little sensitive to the windy rainy weather in Chicago today, but wish I was feeling a little more sprightly. I am NOT getting sick...! Working through it. We're fine tuning things today. Ethan Popp has been hammering us to get all the vocals to shine like in the rehearsal room. It's a laboured process but so essential for the show. It's all about the detail! Taken 3 Emergen-C's today... Poo!
17 September 2010 Tech rehearsals in full swing. Long days into long nights. The show is looking great. There are so many details that need to be dealt with that you can't appreciate unless you are backstage running around for quick changes, props, vocal booths... Organized chaos is what it is... Aiming for less chaos, more organized! But we're in great shape. Just jogged along the lakeside of Chicago. What a perfect way to start the day. Back into the bellows of the Bank Of America Theater we go...
12 September 2010 Day 2 of tech rehearsals was a busy day. We practically got through the whole of Act 1. We got to play with the full band for the first time and as the elements get added, the excitement mounts exponentially. The lights are phenomenal and the sound is totally rocking! The production and creative team so know their stuff. We're in good hands and in good shape.
11 September 2010 It was raining here today in this amazing city, but that did not dampen our enthusiasm to hit the stage for the first time. 2 weeks rehearsal on 42nd street NYC was exciting enough, but this was incredible. This was our new home. Grungy, dirty, gritty...beautiful! The Bourbon Room sparkled like a diamond. We ran around like giddy kids in a candy store, exploring our new surroundings, making sense of what those lines meant on the rehearsal room floor. Tech rehearsals can get tedious and laborious, or you can do ROCK OF AGES and laugh your way through the whole day while continue to marvel at your talented colleagues. Can't wait for Day 2.
9 September 2010 Last day of rehearsals in NYC...