Last three days saw no posts from yours truly. I wanted everyone who checked this page meanwhile aware that I'm not already running on fumes for my blog. More simply if, as Keith stated so well, in life you have the sun, the moon and then the Rolling Stones, I went - for some days - to the Adriatic riviera looking for the former. Don't worry, tho'. Stones things happen also when I'm away, and transmissions on this frequency will take place soon again. Meanwhile, may everyone of you take advantage of this last handful of summer to entertain body, mind and soul. Energy will be mandatory when september will come again. Ciao, Chris.

Yours truly can’t forget he’s a collector. This means you can never sleep relaxed or quietly. A rare record for a bargain price could be elsewhere, and – to quote another great band I’m in love with – “you’ve better run” (Pink Floyd) to reach it. On a personal side, I always loved the smell of vinyl and cardboard at the conventions, or in minuscule basements (like the ones in Camden, or at Notting Hill’s MVE). To confirm human beings descend from primates, I spent hours of my life bent over 12” boxes, looking for that Colombian issue of Bill Wyman’s Monkey Grip, and my shoes would have shouted “F..k you!” that afternoon in Soho, when I did more miles than Harrison Ford in “The Fugitive”, in the extreme hunt for an Argentinean promo copy of Dirty Work.

That’s what collecting means to me. That’s how I got introduced to this hobby, and how I like to conceive it. I’m happy we’re a lot in this little world to take it this way. Look at Record Collector each month (by the way, thumbs up Joel... your mag is in my “five reasons to live” list), and you’ll read even more unbelievable stories. However, something troubled waters  three/four years ago. The net was supposed to be an help for people like me. Indeed, it did that, speeding communications and making us able, for example, to exchange records lists in real time. Maybe, romantic as I consider myself, I could complain about some poetry which went lost. Forget Meg Ryan, Outlook's tone for “you’ve got mail” isn’t as charming as a postmaster delivering you the letter including the list of that South Dakota collector you found on a fanzine three weeks before, but evolution is made of this, and I can only accept that.

The name of the enemy, in my own opinion, is Ebay. The online auctions world’s greatest site really turned many of my days into nightmares. Once, to know rarities, meant you had seen ’em with your eyes, in shops or on books. Now, true gems are there for everyone, they’re just a click (and a pile of bucks) away. Let’s say, as a first comment, that it vulgarized collecting. Winning an online auction can’t give you the same intense as finding, in a shop, the record you looked for in years, and bringing it home under your arm. Furthermore, the problem is also on another scale. In general terms, the Internet is a wonderful thing, but you haven’t any kind of control on sources. If a website headlines “There’s a war”, a newspaper the day after will report about that, quoting the site. And if the conflict was just an invention of a really creative webmaster?

In the same way, many of the people who bid on online auctions have no cultural knowledge of what collecting is about. They follow trends, throwing money on records as if they were at a roulette table, and that’s it. Lately, the voice spreaded over the net community that first issue mono Decca copies of “Let It Bleed”, including the band’s poster (the 1969 red label ones to make it clear), were the most difficult thing to get, talking about Stones discography. It’s true, but if you collect you well know they’re not (yet) an impossible find. Let’s say, as correct quotes, 200/250 Pounds for the mono version, and half of that for the stereo (unboxed) one. I think someone won’t believe this, but mono copies has fetched, in the past month, 930 Pounds as final online bid. I even caressed the idea, for a couple seconds, to put my record on auction, in order to pay my holidays.

You’ll say “Well, who cares? It’s a problem of who is disposed to waste all that money for a common enough record”. I don’t agree. This happened (I’ve seen it directly) more than five times. Put yourself in a shopkeeper shoes. Despite the fact it’s just “five dumbs”, why you should go on selling that record for 200 Pounds, when Ebay demonstrated you are loosing at least 700 Pounds on each copy? Prices will rise, be sure, and I won't give the fault to shopkeepers. Last year, the morning after the Astoria show, guru dealer Bill Allerton told me “Act fast, if you have to complete your Stones mono collection. Don’t wait more than a couple years and don’t mind if you'll have to borrow money from your dad. Time runs fast and it will become always more difficult to find those records at an affordable price”. Luckily enough, he was still selling the stereo issue at 100 Pounds and I got a nice mono Beggars Banquet (another “hot” title on Ebay) from Bill Forsyth at Minus Zero records (http://www.minuszerorecords.com" title="http://www.minuszerorecords.com" target="_blank"http://www.minuszerorecords.c...) for 40 Pounds (a bargain, be assured). Anyway, although I check it on a daily basis (“you’ve better run...” and, in a sea of people without knowledge, even some dealer underpricing rare stuff is there), Ebay is turning collecting into speculating. Sad, sad, sad. Ciao, Chris

Sex. Don't worry, your Stones blog is not about to turn into a "late night confessions of a seventeen cheerleader" web diary. More simply, yours truly slipped today into his player the eleven discs of the second Singles and EP's Abkco box. Well, I wasn't there at the era, but I firmly believe these songs, so raw and true, blew an hormonal storm in every youngster, within minutes to their listening. If any sixties teenage girl, who attended personally a Stones performance at "Ready, Steady, Go!" or "Top Of The Pops", could - after reading this - comment on the sensations she lived in that particular moment, it would be wonderful. And, I'm ready to bet we'd hear some attraction and sex stories. Don't be ashame if nowadays you're a mum or a wife. Even if generations are scared to communicate between themselves, life went on the same road for everyone, speaking whn it comes to certain matters.

Dears readers, let's admit it. If you don't feel something in your guts when "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (that's where this box, spanning from 1965 to 67, starts from) bugle calls your neighbourhood, you've to be checked by an international team of doctors. The same applies for "19th Nervous Breakdown", "Let's Spend The Night Together", "Paint It, Black", or "2000 Light Years From Home", just to quote some of the Stones historical hits in this set. Personally, at every time I press "play" on those trakcs, I feel like Michael Douglas in "Basic Instinct" interrogatory scene. Furthermore, how to avoid a sweet and lovely muse taking shape in your mind when "Ruby Tuesday" or "Lady Jane" are on? And all this in wonderful monaural versions, genuine as a kick in the bollocks. The only low points, in my honest opinion, are "In Another Land" and "The Lantern", from their "Their Satanic Majesties Request", which I still take as a tactical error (hey Mick, how much expensive has been for you that "Have a good life" from Andrew, in these days?).

Some reviewers trashed this box. I didn't. On my "Jam" review, it got awarded with a nine out of ten note. Why? I've told you: because it's about sex... More seriously, because it goes straight to the point for everyone. Collectors will get eleven discs featuring original 7" sleeves, three beautiful photo postcards and a double-sided poster (not to mention, Ali's memorabilia on the booklet - simply stunning - while Nigel Williamson essay remains a low). New fans will learn how the Stones conquered the world. Old ones will have a chance to rediscover where we all come from ("The London Years" is today fourteen years old), and refresh their minds. You think eleven discs with two (or three) tracks on them are a sloppy move? Well, did you complained when 7" were all what you had? No? So, silence please. You object that these tracks are there without being remastered and taken not by masters tapes, but by previous compilations? Well, clean them, and you'll see where the sex will go! Anyone is entitled to his own opinion, but I'm convinced that Abkco's Senior VP Jody Klein has contributed, with this release, to re-populate the world more than Governments and UN together did in the last ten years. See you soon, Chris

Today, as Italy restarted engines after summer main holidays, I spent my Stones time tickling a couple sources in hope of any interesting (and yet unknown) detail on the upcoming "Live Licks". Frankly, my basket ended up pretty empty, so the idea I’ve made myself is that 90% of what we need to know already appears in Bjornulf’s webpage about this project (see IORR link on your left). Let’s sit and wait for the new double cd, so, without too many hopes to be surprised (well, we still miss the cover, but who cares on a small cd case…).

When I was 14, shortwaves brought me to places I would never be able to visit these days. I recall hours of tuning weak signals like Voice Of Vietnam, or Radio Beijing, in my low-lit room, headphones on, hunting for those exotic melodies or for Government news in standard english. I felt a bit like a G.I. in a bunker, with only a radio as way to unplug from the ghost of an enemy who would never show himself. Seventeen years after, the same feeling embraces me during one of my weekly rolling exercices: listening to Little Steven's "Underground Garage".

My first contact with Mr. Van Zandt hasn't been truly remarkable. His 1987 smash hit "Bitter Fruit" had huge echo over Italian FM, but - unable to read english as I was - it meant nothing to me, if not a useless dance soundtrack for a potential ride on a Wolksvagen Golf Cabriolet, with a standard blonde bimbo on the side. Many english lessons after, I stepped on these lyrics and, after learning of the Union man and about how bitter that fruit was (and why), I realized the giant mistake I did.

Altough I had the chance to meet several artists lately, Little Steven is still in the missing ones list, and also the one I would like to move as soon as possible in the personal knowledges one. He's the one I'd have dinner with, in a NYC italian restaurant. Oh, forget about a Manatthan Wasp eaterie, tho'. I can do without a place where they claim "Fetuccine Alfredo" to be italian, so it's to Harlem or Brooklyn I'd suggest Stevie to head. I'm sure Silvio Dante (the character he plays in The Sopranoes) would approve.

Once settled, I'd ask him how he has been able to put together more than 40 bands for the first Underground Garage International Live Festival (held at Randall's Island, last August 14th), or how does he feels in commanding every week, behind a microphone, "Renegade Nation" troops in the battle against pop threat. Of course, I wouldn't keep myself to chitter chatter about politics, but forget that prime-time Iraq stuff... Tchecenia, Africa, and many other civil wars you don't read a line on newspapers, but that are as bloody as the ones we see on CNN every day.

I can't tell what Mr. Van Zandt would answer, but I know his radio show - the best and only source for top notch "garage shit", as Keith would call it - gives some clues, unmissables by Stones lovers. On episode # 124, for example, listeners are able to discover what Homer Simpson, Iggy Pop, Graham Nash and Andrew Loog Oldham have in common. Furthermore, being London's most famous garage band, the Stones are always in the playlist. So, what are you doing still on this boring blog? You don't neither need a shortwave radio to tune in, just a click on this http://www.littlestevensundergroundg arage.com/contentspagexx.htm" title="http://www.littlestevensundergroundg arage.com/contentspagexx.htm" target="_blank"http://www.littlestevensunder... and you'll get in the cooler garage ever. Thanks Stevie, if you're reading be aware I hope to have dinner with you soon, and sorry for the "Bitter Fruit" misunderstanding. If only they played it on the Voice Of Vietnam, I would have understood before. My sunday ends here. A presto! Chris

If you're not among the ones thinking Bernard Fowler is boring, here's something you should be aware of [taken from a IORR "Tell Me" post]:

Bernard Fowler has been working lately on a project called Tackhead. On their official web-page (www.tackhead.com), they describe themselves as follows: 'Tackhead is the vanishing point, the vortex, at the end of many years of formative, experimental collaborations between the innovative British producer and mixologist extraordinaire Adrian Sherwood and the amazing American trio of musicians: guitarist Skip McDonald, bassist Doug Wimbish and drummer Keith LeBlanc, completed by singer Bernard Fowler.'

Next week, they are playing two live gigs in Europe. One of them takes place at the Jazz Festival Willisau in Switzerland on Friday, August 27(http://www.jazzwillisau.ch" title="http://www.jazzwillisau.ch" target="_blank"http://www.jazzwillisau.ch), and there will be a Live Internet Broadcast of this show by Swiss radio station DRS2 (10:35 p.m. - 00:00 p.m. CET). In order to listen, just follow this http://www.drs.ch/indexdrs2.html" title="http://www.drs.ch/indexdrs2.html" target="_blank"http://www.drs.ch/indexdrs2.h... and select 'Webradio'.

Early morning is the best part of the day. So, at 8am, I decided that Nikki Sudden's Treasure Island remained too long in a pile of dvd's and cd's on my desk. Took it out and wrote my review for "Jam". Italian readers can look forward to that, others can listen to the following.

I usually touch my balls (italian popular gesture supposed to avoid you bad luck) when I hear someone telling rock'n'roll can change the world. Sorry folks, those days are gone. However, rock can still be something able to change your mood. Needless to say, Nikki's music just makes it better. May you be wondering what all this has to do with the Stones, three are the answers: a) if you've attended more than 10 Licks shows, you'll know Mr. Sudden (and his crush on Ronnie Wood) better than me; b) Mick Taylor is on two of the 14 albums songs (and it's him, trust me!); c) Ian "Mac" McLagan (keyboards for Stones 78 and 81 tours) is on many tracks (as Dave Kusworth, John Rivers and Anthony Thistlethwaite are).

I've been fortunate enough to get, in 2002, some rough mixes of the tracks, and already understood it was to be a great job, if not his zenith. Altough everyone casts his "best track" vote for House Of Cards, mine goes to Russian River. Also, don't miss the perfect love song, aka Stay Bruised, and the freaking opener Looking For A Friend. If you're in love (as we all should are) with a "certain" british rock, this will remain stuck in your player at least as long as it remained on my desk. Only a complain, and it's a minor one: Nikki, if you're reading this, I want the unreleased 10000 Years Ago on the next album. Have a nice sunday, and hunt for the treasure thanks to this www.nikkisudden.com. Chris

Got today a copy of "Keith Richards", by Alan Clayson. It ends, for this year, the serie of books on the Stones Sanctuary Publishing is currently putting out (www.sanctuarygroup.com). 2005 will begin with "Mick Jagger" and that will be the last Stone (Brian and Charlie volumes are already on the shelves and no plans, by the author, to release a bio on Wyman). Don't know Alan (he led Clayson And The Argonauts outfit from 75 to 85, but my generation was too young at frist and, later, stuck on Duran Duran) and still have to go through the book, however I feel to admit that researching a band with a bio on every member could be an original technique. Come here often and you'll know my thoughts.

Right now, the point is another. Does, nowadays, making a book (especially a biography) on The Stones makes any sense? I mean, once you've read the various and excellent Greenfield, Dalton, Bockris, Booth and Bonanno, is there something you still need to know? After crap like Davies' "Old Gods Almost Dead" or Jackson's "Arise, Sir Mick", my answer is "no". If something remains to be told, is about drugs stories or related, so I don't care. I'm not out for that, nor for glamour (which is all you get on the lads in the nineties!). An exception has to be done for "Stoned" and "2Stoned" by Andrew Loog Oldham, the only recent books that really touched my heart, and finally gave me a different bell toll on the story of the band (what I really needed), but everything else ends up to be useless.

So, how to pick up the torch, on the publishing front? Well, books aimed to collectors are my choice. "Not Fade Away" remains in my top 5, and I learnt that Chris Eborn, Matt Lee and Simon Ward are working on a volume of this kind (c'mon guys, let's have it out), but I think people like John Rutherford or Tom Beach (and some italian collectors too!) should begin to mumble about such an option, and I kindly salute Nico Zentgraf's recent update. Guys, is it that difficult to tell a story differently than doing a giant "cut and paste" from previous books? I don't think so. If we live also in what is about us, memorabilia are the right path to explore and old Ebayers - as everyone who has seen and touched "Stu" by Out-Take Publishing (www.out-take.co.uk) - well know what I'm talking about.

'Til tomorrow... Gotta start reading Clayson now. Ciao! Chris

P.S. Nikki, get out that bloody Woody volume soon, what are you waiting for?!

Reasons to start a Rolling Stones blog? Ladies and Gents, I've got plenty of! I was 16 when Mick & Co. broke into my life (thanks to Steel Wheels), 18 when I decided that journalism would be my job and 28 when I wanted the two things to move on the same tracks. At the era, I couldn't stand that, in Italy (yeah, that's where I'm from), being an average Stones fan meant to have a joint on "Brown Sugar", or all down the line to it. I felt the need to get out of that mental mud, to elevate my knowledge on the lads. So, researching, collecting and writing begun soon after. Since then, a couple of rolling hours (spent in hunting news, reviewing books, cd's and dvd's) are part of my everyday schedule. Mags and fanzines hosting my writings are linked left, and others will be told during transmissions. This is what you'll find in here. Many fan-called "dreams" turned into reality for me in the last years, but if that's what you're looking for, please move on. The Rolling Stones are not an everyday band, they're THE rock'n'roll band, they are a state of mind first of all. You'll soon see what I mean. To end this, be aware I don't get offended by people not agreeing my opinions, just don't be rude when expressing your comments. Stay tuned! Chris