Collective Soul Blog Contest

It all started DECEMBER of 1994, when THE WORLD I KNOW got a whole lot BETTER NOW. WHY? It's SIMPLE...my wife, PRETTY DONNA, got me the new Collective Soul album Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. I hadn't heard of them yet. In my YOUTH, ALL I was into was HEAVY metal. SHE SAID, "Give it a LISTEN!" Let me tell you, IN A MOMENT I was hooked. Since then we became big fans. We're always COUNTING THE DAYS, IN BETWEEN albums and concert tours. Their lyrics always seem to REACH me. After a hard day, I come HOME with a CROWDED HEAD and sit in my yard UNDER HEAVENS SKIES and look for a SATELLITE, put on some C.S. and just BREATH. EVERYTHING seems to GEL.



We have traveled to many states to see these guys live, Wisconsin, Florida, Illinois and soon to Las Vegas for the upcoming 2009 tour, (hoping they'll play in HOLLYWOOD soon). We always meet great people at the shows. I thought I DON'T NEED ANYMORE FRIENDS, but MAYBE I'm NOT THE ONE who really gets to decide that.



I have to COMPLIMENT my wife, PRETTY DONNA, on setting up our C.S. trips. One time she surprised me with a weekend away at a Casino way up in Wisconsin past WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS. Map quest had it at 3 hours, turned out to be 6 hours. I can't BLAME her though. It wasn't like we were WASTING TIME. We got to LISTEN to alot of C.S. IN BETWEEN dinner and the show we met Dean and Will in the resturant. They couldn't have been nicer. Ed was talking and GIVING autographs to fans. Their GENERAL ATTITUDE was all about the fans. It was very cool!! I think it's awesome that the band is open to their fans with a LINK on http://www.twitter.com/collectivesoul and the Collective Soul blog site http://www.collectivesoul.com/blog/. It helps to GENERATE interest from today's YOUTH.



We once brought friends who weren't very familiar with C.S. to a show at Cypress Gardens in Florida. It definitely turned them into big fans. They brought their 12 yr. old to his first concert to see C.S. in Naperville, IL and now their his favorite band too!



LOVE LIFTED ME 27 years ago when my ADORED, PRETTY DONNA and I committed to our PRECIOUS DECLARATION. At that time, I knew HEAVENS ALREADY HERE. Since then, for all of our symbolic anniversaries she has gotten me a new guitar for my collection. In 1992, for our 10th yr. she set up a trip to Michigan to meet Ted Nugent who handed me a signed zebra PRS. Our then 6 yr. old daughter was nervous meeting HIM but our son said "SISTER DON'T CRY" . It was a GOOD MORNING AFTERALL! SHE SAID, PRETTY DONNA, that is, she wishes THERE'S A WAY she could get me a signed guitar from Collective Soul for our anniversary in August. It would NO MORE NO LESS be the CROWN of my collection!!! HOW DO YOU LOVE someone who's so GIVING? ALL THAT I KNOW is I'M PERFECT TO STAY...



We enjoy alot of music and concerts together but our favorite is Collective Soul. It makes us FEEL LIKE...IT FEELS ALRIGHT. To fulfill our C.S. NEEDS we anticipate the arrival of the new album and 2009 tour. We are already going to Chicago in July for the WXRT Blockparty and Vegas at the Hardrock in September for Donna's birthday. I'm sure she'll plan more C.S. concerts. All she has to do is "Give me a word, Give me a Sign, and Show me where to go, I already know what I'll find - Another awesome concert experience!! Donna "the concert queen" and I are really looking forward to our next show. Richie