Wait what? A new version of Vacation? Sorry, I I've been so busy with work. But that's the best thing that I just read. Can't wait. Also, drove through Texas and into Oklahoma to bring back My Mom back home. 1550 miles round trip. And guess what CD was playing? ...
I'm so happy that you're in London now & you threw a party for Clem's book. Is that Hugh Cromwell from the Stranglers? Did you ever tour with them? How do you know him?
I was so happy to hear that Clem's book would be released on my birthday (May7:) , but very upset that it was only in the UK. I don't understand why they got it 1st when he was clearly from NY. I really was hoping to get my hands on it especially at the Bowery Electric birthday party which I went to hoping it would be available. I'm really can't wait to read it.
Byw, I have everything you've ever done. I've seen the Bluebonnets live & I cannot wait til Psycher comes out. So yes, some GoGos fans (especially me, since I appeared at the extras in the Live In Central Park video😎)do listen to your solo music & whatever awaits us. 💙🎸(Also is there any possibility of a Live At The Greek live album & rerelease, it's the greatest concert ever!)
I still believe Skidmarks On My Heart was an answer to I'm In Love With My Car, if not it's a perfect match!
Anyway, I can't wait to make my way to London, especially since my brother's been living there most of his life. You're the greatest &don't ever stop keeping the #LadyRock alive. 💙😎
Thanks for the music &fun!
Luv, Roz Wizard of Roz Rousian
QRTOFFICIAL - Facebook
PS. It's amazing that you wrote this on this particular day. My Mom Maria's birthday. I lost her a year and a half ago & it's been a very long whirlwind since I miss her so much. 💔🙏💙🔥🤘🥁🥁🥁
Oh man I enjoyed your thoughts on the various versions of the observer. I’ve been dealing with lots of grief around friends and family members dying this year, and someone recommended Anderson Cooper’s “All There Is” podcast about grief. In an early episode he talks about how he read that if someone is struggling to complete an emotionally weighted task that narrating it to yourself aloud could help. That’s what essentially led him to realizing he had the makings of a podcast. All that to say, I’ve taken to narrating my life - aloud when I’m alone, and in my head more when I’m not. It’s been working for me. My therapist wants to me write about it all more. I keep putting off that part. But reading your Substack always inspires me to WANT to write more. 🤣
And the spur of the moment trip??? Yes. Please. This sounds exactly like something I would love. Someone once asked what a dream date would be and I answered, Robert surprising me with a fully booked trip that starts the instant he tells me about it. Maybe it’s because I never got one of those “surprise we’re going to Disney World” trips from my parents as a kid? 🤣
As for the photos, a songwriter/producer friend of mine in LA recently worked with Kate Pierson and just had so many lovely things to say about her. And that’s been the case anytime I’ve heard from someone who’s met her. I am curious what Fred is like off stage. Have you spent much time with him? He seems like he’d be a trip to hang out with. Love and miss you. 😘
The cosmos is not merely being observed from a distance; it is personally addressed, and your unique perspective is part of the evolutionary process itself…
You piqued my interested with your photo of a DJ there. How far afield do your musical tastes venture? And into which genres?
I'm currently listening to Roseanne Cash, but right before, I was listening to Johnette Napolitano and Concrete Blonde (they were my favourite band in the early 90s).
I'm constantly listening to music, be it rock n' roll, metal, hard rock, jazz, country, blues, pop, and so many other genres. How about you?
Hi Kathy, great to see that you'll be working with Glen Matlock, I've seen several solo shows by him, with Clem on drums, and also you joining him at the Roxy. Do you think the collaboration will last longer than just the cruise show? I can't make that event but would love to see you playing bass with him some other time.
P. S. Try to get him to include 'Born Running' in the set, he seems to have forgotten about that track! 😉
There might be more shows prior to the cruise, but they’d probably be around the area of the cruise rather than a full on tour. And in UK he has a regular band. It’s prohibitively expensive to pay for their flights and work permits in the US so having me solved that prob.
We also plan on doing a stories/ songs tour in Canada called Rebel Icons. Dates TBA. And I love Born Running too, he did that one at all the shows I opened for in Nov 24. xk
You are the epitome of cool, I think your life is so fascinating. You’re so much more than just a Go-Go but that alone makes you legendary to me and your fans love you for that. I have two questions will you write a second book? I love the way you write as someone who loves to write myself I am encourage by your style of writing. My 2nd question and I’ve asked you this before what’s it like to be a celebrity. You told me you didn’t consider yourself a celebrity but how could you not be? Your Kathy Valentine, you have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame & you’re inducted into the Rock n’ Roll hall of fame.
First of all, thank you for your very kind comment which I appreciate so much. I have spoken often about writing a second book, pretty much right after my first one came out. For various reasons, it hasn't gotten very far yet but it will. Please read on about the other part of your question!
Please save your other question for when I do an "ask me anything" which this wasn't!
I wrote in the essay: social media posting is so concentrated, I thought it would be nice to show the activities and people who had been keeping me very busy the past weeks, and give substack readers a chance to know more about the occasion or the people in the photo. Another time I'd be happy to do an "ask me anything" but not this time!
Excited to hear your updated version of Vacation. I loved learning about how it came to pass in your book, which brings me to a question about when you play your songs on stage. When you hear the first beats of Vacation, or the notes of another song you wrong, where does your mind go? Does it hit you that it's your song? Does it give you the feels or have you played it so often that you simply play it without much thought about its origins?
Hi Lisa, just to be clear, this is just an idea I mess around with, something I would like to do--I have too many other things at the moment that I need to prioritize. It's not the next thing I have planned, just something I think could be cool. As to the rest of the question, hold on to it because these questions were requested to refer to the photos I inserted in the essay. I'll do an ask me anything soon, as many people have taken the cue to think that's what I announced I was doing. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough, but soon will be happy to do another Q&A!!
Please write your original Vacation, with your life experience and the emotion. Personally, I long for new art created with authentic passion.
So much life has passed, you may not remember much from recording your Delphines demo with my husband Ian Gardiner engineering in our Topanga (canyon adjacent) living room in the mid '90s. But I do.
After working my beige corporate job all afternoon, I'd walk into my our duplex and hear you and Dominique with your drummer, rocking out the most amazing songs (I wore that CD out, I played it so often), while oozing artistic cool. To me, you two women were what I aspired to be--free and creative. But, man, in my eyes I was the high school kid too dorky to speak to you.
I wish I knew how thoughtful you are. I was too intimidated to talk beyond some lame small talk.
But you and Dominique lit a fire in me, inspiring me to quit my corporate job so Ian and I could start our audio business (we did in 1996) and just closed this year, Tree Audio. Thirty years! I began writing and getting published, while being home with our daughter... who is now about to travel solo to Europe (gulp). So hearing your solo travels helps to excite me... knowing her adventurous and curious soul will find magic in her new experiences.
I feel so much love for you, reading how open you are. I appreciate your thoughts and the way you write. Thank you for sharing your soul.
P.S. The last podcast I listened to was about Freud and Jung's ideas on the layer of our soul/consciousness observing our ego. (Which you mentioned) Anyway, I have been having synchronocities in multiples lately. Ian rolls his eyes, yeah yeah yeah. 😄
Hi Michelle, my memories of that time are blurry but still solid, if that makes any sense. I retain the impressions I had of Ian, and you, and definitely how exciting it was to be making music I thought was so exciting and good. I really thought we'd end up doing very well, and I can't begin to tell you how many times I have thought that. I love the music and songs I've made over the years, and the process and hopes and dreams that they are all shrouded in is part of it. I love that something about us inspired you--this is as important to me as having a "hit record" or sold out show or whatever other metric of music business success one conjures up. Changing someone's life in a positive way is deeply and profoundly gratifying so thank you for sharing that with me. xxK
I love the pictures! I am looking forward to hearing about your next but not yet determined trip. I like that idea. I'm also interested in hearing the new, updated version of Vacation. It makes sense that songs written when one is in their 20's may need some changes made over 40+ years of different experiences. ❤️
Hi Becky, thank you for being here, I always appreciate your support and interest so much! I think I was unclear about "Vacation" --this is an idea I've had a long time, I even tried a remake in 2018 but wasn't happy with the result. It is something I will return to until I get it right, but it isn't my priority right now! xk
1) I would TOTALLY like a reinterpretation of "Vacation." The Go-Go's version is great, but since I own the album I can hear that any time I want.
2) Talk about meeting Patrick Fabian, please! I am a huge "Better Call Saul" fan, and Fabian's character was one I either loved to hate or hated to love. So I am curious.
Hi Neil, One day I will get around to this. I tried it once and failed, back in 2018, with an amazing woman doing a hip hop rap in the middle! I'm not kidding, it was awesome!! The rest of the arrangement wasn't right though. One day I'll get it right. Not a priority at the moment. For the Patrick Fabian question, going to copy/paste my answer from another person who asked:
I loved "Breaking Bad" and think it's one of the best shows I've ever seen on TV, but I loved "Better Call Saul" even more. The reason is that the characters were so deeply revealed, the interiors just went further and further--kind of in opposition to how Breaking Bad went externally further and further, to the point of how much further can it go? Anyway, one of the characters on Better Call Saul was Howard Hamlin, played by Patrick Fabian. I cried when (SPOILER ALERT) his character died.
I tend to lose track, but I think we started following each other on Instagram, with the framework of some commonalities to give us enough reason to reach out for IRL friendship: both ex-pats living in London, sobriety, and a mutual appreciation of each other's work. I'm sure Patrick has done other notable roles, but it's Howard that made me a fan. Now that we are pals, I'll have to look up his other acting jobs.
You never mentioned as far as I know, the man referenced in the song "Vacation". Did you ever see him or contact him ever again? Did you even have his phone number In case you wanted to ?
Thank you for reading, and for adding to the comments. I've actually spoken quite a few times about the guy in Vacation! He was a singer in a punk band in Austin.
I'll refrain from going further with this question but ask you to save it for when I do an "ask me anything" in the future! This was about the photos in the essay!
I said social media posting is so concentrated and that I thought it would be nice to show the activities and people who had been keeping me very busy the past weeks, and give substack readers a chance to know more about the occasion or the people in the photo. Another time I'd be happy to do an "ask me anything" but not this time!
Hi Kathy—late to the game as usual, but I love this idea so much and have read all the comments! I was impulsive, rebellious, and crazy as a teenager. Thanks in part to Kerouac, etc., I would spontaneously take off-sometimes-even hitchhiking at airport private hangars! I believe my questions were answered previously, but I just remembered the Textones’ Vacation being used in the series Hightown. Can’t wait for more. Btw, I’m the crazy person who bought the sparkly green top before you moved. I was having trouble with the SHOP app and was embarrassed later that I contacted you. Love all your work to pieces 💥
Wait what? A new version of Vacation? Sorry, I I've been so busy with work. But that's the best thing that I just read. Can't wait. Also, drove through Texas and into Oklahoma to bring back My Mom back home. 1550 miles round trip. And guess what CD was playing? ...
Hi Miss Kathy,
I'm so happy that you're in London now & you threw a party for Clem's book. Is that Hugh Cromwell from the Stranglers? Did you ever tour with them? How do you know him?
I was so happy to hear that Clem's book would be released on my birthday (May7:) , but very upset that it was only in the UK. I don't understand why they got it 1st when he was clearly from NY. I really was hoping to get my hands on it especially at the Bowery Electric birthday party which I went to hoping it would be available. I'm really can't wait to read it.
Byw, I have everything you've ever done. I've seen the Bluebonnets live & I cannot wait til Psycher comes out. So yes, some GoGos fans (especially me, since I appeared at the extras in the Live In Central Park video😎)do listen to your solo music & whatever awaits us. 💙🎸(Also is there any possibility of a Live At The Greek live album & rerelease, it's the greatest concert ever!)
I still believe Skidmarks On My Heart was an answer to I'm In Love With My Car, if not it's a perfect match!
Anyway, I can't wait to make my way to London, especially since my brother's been living there most of his life. You're the greatest &don't ever stop keeping the #LadyRock alive. 💙😎
Thanks for the music &fun!
Luv, Roz Wizard of Roz Rousian
QRTOFFICIAL - Facebook
PS. It's amazing that you wrote this on this particular day. My Mom Maria's birthday. I lost her a year and a half ago & it's been a very long whirlwind since I miss her so much. 💔🙏💙🔥🤘🥁🥁🥁
Oh man I enjoyed your thoughts on the various versions of the observer. I’ve been dealing with lots of grief around friends and family members dying this year, and someone recommended Anderson Cooper’s “All There Is” podcast about grief. In an early episode he talks about how he read that if someone is struggling to complete an emotionally weighted task that narrating it to yourself aloud could help. That’s what essentially led him to realizing he had the makings of a podcast. All that to say, I’ve taken to narrating my life - aloud when I’m alone, and in my head more when I’m not. It’s been working for me. My therapist wants to me write about it all more. I keep putting off that part. But reading your Substack always inspires me to WANT to write more. 🤣
And the spur of the moment trip??? Yes. Please. This sounds exactly like something I would love. Someone once asked what a dream date would be and I answered, Robert surprising me with a fully booked trip that starts the instant he tells me about it. Maybe it’s because I never got one of those “surprise we’re going to Disney World” trips from my parents as a kid? 🤣
As for the photos, a songwriter/producer friend of mine in LA recently worked with Kate Pierson and just had so many lovely things to say about her. And that’s been the case anytime I’ve heard from someone who’s met her. I am curious what Fred is like off stage. Have you spent much time with him? He seems like he’d be a trip to hang out with. Love and miss you. 😘
The cosmos is not merely being observed from a distance; it is personally addressed, and your unique perspective is part of the evolutionary process itself…
You piqued my interested with your photo of a DJ there. How far afield do your musical tastes venture? And into which genres?
I'm currently listening to Roseanne Cash, but right before, I was listening to Johnette Napolitano and Concrete Blonde (they were my favourite band in the early 90s).
I'm constantly listening to music, be it rock n' roll, metal, hard rock, jazz, country, blues, pop, and so many other genres. How about you?
Hi KV, Here in LA, for the past 40 plus years, whenever I’d attend a concert at venues large, medium, and small, I would frequently spot Clem.
My question is when Clem would attend a concert, was he most likely a fan of that artist’s music?
Hi Kathy, great to see that you'll be working with Glen Matlock, I've seen several solo shows by him, with Clem on drums, and also you joining him at the Roxy. Do you think the collaboration will last longer than just the cruise show? I can't make that event but would love to see you playing bass with him some other time.
P. S. Try to get him to include 'Born Running' in the set, he seems to have forgotten about that track! 😉
There might be more shows prior to the cruise, but they’d probably be around the area of the cruise rather than a full on tour. And in UK he has a regular band. It’s prohibitively expensive to pay for their flights and work permits in the US so having me solved that prob.
We also plan on doing a stories/ songs tour in Canada called Rebel Icons. Dates TBA. And I love Born Running too, he did that one at all the shows I opened for in Nov 24. xk
Thanks Kathy, that's great to hear.
You are the epitome of cool, I think your life is so fascinating. You’re so much more than just a Go-Go but that alone makes you legendary to me and your fans love you for that. I have two questions will you write a second book? I love the way you write as someone who loves to write myself I am encourage by your style of writing. My 2nd question and I’ve asked you this before what’s it like to be a celebrity. You told me you didn’t consider yourself a celebrity but how could you not be? Your Kathy Valentine, you have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame & you’re inducted into the Rock n’ Roll hall of fame.
Hi Paul,
First of all, thank you for your very kind comment which I appreciate so much. I have spoken often about writing a second book, pretty much right after my first one came out. For various reasons, it hasn't gotten very far yet but it will. Please read on about the other part of your question!
Please save your other question for when I do an "ask me anything" which this wasn't!
I wrote in the essay: social media posting is so concentrated, I thought it would be nice to show the activities and people who had been keeping me very busy the past weeks, and give substack readers a chance to know more about the occasion or the people in the photo. Another time I'd be happy to do an "ask me anything" but not this time!
Excited to hear your updated version of Vacation. I loved learning about how it came to pass in your book, which brings me to a question about when you play your songs on stage. When you hear the first beats of Vacation, or the notes of another song you wrong, where does your mind go? Does it hit you that it's your song? Does it give you the feels or have you played it so often that you simply play it without much thought about its origins?
Hi Lisa, just to be clear, this is just an idea I mess around with, something I would like to do--I have too many other things at the moment that I need to prioritize. It's not the next thing I have planned, just something I think could be cool. As to the rest of the question, hold on to it because these questions were requested to refer to the photos I inserted in the essay. I'll do an ask me anything soon, as many people have taken the cue to think that's what I announced I was doing. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough, but soon will be happy to do another Q&A!!
Have you had any time to finish “Hurry”? It was so fun learning how you write and play. ❤️
No because now I'm focused on Psycher, but I will one day!! THank you Nick!
Well Psycher is cool too!
🤗 Getting a front row seat into anything you do is cool AF!
Please write your original Vacation, with your life experience and the emotion. Personally, I long for new art created with authentic passion.
So much life has passed, you may not remember much from recording your Delphines demo with my husband Ian Gardiner engineering in our Topanga (canyon adjacent) living room in the mid '90s. But I do.
After working my beige corporate job all afternoon, I'd walk into my our duplex and hear you and Dominique with your drummer, rocking out the most amazing songs (I wore that CD out, I played it so often), while oozing artistic cool. To me, you two women were what I aspired to be--free and creative. But, man, in my eyes I was the high school kid too dorky to speak to you.
I wish I knew how thoughtful you are. I was too intimidated to talk beyond some lame small talk.
But you and Dominique lit a fire in me, inspiring me to quit my corporate job so Ian and I could start our audio business (we did in 1996) and just closed this year, Tree Audio. Thirty years! I began writing and getting published, while being home with our daughter... who is now about to travel solo to Europe (gulp). So hearing your solo travels helps to excite me... knowing her adventurous and curious soul will find magic in her new experiences.
I feel so much love for you, reading how open you are. I appreciate your thoughts and the way you write. Thank you for sharing your soul.
P.S. The last podcast I listened to was about Freud and Jung's ideas on the layer of our soul/consciousness observing our ego. (Which you mentioned) Anyway, I have been having synchronocities in multiples lately. Ian rolls his eyes, yeah yeah yeah. 😄
Hi Michelle, my memories of that time are blurry but still solid, if that makes any sense. I retain the impressions I had of Ian, and you, and definitely how exciting it was to be making music I thought was so exciting and good. I really thought we'd end up doing very well, and I can't begin to tell you how many times I have thought that. I love the music and songs I've made over the years, and the process and hopes and dreams that they are all shrouded in is part of it. I love that something about us inspired you--this is as important to me as having a "hit record" or sold out show or whatever other metric of music business success one conjures up. Changing someone's life in a positive way is deeply and profoundly gratifying so thank you for sharing that with me. xxK
I love the pictures! I am looking forward to hearing about your next but not yet determined trip. I like that idea. I'm also interested in hearing the new, updated version of Vacation. It makes sense that songs written when one is in their 20's may need some changes made over 40+ years of different experiences. ❤️
Hi Becky, thank you for being here, I always appreciate your support and interest so much! I think I was unclear about "Vacation" --this is an idea I've had a long time, I even tried a remake in 2018 but wasn't happy with the result. It is something I will return to until I get it right, but it isn't my priority right now! xk
You were probably clear. I probably didn't catch your drift. LOL
Two things:
1) I would TOTALLY like a reinterpretation of "Vacation." The Go-Go's version is great, but since I own the album I can hear that any time I want.
2) Talk about meeting Patrick Fabian, please! I am a huge "Better Call Saul" fan, and Fabian's character was one I either loved to hate or hated to love. So I am curious.
Hi Neil, One day I will get around to this. I tried it once and failed, back in 2018, with an amazing woman doing a hip hop rap in the middle! I'm not kidding, it was awesome!! The rest of the arrangement wasn't right though. One day I'll get it right. Not a priority at the moment. For the Patrick Fabian question, going to copy/paste my answer from another person who asked:
I loved "Breaking Bad" and think it's one of the best shows I've ever seen on TV, but I loved "Better Call Saul" even more. The reason is that the characters were so deeply revealed, the interiors just went further and further--kind of in opposition to how Breaking Bad went externally further and further, to the point of how much further can it go? Anyway, one of the characters on Better Call Saul was Howard Hamlin, played by Patrick Fabian. I cried when (SPOILER ALERT) his character died.
I tend to lose track, but I think we started following each other on Instagram, with the framework of some commonalities to give us enough reason to reach out for IRL friendship: both ex-pats living in London, sobriety, and a mutual appreciation of each other's work. I'm sure Patrick has done other notable roles, but it's Howard that made me a fan. Now that we are pals, I'll have to look up his other acting jobs.
He's got a cameo on the new Vince Gilligan series "Pluribus", but you have to pay close attention to catch it.
(BTW, "Pluribus" is great, a sci-fi show but no laser guns or spaceships. Highly recommend.)
Yes I watched the first season when it came out!
You never mentioned as far as I know, the man referenced in the song "Vacation". Did you ever see him or contact him ever again? Did you even have his phone number In case you wanted to ?
Hi Steve,
Thank you for reading, and for adding to the comments. I've actually spoken quite a few times about the guy in Vacation! He was a singer in a punk band in Austin.
I'll refrain from going further with this question but ask you to save it for when I do an "ask me anything" in the future! This was about the photos in the essay!
I said social media posting is so concentrated and that I thought it would be nice to show the activities and people who had been keeping me very busy the past weeks, and give substack readers a chance to know more about the occasion or the people in the photo. Another time I'd be happy to do an "ask me anything" but not this time!
That would be great. Unfortunately, you always threaten to do and "ask me anything".., but never do.
Fortunately I have a lot of creative ideas that threaten to become songs and stories and I have to prioritize my time accordingly!
So that would mean that talking with your fans would be a low priority... understood.😉
The update of "Vacation" sounds intriguing. Please don't turn it into an overwrought dirge, as a few "older" artists tend to do.
Hi Jim,
I don't tend to write overwrought dirges but if I did, I doubt Vacation lends itself to that style!
Hi Kathy—late to the game as usual, but I love this idea so much and have read all the comments! I was impulsive, rebellious, and crazy as a teenager. Thanks in part to Kerouac, etc., I would spontaneously take off-sometimes-even hitchhiking at airport private hangars! I believe my questions were answered previously, but I just remembered the Textones’ Vacation being used in the series Hightown. Can’t wait for more. Btw, I’m the crazy person who bought the sparkly green top before you moved. I was having trouble with the SHOP app and was embarrassed later that I contacted you. Love all your work to pieces 💥
Hi Mickey, I loved when Hightown used Vacation!! So much. Thank you for supporting all that I do, even selling artifacts!! I really appreciate it!!