Candice;
Hello there ! My name is Ray Mesaric - I am a 41 yr
old mobile DJ in Las Vegas. I just want to first tell
you I am a huge fan of your music. My only problem
is the lack of exposure here in the U.S.
Do you have any plans on touring here anytime in the
near future ?
Also where can I find your solo efforts here in the
States. I look forward to hearing them. Thank you
for your time.
Ray "the Music Man" Mesaric
Las Vegas NV USA
Hello Ray,
Yes, I know, you are right... But you know, being
a DJ and seeing first hand what goes down in radio
stations, if you don't have a big company with lots
of money or perks behind you - you won't get heard.
It is a shame, isn't it? Because so many amazing bands
that I know of will forever be underground. I guess
that's how you find out who your true fans are, though.
The ones who aren't brainwashed by repetition via
the airwaves, if they can find you, usually stay loyal
for life. Trendy bands take over the world and then
disappear forever.
Of course, since you are a DJ, if you really wanted
to play our songs, I'm behind you all the way! :)
The other thing about the American market is if they
don't know how to categorize you they feel threatened,
or confused. If you are doing something different
from what's being played already, or if you are dressed
differently, you get ignored. That goes against my
whole realm of thought. I think every band should
express their individuality, not be suppressed because
it doesn't fit perfectly into the mold.
Ah, but I do go on!! Anyway, we are trying to get
more songs played. We have a new radio promoter and
press person who are now on the case (brave souls..they
must enjoy a challenge!) And we have a few dates that
we will be playing this month. You can check www.blackmoresnight.com
and go to the tour dates page for information.
And we're planning on doing some west coast dates
at the beginning of the year in 2005. We'll see how
it plays out. Hopefully we'll make it to Sin City...
wouldn't the Excalibur just be the perfect hotel for
this band?
Love,
Candice
I
am glad to see you do renaissance festivals. I started
going to them about ten or so years ago, and fell
in love with the atmosphere and music. We try to go
every year. It would be great to see you and Ritchie
and the band there next year. I believe the website
for ours is www.michrenfest.com.
I'm sure they would be more than happy to hear from
you as far as booking you for '03. It is held on weekends
in August and September here in Michigan. The address
is Michigan Renaissance Festival, 12600 Dixie Hwy.,
Holly, Michigan 48442. Best wishes to you and Ritchie,
and hope to see you soon.
John
Hi John,
Oh yes, Renaissance Festivals are one of our all time
favorite pasttimes! By the way, for anyone who hasn't
ever gone to one...you must go! Highly recommended!!
You will never be the same....If you believe in romance
and passion of a by gone era, if you love mystery
and fantasy, if you are taken by chivalry , honor
and magic, or if you just would enjoy getting away
from the pressures of the day and sitting around a
bonfire and watching shooting stars... if you dream
like this... than the Faires are for you!!
Actually, we have yet to get to the Michigan Faire
although we have heard incredible things about it!
Rumors abound! I don't know if you have yet had the
chance to experience the incredible music of minstrel/baladeer
who calls the Michigan Renaissance Faire his home:
Owain
Phyfe but if not, you simply must! Especially
the ladies...If you are not into the loud bagpipes
and double reeds of the pagentry music of the Renaissance
and wish to be entranced by the softer side... this
gentleman's voice will transport you...We are lucky
enough to have him opening for us on a few of the
shows, our Virginia and also our Harrisburg, PA shows
(check http://www.blackmoresnight.com/tour_info.html
for more details).
I do hope to get to a couple of faires before they
close for the colder weather... we shall see...
Thank you for the invite! And I hope you can make
one of our shows...
Love,
Candice
Dear
Candice !
my name is Peter and I`m one of those crazy fans who
are not satisfied with just watching one show of Blackmore`s
Night.
This summer I have been to 5 shows all over Germany.
( I`m one of those who sang "Moonlight Shadow"
with you in the hotel in Memmingen after the show).
Perhaps you remember me, I`m on the photo in the inner
sleeve Rainer D. took (sitting next to Rainer K. and
Thomas) two years ago while celebrating the wedding
of Scott and Sue in Germany - o.k. this photo is very
small -
First, congratulation for this great Live-CD i now have
in my hand. I bought it on Saturday morning and there
was nothing else on this weekend (except for sleeping)
than hearing this cd. This CD brought back to me all
the feelings, memories and emotions I also had during
your tour.
Normally I planned to go to a party on saturday night,
but I was not able to get in the mood for it, so I went
back home again only after one hour, I couldnt get the
emotions and thoughts out of my mind, and I did not
want that either.
Though everything is nearly perfect, there is one thing
I have to ask:I`m missing the most two emotionful songs
for me that ever been written and I know that these
songs are your favourits too. I`m talking about "Hanging
tree" and specially "Now and then" -
what is the reason for not putting these great songs
on the CD. I could imagine that this was a "fight"
because I know that you love these songs very much.(of
course the others too) ???
As long as I know "Now and Then" it is always
on my mind. I love this song very much and there is
no other song in the world that puts me in these deep
emotions, espacially in your shows (though it is always
a sad moment,because the end of the show is near)
Though I am not a perfect singer with a perfect voice
I like to sing this song very much. Two years ago I
sang it together with Anna while Rainer K. played the
guitar for us. After the show in Memmingen I was close
to ask you if you would sing it with me (that is a dream
of mine), but unfortunately I was too shy and cowardly
in that moment to do that. -
perhaps next time
I know that you wrote this song and so it was time for
me to tell you this.
Best greetings to Ritchie and the rest of the minstels,
especially to the Sisters of the moon.
Until we meet again somewhere in the castles of Germany
!
Peter
(from a town called Gütersloh, near to Bielefeld,
where there is a beautiful castle called "Sparrenburg",
you should visit it, or even better make a concert there)
Hi Peter,
I remember our last show in Abenberg , Germany...around
a bonfire , singing and playing until the sun came up.
One of my favorite moments of that night was when someone
came up and asked to sing Now and Then with me...and
we did! I have a strong feeling that this was you...Thank
you for loving that song as much as I do.. it is very
special for me.
The reason that it wasn't on the live album is a very
simple one. It really all came down to technical reasons,
believe it or not! We actually recorded 3 shows that
we had planned on consolidating and putting out with
the best of each of the shows. But the truth is, what
happened was that the other 2 shows that were recorded
were recorded really badly. There was no seperation
between instruments, there were bad connections in the
leads and equipment...all things that should have been
checked by the engineer. So, when we did the Holland
show, the one that was recorded for Past Times, that
one show was the only one that was recorded correctly!
We didn't know until we listened back to all the shows
that we would only be able to use one of the three.
And unfortunately, since we change our set list every
night, we didn't perform those songs the night of the
Holland show because we had done them the previous few
shows. Not being able to capture that moment was a bit
of a disappointment, I would've loved to include both
of those songs you mentioned...but it just didn't work
out that time. In a way, I guess it is all right because
it's kind of like our little secret - you know, between
us and the people who come to our shows. It is such
a strong connection, that when you are able to see us
perform those songs and they aren't on a live cd, it
almost makes that moment even more emotional...more
fresh and new in a way...
By the way, I wouldn't call people who have to see more
than one show of ours crazy... I call them family!
I will pass your regards on to all here... and thank
you for the information on the castle by you. I will
certainly look into it!
Keep singing...always,
Candice
Greetings, *bows*
I had the pleasure to attend your wonderful show in
Leipzig/Germany a while
back and have been wondering ever since:
Do you select the songs you play during a show spontaneously
(it looked that
way :) or do you select them in advance?
Thanks for your time and continue singing, it's pure
beauty refined to true, emotional music.
-- Sequoh Marden
Hello Sequoh,
That is a very good question and one that always keeps
the band on their toes (whether they like it or not!)
We usually have a tendency to do the same beginning
numbers, maybe 2 or 3 of them are set, but then its
really anyones guess. As you probably know by now,
we have been known to take requests from the audience,
or just play songs that only Ritchie and I know and
the band is unfamiliar with. The longest show we have
done was 3 1/2 hours! And that is when everything
feels just right. Usually, Ritchie will try to read
the audience and if he sees that they are a louder
crowd he'll put more electric guitar and louder songs
in at that point. But my favorite is when the crowd
is a perceptive one... when they listen to whatever
he wants to play... because then he is able to really
open up and extemporize on intros and solos and play
things that are all improv...and that you're not likely
to hear again. He never plays songs exactly the same
way twice. It really is something to behold. Always
interesting and spellbinding... I feel so lucky to
be sharing the stage and experiencing those moments.
Thank you for your sweet words...
Love and light,
Candice
Hi!
I would love to buy Your single. However,
it would cost a fortune for me to order it from your
web-site. So I can't afford it, unfortunately. I was
wondering if there's any possibility for me to buy
it somewhere here in Sweden?
Anyway, I love Your music and I'm
waiting for You to release a new
studio-album!
Love,
Anney
Hello Anney,
I just wanted to tell you about a wonderful Swedish
Blackmore's Night fan club. I'm not sure if they have
merchandise to sell, but you are right- it would probably
be cheaper to get it locally and if they don't have
what you are looking for , they might have the inside
information on how to get it! You can contact the
Swedish/Scandinavian Blackmore's Night fan club through
Paul Deblond at paul@blackmoresnight.nu
or check their website at www.blackmoresnight.nu
They'll also be able to let you know when we'll be
playing your area! Besides, they are really nice people
and it's amazing how many strangers become friends
when they are bonded through music. The world becomes
a friendlier place when you see people who have the
same interests as you do... I hope that they have
what you are looking for!
Much love,
Candice
Hi,
I'm from America. I've been a fan of Ritchie's since
I was twelve, and I am twenty-six now.
I first heard of you when I picked up the Rainbow
album Stranger In Us All. I thoroughly enjoyed the
album, and was surprised at the new direction and
style the band was taking, having started my Rainbow
collection due to being a fan of Ronnie James Dio.
I also noticed you helped in writing the lyrics for
some of my favorite songs off the album (Hall of the
Mountain King, and something makes me want to say
Ariel).
Then I discovered Blackmore's Night. Under A Violet
Moon is without a doubt some of the most beautiful
music I have ever heard Ritchie play. Yet, what surprised
me the most about the album is that you remade Self
Portrait. As a big fan of Dio's vocals, I admit I
was not at all liking the idea of someone else singing
his stylings. However, Doogie White had already shown
me that it could be done by the fantastic version
he did of Still I'm Sad. So, putting my biasness and
misconceptions aside, I took a breath and listened.
I knew you had an emotional stirring voice from everything
I had listened to on the album up to that moment.
Now, this is very hard for me to say because I like
Dio so much, but I feel that song was written for
you and not Dio to sing. You truly made it your own.
You did a most excellent performance. Thank you for
proving me wrong. Then I noticed somewhere, unless
I am mistaken, that you have done a version of my
most favorite song of all time: Sixteenth Century
Greensleeves. Is this true, and, if so, on what album
does it appear?
I am looking forward to hearing it, as you did such
an eloquent rendition of Portrait. Also, I was wondering
if you would consider recording a version of Stargazer
in the future. And, in closing, I wish to thank you
for Under A Violet Moon, and inspiring me along with
so many others in my poetry.
If I ever have the chance to see you and Ritchie perform,
I know it will be a magical evening of enchanting
music. Thank You!
A pleasantly surprised music lover,
Jared Watchous
Dear Jared,
What a beautiful letter. Thank you for taking the
time to give some new music a try. I am so glad that
it has inspired you. So many of Ritchie's fans from
the "old days" continue to enjoy his music
because the Blackmore- brilliance is still there,
even better perhaps! Like a fine wine, as they say...
It's just that it isn't only rock music...he as the
freedom to musically express himself in so many different
realms whether it is Renaissance music, acoustic ballads,
or rock music. And we can play any song that we want
to without it having to be cleared through "the
committee". We just play because we love to play!
For the sake of the song... Another wonderful thing
is that so many of the fans that have been following
Ritchie for so long are married now and their wives
enjoy the music because it is romantic and fantasy
inspired...and the children are still innocent enough
to want to dress up as princesses or Robin Hood! But
getting the letters and hearing how it made you feel
and how the music has inspired you is the true gift.
Thank you for sharing that with me.
To answer your question, we only released our version
of the Rainbow song 16th Century Greensleeves on our
double live album Past Times With Good Company. Although
it continues to be one of our favorite ones to perform
live. And keep in mind that we also have a tendency
to do Soldier of Fortune, Black Night, Since You Been
Gone and may other great songs from Ritchie's back
pages. Although I must admit, although I love the
song Stargazer, I never thought of performing that
one! You have given me something to think about....There
are so many greats to choose from. So you never know
what we will choose to do next, actually , usually
I never know what he will ask me to sing next so whatever
it is may be a surprise for both of us!
We will be playing some dates in the US, though, so
don't forget to check www.blackmoresnight.com
and click on tourdates to see if we'll be in your
area. I hope you have a chance to get to one of the
shows. And thank you for your compliments and question...
Keep writing!
Love and light,
Candice
Email
questions to Candice at
nightanswers@aol.com
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