June 30, 2002
Added Dutch band Ebon, performing Venice's song, "The Family Tree."  Check that out on the Fan Covers Page.


June 23, 2002
This just in from Michael Lennon, who will be staying in the Bahamas for the next couple of weeks to assist with the mixing and mastering of the new album:

Hey everybody,

Kipp and Pat left for home today.  Kind of a sad day for me, but I'm excited to finish up soon.  Lots of work ahead, with little time to do it.  Sony has proven their commitment once again by allowing us to add two days to the existing budget in order to take some stress off of finishing in time.  Still, it will be quite a task.  I challenge anyone to make a better record than this in 38 days..........Okay, Beatles excluded.

Yesterday was the last day of vocals.  We did 'Think Again.'  What a great way to finish!  It is a MONSTER!  All that's left is my guitar, piano and percussion overdubs.

Had a chance to talk with Mutt Lange for a brief moment.  He's one of the greatest producers in the world....AC/DC, Cars, Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard. They're finishing Shania's new album here, or at least doing overdubs.

Anyway, tell the fans we said Hi, and we are so excited to hear them sing these new songs back to us.

Gotta go get some sun on my last day off.  Cheers!

Michael - Venice

Accompanying the letter were some photos and one new movie, all of which, of course, have been added to the Bahamas Page.


June 18, 2002
Hey, we're back!  After a few days offline due to a accounting error at domain registration, Venice Central makes its triumphant return.

Unfortunately, my e-mail account is tied to this server, so if you've sent me any e-mail since last Friday, it's very likely to float lost in cyberspace forever.  So please re-send.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.  Kipp Lennon wrote to me to announce that Sony has decided to release Venice's new album on the Columbia label. This is fantastic news, since this legendary label is home to such greats as Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, David Bowie, Mariah Carey, Miles Davis, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Lauryn Hill, Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor and Roger Waters. Pretty good company, I'd say.

Kipp wrote on Sunday: "I just did my lead vocal on "Precious Stone" this morning. I only have two leads left... 'Father Time' and 'Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life.' Mark's got three left, I think. Things are sounding great and we're all pretty excited, but we barely have time to appreciate what it is we're actually doing. We have so much to do in such a limited amount of time that we just forge on after each performance with only just enough time to say 'Sounds good' and move on."

If all goes well, Kipp will return home as early as Thursday of this week. I don't know the schedules for the others, except that Michael will remain for two weeks longer than everyone else to assist with the mixing and mastering.

Finally, two new pictures have been added to the Bahamas Page.


June 13, 2002
One new movie added today, to the Bahamas Page.


June 11, 2002
Some new pictures posted today, over on the Bahamas Page.

I also got a bit of insight into what to expect with the next album.  I asked Michael Lennon what effect producer Terry Manning and the full professional studio are having on the songs, and in what way the album will sound different than it might have, had they done it the same way as the last two releases.  Michael's answer:  "It's much bigger and more powerful.  There's only so much that you can get out of a demo studio in a garage.  We are all very happy with the amount of punch in the recordings."  And he adds, "It's also nice not to have to be in charge of the technical side of things, other than voicing an opinion on sounds, etc."


June 10, 2002
This just in from Michael Lennon:

We did our first vocal last night.  Kipp sang "One Word."  Earlier in the day, I played bass on "Sweet Aloha."  Today we will be doing background vocals on "One Word" and "Sweet Aloha."  Mark will be singing lead on "Sweet Aloha," and later tonight I will do some electric guitar overdubs.

Sony's Head of Public Relations is here with Jan Willem (also from Sony) and a journalist, Ron, from Holland's biggest paper called Telegraph.  I think they are doing a feature story on us for a SepteI played bass on "Sweet Aloha."  Today, we will be doing background vocals on "One Word" and "Sweet Aloha."  Mark wimber issue, which will coincide with release of the Album......Yippeeee!

Talk soon,
Michael


June 9, 2002
Many new Bahamas pictures (with people in them this time!) and a few new movies were added today.  But rather than continue to post everything onto the News Page, I've built them their own little area.  From now on, updates will be made there, with notification posted here.  Check it out.  In the future, you can access this new section from the main page, in the center box underneath the table of contents.


June 6, 2002
Update from the front lines...

Michael Lennon writes:  "Sunday, we had our first day off.  We took a taxi that had no reverse into town, and spent the day at the world famous Atlantis Hotel.  Jamie was able to join us.  Alexis Sklarevski (bass) arrived Monday and Chris Horvath (keys) arrived Tuesday, and are now here through Saturday the 8th of June.  Jamie left on Monday and all drum tracks have been completed."

Michael also sent a few more pictures he's taken of the area where Venice is staying and working.  A shame the scenery is so bleak and bland, huh?  (Those pictures can now be found here.)


June 5, 2002
The band has sent some new photos from the Bahamas.  (Those pictures can now be found here.)


June 3, 2002
According to Kipp Lennon, the recording of the new album is coming along really well.  They've been working on drums, bass and guitars.  No vocals yet.  Kipp and Mark are spending their days helping with the creative decisions (arrangements, performances, working on art ideas, etc.) and snorkeling.  Jamie Wallum left today.  Alexis Sklarevski comes in tonight, and Chris Horvath arrives tomorrow.

I can finally confirm that Venice will definitely be performing at Bospop in July, and will probably do two or three other shows in the Netherlands in the one week that they're over there.  The real touring will be in the fall, after the album is released.