When I rolled the movie screen of my life before my eyes, I always pictured myself standing as the leader of blues band on a European tour.  You know…a striking figure on stage in silhouette—with a guitar—the wind blowing my scarf and hair.  Big dreams!  But a full year before Dr Blu was formed I had a chance to do this (without the silhouette and wind).  You see, I wanted to form a family band…to have my three Gen Y kids and my wife back me with drums, bass, & vocals.   Just once in my life, I wanted to play live on stage with my whole family.  I also have to say that deep down I had a desperate need to know that the fourteen thousand, three hundred and ninety five dollars spent in music lessons was worth it. How the family got to “performance level”, how we joined with another family Celtic band and how my German friend Lawrence cobbled together a fourteen day Europe tour is a whole other story… but let me skip to our starting concert Over Seas.

We arrive in Germany for our first gig in a small town just outside of Nuremburg.  Believe it or not, we are the opening act for a “Three Day October-Fest Spectacular Outdoor Concert.”  My little family band is buzzed.  With hundreds of people watching, we played a solid set and the mayor of this town, acting as MC, was suitably impressed. With his German accent and cigarette waving he says:

“Thank you so much Dr Blu—let’s give a big hand for Canada’s Eric Clapton. I love the way you play…now, schnell!  Hurry!  Off with your equipment.  You must move.  Now bring out the tumbling mats”.

So we grabbed our amps from the stage, moved to the side and watched with surprise as little girls filed past us in pretty pink gym attire.  That’s when it dawned on me in a “Spinal Tap” moment…Dr Blu was the warm-up act for the grade three tumbling teddy bears.  Well—we all have to start somewhere.