Virginia Wagner Newsletter

Early April Happy Spring, everyone! I'm so glad we all made it through the snow and slush...now my Aussie friends are just making their way into the fall and winter, (hey Cam! glad to be on the ride with you!) but for the rest of us...c'mon sunshine! I think that this year I will ignore the threat of sunstroke and all the attendent harm and will just bask in the sun! Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, Lynnie and John, for putting up with me and Buddy and Daphne for the winter. It will be fun to be back home in Andover. There's going to be a memorial for Johnny Thunders at CBGBs in New York City on April 23rd starting at 7:30 pm and my dear friend, Alison Gordy, is going to be one of the performers. Johnny, if you didn't know, was one of the founding members of the NY Dolls, and is known as the Godfather of Punk. Hard to believe, but it's 10 years since he's passed. I would like to also remember Jamey Heath, saxaphone player extraordinare, for both Johnny and Alison, who passed three years ago. Jamey was a gentle soul and is sorely missed, as is Johnny. I had lunch with my rock and roll sisters, Alison and Jesse Duperon, yesterday. Such inspiration. I'm so lucky to have them both in my life. Thank you, Jesse, for the rock and roll hand bag! More details on the Johnny tribute to follow. Peace... Almost March Well, the little snow cloud that follows my friends in The Secret Admirers caught up with me last night and snowed out my gig! Spring is on the way, though, so hold on. I spent last weekend reading Travels With My Amp by Greg Godovitz and I highly recommend it. If you've ever played in a rock band, or even played air guitar, this book is for you. 25 years of Canadian rock history is played out here in all its gore and glory. For ordering information, go to my links page and scroll to Bullseye Records of Canada's link. They've also recently reissued several Goddo albums, plus a new one called 2nd Best Seat in the House I'll have some kind of a tour schedule posted in March, so stop back. And say "hello" while you're here! Stay safe! Just a little bit later in January I would like to thank my godchild Gina Donahue for all the wonderful work she's done with this website. Gina is the mastermind behind the whole thing, and she's done a great job. Loveyouloveyouloveyou! anferginia. Late January, 2001 This has been a busy month, and it shows no sign of letting up. I went into the studio on Jan. 3rd with my friend Andy Goessling, (Blue Sparks from Hell, Kings in Disguise, The Secret Admirers) and recorded an instrumental version of the song "Hammer and the Anvil" for Amos' film. It came out beautifully. Belated thanks to Andy for driving and for parking the car (in the two feet of snow that had fallen on Weehawken, NJ). Thanks, also, to Charlie, for another fine session. Andy's band, The Secret Admirers, has just released a new CD. Find out all about it at http://www.thesecretadmirers.com. It features Andy, Lisa Knouse, and Dave Goessling. It's really cool. I'll be appearing at Tierney's Pub, 136 Valley Rd., Montclair, NJ on Saturday, January 27th as part of the Shee Collective. We released a compilation disk last summer and this is the official party! Come out and see the show! And this is new, from the “Links” page on this site, you can access a new feature, which is under construction: the Poetry Page. Check it out! December 2000 I would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. I look forward to seeing you out on the road in 2001! I've uploaded the song North Lake onto MP3.com. Please let me know how you like it. And I'm sorry that the songs on this site weren't working. I wasn't aware of it until last week; they will be fixed shortly. Some news of my friends: Greg Godovitz, of Canada's legendary band Goddo, has just released an autobiography titled "Travels With My Amp". I read the first 175 pages as they were coming off his computer and laughed till my sides hurt. Contact http://www.bullseyecanada.com for ordering information. You won't be disappointed. Alison Gordy will have at least one of her songs in "Loretta Went South"; it's a thrill to work with one of the most wonderful women in Rock and Roll. Based in NYC, Alison has appeared in over 300 films to date, and many commercials. She was in Johnny Thunders band, and fronted her own band "Blonde and Blue" for several years. I am hoping for a reunion tour this year. Willie Nile's wonderful album, "Beautiful Wreck of the World" is up for an Independent Music Award. I really like this album. Check it out on his website at http://www.willienile.com. Charlie Elgart and Willie both have contributed songs and music (and sound engineering skills) to the soon to be released movie "Pinch Me!" Charlie is in pre-production with me for my new album, among all the other things he is busy with. That's it for December. Everyone stay safe. November 2000 The song "Hammer and the Anvil" from Broken Hearted Angel has been chosen for the film Loretta Went South by director Amos Kollek, starring Louise Lasser. It will be released this coming winter. October 2000 On September 23rd, 2000, Virginia Wagner and longtime friend and producer Charlie Elgart began production on her new album, titled Phoenix Rising at 110. The ten songs on this album will explore the universe of emotions that encompass the soul of Everyman.