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I just stepped on the plane in C-town to begin another fun and exciting week of globetrotting around the world with Herman’s Hermits. This one starts out in Orlando, FL and ends in Singapore. Yes, I’ll be eating quite a few meals at 30,000ft this week.

I want to thank everyone for making my birthday so special this year…. All the cards, gifts, emails, and text messages I received plus the posting on Peter’s forum were truly heart-warming. Every time another b-day goes by it reminds me of all the good times I’ve had since the last one. So I think I’ll share just few of those Kodak moments.

Last November as I was at the fair buyers convention in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Café, I spirited away Wendy Kay of Utopia Artists, Meredith of Paradise Artists and Dina of Mars Talent to see the show my girlfriend performed in called “The Soprano’s Last Supper”. Here’s a picture of us with the three stars of the show, Kellie Karl, Tommy Lynch & Dean Mauro. All three of them have since left the show and moved on to bigger and better things so I guess this pic could actually be called a collector’s item.

“Kellie, Rich, Tommy, Dina, Dean, Meredith & Wendy”

Below is a pic of me on stage at the House Of Blues singing some Zep with my old friend Billy Morris (Warrant, Quiet Riot) last December at a tribute concert to Mitch Karczewski, a longtime Cleveland booking agent/manager who passed away.

“with Billy Morris”

In February of this year I went to Malaysia for the first time. The concerts were a great success. Here’s a picture of Peter and Hermits after the show with Dr. Ewe Jin Lim and his wife.

“Vance, Peter, The doctor and his wife, Rich & Dave”

Back at the One World Hotel after the show I took over the piano for a bit and entertained Dr. Ewe Jin Lim and friends. The doctor joined in later and sang a couple of Bee Gee songs.

“having fun at the One World Hotel in Malaysia”

In the spring of this year we performed a show in the wonderful town of Torrington, CT. The Hermits and the Noonatics were staying at same hotel. It was a grand old hotel that some say is haunted. After the show, I snuck in at “Noonatic Central” to visit for a while. Noonatics can enter through the door….all others have to sneak in some other way. I entered via the window….and it was on the second floor!!!

“sneaking into Noonatic Central”

Upon entering, I discovered this mystical room with laptops everywhere and people typing away on them. When I asked what they were doing they told me that they were at this secretive place on Peter Noone’s website called the “chat room”. Well, after a few lessons from Mo I was off and running, chatting away for my very first time….under an alias of course!!!

“Mo teaching me how to chat”

Remember: Spina, Sullivan & Hudak will be doing a reunion show at the Mad Cactus the night before Thanksgiving. That’s November 26. Make sure you stop out and say hello. See ya when I get back from Singapore!!