- June 26, 2008 -
 Hello everyone! I have had an incredibly busy June, so let me tell you how wild it was in this Message. It is hard for me to do any updates on my site when I am ALL over the place doing what I love most, playing guitar and making music. I was asked to be part of a corporate event with the Rock N Roll Fantasy camp on the Big Island in Hawaii. A very successful software company was doing their big thank you for the hard work their employers did, so they offered the opportunity to sign up for being part of the Fantasy Camp.
 Hawaii is simply peaceful, serene, and like the Garden of Eden! The hotel was perfect, food amazing, and the company I did my "rock star" counseling all made the trip a joy. I did get a short time to enjoy the pool, but you know it was work before pleasure. My band along with Elliot Easton from "The Cars" as my co-counselor won the competition at the big show. The set the Fantasy Camp counselor band did was great, and we performed on a stage built IN THE BAY off of the Marriot Hotel on the Big Island. An amazing night was had by all indeed! So, another successful event for the Fantasy Camp, as people who don't realize what it is to play on stage and make music, ham it up and go crazy from how playing or singing music can make you feel.
 I was up VERY early my next journey, as I was off to the heartland of America after that night on the bay to go to the middle of Kansas (Marion to be exact!) for a Grand Funk show. After 4 plane rides, (yes you read that right!) I made it safe and sound. After a long afternoon nap, it was time to perform for the big concert that town throws every year. We had a great crowd but what surprised me most was about 25 young "Guitar Hero" looking kids watching every move on my guitar directly in front of me. Their smiles were priceless. One of the perks of my career is making people enjoy what I do on the guitar, and that night it was very easy.
 Had a day and a half at home and then off to do another corporate Fantasy Camp gig for a famous publication, this time on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. ATLANTIS is a giant resort that is hard to describe so you will have to check out the pictures. Some of the other counselors I worked with were Kip Winger, Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Chris Slade from AC/DC, Elliot Easton from The Cars, and Mark Hudson who wrote and produced "Living on the Edge" for Aerosmith. We also had Jeff Foskett who is with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Simon Kirke from Bad Company and Free, and last but not least, Teddy Andreadis from G'n'R and Alice Cooper. Who was the big musical guest? NOT telling! Ha! Anyway, the event was a blast, and we all had an unforgettable time. Music truly has a way of making people smile and feel things that can't be duplicated. The Fantasy Camp events bring that magic to ordinary peoples lives.
 Early in the morning I was sadly off the lovely island and onto LAS VEGAS! Grand Funk had a show at the Green Valley Ranch in Henderson about 15 minutes from the Strip. That hotel has it all, and away from all the madness on the Strip. I scored tickets to ELTON JOHN's "The Red Piano" the night I flew in!! What a fantastic show. His music has always been a part of my life, and he is so entertaining. A must see if you are in Vegas. The GFR show was great and I love Vegas but it sure can be exhausting. I visited my buddy Mark Chatfield who is Bob Seger's guitarist but also owns a great guitar shop called "Cowtown Guitars". Of course I wanted to stay an extra day, as I was happy to know The Beatles "LOVE" show at the Mirage was playing that Sunday. To be honest it was my third time. OK, I am a pig. No, just a HUGE BEATLES fan! I love that show and the music is magical for sure. Get the Beatles' LOVE CD and you understand how perfect it was all done. I got to visit a few of the other huge casinos and ended the night with pictures from the PARIS Hotel's half size Eiffel Tower. What a day!
 Back to my home the next morning, and the very next day I would drive to the next GFR show. Del Mar, just north of San Diego, has a great fair that we have played before. So I drove down early so I could visit some friends. San Diego is one of the best cities in the US for sure. The show was fun, and my cousin who grew up in Hawaii was in attendance along with some other of my close friends. I headed back to LA after the show which started off smoothly till I saw the Interstate 5 was closed due to repairs... after a scary detour through Compton, (tough part of LA for those who don't know), and a gas station stop, I was finally in the right direction and safely back to my home. Phew. Detours are fine, IF they tell you where to go. No wonder those Garmins are so popular! Had a few days to rest but then one more show that week up in Stockton, CA. The show was fun, and I finally ended my 20 days of traveling and gigs. I was a bit tired but proud of all the good work I accomplished.
 CHECK THESE AWARDS OUT! I am very proud of the KISS mulit platinum discs that I received recently. Kissology II and Kissology III sold VERY well, and my years with the band are well featured, and I want to thank all the fans who have bought those DVDs. And a big thank you to VH-1 and Viacom and everyone at Fontana and Universal for getting this out and doing it right. (O.K., I love when stuff from Kiss is released that I am on... there I said it!)
So in conclusion, summer is here, and of course all of you have a fun and a safe time doing what you love. Try to catch some Grand Funk music... it is good for you! Ha!!!
All the best,
MESSAGE FROM BRUCE ARCHIVES
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