Happy December everyone (except JetCity62)! This month we have chosen as FCMotM none other than Cherychee (or as I call her Renee)! Among the hobbies I have made up for her, she enjoys collecting wax figurines of zoo animals, licking stamps, burping the alphabet, and pre-washing dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. A former enlisted military woman (Air Force), she has proven to not only be taller, stronger, smarter, and better looking than me, she’s also able to wear paisley and make it look cool. No trolls were injured during this interview process….
UA: Since you’re freshly back from the ShipRocked Cruise, I’m assuming you have many stories to tell about how awesome it was. Can you share some quick tales of awesome with us?
Renee: Well, this might not be awesome to other people, but because I am an archaeology student, I actually got permission to bring back a pottery chard found during our tour of a Mayan village. What makes it awesome is that it is usually a big no-no! A new friend finally got to meet and get her picture taken with Geoff on the last night of the cruise. I think that made the trip for her. Then the joke became that she was ALMOST as excited about meeting Geoff as I was about getting my pottery chard! [UA: I wonder if it was made of Coprolite?]
Actually Shiprocked related, I went to the Bass Players dinner. There were bassists from four different bands at the dinner, but all attending passengers happened to be friends already because they were all Rychers! Of course, we treated all the bass players with class and respect because that is the Rycher way. But it was great to see those guys getting to sit down and have dinner together. They were like little kids at Christmas. It was great fun to just sit back and watch how excited they were to be able to get together and talk.
The bar service was terrible on the ship, so if your goal for being on the cruise was to get drunk, you had to do it in port. So MANY people did! One Shiprocker was so drunk; they brought her back to the ship in a wheel chair. Another did her one better. He mouthed off to the Federales, so he got taken into custody. He was caught trying to get back on the ship, so many passengers got to watch as his luggage was tossed off the ship and he was taken away in hand cuffs (of course neither of these were Rychers, since we are much better behaved ;-D). Sorry, no dirt to dish on any fellow Rychers. We manage to have a great time WITHOUT getting arrested. [UA: Pictures of debauchery can be sent to….]
UA: Other than Queensryche, did you see any other bands on the cruise that I should be listening to?
Renee: The Voodoos, of course! They were also fun to have on the ship on their off time. Candlebox was another class act to meet, and their performances were terrific as well. I was introduced to the lead singer’s mother Donna, shortly before their 2nd performance, and sat with her. To see that you really are never too old to rock added to that experience. What a great lady! A new discovery for me was Lynam. I hear they have played every SR so far, so I look forward to seeing them again on the next one. I am NOT a Buckcherry fan, but people who do like them will probably also like Hell Yeah. [UA: No Huey Lewis and the News?]
UA: How effective do you believe Bob Barker was in reminding people to spay or neuter their pets at the end of every episode of the Price is Right? Have you ever questioned your spaying or neutering decision years later while cursing him and his public service announcements?
Renee: Well, since (I have no idea why) a lot of ladies had a crush on him, they would probably listen to anything he said, so he may have done a lot of good getting to people who otherwise may have never gotten the message. No, I have never questioned spaying or neutering (or cursed Bob Barker). Spaying and neutering is very important not only for the life and health of your pet, but for doing your part in helping curb the epidemic of homeless animals.
UA: What is your favorite Queensryche song and why?
Renee: That is like asking which is your favorite rose on a bush! They all have some of the same great qualities, but are still unique. I have different ones I prefer in different moods. I guess since Roads to Madness always comes to mind, it must be the real favorite. Why? Perhaps because it is the longest, so you get the QR sound for longer? Actually, I think it is because it mixes it up. It has haunting melodies and raging instrumentals, smooth vocals and sung screams, all in the same song.
UA: For the past year you have been carrying around a Barbie doll in your giant purse waiting to spring it (and it’s many social diseases) upon unsuspecting strangers like myself. Can you remind me why (without slurring this time please)?
Renee: Firstly, it isn’t a giant purse. It is an awesome Queensryche tote bag that MathesK made for me. My purse, jacket, merch purchases, and the Barbie all fit in it. I want to tell all who indulged me in the Barbie travels that I really do appreciate it. Barbie goes to a new home in 2 weeks, and I challenge her next host to take her on bigger, better adventures! [UA: The purse is bigger than my grandmothers….]
Hmm. The shortest version – a group of friends who take boat trips together found a Barbie tied to a tree that we were going to tie our houseboat to for the weekend. People in the next cove had an RC boat that they kept driving into our cove. We captured it and sent Barbie off sailing on it. We missed her after that, and someone came up with the idea of buying a new “Boat Trip Barbie” that people had to take on adventures each year, then pass on at our Christmas party to someone else in the group. 2011 was my year. [UA: Note this was a far less erotic story than I heard when Barbie visited me… I suspect Renee is hiding something….]
UA: Speaking of the veterinary industry, you once got to have lunch with Jack Hanna (who is not a veterinarian nor in the industry). What type of exotic animal did the two of you eat, and was he as dreamy in real life as he is on TV?
Renee: I believe we were eating Cheetah because they forgot to spay the mama, & couldn’t find decent homes for the litter. (Not really. We were at his project The Wilds. They rescue and research animals there, and really do have a beautiful cheetah litter this year.) Jack Hanna is a funny guy. It seems who he is on TV is who he is. He never turns it off. But he does love talking about his animal projects, and even told me about one of his several humanitarian projects that is his current favorite. I did not know until that lunch that he does humanitarian projects. But yes, he is pretty dreamy when he is telling you about something he is excited to talk about. [UA: I wonder if Andrew Zimmer followed Jack Hanna around long enough his palate would expand to the ‘endangered foods’….]
UA: You claim your main hobby is traveling to Queensryche shows. What was the most awesome show you’ve seen and why? (You can be honest here and say that Freezing in Digital is really the best group of fans).
Renee: That is like asking what is my favorite song. I loved the Mindcrime tour and the American Soldier tour, and the Cabaret. I don’t go to live shows for sound, so I’m not a big critic of live sound. If you want great sound, stay home and listen to your CDs. I go for the live energy. You can tell when the guys are happy with their sound, and when they are having technical difficulties. In Albuquerque this past September, everything must have been coming together right. Geoff’s voice was dead-on, you could see on the faces of the rest of the guys and from the energy in their playing, they were having a good time being there. That fed the audience, so the audience gave the energy back. It was a fantastic evening! I have also heard that the Albuquerque crowd can be quite rough, but we came away with only one injury. Milwaukee this past August was the best show for hanging with some awesome fellow Rychers! What a great day that was! [Agreed!]
UA: How many times have you seen Queensryche?
Renee: I don’t keep an exact count. But since I missed a lot of great tours with other great bands I would also have loved to see back when I was too poor to travel, I try to make up for that now. My goal is to average seeing 10 shows per year. So I figure I have seen them somewhere around 50 times so far. I’m looking forward to at least 50 more!
UA: I’m struggling with narcissism issues. Please tell me about how awesome I am, and use examples.
Renee: While I would never publically admit to knowledge of your awesomeness myself, I can pass along a story. In August I took my 25 year old son, Justin, on my QR travels. We met up with several great Rychers in four different cities. We had a fantastic trip. During the drive home, we were talking about the great times over the past few days, and my son getting to understand what it is to be a Rycher (that we are NOT just “groupies”). Out of the blue, TOTALLY unprovoked, he turned to me and said “Adam is awesome!” I about rolled on the floor (which is not a safe thing to do when you are driving) that he actually came up with that word all on his own! [UA: I’m also very sexy]
UA: According to my intense Internet research on you (aka “stalking”), you’re a big fan of archeology. Ignoring the fourth Indiana Jones movie, how accurate are archeologists portrayed in the movies?
Renee: Actually, not at all. A lot of archaeologists are museum curators, lab researchers, or field researchers. Field research is days on end of digging and finding absolutely nothing. That is what makes the payoff even bigger when you DO find something. Just the same, I look forward to getting paid to play in the dirt far away from the nearest working phone! I just wonder how dig seasons will coincide with tour schedules.
UA: If Queensryche were to be represented by scented candles, what scents would they be?
Sorry, guys, but Adam asked, and they just don’t make candle scents with names that sound very masculine or rockin’…
Geoff Tate: Fresh Cut Roses – classic, elegant, never out of style.
Ed Bass: Ocean Breeze – Ed “breezed” into an ocean side shop I was in on Cozumel, and helped negotiate a fair trade for something I wanted to buy there. Thanks again, Ed. I got it home safely.
Whip: Sage & Citrus – spicy rocker on stage, sweet guy off stage. (Sorry if I let the cat out of the bag. Whip & Kerrie Lynn were in the same shop, and helped me figure out how to get my purchase home.)
Scott Rock: Rosemary Lavender – another spicy rocker on stage, sweet family man off stage.
Parker: Apple Cider – Parker made us wince and pucker at how stiff he was his first night on stage, but he warmed up nicely.
Scurlock: Patchouli – you’ve heard of it, you know it exists, but you aren’t quite sure what it is… [UA: Sasquatch]
UA: My quest for Renee on Renee death battle action is getting closer to reality every day! Have you ever met the Bustos and do you think you could take her in a fight?
Renee: Sure, I have met Renee! We are best buds! You would be hard pressed to get us into a fight. There is little we disagree about. I know one thing that might do it, and who could take whom depends on who is more motivated to prove they are right (if the fight outcome got to settle the disagreement). What I can tell you is that you do NOT want Renee & me teaming up to come after YOU! I know who would win if that happened. [UA: Note - they often fight over ‘who likes Adam more’]
UA: Imagine this: I have been out drinking and show up at your house wearing nothing but chaps. What Queensryche song do you play to keep me from sitting down on your freshly cleaned couch?
Renee: I think I would have to play “NO SANCTUARY” before you start Spreading the Disease, and my couch is permanently “Damaged”.
UA: Do you have any rockin’ charities you would like to promote?
Renee: Yes, definitely! Firstly, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Anyone who has been on the boards for at least four years knows how important it is to me that a cure be found, hopefully within the next 10-15 years! Secondly, The Cat Welfare Association (or any charity like it). There are way too many homeless pets, and for some reason, people seem to be much less concerned about whole feral colonies of homeless cats than dogs. Cats get abandoned and end up as food for some predator entirely too often. People think it is a safe bet dropping pregnant cats off at farms, but farms are often in coyote territory. Think about that for a minute. Please make sure your own pets are spayed or neutered unless you are a RESPONSIBLE breeder, express this importance to friends and family, and support spay & neuter programs in your area. If you are looking for a new pet, please go to rescues to find your new family member to make room there for a new homeless animal. [UA: And a return to the wisdom of Bob Barker]
UA: I heard that during the American Soldier tour, you made AJ Fratto a “Mini Me”. What was that about?
Renee: Well, in the military, although we are all “Brothers in Arms”, we poke fun at other branches. AJ was Navy, so I had to make fun of what he wore on stage since it looked more like an Army uniform, so I called him a “Squid in Grunt’s clothing”. I got a plush squid, and made it a uniform like the one he wore on stage, and gave it to him. He thought it was hilarious. I was glad to see it was well received.
UA: I think we can all admit that Queensryche fans are slightly fanatical. What do you really think about these IRL humans who call themselves “Rychers”?
Renee: They are just the best people in the world! I know I can travel to a city I have never been to before if it is to see a Queensryche show, and know I will meet new friends that I can look forward to getting together with again. This band just really attracts the best of people as fans. I look forward to each of my Queensryche travels as an opportunity to meet and make new wonderful friends!
UA: If you could buy one band member and Uncle Adam lunch, which band member would it be and at where would you take us?
Renee: I have heard Ed likes to cook, so I would choose him. Where we go would depend on his mood at the time. If he is interested in experimenting, I would take him to my kitchen where my chef son, Justin, and I have been known to come up with some delectable concoctions. I have friends in the restaurant industry who are experimental chefs. We could go to one of their restaurants and ask them to impress us. Or, for a relaxed atmosphere, there is a great Greek pub in German Village, actually owned by an Albanian who fancies himself more a copper sculptor than chef (he created the beautiful décor for his place). They do have more than Greek items on the menu. I hear their lobster ravioli is fantastic. But I prefer the hummus and grape leaves. [UA: Did she just ask Ed and me if we were experimental and would wear Grape Leaves for her? The answer is yes and yes.]