BILLY IDOL / CAMP FREDDY guitarist Billy Morrison has checked in with the following blog:

"The term ‘Day Off’ is grossly misused on most tours. Usually it means travel. What they really mean is 'You get a day off from actually performing today, but we’re going to a) drive 600 miles, b) fly 2000 miles or c) both!'

The logistics of touring are such that it’s almost impossible to route a tour without these kinds of ‘days off’ – by the time the traveling is done, the budget determines that the following day needs to be a show day. It’s all about the numbers. So I usually look at the itinerary with some skepticism….but today turns out to be a true Day Off. Now granted it happens in Biloxi, Mississippi, but nevertheless, there really is nothing to do today. I woke up on the bus, in the middle of a parking lot, somewhere ‘close’ to the hotel, and once I had literally dragged my cases through a gravel/sand area the size of a football field, I managed to check in, take a shower, drink coffee and feel somewhat human. So I guess the question is….what do you do with yourself on a Day Off?

The novelty wears off after about an hour and a half for me. No human contact, lots of coffee, and an inspection of the room and I’m pretty much ready to move on. But with another 36 hours to kill before we have to do anything, I usually get constructive and work on the sites. Update this one, tweak the Idol site, maybe throw a Tweet or two up. I also tend to get random ideas during this time, like …. 'Wouldn’t it be nice to get all the original ANTS / BOW WOW WOW / CHIEFS together and play all those songs again?' Somehow that one turned into reality! The Scala, London, Nov 21st – be there!

I use the time to go through the ridiculous amount of pics from the current tour – trying to keep up with Charles (the photographer who shoots every show) and looking for good ones to use. But again, a couple of hours geeking out in cyberspace and its time for a change. Today was laundry day – oh yes, the glamour of it all! – a taxi from the hotel into town to find a local place that will do all my shit and have it ready for tomorrow – that was the change I got today.

On returning, for instance, today is in a Casino…… so it strikes me that a couple of hours of innocent gambling might kill some time. More than a few dollars later, and I am starting to feel broke and hungry. Ah yes. When bored….EAT! OK – time to find somewhere half decent. I call a couple of the band and we go for some food. The ‘Day Off’ is starting to feel a lot like work, figuring out ways to keep my over-enthusiastic mind occupied. Download some TV from I-Tunes and that’ll help later tonight. I guess what I’m realizing about myself is that the concept of a day off gets lost on me. I feel I’m forgetting something – not making the most of my time. Relaxing doesn’t come easy for me, and I wonder why. Some people can simply read a book, lay around taking a nap or three, and be perfectly happy. What is it about my head that keeps moving at 100mph? This has to be part of the reason I threw so many narcotics into my body back in the day – that shit slows you right down! Day Off…..what a waste of fucking time. That’s what my head tells me. The only time I really, truly relax is on a beach, miles from anywhere, with scuba diving firmly on the menu. I guess I know what I’ll be doing this Christmas.

The concept of a day off is different for everyone. Some people live their whole lives in one huge day off. Others work like a dog from the age of 18 to retirement, like my Dad. Somewhere in the middle lies a nice, healthy balance I believe. But at the time of writing, I don’t think I’ve found that balance. I have had periods of my life where I literally sit on the couch playing video games for weeks at a time. But I’m not relaxed. The head is still spinning, real life is piling up, and I’d call that depression! Most of the time I am balls-to-the-wall juggling six projects and making all around me stare at me, shaking their heads and waiting for the inevitable crash to happen. Balance has never been my strong point. ‘More’ has always seemed better to me. If the laundry detergent says ‘One cap full of liquid’, then SURELY two caps would make it cleaner? If it says ‘Take two’ with meals, then I KNOW that taking 15 throughout the day will be way more effective. Welcome to my head!

My day off has drawn to a close now, and writing this piece has certainly killed about 30 minutes of it. Tomorrow, its back to work in Biloxi. Clean clothes, guitars to tweak, moving on across the US, emails, phone calls……ah, the familiarity of busy. So comforting."

Peace,

Billy

Billy Idol's complete tour schedule can be viewed here.