First off, I have to say that Detroit gets a bad rap. Look, I get it; Detroit is dangerous. It was once an industrial metropolis, and now it's fallen to ruin. But, I'll tell ya, it's pretty awesome. We've been here a week, and we have one more to go. It's been a fun, eventful week, even though it's snowed quite a bit, and has been quite cold.
The week started off strong, as I got to open the show here as Sam Phillips! The Fisher is a great old theatre; it's what I always picture when I think of Broadway theatres; backstage, that is. It was an amazing experience to open the show here, and I hope I'll get to do it again!
On Wednesday, Steve, Lee, John Michael and I headed to "Hitsville USA", better known to most as the home of MOTOWN records. A truly eye-opening experience. I love the MOTOWN sound and almost all music from that era, but I had no idea how many of the best artists of all time recorded there. Breathtaking. It comes in a close second as the best museum I've ever been to, second only to Sun Studios, and just squeaking by the Booth Western Art Museum in Georgia.
Following our great time at MOTOWN, we visited a landmark of feuding foods in downtown; Lafayette Coney's and American Coney Island. John Michael and I got coney's at each to compare...he liked the dog better at American, but I didn't like their chili. So, as far as I'm concerned, Lafayette is the winner!!!!!!!!!
On Friday, John Michael (whom I have given a new nickname...I will now refer to him only as THE JAM) visited The Henry Ford museum......wow. So much stuff to look at, I could've gotten lost for days. The highlights were seeing JFK's limosine (the one he was assassinated in), The Rosa Park's Bus, and the chair from the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre that President Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. So cool. I got a little more than weepy as I entered a special exhibit about our founding fathers and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Today a bunch of us went to a really cute, hip part of town and visited a great vintage clothing store (I got one of the EXACT shirts I wore for 200 shows of Ring of Fire, and a western jacket that is pretty close) and a great record store. What a great day!
It was a bit of a sad week in that Billy ended his month-long run as Elvis, and we bid adieu to Steve Benoit. A great guy, an amazing musician, and a fantastic Elvis. He will be missed, but I'm sure we'll see him again soon. However, we DO welcome Cody Slaughter back to the show, so the original tour group is back intact!
Tomorrow I'll be heading to my (7th, I think?) Hard Rock Cafe here in Detroit before I head to the theatre. So, here's hoping week 2 here is even better than the first! Stayed tuned for more news!
I just finished reading Killing Lincoln, by Bill O'Reilly, and the Lincoln chair that you mention was a rocker, wasn't it? Do you remember when we went to Ford's Theater? I am sure that the original chair wasn't there in the theater at the time we went. I am glad that you are going to all these great museums and historic places while on tour.
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