Ask your questions

• Q : Chuck Hobson (Mar 23, 2006) : No questions, just thanks for continuing to come to Seattle (have seen the last two Miracle Three shows at the Tractor) and putting on such a great show. Thanks also for that great tribute to Bryan Harvey on the Rhino web site. I saw House of Freaks in Charlottesville when they were just getting started, and I really regret never having seen Gutterball live. I've always considered you and Bryan kindred spirits; your tribute confirms that. thank you.

• A : Steve Wynn : Bryan and I were kindred spirits in many ways and coming from entirely different places in other ways and that was the foundation of our friendship, mutual amusement and the ability to write so many songs together. I wrote more songs with Bryan than anyone else in my life and every one of them came easily and with a lot of laughs and good times. That kind of thing doesn't happen every day. I'd like to think people will continue to discover his music since he was an incredible writer/guitarist/singer. Track down “Invisible Jewel” which I always maintain was a blueprint for a whole chunk of indie and lo-fi rock records of the last ten years (this is not an exaggeration-the record was a HUGE influence on Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous and he took the sound and mood of that record to the semi-masses.

• Q : Zowie (Mar 19, 2006) : I can see that you are going on a short Europe tour this spring, but I am both suprised and sad that you are not comming to Copenhagen this time. How can that be possible??

• A : Steve Wynn : Next time, I swear. I really hate to miss Copenhagen on any tour since it's one of my favorite places to play. But it was a short tour and we couldn't hit everywhere. I'm guessing I'll be back sometime in 2007.

• Q : patrick (Mar 11, 2006) : Hello Steve, You probably won't remember, but some years ago I talked to you when you played at the Manuscript in Ostend (Belgium). I play in a band called Thin Line Men (we started it after seeing Dream Syndicate in Brussels) and we have a new album out. Would love to send it to you if you'd give me your post address!

• A : Steve Wynn : Send it to PO Box 1912, New York, NY 10025. Man, I miss the Manuscript. Well, I know that Linda and Erik had a beer there a few months ago but I chose to call it an early night. What was I thinking???

• Q : mikelod_1@yahoo,com (Jan 25, 2006) : Steve - I didn't know where else to write this --I have a podccast called Most People Are DJs at www.mostpeoplearedjs.com, where I play great new independent music. I've recently join PodShow www.podshow.com which will give me access to lots of podcast listeners. I'm a huge fan of yours and I would like permission music ny you on my show: -I only play 1 track per artist -I always give artist and label info -I can directly download your music from eMusic so you need send me nothing This is great exposure for you and keeps my podcast filled with new and innovative music. Thanks Mikel O.D. www.mostpeoplearedjs.com

• A : Steve Wynn : You have my blessing. And Thanks! Pod pod pod away!

• Q : michel.huygens@coditel.net (Dec 22, 2005) : Hi steve, When you played in Brussels last week i happend to buy your new cd ticj..tck..tick but unfortunately there's something wrong with the cd because it doesn't play in either of my 3 machines. When you buy it in a shop you can return it but when you buy it just like that at the entrence of the venue and it doesn't work. What ot do then?

• A : Steve Wynn : I'm sorry I didn't see your email until this week. I think it's best to send your letter to FanmasterNYC@aol.com and I'm sure it will be dealt with immediately. I'm sorry to hear your story. Sometimes those round pieces of data just don't do their job.

• Q : flo (Dec 02, 2005) : Hi Steve, unfortunately I missed the concert in regensburg on 22th of november. sorry saw you there two times ago & it was really great ever... I`m searching for an old dram syndicate record on cd. Ì`ve still got it as a vinyl record for 20 years, but for listening to it while driving in my car (& in my brain Through the past) I`m looking for it? Do you perhaps know where to get it or a copy? Does A&M Records plan a reissue? Greetings & take care - see you soon Flo

• A : Steve Wynn : I wish I had an answer for this one. Just when I think that A&M might reissue the Medicine Show I am disappointed to see the project put on hold once again. But I am an optimist and figure it will happen at some point. My advice? Write a letter to A&M records-maybe to someone in the A&R department and let them know how you feel.

• Q : Brent (Sep 10, 2005) : Steve - Where did you get that guitar strap I saw in the photos from this years SXSW?

• A : Steve Wynn : It was given to me by a fan at a show a few years back in Italy. I was really touched by his generosity and his artistry. I had always wanted a beautiful guitar strap and now I have one. The only problem is that the email address he gave to me wasn't working and my thanks bounced back. Hey, if you're reading this-I LOVE that strap. Thanks!

• Q : diego (Sep 06, 2005) : hi steve, i´m writing from uruguay ( south america) and i want to know if you ever have shared the stage with your (our) heroes : lou reed, neil young & bob dylan... if that happen....how it was???

• A : Steve Wynn : Interesting question, Diego. I manage to do a good job of dodging my heroes but I did share a backstage with Lou Reed at the Bottom Line in New York about ten years ago. We had both been guests with John Wesley Harding and found ourselves in the cramped room to the side of the now-closed venue. I asked him about distortion pedals and he had some very definite opinions. Not a great story but there you go.

• Q : Ewan Brocklehurst (Jul 09, 2005) : Hi Steve: I've been listening to you since 1987 with the Dream Syndicate and I have most of your commercial releases. My basic question is - When do you plan on getting to Canada, specifically the East Coast.

• A : Steve Wynn : Yes, I'm way overdue for a tour up in Canada and since "...tick...tick...tick" will be released in your country early next year, I'm sure I'll be up for some shows. I've played three times at the Horseshoe in Toronto over the last ten years and the gigs have all been fun. So why not do it again? Stay tuned.

• Q : Nata (Jul 04, 2005) : yessssssss!!! You're comming to Croatia again!! See you there! THANKS!! Last concert in fall 2003 was the best one i've ever saw.

• A : Steve Wynn : The best you ever saw? Man, that's nice to hear. I guess we'll have to play an even better one when we show up later this Fall. See you soon, Nata.

• Q : Chris Hughes (Mar 23, 2005) : I saw the Dream Syndicate August 1984 in Athens Georgia. I thought I remember Mike Mills and Pete buck come up on stage do you remember that or was I dreaming ? Also do you remember what song they might have played with you ?

• A : Steve Wynn : You certainly were not dreaming. But you have forgotten a few details. The show in Athens was a performance by the one-time-only band Adolf and the Casuals, featuring Raoul. The band was the Syndicate with Peter Buck added on guitar and we played a bunch of covers ("Ghostbusters" three times!) in exchange for $20 of credit at a local clothing store. I still have the red smoking jacket (and wore it on the cover of "Live at Raji's") that i bought that night. I can't remember all of the other songs but I think there was a Stones song or two and "Sweet Home Alabama."

• Q : Christer Sjöberg (Feb 11, 2005) : Hi Steve, I'm a long time fan from the south of Sweden. I have never seen you perform live, so it was great news to see that you will be at the SXSW festival in Austin this year. My brother and I will attend for the first time. We arrive by train from Dallas in the evening of 14 March, when I guess that you will be at the Cactus Cafe. It may be too late for us to join that show, but I saw a note that you will be playing the Continental Club on 15 March. Are these dates correct, and will you be playing anywhere else in Austin during the festival? And, most importantly: Will I get the chance to shake your hand and thank you for all the great music you have delivered during the years? Finally: I read a comment from you dated August 2003, when you said that Dan Stuart had moved to New York City and that you hoped to get him out of retirement? Did you have any success? Dan is also an all-time favourite, and "Broken radio" by Green on Red (particularly the last two lines!) is forever in my top ten. Hope to get the possibility to see you in Austin in March and best wishes from sunny Sweden (well at least today...). Christer

• A : Steve Wynn : Well, I'm a little late on this one but I hope that you were able to see us play one (or more?) of our seven shows in Austin this year. It looks like you had information about our 2003 gigs since we did not have plans to play the Cactus or Continental clubs this year. But maybe you figured this out once you got to Austin. As far as Mr Stuart, he is playing his first show in years this weekend: a reunion with the original members of Green On Red out in Tucson. I hope he has a good time. A one-day end to his retirement would be way too short. Hope to see you in Sweden when we play there in December.

• Q : gonzalo (Feb 11, 2005) : I was just taking a look at the gallery, inside "steve´s photo album" and i found a picture that really caught my attention. Its the one from Greece with the Dream Syndicate, but it is from 1996, could you please tell me the story of that photo, i´m very curious about it as i don´t remember any reunion concerts or anything like that, maybe i missed something!. By the way, come back to spain soon, we miss you here in Madrid.

• A : Steve Wynn : Damn, I'm not near an internet connection so I'll have to answer this one from memory. I can tell you that there hasn't been a Dream Syndicate show since 1992 (we reunited for a benefit for a good friend of ours out in LA) so maybe there's some faulty information up on the site. I did play that year in Athens with Dennis Duck on drums so that was 50% of the way to a reunion. As far as coming back to Spain....I'M HERE! I hope you make (made?) it to the show in Madrid

• Q : Mike Karff (Feb 02, 2005) : Do you think that The Ambassador of Soul sounds like Neil Young's Tonights The Night? Well....At least the start of the song. Who really is the Ambassador of Soul?

• A : Steve Wynn : hey, it's not like I don't have my influences but I can't see that one at all. Tonight's the Night is one chord and seems one step away from either suicide or an overdose. Ambassador of Soul has a bunch of chords and is fairly optimistic. On the other hand, they are both graced by a Wurlitzer electric piano, one of my favorite sounds in the world. Maybe that's what you mean. Anyway, the Ambassador of Soul is a synonym (in my head, anyway) for the creative muse that helps deliver a song from the inside of your subconscious to the sound that hits your ears. Sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not. But you gotta be patient.

• Q : Isidor (Feb 01, 2005) : I just want to know do you plan to visit Serbia again.You have huge fan army here.

• A : Steve Wynn : I LOVE playing in Belgrade and I'll be there again this Fall. Check the dates on this very website. See you and the Huge Fan Army very soon.

• Q : Filippo (Dec 22, 2004) : Hi Steve,I'm Filippo from Latina,Italy.This is not a question...I only wish you a merry rockin' christmas to you and to all the band.I'm Waitin'for you at Big Mama...keep on' rocking!!

• A : Steve Wynn : See? I gotta answer these more often. I missed your greetings when they were new. But I did have a good holiday season and I hope you did as well. See you at Big Mama in November.

• Q : Brian (Dec 14, 2004) : This isn't a question, but I couldn't find another e-mail-ish thing on the site. Just wanted to thank you for the performance at Yo La Tengo's Hanukkah show this past weekend. You and your songs were as great a Hanukkah surprise as I could ask for!

• A : Steve Wynn : Brian, that was an unexpected blast. I went out to Maxwell's that night at the invitation of Rick Rizzo from Eleventh Dream Day and hadn't planned on playing. But when Georgia Hubley asked if I would join them on stage, how could I say no? It was a blast--we did "That's What YOu Always Say," "Don't Cry No Tears" and "The Days of Wine and Roses." And both bands were great that night.

• Q : (Dec 08, 2004) : I was just listening to halfway to the afterlife, and I gotta say, Linda can sure beat the S..T out of some drums, tellyou what!!

• A : Steve Wynn : I'll tell YOU what! She sure does. I like that song although I'd like to record it someday. It's one of my three or four attempts to rip off Roxy Music's "Manifesto." Still haven't gotten it 100% right. Maybe I should just cover the song!

• Q : Larry (Nov 23, 2004) : Any plans on recording with Joe Hurley from Rogues March. Caught you guys do a tune last March and thought it was crackin. Cheers

• A : Steve Wynn : Joe and I have written two songs together ("Russian Goodbye" and "What Makes a Man Go Wrong") and I think he'll be taking both songs into the studio this Fall. I hope to add some guitar and vocals if I'm around. He's an amazing singer and I hope he gets a solo record out soon.

• Q : Jeppe Huus Lomholt (Nov 22, 2004) : Hello Steve! First of all I just wanna thank you for your music, it really means alot to me! Second, I actually just wanted to ask you whatever you've planned a tour in Europe sometime soon? I've seen you everytime you've been in Denmark, mainly Viborg in a small club named Paletten where we've talked together a couple of times too (well, actually I wasn't very old so it was mainly my father who talked to you, but I always got your autograph even though I already had it). I really hope you'll come to Denmark or just Scandinavia sometime in the nearest future. Then you've got to play 'Carolyn', because at one of your shows, I asked you to play it but for some reason you couldn't, and then afterwards when I got you autograph you wrote "Next time we'll play Carolyn". ;) Well, as mentioned I just wanted to send you a little message, and ask whatever you've planned a tour i Europe because that would be really great! Hope to see you soon!

• A : Steve Wynn : Ah, Viborg! Did you know that the manager/orignator/actual KING of this website, Thomas Mejer Hansen lives in your town? You gotta stop him on the street sometime and thank him for all the good work he does. What a guy! Anyway, I'll be back in Denmark for shows in Odense and Copenhagen so I hope you can make it out one night. And please remind me to play Carolyn before the show. I kinda forget these things sometimes....

• Q : Mike Karff (Nov 16, 2004) : Steve: I saw one of the shows in Philadelphia where you opened for U2 at the Tower. It must have been a great experience to play on the stage that has graced so many rockers with REM last week. You are the Ambassador of Soul forever.

• A : Steve Wynn : Ah, that's nice. Actually I was very excited to play the Tower Theater back in 1983 as it was the place where David Bowie made "Bowie Live" and I really dug that record back in the 70s. And playing with REM at Madison Square Garden last year was a real kick. Surreal, exciting and way too short. I couldn't decide whether to imagine I was Mick Jagger or Walt Frazier

• Q : Mike (Nov 08, 2004) : Steve - I caught your surprise guest appearance on guitar at REM's intense post-election show at Madison Square Garden. Definitely a highlight in a show filled with highlights. I've always wondered how these happen. Did REM call you? Did you call them? How was the song decided on? Any practice time? Etc. Also, any plans for upcoming shows of your own in the New York area? Unfortunately, I missed the past couple. Thanks.

• A : Steve Wynn : It's a funny story. I have been friends with Peter Buck since meeting him in San Francisco in 1983. He often calls when he comes to town and this time he invited me out to dinner the night before the band's Madison Square Garden show. The Miracle 3 and I were leaving town for some shows a few days later and had arranged a rehearsal for the night of the show at a place just around the corner from The Garden. When Peter invited me to the gig, I told him that I would love to go but didn't know what to do with my guitar when I came to the show. He said, "Why don't you just bring it to the gig and play with us." Hey, now THERE'S an idea. And that's what happened. He told me they were going to play "Permanent Vacation," an old obscure song from their early days. I went over the chords at home a few times and showed up in time for another run-through backstage. The funny thing is that our next NYC show was at the 70-person capacity Lakeside Lounge and I don't know if anyone has ever played those two venues back to back.

• Q : Scott Quarton (Nov 08, 2004) : Steve, All my cassettes are worn out! Why don't you stop collecting art and take some of your disposible income and re-issue the whole catalog yourself. I am 36 now but I still remember a show at The Barn UC-Riverside in '86 or '87, still one of my most favorite shows ever!

• A : Steve Wynn : Ah, that disposable income. I think you're confusing me with the casino owner of the same name. But I have bought a few Art Tatum records in my time. Hence the confusion, I'm sure

• Q : Thomas (Oct 14, 2004) : Aloha Mr. Esteve : It is a nice airport! I am eager to hear your retrospective release; and really want to hear that you will be playing Hawaii on your next cycle of touring. I just saw Los Lobos on Sat.night and wondered if you have jammed w/ any of them at some point? Being around L.A. it would seem to have been possible. It was a great show!{to downplay how I really feel} Go Yanks !! Aloha

• A : Steve Wynn : I have never jammed with Los Lobos but am a big fan (especially "Colossal Head"--what an album!) and have met them on many occasions. We played festivals together in Belgium and Denmark and also Steve Berlin played saxophone on my first solo album "Kerosene Man." Have you seen their new DVD? Very, very exciting stuff--really one of the best American bands of all time. And I'd love to play Hawaii and then, of course just STAY there for a month or two. Spread the word.

• Q : Raffo (Oct 12, 2004) : sorry if I re-asked you the same question. now they have corrected the mistake and I've seen tour answer. you asked me about the raven: the sound is great, Lou Reed rewrite Edgar Allan Poe and profesional actors make the readings. it's great. PS: another great thing is that you use internet to talk to your fans!!! PS 2: the place where you did your last concert in italy, mithos, is now a lap dance bar! PS 3: come back in italy soon

• A : Steve Wynn : Mithos is a lap dance bar now? I hope it wasn't anything that we did or said. We sometimes have a bad influence on people. Anyway, I'll be back in Italy during the Fall tour. So tell those clubs with uncertain ambitions to be very, very careful

• Q : Mike Karff (Oct 05, 2004) : Steve: I just gotta say that I can't stop listening to The Ambassador of Soul. It has a great Neil Young feeling to it. very close to Tonight's the Night and It's Raining in Paradise. I am a huge Wynn fan and as well a big Neil fan.... Loved the Greendale Tour. I recently saw Calexico in St. Louis open for Wilco and they are my top band for this year. Who is the Ambassador of Soul? If I walk aimlessley through NYC would I ever bump into you at Katzs Deli? Or would you be walkin SoHo on a beautiful saturday in Late October?

• A : Steve Wynn : Well, I already answered the question about "Ambassador" somewhere above but I wanted to use this as an excuse to tell everyone visiting New York that they MUST take time for a visit to Katz' deli. One of the best (and oldest) restaurants in New York. I was just there last month and the pastrami was especially tender. Remember to tip the carver up at the counter and you'll get extra special treatment. And there's your NYC fod tip of the day.

• Q : Sophie (Sep 29, 2004) : Please come to Australia? or the southern hemisphere even you said you would. and that was 3 years ago.

• A : Steve Wynn : And it's about time I made good on that promise. I do believe that "...tick...tick...tick" will be released in Australia early next year and I'm going to see what I can do. Go and spread the word (as I said above about Hawaii). It never hurts....

• Q : Bryan (Sep 23, 2004) : Ok....I gotta know. I'm listening to Turnyorhedinkov, the last song....Last Call Comes Mighty Early Around Here. Steve, I was there at that recording session...I was one of the guitarists. Now, I know that we were playing live on the radio, somewhere in Belgium & I 'assumed' that you were making up the lyrics on the spot because I sure was making up the music on the spot. But now 10 years later listening those lyrics, they sound just too damn 'finished' to have been improvised. Did you really improvise those lyrics or were you pulling some old lyrics out of the bag.....lemme know, it's killin' me...because if you did improvise them, then DAMN you're even better than I thought!

• A : Steve Wynn : Not to dive into a Compliment Swap so early in the morning....but it was always so easy to write lyrics for Gutterball because you (and Stephen) came up with such interesting music that was so different than anything that I would write. All of those seventh chords and jazzy changes got me all excited. Sometimes I sit around with my own lyric-less music and say "what the hell am I gonna do with this" probably because I've used the chord changes 100 times before. Maybe I should use some seventh chords. Anyway, "Last Call...." and "Mickey's Big Mouth" are two of my favorite Gutterball songs because they're so incredibly REAL. You know? And both were more or less written on the spot.

• Q : Filippo (Aug 16, 2004) : Hi Steve,I'm Filippo from Latina,Italy.I saw all your shows at Big Mama but I see you aren't on tour now.Maybe are you recording the new album?Hope to see you soon..keep on rocking!

• A : Steve Wynn : Filippo--thanks! no plans to stop rocking anytime soon!

• Q : Stefano (Aug 06, 2004) : Hi! I'm a young boy (15) from Italy who's growed with all your albums, from the Dream Syndicate, through your project with people like Chris Cacavas (i like very much Geen On Red too) to your soloist career. I was at Sesto Calende the 2003-04-11. Great show, even if Linda had only one hand for drums. I camed very early and i haved the great opportunity to talk with you and your band, great persons (do you remember me?). I was impressed by Jason Victor (live is another thing compaired the cd, even if in the cd too Jason's great!). I'd like to know some things: Are you working to something new? And Jason? And have he worked with any group or artist in the past before join you? And when returns you in this side of Italy (north-west)? And, finally, when comes the reprint on cd of Medicine Show (the vinyl started to ruin him :) )? Thanks a lot (and excuse me for my english :) ), Your fan Stefano

• A : Steve Wynn : Yeah, that was a crazy night. Linda arriving on the train from Munich with her hand in a cast, Peter Case playing a great set and then getting up to reprise his Raji's harmonica performance on "Coltrane." And I'm sure Jason was in top form. Some history: He's played in various bands around town but hadn't made a full album until "Static Transmission." Since then he's played and toured with Chris Cacavas and Mary McBride and will hit the road with the Willard Grant Conspiracy this Fall. And then? Jason and Linda and Dave and I will go into the studio early next year to make a new record.

• Q : Niko (Jul 27, 2004) : Hi Steve, have seen you last october in Dortmund. It was one of the greatest shows ive ever seen. And i saw a lot.The last time i had seen you before was 89 in Dortmund and Berlin. It was amazing for me, to see that you are such good, or better than 15 years before.O.K. Thank you for making music and hope to see you back in Dortmund soon.

• A : Steve Wynn : Niko--I really love playing Dortmund and have had some of my favorite recent shows there. I guess it's weird--you never know why one city will consistently go well. Enthusiastic fans? Great food? The stars and the moon and various alignment? Hard to say but I know I'll be back again sometime soon so please don't wait 15 years this time

• Q : Punk Anderson (Jul 10, 2004) : Dear Steve - first off, a million thanks for all the wonderful albums and shows! Now, you've been asked before which of your records is your favourite one - but you being a no-nonsense fellow, I'll take the chance and ask which one of all the albums you, looking back, like the least? If I were even to take a cheeky guess myself, it would be Out of the Grey; somehow it lacks something, some tension that was hit bang on with the same lineup on Ghost Stories (wonderful reissue, by the way!). But that's just a wild guess. All the best from rainy Copenhagen! Do come back soon!

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey Punk (man, that sounds kinda threatening)--not only are you being cheeky but you are also absolutely correct. I'm pretty proud of everything I've done but I wouldn't mind going back in time and changing a few things about Out of the Grey. But I have also learned not to badmouth my own stuff since my least favorite record might mean a whole lot to someone else. Out of the Grey, in fact, was the album that came out when I began touring Europe extensively so I know that it's still a favorite of many fans.

• Q : 53 snakes (May 04, 2004) : gotta tell ya Steve. You are the man, MAN!! came home today to find Ghost stories and Live at Raji's on my doorstep, and they're not even spozed to be out til the 11th. Wow. nice remastering, love the xtra trax. Thank you for making such great music, from Until Lately and Witness to Amphetamine and Riverside.

• A : Steve Wynn : thanks, Mr Snakes! It's always nice to beat the Street Date, even by a few days.

• Q : Keith Schackman (Apr 19, 2004) : Steve, Don't know if you are the same guy who wrote the music reviews for U.C. Davis paper in our freshman year. I still love music and was music surfing and happened to read Dream Syndicate reviews and realized you were you the guy next door on Malcom. Congratulations to you on your career. Well done! If ever in Jacksonville, FL let me know, I'll buy the beer.

• A : Steve Wynn : Keith--damn, my cover is blown. Yes, I was a rock critic back in my college days and it was a good way to get free records and concert tickets. I remember covering the last Sex Pistols concert at Winterland in San Francisco. Anyway, thanks for the kind words--I was in Jacksonville for a gig in 2002 and I'll try to get back again soon. Keep that beer cold.

• Q : juan mantas (Apr 02, 2004) : hi steve, just a question dude: could you tell me where could i buy your cd``danny and rusty´´ the lost weekend´´?? i´m really willing to buy it but can´t find it nowhere. thanks and keep going dude juan

• A : Steve Wynn : Juan--sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the Danny and Dusty album is out of print. It was reissued on Prima (UK) a few years ago but that edition is out of print as well. Hopefully someone will make this available again soon but, in the meantime, you can check Ebay. Ah, Ebay! I just bought one of those Frampton-esque talk boxes on the site a few weeks ago. Be very afraid!

• Q : Ewan (Mar 25, 2004) : Will we ever see you in Canada again. You have only done the Toronto show and living in Vancouver made it inaccessible. I am on the other coast and would love to see a show in Halifax.

• A : Steve Wynn : Ewan--as I said earlier to the other person from BC, I would really like to do a few more shows in Canada next time around. I'm sure we'll do a show in Seattle next year so I'll just point the van up north and keep going. thanks for asking.

• Q : Raffo (Feb 01, 2004) : I would like to know your opinion about Lou Reed's last album THE RAVEN. I find it great in the double version with the readings. What do you think?

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey Raffo--never heard the album, just a few of the songs played live last June at Carnegie Hall. And my friend Paco Loco played me the song that Bowie sings. All of the above sounded just fine and yet I'm not very interested in getting the CD. What do you think? Worth getting?

• Q : larrystoiser@aol.com (Jan 25, 2004) : hey there doodily dood. is the D S version of Cinnamon Girl available on cd? chowder

• A : Steve Wynn : Larry--you bet it is. it's a bonus track on the reissue of "Out of the Grey" that you can find elsewhere on this site.

• Q : Thomas (Jan 24, 2004) : ALOHA MR.STEVE will you please consider coming to HAWAII{the BIG ISLAND} to play a show there are few venues and not much of a scene ; however I think that you would have an incredible time/ I know that I would!! If you need any info. contact me at "faderighthookleft@hotmail.com" I do know that Johnette loves the BIG ISLAND so perhaps there is a possible working vacation theme that can be arranged. I will offer to assist in any way necessary to get a gig set up/ as well as show you some cool stuff.We can go surfing or whatever. Just hoping that I can entice you to visit and jam for us on this rock. Mahalo Nui Loa

• A : Steve Wynn : Thomas--man, that would be great. I've been to Hawaii four times--each time as a stopover to and from Tokyo and then Sydney. And while I do think you have a nice airport, I would love to spend more than a stopover over there. I'll see what I can do.

• Q : Bill Wrigley (Jan 16, 2004) : Hi Steve, I notice that you list Outkast's recent double-album-sorta-or-is-it-two-solo-albums in your year-end list of favorite albums. I'm wondering if there are other hip hop albums or acts of which you're a fan? I see N.E.R.D. on your 2002 list...any others?

• A : Steve Wynn : Bill--I've been a fan of hip-hop since I bought the 12-inch of Rappers Delight back in 1979 and I remember coming to Manhattan two years later and seeing Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five at the Peppermint Lounge. I stayed a fan through the 80s with Run DMC, De La Soul, Public Enemy and then shifted over to the LA sound of Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg. In recent years I've really liked Q-Tip, Mystikal and pretty much anything that's produced by The Neptunes.

• Q : Karel (Jan 13, 2004) : Hey Mister Steve, I just buyed your cd Static Transmission. I just want to thank u for all these beautifull songs! Hope u come to Belgium as soon as possible ! Please please let me know if u come. I saw u once in Brussles Acienne Belgique. Ur the best musician man ! Chocolat greetzzzz from Charlie The Bird (in flemish Karel Devogeleer). My email is kareldevogeleer@hotmail.com

• A : Steve Wynn : Hi Karel--I guess I won't be in Belgium anytime this year which is a drag but I'm sure I'll be back sometime in 2005. You know, most cities are lucky to have one good club and Brussels has TWO outstanding venues--the Ancienne Belgique and the Botanique. Maybe I'll play them both next year.

• Q : SonicTurtle (Dec 17, 2003) : Steve, Did you do a NPR/PRI interview in the early 80s? Maybe on "This Morning Becomes Eclectic" or "Sounds Eclectic"? I recorded some great music off the radio and listened to it till the tape litterally fell apart. It has been almost 20 years and I keep thinking about it. For the life of me, I can not remember the name except for Wynn in the name! I heard some of your music and thought it may have been yours. If so, I am the longest secret fan of your music... and it looks like I need to go spend a few hundred bucks on CDs! Thanks

• A : Steve Wynn : hey Sonic-T.....I've done several interviews with NPR over the years so it's fairly likely that I am indeed on the tape that fell apart. Whether several hundred dollars of shopping is worthwhile to satisfy your curiosity is not for me to say but I'm hoping that some of the other readers of this site would encourage you to take the plunge. The store stays open late.

• Q : Torbjörn Lyshag (Dec 03, 2003) : Thanx for your concert at Loppen earlier this autumn.I really enjoyed it. Later I read in your diary from the european tour that you had listen to "Live at Leeds" in the night after a concert. That feels good for me cause that´s in my opinion the best ever pop/rock group,before Keith died.They should have broken up after that.I´ve seen them 1967(I was ten years old) and 1972 in Gothenburg. Other great live records are of course MC5-Kick out the jams and Rolling Stones Get yer ya yas out. Remembering you playing Pharoah Sanders in the PA after or before your Gothenburg concert in late may 2001 I must recommend my favourite album all time (so far)-Les McCann-"Invitation to openess".If you have´t got it buy it at once. Talking about Rolling stones again,your song Amphetamine reminds me very much of Stones Symphaty for the devil.I understand you like Rolling Stones a lot. Some other musicians that also like Stones must be Band of Susans before they broke up.They were great live too. Stenger have plyed with N.Cave.What Poss are doing I don´t know. My "wet" dream in music would be if you and Linda asked Robert Poss and Susan Stenger to make some music together.Do you know them and have you met? What´s your opinion about their music? I can´t let this idea out off my head until I´ve heard your opinion about it. Tobbe,Gothenburg

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey Tobbe--I might add Primal Scream's Live In Japan album from last year to the last. Incredible--even more ferocious and cathartic than their studio albums. You gotta check it out. I've crossed paths with Band of Susans a few times but don't know them that well. But I'm always open to collaboration so you never know.

• Q : gonzax (Nov 17, 2003) : I was listening to "static transmission" the other day (I bought it here in spain almost one year ago) and even though I really loved it when it came out and of course, i still love it now, i can´t help but feeling a small disappointment, not because of the songs but the sound of the record, why? because one of the things i like the most about your records is that they always sound very different from each other, you never repeat the same type of sound, I mean, ever since the dream syndicate days, every record you´ve made sounds different to all the others even if they are perfectly recognizable. This time is been the first time that your record sounds like the one before, at least i think it is very similar to "here come the miracles" (which of course is not a bad thing that´s for sure!!) but it doesn´t have that element of surprise i used to get whenever i bought any new record of you, it was wonderful to go home with a new album without really knowing what it would sound like because they were so different, in example, "dazzling display" was completely different from "kereosene man", "fluorescent" from "dazzling.." and so on until "here come the miracles", that´s happened with all of your records since "days of wine.." and I missed it this time with "static transmission". Anyway, as I said before, it´s no big deal, I wish all records were as good as "static.." but I thought i´d ask you about it, i think you´ll agree somehow, maybe not. Ah, and I really miss the days when you would play songs with acoustic guitar at your shows too, that was great, i hope you will do again in future tours.

• A : Steve Wynn : ah, another one from GonzaX--you're absolutely right. The biggest change this time around was that there wasn't nearly as much of a change as in previous releases. But I had so much fun making "Here Come the Miracles" and was so excited with the results that I couldn't resist gathering most of the same cast and going back to Tucson once again. Next time? Hard to say--but I think this one might be very different. But that's all I'm saying. Oh, and I just did an acoustic show in Puerto Santa Maria in Andaluca last month. You shoulda been there!

• Q : gonzax (Nov 14, 2003) : Hi Steve! more than a question this is just to tell you that is wonderful there´s still some artists out there who really care about fans the way you do. When i first discovered the syndicated trees and knew that I could just download all those gigs for free i could not believe it, i don´t think there are many sites out there where you can do that and for me it´s something wonderful that an artist like you is doing it, it just shows that some people really believe in music and not just the money. I wish other musicians were like you. A big thank you, honestly.

• A : Steve Wynn : thank you, GonzaX. You're quite welcome.

• Q : Eva Arndt (Oct 30, 2003) : Hallo Steve and band, i have enjoyed the "sit-show" in Bonn and can't understand why people can sit while hearing your rocksongs. It was a different show compared with underground in Cologne last March where everybody moved. We were positively surprised according the songs you play in Bonn and Jason's "show", really great! I have a question to your song "Charcoal sunset". Has this song something to do with a picture? I would like to know this, because i plan a exhibition of my paintings in Febrary 04 in a little town museeum. For the opening ceremony the artists and their favourite songs will be introduced. The exhibition has the title "Paintings inspired by Music". Thank you for your answer and have a good time on tour and sorry for my bad english. Eva

• A : Steve Wynn : Eva--"Charcoal Sunset" is a song about mass hysteria and when panic and fear takes over for any semblance of rational thought. It's a frightening phenomenon and one that we've seen here in American at various times in the last few decades. I actually did a sketch for this song and all of the other songs on "Static Transmission" which were meant to be part of the CD package. I'll have to put them up on the website someday. So, the painting was inspired by the music rather than the other way around. See you at our next show in Koln--I promise there will be no chairs!

• Q : Colin Savage (Oct 29, 2003) : Hi Steve! I've been following your career and purchasing your music since "The Days of Wine and Roses" and yet never have I had the privilege to see you perform in person. How about visiting Victoria, BC, Canada? Let the guy in Norway and the other in Bristol wait a year or two longer so that some of your other fans can see you too! Keep up the great work!

• A : Steve Wynn : Hi Colin--yeah, I don't do many shows in Canada (outside of Toronto) but I hope to change that with the next record. Jeez, my last gig in Vancouver was 20 years ago. That's just too long. In the meantime, if you make it to a gig in Norway or Bristol, the first beer's on me.

• Q : (Oct 28, 2003) : Steve, My first experience of the Dream Syndicate was the "This is not the New Dream Syndicate Album...Live!" LP. As far as I'm aware, this has NEVER been on CD, apart from a few tracks on the first "Medicine Show" issue. Is there any chance that this will get a Prima issue as well as Medicine Show? If you were to add the rest of the gig to the CD,you'd have something very special indeed.

• A : Steve Wynn : There's been a lot of talk lately about the Medicine Show getting reissued and I have a pretty good feeling that it will come out sometime in 2005. The one track from "This is not...." that was left off the earlier CD version of the album was a marathon, spooky version of "John Coltrane Stereo Blues" and I'm sure that would be restored to the 21st Century edition. Keep your fingers crossed. Or make repeated and frantic phone calls to A&M (or their parent company Universal). I'm sure that either activity will help.

• Q : Damir (Oct 26, 2003) : It seems that you are developing special relationship with Croatia on this tour. After great (first ever) gig in Zagreb, spending the night in Kostrena, nice small town on Adriatic coast, you bought the Bambi Molesters' "Sonic Bullets: 13 From The Hip" album! Well Steve, did you know that Bambi Molesters are from Croatia? How do you like them? They were opening act for the REM this summer on few shows in Europe. Peter Buck is a big fan of them and he said that they're one of the best surf rock bands. And they are coming from the town which is NOT even on the (Adriatic) coast. Interesting, isn't it?

• A : Steve Wynn : Quite interesting. Hey, I'm glad to see so many letters from Croatia--I'll definitely have to get back there again soon.

• Q : Nata (Oct 24, 2003) : I've noticed that you bought some great albums- i love the Gun Club. Did you know that Bambi Molesters are croatian band? I hope that we will see you in Zagreb soon.Thanks for great show!!!

• A : Steve Wynn : hey Nata--I remember driving through Germany at two in the morning in the backseat of my friend Hammi's car. I was drifting in and out of sleep for most of the drive and the music he was playing felt like it was part of my dreams. That's a good way to hear a record for the first time and I had to get a copy when I went shopping the next day. Luckily, when I heard the Bambi Molesters again in the middle of the day it was just as good as that first time. It's still in regular rotation in my home--a good soundtrack for many moods and meals. see you soon

• Q : Dino (Oct 20, 2003) : Hi, Steve! I'm from Zagreb and I'm still impressed with your show in KSET. How did you like that little club with its special kind of "backstage"? Luckily, I had the chance to talk few words with Mark Olson (Creekdippers) and Robert Fisher (WGC) after their gigs at KSET and they both said that the club is cool and they loved to play there. What's your impressions? And secondly, how it happend for you guys to end up in Kostrena on your way to Italy? Is there any chance to see more of your photos and John's paintings of that little beautiful Adriatic place?

• A : Steve Wynn : Zagreb was one of my favorite gigs of 2003. We had time for a quick tour of the city, stayed at a hotel that looked like something out of the '60s, ate some good chow and then the show was fantastic. The audience was so enthusiastic and wouldn't let us go until we had played several encores, largely due to the "backstage" that was fully visible by the entire audience (good thing we don't have costume changes in our show!). It's kinda hard to not play more songs when the crowd can see you playing hard-to-get in plain view. As far as Kostrena, we had a day off on our drive to Italy and just drove until we got tired and found a hotel that we liked. We didn't make it into town until the following morning and the strongest memory is going to an internet cafe and finding out that the New York Yankee baseball team had won a big playoff game to advance to the championships. Therefore, I have nothing but good things to say about Kostrena--and it WAS a beautiful city. I hope to go back there again someday.

• Q : Chris Hughes (Oct 20, 2003) : Steve, I know you came to ATlanta 2002 to open for C.Blondie (great 45 minutes)but its been 5 years since you came as a headliner and I need a fix. Please come the the ATL. Dedicated fan since you lended on my head in 1984 in Athens GA at the Tate Center. I also can remember 1st time heard Med. Show on the radio and had to find out who it was and went got it same day.

• A : Steve Wynn : Chris, you're in luck. I'll be playing at the 10 High in Atlanta on November 6--a full band show with the Miracle 3 as part of a party for Stomp and Stammer's 10-year anniversary. We'll try to play at least a six-hour set to make up for the missing years.

• Q : Mara (Oct 16, 2003) : Hi! Im from Croatia and I want to thank you for great shhow in Zagreb.I travel for 6 hours to see you play and Iwas so amazed!Did you like playing in Zagreb? Will you come again?

• A : Steve Wynn : Mara, I LOVED that show, maybe my favorite of this tour. And I'm so honored that you chose to drive six hours to see me play. I'm glad you got to see a good one. I'm sure we'll be back again in the next year or two

• Q : The 5 to 10 gang (Sep 19, 2003) : I see from an earlier answer that you miss the freaky paper mill smell of Moss. Well, there's a lot of people that's missing you, too. We're all looking forward to you returning someday.

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey 5 to 10, I certainly remember you guys. Some wild nights there in Moss and I remember a few hangovers that were intensified by the smell of the local paper mills. Ouch--but I'm willing to take my chances and come back again sometime soon.

• Q : Katie (Sep 09, 2003) : Hello, Are you an art collector, and what kind of art do you collect?

• A : Steve Wynn : Katie, Well, being an art collector implies a certain amount of disposable funds so I haven't really had the chance BUT at least I do live in a city with many great museums so I always figure my art collection resides in some of the many fine establishments on Central Park Eas

• Q : david mc faul (Aug 23, 2003) : when will dusty and danny be released on cd...great tunes...my vinyl is too well loved

• A : Steve Wynn : David, Actually it IS available on CD--Prima Records in London reissued it a few years ago and you can order it from them directly or just get it from my website. And here's the hot news: Dan Stuart just moved to New York City so maybe I can get him out of retirement

• Q : mike crimmins (Aug 14, 2003) : why don't you play shows in Detroit any more?

• A : Steve Wynn : Mike, Good question--I've played Chicago, Minneapolis and Cleveland in the last year so why not Detroit? I"ll have to get there sometime in the next year. Can't forget the Motor City, after all.

• Q : 53 snakes (Aug 06, 2003) : I agree with Woody (july 14). River-freakin-side!!!!!! WHOA!!!

• A : Steve Wynn : WHOA!!! Point taken! Again, that's why I made it available and I may have to start playing it live.

• Q : James Lewis (Jul 28, 2003) : ...so I managed to catch for the first time at the Guildford Festival (worked out pretty expensive since i bought a ticket purely for the whole day just for the pleasure of you and Brian Kennedy! How come you played covers man with you criminally limited slot? I mean they were good choices, and good versions, but the Steve Wynn back-catalogue has so many great great tumes to choose from! I would have loved to hear a couple more SW tunes instead! By the way I am the only person who loves Ghost Stories??? Never hear it mentioned but I love it, I Have Faith, See You When The Curtains..(when that guitar kicks in....shivers!), and See That My Grave (OK I know THAT'S a cover too) are some of my alltime faves - but maybe it's just cos Ghost Stories intoduced me to DS and SW? Maybe I just have no taste! Looking forward to hearing Medicine Show when it comes out though!

• A : Steve Wynn : James, I don't remember doing any covers that day. Did I? Seems like it was all originals but I'll leave that to each of our memories to work that one out. But I do often dip into my back catalogue and have done "The Side I"ll Never Show" and "My Old Haunts" and "Whatever You Please" from "Ghost Stories" in the last few tours. As far as "Medicine Show," I'll believe it when I see it, but I think it should be reissued in the next year.

• Q : Woody (Jul 14, 2003) : Hi Steve I grew up listening to your music and that of your contemporaries, but I started noticing something recently: Whilst every record you make sounds fresher, more youthful, edgy and vibrant than the last, the music of your more commercially successful contemporaries, like REM, gets ever less so, at least to my ears. I'm not trying to get you to criticise those guys, and I'm not saying you're unsuccessful, but I've always thought that too much success can be really bad for a band's creativity. What do you think? Dan P.S. Static Transmission's a fantastic record, but God, Riverside should be on the main CD, it's a brilliant track!

• A : Steve Wynn : Actually I just saw REM in Minneapolis last month and they played a great show. Lots of energy and spontaneity and humor so that might bode well for a great album in the next year. I actually think that they are a band that was never ruined by success because they seem to keep pretty good perspective on what they do and why they do it. On the other hand, losing touch with your roots and motivation and love for music and letting it get replaced by an obsession with success can kill the inspiration. It is definitely a tough balance. I'm pretty happy with my situation--I do well enough to keep making records and doing tours and can pretty much do whatever I want. Not a bad life. As far as Riverside, I really was happy with the song, performance and recording but just didn't feel it belonged on the record, though I still wanted to make it available. Glad you like it.

• Q : mike pegler (Jul 13, 2003) : hey,steve. thanks for playing the folk house in bristol (11th july) any chance of you coming back with the band?

• A : Steve Wynn : Mike, That WAS a really fun show--and I just barely made it. thanks to the British Rail system for making the gig possible. And I would very much like to come back with a band--maybe on the next tour (late 2004 or early 2005, I'm guessing).

• Q : 53 snakes (Jul 09, 2003) : Dude, when're you coming to San Francisco? I'd love to hear Smash Myself To Bits in person. Thats some ass kicking psychedelia you got goin on there. You've recorded so many great tunes over the years, it would be fantastic to see you again live. Do you do "Witness" any more? IWill "live at Raji's" and "It's Too Late To Stop Now" be re-released?

• A : Steve Wynn : Same answer as above--I'm just about ready to confirm a San Francisco show for the first weekend of December. Come up to me before the show and request "Smash Myself to Bits" and I'm sure we'll play it--seems like the right type of manic psychedelic post-LSD excitement for your town. I only played "Witness" a few times (once in San Francisco, in fact, back in 1984) and I've never given much consideration to adding it to the set. Maybe sometime down the line. And "Live at Raji's" is scheduled for a reissue by Ryko/Restless late in 2004 but I don't know if I"ll be reissuing "It's Too Late To Stop Now" as it was a bootleg. It would be weird to make an official release of an illegal record but, then again, why not? I'll think about it.

• Q : Lenny Grassa (Jun 25, 2003) : Steve, I've been a fan since my first Dream Syndicate show at Joe's Star Lounge (Ann Arbor) in 82! I'm wondering if you have any plans to play in the Los Angeles area any time soon? Haven't seen you live in quite a while and I think I need a fix!!!

• A : Steve Wynn : Lenny, It looks like we'll be playing the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on the first weekend of December. That's information hot off the presses and the gig should be confirmed in the next few days. Stay tuned to this very site.

• Q : Arne Volden (Jun 02, 2003) : Dear Steve.It has been a too long time since you last visited Tromsø.Hopefully you will include Tromsø next time you are around.Best wishes from the guy with glasses who use too follow you too the stage. ps.Have you tried the spark/kick lately

• A : Steve Wynn : Arne, you're right--it has been a LONG time since I've been to Tromso. I remember some incredible shows and both long, long days and long, long nights that are particular to the uppermost Northern region where you live. I'll tell my Norweigan promoter to bring me around again on the next tour.

• Q : Sean Tracey (May 30, 2003) : Steve , ever thought about writing a book ? I think you've been doing this long enough to have some good tales . Sean

• A : Steve Wynn : No doubt about it--I've got some tales to tell and, in fact, I've thought many times about writing a novel. The problem is that I have more desire to HAVE written a novel than to actually write a novel, especially since most of my time and energy and creative juice goes into writing songs, making records and playing live shows. But I'm sure I"ll get around to it sometime soon. Thanks for the encouragement.

• Q : Bård (May 19, 2003) : Hi Steve (and Linda, Jason and Dave)! First of all: the gig in Bergen during the Ole Blues festival was brilliant! The venue was a bit weird (I've lived in Bergen for 10 years, but I've never been tempted to visit the place until now), but kinda cool (the low stage made the whole thing very intimate). It's weird, I've seen you at least ten times now, and almost every time the last gig is the best one yet. And this time you inspired me to go home and dig out all your records and play them chronologically - from the first Suspects 45 to the excellent Static Transmission. And if a gig makes you wanna do that, you know it's been good! After the show I finally succumbed and bought Sweetness & Light on CD after years of hoping it would be released on vinyl. I've had it on tape for years, but since my tape deck 's been broken for a couple of years, it was great hearing it again! I LOVE the keyboards on that record - is it a Farfisa? BTW: maybe I'll take you at your word and make a bootleg vinyl edition someday ;) One vinyl question before I round things off: was "The Day Before Wine And Roses" ever released on vinyl? I Googled around on the web, and found a playlist from one of the US radio stations, where "Day Before..." was listed as an LP (on Atavistic records). I have never seen it on vinyl myself though, but now and then I find LP's I never thought was released on vinyl (like the other day when I found the LP version of Dan Stuart and Al Perry's "Retronuevo"). Hope you can help me out with this. Hope all of you come back to Bergen soon - I'll see you then! Cheers, Bård.

• A : Steve Wynn : That WAS a funny venue in Bergen, wasn't it? It was my first time as well and we were joking that it felt like we were playing at a Las Vegas casino--very formal and very glitzy but, of course, that didn't stop us from making a big aural mess all over the place. I remember that I ended up at a table in the audience after the show with my acoustic guitar, taking and performing requests. Crazy night. As far as vinyl, I'm pretty sure that "Sweetness and Light" and 'The Day Before Wine and Roses" are the only two records of mine (outside of the various rarities collections) that have been released only on CD. Not sure why but I know that many labels (Blue Rose is an exception) would prefer not to do vinyl because it's so costly and is for a very limited (but enthusiastic) audience. Oh, and the keyboards on "Sweetness and Light" was a weird Yamaha keyboard that Joe McGinty often plays--very similar to a Farfisa and you can hear it all over that record (when he's not playing piano or a Hammond B-3).

• Q : clive (May 18, 2003) : Hi there Steve, I've been a great admirer of your music since the first Dream Syndicate album. Medicine Show has to be one of my all-time favourite albums but, as I could only get a taped version (even the vinyl was almost impossible to get down here), do you have any more specifics on when it will be re-released on CD, as I will be one of the first to buy it. The last two albums were really great - any chance of ever finding your way down to South Africa for a couple of shows?

• A : Steve Wynn : Ah, you need to have a word with Ari Audrey (see above). yeah, it's been hard to find "Medicine Show" as it was discontinued about a year after it was release (mostly due to a change in the distribution of A&M Records). The record was reissued on CD in the early 90s but, once again, went out of print right away. But the good news is that Sid Griffin at Prima Records UK (and former leader of the Long Ryders) is working on getting the rights and having it out in the next 12 months. I'm sure any new version would be remastered and have some nice liner notes and additional photos (as well as some additional live material from that period). As far as South Africa, I'm always interested in checking out new places so pass the word along and maybe I'll be there before too long.

• Q : wrick (May 13, 2003) : This is fun, it's great to read what people are asking and even better that every question gets a reply! I can't wait for my copy of Static transmission to arrive, or for your and the Miracle 3's next pass through the SF Bay Area, but till then here's my question. I had never heard ANY of your music until I saw you on a co-bill with John Wesley Harding at the Great American Music Hall in the late 90s. I loved what I heard and went straight out to buy My Midnight which is an awesome moody gem of an album. Then Here Come the Miracles came along and still sits at the top of my list of favorite records in the millenium. Static Transmission is on the way, and finally my question - what are the NEXT THREE of your albums (band or solo) I should buy to fill in what I've been missing? And in what order? I'm not quite sure how I missed Days of Wine and Roses back in the 80s (I was there!), but that seems like too obvious a starting place. I'll get there eventually I'm sure...

• A : Steve Wynn : Ah, that's a tough call and maybe best answered by other people but I'll give it a shot. Some of my favorite albums ("Medicine Show," "Melting In the Dark" the first Gutterball album) are very difficult to find, though all should be reissued in the coming years. You should check out "My Midnight" and "Fluorescent" as well as "The Days of Wine and Roses," all of which can be easily found. good luck and thanks for the kind words

• Q : MFB (May 12, 2003) : Saw DS at the Music Machine in LA '82, with the Bang(le)s and was it the Salvation Army or Rain Parade. Cool show. You invited everybody over somewhere. Do you remember where?

• A : Steve Wynn : Most likely it was the legendary Oki Dog, the punk rock hangout in West Hollywood. The signature dish was a mixture of hot dogs, beans, pastrami, cheese and then wrapped up in a tortilla. I really have no idea how I survived my early 20's.

• Q : Raül (May 10, 2003) : Hi Steve! I´ve got a lot of cool photos of your april 23th show in Santa Cristina d´Aro (Spain) If you´re interested in this photos by e-mail , please tell how could I send it. Ok? Thanks. Raül P.S: i´m the boy who taped the show on vodeocam, if you´re interested I will you send a copy, maybe there will be a problem... the tape is filmed on PAL-Secam video system , and in the States you have NTSC. But If you´re interested send me you post office adress and I will send you a copy.

• A : Steve Wynn : Raul, That was a really fun and exciting show and I'd love to have a souvenir of the event. Please send a copy to: PO Box 1912 New York, NY 10025 USA Thanks!

• Q : Ari Audrey (May 10, 2003) : Hey Steve - firstly, I would just like to say that your records have left an indelible mark on myself and my band. Unfortunatly, I'm going to be playing a show on the other side of town the night you will be in Chicago, which means I can't even cut out early. However, the moment our set is done, I'm going to try to race over and catch what I can of yours. My questions: What advice would you give to a young songwriter? and Why is Medicine Show your favorite Dream Syndicate record, when (in your words) it doesn't have the sense of danger and of falling apart the way The Days of Wine and Roses does?

• A : Steve Wynn : Ari, Sorry to hear that you may have to miss the Chicago show but always glad to hear there are bands playing music out there that may have been influenced by my music. That's pretty much the most flattering thing in the world and I wish you and your band tons of luck and happiness. Advice? Follow your heart and instincts--remember: you are ALWAYS right, even when you're wrong. In other words, if you make the music that you want to hear then you've made the right choices even if nobody else likes what you've done. Write songs that evoke an emotion--songs that make you cry, laugh, get pissed off, wanna break things, songs that make you frightened or uncomfortable or want to fall in love. These are the kinds of songs that will stand the test of time. Speaking of which, I've always been proud of the Medicine Show because it contains some of my favorite songs and was delivered in a way that was freaky, scary, confrontational, stark and reflected so accurately the weird mixture of arrogance and desolation we were feeling at the time. Good luck with everything.

• Q : Flemming Morch (May 10, 2003) : Hey Dude. Thanks for a great show in Cobenhagen, I really enjoyed it. It didn't matched your show in Rust 1996 which was unreal. So, here's my questions. First one is about your fans at the shows. The age seem's to be 40 in average. Is it harder make a good show for older peoble than with an younger audience? The second question is how comes that not playing in Loppen at Cristania any more? As fare as I remember they made you member of honor. One last question. Could you imagin making another record with Cris Brokaw and Thalia Zedek. I think "Melting in Yhe Dark" is one of your best and the diner invitation is still open next time you come to Cobenhagen. Take Care.

• A : Steve Wynn : Flemming, I was really happy with last month's show in Copenhagen--it might have been my favorite show of the tour. Can't remember that Rust show all that well but I do recall having a good time at that club. Amazing how many good venues there are in Copenhagen--Stengade 30, Vega and Loppen are all good places and I'll definitely have to return to Christiania sometime soon--I still have the "staff" jacket they gave me that night. The irony is tha they made me an honorary member (since I had played the club about ten times) and then haven't booked me since. One of life's many mysteries. I'm sure I'll record something with Chris and Thalia again--they're both such great guitarists individually and then when they play together it's like an indescribable, ferocious, seductive four-armed beast. I heard the two of them just played Moscow together--can't wait to see the pictures.

• Q : Camilla Hansteen (camilla@sdg. (May 09, 2003) : Hi Steve! Its been so long I jumped in my seat when I heard your voice on the radio, here in Oslo. I liked what I heard from your new album! Anyway, I just got an urge to say hello!! Hope you are doing well. If I see you are playing in Oslo I´ll try to see you.

• A : Steve Wynn : great to hear from you. It's been much too long and it really is strange when old friends can be reunited (it's been almost ten years, right?) by the internet and radio. well, I hope to see you soon.

• Q : Larry Stoiser (May 06, 2003) : HOWDILLY DOODILLY STEVE. Saw you at Amoeba and the Make Out Room on the Miracles tour, the Kennel Club on the Kerosene Man tour , the Medicine show tour, and a couple others in San Francisco.. Ya'll comin back here sometime this year for the Stat Trans tour? I sure hope so. Linda Pitmon kicks major ass on the drums!!! She's one of the best rock drummers around. Right up there with Pete Thomas {Elvis Costello}. I really like your song writing and guitar skills also. Say, what's the shipping time for cds from your web store ? I ordered Stat Trans and Big Mama"s on 4-27 and they haven't arrived yet. Is "The Day Before The Days of Wine & Roses" still available? I'm gonna keep on lovin' the sinner.

• A : Steve Wynn : Larry, I'm guessing the CDs have arrived by now. But please contact the Fanmaster if they haven't. "The Day Before Wine and Roses" is temporarily out of print but will be available again by the end of the summer. And I can tell you that Linda was quite flattered by the comparison to Pete Thomas as she is a big fan. Thanks for making her day.

• Q : Flemming Morch (May 01, 2003) : Hey Steve. It's a little bit early but i'm looking forward to the show on the 3. of mai. You don't realy know me but I would like to invite you and the band for diner if you have time befor the show. I promise to make it tasty and strong.

• A : Steve Wynn : Oh, man--it's the 3rd of May TODAY! That's what I get for waiting so long to answer my mail. Oh well, maybe next time. tasty and strong! Two words I like to hear.

• Q : Kenneth James (Apr 29, 2003) : Mr. Wynn: I think I bought DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES in late '82 or early '83--before hearing a single song, based on a review in CREEM magazine (mention of "feedback postcards from perdition"--or something cool like that--sold this then-high school senior/misfit). I still remember the revelation of that first spin to this day: your semi-clean Fender chug and Precoda sounding like he was slowly dismembering a pair of duel-coil pickups. Holy shit. I wasn't just having an affair with that album; I was married to it. Saw you guys once, at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA--sadly, without Kendra. But it's a gig I'll never forget, and the only one I've ever attended alone. DAYS still ranks, to me, as one of the top five greatest rock albums of all time. Not to dwell on the past (well, too late for that; and I love your subsequent work, especially your first two solo CDs), but the chemistry of your original quartet was so fucking once-in-a-lifetime, ear-bleedlingly, gut-meltingly special that I wonder if you miss that original sound? I'd pay a couple hundred bucks (even at my ripe old age of 38) to JUST ONE MORE TIME see Precoda roll his eyes back into his head, Duck beating holy hell out of his kit, and you screaming at the top of your lungs "HEEEEE WAS AN ORDINARY GUY...UNTIL LATELY!!!!!" Fucking transcendent. A guy can dream, can't he?

• A : Steve Wynn : What a great letter. Well, I don't think there will ever be a Dream Syndicate reunion but I'm guessing you missed the show at Hollywood's Knitting Factory in 2001 at which I played "The Days of Wine and Roses" LP in its entirety--straight through from start to finish--with the Miracle 3. It was really fun and an incredible simulation even down to the between song patter. To be honest, I think you'll find some of the same spirit and sound that you describe on my last two albums ("Here Come the Miracles" and "Static Transmission" so maybe it's time to rejoin the party. Hope to see you at the next LA show

• Q : mark f. obran (Apr 25, 2003) : hey, I saw you in Albuquerque, at The Zone. You were on the bill with you was Pretty and Twisted. I wanted to ask you, what do you do when your credit's shot?

• A : Steve Wynn : (1) skip town until it's not....(2) buy more on Ebay.....(3) change your name, buy a new suit and hang out with b-movie starlets

• Q : Petter (Apr 16, 2003) : Hi Steve. First congatulation for a super album it is realy great,i have just wounder if you have eny plans too visit Moss when you are in Norway,i have seen your concerts there and the one you had at Gig hardrock cafe is the best concert i ever been on i think it was on the kerosene man tour.I hope you can come too Moss this year if not i will see you in Oslo. Regards Petter Aas

• A : Steve Wynn : I've always enjoyed shows in Moss and think it's about time to come back again someday. It is a short drive to Oslo so I guess that promoters figure that the Oslo show can cover both cities--not me! I miss that freaky, unique paper mill smell. I'm sure I'll be back for another Moss show before too long.

• Q : Les Platt (Apr 11, 2003) : Hi Steve. Met you a couple of times in Sunderland, England when you were on tour with Chuck Prophet in 2000 and a somewhat poorly attended show with Johnette in the spring the following year. I'll try and get to your show in Edinburgh in May 2003 if i can (try and get to Newcastle sometime - bands always get a good turn out for shows there !). Really just a note to say thanks for your last two albums - fantastic stuff ! The albums sound pretty inpsired to my ears, like you've had a new lease of life/creativity or something. There's life left in us 40 somethings yet......

• A : Steve Wynn : Yeah, and look at what Bob Dylan is doing in his sixties! I could never figure out why musicians necessarily had to lose their motivation, inspiration, creativity and freakiness once they got older. Still, I can't think of many that were as good 20 years after their debut as they were on the first record--maybe Tom Waits or Neil Young or Dylan. Me, I hope to make records until I'm 90, take a short break and then start again. We'll be in Edinburgh in a few days and I hope you are at the show. Otherwise, I'll make sure to get to Sunderland or Newcastle sometime soon.

• Q : Marc (Apr 10, 2003) : Hello Steve, Having just completed my Green On Red cd collection with the re-release of 'Gravity talks', I'm wondering (again) when the Dream Syndicate's 'Medicine show' will finally be avalaible on cd (again). Are there any perspectives? Besides: the new album is a hit; see & hear you in Brussels next week!

• A : Steve Wynn : I think that it will most likely be released within a year. My friend (and former Long Ryder) Sid Griffin has been doing some work with Universal in the UK and they may do a deluxe reissue with expanded artwork and liner notes sometime soon. I hope that it finally happens--I know that a lot of people have been waiting for this record to become available again.

• Q : Dimos (Apr 07, 2003) : Hi Steve, I'm counting the days for the 12th of April and the gig in Athens. After all these years and all these live performances in Greece,with the Syndicate,the Gutterball and all the others gigs,I keep on beleiving and waiting for one song.And I'm not the only one.One song that you never played down here in Greece. It's not one of yours,but I think it must be one of your favorites.At least it must've been one of your favorites at one time. To cut a long story short,is there a possibility for us to hear live from you the Dylan song BLIND WILLIE McTELL ?? I'm sure you remember it.Do the other guys in the band know "Blind Willie.."? C'mon Steve,play it just one time for your fans in Greece. Please make it happen. See you at Gagarin Dimos

• A : Steve Wynn : Well, that show has long since passed and I'm sad to say that we didn't do "Blind Willie McTell" this time--I think the last time that I played it with a band was in 1998. But the Athens show was maybe my favorite of the tour and I'm hoping that you were satisfied as well, your special request notwithstanding. Hey, maybe I'll learn it for the next tour (though I've really enjoyed playing Bob's "Honest With Me" this time around. By the way, the Gagarin is a great new club--I hope it sticks around for a while.

• Q : Marc Smith (Mar 19, 2003) : Hey Steve. Just wanted to say your set at Maria's Taco Xpress was amazing. Hope maybe we will be label mates, and can do some shows together in the future. Take care.(marc from patty hurst shifter)

• A : Steve Wynn : It was good to meet you at the Taco Xpress. A fun night--Alejandro's set was awe-inspiring, met some nice people and saw a bunch of old friends. My only regret: between the music and the chatter, I never got a chance to try out the tacos. Oh well, maybe next time. good luck with your music.

• Q : wrick (Feb 27, 2003) : What's going on? It's February 27 and there's no Static Transmission in my local (Berkeley CA) record stores, or on Amazon, or even in the SteveWynnNetStore? Keep the miracles coming.....

• A : Steve Wynn : The US version of 'Static Transmission' won't be released until June 24 so it's not likely to make its way to US stores before then. In the meantime, you can get it through this very website (the European version will be different from the US version, as well).

• Q : Diego (Feb 17, 2003) : Steve, I'd like to know if you're planning any tour to South America and you'd be interested on playing in my country. It would be great if you think on including South America in the Static Transimission tour. Thanks

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey! South America again! Well, if there are any promoters or agents down in South America, drop me a line. I'm always happy to visit new places and that would be an exciting area to check out. My friend Johnette Napolitano went to Brazil and Peru recently with Concrete Blonde and had a great time so maybe it's time for me to do the same. I really hope to see you soon.

• Q : felix martin (Jan 31, 2003) : IN 1998, MR. KIRK SWAN PLAYED GUITAR IN THE EUROPEAN CONCERT. AFTER HIS GIG (HE PLAY BEFORE YOU) I TALK TO HIM ABOUT MUSIC, MUSIC AND MUSIC (MUSIC, IT´S ALL ABOUT MUSIC... "NASHVILLE PUSSIES"). NICE PERSON HE SEENED TO BE. AFTER THE CONCERT, I BOUGHT A FEW RECORDS (PICK UP THE LITTER, TRIBUTE TO NEIL YOUNG, IT´S ABOUT TIME...)ALL OF THIS COMES ´CAUSE I WONDER WHAT IS DOING KIRK SWUAN, HIS PAGE IS NOT UPDATED, ¿IS HE DIED OR THOMETHING?

• A : Steve Wynn : No, Kirk is doing fine and living with his wife Tammie (and dog Sammy) in Los Angeles and I know he's working on a new album. I always see him when I go back to LA and he teaches me all kinds of things about modern recording (Pro Tools, Digital Performer and things like that) and then I always forget by the time I get home. Guess I'm just an analog guy.

• Q : Richard (Jan 29, 2003) : There's a Danny&Dusty live show Club Lingereie 85. Will it be released officially?

• A : Steve Wynn : That would be fine with me. I know there is a videotape from our third (and final) show at the Music Machine and that's a more likely candidate for release. But I have no idea who has the tape--didn't keep very good archives in those hazy days. Maybe it will show up someday.

• Q : Axel (Jan 23, 2003) : Hello Steve, in 1998 I was one of (sad but true) not so many people at your concert in my hometown Hameln, Germany. That was shortly before I moved to Huntsville, AL and silly me, I thought now that I live in the geat big US of A, where most of my favorite bands and musicians are from (you, of course, are at the top of that list ...:)), my days will be filled with lots of superb concerts. Yeah, right - if you are a C&W music fan there is Nashville nearby. Or you can drive four hours to Atlanta to see some third rate has-beens. And here in Huntsville - only local bands and occasionally ZZ Top. And no Steve Wynn, of course (shame on you). But I heard that there will be some concerts in Germany again, this April or May, which is kind of a really big coincidence because I will visit my parents in May and so here is my question : any chance that you come anywhere near Hameln during this tour? If not, maybe someday you can be lured into Redneck-country and pay good ol' Huntsville a much needed visit ?! 'til then Axel

• A : Steve Wynn : Hi Axel, Wow, I have nothing but good memories of shows at the Sumpfblume in Hameln so I don't remember an underattended show but just a series of exciting and well-received events at that club. And there will indeed be another visit to your beautiful city and--I believe--it will be right when you're there as I'll be playing May 24. Will you be able to attend? I've heard the Tip-Top Club in Huntsville is a pretty wild place but I don't know that I'll be there anytime soon so your visit back home is a good idea if you want to see me play this year.

• Q : Blaine (Jan 23, 2003) : Steve -- it's been too long. When are you coming back to Milwaukee?

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey Blaine, It has been a long time, hasn't it? The last show in Milwaukee was in 1991 when I opened for--are you ready for this?--Pat Benatar at a very beautiful theater. I remember arriving just in time for the show (an acoustic set) and leaving right after it was done to get back to my hotel in Chicago. So I really haven't spent much time in Milwaukee in the last ten years. Maybe it's time to change that, right? keep checking the website for US dates.

• Q : Lou (Jan 23, 2003) : Hi Steve, I'm eagerly awaiting your NYC show on March 16. What can you tell me about your new band? I see your using a musician named Jason Victor. How can a person have 2 first names? Rock on!

• A : Steve Wynn : Hi Lou Yeah, I gotta check with Jason (and his mom) about that. Somebody give this boy a last name! Jason Victor, a native of the New York area and a future candidate for Rock Tour Rookie of the Year joined the band in February as Chris Brokaw is staying home to devote time to recording a solo album as well a slew of other projects that are keeping him busy these days. Jason will double on guitar and keyboards and will join my regular and stellar rhythm section of Linda Pitmon and Dave DeCastro. Come to one of the shows, prepare to be dazzled, talk to Jason about his name and bring along some new last names in case he's interested.

• Q : Lappone (Jan 23, 2003) : Hi Steve, I would like to se ya in El Stockholmo again. It was a couple of years since the last time. I'll understand though that Sweden and especially northern part of Sweden is a bit... ..displaced. By the way, do you like any swedish band? (maybe if you dig in the back of your mind) Keep up th good work I'll

• A : Steve Wynn : Hi Lappone Yeah, it's been a while since I played Stockholm but Swedish shows are being booked right now and I should be somewhere near your town before the year is over. I really like the Nomads (GREAT garage band) and have several of their records. And I like the things I've heard by Bob Hund and recently heard a track by Robert Johnson (not the Delta Blues singer for all of you confused readers) that knocked me out. And, really, who DOESN'T like Abba?

• Q : Martin (Jan 23, 2003) : I had the privilege of hearing you perform in October 1997 and again in March 1999 at Iota in Arlington, Virginia. The '97 gig with the late, great Continental Drifters was special, especially the closing jamfest on John Coltrane Stereo Blues. At the '99 gig, you graciously satisfied my need for a Dream Syndicate fix with rousing versions of When You Smile and Halloween. So, when might you again grace us with your music in northern Virginia? It appears you come at two year intervals, so you're due in 2001, no? Whether it's at Iota, the Birchmere, or another venue, you have a number of fans here who are ready to turn out. Martin Calhoun P.S. I look forward to acquiring Here Come the Miracles. Any fix yet on when the new Gutterball CD will be out?

• A : Steve Wynn : Hey Martin, Well, first of all, the Continental Drifters could hardly be described as 'late great' as they have just finished a new record and will be touring soon. to paraphrase Mark Twain 'rumors of their death are greatly exaggerated.' And I really hope to put together some US dates this summer and I'm sure I'll be in your area, maybe at the Iota or the Cat Club. 'Here Come the Miracles' comes out in the US this May and one can only wonder when the Gutterball album will be recorded. Sometime in the next decade, I SWEAR!

• Q : Roberto (Jan 23, 2003) : Hi there Steve, I have all of your records and the Syndicates' of course spinning on my CD player... and I just came across your newest release wich is GREATEST THAN EVER I've got a couple of questions for you: - Nam