We're minutes away from heading down to the stage here at the 2005 River Run Bike Festival in Laughlin, Nevada. We're here for two nights of Rockin' in under the stars with STYX fans from all over. We played here a couple of years ago and we're happy to be invited back.

Last night in Atlanta we participated in the 2005 Atlanta Heroes Awards presented by the Atlanta NARAS chapter. Our manager Charlie Brusco was honored for his continuing contributions to Atlanta arts and entertainment over the years. Also receiving the award was the B-52's, Usher, and Coretta Scott King.

It was a moving experience from the beginning of the program to the very end. Coretta Scott King's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and to humanitarian causes worldwide are so numerous it's hard to comprehend. What a tremendous force she is. Janet Jackson could hardly control her emotions as she read her prepared introduction. Michael Bolton followed Mrs. King's acceptance speech and performed a work in progress he is writing for her. Then he closed the show with an impressive version of Bill Withers' "Lean On Me."

We performed a special piece of music we put together just for the occasion after John Bon Jovi introduced Charlie. Before Charlie took the stage a brief video compilation was played on two large screens and it was quite moving, especially for Charlie. His eyes were red and swollen as he took the stage. But he got through his speech and had us all laughing by the end as he gave us an impression of how the thought his late father would have responded to it all.

Congratulations again Charlie. We're mighty proud of you!

Now, it's off to the sound of the Harley's!

TS