Billy & David 

__________

 

 

Had a short conversation with them and asked to take a photo together. to what they agreed instantly.

 

Billy, Ivan Melgar M & David 

______________________

Then they left to eat something and I went to credit myself at the door, in the meanwhile the light came back and while most of the reporters were eating the snacks, I left to the hall of the hotel and found Phil Ehart and Rich Williams who looked very tired, so without chat asked first for a photo and they agreed

 

Rich & Phil 

_________

 

And of course a photo with them and me.

 

Rich, Iván Melgar M and Phil 

______________________

 

Then I left the guys because they were exhausted, and the press conference started:

 

In first place they apologized for Steve who had a problem in a leg and couldn't leave his room, so the conference started, after talking a couple of minutes, they asked for questions, but something embarrassing happened, no press member asked anything so I had to start and asked Phil if they were going to have another Symphonic tour and if they would be back in Lima to Play with the National Symphony Orchestra, Phil, Rich and Billy answered that they wanted to do more Symphonic tours and hope to visit Lima again

Then I went with David Ragsdale and told him that we knew about his skills but if it was hard to replace an icon as Robby, the guy answered as a real gentleman (while Billy shouted in joke for more Pisco Sours  ), he expressed his admiration for Robby and said it was extremely hard to replace the iconic member, but he's more comfortable each day with the challenge.

Then I sat and my friend David asked a couple of questions, specially one about the possibility of making new studio albums soon and they replied that this wasn't in his plans, but they would play in a side project,

The second one was about the Prog scenario in the 70's and today, David Ragsdale replied "In the 70's was better".

David finished and again silence, only an extra question by a reporter aboput their opinion of Lima, but the guys had only been here for a couple of hours and could npt say too much, , but of course explained they were interested in knowing more than what the historical stations show, so we went again with a couple more questions that they replied kindly.

The conference ended and the organizers offered us the chance for more photos, but the light was so poor that I new it wasn't possible but tried with one more:

At that moment I asked them to sign my Best of Kansas CD, what they did with pleasure.

When I believed it was over and decided to leave, Billy asked me about Macchu Picchu, talked about Prog Archives which he promised to visit and talking about bands of the 70's he was curious about Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, then he left..

In the lobby found David and we talked  like for ten minutes, the guy was incredibly nice, when I left found him again in the street and warned not to eat in the street vendors, we said goodbye.

Now will stay home rest a bit after comming from work and will prepare for a great show tomorrow night..

 

Iván

 

 

It's funny how fat I look in the first photo with the huge cooat and the CD's in my pocket LOL.

 

Iván

 

Iván

 

You can see flashes everywhere and that affects other photos.

 

Iván

 

Iván

The problem here is that we don't have really proffesional press, the guy who interviews a veddette gets the toitle of Art reporter, but the same guy interviews politicians, sportsmen, ec.

One reporter asked me if he could inquire Rich Williams for his "racist" comments in Tennis, I had to tell him this guy was Richard Williams, Venus and Serena's father.

But they are protected and get recognition.so some of them are untouchable.

Iván