To those that have pre-ordered ‘Coming Up For Air’, the new studio album, I am writing to inform everyone that you indeed have not been forgotten. The release date has been held back due to negotiations with a major label. While I have been and continue to be extremely frustrated with the delays, I am tempered by the fact that more and more people in the industry are coming on board with the project and this will, in the end, allow a worldwide release of the record. Everyone will still receive a signed copy of the new CD one month prior to the street release date, and this date will be announced to all as soon as it is determined.

Your funding allowed the recording and production of three new songs for the album, the mastering of the recordings and the design of the album artwork. Everything is finally poised to be released and moving in a very positive direction. I will keep everyone posted on the release no later than the end of January, 2010. Again, thank you for the faith, the support in purchasing the pre-release, and for your extreme patience with the process. You have my deepest apologies for the delays. Dan

I’ve heard it said that you cannot speak to a terrorist, there is no negotiating with a madman. But was not Osama Bin Laden, the poster boy for all that is terror, once the CIA’s comrade in arms in the 1980s when he was fighting the Russians for us in Afghanistan? We surely were negotiating and speaking with him then. Did he just ‘lose his mind’ at some point, or was he pushed over the edge? It is said that during the 10 year embargo on Iraq between the years of 1991 and 2001 over a million Iraqi children died from lack of food and medical supplies due to the sanctions on Iraq, the US’ punishment to Saddam for invading Kuwait. The rumour is that Osama, witnessing these senseless deaths of innocents, wanted to strike back at those he once aligned himself with. Whether this is true or not, seeing the strikes on Taliban sites in Northern Pakistan these last weeks it seems quite possible that we are not getting rid of the enemy one by one, but we are rather defining their hatred and resolve to continue their quest to rid the world of modernism. Pakistan military with the help of US money and unmanned drones strikes the Taliban… a few days later a number of people blow themselves up in Pakistani markets… now it’s time to drop some more bombs on their heads.

When reading a headline that states -

“A local official told CNN the missile attack killed the nephew and son-in-law of Mawlanna Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban commander in Bajaur. Mohammed, himself, appears to have escaped the assault.”

I wonder… do we pat ourselves on the back in the war room and say, “There… now there are two more dead terrorists, now all we have to do is get the other 10,000 terrorists and this mess will be cleaned up once and for all!”. Are we really that naive to not see that revenge is a losing enterprise? Both their revenge and our revenge indeed kills some of those we despise, but the ‘cancer of anger’ grows like a wild fire, for are we not all justified from our own points of view? The planes knocking down the World Trade Centers on 9/11 may have seemed like, at least at that time, a great success for those who wished to strike back at America’s meddling in the Middle East, but the byproduct of that horrible day was the US military occupying Afghanistan and Iraq for near a decade now… and perhaps forever. Revenge by the radical muslim fundamentalists that day can hardly be viewed as a success in their hindsight. Now we drop missiles and kill Taliban leaders, or their family members in the mountains of Northern Pakistan. Dropping bombs on the same crazy Taliban organization that was being flown to Texas for years to negotiate a pipeline through Afghanistan. (another case of ‘use to be able to talk to them, but can’t anymore’). In time this will insure the friends and relatives of those who survive those we have erased with our modern weapons will want to exact revenge… and the cycle begins again.

If in time we do not heal this karmic circle of the age old method of an eye for an eye, we may be in for a surprise. When every country has finally achieved acquiring nuclear weapons, and one could bet this day is surely coming, whether it be above board or clandestine… what will revenge look like then?

Patriotism in all it’s forms is exciting, chest pounding, noisy, fun stuff. But if we don’t adopt ‘Humanism’ over our passion for borders and religious superiority, then perhaps soon all of our pretty flags will be nothing more than tattered, torn, burning remembrances of how us humans were too proud to survive.

I’ve heard it said that you cannot speak to a terrorist, there is no negotiating with a madman. But was not Osama Bin Laden, the poster boy for all that is terror, once the CIA’s comrade in arms in the 1980s when he was fighting the Russians for us in Afghanistan? We surely were negotiating and speaking with him then. Did he just ‘lose his mind’ at some point, or was he pushed over the edge? It is said that during the 10 year embargo on Iraq between the years of 1991 and 2001 over a million Iraqi children died from lack of food and medical supplies due to the sanctions on Iraq, the US’ punishment to Saddam for invading Kuwait. The rumour is that Osama, witnessing these senseless deaths of innocents, wanted to strike back at those he once aligned himself with. Whether this is true or not, seeing the strikes on Taliban sites in Northern Pakistan these last weeks it seems quite possible that we are not getting rid of the enemy one by one, but we are rather defining their hatred and resolve to continue their quest to rid the world of modernism. Pakistan military with the help of US money and unmanned drones strikes the Taliban… a few days later a number of people blow themselves up in Pakistani markets… now it’s time to drop some more bombs on their heads.

When reading a headline that states -

“A local official told CNN the missile attack killed the nephew and son-in-law of Mawlanna Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban commander in Bajaur. Mohammed, himself, appears to have escaped the assault.”

I wonder… do we pat ourselves on the back in the war room and say, “There… now there are two more dead terrorists, now all we have to do is get the other 10,000 terrorists and this mess will be cleaned up once and for all!”. Are we really that naive to not see that revenge is a losing enterprise? Both their revenge and our revenge indeed kills some of those we despise, but the ‘cancer of anger’ grows like a wild fire, for are we not all justified from our own points of view? The planes knocking down the World Trade Centers on 9/11 may have seemed like, at least at that time, a great success for those who wished to strike back at America’s meddling in the Middle East, but the byproduct of that horrible day was the US military occupying Afghanistan and Iraq for near a decade now… and perhaps forever. Revenge by the radical muslim fundamentalists that day can hardly be viewed as a success in their hindsight. Now we drop missiles and kill Taliban leaders, or their family members in the mountains of Northern Pakistan. Dropping bombs on the same crazy Taliban organization that was being flown to Texas for years to negotiate a pipeline through Afghanistan. (another case of ‘use to be able to talk to them, but can’t anymore’). In time this will insure the friends and relatives of those who survive those we have erased with our modern weapons will want to exact revenge… and the cycle begins again.

If in time we do not heal this karmic circle of the age old method of an eye for an eye, we may be in for a surprise. When every country has finally achieved acquiring nuclear weapons, and one could bet this day is surely coming, whether it be above board or clandestine… what will revenge look like then?

Patriotism in all it’s forms is exciting, chest pounding, noisy, fun stuff. But if we don’t adopt ‘Humanism’ over our passion for borders and religious superiority, then perhaps soon all of our pretty flags will be nothing more than tattered, torn, burning remembrances of how us humans were too proud to survive.

Thank you to all who have pre-ordered the CD. The actual album release has been delayed a few months due to lead times for getting reviews on the album, and in the need to not release during the Christmas rush. However all those that pre-ordered the album will be receiving the record now three months before it hits the streets. I received a few requests asking when they would receive the album they purchased online through Paypal. You will have your copy no later than mid to late November. We are in the middle of shopping the record to major distributor’s, so this may change that schedule a bit, but only because there will be access to a wider distribution, so I appreciate your patience, support and understanding. Your faith in the music and pre-ordering the record has built the foundation to recording new tracks and putting the final touches on the record, and for this you have my deepest gratitude. I am looking forward to finally having this long process over and having the music in your hands. I hope it will be worth the wait in your eyes (and especially your ears  In peace. Dan

I have been asked to play a story tellers type performance at Borders Book Store in Northridge, California, August 1st at 6pm. I will be performing two sets between 6 to 8pm. The address for the store is 9301 Tampa Ave. Northridge, CA, 91324. This show will be unique in that they have asked me to elaborate on my experiences in India with the Tibetan monks and my time in Israel/Palestine. Hope to see you there! Thank you Charrie Foglio for making it all happen

Borders Store Phone - 818-886-5443

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Tommy Denander will join Dan Reed on stage the 24th of June at The Bitter End in New York. Tommy played with Dan both in Stockholm and London during Dan`s latest European tour to the delight of all who attended. An evening not to miss if you are in the NY area.

I am very honored and happy that guitarist Tommy Denander and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto will be joining me on stage for a number of songs at Bush Hall, this next Thursday, the 7th of May in London. Both are very talented and inspiring musicians, and it is great to have them bring some extra color and excitement to the evening. Tommy joined me on stage in Stockholm a few weeks back and it took things to another level. Also to have Jeff Scott Soto join me for vocals on ‘The Promised Land’ I think will prove to be a memorable moment, since the song is about two brothers making peace. Please read below if you are interested in learning more about either of these wonderful souls, and I look forward to seeing all those who can attend on the 7th. Peace… Dan

TOMMY DENANDER

Signed his first record contract in 1983 at the age of 15 with Polygram/Vertigo with his Swedish hard rock band ATC, Tommy was quickly hailed as a wunderkind by the media around the world. In a short time he was becoming a sought after session guitarist for countless Swedish artists and in 1987 at the age of 19 he moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. He quickly became a first call session musician and producer as word spread and appeared on many high profile recordings including the Oscar winning movie “Gorilla’s In The Mist” and playing with top names like Toto, Zakk Wylde, Matt Sorum. Tommy is today one of the most sought after guitarists, song writers and producers in the world with more than 30 gold and platinum rewards, 4 US Grammy nominations, an Australian Grammy for album of the year in 2008 for Bedford and many other awards and readers poll wins.

JEFF SCOTT SOTO

Jeff Scott Soto is an artiste who has graced many stages, a hybrid redolent of soul, pop, rock, blues and R&B influenced by luminaries such as Queen, Prince and Sam Cooke and a man who has proved, across the years that he can deliver all these genre well. In a career spanning more than 25 years, beginning as the vocalist for guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen leading to front man for many bands including; ‘Talisman’, the legendary ‘Journey’, ‘Soul SirkUS’ and most recently ‘Trans-Siberian Orchestra’. He came to the notice of many in the industry when he provided the lead vocals for the main character / singer of ‘Steel Dragon’ in the 2001 Mark Wahlberg motion picture ‘Rock Star. In 2002 he set out on the long, arduous road of a solo career in which he has released 4 solo albums including his most diverse to date, ‘Beautiful Mess’ released early 2009. With an audience that comes from Europe, Asia, South America and North America, his appeal is about to be widened further with this new release.