Eric Martin | Mr.Big | February 2003 |
Wow.. what can I say about this interview.. they just keep getting better and more in depth.
This month is the Eric Martin of Mr.Big.. well (was), I wanted to interview
Eric because of his new solo album coming out, little did I know this interview
would be a lot of venting about the Mr.Big situation.. and what a "situation" it was..
He got a lot off his chest.. and is quiet a humorous guy at the same time..
So sit back and enjoy..
Eric has a lot to say...............
J - How did you hook up the guys from Mr. Big?
E - I was doing solo records in the late 80's and I got a phone call from Mike Varney who was the head hunter for guitar players and also ran a label called Shrapnel. Which is mainly a mail order record company the guy has made millions. His discovered people like Paul Gilbert, Yngwie, all these guys with big names. Billy Sheehan played on some of his albums and they were acquaintances and Mike and I were acquaintances from playing punk bands in the San Fran area, he gave me a call and says how is your record doing? I said all right. He says.. "Well you have been a leader of your own thing for the last 10 years would you like to be a band member guy and be a singer for a new band that Billy Sheenan put together?" I go You mean that guy from the "Yankee Rose" video and all that and he goes hey look are you interested and I go yeah. Then he goes you talk to him, Mike is notorious for 3 way calling and he had Billy on the other line. We talked. I had a couple songs and he had a couple songs, we went shopping to labels and together we went to Warner Bros. Ted Templeman, because of Billy's affiliation with the Van Halen Brothers. That didn't work, blah blah blah. We had Paul Gilbert cause he was a big fan of Billy's said yeah he was interested in doing it. This was around 1988 and then we got our drummer Pat Torpey, we had a few songs I think, well yeah yeah we had like 8 songs in a week which was pretty the whole album and then we got signed to Atlantic Records.
J - How long were you together before you got signed?
E - Maybe 7 months I think, I don't think that long there was a lot of talk but I think we only rehearsed for about a month and then we did a show case. It was just kind of a fluke. We did it really fast and everybody had songs that they had been writing like Paul had been writing obviously for Racer X. Pat had some ideas and Billy had all these great ideas that he wanted to put out. I had a couple of songs so we were just really quick in the studio and we showcased. I remember all these labels came down to see us and Billy was sick so they had to go home cause we couldn't play in front of them so I had thought that was a big jinx. "Oh no we aren't going make it". But Atlantic signed us without seeing us that was kind of fun that was our big break. Now your big break takes a really long time for your phone to ring and go "hey you got a tour"....great! I've been waiting for ya ..... back then things started coming like every week.
J - How was important to the whole look back then with the hair bands and stuff?
E - We had long hair, we all had long hair, me and Billy and Pat were older we grew up in the late 70's and we had long hair in high school and never cut it, I mean I cut it in the 80's when I was making records tried to get the Bono look you know like everybody else I had a Bono look with a tail frightening. My wife now goes what were you thinking and I grew it back just to grow it back I've always had long hair. We weren't the pretty boys of rock and roll let me tell you. Granted I don't think I ever hair sprayed my hair I just kept cutting my bangs I look like such a geek everybody said that my hair looked so cool God I have long hair and bangs!
J - Hahahaha.. I have hundreds of pictures it wasn't that bad.
E - I mean I hate dwelling on the hair but I think it is kind of funny the hair band thing. Everybody use to have long hair chicks dug it you know.
J - What is the biggest crowd you played for and where?
E - My biggest crowd that we played for was I think around 96' I played in Brazil we headlined for a hundred thousand people on the beach, we played with Henry Rollins, Lemmon Heads, and Sepulture and we were the headliner.
J - Wow.. What a mix...
E - A total mix but still, the Lemmon Heads I don't know how they got on there but they had a really big gigantic hit song at the time. and then that was the biggest gig. 100,000 is huge but we played to 50-70,000 people all the time when we were opening for Rush and Aerosmith but this was our gig.
J - What is the craziest thing a fan had done to meet you?
E - Ummm I get a lot, I don't' know if I want it to be true or not true but I get a lot of like I am going to commit suicide till I see you. ummmm so I kind of fall for that I must be the suicide hotline. I don't' mean to laugh a lot about that.....I swallowed a bottle of Jargons because of you and I am like ooohh... don't do that, ummmm lets meet, talk about a blind date but it still happens on the internet.
J - What was your favorite package tour.. I hate to say back in the 80's cause you guys weren't an 80's band, cause you almost came out in the 90's.. but what was your favorite tour?
E - I don't really care now.. I used to care..then I kinda went. I don't give a shit.. I'm glad I lasted this long..ya cause 89' is when our Mr. Big record came out..and we played clubs for years, and I think around 92' is when "To Be With You" hit..and "Green Tinted 60's Mind"..and the band started coming out.. and we had an underground crowd.. which its always cool to have an underground crowd, cause they come out without the help of MTV and radio..they just come out, because of word of mouth..but..ya.. Rush..was definitely the best package tour we did.. the whole Presto tour, which was about, 4 or 5 months.. then we did half a Rolling Stones tour, Primus did the west coast, and we did the east coast.That was the best time ever! I wasn't a real big Rush fan, Paul was such a Rush fan he had all there albums in his wardrobe case...and waited forever, till the end of the tour, to get them signed.and I was in the dressing room with them all the time, just bullshitting with them..and eating there catered food.. mine was terrible, and I would be chomping down on a chicken bone asking what does and "By Torthe Snow Dog" mean? hahaha.. but it was a really cool time, I mean they were calling me E..and I was like wow. Elvis... and I mean I didn't have a big head but I really liked the fact that I felt like they treated me like there little mascot..like hey come on the bus E..ya know..it was cool..for Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson ..who are really outgoing.. and to have Neal pert to get inside your head.. he always made me feel like an ignoramus when I talked to him anyway..hes so smart... I had a really good time, and the gigs were always great.. I mean there were times when it wasn't great..cause nobody cares about the opening act at a Rush concert..and they are mainly dudes, and ironically "To Be With You" hit..and more girls came to the gigs, then the guys dug it too. I mean come on.."To Be With You", that's a campfire song..haha.. but there were digging it..and also we had the song.. "Addicted to That Rush" so every night id say "Are you addicted to Rush" and they would all scream..and id turn around quick to Pat... and say..ok lets go.. hahaha..
J - Ok along the way Paul left the band, and Richie Kotzen joined the band, how did that come about?
E - Paul quit. we were bummed.. but I later on in life realized he was just sick of me and Billy arguing. Paul is an only child.. no Paul has a sister, but I don't know what it was, he was more introverted.. he just couldn't stand the loud noise or something.. and after a while, he just had to go.. and do his own thing I guess.. but I knew it was because of our behavior.. and I was a friend of Richie's for a long time, another Mike Varney protégé.. Ritchie is some kid out of Pennsylvania, same as Paul.. and ah... kinda cocky.. but he was funny. and I always liked him.. excellent guitar player.. and a really good singer...I loved hearing his voice, always thought it was bluesy and soulful.. kinda from the same schooling I was from.. and we latched on as friends.. so we were gonna audition some people.. and that's one of them I put in the hat.. and he came in and played.. and he was in the band, simple as that. .. he added so much to the band.. he's not a Paul Gilbert... well Paul was a great songwriter as well as a great guitar player.. they both have chops.. but you get used to one guy after so long.. but Richie had soul. and actually in the beginning I would say we were a bluesy rock band.. like Free.. and Bad Company, but we were never that way, I thought I was that way, but I never though the band was that way. So when Richie got in the band we finally became a soulful metal band.
J - Then you went to Japan.. toured a few more times, and released a few more cds.. but what actually led to the break-up?
E - Well the band had been together for 13 years.. there was a lot of going up a ladder.. its such a cliché thing.. when your on top.. everyone's happy and when your back down at the bottom and struggling trying to get back to the top again, everyone's got a bad attitude.. but what happened... (long pause)... I don't know....I'm gonna tell ya.. haha.. Billy and I.. hey he just, I think from the beginning, we just got off on a bad foot.. a lot of miscommunication, to the point of.. he would tell me what to do.. and I would do it.. then I would get tired of him telling me what to do so I would argue with him about it, and he would say Eric..we need the same thing.. but I think it was my ego back then.. I fuckin didn't want this guy telling me what to do all the time... and he was just comfortable.. in his control freak costume.. and I just didn't like to take it.. ya know.. I moved out of my parents home when I was 17, I don't feel like I needed to be talked to that way all the time, and I never did the right thing in his eyes, I never dressed the part.. he was trying to groom me for years.. on how to be a front man.. and I just got sick of it.. and rebelled.. and I wanted to be in the band.. I loved the band, loved writing songs for it. it was a huge creative outlet for me.. I wrote some of my best songs ever in Mr. Big.. onstage I loved it.. off stage it was pathetic, a lot of whispering, and talking behind peoples backs.. and him and I just seemed to be in the butt of everything.. just utter turmoil..
J - ya know I would have had no idea.. you really couldn't tell.. I've been following the bands forever, and a lot of bands you can tell there is animosity. but I had no idea.. till recently I went to the Mr. Big site.. and how rude it was...hahaha.. It says.. we will never be together again, there will never be a reunion..hahaha...
E - Billy wrote that..
J - Ya I know cause then I see email me if you would like to talk to me.. and its Billy's email address...hahah.. so I figured there was a problem..
E - Ya we never played it off.. like Joe Perry and Stephen Tyler would have fights on stage.. and not to say I'm in the same league as them. I'm just saying from a fighting level..
although. there would be times during the show.. in the song called "Price You Got to Pay" and I come over and put my arms around Billy and play his bass.. while he would play harmonica.. just a little thing, but he would shake me off all the time, if he was in a mood or something.. or had Eric Martin disease that day. I would smile..and just say everything is great..cause I don't want the fans to know we don't like each other..ya know..hahaha.. but backstage man..... like on the last tour,the farewell tour..well the events leading up to it.. see we had whole 6 - 7 months that went by before we did that record.. we had time away from each other.. and we got together at Richie's house.. me, Pat and Richie.. and Richie Zito.. who's the producer for Cheap Trick..etc.. and we came in and Billy wasn't around, he was doing the Steve Via tour.. and creating his own record.. and was kinda like.. big deal he's not here.. because when he's here he's gonna give me a dirty look and I'm gonna go what the hell are you doing.. and he's gonna be like fuck you.. it will be just a turmoil thing... so he wasn't there, and he finally came after a couple of weeks.. and we had already written a bunch of songs the 3 of us.. so there was some animosity there, and jealousy.. ya know.. he would say he was going to bring in songs, and never did. then we did photo sessions...and he had just kinda had it with me.. and look I'm not perfect.. I mean I can be a little shit ..a little devil at times but never been a pre-madonna.. never been conceited, nothing like that. but when I feel like I'm getting "Eric I'm gonna sit you down and give you a little talk" I have no patience for that.. when its the same shit alll the time..."don't wear jeans and a t-shirt, don't wear... don't talk to the audience.. don't.." well what do ya think of my new song.. "well it don't kill me".. after a while, I kinda became my own guy, and not that you couldn't talk to me, I didn't like the tone. Pat even noticed .. he would say. "I see what your saying Eric".. Ritchie would just say.. "Hey man.. leave me out of it.. man.. I've been in Poison.." haha.. remember that?
J - ya..
E - Well that didn't work out.. so he said keep me out of it.. put me in no mans land.. hahaha...
So we did a video for a song that was on the Actual Size album called "Shine" and it was a nightmare.. and the director was a huge fan of the band.. but he was almost in tears.. because Billy would be like nowhere to be found when we take a break, and he would ask would you come over here please.. and Billy would be like "what" all rude, he was disrupting the whole thing.. and I remember that day.. and I walked up to him.. and was like hey dude.. what's wrong? and he goes "nothing man ..everything is cool".. and I would say.. I know its me.. you don't like me.. but can we just do this?...and he goes "its not you, its me.." he used to always say that. and so we did the video.. and it was not good..
So Pat gave me a call and said.. I cant take it anymore, I couldn't believe it.. usually its me saying I cant take it anymore.. Paul quit.. I was even leaning towards it.. but as cliché is at may seem.. the fans dug us.. even though we didn't dig each other.. the fans really dug us.. so Pat convinced me.. as I'm sitting there in the middle of dinner.. on the phone, and having a couple glasses of wine.. after about an hour and half.. he convinced me.. and I was like look.. I know he's not immortal.. but Billy is the icon of the band.. and if we kick him out.. the fans are never going to understand.. ya know.. even though he's not being a team player at this moment.. and Pat's like no we can get another bass player.. and I was like.. we are making a huge mistake. I mean I don't have any love for the guy, but we can't do it in this manner.. we should just break up. but I go ok.. you got my vote.. so I was one of the ring leaders.. so we call Richie.. and he's hosing off his front porch... hahaha.. this is what Pat told me.. I said.. hey have you Richie about it?.. "oh ya.. I called him 5 min. before I called you".. hahaha and he said he was hosing off his front patio..and he said.. "hey do what ya gotta do." hahaha and I went.. wow. loyalty.. gotta love the guy!. then Pat tried to call Billy...
Ya know I'm probably telling you more then you wanted to know..hahaa
J - Noooo... this is great....but let me flip the tape in case it ends..hahaha..
E - Ok.. now back to Musicmayhem... it should be Billy and Eric mayhem.. hahaha.. ya the mayhem twins.. haha..
Ok were was I..
J - You were getting ready to call Billy..
E - Ok ya.. so Pat called Billy.. and Billy is a screener.. I have a lot of friends like that, my guitar player in my band, ill call him and ill have this long conversation ..and if he wants to pick.. he'll pick it up.. ya know.. everybody does that.. so Pat basically told him.. hey its not working out.. well I don't know exactly what he said. I don't remember now.. he just said... and this is the easy way out.. but he said.. it appears your not happy with the band, so we don't wanna make you unhappy anymore, and the long and short of it.. we no longer need your services.. and Billy was really pissed off... and what's really twisted about this is he had already spoken to magazines prior even doing the "Shine" video.. and said the Actual Size record sucked.. and that my songs sucked.. and Richie's "Shine" sucked and he told everybody.. at least this is what I was told.. he told everybody in magazine world.. media.. that this record was gonna rock.. and it was gonna be heavy.. and it ddn't turn out that way.. maybe because of his influence too.. cause he didn't write anything.. ya know.. cause my characteristic is I write.. pop rock songs, or acoustic songs.. and it always turns out to be a single.. and I'm happy about that.. but that's what I do.. well that's what I did... I write a lot of rock songs but they never got anything.. it was like "ya..ya Eric.. leave it to the professionals".. do you have the last record?
J - Not the last.. last one.. no..
E - Well its a really good record. a melodic rock record.. reminate of Lean Into It, which had "To Be With You" on it.. but it had a lot of great songs.. it wasn't Soundgarden or Metallica like Billy had made it out to be.. so he slogged us in the magazines before hand.. so when he gets booted.. "the stupid booting"...he tells everyone on the internet.. and the magazines that he had nooo idea it was coming. I always thought.. now come on.. that's like being in a marriage and your constantly fighting and picking on them.. then all the sudden they get divorced.. and they go... what happened.. what did I do... hahahaha.. that just kinda shocked the shit out of me.. he's an amazing bass player, he's charming, and he's a really intelligent person.. and he does have a really funny nice side to him. that's very endearing at times... but that's on a Friday.. then Saturday is a whole different ballgame... but Sunday could be better..
J - See I didn't know you had him leave.. did you guys actually have him leave.. or just break up?
E - oh... no no no no ... ill try and make this shorter.. the day after the "firing".. Richie calls me up.. and goes.. "oh god what do we do.. we're doomed!"...and I go... dude....cause see I'm here in the bay area, they are all in L.A. so Pat and Richie get together, and Pat says let me just go over there and talk to him.. and see where his head is at... and I was saying.. we already sank the ship.. its not gonna get any better, its gonna be back to the Billy Sheehan band.. trust me.. and it was... they got him back in the band.. for a minute.
He was in but.. this is exactly what he said.. "I love you Richie.. and I love you Pat.. and I don't necessarily hate Eric... but I want to make things work.." and I didn't trust him.. but I thought.. oh man I hope this is swept under the carpet.. because I really want the band back together.. the original one.. I didn't want some other fuckin bass players.. that would have been the kiss of death. So he couldn't make it on the promotion tour, cause he had the Steve Vai tour.. which Billy used to say.. "the first priority in my like is Mr.Big. Well my family then Mr.Big." ,but apparently its my family, Steve Vai, my record, then Mr.Big. hahahaha... so we went to Japan and told everybody he's back.. and the radio stations and said he's back...and we came back and are sitting in the promoters office.. and Pat is like, I just talked to Billy, and its going to be a farewell tour. and Richie's like......with a cloudy look... and I'm tearing up.. I'm like this is unfair.. and this is not cool.. but now that I look back on it, I guess it was a smart move.. because we were just wearing out or welcome.. the team was over... so we played this farewell tour.. we played 16 sold out shows.. and it wasn't great.. well it was a mess.. we would rehearse.. and we weren't talking ..and it went back to me feeling like it was my fault or something.. because Pat, and Richie and Billy were best friends.. and I didn't know what happened.. so we head out there, and we have separate cars.. separate floors of the hotels, the 3 of us ate together, and Billy ate by himself.. it wasn't cool.. but the last show was.. well I don't think it was a greatest show, but the energy.. it was really good energy. and at the end me and Billy kinda hugged. and we went to the hard rock cafe, the whole band, promoter and our record company.. which another thing.. when I found out about the farewell tour.. so did the record company.. and they were like "what?" your our biggest band here... so it was a shock to everybody.. haha.. anyway, we did that gig, and we got along great... and it kinda weirded me out.. cause we did get along.. ya know. then we didn't.. then we did.. that was our life. but I think we made really fun music, both musically........
J - Do you still talk to any of them now?
E - No.
J - Nobody?
E - No I kinda had a falling out w/Pat too.. cause he kinda got me to kick Billy out.. then all the sudden he's best buddies with him again. and that's when Ii felt like I was shunned.. I kinda had a bad taste in my mouth.. I didn't trust anybody.. and I called Richie and asked him to come to my wedding, I didn't call anyone else, but I asked Richie.. grasping for straws.. "you like me right?" hahaha.. and he goes.. "I'm too busy" and that was in May.. so I haven't seen or talked to any of them really as a band since February..
But I did get contacted by management the other day that they are trying to put together a greatest hits package.. so far we have had more product out there, that is a band that is dead, then one that is living.. we have greatest hits, and box sets, and all this shit coming out.. videos, farewell tour videos, anyway. That's Mr.Big in a nut shell.
J - O.k. well you kinda covered it allll..
E - Ya I did.. I kinda get a little gabby when I suck down some Starbucks here....
J - O.k. did you go straight to your solo stuff or did you do any side projects?
E - Nope I kinda saw the light at the end of the tunnel.. When I was making the Mr.Big record, Billy wasn't around...I was like oh shit.. I don't think this is gonna last. I thought he was gonna quit. And the rock songs I had written for Mr.Big didn't make it, I didn't really have a good vote. So they were not finished, but when Billy, Pat.. and when Paul was in the band, they would take my songs, and turn them into heavy rock songs, cause I wrote most of my material on an acoustic. So I had wrote these 5-6 rock songs.. and they didn't make it.. they were like.. "uhhh.. Eric you do what you do.. we'll do what we do".. and I took those songs and put them on my solo record. And I have a few other songs of old school.. and new school stuff... that I was working on at the time. I wasn't in the studio or anything, just in my hotel rooms, sitting there.. fiddling my thumbs thinking.. ok I've written a bunch of material for Mr.Big already.. I'm just waiting for our "icon" to get back from the tour... hahahaha.. I know, I'm a fuckin smart ass.. So I'm waiting for Billy to get back, and I just wrote a bunch of material.
J - What c.d. was this stuff on? Somewhere in the Middle or Goin' Sane?
E - Going Sane ..cause the last album Mr.Big did was called Actual Size.. and I wrote a song called "Lost in America", "Merry Goes Round".. "Lost in America" is kinda heavy.. then a couple ballads.. then collaborated w/the other 2 guys. I wrote one song w/Billy, when he showed up... One song.. and I've never written a song with Billy, ever. It was ok.. it was a punk song called "How Did I Give Myself Away" that was on the Actual Size record, the last one.. so I was finished writing for that album, so I started writing for my own, I had 5 that didn't make it so I stuck it on Goin' Sane..
J - How would you describe Goin' Sane to someone who hasn't heard it yet?
E - Ummm.. Chocolate covered metal...hahaha.. I'd say it's pop rock..
J - Are they imports or are they available here in the states?
E - They are imports... but.. we are shopping it. Well we are still trying to get a theme going.. but I do that all the time, I mix old school and new school.. I've done that my whole life even with my old solo records.. Ill have R&B and Rock n Roll.. and people are like ok... "who are you" so for the next album Ill have a theme going... so maybe I'll have better luck at this shopping market for labels.. So I did a couple more songs, I have a deal in Europe, and a deal in Japan, with a label called Frontiers. So I took the last couple off the Japanese record.. and wrote a couple new ones, and I did a remake of the Cars "Just What I Needed" and I put it on the Frontiers record.. So I went to a mastering lab, redid some things.. and pumped out my own record.. sell it at the gigs.. and I don't know why my stupid pride got in the way back in my solo years.. but this is the way to go...they just go like hotcakes.. then I sell some merchandise... I have this old rock logo EMB from early 80's maybe 83' and I still use it, and people like it.
J - So any touring plans?
E - I did 6 weeks in the states... with Enuff Z'nuff... whoo that was a nightmare.. hahaha... no it wasn't a nightmare, there were some really good gigs, and there were some really bad gigs, cause nobody likes to come out on a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.. but the rest of the week was great.. but also it wasn't all of Enuff Z'Nuff.. but I love Donnie Vie he's great, but it gets old, that jag off attitude.. it really gets old.. I feel bad for him man, he has substance abuse problems.. and Chip Z'nuff on again off again thing.. its like shit or get off the pot... either be a drug guy.. loser.. or stay in the game. don't complain about it.. just do it.. ya know.. I know that's easier said then done.. but after a while.. come on. How many decades have to go by.. and were still hearing about the same shit.. that's like me complaining about Billy Sheehan.. I mean come on.. get over it..
But I thought John Monaco did a really good job as a front guy. .he did a great job singing and playing guitar.. but he's no Donnie Vie... he has a presence.. even if he is a jag-off he has a presence.. hahaha.. but I thought I was getting the whole package when I was coming out on tour.. but ya know what.. its not like I'm gonna quit cause of a bump in the road. So we did this tour, and Monday we go to Japan for 4 shows... then 5 combined in-stores where we play live too.. actually the 4 gigs we are playing... are 4 of the places Mr.Big played.. but I have a long way to go before stepping into Mr.Big's shoes.. but I'm comfortable in my own..
J - Anymore us dates?
E - Well I promised everyone we would come back in 6 months.. so.. god damn.. that's April... so if I break my work.. I may get tarred and feathered or something.. so ya.. we'll get it together.. its really hard, there is a lot of work to put into entertaining people. when you don't have a record company backing.. but I made some money in Mr.Big.. so it goes into paying for a tour bus.. and band members, and equipment.. then ya get out to Sioux Falls, IA. and your playing in a big ass bowling ally.. hahaha.. and our first night in Texas.. Houston. YIKES.. it was raining.. played some place looked like it was right out of the Porkeys movie.. some run down shack.. and we go in there, downstairs is packed.. a punk rock club, then we go upstairs to us.. and there is like 30 people... coming to see the Eric Martin Band and Enuff Z'nuff.. and it was whatever it was. But its the excitement of being on the road.. otherwise its sitting home watching must see TV..
J - So what are your plans for this year? Recordings? Or pushing Goin' Sane?
E - No I've already got about 6-7 new songs for another record.. and they are a little bit more aggressive...
J - That's cool.. cause my favorite song on the new c.d. is the first song..
E - "My Disease" ..Ya.. its more like that.. cause everyone likes that.. ya so I'm going for that.. and I've been rehearsing with the band.. for this Japanese trip.. we have something in the works for a possible European tour.. but I wish they would shit or get off the pot.. cause I want to get back in the studio.. and getting back in the studio is only a hop skip and jump away.. cause I have a pro-tools studio in my house now.
J - And how about a website people can keep up with everything your doing..
J - That's about it.. do you have anything you would like to say to your fans reading this?
E - Umm.. do I still have any fans?.. hahahaha.. No I'm sure I do.. but no not really.. I guess "You can't keep a good man down" hahaha.... its funny cause in Japan, you always have to have a message to fans.. every time you do an interview.. so I get so weirded out.. hahaha.. "when you go in the pool make sure you wear a...."
J - Hahahaha that would be good.. these are different from what I normally get..
E - Well what do you get?
J - Umm.. thanks for the emails.. uh, thanks for the support.. see ya on the road..
E - Ok. the prodigal sun returns
J - Ok.. that will work.! hahaha.. Thanks a lot Eric!
