Yes, Claude is very cool. Do you know his band Amandla? (www.amandlanet.com) It's a great mix of rock, funk, & soul. Not only was Andrew Weiss is Rollins Band, but he was also in Gone with Greg Ginn from Black Flag. Andrew, Sim Cain, and Chris Harford are all friends from Princeton High School in Princeton, NJ (where I grew up). Other PHS alums include Blues Traveler, Chris Barron from Spin Doctors, and children's music star Laurie Berkner. I used to be really obsessed with their success, but the novelty has worn off. I saw Chan from Blues Traveler at our 20th reunion last summer. We weren't friends, but he said hi to me which was cool.

I met Claude one time and he was a rad dude. You probably know this already, bu Andrew Weiss used to be in Rollins Band too. Unfortunately, he was out of the band during the only period i find them listenable. They would have been a great band if Rollins hadnt been in it.

Oops, actually I interned for Chris Harford in '95. '96 was when he finally released a second album. As for where to start with Chris' music, check out Sing, Breathe & Be Merry, his career retrospective collection. (You can listen to it here: http://www.chrishar ford.com/music/music_sing.html) If you like it, then check out Time Warp Deck (http://www.chrisharford .com/music/music_timewarpdeck.html) and his latest, Looking Out for Number 6, produced by Deaner (you can hear four song samples here: http://www.choco dogrecords.com/media.php)

Unfortunately, I didn't get to hang with Deaner, just saw him in passing at Chris' gigs or at Greg Frey's house/home studio. (Greg is Ween's manager.) He seemed wicked cool though, a good friend to Chris and Greg, too.

Yeah, Ive heard his stuff is different than Ween, but all of those guys are so awesome, im sure I'll like it.

That does sound like the best summer of my life too, even though it didnt happen to me, just thinking about it is enough. Deaner seems like he'd be a funny dude, is that how it is? Any Harford albums you would recommend starting on?

Hey Ian, thanks for the hello! Yes, do check out Chris Harford. His music isn't too similar to Ween, but he does perform with them fairly often. I interned for Chris during summer '96 -- met Mickey (Dean Ween), Claude Coleman, Jr. (Ween's drummer), and Andrew Weiss (Ween's producer). It was the coolest summer of my life. (BTW, www.chrisharford.com)

Chris Harford! To be honest, Ive never heard him but I want to. Ive heard of him because Im obsessed with Ween.