From: "jwjonesbluesband"

Date: Tue Jun 25, 2002 6:48 am

Subject: Rick gone from Flyers CONFIRMED

Here is the proof of Rick "LA Holmes" Holmstrom leaving the Mighty Flyers!!!

Re: Rick Holmstrom - From Honey Piazza - June 2002

Saturday, June 8-

L.A. Holmes has a new solo CD coming out this month entitled "Hydraulic Groove", so we wish him much success with it. But not too much, as I don't want him to leave us! He's such a fabulous guitarist and a great showman, too. He started out with us 7 years ago and was very shy and quiet. Then, as the gigs went by, and his confidence grew, a `blues monster' erupted from a secret place deep inside of him. When we play, it's as if we were weaving a carpet.The stitches and colors all blending perfectly into one solid piece of cloth.

Monday, June 10-

When we walked into the hotel lobby, LA Holmes was sitting in the bar, and called out to Rod to come talk. Not ever a good sign when you have a band!! I went on up to the room, got ready for bed, and put on the Lakers and Nets 3rd playoff game. That's a great thing about the East Coast. Everything is 3 hours later, so musicians get a chance to catch the tail-end of things on TV. But what I wanted to tell you was Holmes gave his notice. He's quitting after this tour, so, by the time you read this, Henry Carvajal will be the new guitar player for the Flyers. A little bit about Henry…He's originally from Equador but now lives in LA and he is 34 years old. He's a familiar face in the Southern Cal blues scene, having played with lots of different bands, including Bill Clark and James Harmon. We love Henry's playing and we know all of you will too.

Rick is leaving to pursue his solo career. As I said, his new CD comes out next month. We wish him all the best. I had noticed, for the past several months, he didn't seem his normal happy self on or offstage. I just attributed it to him getting older and more serious about life (a very unfortunate turn of events we must all avoid!!) But now I realize he was unhappy about his place in the band, needing to be the one out front, doing his own thing. I sincerely hope, with his dreams being realized, that he finds his happy self again.

Without that, it's not really worth it ….

Saturday, June 15-

It's LA Holmes last gig today, and it's hit me harder than I thought. He's such a big part of the band, even co-producing the last three CDs along with Rod. Change!! It really sucks…I even dreamt about him last night. We were walking along slowly, I was holding his arm, and telling him how much I'll miss him.

I'm happy to say he totally approves of Henry. Says he's the very best player, all-around, for the band. And he knows how excited Henry is to play our music, so he should work in real fast. Rick even offered, and really means it, to help Henry with intros and parts that would take him a lot longer on his own. How cool is that?!?!

Goodbye Rick. I hope our musical paths cross again someday.