News September 2007

• SIMPSON'S MOVIE SAVES STYLE'S LIFE: OK, potentially saves his life. Style was in Minneapolis with his wife when the 35W bridge suddenly collapsed into the Mississippi River. Style had plans to be downtown via that bridge that fateful afternoon when they noticed a movie theater and decided to see what time the Simpson's Movie was playing. Without much discussion, they decided to check out the movie instead of going downtown. Everyone is grateful for that decision and our thoughts and prayers go to all the victims, family, people and businesses affected by this disaster. Special thanks to Matt Groening for making the movie.

• Style has been cast to play a part in a feature horror movie – details to follow soon.

• It turns out Cutting Room Floor has been eating up way more time than anticipated. The earliest that it will be available is now late October. Please be patient, it's worth the wait!

• Style recently was a judge for the Songwriters of Wisconsin International Songwriting Contest – Style felt honored to be asked yet a little awkward because come on, who is he to judge anyone?

• Style is performing an ultra rare series of acoustic shows at Shannon's Irish Pub at 175 Carlton Street in Winnipeg. Come check it out! Shows will be every Tuesday in September (4th, 11th, 18th & 25th) with a start time of 10pm. Call 204-943-2302 for more info.

• Style will be performing in Thompson, Manitoba on July 26^th at Mac Lean Park for a free outdoor concert from 9-11pm courtesy of the City of Thompson. Everyone is welcome!
  

• The tentative release of Cutting Room Floor will be late September 07. Style along with the boys at Absurd Machine Studios have been working hundreds of hours recording this innovative album.

• Rumors of Style trying to get his money back recently after seeing The Beatles – Love in Las Vegas because he's from Canada and he didn't know the Beatles weren't performing live and it didn't state anywhere on the website or concert ticket that the Beatles weren't together anymore… was a joke that has gotten out of hand. The fact is someone overheard him say to an usher on the way out "I'm from Canada, I thought the Beatles were supposed to be performing" and then the usher explained to him who the Beatles were – from there the story has been blown out of proportion. He wants us to make clear that he didn't ask for his money back and that he knew the Beatles broke up long ago and that unfortunately John Lennon and George Harrison passed away along with the original Paul McCartney who died in 1966 and was replaced by the imposter formerly known as Billy Shepherd (http://digilander.libero.it/jamespaul/fc1.html).

• After years keeping this story behind closed doors, Style finally spoke to us about his seven and a half year battle with his car insurance company. As you may recall in December of '99, Style was in a car accident which caused significant damage to his left hand and wrote off his car. After years of getting the runaround, he sought out a specialist who found the problem and then performed hand surgery so he could get back to playing guitar. Unfortunately, his hand hasn't ever fully recovered and he still suffers from chronic pain.

  Up to the time of his accident, Style was performing regularly across North America at a variety of high profile stages. Since the accident, Style has kept low due to the hand surgery and ongoing therapy. Since the time of the car accident, Style has privately been fighting with Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation who have refused him any benefits for two reasons: 1) Because he couldn't prove his hand didn't have problems prior to the accident (obviously a ridiculous accusation based on his regular performances up to that date) and 2) Because he could have easily quit the music industry to become a salesperson or something else that doesn't involve using his left hand. Style thought this was a slap in the face as he has been performing in public since 1986 and couldn't just give up his musical dreams because some corporation told him to become a salesperson, so he decided to fight back.

  It turns out his battle was a waste of time as Style has recently attended his final appeal to be turned down for benefits yet again. It is estimated that he has lost over $250,000 in associated expenses and lost wages since the time of the accident.

  Style told us "MPIC is a highly unethical company. From day one, all I wanted to do was get back to work. They sent me to their doctors on their payroll who kept on telling me that there was nothing wrong with me, meanwhile, I was in hand therapy on orders from my family physician. When I went to see a hand specialist on my own accord, he found the problem and performed surgery to rebuild my hand. All along MPIC kept on telling me I am still capable of doing other work so give up the music. I thought that was an insane proposition. In the process of fighting with this con artist outfit, I couldn't believe what I found out: MPIC pays for any injuries that drunk drivers and even car thieves cause to themselves in an accident! They cover all medical expenses and if that person loses use of a limb or worse, they will give them a generous payout and they don't ever have to work again, they are just put on the same salary they had at the time of the accident. It's appalling! My problem was my injury wasn't severe enough that I lost full usage of my hand, I just obtained chronic pain and limited functionality which entitled me to nothing. This could only happen in Manitoba where they've invented 'no fault' insurance which means by signing your insurance policy you agree to whatever they decide, you can't sue them either. It's ridiculous and there are no other options for car insurance in Manitoba. I wish I could take my business elsewhere."

  Style goes on - "At one point I was in Nashville working on my book on Roger Miller and performing at the songwriter nights out there. I was told MPIC would appeal my case of me being a musician but I had to attend it in person in Winnipeg. I thought it would be a no-brainer that I would win so I postponed an interview I had lined up with Johnny Cash for my book and drove all the way back to Winnipeg for the appeal. I was expecting a settlement that would help get my music career back on track. Boy, was I off base! They told me at the appeal that it was my decision to still pursue the music career and that I was capable of doing other jobs so I was entitled to nothing. This put me in serious debt, to the point that I couldn't afford to get back to Nashville and never did get another opportunity to interview Johnny Cash, it's something I've never gotten over."

  Style is happy to report that he will be back doing what he loves once his new CD is released. I've been in therapy for years now at my expense. My hand is at the point that I can start performing again which is great because I've missed it so much.

  We found out that Style has written a song based on his experience fighting with this insurance company called Forced Unhinged - Courtesy Knobs @ MPIC. Style explains: "We've already finished the song selection for the new CD but I may work it into some shows and possibly include it on the next CD. It looks like all I've gotten out of this experience besides pain and debt is a song, which is sort of the story of my life."

  He shared with us a few lyrics: "They own a doctor called 'Big Mac K.' They give him a dollar for every ten he saves. No matter what's wrong he says 'you're OK'. Karma will get him one of these days."

  Style stopped there in frustration to say "You know, it's unreal how a corporation can be its own judge and jury. I was as fully insured as I could have been, I never thought I'd have these problems. It's sad but MPIC is set up with very similar politics to that of the old Nazi camps. They make up their own laws and the only people you can appeal them to are the people that work for the company who are obviously going to side on the favor of the corporation. Unless you actually lose a body part or a body part is completely dead, the answer is always no. I don't know how they sleep at night. They've cost me and the people close to me so much stress and pain, years of lost income and years off my career. It hurts."

• On a lighter note, Style wanted us to wish you all a Happy Belated Birthday and a safe and enjoyable summer!

• Style's been busy in rehearsals and pre-production with the gang at Absurd Machine working on Style's CD (now scheduled for release in early 2007).

• A music video is also in pre-pre-production.

• Mr. E Style is back from his Western book promo tour. Highlights included:
• An In Conversation radio special with Lisa Roberts from GX94 in Yorkton
• A 40 minute interview on the one hour Vancouver television talk show Studio 4 with host Fanny Kiefer where Style debuted his new song Looneyville
• Dozens of bookstore appearances including Vancouver (and area), Drumheller, Banff, Seattle (and area), Spokane, Billings, Fargo, etc.
• A live performance in Langley at the BC Songwriters Association at McBurney Lane
• A televised interview with DJ legend Red Robinson on BCTV
• An in studio interview on ABC's KOMO TV Evening News in Seattle

• By the way, if you're looking for a great read, check out Red Robinson's book Backstage Vancouver.

• Keep an eye out for As Seen On TV – The K-TEL Story which is airing in October. Style arranged some of the Nashville interviews featured in the documentary including Buddy Killen, Robert K. Oermann and the last interview ever given by Captain Midnight (he passed away the following day).

• Looking for some great tunes before Cutting Room Floor comes out? Check out Bob Dylan's Modern Times CD. He doesn't need your money but he deserves it.

• If you're looking for an interesting forum, check out www.freerepublic.com where a detailed review was written and Style has been answering questions regarding his book Ain't Got No Cigarettes. You will find plenty of previously unshared stories about the book and even some unpublished interview clips. Feel free to join and participate!

• Style's manager, Mr. Kitsalano (who hasn't been on speaking terms with his client in over six months) has posted some unauthorized Style related videos on YouTube. Check them out if you're the slightest bit interested:

• Check out updates scattered throughout the site including an updated bio, FAQ and Quotes (as per request).

• STYLE HEALTH SCARE: When Style's wife recently brought up the conversation of  perhaps having a baby in the near future, it's reported Style was taken to the Emergency room at the hospital to treat what they thought was a brain aneurism. It appears now that it was just a severe anxiety attack (just think what would happen if Style had a kid and had to change a diaper). Style is out of the hospital and recovering in fair condition and is scheduled to see a neurologist just to make sure everything still works. Style claims the emergency room physician instructed him to refrain from that topic of conversation for at least five years however the Mrs. isn't buying it.

• The New York Times calls Style the guy who reignited the Outlaw feud!

  Sunday Book Review
  Music Chronicle
  Published: June 4, 2006

  AIN'T GOT NO CIGARETTES: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller. By Lyle E Style.

  When you've got a name like Lyle E Style, your only career options are playing point guard for the Kentucky Colonels circa 1973 or chronicling country music, and readers should be grateful that Style has chosen the latter path.

  In this collection of Q. and A.'s with dozens of illustrious country artists and fixtures of the Nashville scene, he ostensibly recounts the life of the musician and raconteur Roger Miller, of "King of the Road" and "Dang Me" fame, who died of cancer in 1992.

  But through a quirk of deliberate or accidental genius, what Style has actually assembled is a living document of country music in its hootin', hollerin' outlaw heyday, when the D.J. Captain Midnight ruled the airwaves, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge was the ultimate hangout and everyone, it seems, was on cocaine — even the mimes.

  Along the way, Style learns some unprescribed uses for diet pills, discovers that Miller's King of the Road Hotel may have been owned by the mob and reignites an old feud between Tompall Glaser and Waylon Jennings. As Mel Tillis says, "they're all characters or they wouldn't be in the business."
  - DAVE ITZKOFF

• Electric Recordings and Absurd Machine Records are excited to announce the co-production of Lyle E Style's Cutting Room Floor CD – it's been ten years since Style's last CD release and this one is sure to make an impact.The album is currently in pre-production and will be worked on throughout the summer. Release date is TBA.

• Style will be on a Western book promotional tour chatting about the book and doing acoustic performances tentatively in Yorkton, Sheho, Drumheller, Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Kelowna, Vancouver, Langley, Sechelt, Seattle, Spokane, Billings, Fargo and Grand Forks. Keep your eyes and ears open for Mr. E Style out West from the end of July to early August.

• On June 7, Style appeared on Manitoba's #1 morning show from 6-9am on CJOB with Larry Updike as the musical guest and to once again talk about the book, specifically the positive feedback from The New York Times (the world's largest publication). $5 from each book sold that day went to support Tim Hortons Camp Day.

• On May 21st, there was a tragic accident that took the life of Opry member Billy Walker along with his wife and two band members. Lyle interviewed Mr. Walker for Ain't Got No Cigarettes but the interview didn't make the last cut for the book. Someday, somewhere it will be made available for Billy Walker fans to enjoy. Condolences to the families, fans and friends.

• The whole team at Electric Recordings was sad to hear that Buck Owens passed away on March 25. On March 26, Style performed a musical tribute to him at the Stead annual Kidney Foundation Fundraiser. Mr. Owens' stories shared in Ain't Got No Cigarettes are some of the most interesting and entertaining. Style is extremely grateful to Mr. Owens and his staff for their support on the book and for spending time with him.

• Once again, a huge Thank You to all the good folks that have been so supportive of Ain't Got No Cigarettes – it has recently appeared in many publications around the world all giving great reviews, with more anticipated soon. Special thanks to Great Plains Publications, Anita Daher and Jenna Young for the excellent promotion and to everyone that picked up a copy!