Hi Everyone,

I am currently sitting in a recording studio at Sony Music in LA and Darren is in a little sound booth in the middle of a day of radio interviews to promote 'Crash & Burn'. Lee Leipsner, ... let me get this title right.... THE Senior Vice President of Columbia Pop Radio Promotions, (you must remember him, I put a mini movie of him on the site a few months back when we were doing the hell 2 city a day trip around the States).. is sitting beside me with his ear attached to his cell phone. AS USUAL!! Generally in Lee's company in a work situation Darren and I try to stay away from him as much as possible due to the fact that our stress levels rise to unheard of levels... BECAUSE HE NEVER GETS OFF THE PHONE!!!! AARGH!!! I'M GOING INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!! I silently type this and he has no idea how I'm feeling internally, any second he will hang up from his latest call with the programme director of some radio station SOMEWHERE in the USA and he will smile at me and say 'so.. how are you?'.. and I will be forced to smile back and say 'Oh, fine, thanks very much for inquiring, Lee', when in fact all I want to do is PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE!!!!

I really musn't complain though, as it is due to the efforts of Lee and the rest of the radio movers and shakers at Columbia Records that has helped 'Crash And Burn' become the number one most added single at American radio for two weeks running!

The last time we spoke, Darren and I were just about to leave Paris for our holiday. We had a great trip to Rio De Janeiro for Carnival and met up with 3 friends from Australia who are in the middle of a backpacking tour of the world. As I've already told you on the last update, the atmosphere in Rio is sensational. Hot weather, beautiful beaches, dancing in the streets and all night partying. We joined in on all of this while we were there and a good time was had by all.

We arrived back from Rio to San Francisco a week ago and it has been a blissful experience.

Just existing in San Francisco is one of life's truly uplifting experiences. When Darren purchased his home there, he certainly chose well. Every time we land at San Francisco airport it is as though a huge weight lifts off our shoulders. It is especially apparent in Darren as he is INSTANTLY relaxed (which I find very enjoyable). The weather has also decided to join forces with us this week and every single day we wake up the sun is shining, the clouds are fluffy, the water is calm and clear, the birds are singing.. and life is grand! (and I am starting to sound like a very daggy 40's show tune.. but you get the point..)

Anyway, taking all of the above into consideration, it's easy to understand how HAPPY we are at the prospect of spending a few weeks in our own beds! I think this will be the most time Darren has spent at his house since he bought it around six months ago. The reason for the lengthy stay in San Fran is due to the fact that the band are rehearsing there for the Disney TV Special and the upcoming tour. The Disney Show will be held at the Filmore Theatre on the 30th March. As you probably already know, tickets for this show are not available to the public and can only be won. BUT.. as you also know, via Carla, we have allocated some tickets to you.... the loyal and dedicated members of the BBS. It will be great to see some of you there, it should be a very good show and you may even get to see a couple of songs that the guys haven't performed live before.

The day after the Disney Show we will be departing for Japan to start the AFFIRMATION WORLD TOUR. Funny thing is, Darren and I both spoke with the lovely Yuko Kato from Japan's InRock Magazine (I told her I'd say hello on my update... 'Hi Yuko!') and she said that the Japanese fans were convinced the tour was actually going to be called the ANNA MARIA LA SPINA FAREWELL TOUR. The reason for this?? Well, if you haven't already heard Anna has scored herself a record deal with Sony Music in Australia and she will be departing the sunny shores of Savage Garden directly after the Japanese tour. She will be sorely missed and as Darren says of her, she is his 'confidence on stage' and it has always been a comfort for him knowing she is always there backing him up so beautifully. So, I would like to take this opportunity to say bye bye and good luck to Anna on behalf of everybody who has had the pleasure of working with her during her time with Savage Garden. We will just have to keep an eye out for her debut album, and of course I will have to continue to suck up to her daily so that when she becomes a superstar she will not ignore me. It would be criminal if I was unable to go to dinner parties and brag about my good pal 'Anna Maria La Spina The Very Famous Singer That I've Known For Years'.

Rehearsals are going very well and I managed to get you a couple of shots of the band in the rehearsal studio in San Francisco.

Daniel and Darren are arranging some of the songs a little differently for the live performances (as they always like to do) and I KNOW you are going to love the show. The set is being designed by the team that brought you U2's Pop Mart Tour, Willie Williamson and Bruce Ramos. I don't know a lot about sets or light shows (I mean, let's face it, who in the real world ever has a reason to know how a light show is put together or what a 'moving vary light' is. It always amazes me when Darren opens his mouth and reams of knowledge about all things visual and musical spews forth. I know that the guys have had two tours of their own, but he knows very specific terms about EVERYTHING!! It is as though the information just falls from the sky and into his head without any effort at all. I'm always very impressed with this talent. ANYWAY.. the point of all this, is that the light show is going to be oustanding and I do believe that it will be one of the biggest light shows Australia has seen in the country for quite some time.

Of course, the reason I'm talking about Australia is because that is where we are going to be starting the full production tour on the 28th April. I am so excited. We get to hang out on the Gold Coast (where my family live) for 2 weeks during production rehearsals. Darren gets to do the one thing that he has been craving to do.. EAT ONE OF HIS MOTHER'S BAKED DINNERS!! And Daniel gets to see his dogs for the first time in weeks. Oh.. .. and of course, there will be the production rehearsals. The guys have hired a stage at Movieworld on the Gold Coast for the duration of our stay and I am going to make everybody brave the Lethal Weapon Ride at least once per day. I'd like it to become a production ritual. I'll let you know how I fare with this one.

Before I say goodbye, there is one thing I'd like to share with you. I like to refer to it as 'Leonie's Drama Of The Week'. I think I'd like 'Leonie's Drama Of The Week' to become a semi regular part of the Savage Garden Website Update. There is no doubt in my mind that, over the next few months, further dramatic events will occur that I will feel absolutely compelled to pass on to you. In the meantime, here is what happened this week.

Darren wakes up in the morning with a large lump growing beside his back wisdom tooth.

He, of course, instantly thinks it is a tumour.

The prognosis is dire.

He starts writing letters of goodbye to his friends and family.

Terror stricken he bursts into my bedroom to give me a personal farewell.

I wake up and investigate his mouth.

I tell him he merely has a problem with his wisdom tooth.

He proudly informs me that he has all four of his wisdom teeth intact and he has NEVER had a problem with them.

Of course I tell him that wisdom teeth, along with the appendix, were a mistake God made when he'd had a little too much to drink the night before.

I also tell him that they are just an ocean of pain waiting to happen.

I make an appointment for him to see an oral surgeon.

Two days later he tells me he is 'all better' and he doesn't need to go to the dentist.

It is at this point that I realise he has a morbid fear of all things dental.

I ignore him and force him into the car for our visit.

After his appointment Darren tries to sneak out of the surgery telling me everything is aok and he doesn't have to have ANY treatment at all!!

Something doesn't sound quite right.

I speak with the oral surgeon who informs me that he told Darren the tooth should be removed THAT DAY!!! Darren, who obviously also has a Doctorate in Dentistry, once again tells the surgeon that he doesn't need it removed and he'll be 'aok'.

I order him back into surgery and tell them it has to be removed for fear that it flares up again in the middle of the tour.

He makes me go in to hold his hand as he has never had ANY type of surgery before.

I start laughing at him.

He then starts to freak out completely and the nurses look at each other in worry.

His palms are sweaty and he is about to run from surgery.

The surgeon makes the decision to inject him with a very strong sedative and a narcotic.

This has an instant effect on him.

His hands go all floppy and he starts laughing.

He tells the nurse that his heart is beating too fast and he is concerned he may have a heart attack right there on the operating table.

We all assure him that his heart is not going to stop.

I continue to laugh at him because by now he has TRULY LOST IT and is in another WORLD.

The tooth extraction is successful.

Darren refuses a wheelchair.

The nurse and I carry him out to the car.

The drugs have had a severe effect on him and he is alternating between laughter and tears.

I realise that I am now officially in a car... on a freeway.... with a freak.

After entertaining me for what seemed like hours, he comes to and the Darren that I know and love returns.

What seems like seconds later, the 'Mourning Of The Lost Wisdom Tooth' begins.

The mourning continues to this day, but has been joined by the 'Great Wisdom Tooth Removal Conspiracy Theory'.

Darren remembers that he has that Doctorate In Denistry collecting dust at the back of his closet and daily informs me that he KNOWS he didn't have to have the tooth removed.

I tell him to just let it go.

Apart from the gaping hole in the back of his mouth, life has gone back to normal for Darren.

That's it from me!

See you guys next time!

Leonie