A Note from Alejandro
Dear Friends,
It pains me to write this letter. On March 12, 2020, my band and I received word that our tour was to be postponed until further notice due to the Covid pandemic, I remember that day vividly. We had been rehearsing and preparing to tour behind the release of La Cruzada, the Spanish version of The Crossing, Don Antonio was to play guitar on that tour, but was detained because of the outbreak of Covid in Italy. Upon being informed that the tour was postponed, we decided to phone a friend in Milan to hear what effect the virus was having on their lives; what he told us was frightening and truly drove home the severity and danger of contacting the virus.
We said goodbye without shaking hands or abrazos, we were in shock from the news from Italy. That was roughly 17 months ago. I have not played a show since February 2020. When news of a vaccine was announced, I like many of us began to feel a sense that we might get back to a safe and healthy world in which we might gather and celebrate music once again. I wanted nothing more than to return to doing what I’ve been doing for the last 45 years, which is singing songs, playing with good friends and rocking to the beat of the drums.
With the delta variant rearing its ugly head, I’ve come to a very difficult decision and that is that I am not touring this year, and will focus on writing my memoir, writing new songs and working on a screenplay based on The Crossing. I feel I have a responsibility to not put you, the audience, in danger. If even one of you became ill as a result of attending my shows, it would bear heavy on my soul. I’ve always felt rock n roll was a contact sport played in sweaty little clubs with loud guitars, and the abandon that comes from the freedom and buzz of energy blasting from the stage until the wee hours of the morning. Until we can share those moments again without fear I’ll be listening to the birds sing with Nancy and the dogs. Please be safe and love one another.
Alejandro Escovedo
