What I hear you saying is...

Funny post from Mike about DRM in which "Vanilla Ice" is mentioned no less than thrice in the span of 120 words. Sweet.

So naturally this inspired me to do a little VH1 where-are-they-now-google-rific search to see what had happened to the 'Nilla.

He lives... Oh yes, the Ice Man tour-eth, and hell hath no fury like a washed-up white rapper with hair angles that would make the Prudential logo jealous. He's on a comeback.

And just check out these choice venues!

Feb. 19 - Juke Joint, Springfield, Mo.
Feb. 20 - Ranch Bowl, Omaha, Neb.
Feb. 21 - Granada Theatre, Lawrence, Kan.
Feb. 23 - Cowboy's, Calgary, Alberta
Feb. 24 - Cowboy's Country, Edmonton, Alberta
Feb. 27 - Dome, Montreal
Mar. 11 - Groovy Mule, Denton, Texas
Mar. 12 - Icon, Orlando, Fla.
Mar. 13 - Rubb, Ybor City, Fla.
Mar. 14 - TBA, Bradenton, Fla.
Mar. 19 - Charlie's, South Padre Island, Texas
Mar. 26 - In Cahoots, Wichita, Kan.
Mar. 27 - Mississippi Nights, St. Louis
Mar. 28 - Blue Note, Columbia, Mo.
Apr. 25 - Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind.

But do these venues fill the requirements of the come-back tour?

Let's see...

- Requisite college spring break town?... South Padre Island...... check
- Comedy club turned "disco"?... "In Cahoots"...... check
- Hip spot for the young 'uns?... "Groovy Mule"...... check
- Erstwhile Elk's Club?... "Ranch Bowl"...... check
- Unpronounceable truckstop off interstate?... Ybor City...... check
- Dorm dance sponsored by freshmen?... Notre Dame (WTF?) ......check
- Canada? ......check

Wait... something is missing from this list. It smells like...

...Live... from Budokan!

As immortalized by Spinal Tap, the come-back tour must necessarily start in Japan, preferably live at Budokan. How could his Royal Ice not play the seething hordes of Tokyo? Is the cliche over-hyped?

Turns out it's not a cliche - Here are the bands that have recorded an album called "Live at Budokan":

Dylan (the first)
Ozzy (the bat head biting didn't seem to phase the crowd?)
CheapTrick (the classic)
Asia (kinda redundant)
Bryan Adams (lol)
Mr. Big (sure)
Bay City Rollers (wow, now that is a comeback)
Blur (I actually like this band)
Dream Theater (wha?)
Sheryl Crow (pre-Lance, so technically not a comeback)
Chic (freakin' awesome baby)

And this is just albums with *title* "Live at Budokan". There are scores more that have made recordings here. For example, Judas Priest has both an album from 1979 (Unleashed in the East) AND a later DVD from 2005 (Rising in the East).

Why is it such an attraction? Just listen to the the intro of the live version of Cheap Trick's I want you... to want ME.. . Jesus, now THAT'S a crowd. HELLO CLEVELAND, HELLO!

So when the show winds down on April 25th in South Bend, don't be suprised to hear Vanilla shout out some props to Touchdown Jesus, and then announce his big Japan tour dates.

Word to yo mutha...

(ding ding ding dee dee ding ding...)