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		Verbose Ross Ryan / Coathanger Newsletter October 2006
		Refreshed from her well deserved long service leave, Coathanger's symbolic champion of all things Ryan, returns to her desk bearing long awaited tidings, navel accessories and all the latest news from beautiful downtown Leavenworth.

Dateline: October 2006 - Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (again)

Yes I realise it's been a long time between drinks as far as newsletters go - and I do apologise - but frankly, what with the temporary demise of Coathanger's touring division; the glacial speed of construction of the Ryan Library (see previous newsletter) and the fact that Ross is now based in FongafaIe - there hasn't been much to report.

So I decided to take six months long service leave without pay in lieu of the time I'd accrued over the years, working for Coathanger, also without pay.

I spent part of the time in Namibia helping Angie and Brad look after the kid; read both the Da Vinci Code and the Koran; discovered Hank and R.J. Williams; and (tah dah) I finally got that belly button stud!!

Coathanger & EMI strike a deal

I remember back in the previous millennium, I made the original approach to EMI to secure, for Coathanger, the rights to release Ross's 70s catalogue. This was in response to the number of emails we get, to this day, literally begging us to make this material available on CD.

According to our sources, Ross's last compilation, 'The Greats Of Ross', is now selling for over a hundred dollars on e-Bay! That's outrageous! That's money that should be heading our way and not into the pocket of some wretched, unworthy, money hustling ex-Ross Ryan fan.

Ross signs Coathanger-EMI agreement, flanked by
licensing managers Jonathan Carter & Marianna Annas

Thus we are thrilled to announce that the deal has at last gone down and, as we speak, wheels are in motion to have a new compilation CD and the 'My Name Means Horse' album available in time for Christmas and both at a price under $100. Depending on sales - the other albums will follow in the new year.

Much thanks goes out to both Jonathan Carter and Marianna Annas for staying in their positions at EMI Licensing long enough to make this happen. Coathanger salutes you!

Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords)

This year's Melbourne Fringe Festival features a play written, directed and produced by one Ms Sally McLean - a sort of Coathanger artist in residence except that she actually lives at home.

The play, 'Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords)' runs in Melbourne from Oct 3 - Oct 7 in the main theatre at the Gasworks Art Park and then moves to Mt Martha House in Mt Martha from Oct 18 - Oct 22.

And although 'Chasing Pegasus' has nothing to do with Ross or indeed with his song 'I Am Pegasus' (for a start the play sadly lacks a fickle air hostess character), the song is featured in the show and - wait for it - exclusively for this season, will be performed by Ross - in person!

It isn't exactly the full on Ross Ryan gig that many of you have been clamoring for - but we believe, considering the setbacks experienced during Tour 2005, it's a good way to ease Ross back into live performing. Besides, it's a cool play.

And relax - he's just singing the song.

Ross with the other people who are in the play. (Photo © Yani 2006)

Tour 2005 - 2006: Ross's Photo Blog

As implied above, Tour 2005 - in fact, come to think of it, most of 2005 - was generally a bit of a letdown. Fortunately, the gigs themselves were fine - apparently great in fact. But there were a few hiccups.

For a start, our touring division collapsed en mass which was a bit underwhelming; then technical difficulties scuttled Ross's live album project. Next came Ross's flirtation with pneumonia followed by a few organisational difficulties preceeding the Ross and Doug Ashdown tour.

Cheery stuff indeed. But fortunately things picked up after that. A holiday in New Zealand. Doug Coutt's 50th birthday; and in the first half of this year - a trip to Perth and a couple of fund raising gigs in Sydney. And who best to tell you about all this good stuff?

Introducing Ross's Photo Blog - or as we like to call it - Ross's Phlog.

Ross takes a brace of snaps and then writes about them. Damn, why didn't we think of this before?

Link: Ross's Phlog - 2005 - 2006

Leavenworth Ryan Library update

Having just returned to work, I've had little time to check on how the library project is faring. However, by looking at this snap of the building site taken from my office window here in downtown Leavenworth, it appears that there has indeed been some movement at the station

As you can see, work has begun on the stadium/wildlife atrium and already the hanging gardens and airport are starting to take shape.

In future newsletters, I'll bring you up to speed with details of this prestigious Coathanger, world heritage project.

Leavenworth Ryan Library - September 2006

Well folks, there are a million things awaiting my attention so I best be gone. Hmmm .. I just noticed - my belly button has become septic ...

Again, my apologies for having neglected you all for so long. I trust you've been well and are looking forward to the forthcoming Ross releases and also that you'll drop by the 'Chasing Pegasus' play.

We shall speak

Cheers

Ms Connie Person
Madam Librarian
Coathanger Kansas