(a letter from Robbie to -itis...)

I want to tell you what -itis is to me... sorry it’s long and mushy gushy. lol

Back in the day, I was just a good ol’ kid, chumpin each day at a time. Just like all of us, my life was no walk in the park. It was tough. I’m sure you understand... Well, one day my dad went to your show, just hangin’ out with buddies, drinkin’ some beer. He got your CD "nutbag." It was just a funny CD to them that his buddies laughed at. To my mother’s disagreement, my dad showed me your version of "Bohemian Rhapsody." I really liked it and always asked to hear it. Once I asked to borrow the CD to show my friends and my parents told me I was way too young to listen to the CD (which I was). It wasn’t until my dad showed me the beginning of "Don’t Read My Diary" that I understood why. Well, one day while I was home alone, I found the CD, stole it, burned it, then put it back. In secrecy I was listening to it all the time, mainly because it was a thrill that I was not aloud, and I was listening to explicit stuff. Well after a while, I fell in love with that CD. It was my favorite and I memorized every word of every song (I can do the side effects on "Medicate" perfectly). As time went by, my parents gradually started to not care that I was listening to it, as I was getting older. Then a very close relationship with a girlfriend ended very badly. After a long while of being very, very sad and heartbroken, I started listening to "nutbag" again. It helped turn that sadness into anger (healthy anger) and understanding, which is a lot easier to deal with than sadness. "The Other Side Of You" was very helpful. Every single thing you sang about, well almost everything, was exactly the way I felt. You and the voice in my head were harmonious. Eventually my anger came to an end and I became content, leading to her forgiveness. As life went on, I developed new and harder obstacles, which we all have. But there you guys were again to get me through. With just the right amount of humor thrown in to force a laugh out of me when I thought i couldn’t. As life went on, the lyrics of "Suggestion box", the guitar solo of "Out Of Time", the laughs of "I Wanna Lick Your Ass" and "Your Pussy’s All That Matters"; it all got me through my hard times. I don’t know what I could have done without you guys. I talk to you, Craig, like you have been my best friend for years because honestly, you have. You did for me what only the best of friends would do. It’s almost like you guys stuck with me and were always there. You were sometimes my only friends. Then one day my dad gave me all the rest of his -itis CDs and it opened up a whole new variety from you guys. I work graveyards at Loaf N Jug now. Lame. But the CD "Laid" makes a rough night perfect. Like "I’m Gonna Kill My Boss". lol. Your music is directly my personality, and I love it. I stopped smokin’ pot and I’m nowhere near as horny as Mark lol, no offense, Mark. But still, it’s perfect. The name "-itis", it’s genius by the way. I never got it for the longest time. I still don’t know how to explain what it means, but I get it. It fits you perfectly. "-itis"...like a disease, something stuck to you. I don’t know how to put it, maybe you can help me out. You are simply some kind of.....-itis. lol some songs though...what?...lol. "Toast Sweat"??? CREEPY! lol. Great song. When I saw you guys for the first time at Zippers, it was better than all the Ozzfests and Kiss concerts I’ve been to put together. You guys are my family. It was amazing. Then you played "Always With You, Always With Me", to me! That meant something different to me than you probably thought. Well, I just wanted you to know your importance in my life, and who you are to me. Who are you to you? What does "-itis" mean in your words? I really want to know. lol. I hope it’s not too much, this letter, but thanks guys, for every word you have sent my way. You have encouraged me to keep going, to never give up. Through all the "fucks" and "shits" and "Bangin’ Aw Da Ho’s", I know that you guys have more heart than anyone could ever see, but I see it. Thanks for everything, guys. I hope to see you rock out soon. ---Robbie