Tony Thorpe Interview by Alex Malinksy

1.) What made you go raw?

I WAS INSPIRED IN 1995 BY DR. LORRAINE DAY'S VIDEO "CANCER DOESN'T SCARE ME ANY MORE." SHE HAD BREAST CANCER AND WENT ON A RAW FOOD AND JUICE DIET AND HEALED HERSELF. SHE LOOKS FANTASTIC. IT WASN'T UNTIL FIVE YEARS LATER WHEN I PLAYED GOLF WITH A RAW FOODIST THAT I DECIDED TO GO FOR IT. HE GAVE ME THE NATURE'S FIRST LAW "THE RAW FOOD DIET" BOOK AND I WENT RAW THAT DAY. THAT WAS JANUARY 26TH 2000.

2.) Got any tips for newbies?

ENJOY THE RIDE. IT WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD. FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION AND LET IT GUIDE YOU.

3.) How did you get involved with Natures First Law and what is your postition?

I MET DAVID WOLFE AND STEVEN ARLIN IN LONDON IN THE SUMMER OF 2000 AND WENT TO THE FRESH SUMMER PARTY WITH THEM. I ASKED THEM FOR A JOB AND THEY SAID YES. I STARTED LATER THAT YEAR. I'M OFFICIALLY THE OFFICE MANAGER BUT THE STAFF IS SO EFFICIENT I'M REALLY JUST A CHEERLEADER. RECENTLY I'VE BEEN SETTING UP TOURS AND EVENTS AS WELL AS DRIVING THE VEGGIE OIL POWERED TOUR BUS.

4.) Tell us one of your favorite stories you have expereinced with NFL and David Wolfe?

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS WAS WHEN FORMER EMPLOYEE SCOTT BRODIE ALMOST GOT INTO A FIST FIGHT WITH THE ICE-CREAM MAN. HE WAS YELLING "MASS MURDERER" AT HIM. IT WAS HILARIOUS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AS NNOCENT AS THE ICE-CREAM MEN MAY SEEM THEY ARE PUSHING SUGARY POISONS ON OUR CHILDREN AND GETTING THEM HOOKED SO HE DID HAVE A POINT.

ONE DAVE WOLFE STORY WAS LAST YEAR WHEN WE TOURED EUROPE AND THE FIRST GIG WAS IN GLATONBURY, ENGLAND. WE STARTED THE FIRST SONG AND THE KEYBOARD ALMOST BLEW UP BECAUSE IT WAS THE WRONG VOLTAGE, MY BASS WAS SHOCKINGLY OUT OF TUNE AND 2 OF DAVE WOLFE'S DRUMS FELL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SONG AND WE KEPT PLAYING. AT THAT MOMENT I SURRENDERED AND GAVE UP MY SERIOUSNESS ADDICTION!

5.) What are some of your favorite hobbies, and what does your daily live-it (instead of die-it) look now?

I LOVE TO PLAY SOCCER, GOLF, TENNIS, PING-PONG AND POOL. I PLAY RARELY THOUGH AS I'M BUSY WITH WORK AND THE BAND. I LOVE NUDE BEACHES AND HOT SPRINGS AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES. I RUN MY CAR ON WASTE
VEGETABLE OIL.

I DO DAILY YOGA, WORK FROM 8-4 MONDAY THRU SATURDAY, AND GO TO THE NUDE BEACH AS OFTEN AS I CAN AND RUN TO THE END AND BACK. IT'S 2 MILES LONG. THE NUDE BEACH IS A GREAT CHANGE OF SCENERY FROM THE CITY OF EL CAJON AND IT'S MY WAY OF WINDING DOWN. ONCE A WEEK I GO TO WARNER HOT SPRINGS WITH THE NFL STAFF FOR SOME SOAKING PLEASURE.

6.) Do you think it's vital to be %100 raw?

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE HAPPY AND EAT WHATEVER WE WANT. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND OUR DIETS OUGHT TO REFLECT THAT. COOKED FOOD IS ADDICTIVE TO SOME AND THE COLD TURKEY METHOD OF QUITTING MIGHT NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE.

7.) IF you were to eat any cooked food you wanted what do you think you would eat? (the first thing that pops into your head.)

I NEVER HAD COOKED FOOD CRAVINGS BUT I DID ENJOY BEER. SO I WOULD DRINK A BEER (LIQUID BREAD).

8.) What are your thoughts on fasting on almond butter only? (hahaha)

IF SOMEONE IS ABLE TO FAST IT CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF 10 DAY JUICE FASTS AND FELT INCREDIBLE. I ATE FROM BOREDOM NOT HUNGER.

I LEAVE ALL NUT BUTTERS WELL ALONE. I FOUND THEY CLOGGED ME UP AND MADE ME
SLEEPY. NOT ALL RAW FOODS ARE HEALTHY FOODS.

9.) How did the Healing Waters Band form and where did the name come from?

THE HEALING WATERS BAND STARTED IN THE NFL WAREHOUSE IN LATE 2000, THE CORE OF THE BAND FORMED AT EDEN HOT SPRINGS IN ARIZONA. THAT'S WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM. ORIGINALLY IT WAS DAVE WOLFE ON DRUMS AND ME ON VOCALS DRESSED AS ELVIS. WE DID REQUESTS AND HE WOULD DRUM AND I WOULD SING. I'LL NEVER FORGET MY SOLO PERFORMANCE OF BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY DRESSED AS ELVIS. IT WAS CRAP. DAVE STEINBERG WAS A GUEST AT THE NEW YEARS 2000/2001 RETREAT AND HE PICKED UP THE GUITAR AND PLAYED ALL NIGHT. WE INVITED HIM TO JOIN THE BAND AND HE CAME A FEW MONTHS LATER. HE GAVE ME SOME BASS LESSONS AND I BECAME THE BASS PLAYER. I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE SINGING LESSONS! LATER THAT YEAR BILL GREENE JOINED AS THE KEYBOARD PLAYER AND JACKIE AYALA ON
BACKING VOCALS.

10.) What are some of the current projects you are working on?

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF RECORDING OUR NEW CD "ALL IS ONE." I LOVE ALL THE SONGS ON THE ALBUM.

Any other information you think we can all benefit from?

LIVE YOUR DREAMS AND HAVE FUN. PICTURE WHAT YOU WANT AND WATCH IT UNFOLD.WE CREATE OUR WORLD. HAVE THE BEST DAY EVER EVERY DAY!

CHEERS
TONY