HAROLD Armstrong, far right, with Cindere lla Rockefella, the band he’s playing with in the United Arab Emirates. Dagmar is in the centre, John on the far lett, Vlad, Dan and Randy. Abu Dhabi... rocks HAROLD ARMSTRONG’S luggage and guitar arrived 18 days after he did. And it took three weeks for his work visa to be ‘processed. But the 30-year-old Terrace rock singet’s first ever professional gig over- seas in-the United Arab Emirates this fall went.very well, “We became family very quickly,” Armstrong said, referring to Cinderella Rockefella, a house band with the Ram- séy Group hotel chain, which runs high class accommodations around the world. “Armstrong Janded in Dubai, then tra- velled to nearby Abu Dhabi where the “band played in the chain’s hotel there. Their venue was Rock Bottom, the name ‘the chain gives to its nightclub in each of ils hotels and resorts. Cinderella Rockefella got its start in Nancouver in the 1980s before becoming parl of the lucrative international market “hungry for western-style music. The band is all-Canadian with the ex- ception of its lead guitar player, Vlad, - who is.from Russia. “The band is brilliant,” said Armstrong who added it was fortunate in a way that his visa was late because it gave him time to-mesh with the group.and to work on material. “We do. everything from Bob Marley to Lincoln Park,” he said. Armstrong's first song on stage with the group was “Cat in the Cradle” by ‘Harry Chapin. “It became my anthem.” When not playing, Armstrong was able to see some of the sights and meet some of the people of the area made wealthy because of oil revenues. “It’s quite Americanized,” he said, de- scribing the immediate area where he lived. “The people are very friendly. I'd say, ‘Hello’ and they’d say, ‘Where are you from?’ and I’d say, ‘Canada’ and they’d say, ‘Canada is the greatest place in the world.” Armstrong took pamphiets of the Ter- race area. “They'd lock at them and say I live in paradise. And I’d say, ‘No. You live in paradise.” Armstrong was surprised at the large number of North Americans living and working in the area, “TI met a guy at the Rock Bottom in ‘Abu Dhabi who has a sister who works in a bank here,” Armstrong said. “And I’ve gotten to know. a respiratory therapist from Kamloops who took me snorkelling for the first time.” As a Muslim country, the United Arab Emirates has very strict rules regarding conduct and alcohol use, making il one of the safest places in the world, Armstrong said. And although there are resorts and ho- tels and Western, cullure, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is now underway, plays a large influence on the tourist industry. Generally speaking, the tourist industry closes down, explaining why Armstrong is now home for a brief period of time. He returns Nov. 23 for a three-and-a- half’ month stint with Cinderella Rock- efella. After that? “It looks like Singapore or Hong Kong,” Armstrong said. ID YOU KNOW. & Finding breast cancer early gives you a better chance of a cure % can feel any changes mammogram once every CWO years Screnig, Mora hy Baittsh Conamrte ‘Aiogren ol a BC Cancer Agency Remember, as you get older your risk ‘of breast cancer increases!” Regular screening mammograms can detect breast cancer 2-3 yeats before you > Women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s ate recommended to havea screening OF Screening mammograms are freeand a doctor's referral is nat required For the screening centre nearest you, call Lower Mainland 660-3639, Toll-free 1-800-663-9203. regular mammograms could save your life . “# | mmamend x SHOPPERS. DRUG MART. 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