Si Senor!!!

Fernando.....what can I say about Fernando? He was the first to reach 10,000 posts at the Pleasure Dome, but has since seemingly vanished into thin air. Some love him, some hate him, but most just don't understand. He's a mystery, an enigma, whose posts most often consisted of a single question mark. How appropriate is that? Let's take a look at the man behind the punctuation.....
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~~(For Steve Savicki) How old are you?

I am 35 years old


~~Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?

Yes, one brother(31) and one sister(27)


~~When do we get to see pictures of you? How about your girlfriend?

When Van Halen and Dave make a record and tour together...


~~LOL! Good answer! Have you ever been married? Any little Fernandos running around?

No, and I hope not...


~~What do you do for a living?

My brother and I have a textile company


~~What do you do in your spare time?

When I have free time here in the city I like to go to the movies, have dinner, go and have some drinks with my girlfriend or with my friends. But in general I travel every time I can.


~~In real life are you as patient and philisophical as your Dome personna?

I try to be so, to understand why we all are here, because everyday you discover one answer you didnīt know before


~~How would you solve the crisis in the Middle East if it were up to you?

Look; I always think that if you want to keep your friends never talk about either politicians or religion. But I think is amazing how is possible to call the human being a "social animal" when he is not capable to live and respect other human beings. If you think about it, we all are "trapped" in this huge island in the middle of the universe called earth. There is no way out so we better begin to love our earth and ourselves a little bit more.


~~Do you prefer interior Mexican food or Tex-Mex?

I like both.


~~What is the best tequila in your opinion?

I'd say Cabo Wabo reposado, the taste is good and soft and can compete with any other tequila. Besides it is made by a company which has been making this kind of tequila for many years in Amatitlan Jalisco. Also, Tequila Don Julio is good.


~~Do you own any pets? Which kind? Why?

Yes, I have a German Sheppard. I like this kind of dogs, because they are excellent guardians and they are very loyal.


~~What day of the week would you consider the best for sex? Why?

I think that Friday or Saturday, because is the weekend and you are more relaxed without the stress of the week. And you know that the day after you can get up late and a relaxing and intimate atmosphere is created.


~~What is your favorite car? Movie? Book? Recreational drug?

Car: Porsche Boxster.
Movie: The Unusual Suspects.
Book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera.
Drug: alcohol.


~~What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever been caught doing?

I think that embarrassment is a state of mind which depends on your education, social status, etc.


~~Do you play any musical instruments? Any good?

Yes, I have a drum set, here at home. I've always thought it is an instrument that comes from the begining of music, with it you can release all the tension and have fun. Any good? sort of.


~~What is your musical history? What were your 1st favorite bands when you were growing up?

When I was ten I used to play with the little 45s records (do you remember them?) of my parents, which they included Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bill Halley, etc. Until one day, I asked what kind of music it was, because it made you feel good. They answered it was rock and roll and since then I already had a musical gender that I liked. Then, when I was eleven, my uncle gave me for Xmas the LP of the Rolling Stones "Let it Bleed". Afterwards I bought my first record, it was the solo album of Gene Simmons. When I was growing up, my bands were Kiss, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Police, Stones, Ozzy, Pink Floyd, and of course Van Halen.


~~What other bands/artists do you enjoy now?

I listen to very little of the new stuff. In my car I have Cd of Mick Jagger (the new one), Kiss (Destroyer), Van Halen (Fair Warning), Genesis (The hits), Led Zeppelin (remasters), The Who (My generation), Inxs (The swing).


~~How long have you been a Van Halen fan? How many concerts have you been to? Have you ever met any of the band members (ex-lead singers included)?

When I was thirteen years, back in 1980, I was looking for a group to follow, because I used to hang out with people 4 or 5 years older than me and I remember listening to their conversations around groups like: Zeppelin, Stones, etc. About albums, names, dates, etc. They knew all about them, and I always thought It would be cool to have a band to follow from the beginning and know all about them. So I went to a friend who worked in a record store, and asked her which heavy metal group was there which were new so I could follow their steps from their beginning. She showed me the LP WACF, that had just been released and they only had two more records. So I bought it and went home to listen to it. From the first song I knew I had found what I had been looking for, it was incredible. The next day I went and bought VH, VH2, and my surprise continued. What was fun in that time is that VH was in every single magazine you looked at (Hit Parader, Creem, Guitar Player, etc) There were posters, T-shirts, Pins, etc, everywhere, so it was easy to follow them. I have been to five concerts, Houston, Cabo Wabo, Mexico City (twice) and L.A. I had the opportunity to meet them twice. The first one was in Cabo San Lucas, May 1992. Marcos Monroy sister was my girlfriend, so I flew to Cabo in order to be with them the days they were going to stay there, great experience. And the second time I won a radio contest to fly with Warner Mexico to the Presentation of VH3 in L.A. We took picture with them and everything.


~~Is Van Halen very popular in Mexico?

More or less. They were more popular a few years ago.


~~What do you think of the possibility of Dave & Sammy touring together?

You can never judge a book by its cover. So many years they were talking about each other and now happens they get along well. I hope that for all the VH fans this project will get through.


~~Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extroverted person of few words?

Introvert.


~~How did you develop bulletin board skills? Do you read every post in a topic, just skim quickly, or just reply to the original post?

By playing by ear, normally I read most of the posts in the topic, so I can know where the theme is going to.


~~I'm sure you've seen the criticism of people who say you post too much. What would you like to say to them? Feel free to use profanity, if necessary.

Never is enough...


~~What are your secrets to defeating flood control?

I'm always one step ahead.


~~Who were your favorite Dome personalities? Why?

Everyone, positives or negatives, because thanks to them the Dome was what it was.


~~What have you been doing since the Pleasure Dome went down?

Working, traveling and I visit VH forums, VHND, your web site and the official page (you never know).


~~Do you post under any other names besides Fernando?

No.


~~Is Fernando your real name?

Yes, it is.


~~People have speculated that you might be a member of Van Halen (or perhaps Wolfgang). There have even been rumors that your IP traces back to Southern California. What do you think of that?

Wow!!! I am thrilled, I've never heard the rumor about my IP. But, I am only a South of the border fan.


~~You often used the saying "The fountain is clearest at the source!" so what would you suggest VH fans do, if anything, to get to the source of what's going on with their favorite band?

I don't know, when you want to talk or give your opinion about something, you have to have basis to know what you are talking about. I suggest to respect them, if they took a decision of being in a four or five years break, they had to have really strong reasons to do that. Anything that is said outside them is just a rumour. I've always said they make music to live but we have to ask ourselves what they do to feel alive.


~~If time will tell... what time do you predict it'll get off its ass and speak up?

You cannot make a sunrise occur before its time...