Just realized I haven't seen him on the forums for ages, is he on vacation? 

Wondering the same myself. People are usually happy about the absence of Rain, but this is different.

Hopefully he's just recording that new album and playing live.

Dis mon'soon will return mon'.

I was just thinking about this, Rain has not posted in a while. Overrun with cats, maybe. 😄

:)
Thanks for your concern, guys. I've been lurking, irregularly. And keeping quite busy. 
 
Among other things, we began rehearsals for a big Judas Priest night which will take place here in Vegas in June, and where both my wife and I will make guest appearances. This will be my first time onstage in 15 years, and I've been busy learning material and getting back into that frame of mind.
 

 
We've got to meet a bunch of cool people and we're thinking of putting a band together. Things are coming together  nicely, and playing with other people after so long has somehow changed my perspective on music and stuff.
 
Th rest of my time I spend playing the new Les Paul, trying to master sweep picking, playing with cats and learning to use my newly arrived studio toy - and trying to get better w/ Pro Tools...

 

 
Thanks again for your concern guys. I appreciate!

There he is! Good luck with the performance....that's something that would be a challenge for me, having not been onstage in about 12 years myself. And good luck with the sweep picking as well. I gave that up years ago and realized I could do much the same thing by playing fingerstyle - I'm hopeless with a pick 

Just as expected.  Rain's life consists of music, music, music, music, cats and music! 

And dark rooms and dark posters.

sharke
There he is! Good luck with the performance....that's something that would be a challenge for me, having not been onstage in about 12 years myself. And good luck with the sweep picking as well. I gave that up years ago and realized I could do much the same thing by playing fingerstyle - I'm hopeless with a pick 

I'd given up on sweep too, but every once in a while, I like to try something I suck at... Plus, I'm embarrassed that someone else has to play lead guitar w/ my wife on Painkiller. 
 
I guess it's one of the reasons I always liked Glenn Tipton so much - he keeps on learning.