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Joe Cummings conceived of and wrote the first edition of Lonely Planet's Thailand guidebook and continued to update the guide biannually for 20+ years before taking a sabbatical in 2006-7 to concentrate on music. Other Lonely Planet books he has written or contributed to include Buddhist Stupas in Asia: The Shape of Perfection; World Food: Thailand; Guide to the Middle of Nowhere; A Perfect Day; phrasebooks for Thai and Lao; maps for Bangkok, Laos and Thailand; and One People, Many Journeys. For other publishers he has also contributed to titles on Southeast Asian art, design, architecture, martial arts, Buddhism and travel, including Chiang Mai Style; Lanna Renaissance; Muay Thai; I Should Have Stayed Home and Burmese Art Design & Architecture.
Joe contributes freelance articles to periodicals such as Conde Nast Traveler, Geographical, The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Special Editions, Outside, San Francisco Chronicle and Wall Street Journal.
Joe's work has twice been honoured with the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award. Joe's London syndicator is Travel Intelligence .
Music

Before his writing career took on a life of its own, Joe played lead guitar and bass in numerous rock, country and gospel bands in the USA, including Rocking Horse (featuring occasional guest bassist Bootsy Collins), the John Rees Quartet, and The Fog, who opened for such artists as Blue Oyster Cult, Uriah Heep, the Allman Brothers and Edgar Winter's White Trash. He also played guitar and bass for US studio sessions, including demos for other bands, and TV and radio commercials. The studio experience taught Joe how to structure loose musical ideas to make them more accessible and immediate.
Today Joe plays lead guitar for Thailand-based The Tonic Rays , who have performed in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai, Pattaya, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi. The band originally formed in Pai in 2006 as a four-piece, including Marie Dance on guitar and vocals. Following Marie's return to the UK, the band continues to perform on occasion as a power trio around Thailand.
The band's performances focus on original rock tunes, along with covers ranging from Neil Young and Traffic to Razorlight and Kings of Leon.
The Tonic Rays are available for hire through their website, www.thetonicrays.com. The band also has a full-length CD featuring 10 original songs packaged in a seriously attractive six-panel digipak. You can buy one right here for US$13 plus $2 shipping and handling worldwide, using PayPal:

Or buy downloads at Amazon, CDBaby, iTunes or Soundclick (below):

Joe occasionally backs up such visiting artists as Mason Ruffner and Mitch Woods . In 2005 Joe recorded lead guitar tracks for Home , a CD/DVD produced by Kai Wingenfelder of Fury in the Slaughterhouse, 'Germany's Rolling Stones'. Recording took place at a studio specially built for the project outside Chiang Mai, and proceeds for all sales go the the School for Life .
More recently Joe recorded lead guitar tracks for three songs on the latest album by Keo Carabao, founding member of Thailand's most famous folk-rock band, Carabao . Soon to be released by Warner Music, the album was produced by Mai Siblor, ex-Siblor, another of Thailand's well-loved rock outfits.

In November 2008 Joe accompanied New Orleans artist Eddie Baytos for SRO performances in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pai. Next stop: Beijing, China for a New Year's Eve show.

Joe is now rehearsing in Bangkok with all-new band members, creating a new, improved, genuine rock-n-roll version of The Tonic Rays. Thanks to all those who have shared their encouraging views and suppport. Entirely humbled, we rock on for you!