Sorry, dudes and dudettes, to involve you with my guitar playing obsession -- I know it can't possibly interest most of you in the least, but there IS one revelation that might shed some rays, somewhere.
I'm pissed off, royally, at my earlier self. Think about it. We shed so many skin cells per month that, okay, I don't know, but they say that we no longer have any cells that belonged to us every ten years or so. I don't know, but it makes sense. The atoms that were part of me, say, thirty years ago, have, well, departed, replaced with these tired ones.
So when you look at yourself thirty years ago, you're literally looking at a stranger -- someone who once was, but is no longer.
Hey, yo, we all get old, but when I find myself COMPETING with that thirty-year-gone stranger, then I get pissed off. Okay, we can't all do cartwheels across the lawn or swan dive into the pool any more.
But I get pissed off when it comes to playing the guitar. When I listen to my younger self -- maybe 28 years old -- playing this guitar -- I get mighty jealous. I just can't imagine I was able to do that. I pride myself today on my guitar playing and I practice at least once a day, and I think I'm doing well, very well, but I'm nowhere near that maniac with an axe in his hand. That person -- the me that existed then -- was a lunatic. He probably had done several lines of cocaine before the concert -- how the hell am I supposed to remember? But he wails like I can only dream of now.
I don't know him any more. But I respect him. I know I'll never be as good as him, ever again.
But I wish I knew where he's been hiding all those brain cells.
Oh geez, I know where you're coming from. I was never as good as you, well maybe occasionally in some ways, but every time I think of this I am flabbergasted: I actually played bass AND sang a great version of RESPECT on stage. Simultaneously. This might be one of the most complicated things I have EVER done. I was magic that day. I don't even think this is possible.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness some metal band had their singer have a breakdown on the same stage a few days later so I can remember when this was: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-91422974.html
(I know, for sure, that whatever happened, it was the sound guys fault. He was an incompetent jerk.)
God, what a story! Yes, when I think of the things I've done, on a stage in front of even occasionally several hundred people, I cringe (well, there were usally about four people, but that's another story).
ReplyDeleteI could never do that now, no way. And your music was very, very good! We should both be proud of ourselves -- some people go through their whole lives NEVER being on any stage or performing ANYTHING and I have to say -- it was tough.
Although I'll never live down the rubber chicken incident . . . though it must have been fun for the high schoolers.