Slash was standing in a power stance that would make an olympic gymnast proud. A cigarette resting precariously on the edge of his lip. His hat brim low shielding his eyes from mine. My attention is keen on his fingers frantically flying up and down the neck of his battered Les Paul. The only thing that could possible distract me from this sensory assaulting awesomeness was a furry vested ginger, coked up higher then Mr. Cash in his prime, sprinting across the stage and shouting at the top of his lungs. It was then that Axel Rose came flying in from stage left and into my life belting out the words which I involuntarily sing along with to this day, "Ooohhhh, Ohhhh Ohhhh Sweet Child O' Miiiiine. OOohhhh Yaaaahaaaa!" The two flamboyant fabricators of fantasy in auditory form dance in and out of my vision while the band, as well as my mother, sing along. This was my first concert. I was 20 weeks old. Some parents put headphones on their belly to listen to our world's classic composers like Bach, Beethoven or Mozart to stimulate brain activity. Not this baby. I was throwing up devil horns for with G.N.R before I knew who the devil was. This was my earliest experience with music and it has only blossomed since.
I watch a lot of conspiracy theory type documentaries. I like them because they encourage the viewer to“make your own decision” or "decide for yourself". This is a politically correct way of saying, “we have some awesome fucking evidence that is going to make you pause and re-evaluate life.” Music has the same character trait. It is only those times when a group or act is screaming in your face with pure, free, untapped energy that the listener is allowed to make up their own mind as to whether or not they, themselves, enjoy that thing. Music is food for the soul. We know that our physical body needs food. We also know that by monitoring our nutritional intake, keeping balance in our diet and disciplining those initial cravings for Cinnabon and Burger King, we can feel happier and live healthier. So why don't we take a similar approach to music? We now have complete control to monitor and balance what comes out of our ear buds and into our brain. Or do we?
Media has an amazing subconscious impact on what we “decide for ourselves” to enjoy. The amount of soft drink sponsored "singing competitions" taking the prime slot on our nations television stations is appalling. Singing is not a competition. It never was and never should be. Music is to connect people to others, the Earth and their place in the universe. It isn't a fucking competition! The internet has made the world to underground music accessible for the mass public to decide on their very own what types and styles of music really gets their toe tappin'. The term underground, in this case, is a representation of non radio played styles of music. The CBGB OMFUG (which stands for Country, Blue Grass and Blues - Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizer's (whatever the fuck a Gormandizer is)) mentality of "selling out" as an underground musician is absolutely absurd and simply not true. All a musician ever wants to do is share their emotions, stories and voice with others while simultaneously supporting themselves and their family. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is.
Both consumer and creator in the music industry have participated in a structure that drastically inflates one tiny extreme corner of it's participants and leaves the rest to fend for scraps. This is wrong and unjust. Some have even been known to actually give away their music from time to time. For free! I am not kidding. Ironically, in my experience, it has been the music that is given away so freely that can be the most moving and powerful. I encourage everyone to remember that by monitoring what goes into our ears, we will inevitably be monitoring the person we are becoming while simultaneously taking back control from the soft drink sponsors. Try listening to classical music while you shower. It makes you feel clean and proper. Listen to the chants of the Buddhist Monk while you study. Listen to podcasts of Neil DeGras Tyson when you need inspiration. Listen to metal in the gym to get you pissed off at those dumb bells. Listen to nature noises when you are in the city. Most importantly, listen to the earth. She knows some shit. Allow music to enhance your life, not just be an excuse to use the term "bae" without repercussions.
Regardless of what we chose to use as our medium, whether it be food, music, spray paint, dance, language, film, parenting, snowboarding or whatever else a human being can really sink their teeth into, we all want to feel connected, needed, desired. As if without our very own finger in the dam, the entire city would drown. With the help of Guns N' Roses, a supportive family and a mild case of A.D.D, this is where I chose to stick my finger. Thank you for helping me get this far. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
