As I was driving to the Fashion Meets Music Fest, my mind couldn't help but wonder about my last relationship. I had dated my ex for about six months and it ended abruptly with no real reason for the break up. I was blindsided and heartbroken. It took me a few months to finally get the nerve to start dating again. I knew if I had kept feeling this way and closing off all of these feelings I would fall into a darker area than I wanted. One day I just said "Fuck it, I can't feel this way anymore. I can't let what he did make me act and feel this way. He can't have that power!" Even though I am in a better place, it is hard at times; the unanswered questions, the doubts, and the what ifs. As I was driving under the Ohio welcome sign and arch I couldn't help but remember all the signs and landmarks along the way when I would drive to visit him. He lived six hours away from me so we would meet half way or I would visit him. It was a somewhat emotional drive through Ohio seeing the rest area we stopped at, the town we stayed in when we met halfway, and most of all the music we shared. My very first blog entry was about meeting Bob 1 from DEVO. My ex was related to one of the members by marriage and that's how I was able to meet Bob 1. As I said before, I was never obsessed with DEVO, but liked their music and thought they were underrated. I started to collect more of their vinyl and was listening to them again. It had been awhile since I really listened to them. My son also started getting into them and they're now his favorite band. So after the breakup it was hard to listen to them again. A few songs would remind me of my ex and all of the memories would flood in. I had asked the question to a music site , How long can you start listening to a certain band after a breakup? When can you listen to "Mongoloid" again without it reminding you that it was your ex's favorite song? Many who answered said about six months to a year. I couldn't listen to them at all when we broke up. Even seeing Facebook updates from the band or passing their signed records in the stairwell of my apartment was hard. We also had talked about how fun it would be to go to a show together and being able to be back stage with the band. I thought that would have been great fun. It's funny how music attaches itself to people, places, and certain times in our life. The one good thing about having music attach itself to your memory is when you start listening to a band because of someone. I've had a few boyfriends or guys that I've dated who without knowing them I might not have discovered The Smiths or The English Beat. Twenties years later I still think about the boy in high school I had a crush on when hearing Morrissey's "The More You Ignore Me." Whenever I hear Tiffany's "Promises Made" I think about when I was a kid and I had worn that tape out on a family vacation. We had went out west and the music just went with the whole beautiful scenery. I remember being in the back seat and pretending I was in a music video. Looking through the back window and lip-synching the lyrics as the mountains went by. I think the funniest thing is when I hear Stone Temple Pilots "Sex Type Thing." I remember when I was a teen and putting it on my Christmas list for my Grandma. I was surprised when I actually got it for Christmas as she is a very religious person. Still makes me chuckle today. On a sadder note, when I hear Dean Martin I think about my Father's funeral. Dean was his favorite singer, so we played his favorite Dean Martin songs. I'm not for sure if it takes time or just shear mind control to not think about that person when hearing a certain song. Maybe it will never go away? Maybe years later when I hear DEVO it will be a passing memory and it won't quite hurt as bad? I don't agree with the saying, "Time heals all wounds", but I do think it lessens the blow a bit.
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One of the greatest things about having a kid is sharing your interests with them. Your favorite movies, music, sports, etc. Sometimes they develop a love for your favorite band and well sometimes they wish you'd stop singing "Jumpin' Jack Flash." When they do develop that wonder about your interests it's something that makes you proud. You feel like you're sending your kid off into this world with some taste...especially with what's being pushed down their throats nowadays. My son started getting into some of my music about a year ago. I wondered when he would get that spark to hear a particular song or band. It finally happened with the band DEVO. I think he really loved the electronic sound to them and what they wore. Recently he has also gotten into Talking Heads, which I'm most pleased about because they're my favorite band to listen to while driving. When we listened to DEVO he would request to hear "Gates of Steel" or "Whip It!" in the morning on the way to school. During one trip we were listening to DEVO's song "The Super Thing" and he said he wanted to learn how to play guitar so he could play Bob 1's riff. It gave me a great feeling. I thought Wow..what the heck was I into at 9 years old? I don't think much because I grew up in a small midwestern town. We didn't have cable tv until I was in high school and radio sucked. I didn't really get into great music until I was in high school, which was in the 90's. At that time Mtv was still pretty decent. They had shows like 120 minutes, Headbanger's Ball, and Alternative Nation. Even their tv shows weren't bad at all like Daria, Aeon Flux, and The State. That was when I was introduced to great music that has still followed me to this day. Also a friend at the time I had met in school was a transplant from California. He had been raised with indie radio, wonderful music, and a concert to go to every weekend. Fortunately now even kids living in small towns or in the country can find out about Joy Division or 70's punk music. The internet has opened those doors to exploration. Of course, back in the day we were all about D.Y.I. We didn't have Hot Topic or an online store to put our look together. We hit Army surplus stores, thrift shops, and stole clothes out of our parent's closets. Truthfully, I always thought putting your own look together was far cooler than buying it off the rack. I had a German Army jacket with a Union Jack on the back with snippets cut from an old Sex Pistols shirt that I'd wear with an old Dead Kennedys shirt. Like every generation people would look at us like What the hell are they wearing? What's that metal ring coming out of their nose and what's with the pink hair? Now this look is more common and not shocking as it was back then. I also think when you're sharing your interests with your children you may spark something inside yourself that was missing. Music that you may have not listened to in ages or seeing a classic John Hughes movie will give you that warm feeling. Next thing you know you're digging through old photos and showing your kid what you looked like back then. When I was going through some of my old stuff from high school, I found the literary magazine we had made. Reading some of those entries made me cringe a bit and realize that we couldn't get away with what we wrote now. They would be calling the suicide prevention hotline or calling the police in fear of a school shooting. Back then they just saw us as "Just a phase." I laugh now because I still wear band shirts and listen to the same music. I may have ditched the piercings, black lipstick, and combat boots; but I'm still the same person. Unlike my own Mom, I will embrace what my son wants to listen to or wear. In the realm of things I understand it's about expression and finding yourself. That's what your teen years and early twenties are for. I'm glad with every generation we are exploring more and becoming individuals instead of following what is spewed out there by advertising masterminds. Now, we still have a ways to go, but it's definitely better. The newer generation is helping with the vinyl revolution and helping music from yesteryear stay alive. I hope when my son is older he still holds onto the music he listened to in Mom's car and it has a special place in his heart...along with my vinyl collection that he will one day inherit! I was able to ask Bob 1 ( guitarist from DEVO) a few questions...
1. Back in the day it took a band years to develop a fan base. Do you think programs like Spotify, Pandora, and downloadable music has help or hindered artists? B1- Both. Back in the day a band playing gigs and all their friends came to see them, and they brought their friends. It took a long time to break through internationally. Now people can just put a band together and just put crap on the internet and sometimes people can put stuff out that shouldn't even be playing, but it's also a lot easier to create a fanbase. 2. What bands/guitar players influenced you growing up? B1-Keith Richards, Pete Townsend, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Hendrix, and Jeff Beck 3. What is one thing people misunderstand about DEVO? B1-They think Devo doesn't have feelings. Devo has feelings too. 4. Zombie apocalypse scenarios are popular right now, but do you think one day the robots will get fed up and take over? B1-We can always hope so :-) 5. Do you see any of today's bands carrying on the Devo torch? B1-I hear different bands have different parts and sounds of Devo. Can't name any at the moment tho -Thanks again Bob 1 for this unconventional Q & A session- I have only met a few famous musicians/bands. You always hear how so many of them have huge egos or are just complete jerks. I am always completely surprised and thankful when I meet someone and they blow that impression out of the water. I love it, because I know they are human. Yes..they eat cereal on a Saturday morning, hate ads on Youtube, and eat sloppy spaghetti. For some reason I think when you are younger you think they are some sort of subhuman species. Untouchable..unattainable..just a complete science fiction character. They can do no wrong..well a few bad albums usually, but they are "it" in your book. Hell I remember getting into complete arguments over bands..I am THAT passionate about music. For obvious reasons. That will be a later story for the books.
So this chance meeting was with someone who I did not fantasize about, have plastered on my bedroom walls, or knew every tidbit about. All the same, it was a surreal experience. Something you just don't see in your usual lineup on a snowy Monday afternoon. I won't go into specifics on how I know the person who introduced me to Bob 1 from the famous band DEVO, but they do know the band well. So one minute I am rummaging through bins of vinyl at a record exchange in Ohio and the next minute I am told I will be meeting the guitarist for DEVO. As I said before I wasn't obsessed with DEVO, but knew their music and knew they were way beyond their time. I always thought they were pioneers and completely underrated. I love unique and different things. It has a soft place in my heart. To be different and to not follow the masses and be an independent thinker is always king in my book. When I was in high school if everyone was into a certain group or style, I didn't want any part of it. I always felt the stronger could survive by themselves, but the weak had to follow under what was popular and in favor. Okay..I got off track..which will happen at times. Hold tight. So when we finally arrive I walk in to the kitchen and as I am introduced to Bob 1 I can't help but notice he looks like any other guy I'd see walking down the street. For some strange reason I always think that in their own element, rock stars still carry around a flaming cigarette hanging from their mouth and a velveteen half opened robe with a big busted blonde hanging on their arm. Hmm..maybe that's more Keith Richards? Bob 1 has a white plain shirt on and Levi jeans. As I look him over, I can't help but think of my Dad. My Father always wore plain white shirts and jeans. He was a simple man and I kind of think maybe Bob 1 is also. Through the small talk about the weather and other issues I sit patiently waiting. I keep my 16yr old fan girl self under control. I know most musicians are use to over zealous fans, but I try to play it cool. As I'm sitting there waiting to be called upon like some poor fool on a job interview, it finally happens. The conversation floats my way. We chat about Indiana and Ohio..how similar they are and I remark about bands not giving a flying fig about fans in Indiana anymore. Bob 1 then tells us a story about being unpaid one time for a gig back in the heyday. He said there was money and a gun on the table and told it was best to just leave. (I am paraphrasing) We all laugh and he remarks how times have changed and now money goes into escrow accounts. I am always in awe of old stories from tours of the past. Some of the stories are rather seedy and that much more enjoyable then the usual lull of today's tours. You know, the artist who throws a tantrum because they requested 35 red jelly beans, but was only provided with 34..oh the humanity! He agrees to sign my two records and asks which ones I brought to sign. He predicted right..Freedom of Choice. I guess it's a popular album to be signed and one of their most popular albums because of their classic song "Whip It!" I picked the record because I like the cover photo and my favorite song is on that album, "Girl You Want." He signs both albums and comments on the live album saying that the label on the record itself was specifically designed and it wasn't put into the usual record sleeve like most albums. (hence why it was a pain to get in and out of the plastic sleeve!) When I hear the background stories about songs or tour horror stories I feel like I am some sort of mole in a top secret meeting at the white house. Any minute Q will hand me my dossier and I'm off to an outrageous adventure all over the world. Is that what it's like to be a music journalist? Hmm..probably not. I'm thinking crap hotels, cold room service, and late musicians who don't want to answer the questions you ask. After signing my records I thank him and we decide to shuffle off into the blinding winter day. I thank him again and tell him it was nice to meet him. As I get back into the car I kick myself because there was my chance to ask some questions, but again I didn't want to over step and be that weirdo fan. Even though their work is what catapulted them to stardom, I'm sure they feel like they need to talk about what's going on NOW. I can relate, I'm sure if someone asked me a million times over why on Earth did I decide to do this and what my thoughts were on yadda yadda back in '95 were..I'd slit my wrists on the spot. I can understand the urgency of keeping away from the past, but when you hear a song, see a movie, or see someone from your youth..you can't help but want to get in that Delorian and go back to when things were simple and new. -Thank you again to Bob 1 from DEVO for a great fan girl experience!- |
AuthorAngela Marie. I like writing. I like music. I have thoughts falling from my head. Archives
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