Decided to finally put some of my musical thoughts down in book form... here's an excerpt from the initial writing. I'd be interested in what you may think: should I continue or just leave it alone.
FORWARD:
There’s been a glut of music books recently that focus on rock & heavy metal. This will obviously be one of those, but I’d like to take a slightly different angle on the subject. Admittedly, that angle will be rather personal, somewhat opinionated, but hopefully relatable. You see, the purpose of this tome will ultimately be to inspire you, the reader, to seek out a deeper meaning in a genre that is often dismissed for having no meaning. Yet, the dismissively-titled “hair metal” & metal genres are a constant staple of athletic venues, car commercials, & nostalgia that keeps many bands on the tour circuit long after their last hit record. So without further ado, here’s the rock music world according to me. It may not be all-encompassing, but it’s honest.
CHAPTER ONE: A VERY EARLY KISS-MAS
So what is YOUR earliest memory? A bedtime story? First day of school? Playing in the sandbox? I remember none of those. What I do remember is in 1976 my three-year-old self opening that vinyl record shaped present & seeing four painted devils, dancing demonstratively on a pile of rocks while Detroit presumably burned in the distance. KISS Destoyer was like my bible, and being reared in a Lutheran school, we had our share of bibles. At that age, I’ll readily admit that the look pulled me in, but the thought of these painted dudes actually playing music as some ethereal force was intoxicating.
The backstory of the characters was elaborate, yet believable. Gene, the bloody demon; Paul, the shining star; Peter, the wily feline; and my favorite, Ace, the Jendell-born axeman. I remember being at my uncle’s house sifting through his records: early Priest, imported Maiden, then seeing the cover of KISS Alive! & being enthralled by the gatefold cover and what was revealed inside. My cousin & I were the DJ’s for many of our parents “card” nights, making sure the Foghat, Ram Jam, and April Wine was always spinning. Yet, somehow, the growling strains of “Deuce” would find its way onto the turntable before the night was over.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit to being a KISS fan for the majority of my life, whether it was cool or not. In fact, one of the best friends I met after high school remembers me IN high school before we met… simply because I was wearing an “I went crazy with KISS” t-shirt. Sure, there’s the occasional “I’m needin’ some lovin’, I’m hot like an oven” lyrics, but there’s also the sheer brilliance of the entire Revenge album to balance it out. That being said, if there’s such a thing as meat & potatoes rock, KISS is the fat lunch lady, making you a mountain of ready-whips covered in Salisbury steak gravy.
