WHEN A QUOTE FROM “PURPLE RAIN” COMES IN HANDY…

“- The Kid: I ain’t got time for your b——t, Billy. What do you want?
– Billy: This stage is no place for your personal s–t, man!
– The Kid: That’s life, man.
– Billy: Life, my ass, m———-r! This is a business, and you too far gone to see that yet! I told you before, you’re not packin’ them in like you used to. No one digs your music but yourself.”

The above quote is from the movie PURPLE RAIN. Everyone pretty much knows the story about Prince being The Kid and being blown away by Morris Day and The Time yet fails to do anything about it until he writes the song “Purple Rain” (along with Lisa and Wendy). I obviously edited the curse words.

So why did I post this?

I played the first of four shows with Supernova last night at Black River Barn. This was my fourth time (or fifth?) playing with them and last night’s show was amazing! The band sounded great, firing on all cylinders, the crowd were dancing and pointing at me whenever I did funny noises on the guitar. Did songs ranging from Metallica to Queen to Zach Brown Band, even KC & The Sunshine Band. And you know what?

It was all about entertaining the crowd.

Did I finally wake up and see the light?

I have a lot of pride in myself as a musician. But as I said in a previous blog, musicianship alone does not and never will sell music. Songs do, and people have to feel the music, whether it’s a dance number or a ballad. Yes I get to indulge some of my delusional guitar god licks here and there but while I was receiving very nice compliments, it was more important to hear the BAND sounded great. And that everyone were boppin’ around all night.

Did I just say boppin’? Lord help me.

By no means, am I putting away my creativity. If anything, it’s strong. Yet let’s be honest…nobody wants to hear anything from me lately, and I’m learning to accept that. While it was nice to hear “Wow you can really play” and “I love your guitar tone”, I drove home last night thinking “People smiled. That’s what my job is, to make people smile.”

Hard to smile while listening to crazy instrumental metal.

But still I will do that, even if it’s for one more album.

Hence the quote above when the club owner Billy tells The Kid that nobody likes his music but himself. As artists, we have to be proud of our work. Or else, why are we doing it? Some musicians/performers write purely for money, and while I don’t subscribe to that, I get it. I won’t write what I call Hallmark Card music. When I write something, it’s from my aging black heart. If others like it, even better. But I stopped expecting people to dig what I do. Nobody’s going to say “Dude, because of you, I stopped listening to (insert generic band).

Never going to happen. Ever.

Strangely enough, when I was asked to do “Eruption” by Eddie Van Halen, people were digging it. Interesting, really. Same people liked the ray-gun sound I did in Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” or that I “nailed” the guitar tones for “Anyway You Want It” by Journey.

*My friend Deb noticed some George Benson licks I did in one song. Can’t sneak anything past her LOL!

All told, the night was a great success in so many ways. The hour drive there and back, the load-in/load-out, and living on four hours sleep right now was worth it.

We do it again this coming Friday October 18 at Mrs. Riley’s Public House in High Bridge, NJ.

I’ve lived in NJ for almost 55 years and am hearing of places for the first time.

This old dog learns new tricks.