WORDS THAT STILL ECHO…

Many years ago, in a (empty) galaxy far far away, I worked at a music store. Sold guitars, amps, pedals. Was stressful but could be fun just the same. In the guitar department was a gentleman named James who always seemed to have wise words for me when I was struggling to be recognized and respected as a guitarist. His words still echo in my mind some 20-odd years later.

Yet I forgot what I had for breakfast?!

I used to make instrumental demo tapes in the hopes that a big band would hear me and put me on the road to fame and fortune. James heard one of my demos and said “You are like a painter. You admire your work, then move on. I can see you playing jazz in the future.” Well he was 3/4 correct! My playing definitely took on more of a jazz element while still being metal…my version of it, at least. But yes, he was right about being like a painter. What did he mean? Let me explain in my own twisted way:

Some musicians are happy knowing what they know, and that’s it. They are satisfied, immovable, and impressed with being ignorant at times. I always strived to do better, find more tones, more chords, but in the grand scheme of things, some cats really doesn’t care how much you know, only about who you know. I will get grief for this but a lot of musicians are clueless. They really don’t know what they want or why they are playing, aside from fitting in a specific genre/clique and pretending they are a vital force in the local scene.

The painter analogy does not factor in with a few players. Granted, I may sound like this is a generalization and it’s not meant to be this way. However, when others are into looking/sounding/acting the same, I veered off somewhere else. I added more colors to my sonic palette, while some like just a couple of hues. Am I better than others? You be the judge here. But I prefer to push forward, and if it means adding neon green to where it doesn’t belong, so be it.

When I signed my deal with Ibanez guitars in 2003, James had this to say: “Wow, you didn’t have to slit anyone’s throat to get ahead. You did it with integrity.” Oh he was so right about that. I was the last person to think “Oh I can get an endorsement with Ibanez”, was just happy to be playing their guitars for many years. I got my deal in a very strange way: I saw Chris Broderick, then of Jag Panzer, playing an Ibanez RG7 and struck up a conversation. I called my then-rep Angelo and he got me in touch with then-head honcho Rob Nishida in California. Chris became an Ibanez artist (moved onto Jackson some time later) and…then I got a deal?! Rob said “You are one of the most selfless people I ever talked to” and “Pick a guitar you like, and once you receive it, you’re in.” I’m in?! WHAT?! Even without a record deal or any degree of clout?!

James told me that when Angelo made the announcement about my signing, the room was very divided. I’ll spare you the horrible stuff, but safe to say you learn who your friends are real fast. Or in this case, who never liked you to begin with. But James, ever gifted with the right words, said to me “I told Angelo that I’m very happy for you” and could tell he meant it.

Why am I talking about these things that happened back in the days of yore? Simple: I looked at how far I’ve come since the days of trying to carve a name for myself. I’ve done pretty well, all things considered. Some will still try to diminish my worth, but that’s only because they are aimless and only play music to gain certain perks. I always wanted the music to shine, and to speak for itself. I always marched to my own drummer, learned to color outside the lines. Yes, I wanted to a leather-clad heavy metal guitar god. It simply wasn’t in the cards for me, and I learned to accept that.

Plus all that leather gets hot REAL fast!!!

I’m halfway to 56 years old and proud of that. Proud of what I’ve accomplished over the years. Nine albums, many endorsements, played with legends…not bad for a skinny kid from North Arlington, NJ, huh?

Nope, not bad at all…