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Once upon a time, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,
some guy just wanted to put a band together.
Not just “a band” per se, but a true BAND in all senses of the word…a
group of friends that would stick together through thick and thin, bravely averting any crisis, playing joyous, fun music
for all to enjoy. So this guy began searching…
It was a lengthy search, fraught with all of the personality clashes
and differing tastes that are commonplace not only amongst musicians, but people in general. THE BAND in question had to
be a good band, to be sure, but it also had to be a fun band that all listeners could, without embarrassment, say that they
listened to and enjoyed. THE BAND had to play songs from the vast history that is rock and roll, regardless of trends, styles
or fads. THE BAND had to be musically adept enough to skirt these changes effortlessly, yet the music could not descend into
mindless "noodling" with the sole purpose of impressing other musicians, as so many other bands ended up doing. (The guy
in question would sooner deliver fuses than end up with a band legacy like that...)
And through dogged determination
and sheer persistence, it all slowly began paying off.
Despite the many miscues and inevitable personality conflicts,
the conceptual, mythical BAND started metamorphosing into shape and began to take on a life of its own, with a soul comprised
of four very special, yet very different, individuals.
The guy who started the band was a guitar player, a quiet type
who was content to be the calm in the storm, but maintained a captain's firm hold on the helm of the man o'war.
Another
guy, who played the drums with clockwork precision, yet reckless abandon, was quiet in his own way, camouflaging a razor-sharp
rapier wit that was unsheathed at a second’s notice.
Yet another guy, who played the keyboards, was the fashion sense
of the band, always dressed to his utmost and was keenly aware of the band’s image at all times.
And finally, there
was the bass player, who could easily be a psychotic. Or a professor. Or a politician. Or even a lawyer. Or maybe a psychotic
political professor who teaches law…or whatever, I digress…
Anyway, this mythical BAND had somehow coalesced into
something that transcended all boundaries; a wonderful, entertaining, breathing thing that had taken on a life of its own,
with the sum always exceeding the parts therein. And, the Good Lord as a witness, it was a wonderful, magical…well, sacred
thing. It became a divine being onto itself; so much so that all seers were almost speechlessly impressed after witnessing
a performance.
Unfortunately, this band I am writing about was involved in a horrific automobile accident, and everyone
in the band died an agonizing, painful death.
Oh yeah, I was going to write about Ripple later on…
Love, Rob*
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