Category: Uncategorized
If you’re not on Facebook – you don’t exist
It’s interesting how Facebook has become so much a part of our everyday cyber-lives that we probably can’t even remember what life was like before it existed.
I sent an e-mail to the guy who’s arranging the Swedish Metal Exhibition here in Malmo in October, to ask about Sebastian Bach’s schedule. Figured it would be way easier than trying to get in touch with Baz himself. Sebastian uses Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and his website for posting stuff more than reading his emails. It’s pointless trying to get in touch with him personally and I didn’t want to bug his manager (yet).
Anyway, I got a reply almost right away, where the guy greeted me with my full name (which I hadn’t used and it’s not even included in my sender-info). He said he had been trying to find me on Facebook but couldn’t find me there. He had wanted to ask me if I had any ideas, feedback or interesting contacts to share.
It dawned on me that this Facebook-thing is worse than I thought. If you’re not on there, you don’t exist. It’s pretty spooky actually.
I heard something similar about a year ago when I bumped into a guy who had just kicked off a rock club in town. He said he had been looking for me on Facebook to send me an invitation to the premiere, but since I wasn’t there, he “didn’t know how to find me”.
If I hadn’t known him for years, I would have thought that it was only a lame excuse for having forgotten to send me an invitation, but he was dead serious.
Come on, people?! I’m STILL in the freaking phonebook – and THAT is available online and public in Sweden. I STILL have my e-mail addy and if everything else fails, go through Sweden Rock – I’m still a member of their writing staff. It’s not like I fell off the map.
I just don’t like Facebook.
I DO have two accounts on the fucking thing. One public page (that complements this blog – In The Rearview Mirror, which can be found here: IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR ON FACEBOOK and another “private” one that I quite honestly don’t even have my very best and closest friends on.
There is a reason for that.
I don’t think it’s good with too much openness. People share EVERYTHING on Facebook, it’s so implemented in everybody’s everyday life, that they don’t even think about it anymore. It could be personal joys and disappointments, trivial thoughts and episodes, pictures, links, political and religious views… Everything. And it’s the perfect arena for drama and even blackmail. I’ve seen it happen and heard it from others. I don’t want to be a part of it.
My friends are my friends – in real life. I know how to get in touch with them by phone or e-mail or other ways. I don’t need Facebook for that.
I have less than 20 people on my private Facebook-page. Most of them actually in one way or another associated with Jon Oliva, because they are in a way, “family”. They are my friends but for the most part of the year, we don’t have anything in particular to share, everybody’s doing their own thing. But by staying in touch through Facebook, at least I know if anyone is coming to this part of the world as a part of some other band’s crew. That way we can meet again.
Or, like recently, when they put together the Matt LaPorte Memorial Concert. I couldn’t be there and I so wish that I could. But by being connected to them all, I found lots of great photos from there, videos and comments, messages from people who attended or participated, and in a way it was the closest thing to actually being there.Other than the Jon Oliva’s Pain-family, I’ve got my sister and two-three other friends on there that I obviously could get in touch with easily by phone that are on the page because I or they wanted to share something that was only available on FB.
But frankly, I don’t want to know too much about people’s personal lives. It’s gotten out of hand. I want to hear what’s new directly from them, and I prefer to hear the “long version” in a friend-to-friend conversation on the phone or face to face over a glass of wine or a cup of tea. It just feels more right that way.
It’s way too easy to misunderstand the cryptic short comments on FB. Sometimes people can write something like: “Some people are just total assholes, fuck you!”. And you end up wondering: “Did I do something?? Or was it somebody else?”
Or you might be in a bad mood yourself, interpret it to fit your current mindset and end up going “Well fuck you too if you got pissed just because I forgot to call you last night!”. You know what I mean? There’s too much room for misunderstandings on that site and I don’t want to get too mixed up with the Facebook-lifestyle.
I share stupid things on there if I’m bored. Mostly videos or links. Or if I’m out travelling somewhere, maybe a short comment of joy or frustration, but that’s about it.
When there was only MySpace, it wasn’t as easy to find people, because you didn’t really use your own name. Not necessarily. And eventhough you could search by e-mail, it still wasn’t as easy as with Facebook. It was a challenge and maybe at the same time a test – how eager are you REALLY – honestly – to get in touch with this person? Because if you truly ARE, you’re gonna Google like crazy to get info about that person and how to get in touch with him or her. It’s not impossible.
The Facebook-generation has made it too accessible, too easy, you add people like it’s a contest. But it was the same on MySpace – people sent requests left and right just to show off who had the longest “friends”-list.
And once you have someone on your Facebook-thing, you are somehow fooled to believe that you are now “in touch” with them and that you know what’s happening in their life, so you don’t call them as much anymore.
So I have to wonder- is it really a network for socializing, or is it in fact more for one-way communications?
Neil Murray (bassplayer extraordinaire with everybody, if you’re not familiar with this legendary musician. He’s played with Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Brian May and many more, to name just a few) had a good point this morning when he left the following message for his friends on FB:
Neil Murray
I apologise (-ize) to everyone who wants to be my Facebook ‘friend’ that I can’t say yes to, as I’m near my limit. I have a ‘fan page’, Neil Murray Bass Guitarist, but that’s not really the same thing. Sorry also to the people that I quietly ‘unfriend’, but I think a lot of them won’t notice as there’s no particular connection between them and me.
He got comments along the lines of: “Yey! I’m still here!” and “Please don’t delete me, we used to talk in the 80’s!” Well, that’s nice, that you used to talk in the 80’s? But do you have anything to share NOW?
I used to talk to Neil when he was with Black Sabbath (the Tony Martin-era) and he was always a very kind man, a perfect gentleman. Quiet and classy. When he comes through Sweden every once in a while, I text him and he takes time to come and say hello and talk a little before he continues on to his business and I to mine.In a sense he is a friend, but one that I don’t exactly call every day to ask abut how his day was. If he removed me from his friends-list, I guess it wouldn’t kill me. If I wanted to see him when he’s here, I can just call or text him. But I never use his number for any other reason.
Maybe I’m just old-school. I realize that you have to be on that stupid site nowadays, because “everybody else” is. It’s mandatory. But I don’t like their “American style” rules. Their opinion about nudity for instance. Nirvana’s cover for the album “Nevermore” was REMOVED from the site because it had a naked baby on it! After massive protests, FB put it back up.
I remember uploading a pic from an Egyptian exhibition and it was removed because it was a wooden statue of a naked man or woman, don’t remember. Is Facebook going to censor out history too or what the hell…?!And all the info they want about you – phone numbers, addresses, they know EVERYTHING about you. In the wrong hands, that could be potentially dangerous. So again, I’m not totally OK with FB, eventhough I know that it you want to market yourself, that’s the only place to be – at least for now.
Things will probably look different 5 years from now. EVERYBODY used to be on MySpace too, then everybody disappeared from the site just as quickly – NOW it’s totally dead. Same thing could happen to Facebook. Things change a lot faster than we might realize in cyberworld.So – guess there are good or bad sides to everything. I’ve got a thing or two to say about MySpace and Youtube as well, guess that should be saved for another blog. :-)
HALFORD – Cyber World
Youre trapped inside my Cyber World
Consumed up as my web unfurls
No secrets left for our mankind
My virus lurks throughout your veins
Im spreading there inside your brain
A Trojan Horse that eats your mind
Cyber World
Cyber World
Ive got your power
Cyber World
Cyber World
I will devour, yeah
At speed of lies I will connect
I search and surf as I infect
Computerized catastrophe
Your informations what I steal
I scan you till you are unreal
Transmit your power into me
Cyber World
Cyber World
I’ll steal your mind
Cyber World
Cyber World
For all mankind, yeah
you’re dying in my Cyber World
you’re lying in my Cyber World
Three G’s as in Guitarists
Just hit me that the topics that have been on my mind lately, in one form or another, were somehow related to GUITARISTS…
First of all – Matt La Porte’s Memorial Benefit that took place Saturday, at Ferg’s, St Petersburg, Florida. For those who don’t know Matt, he’s known for having played with Circle II Circle and Jon Oliva’s Pain.
[Matt in an early Circle II Circle-video.
Vocals: Zak Stevens (ex.Savatage). All the guys in this band later became JOP…
Matt LaPorte – guitar, John Zahner – keyboards, Kevin Rothney – bass, Chris Kinder – drums]:
I was thinking about how I even got to know the great people in JOP and their friends/crew… The first two people I ever got in touch with that day, were Greg, “Super G” Marchak, producer and engineer, and Matt. I had just arrived to the hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany to attend a meet-and-greet weekend with Jon Oliva’s Pain, an interview and a listening-party of the new album “Maniacal Renderings“.
It was a small hotel and there was a computer down in the lobby. Greg was sitting there when I walked in. Sadly, he is not with us anymore. He passed on September 8, 2007, suffered an aneurysm and never recovered.
The other guy, who took over down at the computer that day in the lobby, was Matt. He is not with us anymore either. He died in his sleep a few months ago, only 40 years old. I think that what most of us remember, apart from his musicianship, is his sense of humor. A bizarre sense of humor that took me a while to “get”, I eventually did. His passing left so many in shock and grief, but I was so glad to see the musicians getting together to celebrate his life. He lived for music and he must have smiled when he saw what had been put together for him.
Members from JOP, Crimson Glory, TSO and others, got together Saturday evening for this special occasion which I so wish I could have attended. From what I’ve seen so far, it was a beautiful day/evening, with everybody gathered. And I miss them all, haven’t seen the “JOP family” in a long time, I think it must have been a little over a year now. Used to be at least once a year. Then again, things are not the same and never will be. But I have great memories for life.
Here’s one of the most beautiful songs ever, played at Matt’s memorial (Jon Oliva vocals and piano):
The other guitarist who is “Not Dead Yet” (which is the name of the benefit festival where the proceeds are going towards medical supplies as well as a trust fund to provide for his future security) is the amazing Jason Becker.
The more I see and the more I read about Jason, the more stunned and amazed I get. What a fantastic guy, I’m speechless. I really wanted to get involved somehow and so I ended up donating to the making of the documentary “Perpetual Burn: The Story of Jason Becker“.
I can’t wait to see the finished movie and for those of you out there who have at least 5 bucks to spare – make it happen: http://www.jasonbeckermovie.com/help-get-involved
All you need is a PayPal-account. Simple, quick, easy, and for a good cause.
The goal is $50,000 and as of right now, funds raised are up to 49,715
It’s CLOSE – so go and make your contribution!
This is a trailer for the movie that’s in the making:
Moves me to tears every time I see it. At the same time it proves what the love for music can do – it can even to some extent conquer death. There are others out there who are still living proof that the passion for music can overcome any obstacles: Rick Allen (Def Leppard) and Mick Mars (Motley Crue) for instance – then there are the guys from Anvil that aren’t exactly sick, but they have sacrificed everything to the point of stupidity, for their rock’n’roll dream and love for music.
I totally get where they are coming from. Only others who feel the same way for music can understand,
(Funny, just after I had posted this blog – I saw this on Twitter, from Mick Mars. Thought it fit pretty well: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161178 ]
People like Jason Becker have my deepest respect and admiration. I hope he will still be around by the time the movie is finished. I’m sure he will be.Last, but not least – a more positive note :) In the middle of planning my US trip, where I’ll get to enjoy seeing and hearing the talents of two fantastic guitarists: Gus G (Ozzy, Firewind) and the ULTIMATE guitar hero: Yngwie Malmsteen.
I was going to see Firewind in Florida because they’re playing in St Petersburg (Tampa-area), which is where my JOP-friends are from so it seemed like the best place to go. Then I saw that Yngwie was playing in NYC a few days later – actually the day after Firewind have played there, so there’ll be a double guitar-virtuoso treat, two days in a row, in my favorite city in the world – NYC!
Only two more months and I’m off to the land across the pond! :-))
[My interview with Gus G from Sweden Rock Festival, back in June:]
[The #1 GUITAR HERO in all categories – YNGWIE MALMSTEEN…!]
Such a sad, sad day
This has been a very dark and sad day. Woke up this morning to the news of the horrible massacre in Norway. Teenagers, between the ages of 14 and 18, just shot down, slayed like animals, for no othe reason than the murderer not liking their political views. The latest number I heard was 91 found dead. Young people.
If there’s anything “good” about this tragedy, it would be that people get to see that evil comes in all different shapes and disguises. So many automatically thought it was “those arabs again” or whatever they are used to pointing fingers at. A murderer, a terrorist, a mental case – can be from Norway as much as he can be from Bhagdad. The nationality doesn’t matter, a sick person isn’t sick because of his nationality. Maybe the debate will be more balanced from now on.
Voices from the metal community today:
Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N’ ROSES): “Thoughts and prayers to the people of Norway I am so sorry for this tragedy,, I hold Norway very close to my heart and this saddens me deeply.”
ARCH ENEMY: “Watching the news with heavy hearts. Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in Norway. What a horrifying attack. It is hard to believe what happened.” Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY): “Our hearts and thoughts are with Norway today. Watching the news is heavy. What a horrible, disgusting deed. 87 people dead so far. It makes no sense. The world got a bit darker today.” ICED EARTH: “Our hearts go out to the people of Norway. The loss of life is horrific, nearly too much to contemplate. (After killing seven people in a bomb blast, a lone gunman killed over 80 people, some as young as 16, in a summer youth camp.) Please join us in sending prayers, positive thoughts, and sincere condolences to the friends and family members affected by this tragedy.” KAMELOT: “On behalf of all the KAMELOT members and organization, our hearts go out to all those affected in the recent attacks in Oslo. KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood adds: ‘As many of you know, Norway is like a second home to us and we are wishing the best possible solution and justice in this senseless tragedy. All of us here are very shocked and sad about these events.'” MORTIIS: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to everyone affected by the bombing in Oslo, and the shooting at Utøya. Terrible tragedy. I don’t think anyone expected this to happen in Norway. I guess this puts things in perspective. People in places like Baghdad have to deal with this sort of stuff all the time.” Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE): “My heart goes out to all the victims and families of the destruction and murder in Norway… There are no words… I am sorry…” ENSLAVED: “Our deepest condolences and thoughts go out to everybody touched by the fathomless tragedy that struck Norway yesterday. This is indeed a day for afterthought.” MESHUGGAH: “Dear friends, we guess many of you have already heard and read about the terror attacks that took place in Oslo and the island Utoya in Norway yesterday where as of now 91 people have been killed. 84 of them between 14-18 years old. Our thoughts goes out to the Norwegian people, the families and friends affected by these horrible acts.” LEPROUS: “We would like to express our deepest sympathy with everyone involved in yesterday’s shocking events in our hometown, Oslo. This is a day for unity, compassion and grief.” Anette Olzon (NIGHTWISH): “I weep with Norway in this horrible day after the events yesterday where 91 persons died, most of them children and young people. It´s just so horrible that I dont have words for how I feel but I send my condolences to the victims families, the survivors and all of Norway. We really need to reach out to each other instead of hating…” Oddleif Stensland (COMMUNIC): “Our hearts are with our fellow Norwegians on this sad day. Our deepest condolences go out to the families touched by this insane tragedy.” URIAH HEEP: “What has happened is beyond words! Our deepest sympathy goes out to each and every family, and our prayers and thoughts are with them at this difficult time!” David Draiman (DISTURBED): “Our hearts go out to the people of Norway. Horrible turn of events leading to the loss of many innocent lives.” Sharon Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne‘s wife/manager): “The people in Norway are such gentle lovely people. My thoughts and prayers are with them.” Tony Harnell (TNT): “To all my fans and dear friends in my second home of Norway, I send you my warmest thoughts and my arms are wrapped around you. You’ll get through it like the Vikings you are! My thoughts are with you all during this terrible tragedy. It’s too bad the problems of the world have finally reached sweet little Norway.” PAGAN’S MIND: “Words are too small to express how we feel right now. 91 people killed, most of them youngsters same age as some of our own kids… But it’s important to keep living life like a dream and don’t let bastards like this coward gunman, who didn’t even have the guts to end his own misery before police arrested him, ruin your freedom of speech and freedom to explore the world.” 3 INCHES OF BLOOD: “Saddened to hear of the violence going on in Norway. Our thoughts go out to you!” Scott Ian (ANTHRAX, THE DAMNED THINGS): “The horror played out today in Norway sickens me to my core… my thoughts are with you.” Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (GUNS N’ ROSES): “Giving my love to Oslo.” VANISHING POINT: “Our thoughts go out to our friends and fans in Norway. Today is a sad day for such a peaceful country and people.” CRUACHAN: “Thoughts and blessings to everyone in Norway. I hope they catch the scum that done this and give them a very slow painful death!” Ihsahn (ex-EMPEROR): “We at Mnemosyne [Productions, owned and operated by partners Ihsahn and his wife Heidi] would like to express our deepest sympathy and compassion for the victims and everyone affected by the immense tragedy that has occurred in Oslo and Utøya. Our thoughts are with you.” John Norum (EUROPE): “Dear EUROPE‘s Norwegian fans, I would like to send my condolences to the people of Norway on the tragedy that took place yesterday. Please know that our hearts and thoughts are with you.” MERCENARY: “Our thoughts go out to our neighbors in Norway. What happened in Oslo and on Utøya is beyond horrible. No words can express how deeply we wish the ones responsible for these terrorist acts may be severely punished.” BISON B.C.: “Our thoughts go out to our Norwegian brothers and sisters and to their friends and families. We hope you are all safe and well. Our condolences to those affected by the senseless actions. Glad to hear that our old tour mates and friends in KVELERTAK were not in Olso when the attacks occurred.” Liv Kristine (LEAVES’ EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY): “Norway’s soul is hurt. My deepest thoughts go to my home country, to the victims and their families. Norway is an amazingly beautiful country and a safe place to live. Such an attack on our democracy and our peaceful nation must be condemned to the sharpest. Any form of radicalism must be destroyed at its source. This is terrible and must never happen again.” NIGHTMARE: “Our thoughts and condolences are with our brothers and sisters in Norway.” Matt Camacho (FORBIDDEN): “I feel bad for a few of my friends from Norway who are here in Finland at the Tuska festival. I can see it in their eyes that it’s really hard to have fun with so much tragedy at home.” Chris Jericho (FOZZY): “Just read about the horrific events in Norway. I’m in shock that something like that happened. Prayers to the victims and their loved ones.” GALLOWS: “Our deepest sympathies to those affected by the events in Norway yesterday. Truly devastated by what’s happened.” David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE): “My thoughts & prayers go out all those affected by the tragic events in Norway…A beautiful country & a beautiful people…XX” FRANTIC AMBER: “Our thoughts today go out to Norway and the Norwegian people. The terrible attacks that happened yesterday in Oslo and the island Utoya in Norway is unforgettable. At least 91 people have deceased and 84 of them was between 14 and 18 years old. Our thoughts go to them, to their families and friends and to all Norwegians.” SÓLSTAFIR: “Horrible news from Norway and then some more horrible news from Norway! Has everything gone apeshit over there? We hope all our friends over there are safe and sound!!”Then, hours later – more sad news. Amy Winehouse found dead in her apartment. She was 27 years old.
I wasn’t a fan of hers, although I liked her originality and some of her songs, but it’s so sad that a young woman ends her life like this. I think it’s a tragedy that she even became a drug- and alcohol addict and that nobody could or would help her while she was still around.
And what’s disturbing is the lack of respect that people show when commenting on these news. Such lack of class, so cold hearted and selfish, it’s quite disturbing reading many of the comments people have posted. Amy was talented and it shouldn’t have been her time to go.
Voices from the metal community:
Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE, SLASH): “It’s just my opinion but Amy Winehouse was a very rare talent. So many songs left unsung. Heartbreaking news.”
Rikki Rockett (POISON): “Amy Winehouse – So sad. Condolences to her closest friends and family. Fame does not give you happiness. It’s a shame Amy couldn’t see the part that surpasses that. The part that she earned and that no tabloid could mar or any critic could ever take away.” Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE) “Drugs suck. How much clearer does the message have to be? R.I.P. Amy Winehouse“ Sebastian Bach (ex-SKID ROW): “Dear Amy W, it is a rough crazy business & there is nothing like being on stage. Once u feel that, nothing else compares. Your pain is gone RIP”Myke Gray (SKIN): “Amy Winehouse RIP-please let this serve as a warning! drugs are not cool! drugs only destroy! drugs are not the answer – I speak from experience! There is nothing cool about being dead and leaving the people that loved you wishing they could of done more! Drugs make you selfish, shallow, insecure, and only ever mask a problem, never solve it.”
Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, DEEP PURPLE): “So sad to hear the news of Soul Sister Amy Winehouse… my heart goes out to her family…Addiction is cunning, baffling and Powerful… GH“
Dave Navarro (JANE’S ADDICTION) “My God! So sad to hear about Amy Winehouse! My deepest condolences to her friends and family and fans. You will be missed Amy xoxox” Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH) “Amy Winehouse…RIP. I wish you would have said yes, yes, yes. We will miss you.” Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT) “27=too young to go. It’s one thing w legends from another era. But when it happens to someone current, it’s freaky, esp. if you’re over 27.” Billy Corgan (SMASHING PUMPKINS) “Sad to hear about Amy Winehouse. I mourn any time one of our own passes on. A tragedy…no doubt. Truly sad.” Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY): “Amy Winehouse Just Passed away… She could Fn Sing.. GOD BLESS ?TBLO?” Eric Avery (ex-JANE’S ADDICTION) “Another tragedy. The spectacular demise of a very talented woman is finished. Amy Winehouse found dead in her London flat.”Just random stuff on a rainy evening
Funny summer – it’s keeps raining and raining. I just picked up my “summer read” – a book which was actually sent to me months ago, but with this crazy tempo travelling back and forth, there was no time to even THINK about reading. It’s Neil Daniel’s “Don’t Stop Believin’ – The Untold Story of JOURNEY”.
This guy has written so many rock biographies, is so dedicated to what he does. I should know because I was in touch with him back and forth, like so many others, when he was working on the Judas Priest biography “Defenders of the Faith“.
It wouldn’t surprise me if I ended up calling it “Don’t stop readin’“. :-)
Perfect for a rainy evening. And what goes better with a rock biography than a nice glass of rock’n’roll WINE?Bought two bottles of Sweden Rock’s special edition red wine. Okay, I admit – I bought it because it’s a cool bottle. But I got a whole box of Lemmy’s Motörhead-wine and THAT tasted great!
Speaking of nothing by the way, I just saw the pick I got from Glenn Tipton at the Manchester show, lol…! I forgot about that, haven’t cared at all about that sort of stuff for years. I used to collect those picks but it was more fun to own all this stuff back in the “good old days” because it was really a sport getting one. NOW you can find anything you want on eBay, and it kind of kills the fun. It’s not a challenge anymore and without the challenge, owning one of those “trophies” doesn’t mean much these days.
But he put this right in my hand, like priests are handing out altar bread at a communion! Guess it’s not far from it – after all, it IS a kind of “Priest”. :-))
More “by the ways”… There will be a GUITAR HERO EXTRAVAGANZAAAA for me in October! Two of the shows I’m seeing over there is Firewind with their guitar-wizard Gus G, and the day after that – also in NYC, THE guitar-god of guitar-gods, the one, only and ULTIMATE super-guitarist YNGWIE MALMSTEEN is playing in NYC. After that, I can go home happy. :-))
I noticed that Yngwie and Firewind are on tour in the States at the same time (October) but never crossing paths until the END of their tours. Hmmm, funny idea suddenly crosses my mind – guitar duel Yngwie and Gus somewhere in L.A maybe? Wouldn’t that be damn cool. Then again, I hope not, for purely selfish reasons because I wouldn’t be able to go. Blah.
Oh, and another thing. An old friend is coming to my home town in October. Sebastian Bach. Yeah, the crazy mothertrucker who everybody has an opinion of (myself included) but I’ll never forget how much fun I had with Skid Row back in the early 90’s! And we’ve known eachother for 22 years now, to be exact. We met last year at “Rock Weekend” in Soderhamn, WAY up north in Sweden. But it wasn’t easy with the logistics or the planning that day, so the texting back and forth with his tour manager ended up costing me quite a bit. But it’s worth it, because Baz is the most unpredictable person I’ve met in my whole life – good or bad, depending on how you choose to look at it. :-) You can never be sure of ANYTHING when it comes to Sebastian, because he is as “in the moment” as you can possibly get. You can try making plans, but be sure that they will change with short notice. Guess that’s the beauty of dealing with Sebastian, he never gets boring. :-) You can call him everything and anything in the book, but never boring. He’ll be a guest at the Swedish Rock Exhibition in October 1 & 2 here in Malmo.
Other guests will be Crazy Lixx and Nasty Idols (also old friends from way back). If you understand Swedish, or want to put Google Translator to the test, go ahead and visit the info page:
http://www.rockmassan.se/ Well, time for some reading before going to bed.
Roxette are playing a free concert in Copenhagen tomorrow but with this crazy rain, I doubt I’ll want to go. Would be been nice to see them though, especially since it’s free. And then – High Voltage festival in London this weekend. I still hope I can go, but it doesn’t look like it right now. Unless some miracle solves the problem for me.
And I belive in miracles. Never stop believin’. :-)
Insecure, attention-seeking rock stars
I’m wondering if rock stars aren’t actually some of the most insecure people around. Probably worse than most of us.
I was tempted to mention names when I started writing this, but I won’t since it’s not really about a specific person – it’s about the phenomenon as such.
So… Let’s call Rockstar number 1 for, say, “John”.
Most recently was there a fan who complained about people who complained about John’s band splashing “blood” and spit on their audience during their shows. The fan in question reckoned that if people didn’t tolerate the blood and the spit, they should stay at home. The fact that John even reposted that on his Facebook indicates that he wants/needs others to agree.
And of COURSE he gets what he wants. There are thousands of dweebs out there who are ONLY going to tell him what he wants to hear.
Mission accomplished.
John gets to hear that he indeed is the best rockstar in the world and he should not bother with stupid people who criticize him and blah blah blah.
He comes across as a five-year-old who needs people’s approval and other people to cheer him on all the time. Why else would a man in his 50’s give a rat’s ass about what “people” think?! What difference does it make what faceless strangers think? He’s sold millions of records, his band fills arenas, he’s got a big, fat bank-account and chicks everywhere willing to do anything for him at any time – you know what I mean. He is living the rockstar dream. YET he isn’t content with who he is. If he was, he wouldn’t be updating his status on Twitter and Facebook around the clock – steering the comments to be about what he needs and wants to hear. A person who is stable and content with his life and who he is, doesn’t need that kind of constant attention.I guess that in our modern internet-world COMMENTS can be a drug like heroin since people like John crave it so much. When does it end?
Does it ever end? Is it ever enough? WHEN do you realize that maybe you ARE appreciated and can be satisfied just knowing that?
Seems like you can never get a man like that to be happy about who he is and secure in his role as the object for adoration. In a way it’s very sad.
Anyone who has such a strong desire to get constant CONSTANT backup for every bullshit little thing, has the world’s worst self-confidence. It just amazes me how this man dispite his “dream life” can be like a lost child who needs the love and admiration of perfect strangers whose opinions shouldn’t really matter one bit.
There is another rock star who is even worse. Let’s call him Bill.
His attention needs are so enormous that he needs his own scale for it. I know – because I used to hang with him and with his band during their heyday. All of us who have kept up with Bill and the gang will know exactly what that means.
He can’t even go out for a simple jog without sending a freaking MAP via Twitter, letting people know exactly where is is, in case anyone would like to “come by and say hi”. Oh, Jesus, man. You’re out JOGGING for god’s sake?!
If he’s in a café or pub, he lets everyone know that he’s there in that very moment. Name of place, map, email, phone number, fax, website, whatever the hell….
Cause GOD FORBID he would have to sit there alone for five minutes without someone admiring him.
Just my two cents.
IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR 