What really matters.....

One thing that you may not know about me is that i was in the music business....for almost 25 years!

Every once in a while, i'll run into someone that i used to know and they'll ask what i'm doing and are usually shocked when i tell them that i'm retired from the music business totally.

i'm quite alright with my retirement from "the biz". i was able to accomplish a lot more than most musicians. It's taken me all over the world and given me the opportunity to meet loads of great people, travel, eat great food, stay in luxurious accommodations as well as live out of the trunk of a car, partake in some of the greatest beer ever made, experience a high level of camaraderie with bandmates/crew, and being able to experience other cultures, working with Grammy winning producers, being part of the creative process......these are the things that i miss about not being in "the biz".....but i can handle that.

After much personal sacrifice, a lot of hard work and dedication, and a lot of heatbreak, i can safely say that i'm happy not being in the biz any longer. Gone are the days of driving 3 counties 4 times a week for rehearsal, being your singers roadie, hauling too much gear for a gig up 4 flights of stairs in NY, washing my passport in my pants pocket and finding it....illegible....in the dryer, hashing out contracts and money deals with attorneys and merchandise dealers, putting together tours with your own money when your record company goes out of business, and spending money to put together a great band, a great demo, and all the potential in the world and watch it go down the tubes due to laziness, spending 18 hours in a small New Mexico town while your tour bus is being repaired, driving 12 hours to a gig, playing the gig and driving another 12 hours to the next gig right after the previous one was finished....6 weeks in a row. These are the things that i don't miss about the biz....

It really took the wind out of my sails when the band went down the tubes.....only to do it all over again 6 months later with another band. i went through a deep depression after that. The thing that pulled me out of it was being reminded by my mom of my love for the outdoors....it was the the thing that saved my life.....

So.....thanks Mom for reminding of what really matters.....i know i don't get to see you very much, but i think about you all the time. i'm very happy with how things turned out and am in a great place now.....just think, if i was still a part of "the biz", i wouldn't be with Mama and be in the happy place i am today......it's what really matters.