Fun, Fun, Fun--YouTube Recommended Both of My Son's Band, and Kicked Up Blake Donner, the Missing Link in the Metamorphoses of Normal Turtles, to Ninjas
Once, when Elliot Taylor Secrist, bass guitarist in all bands mentioned, was about 6 years old, planning his own birthday party with his Ninja Turtle artwork of his own hands, having written out his own invitations, after doing his own planning, I looked at the calendar, and then at his invitations, and freaked out, felt guilty, and realized that I hadn't checked out or proof read the dates, times, and place mentioned on his invitations, looking at the calendar, had listed the wrong date. I was in law school at the time, and was embarrassed that this little self-reliant youngster, was going to be disappointed with no one showing up to his birthday party, due to his mother's negligence!
In true, Elliot fashion, this super human Ninja, just like his super heroes and idols, like Spiderman, calmly walked over to the calendar I was looking at, that hung on the wall, and without rubbing it in, or saying a thing, turned the April dates, with the allegedly wrong dates on the weekend of the party, and turned it to the month of May, the month of his birth, put his arm around my shoulder, and said . . . Mom, you don't always have to be right. I felt like a 6 year old myself, with big brother, coming and putting his arm around my small shoulders, alleviating all my young fears, and comforting all my fears.
Every time I see Teen Age Ninja Turtles or Spiderman, I think of the young, but very smart, self-assured, and confident, Elliot, who as young as 18 months, while getting ready for a bath, pushed my hands away from the faucets and said, No, I do it myself. And, to this day, Elliot, continues to shock, amaze and startle his mother, with venture, he privately ventures into, without any fanfare, just doing school, music, running his own company, to getting accepted to the Berkeley School of Music, in Boston, to writing his own song, to play for his audition, to totally surrendering, gracefully to the fact that he was not going to be able to come up with the tuition to attend the prestigious music school. He is always, just taking care of business . . . truly impressive!
The Condition for the Red Guitar
Elliot was about 11 or 12, when he gave up all his superheroes and comics, after a girl came over to the house, and went in his room, and commented on his extensive display of his passion, and what he had collected over several years. I am not sure what she said to him, but the next thing I knew, was everything, that would be worth a small fortune, now, just up and disappeared! He replaced the action figures, by becoming a rock star action figure himself, in every way, from his hair, to his head slamming, to grilling, drilling, guitar, now mastering the talent of singing and playing guitar at the same time!
When I was a child, I played with childish things, but when I became a man, I put away my childish things . . . that comes from the New Testament, but is very much applicable in this situation. Elliot, shortly after the situation above approached me, and asked me if I would buy him a shiny new, red, electric guitar, costing about $600, back in the mid-nineties, who knows what it would be worth now days, but I thought that might be a good replacement for the toys and passions of his youth, up and walking away!
I will buy you the guitar, under one conditions . . . that you never, as you get popular, or famous, cause someone to loose their faith or testimony of God--that was it. I talked to him of musicians like Jim Morrison of the Doors, or Janis Japlan, Jimmy Hendricks, etc., who died as a result of drug use, and what impact that can have, not only by way of example, but have a negative impact on their lives . . . not to dis them, but he is my son, and needed to be responsible with his talent . . .
Purification--Nice Name, Definitely Taking this Condition Serious
Elliot, Isaac, is cousin, and Tyler . . . made up the band, Purification. I never heard much from them, other than to pick Elliot up in Provo, Utah, travel 50 miles, every weekend, up to Midway, Utah, then go up to Logan, another 100 miles, to drop Elliot and Tyler, off at Isaac's house in Smithfield, Utah, where, Don Anderson, my brother-in-law, and awesome musician, himself, lived and had a recording studio in his basement, and played most weekends, in his own band. Both dads, Zeke or Richard Secrist, and Don Anderson, I am sure had a huge impact on their sons, and contributed to their freedom, expansion and facilitation as young, starving musicians . . . really just living with parents, but ones who encouraged, rather than discouraged their children.
I only remember hearing Purification play, once. They played either a concert or battle of the bands, at the old white chapel gym, in Heber City, Utah, where the town fathers and mothers, so wonderfully, provided funds, for dances, every weekend, so the teens from 12 to 18, had a place to go that was safe and good clean fun. The parents also got a break, and got to go to dinner, dancing or to a movie, while all the kids in the town, gathered at the dances, helping brothers and sisters, get a acquainted with each other's friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and the general community of teens. I would recommend this to all towns to give the kids somewhere to go, to socialize and get acquainted . . . I loved it!
I remember, Jerry Owens, my children's second father, going with me to the concert, watching them, jump, dance, play guitars and drums, dance and entertain the local troops. I wish Elliot or someone would put the video of that concert on YouTube . . . I think, the videos, of these bands, will demonstrate to all little wanna be, rockers, just how long and hard it is to get as good as Elliot is now . . . not overnight success, a ton of hard work, practice, lessons, gigs, playing in your bedroom, etc. Plus, you can see the metamorphoses of a rock star, from the start to now!
YouTube Found, (Old School) Parallax and Resurrected, Rock Star, Blake Donner . . . the Missing Link in the Evolutionary Process
I was shocked to find, that YouTube Gods, or someone, found old videos of Parallax . . . with singer extraordinaire, Blake Donner, who died in the Death Cave, and I believe, strongly, it was murder! Looking at these old videos, Pantera, Anthrax, Ambrosia, Testament, Black Veil Brides, Danzing, had nothing on Old School Parallax . . . and perhaps, adding the words, old school, helped disguise the band, and their 3 or 4 CDs that may have been stolen and marketed, just like those of GOD'S REVOLVER! You fucking don't go from Hard Rock Band of 2008, to nothing, unless there is foul play . . . and there was, is and was with Parallax!
Blake was like a magnet, drawing his fans around, hanging on him, singing with him, almost mobbing him . . . his mother taught in the Utah Valley College at the time, English Department with me, while our sons, were writing their songs, calling for a REVOLUTION OF HOPE, ZION, WITH PEN IN HAND, SPREAD YOUR WINGS . . . lyrics that both moved and touched a cord with the crowd! It was a magical experience for me to watch Blake, mesmerize the fans, the crowd, and capture adoration and love . . . to much love.
While my cases were being stolen, I remember seeing a movie show up in my house, called something like, I Love Your Work . . . Fame Kills! Blake was definitely, Cupid's Victim . . . Parallax was producing like crazy, as mosh pits, grunge, and the raunchy became to vogue of music . . . I am convinced they would have been huge . . . and after God's Revolver, through Underground Revolver, experienced the greed, envy, jealousy, and pride, as up and coming as the music of Parallax was spewing forth from the pens, guitars, drums and Blake's amazing voice, with a short, but amazingly prolific pen, just taking wings, calling for a Revolution of Hope and Zion, that band would have been gigantic!
The whole music community in Provo, to the west coast, was rocked with pain and sorrow by Blake's abrupt death, as well as the other three kids, involved in the Death Cave, incident . . . I cry to think what might have been and what fucking monsters could do this to him and three other bright, alive, teens, just coming into their own . . . there is a special place in hell for these fuckers who did this . . . Allan, Jack, Micheal . . . may your souls be tormented FOREVER!!!!!!!! And you too, big sis and Kay, and the Southwick family! Thank God, Elliot didn't do anything more with the sorrow, than get a colorful tattoo, on his left arm, with a poem about Blake, matching the tattoo on Blake's right arm . . . I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS!
You turned tragedy into triumph, demonstrating more grace, love, and dignity than men and women twice or more your age, caught up in averace, greed, money, theft, lies, and murder! Thanks YOUTUBE! I got to reminisce, smile and cry as I saw this beautiful boy, and the others in the band, Brandon, Elliot, and I think, Danny, the Indian drummer, who I only met once . . . my loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.