melodic skys
04-05-2005, 03:01 AM
i wrote this for a blog so there are some introductory references that obviously arn't needed on this forum...
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It started out with a desire to see the Jimmy Chamberlain Complex at the Troubadour... for those who are unfamiliar with them, Jimmy was the drummer for the Alt. Rock icons The Smashing Pumpkins (and Zwan)... Post Zwan, Jimmy decided to form his own band fronted by him... This new band a melting pot of Rock and Jazz was performing for the 2nd time in LA at the Troubadour on Santa Monica... Being a huge fan of Jimmy's drumming and enjoying my first experience seeing them I decided to buy tickets... So upon arriving and walking in the door, immediately to my Left is Billy Corgan standing there unassumingly, just people watching... Dumb struck I extend my hand for a handshake and my mouth drops my eyes widen and I manage to muster out "Good to see you". He says thanks with a firm shake and a genuine smile.
To say I was in heaven would be an understatement, I retreat to my friends to tell them about it and I can barely think straight. Some other fans request some pictures and they move into the light as he graciously agrees to the snapshot. Unfortunately there was a novice behind the controls of a "complicated" cell phone camera. After three attempts for a photo Billy almost gives up and I step in and take the picture for her.
After they depart their photo session I mention that I am looking forward to his Solo CD and I'm excited to hear what he's created and my mind is free of expectations. He mentions that he had been playing songs for his close friends and they commented on how "different" it sounded, and you could tell he relished that, he wanted to be accepted on his terms not on preconceptions or judgments based on his past music. I asked him if he changed in response to any of their input and he said "No, I wanted to keep it different". I told him that I felt that was a good choice and how I knew many people were hoping for a Siamese Dream II but that I was glad he wasn't content rehashing his old sound. He said that that was a period that could never be reproduced, that it was a special time and he wasn't interested in recreating that. He said he would leave that up to bands like Muse (and that they probably did a better job anyway). I said "I beg to differ" and nodded and walked away, so others who were anxious to talk to him could have their moment. Somewhere in that conversation I asked if he was a guest vocalist tonight on Loki Cat and he said “Yes, and I’m playing guitar on one other song” the excitement that created was intense.
After letting the past 5 minutes recite through my brain over and over and rehashing my conversation with my friends I decided to purchase a concert shirt. When I got to the table there was Billy sitting on the booth chit chatting with other fans. I managed to get in front of him again and he welcomed me with a smile. I expressed my gratitude to him for being so accessible to people “like me”. For being willing to actually talk without rock star pretension. His response was “I’m too old to be hiding anymore”. And I again said “you have no idea how much it means to be able to talk to the #1 person you have wanted to talk to for the past 12 years.” And he shook my hand blushing with his charming smile and a nod of his head and said “Thank you”. Again I left to reflect on my surreal experience.
After waiting yet another 5 or so minutes the urge to re-approach Billy was irresistible. There was my hero, my musical God, making himself genuinely available for conversation. Being too much to resist I approached him once again. He was being slightly bombarded with picture requests, but cordially complying. After that died down I asked him, “Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions?” smiling, and seeming genuinely honored he said “sure”. I told him that I had read a few years back that he did most of his writing right after waking up in the morning while in a lucid surreal state. He nodded saying “I still do”. Sensing he was about to dive into conversation I squatted beside his seated frame, like a student looking up to his master. He delved into how upon wakening I should immediately begin writing in a journal, streaming the words without judgment, without logical or critical thought. He said “don’t make coffee, don’t do anything but maybe take a leak, just start writing”. I told him that I often approach it logically but I have had those moments when I wake up and I’m never prepared to write. He said, “get into the habit of doing it.” I asked him about writing melodies, what was his technique. He said he did the same thing, he woke up and grabbed a guitar and just let his hands flow. He stressed to keep playing even if it’s shit, to not judge it, to remove oneself from judgment and to just play. I asked him if he notated what he played and he said, “not really I have a photographic memory” he said at most write down the progression but don’t focus on that, focus not on thinking but on just playing. He addressed my earlier comment that my own music sounds too much like SP. He said don’t mimic what’s been done, you can use it as a basic foundation, but create your own journey. He explained that if I tried to end up with a product that sounded like his, then I haven’t been true to myself and that it’s not the end result I should focus on but the journey that takes me there. I nodded in agreement while trying to maintain composure while experiencing utter amazement that I was receiving tips on writing music from my one and only hero. This was mind blowing to say the least. During the entire conversation he was looking me in the eye, speaking from his heart, and conveying his passion for music to me. That moment surpassed any previous single moment I have experienced thus far.
After this 3rd exchange I decided I had taken as much of his time as reasonable and I literally was in a state of shock. The actual concert was amazing, but nothing really could ever match those 15 minutes with Billy.
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It started out with a desire to see the Jimmy Chamberlain Complex at the Troubadour... for those who are unfamiliar with them, Jimmy was the drummer for the Alt. Rock icons The Smashing Pumpkins (and Zwan)... Post Zwan, Jimmy decided to form his own band fronted by him... This new band a melting pot of Rock and Jazz was performing for the 2nd time in LA at the Troubadour on Santa Monica... Being a huge fan of Jimmy's drumming and enjoying my first experience seeing them I decided to buy tickets... So upon arriving and walking in the door, immediately to my Left is Billy Corgan standing there unassumingly, just people watching... Dumb struck I extend my hand for a handshake and my mouth drops my eyes widen and I manage to muster out "Good to see you". He says thanks with a firm shake and a genuine smile.
To say I was in heaven would be an understatement, I retreat to my friends to tell them about it and I can barely think straight. Some other fans request some pictures and they move into the light as he graciously agrees to the snapshot. Unfortunately there was a novice behind the controls of a "complicated" cell phone camera. After three attempts for a photo Billy almost gives up and I step in and take the picture for her.
After they depart their photo session I mention that I am looking forward to his Solo CD and I'm excited to hear what he's created and my mind is free of expectations. He mentions that he had been playing songs for his close friends and they commented on how "different" it sounded, and you could tell he relished that, he wanted to be accepted on his terms not on preconceptions or judgments based on his past music. I asked him if he changed in response to any of their input and he said "No, I wanted to keep it different". I told him that I felt that was a good choice and how I knew many people were hoping for a Siamese Dream II but that I was glad he wasn't content rehashing his old sound. He said that that was a period that could never be reproduced, that it was a special time and he wasn't interested in recreating that. He said he would leave that up to bands like Muse (and that they probably did a better job anyway). I said "I beg to differ" and nodded and walked away, so others who were anxious to talk to him could have their moment. Somewhere in that conversation I asked if he was a guest vocalist tonight on Loki Cat and he said “Yes, and I’m playing guitar on one other song” the excitement that created was intense.
After letting the past 5 minutes recite through my brain over and over and rehashing my conversation with my friends I decided to purchase a concert shirt. When I got to the table there was Billy sitting on the booth chit chatting with other fans. I managed to get in front of him again and he welcomed me with a smile. I expressed my gratitude to him for being so accessible to people “like me”. For being willing to actually talk without rock star pretension. His response was “I’m too old to be hiding anymore”. And I again said “you have no idea how much it means to be able to talk to the #1 person you have wanted to talk to for the past 12 years.” And he shook my hand blushing with his charming smile and a nod of his head and said “Thank you”. Again I left to reflect on my surreal experience.
After waiting yet another 5 or so minutes the urge to re-approach Billy was irresistible. There was my hero, my musical God, making himself genuinely available for conversation. Being too much to resist I approached him once again. He was being slightly bombarded with picture requests, but cordially complying. After that died down I asked him, “Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions?” smiling, and seeming genuinely honored he said “sure”. I told him that I had read a few years back that he did most of his writing right after waking up in the morning while in a lucid surreal state. He nodded saying “I still do”. Sensing he was about to dive into conversation I squatted beside his seated frame, like a student looking up to his master. He delved into how upon wakening I should immediately begin writing in a journal, streaming the words without judgment, without logical or critical thought. He said “don’t make coffee, don’t do anything but maybe take a leak, just start writing”. I told him that I often approach it logically but I have had those moments when I wake up and I’m never prepared to write. He said, “get into the habit of doing it.” I asked him about writing melodies, what was his technique. He said he did the same thing, he woke up and grabbed a guitar and just let his hands flow. He stressed to keep playing even if it’s shit, to not judge it, to remove oneself from judgment and to just play. I asked him if he notated what he played and he said, “not really I have a photographic memory” he said at most write down the progression but don’t focus on that, focus not on thinking but on just playing. He addressed my earlier comment that my own music sounds too much like SP. He said don’t mimic what’s been done, you can use it as a basic foundation, but create your own journey. He explained that if I tried to end up with a product that sounded like his, then I haven’t been true to myself and that it’s not the end result I should focus on but the journey that takes me there. I nodded in agreement while trying to maintain composure while experiencing utter amazement that I was receiving tips on writing music from my one and only hero. This was mind blowing to say the least. During the entire conversation he was looking me in the eye, speaking from his heart, and conveying his passion for music to me. That moment surpassed any previous single moment I have experienced thus far.
After this 3rd exchange I decided I had taken as much of his time as reasonable and I literally was in a state of shock. The actual concert was amazing, but nothing really could ever match those 15 minutes with Billy.