The Bobby Rock Newsletter #100 (5-2-23) - Thank You, Goodnight!
The Bobby Rock Newsletter #100 (5-2-23) - Thank You, Goodnight!
|
To sign up for this Newsletter and/or to scope back issues, click HERE.
|
Friends -
It’s a special day today! This issue marks the completion of a hard-won aspiration: 100 editions of the BR Newsletter. Let’s jump right into our special format for the occasion.
In This Issue:
- Mission Accomplished! - Riffing and reflection on the 100-Newsletter milestone, as we say “Thanks a million,” and contemplate where we go from here…
- Behind-the-Scenes: Thank You’s and Acknowledgments. This thing doesn’t happen by itself!
- The Dirty Dozen: For the sake of the occasion, we highlight twelve newsletter editions from the past couple years… each of which garnered noteworthy reaction, and/or meant something extra special to write about.
_______________
Mission Accomplished!
From some hotel on the road…. where much of the writing for the Newsletter often takes place.
100 is somewhat of an arbitrary number, but it seemed just daunting enough of a goal to commit to when I decided to launch the BR Newsletter, for real, over two years ago. I had always struggled with consistency in the past whenever I tried to kick-start a newsletter—including back in the “paper" newsletter days of yore—so I figured a lofty number would lock me into the long game. That, it did.
Mainly, though, I truly appreciate you guys reading the damn thing. It's really the key reason I've continued to grind these bad boys out. I’m told our open rate—the number of email Newsletters that actually get opened—is exceptional, and that we get very few unsubscribes. I bring this up because, frankly, I have no other reliable way of gauging if folks are digging this bitch or not (besides the occasional direct feedback), since a free email newsletter isn’t an interactive medium in the way so many comment and like-driven platforms are these days. So, again, thank you guys. I know how valuable your time is.
Additionally, I have appreciated having such a creative and organic platform available to write about such a wide range of things, and all under a fairly consistent publishing schedule. Without such structure, I know I have a tendency to slip into a hopelessly elastic creative space where time-frames and deadlines fall irrelevant and, therefore, much of my work remains in my laptop, out of public view. Our dialogue here has provided valuable constraints for me and, again, I thank you for your active interest.
Where Do We Go From Here?
So… I’ve completed my mission: what now? In this moment, I’m not sure, if I’m being honest. I love doing this Newsletter, although I sometimes question if this is the most efficient use of my time… in the context of YOUR time. In other words, I often think, would my audience be better served if I devoted more of my "newsletter” time (which can be a significant chunk) to getting one of my newest books or recordings completed? Maybe. But creatively speaking, I guess the reason I’ve continued to hammer away at this thing is because, every week or two, something tangible and substantive is released out into the world in the form of this Newsletter. Something is created and consumed: as opposed to work that tends to get trapped in the blackhole of incubation and refinement when you are in the throes of a new book or record. It’s a delicate balance.
So, while I will say “Onward” in this moment, I hope to have more clarity soon about how this particular dialogue might look moving forward.
_______________
Behind-the-Scenes Acknowledgment
As I mentioned in our one-year anniversary issue: Almost everything good in life happens in collaboration, as opposed to isolation. Such is the case with this Newsletter. Here’s a tip of the cap to my Mega-Positive, Mindful Ass-Kicker of an assistant (and friend), Andrea Volpp. She is always the first to peruse each issue before it gets published. And she also takes great care each week in formatting and archiving the latest Newsletter in our ever-expanding collection (in addition to handling all order fulfillment at bobbyrock.com and taking care of many other things in BR Land). Many thanks!
Here’s Andrea and me at a family gathering a couple Thanksgivings ago, about to dive into some world-class vegan grub!
Andrea, along with a shortlist of Inner-Circle “consultants”—including Andrea’s dad, my long-time bro, Steven Volpp, who co-founded the Reward Music platform that facilitates the Newsletter—all help to keep the wheels on the track of this pursuit. Mucho love and appreciation to all!
_______________
The Dirty Dozen
There was no real method to the madness in selecting these twelve Newsletter editions from the archives. Just thought that, in total, they encapsulated some of the extreme diversity of content that we try to cover each week (or two). Take a peek and scope a few out!
Life lessons from the running game… in this case, a half-marathon. (Also… found! Some rare VVI artifacts.)
Yes, touring in China was quite the life experience. But it was the technological captures (and reflections) that would leave the most contemplative impressions in the end…
+ + + + + + +
A brief 2021 update on my “fur baby,” Juju, who I raised as part of a feral cat colony in North Hollywood… until she outlived all of the other cats. Since 2017, she’s been thriving as an indoor kitty. And these days, it is mind-blowing to see her with my young son… especially since I thought she would be my only offspring this go-round.
Here’s a recent snap for you:
This is so trippy for me to wrap my head around!!!
+ + + + + + +
A cool all-around edition featuring, well… an extraordinary gift from friends, more on the right-brain/left-brain phenomenon, and one of my favorite examples of Alphabet Drumming: creative groove “lingo” on Black Sabbath’s “Supernaut” (from my next record).
+ + + + + + +
A quick and interesting quiz to determine what your top virtues are… and why this is important to know. (Yes… I show you mine!)
+ + + + + + +
This was the week we lost our Lita Ford tour manager/sound man/everything guy, George Marshall, as well as my “LA mom,” Mamani. We celebrate two very different lives, talk about the sanctity of “transition,” and tell a crazy story about "St. George" and his ongoing presence.
+ + + + + + +
Revisiting a recent trip to Italy with one of the most extensive travel blogs I may have ever done. Plus, links to several other international travel blogs from the archives, as well as a book excerpt on Vinnie Vincent Invasion’s final show.
My BFF has lived an exemplary life in service to the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the unwanted, and the sickly… and I’m sure they’re all grateful. But what else has her “Hero’s Journey" yielded, particularly to those closest to her? Contemplating the far-reaching effects of our “doing the right thing,” plus… what an arena soundcheck looks like up close and personal.
+ + + + + + +
A super hot tip for any aspiring peak performer, wrapped up in an epic story involving one of my other close friends, Rob Mathes, over 40 years in the making!
+ + + + + + +
From a detailed analysis of Hallmark Christmas movies, to announcing the impending (and unexpected!) birth of my son, this one had it all!
+ + + + + + +
A detailed exploration on the before, during, and after experience of becoming a first-time dad at 59. What a trip!
+ + + + + + +
And finally, here's a recent edition that featured more life from the trenches of the road with Lita Ford and the gang. We've had a number of editions that offer these unique perspectives (typically with plenty of pics and vids), and I thought this LA/Vegas one was as good of a representation as any. Enjoy...
+ + + + + + +
As always, we strongly encourage a perusal of our Newsletter archives. At 100 issues strong, there is a staggering amount of blood and sweat in there… essentially 300 individual items—some long, some brief—as we have maintained that “everything-in-threes" ethos of featuring three new chunks of content per Newsletter. Seriously, take a quick scroll when you can. The issues are now arranged in reverse-chronological order, with the three headlining bullet-points serving as a sort of Table of Contents for each issue:
_______________
To sign up for this Newsletter and/or to scope back issues, click HERE.
_______________
Thanks again, everybody. Connect soon!
Until then,
BR
_______________
|
For Your Quick Reference: My main website at www.bobbyrock.com is constantly updated with cool new stuff. Be sure and take a moment to sign up in the upper right-hand corner of any page on the site. It only takes a minute. This will give you a much more customized experience, and also grant you access to various members-only areas, events, etc. Tour Dates: If you are signed up to the site, you will receive an automatic email notification any time I'm playing within 150 miles of your crib. Newsletter Archives: Scope all the back issues here. There is even a Table of Contents reference so you grab an "at-a-glance" view of what's in each issue. News Feed: Stay in touch! Think of this as Facebook and Instagram rolled into one location, plus extra posts exclusive to the site. The Bobby Rock Store: Books, Music, BR drumsticks (stage-played and brand new), T-shirts, Signed 8x10s, Dragon Dirt and more... Dragon Dirt: My signature, custom superfood powder. Scope the site for tons of info!  |
_______________