The Bobby Rock Newsletter #18 (7-28-2021) - The Guy In Ratt
The Bobby Rock Newsletter #18 (7-28-2021) - The Guy In Ratt
|
Hello friends -
Back home for a few days this week, trying to adjust to normal life before we split again. Oh wait… maybe “normal life” is when I’m away from home. I’m confused. Seriously though, July has been a grind, but no complaints on this end. I’ve had a great run out there with Lita Ford and co., and yes, it’s been EXHILARATING to play for live audiences again.  Pic by Vince Foschini I remain exceedingly grateful to be able to do what I do for a living, mainly because I never forget the lean times. Speaking of which… In this issue:
_______________ The highest of highs… the lowest of lows. Such are the ebb and flow extremes of the music biz, and if you stay in the game long enough, you will likely experience plenty of both. On the ebb side, 2008 was shaping up to be another rough year. Work had been “intermittent" for awhile, resources were exhausted, and I really needed a gig—preferably in some kind of touring situation. A certain lead singer was about to jump out on a solo club tour and was looking for a drummer. (Serendipity!) I had a couple of colleagues close to the situation who, fingers crossed, could possibly just slide me right into the gig. And for as modest of an opportunity as it probably was, at the time, it seemed like a sparkling oasis in the middle of the Sahara: a real game-changer, given all I had been going through. Plus, it felt like a meant-to-be win-win, as well, where maybe my skills, experience, and lineage could, in turn, bring real value to him and his band. The stars had apparently aligned. And yet… it was not to be. We were able to get a couple messages to the guy on the eve of some kind of audition/rehearsal day, but we never heard back from him. Not sure why. (Actually, when things don’t work out, you seldom ever hear why!) BUT… at least I got the following poem out of the deal. BTW, I rarely write poetry in the traditional, simplistic form of rhyming phrases. But that’s how this one came out (in about 10 minutes flat), and I thought it worked. I just recently rediscovered this piece in the “vault,” and I don’t believe I’ve ever shared it publicly before, so… thought you guys might enjoy it: The Guy in Ratt I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back, Hoping this will put things back on track,
Been scroungin’ for change and table scraps,
That’s why I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back
Sold my best kit for pennies on the dollar, So I wouldn’t have to hear my landlord holler
Been borrowing a car from my benevolent ex,
Trying to stay a step ahead of whatever happens next
But I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back, Knowing this should put things back on track
Yes, I’ll work for pauper's wages playing “Panama Jack’s”
That’s why I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back
Lying on the couch in my practice room, Flipping through channels till half-past noon,
Staring at my phone like a washed-up hack,
Will go "Round and Round" to keep my finances intact...
That's why I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back, Thinking this might put things back on track
You know I'll bang those drums like a monkey on crack,
That’s why I’m waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back
Now it’s late at night, I guess I’d better unpack The guy in Ratt never did call back
Probably found some drummer for pennies on the dollar
So he wouldn’t have to hear his accountant holler
I’ve wasted this day and fallen further off track,
Cause I was waiting for the guy in Ratt to call back
 A rare BR public transportation pic from this era!_______________ The Barrier (to Superior Health) We humans are perhaps the ultimate creatures of habits. Our daily routines, protocols, habits, and rituals are not only etched into our neuro-netways like grooves on a vinyl record, but much of what we default to consuming every day has actual addictive properties. Yes, it’s true: addictive properties. As a result, we have what I believe to be the number one barrier to superior health: Virtually everything that gives us the biggest short-term pay-off (in terms of lighting up the pleasure centers of our brain), will invariably lead to long-term catastrophe where our mind/body health is concerned. (Obesity, disease, addictive behaviors, early death, etc.) Meanwhile…. Virtually everything that is good for us on the long-term, offers little in the way of any kind of notable short-term pleasure spike. Sure, once we get into a vigorous workout, we can sometimes experience the rush of the pump, or the "runner’s high." And it always feels good to have that light but satiated feeling from a healthy meal or superfood smoothie. BUT, there’s never really a significant pleasure spike involved (especially compared to a caffeine or sugar hit), and there is seldom a sense that we are quenching an addictive urge. Bottom line? Addictive behaviors always win out unless we actively resist them. So… understanding this challenge is really the first step in transcending this barrier to superior health. We are playing the long game here. We are investing in a higher-energy, more vibrant way of being in the world that is truly on “the road less traveled.” And listen, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to wait five years to see results of healthier living… not at all! You will likely start seeing and feeling the results ASAP. It’s just that the steady buzz of true vitality shows up a bit differently than the rollercoaster ride of junk food and coffee or energy drinks. There are fewer peaks and valleys and more of a steady, electric energy that powers you through your day more evenly. That said, it doesn’t mean that we don’t occasionally indulge in those things that offer the quick pleasure spike. But it does mean that we commit to a way of life where we aren't enslaved to the round-the-clock urges of such a lifestyle. And as a result, we have our best chance of staying the fuck out of hospitals, avoiding the need for all of those prescription meds, and living our most vibrant and productive life for as long as possible. Amen! _______________ Your Higher Calling: A Journaling Exercise  We are each on our own unique journey here, that’s for damn sure. No one before you—literally NO ONE—has followed the exact same path, with the exact same experiences, concerns, and interests, with the exact same challenges, flaws, and tragedies, and with the exact same skill-sets, talents, and passions. I repeat: NO ONE. With this in mind, pull out that journal, notebook, or notes app, and scribble down a few thoughts as you consider the following: What is it that needs to be done that only you can do? _______________ Thanks, everyone! I appreciate all the positive feedback. Catch you next week... Until then, BR
_______________
For Your Quick Reference:
My main website at www.bobbyrock.com is constantly updated with cool new stuff. Tour Dates: If you are signed up to the site (upper right-hand corner of any page), you will receive an automatic email notification anytime 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 brand new custom superfood powder. Scope the site for tons of info!  |