by Blankfrank06
for his blog Ex Con Alcoholic Addict's Struggle
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Full URL
When I was a kid, I admired many people. Baseball players, Football players, Hockey Players, Musicians, etc. Usually famous people were my heroes. Tom Seaver, Babe Ruth, Joe Namath, along with musicians such as Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Pete Townsend, Keith Richards, and entertainment stars like Woody Allen, George Carlin,and DeNiro.
Now when I was in High School I was your typical cookie cutter molded druggie. We all liked the same bands with minor disagreements on who was a better guitarist. It was like the druggies in our school were one organism as far as music was concerned. As I mentioned in a previous post I suffered a terrible bad acid experience that sent me to the ER. Part of the trips cycle was how we were all sheep being fed the same thing. the trip helped me stop smoking pot and my head cleared in a matter of months. I was no longer the burn out of our class. That's when I discovered Punk Rock, or New Wave as they called it back then. All I know is that is was different and exciting and it got the blood coursing through my veins at a much faster tempo than what I had been stuck with for years.
It was 1979 when I heard London Calling by the Clash. Probably one of the greatest albums ever released. It didn't leave my boombox(no ipods or walkmans back then) for weeks at a time. It changed everything for me. Soon, I stopped listening to Zeppelin and Stairway to Heaven. I had heard it over a million times. I liked the whole spirit of the punk movement. Learn some chords, write some lyrics that usually antagonise or provoke thought. My eyes were opened to such a wide range of topics that had never entered that burnt out brain of mine. They were my favorite band and definitely my heroes, especially Joe Strummer.It broke my heart when I heard they broke up as a band in 82 or 83. I still listen to them occasionally but not as much if they were releasing new material.
After moving to LA in 89, I worked at a restaurant attached to a theater called the Wiltern. It was a mid level hall which played bands such as the Church, Sineed O'connor, Elvis Costello, Marky Mark, etc.I was a Waiter/Bartender and it was my responsibility to feed the bands and crew. I met many famous people who didn't really bring chills down my spine until one day after departing the bus, I saw a marquee which read The Pogues with Joe Strummer. They were going to play for three nights with Joe replacing Shawn McGowan, as frontman, who had been desperately battling a drinking problem in London and couldn't for the life of him do the tour.
This was a chance to meet a real hero of mine. I was excited. The first night He came in earlier than the other members of the band, who all ate together at three long tables along with their crew. He was with two other guys at a separate table and I didn't want to disrupt him with fawning, or compliments, or autographs. So, I played it cool. Like I didn't know who the hell he was. I was devastated. I thought that was it. He would probably do the same thing the next night and I would act the same way.
Later, I fed the Pogues. And I turned on my charm. And those of you who know me, know how I can easily get people to like and be interested in me. Even as a struggling Waiter in Hollywood. I fed them good. I suggested wine and beer, certain menu items all in a way that relaxed them and put them in a relaxed celebratory mood. Soon, they were shouting my name every time I came to the table. I had them in the palm of my hand. I was secretly approached afterwards and asked where I could score some ecstasy for them. I made one call and it was delivered within an hour. At that moment, I was god to them.
The next night I expected a repeat performance of what had happened the night before. But when I got to the tables, they were all cracking up and shouting my name and thanking me for a wonderful time the night before. I scanned the table and by complete surprise, I saw him. It was Joe Fucking Strummer. My hero. And when he caught my eye and said, you must be Frankie. He had to have been told of what I had did for the band and crew last night. There was a deep look of interest in his eyes and that's when I let go of being starstruck and strangely acted as if I was the star.
It wasn't long before I had the group laughing and drinking and celebrating more an more. I was on, too. My wit that night was sharp and every time one of them would try and break my balls in a good natured way, I would come back at them in lightning speed, leaving their comrades doubling over with laughter. I finally got to Joe and took his order. I was still being non-chalant and I think he liked that. He asked me where I was from because of my accent and when I told him NJ and NYC he flipped. I don't know why. Maybe because it had been his favorite city. He tried to chat with me every time I would walk up, by, to ,or away from the tables. He even followed me around. Cracking jokes, reciting my comebacks in a loud boom to the other guys which led to a real party atmosphere. I brought my friend down with more E, and that was the icing on the cake. They offered me backstage passes, tickets for shows they were doing elsewhere and even going along with them. I refused because the only thing I wanted to do at that time was spend time with my girlfriend.
At the end of the night Joe came up to me and thanked me for such a great time and shoved something in my pocket. Money. A Lot. It was as if I had become a hero of his. He said he really appreciated everything I had done for them and was about to leave when I surprised him by saying, Sottamassagana. It's a word or sound he sings in a song called Jimmy Jazz. He turned around and with wide intense eyes he said, so you do know me you C*%#!*%! He laughed and I finally did tell him how much London Calling had changed my life and how much I admired him.
Years later my heroes became dealers, good thieves, and anyone who could maintain a habit with a good hustle. Nowadays it's people who fight and change their prior wretched lives and become active members of our society.
Now when I was in High School I was your typical cookie cutter molded druggie. We all liked the same bands with minor disagreements on who was a better guitarist. It was like the druggies in our school were one organism as far as music was concerned. As I mentioned in a previous post I suffered a terrible bad acid experience that sent me to the ER. Part of the trips cycle was how we were all sheep being fed the same thing. the trip helped me stop smoking pot and my head cleared in a matter of months. I was no longer the burn out of our class. That's when I discovered Punk Rock, or New Wave as they called it back then. All I know is that is was different and exciting and it got the blood coursing through my veins at a much faster tempo than what I had been stuck with for years.
It was 1979 when I heard London Calling by the Clash. Probably one of the greatest albums ever released. It didn't leave my boombox(no ipods or walkmans back then) for weeks at a time. It changed everything for me. Soon, I stopped listening to Zeppelin and Stairway to Heaven. I had heard it over a million times. I liked the whole spirit of the punk movement. Learn some chords, write some lyrics that usually antagonise or provoke thought. My eyes were opened to such a wide range of topics that had never entered that burnt out brain of mine. They were my favorite band and definitely my heroes, especially Joe Strummer.It broke my heart when I heard they broke up as a band in 82 or 83. I still listen to them occasionally but not as much if they were releasing new material.
After moving to LA in 89, I worked at a restaurant attached to a theater called the Wiltern. It was a mid level hall which played bands such as the Church, Sineed O'connor, Elvis Costello, Marky Mark, etc.I was a Waiter/Bartender and it was my responsibility to feed the bands and crew. I met many famous people who didn't really bring chills down my spine until one day after departing the bus, I saw a marquee which read The Pogues with Joe Strummer. They were going to play for three nights with Joe replacing Shawn McGowan, as frontman, who had been desperately battling a drinking problem in London and couldn't for the life of him do the tour.
This was a chance to meet a real hero of mine. I was excited. The first night He came in earlier than the other members of the band, who all ate together at three long tables along with their crew. He was with two other guys at a separate table and I didn't want to disrupt him with fawning, or compliments, or autographs. So, I played it cool. Like I didn't know who the hell he was. I was devastated. I thought that was it. He would probably do the same thing the next night and I would act the same way.
Later, I fed the Pogues. And I turned on my charm. And those of you who know me, know how I can easily get people to like and be interested in me. Even as a struggling Waiter in Hollywood. I fed them good. I suggested wine and beer, certain menu items all in a way that relaxed them and put them in a relaxed celebratory mood. Soon, they were shouting my name every time I came to the table. I had them in the palm of my hand. I was secretly approached afterwards and asked where I could score some ecstasy for them. I made one call and it was delivered within an hour. At that moment, I was god to them.
The next night I expected a repeat performance of what had happened the night before. But when I got to the tables, they were all cracking up and shouting my name and thanking me for a wonderful time the night before. I scanned the table and by complete surprise, I saw him. It was Joe Fucking Strummer. My hero. And when he caught my eye and said, you must be Frankie. He had to have been told of what I had did for the band and crew last night. There was a deep look of interest in his eyes and that's when I let go of being starstruck and strangely acted as if I was the star.
It wasn't long before I had the group laughing and drinking and celebrating more an more. I was on, too. My wit that night was sharp and every time one of them would try and break my balls in a good natured way, I would come back at them in lightning speed, leaving their comrades doubling over with laughter. I finally got to Joe and took his order. I was still being non-chalant and I think he liked that. He asked me where I was from because of my accent and when I told him NJ and NYC he flipped. I don't know why. Maybe because it had been his favorite city. He tried to chat with me every time I would walk up, by, to ,or away from the tables. He even followed me around. Cracking jokes, reciting my comebacks in a loud boom to the other guys which led to a real party atmosphere. I brought my friend down with more E, and that was the icing on the cake. They offered me backstage passes, tickets for shows they were doing elsewhere and even going along with them. I refused because the only thing I wanted to do at that time was spend time with my girlfriend.
At the end of the night Joe came up to me and thanked me for such a great time and shoved something in my pocket. Money. A Lot. It was as if I had become a hero of his. He said he really appreciated everything I had done for them and was about to leave when I surprised him by saying, Sottamassagana. It's a word or sound he sings in a song called Jimmy Jazz. He turned around and with wide intense eyes he said, so you do know me you C*%#!*%! He laughed and I finally did tell him how much London Calling had changed my life and how much I admired him.
Years later my heroes became dealers, good thieves, and anyone who could maintain a habit with a good hustle. Nowadays it's people who fight and change their prior wretched lives and become active members of our society.
Read that blog. The guy has something to tell..
