Course Charting – Music (Part 2)

The first time I stepped onto a stage with an electric guitar in my hands, I knew I’d found my place in this world. It was one of those rare occasions when logic said, “Impossible,” yet it was happening anyway. Here’s how I arrived at the impossible:

The year was 1979. I was a freshman in high school, and I my “dark” year was a few months in the past. Up to this point, my only experience in any kind of band was the school band. I played the trumpet, and I wasn’t very good at that. My best friend, Dave, was also in the band, and was a pretty good drummer. When I told him about my encounter with rock music during the “dark” year and Joel Barton’s comment about my “guitar player hands,” it sparked the idea that we should form a rock band. Just one problem: There were only two of us, and I was a mediocre trumpet player at best. Enter Jim, a recent transplant from L.A. He said he could play, but he didn’t have a guitar either. So there we were: Three guys, one drum set, and no guitars. Logic was already shouting, “Impossible!” but we weren’t listening. Somehow, in a matter of a few months, Jim and I managed to acquire guitars, learn how to play them (sort of), and enter a talent show that put us on the main stage at the Sahara casino. I can’t say our performance was anything to brag about. In fact, I’m sure it was awful, but the experience of playing in a band in front of thousands and not being laughed at was huge. It was the fulfillment of Joel Barton’s prophetic comment. It was proof that I might actually be able to do something cool for a change.

But it’s not enough to jump into the deep end; you have to learn how to swim. Even though I wanted to be a rock guitarist, and I had one performance under my belt, I was still pretty clueless. So, from 1980 to 1983, I saw every major rock band that played in Reno – Ted Nugent, Jefferson Starship, Black Sabbath (with Dio), Night Ranger, Sammy Hagar, The Outlaws, Kansas, Humble Pie, Yngwie Malmsteen – as well as the few that came to Tahoe – The Steve Miller Band, Toto, Pablo Cruise, Jefferson Starship (again). In June of 1981, my coolest dad in the world drove my bandmates in me all the way to Oakland to see the mighty Van Halen. These concerts were like school to me, but in a good way. I always tried to get as close to the stage as possible so I could really study the guitarists. I wanted to see their hands, watch how they played, and learn how to move on stage. When MTV launched – it was like distance education as I watched guitarists from all over the world. I also got to know some of the local bands. They used to pass me off as their sound man so I could watch them play in the clubs I couldn’t get into because of my age.

That was high school for me, and the closer I got to graduation, the more convinced I was that I would one day be a professional rock guitarist. Then everything changed.

(to be continued…)

1983 – Our third and final appearance in the “Stars of Tomorrow” talent show at the Sahara casino in South Lake Tahoe.