Richard’s Reviews > Face the Music: A Life Exposed > Status Update

"I read somewhere that when Beethoven wrote his second symphony in 1802, a piece that as a kid I’d found extremely uplifting, he was suicidal. Maybe I could write myself out of a funk, too.

"Vinnie and I wrote the song 'Lick It Up' in my place on 80th Street in the music room..."

Well, whatever works.

"He seemed completely thrown that someone besides John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Gene Klein could write a song. It was a moment of realization for him—here was another guy who wasn’t famous who could actually write a song. He was visibly taken aback. He mumbled, 'Hmmmm.'"

So THAT started early.