I was on the verge of logging an optimistic entry about my restored health, but sadly plans have changed. I just cruised over to picthforkmedia.com, only to discover that former Dead Milkmen bassist Dave Blood was found dead Wednesday. His sister posted a message on the band's official website stating this:
"He left a note that I don't know all of what it said,he was not elaborate-but he said he just could not stand to go on any longer. "
My heart is sitting at the bottom of my stomach right now. Several years ago, I lost an old high school friend to suicide. The shock and horror of the situation wreaked what was undoubtedly the worst emotional havoc I ever experienced in my entire life. While I have grown to accept my friend's fate nearly six years after his death, the news of Blood has stirred up some very painful memories.
I was first introduced to the Dead Milkmen sometime in the late 80s. I was still in grade school and a neighborhood friend insisted that I listen to her Beelzebubba tape, swearing it was the funniest shit on earth. I listened to the tape and immeidately fell in love with their hilarious and sometimes politically incorrect social commentary. Bitchin' Camaro, Punk Rock Girl and Smokin' Banana Peels were in constant rotation on my stereo throughout most of my highschool career and the fifteen year old kid freak kid deep within me still considers them to be her personal anthems. LOL. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved and still love this band.
Over the past couple of years, we've been losing some very prominent pioneers of punk rock. As a devoted fan of the old school punk movement, it's real shit when it your idols slowly disappear one by one. First Joey, then Joe Strummer whose death I still haven't quite accepted, and now this. I know I didn't know this man personally, but when you grow up listening to your favorite bands as obsessivlely as I did, you tend to think of your records/cds as your friends. Music has always been an enormous presence in my life, I couldn't imagine my life without it. Not only does this kind of news sadden me, but it also makes me more aware of my age, and the inevitable process of growing old.
Alas, thank-you Dave, for bringing your music into the world. I hope you've found peace mate.
"He left a note that I don't know all of what it said,he was not elaborate-but he said he just could not stand to go on any longer. "
My heart is sitting at the bottom of my stomach right now. Several years ago, I lost an old high school friend to suicide. The shock and horror of the situation wreaked what was undoubtedly the worst emotional havoc I ever experienced in my entire life. While I have grown to accept my friend's fate nearly six years after his death, the news of Blood has stirred up some very painful memories.
I was first introduced to the Dead Milkmen sometime in the late 80s. I was still in grade school and a neighborhood friend insisted that I listen to her Beelzebubba tape, swearing it was the funniest shit on earth. I listened to the tape and immeidately fell in love with their hilarious and sometimes politically incorrect social commentary. Bitchin' Camaro, Punk Rock Girl and Smokin' Banana Peels were in constant rotation on my stereo throughout most of my highschool career and the fifteen year old kid freak kid deep within me still considers them to be her personal anthems. LOL. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved and still love this band.
Over the past couple of years, we've been losing some very prominent pioneers of punk rock. As a devoted fan of the old school punk movement, it's real shit when it your idols slowly disappear one by one. First Joey, then Joe Strummer whose death I still haven't quite accepted, and now this. I know I didn't know this man personally, but when you grow up listening to your favorite bands as obsessivlely as I did, you tend to think of your records/cds as your friends. Music has always been an enormous presence in my life, I couldn't imagine my life without it. Not only does this kind of news sadden me, but it also makes me more aware of my age, and the inevitable process of growing old.
Alas, thank-you Dave, for bringing your music into the world. I hope you've found peace mate.
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I was gonna say, as far as boards go, I've always been partial to Sims. Ride has some really good boards too. But that's just 2 brands. There really are a lot of good boards out there, and just as many bad ones. Ask around. Ask your instructor if you still have one. And if you find a good board shop with a decent variety, the salesperson should help show you the difference between inexpensive begginer boards, and flat out cheap boards. Your best bet would be to shop around, and then research the history of the companies of the boards you like. See if they're a fly by night company, or one that really cares about offering a good product.