Dear Friends,
So, last night Michael and I got to go back stage and meet Eric Avery from Jane’s Addiction in person. He was quite cool, and we enjoyed a good conversation with him. I have to admit, it was a bit surreal. As we were saying our goodbyes, we saw Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins, too. I even got a fist bump from Perkins.
The show was really fucking good. Love and Rockets were amazing. They played one hit after another and were tight as hell. Jane’s Addiction played really well, too, but Perry Farrell was kind of all over the place with his delivery of the vocals and either changed or forgot a lot of lyrics. Maybe it was both.
Navarro was amazing, as usual, as were Avery and Perkins. The songs sounded great, but the singer…he had some great moments, but a lot of it was borderline cringe worthy. Farrell has had a lot of plastic surgery and looks like a cross between Boris Karloff and Matt Dillon.
It was nice to see a lot of friends at the show, though. It was one person after another saying hello and such. Good times! Phoenix turned out and the bands turned it up.
I’m glad that Michael and I got to go together, too. It was super fitting to be there with him and he really gave me a huge pat on the back when we were talking to Mr. Avery. I love my brothers dearly.
*****
Today might be a long day. I might need iced tea.
*****
One of the first records I bought back in the day was Channel 3’s Fear of Life. It was cheap because it was used, and I loved snagging cheap punk rock records. It was all I could afford.
I have to say that as far as spending $2.99 goes, this is one of the best uses of three bucks in my entire life. I got so much mileage out of this one. I played it over and over and over. I know all the words to it and often thought I must be one of the biggest CH3 fans out there.
The thing is, back in 1985, I never ran into anybody that loved this band the way I did. Mostly it was because they tried really hard to make the leap to the mainstream, I think, and people considered them to be poseurs, but there were not poseurs. They were good goddamn songwriters.
“Out of Control” kicks things off and just shreds. CH3 played revved up SoCal punk rock and I was eating it up with a spoon. I could relate to what these guys were laying down, too. People were constantly telling me I was out of control when I started listening to Fear of Life, so I figured it was the record for me.
“You Make Me Feel Cheap” is also another ripper. Clever and catchy, the song has stuck in my brain all these years no matter how long I go without listening to the record. I probably listen a few times a year now and a few hundred times a month in 85 and 86.
“I’ve grown so fond of this weekend life/not ready for the real world/ wake me up when I’m 23.”
Those were words to live by back then. 23 seemed so old when I was 15. Now….well, let’s just leave that there.
“Wet Spots” is great, too. Didn’t want to miss that one.
You know, the entirety of Fear of Life is great. There is not one weak song on the whole record. I always wanted to play in a band that sounded like CH3, but never did. I don’t know I could pull it off now.
I was in my 40s before I got to see CH3 live and they didn’t disappoint. They ripped through all these old songs like they were still in their 20s, too. I would still get in the pit for them.
I’d pay for it the next day.
Looking back, I am proud of the kid who found this record for cheap at Zia. He knew a good thing when he saw it and it stood the test of time. Fear of Life has never let me down.
Not ever.
*****
See you tomorrow.
This is bizarre, but I like it.
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