Another Side of Me
I’m taking a break from writing on my usual topics today. This one is purely for fun and may not interest you if you’re not into music. I was inspired to write about this today for two reasons:
Reason One: I miss writing about music.
Back in 2009, my blog, Layla’s Classic Rock, was voted #69 in the top 100 blogs about music on the entire blogosphere. I’m proud of that. I just wrote about music I liked and shared personal stories of my younger years as a rocker chick.
I talked a lot about all the concerts I’ve been to (hundreds, most of the big names of the 70’s/80’s). And my audience was 90% guys because guys like talking in depth about rock n roll more than women.
The comments on my blog took on a life of their own where my faithful followers would share their thoughts and (strong) opinions. When someone is passionate about music, it makes for some good debates! For example, we would argue about classifying certain bands into genres, and there are a ton of those, here’s some of the more popular genres:
Alternative Rock
American Traditional Rock
Arena Rock
Blues-Rock
British Invasion
Death Metal
Hair Metal Hard Rock
Jam Bands
Pop Rock
Post Punk (thx Ben Vee Bedlamite)
Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Rock & Roll
Rockabilly
Singer/Songwriter
Soft Rock
Southern Rock
Surf Rock
Tex-Mex
If you’re not highly enthralled at this point in reading here - you are probably not nerdy like my blog readers were (nerdy, but totally cool!)
Two of my readers had a radio show and they interviewed me once. They called my blog “the bar we hang out at after work to have a cold one and talk about music”. I can’t think of a better compliment. Those two guys found an independent record label called “Ripple Music” (shout out to Todd Severin and John Rancik!).
Today I went to look at my beloved blog which is still out there - and I got a warning that a trojan has infiltrated my it - I need to figure out how to fix that. I stopped writing as much when Keven got into drugs. I didn’t want to shut it down, so I brought on several of the guys to write posts and keep it going. Then Anthony died, and I was in no shape to write about anything for a long time.
Reason Two: I heard some great songs today.
The last couple of months have been challenging. My depression is in high gear, and I haven’t been able to pull myself out of the pit. But then today while driving I heard some great FUN ROCK. Fun rock is a genre I made up myself to describe rock music that has no underlying purpose - it’s not mystical, political, thought provoking or deep. It’s for FUN. Examples of Fun Rock would be Van Halen, J Geils, Def Leppard, KISS, Journey, Sammy Hagar, Bon Jovi etc.
So when I heard the opening chords of Armageddon It by Def Leppard I whipped out my air guitar and drum stick (their drummer only has one arm so therefore only one stick). Yes, I am the weird old lady who rocks out in her car and doesn’t care if people laugh at her - because it makes me happy and I need all of that I can get. After Def Leppard I heard the CLASSIC cover by Pat Travers “Boom, Boom, Out Go the Lights”. By that time, I was ready to have a few hits off my pretend joint and call some friends to meet me at the water tower to rock out (our meeting place in the 70’s).
To top that off I next heard “Brass in Pocket” by my girl, Chrissie Hynde (she and Ann Wilson are two of the few true rock n roll females - see how this could turn into a debate?) By the time Chrissie got to the last verse of the song,
"Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special
(Special)
So special
(Special)
I got to have some of your attention, give it to me…”
I was pulling into my driveway at least 75% happier than when I left crying an hour earlier. Thanks if you read this whole thing! I will get back to serious stuff soon. I think. I don’t know….maybe I can revive Layla.
Long Live Rock and Roll!
P.S. The above video epitomizes fun rock
