Re: The Well CXIII: The Dali is en la casa
What was that one "choir of angels" moment when you knew you were going to play guitar?
Thanks for the question. Like many children of the early 1980s, I fell in love with the guitar after listening to 1984 by Van Halen. Before that album, I was a Huey Lewis and the News kinda kid. I became obsessed with Van Halen, and then they dumped DLR and picked up Sammy. Well, I really do think that I am in the group of people who got on the VH bandwagon just as DLR was being dumped so I wasn't really attached to him like those from the late 70s. When Sammy came on board I loved him and, in fact, probably view the two "bands" as equals.
Any how... during the 80s, after VH, I started getting into rock and metal and listening to the back-catalogue of bands like Aerosmith, Zep, Iron Maiden, Metallica... (remember, I was 12 in 1984). I became a very competent air-guitarist and was very happy rocking out without an actual instrument.
Many of you may agree with this statement: growing up in the late 70s/early 80s you didn't get all this "you can do anything you want" positive reinforcement that kids get today. Back then, I truly thought that if I had not been singled out by the advanced math and science teacher as an "exceptional" student yet, then I would never be something like a doctor or professor. Similiarly, if you didn't play an instrument by the age of 11 I just figured that you didn't have the "innate talent" to play a musicial instrument. Since I was never singled out for great math aptitude or musical ability, I never pursued those avenues.
I carried that thought process with me for years - years!!! I was good at many things, but I never thought I could play an instrument. I just didn't have "it" - the God-given talent. When I turned 30 I decided to try to learn to play guitar because I freaking love it (or so I thought) and my wife encouraged me to give it a shot. So, she bought me a beginner acoustic and I took some lessons.
Long story not quite so long... I found out that having some innate musical talent can really be useful!!! And I don't have it!! But, I did find out that you can learn to play an instrument with practice and dedication. What's more, as many of you probably know, I because very proificient in refinishing, building, fixing, and generally messing around with guitars and electronics. While I am a passable guitar player, I am very good at building and fixing guitars.