"as you can imagine, s**t is just fkd up right now. but i wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. i'm glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him. thank you. (sic)" - Ad-Rock (May 6th, 2012) … I'm pretty even keel as a person… but this is the first musician passing that actually threw me off a little. I knew he was battling cancer, but when I'd heard the news online last Friday… I was shocked… shocked and sad… enough that I indirectly told the band we're going to take it easy that evening… feel free to make a trip to the LCBO… we're watching the hockey game tonight. "To The 5 Boroughs" was on repeat while I initially cleaned and set up The Pawnshop… late nights and early mornings, for several weeks. Passive listening, but the album created a vibe and put me in a great mood. We all have soundtracks to our lives… Beastie Boys definitely have at least one song on mine. They weren't just 3 dudes rapping… or Sabotage… or the Intergalactic video… or Fight For Your Right (… to party). They were a lifestyle and a band… a fucking band. (... ok for a lot of us... it was all about the Sabotage bass line.) Once you hit a certain age (usually early 20s), you make a choice to put down your axe, pack up your kit, or sell your decks. In my eyes, that's the line in the sand. Musicians are lifers. Musicians never think of stopping… why would we? That doesn't mean you can't finish school, get a day job, and have a family. It means you can't imagine living a life without making a sound. Musicians and artists in general create, in their head, everyday, all the time. Once they discover their weapon of choice, it comes out… and the rest is history. (... as long as we're loud enough, we'll enough have time to figure out what we're doing.) What's wrong with most bands? In short… they aren't a fucking band. If only people could see how bands operate off stage, in private… then they'd understand where that chemistry comes from on stage. You can't fake it… it comes from countless disagreements, pushing each others buttons, hearing about either others personal lives (in great detail), knowing and understanding each others joys, fears, goals, etc. I've always thought people loosen up (get weird) after midnight. Bands spend a lot of time together after midnight… in the tour van, hotel rooms, 24 hour diners, you name it. When people open up, real relationships are built. Imagine how well you know your band after 25+ years of late night. That's beyond a fucking band… that's family. (... you can't make this stuff up.) (... but they did.) Next to that… nothing about musicians pisses me off more than ones who understand they have a platform to speak out about change, but choose not to. What a waste. During recent mentoring sessions, I've been encouraging artists to consider 2-3 things in life they wish they could do more to share and educate. Everything is fair game… we know music is a big part of our lives but what else defines you? What else do you read up on and love talking about. If a 1-dimensional object could ever exist in the real world, it's an artist with nothing to say. "I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother." - Mike D (May 6th, 2012) After reading several articles about Adam's passing… I thought about what I knew of his life and band from a fan perspective… it'd be a better world if all people could live a life surrounded by friends, family, driven by passion, love, and positive change. (Hey!? ... sharing is caring.) Success in life isn't about climbing mountains littered with dropped packs and frozen corpses from failed attempts… where reaching the top makes you a member of an exclusive club, granting a great view, and a moment of clarity… "I made it... now what." They say it's lonely at the top... and I think this what they mean. Success in real life is an array of rooftops and balconies. They come in all shapes and sizes… their usage, decor, and vibe as diverse as life itself. They're places to share with friends and family, or to be alone. They all have one thing in common though… to enjoy them, you have to find them… and to find them, you have to find your way up. How you reach them is your choice… and once you reach them, you'll see others enjoying the same views as you do. True happiness is a shared sense of accomplishment. All goals are attainable when you see the big picture and find your place within it. RIP MCA (1964 - 2012) "Well I got to keep it going keep it going full steam,
Too sweet to be sour too nice to be mean, On the tough guy style I'm not too keen, To try to change the world I will plot and scheme." - Adam Yauch
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Mike Langford - Official BlogBeing on both sides of the glass, I get the chance to wear many hats in the music industry. This is a place to share my thoughts, views, predictions, rants, stories and news! Categories
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