ALBUM: Blonde
This is the first album I ever released. “Blonde”. Kinda random at first glance, but actually I was in a band and we were called “Naked Blonde”. Now as you can tell, a name like that may raise a couple of eyebrows…and it did. In particular the eyebrows of a preacher in a Word of Faith church, long story, (there are strong disagreements between “word of faith” theology and historical orthodox Christianity of the reformed type-me, but those differences are not my emphasis here…) it could be summed up by what he said to me, “ My wife is Blonde…”.
In all fairness he also said this too, “…there’s a lotta good music to be made out there, just change the name (basic paraphrase)”. Like the rebellious sinner I was I did not change the name. I did pretend to change the name to something else, but in the end because of that name (the real name, not the pretend one-Fahzilboi) I lost two band members. They went to the same church as I. It was their mother that told the preacher I suppose. It was understandable…
-never mind I still don’t understand, but you must understand dear reader what the name meant to me.
I believe that I was a product of post modern ideology (yes I went to public school) so I believed it was perfectly fine to transport my own meaning to the already established terminology without referencing the true definition-and yes this assumed I had to ignore the obvious connotations. “Is it a naked girl or a naked boy?” The people that asked these kinds of questions were missing the point, and that my friend I could understand.
I had read a book by William S. Burroughs called “Naked Lunch”. I had never been so violated in my life. One thing was for sure about it-if you’d ever be so inclined to be defiled by this said work yourself-it was true. Now I don’t mean true in the sense of “true truth” or “gospel truth” I’m talking about the content of what he wrote about. His pros were reminiscent of Hunter S. Thomson in his “gonzo journalism” kind of way, but different. He was raw, disgusting at times and more often than not downright evil, but in spite of all this, he was honest. That honesty was key…
William S. Burroughs honesty was “Naked”. What’s more, something about the beat poets-which Burroughs is considered the father or grandfather, maybe godfather…-some kind of patriarch-to the beat poetry style of writ. In fact, what became clearer to me about the beat poets such as Jack Karoack and Allen Ginsberg, was their mastery in the art of delivery. Ergo,”Blonde”. Ta-da! Making sense yet? Most likely not, but I understand, post modernity doesn’t make sense either. Where was I-oh right, the act of merely saying the word flows right off the tongue; blonde-like my last name if your familiar with french accents (and assuming that you don’t say it like “BLANK-et).
In other words, “Naked Blonde” to me translated as follows: Naked=raw unadulterated honest truth (of the coherence kind, not correspondence kind, experiential, not gravity truth-damn the public school system) Blonde=a nice delivery. Translation: “raw truth with a nice delivery”, not some naked girl or guy….that would be too obvious. How un-hep would that be?
It is needless to say that because of the band name (and my out there interpretation I had of it) there were always issues . I think I lost three band mates in total, but one did come back-he wanted to keep the name, I wanted to change it. Weird how things workout. If you can’t beat em…change your band name. Anyway, so I guess through a number of members leaving the group, line up changes, a band split, and inevitably the band getting back together again, we settled on “Blonde”.
Funny enough, If I’m staying consistent with what I meant by the definition of our band name earlier, you could have called us, “Delivery”. I should say call “it” “Delivery” for alas, the band split up for a second and final time (…band splits are so basic). I know, right? Right when I thought we were getting good too.
So here I am solo with newish songs (“I, Sinner” the album I’m working on now), but there was still a story to be told with that old music and there was still that name. I thought it would only be fitting to name my first solo, but not solo album, (which had originally been released as a band effort, but no band band so…)“Blonde”. I aim to carry the torch as long as the Lord compels me to-although the fire is of a different sort these days (spiritual life and all)…Thank God. Maybe that’s why it never worked out in the first place…I digress…
All in all, I was blessed with the privilege of working with some of the best musicians (Aaron Graybill on Drums, sometimes bass and Background Vocals, Austin Calendar on Bass most of the time or I should say whenever he felt like it), Andrew Madden my old friend and harmonica player that left with his brother Aaron Madden on bass, Jason who’s last name escapes me now, but he who stayed as long as he could stand me (guitar & bass), Brent Black who was kind enough to allow me to be tricked into enabling a stranger to drive my car by convincing me I had a role as “the driver” in his boss’s commercial (who also played bass-it really wasn’t his fault, I said it was ok. He took my picture too. The album cover is a souvenir and metaphor for the experience possibly) and to all the others that filled in to play bass…(we were never good at keeping bass players…) our last bass player Chris Vida, you will be missed most of all.
I also had the pleasure of working with, being taught, produced and mixed by the kind and always funny Joseph Levine, a school friend and highly gifted artist in the art of recording alchemy and drums-also some back ground vocals on one of the tracks (Sex & Cigarettes). Big thanks to all of you and those who have read thus far.
This album was a great transition for me. When I became interested in music, the first and only style I knew was of the Christian Contemporary kind. Growing up in a sheltered-conservative home, that was the only genre of music there was-Jars of Clay no less,but there was still much to be explored and I didn’t have a clue. My older brother shared Linkin Park with me, however I didn’t see much difference between them and Skillet. It wasn’t until I had reached junior highschool that my mind was predestined to be musically blown and by way of none other than my very own dad. It was Deep Purples, “Highway Star” and Aerosmith’s “Train Kept a Rollin’”that he played. Once I heard those tunes I was hooked. Not only hooked, but I felt that something had been kept from me for long enough and to a maturing sinner like me, that sent me on a a quest to overwhelm my ears with as many types of musical sounds as possible. My interest led me to thrash metal-thanks Guitar Hero-I also grew up around the local punk scene (ska/rocksteady was my food), so that was violent and fun as well (honestly I felt like a punk amongst the punks because I knew they didn’t like me-but I did enjoy the music most of the time and I appreciate the attitude till this day: DIY rude boy!). All that stuff was good, but not ever bit as good as the blues when it hit me-and did it hurt so good!-you know actually come to think of it, I think I got introduced to Rhythm & Blues when I was eleven because I saw The Blues Brothers referenced on a tv show called Drake and Josh that was featured on Nickelodeon , but anywhooooo…after that blues phase, there was a meaningful amount of time when my inspiration and attitude in regard to music was led to and stayed parked in the psychedelic rock of the 1960’s with all its free love, drugs, transcendent mysticism and the like, but there was always still the music of the blues that undergirded every type of music I consumed-thank God. This interest ended up being a great gift that led me outta that scene and into a whole new thing entirely (haircut and everything)-well not completely new-still rock n’ roll, just without the drugs (most drugs) and eastern mysticism: “Rhythm & Blues”, or better known as “Rock n’ Roll”.
When I was in my early teens, I would frequent the local library. When I found out I could borrow cd’s (50 at a time)-and books as well of course- I was enamored!
One day I was on one of my music rental binges, and I noticed a strange album cover, black and white with rainbow colored lettering at the top that reluctantly caught my attention. It was some guy who looked like Elvis, with a big guitar and tall hair. His name was Eddie Cochran, and the album was called, “Somethin’ Else”. I thought it looked kinda fruity. It was somethin’ else, and for some arbitrary reason (I think it was a buddies distaste for Elvis’s gospel record…) I equated anyone lookin’ like the so called king of rock n’ roll (which in my honest opinion was and is Jackie Wilson anyway-my thoughts not then, but now) was not worth listenin’ to…
…I checked it out anyway.
It’s funny how one piece of art can change your life-obviously not Jesus Christ change your life, but honestly if it wasn’t for Him introducing me to Eddie Cochran, I may have never made this record. I hope you dig it!
Soli Deo Gloria
-Ronnie