Broken: Lanegan’s Death And Your Number Called

Tuesday started early with great professional and personal highs. 

In my career with FOX Sports Radio, I’ve been blessed to work with a number of industry greats and former players transitioning into their next careers (and becoming greats in radio and television!). 

I was offered the opportunity to co-host The Dan Patrick Show (The DP Show!!!) with Rob Parker. Rob’s a mainstay in radio and television, sometimes a lightning rod for discussion and debate, and we hadn’t done a show together in quite some time. His show on FOX Sports Radio precedes mine each night, so the intersection hasn’t occurred in a while. 

Then, I was gifted the glory of a new single from The Afghan Whigs … and the release of several tour dates. My daughters and I anxiously await the West Coast adds). So, I streamed that tune multiple times in commercial breaks and rocked out. 

After the shift, I conversed with my team for a few minutes. It was so good for the soul to see some of them in person for the first time in months (some longer). Eventually, I got in the car and started driving home - playlist blaring - and, reports weren’t wrong, there was some traffic. Those that know me, or have read previous entries, know that I have a lot of Bowie, Dulli, Queen, Stones and Lanegan in the mix.

And then my phone started to buzz repeatedly. I finished the drive home and grabbed my phone, expecting some fallout from the Aaron Rodgers appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” That was only a part of it. My brother had forwarded the message from the Official Twitter account of Mark Lanegan. 

The troubadour, whose voice and lyrics echoed in my brain, a comfort in hard times and a burst of energy to propel the good, had died in Ireland. I froze. Broken in that moment. 

He’s been part of the soundtrack and an influencer (in the best of terms) for three decades, and I knew some of the Screaming Trees and QOTSA catalog, but his work and collaboration with Greg Dulli (Gutter Twins, Twilight Singers and Afghan Whigs) made me search out more lyrics, more tunes and more video of his history. 

There was a resonance in the news that generated a few tears. I can’t pretend to have known him. I knew his history, his struggles, and had read some of his writings about the effects Covid had on him. 

I met Lanegan a couple times at LA concerts, brief chats where I’d only ask a question or two, talk a little sports and thank him for the lyrics of particular songs that were in constant rotation on my playlist at the time. I’d always hoped for a longer interaction, an opportunity to discuss his road in more detail, more sports and pursuits. (It’s time for that music/pop culture podcast series, perhaps.)

The 2010 Greg Dulli concert at The Troubadour in LA remains one of my favorite live events. Meeting Dulli post-show was an honor, but the set contained surprises and an emotional roller coaster of powerful lyrics and guests. Lanegan came down the stairs, performed a couple songs from The Gutter Twins album with Dulli and the band, and just as quickly went back from whence he came. “The Stations” live carries tremendous weight - the opening on my list of all-time greats. 

Lanegan left us an awful lot in “Read Backwards and Weep,” his autobiography, the hundreds of poems and lyric sets, and, of course, a rich tapestry of performances with countless artists. His influence has been cited for decades by numerous artists — stories of those sessions with Kurt Cobain and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” 

The outpouring of love and respect filled my timeline on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. The community that I speak of, the church-like energy and positivity, came together to celebrate his life and mourn his passing. It’s that energy that helps to sustain me. 

I hope he’d found some peace in Ireland with his wife. Good thoughts and memories to his family, friends and collaborators and fans across the globe. Grab some good. FYW

Here’s one of my favorites — “When Your Number Isn’t Up”

This performance features Dave Rosser, guitarist for The Afghan Whigs and Gutter Twins, who died in 2017. Get down that rabbit hole, starting with this classic. 

“No one needs to tell you that
There's no use for you here anymore
And where are your friends?
They've gone away
It's a different world
They left you to this
To janitor
The emptiness
So let's get it on”

Peter Pan No More: Brady Says Goodbye

 It finally ended. A series of Instagram posts from Tom Brady made it official earlier this week. 

We’d had myriad media reports — starting a week before the official announcement from friend of the show Jason LaCanfora. He had a second report for CBS Sports on the Friday before the big flurry of activity on Saturday when ESPN and the Schefter/Darlington combination dived into the fray. 

We’d done the deep dives and reasoning and rationalizing about Brady and his future for a week. The secondary reports made me take pause. 

For a moment, even though I was punting and shagging soccer balls for my daughter in my ragged shorts and backwards ball cap, I thought, “Damn. Now I’m officially old.”

It’s not a new phenomenon, these fleeting thoughts. After all, Jason and I have discussed plenty of “JRs” making their way to collegiate and then professional sports. 

But this one hit different. Brady’s the player that sought to spit in the eye of Father Time. He set lofty goals of playing at 45, or — crazier - even 50 years old. 

———

During the week, I’d argued about the high achievements of his 2021 season, the potential chaos of perhaps losing both coordinators, roster turnover and Brady having watched each of his contemporaries find their way to performance cliffs.  

So, the pile of reports came as no surprise and didn’t stop me too long. The next punt gave me a twinge in my hammy, but I’ve come to accept those as part of the process. I shanked it, and laughed like a lunatic as my daughter glared at me. 

By the time Brady actually confirmed the story, we didn’t spend much time discussing the actual retirement. Rather, we parsed words to determine potential snubs and the feelings of fan bases and organizations. 

We’re transitioning into a brave, new post-Brady world. He may have hung them up (maybe until late-July?), but we continue our pursuits to keep young and playing in our weekend warrior mode. Maybe I’ll even find some TB12 supplements and avocado ice cream. Hey, worked for Tom!

I gotta go stretch. “Ball up!”

Long Overdue: Near-Miss & Rebound To See The Rolling Stones

 

“Third time’s the charm” is an old adage. 

That sums it up for me in the quest to add The Rolling Stones to my extensive concert list. You can see previous posts about my feelings and love for live music. Somehow, it never worked out to see The Stones. 

But this October night had a different weight to it.

This was my third attempt to see the band. 

The first was a failed attempt. I went to Las Vegas for one of two scheduled shows by the band that year. And I relaxed during the day, playing some “Sons of Anarchy” game to some success. I met a colleague from work for the show, had a drink and we went in. We checked out T-Mobile and grabbed a beer before the show began. 

Shortly after the band hit the stage and ripped through “Jumping Jack Flash,” I wasn’t feeling well. I went to the restroom and light-headed, tried to do the obligatory water splash to the face. Well, that didn’t squash any of it. I woke up in the medical center down the road. Passed out. Evidently, some kind soul kept my head from hitting the sink. 

Assumption was that I was over-served, but I’d had little to drink. Eventually got the Type-2 diabetes diagnosis and the question whether I’d experienced a dangerous sugar crash. So, this goes back to the idea of being “Better,” as discussed in the prior entry. 

I hear the show was pretty tight. 

My second miss of The Stones was a date at the Rose Bowl in 2019. I got the cooler bag associated with my seat purchases and readied myself for a huge night in Pasadena. Alas, I couldn’t get away from the microphone for the evening. That cooler bag comes in handy!!!

Queue the third attempt. 

COVID-19 measures still stood to dismantle events in the back-end of 2021 (and I know plenty of people in NY and SF who have endured crushing cancellations at the theater). So, to say that I feared a last-minute loss of this show was an understatement. Then, in late-August, we mourned the death and celebrated the life, style and music of drummer Charlie Watts. 

The Stones decided to play on. And so I anxiously awaited my birthday present to me - a date at So-Fi Stadium to finally witness Jagger, Richards and Wood LIVE with Steve Jordan providing the beat. 

There was a beautiful tribute to Watts to open the show, following by a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Let’s Spend The Night Together.” And then, it was just a flood of childhood memories, listening to the albums with my Dad and celebrating this Bucket List item. I sat with a goofy grin and celebrated hit after hit, and each iteration of the requisite Jagger Strut. 

The action on the stage was rivaled by the outfits in the crowd and enough throwback T-shirts, pins, jackets, etc., to fill a mini-museum.

And it was a beautiful, cathartic community event. For the crowd … and for the band. 

While reveling in the cheers and applause, there were moments of the band in pure joy and appreciation captured on the jumbo video screens. And it was beautiful. 

Now, enjoy the performance of Keith Richards’ time at center stage with “Slipping Away.”

Being Better - Define It

Somehow I lost a chunk of this after publishing —- now pissed. I’ll try to recreate.

———————

It’s been too long. I have countless drafts and starts and stops to Blog entries commemorating a number of events, stressors and triumphs from the past several months. Many pages have torn from notebooks to start the next “journal,” “diary,” monologue, or whatever you’d call it. 

But, like everyone (or most, I guess), an alarm rings, an email or text comes in that warrants attention, or you’re off and pacing to any number of chores/responsibilities that make up your existence.

Each year, we hammer out a robust list of resolutions designed to make us “Better.” Whether it’s a nod to health, money, mental well-being or learning a skill, we all have something (or many) in our lives that we want to make “Better.”

I do it weekly. I put together the exhaustive list of “To-do” items. And I get overwhelmed and salty, knowing that it’s a Sisyphus situation. I’m gonna through a bunch of things. I’m gonna check some boxes, but the Sharpie’s not gonna touch each of those lines. 

Damned it all. The point of this blog is to find a little peace in the day, highlight finding the Lighter Thoughts. Jack Handey of SNL had his “Deep Thoughts,” and we’ll have some of those here. But it’s more about seeing/doing the things on your list, celebrating those triumphs and moving forward.

Friend of the show and colleague Jay Glazer talks about “fighting the grey.” In his appearances with us and his book “Unbreakable,” he speaks of rough mornings, and I can relate, to be sure. So, each day, I’m going to work - dare I say “Resolve” - to add at least one post. Short, in-depth expository or whatever - check in here. The goal is Community and talking … and embracing the positivity amid the chaos. 

So, with that in mind — What are my 3 victories today?

1. Great show on FOX Sports Radio this morning with Bucky Brooks. We absolutely destroyed a number of narratives and created some new while dissecting the NFL Division Games from Saturday and previewing Sunday’s tilts. 

(I’ll include game-watching on a larger scale here. We had all the drama we wanted, and then some.)

2. Long-ass nap. Sleep and I have been enemies since I broke my leg my sophomore year of High School (long story for another time). So, I’m learning to pause and listen to my body and foggy mind. I know it’s caused major issues in my past and still impact others, and contributes to physical and mental health. 

Nas said in NY State of Mind: “I don’t sleep, ‘cause sleep is the cousin of death.” The line was later cited by Greg Dulli in “Omertà.” 

3. I communicated with a great number of friends, colleagues and my brothers during the Sunday games. Text messages, calls and some Twitter back and forth. Add some of the 2021 Glogg and a hearty soup. And that’s a winner.

Community. Communication. Pathos. 

——

How do you define “Better?”

LIVE - How do you pronounce it?

If you read a past post or listened to five minutes of my radio world, you know that Wordsmithing is one of my favorite pastimes. The English language is maddening with synonyms and multiple meanings to words (not unique to English, but you get the point), so there’s a sizable playground at hand. 

I’ve referenced Colin Hay in past entries in this space. Big fan of his storytelling and rich lyrics, to be sure. I recall a Men at Work classic as I ponder yesterday’s outing. “People just love to play with words.”

The word of the day is —- LIVE

In context, you know how it’s being used and how to pronounce it. However, I think both in stand-alone should become part of your everyday mantras. Stick with me a second.

——————

Live - “Show me how to live!” - Soundgarden lyrics. 

Live - “You are looking LIVE!” - classic Brent Musberger intro to calling a sporting event and setting the scene. 

Living -  Actions, words, interactions with others, and processing day-to-day events and activities and the emotional responses. Getting out and about and experiencing people, places and things. 

Live - Being in the moment, that sensation that accompanies stimuli and loud noises (well, in my business, anyway), power chords, choruses, ensembles and front men/women. That feeling that resonates in your soul - singalongs or a big bass line (see the previous entry on “It’s So Easy”). 

We got out on Sunday night and watched Hamilton, a return to LIVE theater in Hollywood. It was like seeing it again for the first time, the electricity flowing through the audience and that response to the opening number and specific phrases and songs. Full nerd out —- Peggy Schuyler, Hercules Mulligan, Thomas Jefferson and King George are family favorites, and subtle turns of phrase and gestures b added levity and texture. 

Thanks to Taylor Iman Jones, Wallace Smith, Simon Longnight and Rory O’Malley and the rest of the cast. I could 

And here’s Men at Work —- sing along: 

Rock N Roll Circle

 In my last piece, I posted a sweet shot off Dockweiler Beach - sunset and the rolling waves.

It’s the beautiful metaphor for so many things in life, and a big part of the ending of “The Good Place,” which I finished a fresh viewing of earlier this week. One of the characters named Chidi, a Professor of Moral Philosophy, talks about life and death while invoking Buddhist teachings.  

———-

“Picture a wave in the ocean. You can see it, measure it — its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through. It’s there and you can see it and you know what it is. It’s a wave. And then it crashes on the shore, and it’s gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be, for a little while. That’s one conception of death for a Buddhist. The wave returns to the ocean  — where it came from, and where it’s supposed to be.”

——————-

With that quote and quiet time on the beach as the backdrop, so much of the past week wove together for me. I took a couple days away from the radio show to get the mind and body right and gather some data points together ahead of the NFL marathon. I probably slept more than I should have, thereby leaving a number of things undone, but the cries of a sleep-deprived body were finally heard. 

The concert gods gave me a date with Guns N’ Roses at the beautiful Banc of California Stadium. Now, I’ve been adamant about the need to celebrate those meaningful artists on the proverbial soundtrack of your life. At this point, the checklist of “Seeing favorite artists LIVE” is littered with marks, and I’ve been blessed to see a couple wicked GNR shows through the years. So, I thought of skipping it. But my daughter put it best. “Crazy year, and these guys fought a long time.”

I found a ticket and made my way to the stadium. Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen’s band, had begun their set when I arrived. Here’s a sample of their work - “Don’t Back Down”

After a brief pause - no, seriously - GNR hit the stage just before 8pm. The mini-movie on the screen delivered Duff McKagan’s unmistakable bass line from “It’s So Easy,” and that was it. I was in a perfect space for the next three hours. Songs spanning some 35 years came at me in waves, and happily, I could pass any mental acuity test tied to lyric retention. The setlist included a bevy of gems, from “Appetite” through “Chinese Democracy,” with a couple turns into covers like “Wichita Lineman” and “The Seeker.” 

Axl even joked about the release of a new song, “Absurd,” that’s charted well. He essentially said, “No! Really! New music!”

I could have cleaned up on bar bets with some of the fans around me if we’d wagered on which song would flow out of a Slash lick. Again, decent ear and memory - just wished I’d learned to play. But that’s a lamentation/project for a future date. 

As we hit the finale of “Paradise City,” there was only one word to describe the crowd and the band. Joyful. The band smiled through the set - I can only imagine what was on those signs or the view at the front of the stage - and played a raucous three-hour set. I mention that again because, well, that ain’t the norm in today’s marketplace, and we were all the better for the deep list. 

—————-

That ties to the sad news out of the rock world that came down on Tuesday.  Lifetime Stones drummer Charlie Watts died at the agent 80. It had been previously announced that he wouldn’t be joining the Stones on tour this fall (we have our seats for October 17th), but fans held out hope for his recovery. 

The tributes were plentiful from his contemporaries and those influenced. Most included a nod to his style - dress and playing - as “Cool.” Watts was a jazz drummer in the greatest Rock N’ Roll band in the world. Read any tribute to him from rock journalists and fans and there’s destined to be a note about being the cool player among the theatrics of the great “Rock N’ Roll Circus.” 

My brother texted me the classic John Hiatt track “Slow Turning” after hearing the news. 

“Now I'm in my car 
I got the radio on 
I'm yellin' at the kids in the back seat 
'Cause they're bangin' like Charlie Watts”

——————-

I’d already immersed myself in the Stones deep tracks ahead of the October date, but this news just made me hear it differently. Pick a tune from any Stones era and focus on the beat. Just listen to a couple tracks off of “Steel Wheels,” and Watts’ drumming sets it all. And that ties us back to GNR. GNR had several high-profile shows in Los Angeles opening for The Rolling Stones in 1989 as the “Steel Wheels” tour got underway.

Colin Hay posted to his Facebook account in tribute: “I think the universe skipped a beat yesterday, looked back and realized, sadly, that it had to carry on. RIP CW”

Keith Richards displayed a “CLOSED” sign over Watts’ drum kit.

I’ll be sorry to have only seen him perform live briefly, years ago in Las Vegas, before I lost consciousness and found myself in a medical facility. Guess I’ll have to wait for the Great Gig In The Sky.

————————————————————

The Stones made news a couple times during the pandemic. The song “Living In A Ghost Town” became a top-10 hit. And then there was the famous Together At Home concert to bring awareness and funds toward healthcare workers. The Stones contributed a version of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and Charlie went viral. Check out the video — he just exudes coolness.  

Rediscovering An Early Love

Writing used to come so easily. 

When I was in school, I could dial up pages of drivel (brilliance in my eyes at the time) about a sonnet, play or random historical quote. I was a top draft choice for group projects during my MBA run because of my ability to synthesize numbers and analysis. At the outset of my media career, I routinely cranked out multiple long-form columns without much trouble.

But trying to hammer out pieces regularly here has been a difficult task. Many false starts and quick one-liners more appropriate for Twitter have littered my “Drafts” queue. 

It’s certainly a far cry from the warm, inviting glow of the red light in my radio world. Words flow, for lack of a better analogy, like water. While I’m not generally subject to what I term “hot take nonsense,” I’ve no problem deftly moving between sports topics and mixing in pop culture and social concepts (again, this man’s humble opinion). 

——————————————

But I’m going to be better about trying. That’s the first step. And in these past two weeks, there was that pause, a moment of clarity, to perhaps unclog that blockage. 

We got back to the beach. We met up with some old friends for a bonfire and celebration. Well, mourning for the girls as they pondered a new school year. But we spent ample time walking the beach, observing the chaotic existence of sand crabs scurrying in self-preservation and breathing. 

Sure, there were a couple long dialogues on the greater meaning of life and aspirations and all, but it was about pausing from the race for a minute. We lifted the tech break to grab a couple of these shots. The reminder of the ebb and flow of the world spoke enough.

And bleeds into the next pieces —- my Rock N Roll circle.