advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Velvet Lounger
Grand Poohbah
 
Velvet Lounger's Avatar
Velvet Lounger has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2019
Location: London
Posts: 1,741
5 yr Member
182 hugs
given
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 02:16 PM
  #1
A few years ago I had a cover band which became successful when I composed songs and wrote lyrics which pleased my agent when I recorded albums which sold remarkably well in Spain, Majorca and across France and Italy.

The downside was the dark side of the music business got to me and I ended up a sorry mess in a London rehab drying out from addiction to alcohol and recreational drugs. Looking back, I was a mess. Once better, I returned to designing jewellery, and since been working in a highly reponsible job in a fantastically beautiful place and being in a very trustworthy position among those I work for.

My agent called this evening asking if I'd be interested in fronting my old band again, this August at a big venue in Europe. The money would be fabulous, but then it always was. But times have changed since and though I don't need the money, the lure of that amazing feeling playing in front of a crowd of 20,000 like in the old days would make my heart flutter.

My band was a 'tribute band', too. On the continent we were very popular and made a lot of money as tribute bands do. My Celtic Rock band was probably the only thing that actually pleased Mother. She was a fan of my music and adored my band, all seasoned musicians.

My quandary is, do I want to return for just one month? Supporting a well known DJ like we used to? I could use my annual leave and still have plenty of holiday left. Or, do I say no and thanking my agent, agree to sense and sensibility and walk away? True to form my music talented daughter says go for it as do our closer friends. But I have this nagging doubt of what I went through could have killed me, and I wouldn't want to be touring like in the old days.

Thoughts anyone? Sorry, but for reasons of privacy I can't say what my band was called.

__________________
When the sun shines down, and the leaves fall away,
I see you there behind me, fading from the grey.
You watch me now,
You hold me still,
I always did,
I always will,
Love you, love you, love you.
Velvet Lounger is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
guilloche
 
Thanks for this!
mote.of.soul

advertisement
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 03:45 PM
  #2
what is it they always say

their's always going to be that comeback, that last hurrah, as it were

remember rocky had the same choice in the last movie?

he retired from boxing, but it still appealed to him to do that fight

be like rocky

do it one more time
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Velvet Lounger
 
Thanks for this!
Velvet Lounger
SlumberKitty
Legendary Wise Elder
 
SlumberKitty's Avatar
SlumberKitty is staying stable.
 
Member Since: Jul 2018
Location: CA
Posts: 27,329 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
117.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 04:04 PM
  #3
I'd say it would be fun to do the band again. Just because you were in a bad spot before, doesn't mean you would end up there again. You've grown and changed as a person. Maybe focus on the positive parts about touring and the music. HUGS Kit

__________________
Dum Spiro Spero
IC XC NIKA
SlumberKitty is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Velvet Lounger
 
Thanks for this!
Velvet Lounger
mote.of.soul
Mad Walker
 
mote.of.soul's Avatar
mote.of.soul Act not the goat
 
Member Since: Jan 2018
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 13,034 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
21.9k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 04:39 PM
  #4
People love seeing their favourite musicians/entertainers playing their songs, it's like sharing the love, and you obviously enjoy doing that as well. I'd see that as a major plus but of course not at the risk of damaging your life in any way. On the other hand, you could always approach the riskier side by using skills you learned in rehab and what-have-you.

Sharing the love. The common love of music.
mote.of.soul is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Velvet Lounger
 
Thanks for this!
Velvet Lounger
piggy momma
Poohbah
 
piggy momma's Avatar
piggy momma loves all pigs. ALL. THE. PIGS.
 
Member Since: Oct 2018
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,073
5 yr Member
70 hugs
given
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 05:19 PM
  #5
You have a greater level of insight now than you did previously. If you want to, you can still make an amazing comeback without falling into old patterns. I say go for it. If you locked insight, or were still struggling with active addiction I’d advise differently, but it sounds like you’re in a much better place. Have that last hurrah! Live without regrets...
piggy momma is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Velvet Lounger
 
Thanks for this!
Velvet Lounger
CepheidVariable
Stardust
 
CepheidVariable's Avatar
CepheidVariable is always lonely so pardon any rambling
 
Member Since: Jun 2017
Location: rural Canada
Posts: 2,075
5 yr Member
2,472 hugs
given
Default Apr 08, 2019 at 09:24 PM
  #6
I'd mostly agree with the others, if you feel strong enough.

Just one other thought though ... would your band mates have your back? Would they be looking to keep everything clean and supportive? Would any of your friends and family be able to go along?
CepheidVariable is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Velvet Lounger
 
Thanks for this!
Velvet Lounger
Velvet Lounger
Grand Poohbah
 
Velvet Lounger's Avatar
Velvet Lounger has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2019
Location: London
Posts: 1,741
5 yr Member
182 hugs
given
Default Apr 09, 2019 at 08:49 AM
  #7
I've just had a long appointment with a doctor who wishes to increase my medical care since my diagnosis of borderline diabetes, and the doctor thought that I could manage this forthcoming August tour providing I self-manage my improved diet, exercise and lose a little weight. He knows about the domestic violence I went through and my poor darling, young Peggy. She has been seeing a counsellor and so have I, but the violence I went through had put me in a wheelchair.

Up to last February long after my ex got divorced, my physical state was improving until early March when cellulitis and a nasty chest infection put me in hospital. Five weeks of antibiotics and oral steroids brought me very low, but now I'm off all the meds and getting well again. My personal trainer has been making me exercise, and my doctor helped improved my diet, so altogether I've improved remarkably well though insomnia remains a problem.

I have yet to make a decision about the August tour, but am pretty sure I will be able to do the concerts. It was a long time ago when I dabbled with prodigious amounts of cocaine and 'chemicals'. Just thinking back to the state of what I was is enough to make me cringe, but the overall problem wasn't my band members at all. I was me, their leader. Since we disbanded they went back to being session musicians and dear Jon our drummer and percussionist had a son, but they are only too happy to have these gigs. If only I can get physically fit again.

Looking back... stage fright got me badly, and morphing into the character I was expected to be when onstage was what caused the addictions. Endless touring for months on end, the pressure to paint a smile on my face while singing - does anyone remember David Cassidy? Mother knew him well. He went through the same horrors of being well known, a pop idol having to deal with screaming fans and parties he shunned. I was just like the poor guy. But I also had a terrible fear of heights.

I remember doing a performance at the Stade de France and being winched down from 12 metres to land onstage exactly within 43 seconds into Alan Morris' Made of Light. I was wearing a pair of pink heart-shaped wings and only lost that fright because of being pilled to the eyelids. But the thought of stepping off the gantry high up into a dark void and floating down terrorised me. I managed it okay, amazingly holding my nerve and not squeeling... I remember another concert in the Netherlands where I started crying mid-song, but being encouraged by a girl fan up in the front. " Be yourself, Belle - you're beautiful anyway!" and the girls and their boyfriends sang along with me. Good times for sure, but there were frightening times too.

Now all those days are gone; the memories remain though, overshadowed by what my ex caused, the physical damage done to me... and quite frankly I don't know how I survived. At home my housekeeper looked after little Peggy, but with these forthcoming gigs in 4 month's tiume, my daughter and family will be present, because it's one of my stipulations of agreeing to the gigs. I want them in the VIP area. Better still, I want our lovely Peggy shredding on her vintage Gibson Les Paul I gave for her 13th birthday. Bless her, Peg would love that!

I feel ever so grateful for the wonderful encouragement all of you have given on my thread. I wasn't expecting this! How very lovely you are.. ... all of you! Thank you. Thank you so much!



Tribute to Alan Morris, Made of Light sung by Jess Morgan.


__________________
When the sun shines down, and the leaves fall away,
I see you there behind me, fading from the grey.
You watch me now,
You hold me still,
I always did,
I always will,
Love you, love you, love you.
Velvet Lounger is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
mote.of.soul
 
Thanks for this!
mote.of.soul
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:43 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.