5 years down...

Well this is weird.. hey.. it's been awhile... How ya been?

Loads has happened with me... as I am sure with you. The following that I had with this blog many years ago I am hoping to revive and grow. Maybe with more writing .. maybe with some videos. Probably with both.

So why no writing? Well I could just say that life gets in the way.. but that wouldn't be totally true. Music took a back seat for awhile with me; it never really fully left; but the days of living in NYC and going to 4 hard rock concerts a month is no longer feasible. Oh yeah did I mention that I live in California now? I've got a kid too.. a freaking kid!!! :)

But inspiration for a new write is really why I have stayed away. Granted there has been some epic musical events that have happened since I wrote last. Shit.. I mean KISS got into the R&RHOF.. lol.. and original members showed for it.

So let's talk about inspiration and run with that.. what is spawning this in me? Well it has been surfacing a ton recently in just regular conversation.. times when I find myself talking over everyone's head about bands.. their history.. their story.. and then I stop and catch the glances or hear the silences of "what is he talking about?". To be frank there is one band / artist that has really gotten me out of hiding again; hence the inspiration. AKA BRAVERY.

In 2017 one of my favorite bands lead singer was suffering pretty bad from some demons;  Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch was in a pretty bad head space. He needed some time to heal. Enter Tommy Vext. Tommy filled the roll well; never in the studio with 5FDP only to cover existing tour dates. There were rumors that he would be a permanent replacement. That never happened. Instead Tommy had something else under his sleeve. Bad Wolves was already in creation mode in 2016; and even though it would not be until 2018 that the band dropped their first album it was completely evident that this is where Vext's heart lied. Tommy's story is what got me back here.

But before that let's talk about the 2018 debut album called Disobey by Bad Wolves. It's melodic. It is personal. It hits hard. Bad Wolves received acclaimed air play on SirusXM Octane first with their cover of ZOMBIE,  a  Cranberries classic.  Now,  it is a great cover; don't get me wrong;  but what makes this a special song across all the board is that Dolores O'Riordan herself was to be on the track; but she passed the day before the studio appointment in a drowning accident.But this is certainly the song that got the debut album by Bad Wolves into the spotlight. But that's not what this blog is about.. remember.. its about inspiration.. what I also mentioned to above as bravery. This is about Tommy Vext and his bravery and how it got me woke.. woken? woke up? lol..

Tommy Vext. Voice is impeccable. That's all I can say about that; what in the hell else do you need to know? Just listen. It's soulful; honest; and has a great range. His story.. well that is just amazing. 2010; his twin brother killed him in a drug rage (he obviously lived) ; 6 years ago he was suicidal; (was on a railroad tack waiting to die); 2017 is on the stage with 5FDP... wait that's a pretty massive jump and change from that last fact. I mean it is actually life changing!

So what's the point of all this for you and for me? The blog I mean; why bring it back. What does it have to to do with Tommy Vext? Tommy's story got me thinking. That it is never too late (sorry Adam Gontier not trying to rip you off), to live. To change. To risk .

So here I am 44 yo; a father; and an advid hard rock and metal fan choosing to write again.

Face the comedy.. it't better than hiding from the tragedy.