Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2005 13:00:59 GMT -5
Below is a story about how I got into Melon. Underneath that is Nel's response to the story:
My Story[/u]
"I’m going to be brutally honest. My first ever Blind Melon purchase was the “Nico” Cassette in 1997. It was during my second year of college where I would be turned onto the music of Melon. I suppose new scenery brings new music.
Anyway, I unwrapped the cassette and tossed it into my 1993 Nissan Pickup’s factory cassette deck. Being a musician, the first thing I noticed, during “The Pusher” was two separate drum tracks panned opposite of one another. Pretty unique, I thought. So, I drove around town listening to my new purchase. I figured, one or two songs and I’ll be back in my apartment trying to decide what class to skip the next day. Boy, I was way off. I drove around, non stop, listening to that cassette over and over again. By late afternoon, I rolled into my driveway. I ejected the cassette and tossed it back into it’s case. I turned my truck off and took a gander at my gas needle. Let’s just say, I wasn’t quite sure how I would make it to campus tomorrow. I drove that tank dry for hours listening to “Nico”.
So, now I am in my apartment. What do I do? I toss “Nico” into my stereo system, crack open a Keystone, sit back and listen...just listen. After listening to the cassette once more, I shut my stereo down, grabbed my truck keys, and took off. I jumped into my truck and took another look at the gas gauge. Hmmmm... Screw it! I think I can make it. I started the truck and headed to the nearest gas station. Luckily, I made it. I rolled into the gas station and the gas attendant asked me how much I wanted. I opened my wallet and saw a measly 31 dollars. CD’s at Staples, at the time, were 15 dollars a piece. What to do, what to do.... I opened up my ashtray. Bingo! 85 cents! I gave the gas attendant 1 dollar and 85 cents. He looked at me, laughed, and pumped my gas. Thank you sir! Sorry, no tips today.
I drove to Staples. If I remember correctly, I swung the door open and entered so fast, a nudged some gothic dude listening to samples of a CD. Meh... I was on a mission. I headed straight for the “B” section. Bingo! Blind Melon’s Self Titled CD was shelved back to back with “Soup”. Price tag check: “Self Titled” = 15 dollars, “Soup” = 16 dollars!! Son of a bitch! I was short 1 dollar. So, I took the two CDs, quickly put them into the “R” section and left the store. I swung open my truck door, leaned the seat forward, and started searching. Let me shorten this part of the story. With a handful of nickels and pennies, I walked back into Staples. I grabbed those two CDs and tossed them onto the counter. Did I feel any shame when I dumped about 60 pennies and 8 nickels onto the counter? Nope. I was too busy reading the backs of the CDs. Well, back to the apartment for me! No CD player in my truck at that time.
I got back to my apartment and tossed in the Self Titled CD first. What the hell are these guys doing? Chris and Rogers aren’t even playing the same song, yet it all works out somehow. Wow. I cracked open another Keystone. Next thing I know, both CDs were played through, numerous times, and there were countless empties in front of me. Suddenly, my clock alarm goes off. Time for classes already? Fat chance. No classes for me today. For last night I deeply introduced myself into the greatest band to have ever graced these ears.
So, what have they done for me? Let me see. For one, my collection is quite large. I tried to, and continue to do so, own anything and everything that has the names Shannon Hoon, Christopher Thorn, Brad Smith, Roger Stevens, and Glen Graham on it. Everything from CDs, DVDs, Video Cassette Tapes, Cassettes, Magazines, Shirts, etc... I’ve even had a custom made Shannon Hoon pencil drawing done for me.
I’ve been playing music for well over a decade now. Once I was given the gift of Blind Melon, my entire musical style changed. I stopped playing for cover bands in 2000 and retreated to my home studio where I’ve written 5 solo CDs. I can tell you one thing, if it wasn’t for Shannon’s voice, Brad’s geniuses, Christopher’s endless talent, Rogers’ bottomless gifts, and Glen’s outstanding drumming technique, I am not sure I would still be recording today. So, from the bottom of my soul, I want to thank all five men for giving me something to keep writing for. 12 Daze would not be if it wasn’t for Blind Melon. I am very proud and honored to be one of the few that will be featured on the Blind Melon Tribute Album. I couldn’t have asked for anything else that could, even remotely, make me happier. Well, besides the reincarnation of Shannon: a gift to the world that ran the race too fast. Much love to Blind Melon and all associates. You have all truly changed my life. I am forever in debt."
Nel's Response[/u]
"hello this is nel, i enjoyed your story and i wanted to give you this new email address of mine. I read your story and i hope you don't mind but i'm going to copy it and show it to people because i thought it was just beautiful. i cant wait to hear you sing!
Peace and Love,
nel"
My Story[/u]
"I’m going to be brutally honest. My first ever Blind Melon purchase was the “Nico” Cassette in 1997. It was during my second year of college where I would be turned onto the music of Melon. I suppose new scenery brings new music.
Anyway, I unwrapped the cassette and tossed it into my 1993 Nissan Pickup’s factory cassette deck. Being a musician, the first thing I noticed, during “The Pusher” was two separate drum tracks panned opposite of one another. Pretty unique, I thought. So, I drove around town listening to my new purchase. I figured, one or two songs and I’ll be back in my apartment trying to decide what class to skip the next day. Boy, I was way off. I drove around, non stop, listening to that cassette over and over again. By late afternoon, I rolled into my driveway. I ejected the cassette and tossed it back into it’s case. I turned my truck off and took a gander at my gas needle. Let’s just say, I wasn’t quite sure how I would make it to campus tomorrow. I drove that tank dry for hours listening to “Nico”.
So, now I am in my apartment. What do I do? I toss “Nico” into my stereo system, crack open a Keystone, sit back and listen...just listen. After listening to the cassette once more, I shut my stereo down, grabbed my truck keys, and took off. I jumped into my truck and took another look at the gas gauge. Hmmmm... Screw it! I think I can make it. I started the truck and headed to the nearest gas station. Luckily, I made it. I rolled into the gas station and the gas attendant asked me how much I wanted. I opened my wallet and saw a measly 31 dollars. CD’s at Staples, at the time, were 15 dollars a piece. What to do, what to do.... I opened up my ashtray. Bingo! 85 cents! I gave the gas attendant 1 dollar and 85 cents. He looked at me, laughed, and pumped my gas. Thank you sir! Sorry, no tips today.
I drove to Staples. If I remember correctly, I swung the door open and entered so fast, a nudged some gothic dude listening to samples of a CD. Meh... I was on a mission. I headed straight for the “B” section. Bingo! Blind Melon’s Self Titled CD was shelved back to back with “Soup”. Price tag check: “Self Titled” = 15 dollars, “Soup” = 16 dollars!! Son of a bitch! I was short 1 dollar. So, I took the two CDs, quickly put them into the “R” section and left the store. I swung open my truck door, leaned the seat forward, and started searching. Let me shorten this part of the story. With a handful of nickels and pennies, I walked back into Staples. I grabbed those two CDs and tossed them onto the counter. Did I feel any shame when I dumped about 60 pennies and 8 nickels onto the counter? Nope. I was too busy reading the backs of the CDs. Well, back to the apartment for me! No CD player in my truck at that time.
I got back to my apartment and tossed in the Self Titled CD first. What the hell are these guys doing? Chris and Rogers aren’t even playing the same song, yet it all works out somehow. Wow. I cracked open another Keystone. Next thing I know, both CDs were played through, numerous times, and there were countless empties in front of me. Suddenly, my clock alarm goes off. Time for classes already? Fat chance. No classes for me today. For last night I deeply introduced myself into the greatest band to have ever graced these ears.
So, what have they done for me? Let me see. For one, my collection is quite large. I tried to, and continue to do so, own anything and everything that has the names Shannon Hoon, Christopher Thorn, Brad Smith, Roger Stevens, and Glen Graham on it. Everything from CDs, DVDs, Video Cassette Tapes, Cassettes, Magazines, Shirts, etc... I’ve even had a custom made Shannon Hoon pencil drawing done for me.
I’ve been playing music for well over a decade now. Once I was given the gift of Blind Melon, my entire musical style changed. I stopped playing for cover bands in 2000 and retreated to my home studio where I’ve written 5 solo CDs. I can tell you one thing, if it wasn’t for Shannon’s voice, Brad’s geniuses, Christopher’s endless talent, Rogers’ bottomless gifts, and Glen’s outstanding drumming technique, I am not sure I would still be recording today. So, from the bottom of my soul, I want to thank all five men for giving me something to keep writing for. 12 Daze would not be if it wasn’t for Blind Melon. I am very proud and honored to be one of the few that will be featured on the Blind Melon Tribute Album. I couldn’t have asked for anything else that could, even remotely, make me happier. Well, besides the reincarnation of Shannon: a gift to the world that ran the race too fast. Much love to Blind Melon and all associates. You have all truly changed my life. I am forever in debt."
Nel's Response[/u]
"hello this is nel, i enjoyed your story and i wanted to give you this new email address of mine. I read your story and i hope you don't mind but i'm going to copy it and show it to people because i thought it was just beautiful. i cant wait to hear you sing!
Peace and Love,
nel"