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September 1, 2006
Musicians and other I Did's
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World (Without Musician Boyfriends)
Hi everybody!
I'm honored and thrilled to be a guest blogger with such savvy and entertaining authors, and I only hope that my meager blog skills will be able to compare. Because I’m new, I’ll try to keep on my best behavior, which means trying not to self-promote too hard (it’s a disease that I suffer from and I’m currently in a 12-step recovery program for Shameless Self-Promoters).
That said, I am very happy to be promoting my latest chick lit masterpiece (okay, sorry, that was a slip up of my self-promotion disease), “I Did (But I Wouldn’t Now).” The book follows the antics of Lily Crandell, who has married a rock star and discovered that life married to a famous guy with groupies is not all it’s cracked up to be. She dumps Ted after catching him getting cozy with an actress in public, and then escapes to London to get away from hearing his number-one single played everywhere she goes.
I’ve been asked several times if I’ve dated musicians, and if any of them were inspiration for Ted, Lily’s ex rocker beau.
Sadly, I have dated musicians. I think some girls go through a “bad boy” phase. Well, I went through an “unemployed, lame musician” phase, where I dated a drummer and then a bass guitarist. Neither one had any talent or became famous, but it didn’t prevent me from imagining that they would some day. The fact that my drummer had never played a venue bigger than the high school football field (yes, he was in the marching band - how seriously sad is that?) didn't stop me from dreaming of him becoming the next big thing. Once I figured out that my drummer had no intention of forming his own band and touring, I moved on to my Bass Guitarist. He actually had a band, even though their main stage was his mother's garage and the occasional Bar Mitzvah.
My experience with the Bass Guitarist taught me that while it seems like it would be cool to be the backstage girlfriend of a guy who can play “Margaritaville” with his eyes closed, that it’s actually not all that fun. Besides the fact that he never actually played any real gigs, he still managed to have legions of fans, and I realized that should he actually hit it big one day, I'd never be able to compete with hundreds of screaming fans, especially since I could never quite get that excited about his music. My Bass Guitarist Beau was into instrumental “jamming” that would go on for ages and never have any catchy parts, but I’d have to nod, and look solemn and pretend that his jamming on the “E” and “A” chords rocked my world. It was a little, I admit, like trying to find the genius in the music of Spinal Tap.
I’m only thankful I outgrew musicians in favor of accountants (my husband is an actuary) before I was old enough to want to buy things at Pottery Barn. Honestly, the best part about dating a musician is breaking up with them, so that you don’t have to pretend to like their music anymore.
I’ll be back next Friday, until then, I hope everybody has a great Labor Day weekend! Until then, stay away from boys who play guitars!
Posted by at 5:27 PM | Comments (7)
Comments
I have dated a couple of musicians as well. I was even in one of the bands. I was thinking of that the other morning...kind of ESPing this blog, I think. :) I don't remember the name of the band, but we did cover songs, and weren't too bad. We had one gig in someone's garage. I was the singer. I was the only female, and was dating the drummer.
Now, the songs I sing are "family friendly" and don't leave my head for days. The joys of motherhood!
Posted by: sal ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 1, 2006 6:22 PM
I am surrounded by musicians. Apparently, I don't just date them, I produce them. Thing Two (who is all of twelve) will be having his first gig at the teen center next weekend with his band The New Generation. He's the dummer. Thing One has had a band since fifth grade. He plays (wait for it) the bass guitar. Cowboy plays bass guitar, guitar (acousitc and electric) and mandolin. Me? I'm still plugging away on the autoharp.
So I've taken one musician off the market and put two on. I am simply not doing my part for my gender, am I?
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at September 1, 2006 6:51 PM
>>Well, I went through an “unemployed, lame musician”
Oh, yeah. Me, too. The longer the hair, the better. Sigh. I was the poster child for bad choices in men in college. At least you outgrew yours early, Cara!! And, oddly, Navy Guy is quite brilliant on classical piano . . .LOL.
Welcome, Cara! We're glad you're here!
Alesia
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at September 1, 2006 7:19 PM
Well, I know you all will be shocked, but I never went through a bad boy phase. I always liked nice, clean-cut, preppy guys.
I'm no doubt headed for a massive mid-life crisis where I'll start wearing leather, get a slew of misspelled tattoos, and start picking up felons in seedy bars. Mr. Tall will have to pull a Mr. Rochester and lock me in the attic.
That's when this blog will REALLY get interesting!
Posted by: Beth at September 1, 2006 9:44 PM
Regarding musicians and long hair, oh my. I have only two words to say. Led Zeppelin. Although, sadly, I never got to date any of the band, sniffle...
Welcome, Cara, it's great to have you here :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at September 3, 2006 12:01 PM
Cowboy here... just a quick correction, Alex is a drummer, notwithstanding the standard drummer jokes, it was just a typo... And one of the most amazing guitar players I ever saw is a guy named John Weidermeyer in San Jose. Eileen and I went down to this seedy bar, and out comes John, looking like, as Eileen put it, he's straight from his job as VP of the local bank. Clean-cut, dark slacks and pressed white shirt. He then proceeded to completely tear the place apart. Including (just for Michelle) a 15 minute piece with every great lick from Led Zeppelin thrown into an amazingly coherent tune. Really amazing.
So you can get the whole package - rock star, groupies, and a nice clean-cut image. 8-)
Posted by: Cowboy at September 5, 2006 3:25 PM
Would you believe I never dated a seedy musician? I mean, I dated musicians, but they were all band geeks-- (including The Hub). I'll probably be having that midlife crisis right along with Beth.
And I too have produced a percussionist/drummer of the male persuasion. He doesn't have a band yet, but it's only a matter of time...
Posted by: Barb at September 9, 2006 9:35 AM
