Though I never did perform in front of the class, I often spent my evenings performing by myself in the loneliness of my room. Being the burgeoning metal head, Empire was my album. It had the monumental concept album lyrics, the sweeping guitars and it totally rocked. Plus in my geeky little mind it was guaranteed to sweep me into the popular clique faster than I could bang my head.
“Jet City Woman” was only second to “Silent Lucidity” in the sheer number of times I pretended to be on stage (or in front of the class) performing my little acne wrenched heart out. To this day a local Tulsa, Oklahoma station plays it regularly and when I’m home both me and my brother raise the devil hands to it.
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – The Police
From Ghost in the Machine
To continue the shyness that was me for many years… I was exceedingly shy for many years. Ashamedly shy. So shy I was afraid to talk to anyone at anytime unless directly asked a question, and then I’d answer as quickly as possible. The thing was I had this scale. It was a popularity scale and I figured we were all on it, and everyone judged everyone in terms of how popular they were. I kindly placed myself somewhere in the middle, just below being popular but a little bit above the total losers.
I figured all it would take for me to become popular would be just a few well placed jokes, the right shoes, and maybe a hair cut. But I was so afraid of saying something stupid I just shut the crap up and figured maybe I’d get the shoes for Christmas and finally hit the jack pot.
Somewhere towards the end of high school I realized my plan was a sham, and stopped giving a flying flip about what anyone at school thought of me. I almost instantly become an extrovert and loved talking to anyone about everything. Except when it came to girls. What had become totally a loose, friendly, and hilariously cool chap to all people clammed up tight when it came to matters of the heart. I could talk to pretty girls all day long, but when it came to letting the friendship down to push the lover tip, I froze.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Nice article...
BUT, when I think of Empire, I DO NOT think of the horns m/...especially to Jet City, That's a little creepy.
Now maybe Operation: Mindcrime but that's still pushing it.
2 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
m/
3 - Mat Brewster
Well we're not really calling upon The Dark Lord. It's just our goofy white boy way of appreciating a little rock.