In 1990 life was an open road.  It’s interesting to watch now.  All I’ve ever seen is the actual video, but hearing myself interviewed, seeing others at work but at ease so to speak… it’s like looking at a snowglobe on the credenza.  You pick it up, shake it and go ‘wow!’.  It was a day in the life.  Kiefer was the sweetest friend.  Joel Schumacher was amazing, supportive and kind.  Lori was my new girlfriend and together we started a family that’s as close now as it’s ever been.  Together, with Vanessa, and I can’t understate her role in all of it, I’m grateful.  And also it’s much like I feel when I watch an old movie, then look up the players.  You see a film or two, a few articles, a wikipedia page of the life and times, the passing, and there you have it- the arc of a life.  I’m still alive and well, still hungry to create more, but this was a surprise VHS find.  Hope you enjoy it ❤️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5g-oZN6xA

 

Sometime in ’87 I spoke to music manager Tony Margherita (Wilco) and he informed me that Warner Bros. records would likely be happy to fund a small home studio to make demos for upcoming albums.  I approached them about this, and just as he said they happily agreed.  At the time the budget was 10k.  That was monumental to me, and I need to give an extended thanks to Tony, though I did so at the time.

I went to local music stores and loaded up…  bought a Tascam 388, 8 track machine with ¼ inch tape, a Roland GP8 effects processor, Alesis HR-16 drum machine, Yamaha NS-10 speakers, Roland D-50 synth, a cheap mic and a cheap compressor, power amp and a few accessories and was ready to rock.

It really taught me how to make records in old-school fashion because you had to bounce multiple instruments down to one track, sometimes match harmony vocals with guitar tracks on separate parts of the song, etc.  It was so much fun and so creative, not a day or night went by without me working.  I improved as the years passed and the tapes turned.

This is one of the early ones (Box #3 it says) but still sounds pretty good after all these years!  The song, though no Stairway to Heaven, did change my life as it was a big radio hit the year of it’s release .(1990)  And more importantly the song still holds up pretty well.  If you’re a geek like me, the demos are as much fun as the records-

Jude

We were tickled pink when Bill Clinton could play a saxophone with middle-school mediocrity, or when Barack Obama sang ‘Let’s Stay Together’ and held a tune.  That’s how bereft of talent the industry of politics are, and how low our bar for them really is.  “Joe, you answered all the questions!!”

Ok so they don’t have musical talent, but surely they possess other skills, right? Their expertise would have to be communication.  This is how they got where they are, right?

Have you listened to our Senators or Congresspersons lately?  It’s as if the owners put them there to flaunt to the public, ‘You will honor any simpleton we choose!’

Ok well they must be really attractive?  (cough)

The truth is, they are the ‘Trustee Class’.  They don’t make decisions, don’t possess deep secrets of our world, ancient knowledge, true history… in fact they don’t possess much skill past CYA.

Presidents, secret society members, technocrat billionaires or not,  they don’t hold the keys.  They’re just vapid enough to show their superiors they can be bought and sold, and will say and do anything for it.  You think it’s Bush vs. Clinton, with all the public charades… then after the puppet show they’re close friends.  Tada!  And it’s not just DC, but the top of all industry, literally any area of life with money, power and influence.

We call them ‘elites’ for this reason… fleeting power, homes, cars, private planes, always the best made, top tier.  But here’s the thing, it’s all just ‘stuff’, and none of it was produced or conceived by them.  Still we can’t help it.  We hold them on a pedestal.

Bill Gates is a perfect example.  Responsible for an untold amount of deaths and injury, but many of us choose to look the other way because of his power and influence. (people he’s bought) He should so clearly be in prison.

And all the while, WE are the blessed ones, though most of us don’t see it.  The ones with talent, drive, beauty, creativity, ingenuity, clarity, communication skills, empathy, love, desire, passion.  THEY have none of this.

We should not be referring to them as ‘elite’, but the statement always falls short of sincerity because down deep in our Matrix hole, we’ve been conditioned to believe they hold the answers.

So how did THEY get to be where they are?  The simple answer must be that they’re really smart, while in fact it’s just the opposite.  Their truest skill is again, CYA.  Oh there’s real intelligence above them, but we don’t get to see who this is.  They are hidden to the public.

Something major shifted in me recently, and I hope it does for you too.  I now feel more elite than the elite.  As true to myself as I know how, true to others, with many hard lessons along the way. To work when I’m inspired.  To choose creativity over content.  To treat a janitor with the same respect as the CEO.  To feel richer than material rich.  To show love, compassion, empathy… I wouldn’t trade this for an ounce of their existence.

It’s time to refer to ourselves as THE TRUE ELITE.

A few examples…  Would Bonnie Raitt trade her perfect tone, pitch and phrased vocals for one of Peter Thiel’s yachts?  I doubt it.

Would Derek Trucks give up his inspired guitar work to live in one of John Kerry’s mansions?  Not a f’ing chance.

Would Charles Bukowski have traded his writings to be close personal friends with GW Bush and the life of American royalty?   Ha.

I use these examples because it doesn’t feel like they sold out.  They’re focused on craft, and do it with precision and excellence.  Of course I could use Adele or Sam Smith or others like them as examples…  they certainly have talent and passion… but so many superstar talents traded a piece of their soul to play along with the club.  They got it both ways, and have been duly rewarded.

Now they take the one-eyed photos, the tongue-out smile and ‘OK’  hand signal on camera.  The signs that say ‘I’m one of you, oh mighty club’.  And sometimes they win big.  But they seem to lose something too.  They have that empty look in their eyes.  They can’t go back to being pure artists again.  Their art needs the machine now.  They traded their wings for gold, and can no longer fly.  It’s ‘The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre’ in real time.

As for the True Elites, I’m referring to those who made a choice to take their talent as far as possible, without giving up the purity of it just to play in the club.  These are the best of the best.  I hope we see it soon.

Tesla died broke.  We should never fear it.  It’s we that hold the face cards.

Jude