05/02/2012 - But Keith Richards Still Does It!!

We got a photographer!!

We got a photographer!!

The Mr. and Mrs. soon-to-be mom and dad!

The Mr. and Mrs. soon-to-be mom and dad!

The "after" interview crew!!

The "after" interview crew!!

From This Sunshine? Bullet Fire?

From This Sunshine? Bullet Fire?

Just got done from working on some new band stuff coming up.  Yep – the world probably thinks we’re rockstars straight to the max, haha!!  (Wait!  Aren’t we??)  ;-)
                Truth is, we just back from hanging at my nephew’s birthday party – he turns 16 tomorrow!!!  Man, that makes me feel old… so do rockstars ever really have to stop doing what they love?  I doubt it – Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones – they’re doing it still.  But – you say – they’re not rocking the metal night in and night out necessarily.  But look at Lemmy.  He’s in his 60s and still bringing the metal via Motörhead.
                So, with the baby en route and her drop date in August, Lara and I have had to start figuring out how to re-arrange the house.  So much for rock stardom at the moment.  This past weekend I was at IKEA three separate occasions – I had Gabe and my buddy Adam (who is a lifesaver by the way) come over and we painted until the wee hours of the morning.  Once our spare bedroom is cleaned out, we’ll reconvene to do it all again!
                Doesn’t sound all that glamorous, eh?
                I always had a goal – I wanted a record contract at LEAST by age 27 – old as dirt by music industry standards – but I never let anyone deter me.  People who never even really knew me would tell me to give it up because I was out of the “age range.”  Now 27 is a bit of a memory (although it’ll be great to see Justin Bieber still try to hit his high notes when he’s in his 50s or 60s – wait – will I even still be around then? Hahaha!).  But no matter what, we’re gonna go for our dreams, no matter how comical it may seem to “outsiders.”  If you have people in your life who encourage you – but don’t pull punches when you need a swift kick – keep ‘em around!!  The last thing you need is someone who placates your every move, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, you don’t want someone who is going to criticize you 24/7.
                Surround yourself with like-minded people.  When Brian left the band, I didn’t know what we’d do – but when Ben came along, FTF was injected with a large dose of adrenaline!  And Ben still inspires me with the riffs he brings and the attitude he’s got.  Something I never had growing up was someone pushing me to do better.  Now I’ve got that, and in the coolest band I can think of ;-)
                The story of Abraham in the Bible is particularly awesome in this case.  Whenever I get down or discouraged and start thinking FTF isn’t on the right track, I try to think of that.  God told Abraham he and his wife Sarah were going to conceive a baby – when they were already a trillion years old and probably halfway in wheelchairs and needed a handicapped-accessible home!  Abraham told his wife that, and she cracked up laughing!
                Well, I guess the joke was on them, because when Abraham was NINETY, Sarah bore him a boy named Isaac.  The name “Isaac” itself means “He laughs,” so don’t tell me the big guy doesn’t have a sense of humor!
                So don’t forget to stop and enjoy your life while you’re focused on your dream – and never stop believing in the purpose you know you were meant for on this planet.  Or if you don’t know yet, don’t stop until you find out what it is.
                If you’re 7, 17, or 70 – your dreams are still within your grasp.  Don’t ever, ever give up!!
 
Burning light is in your eyes
There’s a fire deep inside
Don’t let your passion fade
Never let your dreams die
 
Drew Bell, 05/02/2012