From b3burner@ca.astounditv.net Thu Feb 06 18:17:50 2003
Subject:My Reply to Tony (yottnaro)

Tony, Ed Fliege, Pipps, OHF Bob (Zakemo), and the other Cloners:

I did privately email Eric Lawson about 5 hours ago to alert him that I would be making one final OT-reply to the whole Alice Cooper debacle I started, and to say that I was sorry I got carried away in the first place. I feel as much to blame for the OT'ness here as anyone else. Hopefully Eric and Bruce W. won't mind too much.

Tony, I could have easily replied off-list to your comments to me yesterday, but I would have felt like that was hiding. Since, I "started it" on line, I need to "finish it" on line, so others can see that when I admit I am wrong, I do it out in the open, and without trepidation.

I thought about what you wrote a good deal last night, and into my sleeping hours. I woke up this morning questioning my own value as a "supposed" musician, if I lack the openminded-ness to see past my own narrow musical preferences. Short of selling all my gear and giving up music altogether, I've got soul searching to do.

Not a single argument you made can I challenge. NOT ONE!! You called me to the carpet, beat me at my own game, and basically made me realize that the person I'm bitter with is not Cooper, or Zappa, or the music industry in general, but myself.
Since I was 15 I've been on this obsessive mission to live my life through the "JON LORD ORGAN SOLO". The only person who loses is me, because look at all the other great music I've been missing.

The most important thing I can take from what you said is not so much the discussions on specific bands, but rather the bigger picture that I've been missing all along: Music isn't about stroking my own selfish ego by seeing how many windmill chops I can lay down in three seconds...as I have gone through much of my Hammond/Deep Purple-ish existance believing. All-the-while demanding that my audience shower me with respect and "come up to my level". Music is about relating to the audience and conveying a message that speaks to them. Or somtimes it's about simply playing songs that make them want to dance, and nothing more.

"When people pay to see you play, they expect to be entertained, and there aren't that many of us who are content to watch fingers fly..." Tony, I was angered by that quote as I first thought that it was a direct attack on me, but I have since thought about it and realize that it's merely the truth, and I need to come to grip with it.

I knew a guy in college who saw me play one night, and said, "your chops are fast, but they're like piano exercises. Speed does not impress me....Your music does not speak to me."

I should have learned my lesson then, but sadly enough I still struggle with this concept.

Tony, you said my "...generalization was quite brash."
I'd like to think you woke me up. Time will only tell.

Ed Fliege pointed out that at 35, I'm not (that) young anymore. At least not young enough to still be mired with such narrowness. Great, so I've got Jon Lord desire with an Archie Bunker mentality!! Wonderful, I suppose that will get me real far in the music industry won't it now?

Pipps said I "...best leave Frank (Zappa) alone." Pipps, you're right, and one day I may have to get some Zappa and give it a good listen with my mind, and ears open.

In conclusion, I realize that it's easy to cast criticisms about with fingers flying fast on the computer keyboard, just like on the organ keyboard. But to admit when I'm wrong, after my words have affected countless people? Now this is the hardest gosh-darn email I've ever had to type to this group.

Thank you all for the bandwidth, and I will not discuss this issue again, unless someone wants to write me off line.

Thanks again Eric Lawson and Bruce Wahler for your tolerance, and what must be your ever-shortening patience with me. It was important that I say my peace and be done with it.

John O'Flaherty (The B3 Burner)