Guitar and Beer..... Eddie Van Halen Was Right Aga
Let me preface this by saying that I am a fan of anyone who shows a high level of proficiency on their axe and I study those who have taken the guitar to new found heights. Obviously this study lead me to Eddie Van Halen. (Which is where the search actually started but that is another story and another six pack). I perused several articles about the man, the myth, the legend Mr. Edward Van Halen and in the articles there was a recurring event that was mentioned in quite alot of them. Eddie states that when he and Alex were younger, while Alex would go out and party, Eddie would sit at the edge of his bed with a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes and a six pack of Schlitz. So as a serogate student of my heros, I decided "Hey, let's give this a shot! I like beer and cigarettes and guitar, let's put them all together!!!" So I opted not to get the Schlitz as Schlitz takes like a monkey's ass dipped in turpentine and lit with a zippo. I replaced that with good old Yuengling (It's hard to get outside PA, but if you can get your hands on it, Damn.... tasty) and a pack or Parliments. So I start playing, and drinking and occasionally smoking. So after about 2 beers I begin to notice something... I was very focused and nothing could destract me! After 3 beers I was really going! Full speed, sweeping like a mofo and shredding it up!!! After 4 beers.. I really wanted a 5th! Still shredding though! After 5 I was reduced to the good old pentatonic minor. After 6.... I was a bit drunk.... odd... usually I can drink a bit more than this....."when did I start?" "8p.m.......what time is it?"
"9:01 p.m. uh oh..... Six beers in one hour".... "Well by my calculations I'm gonna be hammered in about 15 minutes"
So I put the guitar on it's stand, not like I could do anything usefull with it now. I went down stairs and had beer number 7, might as well finish the job right? The moral of the story: Moderation is key! If you're gonna drink and play, don't just focus on the playing, make sure you aren't being lush at the same time!
Listen up newbile ones. What ever you do, and I MEAN WHAT EEEEEEEVER you do, do not let anyone, anyone, steer you away from your direction. I don't care whether it's a teacher telling you you should be working in a sewer and find waste that no one has ever found be for and place it on your head, or if it's the girl you knocked up because you couldn't be bothered by stopping at a freaking sheetz and spending the 75 cents for a rubber. Do what you do, and that's all that you do. Three rules:
1) Trust no one
2) Keep your head on a swivel and your eyes on the prize
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ValoRhoads's blogs, last updated : April 30, 2008
