Guilt
Keats was dead by 24.
It is a sobering thought, particularly when you’re halfway straight edge, to consider that I’ve been doing this for something like 8 years. At 23, I already feel old. That above quote is from Kicking & Screaming; the one that came out in 1995. It’s a common thing to compare your life’s failures to a public figure who died early but I prefer to compare my life to Tim Wheeler.
By 23, he’d spent 2 years getting to stand next to Charlotte Hatherley. That is an aspirational figure.
8 years sounds like a long time. You get to see what the machine is like during a period of time like that. And, ultimately, you see that the entire thing is stupid. Careers can be made on luck. The right person in the right place at the right time. There are the deserving and the undeserving and they can both get treated in exactly the same manner. I’m not sure which side we fall on yet but I know that The Naturals are the former.
I have another few paragraphs about serious thoughts on the industry in me but I can’t form concise sentences so here’s a boring status update instead:
- MLH is leaving to become an auteur. There is no ill will, especially because his involvement got us going again.
- We’re holding auditions for drummers again. Any sex, race or creed. Tell yr friends to call us.
I don’t know if we’re going to be able to play at the end of this month with The ‘Nats because of this precarious position but we’ll keep you updated.
DB x
