Musician’s Notebook

It’s high-school reunion time throughout America and, wherever you’re having yours, you know the routine:

It usually starts with an advance notice, which then builds curiosity. Then, as the day comes closer and closer, we sorta back away from it a bit because someone … somewhere in that crowd of formerly-familiar faces … might be “better” or “richer” or “better-looking” than us.  And (heaven forbid!) what … what if we ran into our old high-school sweetheart??  You know … the one who “got away” from us and married and is so in love with her new, fancy hubby?

Then, as the day draws to within shoutin’ distance, we start to feel a bit of panic … “butterflies” set in as we start our drive to the club/wherever-it’s-held.
Hey … go on in and enjoy, though — and remember:  this wing-ding only happens once every ten years!  If you’re skittish, just dig the good times and “bow out” at yer leisure …

But there’s another reunion that’s goin’ on … and this one oughtta be a doozy (okay … old word, I know, but oughtta be used at least once-in-awhile, right?).

Imagine bein’ behind the Pearly Gates right now and hearing an ageless Jimi Hendrix on lead, John Lennon on rhythm, Billy Powell on piano, Keith Moon on drums,  Sky Saxon on bass and Michael Jackson singing!  And that’s just one of the many bands at this continuing, ageless jam session!

On others, you’ll have Bobby Hatfield singing harmony, Ronnie Van Zandt or Stevie Ray Vaughan playin’ lead or rhythm, Mike Smith on piano, Mitch Mitchell drumming … or “Bonzo” Bonham, Otis Redding, James Brown or Jim Morrison singing, or even Roy Orbison … or Elvis … or, for the feminine touch, Janis Joplin. Sometimes, Buddy Holly will sit in …

And, still, there are others …

Reunions … while we look at ‘em down here with a bit of envy and (yes) even a little dread, look at what we’ve got to look forward to on the other side of the spectrum!!

Still … for your tenth, twentieth or fiftieth HS reunion, I say GO!! It’s a once-in-a-decade gig … and who knows?  By the time the next one rolls around, some of the ones you see this time might already be enjoying the Big Jam Session in the Sky!!

Count yer blessings, yardbirds … and have a great time!! And always be thankful for the legacy we rockers have been left with …