I cannot wait for this Sound City rock-doc to come out. After watching this video about how Pat Smear really was banned from knowing about rock n roll during his childhood has made me think back to when exactly I first heard of rock n roll. When I was a little kid, I was surrounded by it. My mom loved Chicago, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Heart, and Fleetwood Mac. My dad listened to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, REO Speedwagon, CCR, Charlie Daniels Band, and Santana.

My parents divorced when I was way young, and so my whole life I spent time with them in different music codes. I remember playing my first vinyl record – which was Blondie Parallel Lines when I was probably 12 or 13. I was infatuated with Debbie Harry. I still have no idea how THAT album made it into my dad’s vinyl pile, but regardless it helped shape my love for the female lead singer – and thus, I would spend many-a-weekend at my dad’s house, in his living room playing “Heart of Glass” over and over, while trying to mimic her high voice in my dad’s band gear. Then I would write and attempt to play songs on his Stratocaster –only when no one was home. 

 I lived predominately with my mom through the week, and so she would buy me my first CDs and let me jam out by myself. I would stay up all night listening to Aerosmith’s Big Ones, or Toys in the Attic until I perfected my moves with what I thought the songs were about. For me, being surrounded by so much mature imagery, even at some times, vague sexual innuendos that meant nothing to me because I was so young, was interesting as this love affair with rock n roll continued to grow with me. I still listen back to the song Rag Doll and laugh about what I thought that song was about when I was 12, and what I know it’s about now. Some may consider it bad parenting on my parents’ part…however, I can’t thank them enough.

Having a ton of very creative, smart and fun friends helped me tune my interests to the grunge / prog scene of rock in the 1990s. I am still so in love with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Bush, Soundgarden, STP, The Cranberries, Sneaker Pimps, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Daft Punk, No Doubt, Garbage, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Misfits, Danzig’s of my generation….that was the discovery I had with music, and I wouldn’t take it back for anything.

Listen here to Pat Smear of Foo Fighters discuss candidly how it was growing up without rock n roll:

What shaped you into the musical being you are? Sound City Studios – coming out soon info here: http://soundcitymovie.com/