Besides literary giants of all genres that I have grown to love and admire, there are two particular writers that I have admired and placed above all others. However, they happen to be musicians and damn fine lyricists: Pete Townshend and Bob Mould. Pete, I believe, most people know about, but Bob, not so much.
Bob Mould came out of the Minneapolis music scene of the '80s as the guitarist for the
seminal punk band Husker Du. With Grant Hart on drums and Greg Norton on bass, they blasted their way through the punk era with single minded determination, great lyrics, and a sonic wall of noise, overwhelming yet with solid melodic undertones.
Unfortunately, the usual suspects of drugs, jealousy, and assorted other rock and roll cliches did them in shortly after signing with Warner Bros. records. After a couple of years, Bob put out his first solo release, "Warehouse: Song and Stories". To say it was a departure from the music of Husker Du is an understatement. However, he firmly established himself as an artist of note in his own right. He followed it up with "Black Sheets of Rain", which moved back towards a harder sound again. A few years after that, he formed the band Sugar. This is really, I think, where he showed his incredible range as a musician, combining the sublime melodies of power pop and the raw blustering power of punk to create music that influenced any number of bands today. Of course, they disbanded, but at least not acrimoniously. After that, Bob did a couple really interesting jobs, including writing for pro wrestling. He also publicly came out of the closet, his sexual orientation being hidden for quite a while.
Now, at around this point, in the late '90s, I was starting a family and had pretty much stopped following most every band. After growing up with the Who, the Stones, then the Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Husker Du and then bands like the Screaming Trees, the Primitons, Mudhoney, etc. listening to what became "alternative music" just couldn't hold a candle to what I grew up on and helped me through some of my darkest times.
It was those dark times, the effects of which I carry today, I only got through because of Pete and Bob. I know it's cliche and moronic and all that crap, but those two, with their music and most importantly their lyrics, let me know that I wasn't alone, my anger and rage was okay, and that to survive in the end is to simply be who you are and let others accept you or not. If they don't, that's okay, just move on. If they do, then appreciate them as much as you appreciate yourself. In my head, there is a direct psychic link between "Quadrophenia" and Husker Du's seminal album "Zen Arcade". To me, they both captured the utter uselessness that can sometimes overwhelm teenagers, as it did me. The anger at all things, good or bad, the lack of identity, or not knowing which self image was the real one, suicide and its promises of peace.
Throw in some pot, lots of alcohol and other assorted recreational drugs, and you've got one fucked up kid who doesn't know what planet he's on, but it's not his. Yet through it all, no matter what, I could find my way out again with the help of Pete and Bob. All across the various layers of emotions they threw into their songs, there has always been the hope that things just might get better, if you hold onto yourself long enough. If you want to, and don't mind the scars and wounds along the way.
Well, Pete and Bob, I finally made it. I've had some great things happen (my son), some incomprehensible (the sudden and early death of my dad), some predictable (my divorce), and some pleasantly unexpected (finding someone to care about again). But I survived like you two did. Not always pretty, not always graceful, but with a wink and a "Fuck You" to the world, maybe I can start giving back again, like you two do.
Bob, I get to see you tomorrow night. If you don't mind, can I just print this out and give it to you? I write better than I can talk, and besides, I wouldn't have the guts to say anything remotely intelligent to you anyway. I know my fiance' will be pushing me to say something, given the impact you and Pete have had on my life and outlook, but i'll probably mumble something and slink off.
Hope you understand.