Last week, a legend in the world of professional wrestling passed away. Chief Jay Strongbow was 83.
I grew up watching wrestling and stared in amazement as these magicians worked their craft in the squared circle. It represented the classic struggle of good vs. evil, and the characters were often larger than life.
I learned when I was about six that I am part Indian (Native American for the PC crowd). Once I knew that, I was filled with pride every time Chief would do his war dance. Like most kids watching, I wanted to be a wrestler one day.
Fast forward forty years. The scene: the 2011 Induction ceremony of the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. I was asked by my mentor in the wrestling business to give his introduction speech. As I stepped up to the podium, I looked down at the main table. Seated there was Rick Martel, Tito Santana, and my childhood hero, the Chief himself, Jay Strongbow. I have the video of my speech. I mentioned the impact Chief had on me as a young child. At one point, the camara angle changes and you see me standing at the podium, less than five feet from my hero. It is an image I will forever cherish.
Next year will be a very special year for me. You see, I have been informed that I am being inducted into the same Hall of Fame as my mentor, many of my friends, and my childhood idol. The honor is one that I never expected, or even thought was a possibility. I am humbled and oh so ever grateful.
Thanks for reading while I reminisce.
Take care my friends.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
In Memory...
I was just cleaning up some old Facebook statuses when I came across one from this week last year. It simply read "RIP Lee, your time came too soon". I can't believe it has been a year already.
Lee and I met as we were growing up as members of a fundamentalist religion. When you're a young child, you are whatever religion your parents say you are. We attended meetings, bible studies and theocratic school together. Lee was always good for a laugh, and had a kind streak in him as wide as all outdoors. Like me, when he was old enough to decide for himself, he left the religion.
Lee took a job working in a VA hospital. This was typical of Lee to want to help others. The amazing thing was that Lee was not in favor of war. But his love of his fellow beings was more important than his dislike for what these people were part of. In the end, it was his caring for these soldiers that cost Lee his life. I can't say more for fear of violating some type of privacy statute.
I went to Lee's service, which was kind of surreal. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that someone so damn caring and good, let alone younger than me, was gone so soon. In the year since, I have lost a couple more close friends who were younger. It makes me think about my course of action in my life. Hopefully I'll learn how to be a better person.
Thanks for reading. And I hope that you all have someone in your life like Lee. If you do, cherish them. People like Lee are a treasure. It's a shame that too often we don't recognize it till it's too late.
Take care my friends.
Lee and I met as we were growing up as members of a fundamentalist religion. When you're a young child, you are whatever religion your parents say you are. We attended meetings, bible studies and theocratic school together. Lee was always good for a laugh, and had a kind streak in him as wide as all outdoors. Like me, when he was old enough to decide for himself, he left the religion.
Lee took a job working in a VA hospital. This was typical of Lee to want to help others. The amazing thing was that Lee was not in favor of war. But his love of his fellow beings was more important than his dislike for what these people were part of. In the end, it was his caring for these soldiers that cost Lee his life. I can't say more for fear of violating some type of privacy statute.
I went to Lee's service, which was kind of surreal. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that someone so damn caring and good, let alone younger than me, was gone so soon. In the year since, I have lost a couple more close friends who were younger. It makes me think about my course of action in my life. Hopefully I'll learn how to be a better person.
Thanks for reading. And I hope that you all have someone in your life like Lee. If you do, cherish them. People like Lee are a treasure. It's a shame that too often we don't recognize it till it's too late.
Take care my friends.
Monday, April 2, 2012
My Latest Endeavor
When I first started playing a musical instrument back in high school, the road to fame and fortune was a long, arduous adventure to say the least. Hanging out at music stores hoping to find players to put a band together was cheaper than taking out a classified ad in the local paper, and you hoped someone had a garage or basement you could play in, hopefully with very patient parents.
Today, we have Craigslist which provides free classifieds, and reaches many more people. Social media has made it so much easier to promote bands. The countless hours passing out flyers has all but disappeared. Even I, an analog guy in a digital world, have jumped on board the social media bandwagon.
I am proud to introduce my own music fan page which you can visit here. You can access status updates, and purchase downloads from my store if you like. There are links to other informative sites as well. I hope you stop by, take a look, and maybe click the "Like" button. Better yet, share it with your friends. I appreciate it. I will keep you informed as to how it's going from time to time.
As always, take care my friends.
Today, we have Craigslist which provides free classifieds, and reaches many more people. Social media has made it so much easier to promote bands. The countless hours passing out flyers has all but disappeared. Even I, an analog guy in a digital world, have jumped on board the social media bandwagon.
I am proud to introduce my own music fan page which you can visit here. You can access status updates, and purchase downloads from my store if you like. There are links to other informative sites as well. I hope you stop by, take a look, and maybe click the "Like" button. Better yet, share it with your friends. I appreciate it. I will keep you informed as to how it's going from time to time.
As always, take care my friends.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Today's observations.
When I first started writing this blog, I used to write quite often about the issue of politics. I would read an article, hear a news story on the radio, or see a post on Facebook from a friend, and then proceed to pontificate about it here on my blog. I found that this led to many ugly disagreements, and that it strained some important friendships, so I stopped. Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ended listening to three days of arguments on the issue of what has become known as Obamacare. It's purpose is to get everyone access to affordable health care.
I have sat back as an observer of the battle going on, and have become quite amused at how out of touch and totally ignorant arguments from both sides have gotten. Some of the analogies being put forward are so far-fetched that the best hollywood writers could never dream up such things. If it weren't for the fact that this is an important real life issue, this would be great comedy.
Another news item getting a great deal of attention is the Travyon Martin case. I knew it was getting out of hand when celebrities were tweeting the home address of the shooter, and others started tweeting the home address of the celebrity. And then I see on Facebook profile pictures of various people, safe and sound in their own homes, wearing a hoodie. That's all well and good, but some of these folks would NEVER be caught in public wearing one. And I dare say that some of these people, if they were walking down a dark street alone, and encountered someone matching Travyon's description in a hoodie, would cross the street. Or at least that would be their initial instinct. And that's okay, because instinct is natural...it doesn't make you racist.
But alas, I digress. I have decided to focus my creative energies towards my music. I have gotten some very good feedback from the two songs I recorded years ago. With the advances in technology, I can now write and record my songs at home, on this very computer. I am still learning how to use the software, but should be posting some demo versions of my songs soon. My hope is that one of my songs will attract the attention of a national act. In the meantime, please click on the music link to the left. If you like what you hear, please visit my reverbnation store, or look for my music on your favorite download sites like iTunes, eMusic, Zune and many others.
I'll be keeping in touch more regularly, so keep your eyes open.
Take care my friends.
I have sat back as an observer of the battle going on, and have become quite amused at how out of touch and totally ignorant arguments from both sides have gotten. Some of the analogies being put forward are so far-fetched that the best hollywood writers could never dream up such things. If it weren't for the fact that this is an important real life issue, this would be great comedy.
Another news item getting a great deal of attention is the Travyon Martin case. I knew it was getting out of hand when celebrities were tweeting the home address of the shooter, and others started tweeting the home address of the celebrity. And then I see on Facebook profile pictures of various people, safe and sound in their own homes, wearing a hoodie. That's all well and good, but some of these folks would NEVER be caught in public wearing one. And I dare say that some of these people, if they were walking down a dark street alone, and encountered someone matching Travyon's description in a hoodie, would cross the street. Or at least that would be their initial instinct. And that's okay, because instinct is natural...it doesn't make you racist.
But alas, I digress. I have decided to focus my creative energies towards my music. I have gotten some very good feedback from the two songs I recorded years ago. With the advances in technology, I can now write and record my songs at home, on this very computer. I am still learning how to use the software, but should be posting some demo versions of my songs soon. My hope is that one of my songs will attract the attention of a national act. In the meantime, please click on the music link to the left. If you like what you hear, please visit my reverbnation store, or look for my music on your favorite download sites like iTunes, eMusic, Zune and many others.
I'll be keeping in touch more regularly, so keep your eyes open.
Take care my friends.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Tale of a Broken Heart
Last year, I had the pleasure of playing in a band for about four months. I was a little hesitant at first, because I was recovering from my second heart surgery. But after having six stents placed in my heart, I was feeling good and itching to play onstage again. Thanks to The Vegas Valentinos, I had that chance.
Things went well at first. The last month though, I noticed I was getting fatigued quicker. I was starting to get light-headed onstage. One night, I nearly passed out. The other band members approached one night and said they couldn't risk having a bass player who might pass out onstage. And I agreed. I told them I was glad they said something, because I am stubborn enough to have kept going till I dropped. I had physical issues I needed to address.
After each of my previous stent placement surgeries I always felt new again. I underwent a third surgery and got my seventh and eighth stents. I started a med regimen to help my cardiac situation. I started dieting. I then convinced myself I was ready to play in a band again. I was wrong.
Kenney Black hired me to play bass in his new band. It only took me a few weeks to realize I can't handle the physical demand of being in a band any longer. The damage I have to my heart is my own fault, and now I must face the consequences of neglecting my health all of these years. As much as I love playing live in front of a crowd, I have to face the fact that I can no longer do it.
I still plan on writing, recording, and promoting my music. But I can't see myself onstage anymore. And that breaks my heart.
Here is wishing all my friends, readers, and fans of my music good health.
Take care my friends. Please.
Things went well at first. The last month though, I noticed I was getting fatigued quicker. I was starting to get light-headed onstage. One night, I nearly passed out. The other band members approached one night and said they couldn't risk having a bass player who might pass out onstage. And I agreed. I told them I was glad they said something, because I am stubborn enough to have kept going till I dropped. I had physical issues I needed to address.
After each of my previous stent placement surgeries I always felt new again. I underwent a third surgery and got my seventh and eighth stents. I started a med regimen to help my cardiac situation. I started dieting. I then convinced myself I was ready to play in a band again. I was wrong.
Kenney Black hired me to play bass in his new band. It only took me a few weeks to realize I can't handle the physical demand of being in a band any longer. The damage I have to my heart is my own fault, and now I must face the consequences of neglecting my health all of these years. As much as I love playing live in front of a crowd, I have to face the fact that I can no longer do it.
I still plan on writing, recording, and promoting my music. But I can't see myself onstage anymore. And that breaks my heart.
Here is wishing all my friends, readers, and fans of my music good health.
Take care my friends. Please.
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Bane of the Music business...
I have played a musical instrument in a band setting since high school, a long time ago. The first bands were horrible. A group of teens just learning how to play their instruments, most of which were inferior copies of the quality brands, played through even cheaper quality amps. Long-suffering parents endured countless hours of listening to an electrical cacophony that would frighten the populace of most third world countries. But we were having the times of our lives, and nothing could have been better.
We dreamed of concert arenas and screaming fans chasing our limos. Tour busses and hotel rooms. Yup, we had all the dreams. Eventually, we all graduated from school, and for most, those rock and roll fantasies faded into the dusk of our youth, as we trudged forward into the land of grown-ups.
I, for one, joined a wedding band after high school so I could make some money from my playing. This was when I had my first encounters with a species of organisms that is the bane of musicians everywhere...Managerius Greedicus...the dreaded Greedy Manager.
Our band tried having a manager twice during our run. The first was another musician who basically gave us the crap gigs he didn't want to do. But, at least we were getting work, or so we rationalized it to ourselves. We finally reached the point where we were booking ourselves pretty solid, and didn't feel like paying the standard 10% to a manager, so we stopped taking his bookings.
The next manager schmoozed his way in. He took pro quality pictures of the band, and made glossy prints with our name on them. He even featured us at showcases. Then one night, one of the club owners he had booked us with refused to pay us. Our manager did nothing about it. So long manager.
My latest experience with a manager has been the worst. I got hired as a member of a band backing up a solo performer. He writes his own tunes, and performs them along with a selection of familiar cover tunes. The ad I answered on Craigslist stated the band had management. After a little research, I found that the management company was not a legal entity. The "owner" was a recovering addict who had a brief career as a stand-up comic. His website claimed to represent some regionally famous comedians, but no musical acts. When contacted, none of the people on the website said they worked for the guy. In short, he was a fraud. He made a video of a recording session, and used it to lure this performe into signing the most ridiculous contract ever seen.
The end result? After court hearings and such, this "manager" is still harassing this performer. The actions of this individual remind me of a petulant six-year old. You see, it boils down to this...those with talent, play. Those who don't manage. And if you can't manage? Then you try to ripoff people with ridiculous contracts.
I will never sign with a manager. Unless of course I can get....
Take care my friends.
We dreamed of concert arenas and screaming fans chasing our limos. Tour busses and hotel rooms. Yup, we had all the dreams. Eventually, we all graduated from school, and for most, those rock and roll fantasies faded into the dusk of our youth, as we trudged forward into the land of grown-ups.
I, for one, joined a wedding band after high school so I could make some money from my playing. This was when I had my first encounters with a species of organisms that is the bane of musicians everywhere...Managerius Greedicus...the dreaded Greedy Manager.
Our band tried having a manager twice during our run. The first was another musician who basically gave us the crap gigs he didn't want to do. But, at least we were getting work, or so we rationalized it to ourselves. We finally reached the point where we were booking ourselves pretty solid, and didn't feel like paying the standard 10% to a manager, so we stopped taking his bookings.
The next manager schmoozed his way in. He took pro quality pictures of the band, and made glossy prints with our name on them. He even featured us at showcases. Then one night, one of the club owners he had booked us with refused to pay us. Our manager did nothing about it. So long manager.
My latest experience with a manager has been the worst. I got hired as a member of a band backing up a solo performer. He writes his own tunes, and performs them along with a selection of familiar cover tunes. The ad I answered on Craigslist stated the band had management. After a little research, I found that the management company was not a legal entity. The "owner" was a recovering addict who had a brief career as a stand-up comic. His website claimed to represent some regionally famous comedians, but no musical acts. When contacted, none of the people on the website said they worked for the guy. In short, he was a fraud. He made a video of a recording session, and used it to lure this performe into signing the most ridiculous contract ever seen.
The end result? After court hearings and such, this "manager" is still harassing this performer. The actions of this individual remind me of a petulant six-year old. You see, it boils down to this...those with talent, play. Those who don't manage. And if you can't manage? Then you try to ripoff people with ridiculous contracts.
I will never sign with a manager. Unless of course I can get....
Take care my friends.
Monday, March 19, 2012
PetePedia Music blog
To all my regular readers, I apologize for the length of my absence from this blog. Things have been very hectic in the last months, and I just haven't been able to write.
Please check out some of the links below to hear some of my original music. I appreciate it.
For those of you on iTunes: http://t.co/RqIlpffI
For those of you on eMusic: http://t.co/0w9bIehP
For those of you Zune suscribers: http://t.co/kD3E50tM
For those of you on Twitter: Pete Corbeil (@PeteCorbeil)
Thanks again. Take care my friends.
To hear my songs for FREE: www.reverbnation.com/petecorbeil
Please check out some of the links below to hear some of my original music. I appreciate it.
For those of you on iTunes: http://t.co/RqIlpffI
For those of you on eMusic: http://t.co/0w9bIehP
For those of you Zune suscribers: http://t.co/kD3E50tM
For those of you on Twitter: Pete Corbeil (@PeteCorbeil)
Thanks again. Take care my friends.
To hear my songs for FREE: www.reverbnation.com/petecorbeil