All Paths
Finished up a week at the studio last night. 12 hours a day, nice to have today off. We're not going into detail about it yet for various reasons, but soon we'll let you know what we've been up to. We're really really excited about how it sounds. The weather is overcast and rainy, I love it. "Zeppelin Weather".
Going out to Truetone music in Santa Monica today to get a new pickup put in my Telecaster. Couldn't use it for the recording, because I discovered, It has shitty tone! Looks like the pickup I had installed the day I bought it (a "little 59" from Seymour Duncan) just sucked, really dark and lifeless sounding. We had a great assortment of guitars to choose from in the studio, so I ended up using Mark Vangooll's blue 72" Telecaster thinline on most of my tracks. He is the tone Yoda, so I got a game plan on how to fix my troubles. Getting a new pickup, and see where I am then. The Divided by 13 amp was looking a little shaky the first few days, sounded kind of ratty... but we messed around with it for a bit, and got some good sounds, and used it for most of my tracks. Still have to do some work with it to see if it is the right amp for me in this band.
Had to stop working on "Project P" once a day, just didn't have time. Got home at 1 am every night, and had to be back in the studio at 12am. Hopefully my superstition about stopping work for a day would lead to the inspiration drying up will prove false. I think it will be okay, I still listen to what I have written everyday and am working on it in my head.
Got some sad news yesterday, one of my best friends from high school, Andie Cotton died Saturday night. She had been fighting cancer for the last 3-4 years and when the last round of chemo almost killed her, she stopped the treatment, then it was just a matter of time. We had dinner a couple months ago and she seemed fine.
Our song "Ashes" was written about her, but I never told her so. I wish I had, but I was afraid to; didn't know how she would feel about it. I have been thinking about her all week as we have been working on recording the song, and now she's gone.
You'll be missed, Andie.
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike th' inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Thomas Gray
Elegy in a Country Churchyard
Comments
Steve-I am sorry for your loss. Be safe, be well, and keep your chin up.
Brett
Posted by: Brett | October 18, 2004 01:42 PM
Steve,
Sorry to hear about Andie. Seem to have a few friends going through the various stages of cancer and just no easy way to communicate to them how I feel. I just stay available for them.
She will always be a part of the song. And thats a great Tribute to her always.
Take care
Toby
Posted by: Toby | October 18, 2004 01:49 PM
Steve, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Although you didn't tell her about the song, it is still a great tribute.
Posted by: Abby | October 18, 2004 03:07 PM
I'm sorry about your friend Steve. I don't believe you needed to tell her about the song...her spirit is free now and she knows.
Posted by: Cori | October 18, 2004 04:52 PM
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, now it is time to work hard and make Andie proud.
This is a rough week for a lot of people. The 21st will be one year without Elliott in our life. I am thankful that he left us the gift of "From a Basement on the Hill".
Posted by: Tre | October 18, 2004 06:36 PM
Steve don’t know what to say. Sorry about your loss but on the positive side at least she’s not suffering anymore. I don’t think death is ever easy to take. Even though you know it’s imminent and in her case even though you knew the end was near it still hurts. If you were meant to have shared the song with her one way or another you would have but it was not meant to be. Don’t be hard on yourself. Live life without regrets and take it as a lesson learned. Next time you question doing/saying something, ask yourself this: if I die tomorrow would I regret not having said/done that?
Posted by: wendybird | October 18, 2004 07:28 PM
wow... that song has so much more meaning to me now... to all of us. ironic that she passed as you were recording it. Wendy is right - it's good that she is not suffering anymore. take care.
Posted by: SnoWhite | October 18, 2004 08:43 PM
man, i'm sorry to hear that Steve.. It is crazy how many people there are with cancer. We have a family friend who has been battling breast cancer for a while now, and a coworker is going through chemo now.
I'm pretty positive she would have loved Ashes.
Personally, I think having a song, poem, etc. written about someone is the greatest tribute you could give.
Venice Queen by the Chili Peppers is about Gloria Scott, a friend of theirs who died of cancer. I can't listen to it without tearing up.
Posted by: mortisha8 | October 18, 2004 09:05 PM
The song and her memory will live on.
Take care mate,
RP
Posted by: RecklessPrincess | October 19, 2004 02:25 AM
Steve,
I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I am sure she knows now the song is about her.
I was kinda wondering about the little 59 as pickup choice. I know a few guys who are using the mini jb and love it.
Pony
Posted by: WhitePony | October 19, 2004 12:30 PM