Ricky reflecting about CYO
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:00 amFrom Ricky’s MSN Interview/Blog On the CYO performance and filming:
Wow, two letters of correspondence from Ricky Phillips in less than a month. This will definitely compromise my standings with the “Silent Members” club. Is it Penn or Teller? Anyway, Harpo and Silent Bob will never let me live this down. I can hear them now...”He used to be the “Quiet Stick”...he knew his place...mostly stayed out of the videos and interviews, sang only when he had to, good to his Mum...just played bass and kept his big yap shut.” I will surely catch hell at the next meeting.
Well, the past week in Cleveland with the Youth Symphony and Choir is worth a short breath from me. In a word, it was “truly amazing”... Ok, that’s two words....Seriously, ...“Words” cannot convey the experience. Time has a way of blurring the edges but I’ll never forget the essence. What is still clear upon this writing is how it became glaringly apparent that this evening was not about us, “STYX”. It was about these kids who became young adults that night. It was about this new found talent still on a wandering leash, forging their way with extreme confidence...occasionally tripping but soldiering on through brief flashes of insecurity...and with each victory...a smile. In some cases it was deep concentration...keeping up and putting it all together from countless hours of rehearsal and private time...then another smile....only to find after jumping off the cliff ... they could float . Some could fly and some could even soar...more smiles... For others it was the conflict of playing the notes on the page or to rebel and set free the ones screaming to burst out from the depths of their imagination. They were sensational... And we all smiled...some cried...can I get an amen.
Why was it special for me? I had no idea it would hit me this way but this was a once in a lifetime chance to climb aboard a time machine and go back to the innocence.... In a sense to get another glimpse of my own innocence. When music was pure, free and limitless and no more responsible than an amusement park ride. When music was a gift without instructions or intention. They took me back to a time before I was aware that my heroes faced a different set of rules. Before “MUSIC” became the “music business” with the responsibility of auditions, contracts, tours, Record labels, foreign countries, carnets, passports, hit songs, money, foreign money, Bonus tracks, Sheds, Arenas, theatres, clubs, European tours, hit singles, airplay, managers, agents, program directors, video directors and film directors. Before I knew anything about payola, P1’s, CHR, Rock charts, Budokan, Meet and Greets, lobby call, luggage call, Set lists, Hello Cleveland!, bunks, bus etiquette, flight cases, girlfriends, wives, Swingo’s, The Riot House, Video shoots, MTV, VH1, crew meals, board mixes, house mixes, the rider, wake up calls, Day sheets, itineraries, field reps, green rooms, green screen, Super Troopers, LDs, confetti, autographs, fans, 16 Magazine, Cream, Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, Cashbox, R&R, Punk, Disco, Rap, Classis Rock, phoners, stage left, smoke, please don’t smoke, original members, Television appearances, guest DJs, Dance mixes, celebrity baseball, celebrity golf tournaments, Promoters, John Kolodner, tour managers, endorsements, pay to play, Swag, Merch, percentages, Co-Headline, groupies, guest lists, Yoko, publishing and publishing deals, websites, songwriter’s share, administration deals, song pluggers, downloading and itunes. Before I’d ridden in limos, airplanes, tour busses, dealt with monitors and monitor mixers, photographers or had to do photo shoots or even knew I had a good side and a bad side. Deal with per diem, assumed “fake” names, wardrobe, eyeliner, tight pants, headliners, opening acts, support, short sets, long sets. Before I knew I needed Throat Coat tea, wireless systems, drugs, booze, Cortisone, band meetings, dressing rooms, in-ears or green M&Ms... Believe it or not, I could keep going but I’m getting a flashback right now so I’ll have to stop.
I don’t mean to turn this away from the focus on the kids and make it about me but this was quite a profound experience. This is the clearest vision I can give at this point without taking away the experience you will hopefully see in a few short months to come. Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about. And for those of you who weren’t ...well, film at eleven. It will take a few months for this footage to pass through a few oven mits like the hot potato it is and be approved. But the entire event will be broadcast in HD sometime yet to be determined. I don’t think it would be possible to capture all of the magic entirely but you won’t be disappointed...there should be plenty scorched onto celluloid.
Love to all, Ricky
Wow, two letters of correspondence from Ricky Phillips in less than a month. This will definitely compromise my standings with the “Silent Members” club. Is it Penn or Teller? Anyway, Harpo and Silent Bob will never let me live this down. I can hear them now...”He used to be the “Quiet Stick”...he knew his place...mostly stayed out of the videos and interviews, sang only when he had to, good to his Mum...just played bass and kept his big yap shut.” I will surely catch hell at the next meeting.
Well, the past week in Cleveland with the Youth Symphony and Choir is worth a short breath from me. In a word, it was “truly amazing”... Ok, that’s two words....Seriously, ...“Words” cannot convey the experience. Time has a way of blurring the edges but I’ll never forget the essence. What is still clear upon this writing is how it became glaringly apparent that this evening was not about us, “STYX”. It was about these kids who became young adults that night. It was about this new found talent still on a wandering leash, forging their way with extreme confidence...occasionally tripping but soldiering on through brief flashes of insecurity...and with each victory...a smile. In some cases it was deep concentration...keeping up and putting it all together from countless hours of rehearsal and private time...then another smile....only to find after jumping off the cliff ... they could float . Some could fly and some could even soar...more smiles... For others it was the conflict of playing the notes on the page or to rebel and set free the ones screaming to burst out from the depths of their imagination. They were sensational... And we all smiled...some cried...can I get an amen.
Why was it special for me? I had no idea it would hit me this way but this was a once in a lifetime chance to climb aboard a time machine and go back to the innocence.... In a sense to get another glimpse of my own innocence. When music was pure, free and limitless and no more responsible than an amusement park ride. When music was a gift without instructions or intention. They took me back to a time before I was aware that my heroes faced a different set of rules. Before “MUSIC” became the “music business” with the responsibility of auditions, contracts, tours, Record labels, foreign countries, carnets, passports, hit songs, money, foreign money, Bonus tracks, Sheds, Arenas, theatres, clubs, European tours, hit singles, airplay, managers, agents, program directors, video directors and film directors. Before I knew anything about payola, P1’s, CHR, Rock charts, Budokan, Meet and Greets, lobby call, luggage call, Set lists, Hello Cleveland!, bunks, bus etiquette, flight cases, girlfriends, wives, Swingo’s, The Riot House, Video shoots, MTV, VH1, crew meals, board mixes, house mixes, the rider, wake up calls, Day sheets, itineraries, field reps, green rooms, green screen, Super Troopers, LDs, confetti, autographs, fans, 16 Magazine, Cream, Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, Cashbox, R&R, Punk, Disco, Rap, Classis Rock, phoners, stage left, smoke, please don’t smoke, original members, Television appearances, guest DJs, Dance mixes, celebrity baseball, celebrity golf tournaments, Promoters, John Kolodner, tour managers, endorsements, pay to play, Swag, Merch, percentages, Co-Headline, groupies, guest lists, Yoko, publishing and publishing deals, websites, songwriter’s share, administration deals, song pluggers, downloading and itunes. Before I’d ridden in limos, airplanes, tour busses, dealt with monitors and monitor mixers, photographers or had to do photo shoots or even knew I had a good side and a bad side. Deal with per diem, assumed “fake” names, wardrobe, eyeliner, tight pants, headliners, opening acts, support, short sets, long sets. Before I knew I needed Throat Coat tea, wireless systems, drugs, booze, Cortisone, band meetings, dressing rooms, in-ears or green M&Ms... Believe it or not, I could keep going but I’m getting a flashback right now so I’ll have to stop.
I don’t mean to turn this away from the focus on the kids and make it about me but this was quite a profound experience. This is the clearest vision I can give at this point without taking away the experience you will hopefully see in a few short months to come. Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about. And for those of you who weren’t ...well, film at eleven. It will take a few months for this footage to pass through a few oven mits like the hot potato it is and be approved. But the entire event will be broadcast in HD sometime yet to be determined. I don’t think it would be possible to capture all of the magic entirely but you won’t be disappointed...there should be plenty scorched onto celluloid.
Love to all, Ricky
