what a week?!

I don't want to make this blog become an obituary column but holy moly what a week!

The most glaring passing is obviously Ozzy Osbourne's, which to be honest, was not a total surprise. But we were still caught off-guard like WHAT?! Much like Freddie Mercury's announcement of having AIDS, and dying 24 hours later, this one was a sucker punch we didn't ask for. You know but...do you really?

As to be expected, the socials are flooded with everything Ozzy and Black Sabbath, which makes me proud but at the same time, it's inevitable, isn't it? Someone passes, suddenly everyone comes out of the woodwork. My students have been asking me about Ozzy all this week, and I'm all too happy to discuss. Some want to learn "Paranoid", "Crazy Train", "Iron Man"...the popular tunes but hey, I have no problem going over the songs! 

Speaking of songs...

I have been writing feverishly for a couple of years now. Started writing demos since before ACT NATURAL came out in 2023. Usually not a good sign if I start writing BEFORE a new album is released. And my gut instinct was right. ACT NATURAL didn't do so great, but what can ya do? I admit to going into a depression for a while. Artistic temperament...gotta love it!

But as of this writing, I have 10 new demos, guitar-only. Some of the stuff is definitely heavy metal, a couple of things are more prog/psych, and one will definitely make heads turn because it's not something I typically write. As I always say, I write what feels good. I can be very spur-of-the-moment with music, and then a short time later, ask myself "What is this crap?!"

Thought I had a drummer but he ghosted me. I wish people would be straight and say "I'm not interested" or "I like it but it's not for me." I may have to take the reigns and do everything myself, as I did with LAYERS OF TIME. I programmed all the drums via EZ Drummer, played all the guitars and bass. I co-produced the cd, and the producer added a keyboard part upon my request. So if I have to do that again, then fine. I'm not Prince, don't own a HUGE studio or can play 27 instruments. But I'll make it happen.

Somehow...