There’s probably a common idea that an entertainer is always ‘on’. Meaning that they’re constantly what you see and hear on stage. Thus if they’re always smiling happy and boisterous, then they must be like that behind closed doors. Reality check. A lot of the time when they’re at home many entertainers are actually looking to unwind from work just like you. I can think of a couple of great examples and lets see if I can do it without naming names.
My first example is a musician who is married. At one point he was constantly traveling to do shows rough 4 to 5 days a week, and home 2 to 3 days a week. It was fairly early on into the marriage when trouble started. Maybe 6 months. He realized that the new wife was expecting to be entertained while he was home. Thus he couldn’t spend some free time to unwind in a fashion that he desired. The marriage came precipitously close to folding like a house of cards. Somehow after the communication breakdown some changes were made and the marriage was salvaged. In fact now it’s still going and they still seem to be happy with how it’s going.
Second example is a famous acting star. Imagine if you will having lunch with a star who is known worldwide. It’s like having lunch with a regular friend, you chat, you eat, you drink, and you would think that it’s abnormal that a star of this magnitude wouldn’t be so down to earth. People in the restaurant are doing their best not to stare at your table and this person in particular. They all know who he is and some of them even get up the courage to approach the table to ask for a picture or autograph, to which said actor mentions that they’re currently eating and would appreciate a little privacy in a very kind fashion. The actor then excuses himself to the bathroom. Upon reentering the restaurant room, proceeds to make the rounds to every table to greet each person, take pictures and sign any autographs. Once the rounds are completed, sits back down at the table and turns back into Mr. Normal.
The odd thing is that fans constantly expect their star is going to that person they have in their mind’s eye. It’s a damn tough thing. I’ve known people with this type of fame and I’m on a path to be in the same type of position. Thus you have to remember where you tread and can’t be an ass, at least when dealing with someone who is a fan. The greatest thing in the world is the support you can get from people that love the work you do. It’s a major thrill and is often the fuel for being ‘on’. Still there comes times you need to unwind. Home is a great place to do it.
Rush is a band with a long and storied career. They are a musician’s band. They are like one of the few bands that it is practically a requirement to be fan of if you play an instrument. While I didn’t grow up with their music in my catalog, I did a ton of research once I started playing an instrument. They are the perfect balance of the technical side of music with the commercial side of a being accessible for most non-musical types without sounding like a music exercise. I think it’s that great combination of the two that get them so much respect musically. I’ve seen them a couple of times live. No opening act and just several hours of a band who has a large catalog of music that covers so much stuff it’s hard to comprehend.
It’s damn near impossible to choose one defining song for them. They have several eras to their career and a ton of great songs in each era. Thus I choose one of the songs that grabbed me in my early exploration into the Rush vibe. If you’re not familiar with Rush, you really need to explore more. What’s even more astonishing is that they’re only three guys making all that sound. The drummer is considered one of the greatest drummers in modern music history and is capable of some very complex beats. The guitarist is no slouch and is capable of going from classical to reggae in a single measure. The bassist is playing melodic bass lines while singing at the top of his lungs and also playing synths and triggering various sounds with his feet all at the same time. It’s as if they’re each playing their own orchestra and creating one big one. It’s amazing.
I know that I wrote stuff early on, and had a band concept early in my playing that was to mimic their setup. It took tons of practice but I did it for a while. But it’s hard as hell, and Rush does it so well, why even bother? Don’t have any Rush, get over to iTunes right now and start making some purchases. Don’t message me until you own some Rush.
(** Disclaimer: If Rush’s label decides they want to draw me inside an animated prison, I’ll have to ink out the audio as an escape. The post will remain to show that you can’t always be on but you can try. **)