I took piano lessons briefly as a young child then after some time away taught myself to play it again. Then I figured out that guitar was portable plus chicks dig it. So I taught myself guitar and started playing shows in school, church and eventually bars. I was 16 years old giging in local bars. I was probably the only high school student in my town with a bar tab then I learned bass...and mandolin...and harmonica...whatever paid the best. My biggest instrument though was lead vocal. I came from a family of lead singers. People either said I sounded like Cat Steven's or Ian Anderson but I was really most skilled at blues/rock like ZZ Top and The Allman Brothers Band.
In addition I was a singer song writer and on at least one occasion, a band I played in defaulted on a gig so I played it as a solo gig because I had a reputation to uphold.
I was well on my way to the Bad Co. "Shooting Star," persona when I met my lovely bride. I always knew people who had a wife and kids at home but they could still manage to do three practices and play gigs once or twice a week in the smoky, drunk whore filled bar rooms and I wondered how they could do it. Then, over time, I figured out it was because they were lousy parents. Well, we were.talking family and I knew I didn't want to do the same as I had seen others do so I gave it up, maybe right on thcusp of a real breakout.
I wondered and pondered...maybe even pined after it for a.while but today I see clearly that it was the right path. Plus Paulie didn't die one night, die in his bed...
Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.........