The Rock and Roll Dream
A Short Success Story
JJ Slade
The Rock and Roll Dream
A Short Success Story
By: JJ Slade
Smashwords edition published by JJ Slade at Smashwords
This book is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © JJ Slade 2011
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Title Page
Copyright
Big Time
The crowd was going wild as the guitar solo echoed through the auditorium. Jonny had been here a hundred times before, but every time, his adrenalin spiked. He loved the feeling of the crowd rocking out. He was watching the solo from the side of the stage and wished that he was the one in the spotlights. He handed the singer a bottle of water as the solo raged. Jonny worked for the band. He helped them tour across America. He tuned guitars, loaded and unloaded their gear and occasionally drove the tour bus. He loved the rock and roll lifestyle and longed for his chance to take the stage, but in this business one has to pay their dues. Jonny knew that he was on the fast track and that there was no better way to learn the business than touring with a headline band. He felt lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of it all. People paid good money just to see the show and it always seemed surreal for those lucky few that got to meet the band and drink a beer with their icons back stage. Jonny partied with the band all of the time and thought that he was one of the lucky ones, but he couldn't wait until people were lining up to see him. Big towns, small towns, stadiums or bars, it didn't matter, he lived for the music. Jonny learned that the fans were what made the machine keep rolling, so he took every opportunity to take care of the fans, even if they weren't screaming his name.
Jonny had been touring with these guys for over three years. He had learned a lot. Jonny was a talented artist in his own right. He jammed with the band in the tour bus on the road, but had never played with them using stage gear. He only played with other instrument techs for an empty audience. It was usually only one song at best, just to make sure that the stage was set up properly and the sound checks were good. He could play every one of their songs and had even helped write a few. He had his name in print on the band's last album cover as a song writer on three of their latest songs. It was only fair because he had written the guitar riffs and helped to develop the finished works of art. Jonny heard his work on the radio in every place that they went to, but it was always the band that got the perks, the fans and the credit. He figured that it was all part of the price of admission for a rock and roll lifestyle.
Three years ago, this band was just another small band trying to get by. They played in small bars and traveled in an old van. Jonny met them in one of these small bars. He loved their sound and instantly got to know them. He began helping them load gear, sell t-shirts and promote albums at the local shows. The band got picked up by a national promotion company and cut their first studio album. They were an instant success and began touring as an opening act. They remembered their biggest fan and offered Jonny a job as a roadie. He took it and stayed with the band as they rode the roller coaster to the top. He didn't make much money, but he didn't care, he was living the dream, even if it was only from the behind the scenes. He had seen the rise and fall of many acts in this business, but his loyalty had paid off. He was on the road and backstage with one of the biggest bands in the country. This was an education that could not be bought and he was earning it with blood, sweat and beers.
Chance of Fate
Jonny started the tour bus as the band made their way on board. He had a tinge of a headache from the beer that he drank the night before. The show had been phenomenal and there was a huge after-party. The band members looked like hell and they collapsed into their beds inside the bus. The morning sun painted a mural of colors on the windshield as Jonny pulled away from the hotel. They were on the road again heading for another gig in another town. The highway stretched endlessly and they had a long way to go, so Jonny settled in and tried to keep the bus steady as the band slept off their hangovers.
Six hours later, another roadie named Twiggs took over driving. He was the drum tech and was close with the band like Jonny was. In fact, they were the only two that were close enough to stay with the band. They were both good techs and knew what it took to pull off a show. Either of them could support any instrument, but usually they stuck to their specialty and just took care of things and supported the band.
Jonny climbed in the back and tried to sleep, but his mind was active and wondering. He grabbed his guitar and began practicing. He pictured himself on that stage with thousands of fans throwing their fists in the air. His daydreams were interrupted when the bus came to a stop in some small town with a funny name. He woke the band and they all left the bus to grab some dinner. The band members had come back to reality, but were still groggy from the booze and drugs. Two of them were trying to remember the girls that they had taken to their rooms, but they were having a hard time recalling what had happened. They just laughed and blew it off. Jonny remembered when they were serious about their music and touring. They started off treating it like a business, but now that the management had taken over the financials and scheduling, every town was a new party. For months now, they hadn't been working on new music or developing new ways to improve the show. It seemed that they were all in a routine and the parties were the priority. Jonny supposed that they had earned the right to relax. They had all worked hard on their last album and kicking off the tour. Jonny had a different opinion, though. He had tired of the constant partying and music was his passion. He vowed that when he made it into the big time, his fans would be his priority.
The following day they arrived for the next show. The production crew had already set up the stage. The band had radio interviews set up, so Jonny went to the auditorium and began preparing for the concert. He unpacked the guitars and racked them. He changed the strings and tuned all twenty-two of them. He cleaned and polished them before he took the stage. He unpacked all of the stage pedals and processing gear and meticulously placed them in a defined sequence. Putting on a great show of this caliber was a lot of work and he couldn't wait for the day when he could just show up and play. As he plugged in the first guitar, he looked over the massive empty convention center. He knew that this place would be packed full tonight and imagined what it would be like as he strummed the first chord. The amplifiers blasted through the empty space and he ripped through a solo as if he were front and center of the massive crowd.
Twiggs arrived at the apex of Jonny's solo and smiled as he took his place behind the drum kit. After tweaking the drums and adjusting the microphones, he and Jonny had a little jam session. They both got into it. Eventually, all of the instruments were tested, tuned and tweaked. The stage was ready to go and they were just waiting for the band.
The band arrived and began to warm up. They sounded good and Jonny was proud of how he had set up the guitars. He grabbed a guitar and was playing along note for note off to the side when, Rob, the guitarist noticed him. He used the microphone to call Jonny out on stage with him. Jonny put down the guitar and began to walk out to address a problem that Rob must have had. "No man, bring your axe. Come jam with us," Rob said. Jonny grabbed the guitar and plugged in the wireless. He had never played on stage with them before, only in hotel rooms and on the bus. He was ecstatic. "You think you can handle 'Strings of Fire' with us?" Smiley, the singer asked. "He should, he wrote it," Derek, the bass player added.
The song began with Rob ripping out a blistering solo and Jonny's grin widened when the drums and bass kicked in. Jonny was playing the rhythm perfectly. It sounded so good and was even more dynamic than the studio version. The song included an extended solo and right before it kicked off, Rob said, "It's all you man." Jonny launched the solo flawlessly. Rob joined in and they began alternating leads. They finished the song and the band applauded. "That was awesome, man," Mikey, the drummer said.
"Let's do another one," Smiley said. Johnny immediately began another one of their hits and the band jumped in. Jonny improvised a little and added an additional element to the song. Rob was watching him and shaking his head in approval. There was definitely some chemistry there. Rob had his back to the auditorium and jamming face to face with Jonny when disaster struck. Rob wasn't paying attention and stepped back. He tripped over the stage monitor and disappeared over the edge with an amplified crash. The music stopped and everyone ran to help. Rob was lying on the floor with a broken guitar across his chest. The neck of the guitar had snapped and he was holding his right hand and wincing in pain. He indicated that he was okay, but that he had hurt his wrist and would not be able to play.
Panic hit them. The show was only a few hours away and it was too late to reschedule. They helped the guitarist backstage and the first conversation of what to do was brought up. As the medic was assessing Rob's injury, Derek asked, "Are we going to cancel the show?" Everyone looked at each other and Rob said, "No. Jonny can fill in for me. He knows all the songs and if he wore a hat, I don't think anyone would know the difference. Don't let the cameras zoom in on him and plaster his face on the big screen and I think we could get away with it." "I don't know, man. I have never played for a real crowd before," Jonny said. "Welcome to the big time, cause we don't have a choice," Rob said. "You can do it, you know these songs cold, man," Mikey said. "I need you, Jonny," Rob added. "Okay, I'll do it. Anything for you guys," Jonny said. "You need to get to a hospital and get that wrist checked out," he added. "Yeah, but I will be back. I can't miss your first show," Rob said as he gave Jonny knuckles with his good hand.
Rob left for the hospital and Jonny tried to settle his nerves by warming up with the set list. He was more excited than nervous, but he didn't know how he would react with a live crowd. This wasn't a small bar in some obscure town that he could cut his teeth on; this was a full blown production with thousands of screaming fans expecting a great show. This was his chance to show the band that he could perform under pressure. He had to pretend to be someone else, so the world wouldn't know him, but he was determined to prove himself anyway.
Show Time
Jonny started getting anxious as people poured into the auditorium. He was in the dressing room, but the familiar sounds of the crowd building and the volume of the background music increasing was getting him excited. Usually, he was in the green room with the band before the show, but he did not want to reveal the secret that he was filling in, so he stayed out of sight until it was time to take the stage.
The music fell silent and the crowd roared to life. Jonny knew that the opening act was about to start. He heard the familiar vocals of their first song and this was his cue to join the band backstage. The guys encouraged him as he took his place among them. In less than an hour he would be in the place that he had dreamed about for so long. He hadn't planned on being in disguise for his debut, but hey, it was a shot and he wasn't about to let the opportunity slip through his hands, literally.
The opening act finished up and Jonny and the band made their way to the stage. He picked his favorite guitar and strapped it on. As the other roadies cleared the gear from the first act Twiggs stopped as he passed Jonny. "I guess Jonny is sick or something, so I will be your tech tonight," "Cool, man. I know that you will take care of me, Twiggs," Jonny said. The roadie did a double take before recognizing him and said, "Damn, Jonny, I almost didn't recognize you. Why are you filling in?" "Rob fell and hurt his wrist. He is at the hospital now. I hope he is okay," Jonny said. "Don't worry about that right now. Go on out there and rock their asses off, man. Show them what you're made of. Your secret is safe with me." "Thanks man. I'll buy you a beer later," Jonny said. He looked around the stage and Rob was nowhere to be seen. He was a little disappointed as he really wanted to show Rob what he could do.
The lights got dim and the crowd roared up. This time it was twice as loud and the name of the band began chanting through the auditorium like some pre-show ritual. Jonny had watched this show hundreds of times from the side of the stage. He had studied Rob in action and knew his mannerisms and body movements as he performed. Jonny was going to have to do the same things to pull this off. He pulled the brim of his hat down low, but not so low that he couldn't see the crowd. His heart skipped a beat when Smiley patted him on the shoulder and said, "Show time" before he ran out on stage and started talking to the crowd. Jonny walked out with the rest of the band and struck a chord. As he walked out he twisted the volume knob on his guitar up and amplifiers filled the stadium with his chord. This was it, he was live. The crowd went wild. On cue from the singer, they launched into their first song with perfect time. Jonny was still a bit nervous, but played with accuracy. They pulled off the first two songs flawlessly. He was becoming more and more comfortable on stage and really got into character. He was moving and singing and playing just like his mentor and the crowd did not know the difference. He was being careful not to look at the cameras and to keep his head down so that the brim of his hat covered most of his face. The moment was still awesome and he was performing with precision.
After the third song, Jonny changed guitars. Twiggs told him he that he was performing perfectly and to keep it up. Jonny hurried back on stage and began the intro to the bands last single. The crowd erupted again and the singer went into a thank you speech. Jonny had to improvise and keep playing while the singer spoke. Jonny was waiting for the cue from the singer that he was done, but in the mean time, he had to keep improvising. "Damn, this sounds good," he thought as the singer nodded to him. The drums kicked in and the song took off again without missing a beat. There were pyrotechnic explosions on each side of the stage and behind the drummer in time with the final note of the song.
Two songs later and Jonny was soaking wet with sweat. He hadn't realized how hot the lights were during a show. The pyrotechnics only added to the heat and the boiling crowd increased the temperature inside the auditorium considerably. It was work to perform and he was feeling a little tired. His hands were fine, but he was looking for his second wind and some water. When the song was finished, he was able to take a breather as the drum solo stole the spotlights. He chugged some water and grabbed a towel. When he pulled the towel from his face, his injured guitarist was standing right there holding out his good hand. Jonny shook it and he heard the words that he had dreamt about. "You are kicking ass! Awesome show," Rob said. "Thanks, man. That really means a lot coming from you," Jonny replied. He grabbed another guitar and headed back on stage to accompany Mikey and lead into his own solo.
Although Jonny couldn't really be himself, he was having so much fun. The thrill of the crowd and their reactions to him was almost overwhelming. He knew that this was his calling. The drums trailed off and Jonny stepped to the front of the stage. He turned the volume on his guitar off and stood there for a moment. He put his arms up encouraging the crowd. They roared and he saw thousands of fists pounding the air. He was smiling widely and loved every second. He was now feeling confident and any trace of nervousness had evaporated. He cranked the volume knob all the way up and began to shred. He was hitting the solo perfectly and adding some of his own flair to it. He was about half way through when he hit a long high note. The feedback from the amplifiers crept in and he bent the string further. He felt what seemed like a bee sting on his picking hand. He realized that the string he was wailing on had just snapped in the middle of his solo.
Jonny knew his instrument well. He did not panic, but turned the predicament into a part of the show. He improvised and moved to another string. He was hammering rapid notes with his left fingers as he blatantly removed the broken string. The crowd was convulsing and screams filled the air. The camera crew had zoomed in on his hands as he simultaneously played and removed the nuisance string. He glanced at the big screen and saw his hands moving like they were magic. He had to move his playing hand around the string and he was going up and down the neck as if it was planned. When the fret board was clear, he tore off into the rest of the solo and finished it out as though nothing had happened. The crowd went wild as the lights went out.
Jonny had done it. He had proved that he could handle the pressure of playing live. He had mixed emotions as he changed out the guitar. His mentor and the roadie were raving about what he had just pulled off, but he knew that it was his fault. He had strung and tested all of the guitars and felt that he was responsible. "Hey man, shit happens. You handled it with ease. Now get out there and finish this thing up, Rock Star!" Rob said as he emphasized the name that Jonny had longed for. Jonny paused for a moment and looked at his old friend. "Yeah, I did it," he said with a grin. Jonny came back out on the stage and rocked the house for the rest of the show.
Chapter 4
Business as Usual
The remaining five shows were back to business as usual. The guitarist had only strained his wrist and was good to go by the next show. Jonny was once again a guitar tech, but everyone knew what he was capable of now. Following his show, the after-party was wild and the entire road crew was informed of what happened. Everyone looked at him differently now. He had earned a deeper level of respect, not only from the band, but from the road crew as well. He was invited to jam with the band before every show and the roadies wouldn't let him haul gear anymore.
Jonny had tasted the sweet life and he longed to get back in front of the crowd. He was thinking about leaving after this tour and forming his own band. He knew that it was a long, hard road to start from scratch. He had met lots of musicians over the years, but never kept in touch with any of them and did not have any musical relationships outside of his current gig. He loved the guys in this band like brothers, but knew that his place was on stage. Chemistry between band members was the hardest thing to find and it often took years to come to fruition, if at all. It would be tough to start over, but he thought that maybe he could pull it off with a little help from his friends.
The final show was a blow-out. The house was packed and the party lasted until dawn. They went straight from the party to the bus and had girls saying goodbye in the parking lot as the left. Jonny was the only one sober and who had slept, so he drove. It would take four days to get home and there was plenty of time for them all to sleep. Their contract for the tour was complete. The band owned the bus outright, so their obligation was over. They were free from the schedules and hectic pace. They could do whatever they wanted now. Jonny was contemplating how he would break the news to the guys when Twiggs came up and relieved him.
Jonny entered the back of the bus and the whole band was awake and alert. Jonny realized that he had driven for ten hours. He was heading for his bed when he noticed Rob sitting at the table with a pen and paper. This was something that he had not seen in quite a while. They were working on some new music. Jonny started to get excited, but remembered his plan and felt confused. He was going to miss out on the creative process of them making music together. Then he thought of the studio and the difference between having lots of money on contract and just a little money on a budget. The difference was like night and day and the finished product really showed. It was the hinge pin of success or failure. Jonny fell asleep to the sound of the band coming together with fresh ideas and he knew that he would miss them.
Chapter 5
Home at Last
Jonny woke up a few hours later. He hadn't slept very long, but he felt well rested. The band was still working when he emerged. "Hey man, up for a little jam?" Rob asked. "Sure, just let me get some coffee," Jonny said. He got a fresh pot going and grabbed a guitar. Now that he was up, they plugged in the travel amps and Mikey sat behind his electronic kit and turned on the power. Rob showed Jonny the sheet music for the new song that they had been working on. "I don't know about this one, something is missing," Rob said. "Well, lets run through it a few times and see where it goes," Jonny said.
They kicked off the song and Jonny was adding his flair. They changed a few things and he created a whole new segment. With two guitars playing, the dynamic of the song increased dramatically. Jonny said, "You can do it like that with two tracks in the studio. The bass can carry you live." He put down the guitar and poured his coffee. He sat down on the couch and was feeling pretty low. He loved making music with them and hoped that he could find a similar chemistry on his own.
"No. That won't work, man. It won't sound good live," Rob said. "What's the name of this song again?" Mikey asked. "Home at Last," Smiley said. Jonny sipped his coffee. "We wrote it about you, Jonny," Smiley added. Jonny about blew his coffee out of his nose. "Me?" he asked. "Yeah, we have been discussing it for a while and we all agree that you should join the band," Rob said. "Without a doubt," Mikey added. The other two agreed. "You will get an equal share of everything, even the old stuff that you helped with. You have been with us through the thick and thin. You really pulled through when I hurt my wrist. You showed us something out there and the fact that you put the band and the show first means a lot to us. You are like a brother to us. When you play with us it adds another dynamic that will take our music to a new level. We have all noticed it and we need you man. When you took that stage and rocked the house we knew that you belonged up there with us, not tuning guitars. So, what do you say?" Rob asked.
Jonny wasn't smiling. He looked at each one of them with a straight face and then said, "Well, I have some plans to leave you guys and start my own band. I was going to tell you when we got home." The look on their faces was disbelief as Jonny waited for the reaction. Rob was stunned the most and they all could not believe what they had just heard. Jonny waited for someone to speak. There was a long awkward pause and Rob finally broke the silence. In a somber tone he asked, "You're really leaving?" Jonny set his coffee down and in his most disappointed voice asked, "Are you insane?" Their faces turned from somber to confusion. He jumped up and yelled, "Hell no, I am not going anywhere! I am home at last!" Smiley said, "Oh, you little ass." He tackled Jonny onto the couch. The rest of the band piled on and laughter erupted. Twiggs heard it all and made a fist. He punched up into the air and said, "Yes!" He was just as excited as they were.
They made it home and relaxed for a couple of days before going to work. Rob had a studio in his house and they all gathered to create some magic. Through the next several months, they worked out a whole new album and it was the best work that they had done yet. They partied a little, but the focus was on the music and Jonny loved it, they all did. Somehow, getting back to the roots of how it all started honed their focus. They knew that they had a winner. Their relationships grew stronger as well and they knew that they had something special.
They spent a couple of months in the professional studio recording the album. While the mixing and editing was taking place they arranged for cover photos and a promo package. They had press releases stating that Jonny had joined the band. Jonny hadn't expected the buzz that it generated. Most of the interviews and radio promotions were about him. He became an instant celebrity. They were on the covers of all the rock and roll magazines and he was the lead story. It was almost overwhelming. He was being asked for his autograph at every turn. He was getting mobbed at the guitar shops and music stores. He was a true rock star and he hadn't even played a single show, yet, as himself anyway.
"Home at Last" was released as a single and was an instant hit. It débuted at number three and was the number one hit within a week. His song was being played on every rock station around the world. The album was released and went platinum in the first month. They were booked for a world tour and the money was flowing. They were scheduled to tour America first and then go to Europe. From Germany they would go to Russia and on to the Mediterranean. They would end the tour in Asia. It was a marathon three year schedule, but Jonny was thrilled. This is what he was born to do.
Their first show was for their own hometown. It was a record breaking crowd. They had to rent an old airport and they packed that place to capacity. Jonny took the stage for the first time and the crowd went insane. They played for over two hours. It was the most fun that they had ever had. Jonny had made it. He was living the dream that he had sought for so long. During his solo, he paused and stood in front of the thousands of screaming fans. He raised his hands in victory as they screamed his name. He was home at last.
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About the Author
JJ Slade is a fiction author and songwriter. This short story is his first published book. He resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and son.
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