COMMUNIQUE: Michael Des Barres - Following the Dream of Rock Stardom Is Like Joining an Army Perpetually at War

As middle age circumnavigates the midriff of yesterday's riff masters, I began to look into the untimely demise of our former heroes and heroines of rock and roll. Some deified, some forgotten. "It's better to burn out than fade away," said Neil Young. "I hope I die before I get old," wrote Pete Townshend. Well, not all his dreams came true. Thank God. However, we do not mourn for everyone of the rock ‘n’ roll community who prematurely met their maker, then becoming label-mates of the heavenly record company in the sky. (The only one left, for the record) All those bass players, keyboard players, drummers, guitar players, singer/songwriters ...

 In going through the endless list, I realized I couldn't begin to acknowledge or give examples.It seemed so emotionally gratuitous. Suffice to say the list is long. It contains names that are famous, infamous and anonymous. The average age of a musician's death is 39 years and 9 months. Following the dream of rock ‘n’ roll stardom is like joining an army, perpetually at war. A war with the road. The temptations, the accelerated existence. The nervous system on overdrive and at maximum volume. The endless traveling. The time changes (not just the songs) of countries, zones. Narcotics, rhythm and booze fill the hours and months of crushing boredom in between shows. The challenges of success, to say nothing of the incomprehensible notion of failure. From bacchanalian backstage banquets to doing the dishes in your own kitchen in your own leather trousers....

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