poetwarrior

Damn, but she’s a genius. What more can I say?

Well, it was not a physical meeting. Rather, it was through the magic of live radio. While I was living in Dallas, I found out that Frank was going to be interviewed live on KNON-FM so I called in and got to talk to him live on the air.

I told him that when I was very young, I had seen the cover of his album, Weasels Rip My Flesh, and that I turned out pretty much okay. This was during the whole PMRC situation, and the topic went from music that was supposedly “bad for kids” to album art that offended the Washington Wives’ sensibilities.

It was just a brief tete a tete, but I will always remember that bit of communication with Frank Zappa. Though I wish I could have met him face to face while he was still alive, it was still a meeting of minds and that was pretty cool even back in the 1980’s.

Well, it was not a physical meeting. Rather, it was through the magic of live radio. While I was living in Dallas, I found out that Frank was going to be interviewed live on KNON-FM so I called in and got to talk to him live on the air.

I told him that when I was very young, I had seen the cover of his album, Weasels Rip My Flesh, and that I turned out pretty much okay. This was during the whole PMRC situation, and the topic went from music that was supposedly “bad for kids” to album art that offended the Washington Wives’ sensibilities.

It was just a brief tete a tete, but I will always remember that bit of communication with Frank Zappa. Though I wish I could have met him face to face while he was still alive, it was still a meeting of minds and that was pretty cool even back in the 1980’s.

Because at great risk to his political career and reputation, he did not sell out Cleveland’s public utility to private interests. In the end, it turned out he was right after all.

Anyone who is willing to risk everything to follow what he knows to be true is someone worth admiring.

I went to see him live both in San Francisco and Santa Cruz this past November. He’s really nice, cool and a great performer. It was great to finally meet him after both shows.

I also took some digital photos and video footage of his concerts, but I will never sell this to anyone. I’d rather his management use it for promotional purposes, since I respect him as a person and an artist.

This man has such artistic integrity, and I really appreciate his creative genius. He’s an intellectual Christian who goes against the Fundamentalist grain of both theology and culture. His music is powerful, enigmatic and brillant.

He’s the real deal in a world of poseurs.

I was invited by a friend of mine (a former wiccan who became a Christian) to go to his crusade meeting in San Francisco at the Cow Palace. I went because I wanted to hear Jars of Clay perform, but I left a saved Christian. At the time, my friend was a counselor at the crusade and she was hoping I’d have a change of life that night.

I asked her to counsel me as I accepted Christ that night. I have never looked back with regret, and am still a follower of Christ the Lord and Messiah. The music may have gotten me there, but the Holy Spirit filled me with the hope of renewal.

Thank you, Rev. Graham. God bless you mightily!

I remember being a vinyl junkie in Dallas, TX where I found a rather rare side by Eugene Chadbourne (along with members of the Violent Femmes), Corpses of Foreign War. His re-take on the Country Joe and the Fish anti-war classic song—with Iran substituting for Vietnam—is so relevant today that it’s frightening. That song must be resurrected and played on the radio now. The cover drawing by Eugene’s daughter is still xeroxed in my mind.

His website is http://www.eugenechadbourne.com/

While he was unjustly imprisoned by the former aparthaid regime in South Africa, he never lost hope that justice would someday prevail. Not only did it prevail, he soared above his prison and touched the minds and hearts of people all around the world.

The fact that he became the first African president of South Africa is nothing short of a miracle. Since then, he has never looked back—only looking forward, he brought real democracy to what was once a stain on the map of human conquest.

Freedom is possible, even in the worst situations. That is what I learned from Nelson Mandela’s struggle and triumph. May we all learn from him how to rise above oppression with a peaceful heart.