Typical Family Get Together

      It’s me again. Went away this weekend to see my brother, Garrett. My folks live on the same property so I got to see them as well. Plenty of good food, and making new memories, as well as revisiting some of my past.

      You know what happens when a touring musician turns in his tour pass? Neither do I, but my brother does, he lived the life, I just got him started. Garrett, is the most successful former member of, DeadLove.

      I’ve vicariously lived through him when it comes to chasing that dream, getting to see him kick ass on stage. Whether it was when he was a talented young drummer, or as the wise seasoned bassist he would become.

      My brother grew into a leader among musicians, he lead by example and was often a no-nonsense kinda guy. He was honest, sometimes brutally if you had a fragile ego. But most off all he was fair and loyal. He was also funny and charismatic and loved to party.

      I’m proud to be his brother, and I know that he has always had my back. I’ve always had his as well. All the musical memories are just icing on the cake.

      Honestly, we’re each others lifeline when it comes to keeping our newfound faith, and staying off the booze. We survived the chaos somehow, and lived to tell the tale.

      We are defined by more than our creative merit, because we are also both husbands and fathers.

      My brother works a day job at present. He worked part-time in between tours to supplement his income when he wasn’t on the road.

      It wasn’t about fame or money, it was that moment on stage performing the music is what he lived for, putting up with the other bullshit just goes along with the gig.

      “ It’s like no other feeling in the world, it’s the biggest rush ever. No drug or drink comes close to achieving that feeling. I feel euphoric in that moment.” - Garrett DeadLove

      This was an intentional detour that just occurred, folks. To coin a phrase, J.J. Burton & Joey G have been in the SpotLight in my stories. Garrett, hasn’t.

      The Brothers DeadLove, share some of the same story. We were the two constants in the band, no matter the version.

      I was there for the original lineup of “Clusterfuck.” If you haven't been following along you may be confused by that band name.

      They were introduced in the, Guess You Had To Be There” chapter.

      After that we were never in another band atmosphere again. We worked on, Joey G’s, studio recordings that’s it. We’re just brothers now, there is no project going on.

      So back to this weekend away. It was cool to just hang out, talk music as two fans, which lead to old memories and telling stories. Some music, some not.

        To quote David Lee Roth: “We was laughing like pirates.” Having a blast, that was night one. The next day would start off normal enough.

      My brother had places to be, Saturday morning. So I slept in. In a cold room on an air mattress with a TV playing in the background. Modern day camping out, without the bugs, and the fucking heat. lol.

      As I get up and get going around 2:00 in the afternoon. After my mom tells me about leftover breakfast, I’m grabbing water and headed outside for my morning cigarette.

      I gotta get the blood flowing before I eat anything. Always have been that way. My brother is close behind carrying two folding chairs.

      He’s got this bad ass little speaker that not only doubles as his practice amp, but it looks the part. It’s shaped like an amp head, people.

      Bluetooth obviously, isn’t everything? Garrett, lays the amp-head in his GMC Denali both doors are open with chairs in front. Looking for music on his iPhone he dials up some, Judas Priest. “Turbo Lover” starts to play, as he lights up a Cigar.

      We’re transported back into time, we smile at each other and nod. As we start singing along with Rob Halford, the chickens in his neighbor’s yard start running for cover at the sound of our voices. We know how to make an entrance, folks.

      Speaking of being transported back in time, our father is walking towards us. After shooting the shit for a few minutes, my dad says he needs our help with something.

      We walk along with him when we come in sight of my dad’s Durango with the trailer hooked up to it.

       There’s a massive piece of steel propped up on blocks, on top of and old pallet-jack, which is sitting on two sheets of plywood, laying over top of gravel. So we can maneuver this heavy bastard.

      My dad is 72 years old. He’s always been the fix it guy, building my mom gadgets to make life easier. She shows him something in a store, he builds it.

      Whether it be household repairs, automobiles, building an actual building, cement work, electrical, wood, metal, even plumbing which he despises. That’s my dad, that’s his gift.

      But if you tell my dad that he’s good at mechanical things, his reply has been the same one for all 50 years I’ve know the man which is: “I’m a jack of all trades, and a master of none.”

      Ok, I know as a toddler I may not have heard him say that, but my mother verifies that he’s always said that. I’m 50, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. lol.

      The DeadLove men working together can be an adventure. Two Pisces and an Aquarius, do the math. lol. Garrett is the Aquarius, but were all water signs. lol.

      The real problem is my dad and my brother argue, they both have the DeadLove temper. No, it did not skip me, I have it as well. Difference is I have a long fuse and they have short fuses.

      I love my brother dearly, but he is a shit-stirrer. He knows how to push buttons, it’s never with malice though. He just finds it funny to stir people up, I’m more equipped to handle the digs than my dad.

      Pisces are pessimistic by nature, we’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop. If it’s going good, we start looking for the landmines up ahead. We never feel like we deserve happiness, so we usually cockblock ourselves in every endeavor under the sun.

      I’ve had arguments with my dad, but I read the situation, if it’s not worth dying on that hill, I’m not going there. But even when were all getting along, we talk the same way to each other. We drop a lot of F-bombs, and cuss each other all the time.

      Anyhow we help my dad do the whole job. Were moving a car lift, folks. But it’s in pieces, it took a three hours to do it. Not a fucking peep, their not digging at each other, it’s going smoothly.

      We get to the last two pieces the biggest ones. My dad chained them down to the trailer, because we moved them to a different building on the yard. After getting the trailer backed close to the doorway.

      Dad starts on removing the chains. It starts folks, off one little line. My brother says. Went something like this. My dads first name is, Charles. So when you see the letter “C” speaking it’s him.

      G: “Why the fuck did you chain it down for? It ain’t like the heavy bastard is going anywhere.”

      C: “Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one. Because I’d rather be safe than sorry, don’t tell me how to move stuff around.”

      D: “Garrett, don’t start. Let’s just get this thing done, so we can hangout a little before watching wrestling.”

      G: “I’m just saying it was a little much chaining it down, it wasn’t going to move.

      C: “Says the person who didn’t chain shit down, and had it spill all over the fucking road, you’d thought you’d learned your lesson, son.

      G: “First off, I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I don’t recall anything like that ever happening. It’s not like you got a fucking video proving otherwise.”

      D: “Would you two fucking knock it off. Why does everything turn into a pissing contest. We were doing so well, until now.”

      G: “Not my fault he gets his feathers ruffled so easily, I’m just fucking breaking his balls a little.” Now smirking and chuckling.

      C: “You’re an asshole, always gotta be fucking with people. Every since you were a teenager, you haven't stopped. You’re fucking 45 years old.”

  G: “Well at least I can take a joke, dickhead!”
      D: “I’m popping a brain-vessel over here. Both of you shut the fuck up, I’m not here to be a referee. Let’s get this done, or I’m going in the house and you can come get me when your both through arguing.”

      Needless to say they bickered but managed to work at the same time. Like I told you somethings never change. But it’s memories made, a couple months later we’ll all laugh about it.

      Maybe, sometimes it gets a laugh, sometimes they argue again. The rest of the weekend went off without a hitch though. It’s just a typical family get together. Peace, Love, and Lennon.