Roger Waters In the Flesh

In the Flesh - full concert

  Todays blog features a favorite of mine, Roger Waters "In the Flesh" tour video from 2000. I actually saw this tour and it was amazing. 

For those that didn't know, Roger Waters was the bassist and main songwriter for Pink Floyd. The DVD was filmed live at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon back in June 2000. It is a 3 hour long concert and covers all of the Floyd classics such as Time, Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Money, Dogs, and many more. It also features a "best of" of Rogers solo work. It comes with a 30 minute long documentary on preparing for the tour, one of the few DVD side documentaries worth watching. Other than that, it's kind of a no-frills deal, as are most concert DVDs.

Most notably in my opinion and the reason I'm blogging about this dvd today is the guitar playing of Doyle Bramhall II. Not only is he a left handed guitar player, but he doesn't reverse the strings for left handed playing. That means he's literally playing upside down with the low strings on the bottom and the high strings on the top.  

  As this quote from Bramhall himself says, playing left handed and upside down presents its own challenges when it comes to playing, transposing and music theory.

I play by ear, so it could be the same and have no challenges for me. However, the different challenges for me are chords and transposing chords, because there are no instructions or music books out there for the positioning of the fingers for a left-handed, upside-down player. All the theory and technique doesn't apply to me because I would have to transpose it completely, as opposed to if I strung left-handed. Then all the finger positions on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth fret would all be the same. But for me, it's useless. - Doyle Bramhall II


However, I think Bramhall does a nice job of playing both staying true to the original Pink Floyd guitar style while at the same time bringing his own style of playing and making the songs his own. Its a fine balancing act to do that correctly and I think he pulls it off. 

Here is the setlist of the dvd

01. In The Flesh 
02. The Happiest Days Of Our Lives 
03. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) 
04. Mother
05. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert 
06. Southampton Dock 
07. Pigs On The Wing (Part 1) 
08. Dogs 
09. Welcome To The Machine 
10. Wish You Were Here 
11. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-8) 
12. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun 
13. Breathe 
14. Time 
15. Money 
16. Pros & Cons Of Hitch Hiking Part 11
17. Perfect Sense (Parts 1 & 2) 
18. The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range 
19. It's A Miracle 
20. Amused To Death 
21. Brain Damage 
22. Eclipse 
23. Comfortably Numb 
24. Each Small Candle 

  Sure Roger Waters solo career has some questionable tunes and they're definitely not the highlight of the dvd. But guitar players will like this dvd for the unique playing of Doyle Bramhall II. Pink Floyd fans will like the song selection from such underrated albums like Animals (a real guitar players album in my opinion).  Enjoy.

Please Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

 

 

Malmsteen Shmalmsteen

  Now when I think of Yngwie Malmsteen, I think of two things. One is the time I got to meet him on his tour bus during the 1990's. More on that later.

  The other is Phrygian modes, Harmonic Minor scales and more Phrygian modes over Eb Minor songs played at supersonic speeds.

  Now I'm not saying that he sucks. For what he does, which is shredding over a scale he has already played 10 times on the same album, or playing a riff that sounds exactly the same to another riff that is on a previous album, with the exception of one different note, he does it extremely well.

 

 

  Yes he's good, but personally I don't care how good he is, it just doesn't interest me. What interests me is not technique, but originality and creativity.

being really really fast is okay, but do a little something different every once and a while. Write a nice melody, try actually playing a chord. Focus on writing a really good song instead of focusing on "how many notes can I fit into the next three minutes." Is that asking too much?

 

9 minutes of Yngwie Malmsteen playing guitar. Think you have what it takes to sit thru this in its entirety and pass the Yngwie Malmsteen Challenge?

 and to elaborate from earlier let me tell you my Yngwie Malmsteen story.

  It's the mid 1990's and I used to work with a girl who used to model with his wife (I have no idea if they are still married). When Yngwie came to town I went to the show with some of my friends who were huge fans of his. I was more curious than a fan actually.

  The girl sees me at the show and introduces me to the wife. I asked her if I can meet Yngwie and she says yeah but only me and the girl I work with. My friends had to stay behind.

  He's sitting down in one of those restaurant booth seats you sometimes see on large buses like this. He's wearing black leather pants with no shirt and his gut is hanging out over his pants and he' watching tv. His wife introduces us and he just mumbles and doesn't take his eyes away from the tv. I extend my hand so I can shake hands with him but he doesn't even acknowledge me and leaves me hanging.

  I tried asking him about a recent guitar magazine interview he did but as I'm asking him he gets the remote for the tv and turns up the volume full blast to drown me out. Then he starts yelling at his wife to find his hairbrush so she can brush his hair.

 What a dickhead, but then again I can imagine how I would feel if I'm about to play a show and am just trying to chill out and enjoy some quiet time before the insanity begins and some fucking kid I don't even know comes into my tour bus, MY home away from home asking me questions n shit. I might be a total dick too. I get that.

But he's still a douche. A very fast playing technically sound douche - yes. But still a douche.

Bipolar Musicians: Jimi Hendrix

Am I happy, or in misery? Jimi Hendrix from Purple Haze

   Jimi Hendrix never received a diagnosis of Bipolar during his lifetime, but like I've always said, if being creative and self destructive at the same time isn't a sign of being bipolar then I don't know what is. A study conducted in the 1970's (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/bipolar-disorder-and-creativity) studied 30 prominent authors and found that 80% had experienced at least one episode of major depression, hypomanic, or mania compared to only 30% of the control group. A follow up done 15 years later found that 43% of the authors had been diagnosed Bipolar as opposed to only 10% of the control group.

  The link between Bipolar Disorder and creativity is definitely there. 


  And being Bipolar myself, I like to think we can smell our own.

There are other things too.

1. Jimi Hendrix Wrote a Song Called Manic Depression 

 Manic Depression is what Bipolar Disorder was called back in the old days. The lyrics go from the highs of "Manic Depression is touching my soul," to the lows of, "Manic Depression is a frustrating mess." ...

Manic depression is touching my soul
I know what I want but I just don't know
How to, go about gettin' it
Feeling sweet feeling,
Drops from my fingers, fingers
Manic depression is catchin' my soul

Woman so weary, the sweet cause in vain
You make love, you break love
It's all the same
When it's, when it's over, mama
Music, sweet music
I wish I could caress, caress, caress
Manic depression is a frustrating mess

Well, I think I'll go turn myself off,
And go on down
All the way down
Really ain't no use in me hanging around
In your kinda scene

Music, sweet music
I wish I could caress, caress, caress
Manic depression is a frustrating mess 

2. Jimi Hendrix was an Army Paratrooper.

  Jimi Hendix was an army paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists engaging in high risk behaviors as one of the symptoms of manic behavior. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

3. Jimi Hendrix had a history of violence

 The book, Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix describes an incident where he hit a woman over the head with a vodka bottle in a drunken rage. The same book tells of another incident where he was engaged in a drunken brawl in a hotel in Sweden where he also put his hand thru a plate glass window. 

 The book, Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky also tells of more violent run ins with women. 

 Psychiatrictimes.com states that just under 50% of people with Bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior. (http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder)

4. Jimi Hendrix and Drugs

 Yes, obviously Jimi Hendrixs' history with alcohol, LSD, and pill is well documented, as is the fact that he obviously died of a drug overdose. According to statistics presented by the American Journal of Managed Care: 

 About 56 percent of individuals with bipolar who participated in a national study had experienced drug or alcohol addiction during their lifetime

• 

  There's the Jimi Hendrix that showed his charming and humorous side on the Dick Cavett show

   There's the Jimi Hendrix that belted out that beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

and there's the Jimi Hendrix that was a boozing, drug using violent womanizer. This contrast is the reality of Bipolar Disorder. 

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com

Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpu

Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpuf

Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpuf

Why I Hate KISS

Today I wanted to write about why I hate KISS.  There's a lot of KISS hate on the internet but most of it doesn't get into anymore detail other than 'the music sucks,' or 'they're sellouts.' I wanted to be a little more detailed than that. 

  Then I realized that I really didn't have many other reasons for hating KISS. Sure I can't stand the music and I find their commercialism annoying. They're more of a business than a band. 

So at first I struggled to find any other reasons why I despise them so much. They just seem to be one of those bands that you either love or hate.  

  But here are a few reasons I did manage to come up with.

1. The Lyrics

 
            They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry - From Spinal Tap

I got a fever ragin’ in my heart
You make me shiver and shake
Baby don’t stop, take it to the top
And eat it like a piece of cake

 - from Heaven's on Fire 

Baby, let's put the X in sex
Love's like a muscle and you make me wanna flex

-from Let's put the X in Sex

 

Imagine a bunch of old men in their sixties singing this:

I don't usually say things like this to girls your age, but when I saw you

coming out of school that day, that day I knew, I knew, I've got to have

you, I've got to have you

-from Christine Sixteen

 I really love you baby
I love what you've got
Let's get together, we can
Get hot...I'll be a gambler, baby
Lay down the bet
We get together, mama
You'll sweat 

-from Love Gun 

So if you please get on your knees
There are no bills, there are no fees
Baby, I know what your problem is
The first step of the cure is a kiss

-from Calling Dr. Love

2. Gene Simmons Sings When You Wish Upon a Star

This actually happened on his solo album

3. KISS on American Idol

4. The Disco Song

- I Was Made for Lovin You

5.KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park

-Promo from 1978

6. The LA KISS Arena Football Team

 

KISS YOU HAVE FAILED TO ROCK!

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com

 

Bipolar Musicians: Kurt Cobain

Bipolar Opposites Attract - Kurt Cobain, from "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter."

  Time magazine included Kurt Cobain in a 2002 list of “manic geniuses” who made great contributions to music, art, or literature.  Manic Depression is what Bipolar Disorder used to be called back in the day.

  However, it's not clear if Kurt Cobain was ever officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. As someone with Bipolar disorder I can see it in his writings. We'll get into that later. 

 A lot of what we know comes from his cousin, Bev Cobain, a registered nurse with a background working in mental health:

"Kurt was diagnosed at a young age with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], then later with bipolar disorder...Bipolar illness has the same characteristics as major clinical depression, but with mood swings, which present as rage, euphoria, high energy, irritability, distractibility, overconfidence, and other symptoms. As Kurt undoubtedly knew, bipolar illness can be very difficult to manage, and the correct diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately for Kurt, compliance with the appropriate treatment is also a critical factor" - Bev Cobain

  Attention Deficit disorder and Bipolar can often be confused and their symptoms often overlap. I was originally misdiagnosed as having ADD myself before I was eventually and correctly diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder.
  
  Drug abuse is also common with Bipolar Disorder. Cobain's biography Heavier then Heaven writes about several overdoses that Kurt had before his death. According to statistics presented by the American Journal of Managed Care:

• About 56 percent of individuals with bipolar who participated in a national study had experienced drug or alcohol addiction during their lifetime.

  Suicide is also common with Bipolar Disorder. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry  At least 25% to 50% of patients with bipolar disorder also attempt suicide at least once.

Kurt Cobain wrote a song called, "I Hate Myself and Want to Die."

 He also wrote a song called "Lithium," which is a popular drug used to treat Bipolar Disorder. The lyrics resemble the highs and lows that characterize being Bipolar: The feelings of no self worth and loneliness that is depression and the elevated mood and excitement that one experiences in mania.

I'm so happy...I'm so ugly...I'm so lonely...I'm so excited...I'm so horny...- Lithium

 His two biographies, Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana & Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain both tell stories of his moodiness, depression and also higher more elevated moments of extreme creativity. 

 The life of Kurt Cobain shows us the immense creativity that can come from having Bipolar Disorder. Yet at the same time it also shows us the disaster that Bipolar Disorder is when it's left untreated. 

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com
 

The Rutles

  1978's The Rutles is a must see film. The mockumentary/parody of The Beatles brings together two comedic giants, Monty Python & Saturday Night Live. 

Without The Rutles there would be no Spinal Tap. 

 It's also in my opinion the best & most successful Beatles spoof. The "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" episode of THE SIMPSONS doesn't compare. George Harrison was even involved in The Rutles and even makes a wry cameo in the film.

  One of its songs, "Cheese and Onions" HAS even appeared on Beatles' bootlegs, some Fab Four fans apparently mistake it for an actual Lennon composition...

  According to the Rutles entry on Wikipedia, John Lennon was even said to have loved the film so much he refused to return the videotape and sountrack that he was given for his approval.

If you like The Beatles, you will like it. If you like Monty Python you will like it. If you like Saturday Night Live you will like it.
 
But don't take my word for it watch it for yourself right here:

 The Rutles: (Full Movie)

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com 

Guitar Collectors! go see my friends at The Collectionary
http://thecollectionary.com/club/guitars

 

  

Bipolar Musicians: Axl Rose

Can you think of any musicians whose careers can best be described as bipolar? - question asked to Guitardedblog.com

  One of my followers asked me this awesome question today and I would be more than happy to try and answer it. There has been lots of different musicians who people have thought to have been bipolar. There's a good link to a website that talks about some of them here, But the most prominent one that comes to mind is Axl Rose.
  Axl Rose has been described as Bipolar and his career would certainly lend credence to this.

"I'm very sensitive and emotional and things upset me and make me feel like not functioning or dealing with people... I went to a clinic, thinking it would help my moods. The only thing I did was to take one 500 question test - ya know, filling in the little black dots. All of a sudden I'm diagnosed manic-depressive.- Axl Rose

 As you can see Axl himself as alluded as much, but for every statement that he's made saying he was diagnosed manic-depressive he's also made statements that he's never been diagnosed.

 I've not been diagnosed as being bipolar though many misconstrue statements I made earlier as alluding to such and unfortunately there's been an abundance of misguided or unqualified speculation of various events but I definitely can relate to needing my own space.- Axl Rose

 This in itself seems like very bipolar behavior in my opinion.

He's had a history throughout his life of anger, drug/alcohol use, violent behavior, arrests. Being bipolar myself I can certainly relate to that, But that could really point to a lot of things.

 Then there's the whole thing with Guns n Roses where he wouldn't come onstage until he was damn good and ready, sometimes well after midnight. The constant firing and restructuring of the Guns n Roses lineup, the decade plus long wait for Chinese Democracy, etc...

AXL ROSE BEFORE AND AFTER...YES THAT IS REALLY HIM!!!

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath in Phoenix, AZ last night 8-30-13 picture from www.azcentral.com

   Black Sabbath's latest album entitled, "13" debuted at number one on I Tunes proving that rock is far from dead. I went to see them in concert last night and that's what I want to blog and share some pictures of the show that I did not take. 

Guitarist Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013.

picture from www.azcentral.com

  I was excited about seeing Black Sabbath for several reasons. I've seen Ozzy in concert three times since 1988 and he always puts on a good show, I've never seen Black Sabbath before. But mostly, I wanted to see one of my guitar heroes Tony Iommi play live, especially since he has cancer now, I figured this could be the last chance I get.

  After I bought my tickets, I looked at some Youtube videos of this tour and I gotta admit I was a little shocked. Ozzy hanging on to the microphone stand for dear life sounded tired and was having trouble hitting a lot of the higher notes. The guitar was detuned so much to presumably accommodate Ozzy's diminishing vocal range that it was hard to listen to the music and make out a lot of the songs like "War Pigs." And very importantly drummer Bill Ward was not present, apparently he said he would not be part of this reunion unless he was offered a, "signable contract." (source wikipedia,) and I'm not a big fan of messing with the rhythm section of a band. 

 I also found this blog on the Houston Press Website talking about their opening night on Houston. Calling Ozzy's performance, "struggling," "decidedly not in key," "off key mumbling," and, "painful to witness." The link to that blog is here:

 http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/07/ozzy_osbourne_cant_sing.php

 I was seriously doubting my decision to go to this concert. I wanted to see a rock and roll show not a funeral. 

Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013. If Jesus played drums this is what it would look like.
picture from www.azcentral.com

 But the show that I saw was not the show that the Houston Press blogged about. The crowd loved it and was going nuts the entire time, the band was tight, and Ozzy's voice was powerful and strong. He was in top form, jumping, and running around on stage for 17 songs. Not bad for being 64 years old. As much of a mess he is in real life, I swear something happens when he gets on stage and it's like he's a completely different person. Rock n Roll just keeps you young that way I guess. 

 The band also had great videos, lights and an insane 10+ minute drum solo. What ever happened to drum solos? I miss them at concerts.

  If anyone has a chance to go this show I highly recommend it. Kids were there with their parents and I sat next to a old lady who must've been at least 70 years old.

Set list

1. War Pigs
2. Into the Void
3. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes
4. Snowblind
5. Age of Reason
6. Black Sabbath
7. Behind the Wall of Sleep
8. N.I.B.
9. End of the Beginning
10. Fairies Wear Boots
11. Rat Salad
    (Followed by Tommy Clufetos Drum Solo)
12. Iron Man
13. God Is Dead?
14. Dirty Women
15. Children of the Grave
16. Encore:
16. Paranoid
    (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Intro)
17. Zeitgeist
    
     Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013.
    picture from www.azcentral.com
    My only criticism is with Ozzy's usual stage antics and gimmicks.  He's been doing the same bits for years and if  you've never seen Ozzy here's what you can expect when you see him. 
    
    
    1. He can't fucking hear you!: he will say that over and over again, so make sure you yell really loud.
    2. He wants to see your fucking hands!: Even though Black Sabbath is not exactly a wave your hands in the air type of band, he will insist on seeing your hands.
    3. He loves you very much: and he's not afraid to say it.
    
    
    Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg
    
    
    
    
    And on Twitter @guitardedblog
    
    email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

The Billboard Top Ten

Here is the Billboard top ten for this week. I don't know new music these days but I'm pretty sure there are no rock bands in it.

1. Blurred Lines

Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. + Pharrell
Blurred Lines 

2. Roar

Katy Perry
Roar 

3. We Can't Stop

Miley Cyrus

4. Radioactive

Imagine Dragons
Night Visions

5. Holy Grail

Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
Magna Carta...Holy Grail 

6. Applause

Lady Gaga
Applause

7. Get Lucky

Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams
Random Access Memories 

8. Treasure

Bruno Mars
Unorthodox Jukebox

9. Cups (Pitch Perfect's When I'm Gone)

Anna Kendrick
When I'm Gone

10.Safe And Sound

Capital Cities
Capital Cities 

Some people say rock is dead, and may use the recent charts as proof of this. But I propose that rock has never dominated the charts. 

Look at the top ten songs ten years ago in 2003:

1	50 Cent	In Da Club
2	R. Kelly	Ignition
3	Sean Paul	Get Busy
4	Beyonce feat. Jay-Z	Crazy in Love
5	3 Doors Down	When I'm Gone
6	matchbox twenty	Unwell
7	Chingy	Right Thurr
8	Aaliyah	Miss You
9	Kid Rock feat. Sheryl Crow	Picture
10	Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy	Bring me to Life

The Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow song 'Picure' is definitely not rock music. Evanescence, 3 Doors Down & Matchbox Twenty are borderline pop bands. The charts ten years ago are  dominated with Hip Hop/Pop music.  

Look at the charts twenty years ago in 1993:

1

Whitney Houston

I Will Always Love You

2

Tag Team

Whoomp! (There It Is)

3

UB40

Can't Help Falling In Love

4

Janet Jackson

That's The Way Love Goes

5

Silk

Freak Me

6

SWV

Weak

7

Shai

If I Ever Fall In Love

8

Mariah Carey

Dreamlover

9

Wreckx-N-Effect

Rump Shaker

10

Snow

Informer

 No rock bands whatsover. 

What about thirty years ago in 1983:

1	Police	Every Breath You Take
2	Michael Jackson	Billie Jean
3	Irene Cara	Flashdance... What A Feeling
4	Men At Work	Down Under
5	Michael Jackson	Beat It
6	Bonnie Tyler	Total Eclipse Of The Heart
7	Daryl Hall and John Oates	Maneater
8	Patti Austin and James Ingram	Baby Come To Me
9	Michael Sembello	Maniac
10	Eurythmics	Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

 Personally I consider The Police more of a pop band than a rock band but other than that no rock bands.

and finally let's look at 1973, forty years ago.

1	Tony Orlando and Dawn	Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree
2	Jim Croce	Bad Bad Leroy Brown
3	Roberta Flack	Killing Me Softly With His Song
4	Marvin Gaye	Let's Get It On
5	Paul McCartney and Wings	My Love
6	Kris Kristofferson	Why Me
7	Elton John	Crocodile Rock
8	Billy Preston	Will It Go Round In Circles
9	Carly Simon	You're So Vain
10	Diana Ross	Touch Me In The Morning

I'm trying to show you that you can't say rock is dead just because it's not on the top of the charts these days. As you can see, rock music has never been in the top of the charts. Rock has always been a fringe movement. Sure it's had times where it's been more socially acceptable but it has never been the music of 'the people.' 

That's what pop music is for 

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com

 

Time for Some Bi-Polar Stuff Today.

So I started seeing this new psychiatrist back in May [three months ago]. I hadn't been on any medications for almost a year. I was coming off an extremely high elevated manic period and was moving into my next phase which is an extremely high/elevated but intensely irritable, paranoid and anxious phase. My doctor put on Abilify. I thought this was weird because I'm used to being on multiple medications. Also from what little I knew Abilify was used primarily as an add-on to anti-depressants. 

 The doctor said that Abilify was approved for and is effective in treating bipolar mania and it also has some anti-depressant properties so it's like a 2 in 1 drug.  I also told him that I since I have a wife, kids and a full time job I need to be able to be functional and not in a zombie like state all day. Being functional is my primary concern with any  medication I take. Besides, I told him, eating cereal, watching cartoons and sleeping for 16 hours a day was not my idea of mental health.

 So I decided to trust him and I was given a starter dose of 7 1/2mg a day. After a couple weeks of some uncomfortable side effects I immediately felt the shift. My paranoia and irritability was gone. In their absence, that left room for the rest of my personality to breathe more comfortably. Thus I felt more relaxed, less irritable and generaly more pleasant, friendlier and happier. I felt so happy in fact, that I almost fell for that old trap, which is to think that maybe I feel so good that I don't even need medication anymore. But with the help of my therapist who I see regularly, I was helped to see that the medication was working and I need to stick with it. 


 Then 3 weeks ago, out of nowhere I started feeling bad again.

 Fear, loathing, dread, panic attacks, anxiety, not sleeping, I even told my wife that I definitely felt depressed, unhappy, and generally unstable for no reason at all.  It was affecting my work and at one point I was seriously close to finding a new psychiatrist and even considered hospitalization but then quickly decided against it when I realized I haven't paid the last hospital visit 15 months ago.

 My psychiatrist said that the low dose of Abilify had probably stopped working and that I now need the full dose of 15mg/day. That seemed like a reasonable explanation so I bought in and started taking the full dose.  It's been two weeks on the full dose and I do feel better. That general feeling of dread is gone as are the panic attacks.

  I'm used to being on so many different medications I have a hard time believing that just medication is so effective with me. But I guess anything is possible. 

  The other thing which has been just as if not more effective with me is therapy. I go every other week. We talk about how I can minimize the stresses around my home and be a better husband and father.  It seems that medication can only help so much and if you really want to be stable and stay stable you have to be in therapy on a regular basis. But thats just my opinion. 

  So it seems that with this latest change in my medication that I'm starting to become stable again. I had a great vacation, my step-daughter has started school, I have the Black Sabbath concert and a couple of football games coming up and I'm looking forward to a pleasant rest of the summer. 

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com

He Trusted You!

Andy Kaufman performing I Trusted You on The Midnight Special in 1977

  In 1977 Andy Kaufman performed on a show called The Midnight Special. In the episode, he  performs a song called "I Trusted You"The lyrics of which are simply the words I Trusted You performed over and over again.

 I wanted to share this because I always loved this performance. Not just because I find it funny but because I think you gotta be pretty gutsy to be a young up and coming comedian, you get a chance to be on national television, for all you know, you may never get another chance to be on television ever again. So do you bring out your best jokes in hopes of 'knocking 'em dead?' - No you just say screw it and sing I Trusted You for almost 4 minutes. 

 In that respect I think this is a ballsy and brilliant performance that's entertaining as hell.

  And in that same spirit here's another clip of a half naked Andy Kaufman performing Slim Whitman's Rosemarie on the David Letterman Show. It's almost as if he's daring you to be entertained.  So strangely brilliant.

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guitardedblogg

And on Twitter @guitardedblog

email me at bloggeradmin@guitardedblog.com