When Did You Know The Dream Was Over

[69SG]

This may be a very personal question.
I don't expect anyone to answer it really.
This is probably for the guy's my age around 53.
We all got the hot's for the 6 Wire Timber,
around the age of 12, at least I did.

When did you know you were not going to
rise to the level of your ORIGINAL DREAM?
That is my question.

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The rest of this not nessesary to read.
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Parents wouldn't go for a Guitar and got me an
old Upright Piano hehehe>Marine Hym at the recital...Done.
Shuv it
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Boy Scouts>>Out of the HOUSE>camp outs were great>
20 mile hikes/Order of the Arrow/A millimeter from an Eagle/
found out it was all pollitics
Shuv it
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Honda 90>>God what freedom!>lived on it>
100 miles a day, no licence>Got my Licence (14)on my birthday
Aug27 on Sept4 I got Broadsided going through an intersection
by a car trying to make the light, they weren't slowing down either.
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Motorcyle in peices>my right leg broke
(Smashed) compound fracture from half the shin down.
I was knocked 86 ft, cycle 106ft> gas tank-seat-front wheel
Motorcycle bent in a "U" in the middle.
Sssshuv it
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I finnaly got my Guitar, they didn't have to cut off my leg.
It was a Gretch and a Tube 1-12AMPEG
I wish I still had that little kickas amp.
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A lot of Learning> Bands & Fun between then and 29.
.

[LeeMo]

Slid the Les Paul under the bed when the wife got preggers with the second. I was 30 then. Didn't pull her out again for over 10 years.

Oh well ! During that time I forgot a lot about playing. Now I play from the heart. Before , I played scales. Now I play what my "inner ear" hears. (Well, sometimes ) Haven't played a scale in years.


LeeMo

[chainsawmillerman]

I started playing drums at age 9. I recognized the lead singer from helix in a bar in my early 20's he said something to me that proved I did'nt have the blind ambition required of an artist. He said under 1% of musicians in the industry make a stable living at it.(was it accurate ? don't know) He then said if he had it to do over again he would'nt. I went on to try for an accounting designation but after 2 of the 5 years for the diploma it became obvious why there was so many dull jokes about the accountant ( monty python).So I became a gold miner in Canada's north. Still love pounding the skin, I mean skins though .In 2003 I was diagnosed with menieres desease doc said no more mining.The wife and I opened a restaurant and I'm back to doing what I was doing when I was a teenager ,chilidog anyone?

[jetson]

Oh God what a sad question. not that you brought it up, but you made me think about it.

[1Way]

I still don't know yet, but my original dream has been modified and damaged many times. Opps, I'm not 50+. 8 more years to go.

On the bright side, I really enjoy playing even though I have not even 2 years of learning how to play guitar under my belt. The rest has all been coasting, well, more like not playing but maybe 3 times a year just to remember what it was like again.

I was abducted by my parents when I was nearly 18 and sent to a religious reformatory in Corpus Christi Texas.
My dream started to shrink.

I never finished high school because of that, but I did toke more smoke to help ease the pain of never even saying good bye to any of my schoolmates. I ended up joining the Navy a few years later after drifting from job to job. Then I got disillusioned there and succumbed to my old ways and got kicked out of the service for failing two drug tests. But I did worse before leaving by not turning in my Navy party-er friend for what he did. Suffice it to say he stole some military ID cards. I ended up spending a year on a high security high rise for that stunt.
My dream almost completely died there.

But life moved on. I met a lovely girl from my church, and we almost got married after about 3 years together. She left me just a month or so from the wedding.
Holy crap that knocked the wind out of me.

Wait, it gets even better...

Then I got "lucky" and was laid off due to no fault of my own, so I qualified for a state funded education grant. It was like nearly 2 grand plus weekly gas money. I would have taken truck driver training, but I recently had my first significant accident in my car and the companies I spoke with said that I'd need to wait 3 years before they would consider hiring me. So I went for computer programming. I maxed out every school loan in favor of getting the best grades over working part time. I dropped a programming class because the instructor was unfair. That pretty much ruined my chances of graduating on time. Later I found out that if I would have checked a different box on a financial aid enrollment form, my education might have been nearly provided for me with very little cost, except that the extra time necessary to find grants would have likely dismissed the $2,000 grant I currently had! I did not graduate although I would have been a top programmer.
All my life's dreams shrunk big time.

I tried to rectify things by becoming a truck driver as the three years had nearly passed after dropping out of college. After driving truck half the time since 98', I did the no no and landed in a ditch in the middle of winter in 04'. It was my last run before quiting the best job I had ever had so I could finally catch up on cleaning and organizing my stressed out/messed up life. I hurt my back "rea"l bad during the two day clean up process. I was out of work for 6 months and thus lost thousands of dollars, which amounted to my life's savings. My life is even more of a mess.
Dreams? They are hard to find.

Last year I sold my 19 year old Gibson Explorer 425 (way too heavy for my ailing back) and a lucky garage sale find, an Ovation Preacher. I threw caution to the wind and went searching for a great amp and guitar. I bought a 50watt Marshall JCM800 combo from a down home country fella out in Virginia. I recently spent nearly $200 in getting it back to half decent shape. Then I found a sweet Gibson SG w/HSC. It's an 02 but has some odd grooves dug into it from apparently rubbing the guitar into the strings of the bass guitar. The mother sold it to me, she lost her son way too early in life (tragic story, somethings are left better alone). My latest buy is a pair of Scumback speakers, I might get then this weekend. I've been listening to the blues lately.
I need to learn how to play guitar, and then maybe I can dream again.
...

[gene]

This specific thread was probably not intended to push the "maudlin" buttons, but it probably has. Dues are paid in many different ways and the sharing of the ways is often cathartic. My theory is that this catharsis is the elemental rock of the blues (puns not intended).

I hope the sharing helps.

On a lighter note, marriage sure brought reality home to me. Responsibility meet questionable mediocrity.

However, I still have fun.

Gene

[Legin]

Lovely wife and three kids, so OK the musical dream was put on hold for a while however here I am age 50 and the dream is just starting. Not seeking fame or fortune, I now have enough money to get the equipment I want and not going without food. New band, composing work coming in, amp work coming in. Hey I've had the BS in the past but the future is looking great and that is what matters.

[69SG]

This post should have been:
When Was The Nightmare Over & The Dream Begin
Wow ___Man o'Man

Anyone Posting here qualifies for the
18Watt Blues Foundation Association

[loverocker]

Yeah, my only "I wonder what would have happened if..." dream is the one I had at about 10yo - becoming a jet pilot. Teenage years showed me that I don't do mindless obedience well, so it's just as well I didn't join the RAF

Never did dream of being a guitar hero... At about that time I was mainly dreaming of Deborah Harry and Kate Bush...

[69SG]

Yeah, my only "I wonder what would have happened if..." dream is the one I had at about 10yo - becoming a jet pilot. Teenage years showed me that I don't do mindless obedience well, so it's just as well I didn't join the RAF

Never did dream of being a guitar hero... At about that time I was mainly dreaming of Deborah Harry and Kate Bush...

But have you seen 'Hairy Debbie' Lately?!?

[zaphod_phil]

Yeah, my only "I wonder what would have happened if..." dream is the one I had at about 10yo - becoming a jet pilot.

You too, eh? I love aircraft, and I always wanted to fly as a career. And I have a cousin who flew a lot of jet fighters, and now the Spitfire in the WWII flight. However, you can't get a job as a pilot if you're colourblind. So I've had to make do with the occasional light aircraft or glider lesson. When I can afford, it I'll take enough lessons to get my license. So did EE instead, and enjoy rocking out in my little spare time. Sometomes, people ask me what I'm doing as an EE, if I'm colourblind. So I have to check every single resistor with a meter before soldering. And I will carry on dreaming...

[DerStever]

I'm still dreaming @53- I do computers in a municipality - low pay but time off - thats my job. My life is my wife (who is disabled), God, and I play in a band and write songs - recently Ive started building and restoring amps - something Ive always wanted to do since I was a kid. Dont quite know exactly what I'm doing - still waiting for the light to go on - but I work safely and slowly, ask many questions (being a pain in the arse) and read alot.

I dont expect to ever stop dreaming and the day they close the casket door the dream will be just beginning.......

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind - Ruby Tuesday/Mick and Keef

[Cathode_Ray]

Slid the Les Paul under the bed when the wife got preggers with the second. I was 30 then. Didn't pull her out again for over 10 years.

Oh well ! During that time I forgot a lot about playing. Now I play from the heart. Before , I played scales. Now I play what my "inner ear" hears. (Well, sometimes ) Haven't played a scale in years.


LeeMo

5 years of on-the-road consulting and not touching a guitar was the BEST thing that ever happened to my MUSIC (re: not to be confused with PLAYING). "Spot On" my friend .

[caseylutton]

"my original dream has been modified and damaged many times."

I was playing in a bar one night a few years ago, and someone said, "I'd give anything to play like you." I sort of laughed and said, "okay, how about 20-30 years of your life, failed relationships, any hope of a real career... anything?"

I went for broke with it in the early 90's. By the late 90's I WAS broke. Now I do support work for other guys who are playing for a living.

I've played some cool gigs, toured in Europe, played on some minor commercial releases, been all over the southeastern US. I still get to play some cool stuff sometimes. I've never been a household word, but I get mylicks in. I'm somewhere in the middle, still living the dream.

Don't tell me the dream is over. It's not over 'til I say it's over.

[Cathode_Ray]

Hesitated when I saw this thread - but it's been cathartic. I never new so many 50-somethings survived, let alone played guitar. And built there own stuff. And programmed computers. And fly aircraft.

And have weird senses of humor.(The MOST imortant thing!) .

Hear's to us all ! (Even if you're not 50+)...

[Reason]

For me the dream is not over, it has just evolved slightly. Building amps (personal use) and cabinets (commercially) is an extension of the reason I started to play guitar. The guitar is our creative outlet and for me, so is building amplifier cabinets.

Look at guys like Gabi, Graydon and Dan B. and others. There not rock stars, but they are becoming "stars" within our industry. They work very closely with guys who are living the dream. Their work finds adoration in magazines and occupies places of prominence in studios and on the stage.

Many of you, including those who don't have an amp company are VIP's of our DIY community. How may club goers around the world are hearing circuits designed or tweaked by Phil (zaphod) Richie (plexi) the Marks and others? Pretty cool I'd say.

We may never know what it is like to have throngs of girls throw their panties at us, but I raise my (corroded) soldering iron to solute anyone who can build their own amp!

[1Way]

Therapy is good...

When I'm playing guitar, it can be "pure" fun/love. And when you are enjoying music made by others, life is good. It really has been uplifting lately, especially in the blues scene I've been checking out. For some reason, it seems like blues players are more ,,, friendly. Blues is much less mainstream so admirers are most welcome. (chuckles) I almost play guitar (my bud thinks I'm a lot better than I am) and my friend plays drums. Every since I got my new equipment, and he got his divorce, we've been getting together and jamming. It's been a blast.

He's into getting ready to play out. But I know how lacking in technique I am, I have the feel, but almost no technique. We even made up a set list of a dozen or so songs that we enjoy doing. Then we set out checking out local talent. At first we went to rock and roll bars to learn more about what it takes, but a few months ago, I got us started on the blues scene, it's been the coolest move, we both really love the blues. Every since I was a kid when I started playing guitar, I always wanted to graduate to rock and roll thru the blues, so this was a very natural transition for me. But I had no idea the blues scene would be so friendly and fun and receiving. I am so lucky to have found such a friendly and inviting arena.

They let folks sit in on jam nights at least two nights a week, every week! One guy plays a funky sort of run-on fusion bit, he's a bass player who has overcome a serious handicap, he's only got one full length arm... He can hammer-on the frets, but no pickin. He plays with the house band every Sunday night and his bit goes on and on, nonstop for like 20 minuets. Frankly, overall I don't like it very well, but to be fair, especially the first night I saw him, when he really gets going, it's quite enjoyable to see he rip up that bass. ... Music can be so therapeutic. ...

That is a large part of what drives me, plus now I see how being in the music scene can get you closer to people, often the sort of people who also enjoy other people who get off on great music! So the fun of music has really sprung up in my life in a rather cool and surprising way.

I'm pretty reserved usually, however, in the last several weeks, I actually got up on the dance floor once!!!, I invited by a particularly sweet looking babe no less! And last weekend, a slightly older, but really good looking lady was checking out the band movin and groovin behind me and gave me a neck/upper back rub!!! Woooo hoooo! That was sweet!!! (chuckles) They really are a fun crowd up there.

Anyone into this stuff and your around the Kalamazoo Michigan area, check out "Mr Wonderfuls" just about 1 mile north of I-94 on Portage road. It may be the first place I actually play out in front of live people,,, in public, my drummer bud has already set in on two songs, and two other songs at another joint... Get this! That same night, he got offers to jam and possibly join a brand new band! And when I found out who was tugging at his drumsticks, I was very happy to hear they were some of the one's I also like to listen to.

My drummer friend and I may end up sticking together or going our own ways, but either way, it's really heart warming to see such a warm reception (he's about 10 years older than me). I can just go up during a break in the sets and chat with whoever. I rarely do that though. I went up once to this one guy to say hey and ask a question about his guitar rig, after I said that his guitar and rig sounded great, he practically shoved the thing into my hands to check it out, very friendly. It's some sort of Stevie Ray Vaughn Strat w/rosewood fingerboard. He's the one who ended up asking my drummer to rock in his band... Life can be very tough, enjoy it the best you can. Do what makes you happy. Makes the world go round smoother when your smiling.

[richard]

Started playing at age 12. From that point on, being a musician has been, and is my chosen profession although never fully realized. I've played steadly from time to time but have always fallen back to conventional employment for survival. A trip down a flight of stairs with a guitar case in each hand resulted in some mangled tendons and muscles my left hand and put me in a brace for about six months. At that point, I felt my playing days were over, but after several years and a lot of therapy, I started back, painfully at first, but it wasn't something I was willing to let die. Back to playing now, but not publically or as regularly because of stamina issues. Started building amps and effects several years ago, partly for self satisfaction and partly to stay part of the community. So at 49, the quest still goes on and always will, just in a modified form.

[tubetwang]

my first guitar was a broom.
I picked it up right after Ed Sullivan's first Beatles shoeeee...

Backstage is were i belong...

I love music as a hobby.

[clouseau]

I have a new dream. It is to whip the crap out of the Harrison brothers(MG) in the UK!!