Sandi: Thank you so much for giving us a chance to honor the people and the place that gave so many musicians an opportunity to conjure up sounds, magic and love.
I got my first drum kit there in 1973. Same kit that John Bonham was using....a kid could dream. I could only get this prized possession if I first accepted the challenge put forth by my dad. He'd pay for half, as long as I earned the other half.
For about six months, I walked dogs for fifty cents a walk - day & night - before & after school - as many as I could take at once. My math may be fuzzy - but I think I had to pull together about $400 to cover my half. Someone here in virtual Manny land will set me straight on that purchase price.
After buying the kit, I learned that the Goldrich family were members of the same temple we attended in New Jersey - putting me one step closer to greatness.
Like any teenage kid, I could bitch and complain about my parents with the best of them - but the fact that they put me in position to get this thunder machine - and then practice and play it IN OUR APARTMENT - is evidence enough that they loved my fat little face.
The kit made it out of our apartment and into the basement of Rafael Orsini - where his parents allowed us to put several bands together over a period of years and actually make it out for the occasional gig.
Early years chasing sound led to later lives led in radio, music television, music films and new media, where I get to keep chasing dreams with people like Don Was in my own little version of fantasy-land at
http://www.MyDamnChannel.com.
Thank you Sandi for the chance to say thank you again with respect to everyone in Manny's family for giving brats like me a chance to turn Rock & Roll fantasies into real life realities.
Rob Barnett
Rob@MyDamnChannel.com
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