One thing I love about
writing is that once you record your ideas somewhere they sit there until you
can come back to them. I actually wrote most of this post about six months ago…
and I just ran across my notes today and decided to finish it up. It involves
the music groups Alice Cooper and Mötley Crüe—who I saw courtesy of a friend
with an extra ticket (thanks, Chuck!) last summer. Supposedly for Crüe this was
one of their last performances ever. But I know for a fact they’ve been back to
Minnesota playing again within the last couple months.
The concert itself was a
blast—and the reason I’m bothering to bring it up now is that for me it was something
outside my norm. I think that’s important for everyone to do something outside his
or her usual routine every once in a while, but especially for us writers. Not that I
haven’t gone to a rock concert from time-to-time, but it’s not my usual thing. Experiencing
something new or different often inspires my writer’s mind and helps me make
new connections. I’m not saying I got a new character or story idea out of this
particular concert—yet—but who knows? Part of the writing process includes the
thinking process—and letting thoughts/ideas “compost” over time.
There’s also this quote
about writing that I’ve always liked by Anaïs Nin, “We write to taste life
twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” So, in the spirit of that quote, belatedly, here is…
A Concert Guide: How to tell Alice Cooper apart
from Mötley Crüe
Best
in-concert upside-down drum solo/roller coaster ride: Mötley Crüe
LargestFrankenstein Puppet: Alice Cooper (12’+)
Most
worked up audience members: the row of 8th graders behind us
Most
skimpily clad back-up dancers: Mötley Crüe
Tallest
scaffolding: Mötley Crüe
Alice
Cooper song best heard live: Billion Dollar Babies
Loudest
Explosion(s): Mötley Crüe
Most
predictable beheading: Alice Cooper
Light
show most likely to trigger epileptic seizures: Mötley Crüe
Sharpest
sword: Alice Cooper
Costliest
beer: Xcel Energy Center ($9 each)
Worst/most-absent
camera “close-up” operator: Alice Cooper
Three ballads that work
less well as a middle-aged audience member than
when I was in middle school:
I’m Eighteen (Alice
Cooper)
Smokin’ in the Boys Room
(Mötley Crüe)
School’s Out for Summer
(Alice Cooper)
Song
with the most fire/pyrotechnic accompaniment: Shout at the Devil (Mötley
Crüe)
Most
miraculous recovery from a guillotine wound: Alice Cooper
Most
satanic symbols: Mötley Crüe (but it’s a close call)
Closest
Affiliation with the Devil: Tie- Alice Cooper and Mötley Crüe
“Ear
worm” that I suffered from for a few weeks after this concert: TooYoung To Fall in Love
So
there you have it. For my fellow writers out there, may your New Year bring you
lots of writing, rock and roll and a new experience or two for inspiration.
Mark
@Manowords
@Manowords
PS>
And if you get a chance to see Alice Cooper or Mötley Crüe as they come through
on their next retirement tour, I’d highly recommend it
