At least that's what Vince Neil declared 3 months ago...
Last update on Vince Neil's MySpace page was somewhere in November last year. The old geezer has been keeping himself busy, apparently with what he knows best. That would be tattoos and tequila, also the name of his latest video. If you like it that much, it is (still) available for download here. However, if you're disappointed with the amount of tattoos and tequila on screen, you can search for "Hardcore & Uncensored", a home video featuring Vince and porn star Janine Lindemulder, shot somewhere in Hawaii back in 1993.
Speaking of '93, that's when Vince Neil's first solo album hit the market. "Exposed" was not so horrific for a hair metal album. Steve Stevens made most of the songs sound pretty decent, if only he could help with the lyrics....
Ain't no cheap and nasty liquor
Dripping down her vine
Taste of golden honey
Sweet as candy money
Bottle it up and make her mine
Give me a taste of your fine, fine wine
Ruby sticky, sweet as summertime
Let me taste your fine, fine wine
One more drink gets me feeling alright
The lyrics above are from "Fine, Fine Wine". Speaking of wine, don't know if Vince still has his vineyard, but it's not that important. After all, he's got tequila. And tattoos. And the same genius while writing his lyrics:
Come on over baby, I really need you to
Touch me like you do, girl, I wanna feel you
Show me all your tattoos and drink my tequila.
Come on take your clothes off, you really need to
Really do a strip dance, I wanna see ya
Show me all your tattoos and drink my tequila.
There you go: "Tattoos & Tequila", the new video from Vince Neil. Pure genius.
What makes a great song? To me, among other things, the ability to tell a story I can relate to. That shouldn't be too hard. If you're out there, living, you can relate to almost anything. It's like reading your daily horroscope: on any given day, surely something will match.
It's the same with this album I've dug up recently. Originally issued in 1993, it went past me without a flinch. I was a virgin, for Pete's sake, of course I was oblivious to serious subjects such as teen pregnancies, the struggle to make ends meet without selling my body, fighting organized religion or dealing with infidelity and picking up the broken pieces of my life.
Back in 1993 my knowledge of love (and life) was non-existent; I thought love was supposed to be pink, mushy and everlasting. And perfectly round, with two soul mates in this circle of lust. I'm going to pause narrating for a minute while y'all get your barf bags...
Seventeen years and a dozen love encounters later, I'm only seeing life in pink when I get conjunctivitis. And soon enough selling my body will add up to my personal list of struggles.
I would dial the numbers
Just to listen to your breath
I would stand inside my hell
And hold the hand of death
You don't know how far I'd go
To ease this precious ache
You don't know how much I'd give
Or how much I can take
Just to reach you
and I'm proud of myself for never avoiding the things that terrified me the most.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE "Come to my window" - Album: "Yes, I am" (1993)
Can't say I've seen it all, but I had certainly seen enough. I started out plunging with a leap of faith, convinced that all was perfect and "nothing could go wrong". I had my heart broken, over and over. Because I refused to play it safe, it ended up shattered in tiny atoms of love and pain. At least I have nothing to fear; the worst is over and I can finally jump thinking "what could possibly go wrong now?"
I know now that most of my bruises came from all those corners. Because darlings, love is rarely round and soft. Most of the time it is shaped as a triangle.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE "I'm the only one" - Album: "Yes, I am" (1993)
This is an excellent album for anyone who experienced love. It goes great with red wine. The broken heart is optional.
When you grow up with someone, you tend to miss certain aspects of their personality. You overlook the bad, but you also overlook the good. Take your parents for example; they drive you crazy with questions regarding computers but you love them anyway. They nag, and they don't always understand, but they are always supportive and they love you. You love them too, but growing up with them has made you blind to their awesomeness. Also, you only understand and agree with them as you get older.
I grew up with Chris Rea. He was there, on the radio, everyday, doing what he does best. I was young and I didn't understand his music very much. It wasn't something that made me change the station, but it seemed more like my parents' music. I imagined them dancing to Josephine. If only that were true... I was loud and impulsive and my music meant high pitched voices and good looking guys with long hair. Actually, that wasn't a must, but always a nice touch...
I think the highlight of Chris Rea's fame in Romania was achieved with 1989's "Road to Hell" and 1990's "Auberge". I hummed and danced to those singles just like anybody else, but Chris Rea was more like the father I wouldn't have time to listen to in real life. Nice, loving, but always greeted in passing.
A recent compilation my best friend did for us encapsulated timeless gems from wonderful musicians. Among them, Chris Rea. I swear to God it was like listening to music after taking out my ear plugs.
My world is miles of endless roads
That leaves a trail of broken dreams
Where have you been
I hear you say?
I will meet you at the Blue Cafe
You can't understand songs about life without living first. You think you understand love when you're young, but you're like a kid who just received his Christmas present. Tearing impatiently the wrapping paper, overwhelmed with excitement.
I will meet you at the Blue Cafe
Because, this is where the one who knows
Meets the one who does not care
The cards of fate
The older shows
To the younger one, who dares to take
The chance of no return
Nowadays I tend to do things slowly and thoroughly. I no longer tear my wrappings, enjoying the moment of discovery. Musically I've come a long way too. I still listen to the music of my generation, the bands I liked as a teen, but boy, nobody can twist your mind like an old, mature artist.
My best friend invited me to the first Chris Rea concert in Romania. We really wanted to attend, but I think we secretly felt like endulging in seeing our father on stage with a Guitar Hero kit.
And then the show kicked off. And then we were speechless. A bluesy song with a simple strong bass line and an unmistakable voice. The crowd was delirious. The sound was close to perfection, allowing each note to reach your heart and sink in like pieces of a well-played Tetris game.
Sometimes a man with a guitar can tell so much. The show lasted over 2 hours with a Chris Rea that managed to expose us to the most amazing range of emotions known to man: from sadness to extasy, from nostalgia to happiness, from heart wrenching blues to shameless lusty, sexually charged feelings. We were like potty in his hands and we loved every minute of it. Chris Rea's passion for music was the secret ingredient for a night to remember. That night was a gift for everyone present. A gift from an old friend.
Seeing Chris Rea live after growing up with his music was like seeing my father on stage. And realizing "Oh. my. God. My dad is cool!"
At least that's what Vince Neil declared 3 months ago...
