To celebrate the last day of the year I bought a vinyl copy of Master of Puppets by Metallica at my tiny town’s record store. It felt good! I brought it home and cranked it as I made a pot of soup. I remember every single note. I remember seeing the show at Seattle Center with my friend Mike Moen when I was 16. It was incredible. We took the ferry back to Bremerton after the show. I ended up with the flu and puking in another friend’s kitchen sink. A dick move I was somehow forgiven for? I was desperate. I STILL feel bad about it!
In those days I slept in my closet on a folded mattress falling asleep with my headphones on. I fell asleep to this record more times than I can count. The record saturated my brain with messages about how shitty heroin is. I knew this, as I knew lots of people who did it. It was all around me. I wonder if this record strengthened my resolve never to try it? Maybe it saved my life? I was a kid who smoked bargain basement closeout PCP so you can tell I wasn’t picky. I wonder how many kids and adults may owe Metallica a bit of a debt?
And on a completely opposite note, I have decided to give in to a little superstition this NYE. I’m going to play “Butterbean” by The B52’s at the stroke. Nothing evil can pass by it. It will keep 2022 OUT of 2023. At least that’s my hope. Maybe you can join me? Let’s make an impenetrable sonic barrier of Fred Schneider’s nasal laser joy. Here’s a link if you wanna help out: BUTTERBEAN!
2022 was really hard. I lost too many people. My heart is with The Sadies and Sally and Jon and all my dear ones at The Horseshoe in Toronto tonight. I wish to god I could be there. There’s no place I’d rather be than honoring my beloved friend Dallas in the city of his heart. Have the BEST time, everyone!
And thank YOU for being here. I love to connect with you all in this way. Peace and Butterbeans to all of you. XO Neko
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Wow your adventure is hauntingly like mine in Brooklyn 2 nights ago seeing Patti Smith on the eve of her 76th birthday. I wan't feeling great but I double masked and went. Hid in the back of the bus back up to Vermont last night and I am paying the price of a case of flu. Was it worth it. Yep.
BUTTERBEAN, done!
Neko, I owe Metallica as well. My first time going backstage - Poplar Creek, Hoffman Estates, IL Metallica was opening for Ozzy - 1986. It was a life changing experience for me. I knew at that moment I had to be part of the music business. Happy New Year!