This is a continuing journey of musical aspirations, and we are still only at the beginning!
Through the years following the incident with Black Sabbath and the poor fuzzy headed G.I. Joe, I grew into a bit of a "metal head". By the age of twelve, my album collection included all of Sabbath's stuff to date, all the Dio era Rainbow (we will discuss my Dio obsession in the next blog entry!), and loads of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc.
Metal is not my only passion, though! I still to this day have several albums by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Budgie, and tons of Uriah Heep! I also like 80's post-punk, new wave, and "blitz" music, heavy grunge, and have been extremely fascinated with goth rock since the early 90's.
My love of bands like Uriah Heep and Budgie led me to prog rock, as well. Bands like Yes and Rush would fall into this category, which leads to our next story...
Oddly, I first heard Rush on 8 track! My dad had an old 8 track system that he listened to Hank Sr, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline on. When he wasn't home, he let me listen to my "crazy" Rush stuff! Again, Little Laurie became a bit obsessed! I would listen for hours, emulating Geddy's vocals, pretending I had a bass like his, and could actually play it...Being a dancer, I also liked to make up my own ballet routines to Rush songs!
There is something about "power trios" that has always intrigued me. I would later play in several local power trios myself. At twelve; however, I was happy with my 8 track tapes! My older brother, now in his late teens began a power trio about this time. They were actually a bit like a Rush tribute band, only without a singer. No one on the music scene in our area at that time seemed capable of handling Geddy's vocals!
My mom took me to see my brother and his band in a "Battle of the Bands" competition one day. She marveled at the fact that, when my brothers band performed, I knew every one of the lyrics, and sang along quietly. She already knew I could sing, having heard my hundreds of times at home, but now a plan obviously formulated in her brain.
For months thereafter, my mom bugged my brother incessantly about letting me sing.
"If you'd just listen to your sister...she sounds just like that guy on the records, and knows all your songs!"
She chortle at him repeatedly.
"She's twelve!" was his constant reply for months.
One day, he finally tired of hearing her. He plugging in his guitar, handed me a mic, and said, "Sing 'Bastille Day.'"
I will never forget the look on my brothers face! He had no idea I could do that! In a fit of laughter, he called his bass player, "Dude, I found us a singer! Listen..."
Again he played "Bastille Day", and I obediently chimed along.
Afterward, he retrieved the phone, and said, "You won't BELIEVE who THAT was!"
I actually heard his bass player, who had a loud booming voice anyway as he exclaimed,
"Man, that was awesome, but if you tell it's your mom, I'm gonna shi..."
"Would believe it's my twelve year old little sister?" was my brothers reply.
Dead silence...
That is the story of my humble beginnings as a singer. Thus far, Black Sabbath and Geddy Lee have played major roles. Next time, I will tell you of the tremendous influence of the supreme wizard in my young vocal life...Mr. Ronnie James Dio!
http://www.rush.com/band/
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