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I finally got some time this weekend to watch everything (yes, everything!) on Neal’s “Testimony Live DVD”. As I expected, the music was awesome. The religious message is definitely there, but I didn’t get offended by that. I respectfully disagree with Neal’s views on life, and I just sat back and enjoyed the music.
The commentary on the 2nd CD was great. Neal gives his own recollections of each show on the Testimony tour, including a “Spinal Tap” moment where he plays a solo on his back and … well, he can’t get up (with raw concert footage to back up the story). Mike’s comments (as Neal recals) was “that went from dramatic to comedic rather quickly.” Being in a lot of bands throughout my life, I have my own share of “Spinal Tap” moments. One was when I played bass in a band when I was about 25. My friend Tim was in a band called Neptune that was rather hard to describe (rock + theater + speed metal + other styles), and they had just fired their bass player and they had to play their first show in a couple of weeks, so I welcomed the challenge of playing some difficult music. Tim was a guy I grew up so I welcomed the opportunity to play with him again. The drummer was rock solid, but the … “singer” was one strange individual. He really didn’t sing so much as he chanted and spoke - it’s really hard to describe via a blog entry. But he was nice guy, and my commitment was for one show, so I figured, what the hell. We did a couple of practice sessions, and then we were off to the show.
Now this is where it got weird. I knew the singer was going to do some theatrical stuff during the songs, but I had no idea what I was in store for. He was in full white makeup - he looked like a god-damn vampire. Halfway through the show he proceeded to throw powder all over the stage (luckily I was nowhere near the sudden snowstorm). After the first song, I was ready for either clapping or booing, but we got dead silence. Nothing. Not a sound from anyone (and the opening band got polite applause after every song). And this is the way it went for the entire set. Not a peep from anyone! I think they were just stunned as to what they were seeing, just as much as I was. I quickly decided to just sit back and get through the gig (which was unusual for me - I prided myself on letting go during a show Angus Young-style and run all over the place). Once it was finally done, we got some cheers from the few who where still there. Since I had no commitment to the band after that show, I quietly packed up my stuff and drove back home with Tim, where we had some good-natured laughter as to what just transpired. I wish I had footage of that show - it was rather strange!
Oh, one other thing about Neal’s DVD. During the commentary section, there’s a scene where they’re all in a bus and somebody lets go with the “fuck” word. Now I wasn’t offended in the slightest, but it did suprise me that Neal would have that in a DVD where he is professing his faith and most Christians don’t like the work “fuck”. I guess it was a mistake, but I actually like it that it was in there. People are people. A word is a word. I have no problem letting f-bombs go throughout the day - what’s the difference if I say, “oh darn!” or “son of a fucking bitch!”? I’m mad either way, right? But I don’t know why Neal apologized for it. It’s just a word, and he didn’t say it, so to the 2 or 3 people who complained about it, fuck off, all right? ;)
Published: 08.24.2004 09:28:18 PM CST