Some things never change

I remember how my music taste evolved like it was yesterday. At about 5th grade, I was into Metallica, Nirvana and Megadeath. Thankfully I didn't get obsessed with Slayer like today's kids who claim to breath, drink and eat metal. Metal was where it was at for the brothers in my family. It wasn't really the fact that everyone was listening to metal, more of that's what 82 was tuned into. I think it served it's purpose for the time that I got into it. I remember Metallica putting out their new album where they had cut their hair, and released a strange video for Until it Sleeps...I believe. It was disturbing, and I quickly dropped them like a bad habit. I also like Presidents of the United States of America for some reason. I thought they were catchy. I think Lump and Peaches were the only songs I liked. They too, got very boring and I never wanted to listen to them. When I got into Middle School, I started to find a whole new breed of music: Punk and Ska.

Unwritten Law, Pennywise and Rancid come to mind what my middle school years were like. I drew the Blue Roon cover from Unwritten Law. 82 touched it up. The music was fast, and raw. There weren't any god awful guitar solos. Pennywise was perfect for freestyle BMXing, which I started getting into my summer years of Middle School. They had amazing energy, and I loved every moment of it. I remember the kids would look at me like I was weird for not listening to their music. No one like punk or ska in middle school. I believe it was in the 6th grade that I found Less Than Jake with the help of my brother. I became good friends with somea guy who loved Marlyn Manson and Nirvana. He told me Ska was stupid because of the flute solos. I have yet to find a ska band that has a flute player in the outfit OR excessively has too many flute solos. Other bands that I became huge fans of between 96-98 where The Aquabats, Rancid, Operation Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, Assorted Jellybeans, Voo Doo Glowskulls, The Invaders, Blue Meanies, Sex Pistols, Bouncing Souls, NOFX and a TON others. It certainly didn't hurt having 82 there to influence me into what he loved. I am forever greatful for his guidance.

Looking on the past 4-8 years, my music taste certainly hasn't made a drastic change. I still hate Metaliica, but I don't listen to ska as much...I appreciate the older stuff and some of the new stuff...My heart still gets faster everytime I put on an LTJ album, and I still have the Blue Room picture in some sketchbook from my early years. I hope that I can pass my good music taste to my kids. It doesn't hurt that my future wife also enjoys punk rock.