'Rights Versus Reality' (About "Gatling Gun")
Winter 2018 was a time of a significant slow down, with me working on compositions, and planning for work on new material. An idea arrived, resulting in an EP titled "Gatling Gun". The theme is composed based on the lyric-version of my song "Bimbotronic Death Hold Society" though the EP version is an Instrumental. The other songs on the EP are lighter in theme and content, (not going to give it all away ;-) and this particular piece even as an instrumental- explores sardonic humor, considering casual- or callous- portrayals of violence in films, music videos, and occasionally with music lyrics. I've seen this flow in a circle: artists to fans, and fans to performers, creating a point of view from an artist's mind. The observation is wide ranging in dynamics, especially---to me- as a right of free expression, granted in the U.S.A. "Gatling Gun" sounds melodramatic for a title, but it conveys an idea; observation of rights versus reality as a snarled zone of beliefs. "Gatling Gun" was composed, also when my mind was hearkening to the tragedy of when "Dimebag" Darrell of Pantera, (one of my favorite bands) was shot and killed by an audience member, as he was performing. Did the individual who killed "Dimebag" have the right to buy and carry a weapon? Not the issue at hand as far as I'm concerned. This individual, may have, but not a right to shoot an unwary musician, for any reason- in a packed venue. As a stage performer it caused consternation because the entertainment business- music included- in situational material portrays or relates fierceness for a reason, based on a producer's idea. It is meant to present a thought, or notion to the audience. Poetry, or lyrics, always make crafted use of this technique to produce an emotional response- happy, sad, excited, et cetera. If a person is unhinged, and causes harm, who is to blame? This discussion exists- I'm not going to try to solve that question. Rage, leading to viciousness is wrong, enough said. As a musician myself, who enjoys live performance, "Dimebag" Darrell's death is disturbing. All art is contextual, and rock and roll is usually high energy music, but why does a person respond with extreme violence? Who knows why this person pulled a trigger? Such an incident is rare and not the norm, but it is shocking. The question remains- "Can any musician, famous or not, experience violence, to one degree or another from an attending fan?" It has occurred, over the decades of the music business, and even when an artist was not performing. I don't have to pay for security at a live concert, although proximity to the spectators is close. Being a peaceful person, I'd rather have everyone happy that they enjoyed my concert. Resolving this emotion with an EP named "Gatling Gun" sounds odd, but I'll explain. Richard J. Gatling designed this weapon, about the middle of the civil war. The sardonic wit, I mentioned at the onset is: Gatling wrote a statement, which indicated his belief that this modern weapon would reduce the size of Standing Armies, and ease the number of subsidiary deaths from injury, while demonstrating the futility of modern warfare. One point is definitely clear- who would want to charge across a field on foot, or horse, with a Gatling waiting on the other side? Is this what Richard Gatling envisioned when he wrote about his new device? Too much history to study. A hundred and fifty years later, war continues. Small but deadly weapons are bought, legally or not. At the Pantera concert, a weapon was snuck in and fired at a Show, where people paid and expected to have an entertaining time, however they took away a different memory. Musicians usually don't want bloodshed at a concert, no more than a fan, desires to see it. Certainly, in reverse, an audience would be aghast if a musician got annoyed and shot into a crowd; completely wrong. Ironically, such an affair would engender huge media coverage. "Dimebag" Darrell got attention in Fan Magazine, and was an Annotation in the Press, beyond his ardent fans who mourned his untimely death. Do people oppose violence today? Most say that they do. What about modern war, or police involved violence? This topic has diverse thoughts and debates and can't settle it, with a song, about tragedy. On the other hand, would such instances erode the U.S. Constitution in ways not intended? The sale of firearms is prohibited to a wide set of groups or individuals, well thought out, other aspects not for the best outcome. "Gatling Gun" is a statement trying with avant-garde yet melodic note and rhythms to convey the mixed emotions and realities of a diverse and difficult subject. I wish all violence would disappear, but hey, you can't uninvent the Gatling Gun, nor go back in time and prevent the death of a prominent guitarist. I hope you have daily inspirations and mantras for all the best in your lives. Peace, J.B.