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A humble moment.
So during our long drives on the road, I have spent my time sticking my nose in Tour:Smart, reading every single page and every single word in print.
Reading through it all, I found myself in a pool of memories.
You see, Martin Atkins and Curse Mackey were just a couple of the people who were there for me since day one.
[Never heard of 'em? If you like bands like Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Killing Joke, Grim Faeries, Evil Mothers, Pigface-- do some more research. Dig deeper into their long pasts.... and you will find your answers. Never heard of Pigface? Well, dig deeper into the pasts of Trent Reznor, Danny Carey, Chris Vrenna, Godhead, Dope, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Meg Lee Chin, Hate Dept., Voodou, Chris Connelly, Pitchshifter, Jared Louche... and the list could go on and on and on... literally. Seriously, do your research!]
These people were just two of a small handful of people who were around when I first started to get into the music industry in general; and long, long before I even though of touring; long before I began taking photographs as a profession; long before I began designing and programming; long before Alicia Simmons and I even knew each other existed. I was still a little teenage girl in Missouri, growing up.
Years ago, I was still quite young, and I was still "just" that passionate music-crazed fan who worked on a couple of streetteams. I didn't know many people in the business back then. I had my Dope boys; and my Godhead boys. Eventually, it was time for Godhead to tour with Pigface. Was I stoked? Fuck yes I was. Being a big fan of them for years, and they were finally hitting the road again?
I went to a few shows on the tour, mostly keeping to the Godhead boys-- my friends. It was through them that I had met Curse and Martin for the first time in the flesh.
Back then, I never imagined I would be asked to collaborate on a book with some of the industrial music underground's finest. Then again, I didn't imagine I would be working for Martin's label (Underground Inc./Invisible Records), either.
Sure enough, one night I received an email from someone at the label, informing me that Curse had passed along my information, recommending they contact me because I would probably be willing to help them out; and would probably be good at it. So from then on, I spent time helping them promote their shows, their artists, their album releases-- to the best of my ability. With time and hard work, one of their artists would come through town, and I would have a simple spot on the list or an all access credential waiting for me at the door.
Through time, relationships were built-- great business relationships, and some amazing friendships.
In this book, there is a small part where Martin talks about how even the "smallest" of things from the people he (or any band, for that matter) meets on the road can go a long way... even so much as a box of donuts.
The first time I read that, I got a good little chuckle out of it.
I clearly remember one day on the Godhead/Pigface tour, I had stopped at a Krispy Kreme to get some donuts for myself. While I was at it, why not spend a few extra bucks to pick up a box for the Godhead boys, and another box for the Pigface kids? I remember the excitement in Curse's eyes and the big grin on his face as I handed over the box...
...I believe those donuts were devoured within a few minutes.
Back then, I would always do kind, little things like that for bands that I was friends with; but thought nothing of it, really. No big deal. I was on my way to the venue to meet up with Professional Murder Music, and got hungry. So I stopped by a sub shop to grab a bite to eat. I was already there, why not give the bassist a call and ask if any of them wanted anything while I was already out?
And now here I am, many years later... and on the other side of it all. My mother just drove six hours to meet up with myself and Strata in Memphis, TN. With her, she brought a small care package of snacks-- chips and cheeze, some sweets, energy bars... and homemade banana bread. We currently feel as if we have died and gone to heaven. It sure beats the greasy fast food restaurants on the curbsides or the lack of choice around some of the venues we have been playing.
This loaf of homemade banana bread is probably the best thing on this tour so far directly after the release of the new album.
One small memory snowballed into tons of memories of running around with Pigface and crew from my beginning to the time Mikey Miller and Curse sat there trying to convince my mother to letting them kidnap me for more of the tour... to every single stage performance I've seen (which, for anyone who is familiar with Pigface, should know there is always always debauchery)... to the time Martin was giving me a few extra pointers in the front of the Blue Note in Columbia, MO... to the early stages of my photography interests and Michelle Walters sitting with me in St. Louis, MO, raving on and on about how much she loved my work... to my Dope boys collaborating with them on a new CD, creating a remix of "Bitch"; and Curse, knowing my past with those guys, dedicating the song to me at a tiny, tiny show in Kansas City, MO in the middle of a bad snow/ice storm.... to the time Edsel Dope got sick, woke up dry heaving in St. Petersburg, FL, had to be sent to the hospital, and Martin forming a "Get well soon/Edsel we love you!" song onstage that night... to the harsh winter and nothing but black ice on the roads in Chicago, IL, and somehow we all made it there in one piece (sort of)-- but the next problem was, "How do we sneak Sarah Dope into the hometown show?".... to the time I got called out and dragged onstage by Curse and Deadstar Assembly in Ft. Lauderdale, FL during "Suck"... You name it.
Some of my favorite moments and the best times were with members of Pigface; old and new.
Fond memories aside, as I continued through this book-- this collaboration of what feels like one giant underground family, I read things that I wish I would have known back when I first started; things I know now; and things that formed new ideas for me and my future work.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again-- Hell, I'll never shutup about it..... but this book is truly a brilliant piece of art.
www.tstouring.com
Martin Atkins - www.myspace.com/martinatkins
Curse Mackey - www.myspace.com/cursemackey
Pigface - www.myspace.com/officialpigface
Underground Inc. - www.myspace.com/undergroundinc
Tour:Smart on MySpace - www.myspace.com/toursmart
Reading through it all, I found myself in a pool of memories.
You see, Martin Atkins and Curse Mackey were just a couple of the people who were there for me since day one.
[Never heard of 'em? If you like bands like Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Killing Joke, Grim Faeries, Evil Mothers, Pigface-- do some more research. Dig deeper into their long pasts.... and you will find your answers. Never heard of Pigface? Well, dig deeper into the pasts of Trent Reznor, Danny Carey, Chris Vrenna, Godhead, Dope, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Meg Lee Chin, Hate Dept., Voodou, Chris Connelly, Pitchshifter, Jared Louche... and the list could go on and on and on... literally. Seriously, do your research!]
These people were just two of a small handful of people who were around when I first started to get into the music industry in general; and long, long before I even though of touring; long before I began taking photographs as a profession; long before I began designing and programming; long before Alicia Simmons and I even knew each other existed. I was still a little teenage girl in Missouri, growing up.
Years ago, I was still quite young, and I was still "just" that passionate music-crazed fan who worked on a couple of streetteams. I didn't know many people in the business back then. I had my Dope boys; and my Godhead boys. Eventually, it was time for Godhead to tour with Pigface. Was I stoked? Fuck yes I was. Being a big fan of them for years, and they were finally hitting the road again?
I went to a few shows on the tour, mostly keeping to the Godhead boys-- my friends. It was through them that I had met Curse and Martin for the first time in the flesh.
Back then, I never imagined I would be asked to collaborate on a book with some of the industrial music underground's finest. Then again, I didn't imagine I would be working for Martin's label (Underground Inc./Invisible Records), either.
Sure enough, one night I received an email from someone at the label, informing me that Curse had passed along my information, recommending they contact me because I would probably be willing to help them out; and would probably be good at it. So from then on, I spent time helping them promote their shows, their artists, their album releases-- to the best of my ability. With time and hard work, one of their artists would come through town, and I would have a simple spot on the list or an all access credential waiting for me at the door.
Through time, relationships were built-- great business relationships, and some amazing friendships.
In this book, there is a small part where Martin talks about how even the "smallest" of things from the people he (or any band, for that matter) meets on the road can go a long way... even so much as a box of donuts.
The first time I read that, I got a good little chuckle out of it.
I clearly remember one day on the Godhead/Pigface tour, I had stopped at a Krispy Kreme to get some donuts for myself. While I was at it, why not spend a few extra bucks to pick up a box for the Godhead boys, and another box for the Pigface kids? I remember the excitement in Curse's eyes and the big grin on his face as I handed over the box...
...I believe those donuts were devoured within a few minutes.
Back then, I would always do kind, little things like that for bands that I was friends with; but thought nothing of it, really. No big deal. I was on my way to the venue to meet up with Professional Murder Music, and got hungry. So I stopped by a sub shop to grab a bite to eat. I was already there, why not give the bassist a call and ask if any of them wanted anything while I was already out?
And now here I am, many years later... and on the other side of it all. My mother just drove six hours to meet up with myself and Strata in Memphis, TN. With her, she brought a small care package of snacks-- chips and cheeze, some sweets, energy bars... and homemade banana bread. We currently feel as if we have died and gone to heaven. It sure beats the greasy fast food restaurants on the curbsides or the lack of choice around some of the venues we have been playing.
This loaf of homemade banana bread is probably the best thing on this tour so far directly after the release of the new album.
One small memory snowballed into tons of memories of running around with Pigface and crew from my beginning to the time Mikey Miller and Curse sat there trying to convince my mother to letting them kidnap me for more of the tour... to every single stage performance I've seen (which, for anyone who is familiar with Pigface, should know there is always always debauchery)... to the time Martin was giving me a few extra pointers in the front of the Blue Note in Columbia, MO... to the early stages of my photography interests and Michelle Walters sitting with me in St. Louis, MO, raving on and on about how much she loved my work... to my Dope boys collaborating with them on a new CD, creating a remix of "Bitch"; and Curse, knowing my past with those guys, dedicating the song to me at a tiny, tiny show in Kansas City, MO in the middle of a bad snow/ice storm.... to the time Edsel Dope got sick, woke up dry heaving in St. Petersburg, FL, had to be sent to the hospital, and Martin forming a "Get well soon/Edsel we love you!" song onstage that night... to the harsh winter and nothing but black ice on the roads in Chicago, IL, and somehow we all made it there in one piece (sort of)-- but the next problem was, "How do we sneak Sarah Dope into the hometown show?".... to the time I got called out and dragged onstage by Curse and Deadstar Assembly in Ft. Lauderdale, FL during "Suck"... You name it.
Some of my favorite moments and the best times were with members of Pigface; old and new.
Fond memories aside, as I continued through this book-- this collaboration of what feels like one giant underground family, I read things that I wish I would have known back when I first started; things I know now; and things that formed new ideas for me and my future work.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again-- Hell, I'll never shutup about it..... but this book is truly a brilliant piece of art.
www.tstouring.com
Martin Atkins - www.myspace.com/martinatkins
Curse Mackey - www.myspace.com/cursemackey
Pigface - www.myspace.com/officialpigface
Underground Inc. - www.myspace.com/undergroundinc
Tour:Smart on MySpace - www.myspace.com/toursmart
| Posted by sarahdope on 07/26/2007 12:13 AM | Visits: 54 |
My mother is an AMAZING woman... My parents weren't very supportive at first at all, because they didn't understand the business/industry at the time. I basically had to stick to it, work hard on my own, and prove everything to them. Now they're VERY supportive.
Great journal !
xxx
Why do you think that will never happen?
Awesome! Thanks so much!! Please let me know what you think once you receive it and get a chance to read through it all!
But international shipping is a bitch lol I hope I get it soon, im dying to read it.
xxx