Despite the diminished appeal of their “Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll” message, I couldn’t help still recognizing the amazing and powerful qualities of Mötley Crüe as a live rock band. Bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee are quite simply two of the mightiest rock personalities of the last few decades. But as I watched the band’s onstage dancing girls sacrilegiously gyrating on church pews and endured what seemed like the 839th F-bomb (in just the first twenty minutes), I recalled my experience seeing Twisted Sister perform back in 1984. I remembered how impressed I was with frontman Dee Snider and how it occurred to me that with a bit of redirection, he effectively could have delivered a truly important message. The same goes for Mötley Crüe.
I’m not condemning people or their art. In fact, my point is quite to the contrary. Face it, in spite of their misleading good-time party mantra, with their amps, ramps, awesome riffs, sing-along choruses, non-stop pyro, killer outfits and sheer sonic power, Mötley Crüe is pretty cool. Heck, even I still “get” their appeal. But with a message as mighty as their music and image, these guys could take over the world in a way that could make their success in the ‘80s look small-time by comparison. Imagine if Mötley Crüe came out with some really powerful new music and presented an even bigger live spectacle. And instead of spitting, cursing and beating up photographers in the audience, what if Nikki Sixx walked up to the mic and professed Jesus Christ as the King of Kings? Holy cow, dude – the result would be of epic proportion!
Scoff if you like, but this notion isn’t as crazy as you might initially think. Alice Cooper came out a few years ago and took a bold stand for Christ. I’m not talking about Stryper or Barren Cross, I’m talking about ALICE FREAKING COOPER! And it certainly doesn’t seem that his spiritual testimony has compromised his street credibility. He’s still rockin’ it old school and hard core, just like always.
Also, Brian “Head” Welch, guitarist for ‘90s metal poster boys, Korn, left that band a few years ago and his entire focus is now living for God. I read Brian’s first book, Save Me From Myself, and I’ve heard some of his recent music. I challenge anyone to call this guy out for going “soft” because he loves the Lord. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you become a wimp. At least you shouldn’t.
My personal awakening only has intensified my artistic drive and enhanced my edge. In fact, by the end of 2011 I had become so inspired again that I actually began writing new music for the first time in years. I once again found myself hard at work – setting up recording sessions and gigs for my new band, Splash Stick. Stylistically, Splash Stick can be described as possessing Cheap Trick-like musical qualities combined with a “C’mon!” message. As for the name, a “splash stick” is one of those green sticks they put in the hole of your cup lid at Starbucks in order to keep your coffee from splashing while transporting said beverage to your car, office or wherever. I’m excited about the prospects for my new project. Heck, I’m now excited about moving forward with all of my future endeavors!
The War is Over
I’ve come full-circle. I began my music biz journey as a naïve church boy in Springfield, Missouri. Over the last forty years I’ve met some incredible people, including many of my rock and roll heroes. I also performed in front of huge crowds. I’ve had my music played on the radio and I even appeared on TV and in several high profile magazines – which is all pretty cool. But I also had my fair share of experiences waking up in pools of my own fluids and praying to the “porcelain god.” Ultimately, I missed grasping the proverbial brass ring and I lost everything that’s truly important in life in my pursuit of fame and fortune. Oddly, in the end I wound up in the very same place I began – albeit now much older and a good bit wiser.
Rock and roll is a powerful force – a wonderful means of communication. At its best, rock music can touch lives, break down barriers, bring people together and offer incredible, positive messages. At its worst, it offers misguided messages promoting foolish lifestyle choices that can result in being carried out on a stretcher at a Megadeth concert.
No, I don’t hate rock and roll. And I must confess that to this day I still enjoy side four of Live Bullet from time to time. I’ve just come to detest the egos, arrogance, greed, dishonesty, addictions, immorality and idol worship that typically is synonymous with not only rock and roll, but with many facets of the entertainment biz.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my story, I certainly ain’t no preacher. I don’t profess now to be a wise or knowledgeable theologian, nor do I claim to have all of the answers – no one does. But at least I do know that I’m finally now on the right path. I’m not trying to push anything on anybody and I don’t judge anyone. I’m just a guy sharing a personal story and a few faith-based perspectives. And through sharing my story I merely hope to offer a message of spiritual encouragement. My buddy and first musical mentor, Glenn Creamer, once told me back in my Beowulf days that, “You don’t beat the sound through the drum. You pull the sound from the drum.” Wow! To this day I don’t believe I’ve ever heard such a profound spiritual metaphor offered from a seventeen-year-old – at least not from one holding a half-empty, quart bottle of Schlitz, that’s for sure!
My hope is to encourage those who feel a need in their lives earnestly to seek God for themselves through His Word. As we each have a unique and personal relationship with our earthly fathers, we also each can enjoy a relationship with our heavenly Father that is unique and personal.
The Lord is good to those who depend
on him, to those who search for him.
Lamentations 3:25 (NLT)
I further hope to encourage believers to continue walking boldly in their spiritual journey and not to be distracted by the smoke and mirrors of the world.
Dear children, keep away from anything
that might take God’s place in your hearts.
1 John 5:21 (NLT)
It’s also important for Christians to align ourselves with like-minded people who are truly in tune with God’s Word. But don’t place your faith in yourself, your friends, your family, or even other Christians. And if you’re putting your faith in the empty messages and false promises of rock stars, you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree! Simply put your faith in Jesus Christ.
I’m not making any radical assertions. In the words of the late pastor and author A.W. Tozer, “Nothing here is new except in the sense that it is a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me.”
I’d like to offer this final scripture. I believe that these words offered in the New Testament from my BFF, Apostle Paul, to his protégé, Timothy, drive my message home perfectly.
This is a trustworthy saying,
and everyone should accept it:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” –
and I’m the worst of all of them.
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus
could use me as a prime example of his great
patience with even the worst sinners.
Then others will realize that they too,
can believe in him and receive eternal life.
All honor and glory to God forever and ever!
He is the eternal King, the unseen one who
never dies; he alone is God.
Amen.
1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NLT)
*******
ENCORE!
Although this story is uniquely my own and I personally have lived every word of it, I still felt compelled to research several references in order to ensure the accuracy of times, dates, places and (certain) names. As a result (thanks to a Google search), I was able to track down Tim Jenks, the guitarist for Aaron, the band that had made such a positive impression on me, thirty-plus years ago. As it turns out, my teenage church boy instincts were right on target. In fact, through my Old Testament Bible study, I learned that Aaron was actually the brother of Moses. Coincidence? I think not!
I discovered that Tim,
who is now in his late fifties, still performs regularly throughout the British club scene as a blues guitarist. Through numerous emails, Tim confessed to me that the members of Aaron were Christians, and in 1978 they all recently had graduated from Bible college. They reasoned that by combining their passion for playing rock music with their desire to serve God, Aaron could connect with a young audience and affect lives. Simply put, they connected, I was affected – and I never forgot them. C’mon!
As advance word of my story has begun to spread, I find myself now receiving numerous speaking engagement offers. From Florida and Tennessee, to Missouri, Louisiana and beyond, I will be offering my testimony in various churches throughout the country, beginning in 2012. Wow! A notion that seemed completely unfathomable just a year earlier is now becoming a reality. And although I still have reservations regarding my friend Brooke’s assertion in 2010 that I had “become a preacher,” I do believe there is reason for Cubs fans to be at least somewhat optimistic regarding the upcoming season.
SHOUT OUTS
Many wonderful people have offered me assistance, guidance and encouragement throughout the development process of this book. And although I’m certain to forget somebody, I want personally to acknowledge at least a few:
C.K. Lendt, Linda Konner, Michelle Wilson and Gail Worley have supported me during this as well as various other publishing endeavors over the years. Because of their involvement, I’ve become a better writer and I can’t thank them enough.
From inception to completion, it takes “a village” to ensure the overall quality of a work of this nature. And I would have had difficulty bringing this project to fruition without input from Chris Dillon, Merissa Rudkin, Lisa Dick and Robert Curtis Davis.
I think that writers and artists in general can often face moments when they question whether or not their work is on-point. Over the last year or so, many friends, both old and new, have reached out and offered me much-needed and greatly appreciated support and encouragement. I would like to thank the following people for doing exactly that: Crystal Rodgers, Diana Jabbour, Tricia White, Tom Willett, Greg Vadimski, Glenn and Sandy Creamer, Dave and Jen Madsen, The Deskin Family, Jamie Bass-Rodrigues, David Thornquest, Heike Clarke, Barbara Pinnick, Andrew Marcus, Joey Cotoia, Jen Cray, Amanda Stone Philips, Valerie Masch, Sam Hill, Thomas Gerding, Bob Moletteire, Michelle Rollins, Missy Gilliam, Austin Crotwell, Lisa Altieri, Brian McCrory, Yvette LoPrete, Karen Madsen, Ty Oglesby, Brenda Everling, Bryan Kezer, Simone, John Leach, Ty Angela Hupp and Suzanne Brown VanRandwyk.
And if it weren’t for the spiritual guidance of people such as Dan Stallbaum, Chris Johnson, Bryan Moore, Paul and Kim Peters, Danny and Carrie Williams, Bryan Dumas, Melanie Halsey and Brooke Dizmang, I’d still be recounting my life experiences from a drastically different perspective.
I also have benefited immeasurably from the support of my family. First and foremost, I need to thank my dad for not throwing me out (he knows what that means) and my brother and sister, Greg Long and Debbie Nale, for always being there for me. Much heartfelt thanks goes to my grandmother, Helen Walker, who shared Bible stories with me when I was little and who continues to call me out when I get things wrong. At age ninety, she’s still rockin’!
Me and Jesse – 2011.
(Photo: Kevin Roberts)
But most of all, I want to thank Jesse Long for being the greatest son that a father could ever hope for and offering me his often unique but always honest take on my work.
RECOMMENDED MINISTRIES
East Coast Christian Center
(www.eccc.us)
The Core
(www.thecoreministries.com)
Joseph Prince Ministries
(www.josephprince.org)
I Am Second
(www.iamsecond.com)
C’MON! – My Story of Rock, Ruin and Revelation Page 16