by Chris Price
Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all led me straight back home to you.
Indeed they do, Mr Price. Indeed they do.
EPILOGUE 2
TWO YEARS AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
All of which meant I had rather failed to keep up my end of the bargain. There had been just one entry on my to-do list and my moustache, just entering the realms of barely discernible when it was time to fly home, had remained on American soil. There was a balance that needed redressing.
Have a look at the photo of us on the back cover. That's me on the right. It took several months, but if that's not a formidable moustache, then frankly I don't know what is.
missingparsons.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chris and Joe would like to thank the following people:
Each other for the journey.
Mark Lewis and Martin Toher from B-Unique for their encouragement (and the loan of the camera).
Mike McCormack at Universal Music Publishing for 'reaching out' like only he can.
Thomas Eagle at thomaseagle.com for making us look so good.
Nicola Di Tullio for not letting us chicken out.
Noah Harland for letting Joe go.
Mardi Caught at Sony Music, formerly of MTV, for letting Chris go.
Andy Parfitt and Ben Cooper at Radio 1 for going along with it all.
Mike Davies for the gift of Tito's Tacos.
Stacey Dee for the invaluable motel advice.
Terra Naomi for the excellent vibes and the baseball bat for protection.
Paul Fox for reaching the parts of LA that other managers can't reach.
Matthew and Brett at Moving Talking for keeping it rolling.
Margo and Yvo Kwee for keeping the spirit alive in Joshua Tree.
Polly Parsons for liking what we do.
Shilah 'The Fixer' Morrow for making so many things happen.
Mary Patton for the tour of Pioneertown.
Barber Judi for the number 17s.
John Carter Cash for opening his doors and letting us see the magic.
Phil 'Road Mangler' Kaufman for helping Gram stop smoking.
Courtney Connor, the perfect Southern belle, for more than we can possibly list here.
Lily the Weimaraner for being warm on a cold night.
Josh who doesn't bang dudes for his perfect smile.
Jack the metrosexual redneck for cosying up on the Scrambler.
Dianne Hayman for the best Southern hospitality ever.
Dave Griffin and Billy Ray Herrin for the definitive Waycross experience.
Mark Holland for showing us what it means to be a true fanatic.*
Liz and Zack Gowen for a wonderful send-off.
Simon Kilshaw for his production chops and song-writing.
Carol and Graham Parker for the writing retreat.
Andy Hipkiss at Triple A Media for being an agent of progress.
Diane Banks at Diane Banks Associates for finding a book amongst the ramblings.
Jennifer Barclay, Dave Pearson and all at Summersdale for their support and advice.
James Dean Bradfield, Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens for their kind words.
Friends, fans and followers of Missing Parsons for your comments, messages and friendship, in particular undisputed 'Most Helpful Parsons' Jane Arthy, Scott Black, Richie Auriemma, Matt Bridges, Julie Jackson and Cozmicfolkfan Amable.
Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, Neil Young, Mike Nesmith, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Robert Johnson, Jeff Buckley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2 and Charlie Daniels for their music and inspiration. And lastly, but most importantly, Ingram Cecil Connor III. We hope you would have approved.
*A special note about Mark Holland: Almost exactly one year to the day after our visit to Gram's Place, we were saddened to learn that Mark Holland had died. It was Gram Parsons' birthday. It was difficult writing the Tampa leg of the trip; we didn't want to eulogise, any more than say uncharitable things about a man who was no longer with us. In the end we could only write it as we saw it on the day. Rest in peace, Mark. thecalmzone.net
For more information about Live Fast, Die Young, including how to purchase the Missing Parsons soundtrack, please visit missingparsons.com.
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