That's My Boy

Son and Cantaloupe, Summer 1982... Aptos, California.


Video Clip Of California Love at AZ in Mulheim, Germany.*
Saturday, February 10th 2007.

*Warning: The song clip is loud and raucous stuff.
Not for the frail. Use only as directed.

Believe it or not, he was shy as a child.

My kid and the bass player have been friends since 1995, in middle school. Allow me to reveal some information about this misunderstood genre of music. I know how easy it is to make assumptions regarding what it signifies or represents. Generalizing is an unfortunate symptom of the human condition. (I should know, after several decades of being a deadhead.)
Anyway, I was looking at the bio for yet another hardcore band, Cold War. They're based in Germany, and left a comment on California Love's website. Here is a blurb about their music and beliefs:

~About COLD WAR founded in April 2005 ---- COLD WAR, as a band as well as individually, wishes to distance ourselves from the growing tendencies of right wing/ fascist tolerance in the punk and hardcore scenes. Scum should not be tolerated! We don't want our scene polluted with such idiots, and have no desire to be their soundtrack! Keep punk/ hardcore nazi free!~

Exactly!! These punk/hardcore kids (like my son) play loud, scary music. Period. They are not skinheads or nazis, and do not tolerate that sort of hatred in their fans. I find it sad that people assume things like that so easily. Yes, it's angry stuff. Lots to be angry about, I'd say. Like racism, warfare, and the very breakdown of civilization itself. I raised my children to be tolerant, open, loving people. (And I wish more people would.)

The guys in my son's band all have jobs, support themselves, and lead quite normal lives, off the stage. None of them are junkies. Or skinheads. None are reckless or homeless. They have day jobs. Just sayin'.