My Musical Love Affair
I've been thinking about all the music in my collection that I could write about. Most of my music taste sits firmly on the heavy side of noise with an odd blues/jazz cd when the mood suits.
The most played music in my library is by a band that has been a bedrock for me throughout the years. The band is Def Leppard.
The first album cassette I ever bought was Hysteria. I was 13 years old and it changed my life. I lived and breathed this music. I wanted to play it, listen to it, I wanted to be them and I was desperate to see them. Six months later I got that opportunity down in Bournemouth.
Many years have passed since then. I'm almost 40, I own every piece of music they ever released and some bootlegs that they didn't. I've lived in Australia for 15 years now and (coincidentally as my wife says) I fly home for a visit when Def Leppard are touring there. The last time I flew back home I saw them in Bournemouth once again. It was a full circle moment.
The last time I saw them live was a couple of years ago here in Melbourne and they nearly took the roof off of the arena. The concert aspect is the showbiz, the bright lights, the merchandise and fanfare. Don't get me wrong I love the experience but it's all about the music for me.
The music that has become the soundtrack of my life, which got me thinking why do some bands stick? How do some crawl under your skin, seep in to your blood, your bones and your soul? Why do we follow the bands we do?
For me and Def Leppard it was a mixture of rebellion, rawness, coolness (yes even with the mullet that I grew as quick as I could) and on some level it was acceptance. Their songs told me I didn't have to pretend to be something I wasn't. But mostly it was the sound. The thumping electrifying sound that made me want to move and live.
With the talk of a new album not too far away and possibly a tour I'm ready and waiting. Rocket yeah!
So NMAB followers, which band got under your skin and why?
Paul Salter
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