Rare Canned Heat master reel for sale!

Canned Heat fans!! Check out this HOT listing on eBay!

Bid on an original 1968 safety master reel tape of CANNED HEAT's legendary rock classic, "Going Up the Country", written by Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson. I obtained this tape myself from Richard Hite in 1997. Now it's time for this unique collectible to go to some other lucky fan.

It's item # 370051104512 on eBay. Bid NOW before this one-of-a-kind item is gone! If you're seriously interested and would like to learn more, send me an email at wordworkshop@gmail.com.

Blind Owl's blues, and our own

Here we'll discuss the enlightening, yet painful quest for The Truth. Yes, it's about the meaning of life, death, the soul, sex, depression, anguish, and ecstasy. A few, like my own dear Alan Blind Owl Wilson, will not survive this journey of darkness. Those who emerge into the light do not survive unscathed.

Our society is searching for meaningful answers, and amidst the hustle and hassle of our daily lives, I believe each individual is also secretly obsessed with this quest. Who are we really? And why are we here, sometimes enjoying family, friends, and love, sometimes suffering in horrific conditions both physical and emotional? Like Alan Wilson, many of us have endured depression and mental anguish. Sometimes it is hard even to define why we are unhappy, but we know that, as the old blues song goes, we “just cain’t be satisfied”.

In Alan’s case, he had suffered from depression for all of his adult life, and one family member recalls that there had been talk of seeking professional mental help for him as early as high school. There were different things that caused him to be unhappy: a turbulent family life, high intelligence which caused problems relating to peers, shyness around the opposite sex. But the overwhelming, overriding dissatisfaction with life ultimately ran deeper than all of these things. At various points in life, he became suicidal and for a while was hospitalized.

Alan would never find the right cure, the right drug, the appropriate combination of Yoga poses, the therapist who could help him talk through his problems. His death, while not classified as a suicide, was certainly related to his depression and related problems including a sleep disorder. How do we avoid a similar fate?

What is the solution for these lowdown, painful blues? When the darkness goes beyond temporary melancholy or situational issues, depression can be a major illness. One of today’s controversies surrounds the treatment of depression and other mental illnesses. Should we reach for a bottle of pharmaceuticals? Should we meditate and engage in stress-relieving exercises like Yoga? What about herbs and vitamins? Can we pray the pain away? Is the answer simply to work harder and keep the chin up? Modern pop claptrap such as The Secret would have us believe so, telling us that if we simply visualize success and happiness, we will attract the same, and our problems will be gone as soon as we so will.

For most of us, however, it’s not that simple.

Hence my recent discussion with Therese Borchard of the Beyond Blue blog. She credits antidepressants with saving her life, which I honor. I’m glad Therese is alive, and encourage her to stick with whatever works best for her. In my experience, however, antidepressants and other mood-altering pharmaceuticals have been of little to no benefit. Sometimes they caused ill effects which were worse than the original issue. Hence I sought out other paths and solutions for my woes. Alan Wilson also tried the antidepressants of his time, though in the late sixties options were relatively limited.

Therese and I approached each other with some hesitancy, she fearing that I would condemn her choice, I fearing that she would disbelieve my experience. We had reason to fear. Both have experienced judgmental attitudes from others who knew The Truth and were quick to tell us the error of our ways, the wrongness of our very experiences, our very perceptions. No doubt Alan faced similar attitudes in his own time, when depression was even less understood than it is now.

Regarding cures for depression, let us hear a parable on a more mundane topic: milk.

My parents love to drink cow’s milk and have done so every day for decades, claiming that if they miss a day or more, they get strange aches and pains in their teeth and bones. Since I am not inside their bodies, who am I to say that this is nonsense? Milk is indeed a good source of calcium, apparently the most reliable source for my parents.

But as for myself, if I drank a glass of milk daily, my stomach would be shriveling in agony. Despite the fact that many people like cow’s milk, some claim that humans need to drink it, and there is a big industry plastering billboards with distasteful pictures of celebrities’ milk-smeared visages, I know that milk does not work for me. It makes me ill. I've tried the foul goat's milk as well, and that simply tasted so vile as to be unpalatable. Like many who do not tolerate milk, I find other sources of calcium.

I am not saying that milk is bad for everyone. Some people believe this, and condemn the drinking of milk. It should not be condemned; after all, some apparently receive benefits from it. (I do think that the milk cows should be treated properly, but that's another topic for another day...) Nor, however, should milk-drinking be promoted as has typically been done in modern America. Many, such as myself, have suffered from being forced to drink milk. It is Over-Rated and Over-Promoted.

Why? Big Industry.

Big Pharm is behind the antidepressants which, admittedly, have helped many people. Like milk, I believe antidepressants should be available; they should not be condemned. But they are Over-Promoted.

Why? Again, Big Industry. Follow the dollars, as with most issues in this country.

Alan Wilson did not have the luxury of considering and debating these issues as in my recent discussion with Therese. Despite his financial success and the stardom of his band Canned Heat, he never found the drug combination that worked for him, as Therese did; nor did he have a shot at the natural therapies and balanced lifestyle that worked for me. Try as he might to meditate his blues away under the giant redwoods of California, his life came to an end at the age of 27. To those of us who loved him, it will always seem untimely.

So here are his emotional heirs, the modern depressives, with so many more options available to us nearly forty years after his death. Can we arrive at a balance between acknowledging the usefulness of antidepressants, and also acknowledging that they do not work for everyone?

It can be hard to say “I don’t know”. For we usually do know what works for us, and it’s easy to forget that our solutions do not work for everyone. Sometimes the road to hell really is paved with good intentions. Our best wishes for others can become dogma if we are not careful.

In the case of Therese and myself, I think we worked through some mutual fears of judgment, finding that each of us was a little more open-minded than the other expected. I am delighted.
For depression, I say, find what works for you, and if you are lucky enough to find a personal solution, stick with it… but don’t be afraid to adapt it as you change and evolve. And don’t fear the opinions of others; just take them into perspective while remembering that You are the ultimate expert on your Human Experience.

The same goes for antidepressants, Xanax, medicinal marijuana, meditation, Yoga, hot showers, the mansion on the hill, Wiccan spells, Catholic exorcisms, Jesus, Krishna, the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, the evening news, prayer, fasting, naked pagan dancing, sitar music, psychotherapy, nylon hose, heterosexuality, breakfast, veganism, winebibbing, abstinence, birthing children, television, the Internet, rock music, and community radio. Works for you? Great. But don’t try to force your magic pill on me, and I won’t force my magic rocks on you. Deal?

To me, this spells empowerment for the individual. Now if only the evil siblings of Big Business, Commercialism, Dogma, and Ego weren't involved... wouldn't that be a happy day. Even the Blind Owl would be proud.

Raging Nipple Militia undergoes upheaval

Members of experimental noise-rock band The Raging Nipple Militia are in mourning this week after the tragic death of keyboard player Rob Wallace. Much to the horror of passers-by, he was impaled by a fast-moving biscotti at a local coffeehouse, which caused immediate frontal lobe failure and death within hours.

Recordings are now on hiatus as the band searches for a new member to replace Rob. He will be greatly missed.

Campus Crusade For Thor

Well, Facebook ain't no MySpace, but at least the site features some quality spiritual groups.

I refer all readers and seekers to the Campus Crusade For Thor. Hail the Aesir!

Raging Nipple Militia classic songs now available online

Owing to great popular demand, the author has made rare recordings from her experimental noise-rock band, The Raging Nipple Militia, available as downloads.

Listen free to the first single A-side, The Nose Train.

Of course, many rebellious fans preferred the B-side, Betalet Betalet.

Soon available for download will be The Raging Nipple Militia's best-known title, a spiritual number entitled "Mother Dickey, You're The One".

The Raging Nipple Militia, though defunct since 2006, has recently been resurrected as a duo, featuring Fern Green on the double-necked betalet and the fabulous musical talent of Grammy nominee Rob Wallace. This multi-instrumental wizard plays keyboards as well as the bass harlot to good effect. New recordings are planned for summer 2008.

Blind Owl Wilson painting by Jesse Mosher arrives!

Much to my great excitement, I received a painting today from San Franssco artist Jesse Mosher. His subject: the great Blind Owl Wilson of Canned Heat.

Jesse's online shop can be found here. He paints a wide variety of subjects including many figures from music and pop culture, including Jerry Garcia, Barack Obama, Lightnin' Hopkins, Neal Cassady, Gram Parsons, and many more.

He has another Blind Owl painting for sale, available here.

I'm thrilled and honored to have Jesse's work as part of my collection, and encourage all music and art fans to check out his fine paintings. Find him on MySpace here.

Extended commentary on political begging

Make a real change - save your money!

I recently read a MySpace bulletin from a certain Presidential candidate, wheedling me and other readers for twenty-five dollar contributions to his campaign.

If you have lots of money and want to contribute, that's your choice. But I have news for this particular candidate. Many of his supporters are low- to moderate-income people, and we do not have a great deal of money sitting around. Some of us have been in the unfortunate situation of having unpaid bills, or having to charge food or medical necessities to credit cards because we had no money. In my case, it is a struggle just to get the bills paid every month.

Enter the politician, with his hand out, spewing drivel about "change" and "hope" and similar nonsense. This person will probably get my vote, because he beats the alternative (who also has his hand out). But I have a suggestion for those who are wondering if they should send money to any political campaign.

Make a real change. Put your money in a savings account. Plan for your future, and for those emergencies that so often come up. When your car breaks down, will Barack Obama or John McCain come fix it for you? I seriously doubt it. If, however, you have saved a bit of money - just twenty-five dollars here and there - perhaps you will be able to help yourself.

Heck, if you get in the habit of saving your money instead of giving it to every politician, preacher, and joker who shows up begging at your doorstep, it might even change your lifestyle. Perhaps you will be able to get the food you need, instead of applying for food stamps. Maybe you can buy the home you want, instead of renting... just be sure to read the terms of your loan carefully this time.

The bottom line? Take responsibility for yourself. Support the candidate of your choice, but don't expect him or her to make your life peachy-keen for you. Support causes and organizations if you are passionate about them, but research them carefully. Find out where your money will be going. Consider the big picture, and whether you can really afford to donate money, or if you should be covering your own ass first (along with the asses of any children you have produced). Would you be better off volunteering your own time or some personal effort to a Cause, instead of simply throwing money in various directions?

I don't have all the answers. But I'm damn sure going to ask the questions, instead of simply sending a check to some smooth-talking politician and hoping he will fix things for me.

Start with everyday personal choices, mindfulness, and responsibility. Watch your life get better from there.