Chapter 27: Held Under with Mike S.

I dont even know what to say.

I don't even know what to write.  

I do not have the right words,

I do not have the time,

to explain.

Question 1 : Who are some of your favorite musicians you listened to when you were younger ?

And, if you could start a band now, what would they sound like ? 

Unfortunately, my favorite through high school and my early twenties was Ted Nugent, who I now view as representing

everything reprehensible in a humanity--I also liked damn near any heavy metal band--Iron Maiden, especially

with Paul Dianno (I know, Bruce Dickinson is more professional in all areas, but I think I related to Dianno because

I loved his voice, and, in their video's, he never looked comfortable, at least to me, and when I was lead screamer

for our metal band, Held Under, I loved writing, I loved recording, but I loathed playing live. I hated being up

on stage where people expected a cool look, and a cool head, I got a bit better about the cool head part,

but the cool look? Not so much! I liked damn near any metal band, except back in the mid-eighties to mid nineties, long hair

was a must, and I couldn't grow my hair long. Of course now, I can't grow any, long or short, at least on top, so that

wouldn't be a problem! Having said I loved all metal, that's not exactly true, I hate bands like Poison, who in my

opinion wrote throw-away lyrics. I feel like your songs should say something besides,

"I go crazy for your tight pants, woman!" or "I live for rock!"

If I could start a band today, it would sound a lot like a band that I think is criminally-overlooked, 'The Brandos'. They're from America, but they play mostly in Germany, because they have a following there, unlike here. They aren't a metal band, but I love the sound of vocalist/lead guitarist and main member David Kincaid. It's basically his band. I heard 'Gettysburg' on the radio back in '87, and was blown away. I urge anyone within the sound of my typing to check 'em out. All their songs are great. Their song 'The Triangle Fire' gives me goose bumps, but all their songs are killer.

( Tommorow and Forever link )

I remember everything,

from the moment I met you,

to the moment I wanted to change,

the past, 

in this future, 

we dream to fulfill all our wishes,

as we remember everything.

Question 2 : What sort of songs would "Held Under " write about today"

I think the absolute disgrace, not to mention, dangerous, joke we have as President, world politics, the danger social media poses in today's world, or any song that says something, for example, I still write lyrics, although it's a bit tricky because I never could play an instrument, I used to sing along to a riff, usually my brother, Patrick's, but now that I sound like a neutered dog stuck in the dryer (don't ask me WHAT that would sound like, or why a dog would be in the dryer!), I can't even do that. But anyway, here's an example of lyrics I've written:

500 Days-'Definition Of Insane'

Verse:

Hearts bleeding vitriol all over the net,

feeling anonymous, as brave as they get.

Hide behind the screen for a vicious attack,

stole our innocence and we'll never get it back.

Pre-Chorus:

Hit 'on' and something snaps inside.

Hit 'send' and it's a gulf a mile wide

Verse:

No check on our words, no common sense,

just pure emotion as we rant and vent.

All our frustrations, all our beliefs,

and heap derision on any who disagree

Repeat Pre-Chorus:

Chorus:

Darkness descends, it's the definition of insane,

in The Land Of The Free, it's insanity's reign

Face to face, the equation changes,

but add a keyboard and something deranges

Verse:

Both good and bad, both blessing and curse,

brings out the thoughtful and it brings out our worst.

Electronic platform to peddle crazy conspiracies

An alternative to facts, anonymous industry

Repeat Pre-Chorus:

Repeat Chorus:

END

 I don't know even know what to ask,

as I want to know the answer to so many questions,

I watch as the shadows surround me,

darkness does not apologize,

for its lack of light,

finding a way back.

Question 3: When did you first start singing? And what advice would you give to someone who would like their own voice to be heard?

My brother and I started writing songs in his room after school. I never thought I was any good at first, but then a friend of my brother's, John Kirsch, said I should try it for real, so I tried singing for him and my brother's band, sort-of-band, and, while I still thought I sounded pretty bad, we decided to try forming a band, which we named Discovery. That later morphed into Held Under, although without John. I gradually became more and more confident, in my voice, that is. I never felt like I was a good showman.

As for getting your voice heard, now days with the internet, it's much easier. We had nothing like it back in the day, but if we had, man, we'd have been all over it like a cheap suit (pathetic punch line alert!)

If  I tried to look the other way,

I couldn't turn around,

I stepped away from the edge,

pulling myself under,

just to save oursleves.

Question 4 : Where did the name "Held Under " come from ?  

To be honest, I thought our original name, 'Dorian Gray' was a stronger name, but I was informed at band practice one night that there was another band named that, and 'Held Under' would be our new name, by Bob Shook, one of our guitarists, and our drummer, Steve Oliver, so I had no choice, they decided for me!

What questions could I ask, 

what words could explain that we could never be,

what they wanted us to,

pulled under.

Question 5 : Why did "Held Under" stop performing ? 

The easy answer would be to say 'The Curse Of Hercules,' but that was the absolute death-knell, the truth is it started long before the curse took our bass player and messed up our drummer, for long after Phil quit and before he was hit by a car and killed, and after Steve's heart problems, we were still playing as Held Under, albeit a more straight ahead, stripped down sound, and looking back, we should have changed our name. Before having my head bashed in in a car accident and the curse ended it once and for all, I was very uncomfortable playing live, and never believed I would ever have what it takes. Now, when I can't do anything about it, I realize we were pretty damn good, and wished I'd have taken it more seriously. Ah, hindsight! 

I saved no one,

as I tried to save,

the ones I loved,

gone from me,

away.

Question 1: Who are some of your favorite writers, poets, lyricists , etc?  

I always think of author's names after I send the answers so I guess I'll just list my favorite types, I enjoy crime fiction, lawyer fiction, science fiction, famous novels, such as 'To Kill a Mockingbird', political, fiction and biographies, I read a lot of old time movie biographies, I'm not a big poetry reader, believe it or not, but I'll read them online when people I'm a fan of posts something poemily.

On this adventure of dreams,

where pleasure has no name,

I dreamed the dream of life,

which I was actually living,

today.

Questions 2: What are some of your favorite pieces, that you have written? 

I'm editing (at least as well as I can!) my one and only novel, "I Was The Governor; Citizen Davis, From The Glitter to The Shitter)", poems I've written about my family, a short story called "Dr. Goiterstein," based on "Frankenstein, and several other short stories, which tend to be about people who try and fail, and are too blind to see they have no talent, and keep trying, sort of like he man who kept ramming his head into a brick wall, expecting it the fall one of these times! "Duh Racer," and wanna-be-famous writer, "Charles Placard,' come to mind. I've written so many I forget them offhand, and I'm sure that once I'm done and have sent my answer, I'll suddenly remember and go 'doh!' 

Infinity, eternity and the exact moment,

I learned a miracle,

as I fought my own energy,

without fear,

deep down.

Question 3: I really enjoy your collaborations with Hully ! When did you first start collaborating together and what do like most about working with another writer?  

Almost as soon as we became friends on Booksie. It's a rare thing to find someone who you have a lot in common with, an identical world view. I'm usually adverse to writing with someone else, but we write so well together because we share the same outlook, and I'm so lucky.

I'm so lucky, not only to fine the ideal writing partner, but finding someone who listens to my problems, fears, and hopes, and who understands, and I'd like to think think vice versa. 

Everything explodes,

its what I was looking for,

after all this time,

when I waited to find the perfect question,

to a perfect answer,

it comes down,

to what we are all looking for. 

Question 4: Where do your collaborative ideas come from ? 

Thin air? No, mostly from the headlines of the day, not all, but most, and things that happened to us, or emotions we share.

And, I tear away,

from the memory of my scars,

where yesterday changes,

as I live again,

inside of me,

what I've become,

leaving everything,

no where to run.

I dream, of every kind of pleasure,

where all my wishes become reality,

sharing moments with those,

that I love,

as everything, every moment,

makes it all worth it,

as below,

so above.

And, the very least I can do is,

make it connect, somehow,

with a little help, 

from a friend:

( Hully's interview )

Hully Question 1: In the Held Under days, who would you most have liked to tour with? 

Hmm, that's a good question--in my fantasies,Judas Priest, Iron Maiden with Paul DiAnno, and outside of metal, so it would never have happened, The Brandos, because Dave Kincaid's so great, The Who, 'cause I think Roger Daltry's voice is so good, and I'm sure there's others I'm spacing on!

Hully Question 2: Is there any country in the world that you've never been to that you'd really like to see? Or are you like me, a total non-traveler ? 

There's lots of places I'd have liked to see, but now it's a moot question, Hully, I'd need a gigantic barf bag, and I've never liked to fly anyway, plus, like you, I'm happy when I'm home. 

Hully Question 3: You had a $10,000 to spend on Amazon. Would you splurge it all on a few big items, or keep it to dig away at slowly? 

Probably keep it, and spend a little at a time. 

Hully Question 4: A simple one this, do you prefer sunshine or moonlight? 

Oh, both, Hull, I think would be my answer. I know it's a cop out, but... 

Hully Question 5: If you could interview one musician, writer, artist, either in person or on-line, who would you choose?

Dave Kincaid of The Brandos--there's many others, but I think Kincaid would be my first choice.

Thank you Mike.

No one can hold a candle to your voice.

I am, unable to forget,

I will always remember the strong.

I am, unable to regret,

I will always think of singing that song,

I am, unable to live,

without letting you know,

how much a piece of your soul,

I feel,

in my heart.

-Doc