Written by Sal Costa (SMASHING SATELLITES)
SEX WITHOUT ORGASMS and EXPECTATIONS
For me, the guitar lessons with Frank Cosentino weren’t just a skill that I was acquiring and would soon forget. I saw these lessons as footprints at the bottom of a giant mountain that I was eager to climb. I just needed to start climbing… and that’s what I did.
I was constantly on a search for likeminded individuals who were ready to take on the harsh climate of the music industry. At this time, I knew nothing about the industry. It was purely about my passion and pure intentions. I didn’t care about being famous, making money or creating a business. All I cared about was making songs, honing in on my craft, expressing myself and working with other misfits like myself. I wish I could go back to those pure intentions I once had, but the music industry makes it very hard to stay pure. Whether people say it or not, you always need to fit some kind of mold (and I hate that). You are just a dollar sign to most people in the industry. You mean something to an elite group of people when you are hot, and when you are not, good luck! Luckily for me, I have had a few people in my court that don’t stop fighting for me, and amazingly loyal fans.
At this point it my journey, however, I was constantly inspired and enthralled at just playing music (even with a revolving door of band mates). The only ones who stuck around were the ones who could stand up and meet up to my extremely demanding expectations. I realized at this point in my life that there are a lot of people who WANT success, but don’t have the strength to face the music and DEMAND the best of themselves. So yes, I kicked probably 100 people out of all my bands (starting with my pre-high school bands). Many of these people saw me as a tyrant, and I kind of was. I was ride or die. Intense. Emotional. Head strong beyond belief. I wanted to be in the best fucking band you could ever imagine, nothing short of that. A lot of other musicians I began playing with were too interested in doing covers songs. I was not really into that whole thing. I was oozing with creative energy that I needed to release. I always felt like only playing cover songs was like sex without the orgasm…zero payoff!
I spent hours pretending to do my homework so my parents wouldn’t bother me. Really, I was doing was just doodling on paper, writing poetry and making logo designs for my future band names. I had all of this excitement and energy, but what drove me nuts is that I didn’t have anyone to share it with. You know, that feeling of dancing alone rather than with someone who appreciates the movement as much as you do. I felt like no one would ever share this drive and passion to achieve greatness. However, one September morning (after years of searching), I happened be sitting in front of my future best friend and bassist extraordinaire.
But that… that is another story to be told in Chapter 3 of “My Rock and Roll Journey.”
RELATED ARTICLES:
My Rock and Roll Journey – Sal Costa – Smashing Satellites – Chapter 1
MORE “MY ROCK AND ROLL JOURNEY” STORIES
JOEY “CHICAGO” WALSER – Devour The Day
MICHAEL DEL PIZZO – Sunflower Dead
NATHAN COLUCCI – The BallRoom Babies
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