Hi everyone. Been lurking for a week or so, posted a few times. Kera even said "HI", so I feel bad I haven't introduce myself. These intros are always a little intimidating I must confess. But here goes...(gulp)...
Been around for a while, saw and participated on the fringes of the local (Houston) punk/new wave scene back in the late 70s/early 80s. A member of a totally forgotten band 'New Heroes' (new wave/new romantics/cool Bowie LP-kinda thing). Discovered that the bass guitar and I were not an artistic statement. But music and local shows got me through a University education in almost sane fashion. Art school graduate working in bookselling, retail 'hades'...
Discovered Japan during a summer in England (1982). Didn't see them then nor ever, just bought the Virgin LPs. Mick's 'Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters' was one of my first CD purchases.
Fast forward to 1993... after the failure of my second long-term relationship began to study Buddhist mediation. A year later I am living in a monastery in rural Thailand. Through a kind friend, I locate and gain acceptance to two Japanese Zen Centers (a dozo in Chiba City and a 300 yr old Rinzai Zen monastery outside Okayama). Traveled alot throughout SE Asia and visited all the big cities and notable sights in Japan. The band Japan did not enter my mind for a moment at that time. 2 years later, back in Texas...
Present:
Working for a semiconductor company (hint: we are famous for calculators and DLP tv chips), married to an India-born beauty (a decade on) and a 19 yr old stepson in university. Love vintage English motorbikes (ride '73 Norton Commando), loads of music styles and rugby. Interests include red wine of all varietials, indy films, James Joyce and Burroughs, Robert Haas (the poet), vegetarian spicy food, the stray dog who has been hanging out at our house for the last 7 yrs, Nine Horses (some of you may have heard of this band of musicians)...
Still awake? Thanks to Kera and all of you for your info and sharing on this forum. Now its back to 'The Brown Bunny' which Netflix has chosen to send to me to view, then a Samuel Smith and beddy-bye.
-David