I have made many mistakes on this long rocky road, but then again, maybe it's better to forget about the consequences of failure. Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success. I have had my fair share of bad luck but, I believe good and bad luck are like your left and right hand. You must use both. I've often thought what I would do if I won the lottery, and the answer probably is to continue to play rock & roll until the money ran out. Indeed, had it not been for putting that advert in Melody Maker Magazine back in 1975, I would not have joined the 'Hellraisers', my first professional band.
Subsequently, had it not been for my success in Finland, I would not have been privileged to play with such great characters as Brian Poole, Shakin' Stevens, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry and the quintessential rock & roll politician, Screamin' Lord Sutch, who would come up with the idea for the iconic piano battle between myself and Freddie Fingers Lee. And, moreover, Freddie would not have had the opportunity to ask me to play in Hong Kong from 1984 until 1988, and I would not have met Robert Graham there, who booked my first tour in the Philippines back in 1985, where I am now fortunate to reside, with the pleasure of performing as and when I choose at my favourite club - Midnight Rock. Life has been good to me, despite (or even in spite) all of its setbacks. Alas, with just one letter changed, I could have been a cult figure. However, everyone must find their own path in life. When you stumble upon it you will recognise it, because, suddenly, you will have all the energy, strength and imagination required to follow it.
I've never believed in the concept of love. That's for the kids. I do, however, believe in commitment and loyalty; whether your partner be male or female is not important. Indeed, affinity comes from friendship, not from family. Although family can also be friends. Life has taught me that being together does not consist of gazing lovingly at each other, but in looking outward together, in the same direction.
Time flies, as they say, and that is the bad news. The good news, however, is that you're the pilot. All you need to do is make sure you have a safe flight. Through the good times and the bad, I have been lucky: I always had music to see me through and keep me going. When one door of happiness closes, another one opens, but often we take so long looking at the closed door that we do not see the one that has just opened up for us. I couldn't change the direction of the wind, but I did manage to adjust my sails in order to reach my final destination.
Follow your dreams and all will be well, except, of course, that one where you're running around naked in the church. Always keep asking questions. Why do we suffer? Does life have a purpose? Is there a soul. Should we fear the future? Is there a God? And why do feet smell yet noses run? And remember what Magellan said: “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Of course, that was just before he was eaten by the natives of the Philippines. Isn't it a good thing that the cannibals of the Philippines, and indeed the rest of the world, eventually saw sense and started worshipping an unemployed carpenter that lived 2000 years ago with a wife who committed adultery with someone higher up the ladder .
Rockin Dave Hong Kong 1985.
