Quote:
Originally Posted by jj
you really live in Biscuit City?
note: as far as misheard lyrics Live go, in the early 80s at Massey, Gord was seemingly intoxicated and appeared to be on careless 'high' way ...I couldnt interpret a word he had sung/slurred the entire evening... he was a parody of himself.... today he may have thinned out in most ever sense, but sure sings his words quite clearly...and cares |
You know jj, I'm embarrassed, but also somewhat relieved to say, that I never saw Gordon in concert during that time period, though a die-hard fan during it all. I was too broke and working too hard to ever have time back then. I don't think I would want to have gone even if I could have, during the time period that all of us as fans have read about, and others such as yourself witnessed first-hand, such as the above concert you spoke of.
I was very busy during that time period first in college, then travelling, then meeting and marrying, then working furiously to feed my family and try to move up at work, then returning to school again to learn to do what I really wanted to do, and damn near killing myself with full-time everything. Then along came baby.
In short, I didn't see Gord in concert between '76 and '84. I guess, from most accounts, I missed, fortunately, any evidence of the intoxication on stage that some friends told me was quite evident during some concerts in the '75 -'80 time period. I was caught-up in life through and including the time period that I understand he was able to stop drinking during, after '80 in any event.
No matter the year, but what a great accomplishment for him. However, as a perfectionist, I can only imagine how painful it must have been for him to listen, in sober years later, to recordings of live performaces during the much-written of time period that included him being carried off-stage, and when on, slurring words and forgetting others as you mentioned jj. That would be very difficult as a professional with such high standards, and would make any such performer cringe at hearing himself, I would think.
I've heard complaints from acquaintances of going to concerts between '75 and '80 in particular, and being at times (not all), "sorely dissapointed" as one guy told me the other day. He was not a fan
per se , but liked his music in general, and he said he and his wife went to one concert in '75, and spoke of attendees leaving in large numbers throughout both sets, and having a "lousy time". How tales of that and similar accounts, and any memories of these events, must be very painful for him, but even more I'd imagine might have been his connection with the audience he is so noted for, if intact during his "feeling no pain" times at all, would have to have been very hard, but thankfully, I can only guess he does not remember the worst of them, which is probably fortuitous.
Its great, to say the least, that he saved his life and stopped drinking, and is enjoying touring more than ever. He is one tough hombre to have survived so many medical events, and such endured life-endangering hardship from what seems to go so commonly with fame and fortune. Fortunate for us, and him, that he is such a trooper, and that he has so many loyal fans that love his music, and so many him as well.
