Vambo Still Rool...
2002/07/22 Mon AM 12:06:14 CDT

I recently read an article on your website by a woman who had met Alex, and how much the encounter enriched and changed her life. It's a great story. So, I decided to tell you mine.

I was born on June 14th, 1984. My father had grown up listening to classic rock (but in his day, it was just called rock), and as traditions and culture go, when you're growing up, you go with what you're surrounded with. You do the things others around you do. You eat their foods, drink their drinks, watch their TV shows, talk like them, vote like them... basically, we follow the lead of our surroundings... and then we get older, and make our own decisions, and go our own ways.

So, when I was a kid, I was surrounded with rock music. My father had told me about those "usual suspects", and their songs, group members, and the influences they had over their listeners. I had listened to those groups for years. I was tired of the common rock radio staples. And as I got older, I sought out to expand my tastes in music. Listen to different groups, different styles, etc..

Then one day, while in a CD store with my father, he picked up a CD by this group called, "The Sensational Alex Harvey Band", called, "NEXT". "I haven't heard these guys in years", he said. So he bought the CD, and played it when we got home. I was a preteen at the time, probably too young and naive to understand the full meaning of the lyrics, the music, and the man who had claimed himself to be, "The Last of the Teenage Idols". But I understood one thing... I loved it!

So, on snow days (or any other time my father wasn't home) I would peek through his record collection. He had a few of SAHB's records: "FRAMED", "THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM", "TOMMOROW BELONGS TO ME", "LIVE", and "SAHB STORIES". He also had "NEXT", on 8-track, and he had a cassette of "THE PENTHOUSE TAPES", that he had bummed off a friend, and recorded. So, when I had the chance, I'd play the 8-tracks (until they got eaten up by the machine) and the records, reading the lyrics and liner notes, looking at the artwork and pictures. I wanted to know more about this gang of musicians that never made it as big as they should have.

So as the years wore on, and I grew into a young man, there had been a lot of changes. My father had acquired all of the SAHB CD's, and had also acquired a new cartridge for his phonograph. And I had acquired a great love for music. So with his old SAHB discs dusted off, and new ones spinning regularly in the player, I was taking in as much SAHB and Alex as I could, and loving every second of it. You could say I was obsessed.

My friends and peers, however, didn't understand it. To them if it wasn't, "in" or "hip" or "new" or... etc., then it wasn't any good. I took a lot of crap and criticism for listening to music that was "before my time". Even my father began to doubt me. He thought I was in an identity crisis, and I wanted to be him. Like Hell!!!! But my confidence stood unwavering to the forces that were trying to bring me down. I wasn't going to conform to them, just because they didn't like, or understand, or appreciate what I was into. I was different. And I like being different. And while I loved old music, there was some new music that I found good as well. I'm still the same way. When I would try to explain Alex to people, it just lost them, or threw them for a loop. No one understood, and no one cared. No one would even give me the time to talk about Alex, but I had to sit there while they blabbed about the newest trends and fads in music, fashion, and culture. And that was exactly what they were: FADS-things that wouldn't last. Things, that after LITTLE time had passed, no one would remember.

But Alex was a LEGEND-something, that after MUCH time had passed, people would remember. And continue remembering. And let everyone know how truly great it was, and still is, and still can be. If only there was a way I could let people know...

By this time, the word INTERNET, was a household name. I searched the internet one day, and discovered that Alex was alive, and burning in the hearts of many whose lives had been touched by his music. Websites, databases, virtually anything and EVERYTHING about the man and his legacy. Stories that were humble, happy, and heartbreaking. I found out about his life, his times, his hardships and hopes. His rise, his fall, and how he kept it all together out of the love for the game. Now, I had the ammo I had been searching for. It was time to let the people know.

It was 1998, and I was entering 9th grade, in Lakeland High School. In my speech class, our first speech assignment was to compose an informative speech, on any topic, person, situation, etc.. So, I chose Alex. After hearing almost the entire wealth of his works, and finding extensive information on him via the internet, I felt that I had enough knowledge of his life and times to tell his tale. My friends and family thought I was taking a gamble at trying to sell Alex's story, and expecting to impress my teacher and peers all at the same time. But I wasn't trying to convert or impress anyone. I just wanted to let them in on my life, and the things I enjoyed, and a man and rock group that I admired. The rest is up to them. I make a decision based on the thing that I am influenced by, not by who suggests it to me.

I gave it the title, "ALEX HARVEY-"THE LAST OF THE TEENAGE IDOLS" (1935-1982)". It wasn't due until the end of that month, but I was so enthusiastic about it. I remember wishing that every day was the day when I presented the speech. When the day came, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between. I had great info on Alex, and had worked real hard on the speech. But in this class, you just didn't get graded on how well you wrote and researched it, but how you delivered it. Posture, tone, expressions, body language, and the ever-important eye contact, were all key factors in securing a successful and well received speech. But I already knew that was important, even before we began to learn how to properly deliver a speech. And I would be talking about, and pretty much representing Alex. I had to be on top. And I was determined to do it.

Our time limit for the speech was 5 minutes. Mine was very long, so I figured I would just give half of my speech and present the other half for another speech assignment. And if it was too long, I might bore them, and they'd lose interest. Not good for an INFORMATIVE speech. So, I stepped up to the podium, confidently. There, I delivered my speech, with all the textbook procedures that had been taught to us. ESPECIALLY tone, and eye contact. I put my heart into it. I wanted them to understand what I felt about Alex. I spoke for about 4 1/2 minutes, which brought me up to the "TOMMOROW BELONGS TO ME"/"LIVE" era. And I ended it with the traditional, "to be continued". There were a few moments of silence, then to my surprise...ROARING APPLAUSE!!!! They liked it! They were impressed! I was too stunned to react, so I just began to make my way back to my seat. That's when Mr. B said, "Where are you going? Aren't you going to finish the rest of your presentation?" I was a little taken back by that, and told him that it was quite long, but he said that it was no problem, and that he wanted to hear it. And so did everyone else!!!!

So, I strolled back up to the podium (this time with a little more confidence), and concluded the story of this great man's life and times. The total time of my speech was a little over 17 minutes, and still, when I finished, ROARING APPLAUSE!! I even got a few hoots and hollers!!! I felt like Alex's spirit was with me that morning. Now I knew how Alex must have felt after a great gig. Alex had always given of his best, and so did I. I'm very convinced that Alex was there that day in spirit, helping me along in spreading the word about him. Students had given me high-fives, congratulated me, and told me I did a good job. My grading sheet from Mr. B was great too. He said that I "had good control and mastery of my audience." (Like "Vambo teach him mastery"?).

About a week later in speech class, I did a kind of "follow-up" to my speech on Alex. I had the video of the Syracuse gig in 1974. I thought that maybe that they had enjoyed hearing and learning about Alex, that seeing him would have further completed the picture, and opened their eyes a little more on this man. Also, in my speech, I described how great Alex's stage show was, and thought that instead of letting them wonder, I'd show them.

Big mistake.

First, Mr. B denounced me for the video being "apparently illegal", as he said (-it was a bootleg!). Secondly, when the kids heard Alex's Scottish accent, I could hear every little giggle and snicker all over the room. Then, in the opening to "FAITH HEALER", when Alex exclaims, "LET ME PUT MY HANDS ON YOU!!", they really started reeling. Shouts of boos and laughter, and "oh my God, this is horrible/ridiculous"/etc... You'd think that with the crazy outfits of Hugh, Zal and Ted (especially Zal), Alex's superb showmanship, and the fact that it was a no-nonsense, kick-ass, and downright entertaining rock show that was going on, that they would have been impressed, or at least accepted it. But nothing. But I guess that THEY were the ones that were too young and naive to understand it. Mr. B., sensing my embarrassment and humiliation (which was actually disappointment), quickly ejected the tape from the VCR, handed it back to me, and said "Thank you for sharing that with us, Chris", in an attempt to preserve whatever was left of my dignity. Then the bell rang, and the kids rushed from the room like it was on fire. They all just wanted to get away from me.

I felt upset, like I didn't do Alex the justice he deserved. I felt as if everything I had told them about Alex, I took away. But it was only proof in my confidence and love for his music and legacy, that I would not only tell them about him, but show them, as well. I regretted it for a while, but if I hadn't done it, that gnawing "WHAT IF?" would be driving me mad. So once again, things were "back to normal", with people not understanding me. Or Alex. I guess they felt that he had come across better on paper and words than in sound or vision. But with time (and therapy) I got over it. Because for that one moment, I was able to make people pause and recognize one of rock's greatest sons. And that was a great achievement in itself.

And even that event did not discourage me. I still tell people about Alex and his music. As well as other groups and artists I like. Alex has played a great role in my life, and even though I have never had the chance of meeting or at least seeing him, I feel like we have met in other ways. Whenever you listen to music, it affects you in good ways, or bad ways. But either way, it affects you. Alex and his music, have had a positive effect on my life. And I'm sure, the lives of MANY others. And I hope he will continue to have an affect on people for generations to come. The word "LEGEND", gets thrown around an awful lot in the music world. But Alex Harvey is one man who truly deserves it. He was making music while the Beatles were still in diapers, and went on to influence some of yesterdays and today's biggest names. I hope that people will continue to keep the faith in the "FAITH HEALER". I know I will.

Thank You,
CHRIS HLUDZIK
July 22nd, 2002.