Rock and Roll Is Dead: Rest Easy Brother

     Imphermal is grandmother waking up into the dew. Serene the woods and foliage. On the way to the Summit’s Peak. Beaten the path of no resistance. If one should choose it. There lies a bench in the break of the foliage. Adjacent to a single Bodhi Tree. Surrounded by a plethora of Cherry Blossoms. A few steps behind the bench. Off center of the Bodhi. Laying silently, a still pond.

          Victor finished his ascension adorning the Bodhi from his current distance. Turning his gaze to the bench. Victor noticed his dear friend Petey, Pete Definni. Smelling that wonderful aroma Victor sat down. 

“Petey “Mr. Loud” Delfinni. Am I seeing ya today?”

     Petey passed the joint to his beloved friend, his brother. 

“Nope, came ta say goodbye, brother. Can’t leave ya without one last good time, man. It’ll get easier, paisano I promise.”

      As Victor passed it back Petey vanished. Rolling over in his bed Victor’s arm flopped down. The right side used to be Nancy’s side.

“La minchia! Can’t heal this way.”

    Shaking off the faint smell of Nancy. Victor hopped up and stripped the bed. Upon tossing the sheets and cases in the hamper. Vincent, his grandson bursted in the room.

“Nonno you good?”

“Yeah your nonni pillow smelt like her. It’s been two months and now Petey has joined her. He came to say goodbye in my dream last night.”

    Still in the doorway Vincent concealed his concern. Though he stated that closure was good. Internally he felt that the dream symbolized his dear nonna was next. Feeling Vincent’s low frequency, Victor hugged his grandson.

“Bambino, I don’t believe I’ll be going anywhere anytime soon. Let’s get ready for the funeral.”

     Vincent nodded before Victor let go of his embrace. Victor spun Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs on the record player in the upstairs hallway. Clapton sang and Duane Allman wailed as they both got ready. Flipping the records as they went through their routines. Victor finished first and took it upon himself to make two breakfast burritos. While he started coffee. Sipping his coffee at the kitchen table. Victor began playing 10, 20, 30 upon taking the cards out of the utility draw. After losing both hands Vincent appeared in the kitchen. Inquiring which one of them would be driving. Victor packed up the cards and finished his first cup. He answered Vincent by pointing to him. Victor filled a travel mug with some coffee. He placed the burrito and keys near the travel mug. Vincent killed the pot as he was mixing in the sugar. They left in silence as Thorn Tree in The Garden ended.

     To cut the silence as they ate on the way to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Vincent put on I Wander by Rodríguez. Letting the streaming service shuffle what was to play next. Finishing the burrito Victor lit a pinner joint. 

“Here’s some medicine to shake off the nerves. Pleased and amazed ya know this tune, kiddo.”

     Vincent obliged the pass acknowledging Petey as the influence. 

“Before I moved in with you, nonno. I never noticed bass lines. Jamming with you and Uncle Petey the past two months. I can now hear them in music and must say. I dig the track more if they move. So he introduced me to Rodríguez.”

     Victor passed back again nodding in approval. Victor redirected his feeling of being overwhelmed.

“I met Petey when I was 13, 63 years of friendship, Vinny. I cut class at P.S 128 and hopped the B to Manhattan. It’s now the N. Got off on Bowery you own the acoustic I had on my back that Wednesday morning. 3 Blocks from CBGB”s I set up the case. I only had 4 originals at that point. Which later became the demo and one through four on the EP Dead Noise. That Wednesday though set up behind the fence at the back of the subway on Bowery. I ran through some exercises to shake the cold off my hands. Starting with Testing of Wills, Petey walked up smoking a cigarette. That's when I found out he pinched his eyebrows together when he felt the groove. He asked who wrote it when I was finished. I told him I did. He wanted to hear more. So I played the other three. I melodyed into Inside The Night and The Day. Then played Tangent Universe finishing with Handsome. Maligned he exclaimed that I was playing lifes frequency. While singing words of death. I told him that he had to hear my paisan Kramer play lead over top of me. That’s when he flipped out and began to rant. How he was a bassist and how he could play the line. Saying his style would make my melodies dance. Going on to mention his homie Miguel was a banger. Pondering his suggestion I put what I made in my pocket. Texting Kramer on the spot we got together that weekend. Miguel knew of a vacant building on Bowery. Kramer brought a generator with our amps. Come to find out it was Petey and Miguel's chill spot. After a few runs we were in the pocket. Man Petey called it Dead Noise. Kramer and Miguel chimed it was the name of the demo. In unison we urged Petey to name our four piece. After a few beers and a blunt. Petey said, "What's the term for life’s frequency?" Kramer, perplexed by the question, mumbled the scientific term was Biorhythm. Petey followed the rotation and got up for another beer. Stood in front of us holding a sign in caps That read BIO- RHYTHM. Petey named everything from then on.”

     Vincent was speechless as he parked the car at St Mary’s Cathedral. Getting out Victor stretched and lit a cigarette. Vinny thanked his nonno for the story. Citing how he always wanted to know the origin of his nonni band. Which is one of his favorite’s.  Side by side they entered the cathedral. After signing the ledger they were met at the threshold to the main hall. Which was filled with family and friends. Kramer and Miguel embraced Victor. The tree of them hugged in sorrow for their fallen brother. Victor let go first putting himself back together. He introduced his grandson to the boys. Kramer brashly blurted out his thoughts.

“Damn Vic the kid looks just like ya. Does he got the vibe, it missed Viccy.” 

     Miguel leaned on Victor tapping Kramer on the chest. He spoke through one voice staring into Vincent’s eyes.

“Easy Ramer mejo feels the vibe. Look at’em he’s fuckin’ blaze chivato, simone.”

     Vinny, visibly embarrassed Victor put his right arm around him. 

“Oh yeah and he drove.”

     As the three of them erupted with laughter. Kramer exclaimed how Vinny was definitely Victor’s grandson. Still in the threshold of the main hall. Eagerly listening, Vinny stood as the other three began to reminisce over their time on the road. All the stories recited started with Remember that time Petey….

     After several passes of the storyteller role. The father called for them to join him at the altar. Kramer and Miguel declined, agreeing this isn’t how Petey would want to be sent off. Miguel pleaded to Victor’s sensibilities.

“Vic, amigo, paisan you know how Petey felt about these places. You also know how he felt about the majority of people in there. This ain’t the way to send off our brother. Go to the altar for us and wordsmith us outta here per favor. So we can send our hombrè off properly.”

     Kramer added to Miguel’s sentiment. As Victor ascended the aisle to the altar. He relaxed his feelings gently so he could fathom the words he was to articulate. Shaking the father’s hand as he approached the altar. Victor turned, stepping in front of the altar looking at the sea of faces in the pews. Finished with the sea of familiar faces. Victor’s heart opened as he looked to the back at his lifelong friends standing with his grandson. Finding his one true voice. He noticed another person walk up behind Kramer and Miguel. Victor closed his eyes, shaking his head. Opening his eyes looking back at the threshold again. Victor realized it was his dead friend Petey.

“Miei paisano, Mustache Petey quickly turned Kramer and me into a trio. Then he brought us Miguel “White Noise”. Which turned us into a gang, Bio- Rhythm. Which turned into a family were all brothers. Critics and colleagues thought me being the songwriter. Assuming I was the leader. Not true it was Petey, we all followed him. So full of life he lit the way through the dark. The life of every party. Hell he’s the godfather to all of our children. He showed me how to put myself back together after Nancy died. Miguel Kramer and all bonded over being hippies with an affinity for alternative and punk music. Petey and I bonded because we grew up in the same home environment. He was my doppelganger, my evil twin. He opened my mind to exploring new music. Petey navigated our musical evolution as a band and individual. This is what it’s like when the laughing stops, huh la minchia. I hear him telling me, like he always does when I think it’s too heavy for me. “Bro you really wanna die on this altar?” I’m aware of the irony currently. Then he’d quote my lyrics, saying. “It’s not gonna stop for you or anyone for that matter. Inside the night and into the day. From dusk till dawn. Life’s twisted drama will go on and on. Don’t let the wave of depression seal your fate. All shall pass tomorrow, things will change.” I know he wouldn’t want anyone to be sad. He’s probably yelling at us guys, it's just life. No one’s gettin’ out alive. Then he’d finish with "Let's cut out and get some chow.”

     After Victor quoted his friend the second time. He left the altar descending the stairs. Victor remembered the days in the warehouse on Bowery. Johnny Thunders was the bands major influence, more so Petey and Victor. Strolling into the aisle staring at the three in the threshold. As Victor began to sing through one voice. Petey began to vanish, as Victor’s words rang. His tears fell like rain. Kramer, Miguel and Vinny sang background for the chorus. Turning the funeral procession into an impromptu concert homage.

“Livin’ in a jungle. It ain’t so hard. Livin’ in the city. It will eat out, eat out your heart. I said hit it! Born to lose. I said hit it! Born to lose. I said hit it! Ohh, baby I’m born to lose.”

     Victor high fived Vinny merging into the middle of Miguel and Kramer. Vinny led the way to their departure. As the four of them finished the refrain to Born to Lose by Johnny Thunders.

“Ohh, baby I’m born to lose. Baby I’m born to lose. Baby I’m born to lose. I said hit it! Ohh,  born to lose. Baby I’m born to lose. Baby I’m born to lose.”