There are moments in life when elements suddenly fit together like puzzle pieces, and you see the picture formed in front of you. Understanding dawns, a realization is had, and perhaps, truth is even found. Some refer to these as "A-HA!" moments.
"American Pie" is one of those songs that is always touted as a classic. And while it's about love and loss, the deceptively catchy chorus and rhythmic melody don't necessarily lend themselves to the true meaning or story of the lyrics.
Recently, my brother & I rented one of those "play and sing along" video games and this song was on the menu. I remember rolling my eyes when my brother chose it, and while I concentrated on playing the guitar parts correctly, I remember wondering for not the first time but what would turn out to be the last time in my life:
what IS it with this song? By the time all was said and done, I was annoyed because my right hand felt cramped; it's over 8 minutes long. Up until a little while ago, I just never "got" that song.
Then I got a Google News alert in my e-mail Inbox. The headline read:
AVENGED SEVENFOLD Drummer Found DeadI blinked and blinked, clicking the link and as I waited for the page to load, thought to myself, "Worst end of the year joke ever." But as I began reading the story, a feeling of dread started swirling in my stomach. When the original source story disappeared for about 10 minutes, I was filled with what was ultimately false hope that the story was just a mixup, maybe even a poorly conceived hoax.
SURELY the James Owen Sullivan that was found dead in his home on the afternoon of December 28, 2009 was NOT the same James Owen Sullivan who went by the moniker "The Rev" and is one of the most brilliant musical minds of his generation. That guy is only 28 years old. That guy is just beginning to scratch the surface of his vast & infinite talents. That guy teased and fascinated us with glimpses of his unique but fantastic imagination on the last record, and that guy has us all waiting for the next bout of greatness to be showcased on the upcoming record.
THAT GUY ... only a few months older than me, a hero to many, a friend/son/brother to few ... is now gone, no doubt raising a noisy ruckus wherever he is.
When Avenged Sevenfold made an offical statement and I read it over and over, the chorus to "American Pie" slowly faded into the foreground of my mind.
"
So bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"
And in my mind's eye, I saw words from the song flashing in the form of a neon sign:
The day the music died My "AHA!" moment was had. I suddenly "get" what "American Pie," at its core, is all about.
I've lost an inspiration & someone who brought me great joy just by existing.
I was lucky enough to have his genius pointed out to me by a faithful disciple of his, and through her eyes, I saw him. For the first time in my life, I paid attention to a drummer and was rewarded for it. The Rev made me laugh, made my jaw drop, made me sit up straighter and even learn. When I started having a7x adventures, he made the very first one unforgettable with his insane behavior and unexpected sweetness. And on subsequent adventures, he seemed to play a key part in so many of my personal experiences.
I'm so grateful to him for having shared his gifts with the world, and for sharing moments of his time with me and mine. ♥
R.I.P. Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and THANK YOU for everything. To say you'll be missed is like saying you were good on the drums: just doesn't come close to the truth about you. But the truth about you, Rev, was often beyond words. You were never afraid to be yourself, and often times, who you were was beyond the grasp of us mere mortals :) But we worshipped and adored you from afar, and we'll continue to keep you in our hearts. Or at least, as much of you as our hearts can contain ♥
December 28, 2009 - the day the music died.
ecstatic
sad
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indescribable
thoughtful
