Posted May 12th 2003
...and so after vast amounts of time and energy were expended the aliens finally
created a planet where life could support itself and eventually prosper. Okay
that's it and don't forget they'll be a test next week . Oh .. sorry, I was
just finishing my lecture. Perhaps I should explain; I teach a weekly class
at Portmouth University (unfortunately called PU by the locals, but at least
I don't teach at Fordham University) on a subject known as paleoergoplanetology.
I won't bore you with the technical explanation of what that means, let's just
say it's very cutting edge stuff that answers just about all of lifes' questions.
Well enough of that crap, let's get to the important stuff. And that would be-----Part
Two of 'Before They Were Stars.' Now let me see, where were we? Oh yes I remember.
Last week I told you about the early years of Rich, Stacey, and Joe. That brings
us to drummer Leo Black, or at least that is what he would have you believe
his name is. I know he'll be uncomfortable with me telling this story but I
think enough water has gone over the bridge, or under the dam by now that it
can be told.
His real name is Leo Blick. Name ring a bell? Yes, that Blick family, famed
for their high wire act. Started by his grandfather, Gustav Blick, 'The Flying
Blicks' performed all over America, Europe and the Far East during the middle
part of the last century. And, as those of you who have studied family high
wire circus acts during the period of 1945-1963 may remember, theirs was an
act with a gimmick. The gimmick being that the high wire wasn't really very
high at all. Some claimed it was a simple fear of heights that caused old Gus
to set his wire at 5 ft., but the cagey circus veteran had an answer for that.
"It's too hard for the people to see us if we're up high." Unfortunately
it wasn't high enough to keep them from being pelted with fruit. Who knows who
threw the first rotten apple at the family as they made their way across the
wire, but whoever it was started a trend that soon became part of the show.
By the time little Leo came along in the mid '60s it had become great sport
to try and knock the Blicks off the wire. Apples, bananas, even pumpkins were
hurled up at the embattled troupe in an effort to dislodge them from their perches.
By now Gus, his two sons Bobo and Billy, and their wives Betty and Ethyl had
all taken to wearing football-like helmets and padding in an attempt to protect
themselves from this furious onslaught. No more casual walks across the wire
for them; as soon as they heard the drum roll it was get on and get moving.
Little Leo was carried and sometimes tossed (much like a football) from one
Blick to another as they made their harried way across the wire. Proud man that
he was, old Gus refused to work with a safety net (although the effectiveness
of a net under a 5 ft. high wire is questionable) and after countless spills
and tumbles the once noble 'Flying Blicks' became known derisively as the 'Falling
Blicks.' By the time Leo was a teenager, high wire acts (especially ones as
messy as theirs) had fallen out of favor and, as unpaid bills mounted, the family
took to leaving hotels in the middle of the night. The famous phrase 'quick
as a Blick' originates from this time period. Is it any wonder that when it
came time for Leo to make a career choice, show biz was not 'high' on his list,
and neither was the name Blick. But what would he call himself? At first he
was Leo Block, but that name didn't seem to fit. Then came Leo Blap, soon followed
by Leo Blip, Leo Blop, Leo Bleep, and Leo Back. Finally, exhausted, he settled
on Leo Black.
His career choices were every bit as fitfull and had him working at many varied
occupations. Pipefitter, cable-overhauler, shepherd, wax museum attendent, pie
crust indenter, urine sampler, bi-lopial fossil inscriber, all of these jobs
were tried and found lacking by young Blap..er, I mean Black. It was time that
he take stock of himself and settle on something. But what should he do; what
was he good at? His circus years had left him with little, and, other than a
highly honed ability to dodge rotten fruit, he had no special talents. But finally
an opportunity presented itself in an unexpected way. Upon moving into an apartment,
Leo discovered an old worn out drum kit apparently left by the previous tenant.
Remembering the sound of a drum roll from his youth, the fiesty Blip...sorry..Black
began pounding out all of his frustrations on the drumkit. Within weeks he had
discovered his life’s calling and since then he has never looked black...er,
I mean back.
Well I had planned on finishing this weeks rant with my own story; my life before
the Fools. But, as it always does, Leo’s story wore me out…so come
on back next week for the conclusion of 'Before They Were Stars'. So long ---Mike
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