Come Together

So it begins with a simple reminder that pops up on my computer monitor. “45 Days to your Mid-Life Crisis”. Sudden realization that that the reality of the looming “50” can’t be stopped.

The deadline fast approaches. Actually, I've been looking forward to a mid-life crisis and using it as a bona-fide excuse to do something completely off the Richter scale.

I have been blessed with wonderful women in my life, so a trumped up girl-friend is just a waste of my time and resources. The REAL reason is that my wife of 30 years would kill me. I'm guessing she is partial to using poison or a dull knife. "Justified Homicide" the Tacoma News Tribune headline would say. "He was such a jerk"...shouted the jury before declaring "you are free to go and spend ALL the insurance money!!!" So, I quickly quashed the girlfriend thing. Next idea, the standard issue red sports car. Nah..too ordinary. I then seriously considered a complete body, brain makeover, deploying a team of expensive specialists which included a spiritual guru, physical trainer, dietician, Plastic Surgeon, a Psychologist, a golf coach and...that was just the beginning. Once I saw what my ala cart "mid-life refresher" would cost...I decided to just have a cup of strong coffee instead. I then scaled back and considered a very simple “Mancation” with my guy-friends, whereby, we would stand around, smoke, drink, burn furniture, complain about everything, scratching, belching…but I can do that most any weekend...so I determined that was not special enough. I was close to making a final decision that involved going to a deserted island and speaking only to a soccer ball named “Wilson” for two months. This was about the best I could come up with...until one day...

THE IDEA hit me hard like a freight train. “Record an Original Song at Abbey Road Studios in London”.

Could a worn-out, old drummer and wannabe bass player, actually book studio time and record at Abbey Road? I have an American Express Card and I'm not afraid to use it. Yes...this audacious plan could possibly happen IF I had the right person to help me pull it off and make sure I would not chicken-out. Also, I'm not too good in the music skills department so this someone would also need to make me sound good. (no small feat) Only one person could carry this heavy burden and is just crazy enough to go along with the wackiness. Accordingly, my close friend, mentor, and brilliant musician…Bob Martin was called into action. I shouted out my idea in one long yelling tirade over the Apple I-Chat camera. I paused 3 seconds for his answer.

“Yes...we could do this” he blurted. (He was up for it). (Cool).

So we began immediately formulating THE plan. Which is this. We EACH will write a song, We will practice and rehearse for months to desired perfection. We then will travel to Abbey Road and record, mix, and master both songs in a single day. All instruments and vocals will be performed by just the two of us. A videographer will be hired to document the entire experience. YES...We WILL RECORD AT ABBEY ROAD. This was more than an idea...this was now a PILGRIMAGE of BIBLICAL proportions. (well to us at least.)

Next, we thought it was best to notify Abbey Road we were coming. So, I sent an e-mail to Abbey Road, inquiring about rates and services…was this wacky idea even possible? Apparently it wasn’t. My e-mail request was never returned. (Of course, I’m often invisible…but that’s another story). Not to be denied, I groveled to Bob asking HIM to see what he could do. He called them (on the phone) and spoke with Colette who is the studio manager at Abbey Road. They arranged for Studio#2 to be occupied by Tim and Bob for a future date in August 2008. (While we will not be able to get an actual confirmed date until 3 weeks prior, she was very positive and delighted to give us the opportunity to record at Abbey Road). Money works mysterious ways. Yes it do. Hopefully the likes of McCartney or Clapton won't be occupying OUR studio when we arrive. It would be a shame to kick them out just to make room for us.

“We can do this” Bob reiterated again (this time with verve).


So, begins our journey. This blog will be our diary. Bob and I both will be contributing the content. We expect to document most steps of our expedition. We have much to do. August is only 9 months away. The sudden realization that we indeed “can do this” is already making me weak at the knees.

Cool. Weak at the knees is really cool.

Stay Tuned.

-Tim