I became a musician mostly out of being such a fan of music. Music moved me — really moved me — and when I discovered and cultivated a facility for making it, it was clear what I should do with my life.

And over the decade or so of seriously pursuing a career in music, something happened: I lost the ability to be a fan. I gained perspective on writing and playing music, such that watching or even listening to other bands lost its magic. I rarely went to concerts. Listening to music was no longer the mystical transport device it had once been. I knew what they were doing. Meh. Bitterness, of course, was a factor. Tough biz.

It wasn’t until I went from music to graphic design and got involved with a local music magazine (Strobe, as art director & co-publisher) that I rediscovered the magic. I was exposed to New Music from bands that had something to say, and meant it. We covered them in the magazine, and I laid out articles on them as artfully as I could. I went to see play in smallish local venues. And… I fell in love with it all. To this day, discovering a new band or a new collection of music is one of the most enjoyable experiences available. I remember seeing Ride play Vapour Trail at the Whiskey in Hollywood… Many years later, it was listening to that song that made possible the first (readable) screenplay I ever completed. The title, of course: Vapor Trail. What can I say? I’m a fan.