3 Lessons From My Rock ‘n’ Roll Education: An Earl Pereira Guest Blog
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| Photo courtesy of Kate Matthews |
I've learned a lot of valuable lessons while earning my "degree" in the music industry. I also take a great deal of pride in having worked myself up from as bottom as it gets.
As a person of colour and a minority, playing gigs in my home country of Canada was literally all about survival in some hostile territories early on. So it was with great satisfaction that after a brutally tough few years, I found myself in the very fortunate situation of sharing many big stages around the world with many of my idols and legends of music. It felt like a dream that you don't ever want to wake up from, only for me it was really happening.
So here are a few of those important lessons I learned, along with some fun road stories, that have shaped not only the artist but also the person I have become.
Lesson 1 (from The Rolling Stones): There is Always More to Learn
The year was 1998 and it was springtime in my favourite party city of Montreal. My band at the time was a bluesy rock power trio called Wide Mouth Mason. We were known for putting on a great live show and were nearing the top of the charts in Canada. I mostly remember witnessing the full force of paparazzi as we arrived at the Molson Centre, where we would be playing the first of a five-show tour opening for... The Rolling freakin’ Stones! Strangely, I wasn't nervous at all and we played a very solid and confident set which was enough for not only a standing ovation from the crowd, but more importantly from their crew as we exited the stage. Apparently, the Stones' crew were notorious for being extra hard on the support acts, so that felt pretty awesome.
Then we went to Toronto’s SkyDome to play in front of 68,000 fans, which is easily the most people I've ever played for. My parents were at that show (RIP Dad) and I remember nearly getting vertigo during the set and trying not to fall over! After the shows, the only member of the band who would come into our dressing room to say hi was the ever dapper Mr. Charlie Watts. We eventually met the whole band. Mick would wear a disguise to watch our show from the soundboard in the crowd; Keith and Ron mostly played pool backstage and would let us watch their intense high stakes games; but Charlie, he was my dude. I would relish the opportunities to sit and chat with him mostly about music. Then one day in Milwaukee, he sat down and joined me for a coffee, while he had tea of course. He then asked me what new music I was listening to. I was a little bit taken aback, I mean why did this musical icon care to know what I was listening to? So I named a few artists like Ben Harper, Jeff Buckley, Me'shell Ndegeocello and whatever other new albums I was currently listening to. Mr. Watts then pulled out his reading glasses and a tiny notepad from his inside blazer pocket and started writing everything down. Huh? Then the very next day, I ran into him backstage and he thanked me for my suggestions. Apparently, he went to the record store and bought all of the albums I mentioned and he really enjoyed them. I was blown away.
The biggest takeaway for me was that no matter what you've accomplished in your career, there is always more to learn. And that willingness and open mindedness is what can help you become the best you can be. I shed tears the day of his passing last year, but those lessons will stay with me forever. Currently, I am the elder statesman in my band, The Steadies, and I am constantly absorbing new music from my young bandmates. I definitely feel like it has made me a better and more well-rounded musician with a finger always on the pulse of what's 'cool'. Thanks Charlie, and rest in peace legend.
Lesson 2 (from Alanis Morissette): Always Be Kind
I'm going to give some love to this particular powerhouse lady. As a youngling, I remember watching her on a goofy Canadian comedy show for kids called “You Can't Do That On Television”. Fast forward to summer of 1995, and my band showed up to play a club in Banff Alberta called Wild Bill's. I had heard Alanis Morissette just played there the night before to not very many people. I was like, "you mean that girl from that TV show"? Well a month later, she became the biggest star on the planet and had a #1 worldwide hit record in the now classic “Jagged Little Pill”.
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| Some of Pereira's tour laminate collection |
A quick fast-forward to a few months after our Stones Tour. I got the news that we were set to be the opening act for Miss Morissette in... my hometown! Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, aka the Paris of the Prairies (RIP Gord Downie), is a small yet vibrant, artsy city right in the heart of the country. It is also the hometown of singer/songwriter superstar Joni Mitchell and arguably the greatest hockey player ever, Mr. Gordie Howe (more on him later).
The venue was our arena called Sask Place where a 12-year-old me saw his first concert, which was INXS on their KICK Tour (RIP Michael Hutchence). Now 10 years later, I was about to play on that same stage opening for Alanis in front of a sold-out hometown crowd. This was going to be fun! During the day, while doing the usual soundcheck and pre-show prep, I couldn't help but notice how… normal Alanis was. I mean the Stones were larger than life, but she had this humbleness to her that I found so endearing. She was genuinely nice to not only her band but to everyone – the road crew, the security staff, caterers, and to me, some unknown musician stranger.
Before the show, she gave me a hug and wished me luck. I was shocked. I had opened for dozens upon dozens of great artists but not once had anyone given me a hug and wished me luck. Most bands hope that you'll suck so as to make them look better - haha! For real, though. But then here is this megastar with zero ego and giving nothing but love and support. We proceeded to have a killer set and during her show she talked about my band and how great we were, which made the crowd go ballistic! It was to the point where it got so loud that she had to take a step back only then to egg the crowd on to give us more cheers and more love. Wow. Afterwards, it occurred to me that as amazing as she is at music, it was her genuine kindness that most likely helped her maintain her career at the top. Because after all, the music biz and life in general is all about the relationships we make. So always be kind no matter how successful you get and check your ego at the door. Thank you, thank you Alanis.
Lesson 3 (from AC/DC): Be Careful What You Wish For, But Always Give It Your Best
Last but not least is a band I had no business opening for and that is none other than Aussie rockers AC/DC (RIP Malcom Young).
The story goes like this. Slash was supposed to be their tour support but he backed out at the last minute for health reasons. We weren't that heavy of a band so to give us the best chance at scoring the slot, I had to create a set of all our most rockin’ tunes, so nothing poppy or funky. It was approved and we got the call to play three shows in Florida! I packed a carry-on for what I thought was a short trip, but we did well enough that they asked us to stay on for another 10 shows, then 10 more, and then 10 more! I ended up having to buy a whole new wardrobe and no longer had a girlfriend when I eventually got home weeks later – oops.
But as great as this all sounded, the first lesson I learned here was 'be careful what you wish for'. It felt like I was back playing seedy bars in hostile territory, because every night we were getting booed before we even got on stage. I guess the crowds really wanted Slash and not three skinny Canadian kids who looked like the United Colours of Benetton ads. Fair enough.
We had our work cut out for us and everything came to a head in Detroit. I was hearing rumours of Angus Young being really sick and that we might have to play longer. Oh God. Inside Joe Louis Arena, home of the Red Wings, the booing was at an all-time high. I remember looking up into the rafters praying, only to find our saviour. I rushed onto stage and grabbed my mic and shouted, "Detroit Rock City! We're Wide Mouth Mason from the hometown of Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe!" The booing instantly turned to crazy cheering and we ended up having a really good show. Thank the Lord!
Next up was AC/DC, and a frail and pale-looking Angus marched onto stage, schoolboy outfit and all, and played probably the best show I saw out of the 35 we did. Nobody in the crowd could tell he was ill and any musician in his state would've and should've bowed out, yet he gave every single person their money’s worth and more. Wow. After the show he had to be carried off the stage by crew members and was put directly into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. Again, wow.
Being an experienced but still very young musician at the time, I had been guilty of maybe not giving my all at some shows. Ones where you're playing to only the staff, or something happened in your personal life, or you're not feeling 100%, or you had been fighting with your bandmates before the show. But after watching Mr. Young do what he did, I would never let anything stop me from giving my best and leaving it all on the stage ever again. That is true professionalism at its finest. After all, you owe it to yourself, your bandmates and to whoever is in the crowd to put on a show.
And who knows, that one person in the crowd could end up changing your life. Look at what happened to U2, but that's another story.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these lessons from my music industry education. Thank you to Black is the New AP Style for the chance to go down memory lane and share.
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