When I was younger I used to drive for hours to see a bands that only me and a few friends had heard of. Maybe one of us had their tape, or someone read an interview in a zine, or whatever, but we’d go. We just did it. Sure, we had work the next day, and we worked crap jobs making $6.75/hr but it didn’t matter. The oppurtunity to hear a good band, travel a bit, meet some new friends.. it was worth it.

The risk of all that was being tired the next day. Or being a little more broke.

I’ve spent a lot of my life avoiding risks. I took some chances, got burned (very burned), but through it all, I didn’t die. And really, the worst outcome to any risk is death, right? 

Earlier this year I did my crazy “MIAMI FLORIDA TO PORTLAND MAINE” adventure and sold maybe five copies of my ebook. It was a risk, surely, but I didn’t die. I’m still alive, able to walk and take photos and talk with friends.

Do I regret it? The money lost? The debt? NOT ONE BIT.

So in 2012 I’m going to do my “travel and talk to metal heads” thing. Lots of videos and photos and interviews. Turn it into a book / zine.

It’s a risk. I’m pretty sure I won’t sell thousands of these, but maybe I will. I can’t really tell.

But I know this for sure; if I don’t do it, if I DON’T take the risk, I’ll regret it. And regret sucks.

Those long drives to shows when I 19?

The money I spent on bass amps and driving to band practices?

Sleeping just four hours before work in the morning? 

I’m who I am today because of those risks.