Reading a pan for Tenacious D’s recent Abbey Road tribute. The thin skinned critic complained about the cover, called it inept, completely missed the joy and creativity, oh well. Like when DDP made his genius Youtube how to play Obladi Oblada by Charles McCartney and some fools scream in the comments, oblivious they then became part of his concept. Nothing you can do about critics and how sometimes they take over. One writer philosopher says when someone criticizes another, their action declares how right they believe themselves. To imply their target is a stupid person is a way of implying that they therefore are a smart person. They know it’s Paul not Charles and are therefore more intelligent. His point was that the brain naturally thinks yes/ no, right/ wrong. A binary suffers the shortcomings of being binary. He recommended performers use pseudonyms because critics can hurt, it makes the whole experience lighter, even humourous when you know it isn’t really you if their words are insulting. I’ve had pans and thought I could take it but it can be a real mind fuck to read insults about yourself in the media. It’s also sort of a test of moving through bullshit. Long ago, first time in Vancouver, someone in the band told me about the industry expression, “bad news is good news”, meaning any publicity is useful. I didn’t understand it at first but I since get it. We went to the Railway club, might have been Herald Nix. The keyboardist’s name was Mike and somehow I sat in and was next to him at that old upright, he played a solo it was fast and decent then it was my turn and I played something minimal but spunky. Greg swelled with pride that I vitiated the usual showdown since I too could have played fast but instead went elsewhere. There’s a critic in my head, I don’t think he’ll ever die but there are diversion tactics, I can buy more relief pointing him in the wrong direction.