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Posted by Mike
on June 27, 2012, 1:30 am, in reply to "SF Bay Area Vibe (?)"
68.3.80.61
JimDevadipFan, that was a great story. Although I was a little to young to get caught up in the scene that was going on in the late 60's and early 70's with the hippies and all. I too was intrigued by Carlos' change around 72'-73'.
Things were getting a little too decadent in rock and roll at that time. Reading the album cover of Love, Devotion, Surrender was a real eye-opener for me and I was only about 12-13 years old. There was something other-worldly about Carlos and Mahavishnu. It was like going to church, but only with the most mind-blowing guitar playing and music there ever was.
Because of that, I think it made me respect religion a little more than most 12-13 year olds. It also enlightened me to musicians like John Coltrane. You could still be religious, spiritual and be hip.
I just realized that whole period had a very great impact on my life from then on, more than I ever admitted. Some people I knew in the late 70's and into the 1980's got caught up a little to much in the party scene - I think Carlos, Mahavishnu, Coltrane etc. kept me on the straight and narrow.
Back then Carlos seemed apolitical and although he spent a great deal of time talking about spirituality and meditation, he seemed to have a genuine passion for music and progressing as a guitar player.
Unfortunately now, I feel he has changed. Maybe it's just the whole music business now or the pressures of being in it for so long. Maybe it's just the pressures of life - marriage, divorce, kids, old age, illness, death of family members etc. In all fairness, everyone changes and there's nothing wrong with that. But it seems the passion of Carlos' younger days is gone and I no longer take pride in telling people I am, or ever was a fan.
It all seems strange to me that I would think that about someone who affected my life so much. I guess I've changed too, and that's life.
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