::Brent David Fraser/Derek John Frigo::
The part of our story that has to do with the whole drugs/sobriety aspect of our lives is just what it is - part of the story. It's not exciting to hear about it and even more boring to write about it, but it's some of the color of the whole picture. Also, i only capitalize after periods and for names/nouns.
I first met Derek in 1997, if memory serves. I was visiting a friend who was living at Liberty House, a sort of high end sober living home in Century City known for it's success with confrontation therapy. Derek was one of the residents there we automatically connected musically, loved each others stories and shared other interests, but our friendship began around things other than music. It was cut short at that time when an opportunity for Derek to play on someone's new album came along, i forget who it was, someone big. It was a great gig as i remember it. He had been in the house and clean and sober for about six months at that time i think. Substancial enough to think it was going to stick, and that he was ready for work again.
I'd see him at a meeting now and then, and back around the house sometimes, checking in, etc., but after a longer time with little contact i had assumed he had re-entered the pantheon of guitar heroes that was his rightful home and i'd soon know all about it via the radio. I stayed well connected to Liberty House more or less expecting to see him sometime under whatever circumstances, as i knew well what i might do with success at that time.
Derek did come back to the house to live, i'd had to move my sobriety date, which now basically coincided with his, so we began, more in earnest, to work on all things together. The meetings, songs, responsibilities, whatever. As time passed i was beginning to work with legendary producer Jack Douglas to have him re-mix and re-master my indie album at a major label with a deal for a second album, and Derek was going to be involved somehow for sure in both.
I was in a relationship that took me in some different directions, along with other career endeavors. I ended up on a musical TV show for MGM/Trilogy, started getting songs placed in that show and some others, pretty much let too much stuff professional and personal come between Jack D. and me and it all became too strained to go forward, for him and me.
Derek was finding tons of success doing music for TV, at UPN, so we each had our attention on other stuff. He was with his girl, michelle and we drifted apart into relationships and separate careers for awhile.
It had been a while since we spoke, i had just gotten out of my relationship and so had he. I was living with at a buddy's place and so was he. I had just finished a TV series for Vh1 that was about a band. It was pretty low grade, but it had this one totally hilarious flashback to the late 80s scene, where my character was in a Glam band. I hadn't had so much fun with music in a few years at least.
It turned Vh1 wanted me, but not the show. But, with no other project to put me into, they had to pay out my contract and let me go. And go i did. I was in limbo basically, waiting for my money and considering my next move. I was sitting at my temp home at my buddy's and just popped in my copy of the Vh1 show for kicks. I watched the Glam band flashback scene and it clicked. "Call Derek Frigo" said my head. "Start a Glam band with him".
I called him immediately and told him all about it, he loved the idea, i went to meet him with a new song, Every Lie, he quickly buffed out all the tracks, got Vik Foxx to play drums, i went in to do all the vocals and we knew that was it. We had hit a vein, so to speak.
I moved in to a place in the hills right by his and we wrote and recorded awesome track after track. We got our house on Lankershim and started to take meetings with Atlantic, Sony, and one or two more. It was all going just as planned.....
:::::::::::STAY TUNED FOR CHAPTER TWO - THE DOWNFALL :::::::::::
Happy Holidays Brent, and best of luck with all of your projects set for 2009. Can't get enough of U4EA!!!!!!!!! Thanks again, and again, and again, and again. !!!!!!!!!!!
Hey love! How are you? Amy told me that you know your way around Santa Ana fairly well. Chris and I are in escrow on a house around West Floral Park. I would love to get an insiders perspective on the neighborhood. What have you been up to? I miss your face!
Hi Brent! :)
I was thinking and thinking - what would be the perfect answer for the perfect compliment? And all I came up with was - THANKS!!! :)
Perfect timing! I needed that!
So again - THANK YOU!
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