• Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll

    By Erik Copper

    Introduction

    Sex, drugs, and Rock and Roll. Those were the staples of life in the early sixties. Rock was still a little fledgling genre of music, but it caught on quickly and went on to become one of the biggest music genres of all time. Be it the British Invasion, Woodstock, Motown, or another big event, you can be sure that many of the fans were gathered to see their favorite singers perform. It brought many people together, and even tore some apart. No matter which way you saw it, it was an undeniable fact: Rock and Roll was big. John Starr, Xavier Silverstone, Jacob Starr, and Max Hilroy were all just teens trying to make it through those times. They struggled making money on their own, but when they found each other they were a team that couldn't be stopped. Meet Flash: The band that would rock you into a coma.

    Chapter 1: In the Beginning

    “No mom, I did not see John after school. He's probably with the others.” Jacob said irritated. This was a common occurrence in the Starr household. Everyday Jacob would come home from school and get the third degree from his mother. Jacob's brown eyes focused on his mother's face as she stared as him. It was as if she was waiting for his facial expression to give off any indication that he was telling a lie. When she saw it was a wasted effort, she turned back to the stove. As she cooked dinner for the kids she sighed heavily and fumbled with the radio to try to switch it from Led Zepplin, to something more calming. It was all that played on the radio nowadays. Nothing good would come from this, “Rock and Roll.”

    “I honestly don't know what I am going to do with that boy. He is always running off with those friends of his. No wonder he gets into so much trouble. Those kids are a bad influence.” She said, her motherly rambling kicking in; once she got started, she could never stop. It was a wonder Jacob was still able to put up with it. “It's times like these I wish your father was still with us.” Jacob was familiar with the routine by now. She would drone on about the other kids, and would always end up talking about his father. It made Jacob even more annoyed then when he was interrogated. Why couldn't she just accept the fact that Ron Starr wasn't coming back? Jacob stormed up the stairs to his room to avoid the inevitable flood of emotional stress from his mother.

    As he walked to his room, he caught a glimpse of himself in the hallway mirror. His brown, shoulder length hair was a little messy at the moment. It reminded him of how different he was from his brother. John would always keep his blond hair short. He never really let it grow as Jacob did. Their eyes were the same color, but that was really the only quality the shared. Jacob was only sixteen, and John was nineteen. Despite only a three year gap, their personalities couldn't have been more different. Jacob was a nice kid. He listened to his mother and never stayed out past curfew. John was a rebel. He never listened and did whatever he damn well pleased. Jacob told him time and time again that it would be his downfall. “One of these days you are gonna need to listen to mom's advice. Of course, you won't. You'll end up in a mess of trouble and we won't be able to help you.” He would always say. John would always shrug and chuck something at Jacob to make him leave the room. It was a bearable relationship. They had their moments, but when it came down to it, they were just like any other family.

    It was ten o'clock. Jacob had been up for a while trying to calm his mother, who was in a state of hysteria. John hadn't come home yet, and they haven't heard a word from him or anyone else about him. Jacob's mother was crying uncontrollably, her blond hair was in tangles. She had expected the worst. Suddenly, and almost inaudibly, the doorknob creaked as it turned. The door opened to reveal John, standing there with his drum sticks in hand. There was a long moment of silence. Jacob's mother had stopped crying, and was now staring at her son like he was a total stranger. She slowly got to her feet and wobbled her way over to him. John hadn't said anything yet, and looked at her with a confused look

    “Mom I-” He began.

    “Where the hell were you?!?” She screamed at him. John took a step back to avoid the hand of his mother. As she tried to slap him again, John caught his mother's arm in his grip.

    “I was with the guys, mom! Jesus, don't act like this!” He said almost as loudly.

    “Hey John, you should come with us. We are starting a band. We're in need of a wicked drummer. You in?” John took a drag from the cigarette he had in his mouth and turned his head to his friends. Xavier and Max looked at him with eager eyes. John contemplated the offer for a moment, before flicking ash off the end of his cigarette and nodding.

    “Alright! Let's get to my house. We'll have a great session.” Xavier said pumping his fist in the air.

    “That's bullshit! You know you have to be home by six! What the hell kept you?” His mom said wrenching her arm from his hold.

    “We were doing band practice! For ******** sake, mom. I was four hours late! It's not the end of the world!”

    “Band practice? I don't want you playing that shitty devil music!” His mother screeched.

    “Ready guys? One, two, three, four!” They began to play, Max on vocals, Xavier on guitar, and John drummed. It was a music session for the ages. They played the only thing they knew well: Rock and Roll. They must have been playing for hours when John finally realized the time. It was nine o'clock. He had missed curfew.

    “s**t! Guys, it's been fun and all,but I have to run!” He said as he ran out of the garage. He got into his car and slammed the door shut, peeling off without looking back to see his friend's faces.

    “It's not the devil's music, mom! It's what I like, and if you don't like that, well then too ******** bad.” John said as he stormed up the stairs to his room. Jacob had witnessed the whole scene silently from his place at the back of the living room. He mother looked at him with teary eyes and mouthed the words, “I'm so sorry.” Jacob just walked past her and up the stairs to his room. He would get no sleep that night.