A Matter of Life and Jeff #2
Written by Jeff Arndt
Friday, 06 April 2012 04:00
So today, I saw a post on the Über Röck Facebook page about the Heavy Hearts diabetes benefit compilation album and what a bunch of killer bands they have on this thing. And under my breath I exclaimed “it’s about TIME!!!”
I’ve had type one diabetes for more years than some of you readers have been alive. Long enough to have received a few of the complications that always seem to come with Type 1 diabetes.
As the frontman for Mommy Sez No, this has caused quite an occassion for panic, especially for me.
Anyone who knows about Type 1 diabetes knows that we have to monitor our blood sugars frequently and that with control of this we can lead relatively decent lives, or so they say, right? Haha. Um.
Anyways, on the days of a show, my blood sugar usually bounces up and down like a rollercoaster on pcp (makes for a fun evening, let me tell ya). Onstage, I’ve had a few issues too, and boy, it’s caused a whole slew of weird mental quirks too. Sometimes I’m a mess.
I’ve embarrassed myself on more than three occassions (ha, try like 30 or 40), and sometimes I flip out for no reason at all and dump all over whomever is closest to me at the time (at times I’ve looked like a complete whacko, just ask my wife, haha).
Which, at times, makes friends hard to come by, and what makes Alex and Marky so cool for being in a band with me, as they’ve put up with numerous episodes and hopefully haven’t judged me too harshly (though in my defense those two are no angels, nope, not at all). Dysfunction at its finest!!! Okay, it’s most likely blood sugar related, but then again I could just be nuts and have diabetes too, I dunno.
As I grew up with this disease I created an extreme hatred for myself and I felt cursed, and like I didn’t belong, and that was before the awkward teenage years. As I grew up I set out to destroy myself, and I managed to do quite a number on myself to the point that I’m extremely lucky and fortunate that I’m still here.
Part of that reason is Mommy Sez No, with this band I feel untouchable, and not like I’m sick, I don’t feel cursed though there sure are some hurdles to overcome.
Mommy Sez No wise, we’ve just completed work on a soon to be available (on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and elsewhere) single called ‘Bedtime Gory’, and our friend Ace Von Johnson (Faster Pussycat, The Generators, and more) laid down some killer leads for us, and this is a taste of what’s to come.
Also, ‘Mystery School Records – The Forbidden Fruits of Rock and Roll’ has just been released and that has 27 bands on it. Mommy Sez No is very honored to be on this compilation as it has tracks from Antiseen, The Dwarves, The Hookers, The Goddamn Gallows, Rapegoat, Pier Six Brawlers, and a whole lot more underground rock ‘n’ roll that’ll make you salivate like a rabid dog, all foamy mouthed and stuff! Find it at www.mysteryschoolrecords.com
I also whipped together a video to promote our new tune, check it out and feel free to leave us feedback:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNdpTPd0a9s&list=UUii2pYtoTHKbzQHX-HobX_g&index=1&feature=plcp
…..and look for our new single ‘Bedtime Gory’ on iTunes, Amazon mp3, and elsewhere.
Now reach into yer pockets and treat yourself to some rock ‘n’ roll, for the reason I decided to write this and what kinda helped cure my writer’s block, the Heavy Hearts Benefit;
Music has always offered relief from all the worries that come with this, and being able to play my own music in a band and share it with other people, and to be able to play on a stage.
I know where I’ll be spendin some of my money on Friday when the Heavy Hearts album comes out.
A matter of life and Jeff indeed!!!