Jim's tribute to Steve Popovich - His Friend & Music Industry Legend | |
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Jacqueline 02:20 pm UTC 06/13/11 |
Jim wrote the following to be read by Karla DeVito at the funeral of Steve Popovich. Steve was a man so very important to Jim, to Bat Out Of Hell, to the history of music and, of course, to countless friends and family he leaves behind. Jim has asked me to share his thoughts with you - as you are extended family. Godspeed, Steve. Love, Jacqueline ------ From Jim: I wrote “ROCK & ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH” in 1982 for my one CD, BAD FOR GOOD, but had to change it when I did it with Meat in 1993, for Bat Out Of Hell 2—as someone said, I’ve written one song in my life—but its full of lots of movements and about 200 hours long… To quote from that: “ONCE UPON A TIME WAS A BACKBEAT ONCE UPON A TIME ALL THE CHORDS CAME TO LIFE AND THE ANGELS HAD GUITARS EVEN BEFORE THEY HAD WINGS IF YOU HOLD ONTO A CHORUS YOU CAN GET THROUGH THE NIGHT I TREASURE YOUR LOVE I NEVER WANT TO LOSE IT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE FIRES OF HELL, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE ASHES TO PROVE IT I TREASURE YOUR LOVE I WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW TO USE IT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN IN THE DIRT, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE SCARS TO PROVE IT REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT I TOLD YOU, AND I'M TELLING YOU AGAIN THAT IT'S TRUE YOU'RE NEVER ALONE, 'CAUSE YOU CAN PUT ON THE 'PHONES, AND LET THE DRUMMER TELL YOUR HEART WHAT TO DO KEEP ON BELIEVING, AND YOU'LL DISCOVER BABY THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING MAGIC THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AND WHEN YOU REALLY REALLY NEED IT THE MOST, THAT'S WHEN ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH THE BEAT IS YOURS FOR EVER THE BEAT IS ALWAYS TRUE AND WHEN YOU REALLY REALLY NEED IT THE MOST, THAT'S WHEN ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH, FOR YOU!” For me, the soul of Pops was in those words. I also, for no specific reason, remember: Driving home from after a WMMR show, in a limo with Popi and Harvey Leeds and a few other CBS big wigs & they were saying, in 1978 mind you, that it was time to get back in the studio: “Look guys, we sold 300,000 now—eventually we’ll hit gold @ 500,000—that’s the time for another record!.” I was horrified, and expressed it. They looked at me like I was from Mars & said sarcastically: “Ok Mr. Record man, how much do YOU think it’ll sell?” And I said, not pausing, 10 million. Then came the storm of ridicule, mockery & reiterations of how foolish I was. I basically withered under the abuse & there was a long pause—until Pops said gently: “10 million huh? Is that domestic or foreign?” God I loved him then, as I always did & would forever. He had family members coming to visit, & rightly or wrongly, I thought they were from Russia or eastern Europe. He asked me if I could write a song for them. I came up with “It’s Only Rock And Roll Balalaika” I could go on forever but I wont. I deeply loved Pops & I’ll always cherish that I was privileged to know him. Steve Popovich is WHY rock n roll dreams come through. Not TRUE, he wasn’t God, but “came through”, like offering a rescue line or salvation. He wasn’t God but he WAS A&R and promotion FOR HIM. | |
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