Being a life-long fan of rock and roll, there are several important experiences that I feel I really missed out on.  Most of them happened before I was even born but a hint of regret is in my heart every time I listen to the records and realize I missed something special.
 
Some of those include not being able to see Led Zeppelin in concert or missing out on a Bon Scott fronted AC/DC.  What link these two together is untimely deaths.  Scott and John Bonham were gone before I was around but the losses that happened in my time sting that much more.  
 
The anniversary of Dimebag Darrell�s death is fast approaching.  In complete selfish terms it hurts to know that a man who is such a great influence and has status on par with the aforementioned men won�t be around anymore to take the stage and give thousands of people a night they will never forget.
 
That is where the iconic status of a rock and roll star begins, under the lights of a concert stage.  These are the images that are burned into minds and onto posters that hang in dark rooms.  I guess for some people when you reach a certain age rock and roll is simply not important anymore.  For me it will always be important because my life has been impacted far too much by the songs and the people who create them.
 
In most cases, songs have been better friends than any person I have known.  So, in the end when I get the chance I will have some people who I need to thank.  They made this planet easier to live on.  Maybe I take this too seriously but I hope all of those kids in the garage with their guitars have a full understanding of the impact they could have on people the world over.  Make the most of it; you won�t know how long you�ve got.