Facing the Music

For seven years I worked as a musician, cluelessly bolstering my alcoholic résumé. My wife met the bills my gigs didn't cover, so I had time to practice and compose, and eager fans kept me in free booze and dope. Playing my heart out before a crowd of dancing fans night after night is an experience, however fanciful, that I still cherish. That these fans were drunk and stoned was just part of the deal. But much as I loved live performances, what I thought of as success eluded me.