Song The Black Light Kid
posted by on February 20 at 14:42 PM
Charlie’s room is a sacred space. An adolescent capsule. A portal of symbols and items that signify rite of passage. My experience there before, listening to his 8 Tracks and Vinyl and sharing stories about saved Yoohoo bottles was profound. I returned to further the inquiry. Charlie is 13, and a guru.
First, he put on Hendrix’s 1967 Axis: Bold as Love, then he went right to Iron Maiden’s, “2 Minutes to Midnight,” off of the 1984 Powerslave. He turned the lights off and the black light on and said, “You have to hear this.”
“The killers breed or the demons seed / The glamour, the fortune
The pain, go to war again / Blood is freedom’s stain
But dont you pray for my soul anymore / 2 minutes to midnight”
Then I noticed the Iron Maiden poster, right behind his bed of “The Trooper.” Eddie, Maiden’s scowling, lobotomised, demonic mascot charges from the death of battle, fresh off a kill. And Charlie has it right behind where he puts his head down to sleep at night, next to a picture of his sister, Molly.
However, to Charlie and the legions of Maiden fans, Eddie and the poster aren’t about death and killing. Much to the opposite in fact. Sure, Eddie celebrates a dark, combative side, but the skeletal, red eyed monster really stands for life and camaraderie and killing, in the rock sense. Eddie is about kicking ass, and that’s why Charlie has the poster behind his bed.
We need more symbolic death, instead of actual death. We need more healthy outlets for combativeness and frustration. And Charlie, here, hits right on it. We need more Maiden.
Once again, Charlie, my Master, you enlighten and enhance. I thank you.
How do I sign up for a visit to Charlie's room. I could use some black light and maiden right about now.
nice post keep 'em coming the maiden and the sister right next to eachother are awesome.
The black light skull poster is classic. I had one of those. I also had a poster of some girl in a white bikini standing in a white convertable sports car. It said "A winning pair."
My mom made me take it down.
They should take Charlie's room and put it in the EMP. Have Charlie live in there and be a permanent exhibit.
Does Charlie also enjoy long walks on the beach?
The bugle sounds the charge begins,
But on this battle field no one wins...
IS Charlie packing the George Gervin Iceman poster? How about Carole King's greatest on 8-track? Empty Nicca Wafer packets?
Is that also how Charlie explains the Psychopathic Records poster there? I am generally pro-Charlie's room, yet I question the inclusion of Insane Clown Posse. What his room is missing is a bottle of Faygo to go with the ICP poster.
ew, icp is the worst!
I just like the icp poster because of the logo that you can't see in that picture it is sweet under the blacklight
I don't get it. Who the hell is Charlie? And why are you hanging out in a 13yo boy's room? It's a little creepy.
my uncle johnny had maiden posters. I think he had every version. I was 10 at the time (I think) and I thought he had made friends with the devil.... 5 years later I was listening to Napalm Death, Obituary, and Cannibal Corpse, so I guess it's cyclical
Someone should intoduce Charlie to glow in the dark paint!!! Trust me- it RULES!
Yeah, who is Charlie and why are you hanging out in his bedroom?
Red Wendy, Green Monkey,
Who the hell is Charlie? Charlie is a friend of mine. He is a friend of mine's kid. Is it really creepy? His Mom is in the next room. I give him drum lessons sometimes.
He has an insight into music that is completely fresh and unjaded. In many ways, he has re-invented my interest for music. He is a direct link into the teenage listening public, and I have learned much from him.
It's called perspective. But you wouldn't be interested in that, would you?
If you think it's creepy, I think you need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask why this bothers you so much.
Charlie absolutely rules.
If you have a problem with my relationship with him or me hanging out in his room, listening to his latest pick, why don't you come with me on my next visit and chaperone?
Wow, touchy aren't we(you)? I was just wondering how we are supposed to know you Charlie was/is....seems like a post out of the blue about hanging out in a kid's room. Forgive me for not being in the know. Go have some Kool Aid now brother and settle down a bit.
Touchy? Where am I touchy? You insinuate I'm doing something wrong with the kid. I tell you otherwise, then defend my stance, and invite you to come along. Am I touchy or are you touchy?
Do you question Savage everytime he writes about something you think is unwholesome?
Funny, Green Wendy or Monkey whatever, I bet you are online soliciting teens right now. But your like oh Trent, this is strange that you are in this kid's room.
Charlie Rules. MOnkey Wendy is lame ass stuck up weakness.
Man, I was being a smart ass, not seriously insinuating sexual misconduct...though I realize tone is often difficult to interpret on the cold, cold internet. I just wanted to know who the hell Charlie is...and now I know!
Trent, I was joking in my first comment. I'm sorry it made you mad. I'm happy for you that you're rediscovering that pure innocent teen state again. Enjoy. Induldge yourself. And, thanks for the invite to chaparone, but I was a teenage once already I don't need to relive it or observe someone else reliving it.
And as far as questioning Dan Savage's unwholesomeness, I have. I fully question his fandom of Mika. It's truly icky.
Charlie sounds like a real cool kid. Axis Bold As Love is one of the great albums ever recorded. In my top 10. I was 17 when I first heard it, so Charlie has quite a head start.
As for Maiden, tell him he has to go back and check out the earlier version with Paul Di'Anno on lead vocal. The albums were Iron Maiden and Killers. Powerslave is good, but overdone. Di'Anno had a more authentic sound.
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