Clarification – When I say the old material is dead for me it does not mean it doesn’t mean something to me. There are quite a few songs that I still love and cherish and always will. I guess I mean that in some respects I am not the person I was then. I have grown. I don’t feel connected to that time and place anymore. With that feeling of distance I find it hard to put everything I have emotionally into playing the material live. I would never deny what exits. A great deal of this also pertains to Jeff I suppose. It doesn’t seem right without him..playing it live I mean. All of the material I wrote alone except for one but he seems connected to it somehow and to perform it live as I have done twice now since his passing just feels rather depressing. In order for me to move on I need to step away from that connection. Some material I believe will stay. It simply was too good and meant too much. Frankly I am I’m just to the point Jeff and I were both at with Visions. Unless it is something new it just isn’t fun anymore and to some degree rather depressing.

I suppose it relates to my perspective on performing Visions material live again at some point. It just seems like it should be left alone to stand on it’s own for what it is and was. A song or two here and there won’t hurt, but to continue on with something just because is not a good reason. In fact I don’t agree with it at all. Jeff’s passing signaled change whether we all liked it or not. Change is not a denial of the past..it is surviving and moving forward.

Deep thoughts by Styk…:)

Feeling rather introspective today…sorry for the mush…please continue…