Spoke to a mate of mine the other day, he was the envy of most chicks in the early 90's. He got himself a part in the sports series Gladiators in the 90's, got a superman tattoo on his shoulder which was the thing to do back then, peroxided hair , the roids. Used to parade himself around the clubs with the entourage of Gladiator girls and talk to selected friends, very arrogant. Hadnt seen him for years then came across him the other day he was working as security guard at Woolworths in my local area, barely recognised him. We had a good talk, he went out with my sister and left her for one of the girls on the set.
He told me Gladiators did not make him any more money than a normal job, the two Harley's and 1970's Targa Porche were on heavy loans. He wrote off a Harley as well and his knee is now permanently stuffed. Two laser treatments and the Superman tattoo is still imprinted on his shoulder. He got busted for selling steriods and his crim record made it hard to get work. Was working 17 hour long day shifts as a garbage man till he got sacked for complaining about the hours. He said the show was left in disrepute when one of the Gladiators was alleged to have done a sexual act to a minor on the set. Now out of money, spent the family inheritance.
How times change. He was one striper police officer doing General Duties prior to getting the part as a Gladiator then leaving for greener pastures. The rise and fall of some people always surprises me. Anyone been there or seen someone rise and fall like this?
I could tell some stories but won't as they have been in the papers and it would disclose the friends.
The bottom line is that circumstances can change at the drop of a hat. Work, marriage, health. These all have a massive effect on people. We are very fragile and vulnerable no matter how tough we may seem on the outside.
Gotta respect what we have, not want the world, keep our egos in check and look after our health.
And still end of the day its still out of our control.
Well said, at the end of the day we compete with ourselves to strive the best we can be, not against others who try too hard to be something they are not.
Rags to riches to rags again, rise and fall is common....all depends on how the individual manages themselves. Doesn't sound like Mr Gladiator did too good a job of that. Sad to see, as that door is very hard to open....but once it does the potential is very real.
Yes I have been there myself and also seen it growing up through my own family..... but they still came out on top....and only through support. My auntie, who was the winner of Miss Universe (not sure on year...very early 80's ?) is married to a VERY FAMOUS singer.....like household name famous! He made a fortune with number 1 hits on a global level and in the earlier days started to go down the path of losing it all. Fortunately with help he got his act together and is now still a very respectable artist still performing his old hits in places like Vegas and Crown when they are in the Country etc..
For myself..... I did it too. About 17 years ago I was the lead guitarist for a band that was about to release it's first album. I could make $1k a night just for showing up, playing a guitar for 2 hours and drinking free alcohol to my hearts content...but that's what I did too much!! I got lost in the world of entertainment and got so sick both physicaly and mentaly... I had to leave and lost it all. As for the album...the masters still sit in a box in storage...never pressed and released as we could not cope with everything that was thrown at us......so friggin fast!
I still kept all my gear and literaly have tens of thousands of dollars worth of guitars and amps locked away in storage....some very rare, some custom made just for me...I'll never part with them. I do still play, write and record for personal enjoyment but I'll never persue what I had back then. The industry has changed so much now I'd hate to have anything to do with it.
as far as guitars go...........this thing is the hayabusa. It was made for me a very long time ago. The hours I've spent and the places I've brought to a raging sea with my hands around this single guitar are countless.
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Well I once was a professional Trumpet player, giging with some of the best musos the would has to offer,
And a little dislocation of my jaw during a dental exam leaves me with a stuffed jaw and now can not play.
So rise and fall.... sort of,
so from World class muso to apprentice mechanic today!
But at the end of the day, I'm still me.
I just use a different set of tools now!
Axe
i have an old friend whos wife won ,alot on lotto in the mid 90s,,she went to a car dealer spent up big on cars for her family,mum dad kids ,cousins all got cars ,then dad needed a new house ,so they built him 1, 2 months after he ,died!, then they started a spare parts business ,only for it to go under 12 months later, they built a house worth $400.000 ,last i heard they had to sell the house unfinished,and he was back doing plastering ,really nice guy but his wife thought the money would last forever
(20-12-2012, 07:39pm)jamdonut Wrote: [ -> ]....he went out with my sister and left her for one of the girls on the set.
Heya Marko...I hope that after that, your sister met a nice & decent guy that appreciates her and treats her good!?!
I was a celebrity guest on "Sunrise" a few times!
Which also reminds me, does anyone have a superman tattoo still on their shoulder? Might be coming back in fashion with a the new remake. I've seen a Tansformers one on some guy at the beach, but I can understand if some of the Busa owners have the kanji tatto.
I remember that Pan but missed watching it. I think you have some video of it?
(20-12-2012, 10:43pm)pan Wrote: [ -> ]I was a celebrity guest on "Sunrise" a few times!
Post it up post it up
(20-12-2012, 10:43pm)pan Wrote: [ -> ]I was a celebrity guest on "Sunrise" a few times!
I was on 60 Minutes (well my parents were...I was about 12....Jana Wendt was smoking hot!!)
in fairness to jamdonut maybe a new post should be made? Because this is off topic really.