27 Strings

Introduction

Ahhh... Death. Many a soul fear this unknown side-effect of life. Could it be the end or just the mere beginning? In the music industry, death is just the beginning. The entrance to a goldmine awaiting the avarice record companies. Where the death of an artist is more valuable than their actual lives. That would explain the legend to why a select few of artists choose to sell their souls to the devil, Dear Old Lucifer, the former Angel of Worship, who had been exiled to the land of fire and brimstone. Angel of Worship? Is that the reason for people believing that if you signed a deal with the devil, then you would become a maestro virtuoso after he had tweaked around with your guitar? Well that notion circulates the concept of The 27 Club. Ah yes, The 27 Club, an elite group of phenomenal musical talent that had died at the unadorned age of 27. An elite group that I, myself had considered joining.

The legend went as follows: "If an aspiring bluesman waited by the side of a deserted country crossroads in the dark of a moonless night, the Satan himself might come and tune his guitar, sealing a pact for the bluesman's soul and guaranteeing a lifetime of easy money, women, and fame." WELL SIGN ME UP!!! There is no need to procrastinate when you have an opportunity like that, at your fingertips. I recalled that there was a dusty, isolated crossroads in the next town, but that meant that a roadtrip was in order to legalise this contract. I had to make a deal with the devil. I shoved an extra white T-shirt into a drawstring bag, inserted my wallet into my worn-out beat jean's front-left pocket and grabbed my Gibson Les Paul by its fret board. I sauntered towards the ride that was going to get me places, before I tossed the bag onto the back seat, and placed my Les Paul onto the passenger seat of my pride and joy, a midnight-black Chevrolet Chevelle SS. I turned the ignition key and the engine roared like a pride of lions, anticipating the start of the hunt. With a screech of my white-walled tyres, I was on a hot pursuit to discover whether the legend was a bust or not.