Brian -
Sorry for the long radio silence. I've been busy promoting my second novel CAPTAIN NOBODY and just spent the month of November in New York in rehearsals for a reading of a stage musical. Back home, back to work on my next novel (no title yet), and very pleased to see that people are still reading and responding kindly to the interview that you and I did almost a year ago! I'm thrilled that you survived your own JPF Awards process... it sounded epic! Happy holidays.... Warmly,
Dean

Congrats again this year Dean for your Grammy nomination for your new project Captain Nobody! Your success just keeps rolling along! We're all thrilled to live vicariously through the success of a good friend and you've been great about bringing us all along for a peak!

Brian

There's been some questions about co-writing on another post and I think this interview addresses them from someone who obviously knows how it works at the very highest levels of success in the industry. Give it a read, there's lots of great info.

Brian

Thanks for insisting on the read Brian. I'm working on it. It's a long read.

Brian, Thanks for posting the interview. It was fascinating reading. Frankly, I had never heard of this guy (which says more about me than him), though I had heard of both "Fame" and "Footloose." He's led an interesting life and his successes in the entertainment business speak for themselves. Seems like a nice fellow, also.

Keep up the good work.

Dan,

That's alwaya been the unfortunate truth about people who write and create. They usually do it in the dark, behind the scenes and far from the spotlight and hoopla. But for many, they also get paid. In music, I'd much rather be a writer with 10 successful hits than the artist performing them with no writing credits. If you have a choice between fame and money, choose the money. You can have a much better life of your own choosing without spending it being told what to do by multi-national corporations every day. Dean is someone I look up to as a perfect role model for a creative person. Most people would be thrilled with any 1 of his areas of success. I'd be happy with simply having the freedom to enjoy attempting all the areas he's been a smashing success even if I never made a dime at it. To get both sides (success and creative freedom) has to be a surreal existance for mere mortals. Dean is clearly operating on a wildly different level than most of us could even imagine.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Brian

I thought I would bump this post for those who are new and might have missed it. It's a great read!

Brian

Hi Folks,

Just testing some posts out to make sure they are running properly again after some site maintenance.

Thanks,

Brian

I saw the remake of Footloose this evening.

Tantalist!

I wonder how much of Dean's script and music they saved? The more they used, the better the movie would have been. The range of songs he wrote for that film are breathtaking. All those hits in different styles and different artists and all big hits and some have become inextricable tied to that era of life for anyone coming of age back then (as I was).

Dean has been such an iconic creator and his fingerprints are far more present in our lives than most people will ever realize.

Brian

Same town, mostly the same characters in terms of the names. Entirely different in premise and the angle wasn't the same. Most of the music was the same songs, some of them the originals, some of them covers. One or two new songs.

THE Best part of the movie was the unveiling of what looked like the original yellow VW bug from the original movie.

Haven't heard from Dean on what he thought of it all. Will be interesting to hear, but it seems odd they'd change the premise and story but keep the music and character names. I realize Footloose is a huge brand name to launch a movie with, but beyond that, wouldn't people be disappointed in not getting an updated version of the movie they thought worth re-doing?

Hollywood seems much worse than the music industry when it comes to this type of thing.

Brian

It's got similar arc. They use a vast majority of the original story. They even use a lot of the same lines.

Somehow the magic didn't translate.

Thank you very much.

Hopefully Dean will stop in and say hi and update us on what he's working on these days!

Brian

Brian,

This is such a Wonderful and inspiring read! It's just want I wanted today!
Dean's journey just boggles the mind.
This is a story that everyone with a goal and dream in mind can take something very valuable from and apply to their own journey!
Thanks for this.-Dana

Dana,

Glad you got a chance to read it. It's why I have left it up here. It really is such an amazing story of just DOING what you love instead of talking about it. Put yourself in position to succeed, rather than always and endlessly finding new ways to get ready to succeed.

I hope some others will follow suit who haven't spent the enjoyable time reading through one great musical success story. (And by the way, he hasn't slowed down since this interview. He's still at it, ever expanding his legacy and the passion for what he does. You may say few have his talent, but I say the real issue is that few have his courage and work ethic!).

Brian

Hi Brian,

This story inspires me because no matter how old you are, it shows that the only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves.
I love the idea of putting yourself in positions to succeed!

I would love to hear your ideas on how to put yourself in those positions:)This idea brings Action into play,which is key to any Success.

About a month ago, I was wondering "How do I regain that innocence" I had about Songwriting, "How do I capture" that passion I had before reality got in the way lol.
Well, I've had a break-through!

I came across a random website that allows you to lease tracks for demo purposes,and found a producer's work that fits so perfectly with my writing style!

This has taken me to a new amazing level of Songwriting.
I have so far written over 20 songs to his tracks, and I am so
Amazed that that passion is back!

I'm currently working on getting them demoed and it's really exciting to see myself growing by leaps and bounds and this story adds to that fuel and makes me want this more than when I first started out!
So Thanks again!-Dana

Dana,

Good for you! Anything that can get you fired up is a great thing. There's no question that for most of the folks with enough talent to appeal to large masses, those juices sort of dry up over time. Very few can truly sustain it. That's why I think going for a small niche fan base who "gets" you and serving them closely and personally while you share all your stuff and get it out in the world as often as possible, you'll get a little of that fire back. Too many people wait for perfection instead of just going with inspiration in whatever crazy direction it takes them!

Continued success!

Brian

This is just a note to let new members know this is a great post to read and learn from, especially if you are a lyricist like Dean. He's a perfect example for you all to follow.

Brian

It was great hearing back to back songs by Dean on American Idol last week. Let's Hear It For The Boy and Footloose.

A good week for a songwriter!

Amen !

cheers, niteshift

I need to check in with Dean and see what he's up to. If anyone hasn't read this interview yet, give it a look, it's really interesting and I think you'll agree.

If anyone new hasn't read this, it is a great article about going for your dreams with success! Give the first two posts a read!

I just noticed how many people have read this... amazing!

Ya think Pitchford is his real name or some people are just destined by name?

It's his real name... good guy... he used to post here but got too busy and he's gone quiet.

Nice post Brian