This is an interesting thread, because you guys keep bringing up things that remind me of other things.

I myself have done plenty of soul searching over the past couple of years as to if I should continue on. Most of the time you feel, "WHAT'S THE POINT?" Music doesn;t sell worth crap anymore, so many venues have shut down, people don't really care that much, and of course, Covid has taken an enormous toll on us all. It is easy to say "That's it! I'm done." For me, it really doesnt matter that much since I'm not in the central elements of the industry. I am more in the teaching community and am able to keep myself out of the fray of the business.

But you also wonder if people will view you as a sad example of the guy who should have called it quits a long time ago. WE think of athletes, the boxer who took one too many blows to the head, the football or baseball player that we idolized and now see them hobbiling around and mentally beg them to get out of the game. It happens with musicians too. And you hope it doesn't happen to you.

I once went to see Matt "Guitar" Murphy, the rhythm guitar in the BLUES BROTHERS MOVIE. I loved that movie and a freind of mine called me said he was in town so we'd go see him. It was very dissappointing. Matt looked rode hard and put up wet, very haggard and very loaded. He played really badly and the band seemed like a last minute fill in group playing some pretty weak blues. I just wanted it to stop, and we left halfway through.

Or the night in Nashville about my second year. I happened to be playing one night when an enterage came in with Greg Allman. I was a HUGE Greg fan and got him up onstage. I'm left handed so had to play for him while he sang. And he proceeded to sing the most out of tune, worst version of "Midning Rider" I've ever heard. Really was an uncomfortable time. Years later I would read Gregg's autobiography and come to a chapter talking about the late 80s. He was drunk through most of it and didn't remember much. In the chapter he talked about riding around in a limo with several friends in Nashville one night. He said he didn't remember anything about where he was, because of a lot of substances and four gallons of vodka. He might not have known where he was, but I sure did. He was onstage with me at the Third Coast Cafe'.

There are a few stories of those. Some of my favorite singers and writers getting up to sing, me being very excited only to find them nine sheets in the wind. or just plain worn out. A lot of times you just wish it had not happened. Ruins your heroes.

I don't really think EC is like that as he has been sober for decades now. But there was a time he was going through some really bad times, even getting into a racist rant onstage in England. Took him years to live that down. Shades of Micheal Richards.

I guess there is a time to call it quits for everyone and it varies with the individual. I do hope I have good enough friends that would tell me, although I think I would know myself first. With YOU TUBE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, etc. and the non-ending camera phone moment, you will probably see yourself on video, and get a good dose, no one would have to tell you anything.