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Running Away From Frankenstein

from Broken Glass Promenade by The StiKman

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about

I dreamt we were in the green room at Ashkanaz (a venerable Berkeley venue) about to play a gig. We were hanging out while the first band was playing. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that our guitarist, Alex Skolnick was growing pale and somewhat “angular” in the cranium. I mentioned this to bass-playing-band-mate Mike (That One Guy) Silverman. He said, “You’re imagining things”. I looked at Alex again. The “angularity” had continued to “metastasize”. I asked Alex how he felt. He answered: “fine” and: “why do you ask?”
I tapped Mike on the shoulder and pointed.
“See”, I said, “it’s like he’s turning into Frankenstein”
Mike now agreed.

We wondered if the process was reversible and began to ask a few of the Berkeley “hippy-doctors” who were in the room with us how we might help Alex. One suggested a special diet, but it was time for us to go on. Alex growled, “Let’s play!” in an almost unrecognizably low voice, and despite my instincts, we took the stage.
As we played Alex’s brow became more and more pronounced. He continued to transform until he was completely gray-skinned and flat-headed, as Boris Karloff in the Jack Pierce make-up of the 1930’s Universal Studios "Frankenstein" performing monstrous glissandos on a Les Paul guitar. He began to growl and bellow and chase us with that slow, stiff walk.

He no longer displayed any Alex-like characteristics. He was Frankenstein. It appeared he intended to catch us. Under the circumstances, were unable to finish our set. He chased me out of the building, the door of which opened to a Transylvanian landscape, where I observed Frankenstein’s encounter with a “pretty little girl”. It ended badly.
I observed his interaction with a blind person. Frankenstein’s affection was deadly.

I now entered a castle-like Transylvanian building, which when inside seemed to be a modern building whose windows looked out to the U. C. Berkeley campus.

Now, however, I needed to pee. I searched up and down the halls for a restroom, to no avail. I slipped out into an alley, unzipped to pee into a drain but there was the Frankenstein monster growling right behind me. I woke up. Now I really had to pee.

As we began to perform this song, I felt I compelled to introduce the story of my dream and characters/players to the audience during an introductory monster-walk tango. I found myself not saying much about the dream but focusing on Alex’s transformation in the dream and while doing so I began to experience a transformation of my own.

I began to channel Marvel Comic’s Stan Lee (who I heard as a 13 year-old on “The Merry Marvel marching Society Flexidisk”) for the introductory Master of Ceremonies character. Stan Lee, who would string over-the-top-and often alliterated superlatives with references, name drops, and credits with every instance of referral to one of his staff or collaborators, such as my faithful inclusion of a reference to Alex Skolnick’s association with the band: Testament”, etc., every time I would refer to him. My aspiration for this introduction would be to cause Alex to blush a bit, and then, through the magic of acting, for him to turn into a grey monster. Darling Freakhead also lurks significantly on this track and Edgar Winter is respectfully paraphrased.

lyrics

Running Away From Frankenstein
This is just like my dream.
We were here and ready to play.
I look over at our guitar player,
the very able Alex Skolnick.
many of you know him for his shredding axe-man-ship with
the legendary Heavy Metal Band,
Testament,
But tonight something’s seems off with Alex.
His complexion, ashen,
His head looks kinda angular.
As if he is transforming before our very eyes into Frankenstein.
Alex!
Legendary guitarist with Testament!
Are you all right?
How do you feel?

"I don't want to alarm everyone
but I do feel a bit stray-yay-hay-yay-yange...
My arms and legs
feel stiff
and I want to bellow in anguish of rage and loneliness"

"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
(made not born)
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
(horribly malformed)
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
(but live and let live)
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
("even he may have something to give")

Frankenstein see pretty little girl by side of the water
she pluck the flower petals and throw them in the water
Frankenstein sees the beauty the little girl sees
the flower petals floating on the shimmering sparkly water

"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
("He's misunderstood")
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
("He's sensitive and that's good.")

"Pretty little girl see Frankenstein by side of the water."
"Frankenstein pluck her and see if pieces float pretty
like petals in the water"
Pretty little girl make shrill noise
("eeeeeeeee!")
and leaked red
pretty as the petals on the shimmering sparkly water
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"

You better run away from Frankenstein
he's deadly even while he's trying to be kind
You better run away from Frankenstein
now that he's angry it's terrifying


"it's really sad
but I guess he's just bad!"
"Frankenstein see you
feelings he wish to express
and I want to bellow in anguish of rage and loneliness
RRrrrrrreehhhhhhrrrrrr!!
Frankenstein will catch you
and share this."

(that's why) I'm running away from Frankenstein
he thinks he is a friend of mine
a plaintive look upon his face
"FLEE HIS DEADLY EMBRACE!"

"I am your friend. Friend-- good."
"FRIEND-- GOOD !"
"Have a drink."
"DRINK! GOO-OO-OOD."
"Enjoy a smoke."
"SMO-O-OKE ! GOO-OO-OO-OOD!"
FRIEND ?
FRIEND ? DEAD !
SMOKE? DRINK? FRIEND ?
Rrrrehhhrrr!"

"I'm running away from Frankenstein
he lumbers so stiffly compared to him, I'm flyin'
I'm running away from Frankenstein
it's easy to elude him
I'm hardly tryin'

--need to pee
--can't find uh W.C.
so I unzip in an alley
dropped muh guard
with my stick in my hand
but I hear a
"Rrrrehhhrrr!"
Y'gotta admit he's the man.

credits

from Broken Glass Promenade, released July 16, 2014
Composed and Produced by The StiKman
Engineered by The StiKman
Mixed by The StiKman

The StiKman: Lead Vocals, Background vocals, flute, percussion, and sound design
Alex Skolnick: Guitar, Vocals
Darling Freakhead: classical guitar, electric guitar, and Vocals
That One Guy: Bass Guitar and Vocals
Matt Van Der Ende: Trap Drums
Kimmy Fennell: Vocals
Clare Hedin: Vocals

Art Director: The StiKman
Art and Graphics: JoJo Razor

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The StiKman Oakland, California

The StiKman sounds contemporary as the day after tomorrow, iconic as if written into your DNA before history began, and quaint as your grandpa’s favorite song. He is the missing link between Zappa and Beefheart, and the bridge from Charles Ives to Burl Ives. ... more

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