Candy Asks | Accepting | @kitchiris
Butterfinger: Do you have a prized possession you’d hate for anyone to get their hands on?
“Do I? Okay, so listen to this.” There’s no hesitation to the start of this story; he’s clearly told it before. “It’s 1986, Bill and I are at the San Diego Sports Arena for Van Halen’s 5150 tour. We’re there ridiculously early because Bill’s dad got us floor tickets and we were not going to settle for anything less than front row… and we got it.” Truthfully it was unlikely they’d get so lucky, but they were a pair of very determined fifteen year olds that day.
“So the band walks onstage and they’re right there, dude. Right in front of us, and it was the most excellent day of my life. Not just because of the unrivaled talent of Van Halen but when the show ended, right before he walked off stage, Eddie Van Halen threw his guitar pick to the crowd… and I caught it.” He has to pause a second to catch his breath, eyes bright with excitement as he relived the night. “And when I did he looked right at me and pointed to me– dude, we had a moment. Made eye contact and everything. And that’s when I knew I absolutely had to learn the guitar. Bill and I were already talking about the band but that’s when I knew. There’s always a time when you just know, you know? I’m pretty sure I was meant to catch it.
“And that’s how I got thee Eddie Van Halen’s guitar pick. Bill says I should try practicing with it, in case some of his skill stuck to it or something, but I am not taking the risk of damaging it.”
Skittles: If you were a fruit, what kind of tree would you grow on and where would it grow?
His expression immediately falls into one deeply contemplative; he’s never thought about this before. What a bizarre question. “Hm… well, it’s gotta be something big, with lots of leaves and branches like a… what are those called… willow trees! Yeah! On a hill somewhere, or a huge open field. So it’s impressive and mysterious, and totally looks like it could be on the cover of a metal album.” Because that is absolutely necessary for any Ted Fruit-bearing tree. If it can’t look badass then what’s the point? “Yeah, I think I like that.”
