On a perfect July summer day, two of my closest friends and I set out on the highway to say our final goodbyes to a dear friend. Two of us in my convertible sports car, the other on his Harley, barreled down the highway. It was a strange mix of emotions, we knew it would be a tough farewell since he was still young, but also that it would be a celebration of who he was. The perfection of that Friday afternoon added to the scene like it was carefully directed—even the shuffle option on my Apple Music felt the gravity of this trip as it laid out the consummate soundtrack.
As I watched my friend on his Street Glide Special backdropped by the rock music streaming out of my speakers, it felt like the image of freedom and rebellion that my art, and the rock genre in general, is all about. I knew at that moment I had to find a way to honor motorcycle culture’s synergy with rock ‘n’ roll.
When I got home that evening, I set out to conceptualize my new piece. As I perused images of rock stars and their bikes, I was divinely struck by this image of Jimi Hendrix on a bike. My jaw dropped as I realized that my first bonding experience with the friend we laid to rest was a discussion about Jimi Hendrix while listening to “Crosstown Traffic”.
-Stickman
