Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception is a recollection of his ingesting of mescalin for the first time. The drug has been used for centuries by the native peoples of southwest America and Mexico, and is thought to be a catalyst for communion with deities. Instead of being another treatise on the positive aspects of drug consumption, this writing suggests that we can take a look at our daily rituals and ask ourselves ‘What am I doing?’ Most people are so preoccupied that they miss the wondrous beauty of life itself; the amazing depths of color, the richness of sounds, and the endless delights of touch and taste. Huxley claims that mescalin can peel away the layers of sensory deprivation we put up, and consequently suffocate ourselves with, on a daily basis. Part of this is a necessary means of survival, but ultimately we lose sight of what’s important and exciting about existence in our physical world – being in touch with our mind, body, and spirit, as well as the energy that pervades everything in our environment. I am a busy person, and so am familiar with being clouded by activity. This book helped me to re-evaluate my lifestyle in some ways and provoked some curiosity about what I’m ‘missing’.

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77 Boadrum was an event held in New York, and organized by the Boredoms, on the seventh of July, 2007. The idea was to set up 77 drum sets, spiraling out from the four Boredoms in the center. They would begin a rhythm and pass it along to the next drummer on the right until it reached drummer number 77. I wasn’t able to observe this epic event in total, as nearly 5,000 others were able, so perhaps I’m not the best authority on the subject. However, I was in the thick of it; lucky enough to participate as drummer number 75. I felt it. I played it. It changed me and the people who watched and absorbed it. I felt such a positive energy when it was happening that I can’t explain. It wasn’t from exhaustion, even though we played for over an hour and a half and spent about twelve hours in the July sun. It was pure elation. It was one of the greatest musical experiences of my life – 77 of the most receptive drummers from all points playing in unison and disarray. It was ultimately heavy and beautiful. The vibrations we sent out hopefully will bounce around this world of ours until time stops.