22: So Many Recesses

and Pink Floyd and Queen and getting on people’s tits, and a 2017 comic about nail polish.

Rock and Roll Elementary School

School was another source for learning about music. I have strong memories of hearing Another Brick in the Wall pt 2 at a school assembly — it was part of a skit by the oldest kids, the tall, cool, impressive grade 8s — and practically swooning at the open rebellion in the lyrics. Oooooooh, I said to myself. There’s this!

Another One Bites the Dust was possibly the same assembly. I think it’s still a fantastic record — knowing how derivative it was doesn’t dampen it.

The flip side of the single was also amazing: Don’t Try Suicide confused the shit out of me because for a song about how you shouldn’t kill yourself, it’s not exactly encouraging.

So you think it’s the easy way out
Think you’re gonna slash your wrists this time
Baby when you do it all you do is get on my tits

Don’t try suicide — Nobody’s worth it
Don’t try suicide — Nobody cares
Don’t try suicide — You’re just gonna hate it (LOL)
Don’t try suicide — Nobody gives a damn

I wrote a gag comic about it when I heard it — the earliest instalment of this strip, 40 years ago, lost to time.

The setup: Somebody who’s considering suicide reconsiders momentarily upon hearing the song in a record store.

The gag: Once they hear the rest of the lyrics — they kill themselves! HA!

I was ten. Still, it’s good I don’t write a lot of gags.

Bonus Pride Comic

Paint your nails, baby! Blow your own mind and the rest will follow. This true story’s from 2019 (feels like 5 years ago).