Panic 22
My feelings are mixed about the re-issue of the 1991 Panic debut Epidemic. An advance copy arrived in this morning's post.
For those who haven't known me for 31 years, I was a teenage headbanger. That's right-- an unwashed, underemployed, denim & leather wrapped, fully involved disco-hatin' rivet head.
To be fair, I'm still a little rough-hewn. But in my 20s I was an authentic dirtbag. And a pretty bitchin' heavy metal singer to boot.
My first band was Panic (5/18/85--10/08/93) and it was pretty much the only thing that mattered to me for most every one of those days. I managed to keep some relationships together and I did gut out a bachelor's degree and somehow avoided getting hooked on dark drugs. But from the time he woke up in the afternoon until the time he ran out of gas in the middle of the night, Jeff was all about THE BAND.
We didn't make it. Our timing was just a few ticks off, as you-know-what plugged in and took over Seattle (and the world) in the early 90s. The once-dedicated audience for heavy Heavy Metal went fickle and the labels & media wouldn't return calls. We walked before they made us run, quitting while we were-- if not ahead-- then at least not yet a total joke. It is true, in fact, that we were on the cover of the beloved Rocket Magazine at the time we mutually decided to throw in the bandana. There's some heavy metal irony for you right there...
It was unreasonably fun and rewarding being in a struggling heavy metal band. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, but at the same time I don't entirely see the point in revisiting it. Reissuing Epidemic wasn't mine or anyone in the band's idea. In fact, I begged the guy who purchased the licensing from the original label not to do the project. I don't blame him for following through with it-- reissues are part of what his label does and he'd paid good money to Metal Blade for the rights. I just thought it was perfectly fine where it was-- fairly rare (12,000 original cops sold, most on CD & cassette, though some vinyl was pressed) and out of print. It wasn't hurting anyone, and I'd have preferred it stay that way.
But it was going to come out with or without my cooperation, so I wrote some liner notes and sent a bunch of photos and relics to M-Theory to make an updated insert. And it looks fine. Part of the reason I resisted the idea to begin with is because I know what a hungup loon I've become about stuff like this-- and if I can't control every aspect of production, I'll resent the finished product. So I certainly would have laid it out differently. And used different fliers. And a different typeface. But they did a decent job with it visually and didn't edit my notes and the ad copy someone wrote for it is actually very good and so I'm not complaining or at least shouldn't be. I'm not.
I haven't listened to it because my record player is broken. I'm sure it sounds fine, but you can also just listen to it on Sonicare or whatever the fuck it's called. Nobody knows where the masters are, so I imagine it was duped off a CD. There is a download card for a 3-song demo recorded the summer before the record was-- songs from the album, but demo versions. That part's kind of interesting, I'm sure I haven't heard those since then. But that was duped off a cassette (I assume) so it warbles a bit. Gives it some character, I guess.
Another reason I'd hoped Epidemic wouldn't be reissued is that I expected to feel a tiny tug to observe the release with a party or even a show. With a solitary exception, Panic has avoided the weary trend of reuniting and in fact have only performed once in the 29 years since we disbanded, at a reunion for a sick friend. That benefit raised nearly $10,000 which made it totally worth it. But I believe that heavy metal ship has sailed, and without SOMETHING THAT I CAN TOTALLY CONTROL like a live show to celebrate the release, it just seems a bit hollow.
I don't know how much these cost, but there's only 300 of them. So if you want one then order before midnight tonight and receive as an added gift the scabs and/or beard clippings from a band member. Order before noon tomorrow and receive a stool or seed sample. Before the weekend you get a ketchup packet. After that not sure...