Disappointed, but Perhaps Expectations Were High

Very inspiring story. Who knows. Maybe one day they will get back to you. I once sent a message to Rick Wakeman(who I heard gets back to his fans)but never got a response. I also was set to do an online interview with a very well known modern US prog band(who shall remain nameless of course) but they never got back to me. I never bought any music by them again. All that success must have gone to their heads. Oh well. I think some musicians need to remind themselves that they put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - December 18 2019 at 20:19

Latest update and probably final note to this saga. Well, Bjorn Riis did respond. Thanking me for sending the email and he was thrilled to be part of it. Fairly short and sweet. So I wrote back and said my wife and I will fly out to Oslo (from Boston) to see one of your concerts (if you will be having one) and would you like to meet for beer/coffee and like to hear the whole story. I received back an email stating “We’re busy preparing our new album and our Facebook page lists our upcoming gigs”. Uh thanks? So I wrote back and said I think you misunderstood. My wife and I will spend thousands of dollars to fly to Oslo and see you in concert. Can we grab a beer afterwards?   No response. Shrug. Clearly perspectives differ. Perhaps he’s inundated by fan emails. Idk. Frankly I wished I never bothered. Seems to be a bit of an empty run up a long hill. I am a pretty private guy and I kind of threw this to him and expected too much.

I have an update of sorts. Following the advice of my compadres here, I decided to try emailing again. This time I emailed the recording company for Bjorn Riis, Karisma Records. I reached a cool dude named Martin that responded back to me immediately, thought the story was amazing and said he’d forward it to Bjorn. This was a few days ago. Nothing yet. We’ll see if it pans out. There are some interesting prog bands at Karisma it seems. Martin had some good recommendations for me as well. They are worth a check out. Anyway If anyone here knows any members of Airbag let me know and I’ll forward the email over.

Relative to people mentioning they have tinnitus, I did come across a long article and treatment for tinnitus and hearing loss with some studies to support it. It’s compound aldosterone, the hormone that regulates our electrolytes balance (and more). I know people that have had tinnitus for years and compound aldosterone has resolved the issue. Google compound aldosterone for tinnitus and hearing loss by Dr Jonathan Wright.

Anyways the fat lady hasn’t sung yet but she might be warming up.

Welcome to PA, Ridgeback!  This is quite a collection of personalities and minds, you fit in nicely!  

Incredibly touching story! And yes, along with a happy thing, there's always a sad thing. But I guess in your story the happiness of being able to hear again (and hear better) outweighs the bands' lack of response, because you don't really owe it to them... They were channels toward your recovery, but it could've been any other bands. 

Don't despair. Correspondences usually go through artist's websites that are handled by their agents/management people. I emailed Renaissance and Yardbirds founder Jim McCarty and he replied personally the next day. I recently emailed former Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett and his management company responded for him about two weeks later, so it might take awhile to get a response. There may also be delays due to language problems. So, we can't tar everyone with the same brush.

Edited by SteveG - November 30 2019 at 07:06

Thanks Guys. It was a strange experience to say the least. Especially on the night I lost it. The day the world was supposed to end according to the Mayan calendar. In a previous life I must have been pretty mean to them! But I learnt to lip read really well in a very short period of time. You learn to be hyper alert. You learn to adapt. I hate have a device with a wire out of my head, but honestly, it’s a nothing compared to so many other issues that happen to people.

Once I learned to hear music properly again, well honestly you never take it for granted. Now I appreciate all music even elevator music. Now for the first time I HEAR music. I listen. There is no background music anymore. It’s hard to explain. It really does take on a new meeting. The truth is without going deaf, I would not be able to appreciate music as I do now.

Yeah, I emailed both Airbag booking, Bjorn booking, and Bjørn directly. I’m mystified myself. But perhaps they think it’s bullsh*t (if they ever read the emails). I didn’t ask for anything at all, I just wanted them to know the story and realize how powerfully therapeutic their music is. Totally disappointing but that’s my perception. They perhaps have a different viewpoint. Shrug.

Gotta laugh though... it took going deaf to appreciate prog :-)

^ obtw Steve.. you are my new hero.  Gobble gobble 

Anyway, you didn't get an answer but you still have your great story and achievement! Which is far more important.