Ghost In The Guitar - 7. Moving Forward

Monday morning, Fabian found it difficult to get motivated to head to the studio. It was nearly quarter after ten when he walked in. The band could tell immediately that something was bothering him.

Nigel welcomed him, “Good morning, Fabian. You don’t look so hot. Someone die? And, hello Russell.”

Neither Fabian nor Russell replied.

Yves caught on first, “He’s gone?”

Fabian could only nod while wiping away a tear.

Ryan commented, “Damn. I was figuring he’d be around a while to help you out more.”

Fabian calmed himself and shared what happened Saturday night.

Alex asked, “So, the kid that killed him, got caught.”

“Yeah. I guess they matched his fingerprints to the metal that hit Russell. Case solved, bye, bye Russell.”

“I know this doesn’t help, but it’s no easier losing him a second time.”

“Geez, Yves. I didn’t even think of that. You guys must be just as broken up as in August.”

Nigel added, “Well, we didn’t interact with him, er, his ghost, as much as you did. So, I don’t think it was as bad.”

Ryan agreed.

Alex didn’t agree, “Well, his ghost talking really creeped me out. I’m kind of glad it’s gone.”

Yves continued, “Yeah, you definitely seemed afraid.”

Ryan joked, “Wimp.”

Alex glared at Ryan, “I wasn’t afraid. It was more like, uncomfortable having it around.”

The guys let Alex slide, even though it was obvious he’d been scared a couple times.

Nigel checked with Fabian, “You gonna be okay, Fabian? We can just talk for a bit. We don’t have to jump into the music.”

“I’ll be alright. Maybe today I’ll use his guitar.”

“You did say he told you it was yours now,” Yves replied.

“He did. It just doesn’t seem right to take it out of here.”

Nigel cautioned, “You probably should bring it home. There’ll be others using the studio sooner or later. I wouldn’t want it to disappear.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll take it with me starting today. But I’ll still use mine most of the time.”

Ryan has a suggestion, “Maybe use yours for the new stuff, and Russell’s for the old. At least once we hit the road again.”

“Maybe. I’ll think about it.”

Fabian did begin using Russell’s guitar more. He wasn’t sure, but it still seemed like Russell was helping him play. Yves may have needed to add more than just the main guitar track for a few songs, but Fabian was able to create the music for the two songs that Arnie and Bart provided.

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Russell still watched over Fabian. A one-way telepathic link emerged through the green Les Paul. Fabian couldn’t hear Russell, but when he tried to write using his own Les Paul or Fender, it seemed like his muse was silenced.

Yves noticed that what Fabian was writing seemed to match Russell’s style. He questioned him about it.

“Man, it seems like you’re still communicating with Russell. The stuff you’re writing sounds like it could have been written by him. He’s not still communicating with you and you’re hiding it, is he?”

“No. I don’t feel or sense him in any way. It’s weird though. I try to write using my own guitars, and nothing works. I use his, and it’s like the guitar knows what it should play.”

“I guess you won’t be swapping guitars on stage when we get there. Just use Russell’s.”

“Yeah, he did only play the one as far as I could tell. I only saw you guys in concert with him once.”

“Yeah, that was his baby. He tried others, but liked the sound with that one best. B.B. King had Lucille. Russell had Louise.”

“No shit? He named it?”

“He did. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, me too. But no, I’d never heard that.”

Epilogue

Fabian spent fifteen years with Stars and Slackers. Together they had another dozen records. Alex left after four, tired of the road. S&S went through five other bass players for their last eight albums.

Ryan lasted a few years longer, leaving after nine records to go solo. Eddie Nash, formerly of the Swarm played keyboards for their last three albums. He was joined by fellow ex-Swarm members Pete Daggett, who also took over on vocals, and Anthony Rossi on bass for those final three albums.

Fabian, Nigel, and Yves remained until the end. While trying to put together the band’s sixteenth album, the record company wasn’t satisfied with what they’d created and nullified their contract.

The six of them continued touring, playing both Stars and Slackers and Swarm songs. They were quite popular as retro artists. A few years later they did land one more contract, and with some changes and additions to the songs they had created for the never released S&S XVI, they released their final album titled ‘Stars and Slackers Meet The Swarm.’ It went platinum, selling just over 1.4 million copies.

It kept Stars and Slackers touring for another ten years before they mutually agreed to break up the band and went on to individual projects.

The End