Normal Bates

Mikey’s Journey Despite the name "Normal Bates", Norm is anything but "Normal"! His Real Name is Michael W. O'Brien and was born in Northern Illinois. Up until the big CRASH of 2007/08 he was every bit the "struggling conformist" trying desperately to "make it" in a lifestyle opposite of everything he had ever wanted. After graduating high school and revisiting the community college several times with dreams of making films/music a career the premature desire to "make money now" soon grabbed hold. He became quite complacent and "falsely content" in a routine that slowly eroded the soul. As an Auto-parts sales person Mike would eventually reach the boiling point! Realizing he was definitely not headed for a life nowhere near what he had hoped for, the feeling of being “eaten away” became more and more substantial. However, when one has a system/routine in place that is safe and effective in keeping a roof over ones head and food in the belly, it takes much courage to give it all up on a whimsical venture into "uncharted" territory. Things continued on as is for years until it was almost too late. So what happened? What changed it all? Read on my friends! When Norm was "Mikey" he’d spent most of his time messing with music, film/video and just about all creative aspects of a normal child’s life. Classically trained in percussion during all of his school years, he absorbed as much as he could. His parents nurtured this healthy obsession by purchasing a set of drums and allowing him and his buddies to practice their unpolished, novice attempts at making original music in the basement. Needless to say allowing this ear piercing music experimentation to continue guaranteed that Mikey would stay out of trouble. Throughout school and all the way through the mid 2000’s the dabbling continued but not without its obstacles. Over much time, practice, and more practice Mikey and his buddies eventually began putting some useful material together and things grew increasingly. Soon mikey and his buddies were playing little gigs and having fun. They even received payment sometimes! But it didn’t take long however for things to become “stale” and let’s say…unfulfilling. Ad things continued this way for a while band rehearsal and playing shows for the right reasons morphed into only a reason to drink, party, meet girls, and fill the void on weekends. If success were ever to come of it then it would merely be a nice bonus and ongoing “permission” to keep going in the same manner. Like anything worth fighting for in life one has to pay his/her dues and work very hard to reap the rewards of such an endeavor and that requires much more than booze, parties and foggy weekends. Soon band mates who were in it for the right reasons stay in it for the wrong ones. “It got to the point where rehearsal was torture, playing gigs was just a job and a crappy one at that!” “The obviously half assed music would just be ignored by any serious professional” as it should have been. “The band would break-up for some stupid drunken, petty reason only to re-start once we became bored with the “empty” weekends.” Of course Mikey was no saint by any stretch though he had the worst problems out of all of them including job firings, extreme bouts with alcohol, DUI arrests, multiple stints in jail, years of court appearances, loss of driving privileges, failed relationships, looping self destruction, hopelessness, worthlessness, Lying, cheating, depression, panic attacks, home loss, and finally the (eventual) return to his parents basement in 2010. All by the tender, young age of 30! With No band, no producers, no engineers, no collaboration, no money, no equipment and very few remaining friends 2009 turned out to be the most pivotal year in "Mikey's" Life! It was time to embark on a "new" journey! One that re-visited all those great dreams that had been taken for granted. With absolutely nothing left to lose and all the “tools” required to move forward the in the "right way", the "New" Mikey would only look back for inspiration, knowledge and strength. Secluded in his apartment and sadly his parents basement "Mikey" became "Norm". The very first never ending album "Was Mikey" was beginning to form. Using hand-me down computers, very affordable software, a microphone provided by a great friend, a cheap MIDI keyboard (controller) and a hell of a lot of technical difficulties/limitations the obsessive work began and it wouldn't end until the goal of 11 original compositions of the highest "possible" standards on a shoestring budget were finished! Now ready for presentation to you, the first installment of the never ending album experiment is ready and waiting for judgment! All Normal Bates music is free and always will be. Peace:) Normal Bates.....or is it Mikey?