It was rainy Saturday afternoon in the month of an inter dimensional-ized March and April in Southern California, where constant cloudy weather coated the sky and personal atmosphere. I was sitting on the side of my bed at 13 years old organizing my YuGiOh cards, and alternative music was playing from my CD/Radio/iPod player I begged my parents to get me for my birthday. U2’s “No Line on the Horizon” was released, The Killers’ “Day and Age” had already entered, Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” was immortal in the airwaves. Needless to say, music was noticeably poppier with an intent to resonate a cheerful, but less spicer, soulful note into the eardrums; that is what pop music’s objective is, as given. Leaving my KISS, Iron Maiden, and Pop-Punk, and British Pop chapter of music listening, I was stilled tuned into LA 987 alt fm (and Pandora radio was not invented yet). Songs followed each other in repetition: Closing Time, Song 2, Adam’s Song, Wonderwall, I Will Buy You a New Life, Human, Sex on Fire, Panic Switch. So such a variety of artists, right? Then I stumbled into Smashing Pumpkins songs. I realized such a variety of tonality by one single artist. An array of emotions triggered, transmitted by the perfect chemistry of instruments and vocals, an alchemy of destruction and beauty, sadness and a means to rebel, nostalgia and trauma, musically disciplined and venturesome. I can respectfully say, in my humbled opinion, alternative radio music painted a canvass that VH1 or Fuse music video cable channels could not even with the advantage of visual display. “1979”, “Tonight, Tonight”, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”, “Zero”, “Tonight Reprise – Version 1”, “Today”, “Disarm”,“Landslide”. Thank you, SP. You’ve given my memories to which make it a bright past and a revolution to carry on forward. You’ve stricken more than a chord, lift more than an imprint on people. I could not imaging the hurt and distress that had to be experienced to birth the beauty we’ve come to experience. I hope good health finds and bonds with you for the rest of time. Love.