It's been a hard few years for most of us, but Pearl Harbour has managed to stay positive throughout. It's no small feat, given struggles with lung cancer that have indefinitely sidelined her singing career. The musician recently penned linear notes for the re-issue of her great unsung 1980 rockabilly LP, Don't Follow Me, Im Lost Too. The album features an all-star cast of musicians from The Clash and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Habour's friends and tourmates at the time. And while she's not one to get hung up in the past, she happily recounts some terrific stories from the era.
Pearl Harbour 0:12
I'm doing okay this week, you know, I still, obviously, maybe your, your listeners don't know that I have lung cancer. So when I do chemo, which I'm still doing, it makes me really sick. But this week, I didn't do any. So that's why I feel good today. So, yeah, I'm having a really hard time telling you the truth. And the saddest thing is that the doctor said, they don't know if or when I'll be able to sing again. So that makes me sad, because I have a country band that I put together. And that was really enjoying that. So we'll see what happens, Brian, but I'm worried and I, I don't feel great, but I'm here and I'm trying and you know, it'll be okay.
Brian Heater 0:56
When was the last time you were able to actually sing in front of people.
Pearl Harbour 1:00
That was in August, I did my last show. And then, right after the show, I found out that I had cancer. So it was sad, because I had a bunch of shows planned, and I had gotten a residency at this country in western place that's nearby. That's really cool. So I was just really happy if everything was going my way, and then all of a sudden, the rug got pulled out. But that happens to people. And that's just the way it goes, you know, and I understand that. At that
Brian Heater 1:33
point, it was doctor's orders to just not seeing any more, or is it more an issue of having to sort of perform and be on the road?
Pearl Harbour 1:40
No, it was? Well, it was doctor's orders, because my next show was three weeks after that one show the last show. And during that three weeks, I had to get a surgery because as soon as they said, you have cancer, I was like, you have to have a surgery immediately. And then everything is immediately the radiation, the chemo and all that stuff. So I mean, I'm glad that they were able to do everything immediately. But yeah, that's the reason why I couldn't do anything after that, you know, just because they said we have to start this stuff.
Brian Heater 2:18
Not that there's ever a good time to find out. But you know, it's a shame that you weren't aware that your last performance for a while was going to be your last performance for a while.
Pearl Harbour 2:29
I know, I had no idea because I had no symptoms. And my doctor just said, Have you ever had a lung cancer screening? And I said, No. And then she said, Well, I think you should get one. And I did and then it came out positive and it just shocked the heck out of me. Yeah.
Brian Heater 2:46
Geez. I mean, if I can ask I think this, these sorts of conversations are useful people for people who you know, yeah,
Pearl Harbour 2:54
I don't I don't talk about it. Yeah,
Brian Heater 2:57
you didn't have any symptoms doctor sees something or this was just a routine screening.
Pearl Harbour 3:03
It was a routine screening, but to tell you the truth, like a few months before I had the screening, I was getting short of breath. And they said they gave me a breath test and said that I had the beginnings of emphysema, you know, COPD, so that's all I thought I had. And then and and then I had been given a an inhaler for that. And the inhaler worked fine. So if ever I was you know, getting short of breath, I would just due to some hailer and it was fine. So yeah, it was sort of out of the blue that she said, You know what you should do this test. But really, she I think she saved my life because the cancer the tumor in my lung has not spread. And it's very aggressive. They said the type of tumor it is. And so, you know, had we waited much longer, it would have spread and I'd be in real trouble. No So for all the bad luck, the good luck far out, what is it? You know, things like this definitely
Brian Heater 4:14
put things into perspective. Obviously, the best luck of all is not having to deal with this. But you know, at a certain point when you're going through it, you do recognize that things absolutely could be worse. Absolutely.
Pearl Harbour 4:25
And if anybody out there is listening who has cancer Oh has a friend or a relative that has cancer. You know, we all are aware that nowadays, they have so many new drugs and different things that they didn't used to have so that you know there's a lot of a lot of help out there to keep people living longer. And another thing you know, since we're doing this and and people are listening and if anyone has cancer, something that really helps me you is music. So I'm really having a bad time, you know, I'll just lie down and put on some of my favorite records. And that really helps. And so, you know, since we're doing a musical show, I would say to anybody, you know, music can help you through the worst of times. And that's one of the really great things about music, you know,
Brian Heater 5:22
nothing of this magnitude at all, but I was dealing with some health things. And then, you know, it's just some standard Depression during the pandemic. And it really was, it was that that's what finally brought me around. I got to a point for a long time where I just couldn't listen to music.
Pearl Harbour 5:38
I had depression during that, too. Yeah, I know. And then all of a sudden, yeah, things turned around. And I, I found that listening to music, especially really loud. I'm lucky. Where I live. I don't have any neighbors. So I can play stuff loud. But yeah, music helped me through that pandemic. That's sure that is for sure. But I'm sorry. You went through depression? So did I think a lot of people did don't know. Yeah,
Brian Heater 6:05
I say that, knowing that I'm, I'm absolutely not unique. And what was the what was the overall experience of the last four years like for you?
Pearl Harbour 6:16
So I live in the desert. Now, I'd moved from Los Angeles, where I lived for, I'm from San Francisco. And then I moved to Los Angeles for 21 years. Then I retired and moved back to San Francisco and found that it was too expensive and to sort of run down and not the city that I had grown to love. So then I said, Where am I going to go and then I decided to move to the dentist, to the dentist to the desert, not to the dentist. And, and I'm glad I live out here because it's really beautiful. There's mountains, palm trees, really beautiful things to look at. So all during the pandemic, I took a walk every single day to keep myself mentally, okay. And then since the, you know, the pandemic, you know, I music helped me because I put a band together and rehearsing is the most fun I ever have. I'm one of those people that loves to rehearse, because there's no pressure, I get to sing for hours. I'm laughing and having fun. So the music really, really helped. You know, I had a lot of issues. One of my brothers died from cancer, and you know, during that time, and so there's a lot of things that weren't so great, but I got through them just like one does. And yeah, so everything was going well until now. But I'm also happy to be in the desert and be sick. Because if I was living in Los Angeles or San Francisco, I wouldn't get the kind of health care that I'm getting out here. The desert is full of old rich people, myself and unincluded I'm old, but that rich. So there's a lot of good doctors. And there's a lot all my doctors and everyone who's taking care of me have just been fantastic. And it wouldn't be that way. If I was living in the city, it'd be a lot harder, I'd have to travel farther, I'd have to deal with a lot more people. You know, it's it's, I'm lucky that I'm out here.
Brian Heater 8:37
But a lot of what you just said resonated with me. I'm actually I live in New York now. But I'm from Fremont originally. So you know, obviously spent a lot of time in San Francisco and I go back fairly frequently for work and family. And it's just, it's hard. It's hard to see.
Pearl Harbour 8:52
It is hard to see made me so depressed. I couldn't believe how the, you know, I feel sorry for homeless people just like everyone does. But they have taken over that city. And it's filthy. And it's not nice. It's not good. It made me sad. Because you San Francisco is so beautiful it is and then not anymore. Hopefully they'll do a turn around. I'm not sure when that will happen or how
Brian Heater 9:25
I'm in New York, and I've been here for close to 20 years. And when I first moved here, there are all these, you know, there ends up being this sort of strange nostalgia for New York back in, you know, the kind of the grimy, you know, the 70s and the 80s. And yeah, I think these things are are cyclical, you know, if San Francisco is a wonderful, beautiful, magical place. So you know, I think that it certainly has the power to change. But there is a strange thing and if you've ever experienced this in your life of having nostalgia for a time when things were like That's markedly worse for you.
Pearl Harbour 10:02
Oh, of course, I have this dollar shirt all the time. Especially because we're talking about an album that I made 44 years ago, I had the most fun I've ever had in my life. So yeah, I long for the old days when I was having a ball. But I also am very thankful that, you know, my whole life I've had. I've lived in great places and had a lot of fun and like, I can't complain about anything. But I long for the good old days, sometimes. One mustn't dwell on the old days, you know, I know that. We forget
Brian Heater 10:40
the bad side of things. Right? You know? Yeah.
Pearl Harbour 10:43
Yeah, it's the grass is always greener. Absolutely. When you leave someplace, you forget about the bad and you only remember the good stuff. That's nice, though. That's that's a good thing about you know, how the brain works is that it does cottoned on to the good stuff and tries to put leave the bad stuff behind. You've
Brian Heater 11:05
been in London, Los Angeles, obviously, San Francisco is a smaller city, but it is a city did you expect to be living away from the city like this at any point?
Pearl Harbour 11:16
You mean, like in the desert where I am now? No, never. I never thought it'd be my cup of tea. But, you know, I'm, I'm, you know, older now, I'm, you know, I'm pushing 70. I mean, not really, but yes. And after, you know, experiencing so much hardships in different cities, it's really nice to just be calm and relaxed and have everything easy. I never thought that I would want that. But I do I do. Especially being a single female, you know, it's not easy. Always having to look at how do you show up, look behind your shoulder and just be wary of things all the time. And being out in the desert. It's very quiet and relatively safe, you can smell trouble coming a mile away. So it's not like living in the city. Los Angeles was tougher than San Francisco. As far as crime and all that stuff goes, but no, I never ever thought that I would go live in the desert. But I'm happy to be here. And I don't think I'll move
Brian Heater 12:30
those times that I've been in in the desert. You know, especially I'm guessing based on this conversation that you're somewhere in California still, perhaps.
Pearl Harbour 12:41
Coachella Valley. Okay. Yeah. You know, Palm Springs, Palm
Brian Heater 12:45
Springs. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So I don't know, there's something I've never been able to put my finger on it. And maybe you can explain this to me. But, you know, I had spent for various reasons, spent some time in, you know, the Nevada desert and down in Southern California. And there's something I was gonna say this word gets used a lot
Pearl Harbour 13:08
when I moved, but it's true, right? It's true. I said, I hate this word magical. But the desert is magical. I don't know why. I mean, Southern California Desert is all Native American territory. And I can feel that in Palm Springs is all Native American land. And where I live, I live right is mountains everywhere. So the mountains are right behind me. I see them every day. I walk my dog in the desert every day. I look at palm trees every day. And it makes me and I know this is really corny. But it makes me say prayers of thanks every day. And I never used to be like that, you know, but you can just feel all this stuff. And just looking at it and being there and you can feel in your heart. But a whole lot of stuff has happened in this space, you know, and Native American vibes are whatever you call them. Yeah. All around, and they're really strong and really beautiful. And if you try to get in tune with them, you have a better life. I think this is what I've learned. You know, and I like that.
Brian Heater 14:28
Would you say that as you've gotten older that you've become a more spiritual person? Yeah.
Pearl Harbour 14:33
Because I have a lot to be thankful for. Like I said, I you know, I'm 69 So I'll be 70 any year and I never thought I would get to live to be this old, you know, being a rock and roller. I mean, I never was a drug addict or anything like that. But, you know, touring all the time and doing crazy things and getting drunk and blahdy blah
Brian Heater 14:57
and you see a lot of people your age, dropping like flies sometimes? Absolutely.
Pearl Harbour 15:01
Yes, yes. And I mean, I know you can't see me because my computer's broken. But if you look on Instagram, you can see what I'm like and what my life is like. And I still feel like a kid because, you know, they say you're always a kid until you have one and I never had. So I still, yeah, I feel young out here. Like, I just feel young at heart, and really, really, sort of thankful for all that. And so yes, I do say my prayers are thanks. Whereas when I was young, I was always too busy and too worried about all the wrong things, and stuff like that as young people do.
Brian Heater 15:46
In terms of being grateful and being thankful. Is there a sense in which that's a direct result of watching your brother go through what he went through? And then going through version of it yourself?
Pearl Harbour 15:59
Not really, yes. And no, I mean, today, I say, I will be thankful because I mean, my cancer so far is not terminal knock on wood, which is my head. I mean, I saw my mother die of cancer, two of my brothers died of cancer. My father and one other of my brothers had cancer, but they didn't die from it. So I have come from a big family, and every single person has had cancer. So there's three of us left. And but the thankfulness mostly comes from just being happy to be alive, and to have so many nice friends, and to have a nice place to live. I mean, I don't have a lot of money or anything like that, but money certainly doesn't buy you happiness. I've I've learned that very well. Not through experience, but from watching other people, because I've never been rich, but I certainly have always had, you know, I've always had to work. And in except a few times, you know, like when I was on Warner Brothers, and when I was in London, I didn't have to have a job. I was just doing music. But yeah, I'm just thankful for all the things that I have, because I see so many people who do not have the wife that I have
Brian Heater 17:25
did sexually gets right back to what we were talking about before about forgetting some of the, you know, the negative things that happened at the time and listening to this record now. You know, it's It's recently been, I think, as we're recording this, it was reissued last month. It sounds like an incredible experience, you know, you're surrounded by all of these amazing musicians from great bands at the time, but but it also sounds like Warner Brothers, this major label that you're on, in spite of everything didn't give you the support, you need it.
Pearl Harbour 18:01
No, they were really mad at me, and I can understand it in a way but they, you know, I was in my 20s and I was a real rebel and I was not about to do anything I didn't want to do. I'm still like that I've never changed. I won't do anything. I don't want to do people or you know, say if you did this, you would make more money or if you did if you covered this song or if you wore these clothes, or if you did this or did that. I'm not interested in any of those things I'm interested in, in playing and making music on my terms. And so when I was in London, I you know, did meet all these great people, but it wasn't because of Warner Brothers. It was because of Cosmo vinyl, Cosmo is a is a guy who was the personal manager of the clash and Ian jury in the blockheads. Well I met Cosmo in San Francisco when he injury and the blockheads were rehearsing in the same rehearsal studio that I was in. And so I met this crazy guy with purple hair in the hallway, and he said, you know, you're the second most beautiful girl I've seen. And I was like, Oh, who is this nut?
Brian Heater 19:19
Did you ask you the first was?
Pearl Harbour 19:23
No. He said, I said, I get a year or whatever. And then he said, you want to see the best rock and roll band in the world. And I was like, Oh, brother, I said, Who's that? And he said, ever heard of EMG and the blockheads, you know, so, yes. I said, Oh, my God, you were injured, but because our band had played with Elvis Costello and the attractions. And so it was Elvis, his first tour. And so I became friends with them because they were they stayed in San Francisco for a couple of weeks record rehearsing and all that kind of stuff. So I got to know those folks. I showed them around and they told me about stiff records. And they told me about Nick Lowe and Ian jury and Graham Parker and all these wonderful people reckless Eric. So I was aware of them all. And so I, so when I when he said, EMG, I was like I said, Oh my gosh, so I went and saw some of their rehearsal. And it was phenomenal. I mean, those guys are great. And so the next thing I knew I became friends with Cosmo, and then we started dating. And then I start, I went on some of the tours with the injury and the blockheads, and then he introduced me to the clash. And during all this time, this was 7778 79. So 78, I had Pearl Harbor and the explosions. And we signed to Warner Brothers and made this album and did all this touring, and Cosmo knew I wasn't happy with that band, because I didn't like the kind of music that we made. You know, there's three people who liked jazz fusion against me who hates jazz fusion. And so, you know, these guys would present with music and say, write lyrics to this. And it was hard because I didn't like the music. So Cosmo said, Why don't you move to London? And I can in the blockheads in the clash will back you up. And I was like, nah. said, Yeah, they really like us. Those are
Brian Heater 21:38
the two best bands in the world are gonna back you up right now. And
Pearl Harbour 21:41
it happened. I moved to London, as soon as the Pearl Harbor, the explosions tour, finished. The tour with the explosions was fun, because we were the sport act for the talking heads. And I love the talking heads. So that was fun. But then, you know, leaving San Francisco and leaving, you know, my band and going to London was really scary. But right away, he hooked me up with the clashing of blockheads, and I just had a blast and Warner Brothers were mad at me, because they spent a fortune on Pearl Harbor and the explosions and then I quit the band and moved to London, they were like, Oh my gosh, because they were ready to really, you know, make Pearl Harbor and explosions are really big deal. And so when I handed them don't follow me on last two, they hated it. It's muddy, speeded up, rockabilly, it's, it's not commercial, as they said, it has no hits. And then in 1980,
Brian Heater 22:49
I'm sure no one had any ice like free Brian sets, or no one had any idea what to do with anything remotely, rockabilly.
Pearl Harbour 22:56
Exactly, exactly. But the Brits were really cool because, like the British Warner Brothers, they liked it. And there was a small rockabilly scene that was that was happening in London, because the Teddy boys scene didn't really ever go away, but it was not that popular. So when I went there, and Nigel Dixon had a band, he was my rhythm guitar player, and my songwriting partner and Cosmo hooked me up with him. He had a rockabilly band called whirlwind. And they were fantastic. And, and, and you go to the flea market, and there'd be all these record stalls that had a million rockabilly records I've never heard of, it was just, it was fantastic. So, so yeah, and then and then I handed them this record that they didn't like, and then I said, and you cannot put the clash in the blog kids names on there. And they were like, why not? And I was the, you know, I was kinda like, had this punk rock mentality, probably from hanging around with Cosmo and the clash, too. But I, I was afraid that this unknown American Girl, because Pearl Harbor and explosions was not very well received in Britain. It was in the United States, but not not in England. So anyways, I thought that if I in the Brit, British press are really cruel, and they are really tough, especially back then and especially towards Americans. So I decided that if I put out a record and listed all the clash and the blockheads as the musicians that aside from Joe Strummer, and he and jury and they weren't on the record, but at any rate, I thought that the press would eat me up and say, Oh, the only reason why anybody would listen to this record is because of the clash and the blockheads. So I just thought, let's just make this easy on me, and not list anybody and just see if people like it. Well, Major, that's not good business. And so the record company were mad at me, and they threw me off the label. And I mean, that is sort of one regret I do have I kind of wished that I had bested them, because, you know, I would have been given a chance and whatever, but it's just the way that I felt I didn't want to be, you know, this, this unknown person who was recording with great people, and people would just write me off as a, as a person who lucked out because they knew these people.
Brian Heater 25:46
I know, for me, during the pandemic, it was a good opportunity for me to really get, you know, I write for a living, but then to, you know, to get more into my writing, and it seems like part of the reissue of this album was you doing the liner notes, Have you have you found that this, this has been an opportunity for you to do more writing.
Pearl Harbour 26:06
I am supposed to be doing more writing, I'm supposed to be writing a book about, you know, my life and stuff. But it's kind of a it's hard for me because I'm, I'm sort of, I mean, when I'm on stage, I'm like a real, you know, go getter. But in real life, I'm kind of quiet and shy. And so for me to write a book about myself is really hard. I enjoy writing because I try to do it. Well, I find it to be hard. But who knows, maybe in the next couple of years, I will put out a book. But yeah, I didn't want to write the liner notes. I was like, Oh, God, do I really have to, but you know, I did it. It's okay. I I'm really hard on myself about my writing. So I, I always want other people to write things about me and not not me write about me. But
Brian Heater 27:01
we're talking about nostalgia, obviously, reissue like this and then sitting down and writing the liner notes is, you know, an opportunity to really think about things that you haven't thought about in a long time. I mean, in spite of the difficulty in writing, did you find that recollecting, in that way was a positive experience for you? Yes,
Pearl Harbour 27:20
I'm not really one to dwell too much on the past, because it can be hard for me because it was the most fun I've ever had in my life. And obviously, I was married to Paul, and had, you know, I was very happy with him. And, you know, so I was really happy and having so much fun. So when I was writing and thinking about this album, and all the fun we had, it did make me smile and go, Yeah, that was so much fun. But then, you know, on the other hand, after a little while, I might frown and go during a wished you know, I wish my life was still that fun, but whose life whose life can be fun for their whole life? You know, like I said, I'm nearly 17 I was in my 20s when I was having a ball. So I was I had, I had a great time. And and yes, when I reflect on things, I, I really do say to myself, Man, I was lucky to have done all that because a lot of people who are way more talented than me, didn't get to do all that fun stuff and record with really fun people and go on tour with, you know, the greatest rock bands ever and stuff like that I got to play in front of, you know, 1000s of really great people because I got to be the support, actually the clash and blockheads and whoever else you know, lots of great bands, talking heads.
Brian Heater 28:57
That's a really an incredible trio right there. Hearing you describe the story of moving to London, it reminds me a little bit, you know, or brings to mind you also describing the experience of moving to say, of dropping out of school and moving to San Francisco, would you say that, that you are impulsive? Or that there were points in your life where where you made a few impulsive decisions like that?
Pearl Harbour 29:24
Yeah, that that is the way that I've always lived. My life is i i will live somewhere and then all of a sudden, oh, no, it's time to leave. Now in the case of of moving to San Francisco from Germany. You know, I was a bad teenager and I you know, when I said to my parents, I'm moving to San Francisco and I don't care what you said. They were like, Great buy, you know, my dad bought me an airplane tickets. And my parents said by, you know, I'm 17 years old and they They didn't they didn't say, Oh no, you don't. Instead, they said, go ahead and go, because I said, I want to pursue my music career. And they knew I had always wanted to be a singer because I have always wanted to be a singer. And all four of my brothers were record collectors. And my one brother, who was one year older than me, he had bands when we were in high school. So, you know, so moving to San Francisco. Yeah, that was impulsive. When I left San Francisco for London. I knew it was the time for me to leave San Francisco. And I really wanted to know what it was like in London. And when I left London, I that was a different experience, because I did want to leave London and move back to San Francisco. But Paul had broken up with me. So it was kind of like, do I want to stay in the city with my tail between my legs? Or do I want to go back home where everybody will welcome me as some sort of long lost hero and I, I chose that. And so you know, I and then when I was in San Francisco for a while, in the late 90s. I said, I want to do what it's like to live in Los Angeles. So I, I just, you know, packed up my bags and moved and lived there for 21 years. And then when it was, when I was sick of living there, I said, Oh, I'm gonna go somewhere else. So that's a long answer to your question. But yeah, when I when the spirit moves me, I do get up and go, yeah, it's children, you know, and I don't have children, so I can do whatever I want.
Brian Heater 31:39
Yeah, and I was just saying, it's, it's a it's a great answer. And And I'm curious, you know, after, after this album that we're discussing now didn't work out quite like you had hoped. And then, you know, you go through this breakup after several years of marriage. Did you? Was it clear what you're going to do with your life at that point? Yeah,
Pearl Harbour 32:03
I knew when I moved back to San Francisco that I would just put together another band and, and just keep rocking and rolling as long as I could. And that's what I've always done. I kind of don't have any choice. I have to do that. It's just who I am and what I do. I've never been as successful. The most successful I ever was, was Pearl Harbor and the explosions and what did i do i i left it, but I'm glad I did. You know, like I said, I the fame and fortune part is not why I like to sing. And I mean, I've never stopped singing I still have now I did. But I have like I said I had a country ban now. And I was just sad because my life in London was so fun and so good. And then it was old.
Brian Heater 32:55
You know, you move to San Francisco. i How does one become a tap dancing boxer? Boxing tap dancer?
Pearl Harbour 33:04
Well, when I first moved to San Francisco, and you know, when I was 17, there is a few things that interested me. One was being in a rock band, and the other was dancing, because I loved dance. And so I went to this dance school. And I learned jazz ballet and tap. And, and tap dancing was not and I don't think has ever been in fashion. But I auditioned not
Brian Heater 33:30
Sammy Davis probably. Right.
Pearl Harbour 33:33
Exactly. So I, I, there was a talent show by the tubes. And the tubes were this rock band that were tastic and they you know, had like, it was like a rock and roll circus. They just had a million different people doing you know, they had a high a high wire act, they had just people doing all kinds of stuff on the stage and I said I want to be on that stage with those people. So I saw that they were having this audition challenge show and I wanted by tap dancing and boxing. And I knew what the tubes looked like and I knew what they sounded like and I knew what they would like and I found out that they loved you know Roxy Music and film and snare and all this stuff. So I got a filmen scenario song that I thought that they would like so that was it though even though I was young I put everything together and I thought these folks you know, you know like It's sexy. So you know I had on my satin boxing shorts and you know I put a banner of
Brian Heater 34:40
sexy tap dancing boxer sexing glam rock tap dancing box with
Pearl Harbour 34:45
with big hair and eye makeup and all that stuff. And I had a cape with Perl written and glitter on the back and it was funny, but at the same time it was right up their alley. So I kind of knew what I was doing even though I was A kid. It's
Brian Heater 35:01
so wild, you know, looking at your your history about how from there everything is kind of a straight line, like how getting in with that group just set up your entire music career, it seems you
Pearl Harbour 35:12
did everything. Everything did fall into place and nothing was planned. And I just followed my nose like when I was in the tubes where there was a girl, a lady Lee left and she had a band called Leila on the snakes and it was all girl band. And she asked me to join that. And then when I joined that, then I learned a lot about performing. And then I said I want to have my own band. And then I took the eventually she she had boys in the band too. And they were they were the Haines brothers. Were the rhythm section for Pearl Harbor the explosions but I took them with me. Yeah, so and then Pearl Harbor. The explosions led to me meeting Cosmo and going to lunch. Yeah, so everything happened like and I didn't plan any of it. I'm just really lucky that all that stuff happened to me.
Brian Heater 36:13
Speaking of luck, and things falling into place, you have a story of perhaps one of the luckiest flea market finds of all time that that that aligns is a perfect crock section of my interests in flea markets. Nudie suits and the Doobie Brothers.
Pearl Harbour 36:32
How do you know these things?
Brian Heater 36:35
Well, this one I just I found out by reading an interview but I'm uh, you know, I've that has been a dream of mine to to. And I had Michael McDonald on the show a few years ago. So I'm a genuine fan of there. So it's like, you know, you hear these stories a few years ago, there's a story about somebody who found a copy of the first Velvet Underground acetate for $2. And wow, nice to me. This isn't quite this isn't quite Velvet Underground acetate, but a Doobie Brothers Oh, nudie suit is I know,
Pearl Harbour 37:08
I know. And, you know, I didn't buy that my brother who passed away from cancer. He saw it at the flea market. And he bought it for me for my birthday is like $100 or something. And there were 1000s I still have it in everybody wants to buy it from me. I probably should sell it now. But no, now that um, I don't know, right? I can't I can't here's
Brian Heater 37:35
what I'm gonna tell you a pearl because I you know, assuming you're not in total dire straits. I think a big part of the healing process is knowing what you're going to do after it's over and to you. It's clear that you're going to be singing country and western music again. Yeah. Got. You got the LC exactly.
Pearl Harbour 37:53
I know I have the nudie suit which everybody you know, that's as good as you can get in country music. You're right. I know. I know. I know. Well, what we'll see what time brings Brian you know, if I do well with my getting over cancer, then heck, I'm gonna wear that nudie suit. And then if it comes time that it ain't happening, then we'll see what happens. But I agree with you. I should hang on to it until I until I know but yes, yes. Yeah,
Brian Heater 38:26
I mean, we were talking about you know, How corny some things like spirituality and magic can be and I think I think the idea of visualizing things can be corny as well, but I do think that if you really think about yourself on stage, in that suit, getting in the thick
Pearl Harbour 38:41
Yes. Other people have said that to me and I agree 100% That was a nice thing to say by because I agree. I do have to visualize things and it is corny thing to say but visualizing a lot of times does bring stuff to you. And I don't know why or anything like that. But I am you know when I when I'm lying around you're sick, you know and not you know, you know feeling sorry for myself. I do visualize stuff like getting back on stage and what I'm gonna wear and the jokes I'm going to tell and all that kind of stuff and it really brings me around and makes me happy.