Mike Taylor

1 week ago | thedailynews.cc | Mike Taylor

I played my first “professional” gig 55 years ago, at the Degage Coffee House in Grand Rapids. With my buddy Bob (the Garfunkle to my Simon), I took the stage confidently. We were armed only with garage sale acoustic guitars, an amp we’d built ourselves from an old record player and speakers salvaged from a non-working Philco TV. I just knew there would be a record company executive in the audience, which at this point was just four haggard-looking souls slurping decaf and reading poetry.

2 weeks ago | thedailynews.cc | Mike Taylor

I’ve never used heroin, but I’ve been told by a friend — a drummer — that it’s wonderful. Of course, it ruined his life, cost him his job and nearly killed him. So there’s a downside to heroin. I’m guessing the same could be said of most illicit drugs, but I don’t know that firsthand because I don’t use them. Sure, I experimented with “softer” drugs back in the ’80s, but was never really a fan.

3 weeks ago | thedailynews.cc | Mike Taylor

“Well, Mr. Taylor. I’ve been looking over your xertle-meggitononic scan from a year ago and it looks like you have an acerbic upper orangutan delirious whama-lama-ding-dong in your flambosis,” says Dr. Reed. I look him straight in the eye so he’ll know I’m keenly intelligent and easily following his every word. “Uh-whaaaa?” I say.

1 month ago | thedailynews.cc | Mike Taylor

I’ve written before about my storied relationship with profanity. Over the years, I’ve become quite good at it. I am the Yoda of dirty words, the DaVinci of F-bombs, the Superman of swearing. Don’t believe me? Cut me off in traffic sometime when I’m driving the convertible and I’ll give you a demonstration. Just don’t film it. I’m tired of seeing myself in those “Karen” videos on YouTube.

1 month ago | thedailynews.cc | Mike Taylor

I have a doctor’s appointment coming up next month. No big deal; these days I almost always have a doctor’s appointment on the calendar. After battling cancer most of last summer (although I didn’t really “battle” anything; I just lay there on the table while the big donut machine zapped me with radiation) I’m dedicated to getting all my checkups. I’m old enough that I don’t want any more surprises. Not the kind nature has been handing me lately, anyway.