May 28, 2012
Happy Memorial Day, everyone! Funny thing that I decided to write my first posting on a holiday, huh? Regardless, here goes!
I've been around here for a few years, and I know a thing or two about Danny. Yes, the Big Guy told us the basics about him, but as I've said before, not everything. I know about his past in music and a bit about his past in radio, of course! There were a few nuggets that were just as important, yet he didn't readily admit to them. You see, he's not one to take credit when it is due him; he is very modest. He plays down his contributions and achievements without missing a beat. Don't let his tendency to delve into the depths of the darkness fool you; there was a time in his life when he wasn't isolated or kept to himself very much. Inside one of the large closets is proof of that.
One day, we were cleaning out the closet, and I asked Danny about his large collection of open reel tapes. Most of them contained mixes of songs that were at least somewhat popular. "They are just mix tapes that I made," he replied. I knew there was much more to the story than that. "But why would you make so many?" I asked. "Each one is several hours long. You didn't just sit there and listen to them alone, did you?" At that moment, he smiled and said, "No Art, I didn't. I had some company when I did that. In fact, I had LOTS of company." With that, he grabbed a tape box off of the shelf, threaded it on the machine, and pressed play. Soon, some great music from the 1970s began to fill the air. Again he spoke. I could see the memories start to flood his head.
"You see, Art...there was a time in my life when I wasn't alone very much, and at times, my life was very much a party! I rented a house in my early 20s, and had a blast. I had this quad-level house all to myself. I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and however I wanted. These mix tapes became the soundtrack of little parties that I had quite frequently. Actually, they were more than just parties." He produced a box that had a little FM transmitter inside of it. "I already had a huge stereo system, and a friend of mine re-kindled my interest in part 15 radio broadcasting. We put up a mast, and put WANK Radio on the air. Twelve to fifteen of my friends came over to be on the radio station; to be a part of my 25-milliwatt behemoth. It didn't go very far, but there were lots of great times that hit the airwaves. To the listener, it was just a bunch of kids playing records and lots of insanity, but to us, it was a great time. It was the perfect excuse to have cookouts, parties, and just get together for a good time. I miss those days. Heck, I even miss mowing the lawn!"
He told me about his friends that did shows on the radio, and of the "close calls" that he encountered. "Some of the programming was controversial, and at times it seemed that the local authorities were driving around the neighborhood, searching for the signal. This was before I realized that the FCC was who I would answer to in matters related to radio." Suddenly, the smile began to fade, "Alas, it wasn't to be. After a while, I tired of the constant company, and told everyone I was shutting the station down. I went so far as to make a "suicide tape," of the station on the air. I never aired it, but I did tell everyone that I shut it down for a while."
"Eventually, I moved the station to the basement, and "automated" it for my own personal use. Automation consisted of 6 and 12-hour open reel tape mixes that played all day long. The temptation to broadcast was too great to ignore, and so I told only a few people. A few months later, I had to move, and that was the end of WANK Radio. It was such a short time, but lots of fun. There were headaches, but back then I had very little patience for anything. It was a wonder that anyone wanted to be a part of this thing! Actually, with the end of that station came the beginning of yet another. But that's a story for another time."
I could see his eyes light up when he talked of the good times that he had once had, and I could just as quickly see the light go away from them when he spoke of the end of it all. I believe that's when he felt that things hadn't worked out, gradually leading to the life of solitude that he leads currently. The tapes represent a better time for him in many ways, and in some, more painful times. "I was plagued by anger, bouts of depression, and constant fits of rage. I thought that's just how I was, take it or leave it. I already felt like the black sheep, so why not embody it? I mean, when in Rome..."
He spoke of the remorse he felt for his friends; "I was a total jerk sometimes, and I knew it. If something wasn't to my liking, I was quick to let it be known. I kicked people out of my house in anger on many occasions, and usually over something silly. For that, I am truly sorry. I didn't realize the consequences of my actions." He is grateful for all that they had done to help; "They were always there, ready to help with anything. They worked hard, took some dangerous risks, and put up with my antics. I didn't realize just how lucky I was, and I don't believe I ever took the time to thank them for all that they had done. I regret not doing so." Looking back in hindsight, he says this; "It was all a learning experience, one of which I will never forget. I hope the same for all my friends who participated in the station. I hope it enriched their lives in at least some small way. Thank you for being there for me. I will always appreciate it."
He turned to me and smiled again, "Thank you, Art for dragging that out of me. I had nearly forgotten all about that moment of time in my life. Almost two decades have passed since then. It was good to take a look back for a second, and see just how far I have come, in so many ways. At this point in time, I may be doing other things, but they are just as important. The life experiences are so vital to our personal growth. Regardless of how we may have acted in the past, if we learn from our choices, that's the important thing." I smiled in return, realizing that I had helped to bring at least a little sunshine into Danny's day. That was enough for me. The moral of the story? I've got a feeling that there is so much more to Mister Danny Rantin' Mac than he presents to the world on a daily basis. Stay tuned, folks! More to come!
Now, if Facebook would just work...darn you, Catfish!