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60s & were my most wild and neo-romantic years. Falling in love in high school (Gymnasium Praha 7 Nad Stolou 1969 -1973) and college (Charles University, Prague 1974 -1980), disco dancing (Divadlo Slunicko a Petr Sis), skiing (Krkonose), fencing (Slavia VS Praha, rodina Vrseckych), despairing about the decadence of everyday reality (1968 Invasion of Russian troops and following “normalization of the beautiful spirit of freedom and creativity of the Prague Spring in the 60s) -- this all was saturated with Uriah Heep and other progressive rock bands songs. And, most significantly, due to the tabula rasa in matters of religious education in this communist era, I kept searching unceasingly for answers and visions by my Rock Priests - one of them David Byron. I experienced only their voices and music then, no images photos of the group or lyrics. I guess, the regular listening to Uriah Heep music engraved into my body powerful rhythms and beautiful and sometimes fantastic natural scenery and stories into my soul. Their melodies and clear vocals defined also often the audio background for my warrior training in the best Fencing Club of Prague precisely between the ages of 12 -- 22. Looking at music and physical education from a philosophical perspective, it is notable that Plato, for example, pays much attention to the kind of music the defenders of the his ideal state Republic should listen to in young age. Uriah Heep (also many songs of Yes, Jethro Tull, some Deep Purple, Genesis and Black Sabbath,) would be his best choice in the 60s and 70s. Strong rhythms, heroic lyrics, optimistic, full of natural imagery -- and even their slow “sad“ songs finish either in positive messages or in a romantic reflection about the restoring power of elements. There is almost never a “giving -up“. I am sorry that this message did not save David Byron from his personal problems. But then, the prophet is rarely the master of his fate. Consider the romantic poet, Lord G. G. Byron, who was walking close to the edge also. And let me appeal to all forever young heroes of those times: “Salute to Uriah Heep Power and Melody and Beauty and Love!“ It may well turn out, one day looking back, that for Europe, the late 60s and early 70s were the last truly Dionysian times, which still could be well regulated in an Apollonian frame. My personal menaing and experience of tragedy was definitely reborn also out of the spirit of Uriah Heep music then. Nietzsche would applaud! I guess it was mainly because my reception was frequently hot blooded in the extremes of physical training, wild dancing or hiking in lovely romantic scenery. Notice also that the typical 18th century romantics, for Nietzsche, were too pale and shaky and too other-worldly, not “square“ enough as he described the Romans, whom he admired truly. I speculate, that if David Byron would have found a kind of functioning “Neo-Romantic Temple“ and a larger institutional background in his difficult times, he would be with us today. To provide such an Modern Heroic Rock Temple is one if my dreams, initiatives and projects.
