Carl Dixon - Strange Way to Live: A Story of Rock n Roll Resurrection

Copyright Carl Dixon, 2015

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Editor: Allister Thompson

Design: Courtney Horner

Epub Design: Carmen Giraudy

Cover design by Laura Boyle

Cover image courtesy of Dimo Safari

All photos Carl Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Dixon, Carl, author

Strange way to live : a story of rock n roll resurrection

/ Carl Dixon.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-1-4597-2853-0

1. Dixon, Carl. 2. Rock musicians--Canada--Biography.

I. Title.

ML420.D621A3 2014 782.42166092 C2014-906757-7

C2014-906758-5

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and Livres Canada Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

J. Kirk Howard, President

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This book is dedicated to my mother Marje and my sister Christina;

my daughters Carlin and Lauren;

and to Helen Parker, who came along at just the right time.

Writing a Book

(May be sung to the tune of The Beatles Fixing a Hole)

Im writing a book, where my brain gets in

And sorts my thoughts and memories

Where they should go.

Describing myself in a colourful way

And though it may be difficult

Theres a good flow.

And to me it really matters that I get it right

It takes so long to write

But moves along.

Conversational in tone

Careful not to whine or moan

Mention those who helped me sing the song

Surprising myself with an excerpt or two

Its funny when I see it now

May it please you

Carl Dixon and I first met in January 1985, when I opened for Coney Hatch at The Misty Moon in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That was the first official Gowan gig ever played, and we hit it off well with the fine fellows of the headline act. I discovered that Carl (like myself) was not only a devoted musician but also an overlooked, undrafted hockey player. This cemented our bond immeasurably. Weve shared the ice and stage for years since that first meeting, and hes always proven to be a pal who knows how to pass the puck as well as make a guitar do what its designed to do. He also sings exceedingly well and maintains a head of hair thats well suited to his vocation (see photos on pages 1 through 10,000). Hes built a fine existence that could easily have come to a sad conclusion after he suffered a terrible accident but he chose instead not to allow that dark day to redefine him. His own definition and sense of purpose were clearly intact long before fate attempted to shut him down. How he overcame that incident is a remarkable tale, and you should read about it. This book youre holding is a perfect place to start that process, followed by an immediate trip to see and hear him play (either music or hockey, your choice).

If I were to attempt to distill the essence of Carls story, it would come down to the simple yet complex phrase: Keep going . Thats likely the essence of all great stories, though I cant be certain since Ive yet to hear them all. Keep going, and once youve done that: Keep rocking . In the ongoing story of Carl Dixon, thats one of the main reasons hes still alive.

P.S.: He has a legendary set of balls, which I understand are still intact.

My three sons were all into rock music and loved Coney Hatch. It was 1992 and my boys encouraged me to join them at a fun night of hockey with a bunch of rock stars, including Carl. Those rock stars were very competitive on the ice. They were athletic, but being musicians they werent fighters, they were lovers. As a hockey player Id describe Carl as a mean tryer.

I really got to know Carl later when he came to my farm. We walked across the field talking, and he was so engaged; he was like a sponge absorbing everything I said and it wasnt anything about hockey it was about life. He was interested in life.

We could have talked for twenty-four hours. I told him I cant be with you twenty-four hours a day but Ill give you something that can, and gave him some motivational cassettes. The message was pretty clear: You become what you think about. Two years later he presented me with a new set of cassettes, because he had worn them out. He was starting to expand his own horizons.

Carl is a man of tremendous willpower. Hes very humble. Hes very genuine. I will have been away from Carl for two years and my boys will say, Have you called Carl? When I call its like we only talked yesterday. Relationships are like oak trees; you grow together or you grow apart and wither. My relationship with Carl has grown stronger were probably closer now than he is with my sons, who introduced us.

He is blessed with a strong will. His I-will might be more important than his IQ. Thats what I saw, his I-WILL. After his car accident, in the beginning things didnt look that bright. Then he willed himself back on his skates. I know for sure, theres no doubt, it is his positive attitude that pulled him through. It was his internal wisdom that allowed him to do that.

Carl had some immense personal challenges. I learned as an athlete you never let on about your injuries. When you talk about conditioning theres a mental conditioning: you have to master your thoughts.

Too many of us as we grow up become unfocused. Carls focus is sharp. Carl knows where he wants to go and what he wants to contribute to society; hes become his own man. Hes spiritual and humble but has great belief in himself.

Carl says he comes to me for advice and wisdom, but I think I got my wisdom from Carl.

Strathroy, Ontario, July 2014

So we have here a book under the authorship of Carleton Anthony Dixon. It was written to the best of my ability and according to my lights at this point in my life. Perhaps next year I might write it better, or differently. However, as Ive been pointedly made aware, next year might not come to me (or to any of us).