Last summer I read Lonn Friend’s book, Life on Planet Rock, which recounts his numerous connections with famous rock musicians. As the former Editor-in-Chief of the heavy metal RIP magazine, Friend befriended a plethora of rockers during his tenure (and long after) he left RIP. The man literally knows everyone in the music biz. And if he doesn’t know them personally, chances are they know him. What drew me to Lonn was that he has been on a spiritual path for over a decade, and aside from the typical rock star stories, Lonn touched upon some spiritual conversations with several musicians as well.
In 2002, drummer Joey Kramer of Aerosmith spoke to Lonn of his near-psychological-death experience and how faith in the Hindu avatar Sai Baba brought him back from the brink. Really? But I was even more shocked when lead singer Steven Tyler told Lonn that New Age writer and speaker Marianne Williamson had performed a private morning service for him. Tyler felt she had a direct line to God and Lonn commented that Steven absolutely glowed after recounting his time with her.
In the acknowledgements, Lonn thanks a half-a-gazillion folks, both musicians and spiritual teachers alike, including Eckhart Tolle, Carlos Castaneda, Wayne Dyer, M. Scott Peck, Dan Millman, Krishnamurti, and Joseph Campbell. I’ve read books from most of these guys, so I knew Lonn was on a similar spiritual trajectory as me. After ingesting Life on Planet Rock, I hired Lonn to help get I Found All the Parts to music industry folks who might resonate with what I thought was an unusual message: Rock music has the ability to help us trigger and heal emotional trauma; launch us into altered states of consciousness; and calls fans together to break our old karmic patterns.
I was so glad to find Lonn, because until starting my book in 2002, I’d always believed that rock musicians weren’t interested in anything remotely related to spirituality. Sex, drugs, and other physical pleasures were the name of the game. But I learned that this is a grossly inaccurate image. Many rock musicians are on an intense spiritual path.
I just sent six copies of I Found All the Parts to Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen’s organization Raven Drum Foundation, which helps veterans and their families heal the trauma that war can leave on the psyche and body via drumming circles. Rick and his wife singer/songwriter Lauren Monroe have also created a new inspirational recording, “Sri Bhagavan.” The excerpts I heard on sound healer Jonathan Goldman’s internet talk show were transcendent.
Rick, who lost an arm in a car accident in 1984, noted that going to an Indian ashram and incorporating a regular spiritual practice into his life has had a profound impact on him. He received The Oneness Blessing/Oneness Deeksha, which is a process of transfer of divine grace that initiates a journey into higher states of consciousness. The Deeksha is believed to affect the different lobes of the brain, thereby reducing stress levels and intensifying the levels of love, joy and awareness.
According to the Oneness website, Rick Allen testified, “The Oneness Blessing has been the single most profound and positive life changing event in my life. I now have a deep sense of direction, a sacred connection to the divine that guides my work, my music and my family. Thank you!”
I’m discovering my spiritual awakening with rock ‘n’ roll isn’t all that whacky. Hell, if some of the dudes in Aerosmith and Def Leppard are “seeing the light,” then maybe I’m not totally nuts. I thank Lonn for educating me on the fact that more and more musicians are exploring their spirituality. Oh, and though they haven’t been in touch lately, Lonn knows Rick Allen too. 
Here’s a video of Lonn interviewing me atop Flagstaff Mountain, September, 2008. (Sorry, the wind wreaked havoc with the audio at times).