You know, folks at Rising Star, Bruce had been a star for years. Each concert he gave, each note he played, reaffirmed very well what he had achieved. What? Well, fame, recognition, the envy of many and the admiration of many others. But you know, at the end of each show, when he played the last song, he felt a strange emptiness. But the typical emptiness that many musicians feel. You see, music was his refuge since he was young, but it had also become a prison. I say that because he was surrounded by thousands of people chanting his name, but all that no longer had the same weight. Especially since he didn't have his friends and family around, he was almost always alone. He had played alone for so long that he had forgotten what it was like to share with others, or to feel a connection with others, as if the whole was more important than the one.
In the last few days the truth is that the void had become too great to ignore any longer. He had the need to change the formula and could no longer wait. At a recent concert, the energy of the audience did not reach him as it used to, and it was then that he realized something, that he no longer wanted to be the only one on stage. It wasn't just about personal glory, he couldn't settle for that anymore. He needed something more, something genuine, something real. Then, as we say, the light came to him. For now he had the idea of forming a band. In fact the idea was not new, but at that moment he needed it. Especially because he wanted to share his music, that is to say, not only to interpret it, he wanted a family, not followers. It wasn't enough for him to be the lone star, he needed a team, a connection.
But he knew that putting a band together would not be easy. It wasn't about finding good musicians, he was really looking for something more united, as if they were all a family in a literal sense or shared the same interests. That is why he began a search in every town or city he visited. In each bar he would ask about the local musicians, especially to find out if anyone was playing there. One day in one of those small bars, in a secluded corner of the city, Bruce entered, and saw that in that place there was a drummer. His name was Paco, his job in that bar was to cheer up the customers and keep them entertained.
By the way, what caught Bruce's attention was not the precision with which Paco played, but the way he let himself go. As if he was passionate about what he was doing and not just about the money or keeping his job. Then Bruce came to the edge of the stage and waited patiently until the last song was over. Paco noticed his presence, as he saw that Bruce had been watching him for a while. Then he walked over to the bar. Bruce watched him for a moment before speaking, he didn't want to make a false step. Would you like to be part of something big? he asked, bluntly. Paco looked at him, not sure if Bruce was serious. What kind of something? he answered distrustfully. Bruce laughed, A band. But not just to be musicians. I want something authentic, something that makes every song meaningful. I don't want it to be just a band, I want it to be a family. At first, Paco hesitated, because no one had ever proposed anything like that to him. Then he looked at him. Why not? he said, without further ado. Paco liked the idea, because he was tired of being in that bar lost in the city, he also wanted to be part of something big.
With the drummer already on board, they left together for another town. Already Bruce began to feel that something was starting to come together, but there were still two pieces missing. And finding them took more work. For example, the search for a bass player took months. He came across many talented musicians, but none felt like the right one. Then one day, while walking near an old instrument store, he saw a man coming out of the store who was trying out a bass he had just bought. Actually that bass player's name was Cesar and he had stopped playing years before, but he had recently wanted to start again, so he had bought a new bass and was trying it out outside the store. As in the case of Paco, Cesar played his instrument with a lot of passion so Bruce's good eye knew he was the one.
Bruce approached him and just like that, how about joining us? he said. Cesar looked at him skeptically, “What for? And he kept on playing. Bruce was not overcome by indifference. What I'm looking for is not fame or success. I want to do something real, something worthwhile. A band that's like a family. There was silence from both of them. After a moment, Cesar gave him an answer, much like the previous one Why not? Let's see what happens.
Now all that was missing was the last piece of the band, which Bruce said was the hardest to find, a violinist. The truth is that Bruce didn't know exactly where to look for a violinist who could provide the depth he needed to unite the other members of the team. Through some contacts he learned that the next town they were going to next week was going to have a classical music recitak. So Bruce saw an opportunity there. The following week he decided to attend the classical music recital. There, in a small room, he saw her. A young violinist, with a grace that seemed to fly so to speak with those movements of her bow. She was beautiful to look at and played with the same feeling as the others. So Bruce knew she would be perfect for the job.
When the program was over, he approached her. It was an incredible performance, he told her. Maria the violinist looked at him, grateful, and she thanked him. Then Bruce asked her the same question he asked the others. Next she told him, I've never played in a band, I've always been a soloist. Bruce laughed too as if he had already expected that answer. That's precisely what I want. A band, a family, someone who has always played alone like me, Bruce told her. She actually stared at him, hesitating. Then, after a moment that seemed like forever, well Let's see what happens, Maria told him.
With the band finally complete, rehearsals began. At first, the tensions were obvious as neither of them had ever been in a band before. Paco played with a lot of unstoppable energy, which clashed with Cesar's more calculated rhythm. And Maria was somewhat overshadowed by his softer approach. But as time went on, they all began to adapt. They learned to play together, and understood that music was much more than notes as some of them thought before, because it was all theory to them. In practice it was different. It is true that the band was not perfect, but that was what made it so special and even peculiar. Together, they created a family that none of them would have found separately. Finally Bruce had what he had wanted so much. Together they traveled to many cities around the world and became well known and famous for how well they complemented each other. The truth is that Bruce did a great job choosing them. In fact, new members joined later on. Together they are a great team, where the most important thing is friendship above all else.
