Ordinary Individual
Gary Shand, a resident of the same area for nearly five decades, has had a profound connection with music, particularly the work of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground. This connection was first sparked in the early '80s when Gary was working as an Admin Assistant.
During this time, he discovered the raw, powerful sound of Reed's music, which resonated deeply with him. Particularly, the album 'The Blue Mask' and its relatable song 'Average Guy' struck a chord with Gary, reflecting his own life experiences.
This appreciation for Reed's music led Gary to title his collection of autobiographical stories 'Rebel in the Head'. However, he is now considering a change to 'Scenes from a Life', a title that better encapsulates the memoir-like fiction he writes.
Gary's writing style is heavily influenced by Jack Kerouac, with a focus on prose and personal narratives. His work often explores his life experiences, transformed into fictionalised memoirs.
In the past, Gary also penned poetry, but his pamphlet did not achieve the success he had hoped for. Now, he is considering finding a way to market these previously discarded works, possibly through online vendors.
In addition to his writing, Gary is also a local figure in his community. Five years ago, he started the 'Out and About in the 'Deen' Facebook page to document life in his area during the pandemic. This page has since become a popular resource for locals and visitors alike.
As he continues to write and document his experiences, Gary has also considered other avenues for sharing his passion for his community. He has pondered the idea of becoming a local historian or running a podcast, sharing stories and memories from his area.
Despite changes over the years, Union Street, known as the 'Granite Mile', holds significant memories for Gary. He reflects on his mother's words, telling him he was 'one of the good guys', and believes that being 'average' is not a bad thing.
Gary's music collection is vast, with a substantial number of music tapes. He often discovers new bands through his workmates, and his fondness for Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground remains his favourite band of 1982.
Interestingly, while there are no publicly available records that document a historical connection between Gary Shand and Lou Reed's music in Gary Shand’s life and writing career, Gary believes that Reed's lyrics resemble those of Bob Dylan, another artist he greatly admires.
Despite this, Gary continues to find inspiration in the music that has shaped his life, and his writing reflects this enduring passion. He no longer cares about others' opinions of him, having grown older and wiser, and continues to write, share, and cherish his memories.
- Gary's writing, heavily influenced by Jack Kerouac, often explores his life experiences, transformed into fictionalized memoirs, much like Lou Reed's music did for him in the past.
- As a result of his deep connection with Lou Reed's music, particularly the album 'The Blue Mask', Gary titled one of his collections of autobiographical stories 'Rebel in the Head'.
- Despite changes over the years, Gary's music collection remains vast, with a substantial number of music tapes, many of which were discovered through his workmates.
- Having grown older and wiser, Gary no longer cares about others' opinions of him and continues to write, share, and cherish his memories, much like Reed's lyrics reflect in his music.
