Page 70 of Giving Chase

Will grins, knowing where this is going.

"Their secret weapon was truth. Raw, honest, uncompromising truth. In every lyric. Every note. Every performance. When the industry was churning out manufactured hits, they gave us authentic emotion. When music was losing its edge, they gave us something sharp enough to cut. They never pretended to be anything but exactly who they were. And who they were... who theyare... is quite simply one of the greatest rock bands of all time."

The audience erupts. I wait for it to quiet.

"So, it is my profound honor, both as President of Blackmore Records and as someone who has loved this band in every way possible, to officially welcome Incendiary Ink into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

The standing ovation is immediate. Through the thunder of applause, I see Chase mouth three words that make my heart stop.

Will and Mark embrace him, their own eyes suspiciously bright. The industry photographers go wild. Somewhere in the crowd, I hear Michelle whoop.

But all I see is Chase, looking at me like I've just given him every dream he's ever had.

Maybe I have.

The band makes their way to the stage. There will be other speeches – their acceptance, their performance still to come. But this moment...

This perfect moment of pride and joy and love finally spoken aloud...

This is ours.

Forever.

Heart Beat Here

CHASE

The opening riffofBurning Bridgesfills the arena as we make our way to the stage. Will's already grinning – this was his favorite to play live, the one that first got crowds really moving with us.

He takes the podium first, spinning a drumstick casually.

"So, funny story. Twenty years ago, we're playing the Viper Room on a Tuesday night, probably breaking at least three fire codes with our equipment setup, when this woman in killer heels walks up to us after a show and hands us a business card. Takes one look at us and says 'You're either going to be the biggest band in the world or the biggest disaster I've ever seen.' Turns out, we were both."

Perfect timing, perfect delivery. The crowd loves it. I spot Ryan and Jake in the audience, nodding – they've heard this story, lived their own version of it.

"Six months later we're opening at the Wiltern, blowing the power during our first song. A year after that, we're selling out Madison Square Garden, and I still can't believe they let us near the electrical system." He grins. "Twenty years, nine platinum albums, and only minimal property damage later, here we are."

The laughter is warm, appreciative. Industry veterans who remember those early shows are nodding.

"Thank you to everyone who got us here. Our families, our crew, our fans. And especially to Eliza Kerr, who saw something worth betting on in three guys who couldn't even properly run a soundcheck. Even if two-thirds of us were usually late to meetings."

Mark takes his place next, running a hand through his eternally uncooperative hair.

"Music..." he starts, then has to clear his throat. "Music saved my life. These guys saved my life. We were just kids trying to make noise that meant something. Trying to carve out our own sound when everyone said guitar music was dead. Trying to say something that mattered when everyone said rock had said it all."

He grips the podium. "That first tour, playing to half-empty clubs, we'd watch the crowd slowly get it. Watch them feel what we were trying to do. Something different. Something new. And somehow... somehow that noise reached people. Changed people. Changed us."

I see Jake watching intently – he was one of those kids in those crowds, before Murderous Crows was even an idea.

"To every kid out there making noise in their garage – keep going. Keep playing. Keep believing. Sometimes the most beautiful sounds come from the most broken places. And to Ryan, Jake, Jude, all the bands coming up now – keep pushing it forward. Keep making it yours. Thank you."

Then it's my turn.

The walk to the podium feels like twenty years condensed into twenty steps. Everything we've been through. Everything we've become.

"What do you say," I begin as the crowd goes quiet, "when your dreams come true? When the impossible becomes reality?When three guys from nowhere end up somewhere they never dared imagine?"

The spotlight feels warm on my face. Grounding.

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