Eros
Invivity EP
© 2005 Joe Eros (634479626043) (format: CD-R)
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About EROS
I am uncommon. That is my choice.
I choose liberty over security. Life is opportunity, which I exploit fully. My independence is primary, reliance on the state, or other men, can only humble and dull me – extinguish my fire.
I choose to risk – success is not a right, but no failure is ever complete.
I choose incentive and reward over a dole. I profit from challenge because I am able and self-disciplined. To exert, to earn, to fulfill and excel - these are thrills far too great to trade for guarantees.
I choose freedom over beneficence. My dignity and integrity are worth more than any handout. I refuse the unearned – in matter and in spirit. I am my only master – I do not cower, I bend to no threat.
I am man. I stand proud, erect, and fearless. My vision is power – and a challenge to the whole of existence – my mind is its source.
I think, I speak, I act – for myself. I exist at the disposal of no one, I live at the expense of no other. It is my right – and mine alone – to enjoy the benefits, and suffer the consequences, of my creations.
I choose the means, I choose the ends – I alone am responsible for my life. I am proud, I am noble, I am great.
I made this.
--
Eros on the Warped Tour, 2005
WHO IS EROS?
by Captain Dan
7-24-05
Minneapolis, MN
Not everyone on the Vans Warped Tour gets to ride on a bus, eat at catering, or even receive a paycheck. In fact, the tour is over-run with people who are somehow trying to bum their way onto the tour. And just like college freshman, the first half of the tour usually weeds out all of the leeches, stowaways, and "band-aids" as they either get fired, kicked off, run out of funding, or simply lose interest. The tour is now past the halfway point. Those who remain have showed enough dedication and professionalism to prove they are following the tour with heartfelt motivation and will most definitely make it the rest of the way. Last night I had the chance find out what drives some of these people...
Eros worked as Atmosphere's merch guy during last year's Vans Warped Tour but returned this year to perform himself. Literally living off of the money he makes day to day by selling his own merchandise, the 25 year-old, 6'4" emcee has been following the 2005 Vans Warped Tour since the first day. By joining forces with the Denver-based band Dr. Neptune, he helped support the establishment of an extra stage on the tour called the E.I.Y. (Earn It Yourself) Stage. This stage hosts 3-4 bands per tour date in the parking lot of each venue in front of the ticket line (usually from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and sometimes again at night as the concert attendees are departing. Dr. Neptune provides the stage set-up while Eros manages the stage's merch tent. In order to experience the true lifestyle of an "earn-it-yourself" artist, I abandoned the commodities of traveling on my bus and decided to join Eros for the drive from Chicago to the next tour date of Minneapolis, MN (and the last place Eros lived before permanently moving into his van one month earlier).
During Chicago's post-show parking lot party, I walked with Eros as we passed laughter and sweet perfume. "Say goodbye to the good life," he warned, as we made the trek to the far parking lot where all the tour vans were parked. Reflecting the dull, street-light luster was Eros' large, blue Ford van complete with Selfcore Records (deejay Mr. Dibbs' record label) decals. Eros travels this tour by himself, but will sometimes give people a ride if needed and payment is provided. Tonight's stowaway (besides myself) was James, also known as "Chim Chim."
When we arrived at Eros' van, we watched the buses gradually fall into formation like a gigantic military caravan. We soon followed in line. At night, the tour buses form a magnificent sight like a long colorful snake sprinkled with lights. We slowly passed bus after bus as the van's speedometer twitched.
With cases of Monster Energy Drink on hand, Eros never manages to fall asleep at the wheel. He always drives the entire time to every tour date. So far his largest driving record is 14 hours. Due to traveling alone, Eros claims he averages around two and a half hours of sleep per day (by taking a nap between setting up his merch tent and the time doors open.) He has thus earned himself the title of "The Man Who Never Sleeps" by the Vans Warped Tour staff. "You have to be like a shark," explained Eros. "You have to keep moving to stay alive. Sometimes I wonder what my body would feel like if I got some normal sleep, but it seems the only way I know how to live is by pushing myself through fire."
We took our first break at a truck stop along with the rest of the buses. Inside at the plaza center, Chim Chim politely asked the manager of the restaurant for some free food. To my surprise, they gave the three of us free drinks and bowls of vegetable soup (which Eros politely refused, as an ethical choice). Apparently, Chim Chim occasionally pulls this off with success. Once we returned to the van, Chim Chim returned to his state of intermissive dozing; a feat made remarkable by his ability to sleep while sitting straight up.
While traveling in the van, I had the chance to witness, for the first time while on tour, the beauty of the evolving landscape. While riding in a bus at night, all of the blinds on the windows are typically closed and everyone is either sleeping or watching TV/DVDs.
While bus riders watch The Family Guy, Eros prefers to listen to books on tape. His selection includes The Complete Works of Aristotle and Atlas Shrugged (an E.I.Y. inspiring book). "Listening to books on tape makes me tired sometimes," admitted Eros. "So I usually turn up the music and start to sing along. Though my present collection is starting to wear thin, since I can't afford to buy new CDs." I attempted to stay awake as long as Eros did in order to experience everything he sustains, but around 4 a.m. I started to feel my eye lids become too heavy, as Eros yelped along to the chorus of Something Corporate's "Punk Rock Princess." I later had dreams which included The Postal Service as the soundtrack.
We soon passed the leaders of the caravan: the set-up crew trucks. Sinatra played over the speakers. I dozed off again...
Once in the city limits of Minneapolis, we stopped by the local Kinko's to create some new tags on the flyers that Eros hangs up to promote his stage and set time at every date. His new tags included:
"He may not sleep. But damn that boy can sing."
"One man. 20,000 miles. No cruise control."
"Saving the world one rhyme at a time."
With load-in only an hour away, Eros began his daily E.I.Y. artist routine (occasionally interrupted with sporadic intervention).
Before I left Eros, I asked him to tell me what drove his desire to live the lifestyle he chose. He replied with the most heartfelt monologue I have ever personally heard:
"The end of a long day is the beginning of a long drive. While most sit with a satisfied or relieved feeling after hours of hard work, I sit mixed with anticipation and a longing for rest. I know that if I close my eyes, I might not ever open them again. Yet, my will is as strong as ever. At this moment and at all others like it, nothing is more important than making this next drive. I have to keep up with the tour. I have to make it to the next city. I can, so I must.
"In classical mythology, Eros was condemned by Zeus to live a life without love. His power and purpose was to spread and inspire love in others, while never being allowed to have a love of his own. One day Eros laid eyes upon a woman who appeared as beauty incarnate, and he knew he had to have her. The woman was Psyche, and Eros began a secret romance with her so that they might live together in bliss for eternity. Eventually, the romance became known, but the power and immensity of their love for each other made Eros and Psyche inseparable as they withstood any test or force; the perfection of their union overwhelmed any who opposed it.
"As long as I keep up with this tour, there is a chance that my Psyche will recognize me. Any moment might be the one, so I must be ready at all times.
"In the meantime, for 20 minutes everyday, I get to live completely on my terms and tell what it means to do so in the 'real world.' On average, there are probably only two or three people who 'hear' what I'm saying and realize what I'm trying to do. But if those few people find something in my performance that helps them enjoy life more, I will have done what I set out to do. Eros, the god of love, would rather end his own existence than live in a world of men who hate theirs.
"I find it interesting that everyone who finds out what I'm doing immediately asks: 'How?' but never thinks to ask: 'Why?' But the 'How?' would not be possible without the 'Why?' Without reason, no action is possible to man.
"So why push myself to, and through, exhaustion, driving all night to perform and promote in the blazing sun all day? Because I believe I can do it, and everyone else thinks it's impossible. Because it's an exceptional achievement, and I'd rather be dead than mundane. Because I have no heroes, and I want one."
"So, why Warped Tour? I'll let Psyche answer that one."
As I returned to my bus exhausted, a small part of me wished I was driving that van. With such dedication and heartfelt motivation, everyone should envy and respect the man who goes by the name Eros.*