James Manson

What can I say about Jim? It is probably best to say as little as possible. I really do not want to scar anyone. And well Manson is as sharp as they come.

We met back in 1996, I was hanging out with his roomate. We would go to the Vogue and also the Catwalk in Seattle. Really Good times. In around 1997 I just got back from hitchiking and travelling accross the country and needed a place to stay. His roomate moved out (Who is al an awesome friend of mine, Julie, Love her!)

While his roomate I learned from him that it is better to be dislike then to be fake. I really mean this. Jim has a way of being true to himself and really does not need to impress anyone. The reason is because he is a pretty genuine dude. He showed me a lot. One of the main things that he revealed to me though, is how annoying I can be and how I can grate on people's nerves. He wasn't a D*ck about it in anyway. He was in fact a mirror, I was able to easily read on the expressions on this face that yes, I can be an annoying little Fugger a lot of the time, not even able to say once in awhile.

That is why he is the first person I am featuring on my influence page.

It was unfair to him, but since I never had any siblings Jim was able to give me the perspective of an older brother. I know it was hard on the dude. He just wanted to live his life and that's it.

With that said. Let me add this. We had a great time, we really had a great time and I am so happy we are friends. I know the above paragraph was kind of deep, but thats why he means so much to me. He is a true friend. He showed me that not everyon else is an asshole. I like to think it helped put me on the right path.

Jim really had a huge effect on my taste in Music. I mean huge and because of that an impact on my personality. Because of him I really got into Ween. In addition I fell in Love with Mark Lanegan, Tom Waits, Mazzy Starr, Cathering Wheel, Grant Lee Bufaffalo, Dead Can Dance and so much more. He really opened my mind to "Tasty" music.

There is one more thing that Jim has done for me.

He was the first physical Artist I had ever really had a chance to understand. I really do not beleive (and I mean this in all sincerity) that I have ever been exposed first hand to genius before. But that is Jim, His mind is his. Yes, He will let people annoy him maybe even influence him but at the same time. He is a master welder who has all of his tools at his disposal and what he has done with neon, water and metal really opened my eyes to the fact that  The "Artist" doesnt have to be the other guy. If we trust in ourselves and are interested in our own capabilities then we can create as well. I think as I'm writing this that one of the main things that Jim had showed me was that the funnest person you will ever meet is yourself. He would mentaly challenge himself and have fun doing it.

I may not be on the same level as him but I now have the ability to always be entertained, just by being myself.

Thank you Jim.

~Erik Cody