North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii: 1991?

I'm surfing that crazy little pocket at Turtle Bay with my buddy Ron John. Some very pale dudes were bobbing nearby, hanging for the sets, so I asked where they were from.

"We're roadies for a band called Soundgarden."

John and I caught a few more sets, and headed up to the cliff for beers. Pearl Jam was sitting next to us. We met Eddie.

It was a good day.

I didn't become an overnight groupie. Took me many years to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the band. Now I consider them one of the best bands in rock & roll. And 20 years later, I finally caught 'em live and it proved to be an unforgettable show.

This song, "Hard to Imagine", remains one of my favorites. 

It's a long way to Turtle Bay. Aloha, anyway...