Evening with my Dad

My Father is in his 50's and suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, an affliction that has severely limited his movement and immune system. My Father has been my hero for my entire life and has been the driving force behind everything i hold dear and everything i am.

My life revolves around Football and Music. I am now paid for my opinion on these matters, in no small part thanks to both my two big brothers, whom are also great sources of inspiration to me. However my Father is truly the person who built me to be what i am now.

My love of football started when it became synonymous with me and my Dad visiting Brockwell Park in Brixton every Sunday for hours on end with nothing but us and a ball. His energy and physical conditioning was always an inspiration to me. He was never the biggest man, but tall, very much like myself and his strength always impressed me as well as his incredible stamina.

Since he fell ill (too long ago for me to remember and to distressing for me to try), his decline in strength and mobility has been one of the most severe inspirations in my life. For a man so virile and so outgoing to be struck down by such a truly horrible illness told me that no body is untouchable. My Dad is my Superman and if his body can fail, anybodies can.

Since that realisation i have strived to keep myself as active as i can, knowing that at any moment i could be struck down by anything, including this horrific and hereditary illness. My father's illness actually set me free and made me take life with a touch of salt knowing that it doesn't matter tomorrow because it matters today and this, although he may not see it, is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

My Father's musical influence on me is far too deep for me to divulge on a blog (Nobody wants to read that many words) Since my birth, over 25 years ago, my Dad has been culturally one of the most incredible people in the UK Rock, Indie, Dance and Art-rock scene. He has had record deals, radio shows and most notably is the co-founder and editor of Artrocker Magainze, an incredibly well respected music publication that i had the honour of being witness to the rise of.

I have not, however, started this segment to just list my father's life like it's Wiki out here. Rather i have, after a series of spontaneous conversations with him recently, decided that it's my job to tell his stories. And boy does the man have stories.

A king in his time and an inspiration to many, Tom Artrocker is a man i know and a man i am honoured to be the son of.

I will be starting with our first weekly segment on Saturday when i dissect a conversation me and my Dad had about Chelsea F.C and 'Celery'. Needless to say, i had no idea what this was about.