The Healing Power of Comedy

What helped me get through difficult times is helping me once again – comedy. Years ago, when I was an addict and on the street, I got involved in a comedy group that literally changed my life. I think I am the only person that can say that my substance treatment was performing Comedy live at the top comedy clubs in Hollywood.

This took place in the early 1980s when MTV was starting out and New Wave music was the craze. In a sense, this book is sort of like a nostalgic look at the culture of the 80s.  One thing for certain, I have immersed myself in the music and comedy scene of the time.

Remember Super Freak by Rick James? Well, I am writing about us doing our version “Super Geek!” And yes I was.

Our group was called ‘We Love Us’ and we were one of the first groups to do spoofs on the songs. We produced the “Stray Trout Strut” video – a spoof on, of course, the Stray Cat Strut, and it got airplay on the first Cable station in Los Angeles, thank you very much.

I think that a huge offshoot, during this pandemic has been recalling the past, watching the old videos of Duran Duran, and of course The Cars. Our leader of the group looked exactly like Ric Ocassic of the Cars and we had lots of fun with that in the clubs.

‘We Love Us’ was basically two friends I grew up with and of course me. After I asked one of these friends for help getting off the street, us three reunited and it was just like the past once again. We began to do some comedy recordings like we used to and… well, check out the book to learn about the incredible events that transpired.

Imagine hanging out with your best friends with one goal in mind – making each other laugh. Oh, we did this alright and shared our mayhem with audiences.

‘We Love Us’ performed in various clubs, backyards, and of course our bedrooms. Our slogan was – if we bombed at least We Love Us.

I often think about our biggest bomb, and of course, it was at the Comedy Store. We were in our groove at the time. In fact, we even had a backing band which freed us up to do break dancing and the obligator prat fall. But that fateful night we were given one song – so of course, it had to be the Stray Trout – and we smelled rotten. When we got up on stage the microphones were hotter than hot. Even stepping back a few paces didn’t help because our rhythm was just off.

You would think that this would have crushed our egos, but no way. We simply looked at each other and laughed hysterically.

Our last show was our all-time best. We performed in front of a sold-out crowd at now closed Hop Sings in Marina Del Rey California. We were hired to be the warm-up band for a group named Sable, which won the rock to riches contest and who everyone was clamoring to see.

Our show absolutely blew people’s minds! If the comedy didn’t get them our music did. They screamed for an encore – as most audiences did. When the headliner went on everybody left. I know that if we entered that contest we would have won!

So, get ready for the book. I guarantee you will be hooked on it – pun intended.

Compassionate Care is Always Available

There are many more tools and strategies you can use in your pursuit of happiness. Here is where we come in. Contact us at Basic Steps Mental Health and let us support and educate you on this journey back to your loving heart center. Imagine living a heart-centered life, regardless of what is happening externally. We’d love to be of help.

For 25 years, Dr. Scott Alpert, the clinical director of Basic Steps Mental Health, has treated over 7,000 people with mental health and addiction problems, using a Psychological approach that mixes and matches ten of the top approaches used in the industry.

May you and yours remain happy and healthy,