Second Careers That Eclipse A Successful (Mildly) First Career, Instance # 329876

   

  Home designed by BAT Architecture and Design partnership built on pre-fab bridge that spans Canyon Creek in Berkeley, Ca.

   A long time ago he lived a different life, almost a double-life.

   His family and close friends knew him as Bruce, most others knew him as Ted

   As Ted by night (and occasionally by day, for rehearsal's sake) he played drums in one of America's definitive early Punk Rock bands, one known for it's politically charged lyrics, the extreme (some would say violent) attitude of the lead vocalist/primary songwriter, and the difficult-to-market (for the time - it would be splashed all over Hot Topic nowadays) name of the band itself.

   A little over two and a half years behind the kit, enduring poorly attended tours (on the East Coast at least, where they were largely unknown and where their particular choice of a band name really didn't go over), and the over-reactions of a media that were either too dense to pick up on the satire of the bands song lyrics (and performances known for the use of shock value to hammer a point or two about free speech and civil rights), were enough. He decided it was time to move on from that life and start a new one.

   He returned to school (RISD and Pratt) and rekindled a passion (architecture and design) that had really never left him - it had just sat idle as he burned through his youthful rebellion energy. 

   His second life has been very successful, and in one of the most delicious ironies of all time, his architectural firm/partnership had a hand in the creation of the Hot Topic retail chain's image.

   Way to go Mr Slesinger, an inspiration to all of us still looking for our niche