The hot stage lights burned into his skin as he stood, a guitar slinging silhouette on the stage, shaking for the first time in his life. He almost didn't want to be there, but you never cancel, and tribute needed to be made. Looking out on the packed Tennessee ballroom, he pressed his lips against the cold metal ribbon mic, and with the light tremolo of fear and pain in his voice, he told the waiting audience the only thing he could tell them.
"Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died two nights ago."
The room grew unnaturally silent, the crowd's social chatter fading at the awkward remark.
The lights were getting to him, the heat was starting to make his stomach
uneasy, he forced himself to move to variation of his usual introduction.
"We're Jack, and the Automatics. Tonight, we're gonna rock for them, 'cause rock and roll will never be the same again. Let's rock, Tommy!"
The tall blond teenager boomed with every descending note of the massive upright string instrument, walking down into the beginning of their song. Center stage lit up, silhouette bursting into the amazing color of his dark rolled blue jeans and black messy hair. His voice deep and loose rung through the ballroom.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllll-" He held the note for suspense, almost a bit too long. The crowd burst into cheer as he released into the song.
"Baby, baby you're sweet as can be, now if you could only be as sweet on me. Let's go, little baby! Let's roll, little baby! Let's rock, little baby! I just wanna lose my mind with you!"

Several songs in, he was pushing. Jack didn't want to be there, memories of his one time meeting with Buddy flashed in his head as he struggled to play each note and sing each line. The music he believed in was going to die just as easily as it began. He fought his physical and emotional distress all night till the ballroom cleared out.