Din Wiesser flutist performing on campus

Flutist dialogues on music,the '80s, nudity and feeling good about himself

WILDCAT: What brings you to perform at UA?

WIESSER: Well, the people are nice and the acoustics are great.

WILDCAT: How long have you been playing?

WIESSER: Five years.

WILDCAT: Did you teach yourself how to play the flute?

WIESSER: Yeah. I'm pretty obsessed with it. I practice two to four hours a day.

WILDCAT: That's dedication. I tried playing the flute in fifth grade, but I was the last chair because I hated practicing. Bummer.

WIESSER: I've been playing the guitar for 20 years. They're really similar, you've just got to get the technique down.

WILDCAT: Interesting. Have you ever been in a band?

WIESSER: I love music, but I really didn't have the confidence to pick up an instrument until I was like 22, then I was in a rock band.

WILDCAT: Cool. Did you have a mohawk?

WIESSER: Um no. I had the long hair. It was the late '80s, early '90s.

WILDCAT: That explains the hairstyle choice. Gosh the '80s were ugly. I mean, I was eight when they finished. So what caused the band break-up?

WIESSER: Lack of success.

WILDCAT: Bummer. Will I ever see you on one of those behind the music or where are they now shows?

WIESSER: No. Probably not. Have you ever heard of Burning Man?

WILDCAT: No, what is that?

WIESSER: It's basically 30,000 people 100 miles east of Reno getting naked, doing drugs and listening to music.

WILDCAT: It's like a mini-Woodstock.

WIESSER: No, it's better.

WILDCAT: So, is nakedness a requirement there?

WIESSER: No, it's about being free and feeling good about yourself.

WILDCAT: Sounds like it's about being a hippie.

WIESSER: Kind of, very hippie-ish.

WILDCAT: Yeah, I've never met a hippie. Well, people claiming to be hippies, but never a real life hippie.

WIESSER: You should check it out.