COUNT MONACO SAYS: "THIS WAS MY YEAR"

IMPOSSIBLE RECOVERY


NOVEMBER 2008

"Welcome back, Michael" Is what the nurse said to Count Monaco. "For a moment, I wondered if my name was Michael... I had no idea what was going on." Said Monaco. "I thought I was in a dream and tried to wake up. When I couldn't, I realized I was in a nightmare and went into shock". As he regained consciousness in a bed at LSU Medical Hospital in New Orleans, doctors explained to him that had been victim of a horrific scooter wreck, of which, he had no recollection of to this day.

RS: What's the last thing you remember?

MONACO: Playing dodge ball with friends and that's it. Apparently that was 3 hours prior to me meeting a girl who also drove a scooter and going for a ride. I've recreated the event in my mind, based on what I know of myself... I was probably trying to show off."

RS: And did your life flash before your eyes?

MONACO: "Probably, but the mind is designed to forget those things. A lot of stuff was going on in my head while I was out. I felt like I was on vacation for a year, then I woke up in a hospital bed wearing tags that said Michael Doe."

RS: How bad were your injuries?

MONACO: Fractured wrist, 3 broken ribs, broken collar bone, sprained ankle, 3 broken teeth and scars on my face and body. The wrist was the worst, because piano is my passion.

RS: How did the wreck effect your music?

MONACO: I've recorded over a 1000 songs since then. Right now, I'm working on an album called "Letting Go" which is like a 'no holds barred' record. What would you say if you knew it was your last day to live? I realize that I've held back too much. I think God knows that and that's why he brought me back. Believe me, this is a temporary hall pass and my days are numbered.

RS: Tell me about this prophecy:

MONACO: "5 years ago, I drew a picture of me getting into a wreck- I still have it. The title reads 'Monaco's Dead, Who Cares?' The subtitle says 'Halloween Weekend'. That's a prophecy if I've ever heard one."

RS: You often write about dying and suicide. What's with that?

MONACO: "It's more less a metaphor. In a sense, I already killed Monaco- only I was brought back. I'd welcome death if he came along, but I don't have the balls to do it myself. I tried once, but I was really loaded.

RS: Loaded?

MONACO: You can thank the doctors for that. They had me on Percocet for 3 months and I was going insane, so I specifically told them not to prescribe me drugs, but they did it anyway. When I got off the drugs I came down hard. I got so sick I was throwing up. I had nightmares and was very very angry. I countered it by smoking weed and drinking alcohol to help the pain.

RS: How was the recovery?

Amazing.. Just amazing. This has been the greatest experience in my life. The first 3 months were hell. I had to borrow money from my friends to pay my bills and I was really self conscious about my face, but after I got off the drugs, I was reborn a completely different person.

RS: For the better?

MONACO: I'd like to think I'm a more sensitive person. I definitely can't turn my back to my friends and people in need, but at the same time I'm not going to teach people to be dependent on others. I now live life to the fullest and the things that I can't change don't seem to bother me. I don't have that typical complex most people have to be the king... Although I might be biased because this was my year.

RS: Your year?

MONACO: Things just seemed to work out for me. I somehow got everything I wanted. I run my own business and don't live paycheck to paycheck and I've got all the tools I need to create music. Other than that, it's easy for me, because just breathing the air makes me smile. When 2009 comes, someone else can have it. I'm content with just having 08.

RS: Any advice for people who are recovering from major injuries?

MONACO: That's 11 questions. (laughs). Sure. Let go, accept it, and move on. They've already learned that life can be taken away at anytime, so why hold onto the past?