Second life is a virtual community. I'm at a loss as to where to even begin in describing it. Bigbaby is a member and was very active in it for a while. (She even had a job there as a reporter for a virtual news service.) It's a community that attracts a lot of artists but it's becoming much more than that. Legitimate businesses have sites there as well. For example, Some IBM engineers will sign up for SL and then go there to have a face to face meeting when in reality they are scattered all over the world. Imagine a chat room with visuals.
I'll mention this post to Bigbaby and she'll be able to explain way better than me.

Ron

Wow.....I'd be at a loss, too. Thanks, Ron!

Bigbaby earned enough SL money to buy a lot and build a spectacular house there. She knew how to design and construct it herself. It was a way to express herself artistically in a way that would be impossible in real life. That's what makes it so attractive to artists. I'm not sure how it would work for musicians.

Ron

Hi Susan. Yes, there is a Spike Luckstone, sortof. That is the name of my Second Life identity, that much you already know...yes I am a real person in real life ("RL" in Second LIfe speak), and the short bio you reprinted is mine and real.
Ronf gave a nice if brief description of Second Life. It's not easy to really explain all about Second Life (SL) to someone who has never seen it or been in it. It is an online virtual world, but it is definitely NOT one of those computer video game types of things that most people are familiar with, it is much more than that. It is known as the "game with no object", because there really isn't a goal or object, there's no bad guys to shoot or damsels in distress to rescue, although there are areas made for roleplay where you can do those things if you wish.

I discovered SL by accident a little over 3 years ago when I stumbled across this article on Businessweek.com:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm
It will tell you a bit about SL.
SL may look cartoonish and silly to those who don't understand it or not been in it but the first thing an SL newbie learns is that although we are represented by cartooney-looking avatars, those avatars have real people controlling them with real personalities and feelings. Second Life is very much like this Real Life... except in SL we inhabit bodies made of pixels instead of flesh. Just like a really good book or movie can draw you in so you feel as if you're part of it, SL does the same. You are where your mind is. I've met many wonderful people in SL and have friends all over the world in SL.

About the music... there are at least hundreds of clubs, bars, "outdoor" concert venues of all types and description and SL and as many musicians playing at them. The musicians may be anything from one person singing along with karaoke tracks, or accompanying him/herself on guitar or piano, to full bands playing live and streaming it into SL. Real-life band U2 has even done a live concert in Second Life.
The google listings you mentioned of me (Spike Luckstone) playing in various real-life cities is a computer search-bot error, and understandably confusing. Weblogs of events in Second Life post event listing of who is playing and when, for their various SL venues. Somehow, search bots (little search programs designed to search and compile listings, in this case for entertainment) see these listings and somehow relate them to their cities. How that happens I couldn't tell you, but it is an error done by the website compiling the listings. No one in SL makes or wants these false and erronious listings, least of all myself, who supposedly am appearing or have played numerous places in real life that I have no intention of travelling to and I have no need or desire for false information or publicity of any kind.

As for me, I am a semi-retired professional musician, I have never wanted to be a "star". My desire was to play guitar with good musicians, and play onstage with the "stars", not to be one myself. I did that already and don't need to do it anymore. I quit the road and settled down years ago. Playing in Second Life is nice because I can play whatever song I want, whatever instrument I feel like, can get bookings nearly any time I feel like playing, I have my own club where I can play any time I feel like it. I don't have to lug my equipment anywhere. I walk into my home studio and there is my stuff all ready to play. I can, and have, play a show in my pajamas if I feel like it.

Another thing about music in SL, just about any wannabee can play in there... because of this you hear a lot of people who really are not professional-grade, but I'm glad they have a place that they can play and sing and for many of them it fulfills a life dream that they cannot do in real life. There are also some excellent musicians and bands in SL, as good as you'd find anywhere.

I hope this clears up some of your questions. If I can answer anything else just ask. I do have a myspace page for my Second Life self at myspace.com/spikeluckstone if you'd like to hear some newer sound clips and it has a little more of my real life bio if you're interested. I do have a better-looking avatar now than I did when those videos were made. By the way, In Second Life, you can be anything or anyone you wish and no one expects your avatar to look exactly like your real life self. Why do that... SL is where you can be your idealized self so why not. :)

You can see some screenshots and find more information at secondlife.com if you wish.

Take care,

"Spike Luckstone"

Wow--thanks, Spike!! What a nice surprise to hear from you. I learned in my research that Luckstone is a popular name on SL. That seems so strange to me because I grew up with the name, and because it was always so unusual. All the Luckstones in America (and there aren't many of them) are related to me. Well, I guess I can't say that anymore. LOL

The other thing is that the Luckstone line is extremely musical. So when I first heard of Spike Luckstone, I assumed he must be a distant cousin.

Although you and I are not related, it's good to know that Spike is not only a fine musician but an articulate writer as well. We Luckstones are a creative bunch....... :-)

Thanks so much for enlightening me.

Susan

Oh Wow! What an informative and unexpected reply. I had never heard of SL until Susan posted her question here. Thank you Spike for filling us in on the details - how intriguing.

don't you just LOVE the internet?

I think it's amazing that you can first of all, do such searches across the country (and the world!) and then ask a question on a site and have someone pop in with such wonderful information. It truly is the information age!

I agree 100%, Stoney. I love that about the Internet! The Information Age has got to be a lot more fun than, say, the Industrial Age. Or the Iron Age. LOL