As with Robert Johnson, a lot of people who believed in the devil also believed that Jack Malagan had made a deal with him.

Jack was a six-string prodigy, getting pulled onstage by the likes of Grohl and Kravitz by the time he was twelve. He could swing the blues as hard as Bonamassa, but it was just the foundation for his love for rock.

When he was eighteen, he released an indie album that now has a cult following. Nobody bought it. Nobody noticed when he vanished. Guitar slingers are a dime a dozen.

Then he came back two years later, and jumped to the top of the mountain.

Martin Donovan was on the rise, too. He agreed to manage Jack, and lined up a single-album deal with Barista Records.

It is apocryphal that, right before the contract signing, Martin said: “This is the best I can get you, kid. But it’s a deal with the devil.”

And Jack supposedly said, “Not a new thing.”

The first album by Jack and the Offs went multi-platinum. It won the Best Rock Album Grammy, and two songs off of it competed for Best Rock Song. “Blowin’ Me Up, Blowin’ Me Down” was the winner.

The rest, all of the Grammies, the Oscar for his role as Manny in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the documentary of the Suction tour that caused the scandals that destabilized the German government, is rock history.

He rode the tiger hard. Never settled down into comfortable, profitable repetition. Was generous and warm with everyone he came into contact with, always saying, “Karma can be a bitch or it can be a teacher. It’s up to us.”

He was widely and accurately known to party ‘til dawn while on the road, with kingly adventures in pharmacology and flamboyant omnisexual appetites.

He never got the tired, leathery look that so many rock veterans decayed into. The people who thought he might have a deal with the devil also came to suspect that there was a monstrous painting of him secreted in the attic of one of his mansions.

• • • •

“Jack! Awesome to see you again! Come on into the office, man. I just got into some pure Columbian flake that you might like.”

“That’s kind of you, Marty. I’ll pass, though. Last night was vast, and I’m still coming to terms with it.”

“Hey, more for me.”

“How’s my god-daughter doing? I haven’t seen her since her birthday party.”

“Just made the Honor Society last week. She’s chuffed about it.”

“Rightfully so. Give her a hug from me to hold her over till next time.”

“So what’s up, buddy?”

“I tried to figure out a way to come at it gently, but couldn’t. I’m retiring today, old friend.”

Choking sounds

“What? What?”

“Yeah. I’ve known today was coming, but I think I denied it for as long as I could.”

“I . . . Why do you think you want to retire? You’re literally on top of the world, man. Vortexicon is still number one and it went gold in Argentina this week. Fuckin’ Argentina, man! Wait . . . Are you sick or something? You’re looking kinda worn down.”

“Nah. I’m fine. I’m just starting to age. Finally.”

“So why?”

“You’re going to think I’m insane, but here it is. My family drove to Disney World from Houston when I was nineteen. I felt like my life was pretty much over that year. On the way, we stopped overnight at a hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi. I wasn’t sleeping great those days. I got up early and hiked to the K&D convenience store a few blocks away for cigarettes. Then I just stood on the corner watching the sun come up and trying to figure out what the hell I wanted to do with my life. If anything.”

“A scruffy homeless-looking guy wandered over and bummed a smoke from me, and we got to talking. I have no idea why I told him what I was going through. Probably because I knew I’d never see him again. And he was a good listener. Had a nice smile.”

“About three smokes later I was done. Hadn’t really been looking at him much, mostly just staring into the dawn. I turned to him to thank him for putting up with my whining and wander back to the hotel.”

“For some reason, it didn’t surprise me when his eyes flared red. Then he offered me the crossroads deal on that corner in Biloxi. I took it. And I got no regrets, Marty. I got twenty good years of making music and people hearing it, living my life the way I wanted. I got to stay pretty, too.”

“Dude, that’s—”

“Today is the first day of the twenty-first year and it’s his turn now.”

“I love you like a brother, but I think you’ve had a brain aneurysm, Jack.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“So . . . what now? The devil collects your soul?”

“No. We did a different deal. He’s not a bad guy, really, and he loves music. He didn’t give me any extra talent. I didn’t want it. He just nudged a few people so they paid attention in a world where we don’t pay attention.”

“He gave you a freebie?”

“He gets the soul of whoever has sinned against me the worst in life. I don’t believe in sin, but the Devil does.”

“Honestly, man, this powder might make you think a little clearer. I’m worried about you.”

“We both know this business has its share of assholes, Marty. I figure it’ll be some VP at Barista. I don’t care much about money, but I’m pretty sure somebody there has shorted me almost five million bucks since we signed the deal with that particular devil. And, if they did me, they did lots of other people, too. This is kind of a public service. At least that’s what I’m trying to tell myself.”

“Oh, hell, man.”

More choking sounds.

Something impacts the coffee table, then slides to the carpet. Heavy, erratic breathing.

“Marty! . . . C’mon, man. Lay back. Christina! Call 911! I think Marty’s having a heart attack! Fucking powder.”

“Uh . . . What? . . . I can’t see anything, man. It hurts.”

“Try to breathe, Marty. They’ll be here in just a minute.”

“Oh, hell. I think this is the big one. Fucking powder.”

“Just hang on. Here, lean on me. I’m right here.”

“We both knew about my heart.”

“You got it fixed, dammit.”

“Apparently not. This sucks.”

“You’re going to be okay.”

“Nah. I can feel it. Something in me exploded. Look, man. I need to tell you. It wasn’t Barista. I am so sorry, Jack.”

“What do you mean?”

“It just started small and it got out of hand. There was so. Much. Money. Just flowing like a waterfall. It was too easy. I screwed up, man.”

“Aw, Marty.”

“Just pure, fuckin’ greed and stupidity, man. And I figured you’d never miss it.”

“I never really did. If you’d just told me.”

“Regrets, I’ve had a few . . .”

“Oh, Marty. This is horrifying. I never meant for—”

“I love you, Jack. Hey, everything that happens is just fuel for the next song, right?”

“Christina! Christina! Where are the goddam EMTs!”

• • • •

And here’s the title vid for Jack and the Offs’ new album. Climbing the charts fast this week!

• • • •

Old friend
You know I’m tellin’ you true
Sooner or later
The man is coming for you

Lover or hater

When your day is through
You give the devil his due
You give the devil his due