By TERI L. BROWN
In March 1972 a lonely, severely depressed 17-year-old, named Alden Barrett took his life. Ten years after Alden took his life an intrigued woman wrote a book based on him, but she did not create a factual account according to his family and the local band, Grain.
Grain, 25 years after Alden's death, is writing the rock opera, 'A Place in the Sun,' to tell the true story and feelings of Alden, who committed suicide for reasons which are still, to this day, unknown.
The rock opera 'A Place in the Sun,' is a benefit concert for the UVSC Music Department. It is March 14 at UVSC, in the Ragan Theater at 7:30 p.m.
Grain has become good friends with the Barrett family and would like the true story of Alden to be known. They want to put to rest all of the rumors which undermined the compassion of a small community and literally tore his family apart.
This young man was not an ordinary person.
'He had an above genius IQ and won writing and science awards from BYU while still in high school. He just didn't match up with society and couldn't relate to school,' said Grain lead guitarist and vocalist, Bryan Hall
'Jay's Journal,' written by Beatrice Sparks, is the journal of a fictitious young man, Jay, who was involved in Satan worship and cults. According to the Barrett family, Alden was never involved in satanic worship and was not a member of any cults.
Beatrice Sparks got the idea to write a story about a young man who committed suicide after Alden took his life, Fillmore said.
Grain's drummer and vocalist, Shane Fillmore, a junior majoring in music said that only about 10 percent of her book is factual from his life. The other 90 percent is about a fictitious character, Jay.
People in Utah Valley and Pleasant Grove related Sparks' book back to Barrett and assumed Alden Barrett was the young man in Pleasant Grove she was writing about,' Fillmore said.
Grain is using the authentic journal of Alden Barrett to write the factual rock opera.
'His words are abstract and incredibly thought out. It is a lot of emotion on paper. No one else could understand him,' said lead singer and guitarist Jack Donaldson, a recent BYU graduate.
This rock 'n' roll rock opera will 'let the truth be known and shed a good light on the family of the boy,' Hall said.
The aftermath of Alden's death was traumatic and detrimental to his family and has not ended. The rumors have caused pain and tore the family apart. Along with therapy and divorce they are still fighting a false reputation.
The story of Alden and his true feelings pulled from poems and thoughts he wrote in his journal, will unfold as you follow along with the program at Grain's rock opera.
Hours of talking to the Barrett family and Alden's friends, along with reading and rereading his journal have helped Grain write and produce the moving rock opera.
'The opera has taken a lot of thought and time out of our lives. It has been so intuitive. The songs and lyrics have fit together almost as if the songs have already been written and we are just remembering them,' Fillmore said.
Tickets to the rock opera, 'A Place in the Sun,' can be purchased at the UVSC student center. Adults are $5.50 and students are $4.50. To buy tickets over the phone and for more infromation call 222-8797.