On a whim, I signed up for that "King of the Blues" thing going down at Guitar Center (for those who don't know, think American Idol for middle-age / middle-class white men who think they can play the blues), and now I'm scared that I'll start balding prematurely.

I guess I am one of those irritating men you speak of (except that I see myself as working class) and I was planning to have a go at the contest. It is the music I love, I did get paid for playing an approximation of it for quite a long time, and since I started playing again and now gigging, my attempts bring me much joy. However, I would never ever claim that I CAN play the blues, just that I try in my way. You will be a refreshing change to all the baldy SRV/Robin Ford wannabes. Most of them probably think Charley Patton was a WW2 general. Have fun!