Ten years ago, has passed since our nation was attacked by a senseless evil act . It was a day of infamy since World War II when Nazi Germany bombed England in the House Of Commons and Japan attacked Peal Harbor which also led to a war. 9/11 will live as the work of evil done to our motherland. On that day we became vulnerable souls that feel helpless and full of grief and anger and felt like wounded, but ten years later we became stronger and more defiant ones and never let evil get to us. The day of infamy has hit home for me,personally and it still gets to me. I applied for a job three weeks before ev
il struck us and that would have been my name there on that memorial that was built for our fallen comrades. The twin towers became symbolic on how to live our lives going to work and make time for their families and all of a sudden it became the end of an innocence. My brother worked near that area and he too would have lost his life and thank god he was alive but like myself we were hurt emotionally and wounded our hearts from something so senseless and despicable at the same time evil. I also learned a high school mate of mine lost a spouse on that dreadful day who shall remained nameless for privacy reasons and I shall respect their privacy. Ten years have passed and we still mourned our fellow Americans who lost their lives and it has changed our lives and we are still of you and now these fallen souls are now our angels of the nation and of the world. Franklin Roosesvelt called the nation that we only had to faer is fear itself and is a called of unity . A decade has passed our current of the Free World has taken on the work of evil and wiped him out for the terrible crimes done and was a show of pay back for terrorizing the nation and started an act of war. These vulnerable souls left us way too soon but they will be in our hearts and will live to eternity. God Bless You all and our nation.
Hi everyone here is my latest blog that I have been working and this is about rock's greatest and influential guitarist who had put a stamp in rock history and has been a creator of what the use of rock guitar is all about. No its not Eddie Van Halen, or Stevie Ray Vaughan or Terry Kath or even Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page and Jef Beck. All these cats are great players and have put a stamp on their writings of rock guitar but the one who had the most inpact is a left handed genuis and his name is James Marshall Hendrix also known to the world as Jimi Hendrix.
He was born in Seattle, washington on November 27, 1942. He was influenced by the
likes of Muddy Waters, BB King, Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy and was a self taught player. H e was also the guitar player for little Richard and the Isley brothers before turning to a big rock legend by coming to England and being managed by former Animals bassist Chas Chandler and would form a power trio a la Cream, simply called The Jimi Hendrox Experience.
Hendrix was a genius in experimenting sounds and creating the art of rock guitar and has created an army of guitar players who were influential to their careers such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Ritchie blackmore, Joe Satriani,John Mayer, Terry Kath, Steve Vai, even his contemporaries like Eric Clapton have alot of respect for his musicality. He can play with his teeth and behind his back and would use feedback and can pull out his whammy bar with cathartic results.
Whether you are a fan of his music or not , you cannot say that he sucks as a guitar player cause he doesn't .You don't have tpo be an expert of guitar player the film footages proves his great showmanship and musicality. Songs like "Purple Haze",
"Foxy Lady" , "Manic Depression" showed why he was a true guitar hero.
I grew up listening to Jimi's music from my uncle's record collection , he saw Jimi live back in the 1960's and it was the Band of Gypsies record which shows the other side of Hendrix as protesting trhe turbulent Vietnam War with "Machine Gun" or the assassination of Dr. King, he gave a cathartic performance which reflects the turbulent times of an arrangement of Franic s Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner", which became the highlight of Woodstock.
Hendrix was one of the pioneers of heavy rock music which has transcended for many hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Cream, Black Sabbath, Mountain,
Creed to name a few and even got blues players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenney Sheperd, and John Mayer . He can even play the blues like "Red House" or be the Voodoo Priest in "Voodoo Chile".
Drugs got the best of him on September 18, 1970 when his life tragically ended in his London flat at the tender age of 27.41 years later, he still remains a big influence and his body of work is still vibrant and alive after all these years. Hendrix remains as the #1 rock guitarists and tops in all polls and to al;l who have seen him live and the recordings and films says it all.
Jimi Hendrix Experience performing "Purple Haze" May 1967
"Stone Free" 1967
"Fire" 1969 Stockholm, Sweden
"Foxy Lady" Rainbow Bridge 1970
Hendrix doing his most memorable performance reflecting the turbulent 1960's with "Star Spangled Banner" showing his catharces here and the feedbaclk showing the bombs throwing and his stance on the war which forever change america
Hi folks, let's talk about another band that is dear to me this is Led Zeppelin.The influential British hard rock quartet has been an inspiration to mqany hard rock and heavy metal bands, and in a way they were pioneers of the genre.It consists of guitarist/founder Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones and the late drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham. They were ecelctic and very diverse but they know how to rock.From 1968 to 1980 they revolutionized a new genre that has been pioneers of heavy metal rock. I always had a love for this band they were such a kick ass band, they were pumping steroids into the blues. They were such a powerful band onstage and all four men were such an equal match to their incredible chemistry. Songs like "Whole Lotta Love" "Communication Breakdown", "Immigrant Song", "Black Dog", "Stairway To Heaven", 'Achilles Last Stand", "Kashmir" and "All My Love", etc. have been staples for classic rock radio.They had an imposing manager name Peter Grant who was the smartest businessman in the music business and made them rich. The band's outrageous stories of mystical cult and lifestyles have been the subject of legends such as their trashing hotel and groupies in hotels and excessive lifetsyles of drugs and sex and of course pure rock and roll.Jimmy Page what can you say he was a wizard guitarist and was ecelectic in playing rock and acoustic and has been a master in layering guitar solos and rhythm while as a producer and was a worthy leader. Robert Plant, the golden god as he was referred, has a powerful voice singing high banshee vocals that are bluesy and in your face. John Paul Jones a true multi instrumentalist and of course John Bonham, the thunder god of the drums, his powerhouse skinbeating has been the group's musical backbone. Their legacy has been their 12 years of great music they have produced.John Bonham's drumming prowess has been influential to alot of drummers out there and has created an army of drummers and he has been influential to Led Zeppelin's music especially when Page and Plant write the music.Jimmy Page is one of my favorite guitar players, he has been a true guitar hero onstage and play heavy blues and can really rock his guitar with blues and power though he is not the most technical like a Hendrix or Jeff Beck but he is a production wizard in the studio and knowing how to craft songs and riffs and also an inspiration to many guitar players.Check out his violin guitar solo on "Dazed or Confused" The excesses took its toll when their brilliant drummer John Bonham died tragically following a drinking binge during rehearsals on September 25, 1980 at age 32. His death signal the end of the greatest heavy rock band of all time when they announced on December 4, 1980 that their 12 years together is now over. The group had occassional reunions in 1985 in Live Aid and 1988in Madison Square Garden at Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary and in 2007 with Jason Bonham at the O2 arena in London.
I was fortunate to see them live in the O2 arena they were awesome especially Jason Bonham and he was awesome like his late dad pounding with such force and speed.But John Bonham will forever be the king of the drums. Here are some performances of the band I will post
Led Zeppelin playing "Whole Lotta Love" in Knebworth 1979
Led Zeppelin performing "Stairway to Heaven" 1975 Earl's Court
Led Zeppelin with the mighty drumming of John "Bonzo' Bonham and the exotic chords structure riffs by Jimmy Page and keyboards by John Paul Jones in "Kashmir" Knebworth 1979
Led Zeppelin reunion with Jason Bonham on drums playing a powerful opening of "Good Times Bad Times" I should know I was there December 10, 2007 London, UK at the O2 arena
Remembering the Lizard King Jim Morrison (1943-1971)
Jim Morrison, charismatic lead singer, lyricist and founding member of the influential rock quartet The Doors which features also keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robbie Krieger and drummer John Densmore selling more than 80 million records worldwide. He was known for his throaty baritone vocals and his onstage stage persona of the Lizard King has been the stuff of legends. He was good looking charismatic and self destructive. He was also a creative force a poet and a shaman who would captivate the audience and had a edge to his rock n' roll persona.
Songs like "Light My Fire", "Break On Through", "Hello I love You", "Strange Days", "LA Woman", "When The Music's Over and "The End" were part of classic rock stations.Jim was both a gentleman and a volatile , he was this man who had an obsession to writing songs based on reality. He was known for his bad boy personality who was legendary for his heavy drinking and onstage antics that sometimes captivates the audience or alienates the audiences as he would say "Let's just I was just testing the boundaries" Oh yeah he tested boundaroes alright. Good one Jimbo , he can be such a complete asshole when he was on the bottle.He was very theatrical
His songs hae been the soundtrack of our lives and has touched alot of people . The Miami concert was the beginning of the end when he was arrested for public drunkeness and the concerts were banned as a result of his actions and was facing six months in prison and a $500 fine. He even published his own poetry book simply titled "An American Prayer" in 1970. In the last two years he grew a beard and became a mere shadow odf the good looking guy in the rolling stone magazine cover.He even stood up to Ed Sullivan in over the use "higher" in "Light My Fire" he just gave him that fuck you swagger. Dude I liked his style.
"Roadhouse Blues" was a great bluesy song that made them great despite the legal problems of the Miami incident, and it can be heard on the live show. Jimbo left to Paris , France in March 1971 following his final recording of "Riders On The Storm". Three months later, the 27 year old James Douglas Morrison after years of drug and alcohol abuse, died apparently of a heart attack in his bathtub from his Pari Apartment on this day July 3, 1971. It has been 40 years today that the rock world lost this talented man he left us way too soon.His grave at Pere Lachaise Cemetery has been the most visited tourist attraction frokm worldwide fans who pay respects to the Lizard King.REst in Peace Jimbo wherever you are I hope you found peace. We still remember you after all these years.A comet on th sky that had a brief moment and disappeared like magic but his music forever live to eternity.
The Doors "Break On Through" January 1967
The Doors rare live performance at the Isle of Wight Festival August 1970
The Doors "Strange Days" official clip 1967
The Doors singing "Light My Fire" and yes Jim said "Girl you couldn't get much higher" as his way of saying fuck you to Ed Sullivan's objections not say the word "higher"
Let's begin with superstar folk rocker turned blues guitar hero John Mayer I have been a fan of his music going back to 2002 when he did "No Such thing" on VH1 when they featured as a "You Outta Know" artist . His music was ery rootsy alternative sounds like a young Dave Matthews. He was known for other songs like "Your Body Is a Wonderland", "why Georgia" and "Waiting for a World to Change".
But Then on the thord record he came up with his bluesy guitar riffs that is reminiscent of Eric Clapton and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan including in the song I posted above "Gravity". I though he played with such intensity and soul and was so fluid . I saw him in Madison Square Garden in February 2010 when there was that darn snow storm.
He has showcased his musicianship like a true guitar hero though not a technical guitar player but can play with soul. I am not going to make comparisons to past guitar heroes but he is his own guitar hero. Anyway take a good look at this classic 2009 performance of John Mayer giving his most memorable solo ery spine tingling and expressive.
John Mayer live performance of "Gravity" Beacon Theatre
I am introducing my new website that is operating and it features alot of my artwork that I have done over the years. I do have plans to sell alot of my artworks and they are ery good quality and I may even publish a book on my artworks that I have done over the years. I hae done different types of works that contains oil , charcoal and acrylics.
Today is my day off from work I just woke up at 7AM getting ready for an early morning jog It was warm as usual. Then at 12 PM this afternoon its freaking hot. I just also came to whole foods to shop at the bowery section I got a good discount there and I also got some new mineral water for the water I need to drink for this damned weather I detested. Man this really sucks.
Anyway I am doing chicken stu in french style and fish with butter (country crock that is).
In tnhe meantime, I have an issue of writer;s block but I am keen to get my creative juices in me once I figured out what is goj g on with my life.
I am gonna keep writing stuff in my upcoming novel to be out this July or August about this damned weather. This really sucks tomorrow 97 degrees bummer that is life in NYC. Drink plenty of water that is all I have to do to survive.
Previously I have posted in my blog on the band Journey I am going to comment on a documentary done ten years ago on VH1's Behind The Music. Yes rock's greatest mystery, fronted by the group's brilliant but reclusive lead singer Steve Perry, who in the series has been portrayed as controlling , creative but a reluctant rock star.The band was formed in 1973 by two ex Santana members Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon. There you see the interviews from past and present members of the band including co-founder and keyboardist Gregg Rolie (1973-1980), drummer Aynsley Dunbar (1973-78), drummer Steve Smith (1978-1986, 1996-98), keyboardist Jonathan Cain (1981-1986, 1996-present), bassist Ross Valory (1973-85, 1996-to present), and of course group founder and guitarist Neal Schon and of course the voice Steve Perry (1977-1986, 1996-98).
The documentary had never before seen interviews from its band members talking about the good the bad and the ugly side of fame and fortune, and there their former manager Herbie Herbert talks about discovering the Portguese descndant lead singer which is the making of a legend that was born in this mercurial band that is a blend of progressive rock and commercial sounds. Since his arrival he began to write songs with either Neal Schon or with Jonathan Cain who would join the band after Rolie's departure in 1980.
They even talk about making of "Open Arms" originally written for John Waite for the Babays but later Steve Perry wrote the words . Neal Schon on the other hand hated the song while recording it and when they played it live the attitude has changed even stunned the group's founder that he even said "am that song kicked ass' and Perry looked at Schon was going to kick ass after all the grief he gave him in the studio. There is a heartfelt song "Only the Young" which featured to the young kid who was dying from systic fibrosis asa dedication of the song to that young man,even Jonathan Cain balled during the interview of the kid's death.Boo Hoo. Gte your kleenex ready
There you will see how they became so huge from a jam band to a corporate AOR prog rock supergroup and was under the genius management of Herbie Herbert.There you see how they grew pressured from this album tour cycle, and their mercurial lead singer became more distant from his bandmates. and how they broke up so mysteriously in 1986 and would briefly reformed in 1996 only to be break-up again. The documentary is so dramatic and hard hitting typical rock n' roll shit. Steve even says he doesn't feel like he was part of the band I am like "What the fuck is wrong with you dude?" I mean he was the dominant leader there and was calling the shots on the making of the records. His statements even puzzled his bandmates and even like me questioned it what the hell was he thinking. Was he trying to be a total schmuck? how pathetic that answer is for him to say since he work with them and achieved success at the same time. What a complete waste. But I still think Steve and Neal are the bomb.
Anyway here are videos of the Behind the Music documentary on one of the greatest rock bands of the late 1970's and early 1980's you guys be the judge join the discussion and what do you guys think.
Journey behind the music part 1
The band's genesis with Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon
Journey Behind the Music part 2 , the making of a legend Steve Perry joins Journey and the making of a rock music history
Journey Behind the music part 3 Gregg Rolie leaves journey, Jon Cain joins and "Escape" was born
Journey Behind The music part 4, Neal Schon hates "Open Arms" which became a classic rock hit and "Frontiers" became another hit in 1983
Journey Behind The music part 5: Steve becomes more isolated from the band and the trppings of fame and Neal and Steve are at odds with each other they do solo albums, a young dying fan meets the band and feature a classic song, Jon Cain balls in the interview
Journey Behind the Music part 6: Ross and Steve gets fired by Steve and "Raise On Radio" record and tour begin and mysteriously disbands
Journey Behind the Music part 7: Journey is over mysteriously, Neal and Jonathan Cain formed Bad English, Steve Perry becomes a hermit only to briefly do a solo record, Ross Valory filed for bankrupcy, Journey reforms for the first time in 1986
Journey and Steve Perry split again (or should I say they forced him out) and got a Steve Perry soundalike Steve Augeri , another Steve clone, and there is Steve's answer to "I never felt like I was part of the band" you be the judge
Let's begin to comment and discuss the band from the 1980's going back to high school and that is Van Halen. There are two incarnations that have been successful one is from the David Lee Roth era and the other is the Sammy Hagar era (aka Van Hagar) Led by the Van halen bros. the Dutch born drummer Alex Van Halen and of course the greatest guitarist in rock history since Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, who is ranked as the #2 guitarist in rock history based on his skills.
There is also the vocal harmonies of bassist Michael Anthony and thundering bass lines that provide the rhythm section with Alex Van Halen's powerful drums. Eddie's finbger tapping technique on the fretboard has been innovative thiugh the technque was originally pioneered by the likes of Canned Heat's Harvey Mandel, Chicago's Terry Kath and Genesis' Steve Hackett, his fretboard finger tapping technique proed to be more effective and more in the classical trained style since he also was a classically trained pianist himself.
Let'also not forget the showmanship and baritone voice of David Lee Roth, the group's founding vocalist. This line-up produced platinum selling records and singles and was even an opening act for pioneering heavy rock supergroup Black Sabbath in 1978. During that tour the young band outperfirmed the veteran group who were at the end of their creative edge.Eddie Van Halen's early influences were Eric Clapton during his days with John Mayall's Bluesbreaker and Cream.
Eddie's guitar playing has been influential since Hendrix and he came up with these amazing solos and plays extremely fast like a firecracker. Songs like "Running SWith the Devil", "Ain't Talk Bout Love", "Hot for teacher" ,"Ice Cream Man", "little guitars" and of course the guitar instrumental "Eruption", has been the main crowd pleasing songs on radio and on tour.Eddie's instrumental "Eruption" has been a classical influenced sound with an electirc vibe to it and its like hearing Bach's organ composition.That line-up also produced their only #1 hit single "Jump" which also has Eddie plays keyboards and proved to be a smash. The "1984" album and tour proved to be the beginning of the end of the original line-up.
After the tumultous departure from Roth and the Van Halen group in April 1985, they hired a better singer who is a veteran singer and a great guitarist name Sammy Hagar. Yes the Sammy Hagar of "I Can't Drive 55" fame and has been rock's premier heavy rock singer since Robert Plant and Paul Rodgers and scored with hits of #1 albums and tours and singles with "Why Can't This Be Love" "Dreams", "Summer Nights", and "Right Now" to name a few. Their music with Hagar was rocking but it had a commercial appeal and I dig both the Roth and Hagar. They both made gtreat contributions to that legacy.
Sammy's voice was powerful and had brought something to Van Halen's music. 1996 Van Halen split from Sammy Hagar and this story has become abit of drama queen story. My only problem is Ed's drinking problems it has affacted the band and his playing that during the 2004 reunion tour with Hagar , he was behaving erratically and even smashed his guitar to bits on stage and was being an asshole onstage. In 2007 Van Halen both incarnations were inducted to the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame.As you know that ex Extreme singer Gary Cherone became the frontman and their last album was a commercial flop and they parted ways with Cehrone. What acomplete disaster.
Now Ed is now clean and sober reunited with old frontman David Lee Roth and produced a great 2007-08 reunion tour. I saw their reunion show at MSG in November 2007 and I had a blast seeing something from the past it wa like going back to HS all over again. Van Halen kicjed ass onstage and represented great good time music without all the messages going down.
Van Halen doing "Running with the Devil" 1978" with Diamond Dave
Van Halen performing "Unchained" during the band's 2007 reunion tour with Roth, man can Eddie can really blow
Check out Eddie doing "Eruption" in 1983
an Halen doing "Right Now" with Sammy Hagar 1995 tour, this son was used in political campaigns believe it or not
Ok let's talk about the perverator Arnold Schwarzenegger coming down from his native Austria with his deep German accent. A former bodybulding champion turned hot shot movie star turned politician turned civilian splits from his wife Maria after it was discovered that he had fathered an illegitimate child from one of his maid 10 years back. Talk about career suicide, he has shot himself in the foot.
Can't he keep his big stroodle zippered up? I was a big fan of his movies like "Terminator" sequels and "Twins" and other films like "Last Action Hero". I never thought he would get into the political season by running and winning the Governorship in California trying to pattern himself . Shame on you Arnold what were you thinking to think using tax payers dollars for child support of his child. That is unethical and Immoral.Not only did he hurt himself and his wife but he also hurt his children and one of them is that young man with the other woman.
His star in the Walk Of Fame should be called the Hollywood Walk Of Shame. I have lost resoect for this man.He likes to see himself like his hero Ronald Reagan and preaches family values and married one of the kennedy girls who was an NBC anchorwoman turned first lady of california.He also hurt the people in Calfornia with tax payer money for his child support.
What a hypocrite and a phony he trun out. Now I don[;t have a political agenda since I am cynical of two party system. When it comes to the family he has put shame in his actions and I hope that the misses makes him pay for the hurt he has done for his children and the people in California whom they had voted.
So what else is new for the womanator? Only time will tell.anyway I am oer this dude.
Here is my blog concerning the Canadian prog rock trio Rush This is a band that has an avant grade sound mixed with hard rock. I guess you can say if you put Cream, Led Zeppelin mixed with Pink Floyd and Genesis you have Rush.
Geddy Lee has this high pitched voice and of course his thundering bass lines that reminds me of The late Who bassist John Entwistle, whose bass techique has been phenomenla that is why I called him the best bass guitarist since the man I mentioned.Of course there is Alex Lifeson, a fine guitar riff master who developed textures that is very prog rock stylings of Steve Hackett of Genesis along with the blues influenced guitar stylings of Eric Clapton and uses alot of reverb in his guitar stylings that are unqiue that is what P ink Floyd's David gilmour is known for hisblues laden tone, and let's not forget the drum god since the late john Bonham and Cream's Ginger Baker, what a powerhouse drummer and a fine lyricist.
Songs like "Closer To The Heart" "2112", "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight', "Subdivision", "New World Man", were staples in classic rock staples in radio.The band was so tight and the chemistry of Lifeson, Lee and Peart is tremendously strong just like Claspton, Baker and Bruce were with Cream. Neil Peart is an incredible scholar when it came to the words that he connected well with the fans including myself like "Subdivision". "Moving Pictures" and "2112" were the greatest records that they have ever made. Concert tours have been phenomenal including their stage effects that is reminiscent to Pink Floyd's stage effects.
Lifeson's guitar riffs like "Tom Sawyer" was the bomb and he was a monster with rhythm and solos.This is another band who should be in the rock n' roll hall of fame what is up with that damned committee.If they don't get their long overdue induction then the rock n' roll hall of fame should be called the ROCK N' ROLL HALL OF SHAME.
Rush doing "Spirit of Radio"
Rush doing "2112" from their 1976 performance
"Tom Sawyer , with a Sotuh Park intro, man Alex Lifeson is the bomb with his guitar playing and so is Neil Peart
Hello folks here is my comment and history about rock's greatest mysteries and that is the band Journey. People remember the voice Steve Perry, the band's most reclusive lead singer. Journey was aunqiue band that had a bluest keyboard influence with the stinging guitar edge of group founder Neal Schon. The band was formed in 1973 by keyboardist Gregg Rolie and guitar prodigy Neal Schon and had so many line-up changes in the 35 year career. They started out as a jam band from San Francisco but in 1977 it all change when their manager Herbie Herbert discovered a young man with a powerful tenor voice and his name was Steve Perry. The band scored hits like "Lights", "Anytime", "Open Arms", "Don't Stop Believin'" "Separate Ways", "Only The Young", "After The Fall", the list goes on an on.
They use to be the biggest selling rock band of the late 1970's and early 1980's. They were different kind of rock they were like the AOR type. They mixed hard rock with power ballads. Gregg Rolie , the group's founding member and keysman quits the band and being replaced by Jonathan Cain who would write songs with Steve and Neal. Neal Schon was one soulful player very fluid with clean notes and it reminded me of what Clapton did or Terry Kath did.Jonathan Cain brought something fresh and new to the band's musical direction with the keyboard sound and followed by bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith a great rhythm section. Steve Perry had been the dominant voice of the band and its spokesperson and he was also the most dissitent member of the band and had been the reluctant rock star. But his vocals has been always identifiable to the journey sound and many singers were influenced by his crisp high tenor sound. The band split -up in 1986 after Steve decided to not do any tours since he was exhausted from the trappings of fame and fortune which made him very uncomfortable. The band regrouped in 1996 only to be setback by Steve's injury from hiking as they were planning a comeback tour but it was not meant to be. Steve was gone for good and the band were tired of waiting for Steve and decided to get Steve Augeri for two records but later Neal Schon would find this guy from the Phillipines name Arnel Pineda on youtube. You notice how the power of the internet works in mysterious ways? Arnel is a pretty good impersonation of the legendary voice of Journey but to many fans there will only be one Steve Perry.The old glory days of what it once was is now a thing of the past. and the new journey is a mere tribute band that is paying homage to their mercurila frontman who remains a recluse for the past 13 years. I had foind memories of the band listening to them on WAPP or WNEW-FM in New York and the music videos from "Escape" and "Frontiers", those were magical times in the good old 1980's and that is what I will remember from thst band that was special to alot of fans.
Journey on the Midnight Special 1979
Journey doing "Don't Stop Believin" this was used in the finale of the Sopranos and James Durbin singing the song on American Idol and used in the Tv show "Glee", Neal Schon is one motherf--ing guitar player
Journey "Separate Ways" live in Japan 1983 loe that Jonathan Cain on keys man into
"Anyway You Want It" 1980, the last work with founding member Gregg Rolie who would leave the band only to be replaced by Jonathan Cain
Let's talk about legendary Ozzy guitar wiz Randy Rhoads. He was a true guitar genius
very classically trained since he was a classically influenced in his music with a bit of an
edge. He actually learned to play guitar at age 7 from his mom Dolores' guitar school .
A guitar prodigy who was a bit of Andres Segovia meets Mick Ronson of David Bowie fame both whom he wa influenced with the likes of Leslie West , Ritchie Blackmore, Mick Ronson and Jeff Beck along with the classical music in his home.Whether you are a fan of his music or a guitar historian no one can say that Randy Rhoads cause he doesn't. Look at the film footages and listen to how he plays. At least he was not a dull moment.
He was a shy quiet guy who can play like a beast and with grace and beauty. He maybe a
"heavy metal" guitarist but he was more than that. He may have a flash but he had soul and
cathartism in his music as he expressed it in his writing of his music and was very patient in
perfecting his style.He reminded of Mick Ronson guitar wise and visually, plus he looked like a drag queen.
Prior to joining former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his guitarist, he was a founding member of Quiet Riot, a power pop band in the LA area. His famous guitar solos like
"Crazy Train", "Mr Crowley", and "Over the Mountain" had this edge and can play fast and
he could have given his contemporaries like Eddie Van Halen and George Lynch a run for its money.When I first saw Randy I thought that was chick playing guitar. I mean he was so tiny and
frail but he was strong playing the fretboard like a monster. He loved playing the art of the instrumental whether its classical acoustic or electric. He pumped steroids on his Marshall amps
Randy was a phenomenom on top of that based on his interviews he was a humble guy and very
down to earth but when he was in the studio he was all business no fucking around. Randy accomplished alot during his brief 25 years of his life. Ozzy as a frontman was kind of gimmickry
and knows how to gie a show in the fashion of Alice Cooper.But I see an Ozzy show I see Randy
upstaging Ozzy with his fingers doing the talking. The performance at the palladium in NYC was one of the most memorable concerts , Randy outperformed Ozzy onstage and Ozzy was his typical showman though his singing was good great vocal harmony vocals but he does all these gimmicks and antics that is somewhat juvenile and cliche of what Alice Cooper did a while back.
At the time of his passing, Randy was planning to go back to school for music theory and make a classical guitar album who knows what he would have accomplished. Unfortunately, on March 19, 1982 we lost a true guitar hero since Jimi Hendrix in a tragic plane crash at age 25. He is a great influence to alot of guitar players and his legacy remains of his music on the first two albums "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman".
Here is a clip from "After Hours" here is Ozzy with the late great Randy Rhoads with his most memorable guitar solo on "Crazy Train"
This one has a classically influenced guitar acoustic with a symphony sound with the London symphony recorded in 1981 and comes the dramatic sound with "Diary Of A Madman"
A song Randy wrote dedicated to his mom Dolores which is an instrumental acoustic song simply titled "Dee"
Ok , this is my comment on American Idol So far this season was the best and better than last year's season. The talent was diversed and so awesome, there was country, R&B, pop and heavy metal and blues rock.I mean talk about great talent now we can focuse on that rather than that loud obnoxious Brit name Simon. I don't miss him , guest what 29 million viewers saw the finale better than 23 million last year when it was time for Simon to leave. Steven Tyler and J-Lo as judges not bad they certainly brought the fun out of the show. Well the finale was interesting everyone seems to be talking about J-lo's voluptuous physique as she was dancing her ass next to her hubby Mark Anthony. I am like Ok so what is this so you think you can dance or something? Weird. The highlight for me was not J-Lo's ass are you kidding me? it was the performances of James Durbin with his idols the legendary British heavy metal group Judas Priest fronted by the greatest rock voice of all time Rob Halford the Metal God performing "Living after Midnight" and "Breaking the Law" James can really do the high octave that Rob pioneered but Rob came on top . You can see the audience digging to the songs they did 31 years back. Guys you rock.
Here is James Durbin who was 4th in the show, singing along with Rob Halford and Judas Priest
Here is another metal god, this is Aerosmith frontman and AI judge Steven Tyler performing a 1973 Aerosmith classic written by the man himself and rocked the crowd and even J-lo and Randy was digging the classic rock anthem and the crowd were on their feet check it out
As for the two finalists I don't like these kids ,Scotty the winner of the show looks like Howdy Doody with a jihnn Cash voice and Lauren , the runner-up who many say sounds like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, she sings better than Ms Underwood but she still has a long ways to go as to her experience.
James Durbin will be the guy to watch on record sales he will outsell the two country cuties. He is my man. Haley is one rocker chic she has that Janis Joplin like voice. Well its those young 12 or 13 year olds who voted constantly. Anyway until next season I am looking forward to So You Think You Can Dance and X Factor that should be interesting.
OK lets talk about the band Chicago and of course the group's founding guitarist, songwriter and singer Terry Kath
Terry Kath has been an unsung hero He was one of the most gifted and underrated guitarist in rock history a pioneering jazz rock guitarist who had influences of heavy rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix who became an big admirer of Kath, and jazz guitarists Joe Smith and Wes Montgomery. He was a true natural genius when it came to his techical abilities. People remember the 1970's pioneering jazz rock act Chicago formerly known as Chicago Transit Authority a band he formed with drummer Danny Seraphine and saxophonist Walt Parazaider in 1967 and score alot of number one hits and album sales of more than 100 million, man they should be in the rock n' roll hall of fame.
Kath learned his guitar techniques by playing the banjo his mom owned and he perfected his skills and was able to use wah wah and other gadgets in his arsenals to his guitar playing you can hear it on songs like "Poem 58", "Free Form Guitar" a precursor to Van Halen's "Eruption" , "Uptown" , "In The Country"and "25 or 6 to 4" which he used his extended guitar solos that had jazz scales it was like having a jazz guitarist pumping steroids on his amplifier.He along with Harvey Mandel and Steve Hackett were pioneers for rock guitar in the finger tapping long before VH or Steve Vai even did this one. Kath rarely did this one in his later performances.
He was also a great songwriter with songs like the time signature Joe Eliis influenced song "Introduction" ,"Mississppi Delta City Blues", "In The Country", the Randy Newman like acoustic number "Alma Mater" and the lists goes on and on.
His talents have been overshadowed by his tragic death which was an unfortunate event. The man was a better player than Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page put together, and he had this Ray Charles quality to his voice , He made the band looked and sounded cool on the classic rock radio stations. We will never forget his bluesy baritone voice of "Make Me Smile" "Dialogue" and "Colour my World" to name a few.I prefer "Tell Me" that was his best vocal performance. Sadly during his lifetime he never got the respect or the recognition of his greatest talents as a great guitarist he was frst and foremost a great guitar player and I rank him in the top ten right above Clapton and Page but even with Stevie Ray Vaughan, technique wise.
He was one of a kind and what a great talent he was during his brief time in this planet. On January 23, 1978 old demons caught up with him when the legendary baritone voice and trail blazing guitar of Chicago was silenced for good as a result of an accidental gunshot wound.Although none of us can never change the tragedy but we will remember his music and the band he was in during those 11 years of gteat jazz rock . I never liked the incarnation of Chicago , it was interesting but it didn't feel like the band especially with Peter leaving abruptly and Danny getting canned by the guys.And I hated those power ballads they made them look wussy songs like "If You Leave Me Now" or "Hard to say I'm sorry" , sorry folks I hated those songs , I prefer "Feeling Stronger Every Day", "Free" or "Liberation" the rocker numbers than the ballads.Sorry if I offended fans of the power ballads i am being honest.The band was never the same after his passing.I saw him with my sister when I was a Child a while back as a nine year old. Man he was the bomb.Chris Pinnick was the closest to a Terry Kath. The other guitarists after Terry were good even Dawayne Biley but no one can be as good as a Terry Kath, there is only one Terry Kath and those are big shoes.
33 years have passed i truely believe that he and his band should be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame, what is wrong with that darn committee. I hope and pray that terry along with Peter, Robert, Lee, Walt, Danny and Jimmy get their long overdue induction to the Rock n; Roll Hall Of Fame. I respect the survving members going out on the road playing their greatest hits but to me and other fans there will be one and that is the original guys that I mentioned. Gone are the large stadium or large arenas shows no longer the million selling records and hits they once did a while back.I prefer to remember them the way they were.
Terry Kath is still my hero and I love him like a mentor and I even play the guitar at Tribeca Bar for fun with a group of friends. I still have my Fender and i can still play "Uptown" or "In The country". Terry Allan Kath was one cool dude and a bigger than life personaility that is never forgotten. Anyway let';s check out Terry and the boys in action and you can see him finger tap during "Free Form" intro through Robert Lamm's "A Song for Richard and his Friends"
Chicago in their greatest concert film footage June 1972 in Budokan Hall , Japan
Terry and the guys playing his tribute to his idol Jimi Hendrix "Oh Thank You Great Spirit"
Terry singing "Tell Me" 1972 written by Jimmy Guercio, we will never forget you dude we miss you and I wish you were here,
well today is Oprah Winfrey's Swan Song I have been watching her show since 1986 and she was second to Phil Donahue as one of the best talk show host in TV history. We was smart and sassy and generous to her viewers out there and she brought alot of joy and creativity to her millions of fans who watched this TV legend.
As we say farewell to this TV legend after 25 years , We alos wish her the best on her new venture whatever it is.
I hated those other shows like Jerry Springer and Maury Povitch for their sleaze TV and has been very exploitive and I am so over those shows of throwing chairs and audience members acting like such immature juveniles or bad drunks, and with the paternity thing come on Maury and Jerry you can do better than that.
Oprah is such a classy lady and I forever will miss her humanity and her warmth to the topics she has given even with celebrities and controversial topics. She did it with style and grace and for all of us who watch this TV Legend, all we can say is may god bless you in all your new endeavors and look forward to your new project in hand and thanks for all the 25 years of joy.
You Go Sister.
Here is a clip to say farewell to this show and what a ride
Today I just finished shopping at whole foods down in Tribeca The place is so organic and very big and very peaceful I have even learned how to cook new recipes while shopping there after all I live alone. Its a beautiful place to visit. Some of the things at whole foods is so organic and very special
I even bought some organic chips and Kashi to take care of myself. They call it the disney land of supermarkets. Very much an organic health foods store.
The people there ars so friendly even one couple from Australia who just moved to our land . I love to shop there sometimes I get addicted to buying whole foods. There is not enough drama queens there.
The culinary is so good there that I would recommend coming to Tribeca and shop there and it is so quiet and peaceful.Well off to make artichoke and beef bourgagnion Ciao
OK, let's talk about the greatest rock band of all time THE BEATLES Yes, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr four young Englishmen from an industrial British town of Liverpool change the world with their body of work and their catchy and experimental rock music that has touched alot of people's heart with their musical genius especially with their groundbreaking studio work and their live performances that has got the screaming fans at their feet. The songs created by Lennon and McCartney from "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold your Hand" saw an innocence of the band that was catchy and commercial that had a Buddy Holly and Elvis inflouence in their music and they came to the US at the height when President Kennedy was assassinated. The band were at their best with songs lke "Help" and the experimental "Rubber Soul" and "Reolver" record which was the beginning of the band's greatness they were the precusor to their "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" record. John Lennon was a genius in writing good experiemntal rock sounds as he teames up with Paul McCartney they have created a body of work that has been special . There was a folk style of the Dyalnesque "You've Gotr to Hide your Love Away" to the pschedelic Indian influenced "Tomorrow Never Knows" and the dramatic "A Day In The Life". The road was gettint to them and John's controversial comments that the beatles were more popular than Jesus which I kind of agree sorry to those religious freaks, I only agree based on album sales and ticket sales and they were the first stadium band, and have paved the way for rock bands to play in large arenas and stadiums, that even their music wasn't being heard since the screaming fans were out of control that they stopped touring altogether in August 1966 to be more a studio band and created great albums like "Sgt Pepper" "Magical Mystery Tour soundtrack", "The Beatles; White album", the soundtrack to "Let It Be' and the final studio album which I call it their masterpiece better than the overrated Sgt Pepper its "Abbey Road". Let's not forget George Harrison , the strong silent member of the band who has been the group's musical backbone with his great guitar playing and songwriting as he did with "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" and his playing in "Day Tripper" and "Get Back" made him a ital group backbone and Ringo Starr the greatest time keeping drummer who kept the backbeat. The band split -up in September 1969 but their music had an everlasting inpact on alot of artists and musicians out there.
The Beatles in their final tour 1966 perform "Day Tripper"
The fab four in their hippie moment playing a song of peace and love it's John's "All You Need Is Love" recorded and filmed for the BBC-TV on June 25, 1967
The Beatles during their final years together at the Daid Frost Show performing Paul's "Hey Jude" which is a song dedicated to John's son Julian filmed on July 17, 1968 on BBC-TV
Here is a clip of the song "The End" which is one of the final songs The Beatles ever recorded as a group a poignat farewell to a great group opf great musicians recorded in August 1969 in Abbey Road Studios. John can really wail on his guitar and joined by george and Paul doing their guitar parts as you can see the band in their final photoshoots together done by Linda McCartney at John's twickenhurst estate in Londonjust one month before their break-up, the song sums it all of the end of an era but the legacy continues. August 1969
Just yesterday I got my se;f a new client in doing a set of paintings I am doing 8 x 10" painting for another client I am always excited to do new stuff I am always busy writing books working at my day job at Anton Miles Company and writing books for my onlinepiblishing company Blurb.com I am so stoked for new things into the future. I hae so many books to write and I am figuring out what I can do. I have a biography coming up , a fiction book that is both a dark comedy that deals with taboo subject and a recipe book on making drinks based on my bartending days.
Right now I hae this biography that I have researching and its a very good book of course there are musical history of this great man that I am working on but there is a tragic side to it. Writing this book on this person whose music has been the soundtrack of everyday life has been daunting ,the last thing I want to be foreseen as a bad guy I have concenrtade on his musical genius.
The first book I will publish will be a book I have been working for two years simply called "The Whole"
"The Whole" is basically about a young man who has been struggling to find his own identity of himself, found himself a job and is making up money he had lost after being unemployed and is finding his way out of his family's household and struggles being a good person and a good worker and falls into the trappings of the demons like sex and drugs but I will save that when I hit my book in the stands this June or July depending on the pages I have written.
I just arrived in Tribeca with a new place to live and new place to make cetrain transitions in my life. I loe the scenery and I love to live nothing more in the most recreational and the most artistic place to live. I would like to share with my pals on the clip of what is it like to live in with peace and quiet. The bad part of it was the unfortunate 9/11 attacks on our motherland. But that's another story. Living in Tribeca is peaceful and very comfortable place to enjoy and play in a park or even go swimming or play sports there or do your artwork there which is what I love and even writing books.
OK let's talk about this rich tycoon Donald J Trump.he has become somehat of a media whore for the past 20 something years. He is a smart business man and a ruthless one and he gets things done and I give him credit for one. He has a trophy wife and wealthy probaby worth $3 billion and has a reality TV show The Apprentice.He has his real estate companies and golf businesses and so forth. But he has been a bit of flirt when it came to his intentions of running for the most powerful job in the country. It is so painful to watch this buffoon make a complete ass of himself on TV declaring on the president's birth certificate for a number of times. but Mr. President wasn't gonna take it son he released it to the public and authentic and thta was a way to shut Mr. Trump's big mouth and his big ego that is inflated in his head or hair.Mr. President even interrupted Donald's "Celebrity Apprentice" to announce his wacking the most wanted terrorist Osame Bin Laden.His outrageous comments had ridiculed them even by comedian Seth Myers and even Mr. President at a recent event.Even in interviews, he comes across as agitated and defensive which shows he doesn't have the temperament to be President, and gien comments from his former employees as difficult. Yes he is a tough boss so is mine, and he should stay where he does best
The only thing running in Donald is his mouth. Now I never liked politics and have been very cynical about the political landscape. Talk about career suicide? . Now he announced he is not running for office after all . Smart move Donald, you have no chance in hell to be our leader. He is best at doing more seasons of the Apprentice or Celebrity Apprentice. Here is something I post on trump and what do you guys think
Ok let's talk about the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame or should I say the Rock n' roll hall of shame which is what I call it. The institution has been a big disappointment to the rock community . the group has inducted acts like Madonna, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash, Neil Diamond, and those dancing queens ABBA, instead of real rockers like Free, Bad Company, Yes, Thin Lizzy, Chicago (The Terry Kath era), Cheap Trick, Judas Priest , Kiss or Deep Purple . what the fuck is wrong with the hall of fame.
What a bunch of fucking idiots that committee has utterly ignored the bands who were around and put non rock acts that hae no business being in the hall of fame. Madonna is pop and basically is not the greatest singer but a mere performance artist, ABBA , the two men and girl team which produced songs like "Dancing Queen" or "Mama Mia" for their sugray pop songs that is no rock n' roll. Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash are rap artist . One thing is the hip hop hall of fame or the pop hall of fame but they ain't rock n' roll. Neil Diamond he is basically pop and middle of the road type.
Jann Wenner and his cronies are too political and always ommitted the real rockers for his won taste. This is why they are called The rock n' roll hall of shame and the institution should be called unless thye get it right next time and we will held these morons accountable for their actions in choosing real rockers with the artificial ones. ABBA rock n' roll ? you got to to be fucking kidding me.
