chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
He's only asking 575K, Smitty
How did you get into the guitar?
- Thread starter Catmandue
- Start date
He's only asking 575K, Smitty
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Another of my favorite bursts here is the Beast.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I just love hearing it from the guys who actually own some of the legendary guitars.
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
Let's see......
After seeing various guitarists jam with Glen Campbell on his TV show, I was obsessed with Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, and Chet Atkins. I was seven, and my parents didn't want me involved in a passing fad I would get bored with. They instead, got me into the orchestra at school because we had my grandfather's old violins in the basement.
After years of being forced to play classical music on a violin, I started hearing prog rock in the early seventies and asked my teacher at school to direct my lessons to something more "fun." He would have nothing of it, and would dismiss my inquisitiveness towards getting my violin electrified. When I was about twelve my parents bought me a really bad Garcia Classical guitar. I still have it. I could still probably limbo my large frame under the action. I tried learning with that. At that point I was starting to get into Jimi Hendrix, Big Brother & Holding Co., Jefferson Airplane, Traffic, and a lot of other underground sounds.
Finally, when I was 15, I bought a Japanese Epiphone Coronet, and then an Ampeg Gemini II from my guitar teacher. When I was 16, I saw Blue Ӧyster Cult live with the full blown laser show. I bought a Gibson SG a few weeks later, and wanted to start playing in a band. It took another ten or more years before I got into anything serious, but I was finally playing out at place like Narcissus, The Rat, The Channel, and Boston clubs.
50 years later, I'm still playing musical instruments. Just because my grandfather walked away from a couple of symphonies, and never touched the violin again doesn't mean that I will walk away. I still haven't learned any Jerry Reed or Roy Clark stuff. But, I can play a bit of "Wichita Lineman." My parents and family are still non-supportive of me playing the guitar. They all give me crap, and they can all go screw themselves for all I care. I've been in bands forever. I have a real job to rely on in case I don't become a rock star, but I'm still trying. So much for a passing fad.
I've even managed to build a few sweet guitars, and have some more on the bench. After a long week of busting my balls to pay the bills, I have a gig Saturday night to let loose and have some fun. Fun is what it's all about.
After seeing various guitarists jam with Glen Campbell on his TV show, I was obsessed with Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, and Chet Atkins. I was seven, and my parents didn't want me involved in a passing fad I would get bored with. They instead, got me into the orchestra at school because we had my grandfather's old violins in the basement.
After years of being forced to play classical music on a violin, I started hearing prog rock in the early seventies and asked my teacher at school to direct my lessons to something more "fun." He would have nothing of it, and would dismiss my inquisitiveness towards getting my violin electrified. When I was about twelve my parents bought me a really bad Garcia Classical guitar. I still have it. I could still probably limbo my large frame under the action. I tried learning with that. At that point I was starting to get into Jimi Hendrix, Big Brother & Holding Co., Jefferson Airplane, Traffic, and a lot of other underground sounds.
Finally, when I was 15, I bought a Japanese Epiphone Coronet, and then an Ampeg Gemini II from my guitar teacher. When I was 16, I saw Blue Ӧyster Cult live with the full blown laser show. I bought a Gibson SG a few weeks later, and wanted to start playing in a band. It took another ten or more years before I got into anything serious, but I was finally playing out at place like Narcissus, The Rat, The Channel, and Boston clubs.
50 years later, I'm still playing musical instruments. Just because my grandfather walked away from a couple of symphonies, and never touched the violin again doesn't mean that I will walk away. I still haven't learned any Jerry Reed or Roy Clark stuff. But, I can play a bit of "Wichita Lineman." My parents and family are still non-supportive of me playing the guitar. They all give me crap, and they can all go screw themselves for all I care. I've been in bands forever. I have a real job to rely on in case I don't become a rock star, but I'm still trying. So much for a passing fad.
I've even managed to build a few sweet guitars, and have some more on the bench. After a long week of busting my balls to pay the bills, I have a gig Saturday night to let loose and have some fun. Fun is what it's all about.
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chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
The Midway in Jamaica Plain. I'm in The Alice Highland Clan. We're on first at 4:00. It's the annual Hixxgiving show that Hixx puts on to collect food for the local womens shelters.
Awe man! You’re gonna be done before I can get there! Working until 4:30 ish 25-30 miles South. I know The Midway Cafe well enough though. Please feel free to give me a heads up for anything upcoming
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Did someone say " Money for nothing... And your chicks for free?"
Needless to say, all these guys are why I picked up guitar.
Needless to say, all these guys are why I picked up guitar.
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
Awe man! You’re gonna be done before I can get there! Working until 4:30 ish 25-30 miles South. I know The Midway Cafe well enough though. Please feel free to give me a heads up for anything upcoming
My regular band, Concrete Haze is playing at Koto in Salem on Feb. 1. We're playing with Kind and Worshipper. It's my birthday party. It's a bit of a haul for you, but luckily close to home for me. I'm not sure when the next Alice Highland gig will be.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Once I got a good dose of all manner of rockers, I learned that so many of them got their chops from emulating fellas like this.
Noted sir! Yes, twice as far for me....but.....sushi....and beer....
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I knew I was half black. Some of my favorite players sure were black blues men.
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
They do excellent sushi! Salem has a really great rawk scene these days. There are a couple of breweries, Koto, Opus, Brodie's, and then the Artist's Row on Klopp Alley in the summer. Plus one can book the old city hall and some other places around town. Beverly is also starting to get more live music again.
Bummed I missed you at the C Note...that’s crazy close by. We’ve been asked to play there...couldn’t put a date together back then.
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
That was a weird night. We were originally supposed to play earlier in the night, then moved to last. It was one of the Rat Beach Party shows. I was psyched to be on the same bill as Joe Mazzari's (ex Two Saints) new band, but the types of bands between them and us didn't quite fit our sounds. It would have been nice to play around the same time. Since it was also the Friday night 12:00 am set of a holiday weekend, we played to a pretty empty club. It was past all the old timers' bed time. The band before us playing out of tune covers didn't help the cause any either.
That’s kind of a downer... I haven’t been there in a long time.
Out of tune covers...between original bands...on a short set, many band night...yep, weird would probably sum that up.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Knowing stuff like this is possible, is what got me into the guitar. Who can argue with wanting to get enjoyment from some pieces of wood and 4 or so strings, and being able to do it from childhood till one breathes his last breath?