mikel

All I wanted to do after school was be in a band with my mates, and make our own music. I got a toolmaking apprenticeship, but that was merely a way to make money to buy equipment. Gave up toolmaking after I finished the apprenticeship and for two years gave the band everything. It didn't work out, we weren't good enough and the songs weren't good enough, but I wouldn't have missed those two years for anything. I have played in covers bands over the years and enjoyed it, but It never came close to the feeling of taking on the World with my mates, playing our own music.

Just use a 100 watt valve amp. Sorted.

Agreed, Iike them but prog? never.

Wish someone wanted a drummer in North Tyneside. Sadly I am not under 25, or into death metal, nor do I double on trombone. Doh.

Of course not, it was a personal observation. I don't claim they can't play, I simply mean that for me it looks like some fat blokes doing covers.

Ian Anderson, one of my all time greats from the late 60s to the 80s, should have given up quite a few years ago. He can't sing any more, his voice is shot, and it pains me to see the Tull legacy tarnished.

BB was Blues, and beyond rock star. And that shape for most of his life. So he doesn't count.

Just listened to "A great day for freedom" by Dave Gilmour, from the Live in Gdansk album, again. Never fails to tip me over the edge emotionally. How can a guy playing the guitar conjure up so much raw emotion?

Agreed. If I want to see a bunch of old, fat, bald blokes playing covers I can go down the local pub on a Saturday night.

Highway to Hell.

Well, I saw Focus a couple of years ago. The music was great but Van Leer looked like a fat bald roadie. I thought he was when he first came on stage. May as well have stayed at home and listened to the albums. Aive gig is about more than just the music.

Agreed. Some early albums were re released in faux stereo and were not a patch on the original mono. I am far from a mono is best freak but the originals seem to have more depth and punch. Revolver and Rubber Soul their best albums for me.

For me, when they get fat. The Stones can, or could, rip Charlie, pull it off cos they still look like rock stars. A big fat legend just doesn't work for me.

Are they wired series ot parallel?

This. Copying something, perfectly, takes patience and technique, and is fine if that's what you want to do. If you have the instrument and the hours to spare most can do it. I have learned by rote a couple of guitar solos from tab and can knock them out at will. Ask me to come up with a solo myself and I am lost.

Has anyone ever heard a festival crowd say no, when asked if they are having a good time? And if "Are you having a good time" Is the best the singer can come up with, I wouldn't bother.

This. There are many, many guitarists who can now play like Hendrix. But he was the original and came up with that style and those songs. You can be an obsolute virtuoso on an instrument, but coming up with great music is the trick.

If you only have half an hour just play the music. It's different for headliners, they have the time and the audience have, in the main, come to see them. More so if you are a covers band.

On a personal note, I would much rather stumble on a cheap bass that sounds and plays superbly, and gets loads of positive feedback from other musos, than a top end super expensive "Name" bass that does the same. Because I would expect the top end bass to sound great, and so would everyone else. Nothing beats a one in a thousand cheapy blowing the doors off.

Agreed. I assume the top end is where workmanship and man hours, for want of a better phrase, impact much more on the finished price. The low end will suffer more from timber and component price hikes.

Living in the Past. Glen Cornick.

Of course, but one bassists perfect finish and setup is not the same as the next bassist. The guy I use sets up or mods the instrument to suit the player.

Sorry, I read that as "Importing a bass from Neanderthals". I thought it was a rant about stupid sellers. Carry on.

Same here, but more so in 1970. Three chords, write some songs, get mates to learn another guitar, and a bass, and pray for a mate daft enough to buy some drums that he can only play at band practice cos they are far too loud to play at home. Now? , I have 3 basses, 3 guitars, two amps and cabs, a drum kit and an E kit. Finding people to play with is considerably harder.

I wouldn't even class Kisss, Journey or Mellencamp as Rock. There is so much to chose from, even if you stick to 60s 70s 80s. The list is almost endless, I would love a slot on PR.