3/16/2012 ( Johnny Ramone)

New York Magazine has some excerpts from an upcoming Johnny Ramone autobiography that appears to have a lot of information on the philosophy of building the band. Johnny was very much in to wardrobe it seems and he also offers this bit about the business of hitting the stage...

Some bands blow it before they even play. The most important moment of any show is when a band walks out with the red amp lights glowing, the flashlight that shows each performer the way to his spot on the stage. It’s crucial not to blow it. It sets the tempo of the show; it affects everyone’s perception of the band.

Now all the mental notes I had been taking over the years came into play. No tuning up onstage. Synchronized walk to the front of the stage and back again. Joey standing up straight, glued to the mike stand—for the whole set. Keeping it really symmetrical. It was a requirement we adopted, a regimen that started immediately when we’d hit the stage, to make sure you immediately go into the song and not lose that excitement before you even start.

3/16/2012 (In Outer Space You Don't Need A Guitar Strap)

 From Larrivée Guitars...

Canadian astronaut (and guitarist) Col. Chris Hadfield (soon to be the first Canadian to command the International Space Station) recently stopped by the Larrivée factory in Vancouver to see where the Larrivée Parlor guitar (that's currently on the ISS) was built - and he talked to us about the challenges and joys of playing guitar in space.

Hadfield points out that there is no need for a strap in zero gravity and that one needs to adjust some technique issues as well.

He will be doing some recording on the space station but, will wait 'til he is earthbound again to do the mixing...maybe it's a compression thing.

Check out the clip. Oh yeah, if you've never heard Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Space Guitar", you must do so by all means.

3/14/2012 (Wow! Jerry Garcia's Takamine Is Worth Way More Than His Harley)

Artdaily has the details about an upcoming auction of Jerry stuff...

Instruments on offer will include a well-known Garcia acoustic Takamine guitar, as seen on the album covers for Pure Jerry Vol. 8 and Ragged But Right, played from 1985-1988 for acoustic shows (est. $100,000-$150,000); an Ibanez guitar, designed for Jerry Garcia by Ibanez and Bob Weir in 1977 (est. $50,000-$60,000); and a Billy Kreutzmann drum set (est. $10,000-$15,000).

In addition, there will be a 1983 Jerry Garcia-owned Harley Davidson, featured on the cover of the book Playing in the Band by David Gans (est. $40,000-$60,000). The auction also includes handwritten set lists, Garcia’s sunglasses, the famous Skull and Roses banner from The Grateful Dead Movie and rare items from the Wall of Sound!

So, you could work out some "Deep Ellum" on the same axe Jerry plays in this clip or hit the open road on the hog and save up to a hundred grand...

Which would you choose?

3/13/2012 (tattoo cachet)

Well, let's see' last Friday, in a post about the upcoming Fender IPO we said this...

it won't take long for the stock to be over-valued as the same cats that decorate their basement rec rooms with $17,000 Custom Shop axes...and Fender Eric Clapton Signature EC Twinoluxs...Will no doubt be using their framed Fender stock certificates as wall candy but...all in all; Fender should be strengthened.

 It appears that we aren't the only ones thinking that Fender stock will be a trendy choice. Businessweek reports...

“It’s up there with Harley (HOG),” says Tom Taulli at InvestorPlace’s IPO Playbook, “as a company that people love so much they’re willing to tattoo the logo on themselves.” That tattoo cachet, as it were, could lure additional investors when the stock starts trading in a few months.

It turns out that the "tattoo cachet" really does exist. A quick image search turned up a great number of items like these...

And, there are a fair number of tattoo songs out there as well. We've decided to go with Rory Gallagher because of his long-time association with Fender...

3/12/2012 (Liona Boyd)

"I was told basically by the doctors ... that I would never play guitar again. Can you imagine?"-Liona Boyd

That's from a an inspiring story at The Star Phoenix called "Guitar's first lady reinvents herself".

Liona Boyd had a well established career as a virtuoso classical guitarist when she was confronted with focal dystonia, a medical condition that developed in her right hand. As a result, she had to alter her technique and change her repertoire.

She has released a couple of albums that feature her voice and is soon to release a third.

These videos show a sort of before and after...

The Liona Boyd website.

3/9/2012 (Fender IPO)

There is a lot of talk about the news that Fender plans to sell some shares of stock.

Businessweek has some interesting analysis...

Fender Musical Instruments Corp., the largest seller of guitars in the U.S., plans to sell as much as $200 million worth of shares in an initial public offering in a bid to bring more Eric Clapton to China.


The company, which increased sales 13 percent to $700.6 million last year, sees growth coming from emerging markets such as China and India as guitar-based music becomes more popular in those nations.

“We intend to extend our reach to a broader global consumer base,” Fender said. The brand is “closely associated with the birth of rock 'n' roll and has a strong legacy in music and in popular culture.”

Hey, if guitar-based music becomes more popular  in markets like China, that's a good thing, right? But, is that true? Are the Chinese picking up on all of the subtle elements of the guitar-based music culture?

Take a look at the trailer for Kevin Fritz's film Wasted Orient; it's clear that some are embracing the Spinal Tap aesthetic...

I think that there is no way to know whether the Fender IPO will affect the future quality of the products but, I tend to think that the stock will prosper. It might be a good buy if you can get it immediately after it goes on sale but, it won't take long for the stock to be over-valued as the same cats that decorate their basement rec rooms with $17,000 Custom Shop axes...

and Fender Eric Clapton Signature EC Twinoluxs...

Will no doubt be using their framed Fender stock certificates as wall candy but...all in all; Fender should be strengthened.

3/8/2012 (Mastodon-System Of A Down)

Would you want to get in to a fight with this guy?

That's Brent Hinds, front man for Mastodon. He seems to be a pretty cheerful sort, good sense of humor and all. Check out this parody ad he did for an Atlanta bar and restaurant...

But, it turns out that Mr. Hinds is no stranger to scuffles, including one that involved bass player  Shavo Odadjian from System of a down that left Hinds in the hospital with a busted nose and a brain hemorrhage.


But, even though there was some blood, apparently no bad blood exists between Mastodon and System Of A Down who are on tour together in Australia.

Mastodon bass player, Troy Sanders, says it's all "a giant piece of false information"...

Mastodon and System Of A Down, we’re all friends. That was not the problem at all, that was a different issue. Our band is so far beyond removed from that incident, but it had nothing to do with… System Of A Down was there, but they’re our friends. It was a different individual that this altercation went down with.

Here's the complete interview....

...good to know...well some of it I guess.

HIGHlarious outtakes from the Hinds commercial...