craigb

Not sure about that! In one year, at a Guitar Center itself, I spent over $40,000... No internet required!

Gene never looked like this! ?

I didn't understand it back then, but I was constantly on the search for a much harder rock sound. This was why almost all of the bands that I listened to featured humbucker guitars. I didn't get into any of the most popular bands and artists that use single-coils until much later. The upshot though, was I didn't have to wait years for a "next album" to come out so that was awesome! Rock and Roll Over was definitely harder rock than anything I had heard prior (which was mostly Beach Boys and Elton John type stuff, heck, the bulk of my collection back then was Classical!). The next big game changer was when Van Halen's first album came out. Then the bands that use Rectifiers. I remember when I had the chance to use a Marshall full-stack for the first time ("rented" from Guitar Center for that one, big gig we did when we opened for Blue Oyster Cult back in January of 1984!). I would just keep hitting an Am chord over and over while standing in front of the stack. Orgasmic! ? Unlike most of the people I knew, I rarely when to concerts when I was young. Sure, I missed out on the "experiences" but I could also afford to buy all the albums so my friends would always be over to listen over and over. As I got older, I loved to go out and see local bands play live, but I was never a fan of the big arena-type shows.

They say having a consistent sleep schedule (whichever you choose) is best, but I've never been able to do that. I always sleep in chunks. A standard sleep cycle is about 90 minutes long so I tend to have two or three sets of these throughout the night/day. Fortunately, I'm currently working from home which makes it nice. When I'm awake, I work. If I'm tired, I take a nap. I always hated trying to stay awake to keep on someone else's schedule! Not only was it annoying for me, but the work quality suffered.

Although I had a VERY short time playing live in a band, a few of the April Wine songs were definitely in the rotation. I think listening to their discography might be just the ticket for today! (I only fell asleep at 7:30 pm and am now up and starting to work at 1:30 am! Go figure...)

Cool guy in person too!

I keep checking the Deals forum, but CC Larry hasn't found a cure to sell us yet! ?

It's called G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) We've all had it!

This was my first "rock" album!

Wait.. You mean you're actually expected to buy something??? ?

That's not the Pro version! (There's no cow bell included!) ?

My Cake walked away a long time ago...

Hmm... So, what was Rick most famous for again? ? ?

Well, I guess they could have just worked around it, ya?

One side-note about that gig, one piece of gear I did not have was this vocal sound-processor that was needed for a couple of minor effects. Unfortunately, airport security zapped it so, on one Styx song which requires a kind of ping-pong delay, I got to sing the word from one side of the stage while the keyboardist did it from the other. The crowd just thought is was part of the show!

When my friends from the Hollywood area (the Los Angeles one, not the original one that's in Portland!) came up for a two-night gig at one of the casinos in Longview (one night as a Boston cover band and one as a Styx cover band), I provided almost all of the backline. Since I had most of the same gear they were able to just email me their settings and not risk sending their gear through the airport x-rays (see next post!). I had fun playing roadie (and playing the soundcheck) but, just as their intro music was starting, my friend realized the wireless transmitter for his guitar was dead, so I ran out there, slammed a new battery in (yep, I was prepared!) and had just exited when they had to hit their first chord. Good times! ?

Yes! As you get older, a good streaming service is very important! ?

"I read the news today, OMG!"

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I followed my own advice! In addition to a nice, 43" 4k TV (that replaces two very old monitors that were dying - heck, they aren't even from this millennium! ?), I picked up a new office chair (LOVE IT!) and a few other things. Yep, I'm broke again! ?

I just noticed how Rick's name and instrument got a larger font than the rest of the band members! ?

It's a clone!!!