Rain

If the Bapu had one dollar for every plugin he's ever bought, can you imagine how many more plugins he could buy (admitting that there were anymore to buy)? I'm lucky that I've been out of the loop for so long. As I expected, a lot of the software would need a paid upgrade in order for me to be able to run it on a new machine so I couldn't even install it - Waves, XLN, Pro Tools among others. That's a headache for another time, if I decide to go that way. I'm guessing it'll be the case with older IK stuff like Miroslav and SampleMoog and all. Not that I used them a lot, but, still... And I just don't have the energy to look up and retrieve all the single plug-ins that weren't part of a bundle. I think I had a MixBus license too, I wonder what version, and if there's any upgrade available. A back up DAW is always nice, and I seem to recall that they always have great deals on upgrades.

Thus begins the tedious process of downloading, installing, and authorizing all the plugins, virtual instruments, and libraries that were installed on my old Mac - and with it, the joy of having to try to remember and reset my credentials for each of the dozens of developers. And then, to transfer all my custom presets, samples, and libraries… Fortunately, I do not rely all that much on 3rd party plugins - or so I thought before I began. I've been out of that loop for so many years. A lot of stuff I didn't remember I own. I realized that I was a version or two behind for some things that will no longer install, like EZ Drummer. Although SD2 installed just fine, so the upgrade can definitely wait. I dread the Waves part - I have a feeling that that's where trouble will come from. Hopefully I'm wrong. I'm not sure about Pro Tools either. I USED to have a perpetual license, but that version must be incompatible with my machine... Not that I ever use PT all that much. I used to curse the fact that software companies forced you to install a manager to download and install your plugins, but I must say that in view of this daunting task, I am now extraordinarily grateful for them. The user experience has improved dramatically. I’m still not over the fact that I've had to say farewell to Dimension/Rapture/Z3t4 - they were an integral part of my workflow for almost 20 years, featured in practically every single bit of music that I wrote and arranged during that period. Imagine having even just a tenth as many plugins and libraries as Bapu - the logistics of reinstalling all of that...

Krokus - Headhunter

Front 242 - Headhunter

Front Line Assembly - Virus

Nah - go ahead my friend. After all, you have the King of Rock and Roll on your side.

Oops. I rushed in. For who would not know - YYZ is code for the Toronto Airport.

Toronto - Your Daddy Don't Know

Wumpscut - Rush

Depeche Mode - Rush

Tom Cochrane - Mad Mad World

Wanda Jackson - Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad

PiL - Bags

Goldfrapp - Paper Bag

Stone Temple Pilots - Trippin' on a Hole in Paper Heart

This I cannot and would not argue with. I've been thinking about it for some time while I was trying to figure out what it was with The Who that didn't sit right with me. And one element is that I'm not much of a fan of drums as a lead instrument - that type of hyperactive drumming. Mitch Mitchell did it with Hendrix and I've never been a fan, but Jimi's playing and his music seem to make it easier for me to ignore, something that's not happening with The Who most of the time. But it's what they set out to accomplish and they succeed, so for anyone who can appreciate it, it has to be fantastic.

I guess me neither - but for some reason they seemed to appeal to the same bunch of fellows. As did Kraftwerk.

I remember, that yeah. I say I don't like prog, but there are lots of exceptions - I like some King Crimson, and Harmonium from back home, whom I remember you being familiar with. A few Jethro Tull songs. But it's more of an occasional thing. I remember sometimes playing one or two Gentle Giant numbers that I liked early in the evening when I was DJ'ing (we had a very diverse clientele), but these prog guys would get really excited and start bringing Van der Graaf Generator and Tangerine Dream tapes, asking me to play stuff that would have cleared the place... You had to be careful with them. Same with the Iron Maiden crowd, albeit in a different register. But I guess it's not all black or white. I'm a huge fan of Voivod, Opeth, and Tool, and apparently they're considered prog by some people. For me Tool is Tool, I don't really think in terms of genre.

Jimi Hendrix - Tax Free

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Stone Free

Free - Alright Now

Actually, had this on my mind all day... Cream - I Feel Free

They've all relocated here to Las Vegas. As they say, hair metal didn't die, it moved to Vegas. I swear 1 musician out of 3 around here has played with L.A. Guns, Ratt, or Quiet Riot. L.A.'s just too expensive it seems.

My first taste of Genesis was Mama from the eponymous album, in 6th grade. I used to call the local radio all the time and ask them to play it. I still love that one, but I'd be hard pressed to name you another song on that record, besides That's All. A few years later, my mother bought a bunch of vinyls from a friend who was getting rid of stuff and she got me Duke, Abacab, and the aforementioned Genesis (along with Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Beethoven's 5th and 8th). I mostly remember the first cut off Duke - the drums I guess... Not sure what it is about Trick - as I said, I'm not usually a big fan of prog rock, with a few exceptions, but this one always got through to me.