'Scales

Very nice. All the best to ya!

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ looks like Australia has 1200+ cases and rising. You can check the link to see your own country.

well Bill, having been in fairly similar position (age, talent, experience) my approach was to write my own songs so I knew I could play rhythm and sing them at the same time to an acceptable (?) level, then find guys of similar level who really enjoy getting together to play original songs and a crack lead guitarist (which gives the band credibility, and hey...if you write stuff that is cool to solo over these guys can still have a blast hanging out even if they do other more 'serious' stuff elsewhere). Thing is, relatively simple songs can sound great once you add drums, bass, lead solo's, bit of backing vocal etc so I just make sure to write stuff that is relatively straightforward rock but with some unexpected twists, changes in pace/volume etc... but still pretty damned basic. People kind of like listening to that in normal pub gig situations rather than OTT virtuoso stuff I find. good luck - rock on!

My story is quite different....I bought my electric guitar when I was a teenager but never did more than strum away and play a few basic songs the way I heard them (no effort to really understand how they were played)...and that was it for 20+ years - the thing basically gathered dust...until I was in my early 40's. Then a guy I'd just recently met said he had learned a bit of bass and was jamming with a few other locals and I should come along. I did, only to find I'd hardly heard any of the songs these guys (5-15 years older than me) played and I couldn't keep up. But I enjoyed their company and kept going along even though I knew I added nothing to the jams. Then a gig was offered at the local pub - the pay was 3 beers and a BBQ sandwich for each of us. The friend on bass was going to be overseas and the band leader (guitarist) said he'd only do it if I filled in on bass...problems for me were A) I had never played a bass...ever. B) I had just had carpel tunnel surgery on my left hand and couldn't use it yet and the gig was in a couple of weeks...so I said 'sure - let's do it!' so I borrowed a cheap fake P bass and took some painkillers and figured out a bit of bass that sounded like I was doing something at least (no time, let alone talent, to try and learn how the original bass players played the songs) and showed up to the gig and played with my wrist bandaged. Even jumped on guitar for one song which I learned the correct lead for (Dead Flowers) and sung on another (Loving Cup) and basically it was a blast - even though we were pretty terrible I learned that people watching didn't care and enjoyed it. I played about 20 gigs with them in the next 3 years in a rhythm guitar position they created for me and accumulated many great stories and fun times. We improved a lot. ...so now a few years on I have my own originals alt-rock band performing songs largely written and sung by me - we aren't anything special, just middle aged blokes rocking out...and the buzz just gets stronger!!! Rock n roll!

RIP. Unlikely to feature on lists of 'greatest guitarists' but how many of us will pen such elegantly simple beautiful and heart-wrenching songs for an angel fairy goddess to sing?

"Carmelo" "Yes?" "Get me Big Bill here by 6:30" "it's done"

Going on 26 years. Teenagers when we got together. It ain't always perfect, nothing is, but we've always been there for each other and I certainly have no plans for any future marriages come what may!

Well now, ...I mean Dave was bad but but probably knew it and made some effort to keep it kinda fun, ....but seriously. ..that Toto thing ...What the mutherfk'n son of f'k was that ??

Good stuff! Seeing Dancing in the Moonlight reminded me that my previous band used to play a rocking version of a completely different song by the same name - Aussie aboriginal band rock at its best and great fun to play. Check it out:

Hi TG - check out the 60's Epi's - they are quite interesting and as I say same factory, builders, materials, quality and price as the Gibsons of the time. Some solids near identical (my 61 Melody Maker the same as an Epiphone Olympic Special) and my 69 Epi Olympic (which has Epi's unique mini humbucker) very different shape to an SG. They tend to be less expensive to buy now than the Gibson equivalent and probably sold less so Gibson took the opportunity to make them in Asia and combat the Japanese 'cheapies' from the 70's on. For example - the Beatles' Casinos were like a Gibson ES330 at the time. 🙂

Well actually that's not entirely correct - in the 50s and throughout the 60's Gibson built all Epi's in the same USA factories to the same quality specs by the same people to the Gibson branded guitars, with some models pretty much identical (most hollows, semis) and some different shapes (most solids). They sold at virtually the same prices and lined up much like say Buick and Oldmobile cars might have at the time. the 'inspired by Gibson' could be a legal thing to combat other makers saying..."well they obviously don't care that much about protecting the 'trademark' headstock design...."but I'm not sure.

You'd have to have been part of the discussions and rehearsals I guess but it's unfortunate on both sides, but they both have points too... for the drummer - he would be upset not to be part of the recognition by actually playing, but there would be other ways he could be involved and revered which he could embrace? for the band...if they are doing a 'career spanning medley' I get that you need to really rehearse that - it's new and may well have unique linking element and a structure where you need your drummer to be spot on or it could really suffer live, but could they have also done a regular song straight with him on drums as part of the show? A bit of give and take required on both sides by the sound of it.

They frustrate me...I should love their stuff, hard rocking with 2 guitars...an American AC/DC! ...but maybe I've missed a few gems in their catalogue? Some of the early hits are fine, but I didn't like the stuff that came out when I was actually old enough to have it as current (Perm Vacation, Pump...). Maybe my favourite song of theirs is My Fist Your Face, but even that really is like a Mick Taylor era Stones song revved up a bit to me. I wish they did it for me but they never quite have.

Thanks Rabs - those 2 LPs in the video look great - lovely wood and bursts. I like that they are rolling the edges of the boards, that will help give them a nice feel when played in a shop and many won't even realise why. The Epi's look like they are closing the gap!

9. Recognise many of your audience are probably what you call 'wage slaves' and may not care to hear how successful you think you are.

Podunk.

I thought it was pretty strong, as you'd expect from those guys. Drums are amazing - if there's a better drummer than Danny they must be something! i actually think all their albums are quite different to each other, but Lateralus is the standout for me, and it's title track is possibly my favourite song by any band ever (it's right up there at any rate)...and I'm in no way a massive Tool devotee.

Notably Phillip, Philip, Ron and Joel have given me cause to smile and think over the years and many others (current and departed) have contributed enjoyable content. It's a shadow of its c2014 self, but still worth a visit here and there!

Lennon & McCartney Tijuana Style.

Stay safe Dig. Looks like it's just about preserving life today. The big life-changing decisions so many will need to make are going to have to wait quite a while into the coming months, so meantime that's all you can do...keep safe.

True that Dig. Ours (Mount Nardi Fire) apparently was a reignition of a fire from back in September thought to be out but it keeps smouldering in roots underground and in ancient logs until you get a windy enough day. Ffs - As I typed that the big helicopter with the water bucket just flew overhead - must be on again round here somewhere. Can't see any fires out the back but it has been quite windy today - hopefully just a flare up. hope your place is ok - I've stopped watching the news but I understand it's really bad down there mate.

Hey Dig, I happened by and saw this. Sorry for your troubles at the moment mate - we went through it for basically the whole of November. Never seen it so dry, then it went up when an old fire reignighted up in the hills. Many places like yours with homes protected by locals and fire brigade but out buildings lost. We have communes everywhere up in the bush so it's a great credit to all who saved the dwellings up the creeks. We evacuated voluntarily for a few days when it was like a warzone here. Women and kids pretty much all left the village for a week or two, no school etc. very eerie time. We got nice rain on Xmas eve and now everything is green again, but we'll be wanting follow up rain soon. hope your life gets back to normal soon as mate.

Maybe play 4-6 gigs rather than 1-2. Meeting a few more local bands now that we can hook up with so it could happen but we are around 50 yo now and it's a hobby so if we do that we tend not to write more than one new song that's gig ready in a year, but hey we have a set so.... maybe sell the 2 old guitars (I really only need 1) and various pedals and stuff I've accumulated which is now little more than clutter. I guess I'm for keeping it simple !

Second gig for the year (about the normal rate then) on Saturday at pub rock venue in local city. Old school dark smallish room with proper cramped stage full of gear, the old style coloured lights/heaters hung above us, and it's about 100F/35C temperature in the room and the aircon's dead. People are taking up smoking just for an excuse to duck out to the cooler night air it seems. A proper originals rock gig ....sweating alt rock oriented crowd, door b!tches on duty and merch table of goodies. We are middle of the 3 bands for an hour set and the PA is feckin superb, with sound guy working a massive desk...can tell from the opening act we will sound the best we possibly can. All good on stage except for copious sweat meaning hard to hold pick and fear of electric shocks from mics. We aren't perfect - never are, it's live rock after all, but more than adequate, well received, and heaps of fun! Final band is awesome - total pros, so good to ease back over a beer or two and take in their rocking set. Home around midnight. Sweet deal. Rock n roll!

DR Feelgood ...not a long drive from London!