RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

Helloween = iron maiden

Mmm... this could run and run . Queensryche = iron maiden / Judas Priest . Airforce = Ac/DC .

Anyway , regarding potential tragedy regarding my back ; I went to a gig at the Brixton Academy back in the '90s with a work associate . He decided he wanted to go to Tower Records in Piccadilly . Fair enough. We had a skinful . On going down some concrete steps on the way out , I slipped ! I didn't fall forward , as I was trying to not to look too inebriated , 🤦🤦so my back hit a few steps . Yes, I was in agony, and it was in the solar plexus area . I was very lucky . I struggled into work next day . Having to move around like John Wayne for a few days was painful and problematic obviously . As I say, I was lucky . Those of you who have bad backs have my sympathies.

But but ..it was like that from new . 😬

No! It was the castors trying to contain the excessive weight I put on . The sound of tortured mice was off-putting 😬

I was lucky to see him promoting the Rush film at the haymarket . He is a very good speaker , and you'll enjoy the Barbican 😼👍

Thanks for understanding Dad😼👍. Hope all is well with you . As you're the drummer, you are allowed to be the most knackered after a gig 😺

Totally agree with yoga and Pilates . From 2004-2006 I was seeing a personal trainer ( costly and a struggle financially ) who gave me a yoga/ Pilates weekly session , plus weights and some boxer size . Session was once weekly, and I used the gym 3-4 times a week . The feeling after each PT session was fantastic . The only issue was having to go back to the office / band practice/ commute home. Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated is an understatement . When my job was made redundant , I purchased a Pilates reformer ..big mistake ! Only because it was too big and awkward for my previous abode . 😬. Very noisy too . Having said that , I gave it to my builder for his missus when I moved home , and he gave me a discount here and there . There are places with reformers ,and they be worth trying out . Lots of stuff on YouTube these days.

Oops ! Just realised that my post was a bit insensitive .😬. Apologies ..and edited .

Just saw a YouTube review from Keithron Powell . I'll not invest when I can afford to . Before that , my initial thoughts were that somebody like Mike Portnoy would demo this for fun.. Of course my other thought was , that the punters wouldn't be impressed at 5he dog and duck due to the drums not being actual drums .

Back in 1992 my first ever gig ; me , guitarist , vocals , keyboards ..which incorporated drum machines . I have no idea what he was using . I know that there was an Akai sampler involved . It was the era of many, many plugs crammed into as many sockets as possible . That as just for him . I'll ask him more when I see him tomorrow over a couple of ciders .🍻 There were only a couple of hiccups but thankfully everything worked out fine . We did another 3 gigs with the same setup 🙀 An odd selection of covers , but we never did Phil Collins in a gorilla suit . I like electronic drums . Playing in a band situation though , I'd say that you have to be 'precise' and not much room for human mistakes if that makes sense . Not reall ideal for mustang sally ..

These synth boxes seem to have improved a hell of a lot over the years . Having said that , they still have the usual off-putting traits to them with the GK Pickup and latency on lower notes. I often thought of ways to get a fairly good selection of synth noises for bass that don't cost the earth . Electroharmonix released the synth9 among others for example . At the end of the day since getting into synths a few years back ( moogs and Waldorf with more to be added) , I think that it's best to keep polyphonic synth sounds away from the bass guitar. It is obviously ok for guitarists though . I found the synth 9 limiting , so I sold it . I love the Digitech Bass Syth Wah, and the Bass Whammy , although the latter is too big for my liking . I have a boss Me-8b , and Zoom B3 which which are ok in moderation . Not sure if the GK pickup damges the bass or guitar you may be using . 🤔 If so, then a back up should you have one would seem to be the way to go imho. What about menu diving ? It was bad enough trying to understand the Boss Me-8b when that came out I'll not invest . Times are hard , but it does seem you do get a lot for the money

The partridge family

Well, I saw John Mayall at the Hammy Odeon in the early 2000's . It was on a Tuesday , and not a stormy Monday . A little before my time when he was at the peak of his popularity . We were upstairs, which was very quiet and spacious . The people I went with were more into the older bluesy stuff than me , but I obviously had an open mind . We went for Stan Webb who was supporting . He was really good, and I saw him once before . Tbh ( and sorry if it offends) , but we were disappointed with John Mayall .. He seemed to have a touch of arrogance about him . Changed costumes a couple of times . Track suit bottoms ?!? The best part of his set imho , was when Mick Taylor joined him onstage . Mick Taylor.played on most of my favourite stones albums . In all honesty , the gig would have been better at a smaller venue / large pub on a Sunday . Anyay, fair play to him and a belated happy birthday 🎂. 90 impressive for sure .

While still at school, my sisters boyfriend gave me an acoustic guitar which was firewood really . He as trying to show me how to play Dr who riff . No plectrum, but a sixpence . As I got older I met with some new friends who had les Paul and strat copies . I I managed to persuade mummy to get me a nice black les Paul copy from the catalogue , along with a jh s practice amp . That never really worked out .. I was practicing feedback technices like Ted Nugent and jimi Hendrix . I even purchased a glass bottleneck for blues slides. Oh, and I had a large orange fuzz box . I sounded like Tom morello torturing cats . ( ok he wasn't around then ,but you get 5he picture) The amp didn't take long to have permanent distortion ,whether it was required or not . Sounded intermittent , but Metal. Said nice friend advised me ; " you have big hands , and a bass only has 4 strings ..try that". So , I got mummy to exchange guitar for a Hondo ii precision copy piece of heavy firewood from the catalogue . That pretty much got me heading into the right direction . All these episodes were done before I went to my first gig . Lemmy , and geezer were the artists on record that immediately wanted me to be like . However, being crushed at the music machine and the marquee and being right infront of stevie Harris , he as the first live bass player who I thought was phenomenal ..

This is true . It seems lbest to don't fear the reaper ( or one of the others ) 😬

I was at this gig . A few of the songs had to be done again for the video . I ended up taking a padded seat from the venue back with me on the underground .😬 Good times

Thanks for the heads up . I don't have Spotify , but will download on Audible

Thankfully never got into him . However, he showed his true colours at knebworth ('85 supporting purple etc) and suffered that day for his attitude 😆

Wow ! That's very professional 😃. Sounds like Lulu outtakes ...