John Lydon - Johhny Rotten

John Beverley - Sid Vicious

John Graham Mellor - Joe Strummer


Whats wrong with the name John???   <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">


The whole Punk genre was awash with people using other names....the reason? It made it harder for the DHSS to stop their giro(allegedely)!!!  Giro - free money from UK Govt. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">



Guys like Rat Scabies, Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Jet Black. Women like Soo Cat Woman, Poly Styrene, Arri Up, Pearl Harbour, Siouxsie Sioux, Bekki Bondage.


Some lovely names in there, Poly Styrene deserves special credit though!  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">



Craig.

152

(17 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

A lot of true words being spoken here. 


It shouldn't be forgotten though, that a substantial amount of the music that shaped later musicians tastes and ideas, peoples lifes and indeed society as a whole was written by artistes who were higher than an astronauts kite.


My opinion is that although the drugs side of the music industry maybe aint the cleverest thing for you to slide into, without it music would be a far poorer art form.


Maybe too much of a generalisation, but it's my opinion that the type of folks who get into making music are those of a creative slant, always looking for new ideas, new inspiration.

Bearing in mind that the use of drugs, particularly halucinogenics - whether they be mild or strong,  do open up the 'doors of perception'...as it were..for me it's no surprise that musicians or indeed ANY creative artistes try too harness them and use them for their own creative ends.


Sex?  Well everyones into that! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


Of course, it could just be that they enjoy that escape from reality. However it's a fair chance they were using drugs before they feel the need of escapism in the industry anyway.


In conclusion; Sex is good. Drugs, used in moderation are also good. Rock n Roll is fantastic.  Mix the 3, add some alcohol....man, you gotta party going on! 



Craig.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

153

(4 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

I defy anyone to beat this one.....The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">


Not exactly a funny name but, PJ Harvey started off as a 3 piece and then the singer Polly Jean Harvey carried on herself using what was her own name...PJ Harvey....and damned good she is!!



Craig.

154

(40 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Not an exhaustive list of what i'd like to play, just what I'd like to play at the moment.



David Bowie - Space Oddity

Oasis - Half The World Away

The Beatles - You've Got Too Hide Your Love Away.   Beautifull song.

Cat Stevens - Wild World.

Ocean Colour Scene - The Circle. They do a great acoustic version of this as well as the album version.



The TV over here was showing an advert recently where a bloke was strumming away to Life On Mars - David Bowie....sounded fantastic to me.



Craig.

155

(8 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Thanks for the advice. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


I'm quite surprised that the same makes of guitar can sound so different. That's definetely something to look out for when I get round to taking the plunge.

A martin might be a wee bit out of budget, though it can't hurt too take a look. Alzarez is a make I aint come across before so, again it's one I'll keep in mind.


Thanks again, I appreciate it. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

156

(8 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Thanks Al.


I know what you mean about the big shops in Glasgow. Where did you end up buying your Yamaha, if ye dont mind me asking?



Craig.

157

(8 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Maybe a small thing but, as was mentioned earlier, keep your thumb in the centre of the neck. It makes things so much easier. Also, when I'm playing a barre I place my thumb behind the 2nd finger and not the first finger thats making the barre. You probably do that yourself but if not, give it a go. It's much easier.


Oh, and if PJ Harvey can play barres so can you! Being a girl aint an excuse! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">




Craig.

158

(8 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I've been looking around the shops with a view to getting my first acoustic and finally plucked up the courage to pick one up and strum a little bit on it....the shop was empty! lol

What I'm looking for is a guitar that isn't too loud(as I live in an appartment with the noise pollution nazis beside and below me!) but gives a pleasant enough sound for strumming away in my living room. So Dreadnoughts are out!

My budget will be around the £500 mark, knowing this is a very competitive arena to be shopping in I'm hoping to get one that will serve me for many years to come. Any upgrade from this will be a venture into the major leagues, once my playing justifys such a purchase....a good few years to go there I reckon.

Anyway, what I came across was a Tanglewood TW45 Heritage.
<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/stockDetails.asp?cID=555&sID=1890" target="_blank"> http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/stockDetails.asp ?cID=555&sID=1890</a>
Solid mahogany back and sides, Cedar top.
It played well, the action seemed pretty good, barre chords were ringing through nicely without too much difficulty, decent pick up built into it...in short, I liked it a lot.


The RRP is £599, the shop will sell for £530 with a decent stand thrown in but no case.

My questions are;

MY only gripe was the fretboard seemed a bit slow compared to my Mexican Strat...Is that to be expected from an acoustic?
Does anyone have any experience of this or other Tanglewood guitars?
Does it seem a good deal?
Is there any other acoustics around this price I should be making a point of checking out?
Should this guitar with due TLC last me a good few years?

Any advice at all would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig.

159

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Well, I take it Primal Scream - Kill All Hippies, will be a big no no!  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">


I'd just like to echo the advice to play The Band - The Weight. Terrific song.


Anything by CCR, Crosbie, Stills, Nash and Young, Janis Joplin.


Maybe,

The Who - We're not gonna take it.

Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends.

The Doors - Spanish Caravan.

Hendrix - Hey Joe.


I reckon the hippies would maybe like that sort of stuff.


Craig.

160

(12 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

I'll need to give me gigging mate a shout, make sure he's up for it.


Cheers.


Craig.

A lot of very good singers there but, no Roger Daltrey??  Certainly up there amongst the best I reckon. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


I like these types of threads, it fascinates me to see what other people rate compared to myself.

Variety. That's what makes music so bloody good.


A few singers I rate for varying reasons, they might not be technically 'the best' but they are in my book.


Joe Strummer.

Roger Daltrey.

Elvis.

Jim Morrison.....LA Woman era.

Steve Marriot.

Liam Gallagher...when he could be arsed!


Like I say, maybe not technically the most gifted singers, but every one of them was bloody damned good at what they done.


Oh and a special mention for Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers. He means every damned word he sings! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


Craig.

162

(275 replies, posted in Electric)

Bloody hell!! 


All these young pesky kids in here.....I'm ancient. I'm 33. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">



Craig.

163

(6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Thanks Bootleger.


Is this stuff OK too slap on while my guitar is still strung, or do I need to take 'em off first?

What I was looking for was a kind of 'one hit wonder' that I could use after playing. Just slap it on and wipe off kind of thing. 



Craig.

164

(8 replies, posted in Acoustic)

The only way to work out how many strums you need is to listen to the tune and persevere with a trial and error approach I reckon. Unfortunately I dont think you can figure it out from the information you have.


I'm afraid I haven't a clue how to play this particular song so I can't even tell you how to do it.


Not sure where you are in you're learning, I'm pretty much a novice so I hope i'm not insulting you by suggesting this... Maybe you could try 'strumming' the side of your leg when listening to the tune, see if you can get a feel for the rhythmn of the track. Then try the same pattern you've been using on your guitar. It sometimes works for me when I'm trying to figure rhythmns out.


Hope that's helped a little (I doubt it has though!) But I'm sure someone else will be able to give better advice later anyway.



Craig.

165

(3 replies, posted in Song requests)

'Wipeout' - The Surfaris is quite a good catchy tune to play using just tab. It'll give your fingers a little workout as well. Not sure if it's on here, I haven't looked. If not just mail me and I'll figure a way of sending it too you if ye like.




Craig.

Right now I'd settle for being as good as David Bowie....I'm making headway into Space Oddity at the moment. So If I was as good as him I'd have it nailed.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_rolleyes.gif" border=0 alt="Rolling Eyes">


I'd love to be able to play with a great many guitar players; Clapton, Page, Keef, Townshend(of course), Frusciante, or any one of the old Blues legends....the list is endless.

Right now though the one I'd want to play with is Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers. I aint saying he's the best guitarist out there, but I'm listening too a lot of SLF at the moment, so he gets the nod.


Acoustic? I'd probably want to sit and play 'Wild Wood' or perhaps Shadow of your Sun' with Paul Weller.



Craig.

167

(6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I've been using 'Fast Fret' on my (Rosewood)fretboard and noticed the last couple of times I've used it that the cloth used to wipe off any excess has been leaving little bits of fluff over my strings, frets and the board itself.


Question; Would I be better off using a different kind of cleaner? Or is it merely time to replace it? (the cleaner that is, not me geetar!lol)


Fast fret is basically white mineral oil according to the label. Is there a better alternative?


Thanks.



Craig.

168

(12 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Yep, I'd just like to echo what Roger says.


I'm nowhere near being an accomplished player and might find myself taking you up on your offer at some point, it's nice to know that you're willing to help others out.



Craig.

169

(3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

It's not what guitar is best for a beginer. It's what guitar is best for you. That's the way too look at it.


There are people on here who will be able to give you better and more in depth advice than I can, as I'm pretty much a novice myself.


What I would say is this; go to a friendly guitar dealer and try every one in the shop that you fancy having. Don't matter if you can play or not, just sit with 'em and get a feel for 'em. You'll find that some are just more 'you' than others.

That's what I done anyway. I ended up with a Mexican Strat that I love playing....although I'm now desperate for a Takamine acoustic that I've been eyeing up in the shop.


Try before you buy and you wont go wrong.


Can't help you regards sounding like 'Purple Rain' though.


Craig.

170

(242 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

33 year old from Ayrshire Scotland 'Burns Country'.


Been playing for a little under a year, still sound terrible, still get frustrated, still don't practise as much as I should, still make a hash of my chords on occasion....BUT....most importantly, still learnin and still lovin my new found skill*







*The word skill is used in a shamefully exagerated manner. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_redface.gif" border=0 alt="Embarassed">


<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy"> 


Craig.<img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=102&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=102&private=0">

171

(12 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Yes indeedy The Jam were a superb band and I was also rather peeved they were not playing Glesga......however now i know they will be and I'm rather excited about that. Would much prefer the 'Modfather' Mr Weller to be playing with 'em, but hey two out of three aint bad...according to some fat bloke that sings anyway! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">



Ken, I dunno how ye can say Weller isn't energetic on Stage. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_eek.gif" border=0 alt="Shocked">  I've seen him a few times and the guy was bloody electric! Although, seemingly when he played the Carling Academy he wasn't really into the acoustics of the place and the show suffered...or was that at the SECC? Apart from that, terific post.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


Weller is one of the greatest songwriters this country has ever produced and a decent chunk of his work was done The Jam. He is right up there with Lennon/Mcartney, Jagger/Richards, Davies and Townshend.

These gigs could well be the hottest ticket on the circuit this year......apart from SLF at the Barras obviously! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

Awh bugger!!  I've been learning on me Mexican Strat and I'm currently looking around for a nice acoustic (got my eye on either a Takamine or Tanglewood).......now I find out I'm gonna be rubbish and will be back at square one!!!   <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cry.gif" border=0 alt="Crying or Very Sad">



Hmmph!


I had a wee shot on my tutors acoustic and have to agree with what you say.

Barre chords have been coming along reasonably well on my Strat, however, they were absolutely dreadfull on his acoustic, I could barely get a sound out of it.


Lesson learned?

Indeed! learn on an acoustic!!


Don't get me wrong I wouldn't get shot of my Strat for love nor money. 'tis my baby.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Mmmmmmm, Hard too say who the best guitarist is. Clapton? Page? 'Keef'? Beck? Hendrix? ME?  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_rolleyes.gif" border=0 alt="Rolling Eyes">


I'm gonna mention one that I think can sometimes be overlooked when talking about good guitarists, more a riff meister than a soloist I would think though. I give you... Tony Iommi. He hasn't half churned out some legendary riffs in his time.


As it's a best guitarist/solo thread I best pick one,eh?  So, not my absolute favourite guitarist but I do reckon him to be the best (if that makes sense!); Eric 'slowhand' Clapton.

Best solo? The one drenched in wah pedal fuzziness at the end of White Room.

174

(23 replies, posted in Acoustic)

As ever the answer is keep practising. You WILL get better, the notes WILL ring clearer and you WILL be able to hold those chords.


This might not work for you, but it did for me; I just ignored all those dud notes in my chords at first and concentrated on 'throwing' my fingers onto the fretboard instead of 'placing' them on. It sounded terrible to begin with, eventually those fingers start landing where they should be landing though, no dud notes and smoother chord changes as well.


As I say, that might not be the way for everyone but it worked for me though.


I used to take 3 chords and just play them over and over keeping the changes simple at first say  C, Am, Em. Then I would throw a G or D in there to mix things up a bit. I reckon you are better sticking to chord progressions untill you can get them ringing clear before taking on songs (again, that's just my opinion). Keep strumming and you'll get there. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

175

(4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

What about early Who? There early stuff wasn't that heavy or too bluesy either. More 'power pop' to quote Pete Townshend. Not sure if it would be compatible lyricaly though, so maybe not that good a suggestion I suppose.


Here's a few groups from the 1st British invasion for you though;

The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Who, The Kinks, The Pretty Things, Dusty Springfield, The Dave Clark Five, Peter and Gordon, Chad and Jeremy, and Manfred Mann. Manchester had The Hollies, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Freddie and the Dreamers, and Herman's Hermits; Newcastle had The Animals; and Birmingham had The Spencer Davis Group (featuring Steve Winwood) and The Moody Blues. Bands sprang up from Belfast, Them, with Van Morrison to St Albans, The Zombies, with more inventive artists arriving to keep the syles moving forward, including The Small Faces, The Move, The Creation, The Troggs, Donovan, and John's Children.


I copied that from wikipedia, quite a few groups but it might point you in the direction of something you wouldn't have thought of