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Loved them in the Dreamboat Annie & Dog and Butterfly days, and from what I understand, the producer pushed them hard on Bad Animals-crying fits between recordings, that sort of thing. Frankly I thought they had gotten too big for their own good, I think Anne said something to that effect. Bad Animals got them down to Earth and focused.By the time Brigade was out, not only didn`t the songs catch my ear-Anne even had issues with `All I Wanna Do...`-but unfair as it sounds, her weight gain issues were hard to ignore since they were always a video-heavy band. I still would have lent an ear if the songs were there but, I wasn`t hearing it. Side note-the Wilson sisters have always been huge Zeppelin fans, I love their cover of `Rock and Roll` and they did a show with Jimmy Page in the audience, which is on youtube. Excellent cover of `Stairway to Heaven`.

I have Russian friends here in Japan, who are now worried about harassment. I also have friends from Ukraine-in fact we all met through the same event. We trained together, ate and drank at the same table. I dearly hope and believe, that no event will change that relationship. Update-my profile photo is now and will remain as long as needed, the Wings of Freedom monument in Odesa, Ukraine. I took it over ten years ago, totally fell in love with that place and the people. Until the latest invaders are sent packing as well...

No, I didn't turn into Ce Ce Peniston... I finally got signed back in-thanks to Caevan and Dave for the help. Have to sleep soon but, good to be back in the saddle and properly intonated...

That looks like dangerous levels of fun, enjoy!

Wow-well I always tell students, that the holidays in Japan are the opposite in the U.S. Here there are Christmas illuminations, special restaurant menus and parties. New Year is a quiet family holiday with expensive food called osechi, relatives visiting and watching year-end TV specials. Well my holidays didn't quite work out that way. Santa is going to have to add another category to his list-REALLY naughty haha. But ya, somehow it ended up as one big party zone. Last Saturday my friend introduced me to her crew, a Japanese punk band with some international repute. Great bunch of people. It's my last week of freedom before work starts again. Am I ready-no. But I'm definitely ready for a new year, new beginnings. All the best to everyone.

I'll start by saying, that anyone who says it was great with no problems, is probably lying about participating. I almost forgot to post this in fact-I was busy rocking back and forth in a corner and mumbling to myelf. I lost two dear friends in September and October, one after the other-from the same condition. My friend who passed in Septmber was someone who I knew from my Taipei days, over 30 years ago. We never lost touch. I can carry a tune vocally I guess. She could sing with orchestras. She was also crazy beautiful. It's a reminder that, life doesn't care about any of that. I really miss my family. Whatever effort I made to find humor in the covid situation, didn't survive the Summer. Now I'm just sick of it. We had two shows in November including episode 2 of my own event. The performers were great. The mixer board, got itself confused with a ouija board. Some kind of evil sound problem spirit tried to mess things up. I finally found a solution for those checks that Uncle Sam sent overseas. It's a nice Christmas present-that means I can get back in the studio and continue working on a couple of songs. The home studio I was working at early this year is still MIA. That's all I can think of right now. I'm making a recipe I ran across accidentally a month ago-a muffaletta sandwich. My long-lost homeland of Chicago says it's from there but, I'm going to have to go with New Orleans. It takes both homemade relish-called giardiniera-and muffulettta bread. I'm making my own, it's impossible to find outside N.O. Peace and happness to everyone. I'm done making predictions for the new year. I just hope it's the end of the virus and the start of better days.

So sad to hear. It was a fun show with some well-writen humor, and at the time i was into custom cars as well. iI remember the Monkeemobile-a version of it came to an auto show in Minneapolis. Dean Jeffries, who also designed the 'Black Beauty' for the Green Hornet TV series is the one who built it. Thanks so much for the music and helping a generation find its voice Mr. Nesmith.

Nice one Mark! i like the raga-derived melody parts and the solo that doen't have the usual big lingering last note.

That really hurts. One of my proudest musical moments was, taking a master class with Larry Coryell-his son Murali was there as well. We took turns in pairs, trading rhythm and lead. Mr. Coryell said, my lead playing reminded him of Pat Martino. I'm pretty sure he was just being nice. Besides, he then proceeded to beat up on my comping, still working on it.

I agree, there`s been a massive surplus of bad news lately. This is a much-needed shot of goodness.

Well I'll certainly post it on fb, that's too good to pass up.

What an awesome story! That should be in the newspapers here.

Saw him solo with Mike Kennealy also doing amazing things, and with G3. He stole the show as far as I'm concerned, but it was a month after Jeff Beck came to town. I think I was still in a trance from that show.

Winston P. Smith mentioned the LTD series by ESP-really fine guitars. But if the prices are anything like where I am, that's going to be right at or over your budget. Maybe you can find one used but, people are usually not in a hurry to part with them. ESP has a slightly less expensive line called Edwards-they are easier to find new in Japan but, worth seeking out. I have one of the LPs-totally solid build and Seymour Duncan P-ups. \I haven't played one but, Reverend always gets good comments. For hard rock or metal, Ibanez. amazing value. Shecter is close behind. Despite a personal connection with Epiphone I would say, try it first. You can find a great one but, play before you pay. PRS is a lot better for choosing one blindfolded. Whatever you end up with is going to be solid.

My pleasure. I found out about it a few days ago. I guess there's more than one way to come from a musical family haha.

My friend's dad was a noted Russian scholar, I met him several times. I did not know about his dad's cousin until just a few minutes ago. https://blogs.law.nyu.edu/magazine/2014/a-founding-father-of-ip-law/

My gf used to play Rumors obsessively whenever I visited. I liked it better than most of her other choices-my intro to Mac was 'Bare Trees". But over time it grew on me. I appreciated smart parts more, in addition to-not to say instead of-blazing solos.

Tres Hombres, turned up loud. One of those moments. RIP and respect.

Speaks for itself- [video:youtube]

What he has done since is become a three-piece-suit-clad defense department consultant, as well as a pro gun rights candidate (unsuccessfully) for some municipal position somewhere in the Southwest. Which I would hold in the same ill regard as you do with the Akai recommendation, but the time he spent with Steely Dan was still, at least musically, time well spent. i heard about his work with DoD, not the rest of it. Jeez, is that some kind of contagious `Uncle Ted` virus or something?

Thanks Larryz- Unfortunately there's a message-it's in Japanese but i don't have to translate it-'You-yes you-can't watch this video'. I hate that. In any case, I had 'Angry Eyes' stuck in my head recently. Such a great arrangement, with musicians actually playing music.

'Rock 'n' Roll Animal'-one of the best live shows ever recorded IMHO.

Yes sir he can. There is a live concert vid on youtube with both guitarists. if you're not familiar with Marco Sfogli, he's another 'possibly not human' type player.

The bass player for this group-I'm not sure if it's a band in the traditional sense- shows up on FB to endorse and demonstrate Dingwall Guitars-except they don't make guitars, they make basses. [video:youtube]

There's also AndyJames- [video:youtube]