Phait Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Who inspired you to pick up an instrument - or anything else? My first CD was "Purple" by Stone Temple Pilots. After listening to it many times, I thought "damn, I wanna do that". I then bought a left-handed 1997 Olympic White Fender Stratocaster for $180 new. My dad asked if I was sure I wanted to do this, because at 8 with keyboard lessons I didn't stick to it. I still play, and though I've had times where I considered selling my guitar, I know I never will. Moving forward and recently, sometime into my job as a cashier at Wal-Mart (Pride! NOT) - something, I don't recall what it was, nor do I even think there was any motivation, but perhaps just happened.. influenced me to purchase a Nine Inch Nails album. I'd always liked "Closer". I bought The Downward Spiral, and from there on began my growing fondness for an awesome guy and his music. I've been in a NIN phase for months where 99% of what I listen to is: NIN. I believe it was in June or July I considered buying a keyboard. I knew Trent used these for the bulk of his work, and the fact that you can do practically anything with them and a computer really sat well with me. And here I am, about to send in my final payment for a Fantom-S. Coming back to the keyboard - from Yamaha PSR-100 to Roland Fantom-S. From 5-string acoustic guitar to Fender Strat. From mid 1980's Macintosh to Powerbook G4. I'm beyond words thankful to my inspirations. Thanks to both of them, especially Trent/NIN, I've found a passion in my life - and with the keyboard on it's way, soon able to realise my dream of 11+ years - making my own music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progfusion74 Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 The first time I heard "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, I wanted to be Jon Lord. I still do http://www.indiegrooves.com/dnm/images/dnm_small.gif My Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steadyb Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Jimi Hendrix (and no, I don't play a lick of guitar, unless you count that harmonics thing in the intro of Roundabout ) Brian Wilson Pete Townsend Keith Emerson Jon Lord Steve Porcaro The Beatles/George Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Originally posted by steadyb: Jimi Hendrix (and no, I don't play a lick of guitar, unless you count that harmonics thing in the intro of Roundabout ) That's about my guitar prowess as well. In order: Beatles Elton John Tony Banks Keith Emerson Jon Lord Chick Corea Al DiMeola Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays Sarah McLachlan What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I don't know. I've always been interested in music. I guess the best answer that I can give you is Mrs. Gorin my elementary school music teacher. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP3 Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 David SanciousKit Watkins / Frank WyattBrian EnoDave BrubeckJan HammerGeorge DukeEddie JobsonBernie WorrellTony BanksLarry FastThomas DolbyJoe Zawinul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleen Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Hmm...in chronological order (there are so many more, but these were the biggies): Stevie Wonder Walter/Wendy Carlos Gary Numan Rush Ultravox The Cure Depeche Mode Missing Persons Peter Gabriel Talk Talk Kate Bush Jane Siberry Skinny Puppy NIN Frontline Assembly Front 242 Japan Einsturzende Neubauten Porcupine Tree Aphex Twin Autechre BT and a partridge in a pear tree.... recording/mix guy don gunn.com myspace.com/dongunnmusic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Originally posted by bleen: Hmm...in chronological order (there are so many more, but these were the biggies): Peter Gabriel Shit, forgot M. Gabriel! Don't tell him, he won't send me a Christmas card! What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n Flux Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Yeah, nine inch nails is what introduced me to the keyboard pretty much. before that i just thought they made organ and piano sounds (and some crappy sounding "fireworks" and "ray gun" sounds like on the old casio keyboards from the 80's...hehe) NINPink FloydPortisheadA Perfect CircleRadioheadEric ClaptonTooli am also influenced by the nuskool/nasty-electrosound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n Flux Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Yeah, nine inch nails is what introduced me to the keyboard pretty much. before that i just thought they made organ and piano sounds (and some crappy sounding "fireworks" and "ray gun" sounds like on the old casio keyboards from the 80's...hehe) NINPink FloydPortisheadA Perfect CircleRadioheadEric ClaptonTooli am also influenced by the nuskool/nasty-electrosound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssian Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Keith Emerson - for the shockingly wild Moog modular tones, and his incredible solos. I still can't get enough of songs like Bitches Crystal, Trilogy, and others from that time period. Isao Tomita - The incredible modular synth sounds from his 70's RCA albums just blew me away back then. Even after thirty years of listening to those albums (and being a synth-head for 25 years), I still can't figure out how he got some of those sounds. Synergy - Larry Fast was also a big influence on me due to his tasteful synth programming and the fact that it was all synths, in a orchestral rock context. I think those were my first and biggest influences that got me into synths. I don't even think I reached my teens at that point. I was really young. Later I also became a huge fan of... Tony Banks (Genesis)Peter Bardens (Camel)Jan Hammer (Dimeola and solo)Chick Corea (Return to Forever, and Elektric Band, solo)Kit Watkins (Happy the Man, solo) And lots more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight-PA Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 The Beatles inspired me to play music. John Lennon inspired me to write music. I'll always love John Lennon's music. Keith Emerson opened my mind to the power of keyboards and musical potential. Keith is my keyboard hero. I wish I could meet him someday. My cousin actually got to shake John Lennon's hand and got his autograph many, many years ago. Some guys got all the luck. ♪♪♪ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Tyler Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 This friend of my brother's who was like 14 at the time playing the theme from "Batman" on our concert grand at home. I was about 10 at the time. That was my first inspiration to get on board with the program. ---Lee Joe Pine (60's talk show host who sported a wooden leg) to Frank Zappa -- "So, with your long hair, I guess that makes you a woman." Frank Zappa's response -- "So, with your wooden leg, I guess that makes you a table." http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2001&alid=-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELP71 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 First and foremost - Dad. After that, the Beatles and Keith Emerson supercede all others. And there are MANY others. Weasels ripped my flesh. Rzzzzzzz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veracohr Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Metallica and Guns N Roses inspired me to want to play guitar. Nirvana inspired me to actually learn. Paul Van Dyk inspired me to make techno, and Pink Floyd inspires me to try my weird ideas. And Pink Floyd also inspires me to crave analog! "And then you have these thoughts in the back of your mind like 'Why am I doing this? Or is this a figment of my imagination?'" http://www.veracohr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veracohr Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Oh yeah, and you guys inspire me to want to learn real keyboard technique! "And then you have these thoughts in the back of your mind like 'Why am I doing this? Or is this a figment of my imagination?'" http://www.veracohr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gulliver Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Mike Oldfield. When I saw a footage of his live concert for the first time (on the Finnish TV back in the early 80's) I knew I had to start composing similar stuff. Hey, in fact I work on a piece of music that carries quite a strong influence of his writing style...I even picked up an acoustic guitar a few months ago to add its sound to my otherwise strictly electronic compositions. I am back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix. Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Initially, the fact that there was an upright piano in my house was inspiring. I started playing by ear at age 4. After that, my piano teachers and the composers of the pieces I liked were inspiring. Later, it was Elton John, Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Journey - basically radio-friendly tunes that were fun to play on the piano. The moment I caught the synth bug was while listening to a borrowed copy of the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack that a friend insisted I listen to (I've never really been a rocker). The Devo track stood out. After Devo, it was:Human LeagueEurythmicsHoward JonesThomas DolbyHerbie Hancock (Rockit era)AlphavilleBerlin Then:Depeche ModeFront 242Nine Inch Nails ... and the list goes on. Today, I'm inspired by:BTUnderworldFischerspoonerand others. I also find that I'm being drawn back to piano, driven by songs like Drops of Jupiter. Surprisingly, in looking back, I also now realize that older stuff that appealed to me (from a listening standpoint) usually has a synth element to it, like The Who or songs like Tom Sawyer. I didn't necessarily realize that the synth element was what was appealing to me at the time before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Rhythm Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 As I read these posts I realize that I picked up from a lot of influences. I can see similarities in my playing to those classic rockers... from In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida to Elton. But I have to say that the reason I'm in music is my High School Band Director, Ann Alford. And the reason I'm a keyboard player is Procol Harem's Whiter Shade of Pale and The Beatles' Let It Be. For some reason, those somgs motivated me. Oh yea, I still remember when Fred Forsch taught me how to play Colour My World. I think that was when I realized that I could do it. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SynTh-JAzZ Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 you all leftout scott kinsey!! #@%$@$$***@!* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpel Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 IMO, Our true influences aren't always what we'd want them be. For instance, I'd rather be more influenced by Miles Davis and Aaron Copeland than by Kansas and the Dixie Dregs, but there ain't a damn thing I can do about it at this point. And I'd rather be more influenced by Ellington and Strayhorn than by, say, Larry Carlton, but sad to say many of my formative, impressionable years were spent listening to, and loving, tepid fusion. Oh well. Influence not a death sentence, and the stuff that I loved must have been serving some kind of developmental function, though today I hardly derive anything more than a ripple of nostalgia out of much of the music I used to worship. Also I think there's a big difference between infuences and affinities For example, by the time I truly discovered Randy Newman, I was way to old and set in my ways to be influenced by him on any meaningful level. But for years, people who knew my tunes were sure I was a lifelong Newman fanatic. When I finally discovered Sail Away I thought, shit, he stole my schtick 20 years before I invented it, and he done it far better than I ever will. Melodically, verbally, he just seemed like a perfected me. On guitar, I have the same problem with John Scofield. So that's an affinity, not an influence, and it can be pretty crushing. My brother had the same issue with Metheny. When he first heard him, he had that "This is what I would be if I spent every waking moment pursuing my musical voice, and even then I couldn't get close to this" epiphany. Now, unlike me, my older bro has never done anything but music in his life. He's got a PhD in composition, teaches at a Midwest college, runs a recording studio, gigs 3 or 4 nights a week playing jazz, blues, country...and he'll freely tell you that it's only been in the last few years--in his mid 40s--that's he finally gotten out from under the "anxiety of influence," i.e., his Metheny fixation. Influences. Don't let 'em eat you alive. Check out the Sweet Clementines CD at bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phait Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 Well my affinity for NIN is a love/hate thing. I love the music. I hate that I haven't listened to anything else in my 48 -/+ collection of CD's in 5 months. I'm worried that my music will have too much NIN influence, and that it will show when the album is completed. The only solution is to force myself to listen to who inspired me before I got into NIN or even wanted to buy a keyboard. It's kinda tough, heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementia13 Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Beatles for the greatness of their songwriting, especially their ability to tell stories and the variety of their later music. Ditto Elvis Costello.Lord, Emerson, Kansas, Chick.McCoy Tyner for the strength of his sound. Miles, especially "Bitches Brew".Crimso, ChemBros.Dregs for their disrespect for boundaries: who says you can't mix country, classical and metal all in the same song?Sabbath for sheer power. Thin Lizzy, I forget why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangefunk Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Magpel: IMO, Our true influences aren't always what we'd want them be. For instance, I'd rather be more influenced by Miles Davis and Aaron Copeland than by Kansas and the Dixie Dregs, but there ain't a damn thing I can do about it at this point. .Thats my case too, my first inluences were the Beach Boys, Beatles, Kinks, Queen , marvin Gaye and Stevie but I don't play their music at all now... I'd love to play like Herbie Hancock in his jazz modes but I don't even know where to begin and I've been playing jazz for almost 10 years now.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hooper Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Keith Emerson, Jan Hammer, Chick Corea, Patrick O'Hearn, Herbie Hancock, Billy Currie (Ultravox), Edgar Froese, Rick Wakeman, Bill Evans, Ron Elliston. Ron was my teacher, a great human being, and taught me how to hear chord colors and to listen. Composer/Performer at Roger Hooper Music Product Trainer at CASIO www.rogerhooper.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Earlier influences... Beatles...to pick up a guitar and write toons.Byrds...to get my jangle on.Johnny Winter...to get my boogie on.Duane Allman...to get my slide on.Todd Rundgren...to not forget that I still liked pop tunes with great harmonies, and that, like the Beatles, a guitar solo could still make a melodic statement.Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young...to not forget that great harmonies and acoustic guitars still rock. Various and sundry other folks. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gulliver Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Phait: Well my affinity for NIN is a love/hate thing. I love the music. I hate that I haven't listened to anything else in my 48 -/+ collection of CD's in 5 months. I'm worried that my music will have too much NIN influence, and that it will show when the album is completed. The only solution is to force myself to listen to who inspired me before I got into NIN or even wanted to buy a keyboard. It's kinda tough, heh.Hey Phait, There were similar periods in my life too. For instance when I got into Queen (it was back in my early teen years) I literally just couldn't listen to anything else. The same thing happened later when I discovered Mike Oldfield (through his Platinum album, not Tubular Bells as many would imagine ). And then again during my college years when I became Level-42 fan. But after that I a kind of "opened" my ears for all the other kinds of music styles and by now have a "zillion" different influences. So here comes my advice if you please.......... Try Ozric Tentacles! They are very different comparing to NIN (plus they perform only instrumental music) yet their sound is very, very cool as well. I am back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermanrulez Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 My inspiration was Don Airey, Ozzy Osbournes old keyboardist. When I heard Mr. Crowley for the forst time, I nearly crapped my pants thinking how great it sounded. Tony Macalpine's early albums were also very inspring for me as he raised the bar for keyboard playing. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phestic Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 I was really never inspired to play by anyone...I just got on it and taught myself how to play but once I started getting better I found people to mold my style to and influences along the middle of my learning how to play are Jeff DeyoTyler BurkumBilly JoelPaul MccartneyElton JohnBob HerdmanMatt Redman Now they influenced me in style of music maybe not just one instrument but in all around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erlic Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Back in the old days, when I switched from accordian (shudders then at the thought) over to organ and piano, I happened to hear a couple of things that made me want to practice even more. The organ solo from Ina Gadda Da Vida.Seeing the Vanilla Fudge on the Ed Sullivan show, and actually HEARING the organist of the band.Felix of the Young Rascals playing his heart out.The Original Al Kooper "Super Sessions"Brian Auger and the Oblivian ExpressDave Brubeck doing It's a Raggy Waltz _____________ Erlic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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