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This isn't the BIG WHY....like, the answer to why we believe we exist or why we perceive the sky as blue or any of that hooha. This section relates a story to why I have chosen the path I'm on musically - as a songwriter more than a guitar slinger. Although I do keep a practice regimine and tend to play too many notes on occaision... I generally snoop out new ideas compositionally (play with music) and sometimes do my best to flesh out a statement that has been burning inside of my mind - just inspiration.
Music is a funny thing. It opens up in stages. When we're ready. What we're ready for. I have puzzles all over the place where I teach. I often tell people that I don't bother picking up the tavern puzzles that I have figured out. I pick up that ones I haven't figured out. I'm not interested in what I can do; I'm interested in the things I can't do - yet! Same goes for guitar / music. It's a puzzle I still haven't figured out. It's like the ultimate puzzle for me. I haven't figured it out - That's why I continue to explore, write, and play!
My first songwriting attempt happened around the time I was ten or eleven. I was listening to a lot of Ozzy Osbourne. Man, he and Randy just HIT me. I started taking guitar lessons from Ralph Wengert - he taught me to follow the dots. My brother was the drummer in a hard rock band (I can't recal the name right now - hey, Chad - shoot me an Email and tell me the name of your band). When they would rehearse, the guitar player - a kindly gentleman named Bob Fitzwater began showing me some riffs - you know - Priest, Sabbath, Ozzy, Maiden - the stuff they were playing.
It was only a matter of time until I assimilated some of the riffs I had picked up from Mr. Fitzwater (hereafter known as 'Fitz') and other sources and had a go at stringing some of my own riffs together. I remember it having to do with double-stops on the D&G strings - ripping off "Heading Out to the Highway" by Judas Priest. I think that was the name of the song - I'm not sure anymore. I believe it was off their Point of Entry LP. I recall feeling great whenever I listened to music; so, I tried writing a song so I could make other people feel great, too! That's where and when it started.
College spawned the Choosey Mothers and a lasting relationship with John Yonosh, who produced my very first full-length recording. We put down my songs. There was some okay stuff; but, you'll never hear it. If I had an idea, I'd put it down. Some of those feelings had to come out; but, it wasn't a pursuit. The songs came out and I'd record them onto an ideas tape.
I still felt like a guy who plays guitar. I still wanted to be the hot shot guitar player.
Fast forward to the late afternoon hours in Los Angeles -1994. I'm walking home from a day of classes at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, when I notice a Japanese teenager ripping off a ton of lead lines like some kind of MONSTER SHREDDER! I said to myself, "EEEEK! This guy is amazing!" So, searching for some kind of mental yardstick, I asked him how long he had been playing.
"Four months" was his reply.
"No, no, no. Wait, man. You mean four years." I said smiling.
"Four months" he comes again.
"Nah, man. You're not getting it. Like four years. Like, Christmas comes around once a year. You can't get those chops in four months. Santa come-Santa go; Santa come-Santa go; Santa come-Santa go; Santa come-Santa go (while making a circular gesture with my arm to mark the cycle of the year while ticking off numbers one through four with my other hand)."
Finally, "No, I came to L.A. four months ago and started guitar this past year. I had some violin lessons when I was little. I understand you; but, I've only been playing guitar for four months."
Um.
Gee.
That was it, man. I couldn't believe it. All those nights with the metronome at college or in my apartment...for what? I was numb. I would NEVER be as fast as that guy out in front of the McDonald's on Hollywood Boulevard. Maybe I should quit. I'll never be that good.
I did an about face and headed back to where I had come from. Stepping back into the food court, I found my buddy Don at Tokyo Teriyaki. I ordered a couple of beef bowls to get me through the weekend. I mean, I couldn't even begin to fathom going to Rockstar Ralph's, getting groceries, and trying to get creative in the kitchen. Not like THIS.
Beef bowls and guitar in hand, I started my walk back to my apartment. As I made the left onto Hollywood Boulevard, I remember facing the brigtest, most golden sun I had ever seen. It was warm. It turned everything to gold. The light flooded my eyes without burning out my sight. I walked right by the guy again without even noticing... I was still wondering if I was doing the wrong thing - playing guitar. Maybe I wasn't cut out to be a musician. Then, with the light in my eyes I began to ask myself questions....as if, the sun was providing me with the questions. For, they came so easily. Most likely I was muttering and mumbling to myself - maybe even gesturing, waving my arms about and discussing this with myself, giving much amusement to the tourists and others in my path.
Why do I play? Well, cuz it's fun.
But, why is it fun? It just is. It's what I like to do.
Well, then what attracts you to music? Makes me feel good.
Why? It takes me away.
What takes you away? Songs.
Ah! Songs. Not guitar solos. Songs. THE SONGS. Wait, I'm onto something here.
So, it's not the guitar solos that make you listen? Well, no.
I mean, a guitar solo is really cool. I love guitar solos. But, I guess it's the whole band or even the singer's voice that makes me want to listen.
I had focused most of my life on playing an instrument that is here to help facilitate the making of music.
It's songs. Growing up, I listened to what my parents listened to: Chicago, John Denver, the Eagles, Neil Diamond. Then the stuff my brother or cousins turned me on to: Stones, Zeppelin, Priest, Ozzy, Cheech and Chong.... Even when I hit my own grooves: Little Feat. Man, I was listening to the songs. I was singing "There's a fat man - in the bathtub" while growing my sea monkeys. Man, I loved Billy Joel and Elton John when I was a kid (still do) and THEY DON'T EVEN PLAY GUITAR!
Guitar solos are cool. But who really cares about a guitar solo. You need a great song first. I was concentrating all of my focus into the middle section of a song that really didn't matter in the long run. Who was singing the middle-eight, anyway?
Guitar riffs are cool - even the very root of rock n' roll. But, I was ignoring the other side - it's relevance with the music. They're joined - part of the same fabric. So, at least I didn't feel like I had wasted my life in developing my guitar skills. I did there - for a second....
So, when I got back to my apartment. I opened up a book of lyrics I brought out and picked out a tape I had with some guitar ideas I had on it. Then it hit - it all came together in one big, crazy, long-weekend dream... I was going to make my first CD.
That's how it started. That's when it started.
and
Why.
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