My new years challenge was to get my second album completed by March 4th 2012.
Some of you know I deactivated my facebook account for a few weeks whilst focusing on writing and demoing up new ideas. (I'm a self confessed facebook addict)
The delay in production has been due to the fact that the guys I want playing on this record have been flat out busy.
The busiest of them all is my Pal and Partner in crime Johnny Salerno.
From John Stevens, Richard Clapton, Vanessa Amorosi to his very recent tour with Belinda Carlisle, Johnny hasn't had much time to do anything else (and that's only been in the first two and a half months of this year).
Johnny has been an integral part of my music and first call for my studio for the last 16 years. We've done a lot of miles together touring with Vanessa Amorosi. We've been there for each other when times haven't been so great, listening to each others rants and raves about life, love and music.
Our connection is strong and I believe that shows in our music whether it live or in the studio.
I'm sure most people who have the pleasure of working with Johnny know exactly what I'm talking about. He takes the exact same degree of care with every gig/ recording he takes on thus making him one of the busiest drummers in Australia.
Yesterday the 22nd of March 2012 begun our journey for drum tracking for the second album.
I played the new track to Johnny twice for him to have a quick listen and before I new it Johnny was on the drumset and we discussed ideas for the different sections.
One of my favorite things to do is set Johnny New challenges (on the spot). I've thrown all kinds of crazy shit at him in the past from odd meters to silly little things like "play this pattern on the hats, now this one on the snare, but that third beat should be a bit softer an the bassdrum louder....ok now flip it"(i speak fluent drumlish).
There's not too many that have the patience to put up with someone telling them how to play, especially when they know more about drums than I do. Ha!!!
We did 5 takes all up, all were usable but the final take was 100% bang on!
As a composer nothing is more exciting than when your vision is realized!
Guitars I can't afford........
Part of being a guitar nerd is going to music stores with the intention of deliberately wasting the sales clerks time. Thanks to my Brother Joe @ Gallins Blackburn for allowing me to play these babies!
First guitar is a 54 black beauty with a Bigsby. It has an alnico 5 pickup in the neck and a P-90 in the bridge. This is by far mine and my brother Joe's favorite guitar in the shop. It's a fat sound, but it's still stringy. Almost Gretsch like but with a much nicer feel. What do you think?
54 black beauty with a Bigsby
1958 Korina Les Paul serial number 22 of 100 made.
Pickup 1,2,3 and All!
To commemorate a limited run of these guitars built in 1958, Gibson only re released 100 worldwide.
Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-buckers. Bloody gorgeous thing!
59 Les Paul VOS
Just listen to the sustain and warmth of this thing!
You can go have a bite and come back and it'll still be playing!
Ace Frehley Custom Shop.
This is an exact replica of Ace's early 70's Les Paul Custom.
Despite having three pickups only the Bridge pickup works (for real).
This is how Ace likes it.
What an idiot! LOL
RRP $15,999 (WOW)
ES- 335
Made in the custom shop in Memphis this Baby is TONE!
It's bloody nice to look at too. I also like it cause it makes me look normal sized hehehe!!!
Les Paul Axcess with a Floyd Rose Tremelo.
Dive bombs, Trem flutters and Elephant Noises can all be achieved with this baby! Neal Schon would be proud! :-)
Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde Custom Shop Les Paul.
Unlike most Les Paul's this baby has a maple fingerboard. It also has active EMG 81 in the neck and an EMG 85 in the Bridge. She's an aggressive little bugger. You're looking around 8k for one of these babies! Ummm no thanks!
However it does match my shirt hehehehe!!!
Thanks to Matt for taking the pictures and filming using my Iphone.
Watching the 54th Grammy awards (comments By Marcel Yammouni as it was happening)
L.L Cool J is a very charismatic Host/Rapper. I even like his acting. He was good in “Last Holiday”. What’s your favorite L.L Cool J movie?
I was a bit late in tuning in. I started watching just as Adele won her first Grammy, what a great singer she is, I hope she does more albums the world needs her.
I’ve never really seen Chris Brown before, he’s a great dancer but the voice and music is so generic, nothing really special.
What the hell are Jay Z and Kanye West doing that’s so important, I mean they just won a fricken Grammy and aren’t there to pick it up……… idiots. #sackyourmanager
So Jason Aldean, wearing an Armani suit with a cowboy hat and singing a pop ballad with Kelly Clarkson is not very Country is it? #fakecountrymusic
Nice red country shirt Jack Black.
Foo Fighters YESSSSSSS!!!!!! See it can be done, hard rocking and accessible music with great feel and good melodies. Take note new bands on Tripe J (oh no he didn’t) Taylor Hawkins you are rock drumming personified!! Grohl you are a gun!!!!
Rhianna and Colday = I wonder if you mixed fried rice with cheese. #grammyproductionideas
Whineier bullcrap from Coldplay. Very underwhelming (sorry Coldplay fans)
Just take a break from reading and watch this... hahahaha
Great lighting and video show however, I guess that’s where their music needs to go.
Best Rock performance Foo Fighters Great choice seeing as none of the other nominees were Rock bands. Butch Vig Great producer!
The human element is what’s the most important in music “Dave Grohl” Nice one Pal!
Beach Boys Yesssss!!!!!!
Maroon 5 Nooooooooooooo I’ve seen better Tafe college performers!
"Foster the People" seriously guys couldn’t we get better bands for a Beach Boys tribute. I mean it’s the fricken BEACH BOYS!!!!!!!!!!
Fricken cool! Original Beach Boys after 50 years in the business and they sound amazing!
In this moment I am happy! Thank You Beach Boys!
I’m not sure if I can watch anymore after that. It can’t get any better!
Stevie Wonder I stand corrected I can keep watching! J
Paul Mc Cartney with Joe Walsh and Diana Krall and an orchestra very cool.
Gil Scott Heron tribute… (Didn’t quite happen did it?)
Let’s give Taylor Swift more Grammy time.
Taylor Swift is proof the Grammys are rigged! She’s pretty cute though, but still…
Adele wins song of the year. Again all the other songs nominated were crap but Rolling in the deep is a great song and world wide smash. Totally deserved.
Katy Perry take away her big breast, her big beautiful eyes and pro activ solution and what’s she have?
Who Cares she's HOT!!!
Best country album: Funny thing is as they’re rolling all the songs for the nominees one after the other, I could swear it was one song they sound so similar! American country music is 80’s pop with acoustic guitars and Banjos.
Adele’s singing a bit flat. Still a good song! Standing ovation wow!
Glenn Campbell tribute more generic country artists paying homage except these guys look like they have reversed haircuts. The guy standing next to Mr. Campbell has a more modernized Nigel Tufnell rock mullet.
Now see Glenn Campbell sings and the class level jumps up massively! Rhinestone cowboy! Yeehaw!!!!! What a great song!
Allman brothers and Diana Ross get lifetime achievement but no airtime??? Serious??? Nah let’s give Taylor Swift another spot! Geez!!!
Tony Bennet what a voice even at 137 years of age! He’s got more class in his pinky finger than most of the nominees tonight!
Best New artist Bon Iver it’s great to see balding bearded nerds in bad suits getting rewarded! I’m going to buy this album!
Jenifer Hudson’s tribute to Whitney Houston, probably couldn’t have asked anyone better to do it! Yeah there’s a lump in my throat. I’m only human! RIP Whitney!
Here's a non Grammy related tribute to Whitney by another Whitney.........Former Australian fast bowler Mike Whitney......... hehehehehe too soon?
RIP
Cornell Duprie,
Joe Morello,
Clarence Clemons
These three sidemen that had distinct sounds that influenced generations!
Don Cornelius RIP and thank you!
Dance music, David Guetta and Chris Brown I guess if you’re into that shit!
Foo Fighters again, thank God!
What’s with the mouse head dude? What the hell is going on???? Cool music someone might have to explain to me who this is.
Nicki Minaj never heard of her! So far this is the biggest pile of crap in history! God give us Whitney back and take Nicki Minaj instead! This is indeed music from the bowels of hell. If anyone says this girl is good, make no mistake, you’re an idiot!
Record of the year Adele. I’m glad. Someone with talent who’s a worldwide smash. We need more artists like her.
More Botox Diana! You’re still a legend!
Album of the Year Adele 21! I’ve given her enough praise! Good for her! She’s the real deal!
Paul Mc Cartney closing the show with my favorite drummer Abe Labroiel Jnr! Abe’s drums sound massive! Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh and Dave Grohl join in! Cool! Sound guy get it together!!!!!!!! Bruce you’ve lost the plot! Joe Walsh you still got it Pal!!!!!!!
Finishing the Grammys off with guitar solos a BIG YESSSSSSSS to that!!!!
I’ll finish this blog with a bit of trivia:
Never won a grammy:
The Who
The Kinks
Led Zeppelin
Jimi Hendrix
Queen
Chuck Berry
The Beach Boys
Have won a Grammy: Baha Men, Hootie, Milli Vanilli, Michael Bolton, Britney Spears, All-4-One, Nelly
Nelly
Britney
Michael Bolton
All 4 One
Milli Vanilli
Hootie
Baha Men
Thank you Zakk Zedras for this information.
That's it from me and my first blog post. Please follow or sign up for email notifications, you'll find all that in the side bar.
Remember, opinions are like arseholes, everyone's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks, so it's just my opinion
