We play your typical pub rock, but I’m hoping to bring a few new ideas in… if the guys will have them!

So, I’ve got a few things to do before my first gig on 21st August (The Chequers, Stotfold):

• Learn the set;
• Decide what tunings/guitars I’ll need… Probably my PRS, 0001 and Gold Top (in drop-D);
• Finish building (and testing!) my Airbrake power attentuator;
• Finish building the Booster and Phase45 pedals that are currently in pieces on my bench;
• Buy a Polytune;
• Rebuild my pedalboard.

Oh, and I’ve got a patio to re-lay and a conservatory that needs paint, flooring and skirting boards.

Priorities, eh? Who needs ‘em?

'56 Les Paul Gold Top

Don Maclean wrote the line “the day that music died” in memory of that February day in 1959 when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and JP Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”) were tragically lost before their time.

More recently, the demise of a certain MJ Jackson rocked the world of popular music. But today, dear reader, there is, sadly, a more poignant loss.

Today, 13th August 2009, saw the passing of one Lester Polsfuss, aka Rhubarb Red, aka Les Paul. To musicians (especially guitarists) he was a legend… Nay, an icon.

If you’ve listened to any piece if popular music made since the 1950′s, you owe him a debt of gratitude for inventing multitrack recording. He was a man that would never accept the status quo, and wouldn’t be beaten. If it wasn’t for his foresight and tenacity, the guitar that bears his name would not exist… And that might’ve meant no Clapton, Page, Beck, Green, Slash, Rhoads and countless others.

Even at 94 years of age, he was still packing them in every week at the Iridium, NYC.

RIP Les Paul – the most important man in music in the last 100 years…

So, in no particular order, I give you the winners…

1. Another Brick In The Wall Pt II (Pink Floyd) – specifically David Gilmour’s guitar solo.
2. Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns n’ Roses) – right at the end of the “where do we go” section (at 5:11), Slash repeat picks a full tone bend on the top E string (22nd fret), followed by a let-down 18 to 17.  Spine-tingles all round.
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy) – it may be an overplayed, clichéd bit of schmaltz, but EC’s pure voice, combined with the innocence of the song, hits me square in the guts every time.  Don’t know why, don’t *want* to know why… All I know is that it has the power to cause a little dust to enter my eyes.
4. Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (Jeff Beck) – I had to pick one JB tune and this is it.  Late at night, sitting in the darkness, glass of wine and this on the stereo. Perfection.
5. Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix) – it’s Hendrix, and a world away from the guitar-burning, feedback-laden live performances that many people think of when JH comes to mind.
6. In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins) – bear with me on this… The transition from drum machine (808?) to the power drums just lifts me; almost like a double espresso after a relaxing meal.
7. Fire (Jimi Hendrix) – yup, him again. Why? ‘Cos I can.  This one always peps me up, without fail.
8. Albatross (Fleetwood Mac) - Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer’s high harmony bends, Mick Fleetwood’ subtle cymbal rolls… Simply sublime.
9. O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana, Carl Orff) – Got to ‘ave a bit of culture, ‘aven’tcha?  I performed this years ago with my school choir.  The opening bars blew the first row of the audience back three feet… Now’s *that’s* music to move you.
10. I Want It All (Queen) – to quote Jeremy Clarkson, “POOOOOWWWWWWEEEEEERRRRR!”

 That’s it from me – anything you’d like to add?

* “Wonderboy” – The mighty Tenacious D.

Blue Meanie

It’s taken a while, but I’ve finally got around to taking a few photos of my bitsa-super-jackson-strat-type guitar that was completed in October 2006.

I’d collected the parts over the previous year or so; some from friends, other from that great guitar-parts emporium known as eBay.

I chickened out of assembling the thing myself, and instead dumped a gig-bag of parts on Paul Creedy’s doorstep.  To stop him thinking I was some crazed fly-tipper, I thrust some crinkly beer tokens into his hand and waited…

…a few months later (hey, I wasn’t in any real rush), he presented me with the results.

Darned fine results, too!

Yup, another successful National get-together with the guys ‘n’ gals associated with the uk.music.guitar newsgroup – thanks again for a(nother) memorable weekend.

Anyone interested in seeing photos (and, eventually, videos) of the event should stop by the newsgroup and say hello – linkage abounds therein.

1. A Harley Benton GA5 baby valve amp
2. A THD Hotplate (8 ohm, please)
3. A Boss RC20XL Loop Station
4. A Digitech Vocalist Live 2 (the Live 4 is all very nice, but I don’t want to be too cheeky)

That’s it – not very much at all.

TIA,

Ross.