Archive for Rock Art
I Don't Believe – Joe Bonamassa
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I Don’t Believe I just stumbled across this excellent guitarist and musician. Joe Bonamassa, I found his site yesterday when I was running through different stats on my site, with a post about Stevie Ray and was looking where my site ranked, and somewhere there was a link to Joe’s Forum.
WOW.. I am like a kid in a candy store today – I just downloaded my first Joe Bonamassa Recording from ITunes..called You and Me. As I sat down to draw, I became mesmerized by his roadhouse durable blues.
You know when a child discovers how to do something new? That excitement, when their entire body is riddled with enthusiasm. This is how I feel when I find music that reaches in and touches the soul!
I am ashamed to say this is the first I’ve actually heard of him, I guess I need to get the head out of the sandy beach dream, and start opening up the Guitar Player Magazine when it comes in the mail.
This is certainly my pick of the day!
Fourth of July with Mark Farner
Posted by: | CommentsGrand Funk took us by storm in the 1970′s and their music is still legendary, I know it is in my house, 
“We’re an American Band” screams from the ipod on a daily basis. This song helped Grand Funk get into the homes of a vast array of listeners giving them quite a following, still to this day.
Grand Funk or not, Mark Farner is still going strong & still playing producing some astonishing riffs. I just stopped by the official Mark Farner Website to find that there is now a “Captains Crew Fan Club”
Mark’s latest CD – For The People has a line from the that very song that says…”The Spirits of Time…” this post is for all those past spirits, that have served our country and served our needs, protected our lives, unbeknownst to us, giving us our independence!
Think back to 911, the day after, the hour after…..I recall the true genuine concern for others that happened that day. People were blind sided as we watched, and people united and came together that day, they reached out to one another, strangers who held doors open, gave up their places in line. We need to get back to this type of genuine concern and politeness.
Keeping with his own style and still sporting the long rock & roll hair, Mark continues to be for the people. I say lift a glass to the spirits of the great musicians, as well as the one’s who continue to lift our spirits when we are down and sometimes just give us good old foot stomping, hair flinging rock & roll to enjoy for years to come.
Happy Fourth of July All!
Remember the people before us, who gave us our independence.
Big Hair & Bad Boys
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Bring back big hair?
Those of us who had raging hormones in the 1980′s know all about the big hair movement, there are some, very few and far between that are still sporting the big hair. Slash – sporting his Les Paul Guitar is still going strong with those bad boy long locks. Rock on Slash the locks are great.
David Coverdale sported some pretty furious locks back when, and there is also Michael Bolton when he sang with Blackjack, who has cleaned up his locks to sport the new age look.
Baton Rouge – Kelly Keeling, everyone seems to fall into place, when the time is over. But, there are the dedicated big hair groupies.
We have fallen back into the 70′s looks of the Marsha Brady parted down the middle flat as a board, no bounce & no jiggle, with the question of — is my part straight?
I do have to give my kudo’s to Slash for continuing what he is comfortable with, and sporting those curly long locks and rocking us wild with his great playing and fantastic licks that scream through our dreams! Sweet Child of mine, mistake on his part, he said it wasn’t his favorite, but the video of him, in a field of green, hair in his eyes, does a body good!
I fell right into that big hair bonanza, yes, this is me in my glory in the 1980′s – with the perm, the laminates hair spray and anything that would keep that hair big!
Who has big hair now?
When will big hair come back? Straight is in, when will the 1980′s be revitalized? It’s gotta be right around the corner, it seems it all comes back in some form or another.
Do we have predictions, do we have hair to share?
Share your pictures, share your stories! I dare ya!
This quick sketch of Slash was done with a sharpie fine point marker, while I listened to my husband tuning his guitar, the stack of magazines where two feet high, so I started thumbing through them to find my latest post, and here it is.. enjoy..
Mark Farner Friday
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Mark Farner and Grand Funk Friday’s Sketch, as my son said, “a great guitar player, a great musician, what more can I tell you mom.”
This is a sketch I did for my son’s 15th birthday, he was only 8 months into playing. I’d come home from work and I would hear “I’m Your Captain” screaming out of the speakers with the old lp’s and the crackling sound, what a throw back for us over 40 folks.
Mark Farner has a good heart, good values and fights for his country and personal freedom. It seems he has a true love of life, with the trials and tribulations of Rock Bands from the 60′s to now, the continued success of Mark Farner has to come from within.
This drawing of Mark is early in his career, with a Microfret Guitar, of which I never realized how few of them were produced.
Because of a neck injury, Mark Farner now plays a Parker Fly, due to the weight. A favorite guitar in our household is the Messenger though, it has a sound like no other.
Mark Farner was a true American Musical Innovator that never got his due. Inspiring more bands than people know. From Grand Funk to Grace is a must read for true Farner and Grand Funk fans, giving insight to a guitarist that lives by his passions.
“Everybody, Listen to me…”
Are you a guitar hero?
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Guitar Hero has skyrocketed to every office conversation and into so many homes. I have no clue how to play guitar, I tried bass, but let’s just say, that fat lady sang within minutes. I leave the guitar wizardy to my husband and my son.
This sketch is of “my guitar hero” with a Gibson ’69 Deluxe, with soap bar pickups, these two pictures where taken when Buck was about 17 years old, on the rooftop of their apartment in Arlington Heights, Illinois. This guitar was purchased at Olsens Music in Palatine, brand spanking new.
The first song he attempted to play and has since perfect was by Grand Funk – Inside Looking Out. His favorite guitar of present day is an Custom Epiphone Dot, with Seth Lover pickups and a ABR Bridge, the reason for tone. The Acoustic of choice these days is an Epiphone PR 5 Limited Cherry Finish. Look for his video on YouTube coming soon circa 1985 – with Future History. Gotta get my son out of bed to do that, and off of Xbox.
Playing through an Ampeg Gemini 2, vintage 1968 is what produces the sweet sound of Heartbreaker by Grand Funk that continues to be a household favorite. It works well for his re-arrangement for My Guitar Gently Weeps and several originals. And don’t forget your original tube screamer!
Sweet Home Chicago – Buddy Guy
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Originally written in 1936 by Robert Johnson, Sweet Home Chicago has been debated time and time again, regarding the true meaning behind the lyrics, with many references to California. Does it matter? Not to me, I enjoy listening to any great guitarist buzz through the legendary song, with their own style and rendition.
When I think of Chicago Blue’s music, Buddy Guy comes to mind instantaneously. With his well known club – Buddy Guy Legends. Even though Buddy’s beginnings were in Louisiana, he has become a household name in the Chicago area.
Where mind you the first day of spring brings us a winter weather advisory.
The original form of Blue’s music is said to have a single line repeated four times, with a very loose narrative. I recently read the book Moanin’ at Midnight – Howlin’ Wolf, and if you are interested in getting down to the nitty gritty raw life style of a true blue’s musician, this should be on your to read list.
One of my favorite CD’s of Buddy Guy’s is Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, released in 1991. “Remebering Stevie” is one of the tracks that makes you feel Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, you can feel the heartfelt emotion felt by a friends loss, a beautifully done instrumental with that gut wrenching power of the blues.
Mick Jagger in Thought
Posted by: | CommentsI remember years ago my mom telling me that Mick Jagger from the Stone’s had said
that Elvis was to old and should get off the stage. I bet he is re-thinking that statement, or perhaps doesn’t remember making it.
This sketch was early in Mick Jagger’s career, the soft lines of his face were not yet affected by the road trips or acid trips.
The Stone’s formed in 1962, and time has only perfected their music and their legendary rock status. When the Bigger Bang was released in 2005, Stone’s fans of all ages where in line with their wallets out. Leading the band into the highest grossing tour in history, lasting until 2007.
I just recently read that Mick’s Song, “Charmed Life” was used in a Dell Commercial during the recent superbowl!
I chose this particular drawing of Jagger, because of the softness of a young rockers beginnings, we are used to Jaggers on stage, energetic jumping bean performances. When we all know there are times in life, we must relax. I felt this sketch brought out that quite nature behind the beginnings of a Rock Legend. Jagger’s lips are well known all over the world, his on stage persona never sits still.
I enjoy looking at this sketch, it brings out that quieter side of rock & roll. A legendary singer in thought.
Sunday's Sketch of Joe Satriani
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Thanks to my blog groupie for sharing his thoughts on Joe Satriani as follows:
Born in Long Island
Joe Satriani is an influence and a genius to many guitar players. Joe formed G3 which featured Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen and others. The greatest guitar players of the modern era. If you were fortunate to be part of it, you would know what a great display of genius and technical composition this tour had.
Joe Satriani has released over 20 CD’s since 1986, and the CD that really put Joe on the map in my opinion was “Flying in a Blue Dream”. Though there’s been so many great releases such as Live in
Using an HB pencil for most of the drawing to bring out the distinct lines in Joe’s intense features, blending the darker corners of his face, and then adding lines with the HB brings out the detail a bit more. I chose to put charcoal ebony for his shirt, making the other features around it pop out.
Tuesday's Trist – Sammy Hagar Sketch
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Have you ever watched Mrs. Doubtfire? Within the movie is a famous line of Helllloooo.. I work with the gal that has perfected that line, a ray of sunshine in an ever dreary windy city with long winters.
Smart, intelligent and traveled from Chicago to Boston to Philly to Toyko. But she surely can’t sing, but don’t let on, it is pretty entertaining.
I did Saucy Sammy for Di – thanks for being in my life! You are a ray of Cabo San Lucas Sunshine!
When you think of Sammy Hagar, we immediately think of Van Halen, but above and beyond the rock god persona, we have an intelligent business man. Launching Cabo Wabo tequilla and a restaurant downtown Cabo. Taking an idea and bringing forth an entrepreneur was apparently not first on his mind. Here is a man who just wanted to have fun.
Somewhere pleasurable he could drink tequilla and play his ever loved music We truly can achieve our dreams and let our imagination run wild, if we are willing to take that first step. Hagar had the money to back him, being a work of rock art all unto himslef, but there is a lesson to be learned by all.
~ Delve into your dreams and desires, and come out with your destiny! sdk 2008
This sketch was done on an 9 x 12 Impression Sketch Pad, strictly done in charcoal with detailed smudging with a tortillion, I achieved Sammy’s raw behavior and attidute behind the guitarist.