What is the point of critics... really?

I cant imagine someone would ever base their own opinion based on a critics review. So whats their purpose? Why are they paid? Whats their value? Critics are just shitting all over the new Daft Punk album, fuck those guys! Daft are light years ahead of any listener. I guess that's what happens to artists ahead of their time. Random access memories is the new one from them, yeah its a departure for them, but I "get it". For once I get it... These guys are my age, maybe that's a part of it.

I get their whole gig..... I dig it

 

The day the music died...

Ray Manzarek "organist" of 'The Doors' died this week at the age of 74 due to cancer. For me and I'm sure for many keyboardists this is very sad news. I know for me, he was a huge part of my life, sounds weird to say about someone I've never met, buts its true. Every time I sit at the piano and play certain riffs, I think of him, because he taught me most of them. Its almost a curse for me, because I spent so much learning all his music as a young keyboard player that it permanently embedded playing habits that I cant break free from. He was a great musician and a great story teller. I think I have seen every interview and dvd he has been in to hear his stories of the Doors days. I was lucky enough to see him in 2004 with Robby Krieger playing the hits.

Now Ray can join Jim up in the ether somewhere and make music again...

I actually remember the day!

I would bet alot of people can't say they have a specific day that they can recall when they fell in love with music... but I do. Sounds funny doesn't it?...but its true. Of course I heard of plenty rock music for as long as I can remember. But for me, there was a single moment where it stopped me in my tracks and forever formed a passion for music in me that has lasted my entire life.

Summer of 1986, I was 12yrs old, playing tennis at the courts in a park by my house (was losing, as always). We were packing up and along comes this purple firebird, with this husky dude wearing tight jean pants and jacket with a huge afro mullet. He cranks the car radio, gets out and sits against the front of the car meeting up some other kids that were there. The song your wondering? "When the Levee breaks"... I wish there were video tape of me, I would imagine I just stopped, mouth open, and stared at him for like 5 minutes. But it was that opening drum beat that got me hooked. I knew right then what I wanted to do, and this is how you do it. I immediately went home and pulled out my parents record collection and found Led Zeppelin II, dropped the needle, and the next song I heard was "Whole lotta love". Oh man! That was it, I surrendered. I'm going to love rock n roll forever. Which I did, and do.

I had always played the piano at house, but really was attracted to the drums. Coincidentally, my brother was just getting into drums and our parents bought a drumset. I played the drums everyday of my life until my next big moment hit me about 5yrs later. The Doors movie came out. Jim Morrison, and all the rock organ songs just floored me. Parents got me a keyboard and off I went. I must have learned every doors song in those next few months.

So for me, I can honestly say, that my two single inspirations and influences originate from two musicians. John Henry Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin, and Ray Manzarek the organ player from the Doors. When I die and go to heaven, I cant wait to jam with those guys. Unless they went to hell, which in that case, I would rather hang out down there with them.