I thought this quest was a nice turn of events:
"Hey Steve, Mike from Jackson (dawg pound) here. I got a
question for your Chop Shop blog. I know you always ask your guests about guitar
players, well I thought I'd turn it around on you. Give me your thoughts, in 5 words or less, on the following guitar players.
Eddie Van Halen, Shaun Morgan, Phil Collen(for my wife,a huge DL fan),
Tony Rombola, Zakk Wylde(for my 9 year old who loves Ozzy), Kirk Hammett
Thanks and take care."
Mike I can’t do it in 5 words or less, but here is my unrehearsed response:
Eddie:
Believe it or not I think he’s under rated as a rhythm player, he’s come up with some of the best, and most fun licks ever! He’d be a top 20 guitar player of all time even if he never played a lead, but he did and that makes him a top 5 guitar player in my book. He’s beyond brilliant.
Shaun:
Shaun is obviously a good writer, He builds good riffs into songs with strong melodies, but he hasn't realized that solos are back! I know he can do more that he's show us so far...
Phil:
I know Phil is a classy player and very talented, but all my favorite Def Leppard songs are on the first 3 albums, with Pete Willis and Steve Clark. Phil is a fine player but never really moved me much.
Tony:
I love Tony’s crunch, he has a lot of power in his playing. What I also love about Tony is he just wants to play and learn. He’ll sit down and jam with whoever he’s out on tour with just to learn and have fun.
Zakk:
One of my best friends in the music biz. Zakk is the most powerful rhythm player I can think of. His chops are so thick! Plus Zakk can be brutal and tender, not everybody can pull that off. I also love that he plays piano, banjo, and can really sing as well. Also is there a better, more appropriate solo in the world that “Mama I’m Coming Home”?
Kirk:
He had me at “Fade to Black”. Kirk has that knack for finding the right notes to really complete a solo. I’ve never been in love with his tone, sometimes it’s a bit thin, but then again that tone really complements James and fits Metallica perfectly.
¶ 9:24 AM
Friday, February 08, 2008
Chop e-question
From J.R. in Traverse City, who listens on WUPS. "Have you ever had Steve Lukather on your show? He smokes on guitar." Yes, I had Luke on back in 2006, and I expect to have him on again in about a month, when his new solo album comes out. I heard a sneek preview by the way and it’s pretty amazing.
¶ 7:38 PM
Saturday, February 02, 2008
God bless the USA
I just got this email from a friend and long-time listener.
¶ 8:37 PM
Friday, February 01, 2008
8 years ago today
As you all know I lost my wife Sabrina to cancer almost 2 years ago. I’ve made it through 2 Christmases, her birthday, the anniversaries of her Bone Marrow Transplants, all the other holidays and even the anniversary of her death but today is the most difficult one for me to get through each year.
February 1st was the day we got married in Hawaii in 2000. 8 years ago was the day that we said “In sickness and in health”. The day we made a resolution to “Love, honor and cherish.” And it seems unfair that we only got 6 years of married life.
I know we made the best of it and had 6 of the best years anyone could hope for, and on all other days of the year that is enough for me to keep moving forward, but on the first day of the second month of every year, I take the time to reflect on our time together.
Today I look back instead of forward to a time when my sick bride needed me more that most couples ever will, and to a time when God gave me strength beyond my own comprehension to be there for Sabrina in all capacities.
Today I remember crawling under all the tubes and wires connected to her, so we could lie in the hospital bed and watch the NFL Playoffs together. I remember the Christmases we shared on the 10th floor at Karmanos with our tiny tree. I remember the late night life or death decisions I was forced to make while she was in the ICU. I remember her friends driving the extra miles to find an Arby’s to bring her her favorite jamoca shake. I remember her seizures, and my awareness that she knew I was there in control, as calm as could be, to take care of every detail. I remember the miracle that was delivered to us on a snow filled night in January of 2004, when Sabrina was supposed to die but instead started a recovery that went beyond science and gave us an additional 2 years.
But most of all today I remember that through all the pain, and difficulties, there were lots and lots of smiles. I remember that I had the god given honor of being the most important person in Sabrina’s life when she needed it the most. And I remember our wedding in Hawaii, one of the most perfect weeks in my life.
God please take care of my angel.
¶ 10:47 AM
blog answer for the week
"Chris Douloudis from Space Monkey and the Space Monkeys here. Just wondering if you\'re accepting discs for possible play on your show. I\'m from Australia and have just finished up my first album and am looking for places that might be interested in playing it.
Please let me know, and tell me where to to send it. If you want to, please check out: http://www.myspace.com/planetspacemonkey for some teasers...
Thanks mate
Chris"
Chris,
There is a delicate balance in programming a syndicated radio show. You have to keep in mind that listeners want to hear music they know and artists they know mixed in with the best of what is new. My approach in programming the Chop Shop is if I’m blown away by something new, I’m going to want to play it for all my friends! So by all means send it along, but keep in mind I’m not often blown away. Most of what I get, both signed and unsigned is somewhere between average and pretty good, and that will not get your music on a national show.
If you’ve got something amazing; send it to Chop Shop Radio P.O. Box 282 Clawson, MI 48017.
¶ 10:03 AM
