The Road to Life and Progressive Rock.

Hi Folks,
My name is Tony, and this is my "Essay" that is an answer to a question on the
Progulus.com Forum:
Music that influenced your Prog tastes
http://www.progulus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25

It is inspired me to possibly write the book about my life, That I've been wanting
to write for a few years. A musical, comedic and sometimes pathetic, look at my
life and all the strangeness and music that has molded me . . .
Into the monster I am today! And how to AVOID the mistakes I've made.

I'm NOT a writer, so forgive me of my gramatical, structure errors etc. in my
(sloppy)writing style. This essay will probably be the Template for my book,
since its a great way to "insert" the life stories inbetween my music journey
and my love for Prog and Metal (and YES, everytime you read it, it will be
re-edited over and over . . . if you're reading it more than once, that would be a
miracle).

It is the reason I signed up here as I didn't want to hog up the thread with my
"Life Story", so anyone from Progulus could LINK to it here.
In turn, maybe anyone of YOU out there can be part of the experience by
becoming a proud Progulus listener as well.

Thank you and I appreciate your visit (and comments). Prog On!
-Tony


This is PART 1 of The Road to Life and Progressive Rock.
This "Essay" marks pivotal moments in my life that would shape the
music in my growing up and start me on my Prog Odyssey.

Phase1
In the Beginning . . .

"Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream . . .
It is not dying, it is not dying, Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void, It is
shining, it is shining . . ."
- Tomorrow Never Knows/the Beatles

From 1963 to now, My life has been filled with music of all sorts to enjoy.
My love for "The Beatles" as a little kid was overwhelming, I knew even as
a 5-7 year old that this music was different than anything on Top 40 radio of
the 60's. Then there was my Dad's love of "Santana", it went along with his
tastes in Latin music he grew up with (Herb Albert and Brazil 66 were my
faves), but again, it was the 60's and my Dad's love of guitar would influence
me (he also had a Classical/Acoustic Guitar and a hollow body Harmony
electric). I have just learned that my Dad used to walk the nieghborhoods of
Honduras/San Pedro Sula, with his friends strumming his acoustic guitar
almost everywhere he went . . . that makes me smile.
For some reason, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Alvin Lee & 10 Years After, and the
like eluded us for some reason back then. I might've been a musician
instead of an Artist if we listened to more of the innovators of the day.
The "Hits" were heard, but my Mom and Dad never purchased any albums
(maybe it was their association with "hippies" and the drug culture).
But Carlos Santana was doing what these guys were doing, even as a kid I
could hear it. This was beyond Bubble Gum.
There was no "twangy" guitar here, these guys knew the power of the Power
Chords, the sustaining note and adding the heavy blues influence and
innovation of the Player that would influence everyone.
But Santana had this HUGE group of musicians, top of there form, at such
a young age! (that included: Greg Rollie, Neal Schon, Michael Shrieve) And
added the Latin/Tropical flavour that always held musicianship to the highest
degree.
It would be the albums "Abraxas; III; and "Caravansari" that would shape
me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnamP4-M9ko

Then hearing bits of Sgt Pepper, the White Album and Let it Be from the
Beatles. These 2 bands I consider the 1st Progressive Rock bands -in general,
and that would be the "seed", even though I usually didn't know what the heck
they were singing about ("I am the Walrus, kookookatchoo!" ?). But the Beatles
were always a staple on the radio. The only album we had at the time was
"Meet the Beatles" and 45rpm singles. The Let it Be album, would be given by
my Aunt Daly, she noticed every time I'd visit her, I'd want to hear it, she
decided to give it to me to take home (and I still have it).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdopMqrftXs
. . . and "Hey Jude" that I saw on T.V. LIVE as a kid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXG83p2nkHw
I have pleasant memories of taking Sunday drives, heading home at night and
listening to "8 Track Tapes" (and the soft lights of the player) in my Dads 67
Mustang Fastback, laying on the flattened back seats and looking at the lights
and stars through the rear window . . .

There was also my Dads love of Country, and this had to be the "Golden
Age", where the Outlaws of Country like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson,
Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard thrived. Then you had the likes of Tom T.
Hall, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Tennesse Ernie Ford, Loretta Lynn,
Charlie Pride, as well as soo many others that had the old "twang" and swing
of the "classic stars", with incredible voices, musicianship, with all sorts
of Guitars, tone and style.
A nice memory is watching the Country Variety show "HEE HAW" with my
Dad and the various Country Stars of the time. But when Co-host Roy Clarke
would play his various Guitars . . . He was like the Steve Howe (Yes guitarist)
of Country! (And it was a treat to see him on Johnny Carson as well). Then you
would have guests like Chet Atkins and Glen Cambell that also would shred
and finger-pick with unbelievable speed (Influences for Dixie Dregs Steve
Morse I'm sure).
But Country music has become a "cash cow" and less twang, more rock.
My Dad used to say "...that isn't Country!" There are exceptions, but it mostly
sounds like Top 40 music with a southern "drawl" nowadays.

I also got to appreciate Vocalists like, Frank Sinatra; Tony Bennet; Johnny
Mathis; Dean Martin; and Pop music and Rock of the day like Simon &
Garfunkle; Hermins Hermits; Sugarloaf; The Strawberry Alarm Clock; The
Guess Who; Spiral Staircase; The 5th Dimension; The Carpenters; The
Lovin' Spoonfull; Buffalo Springfield; the Monkees; the Byrds; the Beach
Boys; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Janis Joplin; Procul Harem; Iron
Butterfly; The Cowsills; the Rolling Stones; Credance Clearwater Revival;
Bread; Three Dog Night, including the British Pop Bands/Vocalists and more.
This would be from 1963 to about 72.


Phase2
Moving (backwards).

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all!"
- Born on a Bad Sign/Pat Travers/Cream/ adapt. from Booker T. Jones and
William Bell

The AWFUL move to Louisiana would hold the NEW influences as an escape
for a 7 to 14 year old. I started hearing a band called "Grand Funk Railroad"
on the radio, and thought it was the HEAVIEST stuff I ever heard (ahh
. . . niavete').
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6chChxzV0
I've never told this story to anyone, at Livaudales Junior High School I used to
be picked on alot (I was a nappy headed geek- on top of that, being Spanish).
One day in class (a class that I was picked on by the teacher as well), A
bully by the name of Joey Jackson (notorious throughout the school) was
listening to a hand held radio, and he said to me, "do you know who THIS
is?" (I'm hearing heavy riffs on a guitar), I said, "I don't know . . . Grand Funk?"
He smacks the back of my head and says, "No bitch! its Fog Hat!"

. . . my introduction to Fog Hat and "Slow Ride".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkJBBTBA4M
From that moment on, I knew who the bands were, who were the members,
and the next 5 years of Shotokan Karate (by 14 I graduated as a 3rd (dan)
Degree Brown belt, that I was too scared to use) and hearing the likes of
Nazareth; Eric Clapton; Steppen Wolf; Mahogany Rush; Manfred Manns
Earth Band; Three Dog Night; Chicago; ZZ Top; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Eagles;
Styx; Edgar Winter Group; Blood Sweat and Tears; Todd Rungren; Electric
Light Orchestra; Rare Earth; Bachman Turner Overdrive; The Who; Derek
and the Dominoes; Mott the Hoople; Jim Croche; Cat Stevens; The Allman
Brothers; Seals and Croft, as well as the Pop Music the day, R&B of the
60's-early 70's and the "One Hit Wonders". . .
then something else.

Led Zeppelin was brief, it should of hit me like a ton of bricks as well as for
my Dad. He loved the song "Black Dog Rock n' Roll" but didn't get around to
buying the albums.
Black Sabbath should have as well, but knowing Dad's ear for rumours- he
probably didn't like the so-called "Dark" side of the band. I remember seeing
"We Sold our Souls for Rock n' Roll" in a LP stack at a relatives house. I wish
I would have heard it. These guys would hit me decades later.
Alice Cooper was dark as well, but we did get into his "Hit Singles". Queen
was WEIRD, but the music was really epic, but didn't seem to catch on either.
Brian Mays tone and playing was awe inspiring. Every time I'd hear THAT
guitar, I'd stop to listen (And the layered vocals!). I remember only their singles,
and a couple of cute cousins that were into them.
The Rolling Stones were popular, but not with me. Only a few songs but they
never really appealed to me.

But . . .
Only in bits in pieces, and not really knowing who or WHAT it was, Yes and
Emerson Lake & Palmer, I could swear, I saw them on television.
Me and my Dad would watch all kinds of Music Specials and Variety Shows
including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the awesome cavalcade
of Bands and Musicians. As well as The Midnight Special and Don Kirchner's
Rock Concert.
Yes will always be a faint memory that I actually saw them on T.V.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0vOalfZ5hU
But 2 experiences with ELP:
1st, was seeing a "Documentary" about them, I vaguely remember it, but what
I DO remember was the names of the members, in BIG black letters atop
their Tour Buses! (And I swear in another segment "they" were atop them
with their respective instruments) as they zoomed down the road from a
Helicopter cam view.

2nd-
There was a place that my Dad used to get his 8 Track Tapes, I believe was
called "General E. Lee Music" (figures...yee haw) and in the middle of the
floor was an elaborate floor display from the Manticore Label- ELP & Brain
Salad Surgery, it was soo intriguing and SCARY! It would be my 1st time seeing
the works of H.R. Giger and both would seem to make its way throughout my
life.
At this point, other than 45's, I had yet to have my own albums(LP's).
. . . and 6 more years of misery at schools.

Jefferson Parish/Gretna Louisiana sucked BIG time. And something else would
"suck" . . . DISCO.
1976 and Disco would explode and it seemed Rock was dieing, but as the WHO
would exclaim, "Rock is dead they say, Long Live Rock!"
At first I liked Disco with its Orchestrated music and its high-hat and drum beats,
but then it started to focus on the "singer" and the simple verse and repeated
chorus over and over. It became less about the music and more the vocals, the
simplicity and the glitz, the glamour, the fashions and "lifestyle".
The flavours of the week were selling millions, but ROCK would endure and had
longevity . . . and slowly, Rock would get heavier and more creative.
It all started to sound the same and Rock became my banner of rebellion.


Phase3
The move back to California!

"Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done, lay your
weary head to rest, don't you cry no more..."
- Carry On Wayward Son/Kansas

Me and my Dad had enough! Me at school and my Dad's jobs and the "good
ol' boy" attitudes. The only good things that came from living there were
Relatives, the Seafood and the birth of my little Brother who I loved soo much.
Also having a sophisticated comic sense (...geek), that came from watching
Monty Python episodes and the nation wide broadcast of the "Dr. Demento
Show" on the radio, that featured funny skits, performers, comedians and bands
with the likes of Weird Al before he had a record contract, Shel Silverstien;
Captain Beefheart; Monty Pythons Flying Circus; Cheech & Chong; Spike Jones
and his City Slickers; Barnes & Barnes and it would be the 1st time to hear
Frank Zappa. And outrageous songs/acts by the obscure.
So my "humour in music" was sown forever (later, I would listen to the direct
California broadcast for over the next few decades until its demise).

1977, The road to California is a special memory because during the ride
across a few deserts (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California), we were
listening to "The X" (and the sweet voice-over of a Latina saying, "Baja
California-Mejico [Mexico]" -The same station ZZ TOP sang about). And we
would hear newly released songs by the Eagles; Gerry Raferty; Bob Seger
and the Silver Bullet Band; Al Stewart; Fleetwood Mac; Electric Light
Orchestra; Marshall Tucker Band and Boston (The debut which was still
making its way on the airwaves-1st hearing them a few months before leaving
La.) The dueling Guitars of Tom Sholtz and Barry Goudreau were soo smooth
and Brad Delps soaring Vocals really made an impact. So the trip "back home"
was magical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AlzsP4jN1E
It also reminds me of our drives down Van Nuys Blvd. where we would
eventually live in an Apt. for over a year. And would see the last days of Hot
Rods and Lowriders "Cruising" down the Boulevard as it would be outlawed.
As my folks, weary of living in an Apartment, were saving for a new home of our
own and make new roots. And we would take rides to different nieghborhoods
to look at homes while my dads 8 track would play Santana, and Eagles Newly
released "Hotel California".
Disco throughout 1977 thru 79 would slowly die off, as Rock grew strong. But
unfortunately it would influence R&B and completely kill (for the most part) a
genre of music I enjoyed.

For the coming Christmas, I would receive my 1st LP/Vinyl of my own, Kiss-
Alive II; ELO- Out of the Blue; and Foreigner (debut).
As well as an album that would change my world of music, but . . . I was just
getting into Kiss the last year of living in La. But I think I was just being a
"wanna-be", and maybe I just liked Destroyer and thought it was their
strongest release. I knew my Ear was tuned differently than most kids, I just
didn't know what it was. I was also getting albums on Cassette at this time.
But Alive II held something that I never payed attention to till this album . . .
The Drum Solo.
I thought Peter Criss was a GOD, the "Cat" could beat those skins, nevermind
that I saw Buddy Rich numerous times on Johnny Carson, this guy was it!
One day in Science class in 9th grade, I don't remember who I was talking to,
I was talking about Peter Criss and this great drum solo on Alive II-very
enthusiastically, and this tall black guy (I think he was the star basketball
player) with an afro says to me, "You want to hear a great drum solo, listen to
Carl Palmer of ELP" and he just walked away . . .
WHO is this guy to tell me Peter Criss's drum solo isn't as exciting as . . .
Carl Palmer?
And STILL, I didn't run out and get their albums!

I was also hearing cuts on the radio from an album called "Leftoverture" the
previous years.
But Songs like "Carry On" and "Dust in the wind", still had that Top 40 vibe of
the era . . . but not. I didn't realize what they were until 1977 and the release
of "Point of Know Return" by Kansas. The 1st real Prog Rock band I'd fully
dive into, and this was the other album I had gotten for Christmas. Its weird,
I'd brag about Kiss but didn't realize that it was Kansas that broadened my
taste, painted pictures in my mind- with my favorite songs "Lightnings Hand",
"Sparks of the Tempest" and "Closet Chronicles" (What weird picks for faves
of a 14 year old) and the aggressive notes of "Paradox" and "the Spider".
Yet I couldn't really grasp what they were doing, how complex the music really
was . . . I just LIKED it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60A1yKc2hi4

I had also been getting Cassettes, single 45's and hearing the songs of Paul
McCartney and his band "Wings". It continued the love I had of the Beatles.
As well as John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and their musics.
This carried on from Louisiana till this day. They will always be special.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf4GRnnfwVk

Another life changing experience, There were giant billboards all over Los
Angeles, Big black billboards with no images but a stylized white logo and the
headline, "A Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away".
The Summer of Star Wars would slowly take me from drawing cars, to drawing
Spaceships, eventually to drawing people in the later teens, and dreams of
working for Industrial Light & Magic.


Phase4
Home.

"All my life I knew you were waiting, revelation, anticipating, All is well, the
searching is over, let the truth be known, Let it be shown (give me a glimpse
of home)"
- Glimpse of Home/Kansas

As spiritually to Kerry Livegren (Kansas guitarist) and to myself, it would be prophetic
those words. Where Home seem to be and what spiritual guide would reveal them-
selves . . . we both would come to understand much later.

It's 1978.
The move to our new "House" in West Covina was a welcome one.
From the sweltering heat of the Valley, to the suburbs of West Covina.
Since my education was ruined by my experiences in Louisiana, the only
solace was Art class. It's Late in my Junior year at Nogales High School in
La Puente/West Covina, and we were allowed to listen to the radio and took
turns listening to different stations, unfortunately only 2 to 3 of us were into
Rock, so it was a treat to hear on KLOS, KWEST and KMET (the latter 2
now long gone, which was too bad, especialy KWEST, from my rare listens,
they played more progressive Rock music. And I remember hearing ELP's
Karn Evil part II), Yes; Journey; REO Speedwagon; Kansas; Genesis; Boston;
Lynyrd Skynyrd; Outlaws; Aerosmith; FogHat; Robin Trower; Deep Purple;
Uriah Heep; Fleetwood Mac; Santana; Led Zeppelin; Supertramp; ELO; the
Who; Moody Blues; Queen; Cheap Trick; UFO; Bad Company; Bob Seger;
Heart; Steely Dan; James Gang/Joe Walsh; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers;
Pink Floyd between the AWFUL : Greatful Dead; Van Morrison; the Doors;
Jefferson Airplane; AC~DC; Bruce Springstien; Bob Dylan; Jackson Browne;
Bowie; The Rolling Stones (haha- yeah I hated that stuff then).
. . . But when I heard a cut from YES "Drama"(1980), I think that was the
moment I KNEW what I was listening to, what this music was and how
complex and I would defend it against the "Rock Haters" of the school!
. . . then the radio would turn to an R&B station.

Its hard being a rocker.

Another foray into Fusion/Prog would come in 3 people:

From a one time visit, a friend "from the hall ways", Rick Lacero (who played
drums for the school band) at his home. And he had this beautiful Stereo
system, the kind you'd see in the Electronic section of Playboy. It was all
separate "Decks", cool lighted windows and LED's, even an equalizer! And a
top of the line Turntable! Rick took a Record out of its sleeve, and carefully
ran a brush over and blew at it. On the cover was this guitarist and it was
entitled, "Jeff Beck- Blow by Blow", the needle gently, with a warm thump hit
the groove, you could hear just a little static. . . and these glorious sounds
came out, textured and crying notes, complicated groove lines and biting
solos . . . all heard on these wonderful speakers soo warm and full of sound
that you felt it in your chest and stomach, I had NEVER heard music soo
clear! Rick is talking, but all I hear is music filling my body!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FuAZrsjYok
He then puts on another album, slowly . . .
the sound of animals? Sheep! . . . soo far away, then the distinct sound of a
Rhodes Keyboard . . . I look at the cover and there is a PIG flying over a
Manufacturing Plant between 2 smoke stacks! All in rich browns . . .
That was my 1st real introduction to Pink Floyd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx84RwoewaU

Again, why those 2 bands didn't take . . . must be because it was too much
for my brain to handle, I was overwhelmed! Plus our friendship wasn't close,
Rick was the same age but was smarter, more mature, as was everyone else,
I was more of a geek than he was, things were a bit "beyond me".
But I would always remember that experience with Jeff Beck, and my 1st LP
by him would be "There and Back", and Floyd would make its way to my turn-
table with their release of the epic, "The Wall" in a few years.

Then there was my then, best friend Glen Mayfield. He also was a bit more
mature but we got along because of our sense of humour (he was a Monty
Python fan too) and he also loved Kansas, Yes (which I just started getting
into) and Genesis, but Genesis was just "too out there for me", it would take
a while for me to understand the complexity, subtlety, quiet and EPIC in one
song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdD6L4cKKU8
If Genesis was too much to take in, then Yes for some reason had it for me,
and I guess it was Steve Howe, he was more in your face than Steve Hackett
(At the time), and he just shredded on that big Gibson! And the grandiose
playing and "sounds" of Rick Wakeman! all tempered with Jon Anderson's
angelic voice (I would not come to appreciate Chris Squire's Bass, Bill Bruford
and Alan White's Drum playing till way later).
The opening of "Close to the Edge" and throughout would transport me from
its slow fade-in opening of a Tropical Rain Forest to a Cavern of Stalagtites
and Stalagmites floating in its water and the Jules Verne feel to Wakeman's
keys at the bridge of the song, with each musician enhancing its "vision" with
music I had never heard before or could ever conceive.
"Fragile"; "Close to the Edge" and "Relayer" would be the albums I would
worship and wear out the grooves.
Drama would soon be purhased and the opening track "Machine Messiah"
alone would be worth the trip, but the whole album was brilliant. I was just getting
into the YES line-ups and was suprised that it was a different vocalist and
Keyboardist, soon to find out they were 2 members of the Buggles (Later, singer
Trevor Horn would produce Yes's no.1 Album "90215" and Geof Downes would be
one of the founding members of Asia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BivgombIE

My friend Glen was also a "Born Again", so I was then treated to Myron Lafevre,
Phil Keagy, Petra and later, A.D. (Kerry Livegren's solo band), and he introduced
me to early Electronic/New Age: Tomita; Wendy/Walter Carlos; and Tangerine
Dream.
We also liked Styx, and I started seeing that they also were more than their
Hit Singles as well, their guitars had a distinct tone that I loved, it was Hard
Rock, but had enough Prog elements to keep it different than what was out
there, And "Grand Illusion" would play alot on my turntable in the years to
come (A year later, same for "Pieces of Eight" which is still my favorite).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtbObQuDwT8

Spiritual Influence:
I was coming to an understanding what God and Christ meant to me, and
the deep understanding of what they were about. Glen opened the door, but
it was me who always had the spirit of Christ in my heart and I knew what
was right and wrong. And I wasn't going to shove it down anyones throat.
It would grow, but my way of understanding would separate me from ones
who more zealous about it.
And it was in music that I started noticing the different spirituality in my fave
bands, or at least values that I grew up with, respect for others, for myself
and a deeper and higher purpose for all that we do. Though I would fumble
and fall throughout my life, I still would hold onto the logical, and moral values
that I learned on my own, my parents and a higher power.

It was Glen (I believe) who also introduced me to Kerry Livegrens (Kansas,
Proto-Kaw founder) book "Seeds of Change"(in an Expanded Edition) where
he writes:
"As modern music becomes more formularized, derivative, and shallow,
listeners are crossing cultural and generational bounderies to find music of
spiritual and creative substance. Witness the recent interest in various types
of "ethnic" music. I find myself listening to it a lot because it seems so
untainted and fresh -free from the corporate mold. Christian music suffers from
the same malady.
Though we as Christians have a mandate to be skillful and creative, and Scripture
affirms that we should sing unto the Lord a new song, we rarely hear anything new.
The atmosphere of Christian radio is so limited as to be stifling.
Not only is it as highly formatted as its secular counterpart, but in most cases, the
artist must conform to some sort of spiritual criteria -someone's definition of what
makes his or her music acceptable Christian music. It's a strange irony indeed that
finds lyrics with the most profound truth coupled with the most unchallenging sort of
muzak."

That was written in 1991. This says everything about the music of TODAY in
the limelight, popular, secular and of faith. But its in Prog I find creativity that
can spiritually move me, as well as faith, spiritually minded bands from Cynic
to Neal Morse to Kings X to Iona to Extol to Kansas. But this will be part of
my journey to come, and this book will be given to me by a dear friend decades
later.

A 3rd friend, but was very brief:
It was the time I was thinking of taking Art classes from meeting a senior
(I was a sophomore) named Rick Saenz. A Latino with long hair and a quiet
friendly demeanor (Artist written all over him!). He was a budding Artist, and
had such an amazing style, his Art geared to Fantasy and Band Logos.
His main influence was Roger Dean and he would show me Yes covers and
Art books, his Art and again, just overwhelmed by it all, I wish I could have
looked at his Album collection, but I'm sure my mind would explode. I do
remember he liked Uriah Heep, but it would be years till I appreciated them.
He also had a poster on the wall over his bed, that he mailed for with a
"coupon", that was of a woman with steel-like/tubing for hair that looked
very familure. It was from the inside sleeve of ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery",
which he took out, in which the original pressing, the front cover opened from
the middle into 2 halves revealing the woman hanging on his wall, my mind
raced back to 1973 and that display.
I kept looking at his sketch book and he said, "You can borrow it if you want"
. . . so for almost 2 years I held on to it. I definitely count Saenz and Dean as
my 1st inspirations for my Logo work.
A mis-fortune that I did not keep in contact with Rick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ9EkTehGwo


Phase5
Discovery.

" I know it's most unusual, To come before you so, But I've found an ancient
miracle, I thought that you should know, Listen to my music, And hear what it
can do, There's something here as strong as life . . . I know that it will reach you"
- IV Presentation/2112/Rush

As the years past within High School, my ears started to really understand
what they were hearing. Another Christmas would bring a favorite memory.
1979 and SoCal Winters were still cold, the cold winds brushing the house,
a fire crackling in the fireplace, warm lights in the den and listening to my new
albums from my parents, "Don't Look Back" from Boston and the album that
would really begin the awareness of Prog, Kansas "Monolith".
At this time, Me and my Dad were watching Don Kirschner alot late night on
Saturday, and so since Kansas was on Don's label, they released "Promo-
films" for the new album Monolith. I recall they were for the singles, "The
Otherside", "Away from You" and "Reason to Be". Cool visuals and being
able to see them perform was really awesome. So because of that exposure
I asked my parents for that album.
It would be over 3 decades till I'd see those videos again! For awhile I thought
I was hallucinating because NO-ONE remembers seeing them.
But finally released on the accompanying DVD on the "Sail On-the 30th
Anniversary" box set for Kansas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSVULtkJqDQ

Both Kansas and Boston albums I would play and play. But something new
was on the horizon . . .
Van Halen.
This would just shake up the world of rock, the music industry and the way
guitarists played. Just the cover of the debut of Van Halen looked wild and
the sounds Eddie would pull from his guitar were never heard of! (Even though
later to find Steve Hackett and Alan Holdsworth did many of the "tricks" Eddie
used, but Eddie was just more flashy with it). Taking advantage of feedback,
Tremelo pulls and "Dive bombs", Harmonic vibratos, Hammer-ons and Pull-
offs would enter the vocabulary of every kid guitarist to come. It also added a
difference to Hard Rock of the time that would give birth to the new Heavy Metal
"sound".
The coming years would see kids coming out of the woodwork with different
styles, attitude, aggression and musicianship that would engulf my world
. . . but that wont happen till after High School.

Also during this time, next to the neighborhood Stater Brothers Market, was a
little Mom&Pop Record store, mostly catering to the R&B crowd, I was flipping
through the LP's on a turnstyle and I came across an album with a cringe and
wonder in my face:
A blueish cover with the backside of a naked man atop a BRAIN and an
English chap with a derby! . . . "How GAY!" I thought. I put it back and went to
join my Mom at the Market.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B000001ESL/sr=8-1/qid=
1187664094/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0/105-9019703-4726818?ie=UTF8&s=
music&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;index=0&qid=1187664094&sr=8-1#gallery


Phase6
Graduate to a new "door".

"Computerized clinic, For superior cynics, Who dance to a synthetic band,
In their own image, Their world is fashioned, No wonder they don't understand!"
-Natural Science/Rush

A "Late" Graduation and the beginning of a Love Affair.

The Senior year would add something to the radio waves . . .
"The Spirit of Radio" by a band called Rush. Another band I couldn't take in yet,
I didn't know what to make of it. It had such weird time changes that the only
thing I could compare it to was my creative "Whistling and humming" in the
shower! I'd make up weird melodies, odd time changes with beats (sort of "Beat-
Box" like sounds waaay before the Rap community would find its use, we're talking
1980 here!- So I was emulating Drums and Guitar SFX- like I said, I was different,
I used to imitate instruments, celebrities, sound effects, etc.).
So Rush was a mystery, and Geddy's voice was REALLY different, I didn't know
what to think of them.

In my last years of high school would see the days of New Wave, which I rallied
against (but came to respect eventually) at the time. But there were exceptions
that really had chops like the Police; U2; XTC; Ultravox; Missing Persons (an
introduction to Terry Bozzio); Flock of Seagulls; Elvis Costello; The Pretenders
and Big Country.
Bands like these would influence Prog to come (its my contention that if their
were no Flock of Seagulls, U2 and Ultravox, there would be no "Grace Under
Pressure" by Rush, in sound, that is) and was just another re-birth for the genre.
But for the most part, I heard less musicianship and more "push a button and
it plays a melody", programmed, tweaked sequencers making music.

"All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open hearted
Not so coldly charted
It's really just a question of your honesty, yeah
Your honesty
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity"
- The Spirit of Radio/Rush

How prophetic those words would be, then and especially now.

Punk was also transforming for the American bands. With the likes of the
Dickies; Stiff Little Fingers; Black Flag; X; The Dead Kennedy's; Social
Distortion; Patty Smith; The Ramones and Butthole Surfers etc.
Because of some of the sappy New wave and Top 40 rubbish, the new music
wanted to yell at the establishment and this would be the root of Thrash from
the "Crossover" bands like DRI; Excel; Waysted Youth; Corrosion of
Conformity; S.O.D.; Misfits and more.
The latter would come much later but again, I'd hear these bands and heard
the influences seeping through each other. And would add their angry tones
of the coming Thrash wave.

But popular music is just that. And it held no form of creativity for me to sit
through it, I respected music too much to just "tune it out". The music I liked
held me in its trance, I couldn't just "wash the dishes" to it.
This would be the way to this day . . . its not, just music to me, its something
a creative person "crafted" and played with the highest denominator.
But good music is good music, no matter how simple, some music just didn't
sit well with me.

1981:
I was doing terribly in school, but drawing constantly and because of these
2 things, my parents, especially my Dad, we started to be at odds with each
other . . . I HATED school, my attention span was nil, but I wasn't a bad kid,
on the contrary, Smoking didn't make sense to me, just the the smell of Pot
gave me a headache, drinking made people annoying and stupid, Beer tasted
like piss and I didn't hang with the "wrong" crowd (maybe bad choices in what
a "friend" was but...).
I couldn't WAIT for school to be over! So my wish came true and with not
able to grasp Math and failing "P.E." as it was my last class of the day, and I
couldn't stand the competitive attitudes of the other kids, I'd hang with a friend
named Robert Flock (Who had a punk/new wave friend that introduced us
named Eric, who always made fun of me in a sarcastic way) where we would
sneak off to the Stadium, talk skateboarding, music and girls, then jump the
fence and head over to a Doughnut shop with our saved lunch money (The
food at school was really bad).

. . . I wasn't going to graduate with the rest of the class, which (I) was the shame
of my parents. This would be the 1st real nail to start distancing me and my
folks. How I'm still ALIVE from that news is a miracle . . .
But I was going to get my Nogales High School Diploma if I went right away to
a Continuation School for the summer!
To my amazement it was swift and easy and I got to talking to a fellow "loser", he
was this big guy with semi-long hair, but he seemed more mature than the other
kids. We would talk about music and he told me he was going to see Rush on the
"Moving Pictures" Tour. I just started to hear the new songs, and he talked about
Neil Peart and what an awesome Drummer he was.

After we "Graduated" and went our separate ways, Rush stuck in my head,
and I started paying attention to the songs and the musicianship . . . this was
the same band I saw on that turnstyle in the Record Shop!? How could I be
soo stupid!!!? (If I heard Cygnus X-1 Book II/Hemispheres back then, God
knows who I'd be now!) Next to Kansas, this Canadian trio would become my
favorite band in the next year and then become -of all time.


Phase7
New influences, new awareness.

" Passing time will reach as nature relays to set the scene, New encounters
spark a true fruition, Guiding lines we touch them, our bodies balance out the
waves, As we accelerate our days to the look in your eyes."
-Sound Chaser/Yes

So after the insanity of High School, went into a stint at community college in a
crappy Drawing class (I learned more in High School), but because of joining up, I
was to receive my own stereo to enjoy my new collection of music. I had my
ideas of what I wanted, I was building up on pamphlets of equipment.
Pioneer was looking really good and that years series of stuff was really cool in
design and I was asking for a deck type set up of an Amp/Receiver; Cassette
deck; Turntable and Speakers.
Not the top of the line, but enough to have oomph!

And what I got was a Soundesign all in 1 component model that had a built
in Cassette and 8-Track player (its 1982 not 62!) and a separate Turn-table
that sounded like a Bus idling. . . I was disappointed to say the least.
But "I" was a disappointment! So I kept my mouth shut and made due.

1st Job:
My 1st goal was to get a nice Turn-table and I was eying a cool Pioneer direct-
drive. But to obtain it I had to get a job and My Parents were shuving me to get one!
At this time, my best friend Glen had a neighbor named Alex Zandor, He would be
a new music friend who was becoming a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal fan. He would get
me a job at a plant that made "Cables for Nuclear Power Plants" (and in a scary low
tech way of lacquering them, as cable being fed through holes, drilled through empty
large plastic paint buckets with sponges and lacquer!), And the supervisor was this
butch looking red haired woman(?) with facial hair and her husband, this pencil
neck/head with a twitch and stuttered as he would talk of "simple things".
All this on the graveyard shift . . . but it was money for Art books and sacred vinyl.

This is probably the time that Southern Rock was hitting its peak and my faves
would be Molly Hatchet (that had a bit of Metal in them); Point Blank; Allman
Brothers; 38.Special; The Outlaws; Blackfoot; Atlanta Rhythm Section and of course
Lynyrd Skynyrd (Who even to this day, I own NOT 1 record).
The amazing guitar solos were the main event to these guitar driven Southerners,
and some even had "3" guitarists!
Also, I was discovering:
Pat Travers; Gary Moore (his Metal years); Survivor; Gamma (Ronnie Montrose's
band); Pat Benatar; The Cars; Sammy Hagar; Judas Priest and Blue Oyster Cult.
Glen Mayfield was still my best friend and we talked about seeing Kansas . . .
At this time sadly, Steve Walsh had left, and was replaced by the excellent
John Elefante . . . It would be my FIRST concert, and it delivered!
I remember being very nervous, with pot heads and beer drinkers making
trouble and the "unknown" plaguing my mind, but also the excitement!
Still one of my fave shows to this day, my teens were filled with their music
and here I am witnessing these awesome musicians playing their catalogue
along with the "Vinyl Confessions" material, though I missed the great Walsh,
John's vocals just soared and with much gusto, passion and POWER!
A funny note:
Seems the floors were "slippery" at the Universal Amphitheater, with the 1st
song "Paradox", John would play his key parts up on a riser, then run to the
front of the stage to sing, when his key part was coming, he'd run . . .
and then he slipped, sled and fell on his butt! But got up, RAN to the riser
where his keyboard waited and made it in just in time for his part!
Robby Steinhardt was playing his Violin in another song, then started walking
the stage . . . and fell right on his butt, his part came up, and he just sat on
the ground and played it out.

Clip from Vinyl Confessions Tour in Omaha:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymn_zMIBKzA

2nd would be another fave show with Zebra! This too was an energetic show
and they were even better live, filled with such power and sound from this
power trio, I was truly impressed.

3rd would be Heart on the "Passion Works" tour, and again . . . awesome.
Nancy Wilson looking gorgeous as ever and her voice ripping the ceiling
open!

Going to concerts would bring a new understanding what it took to get it
off the ground, as well as being able to perform or enhance the music from
the studio to stage.
Perceptions of this growing within me with each band and passing years.

"Those who wish to be, must put aside the alienation, get on with the facination,
the real relation, the underlying theme..."
-Limelight/Rush

Continued in Part 2-