My Music
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| This page has absolutely nothing to do with Aircraft. Some of my spare time is taken up with music. I play Bass guitar in a Covers band, playing mainly Rock music from the 60's and 70's. I started playing Bass in bands in 1973 with my good mate Graeme Cook. I started playing guitar when I was about 12, playing along to records on an old La Gloria record player. I eventually wore the thing out after 2 or 3 years, much to the disgust of my parents. I learnt the chords to Bad Moon Rising and after I had thought I'd mastered those 3 chords, I learnt Proud Mary. Both of these songs are by the U.S. band Creedence Clearwater Revival and I have followed this group right through to today. I have had the extremely satisfying pleasure of meeting 2 of the original members of this band in 2003. Stu Cook, the Bass Player and Doug "Cosmo" Clifford were touring New Zealand with their reformed group Creedence Clearwater Revisited. I felt very honoured that my wife, my brother and myself were invited backstage after the gig and to meet my idols after 35 years. 2 of the nicest, down-to-earth guys you will ever meet. They were more than happy to sign a whole lot of stuff for me. I have modelled myself on Stu's playing and in the early years I played along with most of CCR's music and learnt the songs. I have posted a few photos below of the show in Tauranga. I have seen John Fogerty twice in concert here in Oz but was not allowed anywhere near backstage or even to get something signed. However, I was lucky enough to talk with his drummer Kenny Aronoff and he signed a couple of CD's he had played on. Other bands I like are Bachman-Turner Overdrive, whose singer Fred Turner has the best voice in the business (IMHO), The Beatles (of course) Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Status Quo, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, The Doobie Brothers and some Kiwi boys like Mi-Sex, Headband, Hello Sailor. Individual artists I enjoy are Dave Dobbyn......(Go Dave), Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix (of course) and Bob Seger, amongst others. My son Aidan works for Dave Dobbyn and I have always admired Dave's songwriting and I met him last year in Gisborne. Well, actually, I had met him in 1978, or thereabouts, but he can't remember and he can't remember why???? Great chap and great band he has. Check him out here: www.davedobbyn.co.nz Aidan has previously worked for a few NZ artists including Hollie Smith and Trinity Roots and has toured overseas with The Black Eyed Peas, whom I met in Sydney a few years back. Anyway, I have a few photos here from days gone by and some of my guitars and stuff that I have. I only use one Bass for gigs, the others are appreciating under a bed and are too valuable to get knocked about. |
The groovy clothes...........Kaiti Hall, Gisborne 1974, that's me on the far left with
Colin Frost on drums, Mark Johnston lead vocals & guitar and Rex Ballard lead
guitar and vocals. I played a 1973 Fender Musicmaster back then.
We were called Beehive..???
Beehive II about 1980 at The Midway Surf Club. Colin & Rex had left and were
replaced by Paul Beckett on drums and Mark Abrahams on lead guitar.
The Beehive Reunion at the Waerenga-a-hika Hall 1985
My 1976 Sunburst Fender Precision Bass
My 1977 Natural Fender Precision Bass
My other 1977 Natural Fender Precision Bass
My 1977 Fender Telecaster
My 1999 Deluxe Fender Stratocaster with Noiseless pickups
The serial number has some significance....!!
My Bass Rig with my 1999 Natural Fender Stratocaster at the top.
Also my 2002 Sunburst Fender American Deluxe 5 String Bass, on the far right,
an amazing guitar with active electronics Fender P Bass and Humbucker
pickups. All my guitars are made in the U.S.A., are genuine Fender and have
genuine dates.
Mark Johnston and I at the Archery Club 1975. We are still good mates!!
The guy who got me started and who I am forever grateful to. Graeme Cook is
actively playing in a band in Gisborne called The Mo2's. Check them out here
http://www.mo2s.co.nz/
Colin Frost on drums, Mark Johnston lead vocals & guitar and Rex Ballard lead
guitar and vocals. I played a 1973 Fender Musicmaster back then.
We were called Beehive..???
Beehive II about 1980 at The Midway Surf Club. Colin & Rex had left and were
replaced by Paul Beckett on drums and Mark Abrahams on lead guitar.
The Beehive Reunion at the Waerenga-a-hika Hall 1985
My 1976 Sunburst Fender Precision Bass
My 1977 Natural Fender Precision Bass
My other 1977 Natural Fender Precision Bass
My 1977 Fender Telecaster
My 1999 Deluxe Fender Stratocaster with Noiseless pickups
The serial number has some significance....!!
My Bass Rig with my 1999 Natural Fender Stratocaster at the top.
Also my 2002 Sunburst Fender American Deluxe 5 String Bass, on the far right,
an amazing guitar with active electronics Fender P Bass and Humbucker
pickups. All my guitars are made in the U.S.A., are genuine Fender and have
genuine dates.
Mark Johnston and I at the Archery Club 1975. We are still good mates!!
The guy who got me started and who I am forever grateful to. Graeme Cook is
actively playing in a band in Gisborne called The Mo2's. Check them out here
http://www.mo2s.co.nz/
The Creedence concert in Tauranga January 2003. These guys blew me away. I
will never forget the night, the crowd went berserk, so did my brother.............John
Tristao's vocals were outstanding, what a throat!! Elliot Easton, ex The Cars,
played lead guitar and Ricky Phillips on keys, harmonica and guitar.
After the show with my bro' Trevor, Doug, myself and Stu.
They are doing a heck of a lot for Junior Diabetes which is fantastic.
Stu Cook at Palm Coast Florida 10th April 2010. Playing a 35" scale Modulus
Genesis 5.
Lead singer John Tristao and Stu Cook 10th April 2010 Palm Coast Florida
With drummer Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford
Tal Morris, John Tristao, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford and Steve Gunner
Palm Coast, Florida, 2010..................Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Australian Tour October 2010, starting in Perth 13/10/10 and ending in Newcastle
18/10/10
Check out CCR here: www.creedence-revisited.com/
will never forget the night, the crowd went berserk, so did my brother.............John
Tristao's vocals were outstanding, what a throat!! Elliot Easton, ex The Cars,
played lead guitar and Ricky Phillips on keys, harmonica and guitar.
After the show with my bro' Trevor, Doug, myself and Stu.
They are doing a heck of a lot for Junior Diabetes which is fantastic.
Stu Cook at Palm Coast Florida 10th April 2010. Playing a 35" scale Modulus
Genesis 5.
Lead singer John Tristao and Stu Cook 10th April 2010 Palm Coast Florida
With drummer Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford
Tal Morris, John Tristao, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford and Steve Gunner
Palm Coast, Florida, 2010..................Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Australian Tour October 2010, starting in Perth 13/10/10 and ending in Newcastle
18/10/10
Check out CCR here: www.creedence-revisited.com/
