Hey out there! I'm new here, and as such have yet to meet many of you. So I'm gonna take a shot and say "Hey, who's a musician out there? What instrument(s) do you play? Are you in a band? Who're your influences?"
Edited: Blackwulf on 7th May, 2005 - 1:10pm
I used to play the piano and the guitar, but haven't done so in many years. As a teenager, I dreamed of performing in a rock band. Of course, what teenager doesn't dream of being in a band? My influences at the time were rock and heavy metal bands. I'm currently not in a band, but I wouldn't mind picking up the guitar again, even if it means teaching my daughter what I can remember.
I have 5 kids, and all but the 19 month old play something (not all well mind you, and not all with the same level of enthusiasm but...) My oldest son just got a Fender bass for Christmas, and since the bass is my main instrument, I get the joy of teaching him. It's never too late to start, or start back up! The quality of guitars and musical instruments in general being produced in Korea, Mexico, Japan, and even China are far and away above those that were available when I was a kid. For less than (WAY less than) $500.00 US you can get a fine amplifier and guitar. Heck, there's a plethora of instruments available in that price range. The personal satisfaction and inner peace that comes from creativity and heartfelt expression is priceless. One does not have to be a master to find artistic enjoyment, one only has to be a willing student of the art to know that the journey is the joy, not the arrival. ( I made that up, but it's what I really think )
I play bass guitar too and recently began learning how to play harmonica which is a great laugh. My biggest influences come from blues or bands with strong blues roots such as, Black sabbath or Led zeppelin. My father has been a musician since he was around 15 yrs of age and still plays guitar and writes songs etc. So I guess he could be considered an influence, maybe not in the musical sense but definitely in my attitude and philosophy in music. Maybe you would like to share some of your wisdom Blackwulf?
You seem very ingenious, Blackwulf, and I'm happy to say that I play bass, mainly electric, and except for slapping, always with a pick. I've been playing since I was 14, so around 7 years. My influences would have to be, oh, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Rancid (I live in the East Bay, where Rancid started), and Ricqoue Badasza (not sure if that's how you spell his name), and some older underground/local bands, like Frozen, With Sight, Our Name Is Peter Reynolds (they introduced themselves onstage or before gigs, by saying" Hiya, our name is Our Name Is Peter Reynolds ). Oh, and I'm in a rather big local rock band called One For None.