I may talk a lot about music in this site and a lot of you should know by now that I am also a guitar player. Some of you may ask what are my biggest influences or inspirations in music. Who are the ones that made me want to pick up the guitar and become a musician myself.

I will name 5 of them:

• Led Zeppelin – They would have to be my no. 1. Most guitar players get inspired by the blues and other rock music, but Led Zep would be my no. 1 influence. It was Led Zeppelin IV that made me want to pick up the guitar. After hearing that album, I wanted to be like Jimmy Page. I started guitar playing at a late age at the age of 18.
• Neil Young – He was the one that made me want to start writing my own music. I wanted to write songs and sing like him. Neil is a hero of mine, always.
• David Bowie – Yeah, I talk a lot about David Bowie in this site, that’s because I’m a huge fan and admirer.
• Jimi Hendrix – You’re not a true guitar player if you have not been inspired by Hendrix. He’s been a major influence in me, in some way. I listened to a lot of Hendrix over the years, and he makes me want to get better at guitar solos and improvisation.
• Johnny Cash – I’m not into country music that much, but Johnny’s music meant something to me over the years. I’m planning on covering some of his stuff for my youtube channel as well.

I’m inspired by most music, but those 5 above are my main heroes. Enjoy!

Kev

Musician Birthdays: James Blunt (UK singer/songwriter, famous for the hit, “You’re Beautiful”, born in 1974)

– In 1967: Pink Floyd continued working on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn at Abbey Road Studios, London. The Beatles were also working at Abbey Road, recording the giant piano chord for the end of ‘A Day In The Life’ for their Sgt. Pepper’s album.

– In 1974: Former David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson played the first of two nights at The Rainbow in London, England.

– In 1980: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, featuring Roger Glover, Graham Bonnet and Cozy Powell appeared at The Royal Highland Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland.

– In 1986: MTV dedicated a full 22 hours broadcast to The Monkees, showing all 45 episodes of the original Monkees TV series.

– In 1987: Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer died after a gall bladder operation. The founder of the Pop Art movement, produced and managed The Velvet Underground, designed the 1967 Velvet Underground And Nico ‘peeled banana’ album cover and The Rolling Stones ‘Sticky Fingers’ album cover.

– In 1988: Stevie Wonder was awarded the 1998 MusiCares Person Of The Year at a concert in Los Angeles.

– In 1989: A category for Heavy Metal was included at the Grammy Awards for the first time. Metallica performed on stage, but the award went to Jethro Tull. Many audience members booed. Meanwhile, Bobby McFerrin won Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’, Tracy Chapman is named Best New Artist and Tina Turner won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for ‘Tina Live in Europe’.

– In 1997: No Doubt went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Speak.’ The third single from the band’s second album Tragic Kingdom was written by Eric Stefani and his sister Gwen Stefani.

– In 2004: Norah Jones started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Feels Like Home’, the singers second US No.1. Usher feat Lil Jon and Ludacris were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Yeah.’

– In 2004: The Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’ was named the most influential record of the 1970s in poll compiled by Q magazine. Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was voted into second place and Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ was third, T Rex’s ‘Get It On’ was fourth and Special AKA’s ‘Gangsters’ came fifth.

Musician Birthdays: David Geffen (Record label owner, responsible for signing the Eagles, CSNY, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, etc., born in 1943)

– In 1961: The Beatles played three gigs in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, then at night they appeared at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.

– In 1964: New York band The Echoes recruited a new young unknown piano player, named Billy Joel.

– In 1967: Pink Floyd started their first sessions at the EMI Studios, St. John’s Wood, London on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, working on the song ‘Matilda Mother’. While Pink Floyd were recording their album with former Beatles engineer Norman Smith, The Beatles themselves were working in the studio next door, recording ‘Fixing A Hole’ for their Sgt. Pepper’s album.

– In 1970: Simon and Garfunkel went to No.1 on the UK chart with ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’. The album went on to stay on the chart for over 300 weeks, returning to the top of the charts on eight separate occasions and spending a total of 41 weeks at No.1.

– In 1972: Led Zeppelin released ‘Rock And Roll / Four Sticks’ as a 7 inch single in the US, peaking at No.47 on the chart. The song was written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying to finish ‘Four Sticks’. Drummer John Bonham played the introduction to Little Richard’s ‘You Keep A-Knockin’ and Page added a guitar riff; with the tapes rolling the basic song was finished fifteen minutes later.

– In 1977: Fleetwood Mac released ‘Rumours’. The album went on to sell more than 15 million copies world-wide and spent 31 weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

– In 1981: Dolly Parton started a two week run at No.1 on the US charts with ‘9 to 5’, the singers first No.1, a No.47 hit in the UK.

– In 1987: Ben E King was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with ‘Stand By Me.’ The track was first released in 1961 and became a hit in 1987 after being featured in the film ‘Stand By Me.’

– In 1998: Celine Dion went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘My Heart Will Go On’. The song was the theme from the movie Titanic. The world’s best selling single of 1998.

– In 2002: Elton John accused the music industry of exploiting young singers and dumping talented artists for manufactured group’s. He said ‘There are too many average and mediocre acts; it damages real talent getting airplay. It’s just fodder.’

– In 2004: Simon Cowell was set to appear in a new episode of The Simpsons. The TV Pop Idol judge would play a nursery boss who gets punched by Homer Simpson.

– In 2008: Britney Spears failed in a court bid to regain visitation rights to her two children. Spears was banned from monitored visits in January of this year after refusing to hand the children back, resulting in a stand-off with police at her house. The singer’s ex-husband Kevin Federline was awarded primary custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, aged one, in October.

– In 2009: Rihanna issued a statement thanking fans for their support after an alleged assault by her R&B singer boyfriend Chris Brown, but the singer declined to comment on a leaked photograph which appeared to show her with facial injuries. The Los Angeles Police Department had launched an internal investigation and asked for the public’s help in finding the person who leaked the photograph.