YOU AREN’T READY FOR THIS…

Last blog, I said I wasn’t ready for this.

Now it’s your turn.

I’ve been going over the songs for the four Supernova gigs, as well as the tribute concert for TM Stevens. An epiphany hit me (when doesn’t one?!) while working on songs by Jimmy Eat World, Oasis, Van Halen, Zach Brown, as well as the TM tunes:

Musicianship in and of itself does not sell.

HUH?

Yes you read that right. Read it again.

If people bought music purely based on talent, Yngwie Malmsteen would be in the top 10 every week. Steve Vai would be as household a name as Post Malone. Yes I am painfully aware of sounding like Rick Beato but facts are facts. SONGS SELL, not talent. Why did this thought enter my brain?

I went to a local show last Friday night and met up with some friends. As usual, I hear things like “You’re SO good/talented” and while it’s nice, it doesn’t really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. I have a lot of pride in who I am and what I’ve accomplished. My guitar playing is very good, and it’s only improving thanks to the many students that keep me on my toes. But again, NOBODY CARES how well you or I play.

Sad but true.

They THINK they care but in all actuality, they want to see a band go through the motions, play the hits like the album, and be careful not to ruin awkward high school memories. This is why cover/tribute bands are all the rage. All about memories. Period. You will hear things like “Close your eyes, you’d swear you were watching AC/DC” or whatever. Even with original bands, they are too busy imitating instead of emulating. It’s tough to be original but being unique doesn’t hurt.

Maybe?

I won’t bite the hand that’s feeding me. When a cover band wants my talents, and I’m available, I will step in. I will stick as close to the recording as possible but my style will kick in. One guy even said to me a while back that “You changed a bit of ‘Eruption’, not sure if I like that.” Oh I played it a bit faster…oops! My bad!

I will let it happen again.

With the TM songs, I am going over the songs during my tenure with the band between 2012-2014. Still waiting word on if/when rehearsals are happening, as I’ve not played these songs since 2014. Thankfully I remember a bulk of the songs. Doesn’t hurt to go over them here at home though. Preparation is key. Songs like “Supernatural” and “Turn Me On”…man those are still fun to play!! Challenging as hell but I’m ready!

Here’s the rub: TM was (and still is, to my ears) one of the best bassists in the world. He never truly scaled the heights of other legendary bassists but when people find out he is on such songs as “Unchain My Heart” by Joe Cocker, “Don’t Get Me Wrong” by Pretenders, or “Living In America” by James Brown, they say “THAT WAS HIM!!?!?” He was also in the Whitney Houston video for “So Emotional” and Steve Vai’s “Deep Down Into The Pain”. For someone who had a wild image and an even wilder playing style, he flew under some radars over the years.

Meanwhile Nikki Sixx gets all the love.

Again, not about being a stellar player. All about the songs.

I write cool songs. Always said that. My songs will never rival the Beatles or Led Zeppelin. But I write catchy stuff. And yet “You need a singer.” I proved that I don’t. I’m trapped in a world where nostalgia rules the day. I don’t remind anyone of their past. And today’s generation could care less about what I do.

So I think people are happier when I do someone else’s material.

Wish granted.