MUSIC
 

Music has always been the biggest passion in my life!

I've been playing since the age of 9.  Click here for a detail of my musical education.

I have been a semi-professional performer/recording artist since 17.  Click here for a history of my bands, studio work, production, and musical theatre.

Sadly, being a musician is a terribly expensive hobby. To make matters worse, I'm a chronic sufferer of G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). Click here for a list of my recording/stage equipment!

My interests vary wildly.  From the age of 11, I was a huge fan of film scores.  Somehow, I missed rock and roll altogether and didn't start listening to any rock music until I was almost 17.  I didn't fully embrace rock/pop and start studying it until I was nearly 20!  Here are some of my favorite artists:

  • Film score composers:
    • John Williams
    • Danny Elfman
    • Jerry Goldsmith
    • Joel McNeely
    • David Arnold
    • Shirley Walker
  • Rock:
    • The Who
    • Led Zeppelin
    • The Rolling Stones
    • Jimi Hendrix
    • The Allman Brothers Band
  • Early metal:
    • Deep Purple
    • Black Sabbath
    • Rainbow
    • Ozzy Osbourne
    • Dio
  • Soul:
    • Marvin Gaye
    • Stevie Wonder
    • Ray Charles
    • The Temptations
    • Wilson Pickett
    • Billy Preston
  • Funk/R&B:
    • Robert Randolph & The Family Band
    • James Brown
    • George Clinton
    • Prince
  • International/fusion;
    • Derek Trucks
    • Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
    • Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
    • Amjad Ali Khan
    • Zakir Hussain
    • John McLaughlin
  • Industrial/Hardcore
    • KMFDM
    • MDFMK
    • Laibach
    • Atari Teenage Riot

While I definitely try to be my own musician, there are certain musicians whose styles I've studied and whose influences clearly show in my playing including Ian Gillan (vocals), James Brown (vocals), John Entwistle (bass), Gordon Banks (guitar).