Jayesskerr wrote:
Hehehe Poor DLR I have been listening to 1984 this week. Bloody awesome album!
And 1984 is the perfect example of the blues influence from Eric Clapton upon Eddie Van Halen. Eddie keeps saying that Clapton was his biggest influence, and EVH's music is full of blue references and a blue feel, although played at 135 miles an hour. "The Purpling" is definitely influenced by an attempt to do blues without actually using the full blues scale, and I'm looking for that same "brown sound" tone in my own work.
I used to say that if I could ever find my David Lee Roth, I'd have my musical career made. That was probably some naïve wish fulfillment, because every awesome singer I've ever worked with was usually a dick, and not someone I'd like to be living with, traveling with, business partners with, and musical conspirators and collaborators with. Not that DLR was a great or even good singer. But at the height of 1984's popularity, David Lee Roth was the motherfrickin' SHIT. Chicks liked him, dudes wanted to be him (for about 6 months tops.) And Eddie Van Halen (and Alex and Michael) would have been hardpressed to have been as successful without him. He got the job initially because he was a rich kid and had his own PA. The rest--and soon Dave--were history.
So now, I just wish I were David Lee Roth, and had his charisma. I wouldn't want to work with him. (Although if he called, I would drop everything and put him on whatever he wanted. I'm not stupid!)
I think singers work hard on their craft and their instrument is themselves, so mad props for that. But I present to you David Lee Roth as exhibit number one...and then every pop princess and boy band as exhibits #2 through 4 billion of how you don't need talent to be a singer. Or a guitar player, I guess, if you're Motley Crue or Poison, but I'm being mean!
Our own Stickist Olivier is my hero, by the way, and also Flint Blade, and any other Stickist who can sing and play at the same time. I can't even hardly sing while doing nothing else, much less Stick and Sing.
Okay, until DL Roth calls, I guess I'll be the David Lee Roth I need for this song. Not so high a bar, and I guess I don't have to do any high karate kicks to balloons.
But just for inspiration:
