Archive for March, 2011

I had the honour to work with Barend Courbois (one of Holland’s most gifted bass players) back in 1998. The reason for this little get-together was a tribute album we were doing to honour my late uncle Willy, who passed away in ’97, at the age of 36. For some reason the ‘album’ was never finished. Why? Beats me! That’s what I’m trying to find out. I hope one of the musicians stil has the master tape.

[Update: heads up underneath!]

For now: see Barend Courbois in action:

And showing off some more

One of Willy’s favourites: Feelin’ by Van Halen

Edit: this morning I called my uncle, who whas involved with the project as well. He told me a guy named Bob has the master tape and he will ask him to make me a copy. It seems that a video tape of those sessions were made as well. I can’t wait to see them!

Unfortunately the call to my uncle brought me some bad news too: Jan Somers (guitarist of the band Vengeance, who was also a contributor to the album) died of a heart attack last january, at the age of 46. How tragic…

Jan Somers (right) & Timo Somers in better days

Jan Somers – Still with me

Jonny Lang (1981) started playing blues/gospel on the guitar at age 12. Three years later he signed a contract at A&M Records. “Wander This World”, to the eponymous album (1998), is my absolute favourite:

For this album he received a Grammy Award. Tonight, while rummaging Youtube, I discovered “Long Time Coming, also from the AOL Sessions. His voice is simply… wow!

By the way… Jonny Lang toured with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck and Sting. So you know

Gear
Telecaster Thinline (Fender Custom Shop), Gibson Les Paul, Fender Vibro King Amp, Route 66-pedal and a standard Wah Wah

“L”Debois does a marvelous cover of Marvin Gayes “What’s Going On”.

While we’re at it, here’s another great performance:

And another..!

A couple of years ago the debut album of Justin Nozika (1988) was pointed out to me by a friend. I’ve played it over and over ever since. While surfing YT tonight, this accoustic version of  ‘After Tonight’ was a pleasant surprise. Man, how I love his voice!

To contribute to the “Let’s get nostalgic” part, here is mine and let’s find out whatever happended to our childhood ‘heroes’!

Grant Lee Buffalo was a rock band based in Los Angeles, California, consisting of Grant-Lee Phillips (vocals and guitar), Paul Kimble (bass) and Joey Peters (drums) best known for the mesmerizing song:

Fuzzy (@Bitterzoet, Amsterdam)

And one of my favorites from the same album:
The Hook (@Bitterzoet, Amsterdam)

As you can see in the above youtube clip Grant Lee Philips, former lead singer of the band, has been in Amsterdam last year and I missed it!! Damn me!! He still has a great voice in my opinion.

Do you have a “Whatever happened to…..?” Please, share it with us!

Right Here & Right Now, Rocknet is going English!

My thoughts were going to the the above mentioned song from Van Halen.
I have never been that lucky to see them live, but hopefully it will happen one day in the future when they will be reunited!?

According to a previous press release from Warner/Chappell Music from August 2010 a new album will come out this year. On January 17, 2011, producer John Shanks posted a tweet on his twitteracount stating that he was in the studio with the band.
Fingers crossed!

Ewan Dobson is a bit strange, to say the least, but an excellent guitar player. Just like Andy McKee, he is connected to CandyRat.

Search for him, and you will find a huge collection of great and sometimes funny arrangements.

Let’s get nostalgic and start the new category “Whatever happened to…” Let’s find out whatever happended to our childhood ‘heroes’! Shall we?

Feargal Sharkey (Sean Feargal Sharkey, Derry, Northern Ireland, August 13th 1958) first founded fame as the lead vocalist of pop/punk band The Undertones (founded 1976), and was famous for the hit single “Teenage Kicks”. (Huh? In 1976 I was still attached to my umbilical!)

The band split in 1983 due to some musical differences, with Feargle Sharkey pursuing a solo career and the rest of the band forming “That Petrol Emotion” the following year.

“A Good Heart”, the song we all remember Sharkey by, went to #1 in several countries in ’85. Something most of you don’t know is: “A Good Heart” is actually a cover! 19-Year old Maria McKee wrote it back in ’83, and even performed (and flopped) it live:

Feargle Sharkey however, turned it into a hit single:

Back to: Whatever happened to:… In the early 90′s Sharkey moved into the business side of the music industry, as an A&R for Polydor Records. In October 2008, he became head of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK’s commercial music industry.

Feargle Sharkey nowadays:

Feargle Sharkey back in ’85:

Do you have a “Whatever happened to…..?” Please, share it with us!

The Riverdogs released their first eponymous album in 1990. The album featured excellent songs but it wasn’t until I saw them live a couple of times and got me a copy of their stellar “Absolutely Live” album that I really started to dig this band. Especially the excellent songwriting and amazing voice of Singer / guitarist Rob Lamothe drew my attention. The song posted here is from their 1993 album “Bone’. By then, Vivian Campbell had left to join Def Leppard and the band consisted of Rob Lamothe, Nick Brophy (Guitar), Cary Beare (Bass) and drummer Ronnie Ciago. Unfortunately there have been no Riverdogs releases since though when I talked to Rob in 2009 they were actually working together again whenever they found the time to hook up. Fingers crossed!

After posting in Dutch for over a year now, we’ve decided to continue Rocknet.nl in English. Hopefully this will result in a lot more contributions nationwide Feel free to sign up for free and make your debut on Rocknet.nl!