Hey everybody....

I blog to honor one of my favorite vocalists to one of my favorite bands....Pete Steele of the goth/doom metal band Type O Negative passed away from heart failure...this news comes devastating to me because of how much I love Type O Negative. They were one of the early metal bands I was nuts about and I have always beena huge fan of Pete Steele's voice...everything he brought to the band was nothing short of amazing. His voice was the perfect blend of darkness and beauty..and he will be deeply missed by a lot of people..especially me.

Wanted to cry when I saw this news. I at first didn't even want to believe it was true but...unfortunately it is. I can't even find the words to properly describe how I feel about this...I usually don't get this emotional over celebrity deaths but Pete Steele was a big deal to me...and even though I never met him personally, I miss him and his talent.

Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare All)

September Sun

I Don't Wanna Be Me

Love You To Death

My Girlfriends Girlfriend

Christian Woman

The Profit Of Doom

Everything Dies

Blood And Fire

Hey Pete

Paranoid

R.I.P. Pete Steele 1962-2010

We miss you....

UP THE IRONS!

Been a little while since I have blogged.

I hope you all had a nice Easter :) Mine was okay,nothing special just dinner with the family which is always nice. Easter is a holiday I care about I just never do anything special. Christmas and Halloween realistically are the only two I go all out for :P.

April has been a pretty interesting month. As some of you may or may not know, I like to do a bit of acting and I am usually looking around to see what local theatre troupes are doing productions. I got a call quite some time ago for a play which I was interested in because it has been nearly a year since I was in a production and I'd like to do something before I head off to school. There was a big debate over a fair audition and I won't get into it, but to make a very long story short, I wasn't even intended on having an on stage role but somebody dropped out and the director needed someone to fill in for a major role..and I was the first he called.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited. I tend to land a lot of supporting main roles...I got those a lot in highscool and I got that for "May The Farce Be With You" last year..I enjoyed it. This part however is huge but at the same time still with the theme of being a supporting main character rather than the main character. The production I am in is called "Move Over Mrs. Markham" and it is a British farce that is actually pretty hilarious. I play the part of "Henry Lodge" an older gentleman who runs the firm which the main character works at. Obviously, I am not in my 40's but I was told to grow out facial hair and put powder in my hair to look older...I can do both of those easily but I don't like growing facal hair :P it's not my thing. If I wanted to be bold I'd rock the Zappa moustache and soul patch but I won't :P I'll probably just grow a moustache but a beard is up for debate.

I also have to act with an English accent....something I can't say I have ever done. I have done plays with southern, australian and italian accents but never english..I am working on it though, have my girlfriend who happens ot be english reading my lines and I am going to watch a lot of Jason Statham movies :lol: but I'll get it down..I always tend to go all-out when preparing for a role.

Other then that there isn't really much going on with me. I have a gig next week where we "headline" (which usually means we are the last band so it is nothing special) and I basically have to memorize my large amount of lines...fun times.

Take care everybody, I end this blog with Avantasia :D

UP THE IRONS!

As usual I am coming to you all with a music blog :P I am sitting here 8:00PM depressed and somewhat bored so I thought I'd write one.

I am a pretty proud fan of 90's alternative music. I grew up on it, I followed it and to this day I listen to a big number of alternative bands from that time. Other then Alice In Chains there was one 90's band that dominated my life.

And that band is The Smashing Pumpkins.

I was fairly young when I first heard the smashing pumpkins..I had 2 sister sheavily into them and that of course rubbed off on me. I was fiarly young when I heard today and was stunned by the sound. The Smashing Pumpkins had a unique way of mixing various music worlds...they could be dreamy, heavy, inspiring and depressing all on the same dang album. "Siamese Dream" from start to finish is perfect I wouldn't change a single thing about it..."Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness" has a few songs I'd cut out but it is one of the best double albums of all time. "Gish" was a great debut album..it was mainly heavy but it had really dreamy tracks on it.I also loved the great amount of B-sides that were put out..to this day "The Boy" is not only my favorite Pumpkins song with Iha on vocals but one of my favorite songs in general.

Not too ment alternative acts wre using Eb tuning (Alice In Chains are the only other one I can think of) and Billy Corgan knew how to use the tuning in wonderful ways. I discovered how beautiful of a tuning E can be, A simple C chord sounds so dreamy tuned a half step down. The acoustic songs always had that special quality to them for ebing in that tuning but it also allowed Corgan to write heavy songs like "Zero". I never thought of Corgan as that great of a guitar player he is kind of an eh soloist but he can write awesome riffs and songs...his true talent lies in composing rather then technicality IMO.

So much I loved about the band...the shoegaze and new wave influences, the progressive tendencies, the beautiful guitar tone, how Corgan and Iha were a great fit together as guitarists, Chamberlin's drumming....just so much about them that was perfect to me. Most would say that "Adore" and on was when they went bad but I disgaree..."Adore' is not only my favorite SP album but my favorite 90's album of all time...sure it isn't all that heavy but is is quite sad and it got me through a lot of hard times. When my ex girlfriend cheated on me I listened to that album in heavy repeat..it always made me feel better. So many songs on that album that are special to me...if somebody could ever fall in love with an album I'd fall in love with "Adore" :P.

Even both Machina albums I liked..I agree that this is where they started falling off but I still enjoyed both albums. Corgan pulled an EVH and was more obsessed with keyboard than guitars :P Still, both of them had quality material that I really liked. Then they split and I was upset of course. I thought that they had a great run and though it was sad to see them go I figured it was for the better seeing as how there were so many Corgan horror stories...then they reunited and I saw that only two of the original members were there. I refused to listen to the material...it wouldn't be the same without D'arcy and James and it wouldn't feel right...and boy how I called it. "Zeigeist" really wasn't that good to me..it had one or two alright songs but overall I wasn't impressed...and some songs since the reunited band formed are just....eww. Corgan was the core songwriter this I know but obviously other members had input otherwise he'd be putting out more outstanding material.

As most who follow SP's know, a lot of free, new material has been surfacing on the webpage...and even though I know the SP's will never be the same I listened to it...some of the songs aren't that bad but there is one that is just dreadful and I guess it plans to be about 40 songs long over the course of time so we'll see if it turns out to be good. I am hoping Corgan gets his act together and makes good music like he did once...but with now every other original memebr gone (Chamberlin left a little while ago) I guess it will be hard but we'll see.

I dedicate this blog to the memory of the amazing smashing pumpkins and the time when they deominated my life with their beautiful and incredible music. I miss the time when they were putting out great albums and miss the times when the original lineup were still together. Even if they never become good again I'll always remember the body of work they had and just how incredible it was.

To this day gives me chills to hear Mayonaiseso I end the blog with that.

UP THE IRONS!

Today, March 25th 2010 marks my 6 year anniversary at Gamespot...pretty incredible that I am still posting here after alll that time. I have matured a lot since I first joined and have ran multiple unions, met multiple friends and became an obsessed designer of my own signatures. It has been a wild ride so far and I am proud to call some of the people i met here friends.

Porcupine Tree

Enjoy your day everybody :).

UP THE IRONS!

Since the past 20 days have been filled with guitarists :P

Things have been real up and down for the edster lately....

The UP portion: Had a rough patch with my current girlfriend overt he last few weeks but managed to clear everything up :) which is a very good thing because I was pretty worried..but hey what relationship doesn't have its ps and downs...the ones that last anyways. I am also psyched for the RFO show this friday..ever since I got my flying V my confidence in playing RFO songs (and metal in general) has increased. During practice today I moved around a lot more and got into the songs both physically and mentally..I was doing a lot of psychotic head jerks and even marching at one point :lol: the SG served me well and it still does but it just wasn't built for metal..I use it more for everything else nowadays.

I also got a ticket to see IRON MAIDEN!!!! It isn't until July but I'm still pretty excited...Maiden are my favorite band so seeing them with Dream Theater is going to be interesting..I just hope I can actually SEE them :P overall it is going to be epic..just like if the Swallow The Sun, Finntroll and Moonsorrow show for next month works out...and I guess the other guys in the band and I are going to try and see Mastodon when they come through..which would also be pretty sweet.

I also jumped up to level 60...holy crap that was fast :P. Also working my butt off on guitar related things and music dominates my life once again.

Also got two laptops for college...both pretty awesome but they still need a lot added to them.

The DOWN portion: I am currently not on talking terms with my father. I saw him a week or so ago and we started talking and he insulted my musicianship and said flat out I am a terrible musician..probably saying that because I don't play what he wants me too..or he could be intimidated I don't know. But it really upset me and since then I haven't really been the same...everytime I pick up my guitar or go through vocal exercises I think "what is the point" because to some people Im a terrible musician..and my selfesteem is low enough as it is and I don't need anyone,e specially my own father putting me down further. I still love my dad but I'm uspet with him and he is slowly pushing me away.

Also having issues with an ex girlfriend of mine. To make a very long story short, her and I dated sometime ago and she decided she longer felt anything for me and ignored that I loved her. Years went on and I haven't heard from her..and out of the blue she tells me she loves me, that we're soulmates, meant to be all of this garbage..I tell her itll never happen and to leave me alone (at one time I almost considered taking her back but then reality hit and I realized how unhappy I'd be...saved myself from making a big mistake). And she won't quit, she is leaving me psycho emails (before I blocked her) and answering machine messages (before i blocked her). And then she decides to come to my house and try and take me back...forcing a kiss on me when I come out to talk to her. She is absolutely ridiculous and just adds stress to my life that doesn't need to be there. Thankfully my current GF understood and isn't mad at me..which I'm thankful for because if I lost her to a girl I don't even want then I'd be having some terrible luck.

I am dealing with the situation properly and she won't be messing with me any longer...and if she does she will have the law to deal with.

I've also been real stressed out lately but that is no big deal.allergy season is here again and it has me feeling sick :P

There are other DOWN things but I don't want ot get into them now..just going to kick back and probably design some stuff in photoshop.

I'll end this blog with When The Sun Rose Again by Alice In Chains

UP THE IRONS!

And we have come down to it..the number one guitarist..the guitar I feel stands above all others and dominates the instrument...so many guitarists that I love listening to and being inspired by...but one stands above them all. I thank you all for reading these and for your feedback :) most kind of predicted who I'd pick :P.

COUSIN_EDDY'S GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME

#1. Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix has topped so many guitarist lists...and so many hail Jimi as the greatest guitarist of all time. But sometimes I wonder if they know exactly WHY he is number one. The man is more then just "Purple Haze" and "Hey Joe"...his playing, his technique and overall vibe goes so much deeper then that. As most know Jimi Hendrix had no background in music theory he could not read music and his knowledge in chord progressions and clas$ical techniques was limited. Jimi came from nothing but his passion for music and guitar playing stood above even the richest of musicians. And there are so many reasons he makes my number 1.

First of all he was a great mimic. He would watch what another player would do...Clapton, Coryell, Waters (Muddy not roger :P) and would be able to clone it but at the same time make it his own. Rather then taking lessons he could watch what they are doing and listen to what they are doing and re-create it perfectly. Jimi had no background in Jazz but could play along to even the most complicated of chord changesd (electric ladyland and his sessions with Coryell proved this). He had an extensive blues background and everytime he played the blues he could phrase so beautifully...he was alwyas compared to clapton but in my opinion could play circles around clapton.

Jimi was also built for guitar playing..those fingers of his allowed him to do so much..I'm not saying that the greatest guitarist HAS to be built for it but Jimi was certainly blessed...he was also a master of getting harmnics from the neck. He was one of the few guitarists who beat the back of the neck (not the fretboard) to crank out harmonics...Jimi was also a master of feedback (Jeff Beck being his only opponent in that at the time) and could handle it well...he was also so crisp as a player, I rarely heard mistkaes from his performancesd (and I've heard a loooot of performances both in and out of the experience) and that was impressive..especially since he was singing as well.

The man could play both left and right handed guitars with ease. But I guess when you play from the moment you get up to the moment you go to sleep that comes with ease. Jimi was also an incredible song-writer...he could make pieces so beautiful and pieces so intense...he knew exactly what notes to play...he crafted the best solos, wrote the most effective riffs....and the most impressive thing was that this all came from nothing. When the experience started music wasn't all that heavy (other then a few exceptions) and Jimi saw the blues, took it and distorted it the way he did...he created a whole new form of guitar playing, a more intense and beautiful form of psychedelia...he did so much in the short time he had on this earth.

Jimi was also not afraid to be himself..he was a wild player and he truly loved to play...who he was cost him a few jobs before the experience but it didn't stop him. Jimi never sold out, he did what HE wanted to do and wouldn't stick to doing the constant gimmicks. At one time he woudl set guitars on fire but then grew tired of it and decided to sotp doing it even when the audiences wanted to see it cosntantly. Jimi wasn't a gimmick player, he was a true artist.

He is one of the only players that can be his own era. What I mean by that is, there are guitarists that are pre-jimi hendrix and post-jimi hendrix..he redefined the electric guitar and inspired some of the greatest platers of the past 30 years.He cosntantly experimented and truly loved what he did...was an obsessive recorder...so much material that still needs to be surfaced. Jimi Hendrix is the prime example of someone who loved the guitar and breathed it...if not for him I woudln't even have picked it up.

Jimi Hendrix was the person that got me into music..and inspired me at a very young age to pick up a guitar..if not for him I might not have even wanted to play...granted I mightve grown an interest when I was older, I had the interest then and still do. Jimi has inspried me more then anyone else..to be eccentric, to play how you want to, to ignore convention and be original...Jimi Hendrix is my favorite music figure and my favorite guitarist...h e did so much for the instrument and his influence won't be forgotten. Sure there are players that can play faster and do things he never did..but I feel that had he lived past 1970 he would've eventually gotten into these forms of playing.

The world, especially me misses Jimi Greatly...and I am honored to give him my number one spot but it still does not do him justice..R.I.P. Jimi...I wish I could tell you how much you've inspired me.

Long live the experience, long live Jimi.

Castles Made Of Sand

Little Wing

One Rainy Wish

If 6 Was 9

Bold As Love

Third Stone From The Sun

Fire

The Wind Cries Mary

Red House

Love Or Confusion

Have You Ever been (To Electric Ladyland)

Burning Of The Midnight Lamp

Crosstown Traffic

All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)

Gypsy Eyes

Angel

Day Tripper (Beatles cover)

Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan cover)

Taking Care Of No Business

Catfish Blues

UP THE IRONS!

This is a very special blog...not only does it celebrate my second favorite guitarists but it is a memorial. On this day many years ago I got my first guitar...it was a cheap, nameless acoustic but I still loved it and I played it for hours and hours...I didn't know that it would dominate my life but it did..so I'm taking some time today to remember that :) I love the guitar and I still love playing to this day...and I've certainly come a long way.

But today we also remember something else....something more unfortunate...but without further delay.

COUSIN_EDDY'S GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME

#2. Randy Rhoads

In the world of Heavy Metal the legend of Randy Rhoads needs no mention...for his greatness was and still is always known. From his days playing with Quiet Riot to his position as sole guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Rhoads shocked the world of hard rock and heavy metal. From his memorable riffs, to his face melting solos, his songwriting skills and especially his clas$ical playing, Randy Rhoads was an absolutely incredible guitar player. As a guitarist I always wondered what he COULDN'T do...Randy could shred (like in Mr. Crowley) and then he could play something beautiful yet complicated(Goodbye To Romance) or beautiful yet simple (Tonight) or something creepy (Diary Of A Madman)...Randy was a master of moods and knew exactly what notes to play....Randy endlessly inspired me when I first got into metal..he was so versatile and yet fit perfectly in a heavy metal outfit. Even the Quiet Riot stuff was incredible anything he was invovled with I found incredible.

On this day, 28 years ago we lost Randy Rhoads to a tragic airplane accident...just a stunt that went terribly wrong and we lost a guitar legend in the process (Along with Rachel Youngblood and Andrew ayc*ck who were also on the plane) and the music world hasn't really been the same since....I always wonder if Rhoads would've left a bigger impact had he still been alive today....but the two albums he did with Osbourne (three if you include the live release) were all incredible...the Quiet Riot material was also incredible....and Rhoads will always be missed and remembered on this day.

It should go without saying why Randy Rhoads is on this list...the man was a true master of the guitar and a real legend..and I hope you take some time to remember him today. I am blasting all the material I have (which is pretty much all of it) and wearing my Randy Rhoads shirt so I am completely set...take care everyone and (seriously feels like tearing up) R.I.P. Randy Rhoads....

Goodbye To Romance

Mr. Crowley

Diary Of A Madman

Tonight

Dee

Over The Mountain

Paranoid (Live)

You Can't Kill Rock And Roll

I Don't Know

Breaking Up Is A Heartache (Quiet Riot)

UP THE IRONS!

As promised here is the double number countdown to make up for yesterday :).

COUSIN_EDDY'S GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME

#4. Peter Lindgren

Peter has to be one of the most unique guitarists I have ever heard...but I guess when you played for an eclectic Progressive metal outfit like Opeth you would have to stand out..and Peter most certainly did. Every riff Peter was given he stayed true to it but at the same time made it his own...a very unique talent not too many can pull off. He could be as heavy as the band required and his acoustic work shimmered with beauty. I'm sure most are surprised to see Peter this high and to be honest I am too...but he has inspired me so much over the years as I listened to Opeth with obsession...and he was such a perfect fit to an amazing band. He knew when to step back from shredding and create something beautiful...and Ghost reveries was the perfect final album...I just wish he would rejoin the band. But to sum it up, Peter lindgren is an amazing player..he is more then just metal and he is more then just great acoustic playing. A true guitar hero in my eyes.

Ghost Of Perdition

When

To Bid You Farewell

Face Of Melinda

Bleak

#3. Steve Vai

Steve Vai n my opinion is one of the true virtuosos of the electric guitar. From his days of playing with the late Frank Zappa to histime with David Lee Roth and even to his solo career, Vai has redefinied what it is to be an electric guitarist, combining complex scales with weird experimentation and memorable melodies, Vai proved himself to be above the average guitar player...most know Vai as a shredder and although he can shred he is much more then that. Vai makes my list for being such an outstanding player and even to say he is outstanding is an understatement. The influence of Zappa, Hendrix and Van Halen definitely bleeds out in his technique but I believe Vai has found his own element witthin his years in the music business. Vai is the kind of the Post-Van Halen shredders and IMO is one of the best guitarists around.

Tender Surrender

Bad Horsie

Lotus Feet

The Crying Machine

Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix Tribute

UP THE IRONS!

Loaded with Pirates, Sea-Shanties and other bits of insanity! The guitar blog will go double tomorrow ;) happy st. patrick's day everybody, try not to drink too much eh? :P

Sea Shanties!

Santy Anno

Drunken Sailor

Fifteen Men (And a bottle of rum)

Over The Hills And Far Away

Letters From Sea

Shiver My Timbers

Yo Ho Yo Ho! A Pirates Life For Me!

Bring Us More Beer

We'll Rant And We'll Roar

Tavern Songs All The Night Long

I usually don't spend this day drinking..I just sing sea shanties think about pirates :P I hgate the manga clips in some of those vids but sea shanties are great :) of all the forms of traditional folk music I probably like Sea shanties thebest.

Enjoy your day everyone :)

UP THE IRONS!

And now we have come to the amazing top 5!

COUSIN_EDDY'S GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME

#5. Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa was a lot of things in his lifetime; a filmmaker, a composer, an eccentric frontman, a political figure...but what many didn't know was that behind all of his eccentricities and satire, Frank Zappa was an accomplished lead guitar player. In the late 60's and early to mid 70's the mainstream rock audience knew Frank Zappa for humorous songs like "Dinah-Moe-Hum" "Camarillo Brillo" "Montana" and "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow"...but what many didn't know but at the same time many did is how well Frank could play guitar. He began as a drummer in his teens but at about 19 picked up a guitar and pretty much taught himself. Frank's playing is obviously self-taught with some of the techniques he uses but for a self-taught technqiue it was and always is impressive to me. He was shredding back in the late 60's and going off on his instrument but knew exactly what notes to hit (probably had a lot to do with his background in music theory). Although his shredding wasn't true shredding (extensive use of tapping and speed) he still really got down with his leads and the cool thing about them was, Zappa never repeated himelf..he never took phrases he had from a previosu song to use it for another..it was always something different.

Frank's tone also appealed to me. He was one of the pioneers of the wah wah pedal (fun fact: he turned Jimi Hendrix onto it when Jimi went to see the mothers of invention at the garrick theatre) and his tone always had that sharp bite to it...but everytime you heard it you knew it was Zappa. Zappa has always blown me away as a guitar player..he could play blues with the best of them, improvise on spot, knew exactly what scale to provide on even the most obscure of chords....so many things he could do that I wish I could. Zappa didn't start out as top 5 good to me..then I listened more and more and I became obsessed with his form..sure there are metal players that can outplay him but Frank could play some of the most beautiful solos as well as some of the most intense...and for those reasons and countless others he makes my list for the greatest guitarists of all time..and is of course my favorite SG players (Anybody who knows me knows I love SG's)

Watermelon In Easter Hay

Transylvanian Boogie (a cover but very true to the original)

I'm The Slime

Son Of Mr. Green Genes

Stevie's Spanking (With Steve Vai)

UP THE IRONS!