Well, first, I was born, which goes with out saying. (bugs bunny reference) At around age 4, I proclaimed my desire to be a rock and roll singer. My first influence was my dad's collection of early rock and roll 45's from Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. When I was 5, I took up classical piano. I took piano lessons until age 12. It was then that I switched to guitar and my passion for music really kicked in. I took guitar lessons from age 13 to 16. The first song I learned on guitar was "Margaritaville" followed be "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" My first preformance was in a junior high talent show playing Clash songs. We attempted to do an unplanned encore and my 300 pound music teacher ran out and unplugged our amps.
Rat Bass-This is the instrument I played in the days of Unity. This was before we met PNut. I wrote the songs so they could be played and sung at the same time. This was limiting because it is nearly impossible to rap and play a funky bassline at the same time. The grey fur on the bass is from my beloved pet rat named George who perished in a trajic sliding door accident. This is my only foray into the world of taxidermy.
Pool Table- I like nine ball and bottle pool. Bottle pool is an obscure game my father taught
me where one attempts to knock over a special leather bottle after first hitting an object ball.
Plant- This plant is my Bromilliad.
Home studio- This is where all my music and lyric writing takes place. Insome cases I will write the old fashioned way, with a pad and pen and acoustic guitar. Other times I will start with a keyboard part or a sampled loop. After getting the basic idea I will make a rhythm track first then record the guitar and bass parts digitally onto my hard drive. I record the vocal melodies with keyboard sound. Then I make a mix and play it for the band. This is when they give their own interpretation and it gets to it's final form.
Clothing- Everyone needs to wear clothes sometimes to keep warm and also avoid arrest and possible humiliation. I figured I might as well be the one who designs the clothes I wear so I started a clothing line called Ginsing.
Moet- I like French food and Champange.
pets: I have two dogs both born in August of '96. Emily, a Doberman and Jake a Miniture pincer. Emily is very inteligent and obediant. Jake is dumb as a fencepost but adoreable.
My hobbies are mostly musical. I like to make mix tapes and trip hop beats on my computer. I'm constantly trying to broaden my musical range by learning classic jazz, reggae and rock songs.
I like to eat sushi, french food and pizza when I go out. I cook cream of wheat for breakfast and mac and cheese with polish sausage for dinner. I eat Ginseng pills most mornings for energy.
Top 10 Albums
The Clash- London Calling
De La Soul- Balhoone Mindstate
Bob Marley- Burning
Billie Holiday- Verve box set
Shabba Ranks- As raw as ever
Jane's Addiction- Nothing's Shocking
Bad Brains- Quickness
The Smiths- Louder than Bombs
Beastie Boys- Check your head
Red Hot Chilli Peppers- Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Current Musical Favorites
DJ Food- Refried Food
Outkast- ATLiens
Ernest Rangling- Below the bassline
Rebirth of the cool part four
De La Soul- Stakes is High
Dj Shadow-Endtroducing
Morcheeba- Who can you trust?
Essential Records
Portishead- Dummy
Dub Clash- Old School vs. New
Tricky- Maxinquaye
Nofx- Punk in Drublic
Massive Attack- Protection
Joni Mitchel- Court and Spark
Jaon Armatrading- Classics 21
Dub- Chill out
Morrissey- Vauxhall and I
Top 5 Concerts
The Clash in Omaha '84
The Jerry Garcia Band 50th birthday show '92 in LA
Pantera in Orange county '95
Jamiroquai- LA house of Blues '97
Prince- Chicago, The Metro '93
Top 5 Movies
The Godfather
The Abyss
Barfly
Scarface
Raging Bull
My goal in life is to incourage tolerance, understanding and cooperation between different races, sexes, groups and nationalities through love, education, and art.