TOP GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME,ONE"S OPINION

[fillmore nyc]

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Yeah I was trying to get to My Father's Place in Roslyn to see Tommy Bolin in 1976,but I didn't have a car!
I only drove out on the Island twice,but I think I have been to OBI East
yngwie308

My Fathers Place was a small little dive of a joint, but they had some pretty good acts perform there. You could regularly see Jorma Kaukonen, Larry Coryell, or Rory Gallagher there. The OBI East used to ROCK almost every night during the summer. I saw Johnny Winter there, and he was so effed up, he literally fell asleep while sitting on a stool playing. The bass player had to nudge him back to consciousness. Not too suprising, given his past history, and the fact that he was sitting on the edge of the stage at one point, smoking joints with a kid in the audience!! Amazingly enough, it was still a decent show, at least when he was awake.

[Tone Slinger]

Ha, ha, 'ol J.W .

[fillmore nyc]

Ha, ha, 'ol J.W .

Yeah, its been a sad progression for 'ol Johnny. Have you seen him lately? He grew his beard back, so with that pasty white skin, he looks like somebody thats been on an Arctic expedition for a tad too long. His playing has suffered the effects of abuse too, but like most guys that were once on top (Larry Holmes, George Foreman), he's still trying, so ya gotta give him props for that. I met him, Muddy Waters and James Cotton (all in the same night) after they played a show at the Beacon Theatre back around "79 or '80. That was the highlight of my life, at that time. Johnny (and Jimi) were my biggest infuences when I started playing, so he'll always be something special to me.

[Tone Slinger]

yeah Johnny is a bit unsightly lookin, but hell, that albinoism has to be tough on one, especially vacationing anywhere there is alot of sun. Speaking of Jimi and Jonnny, who is playing with Hendrix at that live club jam with the very drunken Jim Morrison ? Jimi's saying "And we got.....we got Jim Morrison on the floor".

[NY Chief]

My Father's Place was THE BEST venue ever! The dressing room was like your buddies basement apartment. Tossed back a few with Roy Buchanan down there once.

Saw Rory twice there, as well. F'n phenomal shows. That Roslyn area was nice, too. Wooden Ships Inn (saw Vai there before Zappa grabbed him).

Fillmore, ever see Little Buster and the Soul Brothers at the RTI or OBI (Sundays)? Now that's a soul man who never got his due. He opened for BB King once and was so good that BB would not play with him again! Buster was blind. My teacher used to play a few songs with Buster and volunteered me one night! We played a blues and Buster called me out "OK, Mikey, let's hear some LEAD guitar!". I bent into a my first note and immediatley popped my hi E string. After the solo, in between verses Buster whispers in my ear "Don't worry about the broken string. Nobody heard it but me n you"

[fillmore nyc]

Fillmore, ever see Little Buster and the Soul Brothers at the RTI or OBI (Sundays)? Now that's a soul man who never got his due. He opened for BB King once and was so good that BB would not play with him again! Buster was blind. My teacher used to play a few songs with Buster and volunteered me one night! We played a blues and Buster called me out "OK, Mikey, let's hear some LEAD guitar!". I bent into a my first note and immediatley popped my hi E string. After the solo, in between verses Buster whispers in my ear "Don't worry about the broken string. Nobody heard it but me n you"

Thats awesome that you not only stood up with him, but that he realized that you broke a string, cause like you said, he's blind!! I saw Buster a whole bunch of times in the OBI South (man, Sunday afternoons was the SHIT at the OBI, wasnt it?) and in the RTI. The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago at a place called the Franklin Cafe, on Franklin Ave on the Valley Stream/Malverne border. He had to sit on a stool when he played, but he can still kick major ass with the best of them. I used to run into him a lot at Michaels Music in Freeport. Mike himself is one HELL of a jazz/blues player. Speaking of local places in common, do you remember DiMarino's music in Copaigue? Ronny D was quite the repairman, AND player. He actually played for one of the presidents (I think Nixon), and he knew John Lennon personally. I think he tried to cover too many bases at once though, (it could take a year, literally, to get your guitar back when he told you it would be done in a month) and that was ultimately his demise. I sold him some pretty high end guitars, before they escalated through the roof in value. One of the ones he got was a '64 Firebird III, in Gold Mist Poly. Wish I still had THAT bird. I recently heard of a similar guitar going for over 30k. Another one was a '54 Tele, that I got at a pawn shop for (gulp) $400. (the pawn shop did NOT know what they had, obviously). Chief, remember a a band by the name of Gold Coast? They played a lot in most of the clubs on LI. The guitar player was a guy named Irv Berner, who was about the size of an anorexic horse jockey, but played like Albert King. He was my first guitar teacher. As they would say in Hemp-staid, dem beez some good, ol' memories there, chief.

[NY Chief]

Holy shit!! I know (or knew) Mike well!!!! He used to jam with my teacher Julius at the Half Crown Pub in Island Park. Just the two guitars. You're right, Mike is a an excellent jazz player. Julius kicked ass, too. Didn't Mike do a jam night at the RTI as well?

Don't remember Dimarino's but the Franklin Cafe, eh? That's a couple of blocks from where I grew up! Even went to grade school at St Catherine's which is across the street from the Franklin behind the church. I saw Buster there a bunch of times, too. Remember when Cousin Brucie would zone out and Alan would jump in on bass. Buster would say "Oh, man. I hear my man LEEEEE-VIIIII back there." The skinny white Jewish kid from Bellmore holding down the bottom end in an all black soul band

I knew Alan well, too. I was hot for his sister Sue . Alan was a f'n monster bass player.

BTW, don't know if you know, Buster passed last year. I was planning a trip back home and wondered if I could catch him so I googled and found this...

http://redkelly.blogspot.com/2006/05/li ... bilee.html

Sad he didn't get the recognition he deserved. We used "What Can I Do" as the entrance song at our wedding. With all those horns going how could ya not?!?!? And "That's What I Want to Do" was almost our wedding song. Lost out to Edwin McCain....women...

So did we run in the same crowd back then?

[fillmore nyc]

Holy shit!! I know (or knew) Mike well!!!! He used to jam with my teacher Julius at the Half Crown Pub in Island Park. Just the two guitars. You're right, Mike is a an excellent jazz player. Julius kicked ass, too. Didn't Mike do a jam night at the RTI as well?

BTW, don't know if you know, Buster passed last year. I was planning a trip back home and wondered if I could catch him so I googled and found this...

Sad he didn't get the recognition he deserved. We used "What Can I Do" as the entrance song at our wedding. With all those horns going how could ya not?!?!? And "That's What I Want to Do" was almost our wedding song. Lost out to Edwin McCain....women...

So did we run in the same crowd back then?

I think Mike did a bunch of open mike nights around the area. He was another one of my guitar teachers "back in the day". I didnt know that Buster passed. Thats sad news. He was definitely a local icon for many years. (thanks for that sound clip, BTW. It was great to hear him again). When I was reading your last post, my wife was standing next to me, and saw the text at the bottom of the page that says "Motorbikes and guitars forever." She said "oh my God, you managed to find ANOTHER bike rider, on an AMP forum, no less!!??" Tried to explain how guitars and bikes sort of go together, but like they say "if I have to explain...". (and with her, I DO have to explain, cause she just dont get it. Im STILL trying to explain why I have more than one guitar, much less having 15 of 'em, and dont even get her started on why I would want to BUILD an amp, when I could just go out and buy that "perfectly good sounding Peavey"... ugh, Im exhausted from all of it). BTW, as far as possibly running in the same crowds, I graduated out of Central HS in Valley Stream in '75, and did the 4 year stint in Nassau/Farmingdale. I used to hang out a lot in the Broadway Tavern in Malverne, and of course in the aforementioned clubs. I lived in VS, Malverne, Lynbrook, Lakeside,CA and now in NYC. We most likely would have known each other, if you're around that age, and if you spent time in the B'Way, as we used to call it. (such a dive, but a cool place to hang, and throw a few back)

[NY Chief]

fill...hear ya on the bikes and guitars thing. Same with my wife, "Why do you need so many guitars?" If I have to explain....
Didn't ride a whole lot in NY (street anyway) but when I moved to CA the first place I found was the local Harley dealer and been riding ever since. No rain, no pot holes, always great weather. LOTS of f'n assholes on the road though. I make new friends whenever I'm out on my bike

I graduated Sewanhaka HS in '77, did Polytech in Farmingdale for a year (tooooo f'n nerdy for me) then did 2 years at SUNY Farmingdale. Went to work and finished my bachelors at NYIT at night. I was music director on SUNY's radio station in '79-80.

Don't remember the Broadway (but that doesn't necessarily mean I wasn't there ). And ain't nothing wrong with a dive bar, I've been kicked out of better places.

I'll bet our paths crossed somewhere along the line.

Did you know the gang from West Hempstead / Island Park? Mark the Animal from the Dictators and Twisted, Neal "Johnny Gale" from Whiplash / Samantha? Tommy Farese? Al Pitrelli maybe?

[fillmore nyc]

fill...hear ya on the bikes and guitars thing. Same with my wife, "Why do you need so many guitars?" If I have to explain....
Didn't ride a whole lot in NY (street anyway) but when I moved to CA the first place I found was the local Harley dealer and been riding ever since. No rain, no pot holes, always great weather. LOTS of f'n assholes on the road though. I make new friends whenever I'm out on my bike

I graduated Sewanhaka HS in '77, did Polytech in Farmingdale for a year (tooooo f'n nerdy for me) then did 2 years at SUNY Farmingdale. Went to work and finished my bachelors at NYIT at night. I was music director on SUNY's radio station in '79-80.

Don't remember the Broadway (but that doesn't necessarily mean I wasn't there ). And ain't nothing wrong with a dive bar, I've been kicked out of better places.

I'll bet our paths crossed somewhere along the line.

Did you know the gang from West Hempstead / Island Park? Mark the Animal from the Dictators and Twisted, Neal "Johnny Gale" from Whiplash / Samantha? Tommy Farese? Al Pitrelli maybe?

None of those names ring a bell, though like you said, doesnt mean we havent run across each other somewhere along the line. Someone else Im curious if you know is Gary Blankenburg, who used to work at Gracins in Hempstead (remember Gracins??), then he partnered up with Mike Barnett for a few years at Michaels Music, and now owns Music services in Wantagh. Me and Gary have been buds for nearly 30 years. A great guy, and one of the few in the guitar business that is truly honest and has integrity. Im totally jealous as far as riding in the So-Cal area. I used to ride when I lived in CA, but that was a lotta years ago, when I was in my early 20's. Had me an old hog with the shift on the right side, though I dont remember which model it was. At that time, as long as you had a bike at all, that was good enough. Riding in NY sucks, plain and simple. Talk about f'n assholes on the road. The ONLY good rides are either down by Jones Beach (a VERY short ride), or if you head upstate, or to PA. My wife and I bought a house recently in Ponte Vedra Beach in Fla, and one of these days Ill ride my bike down, cause though Fla is flatter than Madonna at 10 years old, there are REALLY nice areas to ride, and Daytona is only about 50 miles away. Ive gone to Bike Week, and Biketoberfest in Daytona for the last 6 years, but always by car--never with my bike. I was down there about a month ago, and stopped in Bruce Rossmeyers Harley Davison in Daytona (brucerossmeyer.com). The place is absolutely unreal. He built himself a "bike town", complete with saloons, custom chopper dealers, and tat parlors. It kicks major ass. He owns about 10 Harley joints, mostly in Fla, but in some other states too. Just as a side note, there was another thread in this forum about Guitar Center, and how wacky their pricing scheme is. I stopped in the GC in Commack today to get some strings, and wound up nailing a THD Univalve for $250. Dont know why it was so cheap, but it works perfectly, sounds pretty good, and if I dont keep it, Ill probably turn it to another GC for $600. Gotta love it!!

[NY Chief]

That is sick. I had in my mind to mention Gracin's but got lost on another tangent. I can't say I remember Gary but I sure remember Crazy Danny and of course, old man Gracin. I bought plenty more stuff at Gracin's than Ash just for spite! That was the Saturday ritual, Ash, Gracins and how about...LOONEY TUNES!?!?!?! I bought the first Boston album there for $2.50! Gracin's was great.

Haven't been to Daytona yet but I will get there. I'm really itching to do the Run for The Wall one of these years. We did do the 100th HD Anniversary. Shipped our bikes there so we could spend time at the party then rode back home. That was bitchin.

I rented a Road King once on a trip back home to see my Ma. She always hated the bike thing and I threatened her that I was gonna rent one and take her for a ride. Almost worked. I hit traffic on the GCP and without even thinking just moved on over and started splitting lanes. Everyone was gawking at me then I realized "Oh shit, that's not legal here!"

Great steal at GC! Commack....that reminds me of the CMI....

[NY Chief]

BTW, how about February's in Elmont? That was HQ for my gang for a while. Played in a bunch of bands there. Gaspar "the friendly host" owned it.

[fillmore nyc]

Commack....that reminds me of the CMI....

The CMI... Gotta love them hump -n- runs!!! (BTW, Gary Blankenburg was the repairman at Gracins. Saw my first Firebird V there, and have had a love affair with 'em ever since.

[NY Chief]

[quote="fillmore nyc (BTW, Gary Blankenburg was the repairman at Gracins. Saw my first Firebird V there, and have had a love affair with 'em ever since. [/quote]

Lights on! I remember Gary now.

The CMI was perfectly located right across the street from that wine and cheese place. Didn't even have to drive! 3 hour short stay and the "theme" rooms. Not that I have personal knowledge. Remeber the line of cars on Jericho Turnpike waiting there turn?

ahhh...memories!

[fillmore nyc]

[quote="fillmore nyc (BTW, Gary Blankenburg was the repairman at Gracins. Saw my first Firebird V there, and have had a love affair with 'em ever since.

Lights on! I remember Gary now.

The CMI was perfectly located right across the street from that wine and cheese place. Didn't even have to drive! 3 hour short stay and the "theme" rooms. Not that I have personal knowledge. Remeber the line of cars on Jericho Turnpike waiting there turn?

ahhh...memories![/quote] Same thing in Island Park, at the Plantation, Chief. Common practice to hit the OBI West, or Montego Bay, or any other number of clubs, see how the "fish were biting" (love it when they bite), and then drop $30 (at that time) for 3 hours of R&R. Well, maybe not exactly R&R, but it did involve layin' down... sometimes. Nope, no personal knowledge of that place either, chief... I DO NOT remember any kind of jungle room, or any other kind of room, for that matter. BTW, kinda stirred up a hornets nest over at 'dat 'dere Eddie thread, hah? All in fun. NY'ers are SO misunderstood!!