Waiting for the Stop Sign to Turn Green

SUPREME IRONY: A UK man who was struck by lightning and died was carrying a selfie stick. Even Mother Nature hates selfie sticks (and selfies).

• Beware, by-the-hour hotel room renters in Zimbabwe: the hotel might be taking video of you and selling it. Nigerians simply can't be trusted, in hotels or spam.

A Seattle Seahawks quarterback said God has spoken to him and he is remaining celibate until marriage to a singer named Ciara.  While I support their right to live any way they please, when most people hear voices, they get Special Medicine. Perhaps the quarterback just needs some Special Medicine. God told him that he needs him to lead Ciara. So let's add delusions of grandeur.

• Yet another Star Wars spinoff will tell the back-story of Han Solo. Disney announced that the next film in the series will follow the wacky adventures of Stan Polo, Han Solo's second shift mechanic in charge of footrests. Also expected in the franchise: Chewbacca's stylist, Arthur Furry, and his story about being Hairdresser to the Empire aboard the ship Millenial Poofter.

Civil rights groups are suing Chicago for more gun control. In related news, the liquor industry is suing automobile manufacturers for drunk driving accidents.

• An illegal alien, deported to Mexico five times, has shot and killed an American woman in San Francisco. Perhaps Trumpie has a point after all.  The 'undocumented' man chose San Francisco because it is a Sanctuary City that ignores Customs requests, so he wouldn't be prosecuted. Incidentally, the gun is registered to a federal agent.
• If the US guarded their borders half as well as Canada, we'd be in pretty good shape. Canada will not admit anyone who can't show they can pay their way or plans to work without proper documentation (so they will not take work from Canadians). Also, they will not admit people with certain criminal records or who are carrying drugs. Can you imagine this on the US/Mexican border? Obama would have a heart attack.

An ex-FIFA official has been banned for life from soccer.  I want this.

• Guitar World magazine has just posted an article on the Ten Best Stage Names of famous guitarists. Here are a couple:

1. Slash: Saul Hudson [Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver, Snakepit]
2. John Denver: John Deutschendorf
3. Alex Lifeson: Alex Zivojinovich [Rush]
4. Zakk Wylde: Jeff Wielandt [Ozzy, Black Label Society]
5. Yngwie Malmsteen: Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback [Oy Vay Malmsteen]
6. Steven Tyler: Steven Tallirico [Aerosmith - ok, technically not a guitarist]
7. Tony Curtis: Bernie Schwartz [sorry, couldn't resist]

According to the BBC, Child sexual abuse inquiry 'could last until 2020'. Perhaps they're waiting for all of the living abusers to die. It's not pretty out there, folks. They protect their own.

• It's been a bad year for AC/DC, with guitarist Malcolm Young going demented and drummer Phil Rudd sentenced in New Zealand to eight months of house detention for drug possession and making threats to kill. I wonder if you can play drums with an ankle bracelet.....

A man has been arrested in Curry County, New Mexico in the US after allegedly running around in the nude and stealing a police car. After retrieving the car, the seats were burned.

• It's been a year since Malaysian flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine. Anybody?

Slap Some Music Upon Us

Today's tittilating treat is Justin Currie, better known as the singer/writer for Del Amitri [at this point, one of my dear readers, and you know who you are, just passed out from excitement]. The Dels are Scottish, making for a hilarious situation when listening to them speak - they almost require subtitles, especially after too much alcohol (Justin, not you).  There's much to like about Del Amitri, from the interesting musical influences (don't ask me what they are) to the writing, singing and playing. Strangely enough, this is not another one of my posts about insanely great guitar players - this is just about the song.

There are many great songs from which to choose, so I'll give you a few favorites: Be My Downfall is a winner. It's a very clever piece about a guy and his girlfriend (and his wife).  One of my favorite deep haunting songs is Sleep Instead of Teardrops. I don't typically memorize or get too into lyrics but this song really intrigues me. It seems to be about serious loss. I'd love to hear about it from Mr. Currie's mouth because it's so serious. When listening, take note of the beautiful instrumentation and production. Also note an attempt to be Paul McCartney (or so I hear). Enjoy the live version of Always the Last to Know. Pay attention to another clever set of lyrics.

Justin Currie - the Imaginary Interview

I'm just a (semi)regular putz; a common blogger and guitar player with his own small spot carved out on the internet.  The likelihood that I'm going to meet my idols and inspirations is not tremendously high.  With that in mind, I'll just carry on this interview with Justin Currie as if I were actually interviewing him. 

Warning in advance: I cannot be responsible for the quality (or presence) of the answers.  I can barely be responsible for the quality of the questions.

You might remember Justin Currie as the singer/songwriter/bassist/guitarist of Del Amitri, a rag-tag, ever-changing group of Scots who managed to chart quite a bit.  Justin is out on his own, with a pair of solo records under his belt.

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I came to the Del/Justin party quite late.  I vaguely remember a few of their tunes having strange instrumentation (for me) and wanted to check into things a bit further.   The following interview took place at several keyboards when I had time and space to flex my musical curiosity.



Congrats - you've written one of my favorite songs: Sleep Instead of Teardrops.  That tune hit me like a pair of falling anvils.  It's not often that I seriously listen to words (I'm a guitar player) but this one had me very curious: what the hell happened to you to spawn this song?  It's so intense that I figure it was about an event, rather than summoned from your imagination.




I don't know if it's you or your producer but I notice someone is absolutely nuts about compression on acoustic guitars (to the point of Serious Squashage<tm>).  While compression always has its place, why is the attack of the guitars beaten into submission?


Where did the omnipresent accordion come from?  Is it the same place as the mandolin?




I read that the Dels had something of a Living Rooms of the Fans tour on their way up.  How have things changed now that you're singular?




You mentioned that when you hit big, you went through an expensive guitars phase.  Tell me about what you bought - don't keep us in suspense...


You seem to like smaller-bodied acoustics live.  Tell me about them.




Why do you sometimes insert pauses in your singing?  Is this a signature thing?




What are your favorite and not-so-favorite things about writing, recording and touring?  Do you prefer performing live in a band or solo?




Who do you listen to?




Name your top guitarists.




What famous women have you boinked?




What influence, if any, have Peter Cook or the Pythons had on you?




What is the weirdest thing that happened to you on tour?  The funniest?




What's next? (and please tell me it doesn't involve Lady Gaga)

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Thanks to Justin for this imaginary interview and for sharing a bit of himself with some fans. 

Perhaps if I try really hard, I can get an interview with Jimi Hendrix.  This is a difficult feat, even for an imaginary interview.