John Jones Music

This was one of the great rock tracks of my youth. I am pretty sure they played at my junior hight school, and being in the front row, I was blown away by the sound of their instruments. It was spectacular.

An interesting time was had by all at the Anaheim (home by the Santa Ana river) Convention Center last week at the annual gathering of the roadies!

But seriously, the NAMM show is always a great opportunity to meet friends and colleagues and to see the latest instruments and assorted equipment made for producers, engineers, musicians, and their entourages.

I’m going to rate my show experience like this:
1 – I found parking on a nearby residential street. The same spot each day, thanks to a pin drop.
2 – I was there with exhibitor Prism Sound. Very British, and the acting “AIR Studios of Oxford Street” booth, thanks to Frank Oglethorpe.
3 – Friday NAMM is my yearly evening with Shirlene and Chris and Sabian at the Sheraton. This year it was small and cool, with Marko Mendoza, a certified revelation, who amazed the audience, inside and outside the building, with his craftsmanship. What an awesome musician!
4 – Steve Ferrone turned up at midnight with his luggage for a quick Drumroll reunion after the party! (old drumroll page)
5 – Thanks to friends on the many floors, and to Steve Postell, Jeff Pevar, Steve Cooke, Richard Martinez, Jeremy Stappard, Alan Clarke, Neil Dorfsman, Steve Churchyard, Stevie Wonder… for making it fun!

Here is a slideshow of photos and videos that I took this year at the 2014 NAMM show.

Can you imagine that these guys let me hang out with them when I was a teenager? Where would I be without them?

The rehearsal in the movie is at Bad Manors, their ‘clubhouse’ in Ancaster, Ontario. I never saw it in person, but I knew Bad Manors II (the bus) very well!

The smiling Joey Chirowski on organ! Kelly Jay. Roly Greenway. Sonnie Bernardi, Rheal Lanthier. The Ghetto (John Gibbard). What a band!

The 7th Annual Producers & Engineers Wing Grammy celebration at the Village Studios honoring Neil Young was a special night.

Neil Young on stage in the ballroom at the Village Studios

I shot this short clip of the introductory part of Neil’s speech to show the atmosphere in the ballroom. It was fantastic!

And then Dave Mathews came out and played a couple of Neil’s songs.

And here is one of the traditional photos many of us take at these events.

John Jones, Frank Oglethorpe, Neil Dorfsman, Elliot Scheiner, Steve Churchyard at the Village Studios

After the Gold Rush changed my life.

Steve Ferrone with cement hands!

Last weekend Stephen Ferrone put his very special hands in the cement, twice, as he was inducted into Rock Walk, at a special event in downtown Los Angeles! The linked article has more photos.
I wasn’t able to be there on the night, but I am really proud for Steve, and for his family! We have been brothers for a long time. And no one deserves the love more than Steve!

Steve Ferrone tracking at Drumroll Studios - photo by john jones

Happy Birthday Sir George!

1995 TEC Awards San Francisco

John Jones and (Sir) George Martin, on stage in San Francisco, circa 1995.

George Martin Day 2012

George Martin Day 2011

October 26, 1998 in Los Angeles

This is a great combination of clips from the various studios we had use of in the 00’s. Many shots of Drumroll and Orange studios.
We wrote the music using traditional lyrics. May the Long Time Sun Shine Upon You!

I was lucky enough to be producing this dude back in the 00’s. James Albin is a cat!
And Steve Ferrone on drums, and Sean Halley on lead guitar!
I’ll look for the recording details on this one…in the meantime, enjoy the video! (is that Peter Zimble on guitar?)