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.
My Synthesizer of the year at NAMM 2014
February 7th, 2014 § Comments Off on My Synthesizer of the year at NAMM 2014 § permalink
Richard and I were walking through the keyboard area at NAMM a couple of weeks ago, when we were suddenly halted by the sight, and then the sound, of the Schmidt Synthesizer! And the sound of it cut through everything in that huge noisy hall!
The Schmidt Synthesizer is $20,000 of the best virtual digital analogue synthesizer you’ve (n)ever had! The video is slow to start, but this is a fantastic machine, that sounds really fat, and feels great in your hands! I think $20k is cheap!
Wham, bam, thank you NAMM
February 1st, 2014 § Comments Off on Wham, bam, thank you NAMM § permalink
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.
Crowbar – More than a feeling!
January 28th, 2014 § Comments Off on Crowbar – More than a feeling! § permalink
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!
My Grammy Week started at the Village Studios…
January 26th, 2014 § Comments Off on My Grammy Week started at the Village Studios… § permalink
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
Neil Young Honored by the Producers & Engineers Wing
January 25th, 2014 § Comments Off on Neil Young Honored by the Producers & Engineers Wing § permalink
After the Gold Rush changed my life.
Ferrone Inducted into Rock Walk!
January 22nd, 2014 § Comments Off on Ferrone Inducted into Rock Walk! § permalink
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
Sir George Martin Day 2013
January 3rd, 2014 § Comments Off on Sir George Martin Day 2013 § permalink
Happy Birthday Sir George!
1995 TEC Awards San Francisco
John Jones and (Sir) George Martin, on stage in San Francisco, circa 1995.
Long Time Sun, Davinci and Jones
January 1st, 2014 § Comments Off on Long Time Sun, Davinci and Jones § permalink
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!