Oh yeah, give me some Cure, some Pretty in Pink and damn it I am in total heaven. I have been a bi polar music person for some time, and love that about myself.
Now I could list all my fav 80′s tunes and bands and maybe I will for a future post but today I want to tell you about a Band I literally tripped across like a million times, and only just today listened to and fell in love with ~ Paris Is Burning. Here is a page where you can go and give their music a listen to, and trust me you will really love this band.
And the Blog that I have been reading for a few weeks, that lead me to this fantastic band is called Splinters and the chick suriel that writes the blog is hilarious and open, something you do not often find in a blogger. Not every post is about music, but more about her interaction with life, and that makes reading the blog not only fun but a great rest from life.
Now I am not sure Paris is Burning is actually 80′s style sounding music, that is just my take on them. I hope one day to get in touch with Suriel and get a small interview!
So , do your self a big favor and give this blog and band some of your time, you will be happy ya did.
The time ~ August 1977
Place ~ Isfahan, Iran * Smoking Area of the local HS *
Music playing………………… Physical Graffiti ( 1975, Led Zeppelin )
Kashmir ~ * now imagine this, your listening to this song while laying back on the sands of an ancient land , the smells of spices racing through your heart, the Bazaar calling you back to the days of Aladdin……… the stars running around in the sky in time to the song.
The history of the last 2000 years rears it’s head around you every where you go, but it’s the night in the desert that grounds you to this song…. listen to Kashmir my friends as a life is changed with one simple but extraordinary song ~
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed
Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace, whose sounds caress my ear
But not a word I heard could I relate, the story was quite clear
Oh, oh.
Oh, I been flying… mama, there ain’t no denyin’
I’ve been flying, ain’t no denyin’, no denyin’
All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land
Trying to find, trying to find where I’ve been.
Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again
Sure as the dust that floats high in June, when movin’ through Kashmir.
Oh, father of the four winds, fill my sails, across the sea of years
With no provision but an open face, along the straits of fear
Ohh.
When I’m on, when I’m on my way, yeah
When I see, when I see the way, you stay-yeah
Ooh, yeah-yeah, ooh, yeah-yeah, when I’m down…
Ooh, yeah-yeah, ooh, yeah-yeah, well I’m down, so down
Ooh, my baby, oooh, my baby, let me take you there
Let me take you there. Let me take you there
Thank you God for allowing me the extraordinary gift of being in this land when I was, to hear the songs, to smell the smells, to feel the sun, to dance with the Kings of the Past.
Led Zeppelin, YOU ROCK – you made a young girls visit to another country bearable and one that had the most amazing memories!
Okay folks, here is what I have been waiting on to post for all you fans of Virtual Zeppelin ~ the Interview with the Singer, James
Q: What inspired you to become a musician?
A: When I was 6 I had a crush on a girl named Susan O’Connell who loved David Cassidy… I figured the best way to her heart was through music. Me and some friends would put on concerts for the neighborhood. We couldn’t actually play yet, but we put on some great shows faking it to the record, hahaha
Q: When did you begin your journey as a Zeppelin Fan.
A: My sister played the guitar and one of the songs she played was “Stairway to Heaven” I didn’t know who Led Zeppelin were at the time, but I remember thinking “Stairway to Heaven” sounded beautiful and somehow ancient like a long forgotten song from another time. It left an indelible impression on me. A few years later I saw “The Song Remains the Same” in a theater and I was an instant fan.
Q: How did you discover you were a perfect match for Robert Plants vocals?
A: When I was in High School I played guitar and my band used to play a lot of Led Zeppelin. We had the music down really well, but none of the singers we had could ever sing like Robert Plant. At one of our rehearsals I was trying to show our singer, Joe, the correct way to phrase one of the lines in a Led Zeppelin song. The guys were like WTF? …They didn’t know I could sing until then. Shortly after that I became the singer for that band.
Q: Have you ever considered recording in a studio together, if so what would you record?
A: Virtual Zeppelin has not recorded in studios yet. The distance between us makes that proposition a difficult one, but the process we are using is not terribly different from a studio recording. The only difference is that we don’t ever see each other.
Q: How did Virtual Zeppelin come about and when?
A: About 8 months ago I came across Jun’s channel and I wrote him a comment that I wanted to collaborate with him. He found the other members.
Q: Who are the band members and where do you all hail from?
A:
Keyboards – Karl – Texas, USA
Drums – Frank – New Mexico, USA
Bass – Bill – Canada
Guitar – John – Texas, USA
Guitar – Jun – Japan
Vocals – James – Virginia, USA
Q: When did you begin placing the videos on YouTube and is that the sole place you publicize your music.
A: About a year and a half ago I met a beautiful girl on MySpace and she was really into Led Zeppelin, so I wanted to leave her a video as a comment on her MySpace page. It was the song “That’s the Way.” I have been dating her since then and I’ve made several other videos for her.
Q: Do you play any instruments besides the guitar?
A: Yes, I play bass, mandolin and drums
Q: When did you all begin playing together?
A: We started working on our first video “Ten Years Gone” in March of 2008.
Q: Do you write your own music as well as play covers of Zeppelin?
A: Yes, I write my own music.
Q: Do you tour or play live?
A: Yes, I have been performing live since I was 18 and have toured with two bands. I am not in a band at the moment.
Q: Who is responsible for your technology side of making the videos and producing the music?
A: John, Jun and Karl do the video editing. Jun, John and I mix the music, but we all make contributions.
Q: Have any of the members of Led Zeppelin contacted you?
A: Haha, People keep asking me if I am the “American singer” who will be touring with Led Zeppelin in 2009. I went to Robert Plant’s official Web site and Robert Plant says the whole thing is a bunch of rumors regarding the “American singer” and plans to tour. If anyone else in Virtual Zeppelin has been contacted by the members of Led Zeppelin, they have not told me about it.
Q: Even though this is a totally unfair question to ask of a Zep fan, I would love to know … which Album or Song of Led Zeppelin’s is your most favorite?
A: Haha, yes very unfair… If I had to pick a favorite album it would be “Houses of the Holy”. Picking one song is going to be far more difficult… I will pick 4
1. Four Sticks
2. No Quarter
3. The Battle of Evermore
4. Ramble On
Now those answers will surely change in a day, lol
Q: For those of us who are waiting, will we be seeing a new video soon?
A: Yes, we have recorded “Black Dog” and will be posting it late October early November.
Q: Finally, are there any plans to bring Virtual Zeppelin to a more live band experience?
A: There aren’t any immediate plans to perform live together, but that could change should the stars align.
________________________________________________
Lisa, thank you for thinking to do this with me it was a lot of fun.
Talk soon, my friend.
~ Jamie
To contact James, or view more of his work please check the following links ~
This Interview was a total blast, and one that I am so proud to have been a part of, my thanks to James and the band for not only the Interview but for some of the best music we have been treated to in a long time. I hope to get in touch with the other band members soon for Interviews.
And now the video that started my journey into being a Fan of Virtual Zeppelin ~
Although Page expressed his appreciation for the efforts of dedicated fan Rocky Dickerson, who organized a campaign to secure a star for the legendary rockers, Page’s spokesperson says, “He (Page) has asked me to thank you for this interest but he does not feel that this is something that he can endorse.” Full Story.
I can almost hear the waves hitting the beach, almost smell the air.
When I am tired, I have this deep desire to go home to Santa Cruz. Some say it is a affliction I have, I say it is just time for me to be there.
No music related post tonight as I spent the day Blogging for Blog Action Day 2008 ~ Poverty.
Between that , this very long week of posting to my many blogs and this endless Election I feel the need to just relax and recharge my batteries.
Have a awesome night all, remember to say I love you to all your friends and family.
Have you ever been lucky enough to see The Who? I was, back in 1989 in the Bay Area. That was a show for the memory books because I grew up listening to them, and they always had a song just for the specific time in my life.
They are on tour now, with a close location to me too, sadly I can not attend. They will be at
Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, MI on October 21st. If you are in the local I would love to hear your stories of the show!
If you have not already been, check out their official Web site as well ~TheWho.com, its wild and chock full of great info, photo gallerys and Wire and Glass, a 28 minute animation by Aubrey Powell. You do have sign in to the website, and some things there are for subscription only but on the whole the site is great.
Wont Get Fooled Again ~
Behind Blue Eyes ~ The Fav Song of someone I once knew, this one is for you D hope your doing good where ever you are.
