Guitarist, Composer, Instructor
It’s always a great day when the Chargers win and even sweeter when it’s against the Raiders. Sorry to all the grown men in the stands wearing their unoriginal Raider skull Halloween costumes that had to go home with another loss to the Chargers.
Interesting note; Gene Simmons of the band Kiss sang the National Anthem before the game.
Charger fans, celebrate with P.O.D.’s Charger Anthem!
Check out my NFL 2012 Predictions!
Here are my 2012 NFL ‘Musical’ Predictions. I used only songs from my own music library. If you are unfamiliar with any of the music, check out the songs and broaden your musical horizons.
These views are my own, if they are inflammatory towards your favorite team or player, it IS intentional but all in good fun…except the Raider cracks!
So here is the 2012 NFL season as I see it! Come back after the season and we can re-hash and I will probably even have a playoff version!
Good luck to your favorite teams!
AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers–Loving You Sunday Morning, The Scorpions
Bolts are my team win or lose. Let’s go with win, despite Norv Turner!
Denver Broncos -The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
Elway is gambling on Manning’s health…All In! Probably gonna be a good bet!!
Oakland Raiders–Living in the Past, Jethro Tull
Yeah we know you won….a long time ago…but you’ve been pretty bad since. Find a new argument Raider fan! Not that you have the fastest player…that’s tired as well!
Kansas City Chiefs-Castles Made of Sand, Jimi Hendrix
They are relying on Matt Cassel, that’s not a good thing for Chiefs fans.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans– New Kid in Town, The Eagles
No more Manning in the division the South should be theirs for a year or two at least.
Tennessee Titans– Caught In the Middle, Ronnie James Dio
They wont be first, they wont be last, they wont be memorable, they’ll be caught in the middle.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Cat Scratch Fever, Ted Nugent
That’s what these cats are gonna give their fans not much else.
Indianapolis Colts-Upside Down, Jack Johnson
We’ve bee used to seeing them on top but should get used to seeing them on the bottom for awhile, definitely in 2012.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens–Hard to Handle, The Black Crowes
They may be hard enough to handle all the way to the Superbowl. D can’t do it all. Gonna rest on the shoulders, actually the arm, of Joe Flacco.
Pittsburgh Steelers-Steel Bars, Foo Fighters
Where Big Ben belongs? How long do you call a franchise classy when their star clearly is not. Apples don’t fall far from the tree. They will fight for the division and settle for a wildcard.
Cincinnati Bengals-Breaking the Law, Judas Priest
Yeah, we all know the Bengals offseason exploits. If they could focus all their criminal energy to the field of play they could be good…don’t see it though.
Cleveland Browns–I Am the Walrus, The Beatles
Not sure even Mike Holmgren can fix this mess especially not this year.
AFC EAST
New England Patriots– Same Old Song & Dance, Aerosmith
Yep, they’re still here, still good, still got a shot at the Superbowl and adding to their dynasty.
New York Jets-Just the Two of Us, Grover Washington, Jr.
If Sanchez and Tebow do not make a music video arm in arm singing this song and sharing the backfield… 2012 will be a DISASTER in New York.
Buffalo Bills–Dream On, Aerosmith
Maybe another strong start but playoffs look like a dream.
Miami Dolphins-Bad to the Bone, George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Nobody likes bones in their fish and these fish just stink.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49’ers– Who Are You, The Who
This applies to the whole team but especially Alex Smith. Were they for real last year? We’ll look for them to be tough
Arizona Cardinals–Three Little Birds, Bob Marley
“Don’t worry, ‘Bout a Thing” Mostly mediocre division, nobody expects much. If they get any kind of QB play …”Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright” Just not sure that will happen.
Seattle Seahawks–Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
…Mediocre, and that’s the way they’ll be this year.
St. Louis Rams–Bad, Michael Jackson
Someone had to get this song why not the Rams, the shoe fits.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints– Bounty Hunter, Molly Hatchet ..And Justice For All, Metallica Redemption Song, Bob Marley
Bounty Hunter…they did the crime!
…And Justice For All…They are paying the price
Redemption Song…They proclaim their innocence.
They still have LOTS of offense and I see them outscoring teams in the regular season.
Atlanta Falcons–Devil Went Down to Georgia, Charlie Daniels
Seems like he only shows up in the playoffs though, unlike the rest of the team. Maybe their year to break the playoff bug with the Saints down but I still see them as a wildcard.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2
Tampa fans should be more worried about the Rays catching the Yankees, cause I dont see the Bucs doing much in 2012. Sundays could be tough.
Carolina Panthers–Things Can Only Get Better, Howard Jones
With Cam Newton a year older Carolina fans have got to hope this is true.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers-Run With the Pack, Bad Company
It would be a good bet to run with the ‘Pack.’
Detroit Lions-Welcome to the Jungle, Guns N Roses
Who woulda thought the Lions would be players in the NFL watch out for em!
Chicago Bears–Blowin in the Wind, Joan Baez
In a division with GB & Det…their hopes like their great city are in the wind.
Minnesota Vikings–Outshined, Soundgarden
Looking California but Feeling Minnesota…gonna be a long year.
NFC EAST
New York Giants–LimELIght, Rush
Yes Eli has 2 SB’s but in SD we remember his snively limp wristed attempt to hold the Bolt jersey on draft day. Giants will be good but hunted! Better be ready for everyone’s best shot.
Dallas Cowboys–Where Have all the Good Times Gone, Van Halen
America’s Team No More….never was as far as I am concerned although they have made some serious NFL history in their heyday.
Philadelphia Eagles–Dog Eat Dog, AC/DC
Oops did I go there? Good things happen to good people and bad things… to Vick!
Washington Redskins–Waiting on a Friend, Rolling Stones
If and when RGIII is ready the ‘Skins will be ready
Click here for other sports & music posts!
I just noticed an exponential theme in my last two posts and now am uncontrollably on a mission to see how high I can go with this!
Worlds Top 1o Richest Drummers
What Does 100 ‘Likes’ on Facebook Mean, Thank You!
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Land of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett
10,000 Lovers in One, TNT
TNT was a Norwegian ‘Metal’ band from the 80’s. One of the few glam bands I actually liked Ronni Le Tekro was a great guitarist. I believe they are still going strong in 2012!
I just noticed an exponential theme in my last two posts and now am uncontrollably on a mission to see how high I can go with this!
Worlds Top 1o Richest Drummers
What Does 100 ‘Likes’ on Facebook Mean, Thank You!
Land of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett
Worlds top 10 richest drummers.
Interesting…maybe a couple surprises…
Check out Zombie Minstrel’s blog…Good stuff!!
Hello There My Ol’ Friend…
22 Years without SRV’s physical presence but his music is always here to stay…
Never met a note he didn’t command!
Alright, most of you are going to think I am insane!
Fight was a 90s heavy metal band formed by Judas Priest singer Rob Halford. They were not a thrash metal band like Metallica but very heavy nonetheless. In addition to Halford’s powerhouse vocals Fight always had great, very crunchy very musical guitar riffs.
I know heavy metal isn’t for everyone. It is an acquired taste that grows over time, but, in my opinion well worth the time. Many amazing virtuoso musicians over the last 40-50 years have chosen this hard edged rock as their genre as it allows for musicality and creativity not afforded in other popular styles.
So how can this song be considered relaxing music? It is kind of like how you feel after a workout. Your endorphins release and you get what they call a “runners high.” There have been times I was driving home from a rough day and cranked a band like Fight..probably a little bit towards full volume and it really helped me get all the aggressions out. It calms me right back down like a nice shoulder massage would.
This is definitely different than the typical pastoral music I usually share on my “Music to Relax” articles. Although I know it is not for everyone maybe you can obtain more of a grasp on why people truly do love heavy metal music. There are other forms of ‘ugly’ music that people enjoy as well. Think of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring or some free Jazz that does not follow the ‘normal’ ideals of nice sounding music.
Keep your ears open my friends!!
Hmmmm, I figure if I am going to blog about music any topic should be fair game. 
And since my IPod has just about 7,000 songs from rock, metal, classical, pop, Latin to avant garde and everything in between, why not leave the subject matter to chance?
Not sure about you but I am a shuffler! I rarely listen to albums all the way through. I like to hit the shuffle button and let the bon temps roule! Of course if something comes up I am not in the mood for I can always forward to the next song. Rocking out to Led Zeppelin and then getting thrust into an early Baroque organ ricercar doesn’t always vibe…although there are times when my ears are wide open and they go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
I’ve been thinking why not hit shuffle on the ol’ MP3 player and whatever comes up will be the inspiration for a post. Like I said earlier I should be able to come up with something interesting from any piece of music no matter the genre.
So here it is the first entry in my IPod shuffle series and I got an easy one, “Toys in the Attic,” the title track from Aerosmith’s classic1975 album. “Toys” featured two of Aerosmith’s mega hits “Walk this Way” and “Sweet Emotion” both radio and pop culture staples since the day they hit the scene. Even as little kids we knew these songs.
I have to admit that for a brief period I actually thought the album was called ‘Toys-amatic.’ If you don’t know, the phrase toys in the attic, is a reference to someone who might not have everything going on upstairs…a little nutty…insane! Not so much related to the comically ironic picture on the album cover featuring…toys….in an attic.
This album was pivotal in my musical, and life, development. I was almost a teenager 
when some of the neighborhood kids were getting me into New Wave bands like Devo and The B52’s, both cool bands in their own right. Then a longtime childhood friend opened a can of ‘Whoop Ass’ on me basically telling me what a whimp I was and to listen to this Aerosmith album…which was “Toys in the Attic.”
Of course having to prove my twelve year old manhood I told him I knew all about Aerosmith and to save face proceeded to give them a listen. Amazingly the music opened a revolution on that twelve year old kid! I could not get enough hard rock after that. Aerosmith led to Zeppelin to AC/DC to the life changer…Van Halen!!
Once I heard Eddie Van Halen play guitar, I knew that was what I wanted to do the rest of my life! Here I am 30 years later with two degrees in classical music and a career as a guitarist!
Socially, being a rocker, led to the friends I made in school which led to some life long best friends I’ve had up to this day! Who knows where my life would have gone if I didn’t jump the New Wave ship to a life as a rocker kid turned classical/jazz/flamenco guitarist. Maybe I would have been the keyboardist in a Flock of Seagulls cover band. Thank you Aerosmith!
This is the classic guitar duel scene at the end of the 80’s movie, “Crossroads.”
The movie is about an old blues musician who sold his soul and Ralph Macchio is trying to win it back….you know like the Charlie Daniels song “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
It used to bother me that one of my high school guitar heroes, Steve Vai, had to lose the duel to the Karate Kid playing air guitar. The actual guitarist playing Macchio’s parts was Ry Cooder. Anyway, a great movie…put it on your Netflix queue and check it out!!
If you need a break from the Olympics check out this classic guitar competition!!
Enjoy!
Cant believe all my childhood music heroes are in their 60′ & 70’s already! C’mon Paul McCartney is 70?? Although he sure didn’t look it at his Olympic opening ceremony performance the other night, he still looks young.
Anyway, Happy Birthday to Rush bassist/singer/keyboardist Geddy Lee…who is turning 59 today! Hold on to that last year of your 50’s!!! Still rockin out as well. Rush’s 2012 release Clockwork Angels is their best album in years. Somewhat of a return to their heavier roots.
Have a good one Geddy!
Mike Slayen ~ Guitarist 