Music

[junebughunter]

Who here is a musician, or a music connaisseur? It seems to me that growing up as a musician is a fairly uncommon background for a CHP, or anyone in the militiary or law enforcement. I don't know if that is entirely true or not for the people on this forum but the people I know personally involved in any type of LE or Militiary typically are the more athletic types, while musicians are usually anti-athletic anti-le types.

Anyway, myself, like I said, I've grown up as a musician, played very little sports, although always kept in fairly decent shape. I have attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA)for a Summer program (how I wish I could have got enough scholarship money to have kept going), I've been in countless bands, my current band is getting ready to release an EP, and we're ready for confirmation on a west coast tour our manager/booking agent guy is putting together, Visalia to Seattle and back.

In addition to the band stuff I've been recording bands locally for a few years, as well as engineering live sound for a few festival type events and every weekend at a pizza/bar place. Which actually manages to pull in some reputible band names, at least in the "indie rock" world.

So how about you guys...who else is a musician and/or has some cool stories to share on the subject?

[Mac]

I wouldn't necessarily call myself a "musician" (I'm not good enough at it to hold that title), but I'm definitely a music aficionado. I love playing the guitar and drums both, although I do neither well enough to be in a band - mostly just jam along with CDs or my iPod. I played rhythm guitar and sang in a rock band in my teens (just a garage band - a few buddies who got together and jammed several times a week), and (going WAAAAAAYYYY back!) played the cello in Jr. High orchestra. I still enjoy karaoke, and would also love to get motivated enough to learn to play the bagpipes one of these days. In short, I enjoy "tinkering" with music, but have never gotten serious enough about it to make anything more than a hobby of it.

There is a sergeant on the Dept. who was the drum major at USC in the 70s, and is still a very successful musician (as a bassist now, although he can still supposedly play some mean skins). He has his own band, and has done sessions and tours with many big names in the music industry, from R&B to jazz to hard rock. His session work is featured on a variety of albums, and his band plays a lot of local gigs. He DJs in his spare time, too - very involved with music, and very talented. We also have a lieutenant who is the drummer for a band that gigs all over SoCal.

Pigeonholing the background that cops come from is nigh upon impossible. Our backgrounds are as diverse as any other occupation, as are our hobbies and interests. I've worked with guys/gals who are amateur astronomers, mechanics, stamp/coin collectors, martial artists, computer gurus, football/softball/baseball/hockey/lacrosse players & coaches, musicians, dirt bike riders, hikers/outdoorsmen, chess players, RC car/airplane buffs, construction workers, classic car restorers, historians.....you name it. Everything from geeks to jocks, and all points in between.

[retchp]

My son, who was an officer until he recently lateraled to become a Special Agent at DOJ, is a self taught musican. he taught himself to play the guitar and trumpet. He also played the tuba and was in his high school marching band and Jazz band as well as being the "president" of the bands. This was a large high school too.
Additionally, in high school he and two other guys had a garage band. Heavy metal type. His bandmates went on to fairly successful careers in the field. No names anyone would recognize, but making a living behind some big singers.
In addition to being a musican he was also into survivalist culture and military culture. He served ten years in the USMC and was in Somalia. So as Mac says, you really never know.

[jdmHboy]

I took guitar lessons for a couple years in elementary school, and then took up drums when I was in sixth grade and have been playing ever since (I'm 19 now). I played in the school orchestra and jazz band all of middle school, and have played in a few local rock bands. I've spent who knows how many hours in recording studios and on stage, definitely a blast. As far as musicians being less athletic, I wouldn't be suprised if it was true. I myself did play sports; baseball for 9 years, football for 2 years, martial arts for 2 years, and now I'm into weight lifting and running. Being athletic and a musician actually benefits each other. Being stronger makes my drumming a lot more solid and helps me make it through longer songs, and the team work used in sports helps as far as working in a band with other people. When I was growing up my parents always stressed that I be open minded/well rounded, and at the time it was overwhelming being involved in all sorts of things at once, but in the long run I think I benefited from it.

[bcjack]

I sing in the shower and in my fire truck on occasion!!!!:lol:

[Welpe]

I sing in the shower and in my fire truck on occasion!!!!:lol:

That's about my extent of musical ability! I do play a mean kazoo! Sometimes if my roomates are having a guitar jam session I'll join in on bongo drums or tambourine.

Other than that, I enjoy listening to a wide array of music from 40's swing to jazz, classic rock and even some modern stuff. The only music I really don't like on a whole is rap. I do enjoy 60's and 70's R&B though.

[pupdog]

I did the guitar & piano lessons back in the dark ages. Never was good at it, and wouldn't know where to begin today. I was in chior, and oh boy, did the teacher want me to stop signing up every semester! Put 'er out of her misery!
Back then my ambition was to be...heehee...a rock & roll roadie. Ahh, to be young & dumb!

I still THINK I can sing. My dog never complains in the car. A few months ago at a party, somebody brought a karaoke machine, and everybody was blown away at how many classic rock songs I knew the words to! (it's all I listen to). They were gonna skip 'LA Woman' until I grabbed the mike!

Oh, and it's ALL ABOUT THE BEATLES!

[junebughunter]

Oh, and it's ALL ABOUT THE BEATLES!


I love the beatles...I am so fascinated about their story and how dang huge they were. My girlfriend got me the John Lennon Imagine dvd for my birthday and I've of course watched the entire Beatles Anthology. Personally I'm a John guy more than a Paul guy (unlike most of my friends who are also into the beatles) so I tend to like their later stuff, Let It Be and just about any John+acoustic song...my two favorite beatles songs are Don't Let Me Down and Across The Universe.



I suppose the basis for my statement that a musician is a "fairly uncommon background for a CHP, or anyone in the militiary or law enforcement" was based only on the people I do know. It's cool to hear that things are more diverse than what I've been subject to.

For a long time my favorite music was mostly instrumental guitar rock such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Dream Theater, Al DiMeola. I have actually met Vai and Satriani, and every member of Dream Theater except for their guitarist, but in the past few years I've "broadened my horizons"...some of my favorite bands are Super Furry Animals, The Flaming Lips, Album Leaf, Bjork and lots of indie rock. Of course I love the classic stuff, Pink Floyd, Beatles and just about any rock that came out in the 60's to early 80's. However I grew up listening to 90's rock, not really grunge...I can't stand Nirvana or Pearl Jam but I loved the Smashing Pumpkins, Counting Crows, The Cardigans and so on.

My grandpa was actually fairly well known guitar maker. His name was Semie Moseley and he made Mosrite guitars my father played guitar and I always loved hearing it. I suppose I naturally grew into a musician

I've actually got some songs on my bands website if anybody is interested, http://thebrillianceband.com

Do you guys think it would be unwise to bring a little acoustic guitar to the academy? I doubt I'd ever get a chance to use it, but you never know...at least I could leave it in the back of my car in case a situation to whip it out ever came around. I surely couldn't go 6 months without practice, my normal practice schedule is at least 2-10 hours a day. A lot of people often scoff at that saying "they couldn't have time for that" but I usually practice at the price of sleep.

[bcjack]

Been debating BAGPIPE lessons for awhile now...I found a teacher here locally...got to do something when I retire:lol:


60's, 70's and DISCO RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Welpe]

bcjack, it'd be cheaper just to find a cat to squeeze...it sounds about the same! :shock:

[bcjack]

Welpe:

The cats BITE when you squeeze them, the bagpipes don't...:lol:

[Mac]

I listen to just about all kinds of music except classical....I've just never really been moved by it. If I had to pick a favorite genre of music, it would be 80s - both the rock and new wave stuff. The B-52s are one of the funnest bands in the world to listen to! The Cars were another great band of the 80s, and some of the real offbeat bands like Wall of Voodoo were really cool too. I've always been a huge Van Halen fan (both "Van Halen" and "Van Hagar"), and also like a lot of classic rock (Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Boston, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rush, Jethro Tull, Eagles, etc.).

What I listen do depends on what mood I'm in, I guess....sometimes it'll be country (Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson), sometimes it'll be alternative (Godsmack, Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Foo Fighters, Nickelback); other times it's the 80s or classic rock, or sometimes NWA, Dr. Dre, the Beastie Boys, Ludacris, Run DMC, etc. Jazz is great for mellowing out (David Sanborn, Larry Carlton, Najee), but then again once in a while you need to bang your head (Metallica, Corrosion of Conformity, Pantera, Ministry, Senser). Nothin' wrong with some good funk or R&B either (Earth Wind & Fire, Ohio Players, Parliament/George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Commodores/Lionel Richie). There also comes a time to kick back and say "Yah Mon!" with some Bob Marley, Shaggy, Peter Tosh or Shabba Ranks. Can't leave out the Southern Rock, either - Molly Hatchet, Lynyrd Skynyrd/Rossington-Collins, 38 Special, Charlie Daniels, the Outlaws, Black Crowes, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. I like grunge too - some Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but prefer the "harder" stuff like Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Tool.

Man - get me started on music and I could write PAGES about all the bands I like! All the above are on my regular playlists, plus probably a few hundred more bands, even spanning other genres I didn't mention here!

[SB 405]

What can I say,I'm 49 years old and still enjoy hard rock. I remember going to a Led Zeppelin concert back in the mid 70's and sat in the fourth row. After the concert I couldn't hear for a week.....ahh those were the days. :lol:

[pupdog]

It's ALL about Paul. John & Yoko messed up the Beatles, so I just can't go all out being a big John fan.
A friend of mine is doing a 3 day breast cancer walk, and to help with her fundraising, I'm throwing a party next month...admission is any donation you want to make. I plan on 100% Paul songs. I feel it's appropriate (plus I find 'no more lonely nights' to now be the saddest song ever, well, besides 'feed Jake').

My 1st album was Sgt. Pepper. Got it at a flea market when I was 9 or so. Practically wore it into a hundred skinny black rings!

[Welpe]

I've never been much of a Beatles fan....

[bcjack]

Beatles RULE!!!! It's too bad that Yoko came along and f*** them all up. They were great together....Got to see Sir Paul and Michael Jackson film their video in Los Alamos...No autographs though.

[junebughunter]

Everybody says it was John and Yoko that screwed the Beatles up but it was Paul that quit first. Not to say that it wouldn't be sort of akward having her sit there quiet with an emotionless face, like when they were filming for Let It Be. Even so, at that point Yoko really got involved like that I believe the Beatles were already sort of seperated, at least in that whole, they connect sort of way. In the Anthology and even Imagine they talk about not liking Yoko or having it be akward but they never say that was the cause of the break up.

Even then, before John was shot he says he would like to get back together with the Beatles and he will sometime.

As John said "For all you folks out there who think I'm having the wool pulled over my eyes, well, that's an insult to me. But if you think you know me, or you have some part of me because of the music, and then you think I'm being controlled like a dog on leash because I do things with her, then screw you, brother or sister, you don't know what's happening. I'm not here for you, I'm here for me and her, and now the baby."

That was the attitue of all of the Beatles, they all had families and kids. Don't forget they stopped touring long before Yoko too.

As far as the music goes I believe it was John that had the true genius, or at least he was the one crazy enough to do certain things. I can't stand Paul's solo music it's so boring to me...but I just love Johns stuff. Again all my opinion, I'm still to this day the only person I know to like John more but oh well.

[Gilroy22]

I sometimes wonder how I ever went from music to law enforcement. I was a music performance major at CSULB for 3 years playing the trombone. Although it was an awesome experience, I was not enjoying it enough to make a career out of it, and all of those music theory classes were not really going well for me :rolleyes: So I decided to change my major to criminal justice administration (and I seem to be doing a whole lot better) and going to a different school. In the end, I will have spent 6 to 7 years in college, all because I changed my major. But hey, atleast I will be graduating college and going into a career that I will enjoy. Music is still a large part of my life, and hopefully will be for as long as possible.

[Mac]

I've never been much of a Beatles fan....
Me neither. It's kind of a standing joke with a lot of my friends....they know how I feel, and everytime a Beatles song comes on, they'll make a comment like "I know....most overrated band in the history of music, right???". :smile:

I can appreciate their musical genius/talent....I even like a few of their songs. I've just never gotten into the whole scene, and couldn't by any stretch consider myself a fan.