In 2013 tennis hero Pat Money revealed the gems of his in depth report assortment to Prog. Explaining the highly effective connection between sport and music, he mentioned he’d been delighted to find it flowed the opposite approach too – and cited some big-name examples to show his level.
“My music style is uncommon in my household… they’re opera singers and live performance pianists! My brother had all of the traditional stuff – the Stones, Floyd – however I gravitated in the direction of The Beatles. Among the different stuff he had, I wasn’t positive what the hell was happening; I used to be drawn to maintain attempting Led Zeppelin’s Bodily Graffiti, however I may solely do two songs at a time.
Then ELO actually did it for me with New World Document. That was in all probability the classical affect from my dad and mom. But it surely wasn’t music we may share, oh no! My dad had a very good voice and sang outdated Irish songs like Danny Boy, however he wouldn’t take heed to ours!
After I was beginning to play tennis and travelling world wide, Low cost Trick had been my largest affect – The Beatles with an edge – and I cherished In Coloration and Heaven Tonight. That’s the place I received my checkered headband from: Rick Nielsen and his guitars with the black and white checks. I additionally received into studying guitar.
Again then in Australia, selection was skinny on the bottom for music. Radio was crap; music press the identical. There was one report retailer the place I lived in Melbourne and it took me 45 minutes to get to. I found ZZ High, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden there. I then met a store proprietor referred to as Greta – a legend in Melbourne – who’d suggest a lot stuff to me. AC/DC had been large, however I wished issues past that. The new wave of British heavy steel was sensible, however I additionally listened to Sabbath and Zep, and I received to satisfy bands like Maiden.
The truth is, the rationale I received into Saga is as a result of I turned good buddies with Steve Harris. Steve likes his prog. I went to his place sooner or later – he had a pub in his home the place you would play pool and stuff – and he placed on Saga’s Heads Or Tails. I assumed, ‘Shit, that is good!’ The guitarist is unbelievable and the keyboards impressed me to take heed to early Deep Purple.
I used to be flying world wide, spending three months travelling as a junior participant, and a flight to Australia may very well be 40 hours. I listened a lot to 24 Carat Purple – Baby In Time is what Deep Purple are all about. Jon Lord and Saga began me considering that keyboards are fairly cool and will make a track much more epic. We by no means thought the piano at house was cool!
Rush had been my first prog rock band correct. Within the US they had been performed so much on the radio, so I received into Hemispheres and A Farewell To Kings. Cygnus X1 – I don’t know what number of instances I’ve performed that part when it goes quiet after which it comes again in. It squeals! Rush had been large for me; it’s Geddy’s voice and the time adjustments.
I’ve spent some huge cash on bands over time, hoping to listen to stuff that will match. I now get into loads of bands by means of opinions – significantly in Basic Rock. I purchased three Bigelf albums in a row beginning with Hex. I like how the clear melodic solos and nice keyboards slot in curiously organized songs, with loads of Sabbath.
Tennis gamers like John McEnroe and Vitas Gerulaitis had been into music and we’d all swap suggestions. Vitas was the chief ’cos he may actually play guitar; he would know and occasion with these rock bands. In 1991 John and myself made a report for Rock Help Armenia as The Full Metallic Rackets. A few years later, we received invited to Armenia to current some awards.
We jumped on a airplane and I used to be sitting with Tony Iommi. I had my Walkman and I mentioned, ‘Who does this remind you of?’ I performed him Bigelf’s Madhatter and Tony mentioned, ‘They sound like a band I do know!’ He listened to the entire thing and was actually complimentary.
The primary I knew of Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson was after I was invited to the Basic Rock Awards in 2007. They received Album Of The Yr for Concern Of A Clean Planet and I assumed, ‘I’ll give {that a} hear.’ I purchased that and Deadwing and have become a fan. I just like the weirdness, the darkness and their time adjustments.
Flying Colours’ Flying Colours was my favorite album of final 12 months. I received into them by following Steve Morse from Deep Purple and studying that Mike Portnoy was in it too. It’s received The Beatles, Low cost Trick, ELO, a full-on steel track, some good ballads; and Casey McPherson – wow, what an attractive voice he’s received! He brings the pop to it. It’s easy sufficient so somebody like me can perceive it! However a muso would respect all the good enjoying.
Prog is increasingly more enticing to me as I grow old. I wish to hear a little bit of the whole lot
Then there’s Neal Morse: he performs and sings like an angel. I purchased Momentum and that appeared very within the spirit of the Flying Colours mission – go within the studio and see what occurs. Paul Gilbert’s guitar enjoying on the principle monitor is superb, and the keyboard work brings all of it collectively.
I take heed to some music for meditation today and that received me into Brian Eno. Apollo: Atmospheres And Soundtracks is on my playlist; I like that barely darkish, ambient music. I examine Blackfield having that vibe so I picked their albums up, and it led me to Anathema. We’re Right here As a result of We’re Right here is an outstanding album, and my favorite track is Skinny Air. It’s stunning, however not darkish.
I’m a music snob! I discover the range in prog attention-grabbing and thrilling – there’s solely a lot you may get out of a 3.15-long track. Take It Bites’ Eat Me In Saint Louis. Holy smoke! Guitar riffs, keyboards, melodies, angst; it was the soundtrack to the summer season of 1989. I’m an outdated buddy of Francis Dunnery now. I used to be in New York final 12 months, flicking by means of what’s on and he popped up. His gig was cancelled however I went to his rehearsal. He did some traditional stuff, and performed me songs from Frankenstein Monster, which his brother had written on the age of 21. ‘I simply needed to do it,’ he mentioned.
One track was traditional onerous jazzy prog, with extra guitar work in that than all his albums mixed! I at all times thought he was a very good guitarist, however the shredding on this… It’s lightning quick. 4 solos in a track. That’s why prog is increasingly more enticing to me as I grow old. I wish to hear a little bit of the whole lot – some stunning ELO stuff, some Priest, a few of my dad’s piano enjoying – that’s prog.
When enjoying sport, music will get you thru; it focuses you. It’s enjoyable to realize it goes the opposite approach too. The blokes in Maiden are superb tennis gamers and Adrian Smith has a Wimbledon title for a celeb tennis occasion. I’ve performed with Ian Gillan and I gave Robert Plant his first hit in Sydney. He now performs two or thrice every week!”
